Islam

The Alchemist of Happiness

$29.95

Al-Ghazali lived at a time such as the one we live in today, when the inward and outward practices of Islam had become divided and a collective spiritual crisis of the heart prevailed. He realized that in spite of all his knowledge he was of no use battling this crisis because his own heart was filled with pride. How could he aid his brothers in the transformation of their hearts, when his own heart was diseased?

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Product Description

Born in 1058 in Tus, Khorasan, in present-day Iran, Abu Hamid al-Ghazali was one of the most original thinkers the world has known. Besides being a major influence in the Muslim world, the West has also felt his effect. He influenced major figures of medieval philosophy such as Thomas Aquinas and Moses Maimonides, who shaped the philosophy of the Latin West. As the author of some 250 books on topics ranging from theology and ethics to metaphysics and philosophy, al-Ghazali came to be known as ‘Proof of Islam’. For almost a thousand years he has served as an inspiration for spiritual seekers everywhere as he was someone, like the Buddha, willing to give up everything: wealth, position, family and comfort in order to search for Truth.

This film sets out to discover who al-Ghazali was and whether we, living in the 21st century, can still find relevance in his teaching.

with Robert Powell as the voice of Al-Ghazali
FEATURING:GHORBAN NADJAFI, DARYUSH ARJMAND, MITRA HAJJAR, ABDOLREZA KERMANI
Director of Photography: Mahmoud Kalari
Art Direction: Malak Khazai
Screenplay: Simon van der Borgh
Editor: Gabriela Enis
Music: Dirk Campbell

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: TJ WINTER & PS GILDERS
PRODUCED & DIRECTED BY OVIDIO SALAZAR

SPECIAL FEATURES:
ADDITIONAL INTERVIEWS WITH SHAYKH HAMZA YUSUF & DR. KARIM D. CROW

Reviews

"The film is a remarkable achievement, capturing not only the drama of Ghazali’s life and the texture of the world in which he lived, but also skilfully distilling the significance of major themes in his writings. This is no small feat: the art of dramatizing ideas. I cannot wait to show it in my courses on Medieval Muslim Thought."
- FAROUK MITHA University of Victoria, Canada