Hadith - Semester 1 - Lecture 14 | Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Salah | Zad Academy English

[A.S.M_Thank_You_Allah]

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته. ما شاء الله, تبارك الله. ​​لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله. جزاك اللهُ خيراً. السلام عليكم.

[peacefulheart]

Hadith 11: "Do Not Go to Extremes..."
Arabic Text of the Hadith

لا تَغْلُوا فِي دِينِكُمْ.
Translation: "Do not go to extremes in your religion."
Context and Explanation:

This Hadith emphasizes the importance of moderation in religious practice. It warns against excessiveness in matters of faith, as going to extremes can lead to hardship, division, and a misunderstanding of the essence of the religion.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ advised his followers to strike a balance, ensuring that their religious duties are performed without burdening themselves unnecessarily. Extremism in religion has been condemned repeatedly in Islam, and moderation is upheld as the correct approach.

Related Quranic Verses:

Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:77): Arabic: قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لَا تَغْلُوا فِي دِينِكُمْ غَيْرَ الْحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا أَهْوَاءَ قَوْمٍ قَدْ ضَلُّوا مِن قَبْلُ وَأَضَلُّوا كَثِيرًا وَضَلُّوا عَن سَوَاءِ السَّبِيلِ.
Translation: "Say, O People of the Scripture, do not go to extremes in your religion beyond the truth, and do not follow the inclinations of a people who had gone astray before and led many others astray and deviated from the soundness of the way."

Explanation: This verse from the Quran addresses the People of the Book (Jews and Christians), reminding them not to exceed the bounds of their religious practices. It advises against adopting practices that lead to deviation from the correct path, which is a common consequence of extremism. The verse applies to Muslims as well, encouraging moderation in religious conduct.
Surah Al-Baqarah (2:143): Arabic: وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِّتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا.
Translation: "And thus We have made you a moderate community that you will be witnesses over the people and the Messenger will be a witness over you."

Explanation: This verse describes the Muslim Ummah (community) as a balanced, moderate nation. This moderation is a core principle of Islam, ensuring that believers neither neglect their religious obligations nor go to extremes in fulfilling them. The balance is also intended to make Muslims exemplary for others.
Other Hadiths on the Subject:

Hadith on Moderation: "The religion is easy, and whoever makes the religion a rigor will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded" (Sahih Bukhari).
Explanation: This Hadith emphasizes that Islam is not a religion of hardship. The Prophet ﷺ discouraged extremism and advised believers to seek a middle ground, which brings ease and reward.
Consequences of Extremism in Religion:

Hardship: Excessive religiosity can lead to self-imposed hardship, where an individual’s spiritual and physical well-being is compromised.
Division: Extremism can result in divisions within the community, leading to sectarianism and conflict. Islam encourages unity, and moderation is key to maintaining a peaceful society.
Deviation: Going to extremes may cause a person to deviate from the true path of Islam, leading them to practices that are not part of the authentic teachings.
Conclusion:
Hadith 11 is a clear call to avoid excess in religious practices. The Prophet ﷺ consistently advocated for moderation, urging his followers to keep their religious observances within a balanced framework. This ensures that faith remains a source of ease and guidance rather than a source of difficulty.