MARCH 2 — I’ve always wondered why people like to label Muslims as either being moderate and progressive, or extremist and fundamentalist.

These terms should actually be redundant because if you are a true practising Muslim, you are moderate and progressive by default, and never extremist and fundamentalist.

Islam has always been a fluid and organic religion that preaches moderation and the pursuit of knowledge to constantly improve one’s life, society and the religion itself.

Moderation in Islam leads to balance, and this is relevant towards every aspect of a Muslim’s life, be it career, finances, diet, entertainment and even worship.

In fact, the term for this in Islam is Wasatiyyah. As stated in Surah An Nisa:

“Oh people of the Book. Commit no excesses in your religion, nor say of Allah except for the truth.”

Funnily enough, the same government in Malaysia that bans concerts due to “religious considerations” without taking into consideration any other explanation, also founded the Institute of Wasatiyyah.

Don’t they know that under the concept of Wasatiyyah, God created everything with a balance? For every hardship, there is ease and for every effort, there is reward.

Surah Ash-Sharh states:

“And, behold, with every hardship comes ease, verily, with every hardship comes ease!”

And though we should always focus on our worship to Allah for a better hereafter, we must never be extreme at it and forsake our worldly tasks.

We must achieve a balance between this world and the next as clearly shown in Surah Al-Araf:

“Say 'Who has forbidden the adornment of Allah which He has produced for His servants and the good (lawful) things of provision?' Say, 'They are for those who believe during the worldly life (but) exclusively for them on the Day of Resurrection.' Thus do we detail the verses for a people who know.”

And funnily enough, the same government in Malaysia that founded the Institute of Wasatiyyah also promotes racial and religious segregation.

Don’t they know that Wasatiyyah promotes altruism and there should be moderation and balance when communicating with people whose views differ from ours?

Surah Al-Baqarah states:

“And lo! We accepted this solemn pledge from (you) the children of Israel, You shall worship none but God; and you shall do good unto your parents and kinsfolk, and the orphans, and the poor; and you shall speak unto all people in a kindly way; and you shall be constant in prayer; and you shall spend in charity. And yet, save for a few of you, you turned away: for you are obstinate folk!”

“There shall be no coercion in matters of faith. Distinct has now become the right way from (the way of) error. Hence, he who rejects the powers of evil and believes in God has indeed taken hold of a support most unfailing, which shall never give way, for God is all-hearing and all knowing.”

It pains me to see that the image of Islam has now turned into something that is extremist and fundamentalist when the true concept of Islam is far from that.

I pray and hope every day that the true and original spirit of Islam and Muslims can finally re-emerge in this world.

Surah Al-Baqarah:

“And thus have We willed you to be a community of the middle way, so that (with your lives) you might bear witness to the truth before all mankind, and that the Apostle might bear witness to it before you.”

* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.