A New Super Hero: Abstract Man

Abstract man might be the funniest thing you have ever heard. Given that super powers reveal themselves through solid action in the real world, what in the world an abstract man can achieve?

Before we go into any discussion, I would like to take you to a journey in time. Until 20-30 years ago, stories involving the super heroes would depict them as not only super but also humble. They would not ask for any return for the good they would do. This meant they did not expect a fame nor a recognition as "the only man". They simply did what was needed to be done.

But, fast forward, if you look at the recent stories, we see the super heroes in fight of ego. Their selfless actions are portrayed as show of power and ego. And if another super hero dares to help, which means a sharing of the fame and an implied insufficiency on the former's side, a stern fight breaks out.

You might think that this is only happening in movies but actually the same change is happening in the social life. In the old times, the selfless people or the generous people who did ordinary or extraordinary good for the sake of others did that for its own sake. Many of these actions were linked to those people's fidelity to the good will of God. But as we come to our time, we see such people being advertised in the media, we see such organizations advertising themselves through the good actions they do or organize, etc. In short, any good action is tied with a fame and a motivation to highlight a name.

Even the humblest of such endeavors fall prey to the notion that "they want to hide their personal identities to avoid arrogance and pride but want to give credit to a social movement or to a leader." As such, instead of idolizing their selves, unintentionally they are putting up those leaders or those social movements as idols between God and people. It feels as if all good is from those leaders or from those groups of people. However this is not what God wants from us, in my opinion.

Not at least in this time near the end of times. How do I know this? From the practice of God, Himself, and from the words of His messenger, Muhammad pbuh.

The practice of God since the beginning of humanity is that He introduces Himself through words but even that does not happen constantly. For example, every sunshine, every flower, every buzz of bees etc. etc. are all blessings of God but we don't see Him every time requiring our praise and thanks for the continuity of these blessings. Instead, He reminds Himself from time to time. However, if an individual want to get in a more frequent and direct touch with Him, He responds in a very rich manner unlike the public one:

Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah says: 'I am just as My slave thinks I am, (i.e. I am able to do for him what he thinks I can do for him) and I am with him if He remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I too, remember him in Myself; and if he remembers Me in a group of people, I remember him in a group that is better than they; and if he comes one span nearer to Me, I go one cubit nearer to him; and if he comes one cubit nearer to Me, I go a distance of two outstretched arms nearer to him; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.' "

To see the praising of anonymity in the Prophet's words, let's read from a hadith about the end of time:

Jabir b. 'Abdullah reported:
I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: A section of my people will not cease fighting for the Truth and will prevail till the Day of Resurrection. He said: Jesus son of Mary would then descend and their (Muslims') commander would invite him to come and lead them in prayer, but he would say: No, some amongst you are commanders over some (amongst you). This is the honour from Allah for this Ummah. (Müslim, İman 71(156))

There are two points that need attention. One, the identity of the leaders of that praiseworthy group are anonymous. They don't stick out of the people. How do we know this? From the use of the vague term "some". This means that among that group, the function of leadership is fulfilled by some individuals but, actually any other would and could replace those leaders. So it is not that the leaders are praised extremely, as is the case happening in our societies. In other words, if you see a group of Muslims who are constantly portraying their leaders and who are seeking media appearance, they are in a wrong direction by virtue of the seed of idolatry growing in them. This notion is actually confirmed by the reluctance of the Messiah to accept the position of leadership. And that is the second point of attention.

"Follow those who do not ask of you [any] payment, and they are [rightly] guided." (Quran 36/21)

So, we see that doing super actions but persisting on anonymity, not seeking public acclaim be it for the self, social group or a leader, is crucial in serving the religion of God especially near the end of time. Thus our new super hero concept: Abstract Man.

Abstract Man is any man. It is you, me, us... Anyone and everyone who can do a good for another person that couldn't do it for themselves. Absence of a person in flesh and bone to thank is the ground on which individuals can meet their Lord. Preparing that ground and doing this only for the sake of God is the super power. Exercising the will not to blur that meeting is the super power.

In fact, one of the scholars of the last century, Said Nursi pointed at this fact, too, when he was promoting the concept of şahs-ı manevi (abstract persona), when he was intentionally or unintentionally avoiding seeing people and instead directing them to read and contemplate his written work, Risale-i Nur, when he was avoiding any photography. Last but not the least, in the same line, his destiny was so that his grave is unknown.

So, be super, be a super conductor of goodness and support the appearance and hiding of supers, and most importantly be invisible.