Discussion of Abu Hamid al-Ghazali and his book *Ihya' 'Ulum al-Din*
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh: I noticed that in the end, I benefited from al-Ghazali. I benefited from al-Ghazali regarding morals and education, because the truth is that, were it not for the shirk (associating partners with Allah) and Ash'ari views in it regarding creed, it is a book that educates every student of knowledge; it is obligatory for him to read it. So when I transmit a hadith in the manner I mentioned earlier... if the hadith is transmitted from *Ihya'*, I am forced to go back and read *Ihya'*, so I was drawn to *Ihya'*.
The student: Something that pulls you to something else.
The Shaykh: Ah, I was drawn to *Ihya'* and I truly benefited from it in many ways. And during this time, I realized that it is very dangerous regarding Sufism, spiritual unveilings, and the like. And among that is what concerns the names and attributes; he has dangerous statements in it. For example, he mentions that the first book in *Ihya'* is the Book of Creeds, the second book is the Book of Knowledge, the third book is the Book of Purity, and so on, prayer and zakah (the obligatory alms) until the end. So regarding creed, he says things... the time has ended.
The student: The adhan (the call to prayer) is being called...
The Shaykh: Come, in the name of Allah, he says, as the Ash'ariyyah say, because he is an Ash'ari: "It is permissible for Allah to burden His servants with what they cannot bear," contrary to the Qur'an.
The student: And what does he say?
The Shaykh: "It is permissible for Allah to burden His servants with what they cannot bear." Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.
The student: This is Ibn al-Qayyim, in the context of his discussion in *al-Tafsir al-Muyassar* (or similar work), regarding the saying of Allah (Mighty and Majestic):[Al-Baqarah 2:286], he says: "Allah the Exalted did not name the obligations 'obligations' except in the context of negation."
The Shaykh: I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, I bear witness that there is no god but Allah.
The student: Humility is part of faith.
The student: Put some thyme with the...
The student : O Walid.
The student: You have honored us, Shaykh... May Allah reward you all.
The Shaykh: May Allah honor you.
The student : May Allah give you life.
The Shaykh: And may Allah settle you in a garden of the gardens of Paradise, better than your garden.
The student: O Allah, amen, and likewise for you.
The student: Something that pulls you to something else.
The Shaykh: Ah, I was drawn to *Ihya'* and I truly benefited from it in many ways. And during this time, I realized that it is very dangerous regarding Sufism, spiritual unveilings, and the like. And among that is what concerns the names and attributes; he has dangerous statements in it. For example, he mentions that the first book in *Ihya'* is the Book of Creeds, the second book is the Book of Knowledge, the third book is the Book of Purity, and so on, prayer and zakah (the obligatory alms) until the end. So regarding creed, he says things... the time has ended.
The student: The adhan (the call to prayer) is being called...
The Shaykh: Come, in the name of Allah, he says, as the Ash'ariyyah say, because he is an Ash'ari: "It is permissible for Allah to burden His servants with what they cannot bear," contrary to the Qur'an.
The student: And what does he say?
The Shaykh: "It is permissible for Allah to burden His servants with what they cannot bear." Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.
The student: This is Ibn al-Qayyim, in the context of his discussion in *al-Tafsir al-Muyassar* (or similar work), regarding the saying of Allah (Mighty and Majestic):
Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity
لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَاThe Shaykh: I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, I bear witness that there is no god but Allah.
The student: Humility is part of faith.
The student: Put some thyme with the...
The student : O Walid.
The student: You have honored us, Shaykh... May Allah reward you all.
The Shaykh: May Allah honor you.
The student : May Allah give you life.
The Shaykh: And may Allah settle you in a garden of the gardens of Paradise, better than your garden.
The student: O Allah, amen, and likewise for you.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.