<![CDATA[This study examines the reconstruction of Muhammad Abduh’s istinbāṭ method concerning Muslim–Ahl al-Kitāb marriage from the perspective of maqāṣid al-sharīʿah. The study is motivated by differences between classical jurisprudence and Abduh’s reformist approach to defining Ahl al-Kitāb and determining the permissibility of interfaith marriage. This issue is particularly relevant in pluralistic contemporary societies where Qur’anic norms intersect with social realities, considerations of public benefit, and positive law. Using library research with a normative-philosophical approach, this study analyzes primary sources, including the Qur’an and Muhammad Abduh and Rashīd Riḍā’s Tafsīr al-Manār, supported by relevant fiqh, maqāṣid al-sharīʿah, and scholarly literature. The analysis focuses on the relationship between naṣṣ, reason, al-muḥṣanāt, Ahl al-Kitāb, maṣlaḥah, and the objectives of Islamic law. The findings demonstrate that Abduh’s istinbāṭ methodology does not rely solely on literal textual interpretation but integrates Qur’anic evidence, rational analysis, social context, and considerations of benefit and harm. QS. al-Mā’idah [5]:5 provides the normative basis for the permissibility of Muslim men marrying qualified Ahl al-Kitāb women, while QS. al-Baqarah [2]:221 concerns the prohibition of marriage with polytheists. The reconstructed method consists of textual identification, linguistic and intertextual analysis, rational reasoning, maqāṣid consideration, assessment of maṣlaḥah and mafsadah, and contextual application. Thus, permissibility is not absolute but must consider religion, lineage, honor, family continuity, children’s education, and household welfare.]]>
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