Rereading the Indonesian interpretation of the Qur’an on Awliya’: the cases of Hamka and M. Quraish Shihab

There are some problems with interpreting the verses contained in the Koran to the understanding of the contemporary Islamic age, especially regarding the issue of non-Muslim leaders. The majority of Muslim scholars argue that their religion prohibits selecting a non-Muslim leader in a normal situation. Meanwhile, few of them allow such leaders in reasonable conditions based on the argument that the prohibition in the Qur’ān and the Sunna is no longer applicable in the present life. Therefore, this paper re-analyzed the meaning of awliyā’ from the interpretation of Hamka and M. Quraish Shihab with Jorge J.E. Gracia’s hermeneutics perspective. The result suggested that the prohibition to appoint a non-Muslim as the leader is applicable only in situations where such a person shows real hostility toward Islam and makes the religion their enemy. It also applies to Muslims that violate the commands of God and His messenger because the main requirements of being a leader are the ability to create justice and foster prosperity.