The influence of Arabic exegesis on isra’iliyyat narratives of prophet Adam in Malay tafsir and its implications

Arom, Nurul Hidayah and Nik Abdullah, Nik Md. Saiful Azizi and Samsudin, Sofiah (2025) The influence of Arabic exegesis on isra’iliyyat narratives of prophet Adam in Malay tafsir and its implications. International Journal of Modern Education, 7 (25). pp. 472-482. E-ISSN 2647-0905

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Abstract

This study examines the influence of classical Arabic exegetical works on the incorporation of isrāʼīlīyyāt narratives into Malay tafsir literature, focusing on the narrative of Prophet Adam (pbuh) and its implications for Malay Muslims. It investigates how seminal Arabic tafsir texts—namely Tafsir al-Baghawi, Tafsir al-Jalalayn, Tafsir al-Khazin, and Tafsir al-Jamal—served as foundational references for Malay scholars in transmitting and adapting isrāʼīlīyyāt narratives related to the Quranic account of Prophet Adam. For document analysis, two primaries Malay tafsir works were selected: Tafsir Tarjuman al-Mustafid by Sheikh Abdul Rauf Singkel and Tafsir Nur al-Ihsan by Sheikh Muhammad Said bin Umar. These were supplemented by secondary sources from related books, articles, and online materials. Employing a qualitative, library-based research approach, this study traces the integration of isrāʼīlīyyāt narratives into Malay Quranic exegesis and evaluates the methodologies scholars use to engage with these narratives. The findings reveal that Malay interpreters adopt diverse strategies when incorporating isrāʼīlīyyāt narratives—from acceptance and reinterpretation to critical appraisal. While some tafsir works include these narratives as supplementary explanations, others rigorously examine their authenticity from an Islamic perspective. This study not only highlights the profound impact of Arabic exegetical traditions on Malay scholarship but also enhances our understanding of the intellectual transmission of Quranic interpretations across cultural and regional boundaries. Furthermore, it explores how isrāʼīlīyyāt narratives shape Malay Muslims’ perceptions of prophetic stories and the authority of tafsir,

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Arabic Exegesis, Isrāʼīlīyyāt, Malay Tafsir, Quranic Interpretation
Subjects:	L Education > LC Special aspects of education > LC905 Islamic Education
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC) Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of Qur’an and Sunnah
Depositing User:	Dr Sofiah Samsudin
Date Deposited:	03 Jul 2025 10:11
Last Modified:	03 Jul 2025 10:11
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/121740

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