Epistemologi Otoritas Mufassir: Kajian Kritis atas Biografi, Sanad Keilmuan, dan Ideologi Penafsir Al-Qur'an

Abstract

In the Islamic tradition, a mufassir's authority is usually established through mastery of various Quranic sciences, their chain of knowledge transmission, and recognition from the scholarly community. However, contemporary studies on tafsir show that interpretation is influenced by the mufassir's biography, intellectual background, and ideological orientation. This research aims to analyze the concept of the mufassir's authority, examine the role of biography and chain of knowledge as sources of interpretive legitimacy, and offer an epistemological critique of the assumption that a mufassir's authority guarantees the truth of an interpretation. This study uses a library research method with a descriptive-analytical approach through a review of classical exegesis literature and contemporary thought. The findings show that biography, scholarly networks, and ideology have a significant influence on the construction of interpretation, as seen in the styles of Ibn Kathir and Al-Zamakhshari. In addition, the thoughts of Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd and Fazlur Rahman emphasize that the authority of a mufassir (Qur'anic interpreter) is not identical to absolute truth because every interpretation is the result of an interaction between the text, the interpreter, and its historical context. This study implies the importance of reading exegesis works critically while still respecting the scholarly authority of the mufassir without ignoring the possibility of subjectivity and ideological bias in the interpretation process.