"O thou beloved maid-servant of G.o.d!..."
O thou beloved maid-servant of G.o.d!
The letter, which thou hast forwarded through Mrs. ........ was received.
Thank thou G.o.d that thou art a.s.sisted in the thralldom of His Threshold, art favored in the Kingdom, art heralding the Name of the True One, art speaking of divine praises, art guiding the souls to the Sun of Truth, art quickening the dead with the breaths of the Holy Spirit and art endeavoring with heart and soul to spread the Cause.
Thou hast Mrs. ........ as thy partner and sharer, co-operating with each other to serve, and hast lied in her house.
Show thou forth love to Mrs. ........ and convey to her greetings on my behalf. a.s.sociate with her and seek her companionship as far as possible, for it is conducive to the development of you both.
"O thou who art advancing toward G.o.d!..."
O thou who art advancing toward G.o.d!
Verily, I received thy letter, which showed that thou hast turned unto the Kingdom of G.o.d and advanced toward the Beauty of El-ABHA.
Verily, thy Lord hath chosen thee for His love, elected thee for His knowledge and selected thee for entering the Paradise of El-ABHA, so that thou mayest attain to the mightiest bliss and greatest honor: It is no other than the Light which is shining upon hearts and sights and the Spirit which is thrilling and flowing within veins and nerves!
Verily, thou hast attained thereto, for thou hast acknowledged the Oneness of G.o.d and His Singleness, and turned unto His Face, the lights of which are shining from the horizon of the unseen, upon all regions!
"O thou who art attracted to the Call of the Kingdom!..."
O thou who art attracted to the Call of the Kingdom!
Thy letter was presented and I was informed of thy expression. And it was glorious proof of thine abundant reliance upon the Kingdom of thy Lord and of thine excessive love for thy great Master.
Know thou, verily, the Kingdom is a magnet of the divine world, and it attracteth the iron of pure hearts which are capable of the bounties of the Lord of Might. Blessed art thou, for thou hast turned unto the Lord of Heaven, thy heart hath relied upon the light of guidance, thou hast advanced toward the center of righteousness, and thy spirit is cheered by the bounty of the Supreme Concourse.
Verily, I beseech G.o.d to strengthen thee with the Most Great Power, so that the Spirit may pour upon thee the teachings of the Beauty of El-ABHA, and to baptize thee with the water of life, the fire of the love of G.o.d and with the spirit of confirmation among the maid-servants.
O maid-servant of G.o.d! It is inc.u.mbent upon thee to supplicate to thy Lord, to seek His nearness with thy heart, to be submissive and humble before His maid-servants and to serve His great vineyard.
Forsake the mortal grades (i.e., things of the world) and be engaged in praising thy Lord; so that His Holy Spirit may a.s.sist thee; may make thee a sign of faith and illumine thy heart with the light of a.s.surance, and that thou mayest become a sign of peace, a servant of reconciliation, love and security. Verily, my Merciful Lord is gracious under all aspects!
As to thy question concerning Christ: Know thou, He was perfect in respect to spirit as well as body. His material (body) was a perfect body in every respect; none of His material conditions were imperfect at all, inasmuch as imperfection is contrary to perfection. His heavenly condition was also a perfect one, comprising all the divine perfections. Reflect thou upon these words, so that the door of knowledge may be opened before thy face.
Verily, I beseech G.o.d to strengthen the a.s.sured leaves (or women) whom thou hast mentioned in thy letter, under all grades, aspects and circ.u.mstances.
"O thou who art turning unto the Kingdom of G.o.d!..."
O thou who art turning unto the Kingdom of G.o.d!
Thy letter came and I was informed of its wonderful contents. Know thou, verily, all the doors are closed except the door of the kingdom of G.o.d!
All the trees are without fruit except the Tree of Life planted in the paradise of G.o.d! All the winds are disqueting to the souls except the cup of the love of G.o.d! Every benefit vanisheth except the food of heaven. It is inc.u.mbent upon thee to partake thereof.
Verily, I beg of G.o.d to strengthen thee in these divine gifts, merciful bestowals and supreme favors. Exert thyself, so that thou mayest abundantly enjoy this glorious grace.
"O my G.o.d! O my G.o.d!..."
O my G.o.d! O my G.o.d!(109)
This is a servant who hath ascended to the Kingdom of Thy Mercifulness; supplicated to the realm of Thy Might and Singleness; is rejoiced at the appearance of Thy Kingdom; the effulgence of Thy lights and the spread of Thy signs. He hath believed in Thy Verses, been overtaken with the ecstasy of Thy love and with the cheer of Thy affection, until his soul craved to behold Thy Beauty-and could not (or was unable to) endure the grief and violence of the fire of separation, hastened unto the Supreme Friend and betook himself to Thy Threshold of Holiness at the visiting places of grandeur!
O my Lord! Suffer him to abide in a blessed abode and cause him to enter into a retreat of faithfulness and favor him to everlastingly dwell in the heavenly paradise, the precinct of meeting in the shelter of Thy great mercy!
Verily, thou art the Beneficent, the Merciful, the Powerful, the Forgiving, the Mighty, the Bestower!
"O thou who art honorable and faithful to G.o.d!..."
O thou who art honorable and faithful to G.o.d!
How many men and women awaited the manifestation of the Messiah after Moses? Yet when His beauty shone forth and His face appeared, they (the people) did not recognize Him, but continued to follow the superst.i.tions of the Pharisees, who used to say: "Where is the authority of the Messiah?
Where is the throne of David, the Glorious? Where is his iron rod? Where are his innumerable hosts? Where are his attacking armies? Where are his angels of heaven? Where do we see justice of government existing among people and even among beasts and insects? Where is his great majesty?
Where is his power, which shaketh heaven and earth? Is not this a claim of one who is bewildered and wandering amidst valleys and hills? Doth he not ride upon as a.s.s, while on his head there is a crown of thorns and he is despised?"
Indeed, all of the foregoing statements are of the evil opinions which the Pharisees used to proclaim through every man"s tongue. But those who had listening ears and clear insight, listened not to such misleading speeches, but realized the Messiah as the rising Sun with His effulgent face, and that the radiance of His illumination was diffused over the whole world. They regarded even the a.s.s on which He (Christ) was mounted as a splendid throne and also the thorns which were upon His head as a brilliant diadem!
Verily, direct thou thine own self towards His Kingdom, that thou mayest perceive that His traces and authority continue forever and will never cease!
"O thou whose heart is empty and pure through the..."
O thou whose heart is empty and pure through the Light of the word of G.o.d shining therein!