Imam Ghazali’s contributions to the enrichment of Islamic learning are unforgettable and as relevant today as they were about nine centuries before. Among his innumerable additions to the field of Islamic learning, two came out as his signature contributions: The Reconstruction of Islamic Ideology and the Islamisation of Knowledge. These were the views expressed by Professor Ishtiyaq Ahmad Zilli, Director, Shibli Academy, Azamgarh, that set the tone of the one-day seminar on ‘Imam Ghazali: Intellectual Contributions and Relevance’ organised by the Zakir Husain Institute of Islamic Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia.
Prof. Zilli said that Imam Ghazali assumed the chair at the Madrasa Nizamia, Baghdad at the young age of 34 which was an honour akin to winning the present-day Nobel Prize. But he relinquished this coveted post the moment he felt an intense inner urge to seek self-knowledge, and became a recluse. During this journey of inner self, Imam Ghazali delved deeper into the search of reality and emerged with the light of self-purification that he harnessed to analyse the problems faced by the Muslim community and offered intellectual and spiritual leadership.
Dr. Abdul Haq Ansari, former Amir Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and Director, Islamic Academy, Aligarh, highlighted Imam Ghazali’s urge for truth beyond all doubts that he eventually found in Sufism. Sufism, according to him, was not a matter of theory but an experience to be lived.
Prof. Akhtarul Wasey, Director, Zakir Husain Institute of Islamic Studies, while delivering his welcome address emphasised that we need to reread Imam Ghazali by shunning all biases and preconceived notions.
Prof. Zafar Ahmad Siddiqui highlighted the core elements of Imam Ghazali’s thoughts and actions. Dr. Afzal Misbahi presented an exposition on Ghazali’s views on Sufism. Mr. Abdul Hameed Nomani’s presentation focused Ghazali’s methodology. Prof. Hameed Naseem Rafiabadi offered a detailed study on Imam Ghazali’s influence on Sir Syed Ahmad Khan while Maulana Rahmatullah Nadvi took a fresh look at Ghazali’s thought in the light of modern works on him. Dr. Manzoor Alam in his presidential address opined that we needed to solve contemporary problems with the help of Imam Ghazali’s thought and works.
Mufti Fahim Akhtar Nadvi highlighted Imam Ghazali’s views on and contributions towards Islamic fiqh and its applications. Dr. Razi Alam Nadvi talked about Ghazali’s philosophy of ethics and Mr. Waris Mazhari said that moderation of thought and action was Imam Ghazali’s unique contribution.