Imam Al-Ghazali: A Concise Life

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Imam Al-Ghazali: A Concise Life

Al-Ghazali is a towering Muslim figure from the eleventh century whose thoughts and actions changed Islam forever.

Imam Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali is a towering figure in Islam today. But did you know that during his lifetime he was a scholar and a penniless wanderer?

In this short biography you will discover how Al-Ghazali rose from his humble background as a fatherless young boy from a small town, to become a successful student, preeminent Muslim scholar of the eleventh century and a towering figure in the history of Islamic thought

Imam Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali was a great teacher and the most famous thinker on Islam of his time. It also reveals why, after years of success, he left behind his prestigious position and his family, and became a penniless traveller trying to experience the peace of a content inner life.

Award-winning author, Edoardo Albert, brings this most extraordinary of Muslims to life for a new generation, demonstrating his enduring influence and importance for Islamic civilization and the wider world.

With numerous extracts from Al-Ghazalis own autobiography carefully rendered into contemporary English this book makes the man many consider to be one the most important Muslims in history accessible to all. Illustrated throughout with photographs, pictures and maps, the rich and diverse world that produced Al-Ghazali is also brought vividly alive.

With illustrations, photographs, and maps, the rich and diverse

Reviews About The Book

This slim volume outlining the life of Imam al-Ghazali, an 11th-century Muslim scholar and saint, is fairly sparse in content, reviewing only the most important biographical details of al-Ghazali’s life, from his birth in what is now Iran to his scholarly career and his later years when he abandoned scholarship, turned to Sufism, and traveled the Middle East as a mendicant and mystic. Al-Ghazali is a fascinating figure, and even a short biography like this reveals his importance in the history of Islamic thought. Readers looking for a basic introduction will be satisfied with the straightforward prose, inclusion of beautiful photographs and medieval paintings, and inset boxes with background information about al-Ghazali’s cultural and historical context. The simple prose and abundance of b&w illustrations may also pique the interest of younger readers and serve as a gateway to further reading about Islamic history and culture. Part of a series of short books aimed at introducing Islam in small pieces, works like this deserve more attention and a place in high school libraries. Ages 14–up. (Jan.) — Publishers Weekly, November 2012

Other Tittles included in the Concise Life Series

Ibn Sina: A Concise Life
Ibn Battuta The Journey of a Medieval Muslim Cncise Life
Imam Al-Ghazali: A Concise Life

About The Author

Edoardo Albert is a London-based writer of Italian and Sri Lankan extraction. He specialises in religion, travel and archaeology, and gets up early in the morning (5am!) to write stories.