Hadith and Religious Harmony: Reinterpretation of Hadith Tolerance with Gadamer’s Hermeneutic Approach

Abstract

Understanding hadith only textually and partially can cause someone to be exclusive, not opening up space to interact with other religions as a form of religious harmony. This article aims to show that hadiths actually contain values of religious harmony and tolerance, even though this is not explicitly stated. The research method used is qualitative, using a thematic approach to hadith to examine relevant hadith collections, including Saḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Saḥīḥ Muslim, and Sunan Abū Dāwud. Meanwhile, the theoretical framework in this hadith study uses Hans-Gadamer's hermeneutics. The results of the study show that the Prophet consistently emphasized respect, tolerance, and wisdom in dealing with differences, promoting an inclusive approach to religious and social diversity. In addition, the study found that the Prophet's approach to differences emphasized shared values, patience, and non-coercion in matters of belief. In conclusion, this hadith provides valuable insights for fostering harmony between communities. By adopting these values, modern societies can strive to reduce religious tensions and build more harmonious interfaith relations. Therefore, this study reinforces previous research on interfaith harmony by referring to fundamental Islamic teachings.