Hermeneutika Al-Qurán: Kritik Atas Pemikiran Nasr Abu Zaid

Abstract

By examining the writings of Nasr Abu Zaid, this writing attempts to analyze his theory and method of interpreting the Qur’an in addition to criticizing his thought in the light of hermeneutics and modern approaches to the Qur’an. Abu Zaid views, there are two goals in his studies of the Qur’an. The first is to reconnect the Qur’anic studies with the literary theory and criticism (Al-Dirasa al-Adabiyya wa al-Naqdiyya). In this case, the Qur’an is a text, and more particularly a linguistic text, and is inseparable from culture and history. For that reason, it is a cultural and historical text and should be studied by using linguistic and literary approaches, including hermeneutics and semiotics. The second is to define the “objective” understanding of Islam that is devoid of any ideological interest. Abu Zaid believes that by defining an “objective” nature of the text, the ideological interpretation of the Qur’an can be reduced to a large extent. At this stand, the text should be studied and interpreted “objectively” by employing scientific methodologies and theories developed in current textual and linguistics studies, including both hermeneutics and semiotics.