Issues of Ijtihad

What is Peace? between individuals and groups, which may later assume the form of conspiracies against each other. Whenever something like this happens, one should consider it not as an enemy’s conspiracy but, rather, an expression of the law of nature. Thinking of the act as an enemy’s conspiracy inculcates a violent approach. In contrast, if one takes it to be a result of the laws of nature, one will nurture a way of thinking that can lead one to take wise measures to avoid falling prey to such conspiracies—just as a wise man does not demonstrate against the rain, but, rather, builds a roof over his house to save himself from getting wet. No Extremism The Quran tells us: Do not go to extremes in your religion. (4:171) The same point is made in a hadith, according to which the Prophet declared, ‘You should restrain yourselves from committing excesses (ghulu) in religion. The previous communities were destroyed due to their having gone to extremes in religion.’ (Sunan al-Nasai, Hadith No. 3057; Ibn Majah, Hadith No. 3029; Musnad Ahmad, Hadith No. 1851) Extremism in every matter is wrong. It is the very antithesis of the essential spirit of religion. Ghulu can easily escalate into violence and confrontation. Those who have fallen prey to the psychological malady of ghulu refuse to accept moderation. They regard peace and moderation as being