(C) Preventing Possible Danger
Ifachildweretocomeandtellyouthathesawapoisonoussnakegoin-
to the roomyou werein,you would immediately jump upfrom your
chairandundertake athoroughsearchofeverynookandcrannyuntil
you found it, or until you were satisfied that it was not there.
Similarly, while traveling by night in a dangerous country, if you
learntthatbanditswerewaitingontheroadaheadtoambushyou—you
wouldwithoutanydoubtwaituntilthewayaheadwasclearofdanger,
and would not take a single step forward until then.
Inthesetwoexamples,wehavemadeclearthatreasoncompelsusto
investigate conceivabledangers.It ispossiblethatsomeof theharmful
thingsmayturnouttobe nothingatall,andthatotherpeoplemaynot
payanyattentiontothem;butifaninquirycarriesthepriceofahuman
soul, then it cannot be ignored.
Inthe historyof mankind,we learn of peoplewho werefamous for
telling the truth and who lived an honest life. They claimed that they
weremessengersofGod,andtheycalledpeopletowardsGodandtoact
incertainways.Asaresultof theeffortsandtheconstantsufferingsof
thesespecialpeopleinallcornersoftheworld,manygroupsbelievedin
them.ThusthebirthofJesusbecamethebeginningoftheChristiancal-
endarand the migrationof the Prophet Muhammad wastaken bythe
Muslims as the beginning of their calendar.
Now, we see that thesemessengers attractedmen toreligion andto
follow particular rules, caused them to fear punishment of their bad
deedsandconvincedthemthattheywouldbetriedintheGreatCourtof
JusticebeforetheRighteousandWiseJudge.Theytrembledatthehard-
shipsand perils of Resurrection and the harshness of the punishment
there, and warned men of the dire consequences of evil deeds.
Thequestionis:Dothewarningsofthesepeoplemakeusrealizethe
possibilityof harmanddangerin thesame wayasdid the warningof
thesmallchildintheexamplementionedabove?Isitrighttoignorethe
wordsofthemessengersofGodwho,afterall,weremenofhighmoral
standards and who made greatest sacrifices for their cause?