The teachings of A mad al-Ghazali changed the course of Persian Sufism forever, paving the way for luminaries such as Rumi, A ar, and afi . 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 A mad al-Ghazali 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 A mad al-Ghazali with particular attention to his relationship with his more famous brother, Abu Hamid al-Ghazali. Lumbard's findings revolutionize our understanding of A mad al-Ghazali writings, allowing for focus on his central teachings regarding Divine Love and the remembrance of God.

Joseph E. B. Lumbard is Assistant Professor in the Department of Arabic and Translation Studies at the American University of Sharjah and author of Submission, Faith, and Beauty: The Religion of Islam.

Acknowledgements

Introduction
Why Study A mad al-Ghazali
Studies on A mad al-Ghazali
The Goal of this Book

Part I. Life and History

1. Sources for the A mad al-Ghazali Tradition
Works by A mad al-Ghazali
Primary Sources for al-Ghazali's Vita Summary

2. The Life and Times of A mad al-Ghazali
The Saljuqs
The Stages of A mad al-Ghazali's Life

Part II. Practice and Teachings

3. A mad al-Ghazali's Spiritual Practice
Spiritual Practice
Summary of Practice

4. The Roots of A mad al-Ghazali's Teachings
Satanology
Love
Love in Sufi Literature Before the 6th/12th Century
Summary

5. A mad al-Ghazali's Metaphysics of Love
The Form and the Message
The Oneness of Love
The Stages of the Path

Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Index of Names and Terms