The Book of the Epistle to the Son of the Wolf CHAPTER ONE 2 страница
125. Thus hath God laid hold of them for their sins, hath extinguished in them the spirit of faith, and tormented them with the flames of the nethermost fire. 126. And this for no other reason except that Israel refused to apprehend the meaning of such words as have been revealed in the Bible concerning the signs of the coming Revelation. 127. As she never grasped their true significance, and, to outward seeming, such events never came to pass, she, therefore, remained deprived of recognizing the beauty of Jesus and of beholding the face of God. 128. And they still await His coming! 129. From time immemorial even unto this day, all the kindreds and peoples of the earth have clung to such fanciful and unseemly thoughts, and thus have deprived themselves of the clear waters streaming from the springs of purity and holiness. 130. In unfolding these mysteries, We have, in Our former Tablets which were addressed to a friend in the melodious language of Hij?, cited a few of the verses revealed unto the Prophets of old. 131. And now, responding to your request, We again shall cite, in these pages, those same verses, uttered this time in the wondrous accents of ?r?, 132. that haply the sore athirst in the wilds of remoteness may attain unto the ocean of the divine presence, and they that languish in the wastes of separation be led unto the home of eternal reunion. 133. Thus the mists of error may be dispelled, and the all-resplendent light of divine guidance dawn forth above the horizon of human hearts. 134. In God We put Our trust, and to Him We cry for help, that haply there may flow from this pen that which shall quicken the souls of men, 135. that they may all arise from their beds of heedlessness and hearken unto the rustling of the leaves of Paradise, from the tree which the hand of divine power hath, by the permission of God, planted in the Ridvan of the All-Glorious. The Book of Certitude CHAPTER SIX Divisions 136-165 1ST CERTITUDE 136. To them that are endowed with understanding, it is clear and manifest that when the fire of the love of Jesus consumed the veils of Jewish limitations, and His authority was made apparent and partially enforced, 137. He, the Revealer of the unseen Beauty, addressing one day His disciples, referred unto His passing, and, kindling in their hearts the fire of bereavement, said unto them: I go away and come again unto you. 138. And in another place He said: “Go and another will come Who will tell you all that I have not told you, and will fulfill all that I have said.” 139. Both these sayings have but one meaning, were you to ponder upon the Manifestations of the Unity of God with divine insight. 140. Every discerning observer will recognize that in the Dispensation of the Quran both the Book and the Cause of Jesus were confirmed. 141. As to the matter of names, Muhammad himself declared: I am Jesus. [That is to say, Mohammed wore the full mantle of great prophethood, meant for Jesus, the Christ Messiah, and was also opposed by the same detractors. Mohammed however, preached armed resistance to evil men that would not repent, much in the spirit of Zarathustra, the apparent heir to the kingdom of Solomon, the son of David] 142. He recognized the truth of the signs, prophecies, and words of Jesus, and testified that they were all of God. 143. In this sense, neither the person of Jesus nor His writings hath differed from that of Muhammad and of His holy Book, inasmuch as both have championed the Cause of God, uttered His praise, and revealed His commandments. 144. Thus it is that Jesus, Himself, declared: “I go away and come again unto you.” 145. Consider the sun. Were it to say now, I am the sun of yesterday, it would speak the truth. 146. And should it, bearing the sequence of time in mind, claim to be other than that sun, it still would speak the truth. 147. In like manner, if it be said that all the days are but one and the same, it is correct and true. 148. And if it be said, with respect to their particular names and designations, that they differ, that again is true. 149. For though they are the same, yet one doth recognize in each a separate designation, a specific attribute, a particular character. 150. Conceive accordingly the distinction, variation, and unity characteristic of the various Manifestations of holiness, that thou mayest comprehend the allusions made by the Creator of all names and attributes to the mysteries of distinction and unity, 151. and discover the answer to thy question as to why that everlasting Beauty should have, at sundry times, called Himself by different names and titles. 