AL-BURHĀN: JOURNAL OF QURʾĀN AND SUNNAH STUDIES

BALANCING AUTHORITY AND RATIONALITY: ABŪ ḤAYYĀN’S ENGAGEMENT WITH QIRĀʾĀT SHĀDHAH AND TAWJĪH IN QURʾĀNIC EXEGESIS

2026-04-30T23:06:53+08:00

This article investigates how Abū Ḥayyān al-Andalusī negotiates the relationship between transmitted authority and linguistic reasoning through his engagement with non canonical qirāʾāt in al-Baḥr al-Muḥīṭ. Although the canonical mutawātir readings remain the unquestioned foundation for Qurʾanic recitation and legal derivation, Abū Ḥayyān integrates shādhdhah readings as meaningful linguistic evidence that enriches interpretation without challenging the textual boundaries of the canon. Through a close reading of selected verses, the study shows that he employs tawjīh as a rational tool that tests the grammatical, morphological, and semantic coherence of each variant. This rational analysis operates strictly within the parameters of revelation, ensuring that linguistic reasoning remains subordinate to transmitted authority and does not function independently of it. It allows him to expand interpretive possibilities while preserving the hierarchy of transmitted authority. The findings demonstrate that Abū Ḥayyān develops a form of controlled plurality in which linguistic diversity is acknowledged and analysed but kept within the epistemic limits defined by tawātur. His approach reflects a distinctive synthesis of Sunni orthodoxy, deep grammatical expertise, and methodological independence from earlier figures such as al-Zamakhsharī. The study argues that his use of tawjīh represents a sophisticated hermeneutical strategy that protects the unity of the Qurʾanic text while activating its linguistic richness. This framework offers a valuable model for understanding how classical exegetes navigated variant readings and how their insights may inform contemporary Qurʾanic interpretation.

THE CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF HADITH IN PENDIDIKAN ISLAM TEXTBOOKS UNDER THE INTEGRATED PRIMARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM (KSSR)

2026-04-30T23:06:50+08:00

Pendidikan Islam is one of the core subjects mandated for all Muslim students at the primary and secondary levels in Malaysia, particularly following the introduction of the Kurikulum Standard Sekolah Rendah (KSSR) in 2011. Among the stated objectives of the Pendidikan Islam curriculum, as outlined by the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE), is to ensure that students can comprehend selected verses from the al-Qur’ān and ḥadīth, and to internalize their teachings as sources of Islamic law and moral guidance. This study was undertaken to analyze and verify the status of ḥadīth included in Pendidikan Islam textbooks used in primary schools. The research was motivated by concerns that many students, educators, and even the public remain unaware of the presence and circulation of weak or fabricated ḥadīth within the school syllabus. Such oversight may lead to misconceptions and potentially undermine the faith of Muslim learners. The analysis revealed that 40 aḥādīth have been incorporated across textbooks from Year One to Year Six, serving as textual evidence to support educational content. The findings indicate that the aḥādīth featured include a range of classifications: ṣaḥīḥ (authentic), ḥasan, ḍa‘īf (weak), and mawḍū (fabricated), thereby highlighting the urgent need for content verification and pedagogical review.

منهج القرآن الكريم والسنة النبوية في حل النزاع والخلاف بين المسلمين

2026-04-30T23:06:01+08:00

Differences are inevitable in the reality of human nature, but Islam warns against differences and division that disperse the nation and tear it apart. Allah the Almighty and His Messenger, may God bless him and grant him peace, have drawn up clear methods for eliminating division and protecting the nation from its occurrence before it occurs. This research aims to trace those methods from the Qur'an and Sunnah and the sayings of the Companions and Imams of religion using the descriptive analytical research method, and extrapolating thirteen methods from the Qur'an and Sunnah, the research concluded that surrendering to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, may God bless him and grant him peace, is one of the necessities of religion, and that one of the greatest means of unity between the nation is the unity of the deity, which is the sincerity of monotheism to Allah the Almighty, the unity of the obeyed, whom is the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, the unity of the source, which is a return to the Qur’an and the Sunnah, the unity of understanding, the unity of the method, which is following the path set by the Prophet and rejecting innovation, the unity of direction, which is obedience to leaders as they did not call for disobeying Allah, the unity of intention, and then the trust in Allah by sincere devotion and prayer.

