The Existence and Development of Tafsiri Bil Ma'thur in The Classical and Contemporary Islamic Scientific Traditions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15575/mjiat.v5i2.55129Keywords:
contemporary exegesis, epistemology of transmission, methodological transformation, tafsir bi al-ma'thurAbstract
This study aims to analyze the existence, methodological boundaries, and relevance of Tafsir bi al-Ma’thur within the historical development of Qur’anic exegesis from the classical to the contemporary era. The focus of this research encompasses four main aspects. First, to examine the definition of Tafsir bi al-Ma’thur and other related terminologies within the corpus of Qur’anic studies. Second, to trace the boundaries and historical emergence of Tafsir bi al-Ma’thur from the formative period of tafsir to its development during the classical era. Third, to analyze the factors contributing to differences of opinion among scholars regarding the sources and authority of transmitted reports (riwayat) in Qur’anic interpretation. Fourth, to explore the contemporary existence of Tafsir bi al-Ma’thur and the reasons for its continuity, particularly in relation to modern exegetical dynamics and approaches. This study employs a qualitative approach using library research methods through a systematic examination of classical exegetical works such as Jāmi‘ al-Bayān by al-Ṭabarī, Tafsīr al-Qur’ān al-‘Aẓīm by Ibn Kathīr, and al-Durr al-Manthūr by al-Suyūṭī, as well as contemporary commentaries such as al-Taḥrīr wa al-Tanwīr by Ibn ‘Āshūr and al-Tafsīr al-Munīr by al-Zuḥaylī. The findings indicate that differences of opinion among scholars are influenced by three main factors: variations in the reliability of transmission chains (isnād), divergent epistemological frameworks regarding the authority of the athār of the Companions and the Successors, and the impact of socio-intellectual contexts within each historical period of tafsir. In the modern era, Tafsir bi al-Ma’thur is no longer practiced exclusively; rather, it has evolved by integrating rational, thematic, and hermeneutical approaches to meet the demands of more contextualized Qur’anic understanding. Thus, the riwayah-based method retains its epistemological relevance as a normative foundation that safeguards the authenticity of the divine message while serving as a methodological filter for the development of contemporary Qur’anic interpretation.
References
Achmadin, B. Z., Fattah, A., Alfa, M. A., & Mukhsin, A. (2024). Model of Tafsir Bi Al-Ma’tsur Approach Relevance to Islamic Education: a Chronological Review of Qur’anic Interpretation. At-Turats, 18(1), 54–73. https://doi.org/10.24260/at-turats.v18i1.2789
Afandi, M., & Kholid, A. (2023). Wacana Model Penafsiran Terbaik: Telaah Kritis Produk Tafsir bi al- Ma’thūr Era Mutaqaddimīn [Discourse on the Best Model of Interpretation: Critical Analysis of Tafsir bi al-Ma’thūr Mutaqaddimīn Era Products]. QOF Jurnal Studi Al-Quran Dan Tafsir, 7(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.30762/qof.v7i1.1014.Mahdi [In Indonesian]
Aisy, M. R., Fatiha, I., Jihaddifa, J., & Jendri, J. (2024). Mengupas Ragam Bentuk Penafsiran Al-Qur’an. Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam Dan Filsafat, 2(1), 299–311. https://doi.org/10.61132/akhlak.v2i1.392
Aisyah, N. R. (2025). Rekonstruksi Model Penelitian Tafsir: Metode dan Pendekatan dalam Memahami Makna Al-Qur’an [Reconstructing the Exegetical Research Model: Methods and Approaches to Understanding the Meaning of the Qur’an]. Jurnal Semiotika-Q: Kajian Ilmu Al-Quran Dan Tafsir, 5(1), 320–348. https://doi.org/10.19109/jsq.v5i1.25815 [In Indonesian]
Akbar, W., Irham, M., & Damis, R. (2026). Menelusuri Metodologi Tafsir bi al-Ma’tsur: Sumber, Prinsip, dan Validitas Riwayat [Exploring the Methodology of Tafsir bi al-Ma’thur: Sources, Principles, and the Validity of Narrations]. PESHUM : Jurnal Pendidikan, Sosial Dan Humaniora, 5(3), 5926–5935. https://doi.org/t10.56799/peshum.v5i3.14488 [In Indonesian]
Al-Bukhari, A. A. M. bin I. bin I. bin A.-M. bin B. A.-J. (2001). Sahih Al-Bukhari. Dar Ibnu Katsir.
