One characteristic of the Qur’an is moderation or harmony between the divine and human, the spiritual and the material, the individual and the collective, and so on.
The Quran pays due attention to all facts of life and all needs of man. It deals with them in such a way as to help man to realize the noble objectives of his being.
For this approach of moderation, the Qur’an calls the Muslims a “middle nation” (Al-Baqarah 2:143). With this “middleness” they are called the best people ever evolved for mankind, as they enjoin the right, combat the wrong, and believe in God (Aal `Imran 3:110).
Moderation in Quran: Inward, Outward and Upward
The Qur’anic wisdom functions in three principal dimensions: inwardly, outwardly, and upwardly.
Inwardly, it penetrates into the innermost recesses of the heart and reaches the farthest depths of the mind. It aims at the healthy cultivation of the individual from within.
This inward penetration is different from and far deeper than that of any other legal or ethical system. That is because the Qur’an speaks in God’s name and refers all matters to Him.
The outward function of the Qur’an embraces all walks of life; it covers the principles of the entire field of human affairs from the most personal matters to the complex international relations.
The Qur’an reaches areas unknown to any secular system of law or code of ethics and inaccessible to any popular doctrine of religion. What is remarkable about the Qur’an in this respect is that it deals with human transactions in such a way as to give them a divine flavor and a moral touch.
It makes the presence of God felt in every transaction and acknowledges Him as the first source of guidance and the ultimate goal of all transactions. It is man’s spiritual guide, his system of law, his code of ethics, and, above all, his way of life.
In its upward function the Qur’an focuses on the One Supreme God. Everything that was, or that is, or that will be, must be channeled into and seen through this focus, the active presence of God in the universe. Man is merely a trustee in the vast domain of God; and the sole purpose of his creation is to worship God.
A Call for Isolation?
This is no pretext for seclusion or passive retirement from life. It is an open invitation to man to be the true embodiment on earth of the excellent qualities of God.
When the Qur’an in its upward attention focuses on God, it opens before man new horizons of thought, guides him to unexemplified standards of high morality, and acquaints him with the eternal source of peace and goodness.
Realizing God alone as the ultimate goal of man is a revolution against the popular trends in human thought and religious doctrines, a revolution whose objective is to free the mind from doubt, liberate the soul from sin, and emancipate the conscience from subjugation.
Conclusive Wisdom
In all its dimensions the Qur’anic wisdom is conclusive. It neither condemns nor tortures the flesh, nor does it neglect the soul.
It does not “humanize” God, nor does it deify man. Everything is carefully placed where it belongs in the total scheme of creation. There is a proportionate relationship between deeds and rewards, between means and ends.
The Qur’anic wisdom is not neutral. It is demanding and its demands are joyfully welcomed by all those blessed with appreciation and understanding.
The wisdom of the Qur’an calls for truth in thought and piety in action, for unity in purpose and goodwill in intent:
{That is the Book; there is no suspicion about it, a guidance to the pious} (Al-Baqarah 2:2).
{This is a Book which We have revealed unto you, in order that you might lead mankind out of the depths of darkness into light} (Ibrahim 14:1).
Excerpted with some modification from the author’s book Islam in Focus. The text is taken from WAMY website.