Al-ghazali on Intention, Sincerity and Truthfulness ― Kitab Al-niyya Wa'l-ikhlas Wa'l-sidq

The 37th chapter of the Revival of Religious Sciences, this treatise focuses on the subject of intention—which is of crucial importance in ethics—posing questions such as How can someone ignorant of the meaning of intention verify his own intention? How can someone ignorant of the meaning of sincerity verify his own sincerity? And how can someone sincerely claim truthfulness if he has not verified its meaning?

Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (1058-1111) is the most famous theologian-mystic of Islam and the equivalent of Thomas Aquinas in Christianity and Maimonides in Judaism. His contribution to the formation of Islamic thought and mysticism is incalculable. Dr Anthony Shaker specializes in Islamic philosophy and thought. He is also the translator of Al-Ghazali on Vigilance and Self-examination.