Young Muslims today grapple with well-documented issues like psychological vulnerability, compulsive digital use and a lost sense of moral direction. Standard secular therapeutic approaches only go so far in tackling these problems. This research delves into Imam Ab? ??mid al-Ghaz?l?'s seminal work, Bid?yat al-Hid?ya (Beginnings of Guidance), through a qualitative examination of the text. We explore how al-Ghaz?l? builds a system for behavioural change rooted in consistent daily practice, careful control of one's senses and faculties and the refinement of one's inner character. Our study pursues three main goals. First, we aim to clarify al-Ghaz?l?'s understanding of sul?k (spiritual conduct) as presented in this book. Second, we dissect the organisational structure and teaching methods within the work, noting its division into three sections. Finally, we seek to identify practical approaches to address the contemporary behavioural challenges faced by young Muslims. Our primary methods, which draw on content analysis alongside a structural-thematic textual critique, draw on authentic classical Islamic texts and current research in educational psychology. We highlight the six core principles-muj?hada, mur?qaba, mu??saba, takhall?, ta?all? and adab-as offering a proactively designed, spiritually informed countermeasure to prevalent modern afflictions. This includes challenges such as gaming disorders, online harassment and widespread anxiety. The study's outcomes present a usable conceptual model for Islamic educational settings and programs focused on youth development.
?Abd al-Ra?m?n, M. (2024). Konsep pendidikan karakter dalam kitab Bid?yat al-Hid?ya [Character education concepts in Bid?yat al-Hid?ya]. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 12(1), 45, 67.
Ab? al-??j, ?. (2020). Daf? al-ghiw?ya f? tahdh?b bid?yat al-hid?ya [Warding off error in the refinement of Bid?yat al-Hid?ya]. Markaz Anw?r al-?Ulam??.
Al-Ghaz?l?, A. ?. (2004). I?y?? ?ul?m al-d?n [The revival of the religious sciences] (Vols. 1, 4). D?r al-Ma?rifa.
Al-Ghaz?l?, A. ?. (2008). Bid?yat al-hid?ya [Beginnings of guidance]. D?r al-Minh?j.
Al-K?l?n?, M. ?. (1985). Falsafat al-tarbiya al-isl?miyya ?ind al-im?m al-Ghaz?l? [The philosophy of Islamic education in the thought of Imam al-Ghaz?l?]. Maktabat Man?r.
Al-Najj?t?, M. ?U. (1993). ?Ilm al-nafs f? al-tur?th al-isl?m? [Psychology in Islamic heritage]. D?r al-Shur?q.
Badri, M. (2000). Contemplation: An Islamic psychospiritual study. International Institute of Islamic Thought.
Baumeister, R. F., & Tierney, J. (2011). Willpower: Rediscovering the greatest human strength. Penguin Press.
Beck, A. T. (2011). Cognitive behaviour therapy: Basics and beyond (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
Faruqi, M. M., Hermawan, W., & Surahman, C. (2024). The relevance of fiqh teachings in the Bidayatul Hidayah book for development of the Islamic Religious Education curriculum. al-Iltizam: Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam, 9(2). https://doi.org/10.33477/alt.v9i2.7937
Haque, A. (2004). Psychology from Islamic perspective: Contributions of early Muslim scholars and challenges to contemporary Muslim psychologists. Journal of Religion and Health, 43(4), 357, 377.
Haque, A., & Masuan, K. A. (2002). Perspectives on religious psychology: Views from Malaysia. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 5(2), 141, 156.
Institute for Youth Research Malaysia (IYRES) & UNICEF. (2024). National youth mental health survey: Key findings and recommendations. IYRES/UNICEF Malaysia.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (1994). Wherever you go, there you are: Mindfulness meditation in everyday life. Hyperion.
Nasir, M. F. A., Abd Rozak, M., & Fatonah, S. (2022). Character education values in the book of Bidayatul Hidayah written by Imam al-Ghazali. Forum Paedagogik, 13(2), 238, 249. https://doi.org/10.24952/paedagogik.v13i2.5342
Nasr, S. H. (1987). Islamic spirituality: Foundations. Crossroad.
Pennebaker, J. W. (1997). Opening up: The healing power of expressing emotions. Guilford Press.
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55(1), 68, 78.
Salamah, Y., & Shahriya, I. (2024). Moral education values in Bid?yat al-Hid?ya by al-Ghaz?l?. International Journal of Islamic Studies and Education, 5(2), 88, 104.
Sulaym?n, F. ?. (2003). Al-madhhab al-tarbaw? ?ind al-Ghaz?l? [The educational doctrine of al-Ghaz?l?]. Maktabat al-Q?hira.
Trimulyaningsih, N., Subandi, M. A., & Yuniarti, K. W. (2024). The process of spiritual transformation to attain Nafs al-mu?ma?innah in Islamic psychology. HTS Theological Studies, 80(1). https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v80i1.8526
UNESCO. (2023). Digital citizenship report: Online behaviour in youth populations. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.
Umarji, O. (2022, May 13). Faith in mind: Islam's role in mental health. Yaqeen Institute. https://yaqeeninstitute.org/read/paper/faith-in-mind-islams-role-in-mental-health
Abdou, M. E. S. M., & Sakr, M. E. (2026). The Concept of Suluk in Imam al-Ghazali’s Bidayat al-Hidaya: An Analysis of Spiritual Pedagogy and its Relevance to Contemporary Muslim Character Formation. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 16(6), 1282–1292.
Copyright: © 2026 The Author(s)
Published by Knowledge Words Publications (www.kwpublications.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
