Redefining Heroes: My Definition of A Real Hero
In books and movies, heroes and villains are always known, and easy to identify. You don’t have to think — you automatically know who you’re cheering for and who you’ll pray for their downfall.
I grew up with that mindset, and unfortunately, had to learn that, no, heroes and villains are not as easy to identify in real life as they are in books. There isn’t a hero holding up the car for a cat to pass, or a hero that flies around to save everyone's days.
Growing up is like moving from watching animated cartoons to thrillers full of plot twists. In real life, sometimes the obvious hero is the worst of villains, while the real hero is the ‘villain’ or a random minor character.
Growing up also teaches you that there could be multiple heroes, and a hero in one narrative can be a villain in another. Confusing, right? It’s a lot of complexity and nuance for a concept we were introduced to as children
As the young adult that I’ve grown to be, I think I’ve finally defined what a true hero is. And that is (insert drumroll):
the one who sticks to the truth.
One who is glued to the truth
A hero to me is a person who sticks to the truth no matter what. It’s someone who doesn’t trade the truth for power or to feed their greed. It’s someone who will not lie for their advantage. It’s someone who will fight injustice.
To better explain, I’ll give an example of a hero (of many) that embodies my definition of a real hero. To make an extremely long story short, there was this Muslim thinker, scholar, literary critic, and poet who once criticized the Arab army saying:
“إن هذه الجيوش العربية التي ترونها ليست للدفاع عن الإسلام والمسلمين إنما هي لقتلكم ولن تطلق طلقة واحدة على الصهاينة”
“These Arab armies that you see are not to defend Islam and Muslims, but rather to kill you, and they will not fire a single shot at the Zionists.”
His accurate words lead the corrupt government to arrest him from 1954 to 1964. Then he was released only to be rearrested the following year when he continued his activism and criticism of the corrupt government.
He was asked to apologize for what he wrote or to ask for forgiveness from the government to avoid execution and to this, he replied:
“إن أصبع السبابة الذي يشهد لله بالوحدانية، ليرفض أن يخطَّ حرفا يقر به حكم طاغية”
“لماذا أسترحم، إن سُجنت بحق فأنا أرضى حكم الحقّ، وإن سجنت بباطل فأنا أكبر من أن أسترحم الباطل”
“Verily, the index finger that testifies to the oneness of Allah (God) Azzawajal in prayer, utterly rejects to write even an alphabet, endorsing the rule of the tyrant.”
“Why should I beg for mercy? If I am imprisoned justly, I accept the judgment of justice, and if I am imprisoned unjustly, I am too great to beg mercy from falsehood”
His words describe my definition of an ideal hero. He wasn’t afraid to stick to the truth even when faced with death. He refused to apologize for every truth he wrote, even if the reward would’ve been his life. He refused to be a slave to injustice. And I think this takes immense courage and iman (faith), hence why I call him, and everyone like him, heroes.
To continue his story, he was executed for “an attempt to assassinate” the Egyptian president at that time. That’s what the media has spread as their reason for execution. Among many, he is now seen as the tyrant who was justly executed. While with many others he is known and remembered as the martyr and author of great books.
You may or may not have heard of him — his name is Sayyid Qutb. Feel free to research him but take note that heros can be villains in certain narratives (and vice versa too, of course)!
Following this definition, I have a sub-definition of a hero, which I call ‘an everyday hero.’ This is someone who, as I’ve described in a previous post, is unshaken or keeps trying to stand still against the ocean’s waves. It’s someone trying to stick to the meaning of life and let go of the trivial, silly matters and trends.
My definition of an everyday hero is a Muslim doing their best to stay on their deen (religion) when everyone around them has given in to this world.
So dear everyday heroes, don’t give up, stand firm against life’s tests, Allah sees your efforts and that is enough!
(سوره النجم ايه 40) وَأَنَّ سَعْيَهُۥ سَوْفَ يُرَىٰ
And that his effort is going to be seen (surah Al Najm 40)
Thank you for reading!
