Muhammad Syahrur's Theory of Limitations as an Effort to Reform Islamic Law

Abstract

This study examines Muhammad Syahrur's Theory of Limitations (Naẓariyyah al Ḥudūd) as a contemporary approach to Islamic legal reform. Syahrur argues that the Qur'an establishes minimum and maximum legal boundaries rather than rigid and immutable legal rules, thereby allowing room for ijtihad to respond to changing social realities while remaining within the framework of divine revelation. This research aims to analyze the epistemological foundation of the Theory of Limitations and evaluate its relevance to the development of contemporary Islamic law. The study employs a qualitative library research method using both primary and secondary sources, including Syahrur's original works, scholarly books, and academic journal articles. Data were collected through documentation techniques and analyzed using descriptive analytical and normative approaches. The findings reveal that Syahrur's theory offers a flexible and contextual understanding of Islamic law by integrating textual interpretation with rational, linguistic, and scientific approaches. Through the concepts of al-ḥadd al-adnā (minimum limit) and al-ḥadd al-aʿlā (maximum limit), the theory provides a framework for legal adaptation to contemporary issues such as social justice, gender equality, and human rights without departing from the essential principles of the Qur'an. Although the theory has been criticized for its liberal interpretation and departure from classical jurisprudential methods, it represents a significant contribution to contemporary Islamic legal thought by promoting a dynamic, contextual, and adaptive model of Islamic law.