Whoever Saves A Life, Saves The World Entire
By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
13 October 2025
Seeing people take pics of a profusely bleeding man on the road in Poona, I remembered a famous writer once said, " There is something in human nature that is drawn to the grotesque, the absurd, the bizarre and also macabre." There exists within human nature a peculiar inclination towards the grotesque, the absurd, and the bizarre. This apt observation reflects the universal curiosity and fascination we all possess towards the peculiar and outlandish aspects of life.
It is in these strange and eccentric stories, characters, and phenomena that we find ourselves captivated, compelled to explore the unconventional and unknown. This attraction to the grotesque is not merely an oddity; rather, it serves as a reflection of our complex and multi-faceted nature, seeking meaning beyond the predictable and mundane. It is through the exploration of the bizarre and absurd that we come to better understand both the outer world and the perplexing depths of our inner selves.
Here, I'm not condemning those people busy taking pics of a bleeding man. That could be human nature. I'm not being judgemental. But there's no gainsaying the fact that we're sadistic and also voyeuristic. Our so-called compassion, pity and piety are a mere façade. We may project ourselves as sensitive but in reality, we're ruthless and cruel. We suffer from Bystander Apathy (Syndrome) or the Genovese Effect. That's why people in Saudi Arabia still throng to watch the gory spectacle of a helpless man getting decollated in public. This also happened in the 'advanced' countries like England and France when public executions were common.
We're indeed drawn to baser instincts, primordial impulses and primitive drives. To cut the matter short, I, along with a friend of mine, took the grievously injured man to the nearby hospital and saved his life. There's absolutely no self-praise regarding the whole issue. " Whoever saves a life, saves the world entire" (the quote originates from the Mishnah- Talmudic text- and the Quran).
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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/saves-life-world-entire/d/137213
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