Al-Ghazali on Intention, Sincerity and Truthfulness

Book XXXVII of the Revival of the Religious Sciences

114 pages

English language

Published Aug. 17, 2003 by Islamic Texts Society.

ISBN:
9780946621910

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5 stars (1 review)

2 editions

‘The Afterlife cannot be just another room in the same house’

5 stars

-

A palate refreshing walk away from the literalism that dominates Islamic theology in the modern day. The sufis have been deserving of the title for the most reflective insights on Quranic verse. Ghazali does compare niyya/will/power but remains appreciative of the overlap and limitation in drawing any definite distinctive lines between these (kudos to the translators notes where this is well-reflected. I never expected I’d read a non-native understand how ‘حُكْم’ can be power/judgement or a third mysterious thing out of the bounds of the English language.)

Literalism does not have all the answers but neither does Sufism. The difference, however, is that the latter does not claim to do so. There are challenges to this idea of (lack of) intention being able to nullify virtuous deeds entirely (e.g., Bukhari 3321) but it wouldn’t be harmful to be more conscientious about what intent is behind our actions… Ghazali illustrates …

Subjects

  • Islam, doctrines, religious philosophy