Assalamu’alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim
1. Introduction
The world keeps changing at a rapid pace, yet humans need an anchor so they are not tossed about. In Islam, there is the concept of Tsawabit (permanent matters that do not change with time) and Mutaghayyirat (flexible matters that follow the developments of the age). The opposite of Wasathiyah here is Total Rigidity, which treats all technical matters as immutable, making Islam appear outdated. On the other hand is Extreme Liberalism, which seeks to change everything—including core aqidah and worship—in the name of modernity. Wasathiyah teaches us to "hold firmly to the roots, while letting the branches of our tree grow tall, following the direction of the winds of time.
"Evidence from the Qur’an and Hadith
مَا يُبَدَّلُ الْقَوْلُ لَدَيَّ وَمَآ اَنَا۠ بِظَلَّامٍ لِّلْعَبِيْدِ
"The decree from Me will not be changed, and I am not unjust to My servants." (QS. Qaf : 29)
اَنْتُمْ اَعْلَمُ بِاَمْرِ دُنْيَاكُمْ
"You know better about your worldly affairs." (HR. Muslim)
2. Lessons and Messages
Be a person of principle but not narrow-minded, and be adaptive without losing your identity. A person’s greatness lies not in their ability to destroy old traditions, nor in their fear of facing the future, but in their wisdom to discern which "gold" must be preserved and which "vessel" must be renewed.Recall the visionary message of Sayyidina Ali bin Abi Thalib ra.: "Educate your children according to their time, for they do not live in your time." This is a profound message of justice. He taught us to safeguard their faith (the tsabit), while allowing their ways of learning, working, and interacting to evolve according to the challenges of their era (the mutaghayyir). How beautiful—Islam does not imprison the future, but gives light to face it.Principles and methods are like roots and fruit. The roots of a tree must stay below; their position cannot change, or the tree will die (Tsawabit). But its fruit and leaves will keep changing each season according to the weather (Mutaghayyirat). If the roots are forced to move around, the tree dies. If the fruit is forbidden to change, the tree will rot. Wasathiyah is keeping the roots strong so the fruit stays fresh through all seasons.There was a man so “anti-change” that he got angry seeing people recite the Qur’an through an app on a smartphone. He said, "In the Prophet’s time there was no Qur’an inside an iron box like this, this is innovation!" His friend replied, "Well, then Ustadz, don’t use a microphone when you preach—just use your natural voice until it’s hoarse. And when going to the mosque, don’t ride a motorbike; ride a camel. The thing is, the gas for your motorbike costs more than camel feed!" The lesson: Sharia is the content, technology is the medium. Don’t confuse the water with the glass.
3. Conclusion
Dear brothers and sisters, let us strengthen our aqidah and worship that will never change until the Day of Judgment. Yet, let us open our minds as wide as possible to innovation, technology, and new ways of advancing civilization. Do not be rigid with what is flexible, and do not change what is permanent. That is the middle path that saves.
والله أعلم بالصواب
الحمد لله رب العالمين
Wassalamu’alaikum Warahmaullahi Wabarakatuh.
ِAbu Sultan Al-Qadrie
