ABSTRACT
In passing from al-Ghazali to the following period there is a sense of passing from bright sunshine to murky obscurity. It is relevant to notice, though it does not strictly belong to the history of theology, a new religious development of the twelfth century or early thirteenth century. There are traces of men living a common life according to a rule soon after 800; and al-Farmadhi, who influenced al-Ghazali, seems to have been head of a body of sufis who were beginning to have some of the characteristics of an order. So far as the history of theology goes it may be remarked that, though the earlier orders kept to the main Sunnite tradition, some of the later ones held heretical doctrines. On turning to Ash'arite theology the results of al-Ghazali's studies in philosophy are quickly evident. The former is clear evidence of the extent to which philosophy has invaded theology.
