The Path of Moderation

Every person has to struggle to build his life. The way of moderation and realism is the way of success, while the opposite is the way of failure.

According to a tradition, the Prophet of Islam once observed: “The person who adopts the path of moderation will never find himself in straitened circumstances.” (Musnad Ahmad 4269)

Spending within one’s income and strictly according to one’s needs is moderation. Whereas spending without any reference to income and spending on unnecessary things shows a lack of moderation. One who spends with moderation will always remain satisfied and happy. One who is lacking in moderation in spending is bound to suffer from problems.

This principle relates not only to income and expenditure in the purely monetary sense, but rather relates to all matters in life. In other matters of life also there is the way of moderation and its opposite. And in this world the only successful person is one who adopts the way of moderation.

For instance, if you are friendly with someone, you should proceed in this with moderation. If you do not do so, your friendship may run in difficulties. Similarly, if you have differences with someone, it is necessary that you should rein in your differences and not go as far as being inimical towards him. If differences remain in the sphere of differences, they can be brought to an end at any time. But if differences escalate to the level of enmity then it is very difficult to put an end to them. Every person has to struggle to build his life. In this matter too he needs to adopt the path of moderation. Whenever he takes a step, he should take it with careful consideration. Whenever he plans anything, he should make realism not desirability his guide. Instead of trying to get results sooner rather than later, he should follow the principle of being gradual in his approach.

The way of moderation is the way of success while the opposite is the way of failure.