Selections From the Writings of the Bab Part 10

Likewise is the Revelation of Him Whom G.o.d shall make manifest. Among those to whom it will never occur that they might merit the displeasure of G.o.d, and whose pious deeds will be exemplary unto everyone, there will be many who will become the personification of the nethermost fire itself, when they fail to embrace His Cause; while among the lowly servants whom no one would imagine to be of any merit, how great the number who will be honoured with true faith and on whom the Fountainhead of generosity will bestow the robe of authority. For whatever is created in the Faith of G.o.d is created through the potency of His Word. VIII, 14.

"In the manifestation of the Apostle of G.o.d all were eagerly ..."

In the manifestation of the Apostle of G.o.d all were eagerly awaiting Him, yet thou hast heard how He was treated at the time of His appearance, in spite of the fact that if ever they beheld Him in their dreams they would take pride in them.

Likewise in the manifestation of the Point of the Bayan, the people stood up at the mention of His Name and fervently implored His advent night and day, and if they dreamt of Him they gloried in their dreams; yet now that He hath revealed Himself, invested with the mightiest testimony, whereby their own religion is vindicated, and despite the incalculable number of people who yearningly antic.i.p.ate His coming, they are resting comfortably in their homes, after having hearkened to His verses; while He at this moment is confined in the mountain of Maku, lonely and forsaken.

Take good heed of yourselves, O people of the Bayan, lest ye perform such deeds as to weep sore for His sake night and day, to stand up at the mention of His Name, yet on this Day of fruition-a Day whereon ye should not only arise at His Name, but seek a path unto Him Who personifies that Name-ye shut yourselves out from Him as by as veil. VI, 15.

"At the time of the manifestation of Him Whom G.o.d ..."

At the time of the manifestation of Him Whom G.o.d shall make manifest everyone should be well trained in the teachings of the Bayan, so that none of the followers may outwardly cling to the Bayan and thus forfeit their allegiance unto Him. If anyone does so, the verdict of 'disbeliever in G.o.d' shall be pa.s.sed upon him.

I swear by the holy Essence of G.o.d, were all in the Bayan to unite in helping Him Whom G.o.d shall make manifest in the days of His Revelation, not a single soul, nay, not a created thing would remain on earth that would not gain admittance into Paradise. Take good heed of yourselves, for the sum total of the religion of G.o.d is but to help Him, rather than to observe, in the time of His appearance, such deeds as are prescribed in the Bayan. Should anyone, however, ere He manifesteth Himself, transgress the ordinances, were it to the extent of a grain of barley, he would have trangressed His command.

Seek ye refuge in G.o.d from whatsoever might lead you astray from the Source of His Revelation and hold fast unto His Cord, for whoso holdeth fast unto His allegiance, he hath attained and will attain salvation in all the worlds.

'Such is the bounty of G.o.d; to whom He will, He giveth it, and G.o.d is the Lord of grace abounding.'(61) V, 5.

"Ye perform your works for G.o.d from the beginning of ..."

Ye perform your works for G.o.d from the beginning of your lives till the end thereof, yet not a single act is for the sake of Him Who is the Manifestation of G.o.d, to Whom every good deed reverteth. Had ye acted in such manner, ye would not have suffered so grievously on the Day of Resurrection.

Behold how great is the Cause, and yet how the people are wrapt in veils.

I swear by the sanctified Essence of G.o.d that every true praise and deed offered unto G.o.d is naught but praise and deed offered unto Him Whom G.o.d shall make manifest.

Deceive not your own selves that you are being virtuous for the sake of G.o.d when you are not. For should ye truly do your works for G.o.d, ye would be performing them for Him Whom G.o.d shall make manifest and would be magnifying His Name. The dwellers of this mountain who are bereft of true understanding unceasingly utter the words, 'No G.o.d is there but G.o.d'; but what benefit doth it yield them? Ponder awhile that ye may not be shut out as by a veil from Him Who is the Dayspring of Revelation. VIII, 19.

"G.o.d hath, at all times and under all conditions, been ..."

G.o.d hath, at all times and under all conditions, been wholly independent of His creatures. He hath cherished and will ever cherish the desire that all men may attain His gardens of Paradise with utmost love, that no one should sadden another, not even for a moment, and that all should dwell within His cradle of protection and security until the Day of Resurrection which marketh the dayspring of the Revelation of Him Whom G.o.d will make manifest.

The Lord of the universe hath never raised up a prophet nor hath He sent down a Book unless He hath established His covenant with all men, calling for their acceptance of the next Revelation and of the next Book; inasmuch as the outpourings of His bounty are ceaseless and without limit. VI, 16.

"How veiled are ye, O My creatures, ... who, without ..."

How veiled are ye, O My creatures,(62) ... who, without any right, have consigned Him unto a mountain [Maku], not one of whose inhabitants is worthy of mention... With Him, which is with Me, there is no one except him who is one of the Letters of the Living of My Book. In His presence, which is My Presence, there is not at night even a lighted lamp! And yet, in places [of wors.h.i.+p] which in varying degrees reach out unto Him, unnumbered lamps are s.h.i.+ning! All that is on earth hath been created for Him, and all partake with delight of His benefits, and yet they are so veiled from Him as to refuse Him even a lamp!

