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
Page 111 is historically important because it illustrates the emergence of Islamic legal principles concerning prisoners of war (fiqh al-asra). It shows the shift from tribal norms (indiscriminate killing or enslavement) to a rule-based system that allowed for ransom, grace, or conditional release based on social benefit (literacy teaching). Scholars of Islamic jurisprudence and early Muslim social policy frequently cite this section of Al-Tabari.
(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:
This is where the historical analysis becomes crucial. Al-Tabari, true to his methodology as a historian, did not simply invent this story. His work is an annal , a collection of historical reports ( khabar ) that he gathered from various earlier sources, each with its own chain of transmission ( isnad ), a standard practice of Islamic historiography. al tabari volume 6 page 111
According to this account, Muhammad, while reciting Surah 53 (An-Najm), was allegedly deceived into adding verses that acknowledged the intercession of the pagan gods al-Lat, al-Uzza, and Manat. The Key Narrative on Page 111
: The narrative directly contradicts the foundational Islamic doctrine of Ismah (prophetic infallibility in conveying divine revelation). The Quran itself states in Surah An-Najm (53:3–4) that the Prophet "does not speak from his own inclination. It is not but a revelation revealed."
While reciting Surah an-Najm (Chapter 53) near the Kaaba, the narrative states that Satan cast two lines onto his tongue: Volume 6 of The History of al-Tabari (page
On this page, Al-Tabari records a narration detailing a moment when the Prophet Muhammad was deeply eager to find a reconciliation with his tribe, the Quraysh, who had rejected his monotheistic message. According to the narrative found on :
While reciting Surah An-Najm (Chapter 53) near the Kaaba, when he reached verses 19 and 20 ( "Have you thought upon Al-Lat and Al-Uzza, and Manat, the third, the other?" ), Satan allegedly cast words onto his tongue.
Page 111 of this specific volume contains one of the most heavily debated accounts in Islamic historiography: the incident commonly known in Western academia as the or in Islamic tradition as Gharaniq . The Historical Text on Page 111 It shows the shift from tribal norms (indiscriminate
The most widely available English translation is the , translated by various scholars. In that series, Volume 6 is titled: "The Victory of Islam" (translated by Michael Fishbein).
. This specific page, translated into English by W. Montgomery Watt and M. V. McDonald for the State University of New York (SUNY) Press series, details the moment the Prophet Muhammad allegedly realized that a verse he had recited favoring polytheistic deities was actually whispered to him by Satan, rather than brought by the Angel Gabriel.
The sequence of events leading to the Hijrah. Conclusion