History of Islamic Philosophy

History of Islamic Philosophy

Ghazali and the issue of physical resurrection; examination of Treiger's theory based on attributing the denial of physical resurrection to Ghazali

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Javad Nazari
Ilam university. Ilam
10.22034/hpi.2026.579904.1203
Abstract
In The Incoherence of the Philosophers, Muhammad al-Ghazali excommunicates the philosophers on three grounds: denial of the origination of the world, denial of God’s knowledge of particulars, and denial of bodily resurrection. Nevertheless, Alexander Treiger advances the view that al-Ghazali, in his final position, did not believe in bodily resurrection. To this end, he adduces evidence from various works of al-Ghazali. In the present article, this evidence, together with other evidence to which Treiger has not referred, is examined. This evidence suggests Treiger’s claim; however, a descriptive-analytical approach, in light of al-Ghazali’s repeated explicit affirmations of bodily resurrection, shows that this evidence can be accounted for: in some of these cases, al-Ghazali appears to be concerned with explaining the spiritual dimension of resurrection, not denying its bodily dimension. In some others, where al-Ghazali raises the contrast between this world and the hereafter, an attempt is made to explain these cases on the basis of the occasionalism endorsed by al-Ghazali. In the end, the likelihood is strengthened that al-Ghazali did not abandon his belief in bodily resurrection.
Keywords
bodily resurrection
spiritual resurrection
this world and the hereafter
Alexander Treiger
Muhammad al-Ghazali
Subjects
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  • Receive Date 04 May 2026
  • Revise Date 18 June 2026
  • Accept Date 21 June 2026