Epistemology of Isrā'īliyyāt in Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī: Between Hadith Transmission and Meaning Production
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Isrā'īliyyāt in classical tafsir tradition represents a complex epistemological phenomenon, positioned between hadith transmission and meaning construction. In contemporary contexts, its relevance increases alongside the growing need for critical literacy in understanding Islamic sources, particularly in education and tafsir studies. This research aims to examine the epistemological position of Isrā'īliyyāt and its function in Qur'anic exegesis, focusing on Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī. Using a qualitative approach with library research design, data were collected through document analysis of Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī as the primary source, supplemented by tafsir and hadith literature. The unit of analysis comprises purposively selected Isrā'īliyyāt narratives. Data analysis employed content analysis with open coding and thematic categorization. Findings reveal that Isrā'īliyyāt in Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī are characterized as non-prophetic narratives transmitted through sanad structures resembling hadith. Functionally, they serve to elaborate Qur'anic stories, explain narrative contexts, and expand reader comprehension. Variations in narrative quality were identified, ranging from aligned, contradictory, to neutral toward Islamic teachings. This research contributes conceptually by positioning Isrā'īliyyāt as an ambivalent epistemic practice—neither fully authoritative nor separable from tafsir processes.
Language: English
Subfield: Religious studies
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7204173023