Al-Ghazālī's philosophical theology, by Frank Griffel

Al-Ghazālī's Philosophical Theology, by Frank Griffel, (New York: Oxford University Press, 2009), xiii + 408 pp., ISBN 978-0-19-533162-2, $74 (hardback) (First paragraph) This is an illuminating book, both in its form and its substance, and it is possible for the avid reader of the history of Islamic thought initially to become excited when skimming through its contents. The author has successfully overcome the obstacles inherent in addressing such a common and well-researched topic in Islamic studies (that is, al-Ghazālī [d. 505/1111] and his theology and philosophy) by thor¬oughly discussing the most recent scholarship in the area. Because the book has from the time of its publication received the praise it truly deserves, I will present a different understanding of several im¬portant issues it addresses and supply several criticisms rather than providing a descriptive outline of the book.