Evaluating isra'iliyyat narratives on the creation of Prophet Adam and Hawa in Tafsir Nur al-Ihsan

Abstract

Isra’iliyyat narratives are not confined to Arabic tafsir writings, but are also incorporated into Malay Qur’anic exegesis, namely Tafsir Nur al-Ihsan (TNI). A previous study identified several Isra’iliyyat narratives concerning Prophet Adam through comparative textual analysis with biblical accounts. However, the scholarly evaluation of these narratives was not discussed following the identification and thematic coding process. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate selected Isra’iliyyat narratives on the creation of Prophet Adam and Hawa in TNI based on the three classifications of Isra’iliyyat developed by previous Muslim scholars. This qualitative library-based study employs document analysis to examine selected narratives with related Qur’anic verses, authentic hadith, and scholarly discussions. The findings show that selected Isra’iliyyat narratives in TNI are classified as indeterminate (maskut ʿanhu) due to the absence of explicit confirmation or contradiction from Islamic sources, as well as the existence of distinct Muslim scholars’ interpretations and commentaries. This study highlights the importance of critical evaluation of Isra’iliyyat through the three classifications in determining their status and validity within Islamic sources.