Claims and Teachings - Ahmad The Promised Messiah and Mahdi — Page 170
170 cannot be made a God on the strength of words spoken of him in any holy book. I have personal experience in this matter and in the Word of God revealed to me I find words of honor and dignity used of me which I have not met with in any Gospel as used concerning Jesus Christ. Can I then assert on the strength of such words that I am God or son of God ? Far be it from me or any other prophet of God to make such a blasphemous asser- tion. As to the teachings contained in the Gospels, I arn of opinion that they are imperfect. A perfect code of ethics is that which is calculated to develop all the moral faculties of man and does not lay stress upon one side of human nature only. I assure the gentlemen present that such perfect teaching is cantained only in the Holy Quran, for in every matter it adopts the mean path, which is th'e path of truth and wisdom. For instance, the Gospel says: "Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. " But the Holy Quran does not teach us unconditional forgiveness on all occasions. It directs us to see the occasion first, whether it requires forbearance or revenge, forgiveness or punishment. It is evident that the latter is the proper course for a man to follow, and its observance is necessary for the social life of man. No society can live on the principles taught by the Gospel nor can any Christian society be pointed out which should have ever acted on the turn-to-him-the-other-also text Again the Gospel says that no one should look " on a woman to lust after her," but the Holy Quran tells us that a man should not unnecessarily look upon other women whether with lust or without lust for this habit will after all make him stumble- On such occasions the Quran requires that a man's eyes should be half-closed, for this is the, only way in which a man can remain pure in heart. Perhaps the advocates of a mis-named liberty would