Real Revolution — Page 81
81 why some sufees have said: رَبِّهُ من عرف نفسه فقد عرف ربه "Whoever comes to know his own self, also comes to know his Lord". Thus, whereas the human mind took a great step in its evolution at the hands of Abraham and religious philosophy attained a stage of high glory, perfection in the human status of man also was attained through him, man having been placed in a higher and distinguished position in regard to other objects. Human sacrifice was forbidden at this stage. Prior to this era human life had no particular value, for he was looked upon merely as one among many other kinds of animals which ate, and moved, and lived in many ways just as he did. In fact human beings were often sacrificed at the altar to propitiate angry gods. . But in the days of Abraham, when man obtained a perfect understanding of the unity of God, the Lord ordained that human sacrifice would no longer be permitted, since now he had developed into something more than a mere animal. For raising man to this position Abraham was called the Father of. Prophets, just as Adam had been called the Father of Man. . In the days of Abraham a correct conception in regard to Life after Death was created in the mind of man, and he was taught that this life was only a means for attaining to a nearness with God. There+