Thread by @Realoilsheikh

ISLAM, BETWEEN LAXITY & EXTREMISM

1/ No doubt, the concept of "extremism" is one that is largely misunderstood among Muslims & non Muslims alike. If a Non Muslim misunderstands the concept with regards to Islam, he or she can be excused, especially since what they follow as a

2/ religion might not be as "regulations-based" as Islam is. I don't mean to ridicule any religion by this statement. However, Islam is a religion that has regulated every single thing one does. As little as how you use the toilet, it has a prescribed prayers & etiquettes.

3/ This might not be found in any other religion apart from Islam. However, a Muslim should not misunderstand this concept. Is it considered extremism if a woman covers herself with Hijab 🧕 from head to toe? Is it extremism when a man leaves beards to grown on his face?

4/ What if a man wears his trousers above the ankles? Is it extremism to adhere to the prophet’s way & refuse every innovated matter in Islam? Someone who refuses to have a handshake 🤝 with the opposite sex as a Muslim, is that also extremism? What exactly is extremism then?

5/ To begin with, Islam has unequivocally condemns extremism.

Narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood (RA) who said:

The Prophet (SAW) said:

“Those who go to extremes are doomed.” He said it three times.

Muslim (2670).

6/ The scholars have given different opinions with regards to this Hadith, all pointing to one bigger concept of overburdening oneself with more than he/she can bear and being too strict in matters where strictness is inappropriate & out of place. The breakdown is:

7/ (a) Extremism in worship; that can lead one to excessive hardship or make you fall sick. Islam only encourage action in which there is ease & tolerance. Islam disallows excessive strictness in religion. These actions are innumerable & have been explained by scholars

8/ as non religious innovations & actions by people who delve too deep & go to extremes, & overstep the limits in both actions & speech {Sharh Muslim (16/220)}.

(b) It is also an act of extremism to introduce innovations into Islam, by forbidding that which Allaah did not forbid

9/ and introducing forms of worship & commitments that did not exist at the time of the Prophet (SAW). 

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (RH) said in Majmoo’ Fataawa (10/620):

The act of monasticism & innovated forms of worship which were not prescribed by Allaah & His Prophet.

10/ These actions are akin to the cases where the mushrikeen and others forbade good things that Allaah has permitted, & examples of the extremism that the Prophet (SAW) criticized when he said:

“Those who go to extremes are doomed”. In another scenario, the Prophet (SAW) wanted

11/ to teach a lesson to those who go extreme & he said, "If the month month were made longer for me, I would have continued to fast without a break so that those who delve too deep would give up their attitude”.

It is extremism to deny yourself good food, good drinks & attract

12/ extreme hunger or thirst that could harm your body or health. This is unislamic & it is extremism. The same applies to walking barefoot & naked, which harms a person & brings no benefit, as in the hadeeth about Abu Israa’eel who vowed to fast, and to stand always & never sit,

13/ and never seek shade, or speak.

The Prophet (SAW) said:

“Tell him to sit down, and seek shade, and speak, but let him complete his fast.”

Narrated by Imam Bukhaari.

The Prophet (SAW) discouraged that act instantly & gave a standing order to Abu Isra'eel to stop it.

14/ (c) The third is what the scholars classify under exaggerated and affected speech, by trying to select words which attract people’s attention, with no meaning or benefit.

It was narrated by Imam Ahmad that ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (RA) said:

15/ “The prattling of speech is the prattling of the shaytaan.”

Ibn al-Atheer said in al-Nihaayah (5/164):

Those who go to extremes in speech are those who speak in an affected manner.

16/ (d) it is also an act of extremism that someone Indulge in that which does not concern him, asking about that which is inappropriate, and delving too deeply into that which is of no benefit.

Ibn Rajab Al-Hambali (RH) said in Jaami’ al-‘Uloom wa’l-Hukam (p. 285):

17/ "The one who goes to extremes is the one who delves too deeply & looks into that which does not concern him. Examining & asking too much about the ruling on something that is not mentioned among obligatory duties or haraam things may lead to thinking that it is haraam or it

18/ obligatory, because of its similarity to some duties or prohibitions. Accepting pardon for it or refraining from asking too much about it is better.

Sometimes we ask too deep about issues that the shariah didn't categorically speak about. This, sometimes is not good.

19/ Ibn Rajab (RH) then mentioned some examples of what we should refrain from asking too many details about with regard to matters of the unseen that are unknown and subtle fiqhi differences, and discussing things that rarely happen, and so on.

20/ Sometimes, people get too strict on the issues of worship (Ibadaat); like being very strict in prayer, fasting & other things that Allaah makes easy for him. If he is too hard on himself with regard to that which Allaah has made easy for him, he is doomed. For instance,

21/ you see someone praying, but holding his body as though he is a robot. He forces himself to do everything so hard, or fasting & becomes unnecessarily hard on himself & so on. The Prophet (SAW) when presented with two things, usually go for the simplest one. That is Islam.

22/ Another example is what some sick people do – especially in Ramadaan – when Allaah has permitted them not to fast when they are sick, & they need to eat and drink, but they are hard on themselves & continue fasting. This applies to them: “Those who go to extremes are doomed.”

23/ However, outward signs of religious commitments like Hijab, Niqaab, growing the beards, raising one's trousers above the ankle & so on are sacred limits of Allaah, & obeying His commands are obligations of Islam, and a way to enter Allah's paradise.

24/ These actions can never be extremism & never seen as one, ofcourse except by people who want to free themselves from the rules of sharee’ah & attack the established rulings. The blameworthy kind of going to extremes is that which goes beyond the laws & etiquette of shariah.

25/ When the Qur’an & Sunnah have clearly stated that an act of obligatory, it surely has limits set by shariah & holding such obligations within the limits of Shariah can never be an act of extremism. Acts such as Niqab (covering the face) & not shaving the beards, allowing it

26/ to grow is shariah commands. Also, prohibitions like of musical instruments & mixing with women & so on are shariah limits. Staying within such limits can never be an extremism. It is one thing to fall short of it, but never condemn it bcos you can't do it.

27/ it is not permissible to describe it as going to extremes or harshness, because that implies accusing the Prophet (SAW) – who enjoined us to do it – of going to extremes.

Allah forbids that he (SAW) should be like that.

May Allah make us live on the right path of Islam.