Al-Ghazali’s philosophy of education represents the high point of Islamic thinking on
education, in which al-Ghazali’s inclination towards reconciliation and the integration
of various intellectual schools is apparent. Here he achieves a synthesis of legal,
philosophical and mystical educational thinking.
For Al-Ghazali, the purpose of society is to apply shari‘a, and the goal of man is to
achieve happiness close to God. Therefore, the aim of education is to cultivate man
so that he abides by the teachings of religion, and is hence assured of salvation and
happiness in the eternal life and the hereafter. Other worldly goals, such as the pursuit
of wealth, social standing or power, and even the love of knowledge, are illusory, since
they relate to the transient world.
Al-Ghazali stresses the importance of childhood in character formation.
A good upbringing will give children a good character and help them to live
a righteous life; whereas, a bad upbringing will spoil their character and it will be
difficult to bring them back to the straight and narrow path.
Nofal, N. (2000). Al-Ghazali. UNESCO:
International Bureau of Education, XXIII(3-4), 5.
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