Chapter I: Preface

The perusal of the constructive treatises of the foremost leaders of the different religions should help to promote at least more mutual respect, if not, indeed, actual co-operation, among their devotees than the study of the critical discussions of lesser minds. For this reason the present small volume of extracts from the chief constructive work of Al Ghazzali has been included in the Gaekwad Studies in Religion and Philosophy. The purpose of that series is to be constructive rather than critical, and further, it is meant to contain volumes appealing to the general public as well as to the scholar. For a wider and more correct understanding and appreciation of the spirit of Islam, it is to be regretted that there are so few English translations of Muslim works in Arabic and Persian. It is to be hoped that in future more attention will be turned in this direction. In the meantime the present volume may serve at least to arouse some interest.

This work was undertaken at the request of Professor Widgery, to whom I am indebted for several suggestions and for going through the whole of the manuscript and the proofs.

NAWAB ALI

_Baroda, 1920._

CONTENTS

Preface _Page_ 5

Introduction 9

List of Al Ghazzali’s works 30

I. The Nature of Man 41

II. Human Freedom and Responsibility 53

III. Pride and Vanity 78

IV. Friendship and Sincerity 95

V. The Nature of Love, and Man’s highest Happiness 116

VI. The Unity of God 138

VII. The Love of God and its Signs 145

VIII. Riza or Joyous Submission to His Will 164