Wasatiyyah
/ˌwɑː.səˈtɪj.jə/noun
An Islamic principle emphasizing moderation, balance, and a middle path between extremes.
Did you know?The concept is linked to Qur’an 2:143, which describes the Muslim community as an “ummatan wasaṭan,” commonly translated as a just, balanced, or middle community.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*w-s-ṭ
“A reconstructed root associated with being in the middle or at the center”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
wasaṭ
“Middle, center, midpoint; also the quality of being moderate or excellent”
7th Century
Qur’anic Arabic
wasaṭan
“Middle, balanced, just, or exemplary, as in the Qur’anic phrase ummatan wasaṭan”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
wasaṭiyyah
“Moderation, centeredness, or adherence to a middle way”
20th Century
Modern Arabic
wasaṭiyyah
“A developed Islamic discourse of balance, moderation, and resistance to religious extremism”
Modern English
English
wasatiyyah
“An Islamic principle of moderation and balanced conduct”