What is the value of a human life, viewed as a Muslim?
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532 makes clear "Anyone who kills a person for other than murder, or corruption in the land; then it is as if he has killed all the people! And whoever spares a life, then it is as if he has given life to all the people." It's not just that human life is sacred, it is the source of all sacredness in our lives, which God has given us.
Agreed. Life is precious who are we to take it?
Children/babies and adults are human. Some children devalue their own rights of existence.
Salam )
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a question I have considered is, what is the value of a single human life, from my perspective I based my view on a child's life, as in adulthood many through their actions devalue their own right to existence within this reality.
Salam Abdun Nur,
I don't know what is your motive behind this question, but from what you said, "devalue their own right to existence", i assumed you have been in some degree of empathic connection with them. If that's the case, then we know that there is no way we can leave a single person in need untouched, once we knew what actually happened to that person.
In response to verse 532, what i understand is connecting with another human in person, in a somehow deep sense, as to steer someone's heart to make a decision to save another's life),is the only way we can fully understand the most precious of God's blessing (life, entirely).
To contrast that, as you implied after the question, i was asking a related question to myself yesterday, "what if i were not exist?"... another entirely different subject really, but that made me ponder about this maybe the true purpose of 532 is for us to understand this distinction between life and death, and to a degree, between existence and non-existence (the latter perhaps best explained in another verse).
Unfortunately, there seem to be so many people having thought about their own life (or other's) as worthless, to even having thought about ending it. Unfortunately again, they do share such thoughts through far-reaching media--TV, movies, internet, etc. There are many (public) discussions on the Net about suicidal thoughts. Frequent explicit crime news/headlines/stories on TV. Today's movies of many genres also put a heavily discounted price tag on "life". Remember an ending where the "protagonist" could have easily and safely spared the life of the "antagonist", but proceeded to "execute" anyway? Revenge carried with a sense of justification. Little scenarios/imagery like this, when accumulated in mind, may affect more and more people of this time into losing empathy towards "life". Even those who still have a deep level of empathy without realizing it would not survive this mass 'psychic degeneration' without the right guidance.
Making the decision to save one's life, i believe, will change one's whole view about life, and brings an understanding that no one but those who've been-there-done-that can have. When i wrote this, i remembered some of the many Reader's Digest articles on life-saving. We need more of such stories massively and constantly publicized. Promote empathy. Promote saving life.
Hope i contributed something here. We're waiting to read about your view on this.
Salam
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why does according to 493 a life of a believer seems to be put above the rest.
493 And whoever kills a believer intentionally, then his recompense shall be Hell, abiding therein, and God will be angry with him, and curse him, and for him is prepared a great retribution.
why 'a believer' and not 'a human in general'?
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why does according to 493 a life of a believer seems to be put above the rest.
493 And whoever kills a believer intentionally, then his recompense shall be Hell, abiding therein, and God will be angry with him, and curse him, and for him is prepared a great retribution.
why 'a believer' and not 'a human in general'?
Good question. The next question should be how do we distinct a "believer" from "non-believer"?
The next verse 494 emphasizes "careful investigation" before making a "strike" in the way of God, and prevent us against anyone who offered peace.
494 O you who believe, if you go forth in the cause of God, you shall investigate carefully. And do not say to those who greet you with peace 'You are not a believer!' You are seeking the vanity of this world; but with God are many riches. That is how you were before, but God graced you, so investigate carefully. God is expert over what you do.
Peace
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why does according to 493 a life of a believer seems to be put above the rest.
493 And whoever kills a believer intentionally, then his recompense shall be Hell, abiding therein, and God will be angry with him, and curse him, and for him is prepared a great retribution.
why 'a believer' and not 'a human in general'?
Why would someone want to intentionally kill someone who does good? who is proactive and does good for themselves and others?
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Salaam,
thank you for the interest in this question, I have not made my question clear, I wish to understand the minds of Muslims, a group who profess a higher state of consciousness, I have given this question some thought, to clarify
The Value of a single human life.
