O Shay_kh_!  Ponder upon the things which have been mentioned, perchance thou mayest quaff the Sealed Wine through the power of the name of Him Who is the Self-Subsisting, and obtain that which no one is capable of comprehending.  Gird up the loins of endeavor, and direct thyself towards the Most Sublime Kingdom, that haply thou mayest perceive, as they descend upon Me, the breaths of Revelation and inspiration, and attain thereunto.  Verily, I say:  The Cause of God hath never had, nor hath it now, any peer or equal.  Rend asunder the veils of idle fancies.  He, in truth, will reinforce thee, and assist thee, as a token of His grace.  He, verily, is the Strong, the All-Subduing, the Almighty.  While there is yet time, and the blessed Lote-Tree is still calling aloud amongst men, suffer not thyself to be deprived.  Place thy trust in God, and commit thine affairs unto Him, and enter then the Most Great Prison, that thou mayest hear what no ear hath ever heard, and gaze on that which no eye hath ever seen.  After such an exposition, can there remain any room for doubt?  Nay, by God, Who standeth over His Cause!  In truth I say:  On this day the blessed words “But He is the Apostle of God, and the Seal of the Prophets” have found their consummation in the verse “The day when mankind shall stand before the Lord of the worlds.”  Render thou thanksgiving unto God, for so great a bounty.

O Shay_kh_!  The breezes of Revelation can never be confounded with other breezes.  Now the Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing standeth laden with countless fruits before thy face; besmirch not thyself with idle fancies, as have done the people aforetime.  These utterances themselves proclaim the true nature of the Faith of God.  He it is Who witnesseth unto all things.  To demonstrate the truth of His Revelation He hath not been, nor is He, dependent upon any one.  Well nigh a hundred volumes of luminous verses and perspicuous words have already been sent down from the heaven of the will of Him Who is the Revealer of signs, and are available unto all.  It is for thee to direct thyself towards the Ultimate Goal, and the Supreme End, and the Most Sublime Pinnacle, that thou mayest hear and behold what hath been revealed by God, the Lord of the worlds.

Ponder a while upon the verses concerning the Divine Presence, which have been sent down in the Qur’an by Him Who is the Lord of the kingdom of names, perchance thou mayest discover the Straight Path, and be made an instrument for the guidance of His creatures.  Such a one as thou must needs in this day arise to serve this Cause.  The abasement of this Wronged One as well as thy glory shall both pass away.  Strive thou, that haply thou mayest achieve a deed the fragrance of which shall never fade from the earth.  Concerning the Divine Presence there hath been sent down what no denier hath been or is now able to refute or repudiate.  He—­blessed and exalted be He—­saith:  “It is God Who hath