Author: Obaidullah Nimruzi
The Biography of Abu Hamed Imam Mohammad al-Ghazali [MABH] (Part 27)
Critics of “Ihya’ Ulum al-Din”
Shaikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah generally praised Ihya’ Ulum al-Din and wrote: «کلامه في الإحياء جيد عموماً» Translation: “His speech in Ihya’ is generally good.” However, he has criticisms of this book in four areas:
1. Mixing with the Views of Philosophers:
Ibn Taymiyyah believes that this book contains many views of philosophers on the subjects of monotheism, prophecy, and resurrection. He argues that Imam Ghazali, MABH, despite being a critic and opponent of philosophy, unconsciously inclined towards it in his thoughts and views. Given his special sensitivity toward philosophy, it is not surprising that Ibn Taymiyyah considers Ghazali to be under its influence.
2. The Presentation of Theological Topics:
Ibn Taymiyyah believes that some theological topics in Ihya are not compatible with the spirit of the Quran and Hadith and are unacceptable in light of the standards of the Book and Sunnah.
3. The Existence of Weak and Questionable Hadiths:
He criticizes Ihya for including many weak and even questionable hadiths.
However, Ibn Taymiyyah goes on to say: «وَفِيهِ مَعَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ كَلَامِ الْمَشَايِخِ الصُّوفِيَّةِ وَالْعَارِفِينَ الْمُسْتَقِيمِينَ فِي أَعْمَالِ الْقُلُوبِ الْمُوَافِقِ لِلْكِتَابِ وَالسُّنَّةِ مَا هُوَ أَكْثَرُ مِمَّا يُرَدُّ مِنْهُ، فَلِهَذَا اخْتَلَفَ فِيهِ اجْتِهَادُ النَّاسِ وَتَنَازَعُوا فِيهِ.» Translation: “However, in this book, the words of Sufi sheikhs and mystics who are steadfast in the actions of the hearts are mentioned, which is in accordance with the Book and the Sunnah, and its amount is more than the parts that are criticized; therefore, the views of scholars about this book are different, and not all of them disagree with it.”
Criticisms of Allamah Ibn Al-Jawzi
Most of the criticisms regarding weak and questionable hadiths were raised by Allamah Ibn Al-Jawzi, MABH. He believes that the reason for this weakness is Imam Al-Ghazali’s lack of involvement and specialization in the science of hadith. Hafiz Zayn al-Din Al-Iraqi, the author of Al-Alfiyyah, classified all hadiths in Ihya and determined the rank of each one. Ibn Al-Jawzi also pointed out some of Al-Ghazali’s historical tolerances and concluded from them that he did not have much involvement in the science of history either.
Ibn Al-Jawzi’s Second Criticism:
Ibn Al-Jawzi also objects that Imam Al-Ghazali (MABH) has narrated stories from Sufis in the discussions of treating certain heart diseases, such as hypocrisy and ambition, which are not worthy of imitation and are difficult to prove permissible from a jurisprudential perspective.
However, Ibn Al-Jawzi did not deny the importance and popularity of Ihya’ al-Ulum al-Din. He even summarized this book and removed the objectionable content, writing a work called Minhaj al-Qasiddin. This book is a summary of Ihya’ al-Ulum al-Din, which, although parts of it have been removed, still retains the influence and spirit of the original work.
Conclusion
Ihya’ al-Ulum al-Din is the outstanding work of Imam Muhammad al-Ghazali (MABH) and is one of the most important intellectual and educational works in the history of Islamic civilization. It has been widely influential among Muslims all over the world. This great work, encompassing a series of religious, moral, philosophical, and educational topics, is recognized as one of the main sources for self-refinement, spiritual purification, and individual and social reform. In this book, Imam Ghazali addresses the profound and fundamental reform of the individual and social lives of Muslims and applies Islamic teachings comprehensively to promote faith and righteous action.
The Reformative and Educational Purpose of the Book
One of the most important aspects of Ihya’ Ulum al-Din is its reformative and educational purpose. In this work, Imam Ghazali specifically addresses the reformation of the spirit and morality of Muslims, striving to elevate them towards a spiritual and moral life where knowledge and action seamlessly align. Ghazali clearly states that the purpose of religion is not solely to worship and adore Allah but also to purify the soul, control sensual desires, strengthen morality, and enhance individual and social behavior. In other words, Ghazali’s purpose in writing Ihya is to educate people to be not only scientifically knowledgeable but also morally and spiritually refined.
