nce of mankind depends upon justice and not upon forgiveness. So
if, at present, the law of pardon were practiced in all countries, in a
short time the world would be disordered, and the foundations of human
life would crumble. For example, if the governments of Europe had not
withstood the notorious Attila, he would not have left a single living
man.

Some people are like bloodthirsty wolves: if they see no punishment
forthcoming, they will kill men merely for pleasure and diversion. One of
the tyrants of Persia killed his tutor merely for the sake of making
merry, for mere fun and sport. The famous Mutavakkil, the Abbasid, having
summoned his ministers, councillors and functionaries to his presence, let
loose a box full of scorpions in the assembly and forbade anyone to move.
When the scorpions stung those present, he burst forth into boisterous
laughter.

To recapitulate: the constitution of the communities depends upon justice,
not upon forgiveness. Then what Christ meant by forgiveness and pardon is
not that, when nations attack you, burn your homes, plunder your goods,
assault your wives, children and relatives, and violate your honor, you
should be submissive in the presence of these tyrannical foes and allow
them to perform all their cruelties and oppressions. No, the words of
Christ refer to the conduct of two individuals toward each other: if one
person assaults another, the injured one should forgive him. But the
communities must protect the rights of man. So if someone assaults,
injures, oppresses and wounds me, I will offer no resistance, and I will
forgive him. But if a person wishes to assault Siyyid Man_sh_adi,(162)
certainly I will prevent him. Although for the malefactor noninterference
is apparently a kindness, it would be an oppression to Man_sh_adi. If at
this moment a wild Arab were to enter this place with a drawn sword,
wishing to assault, wound and kill you, most assuredly I would prevent
him. If I abandoned you to the Arab, that would not be justice but
injustice. But if he injure me personally, I would forgive him.

One thing remains to be said: it is that the communities are day and night
occupied in making penal laws, and in preparing and organizing instruments
and means of punishment. They build prisons, make chains and fetters,
arrange places of exile and banishment, and different kinds of hardships
and tortures, and think by these means to discipline criminals, whereas,
in reality, they