PARADIGM OF CONTEXTUAL TAFSIR IN MAHMUD SYALTUT’S TAFSĪR AL-QUR’ĀN AL-KARĪM: A METHODOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

Ilyas Thahir; Abd. Bashir Fatmal; Hamka Ilyas; Ekawati Hamzah

Authors

Ilyas Thahir Universitas Muslim Indonesia
Abd. Bashir Fatmal Universitas Islam Negeri Alauddin Makassar
Hamka Ilyas Universitas Islam Negeri Alauddin Makassar
Ekawati Hamzah Universitas Islam As'adiyah

Keywords:

Mahmud Syaltu, tafsir al-Qur'an al-karim, contextual tafsir;, reformist methodology; , religious moderation;

Abstract

This article examines the paradigm of contextual interpretation in Tafsīr al-Qur’ān al-Karīm by Shaykh Mahmud Syaltut, one of the most influential reformist scholars of the modern Islamic world. The study aims to analyze the methodological foundations that shape Syaltut’s approach to Qur’anic interpretation, particularly in responding to social change, modern challenges, and the need for religious moderation. While classical tafsir often emphasizes linguistic, legal, and theological dimensions, Syaltut introduces a contextual and rational framework that integrates textual fidelity with socio-historical realities. Using a qualitative library-based research design, this study employs a philosophical-methodological approach that combines textual analysis with epistemological, ontological, and axiological perspectives. Primary data are drawn from Syaltut’s Tafsīr al-Qur’ān al-Karīm, while secondary sources include classical and contemporary works on Qur’anic exegesis and Islamic reform. The data are analyzed through thematic categorization and critical-hermeneutical interpretation. The findings reveal that Syaltut’s tafsir is grounded in three main methodological principles: (1) contextual reading of Qur’anic verses through their socio-historical background; (2) rational-ethical reasoning that prioritizes public welfare (maṣlaḥah) and universal values; and (3) a reformist orientation aimed at bridging the gap between scriptural texts and contemporary realities. This paradigm positions the Qur’an not merely as a legal or doctrinal text, but as a dynamic moral guide for modern Muslim societies. This study contributes to contemporary Qur’anic studies by offering a systematic framework for understanding contextual tafsir as a viable model for Islamic intellectual renewal and religious moderation in pluralistic contexts.

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