BY MOHD AMMYRUL ASHRAF SAIRAN
Malaysia is a Muslim country that consistently practices the concept of wasatiyyah (moderation). This concept is rooted in the principles of the teachings of Ahlus Sunnah Wal-Jamaah, which began to take root and spread in this country.
Therefore, there is no record in the history of the country of Islam being propagated through coercion, war, conflict, or other rigid and burdensome methods.
On the contrary, the teachings of Islam were conveyed and spread by early missionaries with great wisdom and wasatiyyah, allowing them to be accepted by individuals of the highest status, such as sultans, down to the common people. Islam is a religion that places great importance on the concept of security.
In Islam, security is based on a comprehensive system and doctrine that encompasses the universe, life, and humanity.
Based on the common origin of humanity, Islamic teachings completely prohibit any form of discrimination based on race or religion. Therefore, hostility and conflict among believers are inappropriate, considering that they are not only united in humanity but also share the same faith in Allah SWT and the other pillars of faith.
Nevertheless, the will of Allah SWT prevails over everything. One of the biggest causes of conflict among Muslims is the misunderstanding of the religion they adhere to.
It is not the religion that is to blame, but the flawed understanding of it. There is no longer any moderation (tawassut); instead, society has fallen into extremes of rigidity (ifrat) and laxity (tafrit), exaggeration (ghuluw), and negligence (tasahul). All of this is manifested in the way people think and act.
Obsession and fanaticism have become part of the attitudes that shape the understanding and actions of extremism.
Such thoughts can lead to threatening events if not curbed. This is because extreme religious attitudes can have negative impact on Islam and can lead to disasters beyond the context of religion.
According to Dr Zulkifli Mohamad al-Bakri, extremism will cause religion to be seen as the accused party and lead to disharmony within local and international communities.
This is the root of actions referred to as al-irhab in Arabic. The person who commits these actions is called an irhaby, and the ideology is referred to as terrorism (irhabiyyah) in the language of the global community today. Therefore, Islamic law is very strict in combating terrorism and violence. In the context of Sharia, such acts fall under the category of hudud crimes, specifically hirabah, which refers to actions that create chaos in society, threatening public order and safety.
This issue cannot be resolved through physical force alone. We need to dismantle the ideology championed by these extremists by exposing the lies they use to manipulate public opinion.
Islam does not teach anything inherently evil, let alone the wrongful loss of life. Allah SWT has explained in Surah An-Nisa, verse 93, which states:
وَمَن يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِنًۭا مُّتَعَمِّدًۭا فَجَزَآؤُهُۥ جَهَنَّمُ خَـٰلِدًۭا فِيهَا وَغَضِبَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَلَعَنَهُۥ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُۥ عَذَابًا عَظِيمًۭا
“And he who slays a believer wilfully his reward is Hell, where he will abide. Allah’s wrath is against him and He has cast His curse upon him, and has prepared for him a great chastisement”.
Therefore, nothing can stop the acts of terrorism, violence, or extremism except by restoring the concept of Islamic wasatiyyah. When wasatiyyah is attributed to Muslims, they embody commendable qualities derived from Allah’s law, characterized by moderation, goodness, awareness, and excellence.
This positions them as the leaders of all nations, the heads of all peoples, and witnesses over them on the Day of Judgment.
As a result, this concept of wasatiyyah is in stark contrast to attitudes of ghuluw (excess) and extremism. The Prophet Muhammad SAW said, “Beware of excessiveness in religion.
For those who came before you were destroyed due to excessiveness in religion” (hadith: Sunan Ibn Majah 3029).
The characteristic of wasatiyyah should be understood as a positive integration in all aspects of life, whether from the perspective of aqidah, shariah, and akhlaq, or at the individual and collective levels.
Additionally, we must recognize that extremism or radicalism in religion harms faith, law, and ethics, both individually and collectively. Reflect on the words of Dr Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who stated that wasatiyyah is the cornerstone of unity.
Moderation symbolizes unity and serves as a meeting point. When diversity arises, the midpoint emerges as a unifier. Therefore, diversity converges at the midpoint, which becomes the centre.
This means that mid-level thinking allows every extreme line of thought to converge at a point of balance and equality.
In contrast, extremes in madhab (schools of thought) and ideologies often lead to disputes and divisions, unlike moderate thinking, which typically fosters unity.
Thus, with the virtues, significance, and special concept of the wasatiyyah approach highlighted, Islam encourages it to be an important feature in every aspect of Muslims’ lives, especially in nation-building.
Finally, let us join hands to preserve the peace and prosperity of our country. Cultivate the principle of wasatiyyah in all actions and decisions. May we collectively achieve the aspiration of a country characterized by baldatun thoyyibah wa rabbun ghafur’.
● Mohd Ammyrul Ashraf Sairan, Senior Lecturer, School of Languages, Civilisation and Philosophy, Universiti Utara Malaysia
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the Sarawak Tribune.
