This book studies the interplay of economic philosophy and moral conduct as reflected in the writings of one of the most renowned scholars in Islamic history, Abu Hamid Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Ghazali (d. 1111). As is well known, Imam al-Ghazali, nicknamed "the proof of Islam", contributed immensely to Islamic theology, philosophy, and Sufism or Islamic mysticism (tasawwuf). Strikingly enough, al-Ghazali also made seminal contributions to the field of economic thought, but this contribution has been largely neglected, although al-Ghazali dedicated many chapters to what he considered just and Shari'a-based economic conduct in (Muslim) society. This book aims to analyse and revive al-Ghazali's understudied contribution to economic thought by emphasizing his economic philosophy and its correlation between Shari'a's moral law and the tradition of tasawwuf, as well as to situate his thought within the context of modern economic theories.

A study of the interplay of economic philosophy and moral conduct in the writings of Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (d. 1111), one of the most renowned scholars in Islamic history

About the Author

Sami Al-Daghistani is a postdoctoral fellow at the Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society in Oslo and an associate faculty member at the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research in New York. He is also a research scholar in the Middle East Institute at Columbia University.

Reviews

"Al-Daghistani makes a remarkable contribution to the study of economic thought in classical Islam. A rewarding read." -Wael B. Hallaq, Avalon Foundation Professor in the Humanities, Columbia University

"The new perspective opened by Al-Daghistani's book on Abu Hamid al-Ghazali's economics of happiness is a remarkable addition to the developing literature on the economic thought of one of the most influential thinkers in Islamic intellectual history". - Souleymane Bachir Diagne, Professor, Columbia University

Book Information
ISBN 9781785275302
Author Sami Al-Daghistani
Format Hardback
Page Count 176
Imprint Anthem Press
Publisher Anthem Press
Weight(grams) 454g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 153mm * 26mm