Revival of the Religious Sciences : New,
An Abridgement of Ihya Ulum al-Din,
*[A5+] Hardback/Cloth inc. Dustjacket 617 pages,
by Imam al-Ghazali [d.505h],
Abridged by Salih Ahmad al-Shami,
Translated by Mokrane Guezzou,
Published by Serenity Publications.
Back in Stock September 2023
Description :
Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (450/1058–505/1111)—master jurist, mystic, philosopher, and theologian—is one of the most famous scholars in the history of Islam. After becoming an eminent professor in Baghdad at a young age, al-Ghazali was beset by a deep spiritual crisis which propelled him to abandon his career and to instead take up the life of an itinerant mystic. It was during this period that he authored his most celebrated summa of Islam, the Revival of the Religious Sciences.
Imam al-Ghazali sought, through the Revival, to breathe life into the religious knowledges which, by his age, had become moribund due to peoples’ concern with status, fame, and comfort instead of true spiritual understanding. The forty chapters of the book are organised into four major parts: Acts of Worship, Norms of Daily Life, Qualities Leading to Perdition, and Qualities Leading to Salvation. Through his work, al-Ghazali constructs a framework by which the reader first understands the relationship between God and man, and then learns how to lead an exemplary life in this world in preparation for the journey to the afterlife.
‘If people had no concern for any of the works authored by scholars save the Revival, it would suffice them.’ Thus did the historian and jurist Taj al-Din al-Subki emphasize the importance of studying the Revival. With its lucid prose and accessible style, the present translation—based upon the abridgement of the Syrian scholar Salih Ahmad al-Shami—makes such study eminently accessible to everyone.
This beautifully crafted cloth edition, featuring gold and black blocking, debossed with a traditional Seljuq motif, preserves the Revival as a timeless companion to be cherished for generations to come.
Mokrane Guezzou is the author and translator of major Islamic works. He is the author of '
Shaykh al-Hashimi : His Life and Works,' and the well-known translator of over ten works including Qur’an commentary Al-Wahidi’s
Asbab al-Nuzul and al-Buzaydi’s
The Adab of the True Seeker. He currently resides in Jordan.
A selection of
Mokrane Guezzou's works.
Table of Contents :
---Introduction by Mokrane Guezzou,
---The Seljuq Period,
---The Life & Career of Abu Hamid al-Ghazali,
---The Revival of the Religious Sciences,
------Structure and Contents,
------The Abridgement of the Ihya'
Quarter [1]. - The Acts of Worship,
Book [1]. The Book of Knowledge,
------1.1. The Merit of Knowledge, Teaching and Learning,
---------1.1.1. The Merit of Knowledge,
---------1.1.2. The Merit of Teaching,
---------1.1.3. The Merit of Learning,
---------1.1.4. Discursive Substantive Proofs,
------1.2. Praiseworthy and Blameworthy Knowledge,
---------1.2.1. The Elucidation of Knowledge which is an Individual Obligation,
---------1.2.2. Elucidation of the Knowledge which is a Collective Obligation,
---------1.2.3. Prescribed Types of Knowledge,
-----------The Principles,
-----------The Branches,
-----------The Introductories (Muqaddimat),
-----------The Complementaries (Mutammimat),
---------1.2.4. Fiqh is a Worldly Science,
---------1.2.5. Knowledge of the Way of the Afterlife,
---------1.2.6. Arrangement of Collective Obligations,
------1.3. What the Masses Mistakenly Consider to be Praiseworthy Types of Knowledge,
---------1.3.1. The Cause of Condemnation of Blameworthy Knowledge,
---------1.3.2. Elucidation of what has been Changed Regarding the Terms of the Sciences,
-----------Jurisprudence (Fiqh),
-----------Knowledge (Ilm),
