Thematic Issues in Interpretive Thought

Abstract

This study examines the development of thematic issues in Indonesian Quranic exegesis (tafsir) as a response to local social, political, and cultural dynamics. The thematic approach differs from traditional methods which proceed sequentially from verse to verse by focusing on contemporary issues such as gender equality, pluralism, people-centered economics, and the relationship between religion and the state. Historical analysis reveals that from the New Order period through the Reform Era, thematic exegesis has flourished, driven by modernization, democratization, and social conflicts that created a need for contextual interpretation. The article concludes that thematic approaches have enriched the landscape of Indonesian Islamic thought and served as a bridge between tradition and modernity, even while facing significant challenges such as ideological polarization and the digitalization of exegesis.