The Hadaf and Tsaqafah al-Mufassir: Analysis of the Aims and Background in Writing the Qur'an
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15575/mjiat.v5i1.52091Keywords:
Culture, Experience, Intellect, madhhab, social environmentAbstract
In writing an exegetical text (tafsir), a Qur'an commentator (mufassir) cannot be separated from their tendencies and ideology. Therefore, as a reader of tafsir, it is necessary to know the mufassir's goal (hadaf) and background (tsaqafah al-mufassir) to obtain an authentic interpretation result, untainted by group interests. The objective of this research is to examine the hadaf tafsir (goal of exegesis) and tsaqafah al-mufassir (cultural/intellectual background of the mufassir) and their connection to the interpretive goal and the background of the tafsir book's writing. The research method for this study is qualitative with a descriptive-analytic approach. Data collection is carried out through a literature review. The results of this study indicate that hadaf tafsir refers to the core objective or desire that a mufassir aims to achieve in interpreting the verses of the Qur'an. Meanwhile, tsaqafah (background/culture) is the context that accompanies the mufassir, shaping their scientific insight, socio-cultural environment, and environmental influences, which ultimately impact the formation of their character and personality. By knowing these two things, readers can evaluate the work of tafsir more critically. Efforts to determine the hadaf tafsir can be seen in biographical elements, including family background, educational history, and life history, as well as the author's psychological, social factors, and life philosophy. The mufassir's background influences the choice of methodology and interpretive style (corak tafsir) adopted. This is because the methodology affects how the mufassir conveys the goal of the interpretation. Meanwhile, the interpretive style can be seen from the dominant tendency in the tafsir book.
References
Abnisa, A. P. (2024). Tafsir Tarbawi: Tafsir Ayat-Ayat Al-Qur’an terhadap Pendidikan [Tafsir Tarbawi: Interpretation of Al-Qur’an Verses on Education]. Penerbit Adab.
al-Qathan, M. (1997). Mabahits Fi Ulum al-Qur’an. Maktabah Wahbah.
Arham, A. J. F. (2020). Kaidah Penafsiran Al-Qur’an dan Urgensinya di Era Disrupsi [The Rules of Interpretation of the Qur’an and Their Urgency in the Era of Disruption]. JURNAL At-Tibyan Jurnal Ilmu Alquran Dan Tafsir, 5(1), 56–72. https://doi.org/10.32505/tibyan.v5i1.1393 [In Indonesian]
Arjuna, Halimatussa’diyah, & Ilyas, D. (2025). Epistemologi Tafsir Muhammad Dawam Rahardjo dalam Ensiklopedia Al-Quran [The Epistemology of Muhammad Dawam Rahardjo’s Interpretation in the Encyclopedia of the Quran]. Alhamra Jurnal Studi Islam, 6(1), 25–39. https://doi.org/10.30595/ajsi.v6i1.22010 [In Indonesian]
Badrudin. (2022). Metode Penafsiran Al-Qur’an: Etika dan Karakteristiknya [Methods of Interpreting the Qur’an: Ethics and Characteristics]. A-Empat.
Badruzzaman M. Yunus. (2025). Kategorisasi Ilmu Tafsir [Categorization of the Science of Interpretation]. Yayasan Values Institute.
Faisal, M. (2020). Kontribusi T.M Hasbi Ash-Shiddieqy dalam Pengembangan Ilmu Al-Qur’an dan Tafsir di Indonesia [T.M Hasbi Ash-Shiddieqy’s Contribution to the Development of Quranic Science and Interpretation in Indonesia]. Al-Bayan: Jurnal Ilmu Al-Qur’an Dan Hadist, 4(1), 24–53. https://doi.org/10.35132/albayan.v4i1.101 [In Indonesian]
Farhan, A. (2018). Metodologi Penafsiran Al-Qur’an Muhammad Al-Ghazali [Muhammad Al-Ghazali’s Methodology for Interpreting the Qur’an]. Samudera Biru.
Gadamer, H.-G. (1999). Truth and Method. Continuum.
Ghosyiah, E. (2024). Tafsir Tematik : Definisi, Perkembangan, Langkah Penafsiran dan Tokoh-Tokohnya [Thematic Interpretation: Definition, Development, Interpretive Steps and Its Figures]. Cv. Abdi Fama Group.