152. Afterwards, the companions and disciples of Jesus asked Him concerning those signs that must needs signalize the return of His manifestation. 153. hen, they asked, shall these things be? 154. Several times they questioned that peerless Beauty, and, every time He made reply, He set forth a special sign that should herald the advent of the promised Dispensation. 155. To this testify the records of the four Gospels. 156. This wronged One will cite but one of these instances, thus conferring upon mankind, for the sake of God, such bounties as are yet concealed within the treasury of the hidden and sacred Tree, 157. that haply mortal men may not remain deprived of their share of the immortal fruit, and attain to a dewdrop of the waters of everlasting life which, from Baghdad, the Abode of Peace,are being vouchsafed unto all mankind. 158. We ask for neither meed nor reward. 159. We nourish your souls for the sake of God; we seek from you neither recompense nor thanks. 160. This is the food that conferreth everlasting life upon the pure in heart and the illumined in spirit. 161. This is the bread of which it is said: “Lord, send down upon us Thy bread from heaven.” 162. This bread shall never be withheld from them that deserve it, nor can it ever be exhausted. 163. It groweth everlastingly from the tree of grace; it descendeth at all seasons from the heavens of justice and mercy. 164. Even as He saith: “Seest thou not to what God likeneth a good word? 165. To a good tree; its root firmly fixed, and its branches reaching unto heaven: yielding its fruit in all seasons.” The Book of Certitude CHAPTER SEVEN Divisions 166-200 1ST CERTITUDE 166. O the pity! that man should deprive himself of this goodly gift, this imperishable bounty, this everlasting life. 167. It behooveth him to prize this food that cometh from heaven, that perchance, through the wondrous favors of the Sun of Truth, the dead may be brought to life, and withered souls be quickened by the infinite Spirit. 168. Make haste, O my brother, that while there is yet time our lips may taste of the immortal draft, for the breeze of life, now blowing from the city of the Well-Beloved, cannot last, and the streaming river of holy utterance must needs be stilled, and the portals of the Ridvan cannot forever remain open. 169. The day will surely come when the Nightingale of Paradise will have winged its flight away from its earthly abode unto its heavenly nest. 170. Then will its melody be heard no more, and the beauty of the rose cease to shine. 171. Seize the time, therefore, ere the glory of the divine springtime hath spent itself, and the Bird of Eternity ceased to warble its melody, that thy inner hearing may not be deprived of hearkening unto its call. 172. This is My counsel unto thee and unto the beloved of God. 173. Whosoever wisheth, let him turn thereunto; whosoever wisheth, let him turn away. 174. God, verily, is independent of him and of that which he may see and witness. 175. These are the melodies, sung by Jesus, Son of Mary, in accents of majestic power in the Ridvan of the Gospel, revealing those signs that must needs herald the advent of the Manifestation after Him. 176. In the first Gospel according to Matthew it is recorded: And when they asked Jesus concerning the signs of His coming, He said unto them: 177. ?mmediately after the oppression of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the earth shall be shaken: 178. and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 179. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet? 180. Rendered into the Persian tongue, the purport of these words is as follows: 181. When the oppression and afflictions that are to befall mankind will have come to pass, then shall the sun be withheld from shining, the moon from giving light, the stars of heaven shall fall upon the earth, and the pillars of the earth shall quake. 182. At that time, the signs of the Son of man shall appear in heaven, that is, the promised Beauty and Substance of life shall, when these signs have appeared, step forth out of the realm of the invisible into the visible world. 183. And He saith: at that time, all the peoples and kindreds that dwell on earth shall bewail and lament, and they shall see that divine Beauty coming from heaven, riding upon the clouds with power, grandeur, and magnificence, sending His angels with a great sound of a trumpet. 184. Similarly, in the three other Gospels, according to Luke, Mark, and John, the same statements are recorded. 185. As We have referred at length to these in Our Tablets revealed in the Arabic tongue, We have made no mention of them in these pages, and have confined Ourselves to but one reference. 