MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, JAKARTA – Many Islamic figures have begun to promote wasathiyah Islam (moderation in Islam) or moderation in religion to stem radicalism and liberalism in the midst of globalization.
However, Chair of the Islamic and Muhammadiyah Study and Development Office of Universitas Muhammadiyah Prof. DR Hamka (UHAMKA) Muhib Rasyidi mentioned that moderation in religion and wasathiyah Islam (moderation in Islam) are different in terms of subject-object relations.
Moderation in religion brings the goal of the state to regulate religion while wasathiyah Islam is addressed to reinforce the existence of the state.
“Moderation controls practices of diversity to maintain the state stability whilst wasathiyah Islam enables us to develop the state with the spirit of Islam,” Muhib Rasyidi said at the International Conference on Women Resilience, Peace, and Harmony 2022 conducted by Nasyiatul ‘Aisyiyah on Wednesday (31/8).
Al-wasath means a moderate position between the right-wing and the left-wing. However, wasathiyah Islam is not a position without any tenets.
Surah al-Baqarah verse 143 mentions that ‘ummatan wasathan’ seems a referee in a match who holds a certain value and doesn’t take either side.
“Being moderate (wasathiyah) takes a side of truth,” said Muhib.
People should develop the bellief so that they live in prophetic society.
“Islam exists as advanced excellent society or syuhada’a ‘alan naas. Islam views a life more than just living or living with others. Islam believes to protect other religions as mentioned of Medina Charter,” Muhib explained.
According to Muhib, moderation doesn’t occur suddenly, but it has prerequisites such as educated knowledgeable human resources.
“We can’t be wasathiyah without being excellent. We have to be smart to become wasathiyah. For instance, people can live modestly after they become rich. If they aren’t rich, they can live modestly because the poor live in modesty due to their condition,” Muhib made an analogy.
