Useful Science in Islam, by Al-Ghazali

Translated from Arabic, presented and annotated by Tayeb Chouiref

The Book of Science is the first chapter of al-Ghazali's immense spiritual summation entitled Ihya 'ulum al-din ( The Revivification of the Sciences of Religion) . Al-Ghazâlî exposes there the essential ideas which are developed throughout the Ihyâ . This chapter thus constitutes a fundamental work allowing to seize the whole of the message of that which was called “The Proof of Islam”.

This message is essentially the following: spirituality is at the heart of the teachings of the last revealed religion and it is through it that all aspects of this religion can be revived. Al-Ghazali therefore offers its reader the fundamental keys allowing him to grasp how faith in God and the ritual practices of Islam can be lived in a deep spirituality.

This carefully annotated translation by Tayeb Chouiref will allow French-speaking readers to easily assimilate the invigorating teachings of al-Ghazâlî.