Muslim theologian and philosopher Abu Hamid al-Ghazali of Persia worked to systematize Sufism, Islamic mysticism, and in The Incoherence of the Philosophers (1095) argued the incompatibility of thought of Plato and Aristotle with Islam.
Born in 1058, Ab奴 岣つ乵id Mu岣mmad ibn Mu岣mmad al-Ghaz膩l墨 ranked of the most prominent and influential Sunni jurists of his origin.
Islamic tradition considers him to be a Mujaddid, a renewer of the faith who, according to the prophetic hadith, appears once every century to restore the faith of the ummah ("the Islamic Community"). His works were so highly acclaimed by his contemporaries that al-Ghazali was awarded the honorific title "Proof of Islam" (Hujjat al-Islam).
Al-Ghazali believed that the Islamic spiritual tradition had become moribund and that the spiritual sciences taught by the first generation of Muslims had been forgotten.[24] That resulted in his writing his magnum opus entitled Ihya 'ulum al-din ("The Revival of the Religious Sciences"). Among his other works, the Tah膩fut al-Fal膩sifa ("Incoherence of the Philosophers") is a significant landmark in the history of philosophy, as it advances the critique of Aristotelian science developed later in 14th-century Europe.
鈥淚f [you ask], 鈥榃hat is the beginning of guidance, that I may test myself thereby?鈥� know that its beginning is the outward form of God-consciousness (taqw膩) and its end is the inward reality of God-consciousness. Hence, there is no ultimate bliss except through God-consciousness, and guidance does not come but to those who are conscious of Allah.鈥�
Bid膩yat al-Hid膩ya is a short yet thorough work that outlines the actions one must take to facilitate and become receptive to Divine guidance. Islamic guidelines, calibrated for the fulfilment of a God-conscious life, are often neglected, particularly in light of increasing global secularism.
This short treatise outlines the etiquette associated with worldly and spiritual matters. Much of this work reiterates what many Muslims have basic knowledge of, particularly with regard to fiqh and the importance of niyya and ihsan (excellence) in carrying out acts of ibadah.
The first part, 鈥極n Obedience鈥�, details the importance of correct etiquette when undertaking various daily tasks, whether they are dunya-oriented or pertain to the akhirah. The importance of fasting is mentioned in this chapter.
The Messenger 锓� said: 鈥淗ow many, indeed, are those who fast yet get nothing out of fasting save hunger and thirst.鈥� [Ibn M膩jah]
A holistic fast is one that entails fasting with all the human senses. Ramadan functions as an appetite suppressant, not only for food and drink, but for everything we consume with our ears, eyes and limbs. Fasting is a means to attain taqw膩, and whilst Ramadan is the month of fasting, this act should not be limited to this month alone.
The final section, 鈥楾he Etiquette of Companionship with the Creator and Creation鈥�, beautifully illustrates the importance of constant dhikr in attaining taqw膩.
鈥淚f you knew Him truly as He should be known, you would take Him as your Companion and leave people aside. If you are not able to do this all the time, then beware of leaving your entire night and day devoid of a time spent alone with your Master, therein to taste the sweetness of intimate dialogue with Him.鈥�
I was blessed a few weeks back to receive this book through the post from an unknown sender, may Allah shower them with his blessings in this world and the hereafter, this book has made it to my favourites 鈥� if not my favourite.
I'd describe it as a self-help guide for the nafs, as it's completely practical. Whilst demonstrating the diseases eating away at the soul, Imam Ghazali offers practical solutions. Reading this book was a truly humbling experience, I believe anyone, even the most arrogant, should they read it (with an open heart) would be inclined to accept Imam Ghazali's advice. The book is organised into three main sections with subheadings beneath them, it's not a long book but it's succinct enough for the everyday reader. This book encompasses the phrase "Islam is a way of life" from the first chapter all through until the end, it's a reminder of our existence and our inevitable and pending death. The poetic nature of this book makes it all the more astonishing, and my favourite quote has to be:
"Every breath is priceless jewel because it is irreplaceable" But in the same vein this book guarded it's clarity, and not drowning in its poetic nature.
It would be an injustice to not mention the publisher nor translator, they did a brilliant job masha'Allah. The translation was well-written, and the notes (back of the book) were simple and digestible but clarified the differences between the Shafi' and Hanafi methodologies (Imam Ghazali followed Shafi' fiqh). The systematic approach to the book could only have been achieved by looking at multiple manuscripts (as the translator mentions), and the Arabic and English on the page were perfectly aligned. Combined this was a recipe for success! And it was amazing!
