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Case file

Al-Tabari

In 2005 Wikipedia's first sentence called it “born in amol”. Today it says “widely known for his historical works and expertise in quranic exegesis”.
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The opening as it read in 2005

Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn Jarir at-Tabari ( AD 838 - AD 923 ), Iranian Sunni historian and theologian , was born in Amol, Tabaristan (south of the Caspian ), and studied in Ray (Rages) , Baghdad , and in Syria and Egypt . "Tabari" means from Tabaristan . He died in Baghdad in 923. Cast upon his own resources after his father's death, he was reduced to great poverty until he was appointed tutor to the son of the vizier Tibaidalläh ibn Yaliya . He afterwards journeyed to Egypt, but soon returned to Baghdad, where he remained as a teacher of tradition and law until his death. His life was simple and dignified, and characterized by extreme diligence. He is said to have often refused valuable gifts. A Shafi'ite in law , he claimed the right to criticize all schools, and ended by establishing a school of his own, in which, however, he incurred the violent wrath of the Hanbalites . His works are not numerous, but two of them are very extensive. The one is the Tãrikh ur-Rusul wal-Mulük (History of the Prophets and Kings), generally known as the Annals . This is a history from the Creation to AD 915 , and is renowned for its detail and accuracy. His second great work was the commentary on the Qur'an , which was marked by the same fullness of detail as the Annals . The size of the work and the independence of judgment in it seem to have prevented it from having a large circulation, but scholars such as Baghawi and Suyuti used it largely. A third great work was projected by Tabari. This was to be on the traditions of the Companions, etc., of Muhammad . It was not, however, completed.1

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Today
In 2005 Wikipedia's first sentence called it “born in amol”. Today it says “widely known for his historical works and expertise in quranic exegesis”. Read the current article and compare.
2005201020152020Oct '232025
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What Wikipedia says this is

Every article opens by defining its subject. This one was redefined since 2005, and today's defining sentence is their current revision.

Then

born in amol

Now

widely known for his historical works and expertise in quranic exegesis

Struck red text is no longer in the article; dotted amber text was rewritten. Every revision id links to Wikipedia's copy; the text shown is our own saved copy. Data: /data. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA; quoted for the record; not affiliated with Wikipedia.

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