Abu Hamid Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Ghazali
- Born:
- c. 1058, Tus, Khorasan (present-day Iran)
- Died:
- 1111, Tus, Seljuk Empire (present-day Iran)
- Nationality:
- Persian
- Profession(s):
- Islamic Theologian, Jurist, Philosopher, Mystic, Professor
Early Life and Education
- Born into a family of pious scholars.
- Received early education in Tus and Jurjan.
- Studied jurisprudence under Ahmad al-Radhakani.
- Continued higher studies in Nishapur under al-Juwayni, the leading Shafi'i jurist and Ash'ari theologian of his time.
Career and Major Achievements
- Became a professor at the Nizamiyya Madrasa in Baghdad in 1091, a highly prestigious position.
- Experienced a profound spiritual crisis in 1095, leading to his resignation from the Nizamiyya.
- Embarked on a period of asceticism and spiritual seeking, traveling to Damascus, Jerusalem, Mecca, and Medina.
- Returned to teaching at the Nizamiyya Madrasa in Nishapur in 1106.
- Later retired to Tus, where he established a Sufi monastery and a school for jurisprudence.
Notable Works
- Ihya Ulum al-Din (The Revival of the Religious Sciences): A comprehensive work on Islamic ethics, spirituality, and law.
- Tahafut al-Falasifa (The Incoherence of the Philosophers): A critique of Neoplatonic philosophy as presented by thinkers like Avicenna and Al-Farabi.
- Al-Munqidh min al-Dalal (Deliverance from Error): A spiritual autobiography and defense of his intellectual journey.
- Mizan al-Amal (The Criterion of Action): A treatise on ethics and the importance of intention.
Legacy and Impact
Abu Hamid Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Ghazali, often referred to simply as al-Ghazali (Algazel in the West), was one of the most influential thinkers in the history of Islam. His synthesis of Sufism and orthodox Islamic theology had a lasting impact on the development of Islamic thought and practice. The ongoing interest in his life and works is evidenced by continued study of his contributions as reflected in resources dedicated to understanding the 'makam imam al ghazali biography' and his place in Islamic history.