"Extremism is not our way of Life,....Explanation of "ummate wast".

"Extremism is not our way of Life,....Explanation of "ummate wast".

Abida Rahmani

وَكَذَٲلِكَ جَعَلۡنَـٰكُمۡ أُمَّةً۬ وَسَطً۬ا لِّتَڪُونُواْ شُہَدَآءَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ ٱلرَّسُولُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ شَهِيدً۬ا

Thus we have made you [true Muslims - real believers of Islamic Monotheism, true followers of Prophet Muhammad SAW and his Sunnah (legal ways)], a (just) (and the best) nation, that you be witnesses over mankind [] and the Messenger (Muhammad SAW) be a witness over you (2-143)

Islam and Muslims are labeled with extremism and terrorism now days. It has become a world wide concept and phenomenon that Islam and practicing Muslims are against the values of modern world and its ethics; their ideas are radical and unacceptable.

This is absolutely true that Islam like the previous Ibrahimic and monotheistic religions is against all the ills and evils of society and believes in a pure, clean, pious, honest and modest society.

By the grace of Almighty Allah (swt) we Muslims are blessed with a perfect religion, which is completely preserved through Quran and Sunnah of prophet (saw). We have clear commands of sharia , how to practice and implement our laws. It teaches us a balance way of leading our life and a balanced approach towards the rest of the world.

Our prophet Muhammad (SAW) is a role model for all Muslims. He never believed in extremism and always led a balanced life according to the orders of Allah (swt). Once when he visited the house of one of the companions, he found his wife in a bad shape and asked why she is like this? She replied that he prays all the time and fasts every day and does not even look at me. At this prophet (SAW) said, “ if he is following me. I fast on some days and on other days do not. I pray at a part of night and then sleep. I go to my wives. Our nafs (body & desire) has a right on us too. Therefore follow me and my Sunnah”. He never liked extremism or extremist approaches.

For those of us who are now living in foreign lands and have made it our homes, we have some good guidelines through our religion Islam. In North America there is a big concern about home grown extremism and home grown terrorist Muslims.

In search of keeping our kids on the right and straight path we try to associate them to Muslim groups. Those groups are some times quite radicalized and believe in violence and hatred against non Muslims.

We should take care of this issue and be very watchful and cautious towards this problem and carefully watch where our kids are hanging out and what their activities are because ultimately they are trapped into greater and unforeseen problems.

We should try our best to be an active part of the society in many positive ways. We show mercy toward the people and present the correct face of Islam, and in this way we should try to clarify all that is against Islam and Muslims We should try to guide them to the religion of Allah and that we present Islam upon its correct face and call them to it night and day without tiring.
Allah said:

وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلاً مِّمَّن دَعَا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحاً وَقَالَ إِنَّنِي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

{And who is better in speech who invites towards Allah and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."} [Al-Fussilat 41:33]


Our calling should be upon insight, upon clear insight from the Book and the Prophetic tradition of the Prophet i.e. his Sunnah, peace be upon him, so we do not attribute to Islam anything that is not from it and do not bring into it that which was not in it, but make clear to the people, make clear to them Islam in its correct and beautiful form, that has room for all people.

Cordial relations are the key factors, we maintain with our non Muslim neighbor and friends. Generally after the tragedy of September 11,2001 there is so much in media about Muslims and Islam .Some of the people just avoid us because of that and do not wish to keep in touch. They are so much brain washed that they only believe about Muslims as extremist people.
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The Prophet, peace be upon him, would become very happy if a disbeliever became Muslim. The Prophet, peace be upon him, visited a Jewish boy who was a neighbor of his and he advised him to enter into Islaam, and the boy pronounced the testification that there is no Lord except Allaah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah. The boy said it and the Prophet was happy, while he was leaving the house the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: 'All thanks is due to Allah the One who saved him by me, from the Hell-fire.'[13] So the Prophet was happy for him and his Islam. Likewise the believer becomes happy for the Islam of a disbeliever because he wants that all of the creation become Muslim and be guided. He wants good for them.

