Orientalist Approaches to the Qur’an: A Historical–Motivational Analysis from the Nineteenth Century to the Contemporary Period

Analisis Historis Motif dari Abad ke-19 hingga Kontemporer

Abstract

Orientalist studies of the Qur’an emerged from a long history of East–West interactions shaped by political interests, religious missions, and scholarly pursuits. This study aims to identify dominant motives underlying Western scholarly engagement with the Qur’an and to examine their implications for contemporary Qur’anic studies and Islamic discourse. This research employs a qualitative library-based method using historical-critical analysis of classical and modern orientalist literature alongside Muslim intellectual responses. The findings reveal multilayered motives ranging from philological inquiry and textual criticism to missionary agendas, colonial ambitions, and attempts to challenge Qur’anic authority, while recent orientalist trends demonstrate a more dialogical and respectful engagement with Islamic exegetical traditions. The study concludes that orientalist Qur’anic scholarship represents a complex intellectual spectrum with dual implications, necessitating strengthened critical literacy, robust exegetical methodology, and equitable academic dialogue to support the development of da‘wah and Islamic sciences within a global context.