تطور النص القرآني وتوثيقه عبر العصور: دراسة تحليلية في الرد على القراءات الحداثية والاستشراقية

2026-04-30T23:05:56+08:00

This study examines the development of the Qur'anic text through a systematic analysis of the stages of revelation, compilation, and authentication, emphasising its definitive transmission. It highlights the efforts of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his Companions in preserving the Qur'an through memorisation and writing, the first compilation during the era of Abu Bakr, and the standardisation of the text under Caliph 'Uthman, which unified the Muslim community upon a single codex. The study further offers a critical examination of modernist claims regarding the "historicity" of the Qur'anic text, as proposed by figures such as Muhammad Arkoun and Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd, as well as Orientalist allegations questioning the origins and structure of the Qur'an. The research concludes that what is often described as the "development" of the Qur'anic text represents a process of preservation and documentation rather than alteration, and that the Qur'an's divine and miraculous characteristics render it resistant to distortion and immune to claims of human authorship.

التربية الفكرية وإدارة المشاعر النبيلة عند بنات الرجل الصالح في سورة القصص: دراسة تحليلية

2026-02-05T12:14:47+08:00

This article examines the concepts of intellectual cultivation and the management of noble emotions as exemplified in the daughters of the righteous man in Surat al-Qasas. It explores a refined Qur’anic model that harmoniously integrates clarity of thought, sensitivity of emotion, and soundness of conduct. Intellectual cultivation refers to developing the ability to perceive reality with awareness, formulate accurate conceptions, and make decisions grounded in wisdom and insight. Managing noble emotions entails refining natural feelings, such as modesty, respect, and legitimate fear, and directing them in a way that translates emotion into upright and balanced behaviour, free from excess or deficiency. The study employs both inductive and analytical methodologies to examine the relevant verses and elicit their meanings, intending to uncover the intellectual foundations and ethical values reflected in the conduct of the daughters of the righteous man. These include disciplined expression, perceptive observation, sound judgment, conscious modesty, emotional regulation, and courteous interaction. The study further highlights the Qur’anic portrayal of the integration of thought and emotion in shaping the Muslim personality and emphasises the woman’s role, as presented in the surah, in exercising wise decision-making and upholding moral values within the family and society. The research concludes with a set of theoretical and practical findings that contribute to the development of family and educational approaches and help strengthen refined behaviours and intellectual skills among young women, thereby supporting the formation of a balanced personality capable of engaging life’s challenges with awareness, dignity, and maturity. The study recommends adopting the Qur’anic model of the daughters of the righteous man as an educational framework in programs aimed at nurturing young women, through enhancing conscious thinking skills, cultivating refined expression, and training them to manage feelings of modesty, compassion, and respect in a balanced manner that neither weakens the personality nor suppresses emotion. The impact of this study lies in its ability to present a practical model that harmonizes pure thought with noble sentiment—one that can be incorporated into curricula, family education programs, and training courses dedicated to developing the conscious Muslim young woman, thereby promoting noble conduct and fostering a generation distinguished by intellectual, emotional, and behavioral balance.

مناهج المفسرين في تأويل آية هاروت وماروت: دراسة مقارنة في ضوء عصمة الملائكة

2026-04-30T23:06:52+08:00

This research aims to examine the methodologies of four leading Qur’anic interpreters—al-Ṭabarī, al-Rāzī, al-Qurṭubī, and Ibn Kathīr—in their interpretation of verse (102) of Sūrat al-Baqarah concerning the story of Hārūt and Mārūt. The study focuses on analyzing their approaches to the apparent meaning of the verse, whether by affirming its literal sense or by interpreting it in a manner deemed theologically appropriate, as well as their engagement with the prophetic traditions and reports cited in its interpretation, and the extent to which they rely on such materials in light of the principle of the infallibility of angels. The researcher adopts an inductive method to trace the interpreters’ views, a comparative method to identify areas of agreement and divergence among them, and a critical method to examine the responses exchanged between them or with other scholars. The study concludes that the four interpreters differ in their engagement with this verse, with each distinguished by a particular methodology reflecting his scholarly foundations and interpretive orientation.