Al-Dzahabi, M. H. (2000). al-Tafsir wa al-Mufassirun. Maktabah Wahbah.
Al-Ghazali, M. (1990). Nahwa Tafsīr Maudhū‘ī li Suwar al-Qur’ān al-Kar. Dar Al-Syuruq.
Al-Qattan, M. K. (1973). Mabahith fi ‘Ulum al-Qur’an. Mansyurat al-‘Asr al-Hadith.
Al-Qattan, M. K. (2001). Mabāḥits fī ‘Ulūm al-Qur’ān. Muassasah al-Risalah.
Al-Suyuthi, J. A. A.-F. (2008). Ad-Durr al-Mantsūr fī at-Tafsīr bil Ma’tsūr. Dar al-Fikr.
Al-Tabari, A. J. (2001). Jāmi‘ al-Bayān ‘an Ta’wīl Āy al-Qur’ān. Dar al-Ma’rifah.
Al-Zahabi, M. H. (1976). Al-Tafsir Wa Al-Mufassirun. Dar Al-Kutub Al-Haditsah.
Al-Zarkasyi, B. A.-D. (1990). Al-Burhan fi ‘Ulum al-Qur’an. Dar Al-Fikr.
Al-Zuhaili, W. (2005). al-Tafsīr al-Munīr fī al-‘Aqīdah wa al-Syarī‘ah wa al-Manhaj. Dār al-Fikr.
Apandi, R. (2022). Problem Subjektivitas Mufasir Dalam Tafsîr Bi Al-Ma’tsûr [The Problem of Mufasir Subjectivity in Tafsîr Bi Al-Ma’tsûr]. Institute PTIQ Jakarta.
Aruf, T. (2015). Metode Penafsiran Ibn Kathîr dalam Tafsîr al-Qur’ân al-‘Azîm [Ibn Kathîr’s Interpretation Method in Tafsîr al-Qur’ân al-’Azîm]. MUTAWATIR, 1(1), 16. https://doi.org/10.15642/mutawatir.2011.1.1.16-30 [In Indonesian]
Asfar, K. (2022). Metodologi Tafsir Al-Tahrir Wa Al-Tanwir Karya Muhammad Tahir Ibnu ‘Asyur [The Exegetical Methodology of Al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir by Muhammad Tahir Ibn ‘Ashur]. Al-Aqwam: Jurnal Studi Al-Quran Dan Tafsir, 1(3), 55–67. https://doi.org/10.58194/alaqwam.v1i1.270 [In Indonesian]
Fikri Ys, I. Al, & Rohmanudin, D. (2022). Keunikan Teknik Khusus Penyusunan Tafsīr Al-Qur’ān Oleh Ahmad Musthafa Al-Marāghī [The Unique Aspects of Ahmad Musthafa Al-Marāghī’s Specific Technique in Compiling the Qur’anic Exegesis]. Jurnal Iman Dan Spiritualitas, 2(1), 7–16. https://doi.org/10.15575/jis.v2i1.15695 [In Indonesian]
Firdaus, M. Y., Husna, N., Malik, A., Salsabila, H., & Yunus, B. M. (2023). Diskursus Tafsir bi al-Ma’tsur [Discourse on Tafsir bi al-Ma’tsur]. Jurnal Dirosah Islamiyah, 5(1), 71–77. https://doi.org/10.17467/jdi.v5i1.2150 [In Indonesian]
Furqan, F. (2023). Metodologi Tafsir Jami’ al-Bayan Imam Thabari [Methodology of Tafsir Jami’ al-Bayan Imam Thabari]. TAFSE: Journal of Qur’anic Studies, 8(1), 88. https://doi.org/10.22373/tafse.v8i1.18397 [In Indonesian]
Ghozali, M. (2021). Belenggu Rasionalitas Dalam Tafsīr Bi Al-Ma’thūr [The Shackles of Rationality in Tafsīr Bi Al-Ma’thūr]. REVELATIA: Jurnal Ilmu Al-Qur`an Dan Tafsir, 2(2), 106–123. https://doi.org/10.19105/revelatia.v2i2.4944 [In Indonesian]
Haqim, N., Sekar, D., & Sanah, S. (2025). Sejarah Perkembangan Tafsir Pada Periode Modern [The History of the Development of Exegesis in the Modern Period]. Hamalatul Qur’an : Jurnal Ilmu Ilmu Alqur’an, 6(1), 175–183. https://doi.org/10.37985/hq.v6i1.403 [In Indonesian]
Ibnu ’Asyur, M. bin T. (1984). Al-Tahrir wa Al-Tanwir. Dar Sahnun.
