Contemporary Islamic Moderation: Insights from al-Qaradawi, Nurcholis Madjid, and Abdurrahman Wahid

Authors

  • Alifa Ihfazna Rafida Institut Agama Islam Negeri Pontianak, Kalimantan Barat
  • Sahri Sahri Institut Agama Islam Negeri Pontianak, Kalimantan Barat
  • Faizal Amin Institut Agama Islam Negeri Pontianak, Kalimantan Barat

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71039/istifham.v3i2.103

Keywords:

Islamic moderation, Yusuf al-Qaradawi, Nurcholish Madjid, Abdurrahman Wahid, Tolerance , Islamic thought

Abstract

The concept of Islamic moderation has gained increasing relevance in response to the global rise of religious extremism and socio-political intolerance. This article explores the moderate Islamic thought of three influential contemporary scholars: Yusuf al-Qaradawi, Nurcholish Madjid, and Abdurrahman Wahid. Each offers distinct yet complementary interpretations of moderation, bridging normative Islamic teachings with contemporary societal contexts. Their approaches emphasize tolerance, pluralism, and constructive engagement with modernity. Using a comparative and qualitative methodology grounded in primary sources and interpretive traditions, this study uncovers the epistemological foundations of their views. Despite differing cultural and political backgrounds, all three thinkers consistently advocate for the principle of wasatiyyah (the middle path) as both a theological and sociological framework. Their contributions provide a normative basis for educational reform, interfaith dialogue, and the cultivation of civic ethics in pluralistic societies.

References

Abdullah, M. A. (2021). Nurcholish Madjid and Religious Pluralism in Indonesian Islam BT - Pluralism in Islamic Contexts - Ethics, Politics and Modern Challenges (M. Hashas (ed.); pp. 189–199). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-66089-5_11

Abdurrohim, Sholeh, M., Fuad, A. Z., & Zaini, A. (2024). Paradigm of educational modernization Nurcholish Madjid perspective and relevance to the merdeka belajar concept. ATTARBIYAH: Journal of Islamic Culture and Education, 9(1), 29–41. https://doi.org/10.18326/attarbiyah.v9i1.29-41

Afat, A. (2024). The Role of President KH. Abdurrahman Wahid in Restoring the Legal Rights of Confucians in Indonesia: Policy Analysis and Its Impact (1999-2001). International Journal of Law Analytics, 2(3 SE-Articles), 231–252. https://doi.org/10.59890/ijla.v2i3.2361

Akbar, A. (2020). Fazlur Rahman’s Influence on Contemporary Islamic Thought. The Muslim World. https://doi.org/10.1111/muwo.12334

Al-Qaradawi, Y. (1993). al‑Ḥalāl wa al‑Ḥarām fī al‑Islām. Maktabah Wahbah.

Al-Qaradawi, Y. (1995). Fiqh al‑Awlawiyyāt: Dirāsah Jadīdah fī Ḍaw’ al‑Qur’ān wa al‑Sunnah. Maktabah Wahbah.

Al-Qaradawi, Y. (2009). Fiqh al‑Jihād: Dirāsah Muqāranah li‑Aḥkāmihi wa Falsafatihi fī Ḍaw’ al‑Qur’ān wa al‑Sunnah. Maktabah Wahbah.

Al‑Qaradawi, Y. (2010). Fiqh al‑Wasathiyyah al-Islamiyyah wa al‑Tajdīd. Dar Syuruq.

Alamsyah, A. W., Marjono, M., Umamah, N., Sumardi, S., & Surya, R. (2022). President Abdurrahman Wahid’s Policy Against Chinese Indonesians in 1999-2001. JURNAL HISTORICA, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.19184/jh.v6i1.29060

Amali, M. (2019). From Politics to Education: Nurcholish Madjid and the Reform of Education In Indonesia. Hayula: Indonesian Journal of Multidisciplinary Islamic Studies, 3(1), 17–40. https://doi.org/10.21009/003.1.02

Amir, S., & Sembiring, U. D. N. (2025). Pluralisme dan Demokrasi dalam Pemikiran Politik Islam Nurcholish Madjid. Moderate El-Siyasi: Jurnal Pemikiran Politik Islam, 4(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.30821/moderateel-siyas.v4i1.25464

Aripudin, A., & Junaedi, J. (2024). Actualization of Islam: Conceptual Analysis and Operationalization of Intellectual Substantive Da’wah by Nurcholish Madjid In Indonesia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS, 7(5), 1880–1894. https://doi.org/10.47191/ijmra/v7-i05-08

