A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) is a method used to systematically and objectively assess and analyze literature relevant to the topic being researched. (Mohamed Shaffril et al., 2021; Thomé et al., 2016; Wohlin et al., 2020). In this context, SLR will be used to examine the relationship between the economic verses in the Qur'an and the principle of religious moderation (wasatiyah).(Al-Jayyousi et al., 2022; Triyoko et al., n.d.) This Research aims to explore the role of these verses in supporting religious balance and harmony, as well as the implementation of a fair and inclusive Sharia economy.(Huda et al., 2020; Rahma et al., 2025) This SLR process involves identifying, evaluating, and synthesizing related Research through strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, as well as a transparent methodology to ensure the quality and relevance of the results obtained (Gough et al., 2017) (Marzi et al., 2025; Sauer & Seuring, 2023). In the current conditions, the importance of integration between sharia economics and religious moderation is becoming clearer, especially in the Muslim world, where the challenges of globalization and pluralism are getting worse. Islamic economics offers alternative forms of economics based on the foundations of teachings, such as social justice, the prohibition of usury, and the fair distribution of wealth through zakat and infak (Afifah et al., 2025; Nurhaliza et al., 2025). Meanwhile, religious moderation, known as the concept of wasatiyah, emphasizes a balanced approach to religion, avoiding extremism, and supporting coexistence in diversity (Hadiyanto et al., 2025). This concept is particularly relevant in an increasingly globalized world, where societal disputes are often fueled by interreligious tensions and extremism. (Gilani & Waheed, 2025; Katz, 2024; Khan, 2024; Rosario, 2024) However, although many articles examine Sharia economics separately and some topics on religious moderation, very few explicitly link the two in the context of the application of economic verses in the Qur’an. (Furqani et al., 2020; Rahma et al., 2025).

This raises the question of how the economic norms contained in the Qur'an can support the principles of religious moderation, and the extent to which the application of these norms can prevent the problems of social inequality and economic injustice that often give rise to conflict in Muslim societies. (Du et al., 2024; Hasan & Juhannis, 2024; Moorthy et al., 2021; M. Riaz et al., 2023). For this reason, this Research aims to provide solutions by examining more broadly the economic verses in the Qur'an that contain the basics of social justice and wealth distribution, as well as how these values can motivate the creation of a moderate, just, and prosperous society. (Akhtar et al., 2023; Junaidi et al., 2023)

Some of the alternative solutions proposed in this study include integrating Islamic economic principles into public policies that support religious moderation, as well as developing value-based approaches to mitigate the impact of social and economic extremism in Muslim countries (AlQashouti & Shah, 2025; Amin, 2024; Deif & Cochrane, 2022) The novelty of this article is its holistic approach, which directly links sharia economics and religious moderation, which has not been extensively researched in the existing literature (Asutay et al., 2022; Fianto & Shah, 2025; Nugroho et al., 2025; Rahma et al., 2025) This Research aims to examine the relationship between the economic verses in the Qur’an and the principle of religious moderation, and to propose policies and strategies that can unite these two aspects to create sustainable economic development and a more dynamic society (E. B. Ali et al., 2021; Hariram et al., 2023; Kostetska et al., 2020; Krysovatyy et al., 2024; Masik et al., 2021; Padilla-Rivera et al., 2020; Schoneveld, 2020). Thus, the purpose of this Research is to formulate an economic model that is not only economically just but also promotes a harmonious and dynamic social life in a pluralistic and multireligious society (Nur, 2020; P. Singh et al., 2023; Telhalia & Munte, 2025). The hermeneutic approach and interpretation methodology applied by contemporary Tafsir scholars in interpreting economic verses (such as ribā, zakāt, and the distribution of wealth) in the context of religious moderation. (Alshawabka & Sharma, 2020; U. Riaz et al., 2025)

Systematic Literature Review and Its Relationship to Verses of Religious Moderation

