Shaykh Salman delivered this address "The Muslim Community between the
Extremes of Zealousness and Apathy" during the inaugural session of the
second international conference of the Global Centre for Renewal and Guidance.
The conference, entitled "Guidance of Thoughts and Behaviors" was held in
Mauritania's capital city of Nouakchott from 26 to 28 March, 2008.
After acknowledging in verse the great services to Islam that Mauritania
has provided over the centuries, he began by saying:
When we speak about moderation, we must first define moderation as a concept
and pinpoint its essence. This is because there has never been any disagreement
between various Islamic factions that moderation is the proper approach that
should be sought. Everyone agrees that moderation is something praiseworthy.
Even the Kharijites that most extreme and fanatical of sects claimed
moderation for themselves.
The problem is in how people conceive the idea of moderation, since the
principle of moderation is, in the abstract, something that everyone accepts.
This is because Allah says: "And thus We have made you a moderate nation."
[Sûrah al-Baqarah: 143]
The text that most strongly establishes and defines the proper concept of
moderation in Islam is where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) says:
This religion is easy. No one becomes harsh and strict in the religion without
it overwhelming him. So fulfill your duties as best you can and rejoice. Rely
upon the efforts of the morning and the evening and a little at night and you
will reach your goal. [Sahîh al-Bukharî]
With these words, the Prophet (peace be upon him) gives us a clear
understanding of moderation. The hadîth establishes the essential principle
that the religion is one of ease and facilitation. Muslims today are in great
need of understanding this properly.
Moderation and facilitation do not imply that a person can follow his own
predilections without regard for the dictates of the sacred texts. By contrast,
moderation is intrinsic to those texts. It is embodied in Islamic teachings
which are drawn from the Qur'ân and Sunnah. Being moderate, therefore, has
nothing to do with following one's base desires.
It is not possible for people to agree with one another all the time. People
are not all of one heart. This is alluded to by the Prophet (peace be upon him)
where he says: "So fulfill your duties as best you can." No one should become
insistent upon following a limited, personal vision in applying Islam's rulings
to himself or to others.
* * * * *
Moderation should be employed when preaching to people and calling them to
righteousness. Exhortations should never be taken to an excess where the
listener begins to despair of attaining Allah's forgiveness and mercy. What is
desired is to give people the glad tidings that the doors of repentance and
mercy are open to all.
* * * * *
When we work for our faith, our loyalty in doing so must be to Allah and His
Messenger. This religion is far too great for us to confine our loyalties to a
specific movement or group.
Even though much of the disagreement between various Islamic organizations is
in minor matters, we find too often that this disagreement tends to polarize
the Muslims.
* * * * *
Moderation is not a single, rigid idea. Nor is it a mere slogan to be invoked
at various times. Rather, it is a methodology, a principled approach based upon
the Qur'ân and Sunnah with regard to the general objectives of Islamic Law and
an attitude of assuming the best about others and seeking the best way to
facilitate their needs.
The opposite of moderation is extremism. There are two kinds of extremism in
religion. One is zealotry and excessiveness. The other is apathy and a wanton
disregard for moral values.
Either way, it is a crisis when extremism besets a nation or a civilization.
This has been the case throughout history and for all societies. There can be
no doubt that Islam's message gives us best and most comprehensive way to
remedy extremism and dispel it.
* * * * *
The following measures can be implemented help to solve the problem of
extremism in our societies:
1. Scholars should be facilitated in carrying out their efforts. They need
to be given access to the media.
2. Educational and news channels need to be established that present the true
image of Islam to the public.
3. There needs to be moral reform in the Muslim world.
4. Muslim societies should rectify the errors in beliefs and legal rulings
that are prevalent.
5. Justice is essential. People's rights must be ensured. Upholding people's
rights is essential to Islam. This is part of our Islamic heritage that is
attested to by many examples from our history.
This task, moreover, is everyone's responsibility. It is the responsibility
of parents as much as it is the responsibility of heads of state. It is the
responsibility of teachers. Everyone shares this responsibility to the extent
of his or her abilities.
saiyed shahbazi
www.shahbazcenter.org
