Model Penafsiran Kontemporer: Kajian Epistemologis terhadap al-Tafsîr al-Wasîț li-al-Qur’ân al-Karîm

Abstract

Tafsir in the contemporary era is required to be able to present the instructions of the Qur'an dynamically in order to answer the challenges of the times. In order to fulfill this need, quite a few contemporary commentators have tried to compose their interpretations with a style, approach and method that are different from classical interpretations. Al-Tafsi>r al-Wasi>t} li-al-Qur'a>n al-Kari>mby Muh}ammad Sayyid T{ant}a>wi>is one of the tafsi>r works written to meet this need. This article does not agree with the view that considers contemporary tafsir as a genre of interpretation that has its own epistemological distinction, but supports the opinion that understands contemporary tafsir openly as tafsir works written in the present with its various genres. Using qualitative methods and an interpretive approach, this article shows that al-Tafsi>r al-Wasi>t}is a contemporary commentary of the Qur’a>n written to respond to various problems in today's life. Its tafsir epistemology is based on three main principles, those are presenting the exegesis in an easy way to understand; integration between narrated tradition and reason; and orientation towards solving contemporary problems. Even though it relies on traditional tafsir methodology, this tafsir is relatively capable of presenting flexibleinterpretations related to certain contemporary issues, without negating commonly agreed principles (al-qat}‘iyya>t).