A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) is a Research method applied to evaluate, identify, or synthesize relevant Research on a specific theme systematically and objectively. (Mohamed Shaffril et al., 2021; Paul et al., 2021; Sauer & Seuring, 2023) The SLR aims to provide a clear picture of the current understanding, research gaps, and recommendations for developing science in the field under study. (Krüger et al., 2020; Paul et al., 2021; Sauer & Seuring, 2023; ul Husnain et al., 2023). In the context of the Research, SLR is used to analyze the literature on the verses of religious moderation (Wasatiyah) in the Qur'an, which instill teachings of balance, justice, and harmony in religious life and in social relations among religious people. (Kubro & Ali, 2021).

Religious moderation is a very important area of research given the global challenges posed by religious extremism and social tensions between communities. The concept of religious moderation in Islam refers to a religious approach that is neither extreme nor overly rigid, and that prioritizes tolerance, peace, and social justice.(Akhtar et al., 2023; Olusola & Olayeye, 2024; M. Riaz et al., 2023; Tanyel & Kıralp, 2021) This concept refers to teachings from the Qur'an that urge Muslims to live justly and harmoniously in a pluralistic society, without falling into extreme beliefs. (Abubakar, 2025; Saumantri, 2024) The verses on religious moderation in the Qur'an emphasize the importance of balance in religion and the prohibition of actions that can lead to radicalization or intolerance (Afwadzi et al., 2024; Ridwan et al., 2022). Some of the verses that are often cited in the context of religious moderation are Surah Al- Baqarah [2]:143, which mentions Muslims as a "middle" people (ummatan wasatan) who are not extreme, and also in Surah Al-Hujurat [49]:13 which emphasizes that various differences in ethnicity, race, and religion are part of God's will to know each other, not to hate or demean each other (Ridwan et al., 2022; Siraj & Arif, 2020). Through SLR, the purpose of this Research is to identify and analyze how contemporary interpreting scholars interpret these verses in the context of Sharia economics and religious moderation. (Maulina et al., 2023; Raimi, 2024; Sulaeman et al., 2025)

The economic verses in the Qur'an, such as those related to ribā (usury), zakat, and the distribution of wealth, also have a religious moderation dimension because they emphasize the importance of economic balance and social justice (Al-Jayyousi et al., 2022; Maulina et al., 2023; Sulaeman et al., 2025). This Research will discuss how these verses are practiced and translated within the framework of religious moderation in the current socio-economic context (Al Fozaie, 2023; Norman & Ruhullah, 2024; Saepudin et al., 2023; Zengin Arslan, 2020). This SLR will explore the various interpretive methodologies used by contemporary interpreters of these verses and evaluate how these interpretations strengthen the principles of religious moderation in an increasingly pluralistic Muslim world influenced by global challenges (Hadiyanto et al., 2025; Saumantri, 2024). By applying the SLR approach, this paper can provide important findings that can provide direction for public policy, religious education, and economic development based on moderate and inclusive Islamic principles (Al-Jayyousi et al., 2022; Arar et al., 2022; Harahap et al., 2023).

Based on the selected topic: "Qur'anic Hermeneutics and Religious Moderation in Islamic Economics: A Systematic Literature Review of Contemporary Interpretive Approaches to Riba, Zakat, and Distributive Justice", I will formulate a Research question (RQ) that fits within the relevant framework, related to this title. In this case, using a framework with the PECO (Population, Exposure, Comparison, Outcome) framework can be a good choice. The PECO framework is often used to design more structured Research questions, especially in Research that focuses on the analysis or comparison of the literature. Main Research Question (RQ): "How does the contemporary Qur'anic hermeneutic approach interpret the concepts of ribā, zakat, and distributive justice in relation to religious moderation, and what impact does this interpretation have on the development of Islamic economic thought?" The following is the schema of the Peco framework that is the basis of the question.

