Introduction
Abdullah ibn Abbas was the son of the Prophet's uncle al-Abbas, and a nephew of the Prophet's wife Maymunah. He was still a child when the Prophet died, yet he spent every opportunity he could close to him, memorising what he saw and heard, including the Prophet's night prayer, which he watched by staying overnight at his aunt's house.
The Prophet prayed for him by name, asking Allah to give him understanding of the religion and to teach him the Book. That du'a shaped his life. He became known as the foremost interpreter of the Quran in his generation, and students travelled to learn from him in Mecca and later in Ta'if.
He was also a trusted adviser to the caliphs and served as governor of Basra under Ali. He is remembered less for politics than for sitting patiently with knowledge, asking questions of senior Companions, and then teaching it with clarity.
The story
c. 619 CE
Born around three years before the Hijrah; he and his mother were among the weak Muslims in Mecca who were excused from migrating.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 1357Sahih Arabic text
يَقُولُ كُنْتُ أَنَا وَأُمِّي، مِنَ الْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ أَنَا مِنَ الْوِلْدَانِ، وَأُمِّي، مِنَ النِّسَاءِ.
“My mother and I were among the weak and oppressed”
Medina, 8-10 AH
Spent nights at his aunt Maymunah's house and observed the Prophet's night prayer and daily practice.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 4569Sahih Arabic text
قَالَ بِتُّ عِنْدَ خَالَتِي مَيْمُونَةَ، فَتَحَدَّثَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَعَ أَهْلِهِ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ رَقَدَ، فَلَمَّا كَانَ ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ الآخِرُ قَعَدَ فَنَظَرَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَقَالَ{إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلاَفِ ��للَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لآيَاتٍ لأُولِي الأَلْبَابِ}، ثُمَّ قَامَ فَتَوَضَّأَ وَاسْتَنَّ، فَصَلَّى إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً، ثُمَّ …
“I stayed overnight in the house of my aunt Maimuna”
Medina
Received the Prophet's du'a for understanding of the religion and knowledge of the Book.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 143Sahih Arabic text
أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم دَخَلَ الْخَلاَءَ، فَوَضَعْتُ لَهُ وَضُوءًا قَالَ" مَنْ وَضَعَ هَذَا". فَأُخْبِرَ فَقَالَ" اللَّهُمَّ فَقِّهْهُ فِي الدِّينِ".
“Make him (Ibn `Abbas) a learned scholar in religion”
Sahih al-Bukhari 75Sahih Arabic text
قَالَ ضَمَّنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَقَالَ " اللَّهُمَّ عَلِّمْهُ الْكِتَابَ".
“Bestow on him the knowledge of the Book”
After 11 AH / 632 CE
Studied from senior Companions, then taught widely in Mecca; served under Ali as governor of Basra.
c. 68 AH / 687 CE
Died in Ta'if.
A day in their footsteps
6 small, repeatable practices from Abdullah ibn Abbas's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.
Watching and learning the night prayer
Ibn Abbas stayed the night in his aunt's house in order to see how the Prophet prayed at night, and learned its form: waking, wudu, standing and praying through the night, and then the pre-dawn prayer.
Try this today
Learn one part of qiyam, even a few rak'ahs, from the Sunnah and keep to it.
Sit with this
Which part of the Prophet's night prayer could you learn and keep?
Sources
Sahih al-Bukhari 4569Sahih … صلى الله عليه وسلم مَعَ أَهْلِهِ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ رَقَدَ، فَلَمَّا كَانَ ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ الآخِرُ قَعَدَ فَنَظَرَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَقَالَ{إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلاَفِ ��للَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لآيَاتٍ لأُولِي الأَلْبَابِ}، ثُمَّ قَامَ فَتَوَضَّأَ وَاسْتَنَّ، فَصَلَّى إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً، ثُمَّ أَذَّنَ بِلاَلٌ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَصَلَّى …
“he got up and looked towards the sky”
Sahih al-Bukhari 697Sahih … ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ بِتُّ فِي بَيْتِ خَالَتِي مَيْمُونَةَ فَصَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْعِشَاءَ، ثُمَّ جَاءَ فَصَلَّى أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ ثُمَّ نَامَ، ثُمَّ قَامَ فَجِئْتُ فَقُمْتُ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ، فَجَعَلَنِي عَنْ يَمِينِهِ، فَصَلَّى خَمْسَ رَكَعَاتٍ، ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ نَامَ حَتَّى سَمِعْتُ غَطِيطَهُ ـ أَوْ قَالَ خَطِيطَهُ ـ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ إِلَى …
“I stood on his left side. He drew me to his right”
Standing correctly beside the imam and accepting correction
He joined the Prophet in night prayer and stood on his left, and the Prophet gently moved him to his right. He accepted the correction without any fuss and learned the rule.
