Ibn Hazm (994–1064 CE), the Andalusian scholar, wrote extensively on Islamic law, theology, and ethics, with surviving works like Al-Muhalla bi’l Athār (jurisprudence), Kitāb al-Fasl fi al-Milal wa al-Ahwa’ wa al-Nihal (comparative religion), and Kitāb al-Akhlāq wa al-Siyar (ethics and conduct). While none of his works are dedicated solely to currency or money, his major surviving texts, particularly Al-Muhalla, address these topics within the context of Islamic fiqh (jurisprudence), as financial transactions, trade, and economic principles are central to Islamic law.
Relevant Surviving Works and Their Coverage of Currency/Money
Al-Muhalla bi’l Athār (The Adorned Treatise)
Content: This is Ibn Hazm’s most comprehensive work on Zahiri fiqh, covering legal rulings on trade, contracts, zakat (obligatory charity), and financial transactions. It includes discussions on:
Currency: Rulings on gold and silver (dinar and dirham), the primary currencies in medieval Islamic economies, including their use in transactions and zakat calculations.
Money in Transactions: Rules for valid sales (bay‘), prohibition of riba (usury/interest), and conditions for currency exchange (sarf), such as exchanging gold for silver at spot rates to avoid usury.
Economic Principles: Discussions on fair pricing, market ethics, and the prohibition of hoarding or debasing currency.
Evidence: Sources note that Al-Muhalla addresses economic transactions extensively, with Ibn Hazm’s Zahiri approach emphasizing literal interpretations of Qur’an and Hadith. For example, he discusses zakat on gold and silver (e.g., 2.5% on savings above the nisab threshold) and critiques practices like speculative trading.
Access:
Arabic: 12-volume edition (ISBN 9782745166487) available at kitaabun.com or Dar al-Kotob al-Ilmiyah.
Digital: Partial sections may be on Waqfeya Library or academia.edu.
English: Limited translations; key sections on finance may be summarized in academic studies like Economic Concepts in Islam (available on Amazon).
Kitāb al-Fasl fi al-Milal wa al-Ahwa’ wa al-Nihal
Content: Primarily a theological and polemical work, it critiques other religions and sects. While not focused on economics, it indirectly references money in discussions of Christian monasticism and Jewish trade practices, critiquing perceived economic excesses or deviations from monotheistic principles.
Evidence: The work’s critique of societal practices occasionally touches on wealth and commerce, but currency is not a primary focus. For example, Ibn Hazm may reference wealth distribution in religious communities.
Access:
Arabic: Free PDF on Waqfeya Library or Internet Archive.
English: Partial studies like Muslim Understanding of Other Religions by Ghulām Haider Aasi (Amazon).
Note: Less relevant for currency-specific content compared to Al-Muhalla.
Kitāb al-Akhlāq wa al-Siyar (Book of Ethics and Conduct)
Content: Focuses on personal and social ethics, including advice on managing wealth, avoiding greed, and conducting fair trade. Ibn Hazm emphasizes ethical handling of money, such as honesty in transactions and moderation in wealth accumulation.
Evidence: The text includes maxims on financial dealings, reflecting Islamic principles of economic justice, though it lacks detailed legal rulings on currency compared to Al-Muhalla.
Access:
Arabic: Available through publishers like Dar Ibn Hazm.
English: Translated as In Pursuit of Virtue (ISBN 9781842001141, available on Amazon).
Digital: Some sections on academia.edu or Islamic digital libraries.
Key Points on Currency/Money in Ibn Hazm’s Works
Focus: Ibn Hazm’s discussions of currency are primarily in Al-Muhalla, where he addresses gold and silver coins (dinar and dirham) as legal tender, their role in zakat, and rules for exchange to prevent riba. He follows the Zahiri school’s strict reliance on textual sources, rejecting analogical reasoning (qiyas) in economic rulings.
Context: His writings reflect the 11th-century Andalusian economy, where gold and silver were standard, and trade with Christian and Jewish communities was common. He emphasizes adherence to sharia in financial matters.
Limitations: Ibn Hazm does not provide a systematic treatise on economics or currency theory. His references to money are embedded in legal or ethical discussions, not as standalone analyses.
Options for Reading
Primary Recommendation: Start with Al-Muhalla bi’l Athār for the most detailed treatment of currency and money-related rulings.
How: Purchase the Arabic edition from kitaabun.com or check digital libraries like archive.org. For English, seek academic summaries or translations of financial sections via university libraries.
Secondary Option: Read Kitāb al-Akhlāq wa al-Siyar for ethical perspectives on money.
How: Get the English translation (In Pursuit of Virtue) on Amazon or Arabic text from Dar Ibn Hazm.
Supplementary: Skim Kitāb al-Fasl for minor references to wealth, but prioritize it only if interested in broader theological critiques.
How: Download Arabic PDF from Waqfeya Library or Internet Archive.
Challenges
Language: Most detailed discussions are in Arabic, with Al-Muhalla having limited English translations.
Accessibility: Full texts may require purchase or academic access for rare editions.
Specificity: No surviving work is exclusively about currency; you’ll need to navigate broader legal or ethical discussions.