At the time of Imam Al-Ghazali, there is a government in Maghribi, which is now called Morocco. When the book written by Imam Al-Ghazali, the Ihya 'Ulumiddin completed and distributed, the fiqh scholars in Morocco said that the book should be banned and burned.
When this information is heard by Imam Al-Ghazali, Allah willing he gets ‘kasyaf’, which lifted the ‘hijab’ and he saw what would happen. Imam Al-Ghazali said : "Allah will tear or rip their government as they tore my book!"
Imam Al-Ghazali can see what will happened. Thus, once the righteous will see what happens. Not always, but occasionally.
Maybe we still remember the story of Saiyidina Umar being preached, suddenly 'hijab' lifted, then he saw the Muslims army were at war and nearly defeated. While standing on the pulpit, Saiyidina Umar gave the order to the army, which is thousands miles away, and the army has been able to hear his commands.
This incident shows that sometimes the righteous ‘hijab ' lifted. That's what happened to Imam al-Ghazali. When the news reached him, saying that the governments in North Africa, Morocco, has forbidden his book and want to burn it, he says that Allah will tear their government as they tore up his book. There is a student of Imam al-Ghazali named Muhammad bin Tumart. Muhammad bin Tumart said: "O Imam, please pray to God that the collapse of the Bani Tasyfin (Murabitin Government ini Morocco) will occur in my hand."
After that, Muhammad bin Tumart went to Morocco, and organized the movement. War broke out and he even managed to establish a new government called the Muwahhiddun Government. Well, as Al-Ghazali saw through his kasyaf - this North African kingdom has been torn and burned, as they tore and burned his book (Ihya’ ‘Ulumiddin).
When Muhammad bin Tumart successfully established the Kingdom of the Muwahhiddun in Morocco, North Africa, Al-Ghazali want to go there but not so. He does not have an opportunity to go there until he died.
The lesson here, this Ihya 'Ulumiddin is not an ordinary book/kitab. Nowadays there are certain people who dislikes this book. They said, the contents of Ihya’ ‘Ulumiddin is not correct, it contains teachings that go wrong, and so on. We are concerned, what happened to the government in North Africa is likely to happen to them also.
Morocco name is derived from the city of Marrakech, or in Arabic "Murakush". Western people named the place as Morocco.
Well, that's the introduction to this book.
Attendees who are blessed by God,
Actually Ihya 'Ulumiddin is very close to me because around 1997-2003, I usually took the translation of this book with me. During the seven to eight years, I bring this book to where I go, because I am very interested in this book. But just today, I had the opportunity to teach this book to the public.
Since I am interested in this book, I wrote an article entitled "Allah Cinta Agung". This article describes about our love to Allah and our love of the Prophet Muhammad. I wrote the article over several pages, and this article have been uploaded to the internet. This article was completed around 2002. Completed on 13 Safar 1423 AH. It is 9 years old article now (2011). Uploaded to the internet and have its own website. Also its website entitled "Allah Cinta Agung". It is based on the chapter "Love" from Ihya 'Ulumiddin. Then I made the article as daily reminders of the family (ta'lim). After Maghrib or Isya’, I read it in 5 minutes to my wife. Every day, read a little bit.
Firstly, we look at the meaning of "Ihya''Ulumiddin". What does it mean? We used to hear the word 'hayat' which means 'life'. So 'ihya' means 'revive'. We are also familiar with the word 'ulum', 'ulama' and 'alim'. All from the same root. 'Ulum means ‘sciences' or ‘knowledge’.
Then the word 'ad-diin’. People always say: "Islam as ad-diin." “Ad-diin” to means “religion”. So the 'Ihya' 'Ulumiddin' means 'Revive the Religion Sciences.”
Why Imam Al-Ghazali named this book as an "'Revive the Religion Sciences "? Because on that day, even in this era, knowledge becomes merely decorative. Many people who are knowledgeable in religion, but weak in practice. That is why this book is called "'Revive the Religion Sciences ". It is not just knowledge, but the knowledge is turned on and practiced, even practiced effectively. So now we understand the meaning of “Ihya' 'Ulumiddin”.
So before we learn the contents of this book in more detail, we may know the author first. We often hear people mention the name: "Imam al-Ghazali, Imam Ghazali, Imam Ghazali." Al-Ghazali's real name is Muhammad bin Muhammad bin Muhammad bin Ahmad al-Ghazali. His name is Muhammad, his father's name is Muhammad, his grandfather's name is Muhammad. His great grandfather’s name is Ahmad. All (names) from the same root ... (which means) "commendable".
His name is Muhammad. He is also known as Ibn Muhammad because he was the son of Muhammad. He is also known as Abu Hamid, as his son named Hamid. "Abu" means "father of." "Abu Hamid" means "Father of Hamid." So the full name of Imam al-Ghazali is Abu Hamid Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Ghazali. "Ghazali" is said to be the name of the place (village) "Ghazalah". As we know, the Arabs have three names. Their own name, the name of their father's name, and a name of their child.
* Terima kasih kepada sahabat saya Encik Ayon Ancoyz atas semakannya.
