Islam: Extremism and Moderation

Islam has, for many years now, been torn between radical fundamentalist groups and the more intellectually moderate groups. With both groups claiming to follow the true Islam, an individual may have a difficult time in practicing one’s faith. The ambition of this essay will be to investigate some of the major differences between the movements, more specifically the Wahhabi/Salafi movement practiced in Saudi Arabia and the more moderate approach emphasized by numerous Islamic Scholars. Grappling with these issues in my own search for the authentic Islam, this essay will provide a view of both sides with an attempt to justify the moderate position over the strict, literalist one. The intention is to show why the moderate intellectual position is more rooted in Islamic principles and values than the monotonous fanatic position. Due to the many sects, some with more extreme positions like the Khawarij alongside the more rational such as the Mu’tazilites, I decided it would be an enlightening task to break down both sides and challenge the history of both.