26 He promised to transmit this message, and to give Us his reply. We received, however, no news from him. Although it becometh not Him Who is the Truth to present Himself before any person, inasmuch as all have been created to obey Him, yet in view of the condition of these little children and the large number of women so far removed from their friends and countries, We have acquiesced in this matter. In spite of this nothing hath resulted. 'Umar himself is alive and accessible. Inquire from him, that the truth may be made known unto you.

27 Most of Our companions now lie sick in this prison, and none knoweth what befell Us, except G.o.d, the Almighty, the All-Knowing. In the days following Our arrival, two of these servants hastened to the realms above.

For an entire day the guards insisted that, until they were paid for the shrouds and burial, those blessed bodies could not be removed, although no one had requested any help from them. At that time we were devoid of earthly means, and pleaded that they leave the matter unto us and allow those present to carry the bodies, but they refused. Finally, a carpet was taken to the bazaar to be sold, and the sum obtained was delivered to the guards. Later, it was learned that they had merely dug a shallow grave into which they had placed both blessed bodies, although they had taken twice the amount required for shrouds and burial.

28 The pen is powerless to depict and the tongue faileth to describe the trials which We have suffered. Yet sweeter than honey to Me is the bitterness of such tribulations. Would that at every instant all the afflictions of the world could, in the path of G.o.d and for the sake of His love, be visited upon this evanescent Soul Who is immersed in the ocean of divine knowledge!

29 We implore G.o.d for patience and forbearance, inasmuch as thou art but a feeble creature and bereft of comprehension. Wert thou to awaken and inhale the fragrance of the breezes that waft from the retreats of eternity, thou wouldst readily abandon all that thou dost possess and in which thou dost rejoice, and choose to abide in one of the dilapidated rooms of this Most Great Prison. Beseech G.o.d to grant thee such mature understanding as to enable thee to distinguish praiseworthy actions from those which merit blame. Peace be upon him who followeth the way of guidance!

LAW?-I-FU'aD

He is the Most Holy, the Most Glorious!

1 Kaf. ?a'.(75) We call unto thee from beyond the sea of grandeur, upon the crimson land, above the horizon of tribulation. Verily, no G.o.d is there save Him, the Almighty, the Most Generous. Walk thou steadfastly in My Cause and follow not the ways of those who, upon attaining unto the object of their desire, denied G.o.d, the Lord of Lords. Erelong shall He lay hold upon them in His wrath, and He, verily, is the All-Powerful, the All-Subduing.

2 Know thou that, through the power of His sovereign might, G.o.d hath seized him who was the foremost amongst them that pa.s.sed judgement against Us. When he saw his torment approaching, he fled to Paris to seek recourse to physicians.

3 "Is there none to help me?" he asked.

4 He was smitten upon the mouth and told: "There is no escape!"(76)

5 And when he turned towards the angel of wrath, he well-nigh expired from fear. "I have a house full of riches," he pleaded. "I have a palace on the Bosphorus, beneath which the rivers flow."

6 The angel replied: "No ransom shall be accepted from thee on this day, even shouldst thou offer up all things visible and invisible. Hearest thou not the sighs of the kindred of G.o.d, whom thou didst cast into prison without proof or testimony? Thy deed hath provoked the lamentation of the inmates of Paradise, and of those who circle morn and eve round the Throne on high. The wrath of thy Lord hath descended upon thee, and stern is He in His chastis.e.m.e.nt!"(77)

7 He made reply: "I held command over the people, and here is the mandate of my authority."

8 "Hold thy peace, O denier of the Day of Judgement!"(78)

9 He implored: "Is no respite possible so that I may send for my family?"

10 "Far from it, O disbeliever in the verses of G.o.d!"

