THE INFLUENCE OF ARABIC EXEGESIS ON ISRA’ILIYYAT NARRATIVES OF PROPHET ADAM IN MALAY TAFSIR AND ITS IMPLICATIONS

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, emphasizing the need for ongoing critical analysis to ensure the authenticity of Quran interpretation in contemporary Malay tafsir studies.