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The History of al-Tabari: Difference between revisions
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''Alex V. Popovkin'' is a professional indexer and ''Everett K. Rowson'' is Associate Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at New York University.<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.sunypress.edu/p-4527-the-history-of-al-tabari-volume.aspx|2=2011-11-17}} The History of al-Tabari Vol. 40: Index] - SUNY Press, accessed November 14, 2011</ref>}} | ''Alex V. Popovkin'' is a professional indexer and ''Everett K. Rowson'' is Associate Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at New York University.<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.sunypress.edu/p-4527-the-history-of-al-tabari-volume.aspx|2=2011-11-17}} The History of al-Tabari Vol. 40: Index] - SUNY Press, accessed November 14, 2011</ref>}} | ||
==Misinformation Concerning al-Tabari's History== | |||
There have been several false yet popular claims made about The History of al-Tabari. | |||
For example, the claim that Tabari states [[Aisha]] was at least 10 at the consummation of her [[marriage]] to Prophet [[Muhammad]]. As evidence, a Wikipedia article is often cited. The reference given for the Wikipedia claim is ''Tabari, Volume 9, Page 131; Tabari, Volume 7, Page 7''. However, Volume 9, Page 131 actually says she was aged 9. Nowhere does it claim she was 10. Volume 7, Page 7 says she was 9 three times. Nowhere does it claim she was 10. | |||
There is also the claim that Tabari left it to later scholars to distinguish the authenticity of his work. Contrary to this claim, Tabari provides the chain of narrators and often, very explicitly, comments on their authenticity. If we take a look [[Qur%27an,_Hadith_and_Scholars:Creation#Heavens_and_Earth_5 |here]] at just a few quotes concerning the Islamic [[Creation]] story, we find: | |||
*"Consequently, because this is so and '''the report on the authority of the Messenger of God is sound'''-namely, that he reported that what remained of the time of this world during his life was half a day, or five hundred years" | |||
*"Now then, this being so, '''there is [also] a sound tradition from the Messenger of God''' told us by Hannad b. al-Sari, who also said that he read all of the hadith (to Abu Bakr)'" -Abu Bakr b. 'Ayyash-Abu Sad al-Baggal -'Ikrimah Ibn 'Abbas:" | |||
*"Our statement about the duration of the periods (azman) of this world from its very beginning to its very end is '''the most firmly established of all the statements we have''', on account of the testimony to its soundness as explained by us." | |||
*"The two reports transmitted by us from the Messenger of God have made it clear that the sun and the moon were created after God had created many things of His creation. That is because '''the hadith of Ibn 'Abbas on the authority of the Messenger of God''' indicates that God created the sun and the moon on Friday." | |||
*"These reports, '''mentioned by us on the authority of the Messenger of God and those who mentioned them on his authority''', have made it clear that God created the heavens and the earth before He created time, day and night, and the sun and the moon. God knows best!" | |||
As can be seen, this criticism of Tabari's work has no merit. We are given both the chain of narrators and their grading in some cases by Tabari himself. | |||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||