Indonesian Quranic Exegetes and Multiculturalism: A Comparative Study of Hamka and Muhammad Quraish Shihab's Multicultural Perspectives

Abstract

This article examines the concept of multiculturalism as understood and articulated by two prominent Indonesian intellectual figures, Hamka and Quraish Shihab. Dawam Rahardjo observes that the principle of multiculturalism in Indonesia has not been adequately understood, given that it is permeated by mutual suspicion and apprehension, particularly between majority and minority groups. In practical terms, the idea of multiculturalism has not received sufficient acceptance among Indonesian Muslims in general. The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and Kisdi (Indonesian Committee for Islamic World Solidarity) explicitly rejected pluralism in 2005. Multiculturalism as a pluralistic worldview extends beyond merely acknowledging and honoring the plurality of realities; it also entails attending to the dimensions of interaction and to the existence of each culture as equal entities within society. Based on the author's observations, the Quran contains numerous verses that may serve as a foundation for building cooperation, mutual respect, tolerance and appreciation, a readiness to accept diversity, reconciliation among peoples, and peaceful coexistence between cultural groups, grounded in the principles of justice, equality, and other multiculturalism principles. The methods employed in this article are content analysis and the comparative method. Furthermore, this research draws on historical and sociological approaches.