to remain upon any of the earlier religions, for his message and his religion—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—are universal, addressed to every creature and valid for every age and generation.

Allah the Exalted says, “Indeed, the only religion with Allah is Islam” [Āl ʿImrān 19], and He says, “I have approved Islam for you as your religion” [al-Maʾidah 3].

It is a way that stands between excess and deficiency.

This is the religion He has chosen for His servants from the sending of Muhammad ﷺ until the Hour is established.

Islam therefore occupies the middle course between extremism—going beyond bounds and imposing needless hardship—and negligence, which is a coarse indifference. The religion of Islam is balanced: it permits neither rigidity nor wanton laxity. Both extremes are blameworthy, while the middle way is best. Hence the Almighty said, “People of the Scripture, do not exaggerate in your religion beyond the truth” [al-Maʾidah 77]. The Prophet ﷺ likewise said, “The extremists have perished,” repeating it three times (1). The extremists are those who are overly severe in matters of religion.

During the Prophet’s lifetime a group of men said: one declared, “I shall fast without ever breaking my fast.” Another said, “I shall pray throughout the night and never sleep.” A third said, “I will not eat meat,” and a fourth said, “I will keep away from women.” The Prophet ﷺ responded, “By Allah, I am the most God-fearing and most pious among you, yet I fast and I break my fast, I pray and I sleep, I marry women, and I eat meat. So whoever turns away from my sunnah is not…"