Al-Ghazali on Vigilance Self-Examination

The Revival of the Religious Sciences #38

by Abu Hamid al-Ghazali, Anthony Shaker (Translator)

Al-Ghazali on Vigilance and Self-examination is the thirty-eighth chapter of the Revival of the Religious Sciences and follows on from Al-Ghazali on Intention, Sincerity & Truthfulness. Here Ghazali focuses on the different stations of steadfastness in religion (muraba?a), vigilance and self-examination being its cornerstones. As in all his writings, Ghazali bases his arguments on the Qur’an, the example of the Prophet and the sayings of numerous scholars and Sufis. As relevant today as it was in the 11th century, this discourse will be of interest to anyone concerned with ethics and moral philosophy.

Genres: Islam, Religion

164 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 2015

About the author

أبو حامد الغزالي

Muslim theologian and philosopher Abu Hamid al-Ghazali of Persia worked to systematize Sufism, Islamic mysticism, and in The Incoherence of the Philosophers (1095) argued the incompatibility of thought of Plato and Aristotle with Islam.

Born in 1058, Abū Ḥāmid Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad al-Ghazālī ranked of the most prominent and influential Sunni jurists of his origin.

Islamic tradition considers him to be a Mujaddid, a renewer of the faith who, according to the prophetic hadith, appears once every century to restore the faith of the ummah ("the Islamic Community"). His works were so highly acclaimed by his contemporaries that al-Ghazali was awarded the honorific title "Proof of Islam" (Hujjat al-Islam).

Al-Ghazali believed that the Islamic spiritual tradition had become moribund and that the spiritual sciences taught by the first generation of Muslims had been forgotten.[24] That resulted in his writing his magnum opus entitled Ihya 'ulum al-din ("The Revival of the Religious Sciences"). Among his other works, the Tahāfut al-Falāsifa ("Incoherence of the Philosophers") is a significant landmark in the history of philosophy, as it advances the critique of Aristotelian science developed later in 14th-century Europe.

أبو حامد محمد الغزّالي الطوسي النيسابوري الصوفي الشافعي الأشعري، أحد أعلام عصره وأحد أشهر علماء المسلمين في القرن الخامس الهجري،(450 هـ - 505 هـ / 1058م - 1111م). كان فقيهاً وأصولياً وفيلسوفاً، وكان صوفيّ الطريقةِ، شافعيّ الفقهِ إذ لم يكن للشافعية في آخر عصره مثلَه.، وكان على مذهب الأشاعرة في العقيدة، وقد عُرف كأحد مؤسسي المدرسة الأشعرية في علم الكلام، وأحد أصولها الثلاثة بعد أبي الحسن الأشعري، (وكانوا الباقلاني والجويني والغزّالي) لُقّب الغزالي بألقاب كثيرة في حياته، أشهرها لقب "حجّة الإسلام"، وله أيضاً ألقاب مثل: زين الدين، ومحجّة الدين، والعالم الأوحد، ومفتي الأمّة، وبركة الأنام، وإمام أئمة الدين، وشرف الأئمة.
كان له أثرٌ كبيرٌ وبصمةٌ واضحةٌ في عدّة علوم مثل الفلسفة، والفقه الشافعي، وعلم الكلام، والتصوف، والمنطق، وترك عدداَ من الكتب في تلك المجالات.ولد وعاش في طوس، ثم انتقل إلى نيسابور ليلازم أبا المعالي الجويني (الملقّب بإمام الحرمين)، فأخذ عنه معظم العلوم، ولمّا بلغ عمره 34 سنة، رحل إلى بغداد مدرّساً في المدرسة النظامية في عهد الدولة العباسية بطلب من الوزير السلجوقي نظام الملك. في تلك الفترة اشتُهر شهرةً واسعةً، وصار مقصداً لطلاب العلم الشرعي من جميع البلدان، حتى بلغ أنه كان يجلس في مجلسه أكثر من 400 من أفاضل الناس وعلمائهم يستمعون له ويكتبون عنه العلم. وبعد 4 سنوات من التدريس قرر اعتزال الناس والتفرغ للعبادة وتربية نفسه، متأثراً بذلك بالصّوفية وكتبهم، فخرج من بغداد خفيةً في رحلة طويلة بلغت 11 سنة، تنقل خلالها بين دمشق والقدس والخليل ومكة والمدينة المنورة، كتب خلالها كتابه المشهور إحياء علوم الدين كخلاصة لتجربته الروحية، عاد بعدها إلى بلده طوس متخذاً بجوار بيته مدرسةً للفقهاء، وخانقاه (مكان للتعبّد والعزلة) للصوفية.

