DOCSLIB.ORG

A Preliminary Analysis of the Process of Spiritual Jihad Among

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
A Preliminary Analysis of the Process of Spiritual Jihad Among A PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF THE PROCESS OF SPIRITUAL JIHAD AMONG U.S. MUSLIMS by SEYMA N. SARITOPRAK Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts Thesis Advisor: Julie J. Exline, PhD Department of Psychological Sciences CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY January, 2018 ii CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES We hereby approve the thesis/dissertation of Seyma N. Saritoprak candidate for the Master of Arts degree *. (signed) Julie J. Exline, Ph.D. (chair of the committee) Brooke N. Macnamara, Ph.D. (committee member) Sandra Russ, Ph.D. (committee member) (date) Thursday, June 29th, 2017 *We also certify that written approval has been obtained for any proprietary material contained therein. iii Table of Contents List of Tables .....................................................................................................................vi List of Figures....................................................................................................................vii List of Appendices ...........................................................................................................viii Abstract ..............................................................................................................................ix Literature Review ................................................................................................................1 Spiritual Jihad: An Islamic Perspective ..........................................................................…5 Spiritual Jihad: Attributing Wrongdoings to the Nafs........................................................ 9 Spiritual Jihad: Cognitive and Behavioral Components..................................................... 9 Spiritual Jihad: Implications for Virtues, Vices, and Well-Being.................................... 12 Virtues .............................................................................................................................. 12 Vices ................................................................................................................................ 15 The Present Study .............................................................................................................18 Hypotheses ........................................................................................................................18 Spiritual Jihad, Perceived Closeness with God, and Islamic Religiousness..................... 18 Spiritual Jihad, Religious Coping, Struggle Engagement................................................. 19 Spiritual Jihad, Growth, and Decline................................................................................ 19 Spiritual Jihad, Psychological Well-Being, and Life Satisfaction.................................... 19 Spiritual Jihad and Religious/Spiritual Struggles............................................................. 19 Spiritual Jihad, Virtues, and Vices.................................................................................... 20 Method ............................................................................................................................. 20 Participants and Procedure................................................................................................ 20 Measures........................................................................................................................... 20 iv Spiritual Jihad Mindset..................................................................................................... 21 Religious Coping and Struggle Engagement.................................................................... 18 Islamic Religiousness........................................................................................................ 22 Closeness with God .......................................................................................................... 23 Post-Traumatic Growth .................................................................................................... 24 Spiritual Growth and Decline .......................................................................................... 24 Satisfaction with Life ....................................................................................................... 25 Anxiety. ............................................................................................................................ 25 Depression ........................................................................................................................ 26 Religious and Spiritual Struggles ..................................................................................... 26 Vices................................................................................................................................. 27 Gratitude .......................................................................................................................... 27 Forgiveness. ..................................................................................................................... 28 Patience ............................................................................................................................ 28 Social Desirability ............................................................................................................ 29 Demographic Questionnaire............................................................................................. 29 Data Analysis.................................................................................................................... 29 Results .............................................................................................................................. 29 Descriptive Statistics ........................................................................................................ 29 Exploratory Factor Analysis ............................................................................................ 31 Internal Consistency ........................................................................................................ 32 Hypothesis Set (1): Spiritual Jihad, Perceived Closeness with God, and Islamic Religiousness.................................................................................................................... 