Orphan Protection as a Quranic Social Value: A Thematic Study of Tafsir An-Nur by Teungku Muhammad Hasbi Ash-Shiddieqy

Abstract

Orphan children constitute one of the most vulnerable groups within Islamic moral, social, and legal discourse. This article examines the Quranic construction of orphan protection as a social value through a thematic analysis of Tafsir An-Nur, the landmark Indonesian exegetical work authored by Teungku Muhammad Hasbi Ash-Shiddieqy. Using qualitative library research combined with thematic exegesis (tafsir maudhui), this study analyses key Quranic verses addressing orphan protection, specifically Surah al-Baqarah 2.83, 177, and 220; Surah al-Nisa 4.2, 6, and 10; Surah al-Insan 76.8; and Surah al-Fajr 89.17. The findings demonstrate that Hasbi's interpretive approach, which draws on the adabi ijtimaci (socio-literary) orientation, frames orphan protection not as an individual act of charity but as a comprehensive social obligation encompassing the fulfillment of basic rights, the prohibition of wealth exploitation, moral and spiritual development, and the collective accountability of family, community, and state. These protective imperatives are grounded in the five objectives of Islamic law, with particular emphasis on the preservation of life, intellect, lineage, and property. The study further demonstrates the contemporary relevance of Tafsir An-Nur by mapping its principles onto Indonesia's national child protection framework, showing significant convergence between Quranic ethical imperatives and the provisions of the Child Protection Law (Law No. 35 of 2014). The article argues that Tafsir An-Nur provides a normative philosophical foundation capable of enriching contemporary child welfare policy and reinforcing the moral basis of protective legislation in Muslim-majority societies.