Bishr al-Marisi

Biography Early life Bishr's father, Ghiyath, was a Jewish slave or jeweller from Kufa who had reverted to Islam and become a mawla of the Quraysh tribe. Abu Yusuf disassociated with Bishr after finding out that he had Jahmite or Murji'ite tendencies.

Criticism Bishr al-Marisi was criticized and subsequently excommunicated by many scholars who lived contemporary to him, and after him. The Hanafite jurist Abd al-Aziz al-Kinani published a treatise titled Kitab al-Haydah, which served a similar purpose. Some other scholars had murderous desires against him and attempted to incite violence against him. One such example was Yazid ibn Harun, whom encouraged his neighbours to assault and kill Bishr.

The Tabi' al-Tabi'een members, Sufyan ibn Uyaynah and Abd Allah ibn al-Mubarak excommunicated Bishr al-Marisi.

Praise Despite the harsh criticisms from many scholars, Bishr al-Marisi was praised by the historian Al-Dhahabi, who regarded him as a brilliant speaker and debater. Ibn al-Nadim regarded Bishr as a great ascetic who wrote books in refutation of the Kharijites and Shi'ites.