Ahl al-Hadith
Nonetheless, the book's "severe" criticism of what Al-Ghazali believed to be the "literalism, and anti-interpretive approach to Islamic texts" of the "Ahl al-Hadith" (partisans of hadith) prompted sharp attacks from Islamists even more conservative than Al-Ghazali. "Several major conferences ... in Egypt and Saudi Arabia" criticizing the book, long articles in response in the Saudi-owned London-based newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, and assorted writings of others condemning al-Ghazali and questioning "his motives and competence." According to one of his students — Khaled Abou El Fadl — Al-Ghazali was stunned and disheartened by what he thought was a smear campaign against him and by the silence of his old students.