IBN HAZM
an Andalusian-Arab philosopher, historian, jurist and theologian born in Córdoba,
present-day Spain, who lived AD 994-1064 / AH 384-456.
For further general biographical information, see e.g. these articles
(1,
2).
Ibn Hazm was a prolific writer on many issues. He also wrote on/against
the Bible and the Christian faith. He was one of the first Muslims to
develop the theory of Bible corruption as working hypothesis for his
attacks on the Bible, see the articles in the section,
What the Qur'an
says about the Bible.
Ibn Hazm's arguments against the Bible are still used by various
Muslim polemicists today. For example,
- Regarding the unchangeability of God:
Ibn Hazm's teachings on
- apostasy,
"Any of the infidels who said, ‘There is no God but God,
and Muhammad is the apostle of God’, he became a Muslim
obligated to Islamic laws. If he rejected that later on,
he would be subject to death. But if he was one of the
people of the Book (namely, from the Jews or Christians),
in order to become a Muslim, he must say, ‘I have embraced
Islam.’ Then he becomes a Muslim obligated to the Islamic
laws. If he rejected them, he would be killed."
(Ibn Hazm, "The Sweetened" (Al-Muhalla),
vol. 4, p. 316)
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