11 Thereupon the keepers of the fathomless abyss called unto him: "The gates of h.e.l.l have opened wide to receive thee, O thou who hast turned away from thy Lord, the Unconstrained! Repair unto its fire, for it yearneth after thee. Hast thou forgotten, O rejected one, when thou wert the Nimrod of the age, how thy tyranny eclipsed the very cruelties of Pharaoh, the Lord of the Stakes?(79) By G.o.d! Thine iniquity hath rent asunder the veil of sanct.i.ty and caused the pillars of heaven to tremble.

Where canst thou find refuge now? Who shall protect thee from the dreadful scourge of thy Lord, the All-Compelling? There is no haven for thee in this Day, O unG.o.dly doubter!" Whereupon the agony of death seized him and he saw no more. Thus did We lay hold on him in Our wrathful anger, and severe is thy Lord in His punishment.

12 Then an angel from the right hand of the Throne summoned him: "Behold the angel of affliction. Is there any place to flee to save h.e.l.l, wherein the heart(80) boileth?" And the angel of chastis.e.m.e.nt received his spirit, and a voice proclaimed: "Enter the bottomless pit which hath been promised in the Book, and whose existence thou didst day and night deny!"

13 Soon will We dismiss the one who was like unto him,(81) and will lay hold on their Chief who ruleth the land,(82) and I, verily, am the Almighty, the All-Compelling. Be thou steadfast in the Cause of G.o.d and extol thy Lord morn and eve. Suffer not the light of thy soul to be quenched by the calumnies of the one who was so blinded by Our bestowals as to turn away from G.o.d, the Lord of all names. He inspireth his devoted followers even as the Evil One prompteth his own. Erelong shalt thou behold him in evident loss both in this world and in the world to come.

He, indeed, is among those whom an afflictive torment doth await. He dispatched an epistle to someone in that land, a writ of the workers of iniquity, in which he mocked G.o.d and recorded that which filled all created things with dismay. Say: Canst thou find anyone to protect thee when the wrath of G.o.d, the All-Powerful, the Unconstrained, is visited upon thee?

14 Thus have We informed thee of that which lieth concealed within the hearts of men. Verily, thy Lord is the Almighty, the All-Knowing. Arise for the triumph of this Cause, and gather together My loved ones. Help them to see the truth in this Day when the feet of men have slipped. Say: It behoveth every true believer to a.s.sist his Lord. He, verily, is your helper, while the people have no one to turn to in this Day.

15 Then We seized Mihdi,(83) to whom We had promised divine chastis.e.m.e.nt in Our Books and Scriptures. When Our awful majesty encompa.s.sed him, he entreated: "May I not retrace my steps?"

16 A voice exclaimed: "Woe betide thee, O disbeliever in the Day of Resurrection! This is the nethermost fire, and its flames have been made to blaze for thee. Thou didst forsake all righteous deeds in thy vain and futile life, and now thou hast none to shield thee from G.o.d. Thou art indeed he who caused all hearts to be consumed and the Holy Spirit to lament."

17 He pleaded: "Is there yet no refuge for me?"

18 "Nay, by my Lord, even shouldst thou seek recourse to every possible means!"

19 Thereupon he cried out in such distress as to cause the people of the graves to tremble, and was seized by the Hand of invincible power. A voice then proclaimed: "Return unto the seat of wrath in the fire of h.e.l.l; wretched and evil be thine abode!"

20 Thus did We lay hold on him as We laid hold on those who preceded him.

Behold their houses which We have left to the spiders, and take heed, O ye who are endued with understanding! He it is who opposed G.o.d, and for whom the verses of wrath were revealed in the Book. Blessed is he who readeth it and pondereth its contents, for a goodly end doth in truth await him.

21 Thus have We recounted unto thee the tale of the evil-doers, that thine eyes may be solaced. As for thee, there lieth in store naught but a blissful end.

SuRIY-I-MULuK

He is the Almighty!

