Tafsir and social political context in Indonesia: a case study on Ahmad Sanusi’s interpretation as a medium of struggle in colonial era

Liberation movement in Indonesia has been influenced by a number of factors, one of these factors is often ignored in key debates. The works of the writing on the struggle of Ulama in colonial period in Indonesia has been widely researched. However, one aspect of the Muslim history in Indonesia is still rarely discussed in the Qur’anic exegesis as medium of struggle; their focus is not on the Qur’anic exegesis as one inspiration for Indonesian Independence. The focus of their works is on the intellectual discourse of Ulama and their contribution in the struggle for independence through organization, journal, magazine, and newspapers. This study focuses on Ahmad Sanusi’s Qur’anic interpretation as a medium of struggle in resisting against colonial power. This paper analyses Ahmad Sanusi’s messages on anti-colonial spirit in his works. Hermeneutics would be applied to understand Ahmad Sanusi’s thought by looking at the context of social and political condition in revolutionary era. Ahmad Sanusi contributed to Indonesian liberation in many forms of movement such as building pesantren (Islamic boarding school), organisation, and religious publications. He had two tafsir books, using Sundanese and Indonesian language namely al Mal ja’ al Thalibin, and Tamsiyat al Muslimin fi tafsir Kalami Rabbil Alamin respectively. These works had significant impact on national liberation movement as these two tafsir were written while he was in exile. Due to his contribution to Indonesian liberation, the government of Indonesia rewarded him with Bintang Maha Putra Utama in 1992 and Bintang Maha Putra Adi Pradana in 2009.