32 v Hypothesis Set (2): Spiritual Jihad, Religious Coping, Struggle Engagement....................................................................................................................... 34 Hypothesis Set (3): Spiritual Jihad, Growth, and Decline................................................ 34 Hypothesis Set (4): Spiritual Jihad, Psychological Well-Being, and Life Satisfaction........................................................................................................................ 36 Hypothesis Set (5): Spiritual Jihad and Religious/Spiritual Struggles ............................ 36 Hypothesis Set (6): Spiritual Jihad, Virtues, and Vices ................................................... 37 Discussion ........................................................................................................................ 38 Key Findings .................................................................................................................... 38 Implications for Research and Practice ............................................................................ 43 Limitations and Future Directions ................................................................................... 45 References ........................................................................................................................ 95 vi List of Tables Table 1: Skewness, Kurtosis, and Standard Error for Community Sample...................... 47 Table 2: Descriptive Statistics for Demographics............................................................ 49 Table 3: Descriptive Statistics for Main Variables........................................................... 51 Table 4: Internal Consistency for Main Measures............................................................ 52 Table 5: Summary of Exploratory Factor Analysis Results for the Spiritual Jihad Mindset Measure Using Maximum Likelihood Extraction............................................................ 54 Table 6: Pearson Product-Moment Correlations Between Spiritual Jihad Mindset Measure and Main Variables............................................................................................ 56 Table 7: Pearson Product-Moment Correlations Between Spiritual Jihad Mindset Measure and Forms of Positive Religious Coping........................................................... 57 Table 8: Summary of Hierarchical Regression Analysis for Spiritual Jihad Mindset Predicting Spiritual Growth after Controlling for Islamic Religiousness (MTurk).......... 58 Table 9: Summary of Hierarchical Regression Analysis for Spiritual Jihad Mindset Predicting Spiritual Growth after Controlling for Islamic Religiousness (Community)...59 Table 10: Summary of Hierarchical Regression Analysis for Spiritual Jihad Mindset Predicting Post-Traumatic Growth after Controlling for Islamic Religiousness (MTurk)..............................................................................................................................60 Table 11: Summary of Hierarchical Regression Analysis for Spiritual Jihad Mindset Predicting Post-Traumatic Growth after Controlling for
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Rituals of Islamic Spirituality: a Study of Majlis Dhikr Groups
    Rituals of Islamic Spirituality A STUDY OF MAJLIS DHIKR GROUPS IN EAST JAVA Rituals of Islamic Spirituality A STUDY OF MAJLIS DHIKR GROUPS IN EAST JAVA Arif Zamhari THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY E P R E S S E P R E S S Published by ANU E Press The Australian National University Canberra ACT 0200, Australia Email: [email protected] This title is also available online at: http://epress.anu.edu.au/islamic_citation.html National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Author: Zamhari, Arif. Title: Rituals of Islamic spirituality: a study of Majlis Dhikr groups in East Java / Arif Zamhari. ISBN: 9781921666247 (pbk) 9781921666254 (pdf) Series: Islam in Southeast Asia. Notes: Includes bibliographical references. Subjects: Islam--Rituals. Islam Doctrines. Islamic sects--Indonesia--Jawa Timur. Sufism--Indonesia--Jawa Timur. Dewey Number: 297.359598 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. Cover design and layout by ANU E Press Printed by Griffin Press This edition © 2010 ANU E Press Islam in Southeast Asia Series Theses at The Australian National University are assessed by external examiners and students are expected to take into account the advice of their examiners before they submit to the University Library the final versions of their theses. For this series, this final version of the thesis has been used as the basis for publication, taking into account other changesthat the author may have decided to undertake.
    [Show full text]
  • Trends in Dacwah Activities in Ilorin: an Appraisal of the Jabata Group
    Ilorin Journal of Religious Studies, (IJOURELS) Vol.8 No.1, 2018, pp.51-62 TRENDS IN DACWAH ACTIVITIES IN ILORIN: AN APPRAISAL OF THE JABATA GROUP Abdulwahab Danladi Shittu Department of Religions, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria +2348061235260; [email protected] And Abimbola Ridwanullah Idowu Graduate of Islamic Studies from the Department of Religions, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria +2348137628707; [email protected] Abstract The city of Ilorin has influenced many cities in southern Nigeria so much so that the history of Islam in this region may not be complete without mentioning the Ilorin factor. This glory is credited to the effort of early scholars who were subtle in their call to Islam. Generations after them followed suit in the aspect of objectives and styles of dacwah (call to Islam) until recently when a group called „the Jabata group‟ adopted a dacwah method that is diametrically opposed to the existing dacwah method of the community. This group does not only condemn the existing methods but equally accuses the predecessors in the field of dacwah of heresy and non sincerity of purpose. It is to this background that this work examined the methods and doctrines of the Jabata group, with a view to identifying the relevance and efficiency of the new method and style to the growth of Islam and the unity of Muslim community in Nigeria. The study is descriptive in respect of the new method, and comparative in terms of comparing both the old and the new methods. Findings of the work revealed that the teachings of the Jabata group are not only against the established and accepted culture of the people but also a threat to the unity of the Nigerian Muslim community in particular and the Nigerian nation in general.
