AYYOHAʾL-WALAD

 

AYYOHA’L-WALAD, a short treatise by Abū Ḥāmed Moḥammad Ḡazālī Ṭūsī (fl. 450-505/1058-1111), originally composed in Persian, but, except for one line of Persian poetry, only its Arabic translation is extant. It was written sometime after his Eḥyāʾ ʿolūm al-dīn to which it makes many references. The introduction, written by a later commentator, states that Ḡazālī wrote this tract to answer a pupil who had enquired about which science would benefit him most in the hereafter and other matters. However, more probably Ḡazālī chose to address his views in this manner in order to give the work a more personal touch and to give more liveliness to some of the views expounded in detail in his Eḥyāʾ. The pupil also asked about submissiveness, trust in God, and sincerity. Some questions Ḡazālī did not answer, either because they were answered in the Eḥyāʾ and other writings or because he could not.

Ḡazālī’s answer to the question about the real knowledge which would be most beneficial in the hereafter is the knowledge that leads one to follow the right path, i.e., the Sufi way. Ḡazālī thinks that theoretical knowledge does not lead to salvation. Knowledge must be combined with action and both must be kept in conformity with the Šarīʿa—Law. To be on the right path, one needs to observe the four obligations of pure belief, sincere repentance, satisfaction of adversaries, and acquiring the necessary amount of knowledge of the Šarīʿa and some other useful science.

Arriving at this stage, the disciple can start his initiation in Sufism which is defined as righteousness with God and magnanimity with men. Here the disciple needs a Shaikh (i.e., a master) to direct him. The disciple’s respect for his master must be absolute and total. After combining submissiveness, trust in God, and sincerity with his total respect for the Shaikh, the disciple is instructed what to avoid (arguments, becoming a preacher, accepting gifts, and mingling with princes) and what to perform (in connection with God, other people, himself, and possession of goods).

Although the tract allows for some digression in its structure, the quarternary units that prevail in it grant it some coherence. It is full of quotations from the Koran, the Hadith, the Gospels, the sayings of outstanding Sufis, and poems. Some scholars have tended to treat Ayyoha’l-walad as a treatise on education. It emphasizes the spiritual aspect in education in contrast to scientific worldly knowledge. In some respects it can be anti-educational in conveying a rather negative attitude towards the sciences in particular, and temporal life in general.

 

Bibliography:

For information about manuscripts, editions, translations, and commentaries, see Brockelmann, GAL, S. I, pp. 750 (no. 32), and A. Badawi, Les oeuvres d’al-Ghazali (in Arabic), Cairo, 1961, pp. 179-83.

See also F. H. Foster, “Ghazali on the Inner Secret and Outward Expression of Religion in his "Child",” Muslim World 23, 1983, pp. 378-96.

M. Ben Cheneb, “Lettre sur l’education des enfants,” Revue africaine, 1901, pp. 101-10.

The text used in this study is the one published with a French translation by Toufic Sabbagh, Beirut, 1959.

 

Search terms:

 ایها الولد ayyoh al walad ayoh al walad
ayha al walad ayuohalwalad ayuohalwalad

 

(I. Abbas)

Originally Published: December 15, 1987

Last Updated: August 18, 2011

This article is available in print.
Vol. III, Fasc. 2, p. 164