This framework positions contemporary Qur'anic hermeneutics as the main phenomenon (P) that serves as the basis for interpretation. This approach was then applied to the economic concepts of the Qur'an (E), especially ribā, zakāt, and distributive justice. Furthermore, religious moderation (wasatiyyah) serves as a comparative framework (C) to assess how textual and contextual interpretations are balanced. The results of this process (O) show the implications of interpretation on the development of contemporary Islamic economic thought, especially in strengthening social justice, inclusivity, and the relevance of sharia economic policies (Al-Jayyousi et al., 2022; Fianto & Shah, 2025). The diagram above illustrates the PECO Framework used to answer the question of how the contemporary Qur'anic hermeneutic approach interprets the concepts of ribā, zakat, and distributive justice in relation to religious moderation, and the impact of this interpretation on the development of Islamic economic thought. This diagram illustrates the relationship between each component in the PECO framework, including: For example: P (Contemporary Qur'anic Hermeneutic Approach) → Being the basis for understanding the economic verses in the Qur'an (Ashafa et al., 2025; Bano, n.d.) E (The Concept of Riba, Zakat, and Distributive Justice) → Is the main topic interpreted in the context of Sharia economics? C (Religious Moderation) → Religious moderation in the application of Islamic economic teachings to maintain balance and prevent extremism (Ashafa et al., 2025; Raimi, 2024). O (The Impact of Interpretation on Islamic Economic Thought) → Analyzes how contemporary interpretations can Influence the evolving theories and practices of Islamic economics. (Anjum, 2022; Mukhlisin et al., 2022; Rejeb et al., 2024; Sholihin, 2024). Why does this Research use PECO? Related to this question, the author will explain, including:

Population: This Research involves contemporary scholars and Islamic scholars who study and interpret economic verses in the Qur'an, especially in the context of religious moderation (Ridwan et al., 2022; Saumantri, 2024). Exposure: The main focus is on the hermeneutic approach to interpreting verses related to ribā (riba), zakāt, and distributive justice in Islam, which are key to sharia economics and religious moderation (Mohiuddin & Bin Borham, 2022). Comparison: A comparison between the various modern interpretations used by contemporary scholars to explain the principles of Islamic economics in the context of religious moderation, with a focus on balance in the interpretation of these verses (Kader, 2021; Shaukat et al., 2024). Outcome: The results of this interpretation analysis are expected to provide new insights into how these interpretations contribute to the development of fair, moderate, and inclusive Islamic economic thought, as well as its application in modern Islamic society (Kalkavan et al., 2021; Yilmaz, 2024)

The following columns can be compiled using the PECO Framework (Population, Exposure, Comparison, Outcome) for the topics of Qur'anic Hermeneutics, Ribā, Zakāt, Distributive Justice, and Religious Moderation in Islamic Economics:

Some of the Frameworks between each other, such as the framework of analysis with Qur'anic Hermeneutics, Ribā, Zakāt, Distributive Justice, and Religious Moderation in the framework of Islamic Economics, we will see the interaction between these concepts, as well as their impact on Islamic economic thought as a whole. Before explaining the relationship with each other, we should explain one by one with several definitions, namely: First: Qur'anic Hermeneutics: that is, the interpretation of Qur'anic verses through a hermeneutic approach to gain a relevant understanding of the current context. Its Influence on Islamic Economics: will be able to explain and interpret concepts such as Ribā, Zakāt, and Distributive Justice with a more inclusive approach, one that is relevant to modern economic challenges.

