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Qisas al-Anbiya

Qisas al-Anbiya (Stories of the Prophets) is a genre of Islamic literature that recounts the lives of the prophets, from Adam to Muhammad, drawing on the Quran, Hadith, and Israiliyyat traditions.|||Arabic, Persian, and Turkish manuscripts. Major works by al-Tha'labi (d. 1035), al-Kisa'i (d. 804), and Ibn Kathir (d. 1373).|||Compiled from the 9th century CE onward.|||Not canonical in any tradition. A genre of popular piety and history.|||A widespread genre in Islamic literature, providing detailed narratives of the prophets. Important for understanding Islamic piety and the transmission of biblical traditions.|||Thackston, W. M. The Tales of the Prophets of al-Kisa'i. Twayne, 1978.|||Al-Rabghuzi. The Stories of the Prophets. Brill, 1995.|||Qisas al-Anbiya — Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qisas_al-Anbiya|Background and scholarly discussion.|||" And God said to the angels: I am about to create a human being from clay." — Qisas al-Anbiya (paraphrase)

Collection: Other Ancient Religious Texts Canon: varies

Canon Status

Not canonical in any tradition. A genre of popular piety and history.

Date & Provenance

Compiled from the 9th century CE onward.

Language & Manuscripts

Arabic, Persian, and Turkish manuscripts. Major works by al-Tha'labi (d. 1035), al-Kisa'i (d. 804), and Ibn Kathir (d. 1373).

Why It Matters for Study

A widespread genre in Islamic literature, providing detailed narratives of the prophets. Important for understanding Islamic piety and the transmission of biblical traditions.

" And God said to the angels: I am about to create a human being from clay." — Qisas al-Anbiya (paraphrase)

Read the Text & External Resources

Public-domain translations and scholarly databases where the text can be read online or downloaded.

  • " And God said to the angels: I am about to create a human being from clay." — Qisas al-Anbiya (paraphrase) " And God said to the angels: I am about to create a human being from clay." — Qisas al-Anbiya (paraphrase)

External links open in a new tab. Sources are chosen for public-domain or open-access availability; always verify edition and translation when citing in academic work.

Further Reading

Thackston, W. M. The Tales of the Prophets of al-Kisa'i. Twayne, 1978.
Al-Rabghuzi. The Stories of the Prophets. Brill, 1995.
Qisas al-Anbiya — Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qisas_al-Anbiya|Background and scholarly discussion.