The Holy War — Page 253
Proceedings—Debate 3 June 1893 253 statement regarding the issue of mercy without recompense, which it is wrong to believe that mercy comes before justice, that—in fact— the treatment which is extended before justice is called ‘goodness’, and mercy takes effect after justice. It is a shame that Deputy sahib contin- ues to commit error upon error—which of his errors should I correct? It should be clear that goodness—otherwise known as ‘benefi- cence’ or ‘generosity’—is not an attribute; in fact, it is the consequence and reward of a state of being. Here, the thing which should be named an attribute is nothing except Mercy; there can be no other name for it. And Mercy is the state when man or God Almighty—finding someone in a state of weakness, fragility, and feebleness, or affliction and in need of help—turns His attention to him to support him. Then the help which results—no matter how it comes into being—you may name it goodness or virtue or kindness. It may be that kindness is not an attribute and is not the name of a feeling ingrained in the heart, but it is defi- nitely the result of that ingrained state of mercy. For example, when an utterly helpless and hungry person comes before us, then by seeing his initial state of feebleness and weakness, a feeling of mercy develops in our hearts for him. Then, with this zeal of mercy, we will attain the ability to do good, and that goodness that you speak of will come into being. So now look, is goodness the fruit and the result of Mercy or is it a completely separate attribute? The fair- minded people can judge this for themselves. Then you state that Mercy comes after Justice. From this you mean to reject the words in S u rah al-F a ti h ah of the Holy Quran, which are 1 ِنٰمْحَّرلا ِمْيِحَّرلا۰۰. But how Mighty is Allah the Exalted that from this, the veil is being lifted to expose your lack of knowledge? Who does not know that Mercy—as I have just explained—is born of seeing some- body in a state of weakness or feebleness or affliction, and not that it comes into being after justice is manifested? This is how it is in the Torah: Ezra 3:11, Nehemiah 9:3 and 9:19, 1. The Gracious, the Merciful ( S u rah al-F a ti h ah, 1:3). [Publisher]