AL-IKHSAN: Interdisciplinary Journal of Islamic Studie
Vol. 4 No. 1 (2026): Development of Contemporary Islamic Studies

Al-Ghazali’s Framework of Occasionalism in Tahafut al-Falasifah as a Critique of Contemporary Relativism

Muhammad Diaz Supandi (Unknown)
Veli Onan (Unknown)
Junita Rahma Diani (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
06 Apr 2026

Abstract

The contemporary intellectual landscape is dominated by postmodern relativism, which, by denying universal truth claims and moral values, creates a metaphysical vacuum that fragments public discourse and undermines the foundations of science, ethics, and religion. This crisis stems from a secular worldview that excludes a transcendent ground for reality. Problem: The central problem is the philosophical inadequacy of relativism and the need for a robust metaphysical foundation for objectivity. This research asks how Al-Ghazali's occasionalism can be formulated as a systematic critique of this relativism.This study employs a qualitative library research design, utilizing analytical, interpretative, and constructive methods. It involves a tripartite analysis: reconstructing Al-Ghazali's occasionalism from Tahafut al-Falasifah, deconstructing the internal contradictions of contemporary relativism, and synthesizing the two to build a coherent critique. The research demonstrates that Al-Ghazali's framework, which rejects necessary causality and posits God as the sole Efficient Cause who sustains reality through consistent habits ('adah), provides a viable metaphysical foundation for objectivity. This directly counters the self-referential paradoxes and moral vacuity of relativism by grounding universal order and truth in a Divine Consciousness. The study concludes that Al-Ghazali's occasionalism serves as a powerful metaphysical antidote to contemporary relativism. Its primary contribution is a novel synthesis that bridges classical Islamic and modern philosophy, positioning Al-Ghazali's thought as a living resource for reclaiming objectivity and escaping the postmodern labyrinth.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

i

Publisher

Subject

Religion Humanities Social Sciences

Description

FOCUS AL-IKHSAN: Interdisciplinary Journal of Islamic Studies is provides scientific articles developed in attending through the article publications, original research report, reviews, and scientific commentaries in Islamic Studies. SCOPE AL-IKHSAN: Interdisciplinary Journal of Islamic Studies ...