The First Islamic Reviver

“Beyond the myth, this is the first convincing reviving of the historical al-Ghazali and a proper understanding of his reformist project in the Ihya. A great work, and a must read for all the naïve admirers and other aficionados of the Hujjat al-Islam” –Yahya Michot, Professor of Islamic Studies and Christian-Muslim Relations, Hartford Seminary”This is a much needed and long absent study on al-Ghazali’s most influential work. Garden masterfully examines its complex origins, what it set out to accomplish, and the controversies it triggered during the author’s lifetime. No reader of al-Ghazali should be without this.” –Frank Griffel, Professor of Islamic Studies, Yale University”Garden’s historically grounded reading of al-Ghazali reveals how Islam’s scholars acted as guides for society and not mere seekers of wisdom for themselves. Tracing the connection between his thought and life work as self-proclaimed reviver of Islam, this study makes it now virtually impossible to look at al-Ghazali’s writings apart from his efforts in society to bring about nothing less than the salvation and eternal happiness of his fellow believers.” –PaulL. Heck, author of Skepticism in Classical Islam: Moments of Confusion”…Kenneth Garden has here given us a major publication on al-Ghazali. It is philologically rigorous and puts forward innovative views on al-Ghazali’s place in Islamic intellectual history. In addition, the book is crafted in graceful and engaging prose that makes it very enjoyable to read. I recommend it to students and scholars of Islamic studies alike.” –Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations

Kenneth Garden is Assistant Professor of Religion at Tufts University. He holds a PhD from the University of Chicago. His articles have appeared in the Journal of Islamic Studies and Muslim World.