Avoiding extremes

Mutarrif ibn ‘Abdullah said, "The worst journey is the Haqhaqah." Haqhaqah is a journey wherein the traveler is rash and hurried, exhausting both himself and his mount. ln a hadith, the Messenger of Allah (bpuh) said that the worst leaders are the ones that are too severe with those who are under their authority.

Keep in mind that generosity comes between extravagance and meanness, and that courage comes between cowardliness and recklessness. A smile is between a frown and a laugh. Patience is between hardiness and squeamishness. Extravagance has a remedy: it is to put out a part of the flame. Meanwhile, the cure for negligence is to whip oneself into shape by developing a stronger level of determination.

(Guide us to the Straight Way. The Way of those on whom you have bestowed Your Grace, not [the way] of those who earned Your Auger [such as the Jews], nor of those who went astray (such as the Christians).)   (Qur’an I: 6-7)