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The aim of this event is to effect change in children’s educational curricula. The focus will be on insights from Imām al-Ghazālī on children’s ”tarbiyah” (nurture and growth) and the pursuit of self-knowledge by highlighting the Ghazali Children’s Project.

Through this gathering, we aspire to bridge ancient wisdom with contemporary challenges, emphasizing the relevance of Imām al-Ghazālī’s guidance in today’s educational landscape. We believe this dialogue is essential for educators, parents, and those invested in nurturing the next generation with integrity and depth.

Imām Abū Ḥāmid al-Ghazālī (1058/9–1111 CE), recognized as the "Proof of Islam," stands tall amongst the luminaries of the Islamic Golden Age. His contributions to Islamic theology, jurisprudence, and philosophy have transcended time, particularly his profound insights into the human psyche and spiritual heart.

Jibrān Khalīl Jibrān wrote of him:

“Al-Ghazālī holds a very high place in the minds of Western orientalists and scholars. They place him along with Ibn Sīnā and Ibn Rushd in the first rank of oriental philosophers. The spiritually minded among them consider him to represent the noblest and highest thought which has appeared in Islam. [Strange] is the fact that the people of the West know more about al-Ghazālī than do the people of the East. They translate his works and investigate his teachings and search out carefully his philosophic contentions and mystic aims. But we, who still speak and write Arabic, seldom mention al-Ghazālī or discuss him. We are still busied with the shells, as though shells were all that come out from the sea of life to the shores of days and nights.”

Speaker: Aisha Gray Henry is the founder and director of the charitable foundation and publishing company Fons Vitae. Mrs. Henry is deeply involved in an educational project that draws from al-Ghazālī’s teachings: the Ghazali Children’s Project. Her work provides a contemporary perspective on al-Ghazālī’s foundational principles, bringing to the fore their timeless virtues and practical application in daily life.

For further information, see: https://ghazalichildren.org/

Al Ghazali

Other Resources:

Watch “Polishing the Heart” - A documentary on the Ghazali Children’s Project and Muslim children’s education.

The Ghazali Children’s Project – Links, Films & Resources Ghazali Children’s Pilot Schools - Videos, Answers to Questions & Resources

Event Breakdown:

  • Introduction to the event: organization mission, event structure, event topic, and speaker.
  • Mrs. Henry’s talk:
    • A brief look into the life and contributions of Imām al-Ghazālī.
    • Spotlight on Mrs. Henry’s project: integrating al-Ghazālī’s insights into today’s educational milieu.
      • Discussion of success stories of implementing the Ghazali Children’s Project.
      • Discussion on al-Ghazālī’s perspectives on tarbiyah, self-knowledge, and self-awareness – as sourced from Iḥyāʾ Ulum al-Din (Books 1-7).
  • Introduction to members of the panel.
  • Panel session for Q&A: allowing attendees to participate, share reflections, and understand practical implementations of al-Ghazālī’s ethos.

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