`Abd Allah ibn `Abbas
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| Arab scholar Medieval era |
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|---|---|
| Name: | `Abd Allah ibn `Abbas |
| Birth: | 3 BH (618-619 CE) [1] |
| Death: | 68 AH (687–688 CE) [2] |
| School/tradition: | Qur'an and Sunnah [1] |
| Influences: | Muhammad [1] Ali [citation needed] |
| Influenced: | Umar [1] Sa'id ibn Jubayr [citation needed] Atiyya ibn Sa'd [citation needed] Ata ibn Abi Rabah[3] Wahb ibn Munabbih [4] Tawus ibn Kaysan [5] Al-Rabi ibn Khuthaym [6] Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr[7] Ali bin Abu Talha [citation needed] |
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Part of a series on the |
| 1st millennium AH |
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| 2nd millennium AH |
Abd-Allah ibn Abbas (Arabic: عبد الله ابن عباس ) was a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad. He is revered by Shi'a and Sunnis alike for his knowledge. He had memorized the Qur'an [citation needed] and was an expert in its exegesis, as well as an authority on the Sunnah of Muhammad due to his zeal in acquiring new knowledge.
[edit] Biography
[edit] Family
He was the son of a wealthy merchant named `Abbas ibn `Abd al-Muttalib, thus he was called "Ibn Abbas", "the son of Abbas". The mother of Ibn Abbas was Umm al-Fadl Lubaba, who merited herself with being the second woman who converted to Islam, doing so the same day as her close friend Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, Muhammad's wife [8].
The father of Ibn Abbas and the father of Muhammad were both the sons of the same person, Shaiba ibn Hashim, better known as ‘Abdu’l-Muṭṭalib. That persons father was Hashim ibn Abd Manaf, the progenitor of the Banu Hashim clan of the distinguished Quraish tribe in Mecca. Ibn Abbas also had a brother named Fadl ibn Abbas [citation needed].
[edit] 610 – 632: Muhammad's era
Ibn Abbas was born in 3 BH (618-619 CE) and his mother took him to Muhammad before he had began to suckle. Muhammad put some of his saliva on the newborn's tongue, and that was the beginning of the close relationship between those two [1].
While growing up, he was constantly by Muhammad's side doing different services like fetching water for a partial ablution (Arabic: wudu). He would pray (Arabic: salat) with Muhmmad and follow him on his assemblies, journeys and expeditions. Muhammad would often draw him close, pat him on the shoulder and pray, "O God! Teach him (the knowledge of) the Book " [9], and Ibn Abbas devoted his life to the pursuit of learning and knowledge. Ibn Abbas keept following Muhammad, memorizing and learning his teaching [1].
[edit] Muhammad's statement
On 10 AH (631–632 CE), Muhammad fell into his last illness. During this period, the Hadith of the pen and paper was reported, with Ibn Abbas as the first level narrator, at that time being ten to fifteen years old [10]. Ibn Abbas used to say, "No doubt, it was a great disaster that God's Apostle was prevented from writing for them that writing because of their differences and noise." [11]. Days after that, Ibn Abbas and Ali supported Muhammad's weight on their shoulder, as Muhammad was to weak to walk around on his own accord [12].
[edit] 632 – 634: Abu Bakr's era
[edit] Succession to Muhammad
During the succession, Ibn Abbas [13], together with Ali, Zubayr ibn al-Awwam and several others, were among those who refused to give allegiance to Abu Bakr [14].
[edit] Inheritance from Muhammad
After Abu Bakr came into power, Ibn Abbas and his father were among them who unsuccessfully requested their part of Muhammad's inheritance, since Abu Bakr said that he heard Muhammad say that prophets do not leave inheritance.
[edit] Continued education
After Muhammad's era, he continued to collect and learn Muhammad's teaching from Muhammad's companions (Arabic: Sahaba), specialy those who knew him the longest. He would consult multiple Sahaba to confirm narrations, and would go to as many as thirty Companions to verify a single matter [1]. Once he heard that a Sahaba knew a hadith unknown to him.
