Ahmadiyyat or The True Islam — Page 275
275 The State is charged with the execution of sen- tences imposed by the judges, and no favour or dis- crimination may be shown in carrying them out. The Holy Prophet sa has said that if his own daughter were guilty, for instance, of theft, he would not hesitate to impose upon her the penalty provided by the law. Hadrat Umar ra himself flogged his son as a punishment for an offence. Another duty of the State is to safeguard the hon- our and security of the country. The Muslims are en- joined in the Holy Quran to guard their frontiers and to post strong bodies of men to watch them, both in peace and in war. Another duty of the State is to promote national health. The Holy Quran directs the Holy Prophet sa to eschew all spiritual and physical impurities. It is the duty of an Islamic State, therefore, to keep roads, thor- oughfares and other public places clean. The Holy Prophet sa used to direct his companions to kill stray dogs, lest they should develop rabies and injure people. Another duty of the State is to provide means of national education. In describing the duties and func- tions of the Holy Prophet sa the Holy Quran says, 'This Prophet sa teaches them the Book and the underlying philosophy. 'The book here does not mean only the Holy Quran, it includes all sciences, and learning, mentioned in the Holy Quran; for instance, astronomy, mathematics, botany, zoology, medicine, history, ethics, etc. The Holy Prophet sa says: 'The acquisition of knowl- edge is a duty laid upon every Muslim. ' He paid par-