    [Show full text]
  • View to Control the Forces of History, and Thereby Create a Fresh World of Ideals
    Florida State University Libraries Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School 2017 Soldiers of God: S#fism, Islamist Activism, and the Tradition of Comanding Right and Forbidding Wrong John Samuel Houston Follow this and additional works at the DigiNole: FSU's Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected] FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES “SOLDIERS OF GOD”: ṢŪFISM, ISLAMIST ACTIVISM, AND THE TRADITION OF “COMANDING RIGHT AND FORBIDDING WRONG” By SAM HOUSTON A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Religion in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2017 Copyright © 2017 Sam Houston All Rights Reserved Sam Houston defended this dissertation on March 20, 2017. The members of the supervisory committee were: John Kelsay Professor Directing Dissertation Jeffrey Ayala Milligan University Representative Helen Boyle Committee Member Sumner B. Twiss Committee Member Adam Gaiser Committee Member The Graduate School has verified and approved the above-named committee members, and certifies that the dissertation has been approved in accordance with university requirements. ii To Shannon, who from the very beginning of this journey has been my steadfast companion iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I firmly believe that a life well lived is determined largely by those whose company you keep. As such, I have been extremely fortunate over these last six years to surround myself with a truly capable and caring contingent of mentors, colleagues, friends, and family. The Department of Religion at Florida State University has been a warm, stimulating, and supportive environment, and it has taught me that despite the challenges one may find working in academia today, intellectual community and friendship are indeed possible.
    [Show full text]
  • Arab Scholars and Ottoman Sunnitization in the Sixteenth Century 31 Helen Pfeifer
    Historicizing Sunni Islam in the Ottoman Empire, c. 1450–c. 1750 Islamic History and Civilization Studies and Texts Editorial Board Hinrich Biesterfeldt Sebastian Günther Honorary Editor Wadad Kadi volume 177 The titles published in this series are listed at brill.com/ihc Historicizing Sunni Islam in the Ottoman Empire, c. 1450–c. 1750 Edited by Tijana Krstić Derin Terzioğlu LEIDEN | BOSTON This is an open access title distributed under the terms of the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license, which permits any non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided no alterations are made and the original author(s) and source are credited. Further information and the complete license text can be found at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ The terms of the CC license apply only to the original material. The use of material from other sources (indicated by a reference) such as diagrams, illustrations, photos and text samples may require further permission from the respective copyright holder. Cover illustration: “The Great Abu Sa’ud [Şeyhü’l-islām Ebū’s-suʿūd Efendi] Teaching Law,” Folio from a dīvān of Maḥmūd ‘Abd-al Bāqī (1526/7–1600), The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The image is available in Open Access at: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/447807 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Krstić, Tijana, editor. | Terzioğlu, Derin, 1969- editor. Title: Historicizing Sunni Islam in the Ottoman Empire, c. 1450–c. 1750 / edited by Tijana Krstić, Derin Terzioğlu. Description: Boston : Brill, 2020. | Series: Islamic history and civilization. studies and texts, 0929-2403 ; 177 | Includes bibliographical references and index.
