Rays Of the Quran

Musa (AS) meets the Women at the well

23. And when he arrived at the well in Madyan, he found there a group of men watering (their flocks), and besides them he found two women who were keeping back (their flocks). He said: "What is the matter with you?" They said: "We cannot water (our flocks) until the shepherds take back (their flocks): And our father is a old man." (1)

24. So he watered (their flocks) for them; then he turned back to the shade, and said: "O my Lord! Truly am I in (desperate) need of any good that you may give me!" (2)

25. Afterwards one of the (girls) came (back) to him, walking bashfully. She said: "My father invites you so that he may reward you for having watered (our flocks) for us." So when he came to him and narrated the story, he said: " Do not fear: (well) you have been saved from unjust people." (3)

26. One of the (girls) said: "O my (dear) father! Employ him: truly the best of men for you to employ is the (man) who is strong and trustworthy"....

27. He said: "I intend to wed one of my daughters to you, on condition that you serve me for eight years; but if you complete ten years, it will be (grace) from you. But I intend not to place you under any difficulty: you will find me, indeed, if Allah wills, one of the righteous." (4)

28. He said: "Let that be the agreement between me and you: whichever of the two terms I fulfil, let there be no ill-will to me. Allah is a witness to what we say."

The Life & Works of Imam Ghazali

His name was Abu Hamid Ibn Muhammad Ibn Muhammad al-Tusi al-Shafi al-Ghazali and he was honoured with the title of ‘Hujjatul Islam’, ‘Proof of Islam'.

He was born in 1058 CE (450 AH). His birth place is the town of Tabran in the district of Tus in the province of Khurasan (NE persia).

His father was a cotton merchant and therefore he is referred to as Ghazali. His early education was from local teachers, in his home town. He then moved to Jurjan and studied under Imam Abu Nasr Ismaeli. The method of teaching was didactic and the teacher would deliver the lecture and he students took notes and compiled them.

The young Ghazali was a brilliant student with incisive wit and sharp intellect. In those days there were many schools and colleges in every major town and city. However, Nishapur and Baghdad were the two most famous. Since Nishapur was closer to home, Imam Ghazali decided to go there. Here Imam Al-Haramain, the greatest luminary of his time taught students the Islamic Sciences. Nishapur was one of the famous centres for learning in the Muslim world.

According to Shibli, the first Islamic college was established here in Nishapur by the name of Bahiqiyya. Imam Al-Haramain was the Grand Mufti as well as having the ear of the Prime Minister. He was held in high esteem by the government and the public. He had an unrivalled reputation and status.  

Imam Ghazali soon earned a special place amongst the students of Imam Al-Haramain. He was appointed as the “Mu’eed”, assistant teacher. Imam Ghazali began to write books and his teacher encouraged him in this endeavour. Soon his fame began to spread. It was around this time that Imam Ghazali was initiated in the spiritual order of Shaykh Farmadi.

Imam Al-Haramain died in 1086 CE (475 AH). Imam Ghazali decided to leave Nishapur and headed for Baghdad. This was the other great centre of learning and under the patronage of Nizamul Mulk, who had built a great university of Nizamiyya.