Critique of al-Ghazālī’s Interpretation of Avicenna’s Alleged References to Wine Consumption

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Moghaddam Gholamali; Salami Mohammad Mahdi

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Journal Paper

Paper Information

Journal: AVICENNIAN PHILOSOPHY JOURNAL Year:2025 | Volume:29 | Issue:73 Page(s): 239-262

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Title

Critique of al-Ghazālī’s Interpretation of Avicenna’s Alleged References to Wine Consumption

Author(s)

Moghaddam Gholamali | Salami Mohammad Mahdi | Issue Writer Certificate

Keywords

al-Ghazālī

critique of philosophy

critique of Avicenna

wine (sharāb)

accusation of wine consumption

Abstract

Al-Ghazālī is among the most prominent critics of philosophy in the Islamic tradition. He opposed philosophers through both theoretical and practical critiques, including arguments for internal incoherence, external objections, and moral appraisals of philosophers’ character and conduct. Among his accusations, al-Ghazālī charges Avicenna—regarded as the foremost representative of the philosophical current of his era—with disregard for the rulings of the Sharī‘a and with committing certain sins, including wine consumption. This type of critique, which appeals to psychological and emotional sentiments, had a strong impact on the general public, whose acceptance or rejection of ideas was often influenced by their feelings toward the thinker. Part of al-Ghazālī’s case rests on phrases either written by Avicenna himself or attributed to him. The central issue examined in this article is the evidential weight and reliability of such references in substantiating al-Ghazālī’s claim. Using an analytical approach, the study shows that: (1) the reports cited as evidence are internally contradictory—for instance, they portray Avicenna simultaneously as engaged in prayer, Qur’ānic recitation, and seeking divine assistance in solving scientific problems, while at the same time returning from the mosque to drink wine; (2) the terms mashrūb and sharāb are semantically broad, encompassing not only wine but also syrups, fruit juices, and medicinal mixtures, with no decisive reason to interpret them as grape wine; and (3) juristic opinions regarding the prohibition or permissibility of certain beverages, such as date wine, varied at the time, and based on historical and legal context, the drink attributed to Avicenna and others may not have been considered unlawful. Accordingly, these considerations render al-Ghazālī’s interpretation questionable and open to serious doubt.

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