Al-Ghazali on Love, Longing, Intimacy & Contentment

The Revival of the Religious Sciences #26

by Abu Hamid al-Ghazali, Eric Ormsby (Translation)

As the first complete translation of a classic Arabic text written in the 11th century, this work is an eloquent introduction to mystical love in Islam. Considered one of the most important chapters in al-Ghazālī's magnum opus The Revival of the Religious Sciences, it consists of arguments that form the basis of Sufi theory and the practice of mystical love. Providing the book's historical and spiritual context, this account also offers insight into the poetry of such greats as Rumi and Hafiz.

Genres: Islam, Religion

280 pages, Paperback

First published March 21, 2003

About the author

أبو حامد الغزالي

Muslim theologian and philosopher Abu Hamid al-Ghazali of Persia worked to systematize Sufism, Islamic mysticism, and in The Incoherence of the Philosophers (1095) argued the incompatibility of thought of Plato and Aristotle with Islam.

Born in 1058, Abū Ḥāmid Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad al-Ghazālī ranked of the most prominent and influential Sunni jurists of his origin.

Islamic tradition considers him to be a Mujaddid, a renewer of the faith who, according to the prophetic hadith, appears once every century to restore the faith of the ummah ("the Islamic Community"). His works were so highly acclaimed by his contemporaries that al-Ghazali was awarded the honorific title "Proof of Islam" (Hujjat al-Islam).

Al-Ghazali believed that the Islamic spiritual tradition had become moribund and that the spiritual sciences taught by the first generation of Muslims had been forgotten.[24] That resulted in his writing his magnum opus entitled Ihya 'ulum al-din ("The Revival of the Religious Sciences"). Among his other works, the Tahāfut al-Falāsifa ("Incoherence of the Philosophers") is a significant landmark in the history of philosophy, as it advances the critique of Aristotelian science developed later in 14th-century Europe.

أبو حامد محمد الغزّالي الطوسي النيسابوري الصوفي الشافعي الأشعري، أحد أعلام عصره وأحد أشهر علماء المسلمين في القرن الخامس الهجري،(450 هـ - 505 هـ / 1058م - 1111م). كان فقيهاً وأصولياً وفيلسوفاً، وكان صوفيّ الطريقةِ، شافعيّ الفقهِ إذ لم يكن للشافعية في آخر عصره مثلَه.، وكان على مذهب الأشاعرة في العقيدة، وقد عُرف كأحد مؤسسي المدرسة الأشعرية في علم الكلام، وأحد أصولها الثلاثة بعد أبي الحسن الأشعري، (وكانوا الباقلاني والجويني والغزّالي) لُقّب الغزالي بألقاب كثيرة في حياته، أشهرها لقب "حجّة الإسلام"، وله أيضاً ألقاب مثل: زين الدين، ومحجّة الدين، والعالم الأوحد، ومفتي الأمّة، وبركة الأنام، وإمام أئمة الدين، وشرف الأئمة.
كان له أثرٌ كبيرٌ وبصمةٌ واضحةٌ في عدّة علوم مثل الفلسفة، والفقه الشافعي، وعلم الكلام، والتصوف، والمنطق، وترك عدداَ من الكتب في تلك المجالات.ولد وعاش في طوس، ثم انتقل إلى نيسابور ليلازم أبا المعالي الجويني (الملقّب بإمام الحرمين)، فأخذ عنه معظم العلوم، ولمّا بلغ عمره 34 سنة، رحل إلى بغداد مدرّساً في المدرسة النظامية في عهد الدولة العباسية بطلب من الوزير السلجوقي نظام الملك. في تلك الفترة اشتُهر شهرةً واسعةً، وصار مقصداً لطلاب العلم الشرعي من جميع البلدان، حتى بلغ أنه كان يجلس في مجلسه أكثر من 400 من أفاضل الناس وعلمائهم يستمعون له ويكتبون عنه العلم. وبعد 4 سنوات من التدريس قرر اعتزال الناس والتفرغ للعبادة وتربية نفسه، متأثراً بذلك بالصّوفية وكتبهم، فخرج من بغداد خفيةً في رحلة طويلة بلغت 11 سنة، تنقل خلالها بين دمشق والقدس والخليل ومكة والمدينة المنورة، كتب خلالها كتابه المشهور إحياء علوم الدين كخلاصة لتجربته الروحية، عاد بعدها إلى بلده طوس متخذاً بجوار بيته مدرسةً للفقهاء، وخانقاه (مكان للتعبّد والعزلة) للصوفية.

Reviews

[Aisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Believe it or not, Ghazali has a sarcastic and funny side to his personality that makes his writing all the more enjoyable to read (at least for me). If you know anything about Ghazali, you’ll realize soon enough that this book is about Divine love, and not on how to understand your complicated significant other! The need to be loved and appreciated is quite universal, some fill this void through their loved ones, friends and family, others find this love with God. You need to have a taste for this genre of books as they do tend to go into historical debates and discuss concepts with an intention of educating the reader not entertaining them. Nevertheless, Ghazali discusses the much debated topic of love and how to get closer to God. I believe the true reader has the flexibility to read a wide range of books and use them all as a means to broaden one’s horizon (tag faisal here). If you’re in the mood for something spiritual, Ghazali’s approach on love, God and the relationship between the 2 maybe enough to lift your spirits

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I have read it twice so far. It is full of answers to the mysteries of love. Al-Ghazali lives in a lofty and honored place in my heart, beside 'ibn Arabi. What a wonder.

[Farhad · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Jesus (peace be upon him) said to the Israelites, 'Where does a seed grow?' They answered, 'In the dust.'. He said, 'Truly I say unto you, wisdom grows only in a heart that is like dust.'"

"For love is the fruit of knowledge: it is extinguished when knowledge is extinguished; it redoubles when knowledge redoubles; it grows mighty in the strength of knowledge. For this reason it is said 'Whoever knows his Lord loves Him while whoever knows the world renounces it.'"

[Ibrahim J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

So deep and beautiful. Best read as part of the overall series (within the Ihya), but still great on its own. For those interested in this topic, they may also enjoy "Love in the Holy Qur'an" which is a massive philosophical and spiritual reflection on love in the Islamic tradition.

[Movsar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Valuable but at times too boring

[Hafidz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful set of books (Ihya) for those who are on the spiritual path in Islam and wants to read more than the Quran and books of hadiths. Style of writing may be complex initially.

[Ali Asad Naqvi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Loved it, added to my Favorites, one I will be referring to/consulting over and over again.

[Yushau Abbas]

Inspiration

[Adil · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books from the Ihya Ulum E Deen compilation if not the best. Full of wisdom, character & inspiration. One of the very few quotes which stood out to me...

"It has been said that love means that you wipe away every trace of yourself until nothing remains within you that might
refer back to yourself."

[Hailane Salam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book. We have the ability to love because love is part of human nature. There are many different types of love that we can experience like the love for family members and friends; the mundane type of love for our jobs, houses and many others. Besides, there is also a sacred type of love, which is a much higher degree of love. Imam Al-Ghazali explains what love of Allah means. Love is the essence of mercy: “Love is a fragrant tree; its root is firmly planted and its branches reach to heaven; its fruits emerge in the heart and in the tongue and in the limbs” (al-Ghazali 2011: p. 107).

[Farhan | · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smart and structured treatise on purifying one's love for Allah alone - you feel as if you're being guided expertly towards an understanding.
Amazing book.