ISRA'ILIYYAT (Narrations from Jewish and Christian Sources)
# The Ruling on Isra'iliyyat (Narrations from Jewish and Christian Sources)
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### **Definition of Isra'iliyyat**
Isra'iliyyat refers to the stories and narrations transmitted from the Israelites (Jews and Christians) concerning details of past nations, prophets, and historical events mentioned in previous scriptures. These narrations entered Islamic tradition through some Companions and successors (*Tabi’in*) who were knowledgeable about the scriptures of the People of the Book, such as Ka’b al-Ahbar and Wahb ibn Munabbih.
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### **The Ruling on Isra'iliyyat in Islam**
Scholars have classified Isra'iliyyat into three main categories, each with its own ruling:
#### 1. **What Agrees with the Qur’an and Authentic Sunnah**
- **Ruling**: It is accepted and considered true because it aligns with divine revelation.
- **Example**: The story of the People of the Cave (Ashab al-Kahf) as mentioned in the Qur’an or what is confirmed in authentic Prophetic traditions.
- **Note**: While reliance should primarily be on Islamic sources, these narrations may be cited for supplementary explanation or context.
#### 2. **What Contradicts the Qur’an and Sunnah**
- **Ruling**: It is rejected and deemed false because it opposes Islamic teachings.
- **Example**: Narrations that attribute inappropriate actions to prophets (such as some distorted accounts in the altered Torah regarding Prophets David or Solomon, peace be upon them).
- **Stance**: These must be refuted, and their falsehood exposed. They should not be spread except to clarify their distortions.
#### 3. **What Neither Confirms Nor Contradicts Islamic Texts**
- **Ruling**: No definitive stance is taken—it is neither affirmed nor denied. It may be narrated with the condition that its authenticity is not asserted.
- **Example**: Minor details that do not affect religious beliefs, such as the color of the dog of the People of the Cave or the type of tree where Allah spoke to Moses.
- **Evidence**: The Prophet’s (ﷺ) saying:
> **"Do not believe the People of the Book, nor disbelieve them, but say: ‘We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us.’"**
(Sahih al-Bukhari).
He also said:
> **"Narrate from the Children of Israel without any restriction."** (Sahih al-Bukhari).
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### **Guidelines for Dealing with Isra'iliyyat**
1. **Verify Compatibility with Islamic Law**: Before sharing any narration, compare it with the Qur’an and Sunnah.
2. **Do Not Rely on Them for Creed or Legal Rulings**: They are not a legislative source in Islam.
3. **Beware of Fabricated Isra'iliyyat**: Especially those that defame prophets or promote superstitions.
4. **Avoid Overburdening the General Public**: They may cause confusion or misguidance for those unable to distinguish between authentic and weak narrations.
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### **The Stance of the Companions and Scholars on Isra'iliyyat**
- **The Companions**: They would accept what aligned with Islamic teachings, reject what contradicted them, and remain neutral on what was not confirmed.
Example: When Umar ibn al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه) brought a book from the People of the Book to the Prophet (ﷺ), the Prophet became angry and said:
> **"Are you doubting (the Qur’an), O son of al-Khattab?! By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, I have brought it to you pure and clear!"**
(Musnad Ahmad).
- **Scholars**: Such as Ibn Kathir and Ibn Hajar warned about the necessity of verification and not blindly accepting all transmitted reports.
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### **Conclusion**
Not all Isra'iliyyat are rejected, but dealing with them requires wisdom and adherence to Islamic guidelines. It is best to limit oneself to what is mentioned in the Qur’an and Sunnah and avoid unnecessary narrations unless for scholarly purposes—with proper clarification of their status.
For further details, refer to:
- Reliable books of Tafsir, such as *Tafsir Ibn Kathir*.
B. ### The Companions Who Narrated Isra'iliyyat
Isra'iliyyat (narrations from Jewish and Christian sources) entered Islamic tradition through some Companions (Sahaba) and Successors (Tabi’in) who had knowledge of the scriptures of the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) before their conversion to Islam or through their interactions with them afterward. The most prominent Companions who narrated Isra'iliyyat include:
#### 1. **Abdullah ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنهما)**
- Known as *"Habr al-Ummah"* (the Scholar of the Ummah) due to his vast knowledge of Tafsir (Quranic exegesis) and stories.
- He narrated some Isra'iliyyat in explaining Quranic verses, particularly in the stories of prophets like Musa (Moses) and Yusuf (Joseph), peace be upon them.
- He occasionally referenced Jewish and Christian sources but only affirmed them if they aligned with the Quran and Sunnah.
#### 2. **Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As (رضي الله عنهما)**
- He had read previous scriptures (such as the Torah) before Islam, and after converting, the Prophet (ﷺ) acknowledged his knowledge in some narrations.
- The Prophet (ﷺ) told him: **"You have learned from the two Books"** (meaning the Quran and previous scriptures), but he warned him against relying on them for religious rulings.
- He transmitted some Isra'ili narrations but always verified their compatibility with Islamic teachings.
#### 3. **Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه)**
- Narrated some hadiths that included references to stories from the Israelites.
- It is believed that some of his narrations of Isra'iliyyat came through his interactions with Ka’b Al-Ahbar (a Jewish scholar who converted to Islam).
#### 4. **Ka’b al-Ahbar (a Tabi’i, not a Companion)**
- A former Jewish scholar who embraced Islam during the caliphate of Abu Bakr or Umar (رضي الله عنهما).
- Transmitted many Isra'iliyyat, especially concerning the stories of prophets and past nations.
