What is extremism and negligence in religion?

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

-Following the Sunnah does not in anyways mean extremism.

-When a person implements the Do’s and Don’ts mentioned in the Book and the Sunnah, he is following the Sharee`ah.

**Example: when a person keeps a beard, keeps his lower garments above his ankles, prays 5 times a day, doesn’t listen to Music or drinks or gambles etc.

-Extremism is when a person does more than what has been mentioned in the Book and the Sunnah or he does something which is more than his capacity.

**Example: washing the body parts more than 3 times while making Wudhoo, wiping the neck, or forcing oneself to pray standing while he is not able to.

Narrated Anas bin Maalik رضي الله عنه: Once the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم entered the Masjid and saw a rope hanging in between its two pillars. He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “What is this rope?” The people said: “This rope is for Zainab who, when she feels tired, holds it (to keep standing for the prayer.)” The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Don't use it. Remove the rope. You should pray as long as you feel active, and when you get tired, sit down.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree]

On the authority of Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم say: “What I have forbidden to you, avoid; what I have ordered you [to do], do as much of it as you can. It was only their excessive questioning and their disagreeing with their prophets that destroyed those who were before you.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (7288) and Saheeh Muslim (2388, 4355)]

-Negligence is when a person knows the Sharee`ah but does not want to follow it.

When those - who are negligent or lenient in regards to their religious duties - don’t want to follow the Sunnah, they label those who DO follow the Sunnah as extremist. So do NOT let the blaming of the negligent and their labeling you as extremist prevent you from following the Sunnah.

Allaah تعالى describes one of the characteristics of the Believers as:

{…striving in the Way of Allaah, and never afraid of the blame of the blamers.} [Surah al-Maaidah (5):54]