Learn from Celebrities or Worship them?

Picture taken from

http://www.thebetaversion.org/2013/01/be-who-you-want-to-meet/

I can still remember a concert we – the committees of IIUM’s 26th Convocation Fiesta CONVEST – organized that was “Palestine Tomorrow Will Be Free (PTWBF)” back in 2010.

Maher Zain’s name was on the raise at that time. Muslims love R&B music but there were no R&B Islamic-ish songs. Maher Zain came and sang songs distinctive from the conventional ‘percussion’ genre making him relatively “The first Muslim artist in R&B music”.

The concert featured Maher Zain. It was his first concert ever in Malaysia and it was in our very own university, IIUM.

I saw and heard with my own two eyes, as Maher Zain entered the hall, the audience, particularly the sisters with their hijabs, jubahs and burqas screamed and jumped like they’ve seen a ghost!

The sisters, mostly are university students. Yes, university students. Not young secondary school students.

In the Muslim world, Maher Zain is a big deal. I was the head Public Relations (PR), the person in charge of escorting the VIPS. Had the chance to pray Maghrib with him, talked to him, I could take a selfie with him but not a fan of selfies.

But if I wasn’t the Head PR, I didn’t pray with him or talked to him, “So what?”?

I’ll lose nothing.

Why do celebrities exist?

The question, “why do celebrities exist?” should be addressed to the screaming fangirls. I cannot help but wonder, why such reaction was made? Why did they scream and jump? Why? Are they in some kind of identity crisis?

Listening to his music is normal. Loving his lyrics is normal. But shouting and screaming like when Beliebers meet Justin Bieber, I fail to fathom the abnormality.

Muslims believe that Islam comes to sanction good behavior from what the prophet said:

Abū Hurayrah relates that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “I have only been sent to perfect good moral character.” [Musnad Ahmad (8595)].

I have every reason to believe than shouting and screaming are not counted as ‘good moral character.’

The Function of celebrities   

“What made her famous?”

“She made a youtube video saying that she love her eyes.”

Celebrities; even though I dislike the term, I believe that celebrities exist nonetheless as examples for the society, particularly for the young, to follow.

Celebrities come with many titles; Ustaz Selebriti, writer, celebrity-politician, stand-up comedian, actor, academic, singer, poet, vloggers, laureates and so on. They all share the same feature that is they are well-known both in mainstream media and popular media.

Famous people, who fail to be an icon, a leader, a speaker, an intellectual, an activist, who are only capable of showing off their witty stupid jokes or pretty face are not worthy of the title celebrity.

Celebrities should offer more than their pretty cosmetic face and turned it into how to dress like a professional, how to look like a professional, how to behave like a professional.

Celebrities should offer more than stupid low life jokes like jokes with sexual connotations but educational comedy where they subliminally educate society through public witty critics in their jokes.

Renowned personas who fail to be parts of societal solution are no other than an insult to society.

What kind of celebrities would you follow?

I’d like to follow a celebrity who’s intellectual capacity is mind blowing. Who speaks with knowledge, with substantiation, not mere motivation.

I’d like to learn from a celebrity who engages with society in activism helping the filling in the hearts. Celebrities are no different than us laymen.

I’d like to learn from a celebrity who writes quality writings and public critiques. Seeing them is a great but understanding their writings is even better.

I’d like to befriend with celebrities who sings quality music with quality lyrics.

I’d like to see celebrities as human beings who have a private life just like all of us and dislike that private life to be berated.

If the celebrity I like is talented, I aspire to be talented than he/she is.

What about you?

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