Reactualizing Classical Islamic Spirituality: An Ethnographic Study of the Transformative Impact of Ihya Ulumuddin Study Circles on Holistic Quality of Life

Abstract

This study aims to examine the transformative impact of collective study circles of Ihya Ulumuddin by Imam Al-Ghazali on participants’ holistic quality of life. Employing a qualitative design with an ethnographic approach, the research was conducted among congregants attending a weekly Tuesday-night recitation in Ganjaran Village, Gondanglegi, Malang. Data were collected through participant observation, in-depth interviews, and document analysis, and were analyzed thematically to capture lived experiences and patterns of meaning-making within the study circle. The findings reveal that sustained engagement with Ihya Ulumuddin fosters comprehensive personal development, encompassing intellectual enrichment and processes of spiritual self-purification (tazkiyat al-nafs). Participants demonstrate enhanced reflective thinking, disciplined worship practices, ethical refinement, and strengthened social responsibility. The text functions not merely as a doctrinal reference but as a practical framework integrating inner and outer dimensions of life, harmonizing individual and communal orientations, and bridging knowledge (‘ilm) with embodied practice (‘amal). Consequently, regular participation contributes to measurable improvements in spiritual, psychological, moral, and social well-being.