14. Part One — 13

1The world of existence is impregnated with all these favors, awaiting the time when the trace of this invisible Providence shall appear in the earth, lead the exhausted athirst to the clear Kawther of the Beloved and enable wanderers in the wilderness of remoteness and death to reach the Tent of Nearness and Life of the Beloved. Who will sow these seeds of holiness in the ground of the heart? And in the garden of whose soul will the anemones of Invisible Realities bloom? In a word; the Sadrat of Love in the Sinai of Love is too intensely enkindled to be quenched and exhausted by waters of explanation. Seas fail to allay the thirst of this fish, and this bird of fire can only abide in the fire of the face of the Beloved. Therefore O brother, light the lamp of Spirit with the oil of Wisdom in the recess of the heart and protect it by the glass of Knowledge, that the breath of polytheistic souls may not extinguish it nor prevent its shining.

2Thus have We illumined the Horizon of the Heaven of Utterance with the lights of the Suns of Knowledge and Wisdom, so thy heart may thereby be tranquillized and thou mayst become of those who soar upon the wings of assurance in the sky of the love of their Lord the Merciful!

3As to the words—"Then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven"—He says that after the eclipse of the Sun of Divine Knowledge and the falling of the stars of the established ordinances,—after the darkening of the Moon of Knowledge—which is the Educator of the servants,—and disappearance of the landmarks of guidance and prosperity, after the morn of faithfulness and peace is obscured, then shall the sign of the Son of Man appear in heaven. By "heaven" is meant the phenomenal heaven. For preceding the appearance of that firmament of the Heavens of Justice and the floating of the Ark of Guidance upon the Sea of Grandeur, a star becomes visible in the sky, which announces the manifestation of that "Most Great Orb" to the people of the heavens. Likewise a star appears in the Heaven of Significance, which announces that "Most upright and precious Dawn" to the people of the earth. These two signs have appeared in both the outward heaven and inward heaven preceding the Manifestation of every Prophet, as hath been heard. One was the "Friend of the Merciful" (Abraham). Before the appearance of His Holiness, Nimrod had a dream and summoned the soothsayers. They warned him of the rise of a star in the sky. Likewise a man appeared in the earth who announced the Manifestation of His Holiness Abraham the Prophet.

4After Him, was the story of the "Interlocutor of God" (Moses). The soothsayers of that period warned Pharaoh that a star had risen in the sky, indicating the birth of a child in whose hand was his destiny and that of his people. Also a wise man appeared, who in the evenings consoled and assured the children of Israel, announcing good tidings to them, as recorded in the books. If the details of these matters be mentioned, this treatise would become a volume. Moreover We do not wish to cite stories of past occurrences. God testifies that even this explanation is only through great love for your Honor, so that perchance a multitude of the needy ones of earth may arrive at the haven of wealth, a number of ignorant ones may reach the sea of Knowledge, and the athirst for enlightenment may attain to the Salsabile of Wisdom. Otherwise this servant deems engaging in these subjects a great iniquity and accounts it a weighty transgression.

5When the Manifestation of Jesus drew nigh, some of the Magi who were aware of the appearance of the star of Jesus in Heaven, followed the trace thereof until they entered the city which was the imperial residence of Herod,—for in those days the rule of those countries was under his control,—saying: "Where is he who was born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him." After making enquiries, they learned that the child was born in Bethlehem of Judea. This was the sign in the outward heaven.

6As to the sign in the inward heaven, that is in the Heaven of Knowledge and Significances;—this was the appearance of John the son of Zachariah, who announced the Manifestation of His Holiness (Jesus) to the people; as it is said: "Verily God announceth to thee, John, who shall acknowledge the Word which cometh from God; an honorable person and one of the righteous" (K. S. 3). By the "Word" is meant His Holiness Jesus, the announcer of whose Manifestation was John. It is also recorded in heavenly tablets: "Johanna was preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying 'repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand'" (Matt.) By Johanna is meant John.

7Likewise before the appearance of the beauty of Mohammed, the signs in the outward heaven became manifest and the inward signs were four men who successively announced to the people the Manifestation of that Divine Sun upon earth. Rouz-bih surnamed Salman was favored with the honor of serving them. When the time of death came to one, he sent Rouz-bih to the other, until the turn of the fourth arrived. He, at the time of death said: "O Rouzbih, after enshrouding and burying me, go thou to Hijaz where the Mohammedic Sun will rise. To thee be glad tidings of the meeting of His Holiness!"

8As to this wonderful and impregnable Cause, most of the astronomers announced the appearance of the star in the phenomenal heaven. Likewise the two brilliant lights—Ahmad and Kazim (may God sanctify their dust)—appeared in the earth.

9Consequently it is shown by these expressions that before the coming of each one of the Mirrors of Unity, the signs of that Manifestation appear in the outward heaven as well as in the inward Heaven which is the station of the Sun of Knowledge, the Moon of Wisdom and the Stars of Significances and Utterance. It is the appearance of a perfect man before every Manifestation to train and prepare the servants for the meeting of that Sun of Divinity and Moon of Unity.