Why so much critique of the ibn Ezra?

Question

Throughout Chumash, the Ramba"n goes after the ibn Ezra. The Ramba"n says in his introduction to the Chumash that his attitude toward the ibn Ezra is "תוכחה גלויה ואהבה מסותרת". In the introduction to the Yam Shel Shlomo, the Maharsha"l excoriates the Ramba"m for respecting the ibn Ezra, saying about the ibn Ezra: "לא היה בעל תלמודו".

Is there an authoritative text that identifies why the ibn Ezra receives all this flak? Was he considered a relative עם הארץ who wrote his perush based on his poetry rather than a mesorah or Chaza"l?

Answer 1

Here is a source stating that, at some point in the Ibn Ezra's life, not everyone appreciated/acknowledged his scholarship.

This is the relevant part that is nestled in the source mentioned above.

בשנת ד'תתק"ד (1145) שהה רבי אברהם אבן עזרא ברומא שבאיטליה. מהעיר רומא נדד לעיר סלרנו, שם הייתה קהילה יהודית גדולה. רבי אבן עזרא לא התקבל בכבוד אצל יהודי סלרנו, שלא העריכו את ידיעתו בתנ"ך ובמדעים, ובאותו זמן קיבלו אדם אחר בכבוד גדול. רק עשיר אחד, בשם אליקים, תמך בו כלכלית. הוא העריך מאוד את אליקים וכתב עליו תשבחות רבות בשל היחס שהעניק לו. רבי אברהם אבן עזרא התרעם מאוד על יחסם של יהודי סלרנו, וכתב שבגלל כך לא יכתוב ספרים ולא יפרסם דברי חוכמה בעירם

Answer 2

The Chida in Shem HaGodolim discuss the Ibn Ezra in general. He also mentions those who criticize his commentary on Chumash as well as others who question it's authenticity.

The Chida is not critical of the Ibn Ezra himself. He has tremendous respect for him. He does however come to the conclusion that those who say that some of the Ibn Ezra's commentary that we have today was written by students of his who weren't very learned are correct.He brings places it is mentioned in the later Rishonim and points out that based on those comments they could not have had the same Ibn Ezra we do.

His final conclusion is that the Ibn Ezra's commentary that we have today can not be relied on for anything that contradicts other Rabbinic sources.