Islam and Rationality : The Impact of Al-Ghazālī. Papers Collected on His 900th Anniversary. Vol. 2

Edited by Frank Griffel, Yale University Al-Ghazālī (d. 505/1111) is one of the most influential thinkers of Islam. There is hardly a genre of Islamic literature where he is not regarded as a major authority. Islamic Law, Sufism, ethics, philosophy, and theology are all deeply shaped by him. Yet in the past thirty years, the field of Ghazālī-studies has been shaken by the realization that Avicenna (Ibn Sīnā, d. 428/1037) and other philosophers had a strong influence on him. Now, after the 900th anniversary at his death, the field emerges stronger than ever. This second volume of Islam and Rationality: The Impact of al-Ghazālī brings together twelve leading experts on al-Ghazālī who write about his thought and the impact it had on later Muslim thinkers. Contributors are: Anna Ayşe Akasoy, Ahmed El Shamsy, Kenneth Garden, Frank Griffel, Jules Janssens, Damien Janos, Taneli Kukkonen, Stephen Ogden, M. Sait Özervarlı, Martin Riexinger, Ulrich Rudolph, and Ayman Shihadeh. Biographical note Frank Griffel, PhD (1999), Freie Universität Berlin, is Professor of Islamic Studies at Yale University, New Haven, USA. He has published monographs, translations and many articles on Islamic thought, Islamic theology, and Arabic and Islamic philosophy, including Al-Ghazālī’s Philosophical Theology (New York 2009). Readership Readers interested in Islamic theology and Arabic philosophy, readers interested in religious rationalism. Al-ghazali (d. 505/1111) Is One Of The Most Influential Thinkers Of Islam. There Is Hardly A Genre Of Islamic Literature Where He Is Not Regarded As A Major Authority. Islamic Law, Sufism, Ethics, Philosophy, And Theology Are All Deeply Shaped By Him. Yet In The Past Thirty Years, The Field Of Ghazali-studies Has Been Shaken By The Realization That Avicenna (ibn Sina, D. 428/1037) And Other Philosophers Had A Strong Influence On Him. Now, After The 900th Anniversary At His Death, The Field Emerges Stronger Than Ever. This Second Volume Of 'islam And Rationality: The Impact Of Al-ghazali' Brings Together Twelve Leading Experts On Al-ghazali Who Write About His Thought And The Impact It Had On Later Muslim Thinkers. Preface; Frank Griffel; List Of Figures And Tables; List Of Contributors; Keys And Conventions; Part 1; Al-ghazālī's Works And His Thought; Chapter 1; Al-ghazālī On Error; Taneli Kukkonen; Chapter 2; Al-ghazālī's Concept Of Philosophy; Ulrich Rudolph; Chapter 3; Problems In Al-ghazālī's Perfect World; Objections And Counter-objections To His Best Possible World Thesis; Stephen R. Ogden; Chapter 4; Al-ghazālī's Teleology And The Galenic Tradition; Reading The Wisdom In God's Creations (al-Ḥikma Fī Makhlūqāt Allah); Ahmed El Shamsy; Chapter 5; Al-ghazālī And Kalām The Conundrum Of His Body-soul Dualismayman Shihadeh; Chapter 6; Al-ghazālī's Veil Section; Comparative Religion Before Religionswissenschaft?; Anna Ayşe Akasoy; Chapter 7; Is There An Autograph Of Al-ghazālī In Ms Yale, Landberg 318?; Frank Griffel; Part 2; Al-ghazālī's Influence; Chapter 8; Intuition, Intellection, And Mystical Knowledge; Delineating Fakhr Al-dīn Al-rāzī's Cognitive Theories; Damien Janos; Chapter 9; Fakhr Al-dīn Al-rāzī's Use Of Al-ghazālī's Mishkāt In His Commentary On The Light Verse (q 24:35); Jules Janssens; Chapter 10 Ottoman Perceptions Of Al-ghazālī's Works And Discussions On His Historical Role In Its Late Periodm. Sait Özervarlı; Chapter 11; Al-ghazālī's Demarcation Of Science; A Commonplace Apology In The Muslim Reception Of Modern Science- And Its Limitations; Martin Riexinger; Chapter 12; The Revival Of The Religious Sciences In The Twenty-first Century; Suʻād Al-Ḥakīm's Adaptation Of Al-ghazālī's Revival; Kenneth Garden; Indices; General Index Of Names And Subjects; Index Of Passages In Works By Al-ghazālī; Index Of Verses In The Qurʼan. Edited By Frank Griffel. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. Table of contents Contents Preface Notes on Contributors Keys and Conventions Part I Al-Ghazālī’s Works and His Thought 1 Al-Ghazālī on Error Taneli Kukkonen 2 Al-Ghazālī’s Concept of Philosophy Ulrich Rudolph 3 Problems in al-Ghazālī’s Perfect World: Objections and Counter-Objections to His Best Possible World Thesis Stephen Ogden 4 Al-Ghazālī’s Teleology and the Galenic Tradition Reading The Wisdom in God’s Creations (al-Ḥikma fī makhlūqāt Allah) Ahmed El Shamsy 5 Al-Ghazālī and Kalām: The Conundrum of His Body-Soul Dualism Ayman Shihadeh 6 Al-Ghazali's Veils Section: Comparative Religion before Religionswissenschaft? Anna Ayṣe Akasoy 7 Is There An Autograph of al-Ghazālī in MS Yale, Landberg 318? Frank Griffel Part II Al-Ghazālī’s Influence 8 Intuition, Intellection, and Mystical Knowledge: Delineating Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī’s Cognitive Theories Damien Janos 9 Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī’s Use of al-Ghazālī’s Mishkāt in His Commentary on the Light Verse (Q 24:35) Jules Janssens 10 Ottoman Perceptions of al-Ghazālī’s Works and Discussions on His Historical Role in the Late Ottoman Period M. Sait Özervarlı 11 Al-Ghazālī’s “Demarcation of Science:” A Commonplace Apology in the Muslim Reception of Modern Science — and its Limitations Martin Riexinger 12 The Revival of the Religious Sciences in the Twenty-First Century: Suʿād Ḥakīm’s Adaptation of al-Ghazālī’s Revival Kenneth Garden Indices