The Commentary On The Quran Vol. 2 By Al-tabari

: When multiple interpretations exist for a verse, Tabari presents them all fairly before offering his own reasoned preference ( tarjih ) based on grammar, context, or stronger narration. Significance

This is where a crucial distinction must be made. While Volume 1 of Cooper's translation was successfully published, the subsequent volumes were never completed. The project remained unfinished, and Volume 1 stands as the only testament to this ambitious undertaking. As a result, there is no Volume 2 from this specific Oxford University Press series. The edition is long out of print, making the existing Volume 1 a sought-after collector's item for scholars and serious students of Islam. The Commentary On The Quran Vol. 2 By Al-tabari

To appreciate Volume 2, one must understand Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari. Born in Amol, Tabaristan (modern-day Iran), al-Tabari was a child prodigy who memorized the Quran by age seven. He traveled extensively across the Abbasid Caliphate—including Baghdad, Cairo, Damascus, and Beirut—to gather prophetic traditions ( hadith ) and study under the greatest minds of his era. : When multiple interpretations exist for a verse,

Before examining the commentary itself, it is essential to understand the intellectual giant who authored it. Abū Jaʿfar Muḥammad ibn Jarīr al‑Ṭabarī was born in the winter of 839 CE in Āmol, Ṭabaristān (modern‑day Iran), from which his name derives. He was a , and is widely regarded as one of the most prominent figures of the Islamic Golden Age. The project remained unfinished, and Volume 1 stands

Depending on the edition or translation, "Volume 2" typically refers to one of two major scholarly presentations:

Furthermore, Volume 2 highlights Al-Tabari’s skills as a jurist ( faqih ). While he is famous for transmitting traditions, he does not shy away from weighing in on disagreements. A prime example found in this volume is the commentary on the verse regarding divorce and menstruation. Al-Tabari lists the varying opinions of early authorities—some interpreting a specific term as "pure," others as "menstruating." After laying out the evidence, he employs his own reason and linguistic expertise to declare which interpretation he deems most correct. This demonstrates that Tafsir al-Tabari is not a passive collection of quotes; it is an active legal argument. It represents the maturation of the Hanbali or Shafi'i approach to jurisprudence, where transmitted text is the ultimate arbiter, but human intellect is required to discern the strongest chain.