48. Part Two — 28

1The Supreme Lord (Bab) (may the life of all else save Him be a sacrifice to Him!) hath especially revealed an Epistle to the learned divines of each city, wherein He hath mentioned in detail the grades of their opposition and arrogance. " Wherefore, take example (from them), O ye who have sight." By mentioning this he intended that during the Manifestation of " Mustagath" (Baha) in the next resurrection, the people of the Beyan should not dispute (upon the ground) that " in the Manifestation of the Beyan, many of the learned divines did believe, therefore why does not this happen in this Manifestation "; and that they, God forbid, should cling to such trivial notions and be deprived of the Divine Beauty. Yea, most of the mentioned divines were not renowned, but by the grace of God they all were sanctified and purified from outward leadership and temporal vanities. " This is through the Bounty of God; He will give the same unto whom He pleaseth."

2Another proof and argument which shines like a sun among proofs, is the steadfastness of that Eternal Beauty (Bab) in the Divine Cause. Although He was in the age of youth, yet without fear, and regardless of anyone He declared a matter contrary to the people of the earth, including the high and low, rich and poor, powerful and humble, king and subject. This has been heard by all. Could this be any other than the Divine Command and the confirmed Will of God? I swear by God, that should another entertain or think of such a matter, he would immediately be destroyed; and should ye place the heart of all the world in his heart, he still would not venture this important measure unless by Divine permission, or except his heart be united with the bounties of the Merciful and his soul confide in the supreme favors. To what do the people ascribe this? Do they attribute it to madness, just as they did with bygone prophets, or say that He hath undertaken these things for outward leadership, and to possess the tinsel of the mortal world?

3Praise be to God! In His first Book which He hath entitled "Ghayoumi Asma" (the "Self-Subsistent of the Names")—the first, greatest and most mighty of all books—He prophesied His own martyrdom. In a certain place He hath mentioned this verse: "O Thou remnant of God, I have wholly sacrificed myself unto thee; I have been pleased with curses in Thy path, and have wished nothing except death in Thy love; whereunto only God the Exalted, the Defender, the Pre-existent is a sufficient witness!"

4Likewise He craved martyrdom in "Tafsiri Ha" (" Interpretation of the letter H"), thus: "It is as if I heard a crier proclaiming in mine innermost heart—'Sacrifice thou in the path of God the thing which is most beloved by thee, even as Hosein (Peace be upon Him!) sacrificed Himself in My way'; and were I not regardful of this real mystery, by Him in whose Hand is my soul, even if all the kings of the earth were assembled, they could not take from me a single letter, how much less can such servants who are of no importance in this and are of those who are rejected? That all may know the degree of my patience, resignation and sacrifice in the path of God."

5Could it be asserted that the author of these words walks in any other than the path of God, or hath desired aught else save His Good Pleasure? In this verse, such a breeze of severance is hidden, that were it to blow, all the temples of existence would sacrifice life and relinquish soul. Consider the ignorance and extreme ingratitude of the people who have closed their eyes to all this and run after dead bodies from whose bellies proceed the lamentations of the property of the faithful. Yet what unwarranted accusations they bring against the Dawning-places of Holiness! Thus do We mention unto thee that which is wrought by the hands of those who disbelieve, and who turn away from the Meeting of God in the day of resurrection. God chastises them with the fire of their infidelity, and prepares for them a punishment in the hereafter whereby their bodies and souls are consumed. This is because they have said, " Verily, God is not powerful in anything, and His Hands are tied from bounty!" Steadfastness in the Cause is a great proof and mighty argument. The Seal of the Prophets hath said: "Two verses have made me old." Both concern steadfastness in the Cause of God. It is said: " Be thou steadfast, for thus hast thou been commanded" (K. S. II).

6Consider how, in His tender youth, this Sadrat of the Divine Rizwan delivered the Cause of God, and what steadfastness appeared from that Beauty of Oneness. Though all upon the earth combined to suppress Him, it produced no result. The more harm they inflicted upon that Sadrat of Blessedness, the more His fervor increased, and the fire of His love was enkindled. All these things are clear and no one denies them. Finally He surrendered His soul and hastened to the Supreme Friend.