AHYA ULUM-ID-DIN | Imam Ghazali | English Translation

AHYA ULUM-ID-DIN (Revival of Religious Learnings) by Imam Abu Hamid Al-Ghazzali Translated by: Fazlul Karim Deluxe Edition Pages: 1320 ———————————————————— Hujjatul Islam Imam Abu Hamid Muhammad Al Ghazali is undoubtedly an original thinker, great Sufi, and theologian of Islam. Soon after completing education he was appointed Head of Nizamiyah Madrassah by Prime Minister of Malek Shah as a recognition to his abilities. Soon his popularity spread far and wide as a scholar. Imam lived for 55 years and wrote nearly 400 books on various subjects ranging from theology, jurisprudence, logic, philosophy, and spiritualism.   Here’s an extract from the preface of Ihya Ulum id Din, written by Imam Ghazali himself:   “…….I have divided this Ihya unto four books: (1) The Book of Worship (2) The Book of Worldly Usages (3) The Book of Destructive Evils (4) and The Book of Constructive Virtues. I have discussed the Chapter of Knowledge in the very beginning as it is of extreme importance. It is necessary to discuss such learning at the outset which is a great help towards divine service according to a saying of the Holy Prophet. He said: To seek learning is compulsory on every Muslim. I began with the chapter on knowledge in order to separate the useful knowledge from the harmful knowledge as the Prophet said: To seek refuge to God from the Knowledge which is not useful.   …….Some people wrote some books on these subjects, but this book has got five special characteristics which are not found in those books. Firstly, I have opened by the grace of God what they closed up and I have written in detail what they kept secret. Secondly, I have arranged what they kept scattered and I have brought together what they kept separate. Thirdly, I have made short what they made long and corrected what they approved. Fourthly, I have deleted what they repeated. Fifthly, I have made this book easy to understand after disclosing the subtle matters. These are five specialties of this book…………” deleted what they repeated. Fifthly, I have made this book easy to understand after disclosing the subtle matters. These are five specialties of this book…………”