1 |
He is indeed a true believer in the unity of God who, in this Day, will regard Him as One immeasurably
exalted above all the comparisons and
likenesses with which men have compared Him. He
hath erred grievously who hath mistaken these comparisons
and likenesses for God Himself. Consider the
relation between the craftsman and his handiwork,
between the painter and his painting. Can it ever be
maintained that the work their hands have produced
is the same as themselves? By Him Who is the Lord
of the Throne above and of earth below! They can
be regarded in no other light except as evidences that
proclaim the excellence and perfection of their
author. |
2 |
O Shaykh, O thou who hast surrendered thy will
to God! By self-surrender and perpetual union with
God is meant that men should merge their will wholly
in the Will of God, and regard their desires as utter
nothingness beside His Purpose. Whatsoever the
Creator commandeth His creatures to observe, the
same must they diligently, and with the utmost joy
and eagerness, arise and fulfil. They should in no wise
allow their fancy to obscure their judgment, neither
should they regard their own imaginings as the voice
of the Eternal. In the Prayer of Fasting We have
revealed: "Should Thy Will decree that out of Thy
mouth these words proceed and be addressed unto
them, `Observe, for My Beauty's sake, the fast, O
people, and set no limit to its duration,' I swear by
the majesty of Thy glory, that every one of them will
faithfully observe it, will abstain from whatsoever
will violate Thy law, and will continue to do so until
they yield up their souls unto Thee." In this consisteth
the complete surrender of one's will to the
Will of God. Meditate on this, that thou mayest
drink in the waters of everlasting life which flow
through the words of the Lord of all mankind, and
mayest testify that the one true God hath ever been
immeasurably exalted above His creatures. He, verily,
is the Incomparable, the Ever-Abiding, the Omniscient,
the All-Wise. The station of absolute self-surrender
transcendeth, and will ever remain exalted
above, every other station. |
4 |
Do thou beseech God to enable thee to remain
steadfast in this path, and to aid thee to guide the
peoples of the world to Him Who is the manifest
and sovereign Ruler, Who hath revealed Himself in
a distinct attire, Who giveth utterance to a Divine
and specific Message. This is the essence of faith and
certitude. They that are the worshipers of the idol
which their imaginations have carved, and who call
it Inner Reality, such men are in truth accounted
among the heathen. To this hath the All-Merciful
borne witness in His Tablets. He, verily, is the All-Knowing,
the All-Wise. |