View source for Reliability of the Book Tarikh al-Tabari

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It has been said that the book "Tarikh al-Tabari" is the most reliable book on Islamic history; is this statement correct?
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{{Infobox book
| title = Tarikh al-Tabari
| image = تاریخ طبری.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| other_names = Tarikh al-Umam wa l-Muluk * Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk
| author = Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari
| writing_date = 303 AH
| subject = World history and Islamic history
| style = Narrative
| language = Arabic
| editor =
| edited_by = Muhammad Abul-Fadl Ibrahim
| compiled_by =
| illustrator =
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| volumes = 11
| pages =
| format =
| series =
| translations = Persian, Turkish, English, French
| publisher = Rawa'i' al-Turath al-Arabi
| publication_place = Beirut, Lebanon 
| publication_date = 1378 AH
| edition =
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| publisher_website =
| book_name = <!-- Book name in Persian -->
| translator = <!-- Translator into Persian -->
| publication_details = <!-- Publication details in Persian -->
| electronic_version =
}}
The reliability of Tarikh al-Tabari, considering the presence of fabricated and weak historical narrations among the reliable ones, is accepted by Islamic scholars. Tarikh al-Tabari, written by [[Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari|Muhammad b. Jarir al-Tabari]], is considered one of the most important historical works of Islamic civilization and is often referred to as the "Father of Islamic Histories." It has been regarded as the most accurate and precise book on Islamic history. From the time of its compilation, Tarikh al-Tabari gained acceptance among both the general public and scholars. The author of this book is recognized as one of the most prominent scholars of the Islamic world and one of the most famous historians and [[Quranic exegesis|exegetes]] of Islam.

The narrations in Tarikh al-Tabari are written in the form of hadith. This means that the chain of narrators (isnad) is first mentioned, followed by the narration itself. Most of the narrations in Tarikh al-Tabari are derived from written sources that al-Tabari had access to in abundance. In his work, al-Tabari presents different narrations of the same event with various chains of narrators.

The most significant merit of Tarikh al-Tabari is that it has preserved many historical writings from the author's era that are no longer extant today. By presenting different narrations of the same event with various chains of narrators, the book allows researchers to examine conflicting viewpoints. Since al-Tabari followed the methodology of hadith scholars, all Islamic historical narrations are compiled together in his work. Preserving these narrations is considered a valuable service to Islamic history.

However, Tarikh al-Tabari and its author's methodology have been subject to criticism, including:

* Due to the use of narrative methodology, false and weak narrations have found their way into the book.
* Al-Tabari relied on weak narrators in his historical sources.
* The book lacks historical criticism and places excessive trust in narrators.
* The first part of Tarikh al-Tabari, which covers world history from creation to the Prophet's mission (mab'ath), is filled with [[Isra'iliyyat]] (narrations derived from Jewish and Christian sources).
* The sources of narrations are not clearly identified in Tarikh al-Tabari.
* The narrative style of al-Tabari's historiography results in a lack of social insights in the book.