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Islam is the Religion of Moderation
Shaykh Abdur Rahman As-Sudays [(Safar
27, 1423 (May 10, 2002)]
All praise is due to Allaah, Lord of
all the worlds. May peace and blessings be upon the Messenger, his
household and companions.
Brethren in faith! It has been an
undisputable fact that in the opinion of the wise men that the more a
nation adhere to its values, the more it attains glory. It is also a fact
that all colours of corruption that is widespread in today’s world and
which threaten people’s security, peace and stability are only the result
of men’s negligence of their cultural and human values.
If one looks at some aspects of this
religion which Allaah has guided us to, one will find that there is in it
an obvious and special quality by which this Ummah excelled others, like
leadership qualities and being the witness over mankind. The most
paramount aspect of these qualities is Al-Wasatiyyah (moderation,
justness) that shows the true picture of Islaam, its beauties and its
protection of noble human values. Allaah says,
“Thus We have made you (true
Muslims) a just (and the best) nation, that you be witnesses over mankind
and the Messenger (Muhammad) be a witness over you.”
(Al-Baqarah
2:143)
Since it is necessary to define this
term in the light of the Qur’aan and Sunnah in order to avoid
misconceptions especially in these days that the campaign against Islaam
has become more vicious, that Muslims are labelled with defamatory terms,
that realities have been turned upside down and some Muslims have been
afflicted with keeping away from its illuminating path.
Fellow Muslims! The Islaamic scholars
show great concern for explanation of the actual meaning of Al-Wasatiyyah
as it is mentioned in Sooratul Baqarah. It has only two meanings: (1) the
best and just. This is the one chosen by At-Tabaree and Ibn Katheer. (2)
Just and balanced between extremism and negligence. This meaning came up
while Allaah is reminding this Ummah of His favour on it.
Al-Wasatiyyah,
dear brethren, is the path of the righteous predecessors of this Ummah.
Shaykhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah said, “The safe party who are the followers
of the Sunnah and the mainstream Muslim group (Ahlus-Sunnah wal jamaa‘ah)
believe in all that Allaah says in His Book without altering its meaning,
suspending it, conditioning it or assimilating it. They are balanced among
other Muslim groups just as the Muslims are different from adherent of
other religions.”
Al Imaam ‘Izz bin ‘Abdus-Salaam said,
“Generally, one should not say a word or performed a deed except that
which brings benefits or averts harm, with belief in maintaining balance
between extremism and negligence.”
Ibn Al-Qayyim said, “There is no
single matter in which Satan does not make an insinuation either toward
extremism or negligence. But the truth is in between the two.”
Brethren if faith! Moderation and
justness feature in all aspects of Islaam. In creedal issues, Islaam
maintains moderation among other religions. There is neither atheism nor
idolatry but a sincere servitude to Allaah in His Lordship, His exclusive
right to be worshipped and in His Names and Attributes. Islaamic creed is
balanced between assimilating the attributes of Allaah, altering them or
suspending them. On the issue of Al-Qadar (divine pre-decree), it
strikes a balance between those who deny it outright and those who go to
another extreme of believing that man is forced to do all things. Islaam
also strikes a balance between those who believe that actions have nothing
to do with eemaan and those who believe that the perpetrator of major sins
are no longer believers. The authentic scholars do not consider anybody
disbeliever as long as he does not consider the sin lawful, though they
are also of the view that such a sinner is incomplete in faith; they
consider him a sinner because of his sins and a believer because of his
belief.
On the issue of prophethood,
wilaayah and the companions, Islaam maintains a moderate view between
those who take their Prophets and their companions as lords besides Allaah
and those who disrespect them as the Jews do where a section of them
disbelieved in the Messengers and another section killed them. The true
Muslim believes in all Prophets, Messengers and all Allaah’s revealed
Books. They love the sincere worshippers of Allaah and they invoke His
pleasure on the companions of the Messenger.
Brethren, in Islaam! There is another
aspect in which moderation of this ummah vividly shows: in acts of
worship. Islaam gives consideration to natural needs of man and makes a
wonderful harmony between the needs of the soul and those of the body. In
Islaam, neither asceticism nor materialism is encouraged, but coexistence
between the needs of the body and those of the soul in the light of the
word of Allaah,
“But seek with that which Allaah
has bestowed on you the home of the hereafter, and forget not your portion
of lawful enjoyment in this world.”
(Al-Qasas
28:77)
In Sunnah the Messenger of Allaah
also refuted ‘Uthmaan bin Maz’hoon’s ascetic life and refuted those who
forbidden for themselves the lawful things of this world saying, “Amongst
you, I am the one who fears Allaah most and the I am the most pious; but
yet I fast and I eat, I pray and I sleep and I marry women. So whoever
turns away from may way is not of me.” (Al-Bukhaaree)
He also said, “ This religion is
easy. So practise it gently. No one is harsh by this religion except that
it overpowers him.” Thus does Islaam take its adherents away from all
false steps and mistakes that often threaten the very existence of
mankind, violate human rights and contradicts the actualisation of harmony
and justness while conversely, the secular systems fluctuates as seen in
western modernisation that is wholly based on pure materialistic theory so
much so that the wise men among them have started calling for a religion
that can strike a balance between their divergent desires and raise up
man, actualise for him his real values and save him from misery and
oppression which he imposed on himself.
Fellow Muslims! Among important
aspects of Islaamic moderation is the legal aspect. Islaam strikes a
balance between Judaism in which many good things were forbidden and
between a religion which its adherents make all things including the
forbidden ones lawful for themselves in total disregard for the saying of
Allaah,
“The command is for none but
Allaah.”
