Al-Ghazali: Reconciling Jurisprudence, Theology, and Sufism

Abstract

Al-Ghazali, as a prominent Islamic intellectual, possessed a broad range of thought encompassing kalam (Islamic theology), shari’a, philosophy, and tasawwuf (Sufism), which remained interconnected throughout his intellectual journey. Although his focus shifted to tasawwuf, he did not abandon his knowledge of kalam and fiqh, demonstrating a compromise among various branches of knowledge in his works. His spiritual journey as a Sufi emphasized that spiritual experience and intellectual rationality complement each other. From an ontological and epistemological perspective, al-Ghazali’s tasawwuf remains grounded in rationality and shows a close connection with philosophy. This study aims to trace this integration to understand the relevance of al-Ghazali’s thought in the development of intellectual and spiritual traditions in Islam.