Muh. Alief, Moh. Asyraf, Baso Arman
The phenomenon of religious extremism (ghuluw fi al-dīn) remains a challenge in the lives of Muslims. This study aims to identify the authenticity of hadiths regarding the prohibition of ghuluw through a critical examination of the isnad and matn, comparing the approaches of classical and contemporary scholars. This research is a literature review employing a qualitative descriptive-analytical approach. The results of the study indicate that the hadith prohibiting ghuluw has a strong chain of transmission (sanad) and is deemed authentic (sahih) by the majority of hadith scholars. From the perspective of the matn, its content aligns with the Qur’anic principles of balance in religious practice. The difference between the two approaches lies in the focus of analysis; classical scholars emphasize the authenticity of the transmission, whereas contemporary scholars expand their analysis to include contextual dimensions and social relevance. These findings underscore the importance of integrating criticism of both the isnad and the matn to produce an authentic, contextual understanding of hadith