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Q: Praise be to Allah, I read a book entitled (Part No. 12; Page No. 223) Al-Muhalla by Imam Abu Muhammad `Aly ibn Ahmad ibn Hazm Al-Andalusy. He frequently mentioned a man called `Aly. At first I thought that he was referring to Imam `Aly ibn Abu Talib. However, as I read further in the book, I found that it could not be Imam `Aly ibn Abu Talib. I tried to figure out who that person was that was referred to by Ibn Hazm, but I could not. Please clarify who the person referred to by Ibn Hazm is and give us detailed information about him, so that we may be well-informed. May Allah guide and support you.

A: `Aly that you are asking about is the author, Abu Muhammad `Aly ibn Ahmad ibn Sa`id ibn Hazm Al-Andalusy, who died in the year 456 A.H. He is one of the eminent scholars in the roots and branches of religion, in the Qur'an and the Sunnah. However, he contradicted the Jumhur (dominant majority of scholars) in many issues in which he committed mistakes, out of insistence on the literal meanings of the text, not making proper Qiyas (analogy) according to its preconditions, and what is even more dangerous are the mistakes he committed in `Aqidah (creed) by the Ta'wil (allegorical interpretation) of the Names and Attributes of Allah.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.