Page 102 - The Importance of the Ahl Al-Sunnah

HARUN YAHYA

Baghdad and began teaching them from his own work, Ihya’ al-
‘Ulum al-Din. When the unity of the Muslims in Anatolia
wavered, he was recalled to Tus by the Seljuk vizier. Under the
patronage of Sultan Sanjar, all available opportunities were
placed at his disposal over the next twelve years. He contin-
ued to occupy himself with learning and preaching until the last
day of his life in 505 AH (1111 CE).
Imam al-Ghazali’s ideas represented a turning point in the
history of Islamic thought. In the late years of his life, he waged
a struggle against those ideas which were intrinsically opposed
to those of the Ahl al-Sunnah and he eliminated several tend-
encies which he strongly believed would lead Muslims onto
the wrong road.
Al-Ghazali wrote in one of his books:
“As we have said on the subject of the title of Muslim,
there is an example and a sign in the essence of marafat
(cognizance), and this is understood by those possessing
it. Nobody apart from those who have no dealings with
this world, who do not actively occupy themselves with it
and who spend their lives seeking and desiring nothing but
Allah can seek this truth. This is a long and difficult
endeavor. Let us therefore indicate that which is the food
of all. This is the creed of the Ahl al-Sunnah. For those
who hold this belief in their hearts, it will be the seed of
bliss and salvation.” (Kimiya’ al-Sa‘adat)
Imam al-Ghazali’s main works include:
1. The Ihya’ al-‘Ulum al-Din (The Revival of Religious Sciences)
is al-Ghazali’s best-known and largest work. It deals with the
subjects of fiqh and tasawwuf. It contains major sections each
with four books, consisting of forty books in total. Ever since it

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