Famous Islamic Historian - Ibn Jarir at-Tabari

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the life, scholarly and moral character, unique worldview, and contributions to the development of science of Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, a great Islamic historian, jurist, hadith scholar, and educator who lived and worked during the late 9th and early 10th centuries. Through historical accounts of his life and testimonials from other scholars of his era, the article offers a deeper insight into Tabari’s personality. Tabari’s monumental work, Tarikh, holds a prominent place in world historiography and profoundly influenced the methodologies of subsequent Islamic historians. This paper outlines the significance, writing motives, stylistic features, structural composition, and overall impact of this masterpiece. Furthermore, the article highlights the importance of the Samanid-era Persian translations of Tabari’s Tafsir and Tarikh, emphasizing their specific relevance and enduring impact on the regional scholarship of Transoxiana and later Turkic historiography.