Sacrificing Oneself for Humanity

I n his book Secret of Success, under the chapter titled “Sacrificing Oneself for Humanity”, Maulana Wahiduddin Khan narrates the early days of anesthesia with chloroform. During his studies Dr. Simpson had learnt that chloroform possessed certain properties which temporarily benumbed the senses, so he began to conduct research into it, finally coming to the conclusion that if patients were rendered unconscious by means of chloroform, they could be relieved of severe pain in the course of operations. He continued his research and, by experimenting upon himself, he proved that chloroform could successfully induce harmless anesthesia. This son of a poor baker was thus able to give to humanity, in the words of Dr. Brown, “one of God’s best gifts to His suffering children”. (The Secret of Success, p. 324-325) On a personal note, I experienced the profound impact of this discovery firsthand on July 22, 2024, when I underwent surgery for kidney stones on my right kidney. During the two-hour procedure, I was completely anesthetized, experiencing nothing but a state of oblivion. I was completely unaware of the medical interventions taking place, devoid of any sensation of pain or discomfort. This personal experience deeply resonated with Dr. Brown’s words, prompting me to reflect on the divine purpose behind Dr. Simpson’s gift. O God, only the eternal bliss of Paradise can offer a truly pain-free existence. This is the profound message conveyed to humanity through all the prophets. Dr. Simpson’s contribution provided temporary relief from pain in this world, while the prophets offered the path to salvation from eternal suffering. It is our responsibility to share this uplifting news with the world. In our modern era, we rely on chloroform to ensure that we remain painfree during medical procedures. On the Day of Judgement, the divine consciousness granted by the prophets will eradicate all pain, allowing THE EVOLUTION OF ANESTHESIA A Progressive Journey from Science to Spirituality The following article is written by Hafiz Syed Iqbal Umri.