The Ethical Philosophy of Al-Ghazzali by M Umaruddin

This book is a thesis on ethical philosophy of Imam Al-Ghazzālī based on his book Ihya’ Ulumuddin. The framework is easy to be understood and it was organised systematically. It elaborates the universal and humanitarian outlook of philosophy of Al-Ghazzali as well.

You have given a clear and well arranged analysis which shall be useful as an introduction to the subject I have read it with pleasure and interest. – Prof. R.A. Nicholson. Cambridge University, England

It is a very interesting account of Al-Ghazzali’s Ethical teaching. Your thesis is inspiring. – Dr. Sir Muhammad Iqbal, Lahore

I have read your book with the greatest interest and I regard it as a serious contribution to the study of one of the greatest Muslim philosophers. I can find no criticism to make. Your subject is very convincingly and lucidly set forth. – Dr. De Lacy O’Leary, Bristol University, England

I am so glad you are making contributions to Muslim literature. – Abdullah Yousuf Ali, Lahore

In my opinion this is a penetrating and comprehensive work. The structure is all embracing. This can be seen by the way single points have been worked out. But the first impression is very good. The richness of problems and ideas which is brought out by Al-Ghazzālī should clearly be displayed and this is more or less achieved in the present work.
(Prof. M Horten, University of Breslau, Germany)

Pray and accept my sincere thanks for your book on the ‘Psychological Basis of the Imam Al-Ghazzālī’s Religious Philosophy’ which I have read with the greatest interest and delight. You have succeeded in giving a lucid exposition. – Prof. Dr. F. Krenkow, Cambridge University, England

I have read your book with the greatest interest. You have stated the views of the Imam in a very successful manner, putting them in modern scientific language easily intelligible to the student of Psychology. – Prof. Mohammad Shafi, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

Abu Hamid Muhammad, famous in the world of learning as al-Ghazzālī was born in 450 AH (1058 A.D.) in Persia. He graduated from the Nizamia Madressa at Nishapur, with distinction, a very famous educational institution in Nishapur. Later he was appointed as a teacher at the Nizamia College in Baghdad, where he proved very successful in imparting knowledge to the scholars under his care. This valuable gift of sustaining interest of his pupils and passing on his knowledge to them made him so famous that students from all parts of the country flocked to study under him.

Imam al-Ghazzālī was fondly referred to as the Hujjat-ul-lslam, ‘Proof of Islam’, He is honoured as a scholar and a saint by learned men all over the world.

Al-Ghazzālī is generally acclaimed as the most influential thinker of the Classical period of Islam, in his autobiography The Deliverance from Error, the Imam describes his education and his intellectual crisis, which left him so paralysed by doubt that he gave up his academic pursuits and worldly interests and became a wandering ascetic. This was a process (period) of mystical transformation. Later, he resumed his teaching duties, but again left these. An era of solitary life, devoted to contemplation and writing then ensued, which led to the authorship of a number of everlasting books.