Unquestionable loyalty to charismatic personalities- is always harmful eventually!!!

WRITTEN BY : MARIA YAHYA

Now, the question is, whom do we find ‘Charismatic’ ???
According to my experiences, it differs, depending on which stage you are in :
Ages 1- 10 : Our Parents
Ages 11-20 : 1.Our Friends
2.Celebrities
Ages 21- 25: Our Peer Group ( including cousins, friends, social media unknowns etc)
Ages 26- 32:  1.Our Friends – Now, who are less
2. Our Colleagues
3. Our Spouse
Ages 33-45: 1. Our Family
2. Our Colleagues-cum-Friends
Age 46 onwards: 1. OURSELVES

The above mentioned list is variable to a very small degree if we internalise it – retrospectively.

The next question is, what do we mean by
‘Unquestionable’ ???
Well, if we analyse, in each of the stages mentioned above and the major influence/-es in that particular stage :
Most of us were ‘Blind Followers’- with or without any “Tangible Coercion”.
In the initial phase, we look upto our parents who, in turn cite contemporary examples( both familial and non-familial) about people who have been put on a pedestal for their so-called success !!! Then we grow up and start finding “Unacceptable Fundamental Flaws” and that leaves us uncomfortable.

In the next phase, we start leaning towards our cousins, friends, celebrities and social media unknowns- attracted by their flamboyant presentation of irrelevant, hopelessly impractical and essentially flawed knowledge about everything ranging from life to the metaphysics !!! Then we start thinking and that leaves us with many unanswered questions and incomplete conclusions.

We enter the next phase charged with our opinions- white and black, with very little areas of grey. Here we start making others question our choices.

Then we reach a phase where we indulge in liberality- in all aspects and thereby in the process harm the saplings under our shade.

Finally we reach the stage where we see the world with our very personalised filter and there is no room for any kind of allegiance-
now we are open to debates.

This is what is actually happening to the Muslims of today.
We as parents do not realise the tremendous responsibility we have with respect to the upbringing of our kids.
This is why they have a very shaky understanding of Islam in its totality and hence they don’t have a wholesome approach when it comes to living life according to the precepts of Islam.
This now gives rise to a ‘Concocted’ Belief and practice ( Bidaah).

This ‘Bidaah’ has two very negative effects-
1. You are making wrong choices and thus portraying a warped image of ‘ISLAM’ and that makes it difficult/tough for the other practicing muslims who are following the correct tenets to do so.
2. You are setting a wrong trend and this is being adopted blindly by the other ignorant muslims – this trend is generally along the lines of the non-muslims and thus they are more accepting of it. Thus, a vicious cycle starts and somewhere in the process you start losing your Identity as a Momin/Mominaah.
Eg: The different ways of wearing ‘Hijaab’ which have evolved, none of which are in compliance with the rules of “Purdah”- has given the world a wrong image of a ‘Mominaah'( Believer).

It is high time we turn back to the “QURAN” and “HADITH” and try to become something more than a muslim- that is, a courageous and confident Momin/Mominaah.
May Allah(swt) give hidayat to the entire Ummat-e-Mohammed, aameen.