Page 102 - The Importance of the Ahl Al-Sunnah
P. 102

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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