Quran Vol. 2 By Al-tabari - The Commentary On The
The second volume of Al-Tabari's Commentary on the Quran (often titled
He provides exhaustive breakdowns of Arabic grammar and lexicography to clarify the exact meaning of the revelation. Compilation of Reports: is a "narrative-based" exegesis ( tafsir bi’l-ma’thur
The Problem of "Isra'iliyat"
No review of Tabari is honest without addressing this. Volume 2 contains stories from Jewish and Christian sources (e.g., details about the Golden Calf, the names of the magicians in Egypt). Later scholars like Ibn Kathir criticized Tabari for including too many of these "Israelite traditions." The Commentary On The Quran Vol. 2 By Al-tabari
Final Recommendation
Yes, it is a good guide for intermediate to advanced study of classical Qur'anic exegesis. To use it effectively:
The Methodology: Chains of Transmission (Isnad)
If you open "The Commentary on the Quran Vol. 2 by Al-Tabari," you will immediately notice a stylistic feature that may be jarring to the modern reader: long chains of names. For example, before explaining a verse about divorce, Al-Tabari writes: "Hannad informed us on the authority of Abu Mu’awiyah, on the authority of Al-A’mash, on the authority of Ibrahim..." The second volume of Al-Tabari's Commentary on the
Conclusion
"The Commentary on the Quran Vol. 2 By Al-Tabari" is not a book you finish in a weekend; it is a companion for a lifetime. It captures a moment in Islamic history when the oral tradition was being meticulously codified into an unbreakable written record. In its pages, you will find the tears of the early Muslims, the logic of their legal debates, and the awe they felt when confronted with the Divine Word.
) is a milestone in Islamic scholarship, providing deep linguistic and historical analysis of specific chapters. Unlike a strictly chronological commentary, modern English translations—such as those published by the Islamic Texts Society Later scholars like Ibn Kathir criticized Tabari for
Key Features of Volume 2