The science of Tafseer
Tafseer

Regarding the development of this science, we have to bear in mind that the Quran has been the way of life for the believers. According to Hazrat Ayesha the life of the Prophet (P) was the model of the Quran in practice so was the case with his companions. The following statement is attributed to Hazrat Ali (may God be pleased with him)
انا قرآن ناطق" |
It is interpreted that the life of every Muslim must be the model of the Quran in some way or the other. Who could know the meaning of the Quran better than the companions of the prophet (PBUH) get the study great commentators of the Quran Ibnu Abbas, Abdul bin Masud, Ubai Ibai Kaband others advanced the study further and this process continued even during the days of Tabacen... A number of centers or schools of Tafseer were established at Mecca Kufa. Caira. Basra Damascus and also in Yemen and other places.

The study of the Quran was in fact carried on as a movement for the survival of the Umman.
It was under these conditions that work on Tafseer multiplied and great commentators of the Quran flourished. Not much was left for the Abbasid period to advance the study beyond what had already been done under the circumstance there is not much for the research scholar to report. However, I shall be failing in my duty if I do not mention here the great commentators of this period Ibnu Jaris Al-Tabari whose contribution to the science of Tafseer is the Quranic study should be viewed from a different angle as a new trend in explaining the meaning of the Quran different from the traditional one. The style of presentation adopted by Tabari and the material he presented speaks values about his vast learning and his innovative way of presentation. I propose to give her a brief sketch of the life of Al-Tabari and his works. His name is Abu Jafar Muhammed Ibnu Jarir bin Yazid bin Khalil Al-Aabari.

He learned the Quran by heart when he was only seven years old. After completing his necessary education at home he went to other centers of learning further education. He went to Madina , Syria and Iraq for the purpose. Then he settled down there and lived there till his death. His dates of birth and death as recorded in Tarikhu Baghdad are 225 A.H/ 839 A.D and 310 AH /923 A.D respectively. 1 About him, Ibnu Khallikan says 2
انه كان من امة النهرين لم نقلا حرا وروی کنانیبرن خزيمة أنه قال ما اعلم على أريم اراضيا علم من جرير
Tabari's contribution to different branches of learning is very valuable. There is a long list of his works which Ibnu Al Nadeem has given in his Al-Fihrist. He has also written about his life which is reproduced here briefly.
مدل حریر بن یزید بن خاله الطبری اراملی ما له علامه
۳دله یه و تنه و امام نعره فقیه زمانه و لامل نه ۲۲ ده رمات في سوال
هو الوحعر محمدن حریر
Avian Ibnu Al-Nadeem has given a long list of his works in almost all science spreading over about two pages which are living proof of his vast knowledge in almost all branches of learning. Here we shall confine our discussion to that extent only.

The momentous work of Al-Tabari is a great the most useful contribution to the science of Tafsir is his book called Jamia Al- Bayan Fi Tafsiri Al-Quran is divided into thirty parts. He completed the works in seven years for which he went through and studied all the works that were done in the past. He was careful to scrutinize the sayings or statements of others before accepting them and using them for his purpose, one aspect of his commentary is that answers to the problems pertaining to the Jurisprudence of Islam flow from it.
Al-Seoti mentioned Ibnu Jarir among the great men of learning like Al-Imam Ahmad bin Hambal, Al-Bukhari Ibnu Maja and others and said.
تعاسر وراء كانت سعره الى العصابة والتا عن واتاهم وليں فيما فيرديك الا این حرر انه تعرضا لتوجيه اراتوال وبرحيم رعفها على
| الهی و اراراب وارا ستاد فهو تنررا ذلك
As will appear from the above statement of Al Seoti all work done during this period of the Abbasid rule was merely a copy of the past in respect of the commentary of the Holy Quran the work of Al-Tabari called Jamia Al-Bayan Fi Tafseri Al Quran which has established its originality and which opened the gate for others to enter.
No doubt Al-Tabari's contribution to prose literature in this particular field is unique.

1. 2. 3.

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