Al-Ghazali : On Love, Longing, Intimacy & Contentment,
'' Kitab al-mahabba wa'l-shawq wa'l-uns wa'l-rida, ''
*[A5] Paperback - 280+ pages,
By Imam Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali,
Book 36 [XXXVI] of (Ihya’ Ulum al-Din).
The Revival of the Religious Sciences,
Translated with an Introduction & Notes by: Eric Ormbsy
Published by The Islamic Texts Society, Cambridge, UK.
Back in Stock November 2021
Description :
Al-Ghazali on Love, Longing, Intimacy & Contentment is a translation of the thirty-sixth chapter of ‘The Revival of the Religious Sciences’ (Ihya’ Ulum al-Din).
This chapter falls in the last of the four sections of the Ihya, the section dealing with the virtues or what is conducive to salvation. This work was of radical importance to the history of Sufism and the arguments that Imam al-Ghazali, may Allah be pleased with him, sets out in it formed the basis of the development of whole schools of Sufi theory and practice of mystical love, including the extensive Sufi poetry of Rumi and Hafiz.
The text starts by elucidating the love of God for humanity and the love of man for God, and proceeds to discuss the deepening of this love to include different degrees of longing, intimacy and contentment.
Table of Contents :
---Introduction By the Translator: The Love of God as a Paradox,
Chapter [1]. An Exposition of the Proof-Texts from Revelation Concerning Man’s Love for God,
Chapter [2]. An Exposition of the True Nature and Causes of Love, with an Explanation of the Meaning of Human Love for God,
Chapter [3]. An Exposition that God Alone Merits Love,
Chapter Four: An Exposition that the Noblest and Loftiest Pleasure is Knowledge of God and Contemplation of His Blessed Face and Only He Who Is Denied this Pleasure can Conceivably Prefer Another To It,
Chapter Five: An Exposition of Why the Beatific Vision in the World to Come Surpasses Knowledge in this World,
Chapter Six: An Exposition of the Factors that Strengthen Love of God,
Chapter Seven: An Exposition of Why there are Disparities among People with Respect to Love,
Chapter Eight: An Exposition of Why the Human Understanding is Unable to Know God,
Chapter Nine: An Exposition of What Longing for God Means,
Chapter Ten: An Exposition of the Meaning of God’s Love for Man,
Chapter Eleven: The Distinguishing Marks of Man’s Love for God,
Chapter Twelve: An Exposition of the Meaning of Intimacy with God,
Chapter Thirteen: An Exposition of the Meaning of the Uninhibitedness and Forwardness which Overmastering Intimacy Produces,
Prologue: The Meaning of Contentment with God’s Decree: Its True Nature and What Tradition Reports of Its Merit.
Chapter Fourteen: An Exposition of the Merit of Contentment,
Chapter Fifteen: An Exposition of the Essence of Contentment (and How It Can be Conceived as a Check to Appetite),
Chapter Sixteen: An Exposition that Supplication is not in Conflict with Contentment,
Chapter Seventeen: An Exposition that Fleeing and Censuring a Country Reputed Sinful Is not Contrary to Contentment,
Chapter Eighteen: A Compilation of Anecdotes about Lovers, Together with their Sayings and Innermost Illuminations,
Chapter Nineteen: Conclusion: Various useful Sayings Regarding Love.
About Imam al-Ghazali : Abu Hamid Muhammad, 'alayhi ar-Rahman w'al-Ridwan, famous in the world of learning as al-Ghazali was born in 450 AH (1058 C.E) in Tusi, Persia. He graduated from the Nizamia Madressa (a very famous educational institution) at Nishapur with distinction, Later he was appointed as a teacher at the Nizamia College in Baghdad, where he proved very successful in imparting knowledge to the scholars under his care. This valuable gift of sustaining interest of his pupils and passing on his knowledge to them made him so famous that students from all parts of the country flocked to study under him.
Imam al-Ghazali was fondly referred to as the "Hujjat-ul-lslam", Proof of Islam, He is honoured as a scholar and a sufi saint by learned men all over the world.
More works of Imam al-Ghazali.
*Dimensions : 23.5 x 15.9cm.