Dissects spiritual stuff. Like really hits the nail on the head. Only thing is some things are not applicable to everyone or everytime so they could be taken with a grain of salt. Helpful to study with a teacher or listen to lectures alongside.
Jalan Menuju Petunjuk merupakan terjemahan daripada kitab Bidayah Al-Hidayah karangan Imam Al-Ghazali. Terbahagi pada 3 bahagian; amalan taat, menjauhi kemaksiatan dan perbahasan tentang adab-adab dalam perhubungan dan pergaulan.
Bahagian pertama Imam Al-Ghazali menukilkan tentang adab-adab menjelang pagi (bangun tidur, berpakaian, berwuduk, mandi dsb), adab-adab tidur, adab dalam solat, adab hari jumaat dan lain-lain lagi.
Bahagian kedua, beliau menukilkan tentang menghindari segala maksiat bermula dengan mata, telinga, lidah (dusta, mengumpat, suka berdebat, memuji diri sendiri, mengejek, menghina), kemaluan, kaki, tangan dan hati.
Lidah paling banyak dibahaskan oleh Imam Al-Ghazali oleh sebab lidahlah yang paling meninggalkan kesan pada perilakunya. Katanya, "tiada sesuatu yang dapat membantumu daripada bahaya lidah selain beruzlah atau sentiasa berdiam diri kecuali sekadar keperluan." Saidina Abu Bakar al-Siddiq pernah meletakkan batu di dalam mulut untuk menghalangnya daripada bercakap perkara yang tidak perlu. Dia mengisyaratkan ke mulutnya lalu berkata, "inilah yang memasukkanku ke segala jurang kebinasaan".
Bahagian terakhir lebih kepada adab-adab dalam bergaul dan bersahabat bermula dengan Allah, guru, murid, seorang anak dengan ibu bapanya, sahabat dan lain-lain.
Im膩m Ab奴 岣つ乵id al-Ghaz膩l墨 (d. 505/1111) wrote this work for one of his students as a simplified version of his magnus opus, the Revival of the Religious Sciences (Ihya' Ulum al-Din). In this short treatise Im膩m al-Ghaz膩l墨 gives you steps on how to acquire God-consciousness (taqw膩). He says, "If you then ask, `What is the beginning of guidance, that I may test myself thereby?' know that its beginning is the outward form of God-consciousness and its end is the inward reality of God-consciousness" and this can only be achieved by following the command of All膩h (sub岣ツ乶ahu wa ta'膩la). Im膩m al-Ghaz膩l墨 followed the Sh膩fi士墨 School hence when he expounds the etiquette of ritual prayer; it is according to the Sh膩fi士墨 School. The publishers however include notes for the difference in method in accordance with the 岣naf墨 School where applicable which is really helpful. It also includes the original Arabic parallel to the English which is translated by Mashhad al-Allaf. Though this is one of Im膩m al-Ghaz膩l墨's shorter treatises, it is regarded as one of the most useful for seekers of a successful and organised moral life. It consists of three parts:
1) On Obedience 2) On Refraining From Disobedience 3) The Etiquette of Companionship with the Creator and Creation
The first part covers the etiquette of waking from sleep, using the lavatory, ablution, seeking knowledge, prayer and many more such aspects. For example, it tells you what du士膩示 to make when waking up or during your wu岣嵟� and how to spend your time efficiently as well as how to conduct yourself during prayers and how to prepare for them and many other beneficial acts. The second part contains advice on how to refrain from committing sins with the limbs (eyes, ears, tongue, stomach etc.) as well as the heart (envy, arrogance, ostentation etc.). It's really helpful as sometimes we become creatures of habit and we don't even realise we're doing such things like listening or talking about the faults of others, it is a reminder that your tongue "is the greatest means of your destruction in this world and the next". The final part relates to etiquette with God, scholars, students, parents and others as well as advice on friendship. In these three sections the im膩m says, "This amount of advice should be enough for you, dear young one" and I couldn't agree more.
