10. Part One — 9

1The words "sun" and "moon" in the traditions are also applied to prayer and fasting, as it is said: "Fasting is radiance (sun) and prayer is light." One day We were seated in a certain place, when a well known divine entered and incidentally mentioned this tradition, saying: "Since fasting causes heat in the system, it is therefore interpreted brilliancy which is 'sun'; and as the prayer of night produces cold, it is interpreted light which is 'moon.'" We realized that the needy one had not enjoyed a single drop of the sea of Significances nor attained a single spark of the fire of the Sadrat of Divine Wisdom. After a time, We declared in the most courteous way: "All your Eminence said regarding the meaning of this tradition is upon the tongues and lips of the people, but perhaps by it another meaning is also intended." Then he asked for explanation and it was said: "The Seal of the Prophets, the Master of the Chosen Ones hath likened the religion of the Koran to Heaven because of its exaltation, loftiness and greatness, and because it embraces all Religions. As in the phenomenal heaven two great and mighty pillars are fixed which are the luminaries called sun and moon, so likewise two orbs are ordained in the Heaven of Religion, which are fasting and prayer. "Islam is Heaven; fasting is its sun and prayer is its moon."

2Briefly; this is the purpose of the symbolisms in the words of the Divine Manifestations. Consequently the application of these meanings to "sun" and "moon" in the mentioned instances is confirmed and demonstrated through revealed verses and recorded traditions. Therefore by the "darkness of the sun and moon" and the "falling of stars" is intended the aberration of the divines and the abolition of the ordinances established in a religion, of which the Manifestation of a Dispensation speaks through these symbols. Only the righteous have a portion of this cup and only the just partake thereof. "Verily the just shall drink of a cup mixed with cafur" (K. S. 76).

3It is certain that during every subsequent Manifestation, the "sun" of the teachings, ordinances, commands and prohibitions established in the preceding Manifestation, the "sun" and "moon" of teachings and command under which the people of that age are enlightened and guided, become darkened, that is their influence and efficiency vanish. Now consider, had the people of the Gospel understood the purpose of "sun" and "moon" or inquired concerning it from the Manifestor of Divine Knowledge, without contradiction or obstinacy, the meanings thereof would have necessarily become clear and they would not have been confined in the darkness of egotism and desire. Yea, since they did not acquire the knowledge from its mine and source, they perished in the fatal valley of unbelief and error, and are not yet aware that all the signs appeared and the promised Sun dawned from the horizon of Manifestation, while the sun and moon of former knowledges, ordinances and teachings were darkened and disappeared.

4Now step into the path of indubitable Truth with the eye of positive Knowledge and the wings of actual Certainty. "Say, God sent it down, then leave them to amuse themselves with their vain discourse" (K. S. 6). Thus thou mayest be accounted of those companions of whom it is said: "As for those who say Our Lord is God and who act steadfastly; the Angels shall descend unto them" (K. S. 41). Then shalt thou witness all these mysteries with thine own eye.

5O my brother, take the step of the Soul, that thou mayest in a moment traverse the distant valleys of separation and remoteness, enter the Rizwan of Union and Nearness and in a breath attain to the Divine Souls. These stages can never be travelled nor the destination reached by the step of the body. Peace be upon those who follow the Truth in truth and stand in the path of Command upon the shore of Knowledge in the Name of God. This is the meaning of the blessed verse: "I swear by the Lord of the Easts and the Wests" (K. S. 70), for there is a place of dawning and a place of setting for every one of these mentioned Suns. As the doctors of commentary were not informed of the real meaning of these Suns, they failed to interpret this verse. Some asserted that as the sun rises every day from a point different from that of the preceding day, therefore He hath mentioned ("easts and wests") in the plural. Others have written that the four seasons are in tended, as at every season the sun rises from a certain place and sets in another, so "easts" and "wests" are spoken of. This is the degree of the knowledge of the servants and yet what ignorances and defects they ascribe to the Essences of Knowledge and the Subtleties of Wisdom.