Quranic Exegesis of Al-Bahr Al-Muhit: Narration of Hadith and Isra'i Liyyat

Abstract

This research focuses on the narration of hadith and isrā'īliyyat in Imam Abū Ḥayyān al-Andalūsī’ masterpiece exegesis book, al-Baḥr al-Muḥīṭ. As a multidisciplinary figure, Abū Ḥayyān uses his expertise to elaborate on every verse of the Quran in the book, not to mention the Prophet Muhammad PBUH’s hadith narration and the isrā'īliyyat. Most hadiths cited in this book are from the authentic hadith book narrated by Imam al-Bukhārī and Muslim, as well as the work of other hadith scholars. However, this book contains few unauthentic hadith until Abū Ḥayyān is criticized for his lack of hadith expertise. The narration of isrā'īliyyat demonstrates Abū Ḥayyān’s prudence, so much so that this book is recognized as a preserved exegesis book and only mentions a few narrations of isrā'īliyyat. However, it has been found that this book also narrates fabricated isrā'īliyyat.