Interpretational Methodology of Imām Ṭabarī and the Principles of Preference between Different Opinions

Abstract

The Jāmiʿ al-bayān ʿan taʾwīl āy al-Qurʾān (جامع البیان عن تاویل ای القران) the book of Quranic interpretation is known as Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī. The author Imām Ṭabarī was blessed for being skilled enough in presenting the message of Islam with different methods. The methodology he has chosen to explain the precious hidden beads of Holy Quran is associated with the methodology of tafsir bi-al-ma’thur (تفسیر بالماثور). His presented explanations are completely independent from the reflection of his personal opinions. The statements of the early stages of Islam, the direct transmissions by the Holy prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and his companions were chiefly used to understand the meaning of Holy Quran. The jurisprudence, linguistic, and the philosophic approaches are also referred in his tafsir.
The author has deliberately measured the strength of contradictory statements. He has established some systematic and intellectual filters to measure the classification of contradictory statements and to make an affective decision upon it.