Mujahid

Mujahid ibn Jabr al-Makki was a leading Tabi'i scholar and one of the most important authorities on Quranic exegesis in Islamic history. Born around 21 AH, he was a mawla (freed client) of the Makhzum clan. His greatest teacher was Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA), from whom he learned the entire tafsir of the Quran in the most thorough manner known to any student: he reportedly recited the entire Quran to Ibn Abbas three times, stopping at every single verse to ask about its meaning, context, occasion of revelation, and proper interpretation. This meticulous training made him the preeminent authority on tafsir after Ibn Abbas. His tafsir narrations are the primary source for all subsequent classical commentators, including al-Tabari. He also transmitted hadiths from Ibn Umar, Abu Huraira, and other companions. He was known for his personal piety and the breadth of his Islamic knowledge. He passed away in Mecca around 103–104 AH.