uprightness consists of two deviations: deviation toward excess and extremism, and deviation toward negligence and falling short. Thus, in their observance of Allah’s religion, people fall into three categories: two extremes and a middle course. At one extreme is someone excessive, immoderate, overzealous, and needlessly severe; at the other is someone negligent, deficient, and heedless. The third follows a middle course between excess and negligence, remaining upright upon Allah’s religion. This is the one who is praiseworthy. As for the first, who goes to excess, and the second, who falls short, both are headed for ruin—each in proportion to his excess or negligence.

The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—prohibited extremism, excess, needless severity, and overzealousness. He even said, “Ruined are those who go to extremes! Ruined are those who go to extremes! Ruined are those who go to extremes!” This is because such excess imposes hardship upon oneself and departs from the religion of Allah, Glorious and Exalted. He likewise censured those who are negligent and heedless. Describing the hypocrites, Allah said, ﴿When they rise for prayer, they rise sluggishly﴾ [al-Nisāʾ: 142]. Allah’s religion thus follows a middle course between those who go to excess in it and those who fall short of it. Hence He says here, ﴿for whoever among you wills to take the straight path﴾: he inclines neither to the right nor to the left, but proceeds steadily and uprightly upon the religion of Allah, Glorious and Exalted.

Just as uprightness applies to one’s dealings with the Creator, Glorious and Exalted—which is worship—it also applies to one’s dealings with created beings. In dealing with people, therefore, take a course between two extremes: the extreme of sternness, harshness, and sullenness, and that of laxity, carelessness, self-abasement, and lowering one’s standing. Be firm in one respect and gentle in another. The jurists—may Allah have mercy upon them—therefore said regarding the judge, “He should be gentle without weakness and strong without violence.” His gentleness must not carry him into weakness, nor his strength into violence. Rather, he should remain between the two: gentle without weakness and strong without violence, so that affairs remain in proper order. Some people, for example, always deal with others sullenly and harshly, acting as though they are above everyone else and everyone else is beneath them. This is wrong,