ʿUzla
Definition
ʿUzla is the more general concept of withdrawing from unnecessary social mixing — not necessarily a formal retreat but the habitual limiting of one's social exposure to what is genuinely necessary and beneficial. Al-Ghazali discusses the conditions under which uzla is recommended: when the dominant character of the society is corruption, when one's own character is not yet strong enough to resist social pressure, or when specific social circles are actively harmful to one's faith. He also discusses when uzla becomes irresponsible — when social obligations to family, community, and the propagation of good go unfulfilled in the name of personal purity.
As understood in the classical tradition of Imam al-Ghazali and the scholars of his school.
How the scholars use ʿUzla.
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"The hadith, "Whoever splits the unity of Muslims while they are in comprehensive Islam has thrown off the yoke of Islam," is recorded by Al-Tabarani and Al-Khatabi in Al-Uzla from the hadith of Ibn Abbas with a good chain. The hadith, "Whoever boycotts his brother for more than three days and dies will enter the fire," is recorded by Abu Dawud from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah with a sound chain."
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 16: Etiquettes of Seclusion
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"They will reproach him with poverty and demand from him what he cannot bear, so he enters ways that destroy his religion and thus perishes. This was narrated by Al-Khattabi in Al-Uzla from Ibn Masud and by Al-Baihaqi in Al-Zud from Abu Huraira, both of which are weak. Few dependents are one of the two eases and numerous dependents are one of the two causes of poverty."
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 12: Book of Marriage
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"The best of people after 200 years are those who are light in worldly matters, having no family nor children. This was narrated by Abu Yala from Hudhaifah and by Al-Khattabi in Al-Uzla from this hadith and the hadith of Abu Umamah, both of which are weak. A time will come upon people when a man's destruction will be at the hands of his wife, parents, and children."
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 12: Book of Marriage
Appears in
1 book in the library
Hear the term in context.
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