Al-Ghazali’s The Revival of the Religious Sciences for the 21st Century
Souad Hakim
Foreward by Mohammed Rustom
Paperback
9781567446388
"There are many new problems faced in the modern Islamic world. While many scholars have tried to address this with their own opinions, I want to use a Classical Islamic text as a foundation from which I think I can resolve the inherent clash between 'modern Islam' and 'classical Islam'. In this book, I have re-written Imam al-Ghazali's famous Revival of the Religious Sciences (Ihya Ulum al-Din) for the Muslim reader of the 21st century." – from the Introduction by the author.
Souad al-Hakim is Professor of Philosophy at the Lebanese University. She also teaches a course on Sufism at the Institute of Eastern Literature and the Institute of Muslim-Chritian Studies of the Saint-Joseph University, Beirut.
Contents
Chapter 1: Knowledge and the Intellect in Islam
The Value of Learning in Islam
The Intellect in Islam
Submission (Islam) and Faith (Iman): The Relationship Between Submission and Faith
The Rulings of Islam and Iman
Faith is Liable to Increase and Decrease
Purity and Cleanliness
Formal Prayer
Merits of Friday
Chapter 2: The Soul and Its Exercise and the Wonders of the Heart
The “Heart” in the Quran
Sensuous Knowledge, Mental Knowledge, and Heart Knowledge
How to Become Prepared for Inspirational Knowledge?
Evil Thoughts and Whisperings of Satan
Character and Manners: The Merit of Good Character and Demerit of Bad Character
The Reality of Good Manners
Man Knows the Importance and Social Benefits of Good Character but his Free Willpower Does Not Respond. Why?
Exercise of Dealing and Exercise of Witnessing?
Die Before You Die
Importance of Linking Moral Education to Religious Education
Chapter 3: Aspects of Spirituality
Faults of the Tongue
Pride
Self-admiration
Self-deceit
Repentance
Definition and Reality of Gratefulness
The Merit of Hope
Poverty
Reliance on God
Chapter 4: Manners in Islam
Manners of Listening to Spiritual Music and Emotions
Manners and Effects of Spiritual Music
Manners Related to Recitation of the Quran
Chapter 5: Prayers and Supplications
The Merit of Remembering God in Gatherings
The Status of Uttering Glorifications, Praises, and other Remembrances of God
Traditional Supplications
The Merits of Pronouncing Salutations on the Prophet Muhammad
The Significance of Supplicating for Forgiveness
Chapter 6: Manners Related to Events of Death and Funerals
The Merit of the Remembrance of Death
On the Passing Away of the Prophet Muhammad
Manners of Attending Funerals
Life and Questioning by the Angels in the Grave
Dreams Revealing the Conditions of the Dead and Deeds Beneficial in the Hereafter
Conditions of the Dead from the Time of Blowing of the Trumpet to the Time of Settling in Paradise
Conclusion: Manners Related to Ways of Living and the Manners of the Prophet Muhammad