Ma`rifat Adyan

“Ibn Ḥazm’s work, Al-Faṣl fī al-Milal wa al-Ahwāʾ wa al-Niḥal (The Book on Sects, Desires, and Creeds), has made a significant contribution to the Islamic heritage and the formation of Religious Studies (‘Ilm al-Adyān) due to its critical and comprehensive methodology. One of the fundamental questions pertains to the extent of his methodological influence by philosophical sources and how this influence is reflected in confronting the challenges of contemporary religious scholarship. This research aims to determine the degree and manner of the impact of philosophical sources on the argumentative structure and theological critique employed by Ibn Ḥazm in Al-Faṣl. Furthermore, it seeks to evaluate the capabilities of this ancient legacy in responding to the epistemic challenges facing Religious Studies in the contemporary era. The current study employs a qualitative content analysis method with a historical-comparative approach. Initially, the philosophical and theological foundations utilized in Al-Faṣl are identified, and subsequently, the book’s main arguments regarding the critique of religions are analyzed and evaluated under the lens of these philosophical premises. The findings indicate that Ibn Ḥazm fundamentally utilized principles of logic, yet framed them within the context of Islamic textual literalism (ẓawāhir naqlī). This synthetic approach enabled him to launch profound critiques against sects and religions. From this perspective, the legacy of Al-Faṣl provides an early model for critical religious scholarship that can be instrumental in how new religious studies approaches different faiths, especially in distinguishing between foundations, principles, and methodologies.”