THE CONCEPT OF TAKFIR IN HADITH LITERATURE: AUTHENTIC MEANINGS VERSUS RADICAL INTERPRETATIONS

Abstract

Abstract. This article examines the concept of takfir (the declaration of a Muslim as an unbeliever) in hadith literature, contrasting the authentic prophetic teachings on this sensitive subject with the radical interpretations advanced by extremist movements. Takfir has historically served as the ideological cornerstone of religious violence within the Muslim world, with movements from the Kharijites to the contemporary Islamic State invoking it to justify the killing of fellow Muslims. Through systematic analysis of hadiths addressing takfir in the six canonical collections (al-Kutub al-Sitta), this study identifies the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) unequivocal condemnation of unjustified takfir, the strict conditions established by Sunni scholars for its legitimate application, and the specific distortions through which extremist movements have transformed a cautionary concept into a weapon of exclusion and violence. The findings demonstrate that the authentic hadith tradition overwhelmingly emphasizes the sanctity of Muslim life and the grave sin of pronouncing takfir without legitimate scholarly justification.