Abd Allah ibn Abbas

He is Abdullah ibn Abbas ibn Abdul-Muttalib ibn Hashim ibn Abd Manaf ibn Qusayy ibn Kilab ibn Kaab ibn Lu'ayy ibn Ghalib ibn Fihr ibn Malik ibn Al-Nadr ibn Kinanah ibn Khuzaymah ibn Mudrikah ibn Ilyas ibn Mudar ibn Nizar ibn Ma'ad ibn Adnan, the cousin of the Prophet (peace be upon him), as his lineage meets with that of the Prophet Muhammad through his grandfather Abdul-Muttalib ibn Hashim. He was a noble companion who traces his lineage back to the Prophet Ishmael; peace be upon him. Abdullah was also known by the nickname Abu Abbas.

There are differing accounts regarding the year of Ibn Abbas's birth:

• Amr ibn Dinar narrated that he was born in the year of the Hijra, which means he was ten years old when the Prophet passed away. Ibn Abbas's own account supports this: "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) passed away when I was ten years old".
• It is said that he was born three years before the Hijra, in the year when the Muslims were besieged in the valley of Abu Talib. Supporting this, Al-Zubayr ibn Bakkar narrated that Ibn Abbas was thirteen years old when the Prophet passed away.
• Another narration states that he was born five years before the Hijra, making him fifteen years old at the time of the Prophet's death, a view supported by Ibn Kathir.

Ibn Abbas distinguished himself from his peers; in his youth, he closely accompanied the Prophet (peace be upon him), learning from him and receiving narrated hadiths. He diligently sought knowledge from his learned and senior companions, becoming a scholar and a notable orator. He was given several titles, including "The Nation’s Scholar," "The Jurist of the Era," "The Imam of Tafsir," and "The Interpreter of the Quran". He married three women: Zur'ah or Zohrah bint Mishrah al-Kindiya, Shamilah bint Junadah al-Zuharaniya, and a freed slave. His children included Al-Abbas, Muhammad, Al-Fadl, Abdur-Rahman, Ubaydullah, Lubabah, Ali, and Asma.

Traits of Abdullah ibn Abbas

Psychological Traits

Ibn Abbas was known for his profound respect for scholars, which brought him blessings. He was a devout worshipper, deeply committed to his faith, and often wept out of reverence for Allah. He intended to perform the pilgrimage on foot, but his vision deteriorated, preventing him from doing so. He expressed regret, saying, "I regret nothing except that I did not perform Hajj on foot". He was known for his contemplation of the Quranic verses, delving into their meanings and implications.

Among his esteemed traits were loyalty and generosity; he gave money to Abu Ayyub al-Ansari to settle his debts and honored him for his hospitality towards the Prophet during his migration to Medina. Ibn Abbas was also known for his patience in the face of trials, seeking reward from Allah, and for his understanding of people's natures and how to deal with them, which increased people's love for him. He was patient, wise, and always keen to show gratitude for Allah's blessings.

Intellectual Traits

From a young age, Ibn Abbas was dedicated to seeking and learning knowledge. He put in significant effort, remained humble, and only accepted authentic hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad after verifying their authenticity. He closely followed the scholars among the companions, learning from them despite any hardships or dangers. Notable teachers included Umar ibn al-Khattab, Ali ibn Abi Talib, and Ubayy ibn Ka'b. One of the reasons for his profound knowledge was the Prophet's prayer for him: "O Allah, give him understanding in religion and teach him the interpretation". He was called "the Sea" for his vast knowledge. Ubaydullah ibn Utbah said, "He surpassed people in several qualities, his knowledge, understanding, patience, and lineage". He also said, "I have not seen anyone more knowledgeable about the hadith of the Messenger of Allah nor about the judgments of Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman, nor more understanding in opinion, than him. I have never seen a questioner who asked him a question without finding knowledge with him".

