Al-Ghazali's understanding of justice and its implications for modern legal systems

This thesis explores the notion that justice cannot be reduced solely to codified legal norms; rather, it must be understood in conjunction with conscience, moral responsibility, and inner maturity. Within this framework, a comparative analysis is conducted between the current legal structure and al-Ghazālī's conception of justice. Al-Ghazālī's ethical recommendations —including those concerning the cultivation of virtue and his warnings addressed to rulers— are reconsidered in the context of the structural challenges faced by contemporary legal systems. The study first examines the philosophical foundations of concepts such as the human being, the soul, and morality. It then evaluates how justice is established within the Turkish legal system in light of constitutional principles and judicial decisions. Al-Ghazālī's morality-based conception of justice provides a critical and valuable perspective on the human dimension that is often overlooked in legal processes. Ultimately, the study emphasizes that justice is not merely a matter of rules, but a value arising from the conscience and moral competence of the decision-maker. It argues that al- Ghazālī's thought can offer meaningful contributions to contemporary legal understanding through ethical concepts such as conscience, empathy, and wisdom.