In the Incoherence of the Philosophers, al-Ghazālī (Algazelus, 1056-1111 AD) delivered an influential critique on Avicennan theories of causation (see [3.3.8]). His aim with this critique was to soften the rigid necessitarian theory of Arabic Aristotelians, to make room for God’s miracles described in the Qur’an.

Al-Ghazālī’s theory of causation is presented in the following OntoUML diagram:

Class	Description	Relations
EfficientCause	Efficient cause as explained by Aristotle (see [1.3.12]) or Ibn Sina (see [3.3.8]).	causes Effect
Effect	Effect as explained by Aristotle (see [1.3.12]) or Ibn Sina (see [3.3.8]).
Causation	Causation relates efficient cause with Effect. In Al-Ghazali’s view, the Causation is not necessary, meaning that there are (few) cases when the existence of the Efficient cause does not result in the existence of the Effect.	relates EfficientCause with Effect; characterized by God’sHabit
God’sHabit	“he maintains that causal processes may simply be the result of God’s habit and that He creates what we consider a cause and its effect individually and immediately.”
God	Monoteistic (Abrahamic) God.	has God’sHabit; performs Miracle
Miracle	“When God wishes to perform a miracle and confirm the mission of one of His prophets, he suspends His habit and omits to create the effect He usually does according to His habit.”

Sources

• All citations from: Griffel, Frank, “al-Ghazali”, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2019 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.)
• Richardson, Kara, “Causation in Arabic and Islamic Thought”, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2015 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.)

First published: 12/03/2020