What would you give to save a single human life, a life you have never encountered, a face you have never seen, a voice you have never heard, who's thoughts you have never shared, who's eyes you have never shone in?
What cost is a single human life to you personally, what cost would you surrender, what hardship would you endure, what efforts would you expend?
What defense of a single human life would you offer of yourself, what pain would you endure, what injuries would you gladly accept, what fears would you overcome?
What exchange would you provide, what is a single human life really worth to you?
This is the most important pattern any Muslim can generate, the pattern of unity, what is a single human life worth to you?
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The Value of a single human life.
What would you give to save a single human life, a life you have never encountered, a face you have never seen, a voice you have never heard, who's thoughts you have never shared, who's eyes you have never shone in?
What cost is a single human life to you personally, what cost would you surrender, what hardship would you endure, what efforts would you expend?
What defense of a single human life would you offer of yourself, what pain would you endure, what injuries would you gladly accept, what fears would you overcome?
What exchange would you provide, what is a single human life really worth to you?
This is the most important pattern any Muslim can generate, the pattern of unity, what is a single human life worth to you?
Terrific introspective questions, Abdun Nur. This should sweep all the clich?s away. However i also think that it's something that must be questioned with real-life cases and answered with real-life acts. Otherwise... empty, politically-correct theoretical answers.
Personally, should i "chicken out" in doing so --when the chance comes-- i have this to bear with
inna Salt wanusuk wamayya wamamt lillhi rabbi 'l-lamn
Strongly opinionated only ppl who have the habit of "sustaining" life would welcome the chance of saving one's life; ppl who 're used to sustaining their own selves would pass up the chance.
I also have reservation for your opening question. It's only relevant in emergency cases. While in everyday cases, we'd better know up to a degree of certainty about who's the single human to help/save. And unless emergency is your everyday job, the everyday cases (ought to) matter more for most people.
Peace
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A human life is everything, completely, as 532 makes clear "Anyone who kills a person for other than murder, or corruption in the land; then it is as if he has killed all the people! And whoever spares a life, then it is as if he has given life to all the people." It's not just that human life is sacred, it is the source of all sacredness in our lives, which God has given us.
bravo
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Salaam,
a question I have considered is, what is the value of a single human life, from my perspective I based my view on a child's life, as in adulthood many through their actions devalue their own right to existence within this reality.
I would be interested to read the answer to this question from other Muslims, as I have a view on this I haven't seen another express, I hope many will express their values on this idea,
Thank you.
Peace,
Think about your happiness, joy, love .... it cannot simply be tagged with a price.
My life is worth more then Earth -to me.
Do you understand?
God bless you.Peace.
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Salaam,
my question is not abstract, nor theoretical, it is the true Dua of Islam, when you consider the concept of Dua, and the reality of the results of actions.
Dua is the consequence of Salat (Salat is the intention) you establish your desire, you determine to follow through that desire and (Dua is the act) you seek to accomplish that desire, the wider result from that accomplishment is predetermined as to the conceptual outcome, the system of the conscious energy (Allah), to invoke that inescapable result.
You may wonder how this relates to the worth a single human life, as most view Islam as a Religion, when it is the direct opposite of any religion, being a Deen.
A Deen is every action, intention, objective within an entire lifetime, from the instant of creation to the moment of transformation.
As an example, you buy a can of Coke a cola, a small amount of the money you give for that product goes to fund the Israeli governments genocide of the Palestinian indigenous population, so you become the facilitator and empower of the Israeli's subjugation and extermination of your fellow Muslims.
The price of a human life in this case would be a can of coke.
Another example, you pay taxes to the British Government, which is directly against the guidance of the Qur'an, as you can have no sovereign, not even the Rasul Muhammad can be your sovereign, therefore you can have no sovereign government, not to mention the fact that all forced taxation is a clear form of Riba or usury.
