moderation vs extremism

Who decides what is moderation?

Usually us Muslims are not so obsessed with our moderation as far as the farz rituals are concerned. Five times prayers, fasting in Ramazan, Hajj and Jihad (at least when it is Jihad against the nafs, which as most people – Muslims and non-muslim orientalists alike – will quote as Jihad-e-Akbar). But as soon as one begins to take a step further, for example, to spend more time in the masjid; or invite people vocally for salat; talk about Islam and Allah in the drawing room discussions, it comes under observation. In other words, when he begins to act as a Muslim beyond the faraiz, or shall I say, begins to show signs of 'Islam' in the non-ritual proceedings of the day, he ceases to be 'moderate'. And if he continues in the same direction and allows 'Islam' to be the basis of his decisions regarding education, friendship, leisure, employment, marriage etc., he turns into what we call a 'fanatic'.

Beyond that, when he adopts the sunnah in his dress and appearance; in his day-to-day habits of eating, drinking and walking, he is dangerously close to the 'extreme'. But it is not easy to reach this extreme: for him to travel from the state of so-called moderation to extremism, he might have to let go off some friends; listen to constant 'advice' urging him to become 'normal'; and deal with people who are 'disappointed' in him.

Further more, he will be given lectures on 'balance' and how one should take 'deen' and 'dunya' side by side. But it is with little realization that the argument will only backfire because if true balance is what they are wishing for then (for example) they should encourage one to study 'deen' for 4 years after they have studied 'dunya' for 4 years in their BSc, if not BEFORE their 4 years of BSc. This is probably the minimum one can do to claim 'balance' because it overlooks the 13 something years of formal schooling which was mostly (if not all) 'dunya' based. But we are not (and I am including myself) ready to strive for this balance and this fact blatantly translates from our preference and love for the 'world': the sheer obession to fulfill our desires to the maximum in our 60-80 years of life. And this preference is over, and at the cost of what? A life which is forever! So much for the 'fore-sight' of the 21st century man!

And let me not blame the 'other' because, in this path to achieving the Qurb of Allah, of attaining love for Allah and His Messenger, I will have to face not only people around me, but also myself – my nafs. Who has enslaved me and I do not even know.