Exploring the life and impact of the greatest spiritual and legal philosopher in Islamic history, this film examines Ghazali’s existential crisis of faith that arose from his rejection of religious dogmatism, and reveals profound parallels with our own times.
Ghazali became known as the Proof of Islam and his path of love and spiritual excellence overcame the pitfalls of the organised religion of his day.
His path was largely abandoned by early 20th century Muslim reformers for the more strident and less tolerant school of Ibn Taymiyya.
Combining drama with documentary, this film argues that Ghazali’s Islam is the antidote for today’s terror. --IMDb
Born in 1058 in Tus, Khorasan, in present-da y Iran, Abu Hamid al-Ghazali was one of the most original thinkers the world has known.
Besides being a major influence in the Muslim world, the West has also felt his effect. He influenced major figures of medieval philosophy such as Thomas Aquinas and Moses Maimonides, who shaped the philosphy of the Latin West.
This film sets out to discover who al-Ghazali was and whether we, living in the 21st Century can still find relevance in his teaching.
About this movie
Title: Al-Ghazali: The Alchemist of Happiness (2004)
Directed by: Ovidio Salazar
Writing credits: Simon van der Borgh
Music: Dirk Campbell
Year: 2004
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English | Farsi
Color: Color
Runtime: 80 min.