What do we study for? If somebody were to ask me this question, I would point-blank reply that we study just for money. This is a horrific fact. In our heart of hearts, we know what we are chasing. Through chicanery and sugar-coated propositions, we can make others believe of the ideal propensities we pretend to harbour, but in reality our motivation is always to work for self-aggrandisement and pompousness. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, “Destruction is for the slave of dinar and dirham (money).” The worst kind of life is the life that is lived for the sake of money. Wealth has a pivotal importance in our lives, undoubtedly, but jockeying a lifetime for the cause of wealth acquisition is a serious malady that needs treatment.
Life is not easy. Hope, expectation and struggle make it liveable. Even if they don’t make life easy, they egg us on to strive for a mental disposition that rules out everything which is unimportant and unnecessary. When needless, negative and dissuading paraphernalia is subtracted, we come out of the mental shackle that binds us with trivial things, hence increasing our power of contemplation and imagination. When this level has been reached, it’s natural for such a freed mind to come up with altruistic thoughts. This we call idealism. An idealistic person thinks beyond his personality and self. He thinks for the betterment of humanity. He thinks for the serenity of humanity. He dreams of a society which is utterly based on egalitarian foundations. We have been made to believe that idealism and idealistic thoughts look good on paper and in deliberations, but accomplishing them is a utopia. They are impractical and unachievable. Hence, striving for them is an exercise in futility.
When we delve deep into Islamic history, achievement of idealistic things appears not to be far-fetched. During the time of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW), revamping society on egalitarian precepts was an idealistic endeavour. Who could have thought then, that the society which was deeply engrossed in villainous activities, why would it would shun devilry and transform into a society where every kind of ungodly and depraved stuff would eventually get weeded out? What the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) achieved then and what was carried on by his companions later on (first four) was no less than achieving a society based on principles that were thought to be unachievable and replete with impracticalities.
As against the ideally influenced principles, the conventional mindset that the bulk associates itself with is, in order to avoid the challenges, compromise. Scale it down. If you don’t, the chances of your survival become precarious. This is the most vicious and pernicious state of mind. Idealistic thought process strengthens your personality. Though it’s not a must, the idealistic mental disposition propels you to aim for perfection. Whether or not you get it, it makes you enough stout both mentally and psychologically to deal with obstacles that life hurls at you. The conventional train of thoughts and actions have malicious ramifications which are discernible only in the long run. The ideal thought process and action, even if practically unfulfilled, decorates you with positive energy. The conventional desires, certainly with exceptions, make an individual supercilious. However, the ideal destinations embed a sense of realisation of flimsiness of human existence. The mind that yearns for idealism, knows the true value of education and learning. Such a mind never runs after material desires. Such a mind never creates nexus between money and knowledge, knowing full well the discrete positions they hold.
Inculcation of ideally positive seed of thoughts is one of the fundamental responsibilities of parents. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, “The best gift that parents can endow their children with is education and upbringing.” Therefore, instillation of ideally positive mental set up is the cornerstone of parenting. Unfortunately, the bulk of the parents have been ignoring this responsibility, whether wittingly or unwittingly. Allah says in the Quran, “There is not a single living creature but that I am responsible for its livelihood.” Ergo, imbuing your children with greed of materialism right from the inception is counterproductive.

The writer is a law student at JMI, New Delhi. [email protected]

SYED SHAHAB U DIN ANDRABI