Critical analysis of Ghazali's thoughts about women based on the historical context of Islamic society

Muhammad Ghazali is one of the most prominent thinkers and the most influential religious scholars who called for the reform and revival of religion, he is one of the leaders of the movement of returning to predecessor. The teaching of the principles and pillars of religion, the way of governance and other customs such as marriage customs have been taken into consideration in his works, in which he also mentions his opinions about women. In this research, Imam Mohammad Ghazali's view on issues related to women was explored and investigated with descriptive analytical method and critical approach, then the historical, cultural and social contexts influencing Ghazali's thinking were analyzed. In the Ghazali's works, there are thoughts about women that contradict the tradition of the Prophet (PBUH) and his practice. A closer examination of his views on women reveals the cultural view of the society in which Ghazali lived. It seems that some of Ghazali's views were influenced by Pre-Islam’s culture and changes in Islamic society after the death of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). The presence of orders such as consulting with women and acting contrary to it or women being created from crooked ribs, locking women at home and depriving them of education, placing women in the ranks of servants and slaves, and emphasizing the function of women bearing children are the topics emphasized in the thoughts of Ghazali that is against Islamic & Quranic teachings & directly related to the cultural changes of the Islamic society after the death of the Prophet (PBUH).