Recontextualizing Hadith on Tolerance in Contemporary Muslim Societies through Hermeneutical Reading

Abstract

This study aims to recontextualize hadiths on tolerance in contemporary Muslim societies through a hermeneutical reading. It addresses the growing challenge of fragmented and literal interpretations of hadith in plural Muslim communities, especially when texts on Muslim and non-Muslim relations are separated from their historical, ethical, and social contexts. This study used a qualitative hermeneutical approach supported by textual documentation, semi-structured interviews, and limited non-participant observation. The data were collected from selected hadith texts, classical and contemporary scholarly works, and 18 informants consisting of hadith scholars, Islamic education lecturers, pesantren teachers, religious moderation facilitators, and community religious leaders. The data were analyzed through thematic analysis and hermeneutical interpretation by identifying key themes, reconstructing textual contexts, and connecting prophetic ethics with contemporary social realities. The findings show that tolerance in hadith is understood as prophetic ethics rooted in mercy, justice, protection, and social responsibility. Contextual reading is needed to prevent fragmented interpretation, while religious educators play a key role in mediating hadith meaning for Muslim communities. The study also finds that maqasid-oriented interpretation helps reframe tolerance as public ethics in plural societies, while digital religious discourse creates new challenges for contextual religious literacy. This study contributes to qualitative hadith studies by linking hermeneutics, mukhtalif al-hadith analysis, maqasid reasoning, and lived social context. It implies that Islamic education and religious moderation programs need stronger contextual hadith literacy.