الإِفْرَاطُ وَالغُلُوُّ حَائِلانِ دُونَ السُّمُوِّ :Excessiveness and exaggeration are barriers to transcendence

Al Quran is the final Holy Book revealed upon the Last of Prophets Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH). The Quran & Sunnah is the only source of holy guidance as it entails detailed instructions for each and every walk of human life. Here guidance from Quran for the followers of Islam (الإِفْرَاطُ وَالغُلُوُّ حَائِلانِ دُونَ السُّمُوِّ : Excessiveness and exaggeration are barriers to transcendence) is discussed wrt social life aspects such as excessiveness and exaggeration are barriers to transcendence for better living from Quran and Hadith of Prophet ﷺ. This is an approved Jumma Khutba from the Sultanate of Oman and translated in English.

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

الإِفْرَاطُ وَالغُلُوُّ حَائِلانِ دُونَ السُّمُوِّ

حد سے تجاوز اور مبالغہ آرائی انسانی ارتقاء اور ماورائی کی راہ میں رکاوٹ ہے۔

Excessiveness and exaggeration are barriers to transcendence.

Thanks be to Allah, who encouraged wisdom and moderation and made extremism and its consequences undesirable. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah. He is alone, He has no partner. I bear witness that our Lord and Master Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him peace, is the servant of God and His Messenger. The Messenger of Allah, may God bless him and grant him peace, is the wisest of people and the most loving of mercy. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, his companions and all those who follow him until the Day of Resurrection. This is the translation of the recited verse from Surah Al Maeda:

Say (O Muhammad SAW): "O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Exceed not the limits in your religion (by believing in something) other than the truth, and do not follow the vain desires of people who went astray before, and who misled many, and strayed (themselves) from the Right Path."

Surah Al Maeeda – 77

ALLAH says in Surah Noor:

The only saying of the faithful believers, when they are called to Allâh (His Words, the Qur'ân) and His Messenger (SAW), to judge between them, is that they say: "We hear and we obey." And such are the successful (who will live forever in Paradise). (51) And whosoever obeys Allâh and His Messenger (SAW), fears Allâh, and keeps his duty (to Him), such are the successful.

Surah Al Noor – 51

O servants of Allah, fear Allah - adopt piety and obey Allah. O people of Allah: This is a solid religion, so meditate upon it gently, and strive to be the best in it, keep a close eye on it, and invite people to it.

O you who believe, know this - may Allah save us all from all exaggeration - goodness and all good, is in clinging to this straight religion and following its generous guidance. He says in Surah Al-Imran:

وَمَن يَعۡتَصِم بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدۡ هُدِىَ إِلَىٰ صِرَٲطٍ۬ مُّسۡتَقِيمٍ۬

and obeys all that Allâh has ordered, practically), then he is indeed guided to a Right Path.

Surah Aal E Imran – 1o1-Part

The teachings that the servants of Allah, the other Prophets and our beloved Nabi Maula and Aqa Rasoolullah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) brought and encouraged included the praise of wisdom and justice, and the condemnation of fanaticism, exaggeration and extremism. - O people of Allah - Exaggeration is to exceed the limit in something, so every Muslim should be the most benevolent in it. And keep yourself away from all kinds of madness and evil. Because of the importance of this matter and the danger of exaggeration, great verses and great prophetic hadiths came - Allah Almighty says about it in Surah An-Nisa, forbidding the People of the Book.

يَـٰٓأَهۡلَ ٱلۡڪِتَـٰبِ لَا تَغۡلُواْ فِى دِينِڪُمۡ وَلَا تَقُولُواْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلۡحَقَّ‌ۚ

O people of the Scripture! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say of Allâh aught but the truth.

Surah An Nisa – 171-Part

O you who believe, Allah the Exalted - may His Names be hallowed - says in Surah Hud about those who avoid extremism and honesty and steadfastness in religion.

فَٱسۡتَقِمۡ كَمَآ أُمِرۡتَ وَمَن تَابَ مَعَكَ وَلَا تَطۡغَوۡاْ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ۬ 

So stand (ask Allâh to make) you (Muhammad SAW) firm and straight (on the religion of Islâmic Monotheism) as you are commanded and those (your companions) who turn in repentance (unto Allâh) with you, and transgress not (Allâh's legal limits). Verily, He is All-Seer of what you do.

