The theme of this conference was inspired by Nancy Sorkin Rabinowitz, a Comparative Literature Professor from Hamilton College, America who gave the sub-title “Remembering, Reclaiming, and Re-empowering,” to the anthology which she edited with Amy Richlin (Rabinowitz, 1993: 1-16). The theme of ICONQUHAS now has also the same enthusiasm with her anthology, that is identifying possibilities in how to advance the study of feminism in her case, and in this case, in how to excel the study of the Qur’an and Hadith.
If we use recent scientific awareness and development to read the development and status of the Qur’an and Hadith as a whole, then we can simplify it in three words too, as used in the sub-title of the conference -remembering, reclaiming, and re-empowering. Included in the meaning of remembering is how to respect the facts in antiquity that had been preserved, and the works that were born in the period before, in the time of prophethood, and in the period thereafter until the first period of maturity which was known as medieval times. Meanwhile, what is included in the meaning of reclaiming is how the study of the Qur’an and Hadith should be carried out after it experiences turbulence periods after the collapse of Islamic political glory post the middle age up to twentieth century.
Finally, what can be included in the meaning of re-empowering is how the study of the Qur’an and the Hadith today can interact and further exploit the development of the times, especially the development of information technology and media, and the scientific developments that exist. It is expected that the direction of the development of the Qur’an and Hadith studies now and in the future moves in more interdisciplinary and advanced level. In addition, the study of the Qur’an and Hadith should pay more attention to the relationship between the study of the Qur’an and Hadith with modern issues, such as democracy, human rights, gender, as well as disruption issues from the beginning of the outbreak of the use of information technology and in the era of data flooding in the media.
Like other places, Indonesia has seen the assorted endeavors of Muslim researchers in reacting to modernity, in both academic and common ways. With respect to scholastic reactions, Muslim researchers, especially those who come from Islamic higher education institutions have been contributing essentially to the endeavors. A few utilize the epistemological apparatus of examination inferred from and created within the Ulum al-Qur’an, Ulum Hadith, and Maqasid Shari‘ah in defining their reactions to the cutting edge world. Others send other scholarly conventions in talking about their reactions. And a few others apply strategies of examination with combine diverse epistemological and expository traditions.
Aside from scholarly reactions towards modernity which tend to be circuitous, there is a quick reaction within the shapes of hones. This shape of reaction gives wealthy and important for researchers and analysist to develop and create thoughts and logical implementation for researchers and analysts.