Ibnu Kathir, I. bin U. bin K. A.-Q. A.-D. A. A.-F. I. (1999). Tafsir Al-Quran Al-Azim. Dar Taybah.
Imadudin, I., & Ain, A. Q. (2022). Kategorisasi Tafsir dan Problematikanya dalam Kajian Kontemporer [The Categorization of Exegesis and Its Challenges in Contemporary Studies]. Jurnal Iman Dan Spiritualitas, 2(3), 381–388. https://doi.org/10.15575/jis.v2i3.18692 [In Indonesian]
Krippendorf, K. (2013). Content analysis: An introduction to its methodology (3rd ed.). Sage Publications.
Nurcahyati, N., & Haqiqi, H. (2025). Transformation Of Traditional Tafsir To Modern Perspective Of Fazlur Rahman’s Hermeneutics. Al Muhafidz: Jurnal Ilmu Al-Qur’an Dan Tafsir, 5(1), 143–160. https://doi.org/10.57163/almuhafidz.v5i1.177
Ridwan, M. (2017). Tradisi Kritik Tafsir: Diskursus Kritisisme Penafsiran dalam Wacana Qur’anic Studies [The Tradition of Exegetical Criticism: The Discourse of Interpretive Criticism within Qur’anic Studies]. Jurnal Theologia, 28(1), 55–74. https://doi.org/10.21580/teo.2017.28.1.1418 [In Indonesian]
Setiawani, N. K. (2021). Integrasi Tafsir Bil Ma’thur Dan Bil Ra’yi Dalam Wacana Tafsir Modern [Integration of Tafsir Bil Ma’thur and Bil Ra’yi in Modern Tafsir Discourse]. Jurnal Studi Ilmiu Al-Qur’an Dan Hadis, 2(3), 201–220. https://doi.org/10.63822/86mma410 [In Indonesian]
Shihab, M. Q. (2008). Kaedah tafsir: Syarat, ketentuan, dan aturan yang patut Anda ketahui dalam memahami ayat-ayat al-Qur’an [Interpretation rules: Terms, conditions and rules that you should know in understanding the verses of the Koran]. Lentera Hati.
Solahudin, M. (2016). Metodologi dan Karakteristik Penafsiran dalam Tafsir Al-Kashshaf [Methodology and Characteristics of Interpretation in Tafsir Al-Kashshaf]. Wawasan: Jurnal Ilmiah Agama Dan Sosial Budaya, 1(1), 116–126. https://doi.org/10.15575/jw.v1i1.582 [In Indonesian]
Taimiyyah, I. (2003). Muqaddimah fi Ushul al-Tafsir. Dar Ibn al-Jauzi.
Zed, M. (2008). Metode penelitian kepustakaan [Library research method]. Yayasan Obor Indonesia.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Ahlan Hanafi, Adin Gumilang, Lola Pertiwi
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).