Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)
How can extremism be dealt with?
People of knowledge and people in positions of leadership must first realise their need and the need of the Ummah to prevent extremism. Then they must work together to prevent it, following the Sacred Law and trying to implement it and act according to it. They must clarify the truth by clarifying the texts and principles of the Sacred Law. Different means should be used such as dialogue, teaching and meetings. This will remove the root causes of extremism.
Extremism has become an issue because of the absence of spiritual nurturing and the neglect of those in power of their duty, which is to be proponents of the true concepts of the religion and to prevent those around them from adopting extremist methodology which distorts the true image of Islam and causes so many problems.