<![CDATA[This study examines the phrase ummatan wāḥidah in contemporary Sunni and Shi‘i Qur’anic exegesis by comparing Wahbah al-Zuhaylī’s al-Tafsīr al-Munīr and Husayn Faḍlullah’s Min Waḥy al-Qur’ān. The background of this research lies in the enduring tension between Sunni and Shi‘i traditions, which historically framed Qur’anic interpretation as a contested domain of authority and identity. While earlier exegetical works often reinforced sectarian divisions, contemporary interpretations increasingly revisit the Qur’an as a source of unity. Employing Abdul Mustaqim’s paradigm of comparative tafsir with a thematic approach, this article analyzes how both exegetes interpret selected verses containing the phrase ummatan wāḥidah (e.g., Q. 23:52; 21:92; 11:118; 43:33; 2:213, 5:48). The findings show that both al-Zuhaylī and Faḍlullah highlight Islamic unity as grounded in monotheism and the shared mission of prophets, while acknowledging diversity in law and practice as part of divine wisdom. Nevertheless, al-Zuhaylī tends to emphasize Islam’s role in restoring authentic monotheism and distinguishing constructive differences from destructive division, whereas Faḍlullah stresses the inclusivity of revelation and the ethical imperative of transcending sectarianism. The study concludes that despite their doctrinal differences, both exegetes employ ummatan wāḥidah as a hermeneutical bridge toward inter-Muslim rapprochement, offering a potential framework for fostering unity in contemporary Islamic thought.]]>