While it has a relationship with Diverse Moderation, it will use a moderate interpretation and avoid extreme or dogmatic interpretations. Fundamentalism as dogmatic belief, moral rigorism, and strong groupness across cultures: Dimensionality, underlying components, and related interreligious prejudice. (Saroglou et al., 2022). Explanation of ribā: by definition that is, the practice of interest or profit from financial transactions that is prohibited in Islam, because it is considered exploitative, while its Influence on the Islamic economy, that the interpretation of ribā based on Qur'anic Hermeneutics ensures that the Islamic financial system must be free from elements of exploitation, which is in line with the principle of distributive justice. while its relationship with Religious Moderation, as a firm affirmation, is to return to the prohibition of Ribā in a moderate context, namely avoiding understandings that can worsen economic injustice (Marheni Muhammad, n.d.; Sibani & Salim, 2022). Actually, Zakāt, by definition, is the obligation of Muslims to give part of their wealth to the needy, as a form of social solidarity and redistribution of wealth. (Badawia, 2022; Mahmoud Ibrahim et al., 2024; Owoyemi, 2020; Zauro et al., 2020). Moreover, Its Influence on the Islamic Economy: Zakāt serves as an instrument of wealth redistribution, which promotes economic equity and reduces social inequality. (Afifah et al., 2025; Razak, 2020; Zauro et al., 2020).

Meanwhile, the relationship with Religious Moderation, Zakāt is a form of concern and one of the pillars of religious moderation by bringing Muslims closer to the principles of social justice and solidarity (Darmalaksana, 2022; Kuran, 2020; PASHTOON, n.d.), in contrast to distributive justice which is clearly a fair distribution of resources in society, which involves the equal distribution of wealth and opportunities. (Gurney et al., 2021; Pellegrini-Masini et al., 2020).This has a profound effect on Islamic Economics, namely that Islamic economics teaches the principle of distributive justice to ensure that all levels of society have equal access to resources. (Ashafa & Raimi, 2025; Furqani et al., 2020). whereas the relationship with Religious Moderation: Distributive justice in Islamic economics allows for the creation of a harmonious society, not only economically but also socially and religiously. (Ashafa & Raimi, 2025; Furqani et al., 2020).

Meanwhile, Religious Moderation, which is an approach in religion that avoids extremism and emphasizes balance in carrying out religious teachings. (Hadiyanto et al., 2025; Mulyana, 2023) and affects Islamic Economics, namely: Religious moderation in Islamic economics leads to the application of economic principles based on the values of morality, justice, and social balance without being trapped in extreme or materialistic attitudes, (J. A. Ali, 2022; Furqani et al., 2020; Pusparini et al., 2024) And he has a connection with Qur'anic Hermeneutics: Religious moderation demands a wise and open interpretation of the Qur'an, avoiding rigid and extreme understanding (Alak, 2023; Ridwan et al., 2022). See. Figure. 2.

The main purpose of this study is to examine "The Verses of Sharia Economics and Religious Moderation in a Scholarly Review of Contemporary Interpretation". This study uses a systematic literature review (SLR) approach to previous studies on Religious Moderation (Al-Jayyousi et al., 2022; Ma’arif & Ahmadi, 2023; Sulaeman et al., 2025). SLR aims to address gaps in existing research by identifying, critically evaluating, and integrating all relevant studies on a particular topic, and by answering one or more specific Research questions. (Krüger et al., 2020) (Sulaeman et al., 2025). In contrast to conventional literature reviews, SLR emphasizes transparency, strength of evidence, impact, validity, and causality. This approach ensures the robustness of the evidence collected. (Afif, 2021; Saaida, 2024).

The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement is used to systematically describe the process of selecting and excluding relevant articles in systematic reviews and meta- analyses. (Mantsiou, 2025 ), (Mantsiou et al., 2025),(Prill et al., 2021)(Hernandez et al., 2020)(Muka et al., 2020). The PRISMA statement helps researchers improve the quality of reporting of systematic literature review publications (Page et al., 2021). This review was conducted using Research publications indexed in the Scopus database in the period 2020–2026 as the primary source. (Dam et al., 2026; Maryadi et al., 2026; Nyulas et al., 2025)

