Was imam ghazali a sufi

His Early Career

Imam al-Ghazali then left Nishapur and attended the assembly of the vizier Nizam al-Mulk. He devoted himself to it and attained a position of great importance therein due to his lofty rank and refined argumentation.

Abu hamid al ghazali quotes At the age of 27 al-Ghazali moved from eastern Persia to Baghdad and attached himself to Nizam al-Mulk , the powerful minister of the Seljuk rulers and a generous patron of scholarship and letters. Beginning with the Buwayh family in , who were supplanted in by the Seljuks, the disintegrating empire of the caliphs was partially restored by secular rulers who took power in Baghdad, eventually claiming the title of sultan while retaining the caliphs of the Abbasid dynasty as useful figureheads. He lived for a time in Damascus in modern-day Syria , made a pilgrimage to Mecca in modern-day Saudi Arabia , and visited Egypt. Imam al-Ghazali must be seen within the tradition of Othodox Sunni scholarship.

The gathering of Nizam al-Mulk was the flocking place of revered scholars and the aim of imams of merit. It was there that Imam Ghazali had many chances to demonstrate his prowess in debating luminaries.

Imam al-Ghazali name became known and his fame spread. Nizam al-Mulk decreed that he travel to Baghdad in order to teach at al-Nizamiyyah, so he set out.

His teaching and debating received unanimous approval whereupon he became the Imam of Iraq after having attained the status of Imam of Khorasan.

Abu hamid al ghazali books The Imam would boast of him and hold his closeness to him in high regard. Some observers went as far as denouncing him for engaging in polemics in the first place. Similar to the dreamer, the one in the grave may feel pain and pleasure without the physical body being a part of this experience. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation.

His rank in Baghdad rose above that of princes, viziers, men of reverence, and the household of the Caliphate.

Turning Away from His Worldly Position

Then the situation changed, and he began to view his life from a different perspective. He left Baghdad despite his rank, pre-occupied with matters of devoutness.

In A.H. he set out for Damascus and resided there a short period of time. He then left Damascus for Jerusalem.

Abu hamid al ghazali biography After this time in the world of graves barzakh , the human being will be resurrected on the Day of Judgment. According to Sunni belief, the perceptible ability of senses is heightened as soon as the human being departs this world. Al-Ghazali's father died while he and his brother, Ahmad, were still children. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.

There, he began composing his book The Revival of Religious Sciences and started working on disciplining his soul, changing his character traits, improving his nature, and refining his lifestyle.

Hereby, the devil of frivolity, the pursuit of leadership and rank, and the adoption of the mannerisms of the exalted morphed into tranquility, noble manners, the abandonment of formalities and embellishments, wearing the raiment of the pious, and being undeluded by fanciful optimism.

He instituted waqfs for the purpose of guiding mankind, calling them to what concerns them in the Hereafter, hating this world and preoccupation with it amongst spiritual travelers, preparing for travel to the eternal abode, and yielding to anyone who shows signs of spiritual insight or from whom one smells the fragrance of gnosis or spiritual awareness of any effulgence of beholding the Divine.

He continued as such until he became accustomed to it and relented.

He then returned to his homeland, staying home, occupying himself with reflection, and tenaciously managing his time - a rare gem that would strike terror in hearts.