Moderation in Islam

In Islam, wasat (moderation) is one of the most basic terms and deliberately used topics. In the sense of shariah, it is a central characteristic of Islamic creed and has been used from the very beginning of Islam. It refers to a justly balanced way of life, avoiding extremes and experiencing things in moderation.

Etymology

Wasat, also called wasatiyyah (وسط, وسطية) is the Arabic word for best, middle, centered, balanced, middle way or moderation in the Islamic context, meanwhile Qasd (قصد) and Iqtisad (اقتصاد) are other terms for moderation in Islam, which mean "right way," "middle way," and "honest, truthful way." The term is also used in the Qur'an and Hadith to mean moderation. For example: Surah Nahl (16) in verse 9, Surah Ma'idah (5) in verse 66, Surah Tawba (9) in verse 42, Surah Luqman (31) in verse 19 and 32, and Surah Fatir (35) in verse 32. The person who follows wasat/qasd is called wasati/wasiti/Muqsidin. In addition, the words Ittidal and Saddad also appear in the Hadith in the sense of moderation, the word Saddad (السداد) is used more often, and it has multiple meanings, namely, to correct, to straighten, to pay a debt, to close a hole, to perform an action, etc. Its noun form Tasdeed (التسديد) literally means refinement, directing the sight (or binoculars) in a certain direction. In many places in the hadith, the word "Saddidu wa Qaribu" (سَدِّدُوا وَقَارِبُوا) is found which translates as "straightening the right path or adopting the middle path and approaching", and also as an instruction to the imam and khatib to straighten the queue of congregational prayers or prayers. The word is used, and when straightening a prayer queue in Non-Arab countries, it is used as a translation of the original Arabic word to straighten the queue, fill in the blanks, and come closer.

In scripture

In Quran

As Wasat

And thus we have made you a wasat (moderate) community, that you will be witnesses over the people and the Messenger will be a witness over you. And We did not make the qiblah which you used to face except that We might make evident who would follow the Messenger from who would turn back on his heels. And indeed, it is difficult except for those whom Allah has guided. And never would Allah have caused you to lose your faith. Indeed Allah is, to the people, Kind and Merciful.

— Al-Baqara 2:143

"The best among them" (Awsatauhom) said: “Did I not tell you: why do you not say: Insha’ Allah ("if Allah will").

— Al-Qalam 68:28

As Qasd

And upon Allah is the direction of the [right/moderate/straight] way, and among the various paths are those deviating. And if He willed, He could have guided you all.

— An-Nahl 16:9

And if only they upheld [the law of] the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to them from their Lord, they would have consumed [provision] from above them and from beneath their feet. Among them are a moderate community, but many of them - evil is that which they do.

— Mayidah 5:66

Had it been an easy gain and a moderate trip, the hypocrites would have followed you, but distant to them was the journey. And they will swear by Allah, "If we were able, we would have gone forth with you," destroying themselves [through false oaths], and Allah knows that indeed they are liars.

— At-Tawbah 9:42

And be moderate in your pace and lower your voice; indeed, the most disagreeable of sounds is the voice of donkeys."

— Luqman 31:19

And when waves come over them like canopies, they supplicate Allah, sincere to Him in religion. But when He delivers them to the land, there are [some] of them who are moderate [in faith]. And none rejects Our signs except everyone treacherous and ungrateful.

— Luqman 31:32

Then we caused to inherit the Book those We have chosen of Our servants; and among them is he who wrongs himself, and among them is he who is moderate, and among them is he who is foremost in good deeds by permission of Allah . That [inheritance] is what is the great bounty.

— Fatir 35:32

In hadiths

As wasat

In a hadith, Islamic prophet Muhammad is purported as saying that, the meaning of wasat (moderation) in verse 2:143 of Quran is adl (justice).

As sadad, qasd or iqtisad, and ittidal

Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, “The religion (of Islam) is easy, and whoever makes the religion a rigour, it will overpower him. So, follow a middle course (in worship); if you can’t do this, do something near to it and give glad tidings and seek help (of Allah) at morn and at dusk and some part of night”.

— Bukhari:39

Narrated `Aisha: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately and know that your deeds will not make you enter Paradise, and that the most beloved deed to Allah is the most regular and constant even if it were little."

— Sahih Bukhari, chapter: 68, Hadith no: 6020

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once asked a companion: "(Is it true) that you fast all day and stand in prayer all night?" The companion replied that the report was indeed true. The Prophet then said: "Do not do that! Observe the fast sometimes and also leave (it) at other times. Stand up for prayer at night and also sleep at night. Your body has a right over you, your eyes have a right over you and your wife has a right over you."

— Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Hadith 127

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately. . .Always adopt a middle, moderate, regular course, whereby you will reach your target (of paradise)."

— Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Hadith 470

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The good deeds of any person will not make him enter Paradise (i.e., no one enters paradise only through his good deeds)." The Prophet's companions asked: "Not even you?" The Prophet replied: "Not even myself, unless God bestows His favor and mercy on me. So be moderate in your religious deeds and do what is within your ability. And none of you should wish for death, for if he is a doer of good, he may increase his good deeds, and if he is an evil doer, he may repent to Allah."

— Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Hadith 577

Ibn Abbas reported Allah’s Messenger (May Allah exalt his mention) as saying, “A good manner of conduct and moderation are a 25th part of Prophethood.”

— Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4776

Hakam bin Hazan Qulafi narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, O mankind! You will not be able to do all that you are ordered to do. But follow moderate means and give good news.

— Ahmad 17856, Abu Dawood 1098, Sahihul Jami '7871

In popular culture

A newspaper in Bahrain is named Al-Wasat ('the middle') for its editorial viewpoint of "Promoting the rational middle-ground in debate and tendencies."

See also

• Wasatiyyah Institute Malaysia, a Malaysian NGO preaching moderate Islam.
• Al-Wasat Party, a moderate ('middle') political party in Egypt
• Al-Wasat (Bahraini newspaper)
• Delta Geminorum, a star also known by its Arabic name, Wasat, for middle (star)
• Islam Nusantara, an Indonesian distinct Islamic philosophy that promotes the idea of theological moderation called tawasut within its ideology.
• Centrism, a political ideology
• Lagom, a Swedish concept with similar meaning
• Liberalism and progressivism within Islam
• Moderate Islam, a modern moderate denomination of Islam
• Moderation, the process of eliminating or lessening extremes.
• The Moderation in Belief, book by Al-Ghazali
• Moderate, a middle position in a left/right political scale
• Via media, the philosophy of the 'middle way'