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donald thinks the name should be spelt Ghaszali and has given his arguments in a special essay. 1 This spelling is given by Ibn Khallikan in his biographical dictionary (d. A. D. 1282). But ap parently, according to the authority of As-Sam ani, the name is derived from Ghazala, a village near Tus, and is not a professional noun, such as are common among patronymics. Abu Sa d Abd al Karim As-Sam ani was born only two years after Al-Ghazali’s death, and wrote a famous book of patronymics in eight volumes. He was, therefore, an expert in names and genealogies, and we may well accept his authority for the spelling of the name of the great imam, who was his own coun tryman. The sheikhs of the Azhar University in Cairo all follow this authority and write Al Ghazali. 2

1 Referred to in his " Life of Al-Ghazzali ."

2 Ibn Khallikan (Vol. I, p. 29, Cairo, 1310) leaves little doubt that Sama ani spells it with one " z," Ghasali. So also is the spelling of German Orientalists including Brock elmann. He writes (Vol. I, p. 419) "So, als Nisbe zu Gazala, einem kleinen Orte bei Tus, nach dem atisdrucklichen Zeugnis des Sam anis, jenes ausgezeichneten Kenners iranischer Namen, (s. o. p. 330) b. j. Hall, nr. 37; die von Gosche i, I, nr. 3 auf Grund spater, persischer Quellen verteidigte Schreibung Gazzali verdankt offenbar einer Volksetymologie ihr Dasein in Anlehnung an die nach al Sam ani in Hwarizm gebrauchlichen Nisben, wie al Qassari fiir al Qassar. Sujuti den Gosche citiert bestatigt keines wegs seine auffassung, sondern gibt seine Qtielle als Sam ani genau wieder." Clement Huart (" History of Arabic Litera ture," p. 265) gives the preference to Ghasali; so do the