Al-Ghazali's Theory Of Knowledge

“To understand the political stance of al-Ghazali and of those influenced by him, one must uncover the link between the Sufi way and al-Ghazali’s theory of knowledge, namely, maArifa (gnosis): intuitive ecstatic knowledge, silent knowledge which does not know what it knows. Mystical awareness illuminates the soul and unites it with God, who is not, however, a mere object of knowledge” (Black, 2011). With this author’s statement, we see that al-Ghazali had chosen a route to religion based on mystical knowledge through intuition. This path influenced his views on life immensely, and it forms the basis of theories on the relationship between religion, religious knowledge and politics, and their connection to governance.

Al-Ghazali’s beliefs were based on the view that knowledge and intelligence are the most absolute religious values, and the ultimate pathways to the divine aspects of life. Knowledge, that which is gained through spiritual experience is the most supreme religious act, more important than prayer, worship, charity and good acts. To al-Ghazali, this knowledge is the road to happiness in this life, and the key to its attainment in the afterlife. The road to this absolute certainty is through experience. Any knowledge attained by personal experience, will present itself through our senses with zero doubt surrounding it, hence establishing itself as true knowledge. Also, intuitive religious knowledge, known as maArifa, is superior to reason and any other forms of