Al-Ghazali's Sufi Thought as a Foundation of Contemporary Islamic Spirituality: Evidence from Classical and Modern Islamic Discourses

Authors

  • Imam Ghazali Univeritas Muhamadiyah Surakarta, Indonesia
  • Mutohharun Jinan Univeritas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Indonesia
  • Farouq Muhammad Najib Islamic University of Madinah, Saudi Arabia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29240/ajis.v10i2.15102

Keywords:

al-Munqidz min al-Dhalal, Sufism, Islamic Spirituality, Moderation, Islamic Education

Abstract

This article explores the Sufi philosophy of Abu Hamid al-Ghazali as articulated in al-Munqidz min al-Dhalal. It examines the continuing relevance of al-Ghazali's Sufi thought to contemporary Islamic spirituality, with particular emphasis on education and the promotion of religious moderation. Employing a qualitative library-based research method, the study analyzes classical and modern primary and secondary sources. The findings reveal that spiritual purification (tazkiyat al-nafs) and the harmonization of intellect and inner conscience constitute fundamental pathways toward ma'rifatullah. Al-Ghazali's ideas remain significant for cultivating an Islamic spirituality that is rational, moderate, and ethically grounded. These insights advance Islamic studies and educational practice, especially in the design of a holistic educational framework capable of responding to modern spiritual challenges.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Additional Resources (Post 2020)

Al-Attas, SMN 1993. Islam and Secularism. Kuala Lumpur: ISTAC.

Al-Ghazali, Abu Hamid. 1967. Al-Munqidz min al-Dhalal . Cairo: Dar al-Ma'arif.

Al-Ghazali, Abu Hamid. 1980. Al-Munqidh min al-Dhalal (Deliverance from Error). Translated by Richard J. McCarthy. Boston: Twayne Publishers.

Azra, Azyumardi. 2021. Moderate Islam and the Challenges of Modernity. Jakarta: Prenada Media.

Basri, Hasan. 2022. "Spiritual Pedagogy in Contemporary Islamic Education." Journal of Islamic Pedagogy 4 (1): 22–35.

Esposito, John L. 2002. What Everyone Needs to Know about Islam. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Kamali, Mohammad Hashim. 2015a. The Middle Way of Moderation in Islam: The Wasatiyyah Principle in the Qur'an. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Kamali, Mohammad Hashim. 2015b. Moderation in Islam: The Balance between Sharia and Spirituality. Kuala Lumpur: Ilmiah Press.

Khan, Muhammad. 2023. "Sufism and Character Formation in Modern Muslim Education." International Review of Islamic Studies 12 (3): 55–68.

Mahmoud, Samira. 2021. "Revisiting Islamic Mysticism for Modern Spiritual Challenges." Journal of Modern Religious Discourses 15 (2): 101–119.

Nasr, Seyyed Hossein. 2007. The Garden of Truth: The Vision and Promise of Sufism, Islam's Mystical Tradition. New York: HarperOne.

Saeed, Abdullah. 2018a. Contemporary Approaches to the Qur'an and Sunnah. London: Routledge.

Saeed, Abdullah. 2018b. Reading the Qur'an in a Rational and Spiritual Way. Kuala Lumpur: Islamic Studies Press.

Zainuddin, M., and L. Ningsih. 2020a. "The Relevance of Imam al-Ghazali's Sufi Thought in Modern Islamic Education." Journal of Religious Studies 21 (2): 148–150.

Zainuddin, M., and L. Ningsih. 2020b. Integration of al-Ghazali's Sufism in Modern Islamic Education . Jakarta: Pustaka Pendidikan.

Downloads

Published

2025-11-06

How to Cite

Ghazali, I., Jinan, M., & Najib, F. M. (2025). Al-Ghazali’s Sufi Thought as a Foundation of Contemporary Islamic Spirituality: Evidence from Classical and Modern Islamic Discourses. AJIS: Academic Journal of Islamic Studies, 10(2), 427–434. https://doi.org/10.29240/ajis.v10i2.15102

Issue

Section

Articles

Citation Check