Introduction to Ibn Jarir al-Tabari

Introduction to al-ÙabarÊ

AbË JaÑfar MuÍammad b. JarÊr al-ÙabarÊ. He was born in Amol, Tabaristan (224 A.H.). He left home to study in 236 A.H. when he was twelve. He retained close ties to his home town. He did return at least twice, the last time in 290 A.H. when his outspokenness caused some uneasiness and led to his quick departure.
He first went to Ray, where he remained for some five years. A major teachers in al-Rayy were; Ibn ×umayd al-RÉzÊ, and AÍmad b. ×ammÉd al-DËlÉbÊ. Ibn ×umayd had taught in Baghdad and was now retired in his native city. Among other material, Ibn ×umayd taught al-ÙabarÊ the historical works of Ibn IsÍÉq, especially al-SÊrah, the life of the prophet MuÍammad (SAW). Al-ÙabarÊ was thus introduced in youth to pre-Islamic and early Islamic history. Al-ÙabarÊ quotes ibn Humayd frequently.
Then he went to Baghdad to study from Ibn ×anbal, who, however, had recently died. This was in late 241 A.H. He left Baghdad probably in 242 A.H. to travel through the southern cities of BaÎrah, KËfah and WasÊÏ. There he met a number of eminent and venerable scholars. On his return to Baghdad, he took a tutoring position from the vizier ÑUbaydullah b. YaÍyÉ b. KhÉqÉn. This would have been before 244 A.H. since the vizier was out of office and in exile from 244 to 248 A.H. In his late twenties he traveled to Syria, Palestine and Egypt. He died in ShawwÉl 310 A.H. in Baghdad.
Al-ÙabarÊ has numerous works in various disciplines of knowledge. Among the main referred references for generations are; JÉmiÑ al-BayÉn Ñan Ta’wÊl Éy al-Qur’Én (famously known as TafsÊr al-ÙabarÊ), TÉrÊkh al-Rusul wa al-MulËk (or TÉrÊkh al-ÙabarÊ), TahdhÊb al-AthÉr, AdÉb al-NufËs, AdÉb al-ManÉsik, KitÉb al-FaÌÉ’il, and IkhtilÉf ÑUlamÉ’ al-AmÎÉr.