Author: Obaidullah Nimruzi
The Biography of Abu Hamed Imam Muhammad al-Ghazali [MABH] (Part 32)
Allamah Ibn Khaldun and his opinion on the uprising of Muhammad bin Abdullah
Allamah Ibn Khaldun writes about the uprising of Muhammad bin Abdullah Tumart and his relationship with Imam Ghazali (MABH) as people mistakenly think. Muhammad bin Abdullah met with Imam Ghazali (MABH) and consulted about his decisions. In fact, Imam Ghazali (MABH) approved Muhammad bin Abdullah’s decisions after examining the circumstances, because at that time Islam had become extremely weak throughout the Islamic world and none of the rulers were able to organize the Islamic nation and guide it towards the rules of Islam. Imam Ghazali (MABH) asked Muhammad bin Abdullah whether he had the ability and resources necessary to establish and maintain a new government. After ensuring his readiness, Imam Ghazali (MABH) allowed him to begin his uprising.
Establishment of a New Government by Muhammad ibn Abdullah Tumart
Muhammad ibn Abdullah founded a government that would last for a long time by returning to the slogan of enjoining the good. This government was known as the Al-Muwahhidin group. During the reign of Ali ibn Yusuf, oppression and corruption in society had reached its peak. Military officers openly entered people’s homes and violated the honor of women. During this period, strange behaviors became common in the court of Ali ibn Yusuf; men covered their faces with a veil and women showed their faces without a veil. These people who wore such a covering were called Multasemin.
Muhammad ibn Abdullah Tumart seriously confronted these baseless customs, and he overthrew the government of the Mulamin over time and established a new government; but since he was not interested in position and power, he placed a worthy person named Abdul-Mu’min on the throne. The rule of Abdul-Mu’min and his family continued in accordance with the wishes of Imam Ghazali (MABH), and the scientific merits and the advice of scholars in various matters were respected in this government.
Achievements of the Government of Abdul-Mu’min and His Family
Allama Ibn Khaldun writes in the third book of Akhbar al-Barbar, in the third chapter, about the government of Abdul-Mu’min and his family that the procedure of their government was such that they respected the scholars and used their advice in all matters. In this government, oppression of the subjects was punished and the hands of the oppressors were cut off from the heads of the oppressed. In the royal palace, mosques were built or rebuilt, and the needy were taken care of.
Muhammad ibn Abdullah and the uprising in Morocco
Muhammad ibn Abdullah protested with great courage and bravery against the corruption in the court in Morocco. One of the court scholars asked him why he was protesting against the just and Muslim king. Muhammad ibn Abdullah boldly replied: “Isn’t there free public buying and selling of wine in this city? Isn’t the property of orphans being taken?” His speech had a great impact, and even the king was moved and tears flowed from his eyes.
The Uprising and Victory of Muhammad ibn Abdullah
After these events, Muhammad ibn Abdullah went to Aghmat, and as time passed, a large crowd gathered around him. He began his uprising and declared an independent monarchy based on Islamic principles by the help and cooperation of the Mohamedah tribe. During this period, the country’s borders, especially those bordering Europe, were heavily guarded by the army, and conquests continued to increase.
This government, founded by Muhammad ibn Abdullah, is known as an example of the power of faith, courage, and social and religious reforms in the history of Islam. [1]
The profound impact of Imam Ghazali on the Islamic world
The results of the efforts and writings of Imam Ghazali, MABH, who is known as one of the greatest scientists in the history of Islam with his scientific and practical perfections, left a wide impact on the Islamic world. His life-giving works in scientific circles created intellectual independence and a wave of freedom among Muslims and gave them new strength. Imam Ghazali’s works were accepted in the scientific and intellectual circles of Muslims, whether they agreed with him or opposed him, and after hundreds of years of various changes and revolutions, his name and valuable works are still alive. His works are still popular and used among a large number of Muslims today.
The need for public call and reform of Muslim morality
Although Imam Ghazali, MABH, was one of the prominent and influential figures in the field of science and reform; the Muslim community still needed public call and widespread moral reform. Instead of addressing scientific matters and religious doubts, a large number of Muslims were caught in moral weakness, lack of action, negligence and ignorance. It was urgent to treat these social diseases. Therefore, a person was needed who, through sweet speech and close contact with the masses, purified the people with his call and sermons, and revived the religious and faith spirit in them. Over the past four hundred years, tyrannical governments had corrupted the morals of Muslims and led society towards worldliness and moral corruption.
Moral and social poverty in Islamic society
During this period, the lives of many Muslims were aimed at achieving wealth, position and status; although these people believed in Allah and the Day of Judgment; but they were immersed in neglect of the Hereafter and in worldly pleasures in practice. In addition, non-Islamic civilization and culture had influenced the lives of Muslims. Ignorant customs and foreign habits had entered the lives of Muslims, and Islamic standards of living had dropped drastically. As a result, new social classes had emerged whose main goal in life was only to attain wealth and status.
The Golden Age of the Fifth Century AH and the Emergence of Prominent Scholars
The fifth century AH in Islamic history was a period of growth and progress in various sciences, especially in religious, intellectual, and literary sciences. During this period, prominent figures such as Allama Abu Ishaq Shirazi, Imam Ghazali, Abu Al-Wafa Ibn Aqil, Abu Zakaria Tabrizi, and Abul-Qasim Hariri emerged, who influenced the taste and thoughts of Muslims for hundreds of years. For this period, the presence of a person with scientific qualifications and practical perfections was necessary, who had the ability to confront intellectual and social deviations and achieve a high position in all the popular sciences of his time, a person who could guide people towards reform and faith with eloquent and scientific expression.
The Emergence of Two Prominent Figures in the Era of Imam Ghazali
In such circumstances, two prominent figures, namely Sayidina Abdul Qadir Jilani and Allama Abdul Rahman Ibn Juri, are known as great master’s in Islamic history. Given the difference in temperament and taste of the two, each of them had a great impact on the lives of Muslims in their time. Allah Almighty strengthened the religion of Islam for the Muslims of the world through these two great personalities. Both of them were active in the city of Baghdad, which at that time was the intellectual and scientific center of the Islamic world and the capital of science and politics. The interesting point is that Allah had granted both of these personalities a long life and a wide field to serve religion and Islam.
Two great figures, the honor of the Hanbali school of thought
Since both great personalities, Abdul Qadir Jilani and Allama Abdul Rahman Ibn Juri, followed the Hanbali school of thought, this school is considered a great honor in which these two prominent scholars served the Islamic world and gave it scientific and spiritual credibility.
Considering the exalted status of Sheikh Abdul-Qadir Gilani (MABH), I will, inshallah, write about his blessed life in future research.
Continues…
[1]. Al-Ghazali, pp. 245-248.
