Baghdad, the metropolis of the Abbasid
Caliphs and the dreamland of the Arabian Nights was the highest seat of
learning in the world during the Mediaeval times. It had attracted within
its portals some of the greatest minds of the age. There lived on one of
its suburbs an old man of Turkish blood with sparse beard and good physique.
One evening, a stately procession, followed by a large retinue, stopped
at his humble cottage. Soon after the highest dignitary of the state, the
Grand Vizier of the Abbasid Caliphate was brought into the presence of
the old man, who was absorbed in his study.
This old man was Tabari, one of the
greatest historians of Islam. The Caliph had offered him a handsome pension
and sent costly presents in recognition of his contribution to Islamic
learning. The celebrated historian refused to accept anything for his services
to learning as he did not want to sell his pen.
The advent of Islam paved the way
for the growth of historiography in Arabia. Arabs had a great attachment
for their past. They even maintained the lineage of horses and camels.
The abundance of historical data in the Holy Qur'an provided a practical
incentive for the study of history for the followers of Islam.
The learned discourses of the Holy
Prophet of Islam were always punctuated with historical references to the
past, which awakened an interest hitherto unknown, for historiography among
the adherents of the new faith. History is one of the most copious sections
of the Arabic literature.
The German Orientalist Tenfeld collected
more than 590 historical works in Arabic written during the first thousand
years of the Islamic era. The writing of history commenced during the Umayyad
period and was developed during the Abbasid times. The author of "Kashf-uz-Zunun"
gives a long list of 1,300 historical books written in Arabic during the
first few centuries of Islam. Only a few historical works of the Umayyad
period have survived.
The third century of the Islamic era
is a period of great intellectual attainment. It was in this period that
some of the highest intellectual luminaries had risen on the horizon of
Islamic learning, whose light guided the later writers in diverse branches
of knowledge. Muhammad Ibni Jarir Abu Jafar Al-Tabari (838-923 AD), was
one of them and is today recognized as the father of Islamic History and
one of the greatest historians that the world has produced.
Born at Amol in Tabaristan the mountainous
district of Persia, situated alongside the Capsian sea, Tabari is said
to have learnt Qur'an by heart at the age of seven. He received
his education at Rayy, Baghdad, Waist, Basra, Kufa and Furstat (Old Cairo).
He made extensive study tours of Persia, Iraq, Syria, Palestine, and Egypt
in quest of knowledge and for collecting information for his monumental
historical works. After his father's death, he was reduced to great poverty.
On one occasion, he had to sell the sleeves of his shirt in order to buy
bread. Later he was appointed a tutor to the son of the Vizier Obaidullah
Ibni Yahya. His finances then improved slightly. He journeyed to Egypt,
but soon returned to Baghdad where he remained until his death as a teacher
of Tradition and Islamic Law. According to Yaqut, for forty years Tabari
wrote forty pages a day. Yaqut states that Tabari was contemplating to
write two books --- a history and a commentary of the Holy Quran of 30
thousand leaves (60 thousand pages) each, but his friends dissuaded him
that human life would not be sufficient to undertake as well as go through
such gigantic works. Hence, he reduced the two books to 1/10th of the original
size, ie 3,000 leaves each.
Tabari lived for 85 years, died in
933 AD and was buried at Baghdad. Among his pupils was Ahmad Ibni Kamil,
the person to who Miskawayah owed his guidance in history.
Among his works, the two most outstanding
which influenced the later writers are (1) "The Exhaustive Commentary on
the Qur'an" and (2) "Tarikh-ur-Rasul wal Maluk" (Annals of
Apostles and Kings) which is his universal history. His commentary on the
Qur'an comprising about 3,000 leaves is a standard book, have the
largest collection of exegetical traditions. `All the books were eclipsed
by the Annals of Tabari' adds Encyclopaedia Britannica, `whose fame lasts
up to the present time. The value of the book is very great. The author's
selection of tradition is usually happy and most important episodes were
treated with most fulness of detail'. Several translated and abridged editions
of the Annals of Tabari have been published. One of these in 13 volumes
was published in Lyden. His History (Annals) begins with the creation of
the world and costliness up to 302 A.H (915 A.C.). This History which is
renowned for details and accuracy was edited by M. J. de Geoje and published
in three series consisting of 13 volumes excluding two extra volumes meant
for Indices, Introduction and Glossary. The Samanid Minister, Al-Balami
had published an abridged Persian Edition of it. This was translated into
French by H. Zotenberg.
Tabari's favourite method of presenting
narrative is through Isnad. His chief sources of information where the
earlier historical works of Ibni Ishaq, Kalbi lbni Saad and Moqaffa and
Writing about the `Annals' of Tabari,
in his "A History of Muslim Historiography" Franz Rosental states: `Al
Tabari's world history was incomparably more important than Al Yaqubi's
who soon was all but forgotten. Tabari brought to his work the scrupulousness
and indefatigable longwindedness of the theologian, the accuracy and love
of order of the scholarly and the insight into political, justice affairs
of the practising lawyer politician. All those where qualities which commended
enduring and ever-increasing respect in the intellectual circles of orthodox
Islam. It was therefore, only natural that his historical work never ceased
to exercise a tremendous influence upon future historians as a model of
how history should be written. The story of Muhammad (sws) follows the
The Arabic historical composition
reached its zenith in Tabari and Masudi, who were pioneers in this branch
of learning until the birth of lbni Khuldoon.
His second great work is his Commentary
on the Holy Qur'an which comprising about 3,000 pages, is a standard
book, having the largest collection of exegetical traditions. it is like
"Annals", known for the same fulness of details. This monumental work of
Tabari was published in 30 volumes, excluding extra Index volume at Cairo
in 1902-03. The size of this work and spirit of independence pervading
it, provided a check to its popularity and wide circulation. This commentary
has much influenced well-known scholars like Baghawi and Suyuti. An account
of it with brief extracts has been given by O. Loth in the "Zeitschrift
der Deutscher Morgenlendischen Gesellschaft". Persian and Turkish translations
of the commentary exist in manuscript.
His other works include his voluminous
legal work "Ikhtilaaf" comprising 3,000 leaves, his "Tahzibul Athar", dealing
with the traditions of the Prophet of Islam and "Al-Basit" a juristic treatise.
he had projected a third voluminous book, dealing with the traditions of
the Companions of the Prophet of Islam, which could not be completed. A
list of Tabari's minor works is given in the "Fihrist" of Ibni Nadeem.
This influence of Tabari's historical
works and commentary on Qur'an may be traced in later writers. The
well-known historian Miskawayh is indebted for his historical knowledge
to lbni Kamil, the biographer and disciple of Tabari. His Annals was the
greatest source of information and the most outstanding historical work
till the birth of lbni Khuldoon. This was the chief source of guidance
for such famous historians as Abul Fida, Ibni Atheer, Miskawayah and lbni
Kamil. His annalistic method in the writing of History was followed by
Al-Waqidi, Miskhawayah, lbni Atheer and Abul Fida. His commentary on Holy
Qur'an was studied and followed by Allama Suyuti and Baghawai. Thus
Abu Jafar Al-Tabari, known as `Livy of Arabs' and the father of Islamic
History is one of the greatest historians of the Mediaeval times who paved
the way for the gigantic growth of Muslim Historiography in the world.