Fulfil your contracts with the Disbelievers

Here we will note a point concerning a Muslim dealing with a disbeliever, so that the Muslim does not fall into anything that Allah سبحانه و تعالى and His Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم hate: First it is upon the Muslim to complete and be true to the contract between the Muslims and the disbelievers, because Allaah سبحانه و تعالى said:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ أَوْفُواْ بِالْعُقُودِ

{O you who believe! Fulfil (your) obligations} [Al-Maa'idah 5:1]

And He سبحانه و تعالى said:

وَأَوْفُواْ بِالْعَهْدِ إِنَّ الْعَهْدَ كَانَ مَسْؤُولاً

{…And fulfil (every) covenant. Verily, the covenant will be questioned about.} [Al-Israa' 17:34]

And He سبحانه و تعالى said:

وَأَوْفُواْ بِعَهْدِ اللّهِ إِذَا عَاهَدتُّمْ

{And fulfil the Covenant of Allâh (Bai'ah: pledge for Islâm) when you have covenanted…} [An-Nahl 16:91]

And in the opposite of this, it is Haraam – that is prohibited – for the Muslim to break his trust and, or deceive the disbeliever, because the Prophet said; 'for every deceiver on the Day of Judgement a banner will be tied, and raised for him saying, 'this is the deception of so and so the son of so and so.'[14] And Allaah said in the Hadeeth that is Qudsi; 'I am the opponent of three on the Day of Judgement…' and one of them is the one who broke his trust.[15]

And from what is known is that between the Muslim lands and the lands of the disbelievers are certain trusts, pacts and truces. So the person can't enter these lands, until he agrees and abides by their laws by going through their embassies and getting their visas. Then at this point it is not permissible for him to deceive them, to be disloyal to the agreement. This is a great sin with Allaah. For this the Prophet said; 'I do not lock up the messengers (meaning those messengers of war) and I do not break the contract.'[16]"

"Whoever breaks the contract is not upon the tradition or the Sunnah of the Prophet, peace be upon him.

Allah says:

“…Whosoever kills an innocent human being, it shall be as if he has killed all mankind, and whosoever saves the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind…”Qur’an 5:32


Islam... an extreme religion?

“Islamic terrorists!” “Muslim fundamentalists!” “Extremists!” “Radical Islamists!” These are just some labels that have been wrongly applied to Muslims and certain Muslim groups in recent years.

The media’s portrayal of Islam often misleads those whose knowledge of the religion is limited, into making negative assumptions about this very peaceful and tolerant way of life.
The prevalence of media bias and ignorance regarding Islam can be countered by understanding Islam through its proper teachings. That means referring to the Qur’an and the authentic sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Through the proper understanding of these teachings, one will discover Islam to be completely against any form of extremism.

When reading through the Qur’an or the sayings of the Prophet (peace be upon him), one must understand the context in which the wording applies. The following verse of the Qur’an is a favorite amongst those seeking to mislead people about Islam:

“And kill them wherever you find them, and expel them from where they expelled you, as persecuting people to sway them from God’s Religion is worse than killing. But do not fight them at the Sacred Mosque, unless they fight you there. But if they do fight you, then slay them; This is the recompense of the disbelievers.”Qur’an 2:191
On occasions, this verse has been dangerously trimmed down to the following:

“And kill them wherever you find them…”Qur’an 2:191
The obvious question is, “Kill who?”. To answer this question, one should read the verses before and after verse 2:191.

“And fight in the way of Allah those who fight with you, and do not exceed the limits, surely Allah does not love those who exceed the limits.“Qur’an 2:190
The above verse mentions fighting as a means of self defence (i.e. with those who fight you). The verse after 2:191 is:

“But if they cease, Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.”Qur’an 2:192
These verses were revealed at a time when the Muslims had been expelled from their homes on account of their faith. They endured more than ten years of persecution and eventually had to flee to a safe land.

The above verses were referring to the Arab pagans of Mecca during the Prophet’s time, who oppressed the Muslims and planned to attack them where the Muslims sought refuge.

Hence, the above verse can only be applied in such circumstances.

This example demonstrates that verses in the Qur’an should be understood in their proper context since verses were revealed in stages in relation to particular situations, over a period of 23 years. It is also important to note that the Qur’an was revealed in Arabic. Therefore, translations into different languages may be misleading and/or inaccurate.

There can be no doubt that Muslims (like anybody else) have a legitimate right to fight against aggression or when oppressed.

