المعنى الاصطلاحي

Adopting a moderate approach in all matters of belief and acts of worship without excess or negligence.

الشرح المختصر

"Wasatiyyah" (moderation) is an attitude of Ahl-us-Sunnah wa al-Jamā‘ah which distinguishes them from the misguided sects. The following are some of its manifestations: 1. Concerning the Names and Attributes of Allah, the Almighty: They follow a moderate course between those who negate and deny them and those who compare and liken them to those of the creatures. Ahlu-us-Sunnah believe in everything that Allah has described Himself with or that His Messenger, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him, described Him with, and in all of His Beautiful Names, without distorting their meanings, nor negating or denying them, and without asking how or resembling them to His creatures. 2. Concerning the Divine Decree: They follow a moderate course between the Jabriyyah and the Qadariyyah (two misguided sects). They believe that Allah has decreed everything before creating the creation, and has known that they will occur at given times and in certain ways. Therefore, everything in the universe happens according to Allah’s decree. 3. Concerning the Prophets of Allah: They follow a moderate course between the Jews and the Christians. The Jews killed their messengers and accused them of all flaws and defects, and were too arrogant to follow them, while the Christians exceeded the proper bounds when dealing with some of their Prophets and took them as deities besides Allah. There are other manifestations of "wasatiyyah" covering all matters of belief.

التعريف اللغوي المختصر

"Wasatiyyah": moderation, balance between two extremes with no excess or negligence. "Wasat", a derivative of the term, is the fairest position of something.

التعريف

An appropriate attitude that ensures going to neither extreme of strictness or complacency, in any religious or secular field.