[Manuscript Copies of the Book]

First:

The al-Qarawiyyīn University Library in Fez:

A copy held in the library of the al-Qarawiyyīn College in Fez under the shelfmarks (80/37, 40/491, 40/791). A photographic reproduction of it is held at the Institute of Arabic Manuscripts under nos. (278–297). Each part of this copy bears the stamp of the al-Qarawiyyīn College Library in Fez.

This copy comprises scattered parts of the book. It lacks Part One at the beginning, as well as a considerable number of other parts throughout. It is a precious copy, written on gazelle parchment in an Andalusian script and tentatively dated to the late fourth century AH. Some of its parts contain collation notes, and two are dated 391 AH. It was therefore adopted as the base manuscript for the work and assigned the siglum (al-asl). Its folio numbers will appear in square brackets in those parts for which this copy is extant.

Part Two:

278, Institute;
80/37, al-Qarawiyyīn Collection:

It begins with verse 19 of Surah al-Baqarah and ends partway through verse 57 of the same surah.

On the recto of its first folio:

“The second volume of Jāmi al-Bayān an Ta'wīl Āy al-Furqān (The Comprehensive Exposition of the Interpretation of the Verses of the Criterion), authored by Abū Ja'far Muhammad ibn Jarīr al-Tabarī (may Allah have mercy on him).”

At the top:

“It contains, from the words of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in al-Baqarah, ‘Wherein are darknesses, thunder, and lightning’ [al-Baqarah: 19], to His words, Exalted is He, ‘and the quails’ [al-Baqarah: 57].”

To the left of the title:

“It comprises ten quires.”