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

This volume is dense with legal and theological discourse. Key sections include:

Often called the longest verse in the Quran, the "Verse of Debt" outlines Islamic contract law regarding loans. Al-Tabari spends dozens of pages in Volume 2 analyzing a single phrase: "And bring to witness two witnesses from among your men." He asks: What if two men are not available? What if the witnesses are slaves or non-Muslims? He compares the opinions of the jurists of Medina (Malik’s precursors) and the jurists of Iraq (Abu Hanifa’s precursors). This section alone makes Volume 2 a foundational text for Islamic finance.

No review of Tabari is honest without addressing this. Volume 2 contains stories from Jewish and Christian sources (e.g., details about the Golden Calf, the names of the magicians in Egypt). Later scholars like Ibn Kathir criticized Tabari for including too many of these "Israelite traditions."

However, reading Volume 2 carefully, you see that Tabari does not use these as belief (Aqida). He uses them as exegesis (Tafsir bi al-Ma'thur). He is trying to answer: What did the early commentators (many of whom were Jewish converts like Ka'b al-Ahbar) say? He reports it, but he rarely, if ever, endorses the wild mythological details. He is a historian recording the data, not a theologian sanctifying the data. The Commentary On The Quran Vol. 2 By Al-tabari

One of the most fascinating sections in early tafsir literature is the discussion of why Muslims stopped praying toward Jerusalem and turned toward Mecca. Al-Tabari compiles reports describing the anxiety of the early Muslim community in Medina. Volume 2 meticulously records the Jewish objections to this change and provides the Quranic rebuttal. Al-Tabari concludes with a powerful legal maxim: Obedience to God’s current command (facing the Kaaba) is superior to clinging to a previous law (facing Jerusalem).

A common question among new students is: Where does Volume 2 begin? Given that the original Arabic Tafsir often spans 30 volumes, the English translation partitions the work into manageable segments. Volume 2 typically covers a significant and theologically dense portion of the Quran, primarily focusing on the latter part of Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow) and the opening of Surah Al-Imran (The Family of Imran).

Key Surahs covered in Vol. 2 (approximate): This volume is dense with legal and theological discourse

Volume 2 is where Al-Tabari’s legal genius shines. The longest surah in the Quran, Al-Baqarah, is often called the "Surah of Legislation." Al-Tabari dissects every command and prohibition with forensic precision.

As Volume 2 transitions into Surah Al-Imran, the tone shifts from law to theology. The opening verses (Alif, Lam, Meem) are analyzed for their mystical huruf muqatta'ah (disjointed letters). Al-Tabari cautiously suggests these letters are proof of the Quran's miraculous nature—that it is composed of the same letters Arabs use, yet they cannot replicate it.

He then tackles the birth of Maryam (Mary) and Zakariyya (Zechariah). The commentary on Verse 3:7—regarding "clear verses" (muhkamat) and "allegorical verses" (mutashabihat)—is crucial. Al-Tabari warns against those who "follow what is allegorical seeking discord." He argues that only Allah knows the true interpretation of allegorical verses, establishing a cornerstone of Sunni orthodoxy. Volume 2 is where Al-Tabari’s legal genius shines

When discussing Qisas (eye for an eye), Tabari moves into jurisprudence (Fiqh). He breaks down the verse into grammatical components. Does "The free for the free" mean a noble free person cannot be killed for killing a slave? Tabari says no—he argues the verse establishes equality of life, not hierarchy of class, relying on the consensus of the Companions.