Avoiding extremism in religion
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Question:
What are some of the means of avoiding and warning against extremism in matters of religion?
Answer
Sheikh `Abd Allah al-Zâyidî, professor at al-Imâm University
It is of vital importance to stay away from the destructive tendency of extremism. People need to be made aware of the following:
1. First of all, we need to remind ourselves and others of the many hadîth that warn against extremism and that call to moderation, balance, and justice.
For instance, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “No one goes to extremes in his faith except that it defeats him.”
He also said: “Keep away from extremism.” and: “Moderation, moderation, and you will succeed.”
2. We also need to be reminded of the evil consequences of extremism, not the least of which is the fact that extremism is a way of forsaking our Prophet’s Sunnah and it places severe hardships on people.
3. Extremism breeds its opposite, even within a single individual. There are many cases of people that have gone to extremes in their religion, which in turn brought them to the point of forsaking their faith altogether.
4. We need to be reminded to supplicate to Allah for guidance, especially guidance to the “straight path”. Whe
n the Prophet (peace be upon him) stood in his night prayers, he would say: “O Allah, Lord of Gabriel, Michael, and Raphael, originator of the heavens and the Earth, knower of the seen and unseen to judge between Your servants in what they used to differ. Guide me to the truth in what they differ about. Surely, You guide whom You please to a way that is straight.” [Sahîh Muslim]
And Allah knows best.
1. First of all, we need to remind ourselves and others of the many hadîth that warn against extremism and that call to moderation, balance, and justice.
For instance, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “No one goes to extremes in his faith except that it defeats him.”
He also said: “Keep away from extremism.” and: “Moderation, moderation, and you will succeed.”
2. We also need to be reminded of the evil consequences of extremism, not the least of which is the fact that extremism is a way of forsaking our Prophet’s Sunnah and it places severe hardships on people.
3. Extremism breeds its opposite, even within a single individual. There are many cases of people that have gone to extremes in their religion, which in turn brought them to the point of forsaking their faith altogether.
4. We need to be reminded to supplicate to Allah for guidance, especially guidance to the “straight path”. Whe
n the Prophet (peace be upon him) stood in his night prayers, he would say: “O Allah, Lord of Gabriel, Michael, and Raphael, originator of the heavens and the Earth, knower of the seen and unseen to judge between Your servants in what they used to differ. Guide me to the truth in what they differ about. Surely, You guide whom You please to a way that is straight.” [Sahîh Muslim]
And Allah knows best.
Source: en.islamtoday.net
