Rekonstruksi Metodologis Pendekatan Imajinatif dalam Tafsir Al-Qur’an: Studi atas Ayat-Ayat Deskriptif tentang Surga

Ihsan, Lalu Muhammad Zainul
Haryadi, Lalu Fauzi

Ar-Rasikhin: Jurnal Ilmu Al-Qur'an dan Tafsir
Vol. 2 No. 1 (2026): Ar-Rasikhin : Jurnal Ilmu Al-Qur'an dan Tafsir

This study aims to explain imaginative exegesis as a methodological alternative for understanding the descriptive verses about paradise in the Qur’an, particularly in Surahs Al-Wāqi‘ah, Ar-Raḥmān, and Al-Insān. This study is motivated by the limitations of the tafsir bi al-ra’y approach, which places greater emphasis on rational analysis and thus has not been fully capable of capturing the symbolic and spiritual dimensions of the Qur’anic text. The research employs a qualitative-descriptive method based on a literature review, examining classical exegetical works and contemporary hermeneutical studies. The results indicate that spiritual imagination functions as an epistemic medium connecting rationality (‘aql) and qalbiyyah intuition in the exegetical process. Through this approach, exegesis becomes not merely an intellectual activity but also a contemplative process that helps readers grasp the symbolic meanings and spiritual experiences embedded in the verses regarding Paradise. Furthermore, imaginative exegesis expands the approach of tafsir bi al-ra’y by utilizing symbols, metaphors, and inner experiences as means of understanding divine messages. Thus, this study affirms that imaginative exegesis can serve as a relevant approach in contemporary exegetical studies by integrating scientific analysis with spiritual appreciation of the Qur’anic text.