Hadhrat Ibn Abbas

Hadhrat Abdullah bin Abbas (Radhiyallaho anho) used to say to the people: "Come to me for your difficulties in understanding the Qur'an. I memorised it while I was only a child." In another Hadith, he is reported to have said: "I had completed my reading of the Qur'an when l' was only ten." The reading of the Qur'an by Sahabah was not done like the reading by the non-Arabs of today. Whatever they read, they read with full meaning and explanation. As the impression of something memorised in childhood is very deep and permanent, so Abdullah bin Abbas (Radhiyallaho anho) is accepted as Imam in Tafsir. None of the Sahabah has narrated more Ahadith explaining the meaning of Qur'an than was done by Ibn Abbas. Abdullah bin Mas'ood (Radhiyallaho anho) says: "Abdullah bin Abbas (Radhiyallaho anho) is the best commentator of the Qur'an." . Abu Abdur Rahman(Rahmatullah alaih), on the authority of Sahabah who taught him the Qur'an, says: "The Sahabah learnt ten verses of the Qur'an from the ~ Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam] at a time. They would not take the next lesson until they had mastered ~ the knowledge and acted upon those ten verses." Abdullah bin Abbas (Radhiyallaho anho) was 13 at the time of the Prophet's death. It is miracle that he knew so much of the Qur'an and Hadith at such a young age. Many eminent Sahabah used to come to him to solve their difficulties about the interpretation of the Qur'an. This was, however, all due to the blessing of the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam), who once coming out from the closet had found water lying ready for his use and inquired: "Who put this water here?" Somebody said: "Ibn Abbas." The Prophet (Sallallahoalaihe wasallam) appreciated the service and prayed for Ibn Abbas: "0, Allah! Give him the knowledge and understanding of the Qur'an and practices of Islam." On another occasion, the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) was saying his Salaat. Ibn Abbas (Radhiyallaho anho) joined him in Salaat by standing behind him .. The Prophet caught him by the hand and drew him to his side. (When there is only one follower in Salaat with [amaat, he stands by the side of Imam and not after him). While the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) was busy in Salaat, he moved back a little distance. When the Salaat was over, the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) asked him: "What made you recede from your place?" He said: "You are the Prophet of Allah!. How could I stand with you." On this occasion too, the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) prayed for his knowledge and understanding.