Hamza ibn Ali ibn Ahmad

Hamza ibn Ali ibn Ahmad was a Persian Koranic scholar and the founder of the Druze faith, known for his radical interpretations of Islamic teachings. Living in the early 11th century, he taught that the Koran should be understood allegorically rather than literally, which led to his condemnation as a heretic by mainstream Muslims. His writings laid the foundation for Druze religious doctrine, and he was executed in 1021 for his beliefs, yet he gained a significant following among his students.