Al-Thabari: Biggest Islamic Historian at Abbasid Era.

 

Source: Jurnalis.co.ID.

Today, we will discuss about Al-Thabari, one biggest Islamic Historian at Abbasid Dynasty Era. He popular with his work, Tarikh al-Rusul Wa al-Muluk /Tarikh al-Umam wal Muluk ( History Of Propeths and kings/History Of Nations and kings) , who became one classic encyclopedy about Islam and World History. His book, is one world history encyclopedy that used many classic refrences at this age. Ok, please read this article until end and subscribe my blog for more information about Islamic History and Civilization. It is very easy verb for you, but have big role for help us flow our blog that educate people about Islamic History and Civilization. Ok, happy reading.

His full name is Abu Jafar Muhammad Ibn Jarir al-Thabari. He born at Amul, Thabaristan, at South Coastal Of Qazwayn, Iran,  at 839 AD. He popular with name al-Thabari. He studied from young age and was memorized Koran ( Islamic Holy Book) at 7 years old.  He studied Islamic Basic Knowledges at Thabaristan.  He also went to Rayy, Iran for studied to Muhammad Ibn Humad ar-Razi, one big historian at Iran. Al-Thabari want moved to Baghdad , Iraq, for studied to Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal,  one Hadith and Fiqh ( Islamic Law) Expert at Baghdad. But, Imam Ahmad die before al-Thabari achieve Baghdad. Al-Thabari studied at Washit and Bashra, Iraq. At 876 AD, he studied at Fustat, Egypt and also studied at Syria. at Egypt, he studied to  Abu Hassan al-Siraj.  After finish his voyage, al-Tabari stay at Baghdad, Iraq and he became one Islamic Teacher. He teach every after Pray Of Maghrib.

One his student, Ibn Kumayl, who studied to al-Tabari , said one day, al-Tabari can write 40 papers from scientific works. At afternoon, he give lesson about Koran and Tafsir ( Koran Interpretation) at mosque. After Pray Of Maghrib, he give lesson about Fiqh. 

Al-Thabari write several  books, such as Jami al-Bayan fi Tafsir Al-Quran  at Koran Interpretation and aksi Ikhtilaf al-Fuqaha and Adab al-Qudhat at Fiqh. He write many book at History. Such as Tarikh al-Rusul Wa al-Muluk, that discuss worls history from ancient Propeths and kings and also History Of Ancient Empire Of Persia ( Sassanid Dynasty) and also write about Islamic Goverment from Propeth Muhammad Shallahu Alaihi Wasallam, Rashidun Caliphate, Umayyad Caliphate, until Abbasid Caliphate.  He write histor until 945 AD.  This book, also mentioned by Tarikh Al-Umam wa al-Muluk.  

At first chapter, al-Thabari tell history of ancient propeths and kings. At first chapter, he  write Propeth Adam Alaihissalam and several propeths at Abrahamic Traditions. He also write History Of Sassanid Dynasty from Persian Historical Sources that translatted to Arabic by Ibn Muqaffa. He write about Romans, Jewishs, and Arabians before Islam.

At second chapter, al-Thabari write history of Propeth Muhammad Shallahu Alaihi Wasallam, Rashidun Caliphate, Umayyad Caliphate, and Abbasid Caliphate until 915 AD. 

According Historian Badri Yatim, al-Thabari used several sources, such as  Judaism Literatures for write History Of Jewishs, Christian Syrians literature for History Of Roman Empire, and for Islamic History from age of Propeth Muhammad Shallahu Alaihi Wasallam until Abbasid Dynasty, he  used several works from Early Islamic Historians, such as Urwah Ibn Zubayr, Abu Mikhnaf, Ibn Shihab az-Zuhri, and Muhammad Ibn Ishaq/ Ibn Ishaq. For know Early Islamic Historiography, you can access this article:

How Islamic Historiography Written At Begin Time?History Analyzer.

At codificate his book, al-Thabari used Hawliyyat Method, that reconstructed history from year to year. Every year, al-Thabari tell this event that happened at this year.

At Baghdad, 923 AD, al-Thabari die after Pray Of Ashar. According Badri Yatim, he is big historians, encyclopedics, Koran Intepreter, Koran Pro Reader, also Hadiths and Fiqh Scholar. He was write one early Encyclopedy Of World History, may Allah Subhanahuwataala bless him.

Refrences:

Yatim, DRS.H.Badri: Historiografi Islam,  Penerbit Logos Wacana Ilmu, 1997 M.

Ustadz Abu Hafy Abdullah: Biografi Imam Ibnu Jarir Ath-Thabari, accesed 19 February 2025, 11: 05 AM.