    [Show full text]
  • EXAMINING the WRITINGS of NANA Asmasu: AN
    !"#$%&%&'()*!(+,%)%&'-(./(&#&#(#-$#012(#&(%&3!-)%'#)%.&(./(4#-).,#5( 6.&&!6)%.&-(#$.&'(6.&)!$4.,#,7(-1/%(+.$!&( ( A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of The School of Continuing Studies and of The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Liberal Studies By 589:;<=;($8>;??8@(AB#B( ( ( ( Georgetown University Washington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
    [Show full text]
  • The Life of Shari'a by Youssef Belal a Dissertation Submitted in Partial
    The life of Shari’a by Youssef Belal A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology and the Designated Emphasis in Critical Theory in the Graduate Division of the University of California, Berkeley Committee in charge: Professor Stefania Pandolfo Professor Saba Mahmood Professor Brinkley Messick Professor Niklaus Largier Summer 2017 © Copyright 2017 by Youssef Belal All Rights Reserved Abstract The life of Shari’a by Youssef Belal Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology and the Designated Emphasis in Critical Theory University of California, Berkeley Professor Stefania Pandolfo, Chair This dissertation is a conceptual inquiry about Shari’a exploring distinct and yet interrelated dimensions of the revealed law of Islam: (i) political, (ii) spiritual, (iii) ethical, (iv) epistemic and (v) rational. These dimensions are studied from the perspective of Sunni Islam in revolutionary and post-revolutionary Egypt on the basis of a fieldwork conducted in Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo in 2012-2014, as well as of works by classical and contemporary Islamic scholars. This study of Shari’a is guided by the following questions: What kind of political subjectivity is enabled by Islamic jurisprudence when dealing with revolutionary protests, power, and order? What kind of spirituality is entailed by Shari’a rules? To what extent is Shari’a a kind of law distinct from contemporary state law that gives shape to a form of ethical life based on the relationship between acts of worship and
    [Show full text]
  • The World Federation of Ksimc T a R B I Y
    TARBIYAH DRAFT THE WORLD FEDERATION OF KSIMC 1 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available fromthe British Library ISBN 978 1 9092851 8 7 © Copyright 2013 The World Federation of KSIMC Published by: The World Federation of Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Muslim Communities Registered Charity in the UK No. 282303 The World Federation is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations Islamic Centre,Wood Lane, Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 4LQ United Kingdom www.world-federation.org First Edition 2013 - 3000 Copies All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations quoted in articles or reviews. THE WORLD FEDERATION OF KHOJA SHIA ITHNA-ASHERI MUSLIM COMMUNITIES TARBIYAH DRAFT THE WORLD FEDERATION OF KSIMC 3 Surah al Baqara (2:177) 4 TARBIYAH Contents SECTION A: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND i. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT ......................................................................................................... 9 ii. PREAMBLE ........................................................................................................................................... 10 iii. THE MCE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT TEAM ................................................................................ 13
    [Show full text]
