The Impact of Imam Al-Ghazali’s Writings on Ibn Al-Jawzi

Abstract

The purpose of the research is to reveal the vulnerability of scientists among themselves, which generates positive results in the field of classification. Ibn Al-Jawzi was one of the most influenced by Al-Ghazali in the scientific field, even if he criticizes some of his writings. Among these, there is a similarity between them, whether in the titles or in the content of some books. We take the example of the book of Al-Ghazali "Revival of religious sciences" in which Ibn Al-Jawzi took the same approach in the content of his book, in a book entitled "Minhaj al-Qasidin w Mufid al-Sadiqin", and there are books that are somewhat similar in titles, such as the book "Al-Tabar al-Masbok fi Sirat al-Muluk" by al-Ghazali and the book "Al-Dhahab al-Masbok fi Sirat al-Muluk" by Ibn al-Jawzi.

The research material included Ibn Al-Jawzi's commonalities with Al-Ghazali in the areas of the ministry, doctrines, sects, isolation, mixing, preaching, and other topics.

The research is not without Ibn Al-Jawzi's criticism of Al-Ghazali in some of the issues that he clarified in some of his books, such as "Minhaj al-Qasidin" and the book "Deceit of Iblis". This criticism does not indicate that Ibn Al-Jawzi hates of Al-Ghazali's Sufism, with evidence that Ibn Al-Jawzi frequent visits to Sufi sheikhs and associations.

It appears that all of Al-Ghazali's books were within Ibn Al-Jawzi’s reach by quoting thoughts, titles, and contents of Al-Ghazali’s books in various fields.