SAMAWAT: Journal Of Hadith and Qur'anic Studies

WHEN ALGORITHMS MEET MYSTICISM: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE EPISTEMOLOGY OF SUFI QUR’ANIC EXEGESIS

2026-08-31T20:18:12+07:00

The rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has significantly transformed contemporary research methods, including within the field of Qur’anic studies. AI technologies offer important advantages in processing large textual corpora, identifying linguistic patterns, mapping thematic relationships, and facilitating access to classical exegetical sources. In the context of tafsīr studies, these capacities create new opportunities for comparative, thematic, and data-driven approaches to the interpretation of the Qur’an. Nevertheless, the application of AI to Qur’anic exegesis also raises important epistemological questions, particularly when interpretation involves the spiritual and symbolic dimensions of the text. This article examines the limitations of AI in understanding the ishārī dimensions of the Qur’an as developed in the Sufi exegetical tradition. Using a conceptual-comparative method with textual analysis of classical Sufi commentaries, the study contrasts algorithmic knowledge—grounded in statistical computation, pattern recognition, and data processing—with Sufi epistemology, which emphasizes inward purification, spiritual experience, and kashf (unveiling) as pathways to deeper understanding. The article argues that although AI can simulate interpretive language and summarize existing scholarly views, it lacks existential consciousness, transformative experience, and spiritual intentionality. These limitations become especially visible in the interpretation of symbolic verses such as Q. al-Nūr [24]:35, where Sufi commentators read the imagery of light as a representation of inward illumination and metaphysical reality. The study concludes that AI should be positioned as a methodological instrument that supports Qur’anic research rather than as a substitute for human interpretive authority. While AI can enhance access, organization, and textual analysis, it cannot fully grasp the spiritual hermeneutics at the heart of tafsīr ishārī.

Konsep Nafs al-Muṭma’innah dan Relevansinya terhadap Fenomena FOMO pada Generasi Digital (Analisis QS. Al-Fajr [89]: 27–30 dalam Tafsir Al-Misbah dan Tafsir Al-Azhar)

2026-05-19T12:43:48+07:00

This study examines the concept of nafs al-muṭma’innah in QS. Al-Fajr [89]: 27–30 and its relevance as a spiritual solution to the phenomenon of Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) among the digital generation. The rapid development of social media and digital technology has significantly influenced individuals’ psychological conditions, particularly adolescents and young adults, resulting in anxiety, insecurity, and excessive social comparison. This research aims to analyze the interpretation of nafs al-muṭma’innah in Tafsir Al-Misbah and Tafsir Al-Azhar and to explore its contextual relevance to overcoming FOMO in contemporary digital life. This study employs a qualitative approach using library research methods with a comparative tafsir analysis. The primary data are derived from QS. Al-Fajr [89]: 27–30 and the related interpretations in both tafsir works, while secondary sources include books, journal articles, and studies on FOMO and digital psychology. The findings indicate that nafs al-muṭma’innah represents a state of inner peace, spiritual stability, and complete trust in God, which can function as a moral and psychological foundation in responding to digital anxiety and social pressure. The study concludes that the Qur’anic concept of spiritual tranquility offers a relevant framework for strengthening mental resilience and emotional well-being in the digital era.

TAFSIR POPULER DI MEDIA SOSIAL: ANALISIS EPISTEMOLOGI TAFSIR AKUN QURANREVIEW

2026-04-29T18:59:07+07:00

The development of social media has given rise to a new form of Qur’anic interpretation known as popular tafsir, characterized by concise, communicative, and contextual explanations. This study aims to describe the form of popular tafsir on the Instagram account @quranreview and to analyze its epistemology, including sources, methods, approaches, and the validity of interpretation. This research employs a qualitative method with a content analysis approach. Primary data are obtained from the content of @quranreview, while secondary data are drawn from relevant literature in the fields of Qur’anic exegesis and epistemology. The findings show that the popular tafsir presented in this account is marked by simple, persuasive, and easily understandable language, systematic content structure, and the simplification of Qur’anic meanings oriented toward practical messages. In terms of sources, the references used are varied but not consistently applied; some content cites hadith and classical exegetes, while others provide interpretations without clear references. Methodologically, the account predominantly employs the ijmali (global) method with a contextual approach, and occasionally uses a simple thematic method. The dominant style of interpretation reflects popular da‘wah, emphasizing educational, motivational, and social relevance aspects. From an epistemological perspective, this tafsir is populist in nature, prioritizing accessibility and practical usefulness over methodological rigor. Its validity is more often determined by audience reception rather than scholarly authority. This study concludes that popular tafsir on social media plays a strategic role in expanding access to understanding the Qur’an, yet it requires stronger methodological grounding and clearer references to maintain accuracy and depth of meaning.