فكر الإمام الغزالي السياسي : دراسة في كتاب فضائح الباطنية وفضائل المستظهرية

Abstract

This dissertation deals with the role of al-Ghazali in the field of politics. Al-Ghazafi contributed significantly to the body of knowledge on international politics. He lived in a time of rivalry between the Abasid caliphate in Baghdad and the Fatimid state that represented the Batiniyyah sect in Egypt. This dissertation attempts to examine alGhazali' s role in Islamic political thought and other issues related to this matter through his book, Farj,a 'ib al-Bafiniyyah wa Farj,a 'il al-Musta;hiriyyah. The study tries to find out what was al-Ghazali's motivation in writing his political thought, how his age influenced his political thought, and what was the contribution of al-Ghazali in . Islamic political system. This dissertation employs the analytical, critical, and comparative method. The study concludes that al-Imamah (leadership) is a great matter through which the religious and worldly issues are organized. Therefore, its existence is seen as imperative and its nomination of Imam is a must. However, according to al-Ghazali, such nomination should be optional and the Imam (leader) is far from being infallible, and thus contradicting the view of the Batiniyyah sect, which believed that the Imam was fallible. The study also pointed out the required ethical and physical traits that should be in the personality of the Imam, and the religious or worldly tasks that he must perform. The actions of the Imam, in turn, must always be governed by his advisors.