1.1 Schools Of Tafseer
The most notable centers of tafseer which evolved during this period were those of Makkah, Madeenah, and ‘Iraaq. In Makkah, the tafseer school of Ibn ‘Abbaas became the most prominent. ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Abbaas was considered to be the greatest tafseer scholar among the sahaabah. He reported that once the Prophet ( ﷺ) hugged him and prayed for him as follows,
“O Allaah, give him a deep understanding of the religion and make him skilled in interpretation.” 29
‘Abdullaah ibn Mas‘ood, the great scholar among the sahaabah, was reported to have conferred on him the title, “Tarjumaan al-Qur’aan,” 30 “Translator of the Qur’aan.” The most famous students of Ibn ‘Abbaas were Mujaahid ibn Jabr, ‘Ikrimah (the freed slave of Ibn ‘Abbaas), Sa‘eed ibn Jubayr, Taawoos ibn Keesaan al-Yamaanee, and ‘Ataa ibn Abee Rabaah.31
In Madeenah, the most noted school of tafseer was that of Ubayy ibn Ka‘b, who was considered by most of his contemporaries as the top reciter of the Qur’aan. Ubayy was also the first person chosen by the Prophet (r) to record the revelation of the Qur’aan.32 The Prophet (r) was reported to have said to him,
“Verily, Allaah, the Most Great and Glorious, has commanded me to recite to you, ‘Lam yakunillatheena kafaroo.’ (Soorah al-Bayyinah).”
asked if Allaah had mentioned him by name, the Prophet (r) told him yes, and Ubayy cried.33 Ubayy’s most notable students were Zayd ibn Aslam, Aboo al ‘Aaliyah, and Muhammad ibn Ka‘b al-Qurathee.34
In ‘Iraaq, Ibn Mas‘ood headed the most prominent school of tafseer. ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas‘ood, the sixth person to enter Islaam,35 was among the top reciters of the Qur’aan. The Prophet (r) himself praised his recitation saying,
“Whoever wishes to recite the Qur’aan in the tender manner in which it was revealed should recite it as Ibn Umm ‘Abd (Ibn Mas‘ood) does.” 36 As for his knowledge of tafseer, Ibn Mas‘ood said, “By the One besides Whom there is no other god, I know where and why every verse of Allaah’s book was revealed.” 37
Among the many students of Ibn Mas‘ood who later became scholars in their own right were al-Hasan al-Basree, ‘Alqamah ibn Qays, Masrooq, al-Aswad ibn Yazeed, and ‘Aamir ash-Sha‘bee.38
29 Collected by Ahmad (al-Musnad, no. 2274). A version mentioning only the first half of the Prophet’s supplication on his behalf is reported in Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol. 1, p. 106, no. 145, and Sahih Muslim, vol. 4, pp. 1320-1, no. 6055.
30 Collected by al-Haakim and by Ibn Sa‘d in at-Tabaqaat. See Siyar al-A‘laam an-Nubalaa’, vol.3, p. 347.
31 Al-Itqaan fee ‘Uloom al-Qur’aan, vol. 2, p. 242. It is interesting to note that all of these great scholars were former slaves.
32 According to al-Waaqidee. Quoted in Al-Isaabah fee Tamyeez as-Sahaabah. Perhaps he meant in Madeenah.
33 Collected by al-Bukhaaree (Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol. 5, p. 97, no. 154) and Muslim (Sahih Muslim, vol. 4, p.1313, no. 6031).
34 Mabaahith fee ‘Uloom al-Qur’aan, p.339.
35 Sifah as-Safwah, vol.1, p. 395.
36 Reported by ‘Umar, Ibn Mas‘ood and other sahaabah and collected by Ahmad, Ibn Maajah (vol. 1, p. 77, no. 138), al-Haakim and others. Authenticated by al-Albaanee in Saheeh al-Jaami‘ as-Sagheer, vol. 2, p. 1034.
37 Sahih Muslim, vol. 4, p. 1312, no. 6023.
38 Mabaahith fee ‘Uloom al-Qur’aan, p. 339.