Try this today
Take correction lightly and gratefully, and let it become knowledge.
Sit with this
When you are gently corrected, does it become knowledge or a wound?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 726Sahih قَالَ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ فَقُمْتُ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ، فَأَخَذَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِرَأْسِي مِنْ وَرَائِي، فَجَعَلَنِي عَنْ يَمِينِهِ، فَصَلَّى وَرَقَدَ فَجَاءَهُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ، فَقَامَ وَصَلَّى وَلَمْ يَتَوَضَّأْ.
“caught hold of my head from behind and drew me to his right”
Serving quietly without being asked
He placed water for the Prophet's wudu before anyone requested it. The Prophet asked who had done it and prayed for him because of it.
Try this today
Do a small, unrequested kindness today for someone you learn from.
Sit with this
What small, unrequested kindness could you do for a teacher today?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 143Sahih أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم دَخَلَ الْخَلاَءَ، فَوَضَعْتُ لَهُ وَضُوءًا قَالَ" مَنْ وَضَعَ هَذَا". فَأُخْبِرَ فَقَالَ" اللَّهُمَّ فَقِّهْهُ فِي الدِّينِ".
“I placed water for his ablution”
Asking Allah for understanding
The Prophet made the du'a for him: 'O Allah, make him a learned scholar in religion' and 'bestow on him the knowledge of the Book'. Ibn Abbas spent his life seeking exactly this.
Try this today
Ask Allah regularly for understanding, and then act on the knowledge you gain.
Sit with this
Do you ask Allah for understanding as often as you ask for provision?
Sources
Sahih al-Bukhari 143Sahih أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم دَخَلَ الْخَلاَءَ، فَوَضَعْتُ لَهُ وَضُوءًا قَالَ" مَنْ وَضَعَ هَذَا". فَأُخْبِرَ فَقَالَ" اللَّهُمَّ فَقِّهْهُ فِي الدِّينِ".
“O Allah! Make him (Ibn `Abbas) a learned scholar in religion”
Sahih al-Bukhari 75Sahih قَالَ ضَمَّنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَقَالَ " اللَّهُمَّ عَلِّمْهُ الْكِتَابَ".
“Bestow on him the knowledge of the Book”
Reflecting on creation in the last third of the night
Ibn Abbas saw the Prophet wake in the last third of the night, look to the sky, and recite the verse about the creation of the heavens and earth before making wudu and praying.
Try this today
In the last part of the night, look up for a moment and recite 3:190 before you pray.
Sit with this
Could you look at the sky tonight and recite the end of Al Imran?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 4569Sahih … صلى الله عليه وسلم مَعَ أَهْلِهِ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ رَقَدَ، فَلَمَّا كَانَ ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ الآخِرُ قَعَدَ فَنَظَرَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَقَالَ{إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلاَفِ ��للَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لآيَاتٍ لأُولِي الأَلْبَابِ}، ثُمَّ قَامَ فَتَوَضَّأَ وَاسْتَنَّ، فَصَلَّى إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً، ثُمَّ أَذَّنَ بِلاَلٌ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَصَلَّى …
“In the creation of the Heavens and the Earth and in the alteration of night and day”
Keeping Allah in mind
As a boy riding behind the Prophet he was taught to be mindful of Allah, to ask Allah alone and seek Allah's help alone, and to know that nothing benefits or harms except by Allah's decree. He passed this advice on throughout his life.
Try this today
Before asking people for help, turn to Allah first, then act.
Sit with this
Before you ask people for help, have you asked Allah?
Source
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2516Sahih … عليه وسلم يَوْمًا فَقَالَ " يَا غُلاَمُ إِنِّي أُعَلِّمُكَ كَلِمَاتٍ احْفَظِ اللَّهَ يَحْفَظْكَ احْفَظِ اللَّهَ تَجِدْهُ تُجَاهَكَ إِذَا سَأَلْتَ فَاسْأَلِ اللَّهَ وَإِذَا اسْتَعَنْتَ فَاسْتَعِنْ بِاللَّهِ وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ الأُمَّةَ لَوِ اجْتَمَعَتْ عَلَى أَنْ يَنْفَعُوكَ بِشَيْءٍ لَمْ يَنْفَعُوكَ إِلاَّ بِشَيْءٍ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ لَكَ وَلَوِ اجْتَمَعُوا عَلَى أَنْ يَضُرُّوكَ بِشَيْءٍ …
“Be mindful of Allah and He will protect you”
Virtues
The Prophet embraced him and prayed that Allah would bestow on him knowledge of the Book.
