In this part of the article titled “Self-Purification, the Main Goal of Divine Messengers”, we shall focus on other relevant points on the topic here.
What to Be?
The scientific higher learning had confirmed that the human spirit consists of a physical occurrence and a spiritual eternal dimension. That is, the Celestial Spirit is the same earlier physical form, which after passing gradually through various stages of perfection has now reached to the level of human soul meaning potential human being. This movement towards perfection never stops rather continues till the end of human life. At the beginning he is a celestial abstract superior than the matter, but at the same time he is not a full or complete abstract because, for his existence, he is related to a physical body.
The soul consists of two dimensional existences: The material dimension which is related to body and performs material acts, and because of this consideration the stages of movements towards perfection have been attached to it; the other dimension is an abstract superior than the matter capable of performing non-material acts. One side of his existence is physical and animal while the other side is human and celestial. While he is not more than a single existence, possesses animal passions and desires and accordingly performs animalistic acts, but at the same times also possesses human desires and virtues and performs human obligations.
It was because of this wonderful creation that God-Almighty in Holy Quran said:
فَتَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِينَ
“So blessed be God -the best of creators” (1)
This wonderful creation at the very beginning is not complete, rather nourishes himself gradually towards his ultimate perfection. Beliefs, thoughts, virtues, and desires derived, from his actions and deeds build his real identity, thus gradually completing his perfection. Virtues and characteristics are not the sort of things which could be added to his existence from outside accidentally rather they are the real builders of his existence’s identity from within.
Here it is interesting to note that beliefs, thoughts, and characteristics not only exert influence upon human existence but, also are effective in his deciding what to be come? That is, righteous beliefs and thinking together with good morals and virtues as a result of righteous actions gradually ascend a human being towards the path of perfection ultimately his becoming a perfect human being and thus, attaining God’s Nearness.
Similarly ignorance, false ideologies, immoral deeds, and hard heartedness as a result of evil deeds pull human soul towards weakness and isolation, and after gradually leading him towards various animalistic stages eventually throws him inside the deep valleys of intense darkness. Because of his firmness, influence of animalistic characteristics and accumulation of ignorances and cruelties he turns into an animal form in his esoteric essence.
Yes, his essence indeed turns into an animal thus, acquiring an animalistic personality. He no longer remains a human being but is an animal or even worse than an animal because, he is an animal who has acquired his animalism after passing through the superior stage of humanism. Although, outwardly he lives a human life but, in essence has turned into an animal without being aware of this internal change.
The animalism of animals is not due to their special faces or features, rather it is because of their animalistic selves and absolute obedience to their animalistic instincts and desires without any limitations and considerations.
A wolf is regarded as a wolf not because of his apparent wolfy face but, it is because of his brutal nature and his absolute obedience to this instinct without any limitations that he is regarded as a wolf. Therefore, if someone is completely subdued by animal brutality in a manner that his senses of seeing and thinking become out of order, then such a person in essence turns into a real wolf- a wolf far brutal as compared to common wild wolfs. Because, now his faculties of wisdom and thinking are being employed and are at the service of his brutal animalistic characteristics.
It is because of this reason that there are situations, where human being are charged with brutal crimes for which the wild wolf could not be charged. Are such human being not wolves? Yes! They are indeed true wolves, even though they do not understand and the others regard them as humans. But, On the Day of Resurrection, when the curtains shall be rolled up, their inner essence will be exposed.
Obviously Paradise is not a place for wolves, because they cannot become companions for saints and righteous servants of God. Such a wolf who has been demoted to lower animal status from the superior human status, deserves to be confined, punished, and tortured inside the dark and horrible environment of Hell.
Therefore, a human being in this world is an undetermined existence who builds himself his future personality. Either he becomes human thus, surpassing in excellence even with the most intimate God’s angels, or descends whereby his inner essence turns into an animal. This is something whose authencity have been proved by higher scientific learning as well as confirmed and certified by Divine Prophets. Also, the Holy Prophet (S) and the Infallible Imams (a.s.) of his Holy Progeny (Ahlul Bayt) have informed about that.
