Many people assume that being more extreme means being more religious. But that is not what the Prophet ﷺ taught. The same religion that commands prayer also commands mercy. The same religion that commands sincerity also commands wisdom. The same religion that commands firmness upon the truth also forbids excess. Many of the people before us did not go astray because they hated religion. They went astray because they exceeded its limits. Some exaggerated the status of righteous people until they worshipped them. Some made the religion so difficult that people could no longer bear it. Some became so focused on outward actions that they neglected the state of their hearts. That is why the Prophet ﷺ warned us: “Beware of going to extremes in religious matters, for those who came before you were destroyed because of going to extremes in religious matters.” The straight path is not found in negligence. Nor is it found in extremism. It is found in following the Qur’an and Sunnah as they were understood and practiced by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Not adding. Not subtracting. Not exaggerating. Not watering down. Just following the truth with humility, balance, and sincerity. The religion of Allah is perfect. It does not need our excesses. It only needs our obedience.