Persian scholar
Medieval era |
Bal'ami's 14th century Persian version of Universal History by al-Tabari
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Name
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Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari
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Birth
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224H
Amol, Tapuria, Persia
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Death
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310H
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School/tradition
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Jariri
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Abi J'afar Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari (838-923 أبي جعفر
محمد بن جرير الطبري) was one of the earliest, most prominent and famous Persian
historians and exegetes of the Qur'an, most famous for his
Tarikh al-Tabari (History of the Prophets and Kings) and
Tafsir al-Tabari.
Name
Tabari (Persian: طبری), Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn Jarir at-Tabari, His name means "father of Jafar, named after the Prophet
Muhammad, son of Jarir, from the province of Tabaristan".
Biography
He was born in Amol, Tabaristan some twenty
kilometres south of the Caspian Sea) in the winter of 838-9. He was precocious. He left home
to study in A.H. 236 (850-1) when he was twelve. He retained close ties to his home town. He did return at least twice, the last
time in A.H. 290 (903) when his outspokenness caused some uneasiness and led to his quick departure.
He first went to Ray (Rages), where he remained for some five years. A major teacher in
Rayy was Abu Abdallah Muhammad b. Humayd al-Razi already in his seventies. Ibn Humayd had taught in Baghdad and was now retired
in his native city. Among other material, ibn Humayd taught al-Tabari the historical works of ibn
Ishaq, especially al-Sirah, his life of Muhammad. Al Tabari was thus introduced in youth to pre-Islamic and early Islamic
history. Al-Tabari quotes ibn Humayd frequently. Beyond the names of at least two of them, we know little about al-Tabari's other
teachers in Rayy.
Then he went to Baghdad to study from ibn Hanbal, who, however, had recently died. This was in late 241 (late 855 or early
856). Al-Tabari possibly made a pilgrimage prior to his first arrival in Baghdad. He left Baghdad probably in 242 (856-7) to
travel through the southern cities of Basra, Kufah and Wasit. There he met a number of eminent and venerable scholars.
On his return to Baghdad, he took a tutoring position from the vizier Ubaydallah b. Yahya b. Khaqan. This would have been
before A.H. 244 (858) since the vizier was out of office and in exile from 244 to 248 (858-9 to 862). There is an anecdote told
that al-Tabari had agreed to tutor for ten dinars a month, but his teaching was so effective and the lad's writing so impressive
that the teacher was offered a tray of dinars and dirhams. The ever ethical al-Tabari declined the offer saying he had undertaken
to do his work at the specified amount and could not honourably take more. This is one of a number of stories about him declining
gifts or giving gifts of equal or greater amount in return.
In his late twenties he travelled to Syria, Palestine and Egypt. In Beirut he made the highly significant connection of
al-Abbas b. al-Walid b. Mazyad al-'Udhri al-Bayruti (c.169-270/785-6 to 883-4). Al-Abbas instructed al-Tabari in the Syrian
school's variant readings of the Qur'an and transmitted through his father al-Walid the legal views of al-Awza'i, Beirut's
prominent jurist from a century earlier.
Al-Tabari arrived in Egypt in 253 (867). There he was among the "Famous Four" who met there who were all named Muhammad: Ibn
Jarir, Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Harun, and Ibn Nasr.
Some time after 256/870 al-Tabari returned to Baghdad, possibly making a pilgrimage on the way. If so, he did not stay long in
the Hijaz. Al-Tabari had a private income from his father while he was still living and then the inheritance. He took money for
teaching. He never took a government or a judicial position.
Personal Characteristics
He is described as having a dark complexion, large eyes and a long beard. He was tall and slender and his hair and beard
remained black until he was very old. He was attentive to his health, avoiding red meat, fats and other unhealthy foods. He was
seldom sick before his last decade when he suffered from bouts of pleurisy. When he was ill, he could treat himself to the
approval of physicians. He had a sense of humour, though serious subjects he treated seriously. He had studied poetry when young
and enjoyed writing, reciting and participating in poetic exchanges. It is said that he was asked in Egypt about al-Tirimmah and
was able to recite this seventh century poet's work for Egyptians who had merely heard al-Tirimmah's name.
He was witty and urbane, clean and well mannered. He avoided coarse speech, instead displaying refined eloquence. He had a
good grounding in grammar, lexicography and philology. Such were considered essential for Qur'anic commentary. He knew Persian
and was acquainted with the origins of various foreign loan words in Arabic from a number of other languages.
Al-Tabari never married. There is a description of his normal day: rising early for prayer, studying till early afternoon,
publicly praying the afternoon prayer, reciting Qur'an and teaching Qur'an, and then teaching law, etc. until late.
He died in Baghdad on February 17, 923.
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). He stated his assessment as to which of the sources he
cited was accurate. 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 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.
In general al-Tabari's approach was conciliatory and moderate, seeking harmonious agreement between conflicting opinions.
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. Tabari's madhhab is usually designated by the name Jariri after his patronymic (Rosenthal p. 64). However, in the keenly competitive atmosphere of the times, his school failed
to endure.
His wrote extensively; his voluminous corpus containing two main titles:
The first of the two large works, generally known as the Annals (Arabic Tarikh al-Tabari). This is a
universal history from the 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.
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
References
- Bosworth, C.E., Encyclopedia of Islam, "Al-Tabari, Abu Djafar Muhammad b. Djarir b. Yazid"
- Rosenthal, Franz, "The Life and Works of al-Tabari" pp. 5-134 of volume one of the English translation of the
History.
External links
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