As for hadiths that are manifestly false or contradict sound reports—especially when they concern matters of creed or worship—it was not deemed sufficient merely to assess their chains of transmission. Rather, both their chains and texts were judged in light of the statements of the early hadith scholars.
One example is the report narrated from Aisha (peace be upon her), who said:
“The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) would not explain anything of the Quran except a limited number of verses that Gabriel had taught him.”
This is a rejected hadith. Another is the report narrated from Abū Saīd (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:
“Jesus, son of Mary, was entrusted by his mother to a school…”
This is a fabricated hadith.
5 — Quranic Readings:
The readings were documented, wherever possible, from specialist works on Quranic readings, such as al-Taysīr by Abū Amr al-Dānī, al-Saba by Ibn Mujāhid, Ithāf Fudalā al-Bashar by al-Bannā, al-Muhtasab by Ibn Jinnī, and other such works. At times, al-Tabarī rejects a mass-transmitted reading and does not permit its use. In such cases, it is simply noted, without elaboration, that it is a mass-transmitted reading and that it is the reading of a particular reciter. This avoids burdening the book with recurring footnotes that would turn the critical edition into a commentary.
6 — Poetry:
Poetry was attributed to its author wherever possible. When al-Tabarī names the poet, reference was made only to the poet’s collected works, if extant; otherwise, one of the principal sources of Arabic literature was cited.
7 — Explanation of Unfamiliar Words:
Unfamiliar words were explained in a manner that clarifies the author’s intent and facilitates the reader’s understanding of the text, with the aid of Arabic dictionaries and works devoted to rare vocabulary.
8 — Once the critical edition has been completed—Allah willing—the book will be followed by comprehensive indexes of Quranic verses, hadiths, reports, poetry, notable persons, towns and places, historical events and battle-days, tribes, peoples, and books.