Discovering the self

16.10.2023
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Fathimathul Huda

Slide 1
Introducing

Slide 2
● Outline what ur gonna do today
● Refer the reference
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Slide 3
● Intro Imam Ghazzali
- Imam al-Ghazali, known as "Hujjatul Islam" and "Mujadid," was widely regarded as
the foremost scholar of his time in Islamic fields of knowledge. In Western regions,
his life has consistently garnered significant interest. Throughout his career,
al-Ghazali's beliefs and roles evolved, ranging from a Sufi to a mutakallim
challenging falsafa, and even embracing philosophical ideas to some extent. These
diverse facets of his life have given rise to numerous myths and legends.

Slide 4
Life of Imam Ghazali

Slide 5
- After the quotation:
Ghazzali alway doubted; he mentioned that when he emerged from the state of doubt he
produced to study with greater thoroughness.
He says in Meezanul Amal:
If a man does not doubt, he cannot become enlightened, and if not enlightened, he will
remain in the depths of darkness and blindness forever.

Slide 6
● Point 1: Whenever Ghazzali describes human nature he mainly focused on
discovering the self.
● Point 2: here is what carl rogers defined about self to make the point more clear
● Point 3: talking about the ideal self, here is what Quran has to say what the ideal self
of all human kind should be.
● Point 4: Rogers categorized the self into two distinct aspects: the ideal self,
representing the person you aspire to be, and the real self, reflecting your true,
authentic identity.
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Slide 7
● What is soul?
- Point 1: Al-Ghazali's perspective on human nature emphasizes that individuals
comprise both a soul and a body, with the soul being their essential core. This
human soul is a distinct, spiritual entity that fundamentally differs from the physical
body.
● Point 2: Answer: the love of this world
● Point 3: Temperance: the quality moderation or self restraint
● Point 4: In order to maintain the earthly existence of the body as a soul the
mundane order and society are necessary.
● How did he discover the self? Described the concept of self by 4 terms: Qalb Ruh
Nafs and Aql. In this lecture, we will be getting deep into these 4 terms.
● He stated that all those expressions have two different meanings spiritual and
physical

Slide 8
The aim of purification of the soul is to discipline the heart from the the rest of passion and
resentment, till like a clear mirror that reflects the light of God.

Slide 9 qalb
Explain
- Qalbunsalim is defined as a heart cleansed from a passion that challenges what God
com-mands, or disputes what He forbids. As a result, it is free from any impulses
which contradict- His good and it is safeguarded against the worship of anything
other than Him.
- The next is qalbunmarid refers to a heart that with life in it, as well as illness. The
former sustains it at one moment, the latter at another and it follows which one of
the two dominates and manages it.
- The worst type of heart is galbunmayyit or the dead heart which it does not want to
know its Lord and does not want to observe his God, it wishes things other than Him
and it follows his lower self to fulfil his worldly desire in this life.
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Slide = 10 Ruh
Ruh which means the physical material thing that vibrates the whole body like the current
electricity
Al-ghazali also affirmed that ar-ruh inherently has all the knowledge and perceives
everything for it is directly from God as it is stated clearly in the Qur'an that all human
being have testified that there is no God but Him. In other words, men are having
knowledge that He is the Lord of this universe. IBN

Slide = 11 Nafs
Ghazzali Gives 2 meanings here for nafs
1. Point 1: Ego: this nafs is source of the negative power which blinds one’s intellect.
One should try to fight and keep it under control
2. Point 2: This is the nafs capable of being pulled up towards the heavenly world from
which it has initially arisen and been created. Al-Ghazali divided this second nafs in
to three stages: Nafs al-mutma' innah (the self of peace), Nafs al-lawwamah (the
blaming self), andNafs ammanah bi al-us(the self-urging evil)

Slide = 12 Nafs
Point 1: exhorts one to freely indulge in gratifying passions and instigates to do evil
Point 2: directs man towards right and wrong
Point 3: the self of peace

Slide = 13 Aql
- The path to acquiring knowledge may take different forms, such as imitation, logical
reasoning, contemplation, and intuition, each path unique to the seeker's journey.

Slide = 14 Aql = 4 natures of man

4 natures of man
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- According to Al-Ghazali there are four natures of man

- Anger is a sign of beastly nature. If he bays the dictates of anger he acquires the
odious conduct such as haughtiness, pride cruelty and passion for power and
self-praise. If the devilish nature gets the upper hand he becomes prone to the
lonely trait of deceit, deception, treachery, fraud etc. When he controls these evil
tendencies and cultivates and nourishes his angelic qualities he is endowed with
divine qualities such as wisdom, know-edge, faith and love for humanity.

Slide = 15 Aql
- The fundamental elements of the inner constitution of man are reason or wisdom
(aql and hikmah).