Al Ghazali The Sufi Philosopher Essay Example

those guilty of apostasy, abandonment of ones religion. Al Ghazali was still able to see apostasy as a serious crime against Allah’s will yet argued that freedom from Islam without punishment, which was often death, would be permitted.

Secondly, he is renowned for his teaching that Allah was the primary source of knowledge. He preached that that all members of Islam should trust Allah as he ‘never lies’, therefore, his knowledge is much more powerful than any human knowledge or science.

This is evident throughout his work ‘the Incoherence of the Philosophers’, an Islamic book of landmark importance which highlighted the contributions of philosophy and theology throughout Islam due to physiological scepticism and the will of God. Next, he is recognised for his contribution to the Sunni and Shi’a tensions regarding the caliphate.

He backed up the Sunni claim that the Caliph should be elected by the Umma (the community) as both the prophet Muhammad, as well as Allah, believed in a contribution of the Umma through support and togetherness. Shi’a Muslims believed that Allah was the only person who held the duty of this role, and that the Caliphate left behind after the prophet Muhammad were the only rightful Caliphate.

This is evident throughout Al Ghazali’s work ‘the Proof of the Faith’, in which he backed up many Islamic claims. His proof shined light upon Sunni claims and allowed for further participation and contribution of the Umma in regards to the rightful Caliph.

Finally, Al Ghazali is recognised for legitimising the Sufi claim that they could experience Allah’s divine light before reaching paradise. Allah’s divine light provides energy for ones spiritual journey to the after life

and may only be experienced by a good Muslims who is on their way to eternal paradise. Through the Sufi claim sometimes hinted blasphemy, Al Ghazali changed the language of what the Sufi’s were trying to say to show that through acts such as meditation, Sufi’s could feel a deeper connection to Allah and near experience his divine light.

An example of such practise are the Whirling Dervishes of the Islamic faith.

These allow Sufi members to experience a deeper connection to Allahs divine light through acts of meditation, deep thought and personal prayer to Allah. The proof of this claim is evident throughout Al Ghazali’s work ‘the Deliverance from Error’, an autobiography written by Ghazali shortly before his death in which he discovers the value of mystical experiences within Sufism. Al Ghazali continues to have a strong influence over the Islamic faith today.

His judgements are still widely commented upon, for example throughout Fiqh council meetings. Another example of his continuing influence is through his inspiration of not only Islamic, but also Western philosophical schools. The opening of Montessori schools by Thomas Aquinas, which focus on self-directed activity through learning show that people from all over the world have taken to Al Ghazali’s approaches and acted upon them to fulfil the lives of others.

Many different works and writings by Al Ghazali are still readily available in a range of different languages as well as countries.

This shows that the knowledge of Al Ghazali has impacted upon the religious tradition of Islam and is useful in still fulfilling and educating practising Muslims throughout the world today. His works have continuing relevance throughout the world and continue

to teach positivism in being a good Muslim, particularly to Sunni and Sufi members. The Sunni and Shi’a split still exists throughout Islam today, emphasising and indicating that a difference in belief is still present between the two sectors.

Al Ghazali’s knowledge on this matter reiterated what the Sunni’s believed in as being correct; allowing for contribution from the Umma, as well as a deeper and more personal experience with Allah’s divine light before reaching paradise. Confirmation and proof of such beliefs continues to impact upon Islam by dividing the faith into two. Al Ghazali is still considered a major Sufi saint, and there have been many centres open and available throughout the world, particularly throughout Sufi communities, which are dedicated to his works.

This shows his continuing importance throughout the Islamic faith and shows that his contribution to Islam is still commented upon and relevant to today. Throughout present day Islam, there are very few criticisms regarding Al Ghazali and his works as a philosopher. One such is the belief that Al Ghazali was prominent in a period of drought between scholars; therefore, some members of Islam, particularly Shi’a Muslims believe he was overrated.

This is because Al Ghazali appeared at the end of the Golden Age and the beginning of the fall of the Islamic Empire, a period in time which saw many people start to become suppressed in their beliefs, claims and views. Al Ghazali was one of very few people who dared express his beliefs through knowledge, making many members of the Islamic faith believe he held little significance in his knowledge and held little proof. Al Ghazali was also not

as competent in the Hadith (the words and deeds of the prophet Muhammad) as he was in the Qur’an (the thoughts and messages of Allah).

Therefore, some people believe Al Ghazali held less proof to back up many of his claims than other Islamic scholars. Al Ghazali is a significant person throughout Islam and many members of the Islamic faith, particularly Sunni and Sufi members believe he has helped to shape Islam to be what it is today. His contribution to Islam though his theories, knowledge and works have left a positive impact upon the Islamic faith that continues into the present.

He has left an everlasting impact upon the faith and its members and helped to build Islam to be one of the most popular religious traditions in the present day world.