Concerning the Manhaj (Methodology) of Aboo Haamid al-Ghazaalee by Shaykh Muhammad Khaleel Haraas

I read in al-Hadee an-Nabawee magazine, the article Natharaat fee at-Tasawwuf (Observations concerning Sufism), that the major Sufi scholars are Tawaagheet and that ash-Shaykh al-Ghazaalee the author of al-Ihyaa (the book entitled Ihyaa ‘Uloom-id-Deen) has errors in some of his books. On the contrary, some aspects of heresy. How can that be when he is a major scholar who believed in Allah and in his messenger? From what aspect was he a Taaghoot? I want you to establish the evidences because al-Ghazaalee was a believing man so how can his character be likewise? He researched every one of the sciences, and said himself that he studied Philosophy and the Philosophers, Sophism and the Sophists, along with Sufism. Yet despite this, I find the Sufis busy with the remembrance of their Lord and in loving their Prophet, and they always see him in their dreams?! I request that Ansaar-us-Sunnah give a sufficient explanation.

Answer: Indeed the Ansaar-us-Sunnah al-Muhammadiyyah group at that time brought to light a ruling based on a personality from those personalities that are widely known and of widespread prestige, which was the personality of Aboo Haamid al-Ghazaalee-may Allah forgive him and us. The personality of a person is never established based on the nobility that a man has obtained, nor by the admiration that he has gained from the people and their deep acclaim for him. Rather, rulings are given that either support him or are against him, and this is in accordance to the extent of his adherence to the Book and the Sunnah, or in accordance to his deviance from both.

This is the only scale that the Ansaar-us-Sunnah uses to measure the efforts of men. And this is the way it distinguishes every religious organization. It does not show mutual love to anyone or beautify anyone at the expense of forsaking the truth, nor in remaining silent about falsehood. According to this, what was published in the pages of al-Hadee an-Nabawee magazine from the issues surrounding al-Ghazaalee, author of al-Ihyaa, written by the president of the group was not intended to attack the man or to be biased towards him. On the contrary, what was intended was to clarify the errors and forms of deviance in which he fell into so that the people could be warned and not follow him into them.

The only way to do that was by returning to the books of al-Ghazaalee themselves and to convey the texts of these errors, while explaining those that are present within his works. At this time we cannot bring together all of the major errors in which al-Ghazaalee fell into in al-Ihyaa or in his other books. This issue surrounding the severe criticisms (of al-Ghazaalee) came from the ‘Ulamaa of the past as well as from those of this day and age.

But we say to the brother who asked the question, go back to what was written in al-Hadee magazine regarding the criticism of al-Ghazaalee, then look into the books of al-Ghazaalee. Will you find anything from that, that al-Ghazaalee did not say? When you find what he said and you do not understand the meaning of the error in the text, then come back to us and we will explain it to you Allah willing.

We will be content now with presenting to you the ruling of two men from the scholars of Islaam against Aboo Haamid al-Ghazaalee. The first is al-Haafith al-‘Iraaqee-may Allah have mercy upon him-who did Takhreej of the prophetic narrations contained in al-Ihyaa. He was considered a pupil of al-Ghazaalee, and yet despite this he said, “Indeed our Shaykh al-Ghazaalee entered the inner depths of Philosophy then tried to leave it but was not able to."

As for the second man, then it was Shaykh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah-may Allah have mercy upon him-who said about him, “Indeed al-Ghazaalee was considered a bridge between Islaam and between Philosophy but not one leading to pure Islaam or to unadulterated Philosophy. So the Muslims who philosophizes in his books causes the Muslim to philosophize. While the Philosopher who writes about Islaam in his books only philosophizes."

After all of this, we advise you brother not to concern yourself with the mere importance of names. Do not make the greatness of personality worship a cover that surrounds you and surrounds the comprehension of the truth, and the contemplation of its light which is derived from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His messenger-may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. Do not try to know truth by men, rather know men by the truth and know that the truth knows its true adherents.

Shaykh Muhammad Khaleel Haraas 
Translated by Thomas Maldonado
Arabic source: http://fatawa.al-islam.com/fatawa/Display.asp?FatwaID=1727&ParentID=500&Page=1