Emir bi’l-Ma‘rûf İlkesinin Neo-Selefî Yorumu ve Tekfirci Söylemle İlişkisi
The Neo-Salafi Reading of the Principle of al-Amr bi al-Maʿrūf and the Construction of Takfiri Discourse

Summary/Abstract: Purpose: In the historical context of Islamic thought, Salafism has emerged as a mindset that takes the religious understanding of the Prophet Muhammad and the first three generations of Muslims as its foundational principles. This approach regards the Qur’an and the Sunnah as the sole legitimate sources of knowledge, while often associating rational reasoning, analogy (qiyās), and interpretation (ta’wīl) with innovation (bid‘ah) and deviation. From the second century of the Hijra onward, as theological and juridical pluralism developed, Salafi tendencies adopted a stricter and more literalist line under the claim of preserving the purity of religion. In the modern period, particularly through the influence of Wahhabism centered in Saudi Arabia, the Salafi approach gained a political and ideological character, and in the twentieth century, it took on a new form within global Islamic movements known as Neo-Salafism. One of the most striking features of Neo-Salafi discourse is its transformation of the Qur’anic principle of al-amr bi al-ma‘rūf wa al-nahy 'an al-munkar (commanding right and forbidding wrong) -one of the foundational ethical tenets of Islam- into a key argument for takfīr (excommunication) and violent activism. This present study examines the manner in which Neo-Salafi thought has reinterpreted the principle of amr bi al-ma‘rūf wa nahy ‘ani al-munkar and how this reinterpretation provides a theological basis for contemporary extremist and takfiri narratives. The primary objective of the research is to reveal how this principle, originally regarded as an ethical responsibility in classical Islamic theology, has been transformed into an ideological and political instrument in modern Salafi movements. Accordingly, the study explores the historical foundations of Salafi literalism, the institutionalizing effect of Wahhabism, and the relationship between Neo-Salafi ideology, takfīr, violence, and the imposition of a monolithic religiosity. Method: Methodologically, the study adopts a text-based historical–theological analysis. The present study will examine classical sources such as the Qur’an, Hadith, and kalām literature, alongside modern Salafi writings. The aim of this comparative analysis is to trace the semantic, ethical, and political dimensions of amr bi al-ma‘rūf throughout history. Findings: The findings indicate that Neo-Salafism has detached this principle from its moral essence, using it as a religious justification for political authority and militant jihad. In contrast to the balanced and mercy-centered approach of classical theology, Neo-Salafi discourse has promoted an exclusionary and takfiri religious language. This transformation has the effect of weakening the fundamental values of justice, mercy, and wisdom, that are intrinsic to Islam, and produces a discourse built upon formal obedience and ideological uniformity. Conclusion: Consequently, the reinterpretation of al-amr bi al-ma‘rūf wa al-nahy 'an al-munkar is a theological necessity for contemporary Islamic thought. The study argues that the principle should be reexamined not as a theory of authority, but as a moral theory of conscience. The act of commanding good is not synonymous with the imposition of power; rather, it is the act of fostering human freedom, dignity, and responsibility. In this sense, the research proposes a theological reconstruction centred on mercy and wisdom, as a counterpoint to Neo-Salafism's instrumentalisation of ethics.

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