Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari

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For other individuals bearing the same name, see al-Tabari.

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Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn Jarir at-Tabari 838–923 (father of Jafar, named Muhammad, son of Jarir from the province of Tabaristan, Arabic الطبري), was an author from Persia, one of the earliest, most prominent and famous Persian and Muslim historians and exegetes.

Biography

He was born in Amol, Tabaristan (south of the Caspian Sea). He studied in Ray (Rages), Baghdad, and in Syria and Egypt.

Cast upon his own resources after his father's death, he was reduced to great poverty until he was appointed tutor to the son of the vizier Tibaidallāh ibn Yaliya. He afterwards journeyed to Egypt, but soon returned to Baghdad, where he remained as a teacher of tradition and law until his death. His life was simple and dignified, and characterized by extreme diligence. He is said to have often refused valuable gifts. A Shafi'ite in law, he claimed the right to criticize all schools, and ended by establishing a school of his own, in which, however, he incurred the violent wrath of the Hanbalites.

He wrote history, theology, and Qur'anic commentary.

He died in Baghdad in 923.

Works

--> His works are not numerous, but two of them are very extensive.

• 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 history from the Creation to AD 915, and is renowned for its detail and accuracy concerning Arab and Muslim 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.

See also

• List of Iranian scientists and scholars
• Islamic scholars

External links

• http://www.salaam.co.uk/knowledge/biography/viewentry.php?id=114

 

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