Epistemology of Tafsīr and Ta’wīl in Qur’anic Studies and Its Implications for Radicalism and Moderatism

Abstract

Contemporary religious radicalism is frequently associated with exclusive interpretations of the Qur’an, particularly when scriptural texts are detached from their historical and interpretive contexts. This phenomenon raises an important epistemological question concerning how different models of Qur’anic interpretation shape religious orientations in contemporary Muslim societies. This study examines the epistemological relationship between tafsīr and ta’wīl and analyzes its implications for contemporary debates on radicalism and religious moderation. Employing a qualitative library-based approach, the research combines content analysis and epistemological discourse analysis of classical and contemporary exegetical literature. Particular attention is given to the interpretation of Q. al-Tawbah [9]:5 as a representative case through which competing interpretive paradigms can be examined. The analysis focuses on sources of interpretive authority, the role of reason, contextualization, and maqāṣid al-sharī‘ah in the construction of Qur’anic meaning. The findings demonstrate that radical or moderate religious orientations do not emerge directly from the Qur’anic text itself, but are shaped by the epistemological frameworks through which the text is interpreted. While literal-textual approaches may contribute to exclusivist tendencies when detached from historical and ethical considerations, contextual and maqāṣid-oriented approaches provide broader space for interpretive plurality and ethical engagement. The study argues that tafsīr and ta’wīl should be understood as complementary rather than opposing paradigms and proposes an integrative epistemological model based on the interaction of riwāyah, dirāyah, and maqāṣid. This model offers a conceptual contribution to contemporary Qur’anic studies and provides a framework for strengthening religious moderation in plural societies.