Epistemological Continuity and Mediated Authority in Audiovisual Qur'anic Exegesis: A Study of Sheikh As-Sudais's Interpretation of Fasting Verses
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54437/urwatulwutsqo.v15i3.3815Keywords:
Audiovisual Qur'anic Exegesis; Digital Tafsir; Epistemological Authority; Sheikh As-Sudais.Abstract
The digital transformation of Qur'anic interpretation raises important questions concerning the continuity of scholarly authority in audiovisual religious communication. This study examines the epistemological construction of Sheikh Abdurrahman As-Sudais's interpretation of the fasting verses in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:183–187), focusing on interpretive sources, exegetical methods, validity, and the mediation of religious authority. Employing a qualitative approach through library research and audiovisual content analysis, the study examines lectures published on the Durus al-Masjid al-Haram YouTube channel alongside relevant classical exegetical and hadith literature. The findings reveal an integration of tafsir bi al-ma'tsur and tafsir bi al-ra'yi within a predominantly tahlili method characterized by linguistic, jurisprudential, and limited comparative interpretation. Epistemological validity is examined through coherence, correspondence with identifiable textual authorities, and pragmatic relevance to religious practice. Beyond these methodological characteristics, the study identifies four interconnected dimensions of authority: personal, textual, institutional, and media authority. Their interaction demonstrates that digital platforms extend the circulation of exegetical knowledge without necessarily replacing its classical epistemological foundations. The study proposes epistemological continuity through mediated authority as a conceptual framework distinguishing scholarly justification from institutional recognition and digital visibility. This framework contributes to digital Qur'anic studies by explaining how classical interpretive legitimacy can be maintained and communicated within contemporary audiovisual environments
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