Nurcholish Madjid, Liberation Theology, and the Reconstruction of Islam as a Religion of Humanity: A Contemporary Analysis

This study scrutinises Nurcholish Madjid’s thought through the prisms of Liberation Theology and the reconstruction of Islam as a religion of humanity, concentrating specifically on inclusive pluralism, substantive democracy, and liberation-oriented pedagogy. Employing a qualitative literature review methodology, the inquiry interrogates recent scholarly discourse and foundational texts germane to Madjid’s work, Liberation Theology, and the evolving contours of contemporary Islamic thought. The analysis unfolds via thematic content analysis, permitting the identification, classification, and synthesis of pivotal motifs such as the doctrinal relocation from theocentrism to anthropocentrism, the reconfiguration of Tawhid within social-justice discourse, the broadening of the term ahl al-kitab, and the repudiation of doctrinal theocracy. Findings indicate that Madjid counsels a shift from theocentrism to anthropocentrism, positing that while affirming divine oneness, Tawhid concurrently repudiates all oppressive dynamics confronting humanity. His discourse underscores the enduring relevance of Qur'anic values as interventions against contemporary exigencies—including structural poverty, social injustice, and the pluralism crisis—while simultaneously positioning education as a conduit for spiritual liberation, the cultivation of critical consciousness, and the nurturing of public morality that liberates religion from political co-optation. The research substantiates Madjid’s stature as a preeminent modern Muslim intellectual who adeptly fused liberation theology, political engagement, and pedagogy, thereby engineering a comprehensive and civilising transformation of society.