[paratayoma]

Assalamu alaikum.
I was given a DVD which is the life of Al Ghazali.
It was intended to get me interested in his life, teachings & ways.
Maybe the DVD was not made the way it should have been?
Yes I respected the knowledge he gained, but he left his wife and children to live a life alone?
Is this Islamic?
I just found the whole thing very very strange?

[oemcheapdownload]

Asalaam
He left to gain knowledge, he would have provided for his family, how can we judge if his family was against him going away for a long time, what of Ibrahim alayhis salaam and how he left his family. him and his family have reaped the rewards of him seeking knowledge and sacrificing in this life and the hereafter while many other have wasted it, it is his pursuit of kowledge which has made his legacy and his respect live on till today.

Tens of thousands still continue to benefit from his work every year so what more can be said about his and his families sacrifice.

Who was the director in the DVD, the last thing you want is to watch a video where a kafir is playing his character.

[jstizzle]

hadhrat imam ghazalli was a very great saint/friend of allah s.w.t.

try these please
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo_4YUW_krc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndapcJS5DJs

[paratayoma]

The DVD is called Al Ghazali The alchemist of happiness.

[paratayoma]

hadhrat imam ghazalli was a very great saint/friend of allah s.w.t.

try these please
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo_4YUW_krc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndapcJS5DJs

Thanks for the links brother, but I have been warned by MANY to stay away from the teachings of Hamza Yusuf.

[oemcheapdownload]

The DVD is by Iranians so I think the film will be heavily influenced either by shias or some extreme sufism, I advise you to leave it and find a real resource from a qualified scholar.

[isogeople]

I've watched that movie it was mostly good however.

the producers had some weird notions about imam ghazzali which were not true:

1) that he considered jews and christians to be believers who would enter paradise or something to that effect

2) also they presented tasawuff/sufism as a dancing in a circle with drums and wearing a certain uniform

Imam Ghazzali's mission was tryue spiritual purification, therefore i was offended that they could include those things in a film about Imam GHazzali. however overal it was pretty good.

for anyone interested in spiritual purification or the sciences of the soul Ghazzali is an obligatory source of knowledge.

Islam does not forbid one to leave their family (sahabah did it for the sake of Islam), however one must be able to fulfill their obligations to their spouse, family members, and anyone else who is dependent upon them in some way. people do this for jihad, dawa, tabligh etc. however if one's wife vehemently opposes them leaving then the circumstances get more complicated as they have rights upon their spouse.

it goes without saying that Imam GHazzali would have had the blessing of his wife, and family to go. keep in mind that during his period away from home he also went for hajj in additiontot he time he spent in the umayyad mosque in damascus.

Some ulema recomend that one should not leave their wife for more htan 4 months at a time (due to the the intimate needs of both partners), however this is a suggestion, not an obligation. Umar Farooq (ra) had a similar practice.

i would reccomend thew first part of this particular lecture series on one of Imam GHazzali's books to get a better idea of who the great Imam really was http://www.islamicspirituality.org/l.../ayyuhal-walad

[bxxasxxa]

Salams,

First: The film was made by a convert to Islam, Abdul Latif Salazar, with the collaboration of Shaykh Hamza Yusuf Hanson and Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad, among others. Secondly, it's related in the film that Al-Ghazali made arrangments with his brother and through financial means, that his family be looked after during his absence. He didn't truly abandon them, he just went into a sort of 'extended retreat from the World'. He did eventually return to them, before the end of his life and did try and pass on his accumulated knowledge and wisdom to his family, as well as his students. In fact, he wrote a short treatise titled 'My Dear, Beloved Son' to his own son, trying to provide some lasting spiritual guidance for him. Anywho...

See ya on the flipside,

Tempest Desh

[no02rSx2]

Salams,

First: The film was made by a convert to Islam, Abdul Latif Salazar, with the collaboration of Shaykh Hamza Yusuf Hanson and Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad, among others. Secondly, it's related in the film that Al-Ghazali made arrangments with his brother and through financial means, that his family be looked after during his absence. He didn't truly abandon them, he just went into a sort of 'extended retreat from the World'. He did eventually return to them, before the end of his life and did try and pass on his accumulated knowledge and wisdom to his family, as well as his students. In fact, he wrote a short treatise titled 'My Dear, Beloved Son' to his own son, trying to provide some lasting spiritual guidance for him. Anywho...

See ya on the flipside,

Tempest Desh

[isogeople]

Salams,

First: The film was made by a convert to Islam, Abdul Latif Salazar, with the collaboration of Shaykh Hamza Yusuf Hanson and Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad, among others. Secondly, it's related in the film that Al-Ghazali made arrangments with his brother and through financial means, that his family be looked after during his absence. He didn't truly abandon them, he just went into a sort of 'extended retreat from the World'. He did eventually return to them, before the end of his life and did try and pass on his accumulated knowledge and wisdom to his family, as well as his students. In fact, he wrote a short treatise titled 'My Dear, Beloved Son' to his own son, trying to provide some lasting spiritual guidance for him. Anywho...

