Al-Ghazali’s Conceptions of the Soul: A Textual Reading of The Explanation of the Marvels of the Heart

Abstract

This study examines the concept of the self and its states in the thought of Abū Ḥāmid al-Ghazālī through an analytical reading of Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn, particularly the section Sharḥ ʿAjāʾib al-Qalb. It aims to identify the meanings of the terms al-nafs al-muṭmaʾinna (the tranquil self), al-nafs al-lawwāma (the self-reproaching self), and al-nafs al-ammāra (the commanding self), and to determine whether, in the passage defining them, they refer to changing states or fixed levels. The study adopts textual induction and contextual analysis of relevant passages, distinguishing between al-Ghazālī’s explicit statements and interpretive inferences. It concludes that, in the passage examined, the three terms describe states of the human subtle reality (al-laṭīfa al-insāniyya) in relation to desire. It further notes that extending this conclusion to al-Ghazālī’s other works requires an independent textual investigation. The study recommends further research comparing his discussions of the self and the heart, examining the development of psychological terminology within its intellectual and ethical contexts, and clarifying how these concepts contribute to a deeper understanding of al-Ghazālī’s conception of the self and its transformations.