SEMANTICS OF WASATIYYEH (MODERATION/ BALANCE) IN THE SOURCES OF ISLAM

Abstract

UDK 28-254:811.411.21’37]

The article is written in three parts: introduction, main part and conclusion. In the introduction author presents a short historical view of discourse regarding this term (moderation/balance of Islam and moderation/balance in Islam) during twentieth century, especially in its last two decades. He lists reasons for such a discourse about Islam and names institutions in the Islamic world that affirm the concept of moderation in Islam (wasatiyyah –institutions). In the main part, titled Semantic field of moderation, the author offers semantic analysis of four synonyms used for this term within the primary sources of Islam: the Qur’an and the Hadeeth. These synonyms are: wasat, iqtisād, i’tidāl and tawāzun. All these terms, that is their consonant bases and all the morphological forms derived thereof are found within the primary sources of Islam. All these synonym lexemes signify the middle, midway, balance and modesty in its broadest sense and imply the idea of justice, good, goodness and ethics. In the conclusion, the author argues that derivation and creation of the term wasatiyyah is a product of modern Muslim ijtihad (creative or constructive thought) that is fully justified and based upon the primary sources of the faith. It is justified not only by the spirit of modern times and new challenges thereof that have never been faced by Muslims in the past, but also by the consensus (ijma’) of a great number of contemporary Muslim scholars regarding the character, path, method and concept of wasatiyyeh.