27. Part Two — 7
1To be brief; the purpose is not as they have understood; nay rather, by dominion, power and authority is meant another state and matter. For instance, consider the dominion of the blood of His Holiness (Hosein) which was sprinkled upon the earth; how by the blessedness and power of that blood, the dust exercised victory and influence over the bodies and souls of men; so that whosoever for the sake of recovery tasted a particle thereof, was healed, and whosoever for the preservation of property, treasured some of that sacred dust in his house with perfect faith and confirmed knowledge, protected all his possessions. This is the measure of its outward effects. Should We mention the inner virtues, people would undoubtedly say that We have considered "The dust as the Lord of Lords," and have utterly forsaken the religion of God.
2Likewise consider that although His Holiness suffered martyrdom with the utmost abjection, and there was no one apparently to aid Him, to give Him ablution or enshroud Him, yet at the present time how many people from different parts and regions leave their countries to present themselves in that land and lay their heads upon that threshold. This is the Divine Power and Dominion; the Supreme Majesty and Grandeur.
3Thou shouldst not imagine that inasmuch as these things have happened after His martyrdom, they impart no result to His Holiness; for His Holiness is forever alive with the Divine Life and abides upon the inaccessible couch of Nearness and upon the exalted tree of Union. These Essences of Being are ready to expend all; that is, they sacrifice life, property, soul and self in the path of the Friend, and to them no station is more beloved than this. The lovers have no wish except the good-pleasure of the Beloved and seek no aim except the meeting of the Desired One.
4Should We wish to explain a sprinkling of the mysteries of martyrdom and the fruits thereof, these Tablets undoubtedly would not suffice nor could they bring it to an end. We hope, if it please God, a breeze of mercy may blow and the tree of existence be clothed with a new robe through the Divine Spring, that we may apprehend the mysteries of the Divine Wisdom and through His providence become independent of the knowledge of all things. No one hath yet appeared who hath attained to this station except a few who are not renowned. The future will be what the Divine judgment demands and what appears from within the Tent of Decree. Thus We explain unto thee the wonders of the Cause of God and reveal unto thee the melodies of Paradise that thou mayest peradventure attain to the sources of Knowledge and partake of the fruits of Wisdom. Consequently it should be known to a certainty that although these Suns of Grandeur dwell upon the earth, yet they abide upon the Most Great Throne; although they may not possess a single coin, yet they soar upon the summit of Wealth; and while afflicted in the hands of the enemy, they are seated upon the right hand of Power and Dominion. They are established and rest upon the Throne of Eternal Might, although outwardly in the utmost humiliation; and occupy the seat of Sovereignty and authority while apparently in the extremity of weakness.
5Thus one day Jesus the Son of Mary, seated Himself upon a chair and made explanations through the melodies of the Holy Spirit, the import of which is this: "O people! My food is from the herbs of the earth, by which I satisfy my hunger. My bed is the bare ground; during the night my lamp is the light of the moon and I have no steed but my feet. Who upon earth is richer than I? "I swear by God that a hundred thousand wealths revolve around this poverty and a hundred thousand Kingdoms of glory seek after this lowliness. Shouldst thou attain to a sprinkling of the ocean of these significances thou wilt abandon the world of phenomena and existence and sacrifice thy life around the shining lamp, as doth the "bird of fire."
6A similar instance is related of His Holiness Sadik. On a certain day, one of His followers complained of poverty, before His Holiness. That Eternal Beauty said: "Thou art rich and hast drunk from the wine of wealth." The indigent one, astonished at the words of that brilliant countenance, said, "How am I rich while I am in need of a single coin?" His Holiness replied, "Hast thou not love for us?" He said, "Yes, O Thou son of the Messenger of God!"
7"Wilt thou sell it for one thousand dinars of gold?" enquired Sadik. He answered, "I would not give it for the world and all therein!" His Holiness said, "How can one be poor who possesses something which he will not exchange for the world?"
8The poverty and wealth, lowliness and honor, dominion, power, and such things considered as important by these worthless creatures, have no mention in that Court; as it is said: "O men, ye have need of God, but God is Self-sufficient" (K. S. 35). Consequently by "wealth" is intended independence of all else save God and by "poverty" the need of God.