إِحْيَاءُ عُلُومِ الدِّينِ
Abu Hamid Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Ghazali (1058–1111 CE), known in the West as “Algazel,” is widely considered one of the greatest Islamic scholars who ever lived. His masterwork, “Ihya Ulum al-Din” (Revival of the Religious Sciences), transformed Islamic scholarship and remains studied to this day.
Crisis of Faith and Transformation
Al-Ghazali was appointed head of the Nizamiyya academy in Baghdad at age 34 — the most prestigious academic position in the Islamic world. At the peak of his success, he experienced a profound spiritual crisis. He could no longer speak, ate almost nothing, and abandoned his position — leaving for a decade of wandering, prayer, and reflection in Syria, Jerusalem, Hebron, and Mecca.
Ihya Ulum al-Din
The result of his transformation was the monumental “Ihya” — 40 books divided into four sections: acts of worship, social customs, spiritual destructive traits, and spiritual saving traits. The work brilliantly synthesizes Sharia (Islamic law), tasawwuf (spirituality), and philosophy into a unified vision of Islamic life. Imam al-Nawawi said: “Almost the Ihya deserves to be called the Quran.”
Legacy
Al-Ghazali’s “Incoherence of the Philosophers” (Tahafut al-Falasifa) systematically critiqued the Greek-influenced Islamic philosophers of his time. His work on Islamic logic, ethics, and jurisprudence left an indelible mark. Western scholars, including Thomas Aquinas, were influenced by his writings — making him a bridge between Islamic and European intellectual traditions.