Ibn Hazm al-Andalusi

Abu Muhammad Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Said ibn Hazm al-Andalusi al-Qurtubi (384–456 AH) was a scholar of al-Andalus known for his mastery of Islamic law, theology, and philosophy. A Zahirite (literalist) in fiqh, he wrote al-Muhalla bil-Athar, the most comprehensive encyclopedia of Zahirite jurisprudence. He also wrote al-Fisal fi al-Milal wa-al-Ahwa' wa-al-Nihal (Decisive Views on Religious Sects), a pioneering work of comparative religion. His Tawq al-Hamamah (Ring of the Dove) is a celebrated work on the nature of love. Despite controversy over some of his polemical positions, his scholarship is universally acknowledged. Note: He was distinct from Ibn al-Arabi the Maliki jurist of Seville.