Image Consciousness
The numerous faces of Michael Jackson over the last two and half decades have been the cause of controversy and much speculation for the public. All of this has been fuelled by a ruthless media, which over the years has produced the most fantastic of criticisms, ultimately earning Mr. Jackson the infamous title of �Wacko Jacko�.
But while criticising individuals for their strangeness, how often do people stop to think about the underlying motives that compel such people, to take such extreme measures in changing their image. In fact, do we ever wonder if the same driving forces influence even ourselves - to a lesser or greater extent - causing us to alter how we look, think and behave in ways that we do not even realise?
While it is fair to say that individuals are responsible for their own actions, we should not underestimate the powerful impact of the prevailing thoughts and emotions in society. They set out clearly defined and often unrealistic aspirations of self image and the ideal pursuits of a material life. Through vehicles like the media, the world of advertisement, and the atmosphere in society generally, we are bombarded daily with images of the ideal lifestyle, which defines for us how we should look, think, and behave. The result of this is the complete subjugation of the minds of individuals into acceptance of such iconic roles without any questions.
What is the result of this submission? Not just pop-stars and actors, but even ordinary people like you and I become susceptible to blindly following current trends, stereotypes and traditions, in a tortuous journey to fulfilling the all-encompassing need to be accepted as a member of this �ideal� society.
In fact, the blindness is such that before you know it you are drawn in, finding yourself waking up every morning scrutinising yourself in front of the mirror thinking, �I�m so fat, I wish my nose was thin, oh no! Is that a wrinkle?� Or on your way to work you glance enviously at your neighbours plush four bedroom detached house, and his beautiful sports car that will take him to his six-figure-salary job in the city.
But of course, not everyone can fit into these �ideal lives� - in fact probably only those who represent them can - the screen idols, the top city executives, the fashion models. So with such unrealistic aspirations and expectations, is it any wonder that the journey for ordinary people inevitably leads to so much insecurity, personal heartache and misery along the way - all in the cause of acceptance by society and fear of displeasing peers.
With respect to ourselves - Muslims living in a non-Islamic, Capitalistic society, the issue of �image� can be a deadly disease in our hearts, which slowly infects our love for our deen and may ultimately lead us on to the wrong path. Because for the sake of meeting the goals and aspirations of kufr society, we are beginning to see everywhere Muslims who are willing to compromise their religion in order to achieve them. Inevitably we see such victims making choices in their day to day lives, just in order to �fit in�. Like for a man who would, even reluctantly, attend the company Christmas party so as not jeopardize future career prospects such as receiving that promotion he has been working so hard for (the pay-rise being the cause of his new car). Or for a woman who refuses to start wearing the khimar (headscarf), because she is afraid she would be open to discrimination or lose her job. This is not to say that Muslims should be averse to promotion, want to be discriminated against or have their employment terminated. However in the same way we would insist on halal food to satisfy our hunger, we must also insist on halal ways to further our careers through honesty, sincerity and integrity.
The reality that many fail to comprehend is that whether we get a new job, or we receive a promotion is not subject to our wearing the khimar or refusing to �go down to the pub�. In fact measuring success or failure, according to results rather than effort is a major source of anxiety in western societies. Should the father whose child was hurt in a car accident consider himself a failure despite the fact that he spent a tremendous amount of effort in bringing up the child? Should the drunkard layabout who won the National Lottery jackpot consider himself a success despite the fact that he made no effort to feed his family? The rational and progressive thinker will naturally come to the understanding that success or failure is not determined by results but by efforts. We will be judged according to our effort. As for the result it is determined by qada�, divine fate as decreed by Allah (Subhanhu Wa Ta'aala). It is Allah (Subhanhu Wa Ta'aala) who sustains, controls and organises all affairs of the life of this world, and none other. Even if the boss acts as if he thought he was a god, he is dependent for his every breath and movement upon Allah (Subhanhu Wa Ta'aala), the Lord of all the worlds.