Arshad, D. M., & Mahmood, D. N. (2020). ROLE OF RELIGIOUS MODERATION IN ALLEVIATION OF EXTREMISM IN ISLAMIC TEACHINGS PERSPECTIVE. Iḥyāʾ Alʿ Ulūm - Journal of Department of Quran o Sunnah, 20(01 SE-Articles). https://doi.org/10.46568/ihya.v20i01.73

Asmiati, R., Suprehatin, Y., Kamar, F., Kamaruddin, K., Khojir, K., & Nursalim, E. (2025). Religious Moderation in Responding to Gender, Human Rights, and Ecology Issues: An Examination in the Perspective of Contemporary Islamic Studies. International Journal on Advanced Science, Education, and Religion, 8(2 SE-Articles). https://doi.org/10.33648/ijoaser.v8i2.1048

Azizah, K. (2024). WASATIYYAT AL-ISLAM PERSPEKTIF YUSUF QARDHAWI (Analisis terhadap Konsep Toleransi dalam Konteks Pluralitas Agama). UNIVERSITAS ISLAM NEGERI KIAI HAJI ACHMAD SIDDIQ JEMBER.

Bahri, T. bin R. N. (2012). The Wasatiyya Imperative. Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses, 4(9), 18–20. http://www.jstor.org/stable/26351088

Barton, G. (2002). Abdurrahman Wahid: Muslim Democrat, Indonesian President. University of Hawaii Press.

Bowen, G. A. (2009). Document Analysis as a Qualitative Research Method. Qualitative Research Journal, 9(2), 27–40. https://doi.org/10.3316/QRJ0902027

Bruinessen, M. Van. (2012). Kitab Kuning, Pesantren dan Tarekat (1st ed.). Gading Publishing. https://gusdur.net/buku-media/kitab-kuning-pesantren-dan-tarekat/

Desk, N. (2025). Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi: A Life of Faith and Influence. News Of Kashmir. https://newsofkashmir.com/index.php/2025/09/26/dr-yusuf-al-qaradawi/

Ensiklopedia Telkom University. (2024). Biografi Gus Dur: Mengenal KH. Abdurrahman Wahid. Ensiklopedia Telkom University. https://ensiklopedia.telkomuniversity.ac.id/biografi-gus-dur-mengenal-kh-abdurrahman-wahid/

Eriyanto. (2015). Analisis Isi: Pengantar Metodologi untuk Penelitian Ilmu Komunikasi dan Ilmu-ilmu Sosial Lainnya. Kencana. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=bLo-DwAAQBAJ

Euben, R. L., & Zaman, M. Q. (2009). Princeton Readings in Islamist Thought (R. L. Euben & M. Q. Zaman (eds.); Vol. 32). Princeton University Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv1j6673r

Fazlur, R. (1982). Islam and Modernity: Transformation of an intellectual tradition. The University of Chicago Press.

Fikri, A., & Susilo, M. J. (2023). Values of Religious Moderation in the Book of Islam the Central Way By Yusuf Qardhawi. At-Thullab : Jurnal Mahasiswa Studi Islam, 5(2), 236–252. https://doi.org/10.20885/tullab.vol5.iss2.art22

Graham, W. A. (2010). Islamic and Comparative Religious Studies: Selected Writings. Routledge.

Hadi, A., Anim, S., Yasin, H., & Sutiono. (2025). Moderate Islamic Education: A Comparative Study of Indonesia ’ s Insan Cendekia and Turkey ’ s Imam Hatip Schools. 5(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.31098/ijeiis.v5i1.2864

Hakim, D., Mu, T., Bahruddin, U., Maulana, U. I. N., & Ibrahim, M. (2023). FORMULASI MODERASI BERAGAMA DALAM PEMIKIRAN YUSUF AL-. Al Mubin, 6(1), 47–57.

Hamudy, N. A., & Hamudy, M. I. A. (2020). Cak Nur on Politics: Indonesian Political Islam and the Role of Islamic Politics. Al-Risalah: Forum Kajian Hukum Dan Sosial Kemasyarakatan, 20(1 SE-Articles), 97–113. https://doi.org/10.30631/alrisalah.v20i1.554

Hassan, M. (2023). Yusuf al-Qaradawi’s Jurisprudence of Priorities: A Critical Assessment. American Journal of Islam and Society, 40(1–2), 77–120. https://doi.org/10.35632/ajis.v40i1-2.3190

Hidayat, M., & Bin Rosele, M. I. (2024). MODERNIZATION OF FIQH IN CONTEMPORARY ERA: A Study of Yusuf Al-Qardhawi’s Fiqh Thought. Miqot: Jurnal Ilmu-Ilmu Keislaman, 48(1), 73–87. https://doi.org/10.30821/miqot.v48i1.1124

Hidayatullah, M. F. (2016). ESENSI PENDIDIKAN: KETERPADUAN HUBUNGAN VERTIKAL (HABLUM MINNALLAH) DAN HORISONTAL (HABLUMMINANNAAS) THE ESSENTIAL OF EDUCATION: THE INTEGRATION BETWEEN VERTICAL RELATION (HABLUB MIN ALLAH) AND HORIZONTAL RELATION (HABLUN MIN ANNAAS). Jurnal Ilmiah Pesantren, 2(1), 149–155.

