The Alchemy of Happiness - Softcover

Al-Ghazzali

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0935782281 ISBN 13: 9780935782288

Publisher: Kazi Pubns Inc, 1997

Synopsis

The book was originally written by Imam Ghazali in the Persian language. It is a compendium of some chapters of his main work 'Ihya' `Ulum al-Din'. If one consults the corresponding chapters in the Ihya', one would find that many of the arguments presented here also discussed there in details. 'Knowledge of a part is better than ignorance of the whole.' (Abu'l-Feda) 'he spiritual alchemy which operates this change in him, like that which transmutes base metals into gold, is not easily discovered, nor to be found in the house of every old woman. It is to explain that alchemy and its methods of operation that the author has undertaken this work, which he has entitled, The Alchemy of Happiness. Now the treasuries of God, in which this alchemy is to be sought, are the hearts of the prophets, and he who seeks it elsewhere will be disappointed and bankrupt on the day of judgement when he hears the word, 'We have lifted the veil from off thee, and thy sight to-day is keen.' ( From the Introduction by Imam Ghazali) CONTENTS PREFACE INTRODUCTION I. THE KNOWLEDGE OF SELF II. THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD III. THE KNOWLEDGE OF THIS WORLD IV. THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE NEXT WORLD V. CONCERNING MUSIC AND DANCING AS AIDS TO THE RELIGIOUS LIFE · 73 VI. CONCERNING SELF-EXAMINATION AND THE RECOLLECTION OF GOD VII. MARRIAGE AS A HELP OR HINDRANCE TO THE RELIGIOUS LIFE VIII. THE LOVE OF GOD

About this title

About the Author:

Al-Ghazzali in Arabic or Ghazali in Persian and known as Algazelus or Algazel to the Western medieval world, was a Persian theologian, jurist, philosopher, and mystic. Al-Ghazali has been referred to by some historians as the single most influential Muslim after prophet Muhammad. Within Islamic civilization he is considered to be a Mujaddid or renewer of the faith, who, according to tradition, appears once every century to restore the faith of the community.His works were so highly acclaimed by his contemporaries that al-Ghazali was awarded the honorific title "Proof of Islam" (Hujjat al-Islam). Others have cited his opposition to certain strands of Islamic philosophy as a detriment to Islamic scientific progress, although he argued for the separation of philosophy and science.[20][page needed][21][better source needed] [22] Besides his work that successfully changed the course of Islamic philosophy—the early Islamic Neoplatonism that developed on the grounds of Hellenistic philosophy, for example, was so successfully criticised by al-Ghazali that it never recovered—he also brought the orthodox Islam of his time in close contact with Sufism. It became increasingly possible for individuals to combine orthodox theology (kalam) and Sufism, while adherents of both camps developed a sense of mutual appreciation that made sweeping condemnation of one by the other increasingly problematic.

About this edition

• Publisher: Kazi Pubns Inc
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0935782281
• ISBN 13: 9780935782288
• Binding: Paperback