Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari (839–923 CE) was a Persian historian and exegete who is considered one of the most important historians in Islamic history. His major work is the Ta'rikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk (History of the Prophets and Kings), a universal history from the Creation to the year 915 CE. This work is considered to be one of the most important sources for the study of early Islamic history.
Al-Tabari was born in Amul, Tabaristan (present-day Iran) in 839 CE. He studied in Baghdad and became a prominent scholar of the Qur'an and hadith. He also served as a judge in Baghdad and later in Tabaristan.
Al-Tabari died in 923 CE in Baghdad. His work has been praised for its accuracy and objectivity. He is considered one of the most important historians in Islamic history.