[1 – Exegesis Based on Transmitted Reports]

This is the most prominent feature of this commentary. Al-Tabarī begins his interpretation of a verse by assembling reports with chains of transmission from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), the Companions, and the Successors. In most cases, he then states the meaning he derives from these reports and considers strongest, before citing any reports that differ from it. Thus, reports constitute al-Tabarī’s strongest basis for preferring one of the meanings he derives over another.

Although he faithfully records the chains of transmission, he rarely subjects them to criticism. This stands in contrast to his method of rigorously scrutinizing linguistic interpretations and grammatical opinions. It would have been more appropriate for him to scrutinize the chains of transmission, especially since he included a great many Israelite reports. Perhaps his reason for doing so was that he provided each chain in full: whoever supplies you with a chain of transmission entrusts you with the responsibility of investigating its narrators and thereby absolves himself of responsibility.

This does not detract from the stature of this immensely beneficial work. Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him), when asked which commentaries adhered most closely to the Quran and Sunnah, replied:

“As for the commentaries available to people, the soundest is The Commentary of Muhammad ibn Jarīr al-Tabarī. He relates the views of the early generations through established chains of transmission; the work contains no innovation, nor does he transmit from those under suspicion, such as Muqātil ibn Bukayr and al-Kalbī” (1).

[2 – Linguistic Exegesis]

As noted above, al-Tabarī stated in the introduction to his commentary that one mode of interpreting the Quran concerns matters known to the speakers of the language in which the Quran was revealed. He therefore made very extensive use of linguistic interpretation. His vast knowledge of Arabic and his familiarity with the meanings of its words enabled him to do so