Huda, S., Muhammad, D. H., & susandi, A. (2022). Konsep Pendidikan Islam Multikultural dalam Pandangan KH. Abdurrahman WAHID dan Nurcholish Madjid. Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Konseling, 4(2), 148–156. https://doi.org/10.31004/jpdk.v4i2.3983

Ilmi, A. M., & Mardhotillah, S. K. (2025). Islam Yes, Partai Islam No: Menafsir Ulang Gagasan Nurcholish Madjid tentang Keislaman dan Kebangsaan. Jurnal Posmedia. https://jurnalposmedia.com/islam-yes-partai-islam-no-menafsir-ulang-gagasan-nurcholish-madjid-tentang-keislaman-dan-kebangsaan/

Islam, T., & Khatun, A. (2015). “Islamic Moderation” in Perspectives: A Comparison Between Oriental and Occidental Scholarships. 03(02). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.15575/ijni.v3i2.1413

Jamal, S. (2023). Islamic Modernization, Identity Politics and Religious Conservatism in Indonesia (Reflections on the Renewal of Nurcholish Madjid’s Islamic Thought). Integration: Journal Of Social Sciences And Culture, 2(1), 182–191. https://doi.org/10.38142/ijssc.v1i3.146

Jati, W. R. (2024). REEVALUATING APPROACHES TO RELIGIOUS MODERATION AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL The Role of Muslim Youth in Advancing Interfaith Dialogue. Al-Jāmi‘ah: Journal of Islamic Studies, 62(1), 185–213. https://doi.org/10.14421/ajis.2024.621.185-213

Leniawati, I., & Haq, M. Z. (2024). The Implementation of Islamic Moderation Principles in Addressing the Challenges of Political Identity Polarization. Integritas Terbuka: Peace and Interfaith Studies, 3(2), 151–164. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.59029/int.v3i2.42

Madjid, N. (1988). Islam: Kemodernan dan Keindonesiaan. Mizan.

Madjid, N. (1998). Islam Doktrin dan Peradaban. PARAMADINA.

Maku, H., Tanggang, A., Maria, J. G., & Dopo, J. P. Z. (2024). Cak Nur Pluralism: Criticism Of The Phenomenon Religious Intolerance In Indonesia. International Journal Of Humanities Education and Social Sciences (IJHESS). https://doi.org/10.55227/ijhess.v3i4.803

Mujani, S. (2019). Explaining religio-political tolerance among Muslims: Evidence from Indonesia. Studia Islamika, 26(2), 319–351. https://doi.org/10.15408/sdi.v26i2.11237

Mukaffan, M., & Siswanto, A. H. (2019). Modernisasi pesantren dalam konstruksi nurcholish madjid. Cendekia, 17(2), 285–300.

Munawar Rachman, B. (2022). Pemikiran Islam Nurcholish Madjid (1st ed., Issue Icmi). PRODI S2 STUDI AGAMA-AGAMA UIN SUNAN GUNUNG DJATI BANDUNG.

Mutaqin, Z., & Ahmad, R. (2019). Moderatisme Hukum sebagai Fondasi Masyarakat Islam. Temali: Jurnal Pembangunan Sosial, 2(2), 272–310.

Nafis, A. A. Z., Barsihannor, B., & Santalia, I. (2023). Pluralism Theology of Nurcholis Madjid. AL-MUTSLA, 5(1 SE-Articles), 54–71. https://doi.org/10.46870/jstain.v5i1.451

Narendra, N. H., Purwanta, H., & Abidin, N. (2022). Perkembangan Pemikiran Pluralisme Gus Dur (1971-2001). Criksetra: Jurnal Pendidikan Sejarah. https://doi.org/10.36706/jc.v11i2.16184

Nata, Y. Y. (2024). Deconstruction of Nur Holis Madjid’s Thoughts on “Islam Yes, Islamic Party No”: an Attempt to Answer The Reality of Indonesian Islamic Parties in The 2024 Elections. LITERATUS: Literature for Social Impact and Cultural Studies, 6(1), 66–74.

