| Era: | Medieval era |
| Mujahid ibn Jabr | |
| Birth Place: | Mecca, Rashidun Caliphate[1] |
| Death Date: | (aged 79-80)[2] |
| Death Place: | Mecca, Umayyad Caliphate |
Abū l-Ḥajjāj Mujāhid ibn Jabr al-Qāriʾ (ar|مُجَاهِدُ بْنُ جَبْرٍ) (642–722 CE) was a Tabi' and one of the major early Islamic scholars.[3] His tafsīr of the Qur'an (exegesis/commentary) is believed to be the earliest existing written exegetical source, although only fragments of it have reached us from the Umayyad era.[4]
His full nickname is often written as "Mujahid bin Jabir, Maula As-Saib bin Abi As-Saib, Al-Makhzumi, Al-Quraysh". The Nisba of al-Makhzumi were because he was a servant (mawla) of someone from the Banu Makhzum tribe.[5]
Mujahid is said to have studied under Amir al-Mu'minin 'Ali ibn Abi Talib until his martyrdom. At that point, he began to study under Ibn Abbas, a companion of Muhammad known as the father of Qur'anic exegesis. Mujahid ibn Jabr was known to be willing to go to great lengths to discover the true meaning of a verse in the Qur'an, and was considered to be a well-travelled man.[6] However, there is no evidence he ever journeyed outside of the Arabian Peninsula.
It is related by Ibn Sa'd in the Tabaqat (6:9) and elsewhere that he went over the explanation of the Qur'an together with Ibn 'Abbas thirty times.[3]
Mujahid ibn Jabr is said to be relied upon in terms of tafsir according to Sufyan al-Thawri, who said: "If you get Mujahid's tafsir, it is enough for you."
His exegesis in general followed these four principles:[6]
Al-Tabari's Jami' al-bayan attributes a significant amount of exegetical material to Mujahid.
He has been classed as a Thiqah (i.e. very reliable) hadith narrator.[3]
Al-A'mash said:
"Mujahid was like someone who carried a treasure: whenever he spoke, pearls came out of his mouth."[3]
After praising him in similar terms al-Dhahabi said: "The Ummah is unanimous on Mujahid being an Imam who is worthy in Ihtijaj.