One is not what s/he looks like. To have a human body or to walk uprightly on the street does not mean to be human. Walking and talking only show your appearance not your personality. Being human means bear humanity and moral standards. If you are empty of virtue and ethic, you are no more than an animal. Just guess, when one is mired in preying upon his fellows, shedding their blood, hurting their feelings or harming them in some way, aren’t they the same as fierce animals?
It is nicely said by E.H. Chapin, “It wants not merely microscopic but telescopic power to know humanity in its essence; a power to discern its grandeur as well as its littleness, the infinity of its relations as well as the meanness of its pursuits. The human soul is a great deep. We must take into view the nebulous possibilities that are brooding and waiting there, and notice the buds and films of light that reveal themselves even in the darkest spaces.”
Think of a man who cherishes all ethical values. He supports the poor generously or at least he is moved by their miserable life, bears a good temper and has a great patience in difficulties, honesty is his policy, devotion is his daily practices and respecting law is his usual habit. On the other hand, there is one who lacks all the aforementioned characteristics. He swindles people, treat them badly, dishonesty, selfishness, etc. form his personality. Now, both, the first who carries humanity and the second who lacks it, are called human?
If we consider the history, human societies experienced kind and cruel rulers. Some of the rulers, tyrannized people in the worst possible way such as sucking their blood, silencing them by bullet, mutilating them, butchering them, etc. However, some others did their best to acquire the satisfaction of the people, supported them generously and treated them kindly. Hence, it is believed that some people are only in the form of human whereas some others are the real human. Perhaps, human without humanity is the same as a wolf in the sheep’s clothing that is perilous for the human society.
It is said in Holy Qur’an, “…And inspired it [the soul] its wickedness and its righteousness, he has succeeded who purifies it and he has failed who instills it [with corruption].”
Indeed, some leave the reins of their life in the hands of their lusts and desires. Their only claim to fame is to enjoy and take the most pleasure in their life in one way or another. They satiate their physical needs and pursue their lustful wishes persistently, however, disregarding their spiritual thirst. In other words, being deep in the life of indulgence, they fail to remember their spiritual values and, therefore, overlook the ambitions cherished by their soul and spirit. Yet, there are some who show disregard to mundane life and serve their souls and polish them by the sanctity of worship and moral practices. Which one deserves to be called human?
Imam Ali, the commander of the faithful, receives a report from Basra that Othman-bin-Hanif has taken part in a feast. There has been no drinking, gambling and debauchery. But Ali (as) reproaches this Governor for attending a wholly aristocratic feast where no poor person has been present, Then, Ali (as) begins to describe his own pains, saying that he could obtain all means of comfort and pleasure himself if he wished, but would not leave the reins of his life in the hands of desires. He is thinking of all those in various lands who are poor and in great need. This is what ‘feeling the pains of others’ means, He says: “Should I be satisfied with the title of Caliph and commander of the faithful without sharing the troubles of the faithful?”
If one listens to the call of his conscience, respects human rights and dignities, frees his spirit from the chain of evils, instills virtue in his soul and develops his angelic values, he will go beyond angel. But if a person lacks them, s/he will be worse than animal.
Human being is a highly complicated creature. It is, though, easy to examine a man physically as physicians do, it is not all. However, since a man’s soul and spirit are not material, it is impossible to examine them in laboratories or through surgical scalpel.
Many books are written about human and yet many more are to be written. Studying the soul and spiritual aspects of human beings is highly confusing. Self-discovery still remains a complex issue among the knowledgeable. For example, according to mystics, ascetics and Sufis, one who feeds his/her spiritual needs thorough ascetic, living simple life and disregarding the physical needs will prosper, but some of them went to excess in this regard and abandoned social life. In short, they believe that heart is a proper instrument for self-discovery. Philosophers find logic and reason an appropriate tool for self-discovery. Theologians cherish religious practices and consider religion a way for discovering yourself. Although, they are not contrary to one another and all of them are the right way, since human being is a complicated creature, the way or instrument for self-discovery differs from one group to the other.
Some even think that we are more spiritual being than human being. It is said by P. Teilhard de Chardin, “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.”
Stressing the spiritual needs does not mean denying the physical needs rather it means that the spirit should be free from the yoke of body and does not play the role of a yes-man for the physical desires.
I conclude with the statement of Walt Whitman as he says, “I think I could turn and live with animals, they are so placid and self-contained. I stand and look at them long and long. They do not sweat and whine about their condition …. Not one is dissatisfied, not one is demented with the mania of owning things, not one kneels to another, not to his kind that lived thousands of years ago, not one is … unhappy over the whole earth.”