The Confessions of Al-Ghazali

In this rare and early English translation, readers are presented with the personal spiritual and intellectual journey of one of Islam's most influential thinkers. This slim volume offers a glimpse into the thought process of a seeker torn between reason and revelation, philosophy and faith, theology and mysticism.

Written in the form of an introspective narrative, it traces how he confronted deep existential doubt and intellectual disillusionment, eventually turning to Sufism not as a retreat from thought, but as a deeper realisation of truth. His examination of various Islamic sects, philosophical schools, and theological trends is both precise and deeply human. He candidly admits the limitations of rational arguments and the insufficiency of academic learning in answering the soul's deepest questions.

The book is a valuable reflection for readers interested in Islamic intellectual history, spiritual psychology, and the crisis of faith and certainty. The translator, Claud Field, renders the prose in a direct and accessible tone without embellishment.

Suitable for thoughtful readers who are looking for authentic self-account of a religious scholar in search of purpose, the text stands out as one of the few autobiographical documents in Islamic history. It is at once a critique of superficial religiosity and a call to sincere, inward transformation.

Table of Contents

1 Editorial note

2 Introduction

3 The Confessions of Al Ghazali

4 The subterfuges of the sophists

5 The different kinds of seekers after truth

6 The aim of Scholastic Theology and its results

7 Concerning the philosophical sects and the stigma of infidelity which attaches to them all

8 Divisions of the philosophic sciences

9 Sufism

10 The reality of inspiration: its importance for the human race