Nuha, M., Fihris, F., & Astuti, N. Y. (2024). Islamic Education Overcoming Social Conflicts in Society in the 5.0 Era: An Analysis of Nurcholish Madjid’s thoughts (Cak Nur). J-PAI: Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam, 11(1), 73–81. https://doi.org/10.18860/jpai.v11i1.28874

Nur, M. (2024). The Concept of Islamic Moderation in Contemporary Thought. Al-Hikmah: Jurnal Studi Agama-Agama, 10(2 SE-), 114–133. https://doi.org/10.30651/ah.v10i2.24273

Nurfajriani, W. V., Ilhami, M. W., Mahendra, A., Sirodj, R. A., & Afgani, M. W. (2014). Triangulasi Data Dalam Analisis Data Penelitian Kualitatif. Jurnal Ilmiah Wahana Pendidikan, 10(September), 826–833.

Nurrohim, A., Setiawan, A. H., & Sweta, A. A. (2024). The Concept of Islamic Moderation in Indonesia : A Comparative Study in Tafsir An-Nur and Tafsir of the Ministry of Religious Affairs ( MORA ). 3538(10), 2110–2125.

Pahrudin, A., Fachiroh, W., Shafira, E. B., Rinaldo, A. R., & Najwa, S. (2025). RELIGIOUS MODERATION AS A FRAMEWORK FOR PEACEFUL. Jurnal Fuaduna: Jurnal Kajian Keagamaan Dan Kemasyarakatan, 9(1). https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.30983/fuaduna.v9i1.9657

Prof. Dr. Sugiyono. (2019). Metodologi Penelitian Kualitatif. In Alfabeta, Cv (Issue Maret). https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=O-B3eJYAAAAJ&hl=en

Purwaningtyas, D. A., & Hasanah, Z. U. (2024). Yusuf al-Qaradawi ’ s View on Religious Extremism. JIOS: Journal of Islamic and Occidental Studies, 2(1), 47–66. https://doi.org/10.21111/jios.v2i1.35

Putra, A., & Rumondor, P. (2020). Sunnah, Sains dan Peradaban Manusia; Menelaah Kembali Pemikiran Yusuf Al Qardhawi. EL-BANAT: Jurnal Pemikiran Dan Pendidikan Islam, 10(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.54180/elbanat.2020.10.1.1-19

Putra, I. M., Aulia, M., Ghofur, A., & Sudrajad, A. W. (2023). Religious Pluralism: A Study of Nurcholish Madjid’s Thoughts. Jurnal Transformatif (Islamic Studies), 7(1), 75–88. https://doi.org/10.23971/tf.v7i1.4840

Rahmatika, A., & Khoirullina, N. (2021). Konsep Dakwah Islam Rahmatan Lil’alamin Dalam Majalah Bangkit. Jurnal Dakwah Dan Komunikasi. https://doi.org/10.29240/jdk.v6i1.2956

Rasito, R., & Mahendra, I. (2022). MODERASI FIKIH MELALUI PENDEKATAN MAQĀṢID AL-SHARĪ‘AH YUSUF AL-QARADHAWI: Mencari Relevansinya di Indonesia. Al-Wasatiyyah (Journal of Religious Moderation), 1(1), 36–65.

Ridwan, Z. (2024). Gus Dur’s Understanding of Humanity and Pluralism in Defending the Indonesian Chinese Community. Jurnal Fuaduna : Jurnal Kajian Keagamaan Dan Kemasyarakatan, 8(1), 83–98. https://doi.org/10.30983/fuaduna.v8i1.8520

Rizza, M., & Nursobah, A. (2024). A Systematic Literature Review Of Yusuf Al- Qardhawi ’ s Moderation Doctrine : Strategies For Enhancing Campus Harmony At Universiti Utara Malaysia Abstrak. Khazanah Pendidikan Islam, 6(2), 126–138. https://doi.org/10.15575/kp.v6i2.

Royani. (2022). PEMIKIRAN KH. ABDURRAHMAN WAHID (GUS DUR) ; ISLAM, NKRI DAN EKONOMI ISLAM. Iqtishodiah: Jurnal Ekonomi Dan Perbankan Syariah, 4(1 SE-Articles), 11–25. https://ejournal.ibntegal.ac.id/index.php/iqtishodiah/article/view/226

Safitri, L., Manshur, F. M., & Thoyyar, H. (2022). Nurcholish Madjid on Indonesian Islamic Education: a Hermeneutical Study. Jurnal Ilmiah Islam Futura, 22(2), 244–259. https://doi.org/10.22373/jiif.v22i2.5749

Sifa’, M. A., & Aziz, M. (2018). Telaah Kritis Pemikiran Hermeneutika “Double Movement” Fazlur Rahman (1919 - 1988). 8, 112–127. https://doi.org/10.36835/HJSK.V8I1.3314

Siroj, M., & Ulfah, N. (2024). Reimagining Islamic education: Critical perspectives inspired by Nurcholish Madjid. Tadibia Islamika, 4(2), 110–118.

