I have died a million times over. We all have - the sanctity of life and the madness of men

THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO

I have died a million times over,

I have mourned my own passing more times

Than there are grains of sand by the sea.

I have died a million times over,

I have drawn the shroud over my lifeless body

And as the mourners shuffle around my burial plot

I could hear myself mutter, “Goodbye Mummy.”

I have died a million times over,

In my house, in my village, in the lonely desert,

In the forest, in the hills and gentle valleys,

Wherever Man have settled

I have died there.

I have died a million times over,

I have been killed over pride and money,

Over land and bigotry,

Over lies and jealousy,

Alone or in a phalanx of soldiers

Or standing with my back against the wall,

They killed me.

I have died a million times over,

And my Lord has mourned over my passing,

And I have laid my broken heart into His embrace

As He asked, “How could have they done this to you…?”

I have died a million times over, you see,

And each time I answer God,

“Forgive them, for they know not what they do…”

...................

This posting is written on the weary back of this sinner, who sometimes despairs at the madness of man and their terrible ways - Our destructiveness on this Earth and our spite that we lash out towards our own brothers and sisters for all sorts of reasons. The Angels were aware of our inner dark fires. They forgot themselves when they deigned to question God in the Holy Quran 2:30...

Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent on earth." They said: "Wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood?- whilst we do celebrate Thy praises and glorify Thy holy (name)?" He said: "I know what ye know not." (Yusuf Ali translation)

Of the act of unlawfully taking another person's life, this is said in the Quran 5:32

On that account: We ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people. Then although there came to them Our messengers with clear signs, yet, even after that, many of them continued to commit excesses in the land. (Yusuf Ali translation)

So I am not far wrong, you see. When a 5 year old girl was kidnapped and murdered in cold blood recently here in Malaysia, we all died. When a Rabbi and the three children were killed by a so-called Jihadist in France recently, we all died. When that so-called Christian crusader went on a bomb and shooting spree and killing almost 80 people in Oslo last year, we all died.

With each murder on this planet, we diminish as a nation of humanity. Because murder is the rejection of our very humanity. It is the Divine Answer, 'I know what ye know not' that holds us together like a thread, despite the murderers in our midst. And it is the life-savers and care-givers of this world - the doctors and nurses, the paramedics and volunteers, the charities and donors, the kind Samaritans and rescuers, who put back our faith in our own humanity. For to quote God again "...And if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people..."

Thank you for allowing me to share my little sorrow and hope with you, sunshine. May God bless you always and may God forgive me. And may we always learn something new to make tomorrow a better day, God-willing. 

Pax Taufiqa

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way