Metodologi Tafsir Khawārij dalam Kerangka Kritik al-Dhahabī: Analisis Historis–Epistemologis atas Otoritas dan Ideologisasi Tafsir

Abstract

This article examines the Qur’anic interpretive methodology of the Khawārij by positioning al-Dhahabi’s critique as an analytical and evaluative framework. While existing studies have largely approached the Khawārij as a theological and political movement in early Islam, their approach to Qur’anic interpretation has rarely been examined as a distinct methodological and epistemological issue. This study seeks to address this gap by analyzing how Khawārij exegetical principles were constructed and assessed within the tradition of Sunni tafsir criticism, particularly as articulated in al-Dhahabi’s al-Tafsīr wa al-Mufassirūn. Employing a qualitative library-based method with a historical-analytical approach, this article traces the historical context of Khawārij thought, identifies both explicit and implicit principles underlying their exegetical practices, and examines al-Dhahabi’s criteria for evaluating interpretive legitimacy. The findings indicate that Khawārij exegesis is characterized by strong textual literalism, selective citation of Qur’anic verses, limited engagement with historical context, and a restrictive use of the Prophetic Sunnah, reflecting the dominance of prior theological commitments over interpretive openness. This study argues that the core problem lies not in the Qur’anic text itself, but at the level of interpretive methodology, thus offering a methodological contribution to broader discussions on Qur’anic interpretation, interpretive authority, and the risks of ideological absolutism in religious exegesis.