Leaving Teaching Behind…

Today in Beirut, my students and I continued our discussion of the “mystic way” described by the medieval Islamic philosopher al-Ghazali. Though al-Ghazali–the most influential intellectual of his time–held a prestigious post at the Nizâmiyya Madrasa in Baghdad, he gave up his teaching position in 1095 to pursue the mystic path. Believing that the virtuous ideals of the Sufi path could not be reconciled with worldly attachments, al-Ghazali decided to retreat from the world of desire, and wander through the Middle East to places like Damascus and Jerusalem to commit himself fully to the spiritual path…

It had already become clear to me that I had no hope of the bliss of the world to come save through a God fearing life and the withdrawal of myself from vain desire. It was clear to me too that the key to all this was to sever the attachment of the heart to worldly things by leaving the mansion of deception and returning to that of eternity, and to advance towards God most high with all earnestness. It was also clear that this was only to be achieved by turning away from wealth and position and fleeing from all time-consuming entanglements.

Next I considered the circumstances of my life, and realized that I was caught in a veritable thicket of attachments. I also considered my activities, of which the best was my teaching and lecturing, and realized that in them I was dealing with sciences that were unimportant and contributed nothing to the attainment of eternal life.

After that I examined my motive in my work of teaching, and realized that it was not a pure desire for the things of God, but that the impulse moving me was the desire for an influential position and public recognition. I saw for certain that I was on the brink of a crumbling bank of sand and in imminent danger of hell-fire unless I set about to mend my ways…

— al-Ghazali