Should Non-Scholars Read the Works of Ibn Hazm, and Who Is Imam Shawkani?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

Who is Muhammad ibn ‘Ali ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah, known as al-Shawkani? Is it advisable for non-scholars to read Ibn Hazm’s books?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.

Ibn Hazm

It is not advisable for non-scholars to read Ibn Hazm’s (Allah have mercy on him) books unless they do so under the supervision of a scholar. Books should always be read under the supervision of scholars. This is important for our understanding of our religion in a proper traditional manner.

A Muslim should always consult his teachers regarding what he reads. If he finds anything complicated in these works, he should return to his teachers and ask them. He should also ask his teachers which books are essential and relative to particular areas.

Imam Shawkani

Imam Shawkani, as he is known, is Muhammad ibn ‘Ali ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah al-Shawkani, who was born in Shawkan, near Khawlan, Yemen, in 1173/1760.

A major scholar in Sacred law and hadith, he was educated in San’a, where he was appointed an Islamic judge in AH. 1229, a position he held throughout his life.

He authored 114 works in hadith, biography, Sacred Law, Quranic exegesis, fundamentals of Islamic jurisprudence, and tenets of faith. However, his greatest work was his eight-volume hadith commentary “Nayl al-Awtar min Asrar Muntaqa al-Akhbar” (The realization of desires from the secrets of selected hadiths). He died in San’a in 1250/1834. [Zirikli, al-A‘lam Qamus Tarajim li Ashhar al-Rijal wa al-Nisa min ‘Arab wa al-Mustarabin wa al-Mustashriqin]

I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. Insha’Allah, you will receive guidance and direction.

Related

• SeekersGuidance Essential Reading List For Every …
• 01- The Art of Reading – Shaykh Ahmed Hussein El Azhary
• The Path of Muhammad: Birgivi’s Manual of Taqwa Explained – YouTube
• The Book Of Wisdoms [Kitab al-Hikam with Ikmal al-Shiyam] – White Thread Press
  Purification of the Heart by Hamza Yusuf

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance? You can choose from the Islamic Studies Curriculum, and progress through each course step by step.

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.