Joseph E. B. Lumbard 
Ahmad al-Ghazālī, Remembrance, and the Metaphysics of Love [EPUB ebook] 

The teachings of Aḥmad al-Ghazālī changed the course of Persian Sufism forever, paving the way for luminaries such as Rūmī, Aṭṭār, and Ḥāfiẓ. Yet he remains a poorly understood thinker, with many treatises incorrectly attributed to him and conflicting accounts in the historiographical literature. This work provides the first examination of Aḥmad al-Ghazālī and his work in Western scholarly literature. Joseph E. B. Lumbard seeks to ascertain the authenticity of works attributed to this author, trace the development of the dominant trends in the biographical literature, and reconstruct the life and times of Aḥmad al-Ghazālī with particular attention to his relationship with his more famous brother, Abū Hamid al-Ghazālī. Lumbard’s findings revolutionize our understanding of Aḥmad al-Ghazālī writings, allowing for focus on his central teachings regarding Divine Love and the remembrance of God.

Tabla de materias

Acknowledgements



Introduction

Why Study Aḥmad al-Ghazālī

Studies on Aḥmad al-Ghazālī

The Goal of this Book




Part I. Life and History



1. Sources for the Aḥmad al-Ghazālī Tradition

Works by Aḥmad al-Ghazālī

Primary Sources for al-Ghazālī’s Vita Summary



2. The Life and Times of Aḥmad al-Ghazālī

The Saljuqs

The Stages of Aḥmad al-Ghazālī’s Life




Part II. Practice and Teachings



3. Aḥmad al-Ghazālī’s Spiritual Practice

Spiritual Practice

Summary of Practice



4. The Roots of Aḥmad al-Ghazālī’s Teachings

Satanology

Love

Love in Sufi Literature Before the 6th/12th Century

Summary



5. Aḥmad al-Ghazālī’s Metaphysics of Love

The Form and the Message

The Oneness of Love

The Stages of the Path



Conclusion

Notes

Bibliography

Index of Names and Terms

Sobre el autor

Joseph E. B. Lumbard is Assistant Professor in the Department of Arabic and Translation Studies at the American University of Sharjah and author of
Submission, Faith, and Beauty: The Religion of Islam.