The Moderation of Islam

in front of Al-azhar university in cairo

Recently, Islam is faced by two challenges, the first, in Islamic society, several of follower performed their attitudes extremely and strictly. They applied that statement by forcing the people, even it was applied with the violence. The second, these followers ignored the Islamic studies extremely, it means that they don't think about the obligation of Muslims. Even the negative thinking, which is from other culture is always accepted by them as quick as they want.

As we know that those are two challenges don't give us something beneficial in our Islamic society, the first statement has given the negative image to Islam and its followers as a religion and Islamic community teach the people violently for delivering about Islam and the second statement has made Islam losing about the true meaning of Islam Because they're busy with other culture and the obligation of a Muslim isn't applied by them in their life.

Actually, these statements are in contradiction with the essence of Islam in QS Al-Baqarah (2): 145 mentioned as “Ummatan Wasathan”. The definition of Wasathan is the middle or justice because that Islam teaches all the followers of Islam with the middle characters. There's someone said that "Doing well to the society will make the people cooperated and loved” and Mahfudzat said too ” Best of case in the middle”. Those are the reasons that Islam teaches all the followers of Islam the middle characters for delivering about the true meaning of Islam.

And remember this “Islam teaches us to love and respect all the prophets of god, but loving and respecting them doesn't mean worshipping them because worship is due only to god (ALLAH SWT)”

There are six characters of moderation of Islam, here they are :

1. Understanding about the reality

The life of people always get the chance and the development without the limit of time, while that text of religion are limited. What is that? That Islam consists the instructions are  permanents and then the things of life may be changed for the suitable time and the space development, except  ; about the faith, the worship and also the good ethics aren't permitted for changing the determination of god in Islam forever until hereafter.

2. Understanding about fiqih priority

In Islam that the order and the Prohibiton were fixed by the phase or the classification, example; there is order that we're obligated to do it or it's called in Arabic ‘Wajib'. There is recommendation to Islam society that we're expected to do as a Muslim and also it was ordered by our prophet to all the followers of Islam or it's called in Arabic ‘Sunnah'. Meanwhile there's the Prohibiton which hated to be done by us or we called it in Arabic ‘Mubah' And there's interdiction that we're really forbidden to do it, if we'll still do it, so that we'll get the sins from god or we could say it ‘Haram'.

3. Giving the eases to people in religion

As we know that giving the ease to mankind is one of method of Qur’an and also it was performed by our prophet. When he delegated several of his friends for going to Yemen that he ordered them to give the ease in delivering about Islam and reminded them to don’t make the mankind complicated by their missionaries for delivering Islam too.

4. Understanding the text of religion comprehensively

Law of Islam or in Arabic we could say “syari’ah”  it'll be understood well as Al-Qur'an taught us. If you can be understood by comprehensively and not be partial for understanding it. As like about stories of prophet that we have to understand them correctly and comprehensively because all of those are interpreted by another and then Al-Qur'an will be appeared as rahmatan lil'alamiin that the tolerance and the peace will be ac-curated in Islam society.

5. Openness with other, giving the priority of dialogue and having a tolerance attitude

The moderation of Islam suggested to humans the openness with other side which are different opinion. Actually, this character explain to us that difference opinion are certainly appeared in Islam, and it could be the choice for being a pious person or not be and other thing, in view of Islam the people were honoured by god without looking at the religion, the reins, the skin colour, etc. as like in (QS AL-Isra (17):70) mentioned it. But the relation with people must be protected. Ex; when Nabi SAW passed a remain from Jew society that our prophet stand up in front of him directly for giving the respect and said ”isn't he human too like us? (HR. AL-Bukhari). So, the openness with other people made someone moderated to do the cooperation for solving many troubles in his life.

6. Understanding about sunnatullah in creating

Sunnatullah here, it means graduation or phase, as like this world was created by god with six period. But actually, it’s very easy for creating anything by Allah. Just said “kun fayakun” it’ll be formed. Such for people, animals, plants, which were created by the phase. From here that sunnatullah must be given the attention for people who want to build Islam country or make his Islamic environment must apply syari’ah or law of god,

          There is important thing which is in our environment. We usually underestimate  about it. What is it? Its tolerance of Islam to other religion. As we know it isn’t giving to only Islam, but performing to other religion too. And this tolerance must be begun from ourself, ex: when Nabi SAW looked one of his friends who always fast every evening and worship to god every night without stopping and Nabi SAW said”

"فان لجسدكعليك حقا, وان لعينك عليك حقا, وان لزوجك عليك حقا."  

This reason that we have to tolerant for Ourself.

            As AL-Qur'an mentioned in Surah AL-Baqarah ((2):205) that the freedom of religion is part of respecting to humans for the true of life, This reason points to who isn't Muslim must be obtained the tolerance of Islam too  Islam too. Islam too. As we know that the duty's prophet is for delivering the message not forcing the humans for embracing Islam therefore someone doesn't feel a painful and forced in his religion. As like  a story about Omar ibn Khattab, when there's an old woman came to Omar and ask a help, so after that Omar said” embrace to Islam, you will get a peace and protected that god delegated Nabi SAW for giving the humans about the true of life.” And an old woman said” I'm an old and I'll be dead.” This reason she didn't receive what Omar order to her. But Umar still help her. After, she was gone that Omar cry about a forced to her for embracing Islam and said ”I just pointed her in the true of life not forced.”

We end with the words of our lord creator and sustainer of all men and women

          “surely the men who submit and the women who submit, the believing men and the believing women, and the obedient men and the obedient women, and the truthful men and the truthful women, and the patient men and the patient women, and the humble men and the humble women…Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward.”

Written by Muhammad Ar’rafii

(student of Al-azhar university in cairo)