Cultural Intelligence from the Perspective of the Qur'an: A Thematic-Conceptual Study of the Tafsir Al-Misbah by M. Quraish Shihab

Abstract

This study examines cultural intelligence (CQ) from a Qur'anic perspective through a thematic-conceptual study of Tafsir Al-Misbah by M. Quraish Shihab. A qualitative library-research approach was employed. The primary data source is Tafsir Al-Misbah, while secondary sources include Shihab's other works, Qur'anic sciences literature, and scholarly works on cultural intelligence. Data were analyzed by combining thematic (maudhu'i) exegesis with qualitative content analysis, using the four dimensions of CQ—CQ Drive, CQ Knowledge, CQ Strategy, and CQ Action—as analytical categories rather than as sources for determining verse meaning. The findings show substantive coherence between Tafsir Al-Misbah and the four CQ dimensions: the concept of ta'âruf in QS. Al-Hujurat/49:13 coheres with CQ Drive; linguistic and racial diversity in QS. Ar-Rum/30:22 coheres with CQ Knowledge; the principles of ḥikmah, mau'iẓah ḥasanah, and jidâl bi al-latî hiya aḥsan in QS. An-Nahl/16:125 cohere with CQ Strategy and CQ Action; and the principle of repelling evil with what is better in QS. Fushshilat/41:34 enriches CQ Action through self-restraint. The concept of ummatan wasaṭan in QS. Al-Baqarah/2:143 functions as a regulative principle overarching all four dimensions. The adabi ijtima'i (socio-literary) character of Tafsir Al-Misbah makes it a relevant corpus for formulating Qur'anic cultural intelligence—the capacity to understand, evaluate, and respond to human diversity grounded in taqwa, recognition of human dignity, wisdom, self-restraint, and moral balance. This study contributes to thematic-conceptual tafsir studies while offering theoretical enrichment to the discourse on cultural intelligence through the values of ta'âruf, ḥikmah, tasamuh, jidâl aḥsan, and wasathiyyah.