ANALYZING HUJJATUL ISLAM IMAM AL-GHAZALI; HIS INFLUENCE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF ISLAMIC PHILOSOPHY AND SUFISM IN THE ERA OF GLOBALIZATION

Imam al-Ghazali is one of the most prominent figures in the history of Islamic thought whose influence extends widely across the development of philosophy and Sufism. Through his major works Ihya’ Ulum al-Din, Tahafut al-Falasifah, and Bidayatul Hidayah al-Ghazali sought to integrate the rational and spiritual dimensions of Islam, creating a balance between intellect and heart. This study aims to explore al-Ghazali’s intellectual journey, his thoughts in the fields of theology, philosophy, and Sufism, as well as his influence on Islamic civilization, particularly in Indonesia. Using a qualitative descriptive approach through a literature review of both primary and secondary sources, this study reveals that al-Ghazali’s ideas have provided new direction for the development of Islamic sciences, especially in harmonizing rational and mystical aspects. In Indonesia, his ideas have profoundly influenced the pesantren tradition and the formation of a moderate and contextual Islamic spirituality.