DECONSTRUCTING GENDER EQUALITY CLAIMS BY K.H. NAZARUDDIN UMAR IN FEMINIST INTERPRETATIONS OF QURANIC VERSES

Abstract

The issue of gender equality in Islam has become a hot topic of discussion, especially with the development of feminist ideas that attempt to link the principles of gender equality with Islamic teachings. One prominent figure in this discussion is Nasaruddin Umar, who, through a modern hermeneutic approach, seeks to reinterpret verses from the Qur'an to support the narrative of gender equality. However, this approach has drawn criticism from various circles because it is considered to ignore classical interpretation rules and established Sharia principles, and is more influenced by modern paradigms than authentic Islamic values. This study aims to deconstruct the claim of gender equality in Nasaruddin Umar's view by evaluating the feminist interpretation method he uses. This study uses a qualitative approach based on content analysis of Nasaruddin Umar's works. The results show that the feminist interpretation used by Nasaruddin Umar tends to impose a contextual interpretation that does not have a strong foundation in the tradition of Islamic interpretation. This interpretation ignores the proportional division of roles according to the nature of men and women as taught in Islamic law. In addition, the hermeneutical approach applied emphasizes social context rather than revelatory authority as the main guideline. This study concludes that the idea of gender equality in Islam must be based on the concept of justice, not absolute equality, with due regard to the maqashid sharia and authentic rules of interpretation. Modern interpretations such as those made by Nasaruddin Umar need to be examined more critically to ensure harmony between innovative thinking and the basic values of Islamic teachings.