Ibn Kathir Rahimahullah
Historian, Qur'anic Commentator| Full Name | ʿImād al-Dīn Abū al-Fidāʾ Ismāʿīl ibn ʿUmar ibn Kathīr al-Qurashī al-Dimashqī |
|---|---|
| Kunya | Abū al-Fidāʾ |
| Birth | 1300 CE / 701 AH — Mijdal, near Busra, Syria |
| Death | 1373 CE / 774 AH — Damascus, Syria |
| Title | Mufassir, Historian, Scholar of Hadith |
| Position | Shāfiʿī jurist, Muhaddith, Historian |
| Notable Works | Tafsīr al-Qurʾān al-ʿAẓīm, Al-Bidāyah wa’l-Nihāyah, Al-Sīrah al-Nabawiyyah |
| Regions of Influence | Syria, Egypt, wider Muslim world |
Life, Legacy, and His Scholarship
Early Life and Education
Born in Mijdal, near Busra in 701 AH, he lost his father at a young age and moved to Damascus, where his brother took charge of his upbringing. His prodigious memory and intelligence quickly made him stand out among his peers.
Education and Teachers
Studied under:
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Ibn Taymiyyah — greatly influenced his theological approach
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Al-Mizzī — master of hadith sciences and his father-in-law
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Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah — close associate and theological mentor
Expertise and Works
Renowned for his Qur’anic exegesis Tafsīr al-Qurʾān al-ʿAẓīm, noted for combining interpretation with hadith evidence and avoiding unreliable narrations. His Al-Bidāyah wa’l-Nihāyah is a monumental history from Creation to his time. Also wrote Al-Sīrah al-Nabawiyyah, a biography of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Famous For
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Producing one of the most reliable classical tafsīrs
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Historical chronicle covering Islamic and pre-Islamic periods
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Strong stance against fabricated hadith in scholarly works
Character and Political Stance
Steadfast in upholding authentic sources, often opposing fabricated reports even if popular. Maintained humility and was devoted to teaching in Damascus until his passing.
Famous Quote
“Whoever interprets the Qur’an according to his opinion has committed a mistake, even if he is correct.” (Tafsīr al-Qurʾān al-ʿAẓīm)
Legacy
His tafsīr remains among the most widely read in the Muslim world. Historians regard Al-Bidāyah wa’l-Nihāyah as an indispensable source for medieval Islamic history.
Interesting Facts
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Married the daughter of his teacher Al-Mizzī
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Known for blending hadith authentication into historical writing
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His eyesight weakened in later years, but he continued dictating works
References
- Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī, Al-Durar al-Kāminah
- Al-Dhahabī, Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ
- Ibn Kathīr, Tafsīr al-Qurʾān al-ʿAẓīm, Al-Bidāyah wa’l-Nihāyah
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