In this Day therefore I bear witness unto My creatures, for the witness of no one other than Myself hath been or shall ever be worthy of mention in My presence. I affirm that no Paradise is more sublime for My creatures than to stand before My face and to believe in My holy Words, while no fire hath been or will be fiercer for them than to be veiled from the Manifestation of My exalted Self and to disbelieve in My Words.

Ye may contend: 'How doth He speak on our behalf?' Have ye not perused the unseemly words ye uttered in the past, as reflected in the text of My Book, and still ye feel not ashamed? Ye have now seen the truth of My Book conclusively established and today every one of you doth profess belief in Me through that Book. The day is not far distant when ye shall readily realize that your glory lieth in your belief in these holy verses. Today, however, when only belief in this Faith truly profiteth you, ye have debarred yourselves therefrom by reason of the things which are disadvantageous unto you and will inflict harm upon you, whereas He Who is the Manifestation of My Self hath been and shall ever remain immune from any harm whatever, and any loss that hath appeared or will appear shall eventually revert unto yourselves. II, 1.

"How vast the number of people who are well versed in ..."

How vast the number of people who are well versed in every science, yet it is their adherence to the holy Word of G.o.d which will determine their faith, inasmuch as the fruit of every science is none other than the knowledge of divine precepts and submission unto His good-pleasure. II, 1.

"No created thing shall ever attain its paradise unless it ..."

No created thing shall ever attain its paradise unless it appeareth in its highest prescribed degree of perfection. For instance, this crystal representeth the paradise of the stone whereof its substance is composed.

Likewise there are various stages in the paradise for the crystal itself... So long as it was stone it was worthless, but if it attaineth the excellence of ruby-a potentiality which is latent in it-how much a carat will it be worth? Consider likewise every created thing.

Man's highest station, however, is attained through faith in G.o.d in every Dispensation and by acceptance of what hath been revealed by Him, and not through learning; inasmuch as in every nation there are learned men who are versed in divers sciences. Nor is it attainable through wealth; for it is similarly evident that among the various cla.s.ses in every nation there are those possessed of riches. Likewise are other transitory things.

True knowledge, therefore, is the knowledge of G.o.d, and this is none other than the recognition of His Manifestation in each Dispensation. Nor is there any wealth save in poverty in all save G.o.d and sanct.i.ty from aught else but Him-a state that can be realized only when demonstrated towards Him Who is the Dayspring of His Revelation. This doth not mean, however, that one ought not to yield praise unto former Revelations. On no account is this acceptable, inasmuch as it behooveth man, upon reaching the age of nineteen, to render thanksgiving for the day of his conception as an embryo. For had the embryo not existed, how could he have reached his present state? Likewise had the religion taught by Adam not existed, this Faith would not have attained its present stage. Thus consider thou the development of G.o.d's Faith until the end that hath no end. V, 4.

"Twelve hundred and seventy years have elapsed since ..."

Twelve hundred and seventy years have elapsed since the declaration of Mu?ammad, and each year unnumbered people have circ.u.mambulated the House of G.o.d [Mecca]. In the concluding year of this period He Who is Himself the Founder of the House went on pilgrimage. Great G.o.d! There was a vast concourse of pilgrims from every sect. Yet not one recognized Him, though He recognized every one of them-souls tightly held in the grasp of His former commandment. The only person who recognized Him and performed pilgrimage with Him is the one round whom revolve eight Vahids,(63) in whom G.o.d hath gloried before the Concourse on high by virtue of his absolute detachment and for his being wholly devoted to the Will of G.o.d.

This doth not mean that he was made the object of a special favour, nay, this is a favour which G.o.d hath vouchsafed unto all men, yet they have suffered themselves to be veiled from it. The Commentary on the Surih of Joseph had, in the first year of this Revelation, been widely distributed.

Nevertheless, when the people realized that fellow supporters were not forthcoming they hesitated to accept it; while it never occurred to them that the very Qur'an whereunto unnumbered souls bear fealty today, was revealed in the midmost heart of the Arab world, yet to outward seeming for no less than seven years no one acknowledged its truth except the Commander of the Faithful [Imam 'Ali]-may the peace of G.o.d rest upon him-who, in response to the conclusive proofs advanced by G.o.d's supreme Testimony, recognized the Truth and did not fix his eyes on others. Thus on the Day of Resurrection G.o.d will ask everyone of his understanding and not of his following in the footsteps of others. How often a person, having inclined his ears to the holy verses, would bow down in humility and would embrace the Truth, while his leader would not do so. Thus every individual must bear his own responsibility, rather than someone else bearing it for him. At the time of the appearance of Him Whom G.o.d will make manifest the most distinguished among the learned and the lowliest of men shall both be judged alike. How often the most insignificant of men have acknowledged the truth, while the most learned have remained wrapt in veils. Thus in every Dispensation a number of souls enter the fire by reason of their following in the footsteps of others. IV, 18.

"Better is it for a person to write down but one of His ..."