Contemporary Epistemology of Interpretation: Reconstructing the Relationship between Normative Values and Historicity in the Interpretation of the Qur’an
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29240/alquds.v9i3.15718Keywords:
Epistemology, Normativity, Historicity, Contemporary InterpretationAbstract
The values of normativity and historicity are essential considerations in understanding the Qur’an. This study presents an analysis of the reconstruction of contemporary interpretive epistemology, which cannot be done by contrasting the values of normativity and historicity. Instead, a dialectical synthesis is needed that combines the two in a balanced manner. Through this approach, the Qur’an can still be understood as a universal guide for life while also responding to humanity’s social and historical dynamics. In practical terms, this study offers guidance for developing a more dynamic, context-sensitive model of interpretation that remains faithful to the Qur’an’s fundamental principles. The research method is a descriptive-analytical approach with a philosophical orientation to unravel the epistemological issues arising in contemporary interpretive practices. This article discusses the epistemology of modern interpretation by highlighting how the relationship between normative values and historical aspects in the understanding of the Qur’an can be reconstructed. The development of contemporary interpretation methodology requires an approach that can overcome the tension between two critical dimensions. First, the universal and normative nature of the Qur’an as divine revelation. Second, the historical and cultural context surrounding the process of revelation and its interpretation
Downloads
References
Ahmad Haromaini. “Getting To Know Hermeneutics Through Muhammad Shahrur And Hassan Hanafi.” Rausyan Fikr 15, no. 01 (March 2019).
Ahmad Ridho Syakiri. “The Contribution of Contemporary Interpretation in the Modern Era: A Study of the Concept of Thought and Methodology of Interpretation.” AQWAL Journal of Qur’an and Hadis Studies 3, no. 2 (December 2022): 175–87. https://doi.org/10.28918/aqwal.v3i2.5784.
Al Faruq, Umar, Achdam Khoeron, Althof Hussein Qadhafi, and Fatihatul Fatihatul Izzah. “Understanding the Method of Qur’anic Interpretation: Traditional and Contemporary Approaches to Understanding the Divine Message.” Ta’limDiniyah: Journal of Islamic Education Studies 4, no. 1 (October 2023): 213–25. https://doi.org/10.53515/tdjpai.v4i1.82.
Annisa, Nur, Nasrullah Bin Sapa, and Halimah Basri. “His Father Knows Asbabun Nuzul.” Al-Mubarak Journal: Journal of Qur’an Studies and Tafsir 9, no. 2 (December 2024): 84–99. https://doi.org/10.47435/al-mubarak.v9i2.3372.
Aprilianti, Anisatul Fikriyah. “Sociological Historical Approach In Qur’an Study: A Study Of Fazlur Rahman’s Thoughts.” Cendikia 08, no. 01 (June 2022).
Arbi, Faisal Abdul Aziz. Dynamics Of Contemporary Tafsir Methods. n.d.
Ardiansyah, Al Fiqri. “Criticism of Hermeneutics in the Interpretation of the Qur’an: The Perspective of Traditional and Contemporary Scholars.” Al-Muhith: Journal of Qur’an and Hadith 4, no. 1 (January 2025): 1. https://doi.org/10.35931/am.v4i1.4232.
Budiman, Syarif, Wawan Wahyudin, Ali Muhtarom, Budiarjo Budiarjo, and Akhmad Sufyan. “Abdullah Saeed’s Contextual Interpretation Methodology in the 21st Century Qur’an.” Journal of Education Research 5, no. 1 (March 2024): 821–30. https://doi.org/10.37985/jer.v5i1.836.
Dinda Salsabilla, Hanifa Hanifa, Muhammad Aidil Dalimunthe, and Jendri Jendri. “The Meaning of Tafsir and Its Pattern from the Time of the Prophet to the Present.” Journal of Islamic Ethics 3, no. 1 (December 2024): 338–54. https://doi.org/10.61132/jbpai.v3i1.912.
Ecep Ismail. “Semantic Analysis of The Word Ahzab And Its Derivations In The Quran.” Al-Bayan 01, no. 02 (December 2016): 139–48.
Fangesty, Maolidya, Nurwadjah Ahmad, and R. Komarudin. “Characteristics and Models of Contemporary Interpretation.” Mashadiruna Journal of the Science of the Qur’an and Tafsir 3 (March 2024): 53–60. https://doi.org/10.15575/mjiat.v3i1.34048.