  • Laws of Salah (Hanafi) an English Translation of ‘Namaz Kay Ahkam (Hanafi)’
    َ ﺎز ﮐﮯ اَﺣﮑﺎم ( َﺣ ﻨَ ِﻔﯽ) Namāz kay Aḥkām (Ḥanafī) L A W S O F SALAH Shaykh-e-Tariqat, Ameer-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat, Founder of Dawat-e-Islami, Allamah Maulana Abu Bilal Muhammad Ilyas Attar َ َ ۡ َ َ َ ُ ُ ُ ۡ َ دا ا َِ Qadiri Razavi % Translated into English by Majlis-e-Tarajim (Dawat-e-Islami) www.dawateislami.net Laws of Salah (Hanafi) An English translation of ‘Namaz kay Ahkam (Hanafi)’ ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Copyright © 2015 Maktaba-tul-Madinah No part of this publication may be reproduced, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Maktaba-tul-Madinah. Edition: First 2nd Publication: Rabi’-us-Sani, 1436 AH – (February, 2015) Publisher: Maktaba-tul-Madinah Quantity: ISBN: Sponsorship Feel free to contact us if you wish to sponsor the printing of a religious book or booklet for the Isal-e-Sawab of your deceased family members. Maktaba-tul-Madinah Aalami Madani Markaz, Faizan-e-Madinah Mahallah Saudagran, Purani Sabzi Mandi, Bab-ul-Madinah, Karachi, Pakistan Email: [email protected] – [email protected] Phone: +92-21-34921389-93 – 34126999 Web: www.dawateislami.net www.dawateislami.net Table of Contents Translator’s Notes .......................................................................................... XVII Transliteration Chart ...................................................................................... XIX Du’ā for Reading the Book................................................................................XX
    [Show full text]
  • How to Perform Umrah
    Imam Ghulam Moyhuddin Umrah Requirements Niyyah (Intention) Ihraam (Clothing) Tawaaf (Circumambulation) Maqaam Ibraheem (Prayer) Safaa and Marwah (Striving/Pursuit) Halq/Qasr (Trimming/Shaving) (Purification) Sincere Intention “The reward of deeds depends on the intentions” (Bukhari) Please Allah Earn Rewards Seek Salvation, Forgiveness, Closeness Follow Footsteps of Prophets Realisation No trip Holiday Shopping Therapy Fulfil Sunnah, visit birthplace of Islam, house of Allah, walk alongside angels, reap mercy and blessings of Allah. Blessed, chosen over and above millions Opportunity, don’t let your ego, anger, habits, people or shaytan destroy it Preparations Study Awareness Mentally Physically Emotionally “Perform Hajj and Umrah one after the other for surely they remove poverty and sins just as the furnace removes the dirt of iron, gold and silver” (Timirdhi) Status Minor Hajj, performed throughout the year bar 5 days of Hajj “One Umrah is an expiation for the sins committed between it and another Umrah” (Bukhari) “The performers of Hajj and Umrah are deputations of Allah, if they call Him, He answers them, and if the seek His forgiveness, He forgives them” (Ibn Majah) Pre-Departure Pray two Rak’ats Nafl prayer at home - Shukr 1st Ra’at Surah Kaafiruun, 2nd Rak’at Surah Ikhlaas Thank Allah for His favour and opportunity; ask for His safety, blessings, and control over nafs and acceptance of the Umrah Maintain and complete all prayers on time, constantly engage in zikr, shukr and recitation of Quran, with thought of hereafter/return to Allah Ihraam Prior to crossing boundary (Meeqaat) Ghusl, Wudu, don clothing, men 2 pieces, unstitched, women normal clothing, reveal hands, face 2 Rak’at Nafl Ihram- Surah Kaafiruun, Surah Ikhlaas, intention of Umrah by proclaiming اَللَُّه َّم إ ِﻧِّﻲْ أُِر ﻳْﺪُ الْﻌُﻤْﺮََة ﻓَﻴَﺴِّﺮْها َ لِﻲْ َو ﺗَﻘَﺒَّلْهَا ﻣِﻨِّﻲْ Allah Humma In-Nee O-Ree Dul-Umrata Fa Yassir-Haa Lee Wa Ta Qab-Bal-Haa Min-Nee O Allah, I intend to perform Umrah.
