Muslims, I was wondering about this...?

Question

Maybe I'm wrong with the next assumption, but I was wondering this.

Many times I have read about the term "moderate Muslim" on this forum. I've always found this a very insulting choice of words. It assumes that the average Muslim is not moderate, that the average Muslim is the "extremist Muslim".

In every group there are a few nutcases who give the group a bad name, but I never hear there are 'moderate atheists', or 'moderate Christians'. Which means the person that uses words like 'moderate Muslim' is assuming that a normal Muslim is not a moderate one.

Am I being too political correct here, or do you also take offense in this choice of words?

Answer 1

Put it to a T... I recently had some problems with folks who are a bit of a nutcase.... They say you American Muslims are freaks.... because we go by the book... and we do not really know about their ocl customs... THANKS SO MUCH for posting this question. You wrote exactly what was n my mind all day long! and further 99% of muslims are quiet people and nice... is those two or 3 that manage to be ***** that actually get into the press. SAD really!

EDIT: Also agree with umm_hamza and poki poki!

Answer 2

I do think the term "moderate" is imprecise and perhaps insulting, and not only when applied to Muslims. "Moderate" is usually used to refer to the members of a group that most resemble a different group: e.g. a "moderate" Republican is one who most resembles a Democrat, and a "moderate" Democrat is one who most resembles a Republican.
I think one reason the media use this term so much is that it has no clear meaning, so they won't be criticized for saying something untrue.

Answer 3

You are being too PC. There are hundreds of thousands at every Hamas rally. The problem isn't limited to a small part. It is main stream in the Middle East.

Take a couple of hours some day and go read their websites. Even the ones that are in English will scare the crap out of you. These guys are going to start a world war if they have their way.

Further read some translated speeches given by the president of Iran. Not the UN ones, but what he says to his own people. They put this guy in power. It would be like the US electing the KKK to office.

Answer 4

Interesting insight, well I think the reason for saying moderate is to differentiate between the extremists, I don't think that you should think Muslim automatically means extremists, I don't take offense to this the Prophet had taught us to follow a middle path, as sourced by the following Ayat, and Hadith

[016:128] Truly, God is with those who fear Him (keep their duty to Him), and those who are Muhsinûn (good-doers. See the footnote of V.9:120).

(V.16:128) Narrated Abu Hurairah [May God be Pleased with Him]: God's Messenger [Peace Be Upon Him] said, "The deeds of anyone of you will not save you [from the (Hell) Fire]." They said, "Even you (will not be saved by your deeds), O God's Messenger?" He said, "No, even I (will not be saved) unless and until God bestows His Mercy on me and protects me with His Grace. Therefore, do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately, and worship God in the forenoon and in the afternoon and during a part of the night, and always adopt a middle, moderate, regular course whereby you will reach your target (Paradise)." [Sahih Al-Bukhari, 8/6463 (O.P.470)]

I would like you to think that Muslim, means one who submits to God, and that extremist means one who submits to Satan and his own desire.

Thanks

Answer 5

hello mark i can tell you i use that term plenty of times and there is reasons why.
we as muslims are to take quran and sunnah and not bring any innovations to the religion.we have certain rules that we have to follow and not to take from our own desires.so majority of the time we see muslims (modernized)doing things outside the whelms of islam celebrating holidays that is not of ours.women and men dressing and behavin as a non-muslim.
its like this i will give u an example:
have u ever saw a muslim man wearing a 3-piece suit or wearing jeans with shirt tucked in with no beard?
or a muslim women wearing make-up and perfume out in public
or even worse a muslim women wearing hijab(headscarf) with tight jeans and shirt tucked in grossssssssssssssss.that is what u call a modernized muslim

Answer 6

every muslim is a MODERATE muslim,b/c that's what the lesson told by islam,being moderte in every aspect of life.n that's what we do...sometimes ppl do commit mistake in choosing words.

Answer 7

i never use this word and i don't even like it. i totally agree with you. last time someone used the word "moderate" i was pissed off because what you've stated above.