The possibility of talking about god in İbn Hazm

In the controversial areas of philosophy of religion, religious language, also referred to as speaking about God, holds a significant place. In the context of religious language, topics such as God's existence, attributes, relationship with humanity, and essence are discussed. Additionally, the religious discourse and expressions attributed to God, and the evaluations of their meaningfulness, are important aspects of religious language. The possibility of speaking about God has been a subject of intense debate in both Western philosophical thought and Islamic thought, particularly in the field of kalam. Various theological schools such as Mu'tazila, Mujassima, Dehris, and Mushabbiha, among others, have contributed to these discussions with their differing views on the topic. Ibn Hazm, who follows the Zahirite perspective, also indirectly contributes to the discussions on divine attributes and God's existence. While critiquing the views of various theological schools with rational and transmitted evidence, he emphasizes that speaking about God can be done in a way that is consistent with divine transcendence. His argument is based on scriptural texts and logical principles. In this study, we will evaluate Ibn Hazm's approach to discussions of religious language and compare his view that speaking about God can only be done in a transcendental manner with contemporary debates on religious language. We will delve into Ibn Hazm's unique approach to transcendental religious language and his distinctive methodology, as we believe this will offer a new perspective on discussions of religious language. Before presenting key points related to this issue, we will examine his views on divine attributes and the existence of God in Islamic kalam and evaluate the Zahirite method he adopts in understanding and interpreting religious texts. Our study will focus on the views presented in Western philosophical thought and Islamic kalam regarding discussions of religious language and will highlight Ibn Hazm's stance on the relevant topic.