HUMANS AS SOCIAL BEINGS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE QUR’AN (A Thematic Exegesis of Surah Al-‘Alaq/96:3 and Surah Az-Zukhruf/43:32 and Their Application in Contemporary Social Reality)

Abstract

The growing challenges of contemporary society, including declining literacy, widening economic inequality, and increasing individualism, raise important questions regarding the Qur’anic conception of human beings as social creatures. This study aims to explore the concept of humans as social beings from the perspective of the Qur’an through a thematic interpretation of Surah Al-‘Alaq (96):3 and Surah Az-Zukhruf (43):32 and to examine its relevance to contemporary social realities. This research employs a qualitative library research method using the thematic (maudhu‘i) approach. The analysis compares classical exegetical perspectives represented by al-Tabari, Ibn Kathir, and al-Qurtubi with contemporary interpretations, particularly that of M. Quraish Shihab. The findings reveal that Surah Al-‘Alaq (96):3 establishes knowledge as the foundation of human dignity and social development, while Surah Az-Zukhruf (43):32 emphasizes social differentiation and interdependence as part of the divine order intended to foster cooperation rather than domination. The synthesis of these verses produces a Qur’anic social paradigm built upon three main pillars: knowledge as the foundation of civilization, social differentiation as a mechanism of cooperation, and tawhid-based ethics as moral guidance for social structures. This study concludes that the Qur’an presents human beings not merely as individuals living in society but as morally responsible social beings whose dignity is realized through knowledge and harmonious interdependence. This paradigm offers a relevant framework for addressing contemporary issues such as literacy crises, economic disparities, and social fragmentation in the digital era.