6 Page 111 — Al Tabari Volume
Western and contemporary scholars often highlight this passage to analyze the process of early Hadith collection and the development of the Sīrah (biographical) tradition. Conclusion
Therefore, to understand what al-Tabari wrote on page 111, one must ask a more critical question: The core of the controversy, therefore, is not al-Tabari’s writing, but the profound theological challenge the incident presents to the absolute preservation and purity of the Qur’anic revelation.
Within this critical text, (SUNY translation) is a highly cited and debated page because it contains narratives related to the contentious "Satanic Verses" episode. al tabari volume 6 page 111
The text describes Muhammad as being deeply distressed by the estrangement from his tribesmen. He strongly desired a revelation that would bridge the gap and allow them to reconcile.
Volume 6 of The History of al-Tabari (page 111 in the SUNY Press edition) documents the "Satanic Verses" incident, where Muhammad reportedly expressed distress over mistakenly uttering verses praising pagan idols, according to early traditions. While recording this account, al-Tabari includes reports that are generally viewed as unauthentic by many scholars, who note he often compiled varying historical traditions without verifying all as true. Explore the source text further at SUNY Press Kalamullah.Com The text describes Muhammad as being deeply distressed
Al-Tabari often cites the account involving al-Walid b. al-Mughira, a prominent leader of the Makhzum clan. In this narrative, the Quraysh, fearing that Muhammad’s message would dismantle their social and religious hierarchy, send al-Walid to negotiate.
: Hearing this, the polytheists of the Quraysh were delighted, believing Muhammad had finally acknowledged their gods, and they prostrated alongside the Muslims. The Correction who lived and wrote after al-Tabari.
Page 111 of Volume 6 is particularly noteworthy due to its detailed account of the , a pivotal event in Islamic history that occurred in 628 CE. This treaty, also known as the Pact of Hudaybiyah, was a peace agreement between the Prophet Muhammad, representing the Muslims, and the Quraysh tribe of Mecca. The treaty marked a significant turning point in the relations between the Muslims and the polytheistic Meccans, facilitating a temporary cessation of hostilities and setting the stage for the eventual conquest of Mecca.
Al-Tabari acted primarily as a compiler. He gathered every known oral and written report ( riwayah ) circulating in the Islamic world regarding historical events, complete with their chains of narrators ( isnad ).
Al-Tabari recounts how the Abbasid Caliph orders his trusted lieutenants to scour the region. The efficiency of the Abbasid intelligence network is highlighted. They are not merely fighting a war of armies but conducting a strategic removal of the old elite. The agents track Ubaydallah’s movements as he attempts to navigate the changing political landscape.
It is widely accepted that for the "Satanic Verses" account, al-Tabari’s primary source was the now-lost Sīrah (biography) of the Prophet Muhammad by (d. 767 CE). We do not have Ibn Isḥāq's original work in its complete form; our knowledge of it comes primarily from later abridgements and quotations, most famously by Ibn Hishām (d. 833 CE), who lived and wrote after al-Tabari.