Rasail Ibn Hazm

Rasail Ibn Hazm (Treatises of Ibn Hazm) is a modern four-volume compilation of shorter works, epistles, and polemical tracts by the Andalusian Zahiri jurist, theologian, and scholar Abu Muhammad Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Hazm (384–456 AH / 994–1064 CE) Rasail Ibn Hazm+1.

Background and Compilation

Ibn Hazm composed a vast corpus of shorter treatises spanning ethics, psychology, literature, theology, polemics, logic, and history Rasail Ibn Hazm+1. Although earlier collections and individual treatises had appeared in print—such as early Cairo publications in 1954 and 1960 under titles including al-Radd 'ala Ibn al-Naghrilah wa Rasa'il Ukhra—the definitive four-volume scholarly edition was compiled and edited by Dr. Ihsan Abbas al-Irab an al-Hayra wa al…+1. It was published in Beirut by al-Mu'assasah al-Arabiyyah li al-Dirasat wa al-Nashr between 1980 and 1983, with a second edition appearing in 1987 al-Ihata fi Akhbar Gharna…+1. In preparing the edition, Abbas drew extensively on manuscript collections, particularly MS Şehid Ali Paşa No. 2704 in Istanbul, and received research assistance from scholars including Mahir Zuhayr Jarrar, Rashad Bibi, Mahir al-Kayyali, and Dr. Abd al-Majid Abidin Ibn Hazm wa Mawqifuhu min…+1.

Structure and Contents

The collection brings together Ibn Hazm's surviving minor works, arranged into thematic groups across four volumes:

• Volume 1 (First Group): Gathers four introspective and personal treatises that reflect Ibn Hazm's psychology and moral philosophy Rasail Ibn Hazm+1:

  • Tawq al-Hamamah fi al-Ulfah wa al-Ilaf (The Ring of the Dove), his renowned study on the psychology, causes, and states of love and lovers Rasail Ibn Hazm+1.
  • Mudawat al-Nufus (The Healing of Souls), a collection of aphorisms and practical ethics derived from his personal life experiences Rasail Ibn Hazm+1.
  • Risalah fi al-Ghina' al-Mulhi a-Mubahun Huwa am Mahzur, an analysis defending the permissibility of musical entertainment and critiquing the authenticity of prohibition hadiths Rasail Ibn Hazm+1.
  • Risalah fi Ma'rifat al-Nafs bi-Ghayriha wa Jahliha bi-Dhatiha, an introspective dialogue on the soul's awareness Rasail Ibn Hazm+1.

• Volumes 2–4: Contain Ibn Hazm's historical, apologetic, theological, and methodological treatises:

  • Historical and Biographical Works: Includes Nuqat al-'Arus fi Tawarikh al-Khulafa' (also known as Nuqat al-'Arus fi Nawadir al-Akhbar), a concise compendium of historical anecdotes and caliphate trivia Siyar Aalam al-Nubala+1; Risalah fi Fadl al-Andalus wa Dhikr Rijaliha, celebrating Andalusian intellectual heritage al-Irab an al-Hayra wa al…+1; Dhikr Awqat al-Umara' bi al-Andalus; and Dhikr Awqat al-Hukkam min Bani Isra'il Mujam Tarikh al-Turath al….
  • Theological and Polemical Treatises: Includes al-Radd 'ala Ibn al-Naghrilah al-Yahudi, refuting the anti-Quranic claims of the Jewish vizier Abu al-Husayn Yusuf ibn Ismail ibn al-Naghrilah in Granada al-Irab an al-Hayra wa al…+1; al-Radd 'ala al-Hatif min Bu'd al-Irab an al-Hayra wa al…+1; Hukm man Qala inna Arwah Ahl al-Shaqa' Mu'adhdhabah ila Yawm al-Din al-Irab an al-Hayra wa al…+1; al-Talkhis li-Wujuh al-Takhilis al-Irab an al-Hayra wa al…+1; al-Tawqif 'ala Shari' al-Najat al-Irab an al-Hayra wa al…; and Risalatani Su'ila Fihima Su'al Ta'nif al-Irab an al-Hayra wa al…+1.
  • Classification of Knowledge and Logic: Features Risalah fi Maratib al-Ulum, outlining his division and hierarchy of religious and rational sciences al-Mushawwiq ila al-Qiraa…+1; al-Radd 'ala al-Kindi al-Faylasuf Rasail Ibn Hazm+1; and Tafsir Alfaz Tajri bayna al-Mutakallimin fi al-Usul, a terminological glossary extracted from his work al-Nubadh al-Kafiyah Rasail Ibn Hazm.