The Qur’anic Exegesis in Bugis Language: Vernacularization in the Study of Tafsir al-Munir

By: Sulaiman Ibrahim

This study concludes that the Qur’anic interpretation by AG. H. Daud Ismail successfully conducted a vernacularization of terms and values related to the universality of Islam. This was applied by his presentation of exegesis in which its composition and language style adapt to local interpretation used by the Bugis society. This was due to the fact that many books of Qur’anic interpretation use Arabic and terms which are difficult to understand by local societies. Moreover, most of them include technical terms related to ‘ilm bala>ghah (stylistics), nah}wu (Arabic grammar), and s}arf (word derivations), which sometimes confuse the lay readers.         

This dissertation confirms the argument of Muh}ammad al-Fa>dil ibn ‘A<shu>r in al-Tafsi>r wa Rijāluhu>, that an explanation or interpretation of the Qur’an should uses a language which is easily understood by the community. Indeed, this is in accord with the verse: وماأرسلناك من رسول إلا بلسان قومهم ليبين لهم.

This research is a qualitative one by using interpretive approach. The main source of this dissertation is based on Daud Ismail’s Tafsīr al-Munīr. In attempt to analyze the methodology aspect, it draws on several books of ‘Ulūm al-Qur'an and interpretation (tafsi>r), be it classic or modern one. The data is analyzed with standard interpretation science (‘ilm tafsir) that comprises interpretation method and content analysis. This study uses discourse analysis theory to understand the interpretation while employing interpretation approach to analyze the existing data.

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