Scott, Scott. “Contextual Interpretation:” Essence 12, no. 01 (January 2011).
Hanif, Mkhai Hanif Yuli Edi Z. “Textual Approach; Contextual And Hermeneetic In The Interpretation Of The Qur’an.” Al Muhafidz: Journal of the Science of the Qur’an and Tafsir 3, no. 2 (September 2023): 103–16. https://doi.org/10.57163/almuhafidz.v3i2.69.
———. “Textual Approach; Contextual And Hermeneetic In The Interpretation Of The Qur’an.” Al Muhafidz: Journal of the Science of the Qur’an and Tafsir 3, no. 2 (September 2023): 103–16. https://doi.org/10.57163/almuhafidz.v3i2.69.
Harun Nasution. Reform in Islam (History of Thought and Movements). Jakarta: PT. Moon, 1992.
Hidayah, Nurul. “Conceptual Understanding Of Gender Equality In Classical And Contemporary Interpretations Of Q.S Al Hujurat Verse 13.” Journal of Social Dynamics and Science 2, no. 5 (June 2025): 745–51. https://doi.org/10.60145/jdss.v2i5.172.
“Instagram.” Accessed December 14, 2025. https://www.instagram.com/p/DR8uTQ1ke0p/?img_index=1.
Janah, Nasitotul. “Normativity and Historicity Approaches and Their Implications in the Development of Islamic Thought.” Cakrawala: Journal of Islamic Studies 13, no. 2 (December 2018): 102–19. https://doi.org/10.31603/cakrawala.v13i2.2331.
Kerwanto, K., Muhammad Aulal Fikri Al Hasani, and Muhammad Miftah Hamdani. “Contextual Interpretation (Study of Epistemology, History, Variety of Books and Examples of Interpretation).” QiST: Journal of Quran and Tafseer Studies 3, no. 3 (October 2024): 451–70. https://doi.org/10.23917/qist.v3i3.5737.
Kurdi, Alif Jabal. “Muhammad Syahrur and the Essence of the Qur’an Shalih li Kulli Zaman wa Makan.” Tafsir of the Quran | Reference Tafsir in Indonesia, December 11, 2020. https://tafsiralquran.id/muhammad-syahrur-dan-hakikat-al-quran-shalih-li-kulli-zaman-wa-makan/.
Kurniyatillah, Nisfu, Mahmud Arif, and Mohamad Syawaluddin. “The Existence of Asbabun Nuzul and Tafsir Ilmi in the Qur’an.” AN NUR: Journal of Islamic Studies 15, no. 1 (June 2023): 100–113. https://doi.org/10.37252/annur.v15i1.438.
Maryati, Yeti Sri, Agus Susilo Saefullah, and Abdul Azis. “Religious And Philosophical Normative Foundations In The Development Of Islamic Religious Education Methodology.” Qolamuna: Islam, Education, Literacy and Humanities 1, no. 2 (April 2025): 65–84.
Musthofa, Qowim. “The Qur’an and the Philosophy of Science: A Study of Nidhal Guessoum’s Thought.” AN NUR: Journal of Islamic Studies 13, no. 1 (December 2021): 51–66. https://doi.org/10.37252/an-nur.v13i1.103.
Mutrofin, Mutrofin -. “Contemporary Indonesian Ulama (Role, Typology, and Thought).” Research Dynamics: Social Religious Research Communication Media 19, no. 1 (July 2019): 105–24. https://doi.org/10.21274/dinamika.2019.19.1.105-124.
Nasution, Abdurrahman, Adzin Aziz Ahmad, Kafi Kadhafi Ahmad, M. Aziz Zulhijjan, and Rizky Febriansyah Sinaga. “Asbabun Nuzul and Its Urgency in the Study of Ulumul Qur’an.” Southeast Sulawesi Educational Journal 4, no. 3 (December 2024): 246–53. https://doi.org/10.54297/seduj.v4i3.874.
Nazhifah, Dinni. “Modern and Contemporary Interpretations of the 19th-21st Centuries AD.” Journal of Faith and Spirituality 1, no. 2 (May 2021): 211–18. https://doi.org/10.15575/jis.v1i2.12302.
Pajriani, Tira Reseki, Suci Nirwani, Muhammad Rizki, Nadia Mulyani, Tri Oca Ariska, and Sahrul Sori Alom Harahap. “Epistemology Of Philosophy.” PRIMARY: Multidisciplinary Scientific Journal 1, no. 3 (June 2023): 282–89. https://doi.org/10.55681/primer.v1i3.144.
