REVERING THE DEAD, REVILING THE LIVING

Recognize True Worth

TO accord due credit to the living is a sign of intellectual dynamism in people. But the necessary sense of discernment and the ability to evaluate the true value of a human being are all too often lacking in even the most cultured of communities. It is easier, and perhaps safer, to eulogize the dead, even to the point of exalting them far and above their actual worth.

An example of failure to recognize the genuine worth of a living individual is the rejection of Moses as a prophet in the court of Pharaoh. Pharaoh was so against accepting any truth proclaimed by Moses that he said, “Build for me a lofty building so that I may gain access to the heavens, so that I may look upon the God of Moses: I am convinced that he is a liar!” (40: 37). Moses was declared to be a “magician” and an “imposter”. (40: 24)

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Tardy, and even posthumous acceptance of true greatness is a commonplace in the annals of history. Undue veneration of the dead to the total disregard of the living is equally a commonplace.

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The people of Mecca behaved no differently in the case of Muhammad. While they felt proud to think of Abraham as the progenitor of their people and used to extol his virtues and revel in his greatness, they spurned Muhammad, denying his prophethood and reviling him to his face. They stopped at nothing to discredit him.

Tardy, and even posthumous acceptance of true greatness is a commonplace in the annals of history. Undue veneration of the dead to the total disregard of the living is equally a commonplace. It is a sad reflection on the powers of discernment of even highly educated societies that this state of affairs should persist.

A society can be labelled as healthy if it recognizes the true potential and worth of its member without reservation and delay.