Ghazali

Ghazali, ABU MOHAMMED AL-, known in the West as ALGAZEL, a Moslem theologian who, in the 11th century, struck a serious blow at the scholastic philosophy of the Arabians. Born at Tus in Khorasan in 1058, he studied in his natal city and at Nishapur, being especially nurtured on the principles of Sufism (q.v.). When thirty-three years old he was appointed by the grand-vizier of Bagdad to a chair of philosophy in the university of that city. But four years later he set off for Mecca; then spent ten years lecturing at Damascus; and finally went on to Jerusalem and Alexandria, where also he taught with signal success. In the end, however, he returned to Tus, where he founded a Sufic college and dedicated the remainder of his life, until 1111, the year of his death, to religious and philosophic contemplation. The most notable of his numerous works are Opinions of the Philosophers and Tendencies of the Philosophers, this latter virtually an introduction to the more famous Destruction of the Philosophers, in which he challenges the methods and conclusions of the current scholasticism of Arabian philosophy. He also wrote a commentary on the ninety-nine names of God, several ethical treatises, and various other works on religion and philosophy. Several of his works have never yet been published.