Islamic Thought of Salman Rushdie and Hasan Hanafi: Criticism of Orthodoxy and Theological Reconstruction

Pemikiran Islam Salman Rushdie dan Hasan Hanafi: Kritik Terhadap Ortodoksi dan Rekonstruksi Teologis

Abstract

This article explores the thoughts of Salman Rushdie and Hasan Hanafi within the framework of modern Islamic studies, focusing on the critique of orthodoxy and theological reconstruction. Through his literary works filled with symbolism, Rushdie criticizes the rigidity of Islamic orthodoxy that rejects plural interpretations and restricts intellectual freedom. He emphasizes the necessity of engaging in critical dialogue with modernity, cultural hybridity, and pluralism as essential elements in shaping contemporary Muslim identity. Meanwhile, Hasan Hanafi advances the idea of liberation theology through his project of al-Turāth wa al-Tajdīd (tradition and renewal), Qur’anic hermeneutics, and the concept of Islamic Left, which highlights social justice and societal transformation. By employing a library research approach, this study demonstrates that despite their different backgrounds and methods, both thinkers share a common orientation: shifting Islamic studies from a theocentric paradigm to an anthropocentric one, and from dogmatism toward transformative praxis. The article affirms their significant contributions in opening new discourses for Islamic studies that are more critical, plural, and relevant to the challenges of modernity.