Miracle and causality in Islamic philosophers

This thesis examined miracle and causality according to Islamic philosophers. In doing so, however, it was impossible to refer to the views of all the Islamic philosophers in this study due to its limited space. Instead, the thesis solely explored the views of miracle and causality of the most important meşşai (peripatetizm) philosophers such as al-Kindi, al-Farabi, Ibn Sina (Avicenna), al-Ghazali and Ibn Ruşhd. The study focused on the criticism of al-Ghazali against philosophers, as well as Ibn Ruşhd's criticism against al-Ghazali. The subjects of miracle and causality are significant because they enable us to properly understand life, along with the condition of human beings in the face of individual's free-will and of God's willpower. Besides, without being aware of this issue, it is not possible to realise the claims of a person who declares himself a prophet. Besides, thesis also had a look at how philosophers came to terms with determinism and the image of the interfering God. Also, it examined how philosophers solved the confusion of miracle by means of causality. While doing research on the subject, thesis compared the views of al-Ghazali, Ibn Ruşhd, and other philosophers. In this respect, al-Ghazali's work Tahafut al- Falasife and Ibn Ruşhd's work Tahafut al- Tahafut were closely examined. At the same time thesis also discussed at times the views of national and international philosophers on the issue. Finally, thesis debated the views of those theologians who have seen miracle as one of evidences of prophethood, as well as that of those theologians who have considered miracle in a different way. Keywords: Miracle, Causality, al-Kindî, al-Farabi, Ibn Sina, al-Ghazali, Ibn Ruşhd.