The Ijmali Interpretation Method: Its Urgency, Characteristics, and Challenges in the Modern Era

Abstrak

This article examines the ijmali interpretation method as one of the approaches to understanding the Qur’an that has been practiced since the era of the Prophet Muhammad. Characterized by its concise, straightforward, and accessible presentation, tafsir ijmali reflects the practical dimension of Qur’anic interpretation that can be readily received by the wider community. Its popularity indicates that Qur’anic interpretation does not always have to involve extensive analytical discussions; in many contexts, readers need brief and comprehensible explanations that can be easily understood and implemented in everyday life. This study employs a library research method with a qualitative-descriptive approach. The findings demonstrate that the ijmali method explains Qur’anic verses in a concise and general manner, allowing readers, particularly beginners and the general public, to grasp their essential meanings without encountering complex interpretive discussions. The interpretation generally follows the order of the verses by presenting their overall meaning, distinguishing the Qur’anic text from the explanatory interpretation, and employing language that remains close to the wording and style of the Qur’an. Several advantages characterize this method. It enables readers to quickly understand the principal messages of Qur’anic verses, supports educational and da’wah activities, can be accepted by diverse social groups, provides an effective foundation for introductory Qur’anic understanding, minimizes the influence of Isra’iliyyat narratives, and maintains linguistic proximity to the Qur’anic text. Nevertheless, the method also has limitations. Its concise nature may create opportunities for misunderstanding, provides limited discussion of linguistic and rhetorical dimensions, and may result in an incomplete understanding of the broader guidance contained in the Qur’an. Furthermore, its analytical depth is relatively limited. Consequently, in the contemporary era, the ijmali method tends to receive less attention because its restricted analytical scope is considered insufficient for addressing increasingly complex and multifaceted contemporary issues.