Exploring Ibn Ashur's Maqasid-Based Qur'anic Exegesis Methodology for Contemporary Challenges

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FORMOSA NEWS

A research team consisting of Muhammad Sholeh Hasan from State Islamic University Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, alongside Hasbullah Diman, Abdul Hakim, and Bagus Aji Handriyan from the Lajnah Pentashihan Mushaf Al-Qur'an of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the R.I., and Sofwatun Nada from Islamic University 45 Bekasi, published a comprehensive study in July 2026 regarding Muhammad al-Tahir Ibn Ashur's maqasid-based methodology of Qur'anic interpretation. This research is crucial because it offers a novel intellectual framework capable of bridging the authenticity of sacred texts with the increasingly complex dynamics of modern social needs.

The background of this study stems from the challenges of the modern era where classical atomistic or overly textual exegesis approaches often struggle to explain the normative relevance of the Qur'an to contemporary issues such as science, technology, globalization, and cultural plurality. Hitherto, academic literature has tended to view Ibn Ashur's maqasid al-shari'ah theory merely within the realm of Islamic law, while its integrative function as a hermeneutic and epistemological system for Qur'anic interpretation remains insufficiently explored.

To dissect this system of thought, the researchers employed a qualitative textual-hermeneutic approach by examining Ibn Ashur's two primary works, namely al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir and Maqasid al-Shari'ah al-Islamiyyah. Data collection was carried out through systematic document analysis, thematic coding, and epistemological interpretation to understand the reasoning patterns and validation procedures used by the exegete.

Based on in-depth analysis, the study identifies five core components within Ibn Ashur's exegesis methodology structure:

• Eight Qur'anic maqasid are established as the overarching primary orientation in understanding the text.
• Inductive reasoning (istiqra') is used to discover universal patterns within Qur'anic verses.
• Textual-bayani analysis is applied to ensure linguistic accuracy, grammar, and the context of rhetorical communication.
• Mutawatir Sunnah functions as an epistemic validation instrument to strengthen the validity of meaning comprehension.
• The concept of maqasid is positioned as the primary source of interpretive authority to filter meanings most aligned with values of justice and public welfare.

These findings provide broad practical implications for the world of Islamic education, social science development, and public policy formulation. The researchers emphasize that "reconceptualising maqasid not merely as an objective of Islamic law but as a comprehensive hermeneutic and epistemological framework for interpreting the Qur'an". Through this model, academics and practitioners can address various contemporary issues—ranging from environmental ethics, human rights, governance, to the integration of artificial intelligence in Qur'anic studies (AI-assisted tafsir)—without losing the normative authority of revelation.

Brief Author Profiles

• Muhammad Sholeh Hasan – Researcher and academic at State Islamic University Syarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta, Indonesia.
• Hasbullah Diman – Researcher at the Lajnah Pentashihan Mushaf Al-Qur'an, Ministry of Religious Affairs of the R.I, Jakarta, Indonesia.
• Sofwatun Nada – Researcher and academic at Islamic University 45, Bekasi, Indonesia.
• Abdul Hakim – Researcher at the Lajnah Pentashihan Mushaf Al-Qur'an, Ministry of Religious Affairs of the R.I, Jakarta, Indonesia.
• Bagus Aji Handriyan – Researcher at the Lajnah Pentashihan Mushaf Al-Qur'an, Ministry of Religious Affairs of the R.I, Jakarta, Indonesia.

Research Sources

• Article Title: Ibn Ashur's Maqasid-Based Methodology of Qur'anic Interpretation: A Hermeneutic and Epistemological Analysis
• Journal Name: International Journal of Education and Life Sciences (IJELS)
• Publication Year: 2026
• DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.59890/ijels.v4i7.53