Qualities of An Ideal by Dr Muhammad Rafi-ud-Din

What are the actual qualities of the ideal which man may take as his beloved? The answer to this question is contained in man's nature itself or in the nature itself or in the nature of his urge for love. This urge can only be satisified by ideal which is free in its qualities of every element that man can describe as a defect from an angle, for defect is the enemy of love. Human nature can not love an ideal with the awareness that it is defective. It can love an imperfect ideal too but only as long as its defect remains hidden from the human eye and it sees nothing but perfection in it. On the Contrary, man's beloved ideal must possess all those qualities up to the highest degree of perfection to which he may be attributing or may attribute beauty. Then, its beauty must be unlimitied, for If there is a limit to it, the human nature is such that it is satiated with it, and once satiated with it, and once satiated, grows weary of it. One of its reasons is that man's natural love is meant for an ideal whose beauty is unlimited. Moreover, that ideal must be such that no one else shares its qualities and excellence to even the smallest extent because human nature can love only one and not two at the same time

Allah has not put for any man two hearts inside his body

Surah Al Ahzaab Ayat 4 

   Then since man is himself alive, he cannot take for his ideal anything which is dead. To be dead is a defect. Moreover, the life of this ideal must be eternal, ever lasting and never subject to destruction. A Persian poet says : 

Ishq aan Zinda gazzeen khh baqeest

Waz sharab-i janfizaiyat saqeet

(Choose the love of that Alive who is immortal and gives you to drink a life giving/invigorating wine)

   Its reason is that if it can ever die, it is potentially dead even to day. Then, it is neccesary that it must posssess, upto the highest degree of perfection , all the attributes of life with which man is familiar in his own case. This means that it is capable of hearing, seeing, knowing, is well aware, understands man's everything, knows about his love, can appreciate it and respond to it. Human nature can love only such personalities as is itself capable of love, that is to say, it is loving. Then man also wishes that his ideal must have all the authorities in his hand i.e. it must be all powerful. Otherwise, someone else will share its love through there is absolutely no room in his heart for any one else. Again, his ideal must be his creator and that of the whole universe becaues if the whole universe including his whole person has come into being of itself and is out of control of his ideal, then why should he show any interest in it and adopt it as his ideal. In such a case, he can even claim equality with it. But man's nature does not need a peer or partner. On the contarary, it needs a being which possesses all the glory, greatness and grandeur much more than that. That is not all. He wishes that his ideal must have certain likes and dislikes and some will or purpose to be achieved so that he may fulfill it and thus gain pleasure out of its service and obedience. Without this his love does not find an out-let. Then, that ideal must not be powerless so that whoever may wish may oppose its will and it may be unable to punish him. Its reason is that if its powerless, while its lovers will carry out its will, its opponents will undo its endeavors with ease and impunity with the result that its purpose will never be achieved  and its lovers will also consider obeying, serving and loving it as a useless task thinking that their ideal is a weak and powerless being which is completely unworthy of love. Therefore, along-side the qualities of beauty, man's ideal must also possess the attributes of power, such as wrath, anger and revenge otherwise it will also not have the qualities of beauty 

Extract from "The Essence of Islam by Dr Muhammad Rafi-ud-Din"