Ghazali On The Principles Of Islamic Spirituality

Many consider Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (1058-1111) the all-time greatest scholar of Islam. One of the great legal scholars of his time, he was also one of the foremost scholars of theology, philosophy and Sufism. His writings on the interrelation of law, theology and mysticism were central in establishing Sufism as a core dimension of orthodox Islamic practice. Muslim communities all across the world today still base much of their practice of Islam on Ghazali’s writings. Forty Foundations of Religion is Ghazali’s own summary of his magnum opus, The Revival of Religious Knowledge, which he described as the “very essence of the knowledge of the Qur’an.” The Foundations are a brief and powerful summary of Islamic faith, worship, law and spirituality. For all who are interested in Eastern spirituality, Sufism and interfaith dialogue, Foundations offers a concise and affordable alternative to the extensive (and expensive) translations of the original Revival of Religious Knowledge.

This is the first publication of significant portions of the Foundations in English. Original translations of selected highlights are accompanied by insightful commentary that makes the core message of this great spiritual master relevant to anyone seeking a balanced understanding of Islam.