The Renewal of Religious Thought and Its Urgency for the Advancement of Islamic Civilization: A Comparative Study between Yusuf al-Qaradawi and Fazlur Rahman

Abstract

This study explores the renewal of religious thought (tajdid al-fikr al-dini) in Islam through a comparative analysis
of the ideas of Yusuf al-Qaradawi and Fazlur Rahman. Both scholars are prominent figures in modern Islamic reform, yet they
represent distinct epistemological orientations. Fazlur Rahman approaches renewal through a neo-modernist and
hermeneutical lens, emphasising historical contextualisation and rational reinterpretation of revelation, while Yusuf al
Qaradawi advances a practical reform based on maqasid al-shariah and fiqh al-waqi'to address contemporary socio-religious
issues. Employing a qualitative, library-based method with philosophical and comparative approaches, this research examines
the conceptual foundations, methodologies, and civilizational implications of their thought. The findings reveal that Rahman’s
framework stresses theoretical reconstruction of Islamic epistemology, whereas Qaradawi’s focuses on applied jurisprudential
moderation wasatiyyah. The synthesis of both approaches offers a balanced paradigm for developing a dynamic, rational, and
ethically grounded Islamic civilization in the modern era.