Ayyuhal Walad

Description

This book relates to us the devotedness of one of Imam al-Ghazali’s students in seeking guidance in treading the path to eternal felicity. Upon noticing the student’s truthfulness, Imam al-Ghazali responded and answered some of his queries which are possible to be expressed by word or writing. The main ideas running throughout the work are on acquiring knowledge which is of spiritual benefit, purifying the intention, and acting on the basis of the acquired knowledge. Referring extensively to the example of the Prophet and to that of the early Saints, Imam al-Ghazali gives us a work of great depth, beauty and simplicity. However, he excused himself from answering those which comes from mystical gustation, for it is neither uttered nor scripted. Rather, it is attained through experimentation and experiencing the states.