Wasatiyyat al-Islam wa Samahatuhu - Abd al-Aziz al-Tuwayjri

Wasatiyyat al-Islam wa Samahatuhu (The Moderation and Tolerance of Islam, titled fully as Wasatiyyat al-Islam wa Samahatuhu wa Da‘watuhu lil-Hiwar) is a treatise by Abd al-Aziz ibn Uthman al-Tuwaijri, the Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), addressing the Islamic principles of moderation (wasatiyya), tolerance (samaha), and inter-civilizational dialogue (hiwar) Wasatiyyat al-Islam wa Sa…+1.

Background and Purpose

The work was composed in response to contemporary challenges confronting the Muslim world, including international political crises, regional conflicts, and widespread campaigns associating Islam and Muslims with terrorism and extremism Wasatiyyat al-Islam wa Sa…+1. The author frames the treatise as an intellectual initiative to clarify Islam's stance against terrorism, articulate its foundational values of human brotherhood and peaceful coexistence, and compare Islamic principles with contemporary international charters and declarations Wasatiyyat al-Islam wa Sa…+1.

Content and Structure

The treatise is organized into four main sections examining the core tenets of Islamic moderation, tolerance, and dialogue:

Moderation in Islam (Wasatiyyat al-Islam)

The author analyzes the linguistic meaning of wasat (the midpoint between extremes, denoting justice, merit, and balance) and connects it to the Quranic verse: وَكَذَلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا ("And thus We have made you a middle nation to be witnesses over mankind, and the Messenger will be a witness over you") [Al-Baqarah: 143] Wasatiyyat al-Islam wa Sa…+1. The treatise defines wasatiyya across three interconnected dimensions: the "middle nation" (al-ummah al-wasat), the "middle religion" (al-din al-wasat), and the "middle message" (al-risalah al-wusta) Wasatiyyat al-Islam wa Sa…. This moderation is characterized as an inherent cosmological balance established by God, avoiding both excessive rigidity (ifrat) and negligent compromise (tafrit), while harmonizing bodily and spiritual needs Wasatiyyat al-Islam wa Sa…+1.

Concept of Tolerance (Samahat al-Islam)

Examining the linguistic roots of samaha (generosity, leniency, and ease), the author references classical definitions, including al-Jurjani's characterization of tolerance as giving beyond what is strictly obligatory Wasatiyyat al-Islam wa Sa…. In the legal and theological sphere, Islamic tolerance is defined through the alleviation of hardship and the principle that religious obligations do not exceed human capacity, as expressed in Quranic injunctions like لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ("God does not burden a soul beyond its capacity") [Al-Baqarah: 286] Wasatiyyat al-Islam wa Sa….

The Call to Dialogue (Da‘wat al-Islam ila al-Hiwar)

The author outlines the theoretical and practical dimensions of dialogue in Islamic thought:

• Foundations: Firm faith in truth without arrogance, adherence to Islamic ethics and the Prophetic example ( كلكم لآدم وآدم من تراب – "All of you are from Adam, and Adam is from dust"), and seeking the common good through wisdom and gentle admonition Wasatiyyat al-Islam wa Sa…+1.
• Premises (muntalaqat): Built upon mutual respect, justice and equity ( اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَى ), and the rejection of intolerance and hatred ( لَا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُمْ مِنْ دِيَارِكُمْ أَنْ تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوا إِلَيْهِمْ ) Wasatiyyat al-Islam wa Sa…+1.
• Scope and Objectives: Dialogue encompasses cultural, political, intellectual, and scientific domains Wasatiyyat al-Islam wa Sa…. The text differentiates between internal dialogue—national, intra-Arab, and intra-Islamic—and external dialogue with other civilizations Wasatiyyat al-Islam wa Sa…+1. Its ultimate aim is mutual acquaintance (ta‘aruf), cultural exchange, and dispelling misconceptions, drawing parallels with international cultural cooperation goals adopted by UNESCO Wasatiyyat al-Islam wa Sa…+1.

The Message of Reform

The final part emphasizes that moderation, tolerance, and dialogue require active practical implementation rather than theoretical acknowledgement Wasatiyyat al-Islam wa Sa…+1. The author argues that genuine reform across the Muslim world depends on these three pillars to foster renewal, uphold human rights, and prevent extremism Wasatiyyat al-Islam wa Sa…+1.