The Holy War — Page 173
Proceedings—Debate 31 May 1893 173 law clearly testifies that God’s mercy without recompense has been in operation since eternity. Can anyone deny the extent to which God has shown His mercy by the creation of the earth and the heavens and the many different types of favours with which He has blessed mankind? Just as Allah, the Lord of Glory, states: 1 Pt. 13, R. 7— َو ْنِا اْوُّدُعَت َتَمْعِن ِهّٰللا اَل اَهْوُصْحُت Meaning that if you try to count the favours of Allah, you will never be able to number them. Similarly, His Mercifulness—meaning, to reward a good deed—is clearly proven from the law of nature because whoever treads on the paths of righteousness benefits from the consequences. Similarly, His Mastery is proven from natural law. As I explained yes- terday, tens of millions of animals are sacrificed for the benefit of man; besides this, the Torah proves that in the storm of Prophet Noah, all animals were destroyed except only a few. Had they committed any sin? Certainly not! This was simply a requirement of His Mastery. And the statement that sin is born of law is clearly established by this verse: 2 Pt. 1, R. 4— َو َنْيِذَّلا اْوُرَفَك َو اْوُبَّذَك ۤاَنِتٰيٰاِب َكِٕىٰٓلوُا ُبٰحْصَا ِراَّنلا ْمُه اَهْيِف َنْوُدِلٰخ۰۰ Meaning, those people who disbelieve after the arrival of our Book and treat Our Signs as lies, these shall be cast into the Fire. And the proof that God Almighty forgives sins through repent- ance is proven from this verse: 3 Pt. 24, R. 6— ِرِفاَغ ِبْۢنَّذلا َو ِلِباَق ِبْوَّتلا 1. S u rah Ibr a h i m, 14:35 [Publisher] 2. S u rah al-Baqarah, 2:40 [Publisher] 3. The Forgiver of sin and the Acceptor of repentance ( S u rah al-Mu’min, 40:4). [Publisher]