3. The era of ‘Uthman (23-35 AH)

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3. The era of ‘Uthman (23-35 AH)

‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan radiya Llahu ‘anhu assumed the Caliphate after ‘Umar’s radiya Llahu ‘anhu demise. His Caliphate lasted for twelve years. We will present his most important accomplishments to enter into the features of Tafsir during his era.

Noteworthy accomplishments related to the Book of Allah are obvious, including:

• Copying the Mushafs in 25 AH
• Teaching the Glorious Qur’an

He had not dedicated himself to Tafsir. His statements in this science are few. This is due to his occupation with teaching the Qur’an added to the responsibility of the Caliphate.

Nonetheless, many Imams who became prominent with knowledge flourished in this era. Here is a list of some of the Sahabah who became prominent with knowledge during his era: Ibn Mas’ud, Abu al Darda’, and Ubayy ibn Ka’b. Let us mention some of their reports on Tafsir.

 

Abu al Darda’ (d. 32 AH)

Abu al Darda’ radiya Llahu ‘anhu recited the Qur’an to the Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. He dedicated himself to teaching the Qur’an. It appears in his biography that those in his learning circle numbered more than a thousand men, for each ten was an instructor. Abu al Darda’ radiya Llahu ‘anhu would go between them while standing. When a man became proficient, he would move over to Abu al Darda’ radiya Llahu ‘anhu to recite to him.^[1]

He did not dedicate himself to Tafsir. Hence, reports from him on Tafsir are a few; however, this does not mean that he did not know Tafsir. Abu Qilabah’s narration from him is one of the most famous reports of Tafsir from him. He says:

 

إنك لن تفقه كل الفقه حتى ترى للقرآن وجوها

You have not truly understood until you perceive various interpretations of the Qur’an.^[2]

Meaning: possible sound interpretations to a verse.

 

Ubayy ibn Ka’b (d. 32 AH)

His recitation of abrogated verses is famous. Al Bukhari narrates through his chain from Ibn ‘Abbas radiya Llahu ‘anhuma that ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu remarked:

 

أقرؤنا أبي وأقضانا علي وإنا لندع من قول أبي وذلك أن أبيا يقول لا أدع شيئا سمعته من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وقد قال الله تعالىمَا نَنسَخۡ مِنۡ ءَايَةٍ أَوۡ نُنسِهَا

The most well-versed in Qira’ah among us is Ubayy and the most proficient in judiciary is ‘Ali. We discard some of Ubayy’s statements because he says, “I will not discard anything I heard from the Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam,” whereas Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala declared, “We do not abrogate a verse or cause it to be forgotten…^[3].”^[4]

 

Allah commanded His Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam to recite Qur’an to Ubayy radiya Llahu ‘anhu. Anas ibn Malik radiya Llahu ‘anhu reports:

 

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لأبي بن كعب إن الله أمرني أن أقرأ عليك لَمۡ يَكُنِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ قال وسماني قال نعم قال فبكى

The Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam told Ubayy ibn Ka’b, “Certainly Allah commanded me to recite to you Surah al Bayyinah”

“He took my name?” asked Ubayy.

“Yes,” confirmed the Messenger which caused Ubayy to cry.^[5]

 

His condition in recitation is more famous than his condition in Tafsir and the latter is not as plenty as his Qira’ah. Sa’id ibn al Musayyab reports that ‘Umar ibn al Khattab radiya Llahu ‘anhu came across this verse:

ﭑ ﭒ ﭓ ﭔ ﭕ & ﭗ ﭘ ﭙ ﭚ ﭛ

They who believe and do not mix their belief with injustice, those will have security, and they are [rightly] guided.^[6]

 

He approached Ubayy ibn Ka’b radiya Llahu ‘anhu and asked him, “Which of us does not commit injustice?”

Ubayy explained to him:

 

O Amir al Mu’minin, this refers to shirk. Have you not heard Luqman’s words to his son, “O my son, do not associate [anything] with Allah. Indeed, association [with Him] is great injustice.^[7]”^[8]

 

Ibn Mas’ud (d. 32 AH)

The angles connected to the history of Tafsir from his life are:

Masruq reports:

 

كان عبد الله يقرأ علينا السورة ثم يحدثنا فيها ويفسرها عامة النهار

‘Abdullah would recite a Surah to us and then speak to us about it and commentate on it for majority of the day.^[9]

 

Masruq reports from ‘Abdullah radiya Llahu ‘anhu:

 

والذي لا إله غيره ما من كتاب الله سورة إلا أنا أعلم حيث نزلت وما من آية إلا أنا أعلم فيما أنزلت ولو أعلم أحدا هو أعلم بكتاب الله مني تبلغه الإبل لركبت إليه

By the Being besides Whom there is no deity. There is not a single Surah of the Book of Allah except that I know where it was revealed. There is not a single verse except that I know for what it was revealed. If I learn of anyone more knowledgeable of the Book of Allah than I where camels can reach, I would ride to him.^[10]

 

There is no doubt in this. He is among the most knowledgeable Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum on the Book of Allah. Owing to this, no one objected to this statement.

He was eager to convey the meanings of Allah’s speech and exerted himself in commentating on it in various manners. One example is al Tabari’s report from Qatadah who says:

 

ذكر لنا أن ابن مسعود أهديت إليه سقاية من ذهب وفضة فأمر بأخدود فخد في الأرض ثم قذف فيه من جزل حطب ثم قذف فيه تلك السقاية حتى إذا أزبدت وانماعت قال لغلامه ادع من يحضرنا من أهل الكوفة فدعا رهطا فلما دخلوا عليه قال أترون هذا قالوا نعم قال ما رأينا في الدنيا شبيها للمهل أدنى من هذا الذهب والفضة حين أزبد وانماع

It was narrated to us that Ibn Mas’ud received a drinking vessel of gold and silver. He instructed that a trench be dug in the ground. He threw plenty firewood inside followed by chucking in that vessel. When it became foamy and melted, he told his servant to call those residents of Kufah who frequent his gatherings. The servant called a group of people. He asked them, after they arrived, “Do you see this?” They replied in the affirmative. He said, “We do not see in the world any resemblance to leisure closer than this gold and silver when it foams and melts.”^[11]

 

If we compare Ubayy and Ibn Mas’ud radiya Llahu ‘anhuma, we find both to be authorities and eminent in teaching the Qur’an and Ibn Mas’ud to be more eminent in reports related to Tafsir.

 

NEXT⇒ 4. The era of ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (35–40 AH)

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^[1]  Siyar A’lam al Nubala’, 2/353.

^[2]  Tafsir ‘Abdur Razzaq, 1/211; Abu Dawood: Al Zuhd, pg. 242. This statement is attributed to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam; however, this is not sound. Ibn ‘Abdul Barr says in Jami’ Bayan al ‘Ilm wa Fadlihi, 2/101, “This hadith is not soundly attributed to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. What is sound is that it is Abu al Darda’s statement.”

^[3]  Surah al Baqarah: 106.

^[4]  Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith: 4481.

^[5]  Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith: 3809; Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 799.

^[6]  Surah al An’am: 82.

^[7]  Surah Luqman: 13.

^[8]  Al Mustadrak, 3/345.

^[9]  Jami’ al Bayan ‘an Ta’wil Ay al Qur’an, 1/75.

^[10]  Sahih al Bukhari, Hadith: 5002; Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2463, his wording.

^[11]  Jami’ al Bayan ‘an Ta’wil Ay al Qur’an, 15/248.