El-Sunan: Journal of Hadith and Religious Studies

Prophetic Ethics and the Foundations of Islamic Leadership

Mira Fauziah — 2025-04-30

This study explores the ethical and theological foundations of leadership as reflected in the prophetic traditions (ḥadīth) of Islam. In light of contemporary challenges—such as moral erosion, authoritarian tendencies, and the neglect of justice in Muslim leadership—this research revisits key ḥadīth to recover the prophetic vision of governance rooted in responsibility, consultation, and public service. Employing a mawḍūʿī (thematic) approach, the study analyzes three core aspects of leadership: the obligation to establish leadership in a community, the method and ethical considerations for selecting a leader, and the moral accountability of those in power. Drawing from authentic ḥadīth collections and classical commentaries, the findings reveal that leadership in Islam is both a religious and rational imperative (farḍ kifāyah) aimed at safeguarding unity, promoting justice, and ensuring communal welfare. The prophetic model redefines leadership as a trust (amānah), where every individual—from political leaders to heads of households—is accountable for those under their care. These insights remain profoundly relevant, offering an ethical framework for leadership that transcends hierarchy and invites a return to compassionate, principled governance.

The Dajjal in Islamic Prophetic Tradition: Between Literalism and Symbolic Interpretation

Muhammad Zaini — 2025-04-30

The figure of the Dajjāl has long stood as a compelling yet contested subject within Islamic eschatology. While numerous ḥadīths describe his characteristics and role in the end times, scholars remain divided over whether the Dajjāl should be understood as a literal being or as a symbolic representation of deception and corruption. This study examines a selection of Prophetic traditions concerning the Dajjāl, focusing on their textual meaning and contextual interpretation within Islamic thought. Drawing upon the six canonical collections of ḥadīth (Kutub al-Sittah), the analysis explores both the literal attributes attributed to the Dajjāl—such as his one eye and false claims to divinity—and broader readings that link him to ideological, civilizational, or moral threats in history. The study finds that while classical scholars tended toward literal interpretations, modern Muslim thinkers often adopt a symbolic approach, framing the Dajjāl as a reflection of systemic injustice and spiritual misguidance. Ultimately, the article argues that the Dajjāl tradition, whether interpreted literally or metaphorically, serves as an enduring ethical warning about the dangers of falsehood, the fragility of faith, and the importance of moral discernment in times of trial.

The Digital Turn in Ḥadīth Studies: Ethical Foundations and Strategic Directions

M. Alhafidh Akbar — 2024-04-30

This article examines the ethical foundations and strategic directions that characterize the ongoing digital turn in ḥadīth studies. As the second principal source of Islamic teachings, ḥadīth is undergoing a profound transformation in how it is accessed, transmitted, and interpreted through digital technologies—particularly mobile applications, online repositories, and social media. While these developments have expanded access and public engagement, they have also raised pressing concerns about authenticity, epistemological disruption, and the marginalization of traditional scholarly authority. Using a narrative literature review approach, the study draws on academic works and digital platforms published between 2014 and 2024 to analyze how Islamic scholars and institutions are responding to these shifts. The findings reveal that digital tools—such as Lidwa Pusaka, Maktabah Syamilah, Jawāmiʿ al-Kalim, and the Digital Islamic Library—have broadened access to canonical texts and enhanced educational outreach. However, the viral circulation of unverified narrations, the influence of algorithm-driven visibility, and the rise of unqualified digital preachers have contributed to the fragmentation and trivialization of prophetic traditions. This article argues that sustaining the integrity of ḥadīth studies in the digital age requires a balanced integration of Islamic ethical principles (akhlāq), critical digital literacy, and strategic scholarly engagement. By grounding innovation in ethical responsibility and reasserting scholarly authority, digital platforms can become effective instruments for preserving the authenticity, relevance, and transformative potential of ḥadīth in contemporary Muslim life.

The Role of Hadith in Enhancing Quranic Literacy

Fauzi Saleh — 2025-04-30

This study explores the integral role of hadith in enhancing Quranic literacy by demonstrating how prophetic traditions function as interpretive, applicative, and complementary elements to the Quranic text. Utilizing a qualitative-descriptive approach based on library research, the study examines primary Islamic sources—including classical tafsir and authenticated hadith collections—and contemporary scholarly literature. The findings show that hadith fulfills three critical functions: (1) clarifying Quranic verses through interpretive explanation (bayān al-tafsīr), (2) reinforcing Quranic commands via consistent prophetic practice (bayān al-taqrīr), and (3) providing legal elaboration on matters not explicitly addressed in the Quran (bayān al-tashrīʿ). Furthermore, hadith contextualizes revelation through the transmission of asbāb al-nuzūl and serves as the ethical embodiment of Quranic values in real life. The study concludes that integrating hadith into Quranic studies is not optional but imperative, as Quranic literacy without prophetic guidance risks remaining abstract, fragmented, and misapplied. This research affirms the necessity of hadith as a methodological, pedagogical, and spiritual anchor for meaningful engagement with the Quran.

The Whisper of Satan in the Story of Adam: An Intertextual Analysis of the Qur’an and the Bible through Julia Kristeva’s Framework

Masbur Masbur — 2025-04-30

This article investigates the narrative of Satan’s whisper in the story of Prophet Adam by comparing its presentation in the Qur’an and the Bible. Both scriptures depict the moment of temptation as a pivotal rupture in the human-divine relationship, yet they differ significantly in narrative structure, character roles, and theological emphasis. Drawing on Julia Kristeva’s theory of intertextuality, this study explores how the Qur’anic version engages with and transforms the Biblical account through three intertextual mechanisms: excerpt, conversion, and haplology. Employing a qualitative-descriptive approach and library-based research, the analysis focuses on two key passages—Genesis 3:4–7 and Qur’an 20:120–121—to trace how symbolic elements are echoed, revised, or omitted. The findings reveal that the Qur’anic narrative repositions the temptation not as rebellion but as human vulnerability, leading not to inherited sin but to divine forgiveness and guidance. This intertextual reading affirms the Qur’an’s discursive autonomy within a shared Abrahamic symbolic field and demonstrates how intertextual theory can deepen comparative studies of sacred texts.