Al-Wasaṭiyyah (Moderation): The Path to Success

The Ummah of Islam is experiencing a wide spectrum of difficulties, threats,and internal breakdown that is based mainly on negative behaviors e.g. extremism andalike. The unity and brotherhood amongst the members of the Muslim communities iseither weak or does not exist anymore. The Ummah is broken into sects and groupswhere every group is labeling the others with all sorts of names. Concerning the matterof Iqtiṣād (economics) backwardness is observed in many parts of the Muslim world.The Al-Iqtiṣād Al-Islamī (Islamic economics) is based on earning and spending ḥalālwealth in the correct manner. Both actions have to be well managed in order to create asustainable society. This is contrary to the currently popular materialism that has led theworld into a culture of excessiveness in spending and consumption. Subsequently thishas increased the amount of debt owed by individuals, business and governments. Analarming trend is that there is minimal concern about attaining wealth through ḥalālmeans and sources of ḥarām income are on the rise. Consequently, there has been adecrease of blessings in wealth and contentment regardless of the magnitude of one’swealth. Thus, observing al-Wasaṭiyyah is highly encouraged and appreciated by theSharīʿah in all circumstances. This paper addresses the guidelines given by the Qurʾānand Sunnah on al-Wasaṭiyyah and its importance in building a sustainable economy andsociety. The paper is mainly based on the revealed texts that address the above statedissues directly or indirectly.