THEMATIC SCIENTIFIC INTERPRETATION OF THE QUR'AN IN INDONESIA

摘要

This piece observes the new genre of Qur'an interpretation in modern Indonesia. The research is conducted by way of classifying a related typology for works on the thematic scientific interpretation of the Qur'an published in the period from the 1970s to 2015. Referring to the theory of structural exegesis underlining the significant impact of interpreters' cultural and educational background to the choice of their exegetical styles, it can be discerned that scientific expertise leads to the scientists' high interest to write thematic scientific understanding on the cosmic verses of the Qur'an. Such interest is also evoked by excessive scientific findings that correspond to the Quranic statements. This article concludes that at least there are three categories of thematic scientific interpretations of the Qur'an in Indonesia, namely: (1) works presenting general themes of scientific understanding, (2) works presenting thematic discussions on specific scientific perspectives, and (3) works seeking scientific understanding of the Qur'an as an evidence of its scientific miracles.