-----------Unity of God (Tawhid),
-----------Remembrance and Reminding Others (Dhikr and Tadhkir),
-----------Wisdom (Hikma),
---------1.3.3. The Praiseworthy Measure of Each Type of Knowledge,
------1.4. The Cause of Engaging in the Science of Juristic and Theological Differences,
------1.5. The Proprieties of the Learner and the Teacher,
---------1.5.1. The Proprieties of the Learner,
---------1.5.2. The Duties of the Teacher,
------1.6. Signs of the Learned Men of the Afterlife and the Evil, Learned Men,
---------1.6.1. [Signs of the Learned Men of this World],
---------1.6.2. [Signs of the Men of Knowledge of the Afterlife],
------1.7. The Intellect and its Eminence,
Book [2]. The Basic Tenets of Faith,
------2.1. The Belief of the People of the Sunna,
---------2.1.1. Allah's Entity,
---------2.1.2. Allah's Attributes,
---------2.1.3. Allah's Acts,
---------2.1.4. Beliefs Transmitted by Scriptural Proofs,
------2.2.Step by Step Introduction, Arrangement of the Degrees of Belief,
------2.3. Faith and Submission,
---------2.3.1. The First Question,
-------------------The First Enquiry,
-------------------The Second Enquiry,
-------------------The Third Enquiry,
---------2.3.2. The Second Question,
---------2.3.3. The Third Question,
Book [3]. The Secrets of Purification,
---[The Degrees of Purification],
------3.1. Purification from Filth,
---------3.1.1. That which is Removed,
---------3.1.2. That which is Used for the Removal of Impurity,
---------3.1.3. How to Remove Impurity,
------3.2. Ritual Purification,
---------3.2.1. The Proprieties of Going to the Lavatory,
---------3.2.2. How to Perform Ablution,
---------3.2.3. The Merit of Ablution,
---------3.2.4. How to Perform the Purificatory Bath,
---------3.2.5. How to Perform Dry Ablution,
------3.3. Purification from Excesses,
---------3.3.1. Filth,
---------3.3.2. That which Naturally Grows from the Body.
Book [4]. The Secrets of the Prayer,
Book [5]. The Secrets of Zakat,
Book [6]. The Secrets of the Fast,
Book [7]. The Secrets of the Hajj,
Book [8]. The Proprieties of Qur'anic Recitation,
Book [9]. Invocations and Supplications,
Book [10]. The Arrangement of Litanies and Division of the Night Vigil.
Quarter [2]. - The Norms of Daily Life,
Book [1]. The Proprieties of Eating,
Book [2]. The Proprieties of Marriage,
Book [3]. The Proprieties of Acquisition and Earning a Living,
Book [4]. The Lawful and the Unlawful,
Book [5]. The Proprieties of Amity, Brotherhood, Companionship & Social Intercourse,
Book [6]. The Proprieties of Seclusion,
Book [7]. The Proprieties of Travelling,
Book [8]. The Proprieties of Spiritual Audition,
Book [9]. Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil,
Book [10]. The Proprieties of Living and the Virtues of Prophethood.
Quarter [3]. - The Qualities Leading to Perdition,
Book [1]. The Wonders of the Heart,
Book [2]. The Discipline of the Soul and Refinement of Character,
Book [3]. Breaking the Two Desires,
Book [4]. The Defects of the Tongue,
Book [5]. The Condemnation of Anger, Rancour and Resentful Envy,
Book [6]. The Condemnation of the World,
Book [7]. The Condemnation of Avarice and Love of Wealth,
Book [8]. The Condemnation of Status and Ostentation,
Book [9]. The Condemnation of Pride and Conceit,
Book [10]. The Condemnation of Self-delusion.
Quarter [4]. - The Qualities Leading to Salvation,
Book [1]. Repentance,
Book [2]. Steadfastness and Gratitude,
Book [3]. Fear and Hope,
Book [4]. Poverty and Abstinence,
Book [5]. The Unity of God and Reliance upon Him,
Book [6]. Love, Intimacy and Contentment,
Book [7]. Intention, Sincerity and Veracity,
Book [8]. Holding Vigil and Self-Examination,
Book [9]. Meditation,
Book [10]. The Remembrance of Death & What Comes after It.
---Notes,
---Index.
*Dimensions : 24 x 16.5cm.
