Epistemology, Ethics, and Society in Islamic Thought: A Comparative Analysis of Ibn Sina and Al-Ghazali
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.67101/alamir.v7i02.309Keywords:
Ibn Sina, Al-Ghazali, Philosophy, Education, Ilm ul KalamAbstract
Al-Ghazali (1058–1111 CE) and Ibn Sina (980–1037 CE), renowned as "Al-Ghazel" and "Avicenna" in the West, exemplify Islam's exaltation of knowledge as a path to divine proximity, as emphasized in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:30–39), Surah Al-Alaq, and the Prophet's hadith on seeking knowledge. Despite divergent eras and approaches—Ibn Sina's Aristotelian rationalism versus Al-Ghazali's Sufi-infused mysticism—both scholars intertwined philosophy with Islamic theology.
Ibn Sina's epistemology posits knowledge as emanation from the Pure Intellect (God), accessed via syllogistic reasoning and divine inspiration, enabling the rational soul to grasp universals. Al-Ghazali prioritizes certitude (ilm al-yaqiniyy) through sense, reason, and divine light (nur), critiquing philosophy in works like Tahafut al-Falasifa. On human nature, Ibn Sina divides the soul into vegetative, animal, and rational faculties, advocating rational moral governance; Al-Ghazali delineates nafs, qalb, ruh, and aql, urging heart purification amid fitrah's innate goodness. Both affirm societal interdependence under divine law, with Ibn Sina emphasizing specialized cooperation under prophetic legislation and Al-Ghazali stratifying society into commoners, scholars, and rulers.
This paper analyzes these convergences (e.g., intellect's primacy, early education's role, ummah unity) and divergences (rationalism vs. revelation), underscoring their embodiment of Islam's intellectual quest.
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