Contents
Al-Ghazali
Writing The Revival of the Religious Sciences and challenging the claims of philosophical certainty.
The Incoherence of the Philosophers · The Revival of the Religious Sciences
- Born
- Unknown
- Birthplace
- Tus, present-day Iran
- Died
- 1111
More people
Al-Ghazali
Muslim theologian, jurist and Sufi thinker whose writings became influential across Islamic intellectual and spiritual life.
Early life
Khorasan origins
Grew up in the region around Tus; his exact birth year is disputed.
Scholarly training
Studied Islamic law and theology, including with al-Juwayni at Nishapur.
Career
- 1091
Teaching in Baghdad
Became a leading teacher at the Nizamiyya college.
- 1095
Leaving public office
Abandoned his position during a spiritual and intellectual crisis.
- Later years
Writing and return
Combined religious retreat, major writing and a later return to teaching.
Ideas & writings
The Incoherence of the Philosophers
A critique of particular philosophical arguments and conclusions.
The Revival of the Religious Sciences
A large work connecting religious practice with inner moral life.
Deliverance from Error
An account of his search for reliable knowledge and spiritual certainty.
Beyond philosophy
Spiritual discipline
His later life placed strong emphasis on Sufi practice and self-examination.
Law and theology
Remained deeply engaged with Islamic legal scholarship alongside his spiritual writing.
Sources & photo credit
Biography and references ↗Biography and contributions ↗Photo: Unknown author Unknown author — later drawing published in 1961. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
