the various forms of the reports transmitted from them. Yet he devotes equal attention to reasoned exegesis, carefully analyzing the various interpretive positions and preferring some over others. Ibn Jarīr also gives grammatical analysis the attention of an expert, since differences in the grammatical parsing of Quranic verses lead to different interpretations.

Al-Tabarī studied grammar under the leading scholars of both the Basran and Kufan schools until he became one of the outstanding grammarians of his age. This is evident in his commentary: he presents the views of both schools concerning the various possible grammatical analyses, then gives preference to what he considers the correct interpretation of the verse.

Because the Quran was revealed in the language of the Arabs, one aspect of its interpretation is known to those versed in the language in which it was revealed. This concerns the interpretation of its Arabic idiom and grammatical structure, knowledge of which can be acquired only through them (1). Al-Tabarī’s mastery of the Arabic linguistic sciences—morphology, syntax, and semantics—is therefore equally apparent. Anyone who reads his commentary, considers his elucidation of meanings and obscure expressions, and observes how he cites pre-Islamic and Islamic Arabic poetry as evidence would think that he had devoted himself exclusively to this discipline and pursued no other. Although he draws upon al-Farrā’s Ma‘ānī al-Qur’ān and Abū ‘Ubayda’s Majāz al-Qur’ān, he frequently judges them to be mistaken, responds to them, and advances positions contrary to theirs, supporting his statements with decisive arguments, manifest proofs, and evidence from Arab speech and poetry. This demonstrates that al-Tabarī was a champion in the field and thoroughly versed in eloquence and lucid expression. He spread Quranic exegesis far and wide, and through it his renown soared. He was, in truth, the leading authority among Quranic exegetes and the exemplar of interpreters.

Al-Tabarī lived in the third century AH, one of the centuries whose excellence is attested. And when all this was combined in him with what Allah had bestowed upon him—a powerful memory, sound judgment, and intelligence,