Epistemology of Orientalist Interpretation: A Critical Study of Theodor Nöldeke’s Historical Paradigm in the Interpretation of the Qur’an: (Epistemologi Interpretasi Orientalis: Studi Kritis tentang Paradigma Historis Theodor Nöldeke dalam Interpretasi Al-Qur’an)

Muhammad Ahmad Mumtaz Muizza; Syafi'in Mansur

doi:10.20625/theosyn.v2i1.086

Authors

Muhammad Ahmad Mumtaz Muizza Universitas Islam Negeri Sultan Maulana Hasanuddin Banten Author
Syafi'in Mansur Universitas Islam Negeri Sultan Maulana Hasanuddin Banten Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20625/theosyn.v2i1.086

Keywords:

Al-Qur’an, Critical Study, Historical Paradigm, Orientalism, Theodor Nöldeke

Abstract

This study aims to examine the epistemology of orientalist interpretation through a critical analysis of Theodor Nöldeke’s historical paradigm in Geschichte des Qorâns. The research focuses on exploring the epistemic foundation that places history as the primary source of Qur’anic understanding. Data are drawn from Nöldeke’s primary work and relevant scholarly literature from both orientalist and Muslim perspectives. The findings reveal that Nöldeke views revelation as a historical phenomenon rooted in the Prophet Muhammad’s religious experience rather than divine communication. This paradigm elevates history above revelation, differing fundamentally from Islamic interpretive epistemology. Nevertheless, Nöldeke’s philological rigor and methodological precision offer valuable academic insights that, if applied critically, can enrich contemporary Qur’anic studies.

Abstrak
Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji epistemologi tafsir orientalis melalui analisis kritis terhadap paradigma historis Theodor Nöldeke dalam karya Geschichte des Qorâns. Fokus utama penelitian adalah mengungkap dasar epistemologis yang menjadikan sejarah sebagai sumber utama pengetahuan dalam memahami Al-Qur’an. Data penelitian bersumber dari karya primer Nöldeke serta literatur akademik pendukung, baik dari kalangan orientalis maupun sarjana Muslim. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa Nöldeke memandang wahyu sebagai fenomena historis yang lahir dari pengalaman keagamaan Nabi Muhammad, bukan sebagai komunikasi ilahi yang transenden. Paradigma ini menempatkan sejarah di atas otoritas wahyu, sehingga berbeda secara mendasar dari epistemologi tafsir Islam. Meskipun demikian, ketelitian filologis dan disiplin metodologis Nöldeke tetap memiliki nilai akademik yang dapat diadopsi secara kritis untuk memperkaya studi tafsir kontemporer.

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