sunniboy
Senior Member
Don't wait for six strong men to take you to the mosque
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Post by sunniboy on Sept 8, 2004 22:03:01 GMT
Without doubt one of the greatest minds of Islam ----------------------------------------------------------------
Abu Hamid Ibn Muhammad Ibn Muhammad al-Tusi al-Shafi'i al-Ghazali [Ghazali in Persian, Al-Ghazali in Arabic) was born in 450/41 AH/1058 A.D. in Tus in Khorasan, (a region of Iran). His father died while he was still very young but he had the opportunity of getting education in the prevalent curriculum at Nishapur and Baghdad. Soon he acquired a high standard of scholarship in religion and philosophy and was honoured by his appointment as a Professor at the Nizamiyah University of Baghdad, which was recognised as one of the most reputed institutions of learning in the golden era of Muslim history.
After a few years, however, he gave up his academic pursuits and worldly interests and became a wandering ascetic. This was a process (period) of personal mystical transformation. Later, he resumed his teaching duties, but again left these. An era of solitary life, devoted to contemplation and writing then ensued, which led to the author- ship of a number of everlasting books. He died in 505 AH/1111 A.D. at Tus.
Al-Ghazali's major contribution lies in religion, philosophy and Sufism. A number of Muslim philosophers had been following and developing several viewpoints of Greek philosophy, including the Neoplatonic philosophy, and had lead to conflict with several Islamic teachings. On the other hand, the movement of sufism was assuming such excessive proportions as to avoid observance of obligatory prayers and duties of Islam. Based on his unquestionable scholarship and personal mystical experience, Ghazali sought to rectify these trends, both in philosophy and sufism.
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sunniboy
Senior Member
Don't wait for six strong men to take you to the mosque
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Post by sunniboy on Sept 8, 2004 22:03:28 GMT
In philosophy, Ghazali upheld the approach of mathematics and exact sciences as essentially correct. However, he adopted the techniques of Aristotelian logic and the Neoplatonic procedures and employed these very tools to lay bare the flaws and lacunas of the then prevalent Neoplatonic philosophy and to diminish the negative influences of Aristotelianism and excessive rationalism. In contrast to some of the Muslim philosophers, e.g., al-Farabi, he portrayed the inability of reason to comprehend the absolute and the infinite. Reason could not transcend the finite and was limited to the observa- tion of the relative. Also, several Muslim philosophers had held that the universe was finite in space but infinite in time. Ghazali argued that an infinite time was related to an infinite space.
In religion, particularly mysticism, he cleansed the approach of sufism of its excesses and reestablished the authority of the orthodox (i.e. Sunni) religion. Yet, he stressed the importance of genuine sufism, which he maintained was the path to attain the absolute truth.
He was a prolific writer. His books include Tahafut al-Falasifa (The Incoherence of the Philosophers), Ihya al-'Ulum al-Islamia (The Rivival of the Religious Sciences), "The Beginning of Guidance and his Autobiography", "Deliverance from Error". Some of his works were translated into Latin in the Middle Ages, where he was known as Algazel and via the translation of a truncated work, the Maqasid al-Falasifa [The Intentions of the Philosophers.]
Al-Ghazali's influence was deep and everlasting. He is one of the greatest theologians of Islam and his influence penetrated Europe, influenced Jewish and Christian Scholasticism, and several of his arguments seem to have been adopted by Thomas Aquinas in order to similarly reestablish the authority of orthodox Christian religion in the West.
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Post by simnani on Sept 8, 2004 23:06:47 GMT
Subhanallah, Imam Al-Ghazali was a true Sufi's Sufi.
Not that the Christians or Jews will ever thank him for his works - well at least not publicly.
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Post by NoorSeeker on Sept 9, 2004 12:18:01 GMT
i recommend every MUSt read his book Revival of religous Sciences - his title was non other than Hajjatul Islam "Proof of Islam" and the great Ulema of the time said that if the Quran and Sunnah was destroyed this book would be enough to save Islam (yes not literally before you all start barraging me with replies!!
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Post by simnani on Sept 9, 2004 19:04:37 GMT
Abu Hamid al-Ghazali Because of him the lame walked briskly,
And the songless through him burst into melody.
Hazrat Al-Ghazzali was motivated more by philosophy and theology which were ideal as this background led him to delve deeply into Tassawaf/Sufism.
Ihya Ulum al-Din is encylopaedic i have been told, but would like to know brother which version you have read/or reading and who is the translation by ?
The English text and translation is critical in the nature of these volumes.
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Tuhe aine Nur
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Maslak-e-A'la Hazrat Fazile Barelvi
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Post by Tuhe aine Nur on Sept 9, 2004 20:24:40 GMT
i recommend every MUSt read his book Revival of religous Sciences - his title was non other than Hajjatul Islam "Proof of Islam" and the great Ulema of the time said that if the Quran and Sunnah was destroyed this book would be enough to save Islam (yes not literally before you all start barraging me with replies!! This is truly a masterpiece from Shaikh Ghazali.However for more recent masterpieces any book by Ghaus e Azam or Ala Hazrat Imam Ahmad Raza Khan Ridwanallah on Fiqh will transform anyone.