Surah Hud – 112

The Beloved Prophet of Allah - may peace and blessings be upon him - was most careful in identifying extremism and warning of its great danger. In extremism, people go to extremes, ie: those who go beyond the limit in their words and actions.

There are many forms and examples of lack of moderation, including over-judgment of people without evidence, including exaggeration. And this is what Allah Ta'ala mentioned about the Jews and Christians in Surah Al-Baqarah when the Lord Almighty says:

وَقَالَتِ ٱلۡيَهُودُ لَيۡسَتِ ٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ عَلَىٰ شَىۡءٍ۬ وَقَالَتِ ٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ لَيۡسَتِ ٱلۡيَهُودُ عَلَىٰ شَىۡءٍ۬ وَهُمۡ يَتۡلُونَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ‌ۗ كَذَٲلِكَ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ مِثۡلَ قَوۡلِهِمۡ‌ۚ فَٱللَّهُ يَحۡكُمُ بَيۡنَهُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُواْ فِيهِ يَخۡتَلِفُونَ

The Jews said that the Christians follow nothing (i.e. are not on the right religion); and the Christians said that the Jews follow nothing (i.e. are not on the right religion); though they both recite the Scripture. Like unto their word, said (the pagans) who know not. Allâh will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection about that wherein they have been differing.

Surah Al Baqara – 113

Part of falling away from wisdom is excessive disobedience. And engaging in activities that angered the king, the judge. Even after all these sins, Allah Ta'ala says in Surah Al-Zamr:

قُلۡ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسۡرَفُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُواْ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغۡفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

Say: "O 'Ibâdî (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allâh, verily Allâh forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful

Surah Az Zumr – 53

An example of exaggeration in the praise of others and the saying of Dhul-Allah, peace and blessings of God be upon him, is also found in this hadith of the Prophet. When another man praised his acquaintance (exaggeratedly), the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Woe to you! You cut the neck of your companion. (He said this repeatedly and then he said:) "If someone really wants to praise someone, then he should say: I think he is like that, if he really thinks he is like that, then (praise him in these words) and also say: Sahih, knowledge belongs to Allah. He is the one who takes account, and he should not purify anyone compared to Allah.

What comes under the heading of lack of common sense, exaggeration and lack of moderation is what some people hate about those who disagree with them. An idea or opinion simply because it has not been acted upon according to what they say, the basic rule in such cases is to follow the guidance of the Qur'an, which is quoted in Surah Al-Baqarah.

وَقُولُواْ لِلنَّاسِ حُسۡنً۬ا

and speak good to people

Surah Al Baqara – 83-Part

And when the Blessed Lord said, his straightforward approach calls for good dialogue. He says in Surah Al-Nahl:

ٱدۡعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِٱلۡحِكۡمَةِ وَٱلۡمَوۡعِظَةِ ٱلۡحَسَنَةِ‌ۖ وَجَـٰدِلۡهُم بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحۡسَنُ‌ۚ

Invite (mankind, O Muhammad SAW) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islâm) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Revelation and the Qur'ân) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better.

Surah An Nahl – 125-Part

So people of Allah, fear Allah - and be careful that things are made easy and not difficult, familiar but not unpleasant. For a person advocates his principles through his actions and his words. Being a role model, endearing the beauty of Shariah beauty to people is one of the greatest closeness to Allah.

Say this, I ask forgiveness from Allah for me and for you, so ask Him for forgiveness and He will forgive you. He is the Forgiving, the Merciful. And call upon Him and He will answer you, for He is generous in righteousness.

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Praise be to Allah Who has rewarded the moderates, and has ensured that extremism is avoided, and I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, He has no partner. I bear witness that our master Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him peace, is the servant of God and His Messenger. The Messenger of Allah, may God bless him and grant him peace, is the wisest of people, the most understanding of religion, and the one who avoids all humiliation. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, upon his family and companions, and upon those who follow his path until the Day of Resurrection.

O servants of Allah, fear Allah and know that goodness lies in clinging to the guidance of this straight religion, which tries to resolve matters wisely. He rejects everything that contradicts him, whether extremism or exaggeration.

Sayyiduna Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "One of you sees a mote in his brother's eye and leaves a beam in his own eye."

