Nazariyyah al-Ḥudūd sebagai Metode Tafsir Kontekstual: Telaah Pemikiran Muhammad Shahrur

Abstract

This article discusses the biography and thought of Muhammad Shahrur, a contemporary Islamic thinker from Syria known for his hermeneutical and rational approach to interpreting the Qur’an. Despite having an academic background in civil engineering, Shahrur demonstrated a deep interest in Islamic studies, particularly in linguistics and philosophy. His autodidactic approach and involvement in language studies and philosophical discussions shaped the foundation of his thought, which is reflected in his major work Al-Kitāb wa al-Qur’ān: Qirā’ah Mu‘āṣirah. In this work, Shahrur develops a linguistically-based hermeneutical theory and introduces Nazariyyah al-Ḥudūd (Theory of Limits) as a contextual ijtihad method for interpreting legal verses in the Qur’an. He distinguishes between absolute revelation (the Qur’an) and historical text (Al-Kitāb), and introduces key concepts such as Umm al-Kitāb, Lauḥ Maḥfūẓ, and al-Imām al-Mubīn. His thought emphasizes the importance of contextual relevance in religious texts and opens up space for the reinterpretation of rigid Islamic legal traditions. Although he received widespread criticism for not being affiliated with formal religious institutions, Shahrur's ideas have made a significant contribution to contemporary Islamic thought reform.