The " The Living Qur’an as a Social Practice: The Urgency of Contextualizing Revelation in Contemporary Life "

The Urgency of Contextualizing Revelation in Contemporary Life

Abstract

This study explores the concept of the Living Qur’an as a social practice that emphasizes the urgency of contextualizing revelation within contemporary life. The central problem addressed is how divine revelation—transcendental and normative in nature—can be interpreted and actualized meaningfully amidst the pluralistic, complex, and ever-evolving dynamics of modern society. In the face of modern challenges such as the secularization of values, moral decline, social inequality, and ecological crises, the Qur’an is often perceived as a static text, despite its inherently dynamic and universal values. Thus, this research responds to the need for a hermeneutical approach to the Qur’an that is not only textual but also contextual and praxis-oriented. The study examines previous works on the Living Qur’an, most of which frame the Qur’an as a source of cultural inspiration or local tradition—such as Muhammad Ridha’s (2021) study on Qur’anic traditions in Aceh and Rosyid Munawar’s (2024) analysis of sima’an practices within tarbiyah communities. However, these approaches have yet to delve deeply into the hermeneutical and transformational praxis dimensions of the Qur’an within social structures. Therefore, this study offers a new perspective by employing the philosophical hermeneutics of Paul Ricoeur, particularly his concepts of mimesis (prefiguration, configuration, refiguration) and narrative identity. This framework enables an understanding of revelation not merely as normative instruction, but as a living narrative shaped by, and shaping, human social experience.

This is a qualitative study using a phenomenological-hermeneutical approach. Data were collected through participant observation, case studies in urban Muslim communities in Jakarta and Yogyakarta, and in-depth interviews with Islamic preachers engaged in social action. The data were analyzed using Ricoeur’s narrative hermeneutic stages: identifying social context (mimesis I), analyzing narrative structure and textual meaning (mimesis II), and assessing the impact of Qur’anic praxis on social identity transformation (mimesis III).

The findings indicate that the Living Qur’an is not only manifested in formal religious activities such as Qur’anic recitation or study circles but is more profoundly reflected in tangible actions such as environmental advocacy, social justice movements, solidarity with marginalized groups, and justice-based economic practices. The Qur’an comes to life as an ethical narrative practiced by individuals and communities who consciously interpret its verses in light of their socio-historical context. This reinforces the argument that social context is integral to both understanding and actualizing revelation.

The study concludes that the Living Qur’an as a social practice underscores the necessity of reading the Qur’an beyond the semantic level, advancing toward an ethical and transformational dimension. Through the lens of Paul Ricoeur’s hermeneutics, revelation is not only to be understood but to be lived—becoming a formative force for identity and a catalyst for meaningful social change in the contemporary world