Jahm bin Safwan hailed from Khorasan, specifically attributed to Samarkand and Tirmidh. His lineage traces back to Kufa, and his nickname is Abu Mahrez. He belongs to Bani Raseb from the “Azed” tribe and learned theology from Jahd bin Durham. An eloquent speaker, Harith bin Sirij Tamimi chose him as his scribe during his uprising in Khorasan.
All scholars who have mentioned him agree that his name is “Jahm” and his father’s name is “Safwan,” although some also refer to him as “Al-Jahm,” a designation common in the Arabic language—similar to the usage of “Al-Hassan” and “Al-Hussein.”
Jahm bin Safwan called the people to join the uprising and rebellion led by Harith bin Serij, persuading many to join Harith’s group until he was captured in 128 AHS, the same year he was killed.
Jahm bin Safwan is recognized as the first theologian to emerge in the early history of Islam. Scholars felt the danger posed by his beliefs, prompting many to write books against him and his sect. Among these are “Creating the Actions of the Servants and Responding to the Jahmiyyah and the People of Disruption” by Imam Muhammad bin Ismail al-Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him; “Explaining the Confusion of the Jahmiyyah in Establishing Their Theological Heresy” by Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him; and “Lightning Bolts Sent to the Jahmiyyah and the Disabled” by Ibn Qayyim al-Juziyyah, may Allah have mercy on him.
Jahm bin Safwan spent most of his life in Khorasan, which, in Persian, means “the land of the shining sun.” At that time, Khorasan was one of the most famous centers of Islam, encompassing areas that today include Iran, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan.
Zahabi writes in the book “Al-Mizan” about Jahm bin Safwan: “Jahm bin Safwan Samarqandi is misguided, a heretic, and the leader of the Jahmiyyah group. He perished during the time of the Tabi’in, and as far as I know, he did not narrate anything, but he caused great evil among the people.”
Abu Mahrez Jahm bin Safwan is from Bani Raseb, sometimes referred to as Tirmidhi and sometimes as Samarqandi. He was one of the theologians of the 2nd century AH, participating in the armies of Harith bin Sirij, who fought against the Umayyad dynasty in Khorasan. He was killed in 128 AHS during the same uprisings.
Many scholars have attributed the origins of this group and their beliefs to Jews and Christians. In the next part of this research, Allah willing, we will explain in detail the similarities between this group and these two faiths.
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