Claims and Teachings - Ahmad The Promised Messiah and Mahdi — Page 153
153 , cause his death. What is the reason then that you do not fear the death which the transgression of Divine commandments must certainly bring down upon you ? Only that you have not such knowledge of the effect of your transgressions as of the biting of a snake or of poison. Ib is certain then that the knowledge ^of loss or injury deters a man from doing the deed which involves such loss or injury, and no belief in redemption can act as such deterrent. Is it not true that even the most daring and habitual burglar would not break into a house where he is sure to be caught and punished ? Are not the most violent passions subdued when their effect is known to be sure and certain destruction ? A robber would not in broad daylight dare to lay his hand upon a bag of money lying in a shop when he knows that there is a sufficient guard of armed police watching the shop. Are criminals restrained from theft and extortion because of their firm faith in the redemption of sins, or because their hearts feel the awe of execution ? Or is it more true that the police and the fear of punishment are the real deterrents? This is a principle the truth of which is witnessed not only in the case of men, but also of animals, Even a lion in fury would not throw himself into burn- ing fire though he sees his prey on the other side of it. A wolf would not fall upon a sheep at whose head is standing a watcher with a drawn sword and a loaded gun. It is a most true and sound principle that to be saved from sins, man requires a certain knowledge of God and not any redemption. I say to you truly that if the people of Noah had the perfect knowledge which generates the fear of God, they would not have been drowned, and if the people of Lot had fully re- cognised their Lord, they would not have been stoned to death, and if the people of this country had been granted the true know- ledge of God which makes one tremble at the idea of a transgression