Reconstruction of Puritanism: KH. Ali Mustafa Yaqub in Understanding the Hadith of Hisbah

Abstract

This study analyzes the reconstruction of puritanism in the understanding of the hisbah hadith in the thought of Ali Mustafa Yaqub and its implications for the practice of amar ma’ruf nahi munkar in the socio-religious context of contemporary Indonesia. This study departs from the phenomenon  of the practice of hisbah that is literally and coercively mobilized in the public space, as seen in various actions of religious groups such as the Islamic Defenders Front, including the rejection of Lady Gaga’s concert in Jakarta in 2012 which led to the threat of violence and the cancellation of the event, as well as a series of acts of destruction against places that were constructed as “nests of disobedience.” Using a qualitative approach through critical literature studies, this study examines Yaqub’s main works, classical hadith literature, and contemporary studies to explore the epistemological and methodological framework of his understanding of the hadith amar ma’ruf nahi munkar. The analysis focuses on the principles of sanad authenticity, matan criticism, and the limitation of moral intervention authority in accordance with the capacities of individuals, society, and the state. The findings of the study show that Yaqub moderately reconstructs the puritanism of hadith by positioning hisbah as an ethical-educational practice oriented towards benefit rather than as an instrument of social judgment. This reconstruction provides a more adaptive and contextual interpretive framework while addressing the rigidity of interpretation and the potential legitimacy of violence in religious practice. Theoretically, this research enriches the study of Islamic hadith and puritanism in Indonesia, and, practically, contributes to the formation of a more inclusive socio-religious ethics amid the complexities of modern Muslim society.