Locality in Kiai Sholeh Darat’s Qur’anic Commentary Faid al-Rahman

Abstract

The use of Javanese in Faid al-Rahman raises a fundamental question about religious instruction: how can Qur’anic meanings be made accessible to readers whose everyday language differs from that of scripture? This article examines locality in KH. Sholeh Darat’s commentary through its language and script, interpretive organization, and educational purpose. It draws on qualitative library research and descriptive textual analysis of available excerpts and scholarship on the author and his work. The analysis indicates that Javanese written in Pegon allows religious concepts to be explained in a linguistic setting familiar to readers. The commentary follows the order of the Qur’anic chapters and brings together explanations of outward meaning, Sufi reflection, and jurisprudential discussion. This combination suggests attention to the learning needs of Javanese communities. Accounts of Sholeh Darat’s encounter with R.A. Kartini preserve a memory of the importance of accessible religious instruction, although their historical reliability requires critical assessment. The commentary’s coverage, from al-Fatihah to al-Nisa’, limits its textual scope while retaining its significance in the history of Javanese Qur’anic interpretation. Locality is thus understood as an interpretive orientation toward readers and their social circumstances. Claims about wider influence, however, must remain proportionate to the available evidence.