1 This is a Tablet from this Servant, who is called ?usayn in the kingdom of names, to the concourse of the kings of the earth. Haply they may approach it in a spirit of open-mindedness, discover from its message the mysteries of divine providence, and be of those that comprehend its meaning, and perchance they may forsake all they possess, turn towards the retreats of holiness, and draw nigh unto G.o.d, the All-Glorious, the Incomparable.

2 O kings of the earth! Give ear unto the Voice of G.o.d, calling from this sublime, this fruit-laden Tree, that hath sprung out of the Crimson Hill, upon the holy Plain, intoning the words: "There is none other G.o.d but He, the Mighty, the All-Powerful, the All-Wise." This is a Spot which hath been sanctified by G.o.d for those who approach it, a Spot wherein His Voice may be heard from the celestial Tree of Holiness. Fear G.o.d, O concourse of kings, and suffer not yourselves to be deprived of this most sublime grace. Fling away, then, the things ye possess, and take fast hold on the Handle of G.o.d, the Exalted, the Great. Set your hearts towards the Face of G.o.d, and abandon that which your desires have bidden you to follow, and be not of those who perish.

3 Relate unto them, O Servant, the story of 'Ali,(84) when He came unto them with truth, bearing His glorious and weighty Book, and holding in His hands a testimony and proof from G.o.d, and holy and blessed tokens from Him. Ye, however, O kings, have failed to heed the Remembrance of G.o.d in His days and to be guided by the lights which arose and shone forth above the horizon of a resplendent Heaven. Ye examined not His Cause when so to do would have been better for you than all that the sun shineth upon, could ye but perceive it. Ye remained careless until the divines of Persia-those cruel ones-p.r.o.nounced judgement against Him, and unjustly slew Him. His spirit ascended unto G.o.d, and the eyes of the inmates of Paradise and the angels that are nigh unto Him wept sore by reason of this cruelty. Beware that ye be not careless henceforth as ye have been careless aforetime. Return, then, unto G.o.d, your Maker, and be not of the heedless.

4 Say: The Sun of vicegerency hath dawned, the Point of knowledge and wisdom hath been made plain, and the Testimony of G.o.d, the Almighty, the All-Wise, hath been made manifest. Say: The Moon of eternity hath risen in the midmost heaven, and its light hath illumined the dwellers of the realms above. My face hath come forth from the veils, and shed its radiance upon all that is in heaven and on earth; and yet, ye turned not towards Him, notwithstanding that ye were created for Him, O concourse of kings! Follow, therefore, that which I speak unto you, and hearken unto it with your hearts, and be not of such as have turned aside. For your glory consisteth not in your sovereignty, but rather in your nearness unto G.o.d and your observance of His command as sent down in His holy and preserved Tablets. Should any one of you rule over the whole earth, and over all that lieth within it and upon it, its seas, its lands, its mountains, and its plains, and yet be not remembered by G.o.d, all these would profit him not, could ye but know it.

5 Know ye that a servant's glory resideth in his nearness unto G.o.d, and that, unless he draweth nigh unto Him, naught else can ever profit him, even should he hold sway over the entire creation. Say: The breeze of G.o.d hath wafted over you from the retreats of Paradise, but ye have neglected it and chosen to persist in your waywardness. Guidance hath been given unto you from G.o.d, but ye have failed to follow it and preferred to reject its truth. The Lamp of G.o.d hath been lit within the niche of His Cause, but ye have neglected to seek the radiance of its glory and to draw nigh unto its light. And still ye slumber upon the couch of heedlessness!

6 Arise, then, and make steadfast your feet, and make ye amends for that which hath escaped you, and set then yourselves towards His holy Court, on the sh.o.r.e of His mighty Ocean, so that the pearls of knowledge and wisdom, which G.o.d hath stored up within the sh.e.l.l of His radiant heart, may be revealed unto you. Such is the counsel that shall profit you most; make of it your provision, that ye may be of those who are guided aright. Beware lest ye hinder the breeze of G.o.d from blowing over your hearts, the breeze through which the hearts of such as have turned unto Him can be quickened.

