Tab Article
The old traditions of the times of the Umaiyids are to be found in their most authentic form (because as yet uncontaminated and open to question) in Tabari, in the most brilliant part of his work, Series II of the Leiden edition, which has now been in print for almost two decades. Above all he has preserved to us, in very considerable fragments, the genuine Abu Mikhnaf, and with him the oldest and best Arab prosewriter we possess. Abu Mikhnaf Lut b. Yahya b. Said b. Mikhnaf belonged to the Azd of Kufa, and the long pedigree shows that on his fathers side he came of a family of high standing.
