Our Obsession with Blood and Gore Also Contributes to Acts like Beheadings

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 1 July 2022 “Though highly advanced, Romans had an inexplicable obsession with blood, gore and cruelty. Watching two gladiators fight till one of them died and tossing slaves and criminals before hungry lions were sure and certain signs of a very fine race's eventual decline because when people become willing spectators to blood, beheadings and disembowelments, the fall of that race is obvious. Humans cannot survive and subsist on cruelty for long." -Sir Edward Gibbon, ' Rise and Fall of Roman Empire' “Blood-thirsty Romans dug their own graves." - Professor Bulwar Lytton, 'Last Days of Pompeii' Let me relate the aforementioned statements to our current obsession with bloody videos. When someone sent the beheading video of Kanhaiya Lal, I immediately deleted and rebuked him for being so insensitive. How people can watch such blood-oozing spectacles is beyond my ken. But then, humans have always been terribly insensitive. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Also Read: Why Muslim Ulema's Condemnation Of Udaipur Killing Is Hypocritical: The Real Culprit Is The Post-Quranic Theology Which Sanctions Beheading For Blasphemy --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a few other Muslim countries where Sharia is still practised, I've seen people throng to see the beheading of a convict, that too immediately after evening prayers (generally between Asr and Maghrib). Men as well as women (who're considered to be genetically more sensitive than men) love to watch a poor convict's blood-soaked head roll down on the sands. What type of sadistic pleasure does this blood-curdling and shuddersome sight give those 'devout' people who look forward to the decapitation of a man is a question that has always intrigued me. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Also Read: The Brutal Killing Of A Hindu In The Name Of Blasphemy In Udaipur Rajasthan Is Extremely Shameful, Reprehensible And Anti-Islamic: Muslim Organizations, Ulama And Personalities --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Psychologists and neurologists are of the view that it gives them an orgasmic pleasure. Whatever it may be, how can humans see their fellow human's decollation? It's an insult to human dignity, even if that man happens to be a hard-core criminal. Mind you, only Muslims of Saudi and other countries cannot be blamed or castigated for this weird and beastly behaviour. All humans have more or less this obnoxious trait in them. We're bloody sub-humans and worse than Neanderthals. I saw youngsters see ISIS goons cut the heads of people. The total absence of sensitivity from our lives and society has made us insouciant to all these occurrences. Nizami wrote in Persian centuries ago, “Seeing and enjoying blood everywhere and loving its stench, humans have forgotten the fragrance of flowers. '' So very true. Urdu poet Fazil Altaf writes, “Ek Qatrah Khoon Ka Mujh Se Dekha Nahin Jaata/ Log Samandar-E-Khoon Mein Dubkiyaan Lagate Hain “(I shudder at the sight of a drop of blood/ Here, people dive into the sea of blood). --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Also Read: Indian Ulema Need To Junk The Islamist Theology Behind Beheading For Blasphemy And Proclaim It Loudly And Repeatedly From All Mosques: Mere Condemnation Of Udaipur Killing Is Not Enough --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- All these criminals, like the two in Udaipur beheading, know that in addition to shocking the people with such a gory video, this will also attract their animal instincts. This gives them (criminals) a sense of nebulous validation and an air of triumph from scores of people watching such videos. In other words, we're encouraging these scoundrels by watching what they uploaded. In fact, before condemning the two brainless religious goons, we must condemn our own reprehensible behaviour and utter insensitivity that are catalysts to fostering such unthinkable acts of cruelty. We must ask ourselves, where're we heading to? Aren't we also like all insensitive and ruthless murderers and unrepentant criminals? We're answerable to our own conscience if that's still alive. ---- 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 world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/radical-islamism-jihad/obsession-blood-gore-beheadings/d/127377 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism