Famous Pakistani actor Hamza Ali Abbasi shares his spiritual journey

Sharjah: Pakistan’s renowned actor, Hamza Ali Abbasi, describing himself as a ‘common man’, gave a compelling and personal insight into his journey of spiritual transformation, beautifully chronicled in his book ‘My Discovery of God, Islam & Judgment Day’.

Speaking to his legions of fans on the final day of the Sharjah International Book Fair 2024, Abbasi was honest and humble as he shared his struggles in trying to live up to the religious ideals of Islam. As a teenager, he was filled with questions and doubts about Allah. His sincere exploration of these existential questions has been documented in his book.

Common man

“I wrote this book as a common man. I am not a scholar, and I don’t intend to be one,” Abbasi said during the session, as he was cheered on by his fans.

“I was born in a Muslim family. As a teenager, I questioned how to lead my life. The teachings I had about Allah, doing good deeds, Judgement Day, heaven, and hell were all significant concepts. I wanted to know if these ideas were true. I thought about them rationally and couldn’t understand why a non-Muslim, despite being a good person, would go to hell simply because they weren’t Muslim. I had several questions like these, but I continued my search sincerely. Ultimately, I found the truth and satisfying answers. I’ve penned this down for the benefit of others who may have similar doubts and questions,” he explained, reflecting on his journey to Islam and the Holy Quran.

Rational thinking

Discussing his rational thinking and spiritual evolution, Abbasi noted that he initially faced challenges in following the principles mentioned in the Quran.

Citing a personal example, he shared: “The Quran tells you to control your anger, forgive, and forget. Allah instructs his followers to respond to bad gestures with good deeds. But for a common person, it’s difficult to control their anger, whether man or woman. Initially, it was difficult for me to restrain my anger.”

Flanked by his wife Naimal Khawar, Abbasi revealed that he had been an angry and judgemental person, particularly during his time hosting a TV show.

Transformation

“I was confrontational. I used to offend others and turn simple things into controversies. But by following the principles of Islam, I have completely changed,” said Abbasi, known for his role in movie ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’.

Emphasising the importance of humility, and cautioning against arrogance and ego, Abbasi highlighted the need for gratitude over pride, aligning his message with Islamic teachings.

“Allah created you, your personality, and all your attributes. So, you should not boast about what you’ve been given, as you had no role in creating them. This is an era of social media, which isn’t necessarily bad, but people tend to show off on these platforms. Allah is against such behaviour. We should never consider ourselves superior to others. Everyone is equal,” he said.

Self-discovery

Reflecting on his path of self-discovery, Abbasi urged fellow Muslims to understand and follow their faith with sincerity to become better human beings.

“We are all answerable to Allah on the Judgement day. When you follow a faith, it should transform you into a good person. Following my faith has profoundly changed me,” he added.