14 moments

1. Birth at Tabaran

   1058-01-01 · Tabaran, Tus, Khorasan, Seljuk Empire

   

   Al-Ghazali was born in the Tus district of Khorasan. The coordinate represents the ancient city of Tus, the defensible settlement-level location for Tabaran. The precise site of medieval Tabaran is not established here; coordinates represent ancient Tus.

2. Departure from Nishapur after al-Juwayni's death

   1085-01-01 · Nishapur, Khorasan, Seljuk Empire

   

   After studying under al-Juwayni, al-Ghazali left Nishapur following his teacher's death and entered the orbit of the Seljuk vizier Nizam al-Mulk. Coordinates represent Nishapur.

3. Professor at the Nizamiyya of Baghdad

   1091-01-01 · Nizamiyya of Baghdad, Baghdad, Abbasid Caliphate

   

   Nizam al-Mulk appointed al-Ghazali to a leading professorship in Baghdad, establishing the public academic career from which he later withdrew. The medieval madrasa's exact site is uncertain; coordinates represent central Baghdad.

4. Journey to Damascus

   1095-01-01 · Damascus, Fatimid Caliphate

   

   On leaving Baghdad, al-Ghazali traveled to Damascus as part of his break with political service and state-sponsored teaching. Coordinates represent historic central Damascus.

5. Journey to Jerusalem

   1095-01-01 · Jerusalem, Fatimid Caliphate

   

   Jerusalem was one of al-Ghazali's destinations immediately after his departure from Baghdad. Coordinates represent the Old City area.

6. Withdrawal from Baghdad

   1095-01-01 · Baghdad, Abbasid Caliphate

   

   Al-Ghazali abandoned his Baghdad posts during the spiritual crisis that initiated his extended withdrawal from state-sponsored teaching. Coordinates represent central Baghdad.

7. Pilgrimage at Mecca

   1096-01-01 · Mecca, Hejaz, Seljuk sphere

   

   Al-Ghazali reached Mecca and performed the pilgrimage during the journey that followed his withdrawal from Baghdad. Coordinates represent the Masjid al-Haram area.

8. Return through Damascus

   1096-01-01 · Damascus, Fatimid Caliphate

   

   After the pilgrimage, al-Ghazali returned westward through Damascus on his way back to Khorasan. This was a distinct return passage after the pilgrimage; coordinates represent historic central Damascus.

9. Visit to Medina

   1096-01-01 · Medina, Hejaz, Seljuk sphere

   

   Al-Ghazali traveled to Medina during his pilgrimage journey in 489 AH / 1096 CE. Coordinates represent Medina.

10. Vow at Abraham's tomb

    1096-01-01 · Tomb of the Patriarchs, Hebron, Fatimid Caliphate

    

    At Hebron, al-Ghazali visited the tomb of Abraham and made a vow not to resume political service or state-sponsored scholastic disputation. Coordinates represent the traditional Tomb of the Patriarchs site.

11. Brief stay in Baghdad

    1097-01-01 · Baghdad, Abbasid Caliphate

    

    During his return journey from Syria toward Khorasan, al-Ghazali made a brief stay in Baghdad before settling at Tus. Coordinates represent central Baghdad.

12. Settlement and private teaching at Tus

    1097-01-01 · Tus, Khorasan, Seljuk Empire

    

    Following his return from the pilgrimage route, al-Ghazali settled at Tus during his intellectual exile from organized teaching. Coordinates represent ancient Tus.

13. Return to teaching at Nishapur

    1106-07-01 · Nizamiyya of Nishapur, Nishapur, Seljuk Empire

    

    Al-Ghazali returned to the Nizamiyya at Nishapur and resumed teaching after roughly a decade away from state-sponsored academic employment. July 1106 falls across 499 AH; coordinates represent Nishapur because the medieval Nizamiyya's exact site is not established here.

14. Death at Tus

    1111-12-19 · Tus, Khorasan, Seljuk Empire

    

    Al-Ghazali died at Tus after his final period of teaching and retreat. Coordinates represent ancient Tus.