Kīmiyā-yi Saʿādat (The Alchemy of Happiness)
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For everyone
In this work written in Persian, al-Ghazālī uses the notion of alchemy in a spiritual sense: just as alchemists try to turn copper into gold, a person can reach a heart "like gold" by purifying the self. It is an example of how the material and spiritual aspects of alchemy interweave in Islamic thought.
For specialists
The work is seen as a shorter Persian counterpart of the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn. It consists of four "headings" on knowing the self, God, this world and the hereafter, and four "pillars". The term "alchemy" is used here as a metaphor for transforming the base into the precious.
Claims
- Spiritual purification transforms the human heart as a base metal is turned into gold.[1]
Connections
Sources
- Book (1910). The Alchemy of Happiness. John Murray, London (Wisdom of the East series)
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Cite this page
Athena contributors. (2026). Kīmiyā-yi Saʿādat (The Alchemy of Happiness). Athena: The tree of human knowledge. Retrieved November 1, 2026, from https://latifkedi.github.io/athena/en/d/kimya-yi-saadet/
@misc{athena_kimya_yi_saadet,
title = {Kīmiyā-yi Saʿādat (The Alchemy of Happiness)},
author = {{Athena contributors}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://latifkedi.github.io/athena/en/d/kimya-yi-saadet/}},
note = {Athena: The tree of human knowledge. Accessed: 2026-11-01}
}Added: September 27, 2026 · Last changed: September 27, 2026 · Page history