Mapping global research on Quranic studies for community: A bibliometric analysis

Abstract

Background and Purpose: The Quran is the primary source of law and guidance in Islam, addressing every dimension of human life, including the welfare and social sustainability of the community. As contemporary societies confront new problems that were not encountered by earlier scholars, research grounded in the Quran continues to be produced to serve the needs of the Muslim community. This study aims to map the global landscape of Quranic studies for community, to determine whether the field is expanding or contracting and to inform appropriate policy interventions and resource allocation. Methodology: A bibliometric analysis was conducted on documents indexed in the Scopus database. Records were retrieved using the query TITLE-ABS-KEY (“quran” AND “community”) for the period 1995 to 2025, and after a structured screening procedure, 577 relevant documents were retained. The data were extracted into Microsoft Excel for frequency analysis and visualised using VOSviewer to examine annual production, core sources, keyword and term co-occurrence, contributing countries, institutions, and authorship. Findings: The global output of Quranic studies for community has generally increased over time, rising steeply from 2009 before a terminal decline in 2025 that reflects the incomplete indexing of the most recent year. Indonesia ranked first in scientific production and total citations, followed by Malaysia, while the United States and the United Kingdom recorded the highest average citations per article. The most productive sources, led by Religions and the Journal of Quranic Studies, are concentrated in religion, humanities, and theology. Thematic mapping revealed dominant terms such as Islam, Quran, Islamic law, and religion, alongside clusters relating to jihad, ethics, Indonesia, and comparative Christian–Biblical scholarship. Contributions: This study provides the first dedicated bibliometric mapping of Quranic studies oriented towards community benefits, identifying influential countries, institutions, authors, and emerging themes. The findings offer an evidence base for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers seeking to accelerate, diversify, and internationalise Quranic research for the welfare of the Muslim community. Keywords: Bibliometric analysis, community benefits, Quranic studies, Scopus, social sustainability, VOSviewer. Cite as: Mohd Yasin, M. F., Embong, A. H., Sabirin, & Hassan, S. A. (2026). Mapping global research on Quranic studies for community: A bibliometric analysis. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 11(2), 343-359. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol11iss2pp343-359