People of the Book

Muqātil’s exegesis is among the oldest surviving tafsirs of Islamic scholarship and distinguished for incorporating teachings from Jewish and Christian sources according to some. This article aims to explore the scholarly environment of the 2nd century and to assess the before mentioned accusation of Muqātil’s awareness of the scriptures and teachings of the People of the Book. To achieve this, two categories of Quranic verses related to the People of the Book were examined: the first concerning their sources, history, and beliefs, and the second focusing on their religious teachings . A comparative analysis of his interpretations, particularly in contrast to Tabari’s accounts of early commentators’ views on these verses, was conducted. The findings indicate that while Muqātil had a general awareness of the People of the Book, he lacked precise and direct knowledge of them. His understanding of biblical sources was superficial, and his grasp of their history and beliefs was inaccurate. A comparative study of his interpretations of the stories of Uriah and David (PBUH), Sarah and Abraham(PBUH), and Lot(PBUH) and his daughters reveals that, although his accounts align broadly with the Bible, they do not match its details. The resemblance of Muqātil’s interpretations in explaining certain verses raises the possibility that he was merely transmitting earlier views. However, the differences in wording and details, along with his pioneering interpretations in many cases, strengthen the likelihood that, even if he did not directly use the Bible, he may have gained indirect knowledge through interactions with its followers.