An Analysis of the Narrations of Ibn Kathir and Ibn Jarir Regarding the Incident of al-Gharaniq

واقعہ غرانیق سے متعلق ابن کثیرؒ اور ابن جریر ؒ کی روایات کا جائزہ

Abstract

The incident of Gharānīq—often cited in relation to the Prophet Muhammad’s recitation of verses allegedly praising pagan deities—has long been a subject of controversy and scholarly debate. This study critically examines the narratives reported by Ibn Jarir al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir, two of the most prominent early Islamic historians and exegetes. Through comparative textual analysis, the research explores the authenticity, chains of transmission, and contextual interpretation of the event within classical Islamic historiography. The article highlights methodological differences between the two scholars, the theological implications of their respective positions, and the influence of this episode on later Orientalist discourse. The study concludes that both Ibn Jarir and Ibn Kathir approached the narrative with critical awareness, though Ibn Kathir exhibited a more stringent stance toward rejecting weak or fabricated reports, thereby emphasizing the preservation of prophetic infallibility (‘ismah).