By : Dr. Abdul-Rahman ibn Muala al-Luwaihiq al-Mutairi
“Thus have We made of you a nation justly balanced, that you may be witnesses over the people and the Messenger a witness over yourselves.” [al-Baqarah 2:143]
Therefore, one finds that Islam presents the moderate way in every aspect of life. Not only that, it also warns against heading towards either extreme: the extreme of too much zealousness and the extreme of too much nonchalance.
“Guide us to the straight way, the way of those upon whom You have bestowed Your grace, not those whose (portion) is wrath nor those who have gone astray.” [al-Fatihah 1:6-7]
This balanced approach that distinguishes Islam from other religions is the true justice and excellence. Abu S’id al-Khudri narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “On the Day of Resurrection, Noah will be brought and asked, ‘Did you convey (the message)?’ He will say, ‘Yes, O Lord.’ His nation will be asked, ‘Was the message conveyed to you?’ They will answer, ‘No warner came to us.’ He (the Lord) will say (to Noah), ‘Who are your witnesses?’ He will answer, ‘Muhammad and his nation.’ Then you (i.e. the followers of Muhammad) will be brought and will give witness.” Then the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) read the verse, “Thus have We made of you a nation justly balanced,” – he stated, “(That is) just,”- “that you may be witnesses over the people and the Messenger a witness over yourselves.” [Bukhari]
This explanation (for the above verse) is also what the early scholars of Quranic exegesis stated, including Ibn Abbas, Mujahid, Sa’id ibn Jubair, Qatadah, as well as others of the later Quranic commentators.
Hudhaifah ibn al-Yaman said: “Beware of Allah, O Quranic reciters (i.e., religious scholars). Follow the path of those before you. Then you will be the best of leaders. But, if you go right or left, then you will go far astray.” [Bukhari]
Umar ibn Abdul-Aziz wrote to one of his workers, saying, after advising him to follow the path of the early predecessors, “There is no room to fall short of them and there is no room to go beyond them. Some people shortened the matter and fell short. Some people went above them and therefore went to extremes. They (the pious predecessors) were between that (those two extremes) upon a straight guidance.” [Recorded by Abu Dawud]
Ibn al-Qayyim wrote: “Allah does not make any command except that Satan has two incitements (towards it), either to negligence and neglect or to excess and exaggeration. The religion of Allah is in a middle position between being aloof from it and exaggerating in it. It is like a valley between two mountains, guidance between two astray positions and the middle; just position between two blameworthy positions. In the same way that one who is aloof from a matter, loses that matter, the one who exaggerates also loses that matter. The first, by his not meeting the minimum requirements and the second by going beyond the limits.” [Madarij-ul-Salikin]
