A Comparative Analysis of the Islamic Thought of Imam Ghazali and Imam Ibn Taimiya

Imam Ghazali and Imam Ibn Taimiya were two influential Muslim scholars who had different views on various aspects of Islamic thought, including philosophy, theology, law, and sufism. Some of the differences of thinking between them are:

- Imam Ghazali was a proponent of kalam, or rational theology, which uses logic and reason to defend the doctrines of Islam. He also criticized the Greek philosophy that was adopted by some Muslim philosophers, such as Ibn Sina and al-Farabi, and accused them of deviating from the Quran and Sunnah. He wrote his famous work Tahafut al-Falasifah (The Incoherence of the Philosophers) to expose the contradictions and errors of their arguments. ¹

- Imam Ibn Taimiya was an opponent of kalam, which he considered to be a source of innovation and confusion. He advocated for a return to the Quran and Sunnah as the only sources of guidance and knowledge. He also criticized the Greek philosophy that was adopted by some Muslim theologians, such as al-Ash'ari and al-Maturidi, and accused them of compromising the attributes and names of Allah. He wrote his famous work Dar' Ta'arud al-'Aql wa al-Naql (The Refutation of the Contradiction between Reason and Revelation) to reconcile the apparent conflicts between them. ²

- Imam Ghazali was a supporter of sufism, or Islamic mysticism, which he considered to be the highest level of spirituality and knowledge. He practiced sufism himself and wrote many works on its principles and practices, such as Ihya' Ulum al-Din (The Revival of Religious Sciences) and Kimiya-yi Sa'adat (The Alchemy of Happiness). He also defended sufism from the accusations of some orthodox scholars who considered it to be heretical or deviant. ³

- Imam Ibn Taimiya was a critic of sufism, or at least some aspects of it that he considered to be contrary to the Quran and Sunnah. He rejected some sufi doctrines and practices, such as wahdat al-wujud (the unity of existence), fana' (annihilation), shatahat (ecstatic utterances), and tawassul (intercession). He also warned against some sufi orders and personalities that he deemed to be misguided or corrupt. However, he also acknowledged some positive aspects of sufism, such as its emphasis on sincerity, piety, purification, and love for Allah and His Messenger.

Source: The Dominant Islamic Philosophy of Knowledge. https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=68233 Accessed 3/25/2023.

(2) Polemics on Philosophy: A Comparison of The Thoughts of Al-Ghazāli and .... https://www.researchgate.net/publication/367419164_Polemics_on_Philosophy_A_Comparison_of_The_Thoughts_of_Al-Ghazali_and_Ibn_Taymiyyah/fulltext/63d1ce82d7e5841e0bf7aac1/Polemics-on-Philosophy-A-Comparison-of-The-Thoughts-of-Al-Ghazali-and-Ibn-Taymiyyah.pdf Accessed 3/25/2023.

(3) Comparative Study of al-Ghazali’s and Ibn Taymiyyah’s Views on Sufism. http://journalarticle.ukm.my/14868/1/IJIT-Vol-17-June-2020_2_15-24.pdf Accessed 3/25/2023.