Upon its release, The alchemy of happiness allowed Al Ghazzali to considerably reduce the tensions between the scholars and mystics. The alchemy of happiness emphasized the importance of observing the ritual requirements of Islam, the actions that would lead to salvation, and avoidance of sin. The factor that set The alchemy of happiness apart from other theological works at the time was its mystical emphasis on self-discipline and asceticism. Al Ghazzali, had succeeded in gaining widespread acceptance for Sufism, however, he did so at the expense of the philosophers, despite the fact that his goal was to refute them.