| Kitáb-i-Íqán | 79 |
consumed, with the fire of the love of God, all human
traits and limitations, and have clothed themselves
with the attributes of the most exalted Beings
and of the Cherubim. That holy man, Sadiq, (1)
in his eulogy of the Cherubim, saith: "There stand
a company of our fellow-Shi'ihs behind the
Throne." Divers and manifold are the interpretations
of the words "behind the Throne." In one
sense, they indicate that no true Shi'ihs exist.
Even as he hath said in another passage: "A true
believer is likened unto the philosopher's stone."
Addressing subsequently his listener, he saith:
"Hast thou ever seen the philosopher's stone?" Reflect,
how this symbolic language, more eloquent
than any speech, however direct, testifieth to the
non-existence of a true believer. Such is the testimony
of Sadiq. And now consider, how unfair and
numerous are those who, although they themselves
have failed to inhale the fragrance of belief, have
condemned as infidels those by whose word belief
itself is recognized and established.
And now, inasmuch as these holy beings have
sanctified themselves from every human limitation,
have become endowed with the attributes of the