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Walid
Senior Member
Al Madad
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Post by Walid on Sept 9, 2004 22:31:12 GMT
We have a lot to be thankful from Hadrat Al Ghazzali.He is the true first master after the Noble Prophet (Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam) Muhammad s.a.w on spiritualism and Islam.
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MRT
Senior Member
Posts: 1,214
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Post by MRT on Sept 9, 2004 23:31:10 GMT
All of these Walis and freinds of Allah like Imam Abu Hanifa and Imam Al-Ghazali show what true Ibadat and deen is worth, they have given us many gifts through our Beloved Prophet salla allaho alaihe wasallam and we ignorant and unworthy souls show no respite in our crazy and kamikaze world.
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Post by simnani on Sept 10, 2004 18:10:01 GMT
Brother Noorseeker you whetted my appetite, and i started a search for a good english translation of the first edition of this series of IHYA ULUM AL-DIN and right above this page on this messageboard was an advert for Shaykh Al-Ghazzali's books by a British company - but you are talking £20 for an early paperback edition. www.muslimsearch.net/books/main/author.php?authorId=7I shall wait a little longer.
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sunniboy
Senior Member
Don't wait for six strong men to take you to the mosque
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Post by sunniboy on Sept 11, 2004 10:57:08 GMT
These great works of time dont come cheap brother Simnani - get the moths out of your wallet.
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nizamuddin
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Verily, Allah does not look towards your bodies nor towards your appearances.
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Post by nizamuddin on Sept 11, 2004 12:20:11 GMT
"The one who first acquires the Knowledge of Hadees and Fiqh and then steps into Tasawwaf, attains the 'ultimate success' ...and the one who attempts to become a Sufi before acquiring Knowledge, puts himself into torment."
Hazrat Imam Ghazzali
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Jamil
Valued Member
The most powerful channel of communication.....Prayer
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Post by Jamil on Sept 11, 2004 16:20:10 GMT
These great works of time dont come cheap brother Simnani - get the moths out of your wallet. £20 doesnt seem cheap but when you look at the content and the sheer brilliance of these works you realise money is materialistic. ps : any chance of borrowing it after you ? ;D
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Post by NoorSeeker on Sept 11, 2004 16:45:45 GMT
Imam Ghazzali RA was a mureed of Hazrat Abu Ali Farebndi who changed his life. He lived 55 years writing 400 books - Ihya being his masterpiece. I am reading the a copy produced by Zia-ul-Quran Publications of Pakistan translated by Allama Fazlul Karim. I have been reading it for many months but still havent finished it!!! - it is byfar the most intense book I have ever read and has so many different levels, personally I would glady pay £50 for the honour of reading this book - made up of 4 books (1) The Book of Worship (2) Book of Wordly Usages (3) Book of Destructive Evils and (4) Book of Constructive Virtues, i have often found myself so overwhelmed by his writing that I am unable to go on. As a freebie to you all in it Imam Sahib qoutes the lover Majnu "Then I went to the House of Laila, I kissed its wall. Love is not for the wall, But for its owner"
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Post by simnani on Sept 11, 2004 23:03:33 GMT
Imam Ghazzali RA was a mureed of Hazrat Abu Ali Farebndi who changed his life. He lived 55 years writing 400 books - Ihya being his masterpiece. I am reading the a copy produced by Zia-ul-Quran Publications of Pakistan translated by Allama Fazlul Karim. I have been reading it for many months but still havent finished it!!! - it is byfar the most intense book I have ever read and has so many different levels, personally I would glady pay £50 for the honour of reading this book - made up of 4 books (1) The Book of Worship (2) Book of Wordly Usages (3) Book of Destructive Evils and (4) Book of Constructive Virtues, i have often found myself so overwhelmed by his writing that I am unable to go on. As a freebie to you all in it Imam Sahib qoutes the lover Majnu "Then I went to the House of Laila, I kissed its wall. Love is not for the wall, But for its owner" Thank for all for your humble advice brothers, £20 may not seem like a lot of money,but it is a bit tight at the moment. I have since been promised a copy from a freinds freind so not despair for me. JazakAllah.
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Walid
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Al Madad
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Post by Walid on Sept 12, 2004 12:48:27 GMT
Thank for all for your humble advice brothers, £20 may not seem like a lot of money,but it is a bit tight at the moment. I have since been promised a copy from a freinds freind so not despair for me. JazakAllah. Brother Simnani, I bet you do all your reading from extracts on the internet, or you have a collection of books from the library circa mid-80's ? lol !
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Abdul Rafiq
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Post by Abdul Rafiq on Sept 13, 2004 12:32:33 GMT
Hazrat Al Ghazzali's works are very deep and intense, you need to have a degree in philosophy to grasp everything that was written.
Think of the era - and spiritualism and ascetism were at their height.
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Post by Qadiri Ashrafi on Sept 13, 2004 15:49:56 GMT
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" ..........
Personally I have never read any works of Imam Al-Ghazzali RA however if one puts their heart into read any book or article the results would be the same ?
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Post by ya habibi on Sept 13, 2004 22:35:22 GMT
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" .......... Personally I have never read any works of Imam Al-Ghazzali RA however if one puts their heart into read any book or article the results would be the same ? It is obvious then you dont read any books !
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