:
"Have you thought upon al-Lat and al-Uzza and Manat, the third, the other? "
The page details a historical narrative (traditionally debated by scholars) regarding the revelation of :
The work has been widely praised for its:
المكتبة الإسلامية الإلكترونية الشاملة REGARDING AT-TABARI 6:111 | WE DEFEND ISLAM al tabari volume 6 page 111
Most editions place —the decisive clash between the Abbasid forces under Abu al‑‘Abbas al‑Saffāḥ and the Umayyad army of Marwān II —on or near this page. The passage usually contains:
If page 111 discusses the Hadith of the Night Journey (Isra) :
The report remains a historical relic, preserved not as a fact but as a testament to the diversity of early Islamic tradition. Its value lies in what it reveals about the scientific precision of Islamic scholars in preserving and categorizing knowledge—knowledge that later generations could weigh for themselves. It ultimately stands as a powerful reminder to examine the methodology, the source, and the full narrative before passing judgment on a text.
Volume 6 of Al-Tabari’s historical chronicle covers the pre-Islamic history of the Arabian Peninsula, Prophet Muhammad's early life, and his prophetic mission up to the Hijrah (migration to Medina). : "Have you thought upon al-Lat and al-Uzza
The sixth volume of the English translation, titled Muhammad at Mecca , covers a specific and pivotal period in early Islamic history. It details the life of the Prophet Muhammad before his migration (Hijrah) to Medina in 622 AD, including his lineage, early life, the beginning of his prophetic mission, and the persecution faced by him and his followers in Mecca.
(The Star) near the Ka'bah, Satan is said to have "thrown" words onto Muhammad's tongue as he reached verses 19 and 20 (which mention the pagan goddesses al-Lat, al-Uzza, and Manat). The Interjected Words : The report claims he recited:
For those studying the life of the Prophet or early Islamic history, focusing on specific pages in Al-Tabari’s work allows for a granular understanding of the narratives.
: Most orthodox Muslim scholars reject the authenticity of this specific report, citing flaws in the chains of narration and arguing it contradicts the doctrine of (prophetic impeccability/protection from error). Source Reference Its value lies in what it reveals about
The report describes a period when the Prophet Muhammad was deeply concerned for his people and wished for a revelation that would bring the Quraysh closer to him. According to this narration: The Incident : While reciting Surah an-Najm
Non-Muslim secular historians, such as William Montgomery Watt, often viewed the incident with historical curiosity, arguing that early Muslims would unlikely invent a story that seemed superficially embarrassing to their prophet. Conversely, Islamic apologists and scholars emphasize that early historical works like The History of al-Tabari were never meant to be read as absolute scripture, but rather as raw compilations requiring rigorous source criticism.
: His explicit philosophy was to record every report ( riwayah ) circulating in the Muslim world during his time, accompanied by its chain of transmitters ( isnad ).