Introduction

The story of doubt and certainty in Ghazālī’s epistemology is replete with many contrasting views, some emphasising the rational dimension, and others emphasising the mystical dimension. This section discusses the early and revisionist trends in Ghazālīan studies. In early scholarship, it was assumed that Ghazālī was a fervent antagonist to philosophy, and a Sufi recluse. On the other hand, in much of recent scholarship, Ghazālī is understood to prefer philosophy as a means to certainty, undermining the role of Sufism. This work follows a parallel approach, not assuming an antagonistic relationship, and acknowledging both philosophy and Sufism in its right place. Furthermore, as the inverse to certainty, this section discusses the literature surrounding Ghazālī’s scepticism.