Tabari Facts for Kids

Tabari can mean a few different things, but it most often refers to a very famous scholar named Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari. He was a brilliant historian and a religious scholar who lived a long time ago.

Sometimes, "Tabari" can also mean:

Something that comes from a region called Tabaristan.
The Mazandarani language, which is also sometimes called Tabari.

Who Was Al-Tabari?
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Who Was Al-Tabari?

Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari was one of the most important scholars of the Islamic world. He was born in the year 839 CE (which is 224 AH in the Islamic calendar) in a place called Amol, which was in the region of Tabaristan. This region is now part of modern-day Iran. He was known for his amazing memory and his deep understanding of many subjects.

A Life of Learning and Travel

Al-Tabari started learning at a very young age. He memorized the entire Qur'an when he was just seven years old! By the time he was nine, he was already leading prayers. When he was 12, he left his hometown to travel and learn from the best teachers of his time.

He traveled to many important cities, including Rayy, Baghdad, Kufa, Basra, Wasit, Damascus, Jerusalem, and Egypt. In each city, he studied with different scholars, learning about Islamic law, history, poetry, and language. He spent most of his adult life in Baghdad, which was a major center of learning at that time.

Al-Tabari's Amazing Books

Al-Tabari wrote many books, but two of them are especially famous and important:

The History of Prophets and Kings

This book is often called Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk in Arabic, or simply Al-Tabari's History. It's a huge book that tells the story of the world from the very beginning of creation up to his own time. He wrote about prophets, kings, and important events. This book is a very important source for historians today because it contains so much information that can't be found anywhere else. It helps us understand the early history of Islam and the world before it.

The Commentary on the Qur'an

His other famous work is a commentary on the Qur'an, called Jami' al-Bayan 'an Ta'wil Ay al-Qur'an. In this book, Al-Tabari explained the meaning of the verses of the Qur'an. He gathered different interpretations from earlier scholars and tried to make sense of the holy text. This book is also very large and is still used by scholars today to understand the Qur'an.

Why Al-Tabari Was So Important

Al-Tabari was special because he didn't just copy what others had said. He carefully checked his sources and tried to present different points of view. He was also very good at organizing huge amounts of information into clear and understandable books. His works became a foundation for many scholars who came after him. He died in Baghdad in 923 CE (310 AH), leaving behind a legacy of knowledge that continues to inspire people.