A narration attributed to `Abd Allah ibn `Abbas reports:
| ...I went to him during the time of the afternoon siesta and spread my cloak in front of his door. The wind blew dust on me (as I sat waiting for him). If I wished I could have sought his permission to enter and he would certainly have given me permission. But I preferred to wait on him so that he could be completely refreshed. Coming out of his house and seeing me in that condition he said, 'O cousin of the Prophet! What's the matter with you? If you had sent for me I would have come to you.' 'I am the one who should come to you, for knowledge is sought, it does not just come,' I said. I asked him about the hadith and learnt from him.[1] |
Ibn Abbas was not content just to accumulate knowledge, but due to a sense of duty to the ummah, he educated those in search of knowledge and the general masses of his community. He turned to teaching and his house became the equivalent of a university in the full sense of the word, with specialized teaching and with him as the only teacher [1].
One of his companions described a typical scene in front of his house:
| I saw people converging on the roads leading to his house until there was hardly any room in front of his house. I went in and told him about the crowds of people at his door and he said: 'Get me water for wudu.'
He performed wudu and, seating himself, said: 'Go out and say to them: Whoever wants to ask about the Quran and its letters (pronunciation) let him enter.' This I did and people entered until the house was filled. Whatever he was asked, Abdullah was able to elucidate and even provide additional information to what was asked. Then (to his students) he said: 'Make way for your brothers.' Then to me he said: 'Go out and say: Who wants to ask about the Quran and its interpretation, let him enter'. Again the house was filled and Abdullah elucidated and provided more information than what was requested. [1] |
He held classes on one single subject each day, classes on issues such as tafsir, fiqh, halal and Haraam, ghazawa, poetry, Arab history before Islam, inheritance laws, Arabic language and etymology. [1]
[edit] 634 – 644: Umar's era
[edit] Inheritance
At the beginning of Umar's reign as Caliph, Ibn Abbas and Ali went to Umar to renew their claim on Muhammad's inheritance now that Abu Bakr was dead. Umar refused.
[edit] Advising Umar
Umar often sought the advice Ibn Abbas on important matters of state and described him as a "young man of maturity" [1]:
A narration attributed to `Abd Allah ibn `Abbas reports:
| Umar used to make me sit with the elderly men who had fought in the battle of Badr. Some of them (Abd-al-Rahman ibn Awf [15]) felt it (did not like that) and said to Umar: "Why do you bring in this boy to sit with us, while we have sons like him?"
Umar replied "Because of what you know of his position" (i.e. his religious knowledge). One day Umar called me and made me sit in the gathering of those people, and I think that he called me just to show them (my religious knowledge). 'Umar then asked them in my presence: 'What do you say about the interpretation of the statement of Allah'. When comes help of God, and the conquest... Some of them said: "We are ordered to praise God and ask for His forgiveness, when God's help and the conquest comes to us". Some others kept quiet and did not say anything. On that Umar asked me: "Do you say the same, O Ibn Abbas?" I replied: "No". He said: "What do you say then?" I replied: "That is the sign of the death of God's apostle which God informed him of. God said: (O Muhammad) when comes the help of God (to you against your enemies) and the conquest (which is the sign of your death) - you should celebrate the praises of your Lord and ask for His forgiveness, and He is the One who accepts the repentance and forgives". On that Umar said: "I do not know anything about it other than what you have said". |
The Sahaba Sa`ad ibn Abi Waqqas said:
| I have never seen someone who was quicker in understanding, who had more knowledge and greater wisdom than Ibn Abbas. I have seen Umar summon him to discuss difficult problems in the presence of veterans of Badr from among the Muhajirin and Ansar. Ibn Abbas would speak and Umar would not disregard what he had to say. [1] |
[edit] 644 – 656: Uthman's era
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[edit] 656 – 661: Ali's era
[edit] Battle of Siffin
Ibn Abbas remained a partician of Ali during Ali's war with Muawiya, the battle of Siffin. During the arbitration that ensued, Ibn Abbas was Ali's second choice (after Malik ibn Ashter) for representing him, but the army rejected both candidates, the job going to Abu-Musa al-Asha'ari [citation needed].