Hafid, A. (2023). Metodologi Pemahaman Al-Qur’an: Berbagai Cara dalam Memahami Cara Mufassir dalam Menafsirkan Al-Qur’an [Methodology of Understanding the Qur’an: Various Ways of Understanding the Ways of Mufassir in Interpreting the Qur’an]. Hamalatul Qur’an : Jurnal Ilmu-Ilmu Alqur’an, 4(1), 69–84. https://doi.org/10.37985/hq.v4i2.45 [In Indonesian]
Hidayah, S., & Zulfadli. (2024). Pemikiran Tafsir Al-Qur’an Kontemporer: Studi Komparatif Metode Tafsir Amīn Al-Khūlī dan Nashr Hamīd Abū Zayd [Contemporary Al-Qur’an Tafsir Thought: Comparative Study of Amīn Al-Khūlī and Nashr Hamīd Abū Zayd’s Tafsir Methods]. Al-Qudwah, 2(1), 99. https://doi.org/10.24014/alqudwah.v2i1.29087 [In Indonesian]
Hidayat, M. N., & Sajili, H. (2025). Orientasi Tafsir: Pentingnya Mengetahui Hadaf Tafsir dan Tsaqofah Al-Mufassirin [Interpretation Orientation: The Importance of Knowing the Hadaf of Interpretation and the Tsaqofah of Al-Mufassirin]. JSIM: Jurnal Ilmu Sosial Dan Pendidikan, 5(6), 1351–1363. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.36418/syntaximperatif.v5i6.570 [In Indonesian]
Mubhar, M. Z., Asriadi, & Mubhar, I. Z. (2025). Pengaruh Sosial-Budaya dalam Penafsiran Al-Qur’an Kontemporer [Socio-Cultural Influences in Contemporary Interpretation of the Qur’an]. Jurnal Al-Mubarak: Jurnal Kajian Al-Qur’an Dan Tafsir, 10(1), 19–27. https://doi.org/10.47435/al-mubarak.v10i1.3741 [In Indonesian]
Mustaqim, A. (2010). Epistemologi Tafsir Kontemporer [Epistemology of Contemporary Interpretation]. LKis Yogyakarta.
Nur’aeni, U. (2020). Sosiologi Tafsir: Kritik Fenomena Bid’ah dalam Tafsir Tamshiyyah Al-Muslimin Karya KH. Ahmad Sanusi [Sociology of Interpretation: A Critique of the Phenomenon of Bid’ah in the Interpretation of Tamshiyyah Al-Muslimin by KH. Ahmad Sanusi]. Publica Institute Jakarta.
Octaviana, O., & Rohmatulloh, Y. (2024). Tafsir dilihat dari Sisi Corak Tafsir: Hadaf Tafsir dan Tsaqofah Al-Mufassirin [Interpretation seen from the perspective of interpretation patterns: Hadaf Tafsir and Tsaqofah Al-Mufassirin]. Jurnal Iman Dan Spiritualitas, 3(4), 737–744. https://doi.org/10.15575/jis.v3i4.31434 [In Indonesian]
Qodratinnisa, R. R., Firmansyah, R., & Zulaiha, E. (2023). Orientasi Tafsir Ad-Durru Al-Mantsur fi Tafsir Al-Ma’tsur: Telaah Hadaf Tafsir dan Tsaqofah Al-Mufasirin [Orientation of Tafsir Ad-Durru Al-Mantsur fi Tafsir Al-Ma’tsur: Study of Hadaf Tafsir and Tsaqofah Al-Mufasirin]. Jurnal Iman Dan Spiritualitas, 3(1), 51–60. https://doi.org/10.15575/jis.v3i1.22926 [In Indonesian]
Raihan. (2017). Metode Penelitian [Research methods]. In Universitas Islam Jakarta.
Rouf, A. (2024). Kontribusi Tafsir Kontemporer dalam Menjawab Tantangan Zaman [The Contribution of Contemporary Interpretation in Answering the Challenges of the Times]. Al-Amin: Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan Dan Sosial Humaniora, 2(1), 23–46. https://doi.org/10.53398/alamin.v2i1.367 [In Indonesian]
Umar, H. N. (2014). Deradikalisasi Pemahaman Al Quran dan Hadis [Deradicalization of Understanding the Koran and Hadith]. Elex Media Komputindo.
Vinet, L., & Zhedanov, A. (2011). A Missing Family of Classical Orthogonal Polynomials. Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical, 44(8), 085201. https://doi.org/10.1088/1751-8113/44/8/085201
Yusron, M. A. (2022). Memahami Tafsir dan Urgensinya [Understanding Interpretation and Its Urgency]. ZAD Al-Mufassirin, 4(1), 61–81. https://doi.org/10.55759/zam.v4i1.35 [In Indonesian]
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Mumun Munawarotul Hasanah, Nursaid Agil Almunawar
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).