BIOGRAPHY OF ABOUHAMED MOHAMMAD GHAZALI

Mohammad GHAZALI was born in TOUS (KHORASAN State) of Iran in 1058. In childhood, learned education in native land. Father was living through spinning the wool. He was selling wools in a shop in bazar, therefore they were calling him the GHAZAL. Father was man of piety and virtue, he was occasionally attending the meetings of scientists. He had two sons, Mohammad and Ahmad. These two kids were still small, when their dear father expired. According to his will, they have given the sons to his friend by name, ABOU HAMED AHMAD BEN MOHAMMAD RAZKANI. This fellow was a SUFI, he served according to testament. Then one day, he said: whatever your father left, I used it for you, I am a poor man and can`t bear your expenses. You must now go to school to study jurisprudence. So out of monthly pay, you can buy bread for yourself. Mohammad and his brother went to a religious school in NEISHABOUR city and continued their education. Mohammad GHAZALI was very clever student. Learnt religious science and literature from AHMAD RAZEKANI. Then went to GORGAN city to attend the classes of ABOUNASR ESMAIL. After some time came back to his native place, TOUS, to review all his own knowledge.

In the classes of SHEIKHOLHARAMEIN:

In 1078, GHAZALI, went to NEISHABOUR city. And attended the classes of EMAMUL HARAMAIN JOVAINI, and until his death in 1086 was his companion. Education of GHAZALI was not religion only. He studied in religious controversy, debate, logic and philosophy. Students of JOVAINI, all were scholars and scientists of their own era. But GHAZALI showed his supremacy over them and for this sake, JOVAINI was proud of him.

In the court of chief minister, NEZAMOLMOLK:

After death of his teacher, came out of NEISHABOUR to meet NEZAMOLMOLK, the minister of MALEKSHAH SALJUGHI. Minister respected him and allowed him to be in his place for six month. Then sent him to take care of NEZAMIYEH School in BAGHDAD city.
In 1091, IMAM MOHAMMAD GHAZALI entered BAGHDAD city. And started to work successfully. His presence was welcomed by students and clergies. His classes were full of students every day. During these days, his FETVAZ were famous. His popularity increased. He started to bring reasons to reject the sects of JOUNIYATANIYEH, ESMAILIYEH and philosophers.
In this period, he felt doubt in his own faith and intellectual education. But it did not take more than two months. So then started to investigate in various sects and became professor of theology and owner of authorship. Then intended to study philosophy, but without the help of a teacher, so stated to read philosophical books. He was teaching religious rules to students. In leisure hours, studied philosophy, and he did it for three years. His next effort was learning about believes of TALIMIYEH sect. after finishing his research, began to write a book by name points of philosophy and other religious and verbal books.

His journey to Damascus:

In 1095, he went to Syria, where he remained for two years, he did nothing, except retreat, solitude and penance.
In mosque of DAMASCUS, he done secretions. From there he went to Jerusalem. In this place, he was going to GHEBALUL SAKHRA and was locking himself indoor and sometimes was sweeping the mosque yard and focused on serving the pilgrims. Then decided to go for Haj, on the way reached to ALKHALIL area, on the shrine of prophet IBRAHIM, vowed to God, not to do two works, first, not to take reward from the kings, second, not to go to verbal altercations with theologians.
After pilgrimage, went back to home town. In TOUS place, he again done the same procedure, solitude to purify the heart. He was in this habit and attitude for about ten years. Happenings around him and family expenses were disturbing his peace of mind. But he wrote his most important books especially the recovery of the religious science.

Return to NEISHABOUR:

In 1106, he came out of solitude mood and went to NEISHABOUR. And started to teach in NEZAMIYEH School. The reason for starting to teach again was commandment of the king. He thought for two years only and again left everything and went back to hometown and closed the door of his house to everyone and remained in solitude. And after two years expired.
In 1111, when he was only 55 years old died. His followers found a paper above his head. In that paper he advised all not to cry for him. And assume his body like a garment or house which lived in it for some days and then left it.

His philosophy:

He was one of those fellows who affected Muslims to stay away from wisdom and reject philosophy. Even though he was not feeling difficulty in nature of philosophy, but he believed that paying attention to philosophy will bring weakness to the faith of Muslims.
In his famous book, TAHAFATOL FALASEFE, GHAZALI, criticized and rejected the ideas of Aristotle`s philosophy. Style and logical manner that GHAZALI used in writing this book is called as critical philosophy, today. Those points which GHAZALI, criticized on MASHAEEYAN group are perfectly philosophical manners. These points, later were researched by western scientists like: Descartes, Hume and Kant.
GHAZALI explained in this book about philosophical issues like: denial of causality, the credit of ethics, the invasion to induction and lack of confidence. These are philosophical issues which GHAZALI gave logical and rational explanations regarding them. In recent years, these issues became new philosophical sects.

His writings:

Among Islamic scholars no one has written books more than GHAZALI.
Many books which their names had been mentioned in Islamic intellectual moments are belong to him. Some scholars and scientists who have researched about the articles of GHAZALI are: GHESHE, MCDONALD, GOLDZIHER, LOUIS MASSIGNON, ASIN PLASYSUS, MONTGOMERY WATT, MORRIS BOZHIR, MICHAEL ALAR and ABDUL RAHMAN BADWI. Especially DOCTOR BADAWI, with the help of some scientists, published a book about writings of GHAZALI in 1960. In this book, BADAVI has gathered 457 numbers for GHAZALI books. But he mentioned that only 72 are really belong to GHAZALI.