Integrasi Tafsir dan Sains Tentang Domba dan Serigala dalam Al-Qur’an: Studi Tematik atas Ayat-Ayat Terkait

Abstract

This study aims to analyze Qur'anic verses related to sheep and wolves through the approach of scientific exegesis (tafsir sains). The study focuses on Qur'anic verses in Surah Al-An‘am (6): 146, Thaha (20): 18, Al-Anbiya (21): 78, Shad (38): 23, Ash-Shaffat (37): 107, and Yusuf (12): 17. This research employs a qualitative library research method using a thematic interpretation (maudhu‘i) approach integrated with perspectives from both Qur'anic exegesis and science. The data were obtained from the Qur'an, classical and contemporary tafsir literature, as well as relevant scientific sources in the fields of biology, zoology, and ecology. The findings reveal that the mention of sheep in the Qur'an encompasses economic, social, legal, and spiritual dimensions. In the context of herding (Qur'an 20:18), the biological characteristics of sheep as herbivorous and flocking animals correspond to traditional herding practices. In the context of agricultural disputes (Qur'an 21:78 and 38:23), the grazing behavior of sheep, which may damage vegetation, is consistent with the ecological concept of overgrazing. Meanwhile, in the narrative of sacrifice (Qur'an 37:107), the selection of sheep as sacrificial animals has rational foundations in terms of domestication, environmental adaptation, and economic value within pastoral societies. The mention of wolves in Qur'an 12:17 portrays them as symbols of threat used as a pretext for deception. Scientifically, wolves are social predators that rarely attack humans except under extreme circumstances. Therefore, the narrative conveys a moral message concerning the manipulation of facts and deliberate falsehood. Thus, the scientific exegesis approach demonstrates a harmony between Qur'anic descriptions and empirical realities while affirming that verses concerning animals are not merely narrative in nature but also reflective and informative. This study emphasizes that the integration of tafsir and science can enrich the understanding of kauniyah verses without reducing the Qur'an to a scientific textbook.