Abstract
Moderation is the most distinguishing feature of Islām, which reigns all the matters and fields of the Muslim life. The Muslim nation is titled as the moderate one in the Qur’ān. It is therefore required that along with the Qur’ān and Sunnah, moderation should reflect through Islāmic jurisprudence, too, in the individual as well as the collective matters of Muslims. The author of this present study traces the roots of moderation in the collective matters of the first community of Muslims, i.e., the companions of the Prophet (SAW), who directly received the understanding of the Islām from the Prophet (SAW), therefore, they are the true examples to follow. The companions would consider the circumstances and situations to issue their jurisprudential verdicts. This is very much evident, especially, from the verdicts of the second caliph ‘Umar Ibn Khaṭṭāb. The companions would observe the principle of moderation to generate love and reverence for the religion Islām. If they had stuck stringently to mere rules and regulations, they would not have succeeded in the spread of Islām in the world. The author shows through their examples that how essential and significant it is to observe the principle of moderation while compiling jurisprudence and how to avoid exorbitance and stringency. To observe moderation needs a deep understanding of the true spirit of religion and great skills to practice it which the companions did have being the direct disciples of the Prophet (SAW). We need to follow their example without yielding to the whims of irreligious or secular modernity.
Keyword(s)
Moderation, The Companions, Islamic Jurisprudence, Collective Matters, Justice