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By Mihar Dias November 2024
In the annals of leadership, Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech remains one of the most potent symbols of hope, progress, and change. When King stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, his words weren't merely an idealistic vision but a call to action.
King dreamed of racial equality, where character and not skin colour would define individuals. He didn't only share a dream; he set in motion a movement that, despite numerous setbacks, created real pathways to change. King's dream was not of personal revelation but of societal evolution — a future that, while yet unfinished, continues to inspire.
In contrast, recently, Malaysia’s Abdul Hadi Awang, president of PAS, shared that he too had a “dream” — one he claims took place a decade ago, where he purportedly met the Prophet Muhammad. According to Hadi, this dream contained a divine message, instructing him to work towards uniting Muslims.
Unlike King’s public, collective call, Hadi’s dream carries a private and arguably ambiguous revelation.
When leaders like Martin Luther King dream, they aim to ignite a collective spirit, urging society to strive for a just reality. Hadi's dream, however, drifts into a more intimate, mystical territory — one that offers neither clarity on action nor practical steps for Malaysia's diverse society.
UMNO leader Mohd Puad Zarkashi’s response to Hadi’s vision raises a valid question: if this dream occurred a decade ago, where is the tangible action? And if it is a call for unity, why has PAS frequently demonstrated divisive, rather than unifying, rhetoric?
The irony here is hard to overlook: where King’s dream was a catalyst for change, Hadi’s dream risks being seen as a distraction. Dreams may inspire, but they are only as powerful as the waking actions they inspire.
Then, there’s the religious nuance. In Islam, seeing the Prophet in a dream is considered possible, as Shaytaan cannot impersonate his image.
But Islam also warns against fabricating visions or misusing such personal experiences for earthly gain.
Abu Hurairah (radhiallahu ‘anhu) quoted the Prophet himself, emphasising the severe consequence of falsely attributing statements to him — “he who purposefully speaks a lie against me, will have his seat in the Fire” (Al-Bukhari).
Hence, while Hadi’s dream may be genuine to him, the onus is on him to demonstrate what this message means for all Muslims, not merely to his base or his party.
Dreams of societal change require grounding in action, the kind that resists easy symbolism in favour of concrete, unifying efforts.
Where Martin Luther King Jr. fought tirelessly for inclusivity and equality, Hadi’s claim seems content with a notion of unity that divides even as it professes to unite.
The Malaysia of today is complex and pluralistic; unity must transcend religious, racial, and ideological lines if it is to uplift everyone.
Martin Luther King Jr. left behind a legacy that requires no dreams to interpret — it exists in the ongoing journey toward justice.
Perhaps Hadi Awang and other leaders would do well to take a page from his playbook: dreams are only the beginning; what follows in the waking world is what truly matters.
Mihar Dias is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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