Bayżavī

Jurist/Theologian/Quranic Commentator/Historian

Naṣīr al-Dīn ʿAbd-Allāh ibn ʿUmar Bayżavī was born at Bayża, north of Širaz, to a family of jurists. In 680/1281, he attained the position of chief qāżī of Širaz, but it is unclear how long he held that position. Bayżavī’s broad interests and wide-range of knowledge are exemplified by the different types of works he wrote, which include: jurisprudence, grammar, logic, Quranic commentary and history. The most famous of Bayżavī’s works is certainly his commentary on the Qur’an entitled Anwār al-tanzīl wa asrār al-ta’wīl. The exact date of Bayżavī’s death is unclear, however, the following dates have emerged as the most likely: 684/1285–6, 685/1286–7, 691-2/1292–3, 708/1308–09, after 710/1310–11, or in 716/1316–17.