In this discussion, the researcher will explore the main findings of Research on religious moderation in relation to Sharia economics, as well as the application of contemporary interpretations to the concept of religious moderation in Indonesia. Based on the results of the search and article selection, it was found that religious moderation is often seen as an approach that aims to reduce extremism and radicalization by prioritizing tolerance, social justice, and peace between religious communities (Astuti et al., 2025; Thoha et al., 2025). Religious moderation in Indonesia has a strategic role in strengthening social cohesion in the midst of religious and cultural diversity (Pajarianto et al., 2022; Takdir, 2025). On the other hand, contemporary interpretation is used as an instrument to answer the challenges of modern times by adapting the understanding of religion to be relevant to today's social, political, and cultural contexts(Christiano et al., 2025; Irshaidat, 2022) However, there is an interesting difference in findings between articles that discuss religious moderation from the perspective of social and political theory, and those that focus more on religious education and understanding in local contexts. For example, an article focusing on knowledge management in education in pesantren emphasizes that multilingualism applied in pesantren not only increases the language capacity of students, but also enriches their moderate attitude through interaction with diverse languages and cultures. This is in line with the concept of additive multilingualism which is used to understand the acceptance of diversity as part of religious moderation learning (Kharkhurin et al., 2024; Subair et al., 2024).

Meanwhile, another article that discusses transnationalism in religious moderation sees tensions between global Islamic thought and local Islamic, especially related to transnational ideologies that sometimes conflict with religious moderation in the Indonesian context (Bahri et al., 2025; Fuadi et al., 2024). In the context of Sharia economics, religious moderation also has a significant relevance, although the Research gap is still large. Most of the articles found focused on the Influence of religious moderation on social aspects, such as interfaith harmony and religious understanding (Subair et al., 2024). However, there are not many articles that examine Sharia economics as an integral part of religious moderation. This creates space for more in-depth Research on how Sharia economic principles that prioritize social justice can be combined with religious moderation to create more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable economic policies. However, there are not many articles that examine Sharia economics as an integral part of religious moderation. This creates space for more in-depth Research on how Sharia economic principles that prioritize social justice can be combined with religious moderation to create more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable economic policies (Ashafa et al., 2025).

In this context, sharia economics, with the principles of zakat, alms, and waqf, can help create a more equitable distribution of wealth, which also reflects the values of religious moderation in Islam. Nevertheless, there is a significant gap in Research linking religious moderation to Sharia economic policies based on contemporary interpretations. Research on the application of religious moderation in economic policy is still limited. Most of the literature focuses more on social aspects, without looking at how Sharia-based economic policies can support the creation of an economically moderate society (Ashafa et al., 2025; Subair et al., 2024). Therefore, it is imperative to engage contemporary artists who highlight the importance of social justice, economic equality, and tolerance in any economic policy implemented by the state, as an effort to create inclusive welfare. In conclusion, the articles found in this study make a very important contribution to understanding religious moderation, but there are still shortcomings in integrating religious moderation with Sharia economics and contemporary interpretation. Further Research needs to focus on developing a model for integrating Sharia economics with religious moderation to produce more equitable and sustainable economic policies. Here are the 24 Final Articles from the Total Number of SLR Method Searches, which the Religious Moderation Category successfully filtered:

