Ibn Abbas

ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbbās was a central figure in early Islamic history. He was a cousin of the prophet Muhammad. He is widely considered the greatest mufassir of the Qur'an. A mufassir is an expert who provides interpretation or exegesis of the holy text. His life spanned the formative years of the early Islamic community. Born around 619 CE, he belonged to the Banu Hashim lineage. This meant he shared a direct connection to Muhammad through their grandfather, ʿAbd al-Muttalib.

His early life was shaped by his close relationship with Muhammad. His father, Al-ʿAbbās ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib, was a wealthy merchant. His mother, Umm al-Fadl Lubaba, was a close friend of Khadijah bint Khuwaylid. Traditionally, she is seen as the second woman to convert to Islam. As a child, Ibn ʿAbbās performed various services for Muhammad. He would fetch water for ablution, which is the ritual washing performed before prayer. Muhammad reportedly prayed for him to attain religious discernment and knowledge of the Book. This early immersion helped him memorize and learn many teachings.

After the death of Muhammad, Ibn ʿAbbās became a dedicated scholar. He developed a rigorous methodology for collecting and verifying the Hadith. Hadith are the recorded traditions and sayings of the prophet. He would often consult as many as thirty different companions to verify a single matter. He believed that knowledge must be actively sought rather than passively received. Once, he waited outside a scholar's door in the afternoon heat. He allowed the dust to blow over him to avoid disturbing the teacher. This level of dedication earned him great respect among the senior Sahaba, or companions.

His intellectual reputation led to significant influence during the Rashidun Caliphate. The second caliph, Umar, frequently invited him to sit with the veterans of the Battle of Badr. Some elders objected to including a youth in such high councils. However, Umar defended him by citing his religious status and wisdom. Ibn ʿAbbās demonstrated his deep understanding of the Qur'an during these sessions. For example, he interpreted Surah an-Nasr as a sign of Muhammad's approaching death. Umar publicly endorsed this specific interpretation. This helped establish Ibn ʿAbbās as a leading authority in religious matters.

In Medina, his home functioned much like a modern university. He organized his teaching through a highly structured system. He dedicated specific days to different academic subjects. These subjects included Tafsir, which is the interpretation of the text, and Fiqh, or jurisprudence. He also taught poetry, military expeditions, and inheritance laws. His classes were so large that crowds would block the roads. To manage the volume, he admitted students in shifts. He would teach one group the pronunciation of the Qur'an before clearing the house for the next subject.

Ibn ʿAbbās also participated in the political and military life of the era. During the caliphate of Uthman, he joined an expedition to North Africa in 647 CE. This campaign was led by Abd Allah ibn Sa'd and included the Battle of Sufetula. Later, during the First Fitna, he supported his cousin Ali. Ali appointed him as the governor of Basra following the Battle of the Camel. He also played a vital role in debating the Kharijites. This group had broken away from Ali's army due to disagreements. Ibn ʿAbbās used his knowledge of the Qur'an to convince 20,000 of the 24,000 Kharijites to return to Ali.

His family lineage had a lasting impact on Islamic political history. He had seven children with his wife, the Yemenite princess Zahra bint Mishrah. One of his sons was Ali ibn Abdullah. Ali was the grandfather of the first two Abbasid caliphs. These caliphs eventually replaced the Umayyads as rulers of the Caliphate in 750 CE. Ibn ʿAbbās himself lived through the transition to the Umayyad Caliphate. He moved to At-Ta'if later in life. He is believed to have passed away there around 687 or 688 CE. His scholarly work remains influential, as the 1924 Cairo edition of the Qur'an uses a chapter order he helped establish.