Question

what al ghazali thinks about virtue?

Answer 1

In Islamic history, Imam Ghazali (may Allah be pleased with him) (d. 505) is considered the fifth-century reformer (mujaddid) of the Islamic period, and he himself was of the opinion that he was chosen for this position by divine providence. Most Muslims believe that he is the evidence of Islam (hujjat al-Islam), and after the prophet Muhammad a significant number of learned Muslims went so far as to call him the greatest religious authority in Islam. Imam Ghazali profoundly influenced Islamic thinking in particular and medieval thinking in general as a result of the great respect bestowed upon him.

Ghazali points out that he found that both knowledge and practice are part of this discipline. Ghazali's understanding of the mystics was fairly easy to learn. He starts with al-Makkī's dissertation, The Food of Hearts (Qūt al-Qulūb), in a declaration about his sources, which he seems to consider his mysticism textbook. First he lists al-Muhòāsibī's works, followed by al-Junayd, al-Shiblī, and al-Bistòāmī's "various dispersed sayings (mutafarriqāt)," and finally the "discourses" of unknown mystics. Ghazali ends with al-Makkī and al-Muhòāsibī, two mystics known for their attempt to reconcile mysticism with the teachings of Islamic faith.

Ghazali defines virtues acceptable to the few who pursue absolute happiness in the afterlife, that is, the dream of Heaven, on the basis of a thorough and detailed understanding of the secret meanings of the divine commandments. Only the truly educated men will master the understanding. Such are not judges, theologians or philosophers, but the mystics alone; and Ghazali identifies with the mystics:

The description of Ghazali's virtues, characteristics of character, and attributes of redemption is more than mere terminological use. Unlike the spiritual virtues, the divine qualities form the way to achieve happiness. The thinkers regarded desires as the essence of morality. And yet, most of the mystical qualities (especially fear, hope, and love) are simply passions. Happiness, the last of these, is the greatest spiritual virtue that man can achieve during his lifetime.