With your taxation the British Government attack Afghanistan and Iraq, murdering millions of Muslims in your name, so the price of a human life in this case, is fear of a subjugator.
Consider this view when establishing your personal value of a human life, if you would like more examples I can present more to consider.
I wait to see the value you arrive at, thank you.
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Salaam Abdun Nur,
You mentioned a very interesting relationship between Salat & Du'a. Your question is not theoretical, but unfortunately the answers to your question may be--especially if it's not driven to real-life cases like what you just presented
As an example, you buy a can of Coke a cola, a small amount of the money you give for that product goes to fund the Israeli governments genocide of the Palestinian indigenous population, so you become the facilitator and empower of the Israeli's subjugation and extermination of your fellow Muslims.
The price of a human life in this case would be a can of coke.
Another example, you pay taxes to the British Government, which is directly against the guidance of the Qur'an, as you can have no sovereign, not even the Rasul Muhammad can be your sovereign, therefore you can have no sovereign government, not to mention the fact that all forced taxation is a clear form of Riba or usury.
With your taxation the British Government attack Afghanistan and Iraq, murdering millions of Muslims in your name, so the price of a human life in this case, is fear of a subjugator.
Consider this view when establishing your personal value of a human life, if you would like more examples I can present more to consider.
I wait to see the value you arrive at, thank you.
Now those are real-life cases. Funny that some others have calculated USD 3-5 million. Someone tops it at 10. Though on this matter for sure i'm not interested in monetized figures...
http//www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-6121510.html
http//www.slate.com/id/2224790/pagenum/2I don't know much about taxes in UK, but i can think of a possible alternative real-life act related to one of those cases above.
Coke ~ Israel vs Palestinian --> Palestinian Olive Oil -- Playgrounds for Palestine
Maybe it's time for us to ditch Coke from our list and begin promoting and distributing Palestinian Olive Oil?
That's only a glimpse of what we can do.
An interesting mind frame http//www.theflip.net/pullingout.htm
For every case, i believe there is an upright action. The price i'd pay to take that certain action would be the practical "Single Human Value" for me. It could be a day's work. or it could be a seemingly endless, lifetime work. It could be a minute decision on the retail store, or it could be a risk to be homeless in the next n days or so... To me, the worth of Life of a Single Human can only be measured by my own life. How much part of my own life i am willing to give for the benefit of others' life. This came from AQ verses which encourage us to strive/jihad with our wealth/properties/abundance as well as with our own soul/life.
Also, we're encouraged to unite in fighting in the cause of Allah. So our willingness to cooperate with one another is also accountable in calculating the practical "Single Human Value" (egoistic operation vs. interpersonal cooperation). Or maybe i'm only trying to knock on our willingness to unite as muslim to Allah--i mean in the most pragmatic ways, to start putting best efforts on the most important issues (life-critical).
Congrats on starting this thread, i wish for it to be hundred pages long producing some real-life fruits.
Peace
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Why would someone want to intentionally kill someone who does good? who is proactive and does good for themselves and others?
not the point... why does it say 'believer' and not simply generalize it by saying any human... this would imply that one who believes is somewhat higher in some status
Good question. The next question should be how do we distinct a "believer" from "non-believer"?
The next verse 494 emphasizes "careful investigation" before making a "strike" in the way of God, and prevent us against anyone who offered peace.
yeah, but why is it distinct regarding killing... is killing a nonbeliever any different from killing a believer...
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not the point... why does it say 'believer' and not simply generalize it by saying any human... this would imply that one who believes is somewhat higher in some status
That is the point. any human life is valuable (532) and then our individual value differs. One who believes has a higher value based on their actions. It's not simply thoughts of belief.. belief encompasses actions. Is the one who sits the same as the one who strives? off course not.
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not the point... why does it say 'believer' and not simply generalize it by saying any human... this would imply that one who believes is somewhat higher in some status
yeah, but why is it distinct regarding killing... is killing a nonbeliever any different from killing a believer...
