The Construction of Non-Naskh Reasoning in Tafsir At-Tanwir: Methodological Shifts and Juridical Challenges

Abstract

Purpose - The debate on intra-Qur'anic naskh has long been central to Qur'anic studies. While Muhammadiyah's Manhaj Tarjih formally acknowledges naskh as a hierarchical legal principle for resolving conflicting evidences (ta'āruḍ), Tafsir At-Tanwir appears to adopt a different interpretive orientation. This study examines the construction of non-naskh reasoning within Tafsir At-Tanwir and evaluates the consistency of its application across different thematic verses such as theological, historical, and legal verses.
Design/methodology/approach - This study employs a qualitative library-based research design using content analysis and critical-comparative methods. Primary data are drawn from two Muhammadiyah institutional works—Tafsir At-Tanwir and Manhaj Tarjih Muhammadiyah—while classical works on naskh, and Qur'anic interpretation literature serve as supporting sources. The analysis compares interpretive strategies employed in different thematic contexts to identify underlying methodological patterns.
Findings - The findings reveal a significant methodological dualism in Tafsir At-Tanwir. In theological and historical discussions, the commentary adopts a modernist-rationalist approach influenced by Muḥammad 'Abduh and Rasyīd Riḍā, consistently rejecting intra-Qur'anic naskh through various approaches ranging from semantic deconstruction and the logic of revelatory chronology to linguistic analysis. However, this methodological consistency weakens when addressing practical jurisprudential issues, particularly in verses concerning family law and social relations, such as bequests to relatives, the waiting period for widows, and instructions regarding the Ahlulkitab. In these instances, the commentary tends to accommodate classical scholarly consensus or adopt a silent stance.
Research implications/limitations - This study is limited to the first two published volumes of Tafsir At-Tanwir. Future research should examine subsequent volumes upon their release to determine whether this methodological inconsistency persists as the commentary progresses. Comparative studies with other contemporary institutional commentaries are also recommended to broaden understanding of non-naskh reasoning.
Originality/value - This study contributes to contemporary Qur'anic studies by demonstrating that the rejection of intra-Qur'anic naskh in Tafsir At-Tanwir is neither absolute nor methodologically uniform. It introduces the concept of methodological dualism to explain the tension between Muhammadiyah's purification-oriented interpretative ideals and its pragmatic engagement with classical Islamic jurisprudence, thereby enriching discussions on methodological consistency in modern Qur'anic interpretation.