[Alia Varia][Arabic, Latin]

Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari

Works

At Tabari wrote history, theology and Qur’anic commentary. His legal writings were published first and then continued to appear throughout his life. Next were his commentaries on the Qur’an. Lastly, his history was published. Despite a style that makes it seem he drew largely on oral sources, written material (both published and unpublished) provided him with the bulk of his information. His biographers stress his reverence for scholarship and his keen intent to offer his readers hard fact.

He didn’t hesitate to express his independent judgement (ijtihad) ^[26]. He stated his assessment as to which of the sources he cited was accurate ^[11]. This was more understandably an aspect of his theology than of his history. This does not mean he saw himself as innovative. On the contrary, he was very much opposed to religious innovation. The story goes that when he was near death ibn Kamil suggested he forgive his enemies. He said he was willing to do so, except for the person who had described him as an innovator ^[27]. In general Tabari’s approach was conciliatory and moderate, seeking harmonious agreement between conflicting opinions ^[28].

Initially he identified as a Shafi’ite in law and Shafi’ites were happy to have him so considered. He later was seen as one establishing his own school. Although he had come to Baghdad in youth to study from Hanbal, he incurred the vehement wrath of the Hanbalites ^[29]. Tabari’s madhhab is usually designated by the name Jariri after his patronymic ^[30]. However, in the keenly competitive atmosphere of the times, his school failed to endure ^[31].

His wrote extensively; his voluminous corpus containing two main titles:

• History of the Prophets and Kings – (Arabic: تاريخ الرسل والملوك or Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk or Tarikh al-Tabari)

The first of the two large works, generally known as the Annals (Arabic Tarikh al-Tabari). This is a universal history from the time of Qur’anic Creation to AD 915, and is renowned for its detail and accuracy concerning Muslim and Middle Eastern history. Tabari’s work is a major primary source for the Zanj Revolt.

• The commentary on the Qur’an – (Arabic: al-musamma Jami al-bayan fi ta’wil al-Qur’an or Tafsir al-Tabari)

His second great work was the commentary on the Qur’an, (Arabic Tafsir al-Tabari), which was marked by the same fullness of detail as the Annals. The size of the work and the independence of judgment in it seem to have prevented it from having a large circulation, but scholars such as Baghawi and Suyuti used it largely. It was used in compiling the Tafsir ibn Kathir.

• A third great work was begun by Tabari. This was to be on the traditions of the Companions of Muhammad (Arabic: Sahaba), etc. It was not, however, completed.

ANNALES

QUOS SCRIPSIT

ABU DJAFAR MOHAMMED IBN DJARIR

AT-TABARI

CUM ALIIS EDIDIT

M. J. DE GOEJE.

	Tarkh al-rusul wa al-mulk (Volume 2) – abar, 838?-923 Arabic text with Latin introduction, commentaries and footnotes Keywords: World history
	Tarkh al-rusul wa al-mulk (Volume 1) – abar, 838?-923 Arabic text with Latin introduction, commentaries and footnotes Keywords: World history
	Tarkh al-rusul wa al-mulk (Volume 4) – abar, 838?-923 Arabic text with Latin introduction, commentaries and footnotes Keywords: World history
	Tarkh al-rusul wa al-mulk (Volume 3) – abar, 838?-923 Arabic text with Latin introduction, commentaries and footnotes Keywords: World history
	Tarkh al-rusul wa al-mulk (Volume 6) – abar, 838?-923 Arabic text with Latin introduction, commentaries and footnotes Keywords: World history
	Tarkh al-rusul wa al-mulk (Volume 5) – abar, 838?-923 Arabic text with Latin introduction, commentaries and footnotes Keywords: World history
	Tarkh al-rusul wa al-mulk (Volume 8) – abar, 838?-923 Arabic text with Latin introduction, commentaries and footnotes Keywords: World history
	Tarkh al-rusul wa al-mulk (Volume 7) – abar, 838?-923 Arabic text with Latin introduction, commentaries and footnotes Keywords: World history
	Tarkh al-rusul wa al-mulk (Volume 10) – abar, 838?-923 Arabic text with Latin introduction, commentaries and footnotes Keywords: World history
	Tarkh al-rusul wa al-mulk (Volume 9) – abar, 838?-923 Arabic text with Latin introduction, commentaries and footnotes Keywords: World history
	Tarkh al-rusul wa al-mulk (Volume 12) – abar, 838?-923 Arabic text with Latin introduction, commentaries and footnotes Keywords: World history
	Tarkh al-rusul wa al-mulk (Volume 11) – abar, 838?-923 Arabic text with Latin introduction, commentaries and footnotes Keywords: World history
	Tarkh al-rusul wa al-mulk (Volume 14) – abar, 838?-923 Arabic text with Latin introduction, commentaries and footnotes Keywords: World history
	Tarkh al-rusul wa al-mulk (Volume 13) – abar, 838?-923 Arabic text with Latin introduction, commentaries and footnotes Keywords: World history
	Tarkh al-rusul wa al-mulk (Volume 15) – abar, 838?-923 Arabic text with Latin introduction, commentaries and footnotes Keywords: World history