Ibn Abbas was renowned for his deep deduction and ability to derive profound meanings from texts, earning the nickname "Diver" from Umar ibn al-Khattab. He had a quick understanding and strong memory and grasped everything he heard from scholars. Known for his intelligence and insight, he often aligned with Caliph Umar's opinions on various matters and, in some cases, disagreed with Ali ibn Abi Talib, gaining admiration for his perspectives. When Ali appointed him over Syria, Ibn Abbas declined and suggested informing Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan to avoid any strife among Muslims, showcasing his foresight in anticipating consequences.

Physical Traits

Allah endowed Ibn Abbas with an abundant and well-proportioned physique, complete physical features, and handsome appearance. He was fair-skinned with a slight yellowish tint, tall, and had a bright and handsome face. Ata said, "Whenever I saw the full moon, I was reminded of the face of Ibn Abbas," indicating his bright and radiant appearance.

The Knowledge of Abdullah ibn Abbas

Jurisprudence (Fiqh)

Ibn Abbas was an authority that issued religious verdicts during the caliphates of Umar and Uthman. Due to his deep knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence, he was one of the seven jurists whose opinions were sought after the death of the Prophet (peace be upon him). He was the go-to reference for his companions whenever they faced disagreements on certain matters. Notably, he refrained from giving personal opinions unless there was no clear guidance from the texts or precedents set by Abu Bakr and Umar. His jurisprudential acumen is evident from the numerous opinions attributed to him in legal texts. Abu Bakr ibn al-Khalifa al-Ma'mun, a renowned scholar of hadith, compiled Ibn Abbas's verdicts into twenty books.

Ibn Abbas encouraged people to ask about religious matters and would follow up to ensure they understood his teachings correctly. He guided them on how to retain and disseminate knowledge effectively. One of his sayings emphasizes this: "Review this hadith so that it does not slip from you; it is not like the Quran, which is preserved. If you do not review this hadith, it will slip away from you. Do not say, 'I narrated yesterday, so I will not narrate today.' Rather, narrate today and tomorrow". He also advised in his sermons, as recorded by Imam al-Bukhari: "Teach people every Friday once. If you refuse, then twice, but if you exceed, then thrice. Do not bore people with this Quran, and do not interrupt them when they are in their conversations. Rather, listen, and if they order you, then speak to them while they are desirous of it. Avoid rhymed prose in supplication, for I found the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and his companions avoiding it".

Quranic Exegesis (Tafsir)

Ibn Abbas received a small portion of Quranic interpretation directly from the Prophet, then from the companions, and combined this with his mastery of the Arabic language and eloquence. His method included interpreting the Quran based on the context and underlying meaning, often referring to the sayings of the People of the Book, scrutinizing them, and accepting what aligned with the truth. He is associated with the Tafsir Tanwir al-Miqbas, although the correct attribution of this work to him is debated.

Hadith

Ibn Abbas was cautious about narrating too many hadiths from the Prophet, following the example of Umar ibn al-Khattab, who discouraged excessive narration to prevent falsehood and neglect of the Quran. Umar had even considered codifying the Prophetic traditions but refrained in the end. Despite his caution, Ibn Abbas was among the six companions who were prolific in preserving hadiths, alongside Abu Hurairah, Jabir ibn Abdullah, Abdullah ibn Umar, Anas ibn Malik, and Aisha bint Abi Bakr.

The Death of Abdullah ibn Abbas

The exact year of Abdullah ibn Abbas's death is subject to differing accounts. Some say he passed away in the year 68 AH, while others suggest it was in 65 AH. Additionally, there are claims he died in the year 70 AH, 71 AH, or 74 AH. Despite these variations, it is unanimously agreed that he died in Taif. His death followed an illness that lasted for eight days. Ibn Abbas was highly regarded and received immense praise from the companions and followers. Ibn Masud said about him, "What an excellent interpreter of the Quran is Ibn Abbas".

Ubayy ibn Ka'b remarked, "This one will be the scholar of the nation, endowed with intellect and understanding". Aisha, the Mother of the Believers, commented, "He is the most knowledgeable among people about Hajj". Al-Hasan said, "Ibn Abbas had a high status in Islam and a lofty position in the knowledge of the Quran".