The Sanctity of Life
Honouring The Sanctity of Life Through
Spirituality, Kinship & Compassion
Shiban Akbar
Issue 21, Spring/Summer 2009
All mankind is of one author, and is one volume;…
No man is an island, entire of itself ;
Every man is a piece of the continent , a part of the main;…
Any man’ s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind;
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.
Spirituality, Kinship & Compassion
- John Donne
John Donne, the 17th century metaphysical poet and a man of faith reminds us in his ‘Meditation XV11’ of the elements that bind each of us together having originated from the same source. How true, yet ironic, his immortal words ring in our time when, dominated by the internet and electronic media, the world is at our finger tips. Metaphysically the globe has shrunk and so we talk now of a global community, but we have to ask ourselves, is there an actual global community where we spiritually connect with each other; where we cherish difference in the same way we cherish sameness; where we see a reflection of collective failure?
Our world as it stands today is paralysed by injustice, bloody wars, oppression, human rights abuse, brutality and suffering. How much more can we take, and more importantly how much more of the suffering are we going to inflict on others in the months and years ahead. Is it not time to take stock of our un-doings and try to work collectively to end this mindless violence - whether it is committed for political gain, territorial or economic expansion, colonial supremacy, vengeance, retribution, ethnic persecution or in the name of religion? Of the party of men who try to lead people astray and take innocent lives The Qur’an cautions in verse 4:114 “There is no good in most of their secret talk, only in commanding charity, or good, or reconciliation between people…”; and in verse 5:32 “… If anyone kills a person … it is as if he kills all mankind,while if any saves a life it is as if he saves the lives of all mankind.”
In many parts of the world, politics is intertwined with religion and, in some cases, twinned with religion too. Subsequently, many impressionable people are tragically caught between the unholy-alliance of religious fanaticism and secular fundamentalism, both trends having sunk their teeth deep into the moral and intellectual fibre of the society. It is then left to everyday people who walk-in-faith or walk-in-peace to come forward to try to protect their fellow souls wherever they are. Is the Creator of the Universe not served in a more befitting way if we are able to put our differences aside and demonstrate solidarity and kinship for His creation, even if we are incapacitated to truly respect each other? We can demonstrate solidarity and kinship by allowing human dignity and human rights to find a place in the greater scheme of life, and allow peace to ultimately grow and prosper. Let’s do it, let’s do it in the name of our children: for the children of yesterday who were sacrificed, and the children of today who are suffering, and the children of tomorrow who face an uncertain future. Many of our lives are torn apart; many of us are in palpable pain; passing many a sleepless night, campaigning for justice and change in society;many hopeful that things could change; and many despondent that the message calling for peace may fall on deaf ears. Add your voice to others – inspire them – share their burden of pain and of hope - make them free!
In a beautiful chapter (107) called ‘Common Kindnesses’ The Qur’an addressing the Noble Prophet says: “[Prophet], have you considered the person who denies the Judgement? It is he who pushes aside the orphan and does not urge others to feed the needy. So woe to those who pray but are heedless of their prayer; those who are all show and forbid common kindnesses.”
In Islam the whole world is regarded as a Mosque. This doesn’t only mean that our worship of God need not be restricted within the Mosque and we can pray at home or in the open air or in any suitable location. It also means that our world is sacrosanct and thus we are required to preserve its sanctity at every stage of our lives.
The foundation of afterlife is from this life itself. The beginning of punishment is also from our deeds in this life. And for that matter the beginning of peace in the hereafter is also from our peaceful initiatives and convivial coexistence in this life.Whatever we sow here, we will bring to our final abode at journey’s end.When we rob people of their basic human dignity or embark on a blood-spilling rampage do we stop to think what we will bring back as takings to our final abode; how we will face our Maker; how we will justify slaughtering,maiming or mutilating our sisters and brothers in humanity and their innocent children? Do men think that when they torture women; abuse them; use them for sexual transaction; expose female body and glamorise nudity for commercial gain; deny their personal freedom; restrict them from achieving their potential; that they strike at the very womb that bore them?
The Noble Qur’an commands “O mankind! … Be careful of your duty … toward the wombs that carried you” (4:1); “The true believers, both men and women, are protecting friends to each other. They enjoin what is just and forbid what is evil …“(9:71-72);“… do not cause corruption in the land after it has been set in order… ” (7:85)
Allah reveals in a Sacred Tradition i: “I was a hidden treasure and I loved to be known, therefore I created so that I might be known.” Our Creator revealed Himself from His love and from ‘essence’ to ‘attribute’ – the Divine Soul became manifested in every particle and element.The entire universe then is invested with Divine sanctity and brought into being from Divine love. The Qur’an asserts that God is closer to us than our jugular vein (50:16) and “… wherever you turn, there is His Face (His Direction)…” (2-115).Are we not then obligated to live our life within the constraints of heightened God consciousness and take careful steps through the trajectories of life?
Mankind was appointed to inherit the earth as a viceregent or ‘Khalifah’ and hold things on trust.This is a sacred charter of responsibilities, duties and rights. What is inherited needs to be safeguarded for sustenance so viceregency in Islam is no mean a vocation.To be a good viceregent one first must be a good servant of God.And there is no better way to serve theAll-Encompassing Giver of Life than to strive with humility towards achieving harmony with Him and ensure that collective life is cared for and cherished.
i Known as Hadith Qudsi Quranic verses are fromThe Qur’an,
A new translation by M.A.S Abdel Haleem, Oxford University Press.
In Islam the whole world is regarded as a Mosque