Faith in Divine Unity and Trust in Divine Providence The Revival of the Religious Sciences Book XXXV

by al-Ghazali, Abu Hamid Muhammad; Burrell, David B.

• ISBN13: 9781887752350
• ISBN10: 1887752358
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-01-01
• Publisher: Fons Vitae

Summary

In an axial volume from his celebrated compendium, the "Ihya ulum al din," al-Ghazali shares his startling and original exploration of the meaning of trust in Divine Providence and recommends specific spiritual skills to help the seeker develop a state whereby he or she may rightly respond to events as they happen. This judicious use of stories is intended to imitate the Sufi practice of the master/disciple relationship, where the novice is helped to discern correct action.

Author Biography

Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali is generally acclaimed as the most influential thinker of medieval Islam, whose writings have been regarded as the greatest in spirituality and have been, for centuries, the most read work after the Qur'an in the Muslim world.

Table of Contents

Abbreviations	vii
Preface	ix
Introduction	xi
Notes to Introduction	xxiv
FAITH IN DIVINE UNITY AND TRUST IN DIVINE PROVIDENCE
Prologue: Explicating the Benefits of Trust in Divine Providence	3	(6)
THE FIRST PART
Explicating the Nature of Faith in Divine Unity [tawhid] as the Foundation of Trust in Divine Providence [tawakkul]	9	(46)
THE SECOND PART
States of Trust in Divine Providence with Accompanying Practices	55	(1)
Explicating the State of Trust in Divine Providence	55	(14)
Explanation of What [Sufi] Sheikhs Have Said about the States of Trust in Divine Providence	69	(3)
Explanation of the Actions of Those Who Trust in Divine Providence	72	(85)
On obtaining something beneficial which people lack	73	(33)
On obtaining what is beneficial for single persons	73	(20)
Explaining the trust in divine providence proper to heads of families	93	(10)
Using a parable to clarify the states of those who trust in God while depending on means	103	(3)
Attending to means by saving	106	(6)
On making use of means to repel injury and resist danger	112	(13)
Explanation of the conduct of those who trust in divine providence when their goods are stolen	119	(6)
On the effort to remove harm, as in treatment of disease and similar things	125	(32)
Explaining that dispensing with treatment belongs to some states and demonstrates the power of God, and how that does not contradict the practice of the messenger of God---may God's blessing and peace be upon him	131	(9)
Explanations countering those who say that foregoing treatment is more beneficial in every case	140	(6)
Explaining the states of those who trust in God with regard to disclosing or concealing illness	146	(11)
Appendix: Persons Cited in Text	157	(16)
Bibliography	173