Adhering to the Sunnah

Q 4: Recently, I have grown my beard, began to offer the obligatory Salah (Prayer) and adhered to Sunnah. In our village, people consider those who adhere to Sunnah as extremists. When I try to convince them, they say, “Ruined are Al-Mutanatti‘un (extremists, exaggerators)”. Who are the Mutanatti‘un? Is adhering to the Sunnah a kind of extremism?

A: I thank Allah (Exalted be He) that He has guided you to the Truth and I thank Him that He has helped you act according to it. Explain to those who oppose you that Islam is easy and Tanatu‘ in religion means affectation and exaggeration in practicing of religion by exceeding what Allah has ordained. You do not exceed the limits; you have only adhered to what Allah has ordained.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.