ضبط شهوتي المال والسلطة في التفسير القرآني للشيخ نووي الجاوي: دراسة تربوية

2026-04-30T23:05:54+08:00

This study aims to examine the desires for wealth and power and the causes behind succumbing to them in light of the exegesis of Sheikh Nawawi al-Jawi, alongside an analysis of his educational vision for controlling these desires. Accordingly, the research problem stems from the need for a deeper understanding of the roots of excessive attachment to wealth and power and its effects on individual and societal behavior, especially amid the materialistic challenges and power struggles of the contemporary era. The scientific significance lies in enriching Qur’anic interpretative studies with contemporary educational approaches derived from heritage, while the practical significance resides in providing Qur’anic and educational standards to address deviations related to the love of wealth and power in the modern context.The study reached two prominent conclusions: first, that Sheikh Nawawi al-Jawi offered a profound interpretation linking the Qur’anic indications of desires to the purposes of purification and education; second, that controlling these desires can only be achieved by establishing piety, self-monitoring, and awareness of the Hereafter’s outcome. The research recommends the necessity of re-employing interpretative heritage to address moral deviations related to desires, given its impact on building individual awareness and protecting society from materialistic and political seditions. This re-employment is expected to contribute positively by consolidating the values of asceticism, moderation, and directing resources and influence to serve the legitimate objectives rather than personal whims.

العنف الأسري في المجتمع الكمبودي: أسبابه وآثاره وعلاجه في ضوء القرآن والسنة النبوية

2026-04-30T23:05:59+08:00

This study addresses the issue of domestic violence in Cambodian society as a social and humanitarian phenomenon with psychological, religious, and social dimensions. It focuses on clarifying its causes, effects, and methods of addressing it in light of the Al Quran and the Sunnah. The study research begins by highlighting the concept of domestic violence and explaining its various types, such as psychological, physical, sexual, and social violence. It also points to the contributing factors in the Cambodian context, such as poverty, weak family awareness, social customs, and misunderstandings of guardianship and family relationships.The study also examines the causes and negative effects of domestic violence on the individual, the family, and society, such as psychological disorders, family disintegration, and weakened social stability. It then highlights the Islamic approach to addressing domestic violence, drawing on the Quran, which emphasizes mercy, affection, and justice within the family, and the Prophetic guidance that reinforces good companionship, respect for human dignity, and the protection of rights within the family.The study concludes that the Qur’an and the Sunnah offer a comprehensive and balanced approach to domestic violence, combining prevention and treatment, and calling on people to spread awareness, promote faith-based education, and activate the role of the family, society, and religious institutions in reducing this phenomenon, thus contributing to building a stable family and a more cohesive society.

الأحاديث الموضوعة في فضائل الأعمال المشهورة لدى المجتمع الإسلامي في كمبوديا: ولاية كمفوغ تشام نموذجا

2026-04-30T23:08:07+08:00

This study investigates the widespread phenomenon of fabricated ḥadīths regarding the virtues of good deeds which are commonly circulated among the Muslim community in Cambodia, particularly in Kampong Cham province. To achieve this, the research relied on a field method through interviews with the Mufti of Cambodia and various Muslim community from different social groups in Kampong Cham, in addition to the inductive method to trace the common ḥadīths and gathered information related to the subject from various sources, including classical and contemporary ḥadīth works, as well as scholarly research, articles, and other relevant materials, while the analytical method was applied to analyses the data collected from the field study and to extract principles and strategies to limit their spread. The study found that a considerable number of fabricated ḥadīths are prevalent particularly in the areas to virtues of good deeds; the reliance of some preachers and teachers on these reports without proper scrutiny; the persistence of certain elderly individuals in practicing rituals based on unsound narrations; which had a negative impact on faith, worship and community structures. The study recommended the need to intensify awareness regarding the authentic sources of Sunnah, strengthening the role of religious institutions and purifying cultural traditions of fabricated ḥadīths to protect Muslims’ faith and religious practices.

