Wasatism
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Wasatism is an approach towards Islamic law that was led by Yusuf Al-Qaradawi and Mohammed al-Ghazali drawing on the ideas of Rashid Rida that maintains that the essence of Islam is harmonizing contrasts such as matter and spirit, individualism and communality, rationality and faith.[1] Qaradawi proposes the approach as constituting a balance between two contradictory positions, proposing a third position.[2]
Wasatism (Arabic: وسطية) refers to the strand of Islam which is the via media between traditional, textually-orientated strands such as Madhhabist traditionalism, Salafism and anti-traditional, culturally-orientated strands such as modernism and progressivism.[3]
Yasir Qadhi, an Islamic scholar identified as a Wasatist,[3][4][5] has stated that the movement "tries to balance text and context" and "has an interplay between the classical tradition and modernity", seeking to balance textual fidelity to the Qur’an and Sunnah with thoughtful engagement in contemporary social and intellectual contexts.[3][6] However, Qadhi has also stated several times that he is post-Madhab, as he confirmed in an interview, reaffirming that he identifies as a “generic Sunni” and doesn’t identify as a “card-carrying member” of any particular maddhab.[7]
