A Perfect Person

What Is Perfect?

A perfect figure is a reasonable purpose for all humans. In islam itself for instance, knowing the mashum or the perfect figures is an obligation for all the faithful. Not knowing merely their identity, but more importantly their personality. In islam, knowing the perfect figure is a way to become a better person by making them as an instance. But, for me, knowing the perfect figure of ourselves is a mirror to our core values, meanings, and purposes. Reading The Perfect Figure or Insone Kamil, a compilation of Mutthahari’s lectures on humanity, got me to ask the question “what is the perfect human for me?”

How should we live is an eternal question. Many philosophers of the ancient and the present have been trying to answer this question. As a result, there are a myriad of answers out there. But the question for oneself would be which should oneself abide by? Let us try to examine some of the philosophies Mutthahari discussed in his lectures.

• Humanism believes that humans have a unique position in the universe. What’s good is what is beneficial for human living and what’s bad is what is harmful for human existence. A perfect person is who does the most virtue to humans. Mutthahari criticized them for putting too much emphasis on the human physical aspect. But, actually humanism believes in certain values too. They believe that humans can live ethically according to a set of values that are obtained through thinking, learning lessons from history and personal experiences.
• Sufism believes that the highest achievement of human beings is to love the divine(wajib al wujud) and unite with them. It is typical with their mystical poets on the love of god, self cleaning(tazkiyatun nafs), and prayers. For them, a perfect human is one who has united with God and loves God.
• Aqliyyah believes that the highest achievement is to know and to be wise. I am a bit confused with what Muthahari meant with aqliyah, but I inferred that it is a rather philosophical feat. He wrote some of preeminent aqliyyin are Ibn Sina, Socrates, and Aristotle. Aqliyyah believes in two type of wisdom, theoretical wisdom(that is typical with knowledge) and practical wisdom(which is typical with their virtuous actions)
• Socialism believes that humans are perfect when they are equal in the community. Human perfection for them is rather together, not individual. They think in order to create the best society, human social classes must be leveled. An inequality in the society is a symptom of a corrupt society. Communism, which is a philosophy that is in many ways similar with socialism, believes that the abolition of private property is a must to do in order to establish a perfect community.
• Existentialism believes that we humans are born with no purpose, and we ourselves have to find the purpose. It is an opponent of essentialism which believes that humans have a predetermined purpose, that is essence precedes existence. While some of the existentialist philosophers are christian, Mutthahari criticizes it for putting to much emphasis in human freedom as an important part to being a perfect person, and what he think that human dependency on the perfect being, the God, as a important part in the journey to perfection. He agreed that existentialism, dependency on wrong things brings defect to human being. I think he gives too much attention to the side doctrines of existentialism, rather than the core values which is the freedom to find meaning in life with no restrain.

The answer is, there’s no answer. Seriously. It depends on your core values.

For me, two of them are the most interesting: irfan and the philosopher’s way(aqliyyah), although Muthahari criticized them and didn’t completely accept it.

First, irfan. Simply Irfan is a group of people who seek the love of god. I like that their final purpose is to love and to merge with the beloved(masyuq), nothing matters except the beloved one. One could achieve it through art, poems, plays, and every imaginable way to express one’s love. I think it is so beautiful.

Second, the philosopher’s way(aqliyyah). I love it, because it holds that one should achieve full intelligence potential, and then give benefit for others through practiced wisdom and knowledge. Intelligence, freedom of thought, and wisdom are their characteristics. I agree with them in many means. Besides, I also accept that intelligence isn’t the only aspect of humans, therefore to reach one’s full potential one should grow other aspects too.

Islam Is A Complete Guide for Humanity

Mutthahari’s argument can be inferred as follows: humankind consists of many aspects, therefore in order to achieve one’s full potential, one should care for those aspects fairly. What is the case for many ideologies is that they are giving too much emphasis to particular aspect of humanity, therefore it is their failure and their reason for failure. He thought Islam is a comprehensive guide that embrace all of those aspects, as Islam top figures show.

They show the love of wisdom, as in Islam knowledge has a special position. Once the prophet said seeking knowledge is an obligation to all the faithful.

They show the respect of love. Once the prophet prayed all night so that his feet were sore. His wife asked him why should he pray that extreme although he had been promised paradise and all his mistakes had been excused.

Then he said why couldn’t he become a grateful servant to the god? They show social care. Once said a preeminent Arab came to the prophet with his little child.

Then the prophet kissed the man child as a sign of care. Then the man said “i have ten childs and up till now i have never kissed one of them, not even once” then the prophet drove angry and said “they who never care for others will never be cared.”

They show the respect of freedom and self-esteem. Once Sayyidina Husein Said, “die pridefully is better than live despicably(no esteem)”

Knowing The Perfect Figure as A Reflection 

Knowing the model of the perfect person we admire is essential, for me. It shows us about our core and innermost values. It is a way to reflect. But, even if we choose one way as our main path, don't forget that humans consist of many aspects. Impossible to achieve happiness and our full potential if our aspects are unequal. Imagine a very intelligent person with a little sentiment and social consciousness. Or a person who loves others but has no wisdom at all. Either are not ideal humans, obviously. Grow and learn all of your humane aspects.