KONTROVERSI PENGANULIRAN AYAT-AYAT DAMAI DENGAN AYAT PEDANG DALAM AL-QUR`AN: KAJIAN ANALITIS-KRITIS

This Ph.D. dissertation focuses on three issues which include: first to study the different ideas of Qur`an interpreters concerning the origin and the applicability of the sword-verse; second to study factors behind the controversy; third to study the influences of the abrogation on the formation of the Islamic jurisprudence on jihād.
The method of this study is to analyze and criticize different opinions among Qur`an interpreters on the issues, especially the issue of abrogation. Following Teun van Dijk's critical discourse analysis, this study tries to put different ideas of Muslim scholars as texts in relation to ideological, political, and historical contexts.
The research arrives at conclusions. First, the term "sword-verse" originates from 'Alī bin Abī Tālib's (d. 40 AH) statement as narrated by Sufyān bin 'Uyaynah (d. 198 AH) that the Prophet Muhammad was sent by sword, by referring to Q.9/113:5. This statement rises debates among Qur`an interpreters, including concerning its applicability. There are four opinions, e.g. that the verse is applicable (muhkam), that it is abrogating verse (nāsikh), or that it is abrogated (mansūkh) either by itself, or by other one. The most controversial opinion is that this verse can abrogate a large number of verses on peace (frequently called as the verses of patience, forgiveness, or reconciliation) which reach one hundred and thirty-five verses suggesting the Muslims to be tolerant with non-Muslim communities. Second, the controversy has been due to many factors: the classical debate on the existence of the abrogation (naskh) theory; exegetical ingenuity, as to how to reconcile particular-universal message of the verse; semantic problems; tension between religious authority and reason; theological, juristic, and sufism biases; and socio-historical and political contexts, such as the Crusades and strength of political Islam movements. Third, the idea of abrogation of peace-verses by the sword-verse, which has great influences on the formation of Islamic jurisprudence on jihād, justifies violence against non-believers.