The truth is that your rizq (life�s provision) will come to you as it is ordained for you, through means which you may anticipate or not. Allah (Subhanhu Wa Ta'aala) states in the Qur�an that how much we gain, eat, drink or how long we live, whether male or female - is all determined from when we were in the wombs of our mother�s.
�Say : Nothing will happen except what Allah has decreed for us, He is our protector, and in Allah, let the believers place their trust� [TMQ Al-Taubah: 51]
�Nor shall a soul die except by Allah's leave, the term being fixed by writing.� [TMQ Ale-Imran: 145]
It is this understanding that gives the Muslim the strength to rise above the stereotypes and false aspirations that society and its role models may define, and try to force us to comply with. Because a Muslim hopes nor fears from anything in the dunya (worldly life), he frees himself from having to be subjugated by what it seems to demand of us - particularly when it contradicts the Shari�ah (law) of Allah (Subhanhu Wa Ta'aala).
Similarly the rivalry in worldly goods - which arises in people absorbed with the materialistic values that Capitalism inculcates them with, results in many being engaged in actions which they feel further their worldly goals. Such as buying one or numerous properties using interest based mortgages, or trading in alcohol, or even lying and cheating for financial gain, despite knowing that all of these things are haram (prohibited by the Shari�ah). But, does engaging in these practices and perhaps even achieving their materialistic goals give them peace of mind? No, because while they may believe that they control their own destiny, the ladder for the pursuit of worldly aspiration goes on and on, with nothing but financial worries, debt and insecurity along the way - only an ever increasing greed. In fact, this is the nature of the dunya - it is not designed for a lasting satisfaction - that goal is exclusively reserved for the akhirah (the next life) and the jannah (paradise).
"Every soul will taste of death. And ye will be paid on the Day of Resurrection only that which ye have fairly earned. Whoso is removed from the Fire and is made to enter Paradise, he indeed is triumphant. The life of this world is but comfort of illusion" [TMQ Ale-Imran: 185]
However our �net value� is not the only way that the kufr society enslaves us. Whether it is a cat-walk, a movie or a magazine, so called �beautiful people� with all their glitz and glamour are also portrayed to us as icons, worthy enough to emulate. Women and men too, are being pushed into the quest for achieving body-perfection, with there seemingly being no limits in the pursuit of this goal. In order to achieve the �right look� ordinary people become obsessed with plastic surgery, collagen injections, breast enlargement, all-night gyms, starvation diets � the list goes on and on. But the sad reality is that what becomes of this pursuit is seldom happiness; more common than this is anorexia nervosa, depression, and low self esteem.
The above-mentioned cosmetic interventions, albeit common, may only be the extremes, but on the other end of the scale are things which while more accessible to ordinary people, can lead to just as much misery. These include the notion that the right �make-up�, or the need to shape the eyebrows are now regarded as the key to a girl�s success. These kinds of pressures have mounted to the extent that some women cannot even think of entering society without a liberal application of the latest Max Factor (a cosmetic company) products, or sporting thin and demonically arched eyebrows the plucking of which has in some cases led to the total inadvertent extinction of the eyebrows, only to be salvaged by being drawn in. Truly to imitate the western women�s vision of beauty is demoralising not to mention appearing like a clown, in some instances. How this contrasts with the example of a chaste Muslim sister - whose modesty prevents her putting her charms on such saleable public display.
The Prophet (Sall Allahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, 'Allah has cursed those women who modify their eyebrows or ask others to do it for them.' [Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In today�s society and in Muslim countries abroad, Muslim women have been driven to becoming victims of western fashion leading them to abandon the khimar and jilbab (outer garment) and to wear make up in public, as well as to strive to conform to the western idea that thin bodies are vogue. And what for? To satisfy their vanity, their need to be accepted and to succeed according to the criteria of a kufr society.
