The Sufi Movement and Al Ghazali

The Sufi Movement and Al Ghazali

  • Submitted By: duggy
  • Date Submitted: 12/08/2010 2:20 PM
  • Category: Religion
  • Words: 1049
  • Page: 5
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Al-Ghazali and Sufism

Al-Ghazali and Sufism

Religious conviction can be a highly motivating force. Throughout the history of most religions there has been a sense of emptiness and a desire for a more in depth and closer relationship with the divine among some followers. This has led to the development of different sect and offshoots of main religious affiliations. Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali, a former professor, quest for just that led the Sufi movement into a dimension of acceptance and education that mainstream Islam could tolerate and understand. His life and prestige as a prominent professor gave credibility to the current arguments and intolerance of the practice of the Islamic mystical practices of Sufism. Exploring his life and contributions to Sufism and it’s affect upon him and his culture are important developments that have given voice to the practice of Sufism throughout Islam.
Abu Hamid Al- Ghazali and known as Muhammad Ibn Muhammad Ibn Muhammad Ibn Ahmad al-Tusi was born in Tus, Khurasan in 1058. He is still considered one of the Most celebrated thinker of not only his time but in the history of Islamic thought. Although he was a Persian much of writing is in Arabic. His history is one of great interest. He was the Dean of a college in Baghdad. His roots in Sufism come from being entrusted to the care of his father’s Sufi friend at the time of his death. From an early age Al-Ghazali excelled in his studies and later began to write very interesting scholarly work in philosophy. As his life continued to progress and he became to achieve more notoriety, also became dissatisfied with simply teaching and the following of traditional Islam. His desire to bring glory and honor to following Allah and inner fulfillment led to him leaving his university position and renouncing all things pertaining to this life. He states, “due to his realization that there was no way to certain knowledge or the conviction of revelatory truth except through Sufism”...

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