THE WAY OF MODERATION
A Sure Way to Equanimous Living
THE Prophet Muhammad once observed: Moderate action is the best of all actions. The Caliph Ali advised the people: “Adopt the middle path.” (Tafsir al-Qurtubi, 154/2) The middle path means the path of moderation. One instance of it can be seen in the following verse of the Quran: Be neither miserly nor so open-handed that you suffer reproach and become destitute. (17: 29) The same point, worded differently, has been made in another verse which characterizes ‘the true servants of the Gracious One’ as “those who are neither extravagant nor niggardly, but keep a balance between the two.” (25: 67)
According to this verse, moderate spending means neither lavishness nor miserliness but rather a balanced expenditure that will make life much easier to lead. In the same way, as regards optional fasts, prayers, etc., a middle path is desirable for man, as this enables him to maintain such a pattern of behaviour over a long time.
This middle path—the best path to follow— relates to all spheres of life. Man must shun extreme paths in all matters, for this is in accordance with both the spirit of religion as well as with worldly success.
One who does not follow a moderate path will exceed all bounds both in friendship and in enmity. He will also be given to undue optimism and pessimism in respectively positive and negative situations.
The middle path, to put it differently, is the non-emotional way. If a man loses his mental balance when confronted with any difficult situation in life, he goes to one extreme or the other. But if he keeps his feelings under control, he will be able to determine the proper course of action by giving it ample thought. A well-considered deed is always a moderate one. One who does not follow a moderate path will exceed all bounds both in friendship and in enmity. He will also be given to undue optimism and pessimism in respectively positive and negative situations and will unnecessarily regard some individuals as too bad and others as too good. However, it is the verdict of nature that in this world a moderate approach in life always succeeds, while taking the path of extremes inevitably leads to failure.