listings offer the most accessible English translations by Dr. Scott Lucas. Fons Vitae Publishing specific Surah from this volume, or are you interested in how Al-Tabari's historical accounts differ from his religious commentary?
Owning this volume is like possessing a master key to the scholarly tradition. When you read Volume 2, you are not just reading Al-Tabari; you are reading through him the voices of Ibn Abbas, Ali ibn Abi Talib, Mujahid, Qatadah, and scores of early masters. You witness the living, breathing process of interpretation—where faith meets reason, where revelation interacts with history, and where the Word of God is defended, explained, and cherished.
In the absence of a complete translation from Cooper, a more recent and important work has filled the gap. Commissioned by the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought, Scott C. Lucas, an Associate Professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Arizona, produced a two-volume English translation titled Ṭabarī: Selections from The Comprehensive Exposition of the Interpretation of the Verses of the Qur'ān , published by the Islamic Texts Society in 2017. This two-volume set is the most authoritative and accessible entry point to al-Ṭabarī's tafsir for English readers.
, such as Mujahid ibn Jabr, Qatadah, and Al-Hasan al-Basri. The Commentary On The Quran Vol. 2 By Al-tabari
The most notable translation effort was undertaken by scholars like J. Cooper, under the auspices of Oxford University Press and The Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought. These translations preserve Al-Tabari's rigorous intellectual framework while making his dense grammatical debates accessible to contemporary historians and students of comparative religion. Why Volume 2 Remains Essential
For centuries, the profound insights of Tafsir al‑Ṭabarī remained largely inaccessible to non‑Arabic speakers. The publication of “The Commentary on the Qur’an, Vol. 2” by Scott C. Lucas, as part of a two‑volume set, represents a landmark effort to bridge this gap. This translation, published by the Islamic Texts Society, is an , focusing on thirty verses and chapters that are traditionally associated with special merits and blessings. It is not a full translation of the original 30‑volume Arabic work, but a carefully curated selection that makes the core of al‑Ṭabarī’s thought accessible to a wider audience.
Initial regulations guiding property distribution before the later, more detailed revelation of Surah an-Nisa . Spiritual Disciplines: Fasting and Warfare listings offer the most accessible English translations by
The Commentary On The Quran Vol. 2 By Al-Tabari remains an irreplaceable treasure of human civilization and Islamic intellect. Through its rigorous adherence to chains of transmission, sharp linguistic deconstructions, and balanced judicial evaluations, it transforms the reading of the Quran from a solitary reflection into a deep conversation with history. For anyone seeking to master Quranic studies, understand early Islamic jurisprudence, or appreciate the academic rigor of the Abbasid Golden Age, diving into Volume 2 of Al-Tabari’s masterpiece is an essential, life-changing intellectual endeavor.
The methodology displayed in Volume 2 is characterized by the "chain of transmission" ( isnad ). In this volume, the reader is presented with a dizzying array of narrations from the Companions (Sahaba) and the Successors (Tabi'un). For a single verse, Al-Tabari may provide five, ten, or even twenty distinct interpretations, each supported by its own chain of authorities. This approach serves a dual purpose. First, it provides a linguistic and contextual grounding for the verses, particularly regarding the "linguistic twists" of Arabic dialects known to the early Arabs. Second, by rigorously listing these chains, Al-Tabari legitimizes the text. In Volume 2, this is particularly vital for verses dealing with legal injunctions—such as the laws of inheritance, fasting, and retaliation (Qisas)—where the precise wording carries heavy jurisprudential weight.
Unlike modern commentaries that might prioritize brevity, Al-Tabari’s Volume 2 is exhaustive. It is a "source book" rather than just a textbook. Owning this volume is like possessing a master
One of the highlights of Vol. 2 is the narrative exegesis (Tafsir bil Riwaya). Al-Tabari turns the story of the Israelite king Talut (Saul) vs. Jalut (Goliath) into a sweeping historical epic. He fills in the gaps left by the Quranic text using Isra'iliyyat (Jewish/Christian traditions), which he includes with a critical eye. He explains how the Ark of the Covenant was lost, how Talut was tested by a river, and how the young David slew Goliath. This section bridges his skills as both a historian and a commentator.
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