Ahmad al-Ghazālī (d. 517/1123 or 520/1126) and the metaphysics of love

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Abstract

This study examines the life and thought of Ahmad al-Ghazali, a Sufi Shaykh of the late fifth and early sixth Islamic centuries. Many Persian and Arabic treatises have been incorrectly attributed to Ahmad al-Ghazali, and the historical literature abounds with conflicting accounts of his life and thought. The first chapter endeavors to ascertain the authenticity of the works attributed to him. It then identifies the dominant ideological trends in the biographical literature and how they have changed over time.

Having distilled the biographical information in chapter one, chapter two reconstructs the life and times of Ahmad al-Ghazali in the early Saljuq period. This biography demonstrates that he attained a high degree of proficiency in several of the Islamic sciences, but that throughout his life Ahmad al-Ghazali's central focus was Sufism. Chapter three reconstructs the elements of his spiritual practice from discussions within his writings and sermons and some of the more elaborate treatments of his spiritual descendants.

Chapters four and five turn from the life and practice of Ahmad al-Ghazali to his central teachings, especially his understanding of love (ʿishq). A survey of the textual precedents reveals that teachings similar to those found in Ahmad al-Ghazali's most famous treatise, the Sawanih, are alluded to in previous writings, but never fully expressed.

Chapter four begins by considering the central terms for Ahmad al-Ghazali's discussion of love: ʿishq (love), ruh (spirit), qalb (heart), and beauty (husn). Then it examines the stages of spiritual wayfaring whereby the heart is brought to complete maturity until it is immersed in the ocean of love.

Chapter five examines the form and content of Ahmad al-Ghazali's teachings. It first discusses his understanding of the relativity of language and then examines his manner of citing from Qur'an, hadith, poetry, and love stories. The last half of the chapter is devoted to a close reading of the teachings on love in the Sawanih. It begins by considering the central terms for Ahmad al-Ghazali's discussion of love: ʿishq (love), ruh (spirit), qalb (heart), and beauty (husn). Then it examines the stages of spiritual wayfaring whereby the heart is brought to complete maturity until it is immersed in the ocean of love.
Original languageEnglish
JournalYale University
Publication statusPublished - 2003
Externally publishedYes

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