HERMENEUTIKA DALAM STUDI AL QUR'AN : KRITIK ATAS PEMIKIRAN NASR ABU ZAID

By examining the writings of Nasr Abu Zaid this thesis attempts to analyze his theory and
method of interpretation in addition to criticize his thought in the light of hermeneutics and
modern approaches to the Qur’an. Abu Zaid views, there are two goals in his studies of the
Qur’an. The first is reconnect the Qur’anic studies with the literary theory and criticism (Al-
Dirasa al-Adabiyya wa al-Naqdiyya). In this case, the Qur’an is a text, and more particularly a
linguistic text, and is not separated from culture and history. For that reason, it is a cultural and
historical text and should be studied by using linguistic and literary approaches, including
hermeneutics and semiotics. The second is to define the “objective” understanding of Islam that
is devoid of any ideological interest. Abu Zaid believes that by defining an “objective” nature of
the text, the ideological interpretation of the Qur’an can be reduced to a large extent. At this
stand the text should be studied and interpreted “objectively” by employing scientific
methodologies and theories developed in current textual and linguistics studies, including both
hermeneutics and semiotics