Deconstruction of the Semantic Shift of the Word “Sunnah” in Salafī Discourse in Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract

This study explores the semantic change of the term Sunnah in contemporary Islamic discourse in Indonesia, focusing on the Salafī group. Traditionally, Sunnah refers to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and serves as the second primary source of Islamic law after the Qur’an. In contemporary practice, however, it has expanded into symbolic functions, identity markers, and religious commodification through products, lifestyles, and da'wah strategies. Using a qualitative embedded case study design, data were collected via open-ended questionnaires and analyzed thematically. Findings reveal semantic shifts including generalization, specialization, amelioration, pejoration, and metonymy. The Salafī group interprets Sunnah as a marker of religious identity and da'wah tool, yet this can foster exclusivism and social division. The study concludes that Sunnah has evolved from a theological concept into one embedded with ideological and commercial meanings, highlighting the need to strengthen religious literacy to preserve its substantive meaning and prevent misuse for ideological or commercial purposes.

Keywords

Sunnah; Salafi; Semantic Shift