This study reconstructs the meaning of auliyā’ in the Qur’an through a thematic analysis of Tafsir Al-Azhar by Buya HAMKA. The discourse on auliyā’ has frequently been confined to normative and political simplifications, resulting in a reductive understanding of its semantic complexity in the public sphere. By examining the polysemous character of the term, this study aims to analyze the classification of meanings, HAMKA’s interpretive methodology, and the socio-historical significance of his exegetical thought. This qualitative research employs a mawdhu‘ī (thematic) method with a descriptive-analytical approach. The findings indicate that HAMKA articulates auliyā’ into seven interrelated meanings: leader, protector, helper, friend, follower, ruler, and brother. Methodologically, HAMKA applies the principle of al-iqtirān by integrating naql (transmitted sources) and ‘aql (rational reasoning) within an adabī al-ijtimā‘ī (socio-literary) interpretive framework. The contextual interpretation of auliyā’ is strongly shaped by Indonesia’s socio-political realities, particularly the legacy of colonialism and the dynamics of national leadership. This study concludes that HAMKA’s interpretation demonstrates an integrative and progressive exegetical model that not only contributes to the epistemological development of Nusantara Qur’anic exegesis but also offers a contextual hermeneutical perspective relevant to contemporary socio-religious relations within the framework of the modern nation-state. This reconstruction affirms the adaptability of Qur’anic meaning in addressing contemporary challenges while remaining rooted in its historical foundations.
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