The Honour of Prophets — Page 43
43 away from what they know with sure and certain knowl edge to be harmful. A thief can never dare rob a place where he is certain that a party of men lie in wait, hiding in order to lay their hands on him. In fact, even if a bird is able to identify that a snare has been laid out beneath the grains placed on the ground, it does not approach the grain. Similarly, even if the most exquisite and deli cious of foods were prepared, this could never tempt a man, if he were certain that it is poisoned. Thus, all these observations evidently demonstrate that man never approaches a dangerous or harmful thing after having ascertained its nature, in fact he flees at the sight of it. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that if a person came to know through some means that sin is a fatal poison that kills instantly, then without doubt, he would never commit sin after having attained this knowledge. However, the question that naturally arises here is what that ‘means’ is? Can ‘reason’ be that means? The answer is that reason cannot at all be a perfect means, unless aided by heavenly support. Firm heartfelt belief in the fact that there is definite punishment for committing of sin—and from which man cannot escape—is perfect belief, which can only be had when a person has full knowledge that God exists in the first place, and that He can punish a man for sin. A mere rationalist, who has not been blessed