5. The era of the young Sahabah (41–68 AH)

Were you to ponder over this era, it will become clear to you that no one dedicated himself to Tafsir during this period except Ibn ‘Abbas radiya Llahu ‘anhuma. He is the prominent authority of Tafsir. There is no problem to concentrate on a few Sahabah who had a special connection to the Glorious Qur’an during this period. Among them are:

Abu Musa al Ash’ari radiya Llahu ‘anhu (d. 44 AH): He was favoured with a beautiful voice like that of Dawood ‘alayh al Salam and is renowned for his dedication to teaching the Qur’an.
Zaid ibn Thabit radiya Llahu ‘anhu (d. 45 AH): He is one of the scholars of the Sahabah. He was a scribe of revelation. He carried out the writing of the Mushaf during the eras of Abu Bakr and ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhuma. The Qira’ah of the people of Madinah is Zaid’s Qira’ah. The Sahabah would verify their Mushafs by Zaid. He is renowned for teaching the Qur’an and the science of inheritance. He is one of the Imams of Tafsir among the Sahabah, although his reports are a few in number.
Sayyidah Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha: She was well-versed on verdicts, but not dedicated to Tafsir.
Abu Hurairah radiya Llahu ‘anhu: He is renowned for Hadith.

The Sahabi who is renowned for Tafsir, dedicated to it, and distinguished and prominent due to it is al Imam al Hibr al Bahr ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas radiya Llahu ‘anhuma. He was outstanding and his distinction became manifest during the era of the Rightly-guided Khalifas. ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu including him in his committee, ‘Uthman’s radiya Llahu ‘anhu reverence for him, and ‘Ali’s radiya Llahu ‘anhu seeking his assistance are proof to this. His virtues and Sahabah’s radiya Llahu ‘anhum praise for him concerning Tafsir were mentioned earlier.

He presided to teach the Qur’an. ‘Ikrimah relates:

كان ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما يضع في رجلي الكبل ويعلمني القرآن والسنن

Ibn ‘Abbas radiya Llahu ‘anhuma would place shackles on my legs and teach me the Qur’an and Sunan.^[1]

Ibn Abi Mulaykah reports:

رأيت مجاهدا يسأل ابن عباس عن تفسير القرآن ومعه الواحد فيقول له ابن عباس اكتب قال حتى سأله عن التفسير كله

I saw Mujahid asking Ibn ‘Abbas about the commentary of the Qur’an. With him was one man. Ibn ‘Abbas would tell him to write. He continued [asking him] until he asked him about the entire Tafsir.^[2]

Mujahid recalls:

عرضت المصحف على ابن عباس ثلاث عرضات من فاتحته إلى خاتمته أوقفته عند كل آية منه وأسأله عنها

I presented the Mushaf, from its opening to its closing, thrice to Ibn ‘Abbas. I stopped him at every verse and asked him about it.^[3]

These reports demonstrate Ibn ‘Abbas’s radiya Llahu ‘anhuma special interest in the knowledge of Tafsir and teaching it. One of his students questions him on every verse to know its commentary; and more than one round.

NEXT⇒ Section 4 – The Sahabah’s and Ahlul Bayt’s endeavour to memorise and teach the Qur’an

^[1] Sunan al Darimi, Hadith: 553, Hussain Asad graded it sahih.

^[2] Tafsir al Tabari, 1/85.

^[3] Tafsir al Tabari, 1/85; Sunan al Darimi, Hadith: 1120, Hussain Asad graded it sahih.

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