Al-Ghazali, Averroes and the Interpretation of the Qur’an pdf download

Al-Ghazali, Averroes and the Interpretation of the Qur’an: Common Sense and Philosophy in Islam

AL-GHAZALI, AVERROES AND THE INTERPRETATION OF THE QUR’AN – Book Sample

Introduction – AL-GHAZALI, AVERROES AND THE INTERPRETATION OF THE QUR’AN

This book is devoted to the study of the “decrees” of al-Ghazali and of Averroës regarding the question which is found at the heart of Islamic existence, which may well be defined as being the “religion of the book” par excellence. In his Decisive Treatise Distinguishing between Islam and the Hypocrites (1045–6), Ghazali explains how, by pretending to know what eludes believers endowed with common sense alone, philosophers do not consider the Qur’an as revealed Word, and by thus failing to engage with its interpreters, by their very existence they threaten to destroy the identity of the Muslim community.

In his Book on the Decisive Criterion Whereby One Can Establish the Existing Connection between Revelation and Philosophy (1179–80), which purports to be a response to al-Ghazali, Averroës sets out to show how philosophy alone can fully appreciate revealed truth, so it alone can guide one in interpreting the Qur’an in such a way as to preserve the absolute coherence of the “inimitable book.”

This controversy is replete with consequences, but what particularly struck me about it is the way it is rooted in a discussion between two Muslim thinkers, each convinced both of the existence of a Book in which God is revealed to rational beings to whom He has given commandments, as well as of the excellence of Islamic society. Yet they differ regarding the criterion of interpreting the sacred Book.

The discussion between Averroës and Ghazali

From this point of view, the discussion between Averroës and Ghazali ought not to be considered to be one between philosophy and religion, or between reason and revelation, so characteristic of the Middle Ages, but rather like those which are at the heart of philosophical discussion in our day: is there a basic level of discourse which will permit mutual compre-hension among persons, so that it may be presupposed by the very fact of debate? Like David Hume in the eighteenth century, and like many today, Ghazali is convinced that a level of discourse is available which author-izes rational inquiry and meaningful discussion outside any philosophy,…

To read more about the Al Ghazali Averroes And The Interpretation Of The Quran book Click the download button below to get it for free

or

or

Report broken link