186. Inasmuch as the Christian divines have failed to apprehend the meaning of these words, and did not recognize their object and purpose, and have clung to the literal interpretation of the words of Jesus, they therefore became deprived of the streaming grace of the Muhammadan Revelation and its showering bounties. 187. The ignorant among the Christian community, following the example of the leaders of their faith, were likewise prevented from beholding the beauty of the King of glory, inasmuch as those signs which were to accompany the dawn of the sun of the Muhammadan Dispensation did not actually come to pass. 188. Thus, ages have passed and centuries rolled away, and that most pure Spirit hath repaired unto the retreats of its ancient sovereignty. 189. Once more hath the eternal Spirit breathed into the mystic trumpet, and caused the dead to speed out of their sepulchers of heedlessness and error unto the realm of guidance and grace. 190. And yet, that expectant community still crieth out: When shall these things be? 191. When shall the promised One, the object of our expectation, be made manifest, that we may arise for the triumph of His Cause, that we may sacrifice our substance for His sake, that we may offer up our lives in His path? 192. In like manner, have such false imaginings caused other communities to stray from the Kawthar of the infinite mercy of Providence, and to be busied with their own idle thoughts. 193. Beside this passage, there is yet another verse in the Gospel wherein He saith: 194. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but My words shall not pass away. 195. Thus it is that the adherents of Jesus maintained that the law of the Gospel shall never be annulled, and that whensoever the promised Beauty is made manifest and all the signs are revealed, He must needs reaffirm and establish the law proclaimed in the Gospel, so that there may remain in the world no faith but His faith. 196. This is their fundamental belief. 197. And their conviction is such that were a person to be made manifest with all the promised signs and to promulgate that which is contrary to the letter of the law of the Gospel, they must assuredly renounce him, refuse to submit to his law, declare him an infidel, and laugh him to scorn. 198. This is proved by that which came to pass when the sun of the Muhammadan Revelation was revealed. 199. Had they sought with a humble mind from the Manifestations of God in every Dispensation the true meaning of these words revealed in the sacred books, words the misapprehension of which hath caused men to be deprived of the recognition of the Sadratu-Muntah, the ultimate Purpose, 200. they surely would have been guided to the light of the Sun of Truth, and would have discovered the mysteries of divine knowledge and wisdom. The Book of Certitude CHAPTER EIGHT Divisions 201-235 1ST CERTITUDE 201. This servant will now share with thee a dewdrop out of the fathomless ocean of the truths treasured in these holy words, that haply discerning hearts may comprehend all the allusions and the implications of the utterances of the Manifestations of Holiness, 202. so that the overpowering majesty of the Word of God may not prevent them from attaining unto the ocean of His names and attributes, nor deprive them of recognizing the Lamp of God which is the seat of the revelation of His glorified Essence. 203. As to the words—“Immediately after the oppression of those days”—they refer to the time when men shall become oppressed and afflicted, 204. the time when the lingering traces of the Sun of Truth and the fruit of the Tree of knowledge and wisdom will have vanished from the midst of men, 205. when the reins of mankind will have fallen into the grasp of the foolish and ignorant, when the portals of divine unity and understanding —the essential and highest purpose in creation—will have been closed, when certain knowledge will have given way to idle fancy, and corruption will have usurped the station of righteousness. 206. Such a condition as this is witnessed in this day when the reins of every community have fallen into the grasp of foolish leaders, who lead after their own whims and desire. 207. On their tongue the mention of God hath become an empty name; in their midst His holy Word a dead letter. 208. Such is the sway of their desires, that the lamp of conscience and reason hath been quenched in their hearts, 209. and this although the hands of divine power have unlocked the portals of the knowledge of God, and the light of divine knowledge and heavenly grace hath illumined and inspired the essence of all created things, 210. in such wise that in each and every thing a door of knowledge hath been opened, and within every atom traces of the sun have been made manifest. 