Muhammad Abduh’s Rational Hermeneutics and Its Implications for Islamic Legal Reform

Abstract

Research Objective: Investigates Muhammad Abduh's rational hermeneutics as a foundation for Islamic legal reform, exploring how his integration of reason ('aql), ethics, and revelation (naql) reconfigures Qur'anic interpretation to revitalize ijtihad and promote justice-aligned legal principles. Research Method: The research employs a qualitative design grounded in hermeneutical analysis and Islamic legal theory. It analyses key verses from Tafsir al-Manar, Tafsir Juz 'Amma, and Risalat al-Tawhid using textual, contextual, and comparative approaches to assess jurisprudential significance. Results: Abduh's tafsir consistently elevates ethical reasoning, public welfare, and maqāṣid al-sharīʿah above rigid textualism. His interpretations of verses concerning religious freedom (2:256), family law (4:3), justice (5:8), and gender equity (33:35) reflect a reformist orientation rooted in moral deliberation. Findings and Implications: The findings reveal a transformative legal paradigm reframing Islamic law as an adaptable, ethically driven system. Abduh's approach supports institutional reform and offers credible alternatives to formalist legal reasoning in addressing pluralism, governance, and human rights. Conclusion: Abduh's rational hermeneutics demonstrates that Islamic legal thought can be renewed through a principled balance of textual fidelity and moral responsiveness, affirming ijtihad's enduring relevance in contemporary legal discourse. Contribution: The study enriches Islamic legal scholarship by offering an analytical model bridging classical jurisprudence and modern ethical challenges, positioning tafsir as a meaningful tool in legal reform. Limitations and Suggestions: The study's limitation lies in its textual focus without assessing practical implementation. Future research should examine the framework's applicability in digital ethics, environmental jurisprudence, and policy-makingThe paper attempts to investigate Shaykh Muhammad Abduh’s (1849-1905) ideas on social interpretation by systematically analyzing his extensive works on tafsir, i.e., Tafsir al-Manar (The Manar Commentary) and Tafsir Juz ‘Amma (the Commentary of Juz ‘Amma). His social ideas and framework were also developed in his other scientific and theological works, such as Al-Islam wa al-Nasraniyyah Ma‘a al-‘Ilm wa’l-Madaniyyah (Islam and Christianity in Relation to Science and Civilization), Risalat al-Tawhid (Treatise on the Unity of God), Journal al-Manar (the Lighthouse) and other important literary works and prolific writings of Muhammad ‘Abduh. The principal themes discussed in this work concentrated on Muhammad Abduh’s social philosophy, and his contributions to science and modernity, as well as his ethico-legal principle and scientific interpretation of the Qur’an. It also discussed his influence on the modern Egypt and its important impact in the enlightening and reforming of modern Islam. The method of study is qualitative (narrative) in nature based on literature survey. The study significantly arrived at considerable result which demonstrates that Abduh’s primary contribution to social ideas is to Islamize its dynamic character and foundation based on modern Islamic worldview. This was significantly illustrated in his endeavor to present socio-ethical and scientific commentary of the Qur’an which focused on the primacy of ‘aql (intellect) and reason, unleashing his rational understanding of the text, and contributing to the revival of social and scientific thought, the freedom of ideas (taharrur) and dynamic religious worldview.