Theological, Mystical and Ethical Thought of Muhammad al-Ghazali

This article seeks to find the foundation of Imam Muhammad al-Ghazali’s theological, mystical and ethical thought. The purpose of what Ghazali teaches as morality is Sufi education. Ghazali’s mystical ethics is reflected in the form of self-discipline in Iḥyāʾ ʿulūm al-dīn. This book is one of the most important theological, mystical and ethical works that has always been the focus of the scholars of the Islamic world and beyond. By relying on the ethical and mystical rereading of religious sources and texts, Ghazali caused major changes and reconsiderations in epistemology, ontology, methodology, anthropology and sociology. His mystical path and conduct enjoys ten main stages or positions, each of which pertains to obtaining one of the attributes leading to salvation or the “rescuers”. Ghazali’s mystical and ethical thought originates from his Islamic theological perspective. Although Ghazali rejected philosophy and Kalam in several works, such as Iljām al-ʿAwām ʿan ʿIlm il-Kalām, Tahāfut al-Falāsifah, and Iḥyāʾ ʿulūm al-dīn, he himself used these two sciences in some instances. Ghazali advises masses not to get close to Kalam and philosophy. He does not ignore any of mysticism, ethics and politics but has a comprehensive perspective towards them. Ghazali is one of the famous scholars in the Islamic world in jurisprudence, theology, philosophy, mysticism, ethics and other Islamic sciences.