By Ibrahim Suleiman Ibrahim
One thing about being a public figure is that it deprives you of your nature to be human (one bound to make mistakes). Moreover, it makes you lose your private life, as everything you do is often turned into a public affair.
It’s even more troubling when you’re a religious public figure who is commonly referred to as an Ustaz because you’d have to go the extra mile to pretend to be who you’re not sometimes to remain in people’s good book.
Now, imagine having to tender an apology and an explanation to an entitled public for your personal affair, which they consider inappropriate, or risk being bullied. Some of these issues that raise concerns are debatable or even irrelevant.
People with visible flaws would even be the ones at the forefront of bullying you when you derail from their definition of saint or Ustaz just because they expect you to be completely flawless.
Nobody would understand the irresistible youthful exuberance, satanic temptation, peer group influence, and other factors that might have led to your deviation from the path of saintliness.
Anyway, such prestigious recognition and status come with a price. So, I can say that’s the price you’d have to pay for being what so many people are not.
It is more important to please God while being true to your conscience than trying to please humans, as pleasing humans can never be completely achievable.
Ibrahim Suleiman Ibrahim wrote via suleimibrahim00@gmail.com.