1 00:00:00,180 --> 00:00:08,740 A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah. 2 00:00:08,740 --> 00:00:13,740 Emphasizing the necessity of steadfastness while avoiding extremism and transgression. 3 00:00:13,740 --> 00:00:18,219 Although steadfastness means, as we have previously stated, 4 00:00:18,219 --> 00:00:22,219 moderation between both extremism and negligence, 5 00:00:22,219 --> 00:00:24,219 or excess and deficiency, 6 00:00:24,219 --> 00:00:28,219 we find that the words of Allah the Almighty, 7 00:00:28,219 --> 00:00:33,219 “So tread thou the straight path as thou art commanded, and those who turn (unto Allah) with thee, and transgress not. Lo! He is Seer of what ye do.” (11:112) 8 00:00:33,219 --> 00:00:36,219 "Indeed, He is All-Seeing of what you do," 9 00:00:36,219 --> 00:00:40,280 are followed by the command to remain steadfast, 10 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:43,280 coupled with the prohibition against transgression and overstepping bounds, 11 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:45,280 meaning excess and extremism. 12 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:48,280 Negligence and deficiency were not explicitly mentioned here, 13 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:53,280 but rather, an allusion to them appeared only in His saying, 14 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:56,280 "So take a straight course to Him and seek His forgiveness." 15 00:00:56,280 --> 00:00:58,280 For by mentioning the seeking of forgiveness, He pointed 16 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:04,280 to the need to ask for pardon for any shortcomings or flaws that might accompany one's steadfastness. 17 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:09,280 Thus, the emphasis on avoiding extremism and transgression was made through an explicit prohibition, 18 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:13,280 because when a believer receives the command to be steadfast, 19 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:17,280 it produces in his soul a sense of vigilance and caution, 20 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:20,280 which may lead him toward extremism and exaggeration, 21 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:24,280 transforming the religion from ease into hardship. 22 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:27,280 Therefore, Allah the Almighty cautioned against this, 23 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:30,280 because He desires His religion to remain as He revealed it, 24 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:33,280 without extremism or excess within it.