Background and Context of Al-Ghazalis

Life and Work

Four Caliphs
The early period of Islam (632-661) is known as the period of
the rightly guided caliphs (Al-Khulafa' Al Rashidun). The four
caliphs are accepted by Sunni Muslims as the authentic
leaders of Islam in what is considered to be a golden age or
ideal period of Muslim development. Shi'a Muslims accept
only the fourth of these leaders 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib as a rightful
leader and give him the title of Imam which indicates that he
was a divinely guided leader.
Groups within Islam
The following period saw the rule of the Umayyad group and
then later of the Abbasids. This period led to divisions
between three main groupings of Muslims. The Sunni and
Shi'a groups have continued until the present times. The
third group the Khajirites were a more radical separatist
group which has not continued in significant numbers other
than a reformed and more moderate group of Khajirites
known as Ibadi.
Sufism
A further movement in Islam, the Sufi movement, arose in
the late seventh century and sought to find a way of
detachment from the material values of the world in favour of
a spiritual search. Sufis were often regarded as a heretical
sect with accusations that they disregarded the requirements
of Shari'ah law. Some significant Sufis were executed
because they were considered as unbelievers and enemies
of Islam. Sufism was neither a strand of the Sunni or Shi'a
groups of Islam; it had followers in both groups.

Credibility
Sufism was to eventually find credibility and greater
acceptance in Islam due to the reputation of Al- Ghazali as a
great scholar and devout Muslims. Al-Ghazali's patronage of
Sufism provided a great deal of credibility to the movement.
Classical Greek philosophy, especially the work of Aristotle
and Plato had also gained considerable influence in Islam at
the time of Al-Ghazali's life and work, although there was a
powerful backlash against Hellenistic thought.
Greek philosophy
Some notable Islamic philosophers such as al-Farabi and
Avicenna had made detailed study of the Greek
philosophers and had gone to great lengths to show that
their thinking was indeed compatible with Islam.
By the time of Al-Ghazali, there was considerable suspicion
about the work of the Greek philosophers and consequently
the work of al-Farabi and Avicenna was somewhat
discredited.
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