The Precipice
Humanity stands on the brink of a precipice, but people have the illusion of being safe at home. People are heading toward death but are happy with the thought that they are advancing on life’s journey.
Once a man came to see me unexpectedly, at an odd hour, and he did not even accept the offer of a cup of tea. Instead, he said, “I have to reach home soon. My wife must be waiting for me.” And then, in a hurry, he started his scooter and set off. Barely half an hour later, the telephone bell rang. It was his wife. In a greatly agitated tone, she stammered, “Your friend....” I could hear her sobs and cries, and the meaning of the sentence could be guessed. Putting the receiver down hastily, I rushed to her house. Having said goodbye to me, he had reached home but stumbled and fell while climbing the stairs. Some people carried him upstairs, and the doctor was immediately called, but he could only declare him dead.
When he rode off on his scooter, he had set off for his home, but, in truth, he was heading toward death. This is not an unusual event. Such events take place every day and in all kinds of places. For example, on May 26, 1979, a big jet plane took off from O’Hare airport. Shortly afterwards, it crashed and burst into flames. All of the 271 passengers were burnt to death. This particular accident happened to a few people, but such is the fate of all human beings. All men on the move are heading toward death and destruction. Death is closer to man than life itself. Everyone is standing on the verge of death. Everyone is in danger of having come to the end of his period on earth and of being taken off at any moment to the next world from where he will never return. Then his existence will be one of either eternal Hell or eternal Heaven.
When a blind man comes across a well on his way, everyone knows that the most important thing at that moment is to warn him of it. How strange it is that the whole human race is standing on the brink of the most dangerous precipice, yet no one ever feels the need to give warning of it. When a servant of God gives a danger signal, he is ridiculed and labelled a traitor, far from being appreciated. He is accused of wanting to lull the nation into the comfortable sleep of cowardice, dampening the spirit of a holy war among Muslims, and shifting the emphasis from real issues. He is vilified as not the messenger of life but death and doom. Humanity stands on the brink of a precipice, but people are so disinclined to look in front of them that they have the illusion of being safe at home. People are heading toward death but are happy with the thought that they are advancing on life’s journey.
