Al-Ghazali Letter to a Disciple (Ghazali Series) [Paperback]

Abu Hamid Muhammad al-Ghazali (Author), Tobias Mayer PhD (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2005 | Series: Ghazali Series

'Work for your terrestrial life in proportion to your location in it, and work for your afterlife in proportion to your eternity in it.' This is part of the advice that the great theologian and mystic Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (1058-1111 AD) put down in his Letter to a Disciple. An old disciple of al-Ghazali had studied the Islamic sciences, including the many works of his master, for most of his life. Faced with the proximity of death, he turns again to his master this time asking for a summary of all his teachings. Letter to a Disciple is al-Ghazali's response. The emphasis in this short treatise is on religious and spiritual action and on putting into practice the knowledge that one has acquired. Letter to a Disciple can be considered as the last testament of he who is regarded as Hujjat al-Islam, the 'Proof of Islam'. This new translation is presented here as a bilingual, English-Arabic, edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The series as a whole is a significant contribution to our understanding of this key figure in Islamic intellectual thought." —Oliver Leaman, professor of philosophy, University of Kentucky.

About the Author

Abu Hamid Muhammad al-Ghazali was a theologian, logician, jurist, and mystic whose success in revealing the compatibility of Islam with the Sufi/mystical tradition has led him to be regarded as the most influential thinker of medieval Islam. Tobias Mayer, PhD, is a professor at the Institute of Ismaili Studies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 130 pages
• Publisher: Islamic Texts Society; Bilingual edition (June 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0946621632
• ISBN-13: 978-0946621637
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,430 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Islam > Theology
  • #18 in Books > Education & Reference > Foreign Language Nonfiction > Arabic

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A lot in a little book., September 19, 2010

By 

misskay (USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Al-Ghazali Letter to a Disciple (Ghazali Series) (Hardcover)

Imam Al Ghazali (ra) is a classical Sufic thinker and author, and this text is a classical Sufic text. The first 30 pages or so are a fine introduction, giving a comprehensive context of Ghazali's time and life, the thinking of the time and important social, political, as well as religious events and circumstances--a very scholarly work with accompanying citations. The actual text is enhanced by the original Arabic, which is helpful for anyone who struggles with translations and seeks deeper meanings. The book ends with an appendix of persons cited in the text, giving brief biographical notes for each. And there is a nice bibliography.

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful book but not the best translation, September 16, 2010

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F. Hosseini - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Al-Ghazali Letter to a Disciple (Ghazali Series) (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful book like all of other books from Imam Al ghazzali.There are however two problems.one is the price which I think is high given that this a very small book.the other is the English translation which is not the best compared to the ones I've seen. But if you are a little familiar with Arabic,then you shouldnt have too much trouble grasping the meaning of his advice to his disciple.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!, April 18, 2010

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SaraJKan (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Al-Ghazali Letter to a Disciple (Ghazali Series) (Paperback)

This book is translated beautifully alongside the original Arabic text. It is a great feature for students studying the Arabic language/religion. Concise and insightful. A must have for any religion/Arabic major. A real eye opener into the world of Ghazali thought.