Abû Hurayrah relates that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “Islam began strange, and it will become strange again just like it was at the beginning, so blessed are the strangers.” [Sahîh Muslim (1/130)]

Sunday, October 4, 2015

Is 'Idealism' a Bad word?

Recently, I was conversing with a loved one about whether the word 'idealism' has become something of a pejorative of late. How often has someone been described with a sigh as 'a bit too much of an idealist'. Implicit in this are a number of notions. A idealist can be seen as a foolish chaser of dreams, someone granted too much time to engage in frivolities. This idealist has his or her head in the clouds and need to come to grips with the ground realities of life. This idealist is somebody who wishes that circumstances, as the word suggests, were 'ideal' and when it comes time to deliver results, can only deliver empty promises.

Growing up, I never felt idealism was a loaded term or anything short of necessary. I believed that what separates the good people from the great people in this world are that the latter pursue their ideals over their self-interests. To work for the services of God and others was the ultimate ideal and source of satisfaction. With hard work and dedication, anything that could be properly envisioned was possible.

The world of today is soaked in cynicism. It is vogue now to describe oneself as a pessimist or realist, since as my cousin says, then you are either always correct or pleasantly surprised. Maybe it's a combination of reaching adulthood and experiencing the gory events of the last decade or so that have made my 'idealistic' thoughts seem so old-fashioned.

A famous social critic once replied when asked if he was optimistic or pessimistic, "I can't be a pessimist because I'm alive. To be a pessimist means that you have agreed that human life is an academic matter, so I'm forced to be an optimist." That essentially is why I am an idealist to this day and hopefully till I die insha Allah. I have no other choice.