`Abdullah ibn `Abbas was born four or five years
before the Hijrah. He had a keen intelligence and memory and was an
inspired man. Allah’s Messenger prayed for him, “O God, make him
perceptive and well versed in the religion and teach him the
interpretation of the Qur’an.” In his life, he came to be called
The Great Scholar of the Ummah or The Sea, meaning one very profound in
knowledge or the interpreter of the Qur’an.
He was a very handsome, tall man endowed with
great fluency of speech. His memory was such that he memorized, at one
reading, a poem 80 couplets long by `Amr ibn Rabi`ah. Besides his profound
knowledge of Qur’anic interpretation, tradition, and jurisprudence, he
was also well versed in literature, particularly in the poetry of the
pre-Islamic Age of Ignorance. Ibn Jarir At-Tabari relates, in his Tafseer,
either a couplet or verse from him in connection with the interpretation
of almost each verse of the Qur’an.
He was greatly loved by the Companions. Despite
his youth, `Umar included him in his Advisory Council, the other members
of which were chosen from the elders among the Companions. When asked why
he had included that young man in the council, `Umar tested the council
about their level of understanding of the Qur’an. He asked them about
the meaning of Surat An-Nasr
[When
comes the help of God, and victory, and you see men entering God’s
religion in throngs, then proclaim the praise of Your Lord, and seek
His forgiveness; for He is Oft-Returning (in grace and mercy)]
The elders answered, “It orders the Prophet
(peace and blessings be upon him) to praise God and seek His forgiveness
when he sees people entering Islam in throngs after the help of God and
victory came.” `Umar did not like this and put the same question to Ibn
`Abbas: What does this surah mean? Ibn `Abbas replied, “This surah
implies that the death of God’s Messenger is near. Because, when people
enter Islam in throngs, it means that the mission of Messengership has
terminated.” `Umar turned to the council and explained, “That is why I
include him among you.”
Ibn `Abbas was very famous for his deep insight,
profound learning, keen memory, high intelligence, and perceptiveness.
Besides, he was very modest. When he entered a place where people
gathered, people would stand up in respect for him, but this made him
uncomfortable and he said to them, “I beg you, for the sake of the help
and shelter (you gave to the Prophet and the Emigrants), do not stand up
for me!”
Although he himself was one of the most
knowledgeable among the Ummah, Ibn `Abbas showed great respect to
scholars. For example, he helped Zayd ibn Thabit mount his horse by
holding the stirrup steady and explained, “We have been ordered to
behave like this towards our scholars.” In return, Zayd ibn Thabit
kissed his hand without approval and remarked. “We have been ordered to
behave like this towards the relatives of God’s Messenger.”
Ibn `Abbas raised many scholars in every branch of
religious knowledge. The School of Makkah, in jurisprudence, was founded
by him. Leading scholars of the generation following the Companions, such
as Sa`id ibn Jubayr, Mujahid ibn Jabr and `Ikrimah acknowledged that
“‘Ibn `Abbas taught us whatever we know.”
The number of the Traditions narrated by Ibn
`Abbas is about sixteen hundred.
