Tarihsel Bağlam ve İsrâiliyyâtın Rivayetlerin Oluşumundaki Etkisi –Nüzulü İsa ile Alâkalı Bir Rivayet Bağlamında–

In this study, I deal with one of the many traditions found in the hadith literature concerning the Descent of Jesus (nuzūl ‘Īsā), namely the one that depicts Jesus, after his descent, breaking the cross (Salīb), killing swine (khinzīr) and abolishing the jizyah. Paying close attention to isnad data and focusing on the textual variations, I attempt to analyze various motifs and images found in several versions of this tradition. I argue, in the context of this particular tradition, that there seem to have existed different external sources such as various traditions of the People of the Book that have nourished the accounts regarding the Descent of Jesus in Islamic tradition. In addition, I contend that in order to better appreciate the nature of the relation between hadith texts and Biblical and extra-Biblical sources a more thorough examination of the relevant material found in both types of sources is required. It should be mentioned incidentally that this study does not aim at discussing the question of the possibility and nature of Jesus’ descent.