Author: Obaidullah Nimruzi
The Biography of Abu Hamed Imam Mohammad al-Ghazali [MABH] (Part 22)
Ihya’a Ulum al-Din: A Masterpiece in Reforming the Individual and Society
Keywords: Social Reform, Moral Refinement, Sufism and Jurisprudence, Ihya’a Ulum al-Din, Imam Ghazali and Islamic Education.
Abstract
In the previous part of this study, we examined the role of kings and rulers in reforming and corrupting society and showed how policymakers can act as agents of reform or as catalysts for the decline of Islamic societies. Now, continuing this discussion, we will address one of the most influential reform works in the history of Islam, namely Ihya’a Ulum al-Din by Imam Muhammad Ghazali (MABH). This book has played a fundamental role not only in reforming individual morality, but also in rebuilding the intellectual, social and religious structures of the Islamic nation.
Backgrounds of writing and Reformative Goals of the Ihya’a Ulum al-Din
Imam Muhammad al-Ghazali, MABH, wrote this work at a time when Islamic societies were facing numerous challenges. On the one hand, extremist and superficial tendencies in jurisprudence and Sharia had limited religiosity to a set of appearances and rules, in such a way that the spirit of religion and its moral dimension were neglected. On the other hand, some branches of Sufism, by abandoning the appearances of religion and emphasizing esoteric and mystical experiences, had been drawn into deviations that were far removed from authentic Islamic teachings. In addition, moral corruption among some social classes, including the ruling class and some court scholars, had caused people to distance themselves from religious values.
In such circumstances, Imam Ghazali, MABH, who was one of the most prominent theologians and jurists of his time, concluded that religious and social reform was not possible except through the revival of the spirit of religion and the integration of science and practice. He, who had resigned from official positions for a while and turned to a mystical path, wrote the book Ihya’a Ulum al-Din during this period to present a middle approach; an approach in which jurisprudence, ethics, and spirituality were placed side by side and religion was introduced not only in the form of rules, but also as an educational and reforming system.
The structure and content of the book Ihya’a Ulum al-Din is organized into four main sections, each of which deals with different aspects of religious and moral reform:
1. Worship: In this section, Imam Ghazali, MABH, discusses the place of worship such as prayer, fasting, zakat, and hajj, and emphasizes that these actions will only be acceptable to Allah when they are performed with sincere intention and the presence of the heart. He considers hypocrisy, laziness, and laxity in worship to be major evils and examines ways to cure them.
2. Habits: This section deals with the manners of life, social relationships, business, nutrition, marriage, and other aspects of daily life, and shows how worldly affairs can be transformed into worship with divine intention. Imam Ghazali (MABH) begins the reform of society by reforming the family and individual relationships, and emphasizes the moral responsibility of each individual towards others.
3. Destructions: In this section, Imam Ghazali (MABH) examines heart and mental diseases and considers factors such as arrogance, hypocrisy, envy, stinginess, lust, and worldliness to be the most important obstacles to spiritual growth. He analyzes these moral vices, relying on verses and hadiths, and offers practical solutions for getting rid of them.
4. Salvations: In contrast to the Destructions, this section deals with moral virtues and introduces characteristics such as patience, gratitude, trust, divine love, humility, and sincerity as saviors. In this section, Imam Ghazali (MABH) considers concepts such as certainty, asceticism, and submission to the will of Allah and offers solutions for achieving spiritual perfection.
The Reformative Role of the Ihya’a Ulum al-Din in Islamic Society
One of the most important aspects of Ihya’a Ulum al-Din is the emphasis on the link between the reform of the individual and the reform of society. Imam Ghazali (MABH) believes that social reform can only be achieved when individuals are transformed from within. Therefore, he emphasizes self-improvement, self-purification, and moral education, but at the same time, he is not oblivious to the influence of the social environment and governance on public morality. In different parts of the book, he discusses the role of religious scholars, judges, merchants, and even rulers in reforming society and calls on them to regulate their behavior based on religious values.
Imam Ghazali (MABH) also criticizes some of the shortcomings common among different social classes. On the one hand, he criticizes some religious scholars for engaging in pointless debates and distancing themselves from morality and spirituality, and on the other hand, he warns against materialism and corruption among the ruling classes. These critical positions have caused the book Ihya’a Ulum al-Din to always be of interest to reformers and thinkers.
Historical impact and lasting position of Ihya’a Ulum al-Din
After its publication, Ihya’a Ulum al-Din was quickly welcomed in the Islamic world and had a profound impact on intellectual and reform movements. This book inspired many religious thinkers and reformers, including scholars such as Ibn Al-Najjar, Ibn al-Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah, and even contemporary thinkers who were concerned with religious reform.
Also, this work continues to have a prominent position in the field of Islamic ethics and education due to its fluent writing style, strong references from the Quran and Hadith, and the provision of practical solutions. Many scholars, including Imam Ibn Al-Jawzi, emphasize its profound impact on the revival of moral and religious values however they have criticized some of its topics.
In short, it can be said that Ihya’a Ulum al-Din can be considered one of the most comprehensive reform works in the history of Islam, which not only reformed the individual, but also reformed society and the intellectual system of the Islamic nation. This work has provided a path between jurisprudence and Sufism, and has shown that practicing the laws of the Sharia will only be effective when accompanied by self-purification and internal reform.
In the continuation of this research, we will examine how the teachings of Ihya’a Ulum al-Din can be used in contemporary conditions to solve the moral and religious crises of Islamic societies, and how this valuable work can be used to achieve social reform and moral education.
Continues…
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