International Journal of Business and Social Science Vol. 8, No. 2; February 2017 181 A Spiritual Model of Good Deeds according to Imam Al-Ghazali 1 Mohd Rosmizi Abd Rahman* Mohamed Mihlar Abdul Muthaliff* Muhammad Khairi Mahyuddin* Ahmad Najaa’ Mokhtar* Yuseri Ahmad* Faculty of Leadership and Management, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia Salih Yucel** Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation (CISAC), Charles Sturt University, Australia Abstract This article analyses the spiritual model of good deeds according to Imamal-Ghazali. Being a great jurist and Sufi master, al-Ghazali made earnest efforts in his own way to rediscover the inner dimension of religious observance and to bring about a return in Muslim societies to a more profound reflection upon the inner dimension of the spiritual life. This article discovers that al-Ghazali formulates an important spiritual analysis of good deeds, offering a sophisticated way of understanding and performing them, formulated within the framework of his own direct mystical experience. This article found that al-Ghazali addresses his own unique and profound ways of understanding and performing good deeds to every level of society which can be developed into a spiritual model in various degrees. He formulates and systematises the Inner Knowledge (‘ilm al-batin) and inner actions (al-a‘mal al-batinah) of good deeds which should be observed equally. He insists that only through the balanced observance of outer and inner dimensions can good deeds achieve their goals and be conducive to spiritual growth. Keywords: Islam, good deeds, inner knowledge (‘ilm al-batin), inner actions (al-a‘mal al-batinah), spiritual model Introduction Al-Ghazali [Imam Abu Hamid Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Ghazalial-Tusi(1058-1111 CE / 450-505 AH)]—one of the most prominent and most influential scholars in Islamic history—has a positive and unique view of good deeds. Through his books, especially Ihya’‘Ulum al-Din (The Revival of the Religious Sciences), al-Ghazali has not only shown a consistently positive attitude towards the necessity of good deeds but, he offers his own unique and profound ways of understanding and performing good deeds, formulating within his own spiritual model. He does not only inject spirituality to devotional acts, but also to daily or lawful habits. By injecting spirituality on the inner dimension of lawful habits, al-Ghazali Trans formed them to a form of good deed. His profound and systematic analysis of spiritual dimension of geed deeds, especially in Ihya’is exceptional and useful for us for many reasons. Among them are; it can improve the quality of our good deeds; it can improve and purify our soul, and it can enhance our spiritual relationship with Allah (God). Al-Ghazali’s discussion of this issue can be found in his ethical books, especially Ihya’ which is the main reference of this article. This article argues at the outset that his view and spiritual insights of good deeds can be developed into a general spiritual model for Muslims. 1 This article is the result of USIM Short Research entitled “Developing a Spiritual Model of Good Deeds according to Imam Al-Ghazali,” PPP/ USG-0115/ FKP/ 30/ 11615. * Senior Lecturers at Faculty of Leadership and Management, UniversitiSains Islam Malaysia. * * Associate Professor and Course Director at Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation (CISAC),Charles Sturt University.