Clothes of Death
\r\nYou who have resolved to meet God and who have now come to the place of the appointed time must change your clothes behind the scene of the drama.
\r\nClothes? That which the you-ness of you, the yourness of your being human has wound within it, worn; for clothes cover a person and what a great lie that a person wears clothes!
\r\nThe word clothes (libas) has a very meaningful sense, as well, which is understood in its verb form. Iltibaz means mistake! To make a mistake! Clothes are a sign, are a separation, a manifestation, a mystery, a degree, a title, a privilege. The colour, design and quality of it all mean:
\r\nMe!\tAnd\tme\tmeans\tnot\tyou.\tNot you. Not us. It means distinction. It means boundary and, thus, separation.\tAnd\tthis\t'me'\tis\ta race. It is a nation. It is a class. It is a group. It is a family. It is a degree. It is a situation. It is a value. It is an individual. It does not mean being human.
\r\nBoundaries are numerous in the land of humanity. The sharp blade of the three-fold executioners of history-the children of Cain-has fallen into the midst of the children of Adam and has, piece by piece, cut humanity's unity into: master-servant, ruler-condemned, full-hungry, rich-poor, master-slave, oppressor-oppressed, colonialist-colonized, exploiter-exploited, brainwasher-brainwashed, powerful-weak, wealthy-agent, deceiver-deceived, aristocrat-abased, spiritual-physical, noble-common, landlord-serf, employer-labourer, prosperous-wretched, white-black, eastern-western, civilized-uncivilized, Arab-non-Arab.
\r\nHumanness has been divided up into races. Races into nations. Nations into Classes. Classes into sects, groups and families. Inside of each, again, position, reputation, degrees and honorary titles exist. Bit by bit they form an individual, a 'me' and all of these in different clothes.
\r\nThrow them at the appointed time. Put on the shroud. Wash out all colours. Whiten and harmonize with all colours. Become all. Emerge from your me-ness like a snake which sheds its skin. Become the people. Take off life's clothes. Put on the clothes of death. Throw away all ornaments, signs, colours and patterns which the hand of life has clasped over your body. Throw them all away at the appointed time. Become human. Be as you were in the beginning. Be one. Human being (adam). And as you will become in the end.
\r\nCompiled From:
\r\n \"Hajj: Reflection on its Rituals\" - Ali Shariati