Einige religiöse und moralische Lehren Al-Ghazalis: kurze Auszüge aus seinem…

The perusal of the constructive treatises of the foremost leaders of the different religions should help to promote at least more mutual respect, if not, indeed, actual co-operation, among their devotees than the study of the critical discussions of lesser minds. For this reason the present small volume of extracts from the chief constructive work of Al Ghazzali has been included in the Gaekwad Studies in Religion and Philosophy. The purpose of that series is to be constructive rather than critical, and further, it is meant to contain volumes appealing to the general public as well as to the scholar. For a wider and more correct understanding and appreciation of the spirit of Islam, it is to be regretted that there are so few English translations of Muslim works in Arabic and Persian. It is to be hoped that in future more attention will be turned in this direction. In the meantime the present volume may serve at least to arouse some interest. This work was undertaken at the request of Professor Widgery, to whom I am indebted for several suggestions and for going through the whole of the manuscript and the proofs. NAWAB ALI _Baroda, 1920._ CONTENTS Preface _Page_ 5 Introduction 9 List of Al Ghazzali’s works 30 I. The Nature of Man 41 II. Human Freedom and Responsibility 53 III. Pride and Vanity 78 IV. Friendship and Sincerity 95 V. The Nature of Love, and Man’s highest Happiness 116 VI. The Unity of God 138 VII. The Love of God and its Signs 145 VIII. Riza or Joyous Submission to His Will 164 INTRODUCTION The Comparative Study of Religions, interesting as a form of intellectual research, has for many a further value in the influence it may exert upon the widening and the deepening of the religious life. The practical value may become more and more acknowledged, if, as signs suggest, the reality of the religious experience is more keenly felt and mankind recognise the place of religious goods in the highest type of life.…