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Did Imam Ghazali Follow a Spiritual Path?

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Seekersguidance.org

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani 

Question:

Did Imam Ghazali follow a tariqa or his own wird?

Answer:

Walaikum assalam,

I hope you’re doing well, insha’Allah.

It is clear from the writings of Imam Ghazali—including his autobiographical Deliverance from Error (al-Munqidh min al-Dalal) and his Dear Son (Ayyuha’l Walad) that he had a spiritual guide and spiritual litanies (described in the Book of Litanies in the First Quarter of the Ihya).

However, the identity of his spiritual guide is differed upon.

The Fruits of Imam Ghazali’s Spiritual Path

The fruits of his spiritual journey and training are his books and the wisdom, guidance, and light in them. These works continue to be taught and to be benefited from to this day.

Among the courses we offer at Seekers:
One. Beginning of Guidance
Two. The Revival Circle
Three. Dear Son – Shaykh Abdullah Misra

What is a Spiritual Path?

A spiritual path (tariq) is a path of drawing closer to Allah, of attaining unto beholding and love of Allah and becoming beloved and pleasing to Allah.

A true spiritual path inculcates deep iman and taqwa; has spiritual teachings, practices, and routines of dhikr and worship that enable one to take the steps to draw closer to Allah—to reach Him, to behold Him, to love Him, to become a true servant of one’s Lord—and the adab and states that make one worthy of Allah drawing one closer.

What to do if Considering a Path?
I’d encourage you to consider what you’re seeking through any path you are considering; whether the spiritual guide you’re considering and their teachings would appear to be a true and trustworthy means to that goal; whether you would have the resolve (irada) to be a seeker (murid) on that path; and whether you trust the knowledge, state, guidance, and judgment of the spiritual guide in question sufficiently to follow their guidance when it is difficult or contrary to one’s inclinations.

Perform the prayer of seeking guidance:

The Reality of Istikhara
http://seekersguidance.org/blog/2009/08/the-reality-of-istikhara/

The answer to the istikhara is your inclination towards which decision will be best in your deen and dunya, short and long term, directly and indirectly.

And Allah is the giver of success and facilitation.

[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani

 

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani spent ten years studying with some of the leading scholars of recent times, first in Damascus and then in Amman, Jordan. His teachers include the foremost theologian of recent times in Damascus, the late Shaykh Adib al-Kallas (may Allah have mercy on him), as well as his student Shaykh Hassan al-Hindi, one of the leading Hanafi fuqaha of the present age. He returned to Canada in 2007, where he founded SeekersGuidance in order to meet the urgent need to spread Islamic knowledge–both online and on the ground–in a reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible manner. He is the author of Absolute Essentials of Islam: Faith, Prayer, and the Path of Salvation According to the Hanafi School (White Thread Press, 2004.) Since 2011, Shaykh Faraz has been named one of the 500 most influential Muslims by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center

 

This answer was collected from Seekersguidance.org. It’s an online learning platform overseen by Sheikh Faraz Rabbani. All courses are free. They also have in-person classes in Canada.

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