“Does Man Exist?”

When the discussion was (and is still) going on about Shaitan it occurred to me to request the respected members that after we reach to a conclusion on this topic we should deliberate a bit about the human beings as well. We need to find out answers to a few important questions related to our own species e.g. what is so strikingly different in the human beings? What distinguishes them from the rest of the earthly creatures? What is the most significant characteristic which is found in then but it is missing in other living beings?

Please do not assume that we know the human beings very well. And that there is no need to find out further what really makes them human beings. I think there is still enough room to research about them and reach to some worthwhile conclusions. I was intending to ask this question in the meantime got hold of the Stray Reflections and read the following:

“For centuries Eastern heart and intellect have been absorbed in the question – Does God exist? I propose to raise a new question – new, that is to say, for the East – Does man exist?” (Muhammad Iqbal, Stray Reflections, Iqbal Academy Pakistan, 2008)

The man does not really “exist” if he cannot think independently and if he thinks that association with a school of thought and a particular group is a must. If he is conditioned by his environment and he does not try to break the shackles of preconceived notions.

The man does not truly “exist” if he does not unburden himself from the prejudices against one and all. He does not truly exist if he does not “experiment” with the “truth” himself. But he truly needs to exist. This is incontrovertible.