"They should not show their zeenah (charms) in public beyond what may (decently) be apparent thereof: hence let them draw their head-coverings (khumur) over their necks and bosoms (juyub)� [TMQ An-Nur: 31]
What people should also be wary of is that adopting the secular concept of what defines beauty and success can be a breeding-ground for prejudices, racism and nationalism. Ingrained amongst the mindset of Muslims today are chauvinisms such as fair skin over dark, white skin over black skin, slim over stout, tall over short, rich over poor, able bodied over disabled and so on.
When Allah (Subhanhu Wa Ta'aala) created the many attributes that distinguish the different races, it was for the sole testimony to his existence and not to be the basis of creating prejudices and hatred in the hearts of people the like of which we see today. To find faults in oneself and others is to criticise the creator of mankind - Allah (Subhanhu Wa Ta'aala). So long as these favouritisms are allowed to be enforced then all prejudices, racist thoughts and nationalistic feelings will continue to be nurtured in the hearts of the people which will only aid, amongst other things, to keep the Ummah as divided as we see it is today.
"And among his wonders is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the diversity of your tongues and colours for in this, behold there are messages indeed for all who are possessed of innate knowledge� [TMQ Ar-Rum: 22]
Another ramification of the image concept in contemporary secular society is that being identified as a Muslim has become an issue of shame for some people. What makes some Muslims shy away from praying their salat in their schools, work place, or whilst outside on the streets. Who do they fear? Their teachers, friends, colleagues or employers? So great is their need to be accepted, that they are even willing to miss their obligatory salat (prayer), through their fear of the opinions of the ignorant society around them. This is despite what is said in the hadith of the Prophet (Sall Allahu Alaihi Wasallam) as narrated authentically in the Musnad of Imam Ahmed ibn Hanbal which states
�The covenant between myself and yourself is the salah whoever abandons prayer commits an action of disbelief�.
Also when the Muslim hears, of the torturing, rape, and the spilling of Muslim blood at the hands of the kuffar (disbelievers), they turn to those same people who commit the acts of aggression - such as the British or US government, or the United Nations, for help. In many cases the fear is such that the Muslim populace remains silent, while the West oppresses and the tyrant rulers of the Muslim lands terrorize the Ummah. This is in fear that speaking out against the West and the tyrant rulers of the Muslim world would mean they are surely labelled as a terrorist or fanatic. How ironic it is that in a time when the world is on the brink of witnessing another massacre of Muslims in Iraq, disbelieving colonialist nations such as France, Germany and Russia can oppose the war for their own selfish motives, while the Muslims are intimidated into silence for the sake of maintaining their own �image�.
�O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well- acquainted with all that ye do.� [TMQ Al-Nisa: 135]
So clearly it begs to be asked, why do we compromise our deen, allowing ourselves to be pulled away from the straight path? The truth is that fear has gripped the hearts of the Muslims, enslaving us before the kuffar. Our concepts about life, which form the basis of our actions, have been tainted by ideas, values and notions of non-Islam. Our emotions, instead of being shaped and guided by the feeling for our creator, have been twisted by secularism with all its consequences, which pervade the atmosphere in the society around us.
Until we return and submit to the way of life that has been decreed by Allah (Subhanhu Wa Ta'aala), the Muslim will never be at peace. For it is Allah (Subhanhu Wa Ta'aala), who knows our weaknesses and strengths, what is good and bad for us, and all of the attributes he chose for us when he created us. Surely just as he has created us and given us life, he gave a guidance and a way for us to follow, and we will we return to him. So if we want success in this dunya and akhirah it is not people or society�s view of us that should be feared - this will only lead to pursuing the kufr aspirations in life. What should be our role model for success in this life and the akhirah, and what we should aspire to is the example that Allah (Subhanhu Wa Ta'aala) created, in the form of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sall Allahu Alaihi Wasallam). For how he lived is the only reference and measure for our lives, and following the Shari�ah which he conveyed, without fear of what the people think is the only way of success.
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