The Savior from Error : English Translation of "al-Munqidh mina ad-Dalal" (Imam Abu Hamid Muhammad al Ghazali)
Description
ISBN: 9781228816314
Author: Imam Abu Hamid Muhammad al Ghazali; Muhtar Holland (translator)
Publisher: Al-Baz Publishing Inc. (2010)
Pages: 65 Binding: Paperback
Description from the publisher:
This Title has also been Translated as Deliverance from Error and Rescuer from Misguidance.
This is the 'spiritual autobiography' of the great Imam al-Ghazali, and describes what caused him to leave fame and fortune to undertake the spiritual path. In it, besides providing a personal history and describing the key events which led to this and flowed from it. Imam al-Ghazali takes time to repudiate the methods and logic of the philosophers and the esotericists (batiniyya) and the principles of sophistry.
Lastly he provides a section on the Reality of Prophethood and the urgent need all people have for it.
Al-Ghazali is generally acclaimed as the most influential thinker of the Classical period of Islam, in this autobiography, the Imam describes his education and his intellectual crisis, which left him so paralyzed by doubt that he gave up his academic pursuits and worldly interests as Professor at the Nizamiyah University of Baghdad (which was recognized as one of the most reputed institutions of learning in the golden era) and became a wandering ascetic. This was a process (period) of mystical transformation. Later, he resumed his teaching duties, but again left these. An era of solitary life, devoted to contemplation and writing then ensued, which led to the authorship of a number of everlasting books (Many of which have been translated in English).
About Imam Ghazali
Abu Hamid Muhammad, famous in the world of learning as al-Ghazzal was born in 450 AH (1058 A.D). in Persia . He graduated from the Nizamia Madressa at Nishapur, with distinction, a very famous educational institution in Nishapur. Later he was appointed as a teacher at the Nizamia College in Baghdad, where he proved very successful in imparting knowledge to the scholars under his care. This valuable gift of sustaining interest of his pupils and passing on his knowledge to them made him so famous that students from all parts of the country flocked to study under him.
Imam al-Ghazzali was fondly referred to as the "Hujjat-ul-lslam", Proof of Islam, He is honored as a scholar and a saint by learned men all over the world.
Al-Ghazali is generally acclaimed as the most influential thinker of the Classical period of Islam, in his autobiography The Deliverance from Error, the Imam describes his education and his intellectual crisis, which left him so paralyzed by doubt that he he gave up his academic pursuits and worldly interests and became a wandering ascetic. This was a process (period) of mystical transformation. Later, he resumed his teaching duties, but again left these. An era of solitary life, devoted to contemplation and writing then ensued, which led to the authorship of a number of everlasting books (Many of which have been translated in English) . Imam al-Ghazzali's life was spent in self-sacrificing service of God and his fellowmen. He left behind him a fine example for all men to follow. He died in 505 AH
About the translator
Muhtar Holland was born in 1935, in the ancient city of Durham in the North East of England. This statement may be considered anachronistic, however, since he did not bear the name Muhtar until 1969, when he was moved-by powerful experiences in the latihan kejiwaan of Subud-to embrace the religion of Islam.
This Fresh translation should be a welcome addition to the library resources of the scholar and layman alike, and a great interest to students, teachers, and seekers of spiritual knowledge and understanding everywhere
In the years since graduation from Oxford, he has held academic posts at the University of Toronto, Canada; at the School of Oriental and African Studies in the University of London, England and at the Universiti Kebangsaan in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He Spent time in Egypt and Malaysia and also worked as Senior Research Fellow at the Islamic Foundation in Leicester, England, and as Director of the Nur al-Islam Translation Center in Valley Cottage, New York
Shaikh Muhtar Hollad passed on to Allah's mercy, on November 5th 2010. He has been done a great Service to the English Speaking Muslims all over the World.