NO EXTREMISM

The Quran tells us: Do not go to extremes in your religion. (4:171)

The same point is made in a hadith, according to which the Prophet declared, ‘You should restrain yourselves from committing excesses (ghulu) in religion. The previous communities were destroyed due to their having gone to extremes in religion.’ (Sunan al-Nasai, Hadith No. 3057; Ibn Majah, Hadith No. 3029; Musnad Ahmad, Hadith No. 1851)

Extremism in every matter is wrong. It is the very antithesis of the essential spirit of religion. Ghulu can easily escalate into violence and confrontation. Those who have fallen prey to the psychological malady of ghulu refuse to accept moderation. They regard peace and moderation as being less than ideal, and that is why they are very easily attracted to violence. And it is always in the name of attaining their goal that they resort to violent methods.

The opposite of ghulu or extremism is moderation. If you are moderate in your thinking, you will think in terms of peace. You will use only peaceful means in all you do. Moderation and peace are closely interlinked. Where there is moderation, there will also be peace. Likewise, where there is peace, there will be moderation.

In contrast, the ghulu-psyche always leads one towards extremism. And extremism very easily turns into violence and confrontation. Ghulu and violence are thus closely interlinked. This is why ghulu is looked at with great disfavour in Islam. Inclining towards ghulu is another name for addiction to violence. And abstaining from ghulu is another name for cherishing moderation.