Negation of Greatness

The famous Indian journalist Khushwant Singh died in Delhi on 20th March 2014. He was then 99 years old. In the worldly sense, Mr. Singh was a very successful man. Fame, wealth, position, honour—all these he had obtained. He lived in a very big house. But at the time of his death, all of this was suddenly snatched away from him. Like all other people who have experienced death, he did not take any of his greatness along with him.

This is not Mr. Singh’s story alone. It is the very same story of every other human being!

Death reminds us of the fact which the Quran explains in these words (6:94):

“And now you have returned to Us, alone as We created you at first, leaving behind all that We gave you. Nor do We see with you your intercessors, those you claimed were your partners with God. The link between you is cut and that which you presumed has failed you.”

The Quran (79:24) says that Pharaoh, ruler of ancient Egypt, had claimed: “I am your supreme Lord”. Consciously or unconsciously, every person lives in this same feeling. Every person claims some or the other so-called supremacy or greatness. Death completely nullifies this feeling. Death informs a person that this supremacy or greatness that he imagines he possesses is actually not a part of his real self.  All this greatness is merely external. Death is a practical reminder of this.

The biggest reality an individual should know is that God’s greatness is part of God’s very being. It will never be separated from God’s being. In contrast, a person’s supposed greatness is not part of his being. Before death it may seem that his greatness is part of his being, but as soon as death arrives, the two are separated from each other. And then he travels towards the Hereafter in such a way that he leaves behind all his greatness forever.