The Mythic Legacy in Ibn Katheer's Quranic Exegesis

This study talks about the mythical legacy in Ibn Katheer's Quranic exegesis. The importance of this study is in its power to reveal many mythical aspects that assist in the exegetics of the holy Quran. Also, it shows a great deal of harmony with many legends and myths for the peoples of the ancient world. This study is arranged in an introduction, five chapters and a conclusion: In the first chapter, I talk about the exegetics according to its resources, the Israelis that have invaded it and added legends and myths. Besides, I introduce the high position of Ibn katheer's exegetics to many researchers. In addition, I present Ibn katheer's style in the exegetics of the holy Quran and his attitude towards the Israelis. And I introduce a short brief about Ibn katheer's life and the current conditions of his age. Also, I observe many of the ancestors' legends in the holy Quran without rebuttal or slander. In the second chapter, I present the legends of creation and configuration showing the legends of the universe that started from the darkness and blindness and the first water, then the creation of the earth and heavens and their separation from each other. Next, I talk about the greatness of the throne and the chair and their relation with Goddesses. In addition, I talk about the heavenly sea surrounding the sky and the earth. I talk about Mount Qaf that surrounds the earth and raises the dome of the sky away from it. I present the whale Noon that carries the earth above the sea stream and the Ocean. Besides, I introduce the preserved slab which comprehends all the destinies and fates till the doomsday. Here I talk about the legends of man creation; Adam and Eve. I present Abel the shepherd and Cain the farmer and their conflict in getting married to the beautiful girl. I present Al khader who drinks from the fountain of life, so he has ever lasting fertility and greenery. I talk about the creation of devil that prevents man from goodness. I devote the third chapter to the legends of violating of supernaturals. I present the legend of the great flood guided by the goddesses for extermination of human race due to their disobedience. Also, here I talk about Nooh escape due to his obedience. I introduce Birds Alobabil that were supernaturally oriented by God to defend the sacred place by throwing the invaders with special kind of stones. Also, I present Salih's camel that has supernatural specifications from God to support his messenger. That Camel was a cause to the destruction of Thamod's people because they slaughtered it. Also, I present Mose's snake which was supernatural and played a major role to prove goodness and disprove the wrong. Besides, I introduce the kingdom of Suliman focusing on the talking ants with him. Here, I present the talking birds and animals in exegetics and legends. In chapter four, I introduce the legends of mutant and transformation. This includes the mutant of a woman into Venus, here I mean the woman Ishtar the goddess of love, sex and fertility. Showing her ability in seducing the lovers and her ability in betraying them. Here, I present the Jews metamorphosis to monkeys and pigs due to their disobedience to goddesses. Also, I present other similar samples of this metamorphosis in other legends. In addition, I introduce the mutant of Esaf and na'ela due to their sin of adultery in the holy k'aba during the period of pilgrimage before Islam. Also, I refer to some of pilgrimage ceremonies and their legendary reflections. In chapter five, I talk about the legends of some symbols, such as the throne, ox, vulture, lion, number seven and reflections related to the ancient legends, so I concentrate on their manifestations in the exegetics revealing their meanings. In the conclusion, I present the most important results and recommendations of this study.