Hearken unto the clear admonitions that We have revealed for you in this Tablet, that G.o.d, in turn, may hearken unto you, and may open before your faces the portals of His mercy. He, verily, is the Compa.s.sionate, the Merciful.

7 Lay not aside the fear of G.o.d, O kings of the earth, and beware that ye transgress not the bounds which the Almighty hath fixed. Observe the injunctions laid upon you in His Book, and take good heed not to overstep their limits. Be vigilant, that ye may not do injustice to anyone, be it to the extent of a grain of mustard seed. Tread ye the path of justice, for this, verily, is the straight path.

8 Compose your differences and reduce your armaments, that the burden of your expenditures may be lightened, and that your minds and hearts may be tranquillized. Heal the dissensions that divide you, and ye will no longer be in need of any armaments except what the protection of your cities and territories demandeth. Fear ye G.o.d, and take heed not to outstrip the bounds of moderation and be numbered among the extravagant.

9 We have learned that ye are increasing your outlay every year, and are laying the burden thereof on your subjects. This, verily, is more than they can bear, and is a grievous injustice. Decide ye justly between men, O kings, and be ye the emblems of justice amongst them. This, if ye judge fairly, is the thing that behoveth you, and beseemeth your station.

10 Beware not to deal unjustly with anyone that appealeth to you and entereth beneath your shadow. Walk ye in the fear of G.o.d, and be ye of them that lead a G.o.dly life. Rest not on your power, your armies, and treasures. Put your whole trust and confidence in G.o.d, Who hath created you, and seek ye His help in all your affairs. Succour cometh from Him alone. He succoureth whom He willeth with the hosts of the heavens and of the earth.

11 Know ye that the poor are the trust of G.o.d in your midst. Watch that ye betray not His trust, that ye deal not unjustly with them and that ye walk not in the ways of the treacherous. Ye will most certainly be called upon to answer for His trust on the day when the Balance of Justice shall be set, the day when unto everyone shall be rendered his due, when the doings of all men, be they rich or poor, shall be weighed.

12 If ye pay no heed unto the counsels which, in peerless and unequivocal language, We have revealed in this Tablet, Divine chastis.e.m.e.nt shall a.s.sail you from every direction, and the sentence of His justice shall be p.r.o.nounced against you. On that day ye shall have no power to resist Him, and shall recognize your own impotence. Have mercy on yourselves and on those beneath you, and judge ye between them according to the precepts prescribed by G.o.d in His most holy and exalted Tablet, a Tablet wherein He hath a.s.signed to each and every thing its settled measure, in which He hath given, with distinctness, an explanation of all things, and which is in itself a monition unto them that believe in Him.

13 Examine Our Cause, inquire into the things that have befallen Us, and decide justly between Us and Our enemies, and be ye of them that act equitably towards their neighbour. If ye stay not the hand of the oppressor, if ye fail to safeguard the rights of the downtrodden, what right have ye then to vaunt yourselves among men? What is it of which ye can rightly boast? Is it on your food and your drink that ye pride yourselves, on the riches ye lay up in your treasuries, on the diversity and the cost of the ornaments with which ye deck yourselves? If true glory were to consist in the possession of such perishable things, then the earth on which ye walk must needs vaunt itself over you, because it supplieth you, and bestoweth upon you, these very things, by the decree of the Almighty. In its bowels are contained, according to what G.o.d hath ordained, all that ye possess. From it, as a sign of His mercy, ye derive your riches. Behold then your state, the thing in which ye glory! Would that ye could perceive it!

14 Nay, by Him Who holdeth in His grasp the kingdom of the entire creation! Nowhere doth your true and abiding glory reside except in your firm adherence unto the precepts of G.o.d, your wholehearted observance of His laws, your resolution to see that they do not remain unenforced, and to pursue steadfastly the right course.