OverviewA teacher who wrote about faith, good conduct and the inner purpose of worship.CategoryScholarPeriodc. 1058 – 1111 CE
His workIhya Ulum al-Din explains prayer, daily conduct and the heart’s intentions. It asks how religious actions can make someone a better person.Source: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy — Al-Ghazali
A memorable ideaHe challenged some claims made by philosophers in Tahafut al-Falasifa. He argued that careful thinking still had to respect the limits of human knowledge.Source: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy — Al-Ghazali
A change in his lifeAl-Ghazali left his teaching post in Baghdad in 1095 and spent years travelling and practising a spiritual life. He continued writing and teaching; he did not disappear from Muslim society. In 1106 he returned to an official teaching post in Nishapur.Source: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy — Al-Ghazali
SourcesOriginal summaries of the cited sources. Qur’anic accounts, later traditions and historical estimates are distinguished; brief profiles do not settle scholarly disagreements.Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy — Al-GhazaliTDV Encyclopaedia of Islam
