Freedom and Responsibility in Classical Islamic Philosophy: A Study of Al-Ghazali and Ibn Sina

The problem of freedom and responsibility occupies a central place in classical Islamic philosophy due to its profound metaphysical and theological implications. This article examines the perspectives of two major thinkers, Ibn Sina (Avicenna) and Al-Ghazali, on human agency, determinism, and moral accountability. While Ibn Sina develops a rationalist framework grounded in metaphysical necessity and intellectual deliberation, Al-Ghazali proposes a theological model that emphasizes divine omnipotence while preserving human responsibility through the doctrine of kasb. By employing a comparative and analytical methodology, this study argues that both thinkers offer forms of compatibilism, reconciling human responsibility with divine causation. Their approaches not only shaped classical Islamic thought but also remain relevant to contemporary debates on free will, ethics, and responsibility.