Encyclopedia of Islam

Ibn Hazm, Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Said

  

331  J

---

cutting criticisms against s

hiism

 and other Islamic 

sects and theological schools. Scholars credit Ibn 

Hazm with being informed about the doctrines 

he attacked, but they also recognize that he was 

adamant about the ultimate truth of his own 

beliefs, particularly the absolute unity of God and 

the authenticity of the Quran as the word of God. 

Another of his famous works is Tawq al-hamama 

(Neck-ring of the dove), a fascinating essay on 

Andalusian Arab understandings of love, enriched 

by colorful anecdotes drawn from his personal 

experiences and those of his acquaintances. It 

began with discussions of how couples fall in 

love and communicate with each other and then 

their unions, separations, and betrayals. The reli-

gious message Ibn Hazm sought to convey to his 

readers in this work was that people must try to 

overcome the carnal appetites of their bodies and 

follow God-given reason and religious law to win 

salvation.

See also 

adab

;  a

rabic

 

langUage

 

and

 

litera

-

tUre

; 

theology

.