In this blessed hadith, the person who looks for the faults of others has been condemned and what a sweet sentence he said that the fault which is a mere straw in the eyes of others is visible but the beam in one's own eye is not visible. It means that one sees the small faults of others, but does not look at one's own major faults. First, one should look into one's own neck, then talk to others but then he will never talk.

This does not mean that man should be deprived of the reward of enjoining good and forbidding evil, but it means that his concern should not be focused only on looking for faults. The Messenger of Allah, may God bless him and grant him peace, said, "O people who believe with their tongues but do not believe in their hearts, do not backbite the Muslims and do not follow their faults." Whoever looks for the faults of his Muslim brother, Allah Almighty will reveal his faults, and whoever Allah Almighty reveals his faults, he will be humiliated and disgraced even while he is in the house.

An eloquent man said: "If you consider the conditions of men, you will find that the most defective are the most shameful." One of the effects of self-indulgence in sin is that it leads one to despair, which the Holy Qur'an condemns. Because the person who exaggerates in praising himself will be negligent of repentance, and Allah Almighty says in Surah Yusuf on the tongue of Yaqub (peace be upon him):

وَلَا تَاْيۡـَٔسُواْ مِن رَّوۡحِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۖ إِنَّهُ ۥ لَا يَاْيۡـَٔسُ مِن رَّوۡحِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلۡقَوۡمُ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ

and never give up hope of Allâh's Mercy. Certainly no one despairs of Allâh's Mercy, except the people who disbelieve.

Surah Yusuf – 87-Part

Therefore, when the Lord Almighty was addressing his Prophet, peace be upon him, by saying this:

قُل لِّلَّذِينَ ڪَفَرُوٓاْ إِن يَنتَهُواْ يُغۡفَرۡ لَهُم مَّا قَدۡ سَلَفَ

Say to those who have disbelieved, if they cease (from disbelief) their past will be forgiven.

Surah Al Anfal – 38-Part

So what will happen to his Muslim servant, who was defeated by his life, then he truly repented before Allah and turned back and repented. There is no doubt that God accepts his repentance as long as he is sincere and returns to the truth.

هَذَا وَصَلُّوا وَسَلِّمُوا عَلَى إمَامِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ؛ مُحَمَّدٍ الهَادِي الأَمِينِ، فَقَدْ أَمَرَكُمْ رَبكُمْ بذَلكَ حينَ قَالَ

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَـٰٓٮِٕڪَتَهُ ۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّۚ يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ صَلُّواْ عَلَيۡهِ وَسَلِّمُواْ تَسۡلِيمًا

This is what they prayed and greeted the Imam of the Messengers. Muhammad is the guiding and trustworthy. Your Lord has commanded you to do that when He said:

Indeed, God and His kingdom send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who have believed, pray upon him and grant him peace.

Surah Al Ahzaab – 56

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وسَلِّم عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ وسَلَّمتَ عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ نَبِيِّنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَبَارِكْ عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ نَبِيِّنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ فِي الْعَالَمِينَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، وَارْضَ اللَّهُمَّ عَنْ خُلَفَائِهِ الرَّاشِدِينَ، وَعَنْ أَزْوَاجِهِ أُمَّهَاتِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَعَنْ سَائِرِ الصَّحَابَةِ أَجْمَعِينَ، وَعَنِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ، وعَنْ جَمْعِنَا هَذَا بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ

O God, bless and grant peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon the family of our Prophet Muhammad, as You prayed and peace upon our Prophet Abraham and upon the family of our Prophet Abraham, and bless our Prophet Muhammad and the family of our Prophet Muhammad, just as You blessed our Prophet Abraham and the family of our Prophet Abraham in the worlds. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. And be pleased, O God, with his rightly-guided caliphs, with his wives, the mothers of the believers, with all the Companions, with all the believing men and women, By your mercy, O Most Merciful of the Merciful, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.

اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ جَمْعَنَا هَذَا جَمْعًا مَرْحُوْمًا، وَاجْعَلْ تَفَرُّقَنَا مِنْ بَعْدِهِ تَفَرُّقًا مَعْصُوْمًا وَلا تَدَعْ فِينَا وَلا مَعَنَا شَقِيًّا وَلا مَحْرُومًا

Oh God, make this gathering of us a merciful gathering, and make our separation after it an infallible separation, and do not leave among us or with us any wretched or deprived.

