The problem of evil in the context of cause-effect relationship Tthe example of Ghazali-Ibn Rushd)

This study aims to systematically examine the theories of causality in two influential philosophers of Islamic thought, Al-Ghazālī and Ibn Rushd, and how their respective approaches reflect on the problem of evil. The first section explores the epistemological and ontological foundations of the principle of causality, a central topic in the history of philosophy. Subsequently, it analyzes Al-Ghazālī's critique of the Aristotelian understanding of causality, followed by Ibn Rushd's defense of Aristotelian causality in response to these criticisms, conducting a comparative assessment of their positions. In this context, Al-Ghazālī rejects the notion of an a priori causal necessity in nature, arguing instead that cause-effect relationships are contingent upon divine will and continuous creation. In contrast, Ibn Rushd maintains that causality can be empirically and rationally justified, asserting that natural order possesses an inherent necessity. The second section addresses the problem of evil within the framework of philosophical and theological debates. By examining the arguments concerning the nature and origin of evil, the study comparatively analyzes Al-Ghazālī's theodicy—which defines evil as ʿadam (non-existence) and emphasizes divine omnipotence—and Ibn Rushd's teleological approach, which interprets evil as an inevitable component of the cosmological order. Both thinkers develop theories reconciling divine justice and wisdom with the existence of evil, thereby illuminating the relationship between existence, causality, and ethics. This study seeks to investigate the connection between causality and the problem of evil on ontological and theological levels, revealing key points of tension in Islamic philosophy concerning the God-world-human triad. The analysis of Al-Ghazālī's and Ibn Rushd's philosophical systems not only provides a reevaluation of a classical debate but also offers new perspectives for contemporary discussions in metaphysics and theodicy.