8. Part One — 7
1As to the words—"Immediately after the tribulation of those days"—this signifies the time when the people become afflicted with hardship and distress. This is when the traces of the Sun of Truth and the fruits of the Tree of Knowledge and Wisdom disappear from among mankind and the reins of the people fall into the hands of the ignorant; when the doors of Unity and Knowledge—the essential purpose of the creation of man—are closed; when Knowledge is changed into superstition and guidance into adversity, just as it is witnessed in this day that the reins of every party are in the hands of an ignorant one who leads them in whatever way he desires. Among them nothing remains of the Adored One but a name and of the Desired One but the letter. To such an extent have the winds of desire and self prevailed, that they have extinguished the lights of reason and conscience within the hearts. Although the doors of the Divine Knowledge are opened by the keys of the Supreme Power, and the essences of the being of things are enlightened and illumined through the knowledge-light and holy bounties, to such an extent that within everything a door of knowledge is opened and within every atom traces of the sun are visible, yet notwithstanding these knowledge manifestations have pervaded the world, they have considered the door of knowledge closed, and the rains of mercy withheld. Holding fast to supposition, they are kept afar from the firm Strong Handle of Knowledge. They seem to have intrinsically no desire for knowledge and its door, nor think of its appearance. For in supposition and imagination they have found doors to bread, and in the appearance of the Manifestor of Knowledge they see nothing except the sacrifice of life. So they naturally flee from this and hold fast to the other. Although they know the Divine Command is One, yet from every direction a decree emanates and from every place an order is brought forth. No two are found who agree upon the same command, for they seek no God but desire and follow no path but error. They deem leadership the ultimate accomplishment of the aim and account pride and haughtiness as final attainment to the Beloved. They consider selfish deceptions preferable to the Divine decrees. They have turned aside from submission and resignation and are occupied with plots and hypocrisies; preserving these attitudes with all power and strength, lest a blemish find access to their dignity or a flaw appear in their honor. Should an eye be illumined by the collyrium of Divine enlightenments, it would behold a number of wild beasts preying upon the dead bodies of the servants. What tribulations and distress could be greater than these mentioned conditions? For if one wishes to seek a truth or knowledge, he knows not to whom to refer nor from whom to enquire, because opinions are different and paths are many. This tribulation and distress is one of the signs of every Manifestation, and unless it happens, the Sun of Truth does not become manifest, because the morn of the appearance of Guidance dawns after the night of error. Therefore the traditions and records contain all these statements, that infidelity will cover the world, darkness prevail and similar things as mentioned. For the sake of brevity this servant does not undertake to mention the texts of these traditions, as they are well known.
2If the people understand this tribulation (lit. narrowness) to mean that the earth should become contracted, or other things which they have shaped in their imagination, this will never be realized and they will necessarily say that this condition hath not appeared, just as they have said and are still saying. Briefly, by tribulation is meant the narrowness (difficulty in attainment) of Divine Knowledges and understanding the Supreme Words. In the days of the disappearance of the Sun and His mirrors, the servants fall into narrowness and hardship, knowing not to whom they should turn; as hath been said.
3Therefore We make known unto thee the interpretation of the traditions and reveal unto thee the mysteries of Wisdom, so that thou mayst be informed of the purport and become of those who have drunk from the cup of Knowledge and Wisdom!
4As to the words "The sun shall be darkened and the moon shall cease to give her light and the stars shall fall from heaven:" The purport of "sun" and "moon" as mentioned in the words of the Prophets is not confined to the phenomenal sun and moon which are seen; nay rather, they have intended for "sun" and "moon" manifold meanings. In every instance they intend a certain meaning applicable thereto. For example, one meaning of the "sun" is the "Suns of Truth" which dawn from the Dayspring of Pre-existence and transmit bounty to all the contingent beings. These Suns of Truth are the Universal Manifestations of the Divinity in the world of His Attributes and Names. As by the command of the Real Adored One the development of material things such as fruits, trees, colors, minerals and whatever exists in the phenomenal world is through the assistance of the phenomenal sun, so the Trees of Unity, the Fruits of Oneness, the Leaves of Abstraction, the Flowers of Knowledge and Assurance and the Myrtles of Wisdom and Utterance appear through the training of the Ideal Suns. Therefore when these Suns arise, the world is renewed, the rivers of Life flow, the seas of Beneficence move, the clouds of Grace gather and the breezes of Bounty blow upon the temples of beings. Through the heat of these Divine Suns and Ideal Fires the heat of the love of God is produced in the pillars of the world; and through the favor of these abstracted Spirits the immortal Spirit of Life is conferred upon the bodies of the mortal dead.