- Some scholars accepted his narrations if they did not contradict Islamic teachings, while others criticized certain reports.
#### 5. **Tamim al-Dari (رضي الله عنه)**
- A former Christian who converted to Islam and was known for his storytelling about ancient nations.
- Narrated some Isra'iliyyat regarding prophets, and Umar (رضي الله عنه) permitted him to narrate in the mosque under strict conditions.
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### The Companions’ Approach to Isra'iliyyat
- **Verification**: They only accepted Isra'iliyyat that aligned with the Quran and Sunnah.
- **Caution**: Umar ibn al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه) discouraged taking knowledge from the People of the Book, saying: **"The Book of Allah is sufficient for us."**
- **Guidelines**: They narrated such stories for lessons, not as religious doctrine, and clarified that they were not divine revelation.
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### Conclusion
The transmission of Isra'iliyyat by the Companions was governed by strict Islamic principles. The most notable narrators among them were **Ibn Abbas, Ibn Amr, Abu Huraira, and Tamim al-Dari**, along with later scholars like **Ka’b al-Ahbar and Wahb ibn Munabbih**. However, scholars emphasized distinguishing between acceptable and rejected narrations.
For further reading:
- *"Al-Isra'iliyyat wal-Mawdu’at fi Kutub al-Tafsir"*
by Dr. Muhammad Abu Shahbah.
- *"Tafsir Ibn Kathir"* (which evaluates Isra'ili narrations).
C.### **Authentic and Reliable Isra'iliyyat Narrations Accepted by Scholars**
Some Isra'iliyyat (narrations from Jewish and Christian sources) have been cited in books of Tafsir (Quranic exegesis) and Hadith, and were accepted by scholars because they align with the Quran or Sunnah, or at least do not contradict them. Below are some examples:
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### **1. The Story of Harut and Marut**
- **Narration**: Two angels descended to Earth to live among humans and test them but ended up committing sin.
- **Source**: Mentioned by exegetes like **Al-Tabari** and **Ibn Kathir**, based on narrations from Ibn Abbas and Ka’b al-Ahbar.
- **Compatibility with Islamic Sources**: The Quran briefly refers to them:
> **{And they followed what the devils recited during the reign of Solomon... and what came down upon the two angels in Babylon, Harut and Marut.}** (Quran 2:102).
- **Scholarly Views**:
- **Ibn Taymiyyah**: Accepted it because the Quran alludes to it.
- **Ibn Kathir**: Mentioned it without rejecting it but did not confirm all details.
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### **2. The False "Gharaniq" Narration (Rejected)**
- **Warning**: A fabricated story claims that the Prophet (ﷺ) mistakenly praised the idols of the pagans while reciting Surah An-Najm, then retracted it.
- **Scholarly Consensus**: This is **false**—scholars like Al-Dhahabi and Ibn Kathir unanimously rejected it because it falsely attributes error to the Prophet (ﷺ).
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### **3. The Story of the Cow of the Israelites**
- **Narration**: The Israelites murdered a man and were commanded to slaughter a cow; when they struck the dead man with a part of it, he revived and identified his killer.
- **Source**: The Quran briefly mentions it in Surah
Al-Baqarah (2:67-73).
- **Isra'iliyyat Details**:
- Some exegetes (like Al-Tha'labi) added that the cow was yellow, but such details **are unreliable** since the Quran does not mention them.
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### **4. The Story of Khidr and Musa (Peace Be Upon Them)**
- **Narration**: Khidr was a righteous servant granted special knowledge by Allah, and Musa (Moses) traveled with him to learn.
- **Source**: The Quran mentions it in Surah Al-Kahf (18:60-82) without extensive details.
- **Isra'iliyyat Details**:
- Some narrations claim Khidr was a prophet or an angel, but the correct view is that he was a righteous servant (As in Sahih al-Bukhari).
- **Ibn Hajar**: Accepted the core story since the Quran confirms it but remained cautious about extra details.
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### **5. The Story of Talut (Saul) and Jalut (Goliath)**
- **Narration**: Talut became king of the Israelites and fought the giant Jalut, whom Dawud (David) eventually killed.
- **Source**: The Quran mentions it in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:246-251).
- **Isra'iliyyat Details**:
- Some narrations state Dawud was young when he killed Jalut, which **aligns with the Quran**.
- Other details about the battle are **unverified**.
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### **Conditions for Accepting Isra'iliyyat**
1. **Must align with the Quran and Sunnah** (e.g., Harut and Marut).
2. **Must not contradict reason or authentic texts** (e.g., the rejected "Gharaniq" story).
3. **Cannot be used for creed (Aqeedah) or legal rulings**—only for historical lessons.
4. **Must be narrated cautiously**, e.g., "It is said that..." or "Some reports mention..."
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### **How to Distinguish Between Accepted and Rejected Isra'iliyyat**
- **Primary Reference**: The Quran and authentic Sunnah.
- **Reliable Tafsir Books**: Like **Ibn Kathir’s Tafsir** (critically analyzes weak Isra'iliyyat).
- **Warnings from Scholars**: E.g., **Ibn Taymiyyah** cautioned against Isra'iliyyat that distort prophets’ images.
**Final Note**: Some Isra'iliyyat are acceptable if they align with Islamic sources, but it is best to rely primarily on the Quran and authentic Hadith.
For further study:
- **Tafsir Ibn Kathir** (evaluates Isra'ili narrations).
- **Al-Isra'iliyyat wal-Mawdu’at fi Kutub al-Tafsir** by Dr. Muhammad Abu Shahbah.
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