The Criticism of Some Evaluation and Assertion About Isra Iliyyat in Tafsir

Abstract

The traditions about israiliyyat that were seen almost in all the types of Islamic sciences appeared in the sources of tafsir from early periods. These traditions that were generally used to explain the Qur'an were seen problem and critisized by some exegetical specialists. Even though corresponding to a relative later period in the classical era, an approach was tried to put forward in view of the traditions about isra'iliyyat. This methodological concern for isra'iliyyat in classical period has increased and been influential for many researchers from east and west to work on this issue in modern times. There has been reached to important results about the issues of the definition of isra'iliyyat, the source of it, its spread in Islamic sciences, its aim of usage, the progress of these positive-negative attitudes against these traditions in historical process. But it is important to discuss some evaluations and analysis again that put forward in this process when different cases about the issue are taken into consideration. According to this, a series of problem, such as how the isra'iliyyat can be defined in tafsir, when the criticism of isra'iliyyat started, whether Biqa`i was the first exegete who made reference to Bible or not will be discussed considering relevant resources in this article.