Ibn Hazm's Diagnosis of the Human Soul from an Islamic Perspective

Abstract

The question regarding the nature and reality of the human soul has occupied an immeasurable space in the writings of both ancients and moderns, whether they were philosophers or scientists. It goes without saying that all religions, philosophies, and branches of knowledge have demonstrated that the soul is the essence of man. They have provided a diagnosis for the cause of human misery, as well as solutions to lead humans toward happiness and contentment. This is exactly what Abu Muhammad Ibn Hazm aimed for by expressing his views on the soul—a matter that has always occupied human thought. He explored the soul's relationship with the body, its characteristics, and its functions by drawing upon the foundations of Islamic creed and rational philosophical inquiry. This allows us to realize the depth of awareness our past scholars had regarding human psychological life. Ultimately, the goal every human seeks is to be happy and to remove the misery arising from the soul's anxieties—anxieties that must be expelled so the soul may be purified from its troubles and impurities.