211. And yet, in spite of all these manifold revelations of divine knowledge, which have encompassed the world, they still vainly imagine the door of knowledge to be closed, and the showers of mercy to be stilled. 212. Clinging unto idle fancy, they have strayed far from the ‘Urvatu’l-Vuthqá of divine knowledge. 213. Their hearts seem not to be inclined to knowledge and the door thereof, neither think they of its manifestations, inasmuch as in idle fancy they have found the door that leadeth unto earthly riches, whereas in the manifestation of the Revealer of knowledge they find naught but the call to self-sacrifice. 214. They therefore naturally hold fast unto the former, and flee from the latter. 215. Though they recognize in their hearts the Law of God to be one and the same, yet from every direction they issue a new command, and in every season proclaim a fresh decree. 216. No two are found to agree on one and the same law, for they seek no God but their own desire, and tread no path but the path of error. 217. In leadership they have recognized the ultimate object of their endeavor, and account pride and haughtiness as the highest attainments of their heart’s desire. 218. They have placed their sordid machinations above the divine decree, have renounced resignation unto the will of God, busied themselves with selfish calculation, and walked in the way of the hypocrite. 219. With all their power and strength they strive to secure themselves in their petty pursuits, fearful lest the least discredit undermine their authority or blemish the display of their magnificence. 220. Were the eye to be anointed and illumined with the collyrium of the knowledge of God, it would surely discover that a number of voracious beasts have gathered and preyed upon the carrion of the souls of men. 221. What “oppression” is greater than that which hath been recounted? 222. What “oppression” is more grievous than that a soul seeking the truth, and wishing to attain unto the knowledge of God, should know not where to go for it and from whom to seek it? 223. For opinions have sorely differed, and the ways unto the attainment of God have multiplied. 224. This “oppression” is the essential feature of every Revelation. 225. Unless it cometh to pass, the Sun of Truth will not be made manifest. 226. For the break of the morn of divine guidance must needs follow the darkness of the night of error. 227. For this reason, in all chronicles and traditions reference hath been made unto these things, namely that iniquity shall cover the surface of the earth and darkness shall envelop mankind. 228. As the traditions referred to are well known, and as the purpose of this servant is to be brief, He will refrain from quoting the text of these traditions. 229. Were this “oppression” (literally, pressure) to be interpreted that the earth is to become contracted, or were men’s idle fancy to conceive similar calamities to befall mankind, it is clear and manifest that no such happenings can ever come to pass. 230. They will assuredly protest that this prerequisite of divine revelation hath not been made manifest. 231. Such hath been and still is their contention. 232. Whereas, by “oppression” is meant the want of capacity to acquire spiritual knowledge and apprehend the Word of God. 233. By it is meant that when the Daystar of Truth hath set, and the mirrors that reflect His light have departed, mankind will become afflicted with “oppression” and hardship, knowing not whither to turn for guidance. 234. Thus We instruct thee in the interpretation of the traditions, and reveal unto thee the mysteries of divine wisdom, 235. that haply thou mayest comprehend the meaning thereof, and be of them that have quaffed the cup of divine knowledge and understanding. The Book of Certitude CHAPTER NINE Divisions 236-270 1ST CERTITUDE 236. And now, concerning His words— “The sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give light, and the stars shall fall from heaven.” 237. By the terms “sun” and “moon,” mentioned in the writings of the Prophets of God, is not meant solely the sun and moon of the visible universe. 238. Nay rather, manifold are the meanings they have intended for these terms. In every instance they have attached to them a particular significance. 239. Thus, by the “sun” in one sense is meant those Suns of Truth Who rise from the dayspring of ancient glory, and fill the world with a liberal effusion of grace from on high. 240. These Suns of Truth are the universal Manifestations of God in the worlds of His attributes and names. 241. Even as the visible sun that assisteth, –as decreed by God, the true One, the Adored–
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