The Talaqqi and Istidlal Methods According to HAMKA: An Approach to Akidah Issues in the Book Cara Mengenal Tuhan

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the methods of Talaqqi (direct transmission) and Istidlal (reasoned inference) in Islamic theology (Akidah) according to the thought of Haji Abdul Malik Karim Amrullah (Hamka) as articulated in his work Cara Mengenal Tuhan (“The Way to Know God”). The study employs a qualitative approach using a deductive method based on textual analysis of HAMKA’s work, supported by relevant primary and secondary sources as well as classical and contemporary scholarly perspectives to strengthen the findings.

The results indicate that the concept of Talaqqi refers to the direct reception of theological knowledge from divine revelation (the Qur’an and Hadis), which must be understood with authenticity, sincerity, and without deviation. Meanwhile, Istidlal involves the rational process of understanding the signs of God’s greatness through cosmological, historical, and logical dimensions. Hamka emphasizes that the integration of these two approaches plays a vital role in strengthening faith and clarifying the understanding of divinity. Furthermore, he highlights the roles of natural beauty, intellectual excellence, and human fitrah (innate disposition) in recognizing God, while underscoring the importance of tasawwuf (spiritual purification) as a means of refining the soul. The application of Talaqqi and Istidlal in the formation of Akidah demonstrates a balance between revelation and reason, affirming Islam as areligion that harmonizes textual tradition and intellectual rationality.