Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi is a prominent contemporary Islamic scholar, lawyer, writer and erudite. He is the author of over two hundred books and studies on Islam, Islamic law (fiqh and fatwa), culture, civilization, ethics and education. He is the president of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, the European Council for Fatwa and Research, and a member of other numerous Islamic scientific and international associations. He is known as a supporter of a middle or moderate direction (al-wesatiyya al-Islamiyya) in the interpretation of Islam, its teachings, rules and regulations. This is the direction that does not allow any kind of extremism, but, at the same time, it does not allow any relaxedness in faith. Due to this fact, Sheikh Al-Qaradawi is trusted by the vast number of Muslims around the globe, from Indonesia to Morocco, from South Africa to Russia, especially among Muslims living in Western Europe and America. All his works are imbued with the idea of wesatiyya, which could be translated as Islamic centrality (middle path). In this approach of the interpretation of Islam, there is no place for extremism or exaggeration of any kind.
On the other hand, Al-Qaradawi’s approach to Islam, as it does not allow extremism, at the same time it does not allow relaxedness, arbitrariness or interpretation of Islam as „custom-made“ or, perhaps, for the sake of one's desire, interest, affection or pleasure. Al-Qaradawi often emphasizes that God's pleasure is above anyone else's. Relaxed, irresponsible and tendentious interpretation of Islam is very dangerous and harmful to the Muslim Ummah. It is, in fact, one of the greatest dangers for the Muslims of modern times, which is why Al-Qaradawi often emphasizes that to question the Islamic constants (et-teshkik thewabit fi al-Islam), i.e. relativisation and discrediting what is permanent and invariable in Islam is very dangerous for Islam and Muslims. Perhaps because of these beliefs, this prominent scholar is not welcomed in some circles, either in the West or in the East, who would like to change or, in some way, tailor Islam. However, this does not diminish the greatness of the sheikh Al-Qaradawi and respect that millions of people around the world feel towards him. This paper discusses the main features of Al-Qaradawi’s approach in the interpretation of Islam.
Keywords: Yusuf al-Qaradawi, wasatiyya, centrality, moderation
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