The Ruling on Adhering to the Sunnah and the Difference Between Exaggeration and Moderation

Question:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Honorable Shaykh, it has become common in society now to claim that one who commands adherence to the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), such as growing the beard and avoiding letting the garment hang below the ankles, is being exaggerated and rigid. Do you have a word on this topic? May Allah reward you.

Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. In any case, the reference for religious matters and their criteria is not the conventions or tastes of people, but rather the Book and the Sunnah. Exaggeration, rigidity, and extremism, as they call it, are judged by their criteria in the Book and the Sunnah. The Book and the Sunnah indicate that exaggeration, rigidity, and rigidity are adding to what is prescribed. Adhering to what is prescribed and applying the Sunnah is not rigidity; rather, it is moderation in action. This means leaving off letting the garment hang below the ankles, honoring the beard, washing it, and not shaving it. This is acting upon the Sunnah; this is moderation, not rigidity.
As for shaving it and neglecting it, this is abandoning the Sunnah. This is falling short. We have said that the religion is between excess and falling short. Abandoning the commands is falling short, and adding to the commands is excess. For example, rigidity, exaggeration, and extremism are adding to what is prescribed, adding to the commands. Just as abandoning the commands is falling short, negligence, open sinfulness, or sometimes disbelief. Adhering to the commands of Allah and the commands of His Messenger and applying the Sunnah, this is moderation, and praise be to Allah.