Easy. Who's really able to distinct a believer from nonbeliever? you? me? anyone else here? That's why the next verse (494) becomes critical.
After all,
1733 And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden, except by right. And whoever is killed unjustly - We have given his heir authority, but let him not exceed limits in taking life. Indeed, he has been supported.
Food for thought
3316 Say, "Never will fleeing benefit you if you should flee from death or killing; and then, you would not be given enjoyment except for a little."
And let's not miss an important point of 532
Because of that, (background?)
We decreed upon the Children of Israel (contextobservant?)
that whoever kills a soul by other than (exception)• a soul or
• corruption in the land -
it is as if he had slain mankind entirely.
And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely.
And our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs.
Then indeed many of them, after that, throughout the land, were transgressors.Weren't the exceptions above refer to a person who has killed/caused death of someone else unjustly, or who has done corruption to a degree of severity in the earth? As for the context, i think there are other AQ verses explaining this matter (1733 among them), so maybe we should take this verse as a precedence.
Peace
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Human life is precious, Glory to God. So precious that oppression of human rights is the only justification for war.
The unbeleivers are for the most part the ones who will oppress others and that is why the Quran mentions fighting unbelievers in particular if they wage war instead of peace treaties. One a small level though, and for me personally it can feel tough, but even people you can't stand to be around, it's very importan to respect that God created them and will guide or misguide them as He wills. I know a few people in my life where it would seem like it would feel great for me to unload what I really think about them and tell them mean things. But their life is worth my respect because God created them and chose to let me experience their personality. This is the verse I often remember in situations like this Not equal is the good response and the bad response. You shall resort to the nicest possible response. Thus, the one who used to be your enemy, may become your best friend. -
Salaam,
do you believe the Qur'an directs a state, or each individual Muslim to fight against Riba (Usury), slavery, exploitation, subjugation, etc.?
When, as a Muslim you can have no sovereign, not even the Rusul Muhammad could have been your sovereign, no human being can be your sovereign, or enforce sovereignty over you, as a Muslim, yet those professing to be Muslims are utterly subjugated?
This means you can have no sovereign state as a Muslim.
Do you think the state is responsible for your actions, or the lack of action, in the removal of Riba (Usury), slavery, prostitution, poor education, genocide,etc.; or you personally as a Muslim?
If you invest your saving within a Rothschild bank, the founders of the Israeli state, are you responsible for that act, or have you no choice?
If you pay into a pension every month, that then invests your labours into Motorola, the largest manufacturer of land mines on earth, is that your fault?
If you pay taxes to a sovereign state, who then uses you labour to exterminate the population of its neighbour, it that your fault?
If you vote for a sovereign to subjugate you, and so empower them to subjugate those around you, is that your fault?
If you invest in the stock market and earn money from the fruits of others without any effort yourself, is that your fault?
If you see a child starving and beaten and walk by without a second thought, is that your fault?
If you hear of a child being abused, if you suspect a child is being abused, and do nothing, is that your fault?
If you buy from a monopoly, empowering the restrictive nature of their fraud, such as diamonds, is that your fault?
If you rent properties to others as their permanent home, a form of Riba (Usury), is that your fault?
If you force you daughter to marry a man you have chosen, is that your fault?
If you stand silent while others suffer hardship, brutality, poverty, disease, genocide, starvation, slavery or deep depravity at the hands of others, is that your fault?
What is the price to you, of a human life?
Millions and millions of human beings are dieing every year from the neglect of Religious Muslim, from the encouragement given to the companies, institutions and establishments patronized by Religious Muslims, from the support through investments, and consumption by Religious Muslims, from the active involvement of Muslims participating in the very structures of extermination; the world has suffered enough from religion, the time has arrived for Muslims to return to the world.
What is the price to you, of a human life?
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I haven't read all the replies yet. I will later and maybe respond to those. But right now I'll just say that I've thought about this myself and it's a very difficult question.