In Ihya, Al-Ghazali emphasizes the importance of purifying the heart and soul, asserting that to achieve human perfection, one must begin refining their souls through self-awareness. He maintains that by purifying their hearts and intending sincerely, individuals can worship Allah and follow the commands of religion – the only path to true happiness.
Criticism of Worldly Ambition and Desires
One of the significant issues that Imam Al-Ghazali addresses in Ihya’ Ulum al-Din is the concept of ambition (the desire for status) and its negative impacts on individuals. In this book, he insightfully defines worldly ambition and desires as major obstacles to human perfection and attaining Allah’s pleasure. He argues that the love of position and status distracts one from the remembrance of Allah, leading individuals to pursue ephemeral and material gains instead of seeking life’s ultimate goal: Allah’s pleasure.
Ghazali warns that the pursuit of power and prestige not only misleads individuals but also fosters moral and social corruption. He posits that many sins and social issues stem from this desire for status. Accordingly, in Ihya, Ghazali endeavors to guide Muslims away from worldly desires and toward a meaningful life focused on getting closer to Allah and purifying the soul. He concludes that only by relinquishing the love of worldly status can one achieve inner peace and spiritual fulfillment.
Various Educational Dimensions in the Book
Ihya’ Ulum al-Din, as a comprehensive educational work, presents a series of moral, social, scientific, and religious teachings. Imam Ghazali seeks to reform all aspects of a Muslim’s life with a broad perspective. He intricately examines topics such as soul refinement, spirit reformation, moral education, controlling the desires, and striving for spiritual excellence. In Ihya, Ghazali instructs individuals to not only observe religious rules but also to remain attentive to their ethics and behavior, continually working to cultivate and educate their hearts.
Islamic Psychology and Reforming the Heart
A unique aspect of Ihya’ Ulum al-Din is its focus on Islamic psychology and the reformation of the heart. In this book, Imam Ghazali analyzes heart diseases and offers therapeutic approaches. He identifies diseases such as hypocrisy, envy, grudges, attachment to worldly matters, love of position, and arrogance as the most significant heart ailments, and he explains remedies through Islamic behavior and practices. Ghazali asserts that only by purifying the heart and the soul can one achieve spiritual fulfillment and attain happiness in both this world and the next.
Cultural and Social Impacts
Ihya’ al-Ulum al-Din has made profound and extensive impacts not only on the individual level but also socially and culturally. Ghazali stresses that individual reform is incomplete without societal reform. Thus, he contends that a healthy and dynamic society can only be achieved when individuals foster their own moral and spiritual growth. He also addresses the necessity of creating an Islamic, moral society in Ihya and offers solutions for societal reform.
Criticisms and Challenges
Despite Ihya’ al-Ulum al-Din being celebrated as a monumental work in Islamic history, it has faced critiques from some Sunni scholars. One significant criticism pertains to the narration of weak and questionable hadith within the book. Many renowned hadith scholars, including Ibn Al-Jawzi and Hafiz Zayn al-Din Al-Iraqi, have pointed out that Imam Ghazali included certain weak and even fabricated narrations due to his insufficient expertise in hadith science. This criticism has led some scholars to call for a careful comparison of narrations with reliable sources.
Long-Term Effects
Ihya’ al-Ulum al-Din has profoundly influenced Islamic history and the lives of Muslims. It has served as an intellectual, educational, and moral resource not only during its time of composition but also in successive centuries. Numerous Islamic scholars and thinkers have drawn from the teachings of Ihya’ al-Ulum al-Din in their writings, and it continues to be utilized as a primary source in addressing educational, moral, and spiritual topics in Islamic schools and universities.
Conclusion
The book Ihya’ Ulum al-Din by Imam Ghazali (MABH) is one of the most distinguished Islamic works, addressing individual and social reform while guiding Muslims towards spiritual, moral, and scientific perfection. This comprehensive examination of educational and moral issues presents readers with avenues to achieve inner peace, heart, and soul reform, ultimately leading to happiness in both this world and the Hereafter. Although criticism has been made regarding the inclusion of weak and questionable hadith, the impact of this work on the history of Islam and in Muslim societies is undeniable. It remains a key source in the realms of education and morality.
Continues…
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