You can relate to the words of Im膩m al-Ghaz膩l墨 almost as though he wrote the advice specifically for you. He makes you question and keep in check your intentions, whether that relates to seeking knowledge, performing your prayers or making friends. Personally, nothing spoke to me louder than when I read, "A prayer in congregation is twenty-seven times better than a prayer alone. If you are negligent of such a profitable act, then what benefit is there for you in the pursuit of knowledge? After all, the fruit of knowledge is acting upon it." The im膩m says, "You will never be capable of this unless you manage your time and organise your routine of worship from morning to night... A person who leaves himself without a plan as animals do, not knowing what he is to do at any given moment will spend most of his time fruitlessly... Every single breath of yours is a priceless jewel because it is irreplaceable... So do not be like fools who rejoice each day as their wealth increases while their lives decrease... If your lower self asks you to leave off the litanies and remembrance we have detailed earlier... then know that Satan the accursed has injected into your heart the hidden illness - love of prestige and wealth."
This really is a magnificent work for acquiring guidance through taqw膩. If everyone abided by the counsel given here then the world would be a better place. Though the advice is from almost over a thousand years ago it is still relevant today as it was then and this is why Im膩m al-Ghaz膩l墨 has so many works translated in to English, he transcends time. It will amaze you at how lightly things are taken today from backbiting to fasting. Even when you think you're doing something good your intention must be correct and even then it may actually be harmful as "Satan is always trying to entice foolish people to evil by presenting it to them as goodness". You are even reminded that if your nature is dominated by disputation and silence is difficult for you then you're associating with the "pseudo-jurists" of your time and "looking at yourself with an eye of satisfaction is the height of foolishness and the epitome of ignorance" for to "seek a place in the hearts of people by which you may attain fame and veneration" is hidden shirk and Im膩m al-Ghaz膩l墨 sums up his advice (for section two) with the 岣d墨th of the Prophet Muhammad (峁ll膩 All膩hu 士alayhi wasallam), "Love of this world is the cause of every sin". This was one of Im膩m al-Ghaz膩l墨's final works hence as per the description by the publishers, "it embodies a lifetime of learning, experience, and spirituality." If you're in need of motivation, a spiritual increase or maintenance, read this work and it may give you the boost it gave me. The advice is timeless and beneficial.
Buku panduan untuk amalan dan motivasi ketuhanan yang terbaik sepanjang zaman. Permulaan untuk hidayah, pintu masuk awal untuk mendalami ilmu tasawuf daripada tokoh tasawuf dan pemikir Islam terbaik sepanjang zaman.
"Tetapi jika engkau biarkan dirimu dengan tidak teratur atau kosong daripada sebarang pekerjaan yang berfaedah seperti halnya binatang dan engkau tidak tahu apakah yang mesti dibuat pada setiap waktu, nescaya engkau akan menyesal dan waktumu akan berlalu dengan sia-sia, sedangkan waktumu itu adalah umurmu. Dan umurmu adalah modal. Dan dengan modal inilah engkau mencari keuntungan. Hanya dengan umurmu sahaja engkau dapat mencapai kebahagiaan yang sebenarnya di negeri yang kekal abadi di sisi Allah Taala.
Maka setiap nafas daripada nafasmu adalah laksana batu permata yang tak ternilai harganya kerana ia tidak dapat diganti walau dengan apa sekalipun dan apabila ia telah luput, ia tidak akan kembali buat selama-lamanya.
Maka janganlah engkau menjadi seperti orang yang bodoh yang tertipu dalam kehidupannya, di mana setiap hari mereka bersuka-suka dengan bertambah banyak harta benda mereka sedangkan umur mereka semakin berkurangan. Apalah faedahnya harta yang bertambah apabila umur jadi berkurangan.
Oleh itu janganlah engkau bergembira kecuali dengan tambahan ilmu atau amal soleh kerana keduanya ialah sahabatmu yang menjadi temanmu yang setiadi alam kubur ketika keluarga, harta benda, anak dan kawan-kawan semuanya meninggalkan dirimu."
Kitab Bidayatul Hidayah ini adalah karangan Imam al-Ghazali yang terbaik dan banyak berkatnya. Imam Ghazali menyebut bahawa hidayah itu ada permulaan dan ada pengakhirannya. Jikalau kita tidak dapat memamahi permulaan hidayah bagaimana kita akan sampai pada pengakhirannya. Buku ini menceritakan adab-adab dan amalan ibadat sepanjang hari seorang muslim dari bangun tidur hinggalah hendak tidur kembali. Pemilihan kata yang digunakan seolah-seolah Imam Al-Ghazali sendiri yang berbicara dengan pembaca. Penulisan yang menyentuh jiwa pembaca, nasihat dari hati ke hati. Penting kepada pembaca yang masih mencari-cari kaedah terbaik mengisi 24 jam dengan perkara membawa redha Allah.
