Abstract:

In addition to the fact that a large part of the Sharii dalils’ certainty and guidance is zanni, the frequent use of inference methods like qiyas for the solution of fiqh issues has been the reason for the ikhtilaf and criticism among the fiqhi madhhabs/sects. Criticism among the fiqhi madhhabs/sects started with the formation of the madhhabs and have continued so far. The imams of madhhabs have been exposed to criticism much more than the faqihs who followed their madhhabs as they were the founders. All mujtahids and faqihs, especially the founding imams, defended their righteousness in their istinbat and ijtihad and criticized those who acted as mukhalifs. Al-Ghazali (d. 505/1111) also criticized some madhhabs/sects and their practices in his works for some reasons. In this study, the quality of criticism style of Ghazali in general, and his criticism style towards the madhhab imams in the first periods of his life and the nature of his later criticism style in particular were dealt with and evaluated.

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