Auditorium of Prof. Dr. Suwito, MA SPs UIN Jakarta, SPs NEWS - The Graduate School (SPs) of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta held the 2826th Thesis Exam at the SPs Theater Room of UIN Jakarta on Tuesday, July 28, 2026 with candidate Riza Muhammad.

Riza is a student of the Master of Islamic Studies program with a Concentration in Interdisciplinary Tafsir. His thesis is entitled "The Hermeneutics of Ahl al-Kitāb in the Qur'an and Its Implications for Interreligious Dialogue: Mohammed Arkoun's Perspective". Riza defends his research that criticizes the tendency of theological-legal interpretation of the concept  of Ahl al-Kitāb in the classical tradition of interpretation.

This thesis departs from the concern over religious discourse that still often gives birth to an exclusive and hierarchical pattern of interreligious relations. Interpretations that are imprinted on the boundaries of dogmatic law are considered to often narrow the space for inclusive encounters among fellow believers.

In his presentation, Riza emphasized that the thinking of Algerian scholar, Mohammed Arkoun, offers a fresh epistemological solution. Although earlier studies of Arkoun have highlighted much of the criticism of hermeneutics and the deconstruction of Islamic reason in general, Riza's research specifically dismantles the transformation  of the concept of Ahl al-Kitāb into the "Societies of the Book".

This qualitative method-based library research seeks to dissect the epistemological basis of Arkoun's thought as well as map its relevance to contemporary interreligious dialogue. Through a critical, historical, deconstructive, and interdisciplinary hermeneutic approach, Riza comprehensively analyzes how the discourse operates and is responded to by Muslim intellectuals.

The results of this study show that Arkoun succeeded in making a fundamental shift: moving the concept  of Ahl al-Kitāb from the rigid realm of theological law to a historical, ethical, and humanist framework. In this new paradigm, the entire revelation-based community is no longer positioned in a relationship of domination or polemic, but rather as an equal dialogue partner in the space of universal humanity.

Through the analysis knife of Applied Islamology, Arkoun casts sharp criticism of the dominance of turāth (tradition) readings which tend to be normative and polemic. He seeks to reopen the territory that has been neglected or unthinkable (the unthought) in the tradition of Islamic thought, so that revelation is not only understood as the final sacred text, but also as a historical discourse that continues to live and dialectic with the dynamics of the times.

Arkoun's progressive ideas have methodological parallels with other Islamic renewal thinkers, such as Fazlur Rahman, Naṣr Ḥāmid Abū Zayd, and Abdolkarim Soroush. Although they depart from various points of view, they equally emphasize the importance of occupying historical and contextual dimensions in understanding religious texts.

On the other hand, this study also maps the wave of criticism of Arkoun's thought from prominent scholars, such as Muḥammad Naquib al-Aṭṭas, Yūsuf al-Qaraḍāwī, Taha Abderrahmane, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, and Jamal al-Banna. These critics emphasize concerns that Arkoun's deconstructive approach has the potential to relativize the absolute authority of revelation and erode the foundations of the Islamic tradition.

Responding to these dynamics of thought, Riza argues that the concept of the Book Society actually offers a new paradigm that goes beyond the slogan of formal tolerance and tiring theological debates. This paradigm requires the courage to self-criticism, sincere respect for differences, and real cooperation in the humanitarian field.

Through this thesis examination, the contribution of Mohammed Arkoun's thought reconstructed by Riza Muhammad is expected to become an important epistemological reference in re-knitting interreligious relations that are more peaceful, inclusive, and just in the midst of the reality of contemporary plural society.

Riza successfully defended his thesis under the guidance of Prof. Kusmana, MA, Ph.D, and was tested in front of a board of examiners consisting of Prof. Dr. Yusuf Rahman, MA, Prof. Kusmana, MA, Ph.D, Prof. Dr. Hamid Nasuki, M.Ag, Prof. Dr. Saifuddin Herlambang, MA.

After paying attention to the thesis writing, the comments of the examiner team and the candidate's answers, the examiner team determined that Riza Muhammad graduated with the title of Very Satisfactory. Riza Muhammad is the 2826th Master in the field of Islamic Studies, in the Master's program of the Graduate School of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. (Jay A)