The Wasatiyyah (Moderation) Concept in Islamic Epistemology: A Case Study of its Implementation in Malaysia
Mohd Shukri Hanapi

Abstract
The wasatiyyah (Islamic moderation) concept is one of the concepts found in Islamic epistemology. Based on the definition of al-wasatiyyah, which in Arabic means "middle", this concept brings forth a moderate, just and the best approach. It is aimed at balancing extreme and fanatical acts in every aspect of a man's life. In line with the aspirations of the Malaysian Government to promote unity among people of different races and to refrain from social upheavals, the Malaysian government used the concept of al-wasatiyyah in an approach to implement the Gagasan 1Malaysia (the 1Malaysia Concept). Hence, the objective of this study is to determine what is the wasatiyyah concept in Islamic epistemology; and secondly, to analyse its implementation in Malaysia. This qualitative research applied an exploratory and descriptive design using the content analysis method. The content analysis method is used to identify and analyse the concept of al-wasatiyyah in Islamic epistemology and its implementation in Malaysia. Consequently, the study found that the wasatiyyah concept according to the al-Qur'an and hadith (Islamic epistemology) is not applied in a literal sense as this would portray the inherent meaning of both good (khayr) and bad (fasad) or between just (‘adl) and transgression (zulm) in a simultaneously fashion. In fact, the concept of al-wasatiyyah according to Islamic epistemology carries the message of doing good with steadfastness, strength, righteousness and consistency as well as the abandonment of all forms of evil and preventing vices with wisdom. It is definitely not similar to political slogans such as "Islam Hadhari" (the Islam Hadhari Concept), "Gagasan 1Malaysia", "Clean, Efficient and Trustworthy", "Leading by Example", and others whose implementation are only transient in nature.

Full Text: PDF