معركة الوعي في بنغلاديش بين التِّيه والتّنوير: قراءة قرآنية نبوية في التحديات الفكرية المعاصرة

2026-02-07T01:13:47+08:00

This study, entitled “The Battle of Consciousness in Bangladesh between Misguidance and Enlightenment: A Qur’anic and Prophetic Reading of Contemporary Intellectual Challenges”, explores the contemporary intellectual challenges confronting Bangladeshi society, drawing upon the Qur’an and Prophetic tradition as guiding beacons for cultivating awareness and fostering a balanced community. It examines the roots of intellectual deviation manifested in extremism, radicalism, Westernisation, dualistic thinking, secularism, and atheism, highlighting their profound effects on religious, cultural, and social identity. The research identifies the impact of spiritual emptiness, weak faith-based education, and unregulated openness on youth thought, proposing a comprehensive reform framework integrating educational renewal, nurturing balanced Islamic personalities, and enhancing da‘wah and media discourse in light of the objectives of Shariah. The study concludes that genuine intellectual revival relies on the harmonious convergence of faith, reason, and action, restoring divine guidance and equipping youth with critical insight to build a moderate, enlightened, and resilient Islamic society.

حديث «كَسْبُ الْحَجَّامِ خَبِيثٌ»: دراسة تحليلية في إشكالياته وحلولها

2026-04-30T23:06:55+08:00

The hadith, “The earnings of a cupper are khabīth (impure),” has long been regarded as a problematic narration due to both its semantic ambiguity and its apparent contradiction with other authentic hadiths. This study aims to analyse these issues and propose systematic resolutions through a critical hadith-based approach. Two principal problems are identified: the ambiguity of the term khabīth and the hadith’s seeming conflict with reports indicating the permissibility of a cupper’s earnings. The study addresses the first issue by examining the linguistic and juristic meanings of khabīth, demonstrating that it may denote what is prohibited (ḥarām), disliked (makrūh), or lowly (danī’). It argues that, in this context, the intended meaning is “lowly” rather than strictly prohibited. As for the second issue, the study explores various methods of reconciliation, including the possibility of abrogation, as well as interpreting the prohibition as indicating reprehensibility rather than unlawfulness, particularly in light of authentic reports confirming that the Prophet ﷺ compensated cuppers for their services. The study concludes that a cupper’s earnings are not prohibited but are best understood as mildly disliked (makrūh tanzīhī), a ruling that is lifted in cases of necessity. This interpretation harmonises the relevant texts without disregarding any of them.

أثر مفهوم البدعة الحسنة لدى الفرق الإسلامية المعاصرة على فكر الشباب في بنغلادش في ضوء السنة النبوية

2026-05-01T10:47:18+08:00

The research aims to clarify the concept of bid'ah in Islamic terminology and distinguish between good and bad innovations according to the views of scholars and various Islamic schools of thought. It also highlights the positions of contemporary Islamic sects on this issue. Furthermore, the study examines the impact of this concept on the religious mindset of Bangladeshi youth and its role in shaping their perception of the correct Islamic methodology. The research relies on analyzing relevant religious texts, such as Quranic verses and Prophetic traditions, in addition to the opinions of both early and later scholars. It also explores the intellectual and social reality in Bangladesh and the influence of contemporary religious discourse on this matter. The study employs an inductive and analytical approach to examine and analyze the issue based on Quranic texts and Prophetic traditions.

WRITING WITH SOUL

2026-04-30T21:45:09+08:00

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.

The present issue of Al-Burhān: Journal of Qur’an and Sunnah Studies reaffirm the journal’s enduring commitment to advancing rigorous, peer-reviewed scholarship rooted in the Qur’an and the Sunnah, while engaging meaningfully with the complexities of contemporary human experience. Beginning with this volume, the journal adopts a biannual publication cycle, with issues released in April and October, to ensure greater consistency, timely dissemination, and sustained scholarly engagement. As an academic platform situated within the intellectual tradition of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Al-Burhān seeks not merely to disseminate knowledge but to cultivate a mode of scholarship that is both critically sound and spiritually grounded.

