IBN HAZM FRAMEWORK OF COMPARATIVE RELIGION BASED ON HIS BOOK AL-FASL FI AL-MILAL WA AL-AHWA WA AL-NIHAL

Abstract

Ibn Hazm was a well-known Islamic scholar and philosopher who lived in the 11th century. The aim of this research is to study the framework of Ibn Hazm in comparative religion based on his book Al-Fasl fi al-Milal wa al-Ahwa wa al-Nihal. It is a qualitative study focusing on Ibn Hazm's framework for the study of comparative religion. The research will use library research and textual analysis to analyze data from Al-Fasl and secondary sources such as books, journal articles, and dissertations. Ibn Hazm's approach to comparative religion is based on ten approaches. First, he emphasizes the value of reading original texts, researching the teachings and history of each religion, and understanding the historical and cultural context in which they emerged. Secondly, Ibn Hazm strives for an objective analysis of the different religions without bringing in his own prejudices or ideas. He believes that Muslim scholars before him lacked objectivity, fairness, completeness and thoroughness, which led him to create a masterpiece in the field of comparative religion. Thirdly, Ibn Hazm makes extensive use of logical reasoning in his comparative study of religions. He assesses the coherence and consistency of the justifications and methods put forward by the various religious traditions. He is factual and fair in his comparative analysis, organizing and gathering narratives that seem dissimilar from one another, then contrasting and analyzing them, emphasizing inconsistencies and contradictions. Lastly, Ibn Hazm integrates logic and revelation, believing that rational inquiry is essential for understanding and evaluating religious beliefs. He uses two methods: proving the truth of the revelation (the Qur’an) using logic and comparing Qur’anic verses with statements in distorted scriptures using logical analysis to identify distortions. Hence, this qualitative study provides valuable insights into Ibn Hazm's systematic approaches to studying comparative religion. Data collected from his masterpiece Al-Fasl fi al-Milal wa al-Ahwa wa al-Nihal and other sources was studied through descriptive and analytical methods.