Iḥyāʾ ʿulūm al-dīn

Ihyāʾ ʿulūm al-dīn is a seminal work by the Muslim theologian and mystic al-Ghazālī (1058–1111 CE). The title translates to "The Revival of the Religious Sciences," and it is considered al-Ghazālī's greatest work.1

This extensive work, comprising 40 "books," aims to explain Islamic doctrines and practices. It demonstrates how these can form the foundation for a deep devotional life, ultimately leading to the higher stages of Sufism, or Islamic mysticism. Al-Ghazālī's approach integrated theology, philosophy, and mysticism, creating a new philosophical framework known as wisdom (ḥikmah). The work was instrumental in making Sufism an accepted part of orthodox Islam.12