Individual Extremism the Root Cause of Organisational Extremism - Abrahamic and Other World Religions Take on It
By Arman Neyazi, New Age Islam
6 January 2026
Stopping this ‘individual extremism’ is a long process. It is not easy, but not impossible if one tries consciously to remove it from society. Again, the society will have to take help from the social thinkers, social activists, and the like, provided they feel it and work without any kind of individual greed.
Main Points:
1. There is a bit of ‘extremism’ in almost all of us.
2. ‘Extremism’ continues to run its reign in talks between father and son, mother and daughter, and the like. This is also visible in friends' circles and business outfits.
3. Stopping this ‘individual extremism’ is a long process.
4. Architects of society are religious leaders of all the world's religions and the activists of all the political and social ideologies.
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There is a bit of ‘extremism’ in almost all of us. I have used ‘almost’ to exclude Prophets, Rishis, Priests and human beings whom Allah Ta’ala has placed on the highest pedestal of divine knowledge and wisdom. All other mortals have ‘extremism’ of one kind or another in their DNA.
According to Oxford Dictionary, ‘extremism’ is ‘holding of extreme political or religious views’. It says nothing about human beings’ extreme steps that they take in their day-to-day life. This ‘extremism’ continues to run its reign in talks between father and son, mother and daughter, and the like. This is also visible in friends' circles and business outfits. Every discussion where others do not have a say and are not heard is ‘extremism’.
This individual life ‘extremism’ is responsible for the ills-ridden society that is for all to see and experience except those who have an extremist mentality of always ‘being right’. Look at the religious and social scholars, writers, and thinkers; they never offer an inch for others' thoughts. Volumes and volumes of books and innumerable essays and articles are written to prove their understanding of a particular subject, be it the political ideology or even the Holy scriptures of world religions. All are on the ‘extremes’ of their understanding of the subject. Although it makes interesting reading, but laughable at times that real scholars and ideologues make a mockery of themselves, proving themselves right.
Stopping this ‘individual extremism’ is a long process. It is not easy, but not impossible if one tries consciously to remove it from society. Again, the society will have to take help from the social thinkers, social activists, and the like, provided they feel it and work without any kind of individual greed.
It is said that ‘mother's lap is the child’s first school’. It means we, the individuals, take our first lesson from our mothers and the surroundings, meaning all those with whom we come in contact while being in our mother’s lap.
All the ‘mothers and fathers to be’, means all our sisters and daughters, sons and brothers, who are still to be married, will have to be taught to be gentle in their manners and not be rigid with their understanding of things. They will have to be taught to be ‘good listeners’ to understand others' points of view. They will have to be taught that there may be many with different points and thoughts that they have missed, either because of their arrogance or wrong interpretation of those, the ideologues, the thinkers, the writers, or the activists, they follow.
Architects of society are religious leaders of all the world's religions and the activists of all the political and social ideologies. They belong not to a particular religion or social environment but to all religions and social ideologies. To assure them that their religions also talk of ‘individual extremism’ and its fallout. Hence, following religious verses, traditions, and shlokas will come in handy to understand how necessary it is to end individual extremism.
Quranic Verses
"O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion..." (Quran 4:171)
“And thus, we have made you a justly balanced (middle) nation.” (Qur’an 2:143)
".... but do not exceed the limits. Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors" (Quran: 2:190
Prophetic Traditions
“Beware of extremism in religion, for those before you were destroyed by extremism.” (Musnad Ahmad)
“Make things easy, not difficult.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
Biblical Teachings on Extremism
“Blessed are the peacemakers.” (Matthew 5:9)
“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience…” (Galatians 5:22)
Judaism Lessons on Extremism
“Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.” (Proverbs 3:17)
“Whoever destroys a life, it is as if they destroyed an entire world.” (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5)
“Justice, justice shall you pursue.” (Deuteronomy 16:20)
Buddhist Ideology
“Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love.” (Dhammapada)
Guru Granth Sahib
“Recognize all of humanity as one.”
Condemns blind ritualism and religious arrogance
Promotes justice (Nyaay), humility, and service (Seva)
Jainism
Anekantavada (many-sided truth – rejecting absolutism)
Individual extremism, like every other thing, when extends its boundaries, creates nuisances and distortions in the social fabric. It evolves in a volcano that destroys every divinity, spiritualism, equality, and brotherhood that is embedded in a humane social atmosphere.
Religions describe extremism as a distorting factor for establishing supremacy over individuals and society at large. Extremism rejects coexistence and morality using fear, coercion, and hatred within society, of which the family is the first stage.
It is an open secret that today’s world is witnessing individual extremism in almost every nook and corner of society. These ‘individual extremists’ are ruling the roads and streets of the town. In political parlance, we call them ‘non-State actors’, ruffians and hooligans for our benefit. We need to clean our society from such evils by, first of all, coming clean ourselves.
Words of Wisdom from Wise People
“Individual extremism is not merely a personal deviation but a social, psychological, and ideological response to alienation, insecurity, and power.”
— Sociological synthesis (derived from Durkheim, Marx, Fromm, and Arendt)
Hannah Arendt
“The sad truth is that most evil is done by people who never make up their minds to be good or evil.”
— The Life of the Mind
Erich Fromm
“The quest for certainty blocks the search for meaning.”
— The Escape from Freedom
Albert Bandura
“Moral disengagement permits destructive conduct without self-condemnation.”
— Moral Disengagement
For the sake of our Mother Earth’s spiritual being, we need to take it as our prime responsibility to discard every form of ‘extremism that our individual self unknowingly has adopted. We need to be patient with our people in society. Remember, we are one nation, one community, even if divided by nature.
And Allah Knows the Best
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Arman Neyazi is a columnist with NewAgeIslam.com.
URL: https://newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/individual-extremism-abrahamic-religions/d/138325
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