SEJARAH INTELEKTUAL ‘ÂISYAH ‘ABD AL-RAHMÂN BINT AL-SYÂTHI’: PERJALANAN KEILMUAN DAN KARYA AL-TAFSÎR AL-BAYÂN LI AL-QUR’ÂN AL-KARÎM

Abstract

This study aims to examine the intellectual history of ‘Âisyah ‘Abd al-Rahmân Bint al-Syâthi’, particularly her scholarly journey that shaped her thought and intellectual orientation, as well as to analyze her monumental work, al-Tafsîr al-Bayân li al-Qur’ân al-Karîm. This study also seeks to identify Bint al-Syâthi’s contributions to the development of Qur’anic studies, particularly through linguistic, literary, and contextual approaches to understanding Qur’anic verses. This research employs a library research method with an intellectual history approach. The primary data consist of the works of ‘Âisyah ‘Abd al-Rahmân Bint al-Syâthi’, particularly al-Tafsîr al-Bayân li al-Qur’ân al-Karîm, while secondary data are obtained from books, journal articles, and previous studies discussing Bint al-Syâthi’s biography, educational journey, intellectual thought, and exegetical methodology. The data are analyzed using descriptive-analytical and historical approaches to examine the relationship between her intellectual journey, scholarly environment, and the development of her exegetical methodology. The findings show that Bint al-Syâthi’s intellectual development was shaped by a process of education, the scholarly tradition of her family, and academic interactions with prominent scholars and intellectual environments that contributed to the formation of her intellectual character. She emerged as one of the Muslim women intellectuals who made a significant contribution to modern Qur’anic studies. Through al-Tafsîr al-Bayân li al-Qur’ân al-Karîm, Bint al-Syâthi’ developed an exegetical approach that emphasizes linguistic analysis, rhetorical style, verse structure, and contextual interpretation, as well as the principle of al-Qur’ân yufassiru ba‘ḍuhu ba‘ḍan (the Qur’an interprets some of its verses through other verses). This work demonstrates an effort to integrate the literary approach (al-manhaj al-adabî) with linguistic analysis in understanding the message of the Qur’an. Therefore, Bint al-Syâthi’s intellectual history is significant not only from a biographical perspective but also for demonstrating her transformation and contribution to the development of contemporary Qur’anic exegetical methodology, particularly in expanding the space for women’s intellectual contributions to Qur’anic studies.