Islam teaches that warfare is permitted in order to preserve the wellbeing of the community or to prevent oppression from spreading - this may be in the context of defensive or offensive warfare depending on the particular situation. Islam, just like any ‘way of life’ that wants to ensure its survival, has the right to defend itself when war is declared against it. In the Qur’an (22:39) we read:

“To those against whom war is made, permission is given to fight, because they are wronged.”
However, when the enemy ceases its hostility, Muslims are commanded to cease fighting.

“And if they incline to peace, then incline to it and trust in God; surely He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.”Qur’an 8:61
Abu Bakr (may God be pleased with him), Prophet Mohammad’s closest friend and first successor, spoke of the Islamic approach to war by highlighting the following.

In the battlefield, one should not:

• commit treachery
• mutilate the dead
• deviate from the right path
• kill a woman, child or aged man
• harm or burn trees, especially the fruitful
• slay the enemy’s flock, except for food
• harm those who devote their life to worship

As we read in verse 2:190, Allah commands Muslims not to go to extremes by saying, “Do not transgress the limits.” A situation of war is no excuse to go beyond boundaries. Islam teaches the avoidance of blind retaliation.

“And let not the hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to righteousness.”Qur’an 5:8

Islam Denounces Terrorism and Extremism

The act of inciting terror in the hearts of defenseless civilians, the wholesale destruction of buildings and properties, the bombing and maiming of innocent men, women and children are all forbidden and detestable acts according to Islam and the Muslims. This is regardless of any type of terrorism, including western state-sponsored terrorism which has killed, injured and displaced infinitely more people than all other types of terrorism.

If an individual Muslim were to commit an act of terrorism, this person would be guilty of violating the laws of the very religion they claim to follow - Islam. Would it be fair to condemn all Muslims as a result, when the religion itself is against such acts? Muslims follow a religion of submission to God, peace, mercy, and forgiveness. The vast majority have nothing to do with the violent events some – notably the media - have associated with Muslims. Islam is not a religion of extremism.

“Allah does not forbid you from showing kindness and dealing justly with those who have not fought you about religion and have not driven you out of your homes. Allah loves those who are just.”Qur’an 60:8

Our dealing with the non believers is being just with them. Not oppressing them – not in their selves nor families nor money nor businesses nor estates. Not in anything because Allaah said:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُونُواْ قَوَّامِينَ لِلّهِ شُهَدَاء بِالْقِسْطِ وَلاَ يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَى أَلاَّ تَعْدِلُواْ اعْدِلُواْ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى

{O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allâh as just witnesses; and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice.
Be just: that is nearer to piety…} [Al-Maa'idah 5:8]

And having Ihsaan – goodness toward the disbelievers, because our Islamic legislation has come with Ihsaan – goodness toward the disbeliever because Allaah سبحانه و تعالى said:

لا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُم مِّن دِيَارِكُمْ أَن تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوا إِلَيْهِمْ

{Allâh does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion
nor drove you out of your homes...} [Al-Mumtahanah 60:8]

And they also, that is the disbelievers, enter into Allaah's saying:

إِنَّ اللّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالإِحْسَانِ

{Verily, Allâh enjoins Al-'Adl (i.e. justice and worshipping none but Allaah Alone) and Al-Ihsân [i.e. to be patient in performing your duties to Allâh,
totally for Allâh's sake and in accordance with the Sunnah (legal ways) of the Prophet in a perfect manner]...} [An-Nahl 16:90]

And the Prophet's صلى الله عليه و سلم saying; 'Allaah wrote goodness upon everything, Allaah wrote Ihsaan upon everything.'[17] So the believer should be good towards the disbeliever, whether in calling him to Allaah سبحانه و تعالى and this is the most important, or giving him money if in need, or carrying his luggage, or giving him a ride, the important thing is that he is good towards him.


When the mother of 'Asmaa, the daughter of Abu Bakr رضى الله عنه, came to visit her in Al-Madeenah, and at the time her mother was a disbeliever she asked; 'O Messenger of Allaah should I keep ties with her?' He replied; 'Yes keep ties with your mother.'[18] And she was one who associated partners with Allaah – that is she was a Mushrik - a disbeliever. Allaah said:

AS a Muslim we have a huge responsibility to show the world our excellent morals, character, and dignity. We are not extremist or terrorist. We are peace loving people, believe in moderation, in a balance way of life and expect the same from the rest of the world.

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