A Critical Evaluation Of Ghazzalian And Kantian Notions Of Mysticism And Intuition, An Islamic Perspective

Abstract

This research is an attempt to study the relationship between

the Ghazzalian Lind Kantian thoughts on mysticism and

intuition from an Islamic perspective. This study is intelligible

when it is remembered that after Al-Ghazzali. mysticism in

Islam was not the same again and even though. Kant was not a

Mystic in the real sense of the word but his mystical notions

appear similar to that of al-Ghazzali on many points especially

on "mystical metaphysics. The study begins by tracing the

concept and development of mysticism in Islam. It also

enumerates some of the Muslim scholars who brought about

reconciliation between mainstream Islam or orthodoxy and

philosophical Sufism. One of whom and certainly the most

famous and acknowledged in the West is al-lmam al Ghazzali.

In addition, the study has traced the historical background of

both the Ghazzalian and Kantian philosophical and

metaphysical thoughts vis-it-vis mysticism and intuition. ltalso

unravels both the post Kantian and Ghazzalian trends in

mysticism and intuition. In doing. it has attempted to explain

some metaphysical concepts germane to their thoughts on

mysticism as popularly understood in the Ghazzalian and

Kantian schools. It finally ends up revealing that today

mysticism has become a euphemism for both laxity and

licentiousness. Most mystics today hide behind their esoteric

teachings to call for total or unwarranted liberalization of

religious observances in the name of promoting rettgtous