© 1979 by American Academy of Religion
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Al-Ghazzälï, Maimonides, and Ibn Paquda on Repentance: A Comparative Model
This paper shows the striking affinity between the spokesmen of both Judaism and Islam, within the medieval "Arabic" milieu, in their understanding of the nature of both man and the world. This correspondence is exemplified by the teachings of three major religious personalities, Maimonides (b. 1135) and Ibn Paquda (eleventh and twelfth centuries) from within the Jewish tradition, and al-Ghazzälï (d. 1111) from within the Islamic tradition, on repentance as a basic spiritual imperative.
The concept of repentance, as taught by these three figures, is systematically outlined. Their views on the nature of man, sin, and repentance are examined together with their perceptions of the process of motivation. The essay then attempts to measure the similarities, in form and substance, in these presentations and to evaluate the possibility of direct influence or borrowing from one tradition to the other. By this means the author is drawn to the conclusion that the parallels are the result of a common perception of the psychological processes inherent in man and a shared world view.