Ahmad al-Ghazali, Remembrance, and the Metaphysics of Love (SUNY series in Islam)

Discusses the work of a central, but poorly understood, figure in the development of Persian Sufism, Aḥmad al-Ghazlī.The teachings of Amad al-Ghazlī changed the course of Persian Sufism forever, paving the way for luminaries such as Rūmī, Ar, and fi. Yet he remains a poorly understood thinker, with many treatises incorrectly attributed to him and conflicting accounts in the historiographical literature. This work provides the first examination of Amad al-Ghazlī and his work in Western scholarly literature. Joseph E. B. Lumbard seeks to ascertain the authenticity of works attributed to this author, trace the development of the dominant trends in the biographical literature, and reconstruct the life and times of Amad al-Ghazlī with particular attention to his relationship with his more famous brother, Abū Hamid al-Ghazlī. Lumbard's findings revolutionize our understanding of Amad al-Ghazlī writings, allowing for focus on his central teachings regarding Divine Love and the remembrance of God.