I don't know if human life is worth that much, or if every human life is worth the same. I tend to act based on the rule that if I want to be treated a certain way then I must treat others the same way. Or if I want something from the world I must give the world that first. So if I value my life, I have to value all others the same because I am not any different from anyone else.
BUT, there is also the fact that some people are just BETTER than others. Isn't a good person worth more than an evil person? Or a smarter person who has more to offer the world than a mentally handicapped one who will contribute little if anything? Is it okay to look at it like that or should we consider their sentimental value? -
Salaam,
it seems everyone wishes to avoid the answer to the question, it is you who establish the value of a human life, every day you make choices that impact positively or negatively upon the lives of others; will I buy this, will I invest in that, will I donate something to help this, will I help those around me, those close and far, will I educate myself in all things to spread knowledge, will I give of myself freely to all who need my help, will I make a stand and become an example of truth to those around me, will I refuse oppression, hatred, ignorance and usury (Riba)?
And the answer is always No.
Religious Muslims tell themselves, I am powerless, what can I do?
And the answer is always Nothing.
Religious Muslims tell themselves, it is not wrong, Riba is not Usury, so usury is ok in most situations, its only for the destitute it applies, I don't think about the suffering of those my Usury kills, impoverishes, corrupts, enslaves and degrades, I have no choice, what can I do?
And the answer is always nothing.
Just like a stake anchored deep in the earth their love of nothing holds them to the ground; will you help? What can I do? Is the answering voice of Religious Islam in the modern world.
Subjugated willingly, is that a Muslim?
Enslaved to the will of another, it can be a Mullah, an Iman, a state, a idol of any description, and you are not a Muslim, as you can have absolutely no sovereign, only Allah has sovereignty.
Enslaved to the laws of man, it can be Admiralty Law, corporate structure, eminent domain upon the land, so a form of ownership that is usury, Riba, and so you can not be a Muslim, only Allah has ownership of the land and its fruits.
Enslaved to the traditions of your ancestors, superstitions, rituals and dogma, conjecture and confusion, and so you can not be a Muslim, Allah expressed a complete guide, you need no other guide.
A believer is not a Religious person of any description, a believer is a believer in truth, no matter the cost, whatever the hardship, what ever the loss, the truth is the foundation of all creation, the opposite of the truth is nothing, are you a believer in the truth, only your actions will demonstrate that, pray all you wish, it does not make you Muslim, a Muslim is defined purely upon their actions within this life, ritual is not involved.
So as I said earlier within this thread, as an example, if you buy a can of coke, you are in support of the Zionist genocide of the Palestinian people, a simple act buying a can of coke, do you think Allah would not have noticed?
Modern life is filled with actions detrimental to human life, but what can a Muslim do?
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Who's really able to distinct a believer from nonbeliever? you? me? anyone else here?
Valid point san. Wherever God uses the word "believer" in the Quran, there will always be people who think they know what a believer is and decide from their own foolishness. My first thought is like your's. Who am I to judge the deep corners of a person's heart? Maybe God uses the word "believer" because He knows very well there are/will be people who make that decision... Therefore exposing them as people who are misguided. Because of the fact we can never really know for sure, maybe God is actually trying to tell us in 493 not to kill anyone. Just my thoughts!
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It could be that 532 is misunderstood. I used to think that 532 tells us that killing one person is as sinful as killing every person on Earth, but there's a problem with that understanding of 532. According to such an understanding of 532, the value of human life depends on the number of people on Earth so if you killed a person a thousand years ago, it wouldn't have been as bad as killing a person today because there are many more people now. This understanding of 532 contradicts verses of the quran in which the god tells us that there can be no change in the god's system. I think what 532 is really telling us that the rights of one person are equal to the rights of every other person; that the rights of a majority don't trump the rights of a minority. 532 makes it perfectly clear that the quran's moral philosophy is a completely individualistic one since it emphasizes the inviolability of the rights of an individual using the example of the most foundational individual right the right not to be killed.