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swords be blunted, and their footsteps slip. I know not how
long they shall ride the steed of desire and wander erringly in
the desert of heedlessness and error. Of glory shall any glory
endure, or of abasement any abasement? Or shall he endure
who used to stay himself on high cushions, and who attained
in splendor the utmost limit? No, by My Lord the Merciful!
`All that is thereon is transient, and there remaineth [only] the
face of My Lord' the Mighty, the Beneficent. What buckler
hath not the arrow of destruction smitten, or what pinion hath
not the hand of fate plucked? From what fortress hath the
messenger of death been kept back when he came? What
throne hath not been broken, or what palace hath not been left
desolate? Did men but know what pure wine of the mercy of
their Lord, the Mighty, the All-Knowing, was beneath the
seal, they would certainly cast aside reproach and seek to be
satisfied by this Servant; but now have they veiled Me with the
veil of darkness which they have woven with the hands of
doubts and fancies. The White Hand shall cleave an opening
to this sombre night. On that day the servants [of God] shall
say what those caviling women said of yore, that there may
appear in the end what began in the beginning. Do they desire
to tarry when their foot is in the stirrup? Or do they see any
return in their going? No, by the Lord of Lords, save in the
Resurrection! On that day men shall arise from the tombs and
shall be questioned concerning their riches. Happy that one
whom burdens shall not oppress on that day whereon the
mountains shall pass away and all shall appear for the questioning
in the presence of God the Exalted! Verily He is severe
in punishing.
"We ask God to sanctify the hearts of certain of the doctors
from rancor and hatred that they may regard things with eyes
which closure overcometh not; and to raise them unto a
station where the world and the lordship thereof shall not turn
them aside from looking toward the Supreme Horizon, and
where [anxiety for] gaining a livelihood and [providing]