Ghazali on the Principles of Islamic Sprituality

Aaron Spevack, PhD, is assistant professor of Islam in the Religious Studies Department at Loyola University, New Orleans. He specializes in Islamic intellectual history, including law, theology and Sufism. He is also a founder and director of Boston's Bukhari Institute, which offers educational programs on the arts and sciences of the Islamic world.M. Fethullah Gülen is an authoritative and popular Turkish Muslim scholar, imam, preacher and civil society activist. He has extensive knowledge and teaching experience in Islamic scholarship, and is a prolific author with more than sixty books translated into many languages.

• Foreword: Al-Ghazali and the Tradition of Islamic Renewal ixIntroduction xvAl-Ghazali's Introduction 3BOOK IThe Science of BeliefThe First Foundation: Allah's Entity 9The Second Foundation: His Sacredness 13The Third Foundation: Allah’s Omnipotent Power 17The Fourth Foundation: Allah’s Omniscient Knowledge 19The Fifth Foundation: Allah’s Will 21The Sixth Foundation: Allah’s Hearing and Seeing 25The Seventh Foundation: Allah’s Speech 27The Eighth Foundation: His Actions 29The Ninth Foundation: The Last Day 33The Tenth Foundation: Prophecy 37Conclusion 39BOOK IIOutward ActionsThe First Foundation: Ritual Prayer 43The Second Foundation: Poor Tax and Charity 51The Third Foundation: Fasting 59The Fourth Foundation: Hajj, the Pilgrimage to Mecca 63The Fifth Foundation: Recitation of Qur’an 69The Sixth Foundation: Regarding Remembrance of Allah Mighty and Majestic in Every State 79The Seventh Foundation: Seeking the Permissible 85The Eighth Foundation: Establishing the Rights of the Believers and Keeping Good Company 91The Ninth Foundation: Commanding the Right and Forbidding the Wrong 99The Tenth Foundation: Regarding Following the Sunnah 105Conclusion: Regarding the Ordering of Your Litanies That Incline You Toward These Ten Foundations … 109BOOK IIIPurification of the HeartThe First Foundation: The Evils Related to Food 115The Second Foundation: The Evils Related to Speech 121The Third Foundation: Anger 131The Fourth Foundation: Envy 135The Fifth Foundation: Stinginess and Love of Wealth 141The Sixth Foundation: Frivolity and Love of Prestige 151The Seventh Foundation: Love of the World 163The Eighth Foundation: Arrogance 171The Ninth Foundation: Pride 181The Tenth Foundation: Ostentation 187Conclusion: The Entirety of [Blameworthy] Character Traits and the Places Where You Fall into Delusions with Regard to Them 205BOOK IVMeritorious Character TraitsThe First Foundation: Repentance 213The Second Foundation: Fear 219The Third Foundation: Abstinence 225The Fourth Foundation: Patience 233The Fifth Foundation: Gratitude 241The Sixth Foundation: Sincerity and Truthfulness 245The Seventh Foundation: Reliance on Allah 257The Eighth Foundation: Love 267The Ninth Foundation: Contentment with Divine Destiny 281The Tenth Foundation: Remembering Death and Its Reality, and the Categories of Spiritual Punishments 287Conclusion 295Epilogue 296Notes 297Selected Bibliography 300

Islamic spirituality can be a trying thing in the modern day. Ghazali on the Principles of Islamic Spirituality is a translated and annotated study of the work of this eleventh century Islamic scholar who discussed much fo the faith's early philosophy and theology, and whose work remains quite relevant even to the modern day. Sufism is a major element of orthodox Islam practices, and presents a great deal to consider. Ghazali on the Principles of Islamic Spirituality is a core addition to any community and library Islamic and general religious studies collection.