Hazrat Maulvi Nooruddin - Khalifatul-Masih I — Page 127
Hadrat Maulw i Nur-ud-D i n ra — Khalifatul Masih I WISE COUNSELLOR 127 their conduct; nor do their actions produce similar results. It is religion alone which restrains a person from committing, by declaring it unlawful, that which is beyond the province of law. There are some vices which are condemned both by reason and by public sentiment, and Government as well as society consider them immoral, but neither Government nor society have the power to eradicate them compulsorily, like the consumption of liquor or misconduct between consenting parties. It is only religion that can help stamp out such vices, not only by condemning them, but by restraining and controlling the trend of thinking and fancies that incite such vices. Thus as man, a social animal, is in need of a law, that law which completely fulfils its purpose is the divine law of religion. It is only that law which has the power and which exercises such control over human tendencies and inclinations as is not possessed by any law framed by the most absolute and dictatorial government. Therefore, the study of religion should be our primary concern, not only for the purpose of safeguarding public law which is directed towards ensuring peace and orderliness, but also for securing ourselves against every other type of ill. We should consider how best to provide for this need. Now that God has furnished us with a wide diversity of means and facilities to aid us in this enterprise, it would be ingratitude on our part if we were not to take advantage of them to reflect upon the laws and rules of conduct which, under divine direction, religion has promulgated and to which it has