The Hermeneutic Thoughts of Ashgar Ali Engineer in The Interpretation of Feminism

Irsyadunnas Irsyadunnas

doi:10.24014/jush.v25i1.2120

Abstract

Using hermeneutic as a method and approach in systematic interpretation of Al-Qur'an had begun during contemporary period. The reality and fulfillment of the academic standard had pushed contemporary Muslim scholars used the method. Asghar Ali Engineer was one of the Muslim scholars who supported hermeneutic in the study of Qur'anic exegesis on feminism. This article examined the impacts on how feminism in Engineer's hermeneutic exegesis of the Qur'an played significant role in the Qur'anic exegesis studies. He was placed at the same position with other contemporary Muslim scholars. His popularity as a Muslim feminist had been well-known mainly on his interpretation of the Qur'an about feminism. According to Engineer, the interpretation of the Qur'an had to consider three concepts, “the freedom of Al-Qur'an,” “the spirit of the Qur'an against Patriarchy,” and “the classified Qur'anic verses and sociological normative.” Engineer offered three sources when interpreting al- Qur'an; namely, text, context, and perspective. The Engineer interpreted Qur'anic verses about gender at QS. An-Nisa: 1; 3, and 34 by applying these concept, method and sources

Highlights

Al-Quran, as one of the holy books, has long been widely understood theologically
There appears interpretations from Muslim feminists whose viewpoints much pleaded the inferior position of women compared to men
It could be understood that the result would be interpretatively varied to some extent, but most Muslim feminists interpreted the verses by considering the social context and the history

Summary

Introduction

Al-Quran, as one of the holy books, has long been widely understood theologically. By this understanding, the interpretation appears to be opinionated, justified the idea of the Qur’an in accordance with textual statement that tends to be dogmatic. The writer observed that this issue was quite interesting to be examined on how the influence of feminist hermeneutics in the thought of Qur’anic interpretation of Asghar Ali Engineer. Prophet has shown a very thoughtful gesture in drafting legislation and political equality of religious rights for non-Muslims This theory should have been supposed to be relied upon by modern Islamic intellectuals in formulating the concept of a democratic state.. No party suffered discriminatory actions, both in terms of employment (public or domestic), social relationships, politics and others.40 In addition to this context, Engineer confirmed the most fundamental and principle values in Islam was justice and equality. The existence of the text in the hermeneutic theory could not be ignored, even though text was not the only source of the interpretation

Context as a source of interpretation

Rejecting Patriarchy Ideology

The Classification of Quranic Verses on Feminism

Conclusion