Our God — Page 132
132 In short, testimony is an important means of acquiring knowl- edge and it cannot be ignored simply because of the possibility that some testimonies might be incorrect. If something can be rejected because of such a possibility, then nothing in the world would be acceptable. This is because no matter how certain we are about something, there is always the possibility of such kinds of doubts and mistakes. Food alleviates hunger, promotes well-being, and restores energy, but is it not, sometimes, out-of-date and contami- nated, causing harm rather than good? Is there, then, anyone who would conclude, based on this possibility, that food is dangerous for the body? Everything, no matter how useful and beneficial it may be, becomes harmful if it is placed in the wrong hands or if it is used incorrectly. Thus, one needs only to be cautious not to use anything in the wrong way. The improper use of the principle of testimony is to accept a fabricated and unreliable testimony as the basis of a decision. If we safeguard ourselves against this improper application, testimony is an extremely useful and reliable means of acquiring knowledge; no wise person can deny this. When we review the doctrine of the existence of God accord- ing to the above-mentioned principle, the doctrine appears to be established on the basis of the strongest testimony in the world. Every Prophet or Messenger who appeared in the world, regardless of his country, era, or nation, bore witness that there is a God who is the Creator and Master and Governor of this universe. They do not say so on the basis of conjecture or hearsay, but claim that they have seen and recognised God, just as they see and recognise other non-material things. They claim to have a personal bond with God and are as certain about His existence as they are cer- tain about the existence of their father, brother, friend, town, and