Tafsir Al-Maraghi: Memahami Ayat Melalui Konteks Dulu dan Kini

Abstract

This study examines Ahmad Musthafa al-Maraghi’s interpretive approach in his work Tafsir al-Maraghi, focusing on the concept of understanding Qur`anic verses through two main contexts: the context of their revelation (the earlier context) and the context of modern social realities (the contemporary context). Al-Maraghi places historical meaning encompassing asbab al-nuzul, the socio-cultural conditions of the Arabs, and linguistic explanations as the foundational layer of interpretation that must not be overlooked. However, he simultaneously emphasizes the importance of actualizing the values and messages of the verses so that they remain relevant to contemporary human issues such as social morality, education, modern economics, and cultural dynamics. Through a rational and practical method free from complex theological debates, al-Maraghi presents a moderate and applicable model of interpretation. This study demonstrates that al-Maraghi’s contextual approach successfully bridges the needs of modern society to understand the Qur’an in a more functional manner without detaching it from its historical roots. Thus, Tafsir al-Maraghi stands as an important representation of a tafsir that integrates classical tradition with the demands of the present age.