Al Ghazali

AL Ghazali
· Sevices of AL Ghazali to Islamic Political Thought
· AL-GHAZALI was the tourch bearer of the Muslim Rationalistic Renaissance. Analyse
the statement in view of his status as a MUJADDID
· Enlist the quantities of Al-Ghazali’s Amir and detail account of his daily routine.
(Done)
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1. Enlist the quantities of Al-Ghazali’s Amir and detail account of his daily routine.
Al-Ghazali, a political philosopher, renowned in East and West because of his versatile
genius,harnessed his thoughts into a proper channel for an efficient and systematic government
in orderto bring about progress and peace in the state. He appears to be particular about the
duties andfunctions of the sovereign, so that administration of the state must not become
unwieldy anddogmatic. He enumerates the necessary qualities of an ideal ruler, and reverently
expresses thathe should have intellect, knowledge, perception, right proportion of things,
chivalry, loves for hissubjects, diplomatic bend, foresight, strong will-power and must be well
informed of the news ofthe day and the past history of the kings. He must learn the lesson from
the past kings. He shouldn ot repeat the errors and failures of his predecessors. Amir must also
vigilantly watch that hisjudges, secretaries, viceroys and other officers did their work well, it is
chiefly in these qualitieswhich go to make a ruler the shadow of God on earth.
Al-Ghazali relates how a learned man once told the great Caliph, Harun-ar-Rashid, to
bewarethat he was sitting where Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A.) once sat and be truthful, where Hazrat
Umar(R.A.) once sat and differentiate between right and wrong, where Hazrat Usman (R.A.)
once satand be modest and bountiful, where Hazrat Ali (R.A.) once sat and be knowing and just.
He putsforward the case of the Apostle of Islam, who himself fed his cattle, tied his camel,
swept hishouse, milked his goat, mended his shoes, patches his clothes, took meals with his
servants,ground his own corn in time of need and did his own marketing.
Qualities o Ghazali Amir
The qualifications ofthe caliphate in al-GhazaT view are the same as laid down by al-Mawardi.
However, in' his book alIqtis^, al-Ghazar.just gives four criterias :
(1) he must be able to make judgments in accordance with the Shariâ (Ûm);
(2) he must be able to administer the affairs of state (ki^yah);
(3) piety (wara'); and
(4) he must from Qurayshite descent.^^ In Nasihat al-Muluk, he also mentions the necessity of
Justice (al-Âd Hah), the" ability to act against enemies (alShujacah), to maintain internal order
(maslahah), and sound sight and hearing.'^ ^ But in doing so he can be helped by his Wazif and
the Ûlam a alGhazaT adds that the (âliph must be an Âbbasid. These requirements are very
great, and it is not surprising that they were in reality never completely fulfilled. The
requirement of a Quraishite liiteage was the only one tobefulfilled
Daily Routines and Duties of “Amir”
Al-Ghazali says that the daily routines of an Amir should be following:
1. The Amir, after morning prayers, should go out riding in order to have investigation in person
about wrongs done to his subject.
2. He should then sit in court and permit all and sundry to have a direct access so that he might
have first-hand information about any complaints.
3. The ruler should make a point of taking advice from simple men of knowledge, intelligence
and experience.
4. The ruler must extend interviews to foreign ambassadors and envoys. He should be well-
versed in diplomacy and politics.
5. Al-Ghazali strictly warns the Amir against too much indulgence in drink, chess or hunting and
says that the best mode of simple life be practiced.
6. The Amir and good kings should used to divide their time in four parts, setting apart one for
prayers, another for state affairs, justice and counsel of the learned about the affairs of the
state, the third for food and rest, and the last for recreation and hunting.
7. He is very particular that the Amir should not pay head to the advice offered by his women
favorites, and quotes the instance of Umar who actually divorced his favorite wife when he was
elated to his exalted office for fear of being influenced by her in state affairs.
8. Al-Ghazali warns that the ruler must not show them any favoritism, but instead must appoint
nepotism or people on merits.
Simplicity of the “Amir”
Al-Ghazali persistently lays stress that the ruler should be simple in his habits. He says that the
Amir should have a limited source of income which does not provide him possible opportunity
toindulge in luxury and debauchery. He says that Amir must spend his life according to the
income at his disposal, and should not abundantly and lavishly spend so that the economy of
the country may not be disturbed. Al-Ghazali quotes the Apostle that God would be kind and
compassionate to rulers who are themselves meek and kind to their people. He regards Caliph
Umar bin Abdul Aziz as a model of justice, equality and simplicity, who once wanted his monthly
salary in advance to buy the Eid clothes for his daughters but desisted from drawing it from the
state treasury because he was reminded by Finance Minister that there was no certainty of his
living for the month for which he wished to draw his pay.
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2. Sevices of AL Ghazali to Islamic Political Thought

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AL Ghazali

· Sevices of AL Ghazali to Islamic Political Thought

Qualities o Ghazali Amir

(2) he must be able to administer the affairs of state (ki^yah);

(3) piety (wara'); and

Daily Routines and Duties of “Amir”

Al-Ghazali says that the daily routines of an Amir should be following:

2. Sevices of AL Ghazali to Islamic Political Thought

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