Book Review: Deliverance from Error by

Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali

Lecturer: Alwi al-Attas

Subject: Hist 3410 Islah & Tajdid Movements In The
Muslim World

Student Name: Muhammad Munir Bin Zamzuri

Matric Number: 1712731
Book review: Deliverance from Error by Abu Hamid Al Ghazali

Al-Munqidh min al-Dalāl is said to be one of the greatest works of Al-Ghazali. It is small
in size but loaded with important values and ideas. Upon writing this book, Al-Ghazali is said to
have completed his spiritual and intellectual journey, one that he started when he left Baghdad at
his prime time. It is believed that this book was written by him between 499 A.H/1105 A.D. and
500 A.H./1106 A.D. He wrote this book to explain himself the reason he left Nizamiya madrasa
in Baghdad. However his writing turned out to be more than just as justification and explanation
on his action, but it also consisted of his finding about the various sects of thought and beliefs in
the muslim world at that time. Those that he had observing first hand.
Al-Munqidh min al-Dalāl consisted of five chapters. But generally, the book summed up
three major views. First one is an autobiographical view of Al-Ghazali which he summed up his
journey from the beginning which Al-Ghazali told briefly in the first and at the last chapter of
this book. The second dimension is the inner experience of Al-Ghazali psychologically and
intellectually. And the last dimension is the investigation of the religious and intellectual trends
of the time.
In the first chapter, he records some important events in his life. Among them was the
spiritual crisis he experienced at 488H / 1095M. This spiritual turmoil caused so much pain that
he could not continue his teaching. He later decided to leave his job in Baghdad and traveled as a
Sufi narrator. After traveling to Damascus, Jerusalem, performing pilgrimages in Mecca and
Medina, he returned to Ṭus and spent several years practicing tariqah taṣawwuf with his
disciples.
The important message in the first chapter, he stated that all the debate and dispute that
happened at his time has caused the emergence of various sects and paths that each of these sects
claiming themselves as the only one that upholding the truth. It is clear that Al-Ghazali is pretty
upset about the situation and has given warning to others about the depth of danger of this
situation. He said in his book “All of this (various sects and beliefs) constitutes a deep sea in
which most have foundered and only a few have survived. Yet each group believes it has found a
salvation, each party rejoices at what it possesses”
 The main ideas of this book is his criticism on Greek philosophy, the refutation of the
Batiniyyah sect and the introduction of sufism that integrate between knowledge and practices
that are based on the Quran and Hadith.
I would not like to discuss in detail regarding his refutation on other sects, mainly on
batiniyyah sect. But what I found interesting is the method that he implemented to refute them.
Al-Ghazali did not hastily call the batiniyyah sect as an error sect. Neither did he refuted
philosophers without understanding the basics of them. Before he refutes them, he first
understands the principle and fundamentals of their sect and beliefs. He learned about kalam and
other sects like batiniyyah with a deep knowledge so that he could gain a true understanding of
their belief. Upon understanding them, he criticised what he saw as the error that must be
avoided.
If we look for the criticism of this book by other scholars, the most common criticism is
about the way Al-Ghazali portrays himself in this book. Some scholars believed that it is
condescending for any sufi to portray himself like what Al-Ghazali did. However I find it is a
baseless assumption to call him arrogant just because he told about his achievement in this book.
If we look at the autobiographisation of himself as the way for him to express his point of view
to the readers, so that the readers could grasp the true understanding of his message in this book,
we could see that al-Ghazali did not intend to feel proud with his achievement. But he did so as
the way to show that he did not find his achievement as something to be proud of. Because he
admitted that at that time, he is not sincere with his work, so he sought forgiveness from Allah
for his mistake.
Even so, I find the recommendations of al-Ghazālī in solving the problem that he stated
tend to mysticism and isolation. This could weaken the human spirit as society in going through
their life. He only focuses on the spiritual connection of the individual with the goal of achieving
its happiness only in the hereafter by neglecting the responsibilities of one's worldly affairs. This
is hard to practiced by muslim nowadays, and if someone practice it, I afraid it could lead to
fitnah to the muslims. Others will assume muslims as a non productive society if each one of us
isolating ourselves.
In conclusion, the teaching of Al-Ghazali wholly, and in this book specifically need to be
guided by a knowledgable person like scholars. This is coincide in his teaching in Ihya’ about the
importance of mursyid (guider) to someone in seeking the truth to his deen.