Kitab karangan yang diterjemah oleh H.M. Jajuli ini adalah kitab permulaan dalam konteks tasawuf. Buku ini terbahagi kepada tiga bahagian, iaitu ketaatan yang disuburkan dalam amalan yang berterusan, kemaksiatan yang wajib ditinggalkan dan persahabatan yang merentasi batas fizik dan zahir hingga melangkaui ke alam kerohanian yang natijahnya membawa kepada Hari Perhitungan.
Imam al-Ghazali memulakan perbicaraan kitab Bidayatul Hidayah ini dengan cara yang paling baik - proses taqarub kepada Allah yang tidak terpisah daripada makna hakiki ibadah. Fiqah bukan hanya persoalan hukum yang berlegar pada hukum yang lima, sebaliknya ia memiliki sisi metafizikal dan kerohanian yang tidak boleh dipisah-pisahkan. Benar sekali tulisan dalam karya ulama terdahulu yang merujuk ke karangan alim ulama alam Melayu tidak terpisah antara fiqh dan tasawuf - yang sebenarnya diwarisi daripada ulama besar seperti Imam al-Ghazali ini.
Bagi mereka yang ditimpa keraguan terhadap penulisan Imam al=Ghazali kerana kononnya mempunyai hadis dhaif - hadis sebegini sebenarnya boleh digunakan dalam konteks motivasi beribadat seperti ini. Harus diingatkan Imam al-Ghazali bukanlah tokoh biasa dalam tradisi ilmu, bahkan beliau sebenarnya pernah memimpin institusi keilmuan yang paling hebat dalam sejarah ketamadunan Islam - iaitu Madrasah Nizamiyah - andai saja kita boleh sebutkan satu institusi paling unggul dalam tradisi ilmu pada masa kini, ia belum tentu menyamai status yang dimiliki Madrasah Nizamiyah itu. Apatah lagi, Imam al-Ghazali sendiri ialah usuliyun - seseorang alim yang mengetahui hukum-hakam belum lengkap dan sempurna seandainya tidak menguasai disiplin Usul Fiqh yang menjadi asas dan sumber kepada proses mengeluarkan hukum berkenaan. Tidak hairanlah, Imam al-Ghazali mendapat julukan Hujjatul Islam - gelaran yang tidak pernah diberikan pada zaman moden ini apatah lagi dimiliki oleh kelompok yang menentang dan merendah-rendahkan tokoh besar itu sehingga pada tahap mahu membakar kitab-kitab karangan beliau.
Membaca kitab beliau yang ditulis dengan bahasa yang mudah ini sebenarnya bukan pembacaan yang sederhana. Setiap baris dan perenggan, kita akan diketuk dengan tulisan Imam al-Ghazali sehingga terpaksa mengenang dan menghisab kedudukan diri. Bagaimanapun, seperti yang diingatkan oleh Imam al-Ghazali sendiri, ilmu bukanlah untuk dijadikan alat untuk perdebatan, jauh sekali sebagai kebanggaan, sebaliknya sebagai amalan dan bekalan yang perlu dihimpun sebanyak-banyaknya.
Justeru, kitab Bidayatul Hidayah ini wajar dijadikan rujukan dalam menyemai, memelihara dan menyuburkan amalan yang meskipun kecil tetapi lebih baik daripada amalan besar yang tidak berkekalan.
鈥淗e whose beginning is illuminated, his ending will be illuminated.鈥�
I view this book as a roadmap, a navigation system to gain proximity to Allah. It highlights the importance of being meticulous and disciplined in various avenues of life, from prayer to cleanliness, and how we must constantly evaluate the state of our internal being- for it is no use polishing a vessel, making it shine, if all which lies within is filth.
Knowledge is the soul of the Muslims. There is a direct correlation between a decline in knowledge and a decline in the power of the Muslims. The more we preserve Islam, the more Allah will preserve us. Never be satisfied with the status quo. Always strive to be as close to the prophet as possible, in terms of behaviour, actions etc.
鈥淵our time is your life and your life is your capital: by it you make your trade鈥�. Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) was of the view that it is impermissible to keep anything for tomorrow. Reflect on your life, for a moments reflection is better than a thousand years of worship.
I pray that Allah gives me the tawfeeq to implement even one third of the books contents, as, in the words of the thief who stole 18 yr old Imam Ghazali鈥檚 books whilst on a journey, 鈥淲hat value is the knowledge that you have amassed, when a thief can steal it from you in a second?鈥