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Abstract: Early and modern scholars have deliberated extensively on the principle of wasaṭiyyah with its various interpretations. Yet, the term has not been perceived through the Sharī'ah point of view, and there is no study which directly relates it with the objectives of the Sharī'ah. This paper, therefore, examines the necessity of wasaṭiyyah from the perspective of the Sharī'ah. It aims at highlighting the principle of wasaṭiyyah as one of the objectives of Sharī'ah. In doing so, the Qur'ānic and prophetic texts dealing with the principle of wasaṭiyyah along with the views of early and modern scholars are examined. In addition, this paper also examines some approaches of wasaṭiyyah by Muslim reformists. They demonstrated the different manifestations of wasaṭiyyah and its significance in accordance with the needs and circumstances of the society. Based on the significance of wasaṭiyyah, this paper concludes that it can be considered as one of the fundamental principles of the Sharī'ah. In other words, the principle of wasaṭiyyah should be acknowledged as a higher objective of the Sharī'ah which must be obtained at both the individual as well as the collective level.
Keywords: Wasaṭiyyah, Maqäsid al-Sharī'ah, the concept of moderation, justice.
Abstract: Para ilmuan lampau dan moden telah membahaskan secara terperinci tentang prinsip wasatiyyah dan mereka telah menganalisa prinsip tersebut dalam pelbagai interpretasi. Walawpun prinsip wasatiyyah telah dibincangkan secara mendalam namun ia tidak dibahas dari sudut Sharī'ah. Justeru itu, kajian ini menilai tentang kepentingan prinsip wasatiyyah dari perpektif Sharī'ah. Kajian ini cuba menekankan prinsip wasatiyyah sebagai salah satu tujuan Sharī'ah. Bagi membahaskan isu ini, kajian merujuk kepada ayat-ayat al-Qur 'ān dan hadih berkenaan wasatiyyah termasuk pendangan para sarjana Islam lampau dan moden. Di samping itu, kajian ini juga menilai pendekatan wasatiyyah yang diguna pakai oleh para reformis Islam. Mereka memaparkan manifestasi wasatiyyah mengikut keperluan dan keadaan masyarakat semasa. Berdasarkan kepentingan wasatiyyah yang dibincangkan, kajian ini mendapati bahawa prinsip wasatiyyah seharusnya diiktiraf sebagai salah satu objektif utama Sharī'ah yang patut dicapai samada di peringkat individu mahupun masyarakat.
Katakunci: wasatiyyah, maqăşid al- Sharī'ah, konsep moderasi, konsep keadilan.
Introduction
Man by nature finds it difficult to put himself into a state of wasatiyyah as he is challenged by his desires. The inclination towards any human trait is part and parcel of human instinct....