RECONSTRUCTING CONTEMPORARY ISLAMIC INTELLECTUAL THOUGHT: A CRITICAL LITERATURE REVIEW

JKPI: Jurnal Konseling Pendidikan Islam P–ISSN: 2655-9692 E-ISSN: 2746-5977 Vol.7, No. 2, Mei 2026 RECONSTRUCTING CONTEMPORARY ISLAMIC INTELLECTUAL THOUGHT: A CRITICAL LITERATURE REVIEW *1 Firiyanto, 2Zuhdiyah, 3Maryamah, 4Nyayu Soraya Universitas Islam Negeri Raden Fatah Palembang *1 Email: , , 3 , *1,2,3,4 Abstract This article aims to analyze the development of the reconstruction of contemporary Islamic intellectual thought through a literature review approach. The study employs a qualitative method by examining various academic journal articles, scholarly books, and relevant scientific publications discussing the reform of modern Islamic thought. The selected sources include publications from 2020 to 2025 as well as seminal works of influential Muslim thinkers such as Muhammad Abduh, Muhammad Iqbal, and Fazlur Rahman as theoretical foundations. The findings indicate that the reconstruction of contemporary Islamic intellectual thought revolves around several major themes, including the reform of Islamic epistemology and ijtihad methodology, the transformation of Islamic education, modern Islamic political and civilizational discourse, the reconstruction of hermeneutics and theology, and the development of gender and Islamic economic perspectives. The literature further reveals that contemporary Islamic thought increasingly adopts contextual approaches aimed at bridging classical Islamic intellectual traditions with the demands of global modernity. Therefore, the reconstruction of Islamic intellectual thought extends beyond theoretical discourse and contributes to institutional reform, socio-political governance, and the advancement of Islamic civilization in response to contemporary challenges. Keywords: contemporary Islamic thought, Islamic intellectual reconstruction, literature review Abstrak Artikel ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis perkembangan rekonstruksi pemikiran intelektual Islam kontemporer melalui pendekatan kajian literatur. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif dengan pendekatan literature review terhadap berbagai artikel jurnal, buku akademik, dan publikasi ilmiah yang relevan dengan tema pembaruan pemikiran Islam modern. Sumber literatur dipilih dari publikasi akademik yang terbit antara tahun 2020 hingga 2025 serta karya-karya klasik pemikir Islam modern seperti Muhammad Abduh, Muhammad Iqbal, dan Fazlur Rahman sebagai landasan teoretis. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahwa rekonstruksi pemikiran intelektual Islam kontemporer berkembang dalam beberapa tema utama, yaitu reformasi epistemologi dan metodologi ijtihad, transformasi pendidikan Islam, pemikiran politik dan peradaban Islam modern, rekonstruksi hermeneutika dan teologi, serta penguatan diskursus gender dan ekonomi Islam. Literatur juga menunjukkan bahwa pemikiran Islam kontemporer cenderung mengedepankan pendekatan kontekstual yang berupaya 403 Lisensi Creative Commons Atribusi 4.0 Internasional menjembatani antara tradisi intelektual klasik dengan tuntutan modernitas global. Dengan demikian, rekonstruksi pemikiran Islam tidak hanya bersifat teoretis, tetapi juga berimplikasi pada reformasi institusi pendidikan, tata kelola sosial-politik, serta pengembangan peradaban Islam yang lebih adaptif terhadap dinamika zaman. Kata kunci: pemikiran Islam kontemporer, rekonstruksi intelektual Islam, kajian literatur INTRODUCTION The reconstruction of contemporary Islamic intellectual thought has become a significant topic in modern Islamic studies, particularly in response to the complex challenges of modernity, globalization, and sociopolitical transformation. Over the past century, Muslim intellectuals and scholars have attempted to reinterpret classical Islamic traditions in ways that maintain theological authenticity while addressing new historical realities. This intellectual endeavor often involves revisiting foundational sources, redefining the role of ijtihad, and promoting dialogue between revelation and rational inquiry. Contemporary scholarship suggests that the reconstruction of Islamic thought is not merely a theological project but also a broader epistemological and sociocultural effort aimed at aligning Islamic intellectual heritage with the demands of modern societies (Hafith et al., 2025; Halilović, 2020; Rustaman et al., 2025; Zulkarnain, 2023). A major theme in the literature concerns the modernization of Islamic epistemology and the revitalization of ijtihad as a methodological framework for interpreting Islamic sources. Scholars frequently highlight the intellectual legacy of reformist thinkers such as Muhammad Iqbal, Muhammad Abduh, and Fazlur Rahman, who argued for dynamic reinterpretations of Islamic teachings that integrate rationality and historical consciousness. For instance, Iqbal’s call for the reconstruction of religious thought emphasized the necessity of renewing Islamic philosophy and theology through critical engagement with modern intellectual traditions (Mir, 2022; Tasbolat et al., 2022; Yossar, 2025). Similarly, the reformist projects of Abduh and Tahtawi promoted rational exegesis and contextual understanding of Islamic teachings to address social and intellectual transformations brought by modernity (Adam, 2023; Aulia F. Rahman, 2024). These studies collectively demonstrate a recurring scholarly emphasis on reopening the gates of ijtihad, discouraging rigid adherence to taqlid, and situating Islamic texts within their broader socio-historical contexts (Mohd Waffi Albaraq Bin Mokmin Mokmin et al., 2025; Muthi et al., 2025; Rustaman et al., 2025). Another prominent dimension in the literature concerns the role of Islamic education as a key vehicle for intellectual reconstruction. Numerous studies highlight how reformist thinkers sought to reshape Islamic educational institutions by integrating modern sciences, expanding curricula, and reformulating pedagogical objectives. Educational reform initiatives—ranging from madrasa modernization to university transformation— are often viewed as practical mechanisms for implementing broader intellectual renewal within Muslim societies (Fitriana & Syahidin, 2021; Khoirudin et al., 2020; Mahmudah et al., 2023). In the Indonesian context, the transformation of Islamic educational institutions and movements such as Muhammadiyah illustrate how reformist ideas have 404 influenced curriculum development, the integration of religious and secular knowledge, and the promotion of maqasid al-shariah–oriented education (Mujiburrohman & Hadiwijaya, 2025; Mustafidah & Susanto, 2022). Such developments demonstrate how educational reform has functioned as a strategic platform for bridging Islamic intellectual heritage with contemporary knowledge systems. Beyond epistemology and education, contemporary literature also explores the expansion of Islamic intellectual reconstruction into political, social, and civilizational domains. Scholars have analyzed how modern Muslim thinkers reinterpret issues such as governance, democracy, g (...truncated)