Remarks: From the Top 24 Articles, 5 (five) more articles were selected based on the score of each representing the number of citations or other forms of value (the highest) that are relevant or influential in the article, namely: [1]. Yofiendi Indah Indainanto, et.al. Title: Islamic Communication in Voice Religious Moderation as an Effort to Prevent Conflicts of Belief Differences. Journal: Pharos Journal of Theology, Volume 104, Issue 4, 2023, with Score: 85 (This article has received significant attention due to its in-depth discussion of Islamic communication and its role in moderating religious conflict, which is an important topic in today’s socio-political context). The second, Moh. Ashif Fuadi, et.al., Title: Integration between Islamic Revelation and Local Culture: A Study of Islamic Theology and Indigenization in Indonesia, Journal: Pharos Journal of Theology, Volume 105, Issue 1, 2024, with Score: 80 (This article contributes to the understanding of how Islamic teachings can be harmonized with local traditions, a key issue in discourse on the intersection between religion and cultural identity). 3rd, Samsul Ode, et.al. Title: Religious Harmony Forum: Ideal Religious Moderation in the Frame of Building Tolerance in Medan City, Indonesia, Journal: Pharos Journal of Theology, Volume 104, Issue 3, 2023, Score: 75 (Focus on religious tolerance in Medan highlights practical initiatives in Indonesia to promote harmony among diverse religious communities, which have received considerable attention). 4th, Yaser Amri, et.al., Title: Religious Moderation Unveiled: The Intersection of Textual and Contextual Approaches to Understanding Indonesian Muslims, Journal: MIQOT: Journal of Islamic Sciences, 2024, Score: 70 (This study opens up an understanding of the complex relationship between religious texts and the context in which they are interpreted, providing new insights into Islamic practices in Indonesia)., and Lastly, Muhammad Anas Ma'arif, Title: Kiai Leadership Strategy in Strengthening Religious Moderation in Islamic Boarding Schools, Journal: Peuradeun Scientific Journal, Volume 13, Number 1, January 2025, Score: 65 (This article discusses the leadership strategy of scholars (Kiai) in promoting religious moderation in Islamic boarding schools, an important aspect of Islam.

The highest-scoring articles focused on religious moderation, cultural integration, and the role of leadership in Islam, highlighting the importance of communication, tolerance, and harmonization of religious teachings with local cultures. The horizontal bar chart above represents the bibliometric score (relevance & scientific Influence) of each article. The longer the stem, the greater the relevance to the study of religious moderation and Islam in Indonesia. Nex Ranking order (from highest to lowest score): Yaitu : [1]. Indainanto et al. (2023) – Score 85, Islamic Communication & Moderation, [2]. Fuadi et al. (2024) – Score 80, Revelation and Local Culture, [3]. Ode et al. (2023) – Score 75 Religious Harmony Forum, [4]. Amri et al. (2024) – Score 70 Textual–Contextual Approaches, [5]. Ma’arif (2025) – Score 65 Kiai Leadership & Pesantren

This study has identified important findings related to religious moderation and sharia economics, as well as the role of contemporary interpretation in shaping these views in the Indonesian context. In general, religious moderation in Indonesia is seen as an effort to create a balance between adherence to religious teachings and adaptation to social and cultural developments. This is reflected in various articles that emphasize the importance of education and openness to diversity as part of religious moderation practices. However, there are differences in approach: some articles focus more on religious moderation in response to radicalization, while others highlight the social and political dimensions of such moderation.

In relation to Sharia economics, a significant Research gap was identified: the literature discusses religious moderation primarily from a social and cultural perspective, but few have integrated this moderation with Sharia-based economic policies. In fact, a sharia-based economy that prioritizes social justice and equitable wealth distribution has great potential to support the goals of religious moderation. Concepts such as zakat, alms, and waqf, which are contained in the sharia economy, can strengthen the principles of religious moderation by facilitating social and economic equality. Therefore, the integration of religious moderation with Sharia-based economic policies needs to be further studied.

Finally, contemporary interpretation plays an important role in strengthening religious moderation by providing relevant interpretations of religious teachings in the context of modern times. However, there is still a significant gap in Research linking contemporary interpretations to Sharia economic policies, especially in the context of inclusive and sustainable economic policies. Further Research is needed to examine in greater depth how contemporary interpretations can be applied to create Sharia-based economic policies that support religious moderation and how this can contribute to achieving more equitable social welfare in Indonesia.

We would like to thank the editorial team for allowing us to publish this article in the journal you manage. Good luck and best wishes to all.

This section gives you the opportunity to thank your colleagues who provided suggestions for your paper. You can also express your appreciation for the financial assistance you received, in completing this research.