Thursday, May 20, 2021

Each person is an entire world

When will the hideous war between Israel and Hamas end? I read story after story of whole families in Gaza being destroyed by Israeli bombing. I read story after story of Israelis running for their lives to the shelters. "Only" twelve people in Israel have been killed Hamas rockets - but each person is a whole world, in Gaza and in Israel.

In both the Qur'an and the Mishnah it says:

Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5:
Therefore one single person (adam) was created, to teach you that one who destroys a human life is considered by Scripture to have destroyed a whole world. And anyone who saves a human life is considered to have sustained an entire world.

Qur'an surah 5, ayah 32:
On account of [his deed - of Cain, who killed Abel], We decreed to the Children of Israel that if anyone kills a person – unless in retribution for murder or spreading corruption in the land – it is as if he kills all mankind, while if any saves a life it is as if he saves the lives of all mankind.