Al-Ghazālī's conception of the purification of the self: Reflections from Iḥyā’ ‘Ulūm al-Dīn (revival of the religious knowledge)

Abstract

Al-Ghazālī's name and his book Iḥyā’ ‘Ulūm al-Dīn are attached to self-purification, which is an essential part in the religion of Islam. This study does not seek to analyze all the details of Al-Ghazālī's program to purify the self. Rather, it focuses on delineating a framework - from Iḥyā’ ‘Ulūm al-Dīn - concerning his understanding of self-purification. This framework mainly includes his method of purifying the self. In the midst of this, many of Al-Ghazālī's psychological insights are extracted, under the umbrella of the Islamic perspective of psychology. Among these insights are some related to his perception of the human nature. In addition, some of Al-Ghazālī's educational views are highlighted. The study's findings are manifold. One finding is that the different parts of Al-Ghazālī's scheme of purifying the self are interlinked and complementary to each other. Therefore, a profound and integrated reading of Iḥyā’ ‘Ulūm al-Dīn is required in order to get a true expression of Al-Ghazālī's conception of purifying the self in this book. As to his program of self-purification, it involves impacting the whole being of the person. Although it begins with the knowing and adopting the true beliefs, it extends to heart's states among which some are qualities accompanied by specified emotions. And accordingly, one's deeds change. Moreover, Al-Ghazālī's encouragement of the best choices to be adopted by the seeker does not prevent him from considering the different states of seekers. This attitude of him is not only applied to his own recommendations, but he advises the learned guides to follow it with the seekers. So this way reflects one of his educational views. Some other educational opinions of Al-Ghazālī are untraditional like what this study names "balance disguised in extreme" as well as the impact of the teacher's heart on the learner's heart. Al-Ghazālī puts the outcomes of purifying the self on the person in this world as the felicity of knowing and loving Allāh more, without any stopping of the acts of worship.

Department

Arab & Islamic Civilizations Department

Degree Name

MA in Arabic Studies

Graduation Date

2-1-2017

Submission Date

September 2017

First Advisor

Serag, Mohammad

Committee Member 1

Stelzer, Steffen

Committee Member 2

El Saadi, Hoda

Extent

119 p.

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Rights

The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy.

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