Skovgaard-Petersen, J. (2009). Global Mufti: The Phenomenon of Yusuf al-Qaraḍāwī (I. B. Gräf & J. Skovgaard-Petersen (eds.)). Columbia University Press.

Subchi, I., Zulkifli, Z., Latifa, R., & Sa’diyah, S. (2022). Religious Moderation in Indonesian Muslims. Religions. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13050451

Sugiyono, P. D. (2019). Metode Penelitian Kuantitatif Kualitatif dan R&D (M. Dr. Ir. Sutopo. S. Pd. ALFABETA, Cv.

Syafieh, S., & Anzhaikan, M. (2023). Moderate Islam And Its Influence on Religious Diversity in Indonesia. ESENSIA: Jurnal Ilmu-Ilmu Ushuluddin, 23(2). https://doi.org/10.14421/esensia.v23i2.3262

The Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought. (2004). The Amman Message. The Royal Aal Al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought. https://ammanmessage.com/

Wahab, A. (2025). THE CONCEPT OF RELIGIOUS MODERATION IN ISLAMIC EDUCATION: A STUDY OF THE THOUGHT OF CONTEMPORARY ULAMA. ANWARUL: Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Dakwah, 5(4), 660–674. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.58578/anwarul.v5i4.7284

Wahid, A. (1999a). Mengurai Hubungan Agama dan Negara. In K. Marijan & M. M. Al-Brebesy (Eds.), 1A Kumpulan Tulisan. PT. Grasindo. https://gusdur.net/buku-media/mengurai-hubungan-agama-dan-negara/

Wahid, A. (1999b). Prisma Pemikiran Gus Dur. In LKiS (Vol. 1, Issue 1). LKiS. http://www.biblioteca.pucminas.br/teses/Educacao_PereiraAS_1.pdf%0Ahttp://www.anpocs.org.br/portal/publicacoes/rbcs_00_11/rbcs11_01.htm%0Ahttp://repositorio.ipea.gov.br/bitstream/11058/7845/1/td_2306.pdf%0Ahttps://direitoufma2010.files.wordpress.com/2010/

Wahid, A. (2006). Islamku islam anda islam kita. Islamku Islam Anda Islam Kita, 451.

Wahid, A. (2009). Ilusi Negara Islam – Ekspansi Gerakan Transnasional di Indonesia (M. S. Isre (ed.); 1st ed.). LKiS. https://gusdur.net/buku-media/ilusi-negara-islam-ekspansi-gerakan-transnasional-di-indonesia/

Warsono, H., Astuti, R. S., & Ardiyansyah. (2022). Metode Pengolahan Data Kualitatif Menggunakan Atlas.ti. In Semarang: Program Studi Adminstrasi Publik.

Yufriadi, F., Syahriani, F., & Afifi, A. A. (2023). Nurcholish Madjid’s Neo-Modernism in Substantive Islamic Movements in Indonesia. Perwakilan: Journal of Good Governance, Diplomacy, Customary Institutionalization and Social Networks, 1, 53–62. https://doi.org/10.58764/j.prwkl.2023.1.45

Yusuf al-Qaradawi. (2022). Perkembangan Fiqh Statis dan dan Dinamis. 1–104.

Yusuf, M., & Mawalidin, J. (2022). Pergeseran Pemikiran Nurcholish Madjid Tentang Partai Politik Islam Di Indonesia. Politica: Jurnal Hukum Tata Negara Dan Politik Islam, 9(1), 66–85. https://doi.org/10.32505/politica.v9i1.3904

Yusuf, M., Nahdhiyah, N., & Sadat, A. (2021). Fazlur Rahman’s Double Movement and It’s Contribution to the Development of Religious Moderation. IJISH (International Journal of Islamic Studies and Humanities), 4(1), 51–71. https://doi.org/10.26555/ijish.v4i1.2667

Downloads

Published

2025-11-05

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Rafida, A. I., Sahri, S., & Amin, F. (2025). Contemporary Islamic Moderation: Insights from al-Qaradawi, Nurcholis Madjid, and Abdurrahman Wahid. ISTIFHAM: Journal Of Islamic Studies, 3(2), 112-129. https://doi.org/10.71039/istifham.v3i2.103