A large group of Ali's armies were discontent with the conclusion of that arbitration, and broke of into a group. Ibn Abbas played a key role here, he convinced a large number of them to return to Ali, 20,000 of 24,000 according to some sources. He did so using his knowledge of Muhammd's biography, in particular the events of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah [1].
[edit] 661 – 680: Muawiyah's era
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[edit] 680 – 683: Yazid's era
According to the Shias, due to coercion and duress he gave an oath of allegiance to Yazid the son of Muawiyah the son of Abu Sufyan. Shia contend that he used Taqiyya. While the Sunnis remain neutral about Yazid, they believe Ibn abbas was for the unity of the Muslims and hence did not revolt against rulers who were basically unjust.
[edit] Battle of Karbala
Ibn Abbas argued with Husayn ibn Ali to not go towards Kufa, but Husayn argued against the advice [citation needed]. This resulted in the battle of Karbala and Husayn martyrdoom, and the destabilization of the entire Muslim community (Arabic: Ummah), followed by multiple revolts, including Ibn al-Zubair's revolt.
[edit] 683 – 684: Muawiya II's era
[edit] 684 – 685: Marwan's era
[edit] 685 – 688: Abd al-Malik's era
[edit] Ibn al-Zubayr and Mut'ah
Ibn Abbas became blind during his last years, and Abd-Allah ibn al-Zubayr sought to mock him in a gathering by stating "some people's hearts are blind like their eyes, since they deem Mut'ah to be permissible". Ibn Abbas rejected his words.
[edit] Last years
At the age of 70 , while talking to his student, the Taba'een Said ibn Jubair, Ibn Abbas cried when recalling the person preventing Muhammad's statement, saying that Muhammad was "delirious" [17].
He died in at the mountainous city of Ta'if [1] in 68 AH (687–688 CE) [2], 71 years old, assuming he was born in 3 BH. Other sources state that he died between 68 AH and 70 AH, between the age of 65 and 70 [10].
[edit] Legacy
As `Abd-Allah's knowledge grew, he grew in stature.Masruq ibn al Ajda said of him:
| Whenever I saw Ibn Abbas, I would say: He is the most handsome of men. When he spoke, I would say: He is the most eloquent of men. And when he held a conversation, I would say: He is the most knowledgeable of men." [1] |
He had a son named Ali ibn Abdullah who died in 118 AH. From Ibn Abbas lineage came the Abbasid dynasty, that replaced the Umayyad dynasty. Ibn Abbas is highly resptected by both Shia and Sunnis, although Shia suffered sever persecution during the Abbasid Dynasty.
[edit] Views
Ibn Abbas viewd that Tafsir can be devided in four categories [18]:
- The category the Arabs knew because of its language,
- Those of ignorance of which no one will be excused
- Those which the scholars know
- Those which no one knows except God (Arabic: الله).
[edit] Works
[edit] Students and intellectual heirs
Among his students were:
- Al-Rabi ibn Khuthaym (d.ca 682) [6]
- Sa'id bin Jubayr [citation needed], he was about 24 years old when Ibn Abbas died [10], he died in 94 AH or 95 AH, at the age of 49.
- Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr, died in 108 AH [7] or 106 AH.
- Atiyya bin Saad [citation needed], died 111 AH [citation needed]
- Ata ibn Abi Rabah [3], died 114 AH or 115 AH
- Tawus ibn Kaysan, became a student of Ali ibn Hussayn after Ibn Abbas, died 106 AH (724–725 CE)[5]
- Wahb ibn Munabbih [4], died sometime between 725 CE to 737 CE.
- Ali bin Abu Talha [citation needed]
[edit] Sunni view
Sunni view him as the most knowledgeable of the Companions in tafsir [2]. A book entitled Tanwir al-Miqbas min Tafsir Ibn Abbas is tafsir, all explanations of which are said to go back to Ibn Abbas [1]. Of all narrations transmited by Ibn Abbas, 1660 were considered authentic (Arabic: Sahih) by the authors of the two Sahihs [19] [1].
