Reconstruction of the Relationship between Revelation and Science in Tafsir al-Manar: A Theological-Philosophical Analysis of Muhammad Abduh's Thought

Rekonstruksi Hubungan Wahyu dan Sains dalam Tafsir al-Manar: Analisis Teologis-Filosofis Pemikiran Muhammad Abduh

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the theological-philosophical framework underlying the scientific thought of Shaykh Muhammad Abduh (1849–1905) and to examine its influence on the development of modern Islamic thought. The research focuses on Abduh’s views regarding the relationship between religion, reason, and science, his contributions to Islamic intellectual reform, and the manifestation of his scientific ideas in Qur’anic exegesis. Employing a qualitative library research method with a biographical approach, this study examines Abduh’s major works, including Al-Islām wa al-Nasrāniyyah Ma‘a al-‘Ilm wa al-Madaniyyah (Islam and Christianity in Relation to Science and Civilization), Tafsīr al-Manār, Tafsīr Juz ‘Amma, and Risālat al-Tawḥīd, as well as relevant secondary sources. The findings reveal that Abduh developed a scientific paradigm grounded in the integration of revelation and reason, rejecting the dichotomy between religion and science. He argued that the Qur’an encourages rational inquiry, empirical observation, and the advancement of knowledge as means of understanding divine signs manifested in the universe. His ideas also provided a foundation for educational reform, the renewal of Qur’anic interpretation, and the intellectual revival of Muslim societies in the modern era. This study concludes that Abduh’s principal contribution lies in his effort to harmonize science with the Islamic worldview through a rational and scientific approach to Qur’anic interpretation, thereby fostering a culture of knowledge, intellectual freedom, and sustainable Islamic reform.