Mujahid ibn Jabr

Abu al-Hajjaj Mujahid ibn Jabr (21–104 AH / 642–722 CE) was an early Makkan Quranic commentator, Quran reciter, and prominent Successor (Tabi'i) recognized as the foremost authority among the students of Abdullah ibn Abbas in exegesis Mujam al-Mufassirin "min …+1.

Origin and Early Life

Mujahid was born in Mecca in 21 AH (642 CE) during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab Mujaz Dairat al-Maarif al…+1. His father's name is recorded as Jabr, and in some transmissions as Jubayr Tarikh Dimashq li-Ibn Asa…+1. He was an affiliated client (mawla) of the Makhzum clan of Quraysh, with biographical accounts variously designating him as the client of al-Sa'ib ibn Abi al-Sa'ib, Abd Allah ibn al-Sa'ib, or Qays ibn al-Sa'ib Mujaz Dairat al-Maarif al…+1.

Education and Travels

Mujahid acquired his knowledge of Quranic recitation, exegesis, and legal rulings directly from Abdullah ibn Abbas Taysir al-Bayan li-Ahkam …. He stated that he reviewed the entire text of the Quran with Ibn Abbas three times—and in other reports, thirty times—stopping at each verse to ask about its circumstances of revelation and meaning Mujam al-Mufassirin "min …+1. He also heard transmissions from Companion figures including Aisha, Abu Hurayra, Abdullah ibn Umar, Ali ibn Abi Talib, Jabir ibn Abd Allah, and Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas Tarikh Dimashq li-Ibn Asa…+1. Although some hadith critics, including Shu'ba ibn al-Hajjaj and Yahya ibn Ma'in, questioned whether his audition from Aisha was direct, his narrations from her are documented in the canonical collections Nathl al-Nibal bi Mujam a….

Mujahid traveled extensively throughout his life, eventually settling for a period in Kufa Mujam al-Mufassirin "min …+1. He was known to travel to observe remarkable natural and historical sites, journeying to the well of Barhut in Hadramawt and to Babylon Mujam al-Mufassirin "min …+1.

Students and Transmissions

A substantial circle of prominent scholars studied and transmitted under Mujahid. Among his notable students and narrators were Ata ibn Abi Rabah, Tawus ibn Kaysan, Amr ibn Dinar, Ayyub al-Sakhtiyani, Al-A'mash, Mansur ibn al-Mu'tamir, Ibn Abi Najih, Al-Hakam ibn Utaybah, and Ikrimah Tarikh Dimashq li-Ibn Asa…+1.

Standing and Scholarly Reception

Mujahid was widely recognized across early scholarship for his authority in Quranic interpretation. Qatada ibn Di'amah described him as the most knowledgeable living person in tafsir, while Sufyan al-Thawri declared that when an exegesis is traced back to Mujahid, it suffices the seeker Mujam al-Mufassirin "min …. Al-Dhahabi observed that the scholarly community maintained a consensus on Mujahid’s leadership (imama) and the reliability of his evidence Mujam al-Mufassirin "min …+1. His exegetical transmissions served as a major resource for later jurists and traditionists; Al-Shafi'i and Muhammad ibn Isma'il al-Bukhari relied heavily on his interpretations, and al-Bukhari incorporated extensive commentary from Mujahid into the chapter on tafsir in his Sahih Mujam al-Mufassirin "min …+1.

Death

Mujahid died in Mecca in 104 AH (722 CE) while prostrating in prayer, at the age of eighty-three Tafsir al-Uthaymin: al-Fa…+1. Other historical reports place his death between 100 and 103 AH, and one account states that he died in Kufa in 102 AH Mujaz Dairat al-Maarif al…+1.