Reviews

[Wayfarer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book although small in size is immense in benefit. It's arrangement and orientation is towards the practical implementation of the spiritual exercise of heightended vigilance and introspection; which undoubtedly lies at the heart of any spiritual endeavour and lifestyle. The book's (or more accurately chapter - as it is a section of the famed Ihya Ulum al-Din authored by Imam al-Ghazali) value lies in the fact that it is akin to a mirror into which a person sees their true state of inadequacy, all false pretensions and imaginings fall away. It quite adequately tears down the veil of hypocrisy and delusion that we tend to cover ourselves with, often unconsciously overtime. This book is highly recommended for all; especially the serious and truthful seeker of the Divine - who can dispense without such a mirror that facilitates the ability to look into the deepest recesses of one's soul? And, enabling grace is only by God.

[Farhad · Rating 5 out of 5]

"He is astute who calls it to account (his soul) and acts for what lies heyond death. He is foolish who lets his soul follow its appetites and then wishes for God."

"Why then do you desire the purity of others when you yourself are unclean?"

"However much one examines his soul, it will be free neither of the temptation to sin nor of being negligent in respect of God's right. Therefore, he must not neglect his soul. Neglecting it facilitates his temptation to sin, to which his soul may grow accustomed and then find it difficult to shed it. This is what causes the ruin of the soul."

[aryanum · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book woke me up in a sense. We are all lulled in a sleep, in a trance of this world and it’s important that we take our souls into account before they’re taken account of

A small book but amazing thoughts

A quote that really hit me:

“Sustenance is [of two kinds] : one which you seek and one that seeks you. If you do not come it, it will come you. If you regret what has slipped from you, regret not then has not occurred. Inquire about what has not happened through what has.”

Read that again. And again

I will copy part of my review from ghazali’s breaking the two desires book cuz same thoughts

“Sorry in advance for this completely stupid millennial sounding review but that’s the only way I can truly convey what I went through with this book

First off, God gave this manz a MIND like omg

Throughout this book my mind was constantly going pookh pookh pookh 🤯🤯🤯

Second, this is one of those “Books you have to read before you die” but Islamic version, cuz any spiritual wayfarer should have this knowledge in their mind because truly, what imam ghazali mentioned, something along the lines of the spiritual essence of Islam just dying out and if it was bad back in his day, what abt today? It’s even worse

Also it is absolutely amazing to me, like ghazali ain’t ghazali for no reason, he’s not known for no reason, over the coarse of 2 years, while teaching students, practicing religion, and going abt his private life, in the little snippets of time he had, he spent studying Greek philosophy, and in the 3rd year, he compiled that information with Islamic facts like Quran and Sunnah and essentially CONVERTED GREEK PHILOSOPHY TO THE ISLAMIC VERSION LIKE WHAT

bro pls go and read this book now “

[Rahim R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is unlike anything I’ve ever read. So honest and refreshing. Exposes us completely. Would recommend 100%.

[Sadeem Sajid · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book exhausted my supply of sticky pointers or whatever you call them. I rarely come across a book that is pragmatic, full of knowledge, and yet incredibly interesting to read, but this was one of those books. I can't stress this enough. If one acts upon the advice given in this book, then you can literally turn your entire life around.

Here are a few of my favourite lines from the book:

"Said Ahmad b. Harb, 'How odd for someone who knows that paradise stands adorned above him and that Hellfire is kindled below him—how could he sleep between them."

"Woe unto you, O soul, you turn away from the Hereafter, but it draws closer to you; you approach the world while turns away from you."

"God loves the critical gaze upon doubtful matters and the accomplished intellect at the onslaught of desires" (supposedly a hadith, I haven't checked its authenticity).

But really, quoting a few lines doesn't do justice to it. I think this is a necessary read. May Allāh have mercy upon the great Imām al-Ghazali and forgive him and us and all Muslims.

[I.P · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for all. SubhanAllah chapter 6 of this book was just full of gems and really made one reflect.

“How can you admire your deeds in view of the number of your sins and lapses? God cursed Iblis for a single sin* even after he had worshipped Him for two hundred thousand years. Adam was expelled by God from the garden for one sin, although he was His prophet and regent.”

[Hafidz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful set of books (Ihya) for those who are on the spiritual path in Islam and wants to read more than the Quran and books of hadiths. Style of writing may be complex initially.

[ايسار محمد الخير · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is mystical and practical all at once. Abundantly insightful. Took me on a journey of introspection and then gave me ways to channel those reflections into change.

[kadeja]

this was out of this world, i will forever remember it

[Maryam Baghai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gems of wisdom! But, some impossible standards to follow in modern life.