See ya on the flipside,

Tempest Desh

are you referring to "ayyuhal walad?" i thought that was written for a particular student of his not his son and walad was just used as a term of endearment.

[Kubasarika]

Bismillah
Muslim scholarship owes a lot to Imam Ghazzali (RAH). His understanding still ressonates not just in Muslim circles but in other relegious group.
I think those who are asking you to stay away from Shk. Hamza are averse to the science of Tassawuf. It is not about personality but what is said on what context.
It is not advisable to study the books like Ilumul Udeen by themselves as it needs a lot of scholastic clarification by capelble trained in the sciences of Islam.

Sahaba were ordered to go in the path, leaving their children and wives behind. For most of us this will not be permissbile in general. It all depends on the situation and purpose!
I am not fond of Shaikh Hamza and would prefer to listen to Shaikh Nuh Ha Meem but would prefer to experience the science by becomming a Mureed of a reputable shaikh of Tassawuf who encourages his student to obide by clear cut rules of Shairah and stays away from doubtful subject.http://www.tasawwuf.org/

The subject matter that is of interest is called 'Tassawuf'. This is an experienced based Islamic science and is not seperate from other relegious science. Sharaih deals with external elements where as Tassawuf deals with internal aspects. If we all lived by Shariah with pure heart, then tassawuf would be practiced without having to learn it. But reality of life for most is not so. So teachers are required. In my humble opinion, in current climate it is a must for most muslims.
http://www.albalagh.net/general/what_is_tasawwuf.shtml

[hereiamguy]

the OP should be presented with the work of a scholar on the subject of 'leaving your wife and kids in the path of islam for an extended period of time'.
i dont think he has issues with tasawwuf.

[12Jasoumemoobia]

the OP should be presented with the work of a scholar on the subject of 'leaving your wife and kids in the path of islam for an extended period of time'.
i dont think he has issues with tasawwuf.

Well didn't Umar (ra) allow Muslims to leave the family for Jihad feesabeelillah for many months, which later he made a limit of 4 months(or 3 months i m not sure). Similarly I think leaving the family for seeking knowledge might be ok, I suppose. In those days it was common for even traders, merchants etc to leave the family for months, since the modes of transport available was very slow. So I don't think those times can be compared with the present day.

[hereiamguy]

Well didn't Umar (ra) allow Muslims to leave the family for Jihad feesabeelillah for many months, which later he made a limit of 4 months(or 3 months i m not sure). Similarly I think leaving the family for seeking knowledge might be ok, I suppose. In those days it was common for even traders, merchants etc to leave the family for months, since the modes of transport available was very slow. So I don't think those times can be compared with the present day.

so in present times one shouldnt leave their family for a long time or is it an option?

again, what do the scholars say regarding this?any lectures?articles?books?

[12Jasoumemoobia]

so in present times one shouldnt leave their family for a long time or is it an option?

No I didn't mean that, what I meant is its easier to take the family along nowadays, so people leaving the family alone in the present day might be lesser. Just a speculation.

Also Imam Ghazzali is Shaykhul Islam, one of the best scholars of this Ummah, so He definitely must have known whats the ruling regarding this issue. To think otherwise would be foolish.

[hereiamguy]

No I didn't mean that, what I meant is its easier to take the family along nowadays, so people leaving the family alone in the present day might be lesser. Just a speculation.

well people do nowadays as well. the jamaat that goes for 4 months or one year. that is one example.

Also Imam Ghazzali is Shaykhul Islam, one of the best scholars of this Ummah, so He definitely must have known whats the ruling regarding this issue. To think otherwise would be foolish.

im not contesting his scholarship. i am only asking what scholars say about this said ruling you mention. in fact what is the ruling?

[12Jasoumemoobia]

im not contesting his scholarship. I know that, the post was a general one.

[paratayoma]

Where can I get good a good book from a reliable source (not a Sufi) on imam al ghazali?

[jstizzle]

Where can I get good a good book from a reliable source (not a Sufi) on imam al ghazali?

imam ghazalli was a sufi sheikh himself

http://www.tasawwuf.org/basics/what_tasawwuf.htm

[Kubasarika]

Br. Melbourn.
your suggestion is missplaced. You go to expert in the field of their expertise. As a laymen referring not sufi (scholars of Tassawuf) in matters of tassawuf does not make sense. The key point is as a laymen you have to refer to a scholar grounded in Shariah and Tassawuf combined. Hence the likes of Shaikh Zulfiqar is ideal for you.
The only time one would refer to a shaikh of tassawuf alone when the seeker is solidly grounded in shariah. Junaid Bagdadi (RAH)- one of the main Spiritual master said to something to nearest effect those who violates shariah are not practacing not true sufi.
Allahualam