Analysis of Fakhr Al-Dīn Al-Rāzī’s Exegesis on the Deviation of Pluralist Interpretations

Abstract

The phenomenon of pluralist interpretation has become increasingly prominent in contemporary Islamic thought, particularly through the influence of modern ideologies that advocate religious inclusivism, truth relativism, and universal salvation. These ideologies reinterpret Qur’anic teachings to promote the notion that all religions are equally valid paths to God. This study aims to examine the interpretative deviations arising from pluralist readings of the Qur’an, specifically in relation to the ideology of religious inclusivism as reflected in Surah Āl ‘Imrān (3:19): “Indeed, the religion with Allah is Islam.” It also seeks to analyze the exegetical approach of Imam Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī in Tafsīr al-Kabīr as a classical and authoritative framework that reaffirms the exclusivity of Islam and the principle of tawḥīd. This research employs a qualitative methodology, utilizing textual and content analysis to critically examine the writings of modern Islamic pluralist thinkers who interpret this verse through the lens of inclusivism. Their views are systematically compared with Imam al-Rāzī’s exegetical approach to highlight the epistemological and theological differences between modern ideological interpretations and traditional Islamic hermeneutics. The findings reveal that pluralist interpretations often detach the verse from its theological and linguistic context, redefining al-Islām as a universal attitude of submission to God that encompasses all faiths. This approach undermines the Qur’anic affirmation of Islam as the final and exclusive divine religion. In contrast, Imam al-Rāzī interprets al-Islām in this verse as the specific revelation brought by Prophet Muhammad, representing the culmination of divine guidance and the abrogation of previous religious laws. In conclusion, the study emphasizes the necessity of returning to classical exegetical principles, as exemplified by Imam al-Rāzī, to preserve the integrity of Qur’anic interpretation and protect it from modern ideological distortions. By reaffirming the exclusivity of Islam as the true religion in the sight of Allah, this research underscores the enduring relevance of traditional exegesis in addressing contemporary pluralist and inclusivist readings of the Qur’an.