Busoga Music Store
After presenting conflicting views, al-Tabari acts as a judge. He weighs the evidence, rejects weak narrations, and explicitly states his own conclusion, often using the phrase, "The most correct opinion in our view is..." The Historical and Academic Importance
The Commentary on the Quran Vol. 2 is an indispensable resource for several reasons:
If you’d like, I can:
Before delving into the specific contents of Volume 2, one must appreciate the author. Al-Tabari was a Persian scholar from Amol, Tabaristan (modern-day Iran), who possessed a photographic memory and an insatiable appetite for knowledge. He was a jurist (faqih) who founded his own short-lived school of law (the Jariri school), a historian whose History of the Prophets and Kings remains a primary source for pre-Islamic and early Islamic history, and a Quranic exegete of unparalleled rigor.
user wants a long article about "The Commentary On The Quran Vol. 2 By Al-tabari". I need to gather information about this specific volume, the Tafsir al-Tabari as a whole, the translator (maybe?), and its significance. I'll search for relevant sources. search results show several relevant pages. I need to open them to gather detailed information. search results provide information on the English translation "Selections from the Comprehensive Exposition of the Interpretation of the Verses of the Qur'an" (2 volumes) by Scott C. Lucas, published by Islamic Texts Society. Volume 2 covers a list of surahs. There is also an AI translation. I have information about Tafsir al-Tabari itself, its significance, methodology, and the author. I need to structure a long article. The user's specific keyword is "The Commentary On The Quran Vol. 2 By Al-tabari". I will write an article that covers: introduction to Al-Tabari and his Tafsir, the significance of the work, a detailed look at the English translation's Volume 2, its contents and features, the translator, and the work's impact. I'll cite the sources I've found. Now I'll write the article.The Commentary On The Quran Vol. 2 By Al-Tabari: A Glimpse into the Master’s Magnum Opus** The Commentary On The Quran Vol. 2 By Al-tabari
To use it effectively:
When variant readings ( qira'at ) or conflicting narrations arise, al-Tabari acts as a judge, weighing the evidence and explicitly stating which view is most sound and why. Key Themes Addressed in Volume 2
As Volume 2 transitions into Surah Al-Imran, the tone shifts from law to narrative theology. Al-Tabari provides a detailed historical background of the birth of Maryam, relying heavily on Judeo-Christian traditions (Isra’iliyyat) that he deems historically useful, though not theologically binding. He traces the miracle of Prophet Isa speaking in the cradle and his creation "like Adam" (from dust). This section is critical for interfaith dialogue, as Al-Tabari refutes both Jewish slander of Mary and Christian claims of Jesus’ divinity, presenting the Quranic golden mean.
Here is a practical assessment to help you decide if it’s the right guide for your purpose. After presenting conflicting views, al-Tabari acts as a
Introduction The Commentary on the Quran (known in Arabic as Jamiʿ al-bayan ʿan taʾwil ay al-Quran ), authored by the Persian scholar Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari (839–923 CE), represents a monumental milestone in Islamic scholarship. As one of the earliest, most comprehensive, and highly influential textual analyses of the Islamic holy book, Al-Tabari’s work earned him the title of the "Father of Quranic Exegesis" (Tafsir). While Volume 1 establishes the foundational methodologies, linguistic frameworks, and the opening chapters of the text, deepens this analytical journey. This volume navigates complex theological debates, intricate legal rulings, and historical narratives that shaped early Islamic society. Understanding Al-Tabari’s Methodology
However, reading Volume 2 carefully, you see that Tabari does not use these as belief ( Aqida ). He uses them as exegesis (Tafsir bi al-Ma'thur). He is trying to answer: What did the early commentators (many of whom were Jewish converts like Ka'b al-Ahbar) say? He reports it, but he rarely, if ever, endorses the wild mythological details. He is a historian recording the data, not a theologian sanctifying the data.
In larger, multi-volume or complete sets, Volume 2 typically covers different sections:
Unlike modern devotional booklets, Al-Tabari’s Volume 2 is a legal minefield. He dissects Al-Baqarah 183-187 (fasting) with granular detail: Al-Tabari was a Persian scholar from Amol, Tabaristan
The content is organized by chapter, moving from the latter parts of the Quran forward. The specific surahs and verses included are:
The first concerted effort to bring al-Ṭabarī's magnum opus into English was undertaken by John Cooper and published by Oxford University Press in 1987. This edition, titled The Commentary on the Qur'an , was a landmark project, envisioned as a five-volume abridged translation that would make the core of al-Ṭabarī's work accessible to a Western audience.
Unlike Cooper's projected complete translation, Lucas's work is a selection, focusing on 32 specific passages from al-Ṭabarī's commentary. These selections are intentionally chosen for their spiritual significance, theological importance, or narrative interest, and they cover a wide range of surahs (chapters) from across the Qur'an. The work includes al-Ṭabarī's crucial methodological introduction, which Cooper's translation had abridged, and provides full, rather than shortened, translations of the selected passages. This approach offers a deeper and more accurate illustration of al-Ṭabarī's hermeneutical method. To enhance its scholarly value, Lucas also includes detailed indices and several appendices, such as a list of al-Ṭabarī's teachers and the exegetical authorities he cites.