Regarding Ibn Abbas giving verdicts (Arabic: fatwa) in favor of Nikah Mut'ah, most Sunnis view that Ali corrected him on the matter, referring to the Hadith of prohibition of Mut'ah at Khaybar [citation needed], while other view that "Ibn Abbas position on the permissibility of Mut'ah until his last day is proven" per the Hadith of Ibn al-Zubayr and Mut'ah[20].
Sunnis describe thus:
| ... the courageous Abdullah showed that he preferred peace above war, and logic against force and violence. However, he was not only known for his courage, his perceptive thought and his vast knowledge. He was also known for his great generosity and hospitality. Some of his contemporaries said of his household: "We have not seen a house which has more food or drink or fruit or knowledge than the house of Ibn Abbas."
He had a genuine and abiding concern for people. He was thoughtful and caring. He once said: "When I realize the importance of a verse of God's Book, I would wish that all people should know what I know. "When I hear of a Muslim ruler who deals equitably and rules justly, I am happy on his account and I pray for him... "When I hear of rains which fail on the land of Muslims, that fills me with happiness..." Abdullah ibn Abbas was constant in his devotions. He kept voluntary fasts regularly and often stayed up at night in Prayer. He would weep while praying and reading the Quran. And when reciting verses dealing with death, resurrection and the life hereafter his voice would be heavy from deep sobbing. [1] |
[edit] Shi'a view
Shi'a view Ibn Abbas as one of the better Sahaba, but not reaching the top ranks that was held by Sahaba such as Ammar ibn Yasir.
[edit] Non-Muslim view
Among the non-Muslim Islamic scholars who have evaluated his works, Harald Motzki can be found [3].
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s biography on the USC-MSA Compendium of Muslim Texts
- ^ a b c http://www.youngmuslims.ca/online_library/books/ulum_al_quran/Ch6S1s7s4.htm
- ^ a b c http://people.uncw.edu/bergh/par246/L21RHadithCriticism.htm
- ^ a b Jewish Encyclopedia [1]
- ^ a b Media Monitors Network, A Few Comments on Tafsir of the Quran, Habib Siddiqui October 2004
- ^ a b Mashahir, 99-Too; Ghaya, 1. 283; Abu Nu`aym, II. 105-19; Kashif, I. 235; Ibn Marthad 41-3
- ^ a b http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Abewley/usulgloss2.html
- ^ http://www.themodernreligion.com/family/m-past.html
- ^ Sahih Bukhari Vol 9 Book 92 Hadith 375
- ^ a b c http://www.understanding-islam.org/related/text.asp?type=question&qid=369
- ^ Sahih Bukhari Vol 1 Book 3 Hadith 114
- ^ Sahih Bukhari Vol 1 Book 4 Hadith 197, 1:11:634, 3:47:761,5:59:727
- ^ Tarikh al-Yaqubi, as quoted in Peshawar Nights on al-islam.org [2]. Also, a list composed of sources such as Ibn Hajar Asqalani and Baladhuri, each in his Ta'rikh, Muhammad Bin Khawind Shah in his Rauzatu's-Safa, Ibn Abdu'l-Birr in his Isti'ab
- ^ Sahih Bukhari Vol 8 Book 82 Hadith 817
- ^ Sahih Bukhari Vol 4 Book 56 Hadith 821
- ^ Bukhari, Vl, No. 494
- ^ Sahih Bukhari 53.393
- ^ http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Quran/Tafseer/Ulum/Denffor6.html#Isra'iliyat
- ^ Reliance of the Traveler by Ahmad al-Misr, (A Classic Manual of Islamic Sacred Law), translated by Nuh Ha Mim Keller, published by Amana publications, Beltsville, Maryland, USA 1991
- ^ Fatih al-Qadir by Muhammad ash-Shawkani, Sharh Hidaya Volume 3 p. 51
