Tafsir, state, and authority : behind the Indonesian official thematic commentaries

Abstract

This study focuses on the Official Thematic Commentaries of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia as the research subject. The objective is to examine the interrelationships among the ulama, the state, and tafsir. The research assumes that the production of these commentaries serves as a state agenda to enhance its authority by officially endorsing these products. It is viewed as a form of state contestation, aiming to control and dominate the religious discourse within the public sphere. The research employs a qualitative methodology, incorporating critical discourse analysis and semi-structured interviews. The qualitative research approach is employed to explore the influence of power relations on the political discourse of knowledge in Quranic exegesis. This method allows for a comprehensive understanding and explanation of phenomena, focusing on context and interpretation. The primary data source in this research consists of the official thematic commentaries produced by the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. The secondary data source is the Lajnah, responsible for producing this type of commentary. Additionally, semi-structured interviews are conducted with representatives from LPMQ (Lajnah Pentashihan Mushaf Al- Qur'an), which serves as a representative body of the state involved in producing these commentaries. This research investigates the evolution of discourse in Official Thematic Commentaries by employing critical discourse analysis. The analysis of the available texts will encompass various aspects, including the literal and linguistic content, the background and role of the authors in the writing process, and the social, political, economic, and religious context surrounding the production of the texts. Drawing on Bourdieu's theory of arena and capital, this thesis argues that the state, through the project of official thematic commentaries as a representation of cultural capital, seeks to exert control and dominance over the religious sphere by promoting these official commentaries. Furthermore, by highlighting the official thematic commentaries as a specific case, this research fulfils the criteria of a new category in the discourse of tafsir, which I refer to as official tafsir.