Al-Ghazzali On Disciplining the Self

by Abu Hamid al-Ghazali

General Description: Al-Ghazzali places great emphasis on the virtue and spiritual reward of having a good disposition. He also discusses how to recognize the sicknesses of the spiritual heart, the signs of a good character, the raising and training of children, and the prerequisites of becoming a disciple.

Genres: Islam, Religion, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Personal Development

64 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

[Imran Pasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is simply a must read for all those wishing to understand the relationships and mechanisms of the internal struggle. Imam Ghazali never misses the mark in his explanation and uncovers facets of this internal struggle that are often not given much thought, and many otherwise would be left unaware. This is a book that will require revisiting and rereading for the precious lessons in this book only remain for a short duration, as we are prone to forgetfulness. As such, this book ought to be read over and over again throughout one’s life time, in order to be reminded of the importance and the way to success regarding this internal struggle. Imam Ghazali’s precision and depth of understanding reminds me of a spiritual heart surgeon. His analysis, and exact handling of the issues bring such clarity that led to deep self-reflection, which hopefully leads to placing our soul on the path to meeting God in the best state possible!!

[Isa · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ The introduction dragged on a little & took away from what should have been a quite easy, quick, motivational read. I’ve still derived some benefit from the book & I plan to work on my intentions going forwards & to step back from some Worldly pleasures that I may potentially over-indulge in.

[Rick Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Al-Ghazali is famously known as, "Proof of Islam." In Discipling of Self, Al-Ghazali starts with his belief in Islam, "There is no God but God [Allah]." The Three Fundamentals of his thought in this book are Knowledge, States, and Actions. Al-Ghazali builds on these three and urges believers to train their self (soul). I was surprised to find, Al-Ghazali saying, Man is made in the image of God. If you have read Aristotle's Ethics, you might find similar thought here.

Overall, a great short read.

Deus Vult,
Gottfried.

[Talal Alali · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read. Imam Al- Ghazzali brilliantly explains and deciphers the subtleties of human psychology and spirituality. Some of my favourite excerpt from this book - "Know that the heart is of the celestial world and the body is of the visible world" - "When good character has become an internalized attribute, then deeds assume the attributes of that character" - "Know that the spiritual discipline for every person is that he give up whatever it is that pleases him more and that he do the contrary of whatever (tendency) is more dominant".

[Michel Van Goethem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helder, rationeel, alles valt samen.

[Aamir Raja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Al-Ghazzali places great emphasis on the virtue and spiritual reward of having a good deposition...