The English translation of Volume 2 is primarily the work of Dr. John Cooper (late of Oxford University) and a team of editors under the Great Commentaries of the Holy Qur’an series (published by Oxford University Press in association with the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought). The translation is unique because it attempts to preserve the isnad format in English, often using the passive voice ("It was reported to us that..."). This creates a formal, archaic tone that feels appropriate to the classical text. Marginal glosses provide page references to the original Arabic, allowing bilingual scholars to cross-reference easily.
To appreciate Volume 2, you must appreciate Tabari’s radical (for his time) methodology. He did not believe in offering his own opinion (Ra'y) on the Quran without evidence. Instead, he built a pyramid of authority.
Example from Volume 2: When discussing the "strike" command in the story of the cow (Baqarah 2:73), Tabari doesn't just explain the miracle. He records four different scholarly opinions on what kind of strike it was (a branch, a piece of the cow, etc.), traces each back to a Companion, and then chooses the strongest narration. The Commentary On The Quran Vol. 2 By Al-tabari
| Who | Verdict | | :--- | :--- | | Graduate student of Islamic studies | Essential guide. Mandatory reading. | | Serious self-learner (with some Arabic/hadith knowledge) | Very good guide, but complement with a modern summary (e.g., Tafsir al-Sa'di). | | Beginner Muslim seeking personal reflection | Poor guide. Start with Tafsir al-Jalalayn or a contemporary English tafsir. | | Comparative religion researcher | Excellent primary source guide. |
No work is perfect. The modern reader of "The Commentary on the Quran Vol. 2" must approach it with awareness: The English translation of Volume 2 is primarily
Yes, but bring a dictionary and patience.
Volume 2 of Al-Tabari’s commentary is not a book; it is a tool. When you read it, you are sitting in the study of the greatest mind of the 10th century. You watch him argue with his teachers, weigh the grammar of Basra against the grammar of Kufa, and ultimately bow to the text of the Quran. Example from Volume 2: When discussing the "strike"
If you want to understand why Islam looks the way it does theologically and legally, you cannot skip this. It is the root from which nearly every subsequent Tafsir (Ibn Kathir, Suyuti, Qurtubi) grew.
Recommended For: Seminary students, historians of religion, and advanced Arabic learners. Not Recommended For: Casual spiritual seekers looking for emotional uplift.
Let’s look at three specific features that make this volume a masterpiece.