The Concept of Suluk in Imam al-Ghazali's Bidayat al-Hidaya: An Analysis of Spiritual Pedagogy and its Relevance to Contemporary Muslim Character Formation

HRMARS - Young Muslims today grapple with well-documented issues like psychological vulnerability, compulsive digital use and a lost sense of moral direction. Standard secular therapeutic approaches only go so far in tackling these problems. This research delves into Imam Ab? ??mid al-Ghaz?l?'s seminal work, Bid?yat al-Hid?ya (Beginnings of Guidance), through a qualitative examination of the text. We explore how al-Ghaz?l? builds a system for behavioural change rooted in consistent daily practice, careful control of one's senses and faculties and the refinement of one's inner character. Our study pursues three main goals. First, we aim to clarify al-Ghaz?l?'s understanding of sul?k (spiritual conduct) as presented in this book. Second, we dissect the organisational structure and teaching methods within the work, noting its division into three sections. Finally, we seek to identify practical approaches to address the contemporary behavioural challenges faced by young Muslims. Our primary methods, which draw on content analysis alongside a structural-thematic textual critique, draw on authentic classical Islamic texts and current research in educational psychology. We highlight the six core principles-muj?hada, mur?qaba, mu??saba, takhall?, ta?all? and adab-as offering a proactively designed, spiritually informed countermeasure to prevalent modern afflictions. This includes challenges such as gaming disorders, online harassment and widespread anxiety. The study's outcomes present a usable conceptual model for Islamic educational settings and programs focused on youth development.