<![CDATA[Interreligious tensions frequently arise from public narratives perceived as disparaging particular religious doctrines, thereby fostering blasphemy and hate speech that threaten social harmony. This phenomenon reflects a gap in the understanding of religious moderation as conceptualized by the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. This study aims to examine and articulate the concept of religious moderation from the perspectives of two prominent classical scholars, Imam As-Suyuthi and Imam Al-Qurtubi, based on their authoritative exegetical works, Ad-Durr Al-Mantsur fi At-Tafsir bil Ma’tsur and Al-Jami’ li Ahkam Al-Qur’an. Employing a qualitative approach with descriptive, analytical, and comparative methods, this research explores conceptual distinctions between the two scholars and evaluates their alignment with the contemporary framework of religious moderation proposed by the Ministry. The findings reveal that the current formulation of religious moderation has not fully accommodated As-Suyuthi’s emphasis on textual balance nor Al-Qurtubi’s focus on maqasid al-sharia and socio-contextual realities. Nevertheless, both scholars consistently advocate for tolerance, rejection of extremism, propagation through wisdom, and non-coercive principles. These conceptual divergences offer critical insights that can enrich the development of a more inclusive, context-sensitive, and theoretically grounded model of religious moderation in Indonesia.]]>
