Extremism in Islam is not of Islam

           Extremism is essentially anything found far outside the norm. The Islamic extremists involved in causing the tragedies of 9/11 definitely fit this description. Unfortunately, too many people saw these terrorists not just as extremist, but as the norm. They called them extremist, but also believed that all Muslims have the same extreme positions as those terrorists. They wrongly equated the minority with their view of the majority. Unfortunately again, many people in America and around the world still hold this skewed view of Islam. Islam is not a religion of extremes, however.

            Yusuf Al-Qaradawi wrote an essay about Extremism in Islam in 1981. In his essay, Al-Qaradawi explains how Islam calls for moderation, which is the exact opposite of extremism. He quotes Sura 2, Verse 143 as an example of how moderation is a fundamental landmark of Islam: “Thus have we made of you a community justly balanced…” He further demonstrates that Islam calls for moderation and rejects and opposes extremism such as ghuluw [excessiveness], tanattu’ [transgressing, meticulous religiosity], and tashid [strictness, austerity]. Al-Qaradawi refers to hadith and the Qur’an to make his points, especially about the people before the Muslims who perished because of excessiveness or went astray, taking others with them. The Qur’an warns Muslims not to follow in the way of the people before (typically referring to Christians and Jews).

            Religious zeal was also warned against in hadith, as the Prophet PBUH used to say, “Ruined were those who indulged in tanattu’” (Muslim) and “Do not overburden yourselves, lest you perish. People [before you] overburdened themselves and perished. Their remains are found in hermitages and monasteries.” (Abu Ya’la)

            Al-Qaradawi finds that there are three defects with religious extremism. 1. Excessiveness is too disagreeable for ordinary human nature to endure or tolerate and 2. it imposes on other rights and obligations, 3. thus it is often short-lived. I know from experience as a convert and from readings of books about converts, that often they dive right in and try to take on everything about Islam all at once, and find it to be too overwhelming, and after trying to give it a fair shot, they give up. Personally, I have been warned by many to “take it slow” as Islam is so big that it needs to be taken on step at a time.

            The author does not stop at why extremism doesn’t belong with Islam, but goes on to describe how to notice if it is manifesting in the community. Al-Qaradawi lists bigotry and intolerance as a first indicator. I think this applies for any religion, not just Islam. I have faced it as a Christian and more so as a Muslim. I have experienced more problems from “born” Muslims and other converts than I have from people of other faiths, which surprised me greatly. I have been told, more than once, that I was not “Muslim” enough, because I am not strict in practice. At the same time, knowing the people it came from, they weren't perfect either.  The problem with this bigotry and intolerance, he says, is that “such a person doesn’t allow any opportunity for dialogue with others so that he can compare his opinion with theirs”. This is only too true. Bigots have their minds set and are unwilling to hear anything that contradicts or is different from what they have learned. Change and different is just too scary for some people to be open. Bigots are not open to agreement or compromise, as those require a meeting in the middle, or in other words, moderation.

            Another manifestation of extremism is the perpetual commitment to excessiveness and attempts to force others to follow suit, this then follows with the overburdening of others without regard to time and place. Extremists in Islam also have a forceful, harsh approach in calling others to Islam, which is likely a manifestation of wanting to force others to think the same as there is power in numbers. These people are not soft, not accepting, and can end up turning people off to Islam and giving them the wrong ideas about what Islam is. Al-Qaradawi shows that this is in contradiction with the Qur’an, which says, “Invite [all] to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching, and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious.” (Sura 16, Verse 125) and “It is part of the Mercy of God that you deal justly with them. If you were severe and hard-hearted they would have broken away from you.” (Sura 3, Verse 159).

            Finally, suspicion and distrust are also manifestations of extremism. This is noted in how some Muslims will accuse others of not being devout enough, or not being true Muslims, as I have experienced before. This is the worst accusation a Muslim can utter, as the Prophet PBUH said, “When a Muslim calls another Muslim an unbeliever, then surely one of them is such.” (al-Bukhari). The Qur’an established brotherly love, and turning against each other is opposite of that. Only Allah can look into the heart of a person and know what they believe. 

            If you think about a peaceful, serene moment that you have experienced, was it ever extreme? Moderation is key, after all.

Written for my Modern Muslim Thought class in February 2012