Exploring The Meaning, History, and Urgency Of Interpretation In Islamic Religious Education

Abstract

This article discusses the urgency of Qur’anic exegesis (tafsir) and the concept of the thematic interpretation method (tafsir maudhu’i) within the study of ulum al-Qur’an. Tafsir is regarded as the key to understanding the meanings of the Qur’an and as an essential means of connecting divine revelation with the practical and religious needs of human life. Its position is highly vital, as it serves as a path to attaining divine guidance and achieving true happiness. The views of al-Shabuniy and al-Suyutiy affirm that tafsir is a noble discipline because its object of study is the Word of God (kalamullah), the source of wisdom and guidance for life. In the modern context, the urgency of tafsir becomes even more evident amid increasing freedom of thought and the rapid flow of media influence, in order to preserve the Qur’an’s function as guidance (hudan) and reminder (ad-dzikr).This article aims to explain the importance of tafsir in the life of Muslims and to elaborate on the method of thematic interpretation (tafsir maudhu’i), including its historical background, definition, forms, steps of application, as well as its strengths and weaknesses. The study employs a library research method with a descriptive-analytical approach to the literature of ulum al-Qur’an.The findings show that tafsir maudhu’i is a thematic method of interpretation that gathers Qur’anic verses based on a particular theme to be examined comprehensively, including the interrelationship between verses. This method helps provide a holistic understanding of a specific issue, although it may potentially limit the broader meanings of verses that also encompass other themes.