Journal of Islamic Studies > Volume 26, No. 1, 2014

Al-Wassatiyyah Concept and Its Significance in the Sunnah / Khalid Abdullah Aleid

This research is concerned with the meaning of al-wassatiyyah and its significance in the Sunnah. It aims at: showing the
direct and indirect connection between al-wassatiyyah’s linguistic meanings and the Sunnah; showing the connection’s importance; and
showing how extremism on either side of religion is inconsistent with al-wassatiyyah. Methodologically, the research follows deductive and
inductive approaches. Regarding findings, the research has reached some conclusions, the most important of which are: al-wassatiyyah is
Allah’s noble term describing the Muslim nation’s status; it is not an act to be performed, but is a quality of Shari’ah’s beliefs and deeds; alwassatiyyah
inVol.ves great meanings such as justice, goodness and integrity. These meanings are manifest in the Sunnah directly and
indirectly; current practices leaning towards the haraam extreme as well as negligence of duties are anti-wassatiyyah, and so are too strict
practices on the halaal extreme. The research makes the following recommendations: more researches be conducted to establish standards
and meanings of al-wassatiyyah as Allah’s term describing the Muslim nation; conferences and symposia be held to study alwassatiyyah
approach and related applications in real life situations; the mass media be used to show the truth about al-wassatiyyah of
Shari’ah.