ISLAM AND EXTREMISM

  Many a time, the practicers of Islam, Muslims, have been painted (hypocritically) as extremists by the media, people of other religion who know little or nothing about what Islam entails, but how true is this?

To begin with, we need to know what is Islam? Who are the Muslims? What is extremism and who are the extremists?

  Islam  (summarily) means total submission to the will of Allah(s.w.t), obedience to Him and distancing oneself from associating partners with Him(s.w.t) and those related to it, thus Muslims, as practicers of Islam, are those who submit(totally) to Allah(s.w.t), obey his commands and do not associate partners with Him.

  With that been said, what is extremism and who are the extremist?  Extremism means ideas and actions that are extreme and not normal, reasonable or acceptable to most people while extremist are those who express these ideas by actions usually characterized by violence.

  Beforehand, I had said that (true) Muslims are those who submit to Allah(s.w.t) and follow his commands, is Islam then a religion of extremism and are Muslims extremist? It is a fact that can be proven that Islam commands that we be just and not extreme as this is the type of people Allah(s.w.t) has made us, He(azawajal) says;

“Thus we have made you an ummat justly balanced, that ye may be witnesses over nations, and the messenger a witness over yourselves; and we appointed the Qibla which thou wast used, only to test those who followed the messenger…”

(Quran 2v143)

  This verse clearly shows what type of people Allah(s.w.t) made the Muslims, an ummah that is balance and not extreme in all sphere – relations, dealings, laws, thinkings, actions, etc. and He(azawajal) commands us as Muslims to be just and not extremists as you will find in several verse of the Noble Qur’an of which are the following.

  “Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kind with those who fought not against you on account of your religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Verily Allah love those who deal justly”

 (Qur’an 25v 67)

  “Give just measure, and cause no loss (to others by fraud)

And weigh with scales true and upright” 

(Qur’an 26v181-182)

  “And be moderate (or show no insolence) in your walking, and lower your voice. Verily, the harshest of voice is the voice of the (braying) of ass”

(Qur’an 31v19)

  Allah(s.w.t) also says about the servant of the most merciful(Ar-Rahmon) when describing his true servant.

“Those who, when they spend, are not extravagant and not niggardly, but hold a just (balance) between these extremes”

(Qur’an 25v67)

In these and many and many verse of the Qur’an, Allah(s.w.t) commands that we as Muslims be just and not go to extremes in our dealings.

As our Noble Prophet, Muhammod(s.a.w), also said;

  “This religion(Islam) is simple, no one becomes harsh and strict in the religion without it overwhelming him….”

How then do you relate Islam with extremism and Muslims with extremist?

From the desk of a creative Muslim

Abdultoyyib ibn Musediq