Imam al-Ghazali: A Concise Life

by Edoardo Albert

Overview

In this short biography you will discover how Imam al-Ghazali rose from his humble background as a fatherless young boy to become the preeminent Muslim scholar of the eleventh century and a towering figure in the history of Islamic thought. It also reveals why, after years of success, he left behind his prestigious teaching position and became a penniless traveler trying to experience the peace of a contented inner life.

With illustrations, photographs, and maps, the rich and diverse world that produced al-Ghazali is vividly brought alive.

Edoardo Albert is a London-based writer of Italian and Sri Lankan extraction.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781847740304
Publisher:	Kube Publishing Ltd
Publication date:	01/01/2013
Pages:	84
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 7.60(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	15 - 18 Years

About the Author

Edoardo Albert is a London-based writer of Italian and Sri Lankan extraction. He specialises in religion, travel and archaeology, and gets up early in the morning (5am!) to write stories.

Table of Contents

Introduction • Who was al-Ghazali?
Chapter 1 • Childhood
Chapter 2 • The student
Chapter 3 • The young sceptic
Chapter 4 • Professor al-Ghazali
Chapter 5 • Crisis
Chapter 6 • A new life
Chapter 7 • Going back to his roots
Chapter 8 • What was al-Ghazali like?
Timeline
Glossary
Bibliography
Further reading
Index
The author

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

This slim volume outlining the life of Imam al-Ghazali, an 11th-century Muslim scholar and saint, is fairly sparse in content, reviewing only the most important biographical details of al-Ghazali’s life, from his birth in what is now Iran to his scholarly career and his later years when he abandoned scholarship, turned to Sufism, and traveled the Middle East as a mendicant and mystic. Al-Ghazali is a fascinating figure, and even a short biography like this reveals his importance in the history of Islamic thought. Readers looking for a basic introduction will be satisfied with the straightforward prose, inclusion of beautiful photographs and medieval paintings, and inset boxes with background information about al-Ghazali’s cultural and historical context. The simple prose and abundance of b&w illustrations may also pique the interest of younger readers and serve as a gateway to further reading about Islamic history and culture. Part of a series of short books aimed at introducing Islam in small pieces, works like this deserve more attention and a place in high school libraries. Ages 14–up. (Jan.) — Publishers Weekly, November 2012

Editorial Reviews

This slim volume outlining the life of Imam al-Ghazali, an 11th-century Muslim scholar and saint, is fairly sparse in content, reviewing only the most important biographical details of al-Ghazali’s life, from his birth in what is now Iran to his scholarly career and his later years when he abandoned scholarship, turned to Sufism, and traveled the Middle East as a mendicant and mystic. Al-Ghazali is a fascinating figure, and even a short biography like this reveals his importance in the history of Islamic thought. Readers looking for a basic introduction will be satisfied with the straightforward prose, inclusion of beautiful photographs and medieval paintings, and inset boxes with background information about al-Ghazali’s cultural and historical context. The simple prose and abundance of b&w illustrations may also pique the interest of younger readers and serve as a gateway to further reading about Islamic history and culture. Part of a series of short books aimed at introducing Islam in small pieces, works like this deserve more attention and a place in high school libraries. Ages 14–up. (Jan.)¦

Publishers Weekly

This slim volume outlining the life of Imam al-Ghazali, an 11th-century Muslim scholar and saint, is fairly sparse in content, reviewing only the most important biographical details of al-Ghazali’s life, from his birth in what is now Iran to his scholarly career and his later years when he abandoned scholarship, turned to Sufism, and traveled the Middle East as a mendicant and mystic. Al-Ghazali is a fascinating figure, and even a short biography like this reveals his importance in the history of Islamic thought. Readers looking for a basic introduction will be satisfied with the straightforward prose, inclusion of beautiful photographs and medieval paintings, and inset boxes with background information about al-Ghazali’s cultural and historical context. The simple prose and abundance of b&w illustrations may also pique the interest of younger readers and serve as a gateway to further reading about Islamic history and culture. Part of a series of short books aimed at introducing Islam in small pieces, works like this deserve more attention and a place in high school libraries. Ages 14–up. (Jan.) — Publishers Weekly, November 2012

From the Publisher