Wasatiyyah Concept

Wasatiyyah is a moderate concept in Islamic practice. The word wasatiyyah is derived from the word wasatan (وسطا) found in the Qur'an: And so, we have made you a people “wasatan” (the best) to be a witness to mankind, and the Messenger to you a witness. Al-Baqarah: 143. Imam Ibn Kathir (1998: 1/362) interpreted the word wasatan (وسطا) at the verse as al-khiyār or the best as the Arabic word; “al-Quraisyu ausathu al-‘Arabi nasaban wa dāran” (the Quraysh was the best Arab of his lineage and his village).

Wasatiyyah is not to be between the best and the worst (Al-Luwaihiq, 2003: 6), because Islam demands its people to be the best, as Allah said: To each of you We prescribed a law and a method. Had Allah willed, He would have made you one nation [united in religion], but [He intended] to test you in what He has given you; so race to [all that is] good. Al-Maidah: 48.

Qardhawi (2010) defines wasatiyyah as the position between al-tazamut (fanatic) and al-tanatthu’ (extreme), with al-tasayyub (reckless) and al-tahallul (liberal), he stated: Indeed in my view, the wasatiyyah is always convenient, it is the middle of the fanatical and extreme attitude on the one hand and the liberal and liberal on the other.

In other words, wasatiyyah is the middle position between the extremists. The extreme right is, ghuluw (radical) or extreme, like the religious understanding followed by ISIS terrorists. The left extremists are those who understand taqshīr (simplified), or better known as liberals who hold on to religious pluralism, the belief that all religions are true.

Furthermore, Qardhawi in Kamal (2010) also mentioned several terms that interpret the word wasatiyyah, namely; i) al-adl (justice), ii) al-istiqamah (consistent), iii) al-khairiyah (kindness), iv) al-amn (peacefulness), v) al-quwwah (strength), vi) al-wahdah (unity). 

There are several terms used to refer to the concept of wasatiyyah, namely; moderate, inclusive, progressive, and even moderate in Islam. However, not everyone agrees that the word moderate is the same as wasatiyyah. Among them is Kamal Hassan (2011), where he opined that the word ‘moderate’ is part of the wasatiyyah itself. Moderate terms are often used by Westerners to distinguish between pro-Western Muslims and anti-Western Muslims. According to them, moderate Muslims are "non-Western Muslims" (Afrizal Nur, and Mukhlis Lubis, 2015). 

In Singapore, the term moderate in Islam came about with the backdrop of the 9/11 tragedy and the arrest of members of the Jemaah Islamiyah (IJ). The moderate expression is a match (contrast) to the portrayal of terrorism that colored the 9/11 incident and the members of the IJ group (PERGAS, 2017). 

In order to emphasize the concept of wasatiyyah, in response to two concepts of ghuluw (radical and liberal) that do not conform to Islamic teachings, there must be certain feature that can be used as a benchmark against the beliefs and practices of wasatiyyah. 

Among the features of understanding and practice of Wasatiyah are some of the things that ‘Ulamā’ (Islamic scholars) from different countries have mentioned in a seminar entitled High Level Consultation of Muslim Scholars on Wasatiyyat Islam, on May 3, 2018, in Bogor, Indonesia, that is: Tawāsuth (middle path), which is not an exaggeration (ifrath) nor make it easy (tafrith). 

• I’tidāl (upright), that is to put things in place, and to exercise their rights and fulfil their obligations evenly.
• Tasāmuh (tolerance), recognizing and respecting differences, whether in religious matters or otherwise.
• Syūra (consultation) each issue is resolved by deliberation by adhering to the principle of mutual benefit.
• Ishlāh (reform), which is the focus of reformative principles for betterment, is adapted to change and the advancement of the times and hold to the general benefit.
• Qudwah, contributing inspiration and leadership to human welfare. Muwāthanah, accept the state and nation, and respect citizenship.