Al Ghazali: The Mysteries of Purification for Children With Workbook

Now joining Book Sets One and Two from al-Ghazali’s Revival of the Religious Sciences, the Book of Knowledge and the Book of Belief, is Book Set Three, The Mysteries of Purification. Accompanying the translation for parents and teachers, the volume for children contains 17 stories, introduced by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, as well as a complete workbook and a curriculum with marvelous supportive activities for schools and home schools. Both parents and children will be inspired by being able to understand the deeper meanings and beauty of the rituals of purification, from the teachings and insights of Imam al-Ghazali.

One of the beauties of Islamic law is that there are many acceptable ways to perform certain rites. There are variations for the performance of wudu in the different Islamic schools of law throughout the Islamic world, such as the Maliki, Hanafi, Hanbali, and Shafi’i. Again, these are outer differences but the inward sunna is The Book on the Mysteries of Purity For Children what we are mostly aiming to learn in this wonderful book from Imam al-Ghazali.

In the stories you are reading, the special teacher is called Haj Abdullah, who like his name, has made the Pilgrimage, the journey to the sacred center and performed all that is required. Abdullah means that he truly serves God. In the books and workbooks of this Series, we have shown Haj Abdullah in different ways – he sometimes appears old and at other times younger.

The country he seems to come from varies as well. The reason is: Haj Abdullah could be your own grandfather or some family member. He could be an imam or a teacher or a wise elder. You can find the fine character of Haj Abdullah in many respected grown-ups in your very own communities! Haj Abdullah is found everywhere at all times and in everyplace.

Does he remind you of Imam al-Ghazali whose teachings he is passing on to you?

Do you think the way he is, as a person, shows that he is practicing all the things the Imam recommends – things he learned about from reading Quran and hadith?

Who do you know that has his beautiful, peaceful qualities, as well as his helpful, loving, and wise nature?

Hopefully, as you grow up you will teach by copying his way of being completely present to anyone he is with. The greatest gifts we can give one another are our complete presence and pure, shining hearts.  

The virtues being emphasized here are awareness of time and scientific curiosity.

About The Author

Imam Abu Hamid Muhammad Al-Ghazali was born in 450 AH (1058 A.D) in the Iranian town of Tus, studied Islamic law and theology at the Seljuq College in Nishapur, and became a distinguished professor at the famous Nizamiyya University in Baghdad.

Despite his glittering success, he was inwardly dissatisfied, so he abandoned his career for the life of hardship, abstinence and devotion to worship. During ten years of wandering, he experienced a spiritual transformation, in which the Truth came to him at last, as something received rather than acquired.

Blessed with an inner certainty, he then applied his outstanding faculties and vast learning to the task of revitalizing the whole Islamic tradition. Through his direct personal contacts, and through his many writings, he showed how every element in that tradition could and should be turned to its true purpose.

Imam al-Ghazzali was fondly referred to as the "Hujjat-ul-lslam", Proof of Islam, he is honored as a scholar and a saint by learned men all over the world and is generally acclaimed as the most influential thinker of the Classical period of Islam.

He passed away in 505 AH (1111 A.D).

"The Imam Ghazali Children's Series is a gift to our children who deserve a pedagogy of Islam that allows them to develop the innate goodness which God has placed within each human being so they can become moral, kind and happy adults."  -Professor Ingrid Mattson

"This work is nothing less than a revolution in developing humane, ethical, and committed Muslim youth. Imam al-Ghazali is the "Proof of Islam", and these teachings, presented in a beautiful life-affirming way, will prove to be a major shift in the way Islam is taught to young people, who are in desperate need of guidance in today's confusing times. As a community, we owe much to Fons Vitae for bringing them to fruition. Let the transformation begin!" -Shaykh Hamza Yusuf