“Bestow on him the knowledge of the Book”
Arabic text
قَالَ ضَمَّنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَقَالَ " اللَّهُمَّ عَلِّمْهُ الْكِتَابَ".
Sahih al-Bukhari 75Sahih
The Prophet prayed that Allah would make him a learned scholar in religion, after he placed water for the Prophet's wudu.
“Make him (Ibn `Abbas) a learned scholar in religion”
Arabic text
أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم دَخَلَ الْخَلاَءَ، فَوَضَعْتُ لَهُ وَضُوءًا قَالَ" مَنْ وَضَعَ هَذَا". فَأُخْبِرَ فَقَالَ" اللَّهُمَّ فَقِّهْهُ فِي الدِّينِ".
Sahih al-Bukhari 143Sahih
Sayings and moments
The Prophet taught him: be mindful of Allah and Allah will protect you; ask Allah when you ask.
“When you ask, ask Allah”
Arabic text
… احْفَظِ اللَّهَ تَجِدْهُ تُجَاهَكَ إِذَا سَأَلْتَ فَاسْأَلِ اللَّهَ وَإِذَا اسْتَعَنْتَ فَاسْتَعِنْ بِاللَّهِ وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ الأُمَّةَ لَوِ اجْتَمَعَتْ عَلَى أَنْ يَنْفَعُوكَ بِشَيْءٍ لَمْ يَنْفَعُوكَ إِلاَّ بِشَيْءٍ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ لَكَ وَلَوِ اجْتَمَعُوا عَلَى أَنْ يَضُرُّوكَ بِشَيْءٍ لَمْ يَضُرُّوكَ إِلاَّ بِشَيْءٍ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ رُفِعَتِ الأَقْلاَمُ وَجَفَّتِ …
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2516Sahih
Words on this page
- Du'aدعاء
- Supplication: calling on Allah and asking Him, in any language and at any time.
- Fajrالفجر
- The dawn prayer, prayed between first light and sunrise. It is preceded by two short voluntary rak'ahs.
- Hadithحديث
- A report of what the Prophet ﷺ said, did or approved, passed down through a chain of narrators.
- Hijrahالهجرة
- The migration of the Prophet ﷺ and the Muslims from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE, the starting point of the Islamic calendar.
- Makkahمكة
- The city of the Ka'bah, where the Prophet ﷺ was born and revelation began.
- Rak'ahركعة
- One unit of the prayer: standing and reciting, bowing, and two prostrations.
- Sunnahالسنة
- The way of the Prophet ﷺ: his words, actions and approvals. Also used for a recommended act.
- Tahajjudتهجد
- Voluntary prayer at night after waking from sleep, especially in the last third of the night.
- Ummahالأمة
- The worldwide community of Muslims.
- Wuduالوضوء
- The ritual washing of the face, arms, head and feet before prayer.
Related companions
- عبد الله بن مسعودAbdullah ibn Mas'udEarly Muslim and shepherd boy of Mecca whom the Prophet named first among those to learn the Quran from; a ju…
- عبد الله بن عمرAbdullah ibn UmarSon of Umar and brother of Hafsa; renowned for following the Prophet's every action, his night prayer, his ge…
- زيد بن ثابتZayd ibn ThabitYoung Ansari scribe of the Prophet who wrote down revelation, later compiled the Quran under Abu Bakr and cop…
- أم هانئ بنت أبي طالبUmm Hani bint Abi TalibThe Prophet's cousin and sister of Ali who sheltered a man at the Conquest of Mecca and is the main narrator…
Sources and review
- Wikipedia: Ibn Abbas (opens in a new tab)
- Hadith texts and grades cross-checked against the fawazahmed0 hadith-api dataset (mirrors sunnah.com numbering) (opens in a new tab)
Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com. Each report links to sunnah.com, and, where the numbering matches, to al-Hadees or HadithUnlocked as well. Quran verses link to quran.com, Tafsir Ibn Kathir and Tanzil. The Arabic is taken from the hadith editions and trimmed around the quoted words, so read the full report at the source before relying on it. Grades are the ones those editions give.
This page is pending scholar review. It was compiled from public sources, and its citations were last checked on 7 October 2026. If you notice a mistake or a missing source, please tell us.