Abu al-Aliyah al-Riyahi

Abu al-Aliyah Rufay' ibn Mihran al-Riyahi al-Basri (d. 90H) was one of the earliest and most important Quran scholars among the Tabi'in. A freed slave who embraced Islam, he studied under Abu Bakr, Umar, Ali, Ubayy ibn Ka'b, Ibn Abbas, and many companions. Al-Hasan al-Basri said: 'Abu al-Aliyah is the most learned person after the Companions.' He was among the first to transmit Quranic exegesis (tafsir) from the companions and his opinions are frequently cited in tafsir works.