Ibn Jarir Al-Tabari Islamic historian and theologian Country: Iraq

1. Early Life and Education
2. Father of Muslim Historiography
3. Magnum Opus: "History of the Prophets and Kings"
4. Other Works
5. International Publication

Early Life and Education

Born in the 9th century CE in Tabaristan, Persia (present-day Iran), at-Tabari was an Islamic historian and theologian who studied in Persia and wrote in Arabic.

Father of Muslim Historiography

At-Tabari is widely recognized as the "father of Muslim historiography." His most famous work, "Tarikh al-rusul wa-l-muluk" ("History of the Prophets and Kings"), is a comprehensive history from the creation of the world to the 9th century CE.

Magnum Opus: "History of the Prophets and Kings"

Completed in 914 CE, "History of the Prophets and Kings" is at-Tabari's most significant contribution to Islamic historiography. Although the full text is lost, an abridged version by the author still exists. Despite its brevity, at-Tabari's history is a monumental work that was not fully available in European libraries until the late 19th century.

Other Works

In addition to his historical writings, at-Tabari also authored a groundbreaking tafsir (commentary) on the Quran. His original interpretations, while not widely accepted, remain influential in Islamic theology. He also wrote on law and other subjects.

International Publication

In the 19th century, Arabist de Goeje established an international committee to publish at-Tabari's history. Professor Kozegarten undertook the task, releasing three volumes with Latin translations from 1838 to 1853. In recent decades, a 40-volume edition of the history was published in the United States (1980-2000).