Hasan al-Basri (642–728)
Born 642 CE, died 728 CE.
Abi Sa'id al-Hasan ibn Yasar al-Basri, often referred to as al-Hasan al-Basri, was an early Medieval Muslim preacher, ascetic, theologian, exegete, scholar, and judge. Born in Medina in 642 CE, Hasan belonged to the second generation of Muslims, all of whom would subsequently be referred to as the tabi'un in Sunni Islamic piety. He became one of "the most celebrated" of the tabi'un, enjoying an "acclaimed scholarly career and an even more remarkable posthumous legacy in Islamic scholarship." Hasan, revered for his austerity and support for "renunciation" (zuhd), preached against worldliness and materialism during the early days of the Umayyad Caliphate, with his passionate sermons casting a "deep impression on his contemporaries." His close relationships with several of the most prominent companions of Muhammad only strengthened his standing as a teacher and scholar of the Islamic sciences. The particular disciplines in which he is said to have excelled included exegesis (tafsīr) of the Quran, whence his "name is invariably encountered in" classical and medieval commentaries on the scripture, as well as theology.
Text from the Wikipedia article Hasan_al-Basri, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.