The Difference Between Moderation and Compromise

Question:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh. This questioner says: Is what is happening today, much of the alliance with the people of disbelief, considered the moderation (mudarā'ah) mentioned by the scholars? And how do we distinguish between moderation and the position of the hypocrites and their fear of the defeat of the Muslims?

Answer:
The action of the hypocrites is not moderation; rather, it is cowardice, bad opinion of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and hatred for the Muslims. As for moderation, its meaning is that you give up something of this world for the sake of preserving the religion, using wealth for the sake of preserving the religion. This is moderation: they give some money to expose their evil. This is moderation. As for giving up the religion for the sake of money, that is compromise (mudāhanah). This is the difference between compromise and moderation. If one makes the religion a protection for wealth, that is compromise. If one makes wealth a protection for the religion, that is permissible moderation.