38. Part Two — 18

1Likewise in the verse concerning the "Spirit," in which it is said, "They will ask thee regarding the Spirit; answer, The Spirit (is) by the Command of my Lord" (K. S. 17). When this answer was given, they all raised the cry of "Woe! an ignorant one who knows not what the Spirit is, claims to be endowed with the Immediate Knowledge!" In this day, as the divines of the age are honored by the name of His Holiness, and see that their fathers believed in Him, they accept His command in blind conformity. But if they be just and hear similar answers in reply to similar questions, they will undoubtedly reject, deny and repeat those very sayings, as they have already done. All this, notwithstanding those Essences of Existence are sanctified above these pseudo knowledges, purified above these limited words and exalted beyond the understanding of every knowing one. All such learnings are absolute falsity in the presence of that Knowledge, and all these conceptions are downright deceit. Nay rather, Knowledge is that which proceeds from those mines of Divine Wisdom and those depositories of eternal Knowledge. " Knowledge is one point, but the ignorant have multiplied it," is a proof of this; and " Knowledge is a light which God sheds into the heart of whomsoever He wisheth " confirms this statement.

2Briefly: As they have not comprehended the meaning of Knowledge, and have termed their own spurious ideas which have originated from manifestors of ignorance, knowledge, therefore they have inflicted upon the source of Knowledge that which ye have seen and heard.

3For instance, in a book written by one of the servants reputed for knowledge and learning, who considers himself prominent among the people, all the rightly guided men of learning have been rejected and denounced. This appears by allusion and plain statement throughout the entire book. As We had frequently heard of him, We desired to see some of his writings, although not disposed to refer to the words of others; but as some had questioned and inquired concerning him, it became necessary to see his writings in order to answer the questioners with intelligence and understanding. Briefly: his Arabic books were not available, but one day it was mentioned that one of his works, entitled " Irshad'Ul-Awam" (Direction for the Common People), could be found in this city (Baghdad). The odor of pride and arrogance was inhaled from this title, for he hath assumed the people to be ignorant and himself learned. All his characteristics were in fact evident by the very title of the book, indicating that he walks in the path of egotism and desire, and dwells in the desert of ignorance and blindness. He hath peradventure forgotten the well-known tradition, saying: "Knowledge signifies all that which is knowable, and power and might signify all that which is created." However We sent for the book and it remained with this Servant a few days. It was probably referred to twice. The second time We came by chance to a certain part relating to the "Ascent" of the Master of "Were it not for thee." We found he had made knowledge of the "Ascent" conditional upon the understanding of some twenty or more sciences, implying that if one were not thoroughly acquainted with them, he could not attain to the knowledge of this lofty and exalted matter. Among them he had mentioned philosophy, alchemy and natural magic, making understanding of the eternal and holy Knowledges conditional upon possession of these mortal and rejected sciences.

4Praise be to God! With such understanding, what calumnies and animadversions he hath brought upon the Temples of the Knowledge of God! How well it is said, "Dost thou arraign those whom the True One hath made trustees of the treasures of the Seventh Sphere?" No one among the people of perception and knowledge, or among the wise and intelligent hath noticed these absurdities. Yet it is clear and evident to every one endowed with perception that such sciences have ever been and are rejected by the True One. How can the understanding of sciences which are rejected among the truly learned be essential to the knowledge of the summits of the "Ascent," while the Lord of the "Ascent" hath not sanctioned a single letter of these limited and discarded sciences, and the brilliant heart of that Master of "Were it not for thee" was sanctified and purified from all these allusions? How excellent is the saying: "All these conceptions are on lame asses, while Truth rides upon the wind and flies like an arrow." By God, whosoever desireth to know the mystery of "Ascent," or drink a drop from the Knowledge of this Sea, should he possess these sciences,—that is, if the mirror of his heart be marred with their stain,—must clear and purify it before the mystery of this point may reflect therein.

5In this day, divers in the Sea of Eternal Knowledges and dwellers in the Ark of Divine Wisdom forbid people from studying such sciences. Their shining breasts, praise be to God, are purified from these allusions and sanctified from these veils. We have consumed the greatest veil, in the saying "Learning is the greatest veil," with the fire of the love of the Friend, and have raised another tent. And We glory in this, that We have burned the " veils of glory," praise be to God, with the fire of the beauty of the Beloved, and have placed none other than the Desired One in the mind and heart. Neither do We adhere to any knowledge but His Knowledge, nor cling to anything knowable save the splendor of His Lights.