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How Tabari explains an ayah

التفسير بالمأثور

His order is the order of tafsir bi al-mathur — explanation by what was handed down. First the Quran by the Quran: he looks for another ayah that opens this one. Then the words of the Prophet ﷺ. Then the Companions, above all Ibn Abbas and Ibn Masud. Then their students: Mujahid, Qatadah, Said ibn Jubayr, Ikrimah, al-Hasan, al-Suddi, al-Dahhak. After the reports he writes ‘Abu Jafar said’ — that is his own voice. He does not begin with his own voice.

If you skip the names and read only ‘Abu Jafar said,’ you have read the verdict and missed the court. The court is the point.

This is why the book is long. He will not hide a famous view just because he will later set it down.