Abstract:

Ibn Hazm, all-round scholar who properly represents his time in terms of Andalusian/Muslim culture, is pioneering figure in the history of religions. He made a famous name with his book al-Fasl. Ibn Hazm represents the mainstream Muslim thought on the history of religions and stands as the founder of Biblical criticism and comparative study of religions. His most distinctive feature was his biblical criticism, which thereafter was going to constitute a tradition. Having certain principles, he was ages ahead of western biblical critics in focusing this subject-matter from various angles. Using decisive and scriptural proofs, he discussed the credibility and uninterrupted transmission of Jewish and Christian scriptures, and revealed the contradictions and inconsistencies found in them. He was disputative, critical and analytical in the study of religions, so he followed a dialectical-dialogical method. He studied the other religions in terms of their relations to or difference from Islam, which he considered the sole truth, without considering their historical development or geographical locations. He employed all the information he collected or inherited in accordance with the theological aim, so he appeared to use an excessive and outrageous language.

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