Al-Ghazali and the Qur'an: One Book, Many Meanings

176 Pages·2008·1.56 MB·English

by  Martin Whittingham

Al-Ghaz(cid:407)l(cid:431) and the Qur’(cid:407)n
Al-Ghaz(cid:407)l(cid:431) and the Qur’(cid:407)n: One book, many meanings is the first work to focus entirely
on the Qur’anic interpretation of Ab(cid:460) al-Ghaz(cid:407)l(cid:431) (1058–1111), a towering figure
of Sunni Islam. Martin Whittingham explores both al-Ghaz(cid:407)l(cid:431)’s hermeneutical methods
and his interpretations of particular Qur’anic texts, and covers al-Ghaz(cid:407)l(cid:431)’s mystical,
legal and theological concerns.
The book is divided into two parts. Part I examines al-Ghaz(cid:407)l(cid:431)’s legal and Sufi
theoretical discussions. Part II asks how these theories relate to his practice, analysing the
only three of al-Ghaz(cid:407)l(cid:431)’s works which are centrally concerned with interpreting
particular Qur’anic passages: Jaw(cid:407)hir al-Qur’(cid:407)n (The Jewels of the Qur’an),
al-mustaqim (The Correct Balance) and Mishk(cid:407)t al-anw(cid:407)r (The Niche for Lights).
The book sets out systematically the nature of al-Ghaz(cid:407)l(cid:431)’s dependence in Mishkat al-
anw(cid:407)r on Ibn S(cid:431)n(cid:407) (Avicenna). In addition, it illuminates the complex interactions of al-
Ghaz(cid:407)l(cid:431)’s mystical, legal and theological concerns. Tables are used to make as clear as
possible al-Ghaz(cid:407)l(cid:431)’s schemes of interpretation.
Providing a new point of access to the works of al-Ghaz(cid:407)l(cid:431), this book will be
welcomed by scholars and students of Islamic studies, religious studies, hermeneutics and
anyone interested in how Muslims understand the Qur’an.

Martin Whittingham is currently working with Muslim-Christian Links, based in
Edinburgh.
Culture and Civilization in the Middle East
Edited by Ian R.Netton
University of Leeds
This series studies the Middle East through the twin foci of its diverse cultures and
civilisations. Comprising original monographs as well as scholarly surveys, it covers
topics in the fields of Middle Eastern literature, archaeology, law, history, philosophy,
science, folklore, art, architecture and language. While there is a plurality of views, the
series presents serious scholarship in a lucid and stimulating fashion.
1 Arabic Literature
An overview
Pierre Cachia
2 Modern Arab Historiography
Historical discourse and the nation-state
Youssef Choueiri
3 The Philosophical Poetics of Alfarabi, Avicenna and Averroes
The Aristotelian reception
Salim Kemal
4 The Epistemology of Ibn Khaldun
Zaid Ahmad
5 The Hanbali School of Law and Ibn Taymiyyah
Conflict or conciliation
Abdul Hakim I.Al-Matroudi
6 Arabic Rhetoric
A pragmatic analysis
Hussein Abdul-Raof
7 Arab Representations of the Occident
East-West encounters in Arabic fiction
Rasheed El-Enany
8 God and Humans in Islamic Thought
Abd al-Jabb(cid:407)r, Ibn S(cid:431)n(cid:407) and al-Ghaz(cid:407)l(cid:431)
Maha Elkaisy-Friemuth
9 Original Islam
Malik and the madhhab of Madina
Yasin Dutton
10 Al-Ghaz(cid:407)l(cid:431) and the Qur’(cid:407)n
One book, many meanings
Martin Whittingham
Al-Ghaz(cid:407)l(cid:431) and the Qur’(cid:407)n
One book, many meanings

Martin Whittingham

LONDON AND NEW YORK
First published 2007
by Routledge
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Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
270 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2007 Martin Whittingham
This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2007.
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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Whittingham, Martin.
Al-Ghaz(cid:407)l(cid:431) and the Qur’(cid:407)n: one book, many meanings/
Martin Whittingham.
p. cm.—(Culture and civilization in the Middle East)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Ghaz(cid:407)l(cid:431), 1058–1111. 2. Koran-Hermeneutics.
3. Koran-Criticism, interpretation, etc. 4. Koran-Commentaries.
I. Title.
BP130.2.W55 2007
297.1(cid:397)226092–dc22 2006025814
ISBN 0-203-96465-9 Master e-book ISBN
ISBN10: 0-415-37543-6 (hbk)
ISBN10: 0-203-96465-9 (Print Edition) (ebk)
ISBN13: 978-0-415-37543-6 (hbk)
ISBN13: 978-0-203-96465-1 (Print Edition) (ebk)
To
my parents, with love and gratitude

Contents

Acknowledgements ix
Note on conventions used xi
List of abbreviations xiii

Introduction 1

11
PART I Al-Ghaz(cid:407)l(cid:431)’s hermeneutical theories

1 13
‘The activities of this world’ (I): al-tafriqa bayna’l-Isl(cid:407)m wa’l-

zandaqa
2 ‘The activities of this world’ (II): min ‘ilm 28
3 ‘The activities of the hereafter’: four texts defending Sufi approaches to 37

the Qur’an

64
PART II Al-Ghaz(cid:407)l(cid:431)’s hermeneutical practice

4 Sailing to the midst of the fathomless ocean: Jaw(cid:407)hir al-Qur’(cid:407)n 66
5 Syllogisms as the steps to heaven: al-mustaq(cid:431)m 80
6 The coherence of the philosopher: Mishk(cid:407)t al-anw(cid:407)r 101
Conclusion 125

Notes 130
Bibliography 139
Index of Qur’anic citations 149
Index 153