Abu Muslim al-Isfahani

Abu Muslim al-Isfahani (868–934) was a Mu'tazilite theologian, Quran commentator, and government official. He worked as a secretary to Muhammad ibn Zayd, tax director, and chief accountant in Isfahan and other cities. He is best known for his fourteen-volume Quranic commentary, Jami' al-Ta'wil li-Muhkami al-Tanzil , written according to Mu'tazilite theological views. He is also noted for rejecting the idea of abrogation (naskh) within the Quran. None of his works have survived in full, but later scholars such as Fakhr al-Din al-Razi quoted from them in their writings.

Abu Muslim was born in 868 CE (254 AH).^[1] According to Ibn al-Nadim, his father's name was Muslim ibn Bahr, while Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani mentions his kunya as Abu Salama.^[2] He became known for his work in Qur’anic exegesis and Mu‘tazilite theology and was described as a scholar with a strong interest in argumentation and reasoning.^[2] He also studied the Arabic language and literature, hadith, and Islamic law. Some of his poems are quoted in later sources.^[1]

There is no clear information about his teachers, but it is believed that he went to Baghdad at a young age. He is reported to have visited the house of the poet Buhturi, who left Iraq in 892. Before 900 CE, Abu Muslim worked as a secretary for Muhammad ibn Zayd, the ruler of Tabaristan and Gorgan.^[3]

In 912–913 CE, Abu’l-Husayn ibn Abi’l-Baghl, the newly appointed tax director of Isfahan, sent him a letter from Baghdad assigning him to manage the Office of Domains (Diwan al-Diyaʿ), which dealt with state lands and agricultural revenues. When Ibn Abi’l-Baghl arrived in Isfahan, he confirmed Abu Muslim in that position.^[3]

In 915–916 CE, Abu Muslim was appointed chief accountant (mustawfi) in Shiraz under the tax collector Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Rustam. A few years later, in 918–919 CE, Ali ibn Isa, on the advice of Ibn Abi’l-Baghl, gave him joint responsibility with Ahmad ibn Saʿd for tax administration in Isfahan and granted them authority over their predecessor, Ibn Rustam. Abu Muslim was still living in Isfahan in 928 CE.^[3]

In 933 CE (321 AH), after Ibn Rustam's death, Abu Muslim was again appointed tax director of Isfahan.^[3] Soon after, Ali ibn Buya, the Buyid ruler, captured the city and removed him from office. Some Shia sources mention that Abu Muslim was sympathetic toward Shia ideas. He died toward the end of 934 CE (322 AH).^[2]

Several works are attributed to Abu Muslim, although none of them have survived in full. Information about his writings is known only through references in later sources.^[1]

1. Jami' al-Ta'wil li-Muhkami al-Tanzil (Sharh al-Ta’wil) – This was a fourteen-volume Qur’anic commentary in which verses were interpreted according to Mu‘tazilite principles. Later scholars such as Fakhr al-Din al-Razi and Abu Ja‘far al-Tusi quoted from it. Razi in particular cited him frequently in his own exegesis.^[1]
2. al-Nasikh wa’l-Mansukh – A work on the concept of abrogation (naskh) in the Qur’an. It was mentioned by Kâtip Çelebi in his bibliographical book Kashf al-Zunun among writings on the subject of nasikh-mansukh in hadith and Qur’an.^[1]
3. Jami‘ al-Rasa’il – A collection of his theological and linguistic epistles, the contents of which are not known in detail.^[3]

Abu Muslim also wrote poetry. A few of his Arabic verses were cited by Yaqut al-Hamawi, and Abu al-Faraj al-Isfahani mentioned him in Kitab al-Aghani . Some sources also note that he wrote a book on Arabic grammar and a compilation of shorter treatises.^[3]

• List of Mu'tazilites