TAFSIR AL-MANAR KARYA MUHAMMAD ABDUH DAN MUHAMMAD RASYID RIDHA

Abstract

This study examines Tafsir al-Manār, a monumental work
by Muhammad Abduh and his disciple Muhammad Rashid
Ridha, which emerged from their concern over the
intellectual stagnation of the Muslim community and the
dominance of colonial powers at the end of the nineteenth
century. The main issues discussed include the exegetical
methods and interpretive approaches employed in al-
Manār, its strengths and weaknesses, as well as its
contribution to the development of contemporary Islamic
thought. The objective of this research is to provide a
comprehensive understanding of its methodological
structure, the characteristics of the adabī ijtimāʿī style, and
the responses of scholars—both in praise and in critique—
thus offering a clear picture of the strategic position of al-
Manār within modern Qur’anic studies. The research
adopts a library-based method with a descriptive-analytical
approach. Data are gathered from the primary source,
namely Tafsir al-Manār, and secondary references such as
books, journal articles, and relevant academic studies. The
findings reveal that al-Manār integrates the tahlīlī method,
interpreting verses sequentially and analytically, with the
adabī ijtimāʿī approach, emphasizing the relevance of the
Qur’an for social development. The work provides strong
rebuttals to accusations against Islam and offers Qur’anic
solutions to social problems. Nevertheless, it has also been
criticized for Ridha’s tendency to impose unestablished
scientific theories and for his rigid attitude toward other
exegetes. Despite these critiques, Tafsir al-Manār remains a
highly influential reference in the discourse of Islamic
reform and contemporary Qur’anic exegesis