ibn- jarir- al- tabari

muhammad ibn jarir al-tabari (839-923) was a moslem historian and religious scholar whose annals are the most important source for the early history of islam. he is also a renowned author of a monumental commentary on the koran. at tabari wrote history, theology and qur'anic commentary. his legal writings were published first and then continued to appear throughout his life. next were his commentaries on the qur'an. lastly, his history was published. despite a style that makes it seem he drew largely on oral sources, written material (both published and unpublished) provided him with the bulk of his information. his biographers stress his reverence for scholarship and his keen intent to offer his readers hard fact.