Interfaith Marriage in the Perspective of the Qur’ān: An Analysis of Social Interpretation of a Pluralistic Society in Indonesia

Interfaith marriage is not in harmony with state laws and religious laws. Law Number 1 of 1974 is the legal basis for marriage in Indonesia, saying that marriage is valid only if it is carried out according to each person’s religious law and beliefs. The question of this paper is how the interpretation of the Qur’ān views interfaith marriage and how social interpretation views interfaith marriage in formulating a pluralistic society in Indonesia. The view of the Qur’ānic interpretation is that interfaith marriage is still prohibited because marriage is considered not only a personal relationship but also has broad theological and social implications. However, there are exceptions in the Qur’ān regarding marriage between a Muslim man and a woman in the Qur’ān; Jews and Christians. It is based on Al-Ma’idah verse 5, which states that it is permissible for a Muslim man to marry a woman of the Ahlul Kitab. Meanwhile, social interpretation tries to see the issue of interfaith marriage by considering social, political, and cultural realities from Axel Honneth’s perspective. Where Axel Honneth, in the context of interfaith marriage, must provide recognition, the principles of recognition are love, law, and solidarity. These three are ways to overcome the problem of interfaith marriage by seeing the others as me who thus opens up the view of the human need to live together.