•The
conflicting social and political trends showed in divergent
patterns of religious development.
•Sufis
developed vibrant mysticism, but ulama (religious
scholars) became more conservative and suspicious of non-Muslim
influences and scientific thought.
•They
were suspicious of Greek rationalism and insisted that the Quran was
the all-embracing source of knowledge.
•The
great theologian al-Ghazali struggled to fuse Greek and Quranic traditions,
but often was opposed by orthodox scholars.