Abstract

Religious scholars have long discussed about the nature of miracle and its relevant issues. Since miracle is an unusual event but natural events are meaningful and end-oriented, it has caused different views about its definition, became a subject of study for thinkers, especially theologians, and attracted their attention to the reality of miracle and how it happens. Therefore, it can be said that miracle is the most important and authentic supernatural thing whose occurrence is approved by valid historical narratives. In recent decades and following Hume’s skeptical view about miracle, however, Muslim and western thinkers have studied and deliberated on miracle to defend their religious beliefs. Among western thinkers, Swinburne has tried to provide a specific definition of miracle and discussed the rationality of believing in miracle in the intellectual system of Christianity by relying on the views of predecessors of western tradition such as Thomas Aquinas; and among Muslim thinkers, Allamah Tabatabaii has provided a precise definition of miracle and discussed its compatibility with causality.