اللَّهُمَّ أَعِزَّ الإِسْلامَ وَاهْدِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ إِلَى الْحَقِّ، وَاجْمعْ كَلِمَتَهُمْ عَلَى الخَيْرِ، وَاكْسِرْ شَوْكَةَ الظَّالِمِينَ، وَاكْتُبِ السَّلامَ وَالأَمْنَ لِعِبادِكَ أَجْمَعِينَ

Oh God, honor Islam, guide Muslims to the truth, unite their words in goodness, break the power of the oppressors, and grant peace and security to your servants. All of them.

اللَّهُمَّ يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ يَا ذَا الجَلالِ وَالإِكْرَامِ، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ بِكَ نَستَجِيرُ وَبِرَحْمَتِكَ نَستَغِيثُ أَلاَّ تَكِلَنَا إِلَى أَنفُسِنَا طَرفَةَ عَينٍ، وَلاَ أَدنَى مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَأَصلِحْ لَنَا شَأْنَنَا كُلَّهُ يَا مُصلِحَ شَأْنِ الصَّالِحِينَ

Oh God, O Ever-Living, O Ever-Living, O Possessor of Majesty and Honour, there is no god but You, Glory be to You, by You we seek refuge and by Your mercy we seek help, that you will not leave us to Our souls are within the blink of an eye, and nothing is closer than that. And rectify for us all our affairs, O Reconciliator, the affairs of the righteous.

اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا احْفَظْ أَوْطَانَنَا وَأَعِزَّ سُلْطَانَنَا وَأَيِّدْهُ بِالْحَقِّ وَأَيِّدْ بِهِ الْحَقَّ يَا رَبَّ العَالَمِينَ، اللَّهُمَّ أَسْبِغْ عَلَيْهِ نِعمَتَكَ، وَأَيِّدْهُ بِنُورِ حِكْمَتِكَ، وَسَدِّدْهُ بِتَوفِيقِكَ، وَاحفَظْهُ بِعَينِ رعَايَتِكَ

Oh God, our Lord, protect our countries, honor our authority, support it with the truth, and support it with the truth, O Lord of the worlds. Oh God, bestow your blessing upon him, Support it with the light of your wisdom, guide it with your blessings, and protect it with your care.

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مِنْ بَرَكَاتِ السَّمَاء وَأَخْرِجْ لَنَا مِنْ خَيْرَاتِ الأَرْضِ، وَبَارِكْ لَنَا في ثِمَارِنَا وَزُرُوعِنَا وكُلِّ أَرزَاقِنَا يَا ذَا الْجَلالِ وَالإِكْرَامِ

May God bless you and grant you peace of mind. Blessings be upon you. May God bless you and grant you peace. Or Hamara, Sara Rizk, Jalal, or Izzat, Malik.

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا في الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Oh God, my Lord, my heart, this world is my curse, and my hereafter is my curse, this world is a terrible torment.

اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالمُؤْمِنَات، المُسْلِمِينَ وَالمُسْلِمَات، الأَحْيَاءِ مِنْهُمْ وَالأَمْوَاتِ، إِنَّكَ سَمِيعٌ قَرِيبٌ مُجِيبُ الدُّعَاءِ

Oh God! A believer is a Muslim, he is dead or his body is dead, he is dead or he is dead, he is dead or he is dead, he is close to you, his supplication is a religious answer or else he is dead.

عِبَادَ الله- إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأۡمُرُ بِٱلۡعَدۡلِ وَٱلۡإِحۡسَـٰنِ وَإِيتَآىِٕ ذِى ٱلۡقُرۡبَىٰ وَيَنۡهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلۡفَحۡشَآءِ وَٱلۡمُنڪَرِ وَٱلۡبَغۡىِ‌ۚ يَعِظُكُمۡ لَعَلَّڪُمۡ تَذَكَّرُونَ

Servants of God - Indeed, God commands justice and good deeds, and bestows favor on relatives, and forbids indecency. And the denier and the transgressor admonish you that you may remember.

Surah An Nahl-90



وآخر دعوانا ان الحمد للہ رب العالمین- سبحان ربک رب العزة عما يصفون، وسلام على المرسلين،والحمد لله رب العالمين