In an age where academic writing is increasingly shaped by technicality, metrics, and procedural compliance, it is necessary to revisit a fundamental question: What does it mean to write in the field of Qur’an and Sunnah studies? Within the Islamic intellectual tradition, writing has never been a neutral or purely cognitive exercise. Rather, it has historically been understood as an extension of ʿibādah, an act of devotion carried out with sincerity (ikhlāṣ), trust (amānah), and God-consciousness (taqwā).

The rich legacy of the turāth stands as a testament to this integrated vision, wherein the pursuit of knowledge was inseparable from the cultivation of the soul. This editorial, therefore, calls for a renewal of what may be termed “writing with soul”, a mode of academic engagement that does not compromise on methodological rigour, yet remains deeply anchored in ethical intentionality and spiritual awareness. To write with soul is to recognise that the Qur’an and Sunnah are not merely objects of analysis, but sources of guidance that shape both the content and the purpose of scholarship. It is to approach research not as an end, but as a means of contributing to the well-being (ṣalāḥ) of individuals and societies.

The articles presented in this April 2026 issue collectively reflect this integrative ethos. Despite their thematic diversity, they converge upon a central premise: that the Qur’an and Sunnah constitute a living and dynamic source of mercy (raḥmah) for the world. The contributions engage with a wide spectrum of contemporary concerns, ranging from governance and public ethics to education, disunity within the ummah, women and family dynamics, the lived realities of Muslim minorities, and questions of health and well-being.

At the level of governance, the issue highlights how Qur’anic principles of justice, accountability, and moral leadership remain essential in navigating modern political complexities. In the educational sphere, it explores the role of Prophetic guidance in cultivating ethical learning environments that nurture both intellect and character. The challenge of disunity is approached through frameworks rooted in revelation, offering pathways towards cohesion grounded in shared belief and mutual responsibility.

Equally, the discussions on women and family reflect a commitment to balanced, textually grounded interpretations that uphold dignity, compassion, and social harmony. The experiences of Muslim minorities are examined with sensitivity to context, demonstrating how the Qur’an and Sunnah provide enduring guidance for resilience and principled engagement in plural societies. The inclusion of studies on health further underscores the comprehensive nature of Islamic guidance, which attends to the physical, psychological, and spiritual dimensions of human life.

What emerges from this collection is not merely a set of discrete academic contributions but a coherent demonstration of the Qur’an and Sunnah as sources of comprehensive mercy, guiding institutions, shaping communities, and nurturing individuals. This issue, in its scope and depth, reflects the enduring relevance of revelation as a framework for addressing both timeless and emerging challenges.

In light of this, the editorial wishes to emphasise that the future of Qur’an and Sunnah studies depends not only on methodological sophistication, but also on the recovery of purpose. Scholars, researchers, and students are thus encouraged to engage the turāth with both intellectual depth and reverence, recognising it as a living tradition rather than a static archive. At the same time, there is a need to respond thoughtfully to contemporary realities, ensuring that scholarly work remains relevant, accessible, and transformative.

To write within this field, therefore, is to stand at the intersection of transmission and renewal (taʾṣīl and tajdīd). It requires a balance between fidelity to the inherited tradition and attentiveness to present challenges. More importantly, it calls for an awareness that knowledge, when grounded in revelation, carries an ethical weight it has the capacity to guide, to reform, and to bring about khayr in the world.

It is hoped that this issue of Al-Burhān contributes, in a modest yet meaningful way, to the cultivation of such scholarship: scholarship that is rigorous yet compassionate, critical yet constructive, and above all, alive with purpose. In doing so, it aspires to embody the very principle that underlies this volume, that the Qur’an and Sunnah are not only to be studied, but to be lived as enduring sources of mercy for humanity.

والله وليُّ التوفيق

Nurul Jannah Zainan Nazri

Editor-in-Chief

April 2026