Explaining the Association Between Ethics and Politics in Imam Muhammad Ghazali's Ethical-Political School: A Hermeneutic Approach

Abstract

This article aims to explain the association between ethics and politics in the ethical-political school of Imam Muhammad Ghazali with revealing and interpretive approach. This investigation carried out using a descriptive-analytical method through the collection of data, historical information, and documents. Imam Ghazali's works have been considered as a text that is consistent with reality. Thus, the question arises: What is the relationship between ethics and politics in Imam Ghazali's ethical and political school? In Ghazali's moral and political system, morality leads to modification and politics leads to perfection. Therefore, these two elements have better and more systematic correlation and stability. To achieve the research objective, the discussions have been organized into three sections. In the first part, hermeneutics is presented as the theoretical framework of the research. The second section attempts to explain the moral and political school of Imam Muhammad Ghazali. Finally, in conclusion, inferential suggestions from the discussions offered are presented in order to compile and process the explanation of the relationships between ethics and politics in the ethical and political school of Imam Muhammad Ghazali. The result and outcome of the present study shows that, in accordance with Imam Ghazali's ethical and political school, ethics and politics have close relationships. These relationships are most evident in the definitions of the nominal explanation of the concept of ethics, politics, and the class of sciences. Considering his interpretations of ethics and politics, we are led to the conclusion that Imam Ghazali theorized the theory of moral politics and considers the theory of political ethics to be baseless.