51. Part Two — 31

1Consider: He hath designated that Knowledge consists of twenty-seven letters, and all the prophets from Adam down to the "Seal" explained but two letters thereof, and were sent forth in these two. He also says Gha'im shall bring forth the remaining twenty-five letters. From this explanation realize the rank and station of His Holiness (Bab); that His rank is greater than all the Prophets and His mission loftier and higher than the knowledge and comprehension of all the Holy Ones. These worthless creatures measure with their limited minds, learnings and understanding, a matter of which the Prophets, Holy Ones and Chosen Ones have either not been informed, or which they have not declared because of an irrefutable Command of God, and finding it not in accord therewith, reject it. "Dost thou imagine that the greater part of them hear or understand? They are no other than like the brute cattle; yea, they stray more widely from the true path" (K. S. 25). To what do they apply the mentioned tradition which clearly indicates the hidden facts and wonderful new events in the Day of His Holiness? These new events will cause the people to disagree to such an extent that the divines and religious doctors will sentence His Holiness and His companions to death, and all the people of the earth will arise in contradiction. Thus it is said in "Kafi," in the tradition by Jabir in the "Tablet of Fatima," concerning the Gha'im: "The perfection of Moses, the splendor of Jesus, and the patience of Job (shall be) in Him, and His friends shall be abased during His time, and their heads shall be just as the heads of the Turks and Deylamites were exchanged as presents; they shall be slain and burnt, terrified with fear, and appalled; the earth shall be dyed with their blood, and lamentation, and wailing shall prevail amongst their women; these are indeed my friends."

2Now consider, there is not a single letter of this tradition which is not fulfilled, for their blessed blood was shed in most localities, they were made captives in every city, paraded through countries and towns, and some were burned. Nevertheless no one reflected that if the promised Gha'im should arise and appear according to the former laws and ordinances, why then have such traditions been recorded, and why should all these disagreements occur, so that the death of these companions should be considered obligatory and the persecution of these holy souls deemed conducive to the attainment of summits of Nearness?

3Moreover, consider how these fulfilled events and actions have been mentioned in former traditions; as it is said in the "Rouzeye-Kafi" in explanation of "Zora." In the "Rouzeye-Kafi" (it is related) of Mo'aweyeh-Ibn Wahab that Abi-Abdallah said: "Dost thou know Zora?" I said: "May I be a sacrifice to Thee? They say it is Baghdad?" He said: "No!" Then he added: "Hast thou entered the city of Rey?" "Yes," I replied. He enquired: "Hast thou visited the cattle-market?" "Yes!" "Hast thou seen the black mountain upon the right hand of the road? There is Zora where they will slay eighty men of the children of certain ones, all of whom are free from guilt." "Who will kill them?" I questioned. He said: "The children of Persia!"

4This is the condition and state of the companions of His Holiness as described in former times. Consider, according to this tradition Zora is the land of Key. In that place these companions were killed with the severest torture, and all these holy beings were martyred by the Persians as recorded in the tradition. This you have heard, and it is clear and evident to all the world. Why do not these worms of the earth reflect upon these traditions, all of which are as clear as the sun in mid-heaven? For what reason do they not advance toward the True One? And why on account of other traditions, the meaning of which they have not understood, have they turned aside from the Manifestation of the True One, and from the Beauty of God, to abide in hell? These things only result from the denial by the religious doctors of the age, and by the divines of the time, of whom Sadik-IbnM ohammed hath said: "The religious doctors of that time will be the most wicked of the divines under the shadow of heaven. Corruption will issue from them and return again unto them."

5We beg the doctors and divines of the Beyan not to act in like manner; not to inflict upon the Essence of Divinity, the Supreme Light, the Absolute Eternity, and the Origin and End of the Manifestations of the Invisible, at the time of Mustagath, that which hath been inflicted in this day; not to depend upon intellect, comprehension and learning, nor show hostility toward that Manifestor of Supreme Infinite Knowledges. Yet, notwithstanding all these admonitions, it is seen that a misleading person, who is a chief of the people, will arise with the utmost opposition. Likewise in every city, (people) will arise to suppress that Beauty of Holiness. The companions of that King of Existence and Essence of the 'Desired One will flee to mountains and deserts and conceal themselves from the hand of the oppressors, while some will resign themselves and yield life with entire severance. As already witnessed, one known and reputed for great piety and virtue, whom the people deem it their duty to obey, and to whose command they consider it necessary to submit, will war against that Root of the Devine Tree and arise to oppose with the utmost strife and exertion. This is the quality of people!