Intellectual Interactions of the East and West of the Mediterranean Basin(Andalusian Interactions with al-Ghazali’s Thoughts)

Imam al-Ghazali (1058-1111) was born in Tus (present-day Iran). Studying in a jurisprudential, theological, and anti-philosophy atmosphere, he became one of the most famous Shafi’i, al-Ashari theologians, jurists, and opponents of philosophy of his age. At 34 of age, he approached the court of the Seljuq Empire. Al-Ghazali was appointed the head of al-Nizamiyya of Baghdad, the most important school in the Muslim world. He was politically affiliated with the Seljuqs and the court of the Abbasid Caliphate and was one of the strong opponents of the Fatimid Caliphate. Al-Ghazali wrote several books and strongly criticized Muslim religious scholars and philosophers. His ideas were rapidly reflected throughout the Islamic world, including in the western Mediterranean. In response to al-Ghazali s political actions and religious and theological views, Maliki jurists, theologians, philosophers, and some rulers of Andalusia and Morocco confronted al-Ghazali and his followers at various times. The paper attempts to examine the interactions of the politicians and various currents of thought of Andalusia with al-Ghazali thoughts. The main differences between this paper and other research are in its approach and scope of the study and highlighting ideological and political interactions of the eastern and western Mediterranean.