(Yoosuf 12:40)
And His saying,
“Say: Who has forbidden the
adornment with clothes given by Allaah which He has produced for His
slaves and all kinds of lawful foods?”
(Al-A‘raaf
7:32)
In methodology of study and deducting
evidences, Islaam maintains moderation is treating sources of knowledge
and strikes a balance between texts and reason; between world of unseen
and our physical world. In promoting the goals of Shareeah, Islaam
maintains moderation in actualising what is beneficial for mankind and
preventing what is harmful.
In morality, Islaam seeks to strike a
balance between idealism and reality in such a way that purifies emotions
and refines conscience. It makes a proper use of reason and emotions in
imparting a balanced education in the light of the Prophet’s methodology
that says, “Indeed, your soul has a right upon you, your family has a
right upon you, your body has a right upon you and your Lord has a right
upon you. So give each one his due right.” (Ahmad and Muslim)
On economic system, Islaam strikes a
balance between individual and communal liberties. It respects individual
ownership as long as it does not harm the interests of the whole society.
Islaam is a moderation between capitalism and socialism.
In the area of spending, the
moderation of Islaam is exemplified in the following saying of Allaah,
“And those whom when they spend
are neither extravagant nor niggardly but hold a medium way between those
extremes.”
(Al-Furqaan
25:67)
Hudhayfah bin Al-Yamaan said, “That
is a good deed between two evil ones.”
Further, in the area of individual
freedom of opinion and behaviour, Islaam makes some regulations for this,
so that preservation of what is lawful and what is unlawful may be
guaranteed.
In the field of politics, Islaam
strikes a balance between other systems, explains the rights of the ruler
and the ruled, encourages justice truthfulness, security, peace and
obedience to the constituted authority in which that is good. It also
established Shoorah (system of consultation) long before the
contemporary democratic slogans were formulated, and it seeks to protect
the society from crises and anarchy, and strongly warns against
dictatorship. Allaah says is His Glorious Book,
“And consult them in the affairs.”
(Aal ‘Imraan
3:159)
Islaam in its justness and
moderation, harmonises between originality and modernity. Through its
flexibility, it goes along with constructive development that is in line
with Islaamic principles and through that, it prevents dissipation of its
values.
“And who is better in judgment
than Allaah for a people who have firm faith.”
(Al-Maaidah
5:50)
In nutshell, the moderation of Islaam
comprises all matters of religion, worldly life and the Hereafter. This is
doubtlessly, a manifestation of Islaam’s inimitability and validity for
all times and places. It also emphasises the enormity of the Muslims’
responsibility affirmed in the saying of Allaah,
“That you may be witnesses over mankind.”
Yes, it a witnessing by which rights
are protected and justice, dignity and peace preserved. The hope now
-after Allaah- lies with this moderate nation. It should rise from its
slumber to rescue the world spiritually, ideologically, morally and
culturally. It should rise against some of its adherents who practises
excessiveness in matters of religion and those who are apologetics of the
enemies of Islaam for these two groups have made Islaam being accused of
what it is innocent of.
O you who accuse Islaam of extremism
and terrorism! This is Islaam in its moderation and magnanimity. Compare
the magnanimity of Islaam to the Zionist extremism that sheds the blood of
innocent Muslims in Palestine. Compare this to Hindu extremism in Muslim
Kashmir and to atheistic extremism in the Muslim Chechnya. Compare this to
the words of those who regard the oppressor, the terrorist and the killer
of Muslims as a man of peace and regard the oppressed who are asking for
the restoration of their rights as terrorists.
Brethren if faith! The Muslim nation
is in dire need of moderation and justness in dealing with corruption that
has infested all aspects of its life. The scholars and truthful reformers
have the major role to play in this. They will be held responsible before
Allaah and the rest of the ummah as well as the growing generation.
Allaah says,
“And verily, this is My straight
path, so follow it and follow not other paths, for they will separate you
away from His path. This He ordained for you that you may become pious.”
(Al-A‘raaf
6:153)
Brethren in Islaam! The moderation of
this religion does not stop at matters of worship alone, but encompasses
all aspects of human behaviour, human interactions and manners of
dressing, eating and so on. It completely regulates all these in the most
excellent way.
Dear brethren! There is another
aspect in which moderation of Islaam clearly manifests: rights of woman.
Islaam came at a time when woman was being oppressed and brutalised.
Islaam then honoured her, rescued her from her state of subservience,
guarded her from falling into abyss of humiliation, guaranteed her freedom
in the light of Sharee‘ah, and kept her away from immorality and
unlawful mixing with members of the opposite sex.
However, there is an important
observation on the issue of moderation in Islaam. Moderation in Islaam is
a matter that is not subject to the dictates of whims and desires. It does
not go against Islaamic values nor does it contradict its fundamentals and
its goals. It is however ironic that there are some people among the
Muslims who attack every practising Muslim especially if he is righteous
and calls to all that is good, and they accuse him of excessiveness and
obstinacy. In the eyes of these people, anyone who strictly adheres to
Sunnah inwardly and outwardly is labelled an extremist and those
defeatists who are devoid of any value and disrespect the fundamentals of
Islaam and its noble precepts are termed liberals, realists and
progressive.
This kind of despicable extremism
along with its undesirable opposite which is excessiveness in matters of
religion encourage those who seek moderation to remain balanced in all
their religious and mundane affairs.
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