Fundamentalism and Extremism
The words “fundamentalist” and “extremist” are often used interchangeably in today's world. Muslims prefer to draw a distinction between those who follow the basic principles (fundamentals) of their faith and those who join the extreme, fanatic fringe.
The Middle Path
In the Qur'an, Muslims are instructed to be moderate in all affairs of life, especially on issues concerning religion. Muslims should eat well, but not to the point of satiation. They should spend money on their families, but also donate a share of their wealth to the poor. They should pray during the night, but also sleep.
Muhammad advised his followers to practice kindness and bring people together. In one tradition, he told the people to “make things easy and convenient, and do not make them hard or difficult. Give cheers and glad tidings, and do not create tension or hatred, nor repel others.”
Muhammad once told his followers, “Observe moderation in deeds.” He specifically warned against extremism when he told his companions, “Be aware of extremism in your religion; people before you were destroyed because of that.” Muslims are advised to observe a “middle path.”
Returning to the Fundamentals
In Islam, being a fundamentalist does not mean that one is an extremist. The term “fundamentalism” came into usage in relation to a Protestant Christian movement of the early twentieth century, and it does not apply to Muslims in the same sense. For Muslims, fundamentalism means strictly following one's religious text. In this sense, all Muslims are fundamentalist by nature because they strive to adhere to the basic principles of their faith as described in the Qur'an. There are many Muslims today who follow the fundamental teachings of Islam but are unfairly labeled as radical extremists.
Many people would argue that if Muslims better adhered to the fundamental principles of their faith, the world would be better off. If a person pays taxes and drives according to the speed limit, in accordance with the law, we call him a good citizen. Likewise, if a Muslim follows the fundamental precepts of Islam — helping the needy and poor, assisting his neighbors, taking care of his family — then he would be considered a contributing member of society.