Son, Fiki Oktama. “An Analysis of Fazlur Rahman’s Thoughts on the Reconstruction of Contemporary Tafsir Methods.” PAP 6, no. 2 (December 2024): 366–84. https://doi.org/10.46870/jiat.v6i2.1112.
Rafiqi, Yusep. “Hermeneutic Criticism and the Contextualization of Legal Verses.” AHKAM: Journal of Sharia Science 17, no. 1 (January 2017). https://doi.org/10.15408/ajis.v17i1.6088.
Rahman, Yusuf. “Feminist Kyai, K.H. Husein Muhammad: The Feminist Interpretation on Gendered Verses and the Qur’an-Based Activism.” Al-Jami’ah: Journal of Islamic Studies 55, no. 2 (December 2017): 293–326. https://doi.org/10.14421/ajis.2017.552.293-326.
Rasuki, Rasuki. “Getting to Know Hermeneutical Theory as a Method of Understanding Texts Objectively.” Kariman: Journal of Islamic Education 9, no. 1 (June 2021): 103–14. https://doi.org/10.52185/kariman.v9i1.173.
Ridho, Abdul Rasyid. “Hermeneutic Methods and Their Implementation in Interpreting the Qur’an.” Al Burhan: Journal of the Study of Science and Cultural Development of the Qur’an 17, no. 2 (December 2017). https://doi.org/10.53828/alburhan.v17i2.93.
Ridho, Muh Makhrus Ali. “Contemporary Period Interpretive Thought.” Dar El-Ilmi: Journal of Religious Studies, Education and Humanities 10, no. 2 (October 2023): 122–40. https://doi.org/10.52166/darelilmi.v10i2.5111.
Rouf, Abdul. “The Contribution of Contemporary Interpretation in Answering the Challenges of the Times.” Al-Amin: Journal of Educational and Social Sciences and Humanities 2, no. 1 (September 2024): 23–46. https://doi.org/10.53398/alamin.v2i1.367.
Saleh, Muhammad, Abdul Kadir Riyadi, and Nafi’ Mubarok. “Tafsir Maqasid In Understanding The Verses of The Law: An Analysis of Tafsir Al-Jassas.” Living Islam: Journal of Islamic Discourses 7, no. 2 (August 2024): 321–40. https://doi.org/10.14421/lijid.v7i2.5603.
Samosir, Khodijah, and Hasani Ahmad said. Methodology of Modern - Contemporary Tafsir in Indonesia. 5 (2022).
Sengkang, Ma'had Aly As'adiyah. “A Methodological Study Of The Tafsir Of Fazlur Rahman.” Tafasir 1, no. 1 (June 2023).
Shomad, Abdus. “Male and female authority: A Contextual Interpretation Study of Abdullah Saeed’s Interpretation of Qs. an-Nisa 4:34.” AlifLam Journal: Journal of Islamic Studies and Humanities 3, no. 1 (July 2022): 1–21. https://doi.org/10.51700/aliflam.v3i1.432.
Ministry of Religion Team. The Qur’an of the Ministry of Religion, Revised Edition 2019. Jakarta, 2019.
Ummi Kalsum Hasibuan, Risqo Faridatul Ulya, and Jendri Jendri. “Typology of Tafsir Studies: Methods, Approaches and Patterns in Qur’an Interpretation Partners.” Ishlah: Journal of Ushuluddin Science, Adab and Da’wah 2, no. 2 (October 2020): 96–120. https://doi.org/10.32939/ishlah.v2i2.9.
Yuli Edi Z, M Khai Hanif, Basirun Basirun, Feska Ajepri, and Zulkipli Jemain. “Contextual Textual and Hermeneutic Approaches in the Interpretation of the Qur’an.” DIMAR: Journal of Islamic Education 4, no. 2 (June 2023): 259–80. https://doi.org/10.58577/dimar.v4i2.89.
Zahra, Priyantika Lesyaina Az, Aniatul Fukoroh, and Andi Rosa. “Double Movement Theory on Fazlurrahman’s Interpretation.” Journal of Intellectuals Insan Cendikia 1, no. 10 (2024).
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Citation Check
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Ali ali sajjad baaly

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with AL QUDS : Jurnal Studi Alquran dan Hadis agree to the following terms:- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).





