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 and Iqtisad are other terms for moderation in Islam, which mean "right way," "middle way," and "honest, truthful way."
In scripture
In Quran
As Wasat
Bangladeshi Islamic scholar Abdul Hi Muhammad Saifullah said, there are 286 verses in Surah Baqarah of the Quran, it is 143 if divided by 2, Surah Baqarah verse 143 contains the word moderation (wasat(-an)), which is a miracle of the Quran.
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
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
References
- ^ Kamali, Mohammad Hashim (2015). The Middle Path of Moderation in Islam: The Qurʼānic Principle of Wasaṭiyyah. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780190226831.
- Moderation in Islam: In the Contex[t] of Muslim Community in Singapore : a Compilation of Working Papers Presented in the PERGAS Ulama Convention 2003, Held on 13th and 14th September 2003, which Carried the Theme of Moderation in Islam. PERGAS. 2004. ISBN 9789810510329.
- Hashem, Ahmad Omar (1999). Moderation in Islam. United Printing Publishing and Distributing. p. 177.
- Yousif, Ahmad F.; Adeel, M. Ashraf; Wilkinson, Taraneh; Alagha, Joseph; Baidhawy, Zakiyuddin; Ugur, Etga; Bruckmayr, Philipp; Hamid, Sadek; Dar, Showkat Ahmad; Davary, Bahar; Piela, Anna; Bullock, Katherine; Sabet, Amr G. E.; Ebrahimian, Mojtaba; Gada, Muhammad Yassen; el-Muhammady, Ahmad; Haron, Muhammad; Pervez, Saulat (2015). American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences 32:3. International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT). pp. 20, 21. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
- Moghimi, Seyed Mohammad (2018). Principles and Fundamentals of Islamic Management. Emerald Group Publishing. p. 10. ISBN 978-1-78769-674-7. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
- Brinton, Jacquelene G. (2015). Preaching Islamic Renewal: Religious Authority and Media in Contemporary Egypt. University of California Press. p. 71. ISBN 978-0-520-28699-3. Retrieved 6 June 2020.