37. Part Two — 17

1As to the second station, which is that of distinction, separation, limitation, and temporal conditions and indications, they show forth absolute servitude, real need and utter lowliness; as it is said, "Verily, I am the servant of God," and, "Verily, I am only a man like you" (K. S. 41).

2From these confirmed and positive explanations, understand the questions which thou hast asked, so that thou mayest become firm in the Divine religion and be not perplexed by the differences in the utterances of the Prophets and Chosen Ones.

3If it be heard from the perfect Manifestations "Verily, I am God," it is true and without doubt; for it hath been repeatedly demonstrated that through their Manifestation, Attributes, and Names, the Manifestation of God, the Attribute of God, and the Name of God appear upon earth. Thus it is said "Neither didst thou (O Mohammed) cast (the gravel into their eyes) when thou didst (seem to) cast (it), but God cast (it)" (K. S. 8). Likewise: "Verily, they who swear fealty unto thee, swear fealty unto God, etc." (K. S. 48). Should they utter the melody: "Verily, I am the Messenger of God," this is also correct and without doubt; as it is said, "Mohammed is not the father of any man among you; but he is the Messenger of God, etc." (K. S. 33). In this station, all are sent forth from the presence of that Ideal King and Eternal Essence. If all of them raise the call, "I am the Seal (last) of the Prophets," it is also true and beyond reach and access of uncertainty, because all are accounted as one soul, one essence, one spirit, one body, one command, and are the Manifestors of the states of the "Beginning," the "End," the "First," the "Last," the "Manifest," the "Hidden" of that ideal Spirit of Spirits and eternal Essence of Essences. Likewise if they say, "We are the servants of God," this is also confirmed and evident, for outwardly they have appeared with the utmost degree of servitude. No one hath the courage to appear in the world with that manner of servitude. Thus those Essences of Exigence, when submerged in the seas of Eternal Holiness and when ascending to the summits of the significances of the Ideal King, uttered declarations of Unity and Deity. Were one to consider attentively he will find that even in this state they witnessed in themselves the utmost humility and lowliness in presence of the Absolute Existence and Real Life, as though accounting themselves utter non-existence and deeming their own mention in that court as polytheism. For in this station any mention would be an indication of being and existence, and this is considered a great error by the attained ones. How much greater (error) to mention aught else, or that the heart, tongue, mind and soul be occupied in any other mention than the Beloved One; that the eye should look upon other than His beauty, the ear hear other than His melody, or the feet walk in other than His path.

4At this time the breeze of God is wafted and the Spirit of God hath surrounded. The pen is withheld from motion and the tongue hath ceased utterance. Briefly: In this station the declaration of Divinity and the like have appeared from them, while in the station of Messengership they have declared Prophethood. Likewise in every station they have made a declaration expedient thereto and have attributed all these to themselves; (declarations) concerning the world of command, the world of creation, the worlds of divinity, and the worlds of phenomena. Therefore whatever they may say and claim, including Divinity, Deity, Prophethood, Messengership, Successorship, Imamat or Servitude is true and without doubt. Consequently these proven statements should be reflected upon, that no one may be overtaken by perplexity and trouble concerning the differences in the sayings of the Manifestations of the Invisible and Dawning-places of Holiness.

5Briefly: one must ponder over the Words of the Suns of Truth, and if they are not understood, they should be submitted to those who are custodians of the depositories of Knowledge, in order that they may explain and remove the difficulty. One should not interpret the holy Words according to his own imperfect judgment and then, finding them inconsistent with his own inclination and desire, proceed to reject and deny as do the doctors and theologians of the age who are seated upon the platform of knowledge and learning, and who call ignorance knowledge and oppression justice. Should they ask the Ideal Sun concerning their imaginary notions and find the answer at variance with what they have conceived or understood from the book of one similar to themselves, they unquestionably would ascribe ignorance to that mine and source of Knowledge. This hath happened in every age.

6For instance, when they asked that Lord of the Existence (Mohammed) concerning the phases of the moon, He answered by the command of God: "They are times appointed unto men" (K. S. 2). Hearing this, they attributed ignorance to His Holiness.