    [Show full text]
  • Sufism Veil and Quintessence by Frithjof Schuon
    Islam/Sufi sm Schuon is revised and expanded edition of Frithjof Schuon’s Su sm: Veil and Quintessence contains: Sufi sm a new translation of this classic work; previously unpublished correspondence by Veil and Quintessence Frithjof Schuon; an editor’s preface by James S. Cutsinger; A New Translation with Selected Letters a new foreword by Seyyed Hossein Nasr; extensive editor’s notes by James S. Cutsinger; a glossary of foreign terms and phrases; an index; and biographical notes. Sufi sm: Veil sm: Veil Sufi “ is small book is a fascinating interpretation of Islam by the leading philosopher of Islamic theosophical mysticism. e book is an excellent introduction into the higher aspects of Su­ sm.” —Annemarie Schimmel, Harvard University “In this book one can discover with greater clarity than any other available work the distinction between that quintessential Su­ sm which comprises the very heart of the message of Su­ sm and the more exteriorized forms of Islam. No other work succeeds so well in removing the most formidable and notable impediments in the understanding of the authentic Su­ tradition for the Western reader.” and —Seyyed Hossein Nasr, the George Washington University Quintessence “Schuon’s thought does not demand that we agree or disagree, but that we understand or do not understand. Such writing is of rare and lasting value.” —Times Literary Supplement “If I were asked who is the greatest writer of our time, I would say Frithjof Schuon without hesitation.” —Martin Lings, author of Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources Frithjof Schuon, philosopher and metaphysician, is the best known proponent of the Perennial Philosophy.
    [Show full text]
  • A Living Faith, by Natana J
    Islam: A Living Faith, by Natana J. Delong-Bas (Winona, MN: Anselm Academic, 2018). Copyright © 2018 by Natana J. Delong-Bas. All rights reserved. Islam A Living Faith Author Acknowledgments I would like to express my deepest appreciation to Anselm Academic for the pleasure of working on this book together. It has been an incredible experi- ence of teamwork, bringing together many minds, visions, and ideas. Special thanks are due to the following: Brad Harmon for initiating a conversation about this book, recognizing a gap in substantive, informed publications on Islam by a Catholic press and seeing an opportunity for greater understanding between Christian- ity and Islam. Kathleen Walsh for superb questions, comments, and editing—and for being such a joy to work with. Her perspective as a teacher of world religions courses and her insights on what material would be most help- ful and informative to students was infinitely helpful to me in mapping the content of this book. The anonymous reviewers who graciously offered valuable and thoughtful feedback and questions on different chapters, suggesting crit- ical additions and clarifications and calling for the addition of a chapter on Muslim-Christian relations. I have done my best to respond to their recommendations and hope I have done them justice. This book is much stronger for their careful attention. Annie Belt for her sharp eye for detail and for thinking about the impact of the presentation of the material and how it might be perceived or read. She sent me back to the drawing board numerous times, push- ing for greater clarity and accessibility for a nonspecialist audience—and made this book better in the process.
    [Show full text]
  • Al-Ghazali and Marriage from the Viewpoint of Sufism
    AL-GHAZALI AND MARRIAGE FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF SUFISM Kaoru AOYAGI* This paper analyzes Abu f:lamid al-Ghazali (d.llll )'s Book on the Manners of Marriage (Kitab Adab al-Nika~) in his The Revival of the Religious Sciences (J~ya' 'Ulum al-D"in}, and examines the relation between the ideal married life and the practices of Sufism. In studies until now, the contents of this book have been often examined from the viewpoint of sexuality and the problem of women in Islam; however, not much attention has been paid to al-Ghazall's evaluation of marriage within Sufism in these studies. Rather, in studies of marriage, women, and sexuality in Sufism, the focus has usually been on the ideas on sexuality of Ibn al-' Arabi ( d.1240), while few studies of al-Ghazali's Sufism analyze his discussion of marriage. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to examine al-Ghazali's discussion of marriage from the viewpoint of Sufism and to clarify its originality in the history of Sufi thought, comparing it with that of Abu Talib al-Makki (d.998), a Sufi who influenced al-Ghazali considerably and discussed marriage in detail. Al-Ghazali argues that there are many advantages in living with a wife in marriage, and he demonstrates that a man can devote himself to the worship of God and lead an ideal Sufi life with the help of marriage. On the other hand, al-Makki maintains that celibacy is preferable, at least in his time. Most of his discussion is fragmentary and not as developed as al­ Ghazali's, though he does treat marriage more comprehensively than the Sufis before him.
    [Show full text]