Wajal
Definition
Wajal is a subset of khawf — the immediate, felt trembling of the heart in moments of genuine God-consciousness. While khawf can be a stable character trait, wajal is the acute experiential spike of awe that comes when the heart is suddenly and powerfully aware of the divine presence. Al-Ghazali cites the Quranic description of the believers: 'Those whose hearts tremble when God is mentioned.' This trembling is not anxiety disorder but spiritual sensitivity — the heart vibrating in resonance with the reality it is encountering. Al-Ghazali treats wajal as evidence of a living heart, one that has not been deadened by habituation or heedlessness.
As understood in the classical tradition of Imam al-Ghazali and the scholars of his school.
Appears in
1 book in the library
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