Holy Prophet (S) had said:
وفي الحديث النبوى يحشر بعض الناس على صور يحسن عندها القردة الخنازير
“On the Day of Resurrection, the people will reappear in faces that the faces of monkeys and pigs are far better than theirs.” (2)
The Commander of the Faithful Imam ‘Ali (a.s.) about the corrupt scholar, has said:
قال على عليه السلام: فالصورة صورة انسان، القلب قلب حيوان, لا يعرف باب الهدى فيتبعه ولا باب العمى فيصد عنه وذالك ميت بین الاحيا
“Although, his outward appearance is like a human being his heart is like an animal heart. He does not recognize the path of guidance so that he could follow it and does not know the path of deviation so that he could avoid it. Such a person is indeed a dead one living among the alive.” (3)
Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) had said:
قال ابو عبدالله عليه السلام: ان المتكبرين يجعلون في صور الذر, يتوطوهم الناس حتى يفرق الله من الحساب
“The arrogant people on the day of Resurrection will be transformed into tiny ants to be trampled by the people till accounts of all the people are settled.” (4)
God-Almighty in the Holy Quran said:
وَإِذَا الْوُحُوشُ حُشِرَتْ
“And when the wild beasts are herded together.” (5)
Some of the commentators of the Holy Qur’an have interpreted the phrase “wild animals” in the above verse for human beings who will reappear with animal faces on the Day of Resurrection, because, unlike human beings the animals are not required to be judged for their deeds, hence their appearance does not make any sense.
God-Almighty in Holy Quran said:
يَوْمَ يُنفَخُ فِي الصُّورِ فَتَأْتُونَ أَفْوَاجًا
“A day when the trumpet is blown and ye come in multitudes.” (6)
According to some of the commentators, the above verse has been interpreted that on the Day of Judgment, human beings will be separated from each other and will appear in different groups in accordance with their esoteric faces. There is an interesting narration from the Holy Prophet (S) regarding the interpretation of the above verse: Ma’z bin Jabal said: “I asked the Holy Prophet (S) about the interpretation of the above verse. He replied: ‘Oh! Ma’z you had asked about a very important subject while shedding tears from his eyes the Holy Prophet (S) said: My ummah will reappear in ten different groups on the Day of Judgment as follows:
“Some of them will reappear as monkeys while some of them will look like pigs; some of them will reappear while walking upside down,. some will reappear as blind and wandering, some of them will reappear as deaf and dumb understanding absolutely nothing; some will reappear chewing their tongues while blood and pus will be coming out of their mouths making the people around them uncomfortable; some of them will reappear with their hands and feet cut off; some will reappear as being hanged upon branches of fire, and while some of them will reappear with the dress of molten lead pressed to their bodies.’
“Then he explained these ten categories as follows: “Those who will reappear as monkeys are the tale bearers or spies; those who will reappear as pigs are the ones who accepted bribes and had illegal income those who will be walking upside down are the ones who practised usury, those who are blind are the judges and officers who oppressed the people, those who are dumb and deaf are the ones who were egotistic and ambitious; those who will reappear with their hands and feet cut off are the ones who pained and troubled their neighbours; those who are hanged upon the branches of fire were the people who indulged in slandering and backbiting against the masses for the pleasure of kings and rulers; those whose odours is worst than dead bodies are the ones who indulged themselves in worldly desires and passions without paying Divine Share from their wealth, and those who are dressed in molten lead dress are the arrogant ones who took pride in themselves.” (7)
In light of the above, ethical and moral matters cannot be treated as minor and insignificant rather are the most important crucial and determinant matters which build the esoteric and spiritual life of a human being and even influence his “what to become”. Thus, moral education not only teaches how to live but also deals with “what to become” for human beings.
NOTES:
_______________________________________________________
1. The Holy Quran 23:14
2. Qurrath al-Ayoon, p-479.
3. Nahjul Balagha, sermon 87.
4. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 7, p-201.
5. The Holy Quran 81:5
6. The Holy Quran 78:18
7. Tafsir Majma al-Bayan, vol. 10, p-423, Ruh al-Bayan, vol. 10, p-299 and Nur al-Thaqalain, vol. 5, p-493
