Wahb ibn Munabbih

Wahb ibn Munabbih al-Yamani al-San'ani (34–114 AH / 655–732 CE) was a prolific Yemeni scholar of the generation of Tabiun renowned for his vast knowledge of the stories of the Prophets, the history of the Children of Israel, and the traditions of ancient peoples. He was of Persian or Yemeni-Persian origin, born in San'a, and narrated from many Companions including Abu Hurayra, Ibn Abbas, and Jabir ibn Abd Allah.

He was the most famous collector and transmitter of Isra'iliyyat — narrations from Jewish and Christian traditions about the Prophets and ancient history that circulated in the early Muslim community. His access to non-Islamic religious literature, combined with his knowledge of Arabic, made him a unique figure who could bridge Islamic and pre-Islamic scriptural traditions. His collections of such material are referenced extensively in later tafsir literature.

He wrote several works including Kitab al-Mubtada (on the beginnings of creation and the stories of prophets) and Kitab al-Qadar, making him one of the earliest Muslim authors. His written production represents the nascent stage of Islamic literature before the classical period. He also knew the Psalms (Zabur) and portions of earlier scriptures by memory.

He served as a judge in Yemen and was imprisoned for a period by the Umayyad governor because he issued opinions that clashed with official policy. He died in San'a around 114 AH at an advanced age. Modern scholars value his work both as a historical source and as evidence of the early Islamic community's engagement with the wider scriptural traditions of its environment.