Ibn Abbas

Abd Allah ibn Abbas (Arabic: عَبْد ٱللَّٰه ٱبْن عَبَّاس; c. 619 – 687 CE), also known as Ibn Abbas, was a cousin of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He is considered to be the greatest mufassir (exegete) of the Qur'an. He was the son of Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib, an uncle of Muhammad, and a nephew of Maymunah bint al-Harith, who later became Muhammad's wife. Initially supporting Ali's claim at Saqifa, he participated in military campaigns in Ifriqiya, and Tabaristan during the reigns of Umar and Uthman. During the later struggles for the caliphate, he served as governor of Basra under Ali before withdrawing to Mecca. During the reign of Mu'awiya I he lived in Hejaz and often travelled to Damascus. After Mu'awiya I died in 680 CE he migrated to Taif, eventually dying around 687 CE. Abd Allah ibn Abbas was highly regarded for his knowledge of traditions and his critical interpretation of the Qur'an. From early on, he gathered information from other companions of Muhammad and gave classes and wrote commentaries.