A Book of Balance and No Extremes
The Commander of the Faithful stresses in Sermon 18 of Nahj al-Balagha that “Allah the Glorified says: ‘We have not neglected anything in the Book.”
One of the features of the Quran is that it is balanced and there are no Ifrat and Tafrit (two extremes of excess and neglect) in it.
How can we prove that there are no Ifrat and Tafrit in the Quran?
Anyone who reads the Quran once, knows that a part of the Holy Book includes Ayat al-Ahkam. These are verses in which a religious ruling is mentioned, introducing some things or some actions as being Wajib (obligatory) or Haram (forbidden).
For example Verse 275 of Surah Al-Baqarah says Riba (usury) is Haram: “Those who consume usury shall not rise up (from their tomb) except as he who rises in madness that satan has touched. That is because they say: ‘Selling is like usury.’ Allah has permitted trading and forbidden usury. To whomsoever an exhortation comes from his Lord then he desists, he shall have his past gains, and his matter is with Allah. But whoever reverts shall be among the people of the Fire and shall remain in it for ever.”
In such verses, people are ordered to follow religious rules that helps them grow spiritually and move toward salvation. So there are no Ifrat and Tafrit in the verses of the Holy Book.
Here are two examples of Ifrat and Tafrit by people that have been mentioned in the Quran:
1- Creation of Animals
Nowadays, some people refuse to eat meat, considering themselves to be defenders of animals’ rights. This is while the Quran introduces eating animals’ meat as one of the benefits of animals for humans:
“Have they not seen how We have created for them the cattle they master with Our Hands? We have subdued these to them, and some of them they ride and some of them they eat.” (Verses 71-72 of Surah Yaseen)
Such views (not eating meat) and going to extremes cause disorder in natural balance.
2- Marriage
In some religions, certain individuals who reach a certain position and status deprive themselves of marriage and choose celibacy. This is while the Quran clearly orders people to get married: “Marry the single people among you and the righteous slaves and slave-girls. If you are poor, God will make you rich through His favor; He is Bountiful and All-knowing.” (Verse 32 of Surah An-Nur)
