The Book of the Epistle to the Son of the Wolf CHAPTER FORTY ONE
Divisions 1246-1270
EPISTLE TO THE SON OF THE WOLF
1246.
Describing the people of Bahá, the Most Sublime Pen hath sent down these words:
1247.
“These, verily, are men who if they come to cities of pure gold will consider them not;
and if they meet the fairest and most comely of women will turn aside.”
1248.
Thus hath it been sent down by the Most Sublime Pen for the people of Bahá,
on the part of Him Who is the Counsellor, the Omniscient.
1249.
In the concluding passages of the Tablet to His Majesty the Emperor of Paris (Napoleon III) these exalted words have been revealed:
1250.
“Exultest thou over the treasures thou dost possess, knowing they shall perish?
1251.
Rejoicest thou in that thou rulest a span of earth,
when the whole world, in the estimation of the people of Bahá,
is worth as much as the black in the eye of a dead ant?
1252.
Abandon it unto such as have set their affections upon it,
and turn thou unto Him Who is the Desire of the world.”
1253.
God alone—exalted be His glory—
is cognizant of the things which befell this Wronged One.
1254.
Every day bringeth a fresh report of stories current against Us at the Embassy in Constantinople.
1255.
Gracious God!
The sole aim of their machinations is to bring about the extermination of this servant.
1256.
They are, however, oblivious of the fact that abasement in the path of God is My true glory.
1257.
In the newspapers the following hath been recorded:
1258.
“Touching the fraudulent dealings of some of the exiles of ‘Akká,
and the excesses committed by them against several people, etc.”
1259.
Unto them who are the exponents of justice and the daysprings of equity the intention of the writer is evident and his purpose clear.
1260.
Briefly, he arose and inflicted upon Me divers tribulations, and treated Me with injustice and cruelty.
1261.
By God! This Wronged One would not barter this place of exile for the Most Sublime Habitation.
1262.
In the estimation of men of insight whatsoever befalleth in the path of God is manifest glory and a supreme attainment.
1263.
Already We have said:
“Glory to Thee, O my God!
Except for the tribulations which are sustained in Thy path,
how could Thy true lovers be recognized;
1264.
and were it not for the trials which are borne for love of Thee,
how could the station of such as yearn for Thee be revealed?”
1265.
Such abasement hath been inflicted that each day they spread fresh calumnies.
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1266.
This Wronged One, however, cleaveth to seemly patience.
1267.
Would that His Majesty the Sháh of Persia would ask for a report
of the things that befell Us in Constantinople,
that he might become fully acquainted with the true facts.
1268.
O Sháh!
I adjure thee by thy Lord, the God of Mercy, to look into this matter with the eye of fairness.
1269.
Is there to be found a just man who will judge in this day
according to that which God hath sent down in His Book?
1270.
Where is the fair-minded person who will equitably consider
what hath been perpetrated against Us without any clear token or proof?
The Book of the Epistle to the Son of the Wolf CHAPTER FORTY TWO
Divisions 1271-1290
EPISTLE TO THE SON OF THE WOLF
1271.
O Sheik!
Ponder the behavior of men.
1272.
The inmates of the cities of knowledge and wisdom are sore perplexed
asking themselves why it is that the Shí‘ih sect, which regarded itself as the most learned,
the most righteous, and the most pious of all the peoples of the world,
hath turned aside in the Day of His Revelation,
and hath shown a cruelty such as hath never been experienced.
1273.
It is incumbent upon thee to reflect a while.
1274.
From the inception of this sect until the present day
how great hath been the number of the divines that have appeared,
none of whom became cognizant of the nature of this Revelation.
1275.
What could have been the cause of this waywardness?
Were We to mention it, their limbs would cleave asunder.
1276.
It is necessary for them to meditate, to meditate for a thousand thousand years, (1,000,000)
that haply they may attain unto a sprinkling from the ocean of knowledge,
and discover the things whereof they are oblivious in this day.
1277.
I was walking in the Land of Tá (Tihrán)—the dayspring of the signs of thy Lord—
when lo, I heard the lamentation of the pulpits and the voice of their supplication unto God,
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blessed and glorified be He.
1278.
They cried out and said:
“O God of the world and Lord of the nations!
Thou beholdest our state and the things which have befallen us by reason of the cruelty of Thy servants.
1279.
Thou hast created us and revealed us for Thy glorification and praise.
1280.
Thou dost now hear what the wayward proclaim upon us in Thy days.
1281.
By Thy might! Our souls are melted and our limbs are trembling.
1282.
Alas, alas!
Would that we had never been created and revealed by Thee!”
1283.
The hearts of them that enjoy near access to God are consumed by these words, and from them the cries of such as are devoted to Him are raised.
1284.
Time and again have We, for the sake of God, admonished the distinguished divines, and summoned them unto the Most Sublime Horizon,
1285.
that perchance they might, in the days of His Revelation, obtain their portion of the ocean of the utterance of Him Who is the Desire of the world, and remain not utterly deprived thereof.
1286.
In most of Our Tablets this most weighty exhortation hath been sent down
from the heaven of His all-encompassing mercy.
1287.
We said:
“O concourse of rulers and divines!
Incline your ears unto the Voice calling from the horizon of ‘Akká.
1288.
Verily, it aideth you to proceed aright, and draweth you nigh unto Him,
and directeth your steps towards the station
that God hath made the Dayspring of His Revelation and the Dawning-Place of His splendors.
1289.
O peoples of the world!
He Who is the Most Great Name is come, on the part of the Ancient King,
and hath announced unto men this Revelation which lay hid in His knowledge,
and was preserved in the treasury of His protection,
and was written down by the Most Sublime Pen in the Books of God, the Lord of Lords.
1290.
O people of Shn! (Shíráz)
Have ye forgotten My loving-kindness and My mercy that have surpassed all created things,
and which proceeded from God Who layeth low the necks of men?”
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