Al-Shanqiti’s Stance on Isra’iliyyat as Reflected in His Tafsir Adwa’ al-Bayan

Abstract

This study aims to examine Imam al-Shanqīṭī’s position on Isrā’īliyyāt through his Qur’anic commentary Aḍwā’ al-Bayān fī Īḍāḥ al-Qur’ān bil-Qur’ān. It analyzes the extent of Israelite reports in this tafsīr, al-Shanqīṭī’s overall stance toward them, his method of discussing them, and his critique of those who relied on them in interpreting the Qur’an. The research adopts a descriptive-analytical methodology and is organized as follows: The introduction addresses the significance of the topic, the reasons for choosing it, its problem, objectives, and previous studies. The first section defines Isrā’īliyyāt and traces their historical development within Qur’anic exegesis. The second section presents a biographical overview of Imam al-Shanqīṭī and introduces his work Aḍwā’ al-Bayān. The third section examines Isrā’īliyyāt in Aḍwā’ al-Bayān, focusing on the quantity of such reports found in the book, al-Shanqīṭī’s general attitude toward them, and his criticism of those who relied on them in interpreting the Qur’an. It highlights the invalid meanings and unlikely interpretations that can stem from depending on Israelite reports. The findings show that Isrā’īliyyāt has long been a subject of scholarly disagreement and remains so today. Imam al-Shanqīṭī’s position aligns with that of Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn Kathīr, and others of similar methodological orientation such as Ibn ʿAṭiyyah. Opposing this view is a group of exegetes, foremost among them al-Ṭabarī. The study also reveals that al-Shanqīṭī rarely cites Israelite reports, and that when he does, it is primarily to examine, refute, and demonstrate the lack of necessity for them in explaining Qur’anic meanings. The study concludes by recommending continued research into disputed scholarly issues to maximize benefit and remove ambiguities. It also highlights the importance of carefully studying the history of Isrā’īliyyāt and how they transitioned from oral narration to written inclusion in tafsīr literature, as this has a significant impact on evaluating them and determining the proper stance toward them.