O Shay_kh_!  Enter thou My presence, that thou mayest behold what the eye of the universe hath never beheld, and hear that which the ear of the whole creation hath never heard, that haply thou mayest free thyself from the mire of vague fancies, and set thy face towards the Most Sublime Station, wherein this Wronged One calleth aloud:  “The Kingdom is God’s, the Almighty, the All-Praised!” We fain would hope that through thine exertions the wings of men may be sanctified from the mire of self and desire, and be made worthy to soar in the atmosphere of God’s love.  Wings that are besmirched with mire can never soar.  Unto this testify they who are the exponents of justice and equity, and yet the people are in evident doubt.

O Shay_kh_!  Protests have been voiced against Us from every side—­ protests such as Our pen craveth pardon for setting down.  Nevertheless, by reason of Our great mercy, We have replied unto them, in accordance with the understanding of men, that haply they may be delivered from the fire of negation and denial, and become illumined with the light of affirmation and acceptance.  Equity is rarely to be found, and justice hath ceased to exist.

Among others, these perspicuous verses have, in answer to certain individuals, been sent down from the Kingdom of Divine knowledge:  “O thou who hast set thy face towards the splendors of My Countenance!  Vague fancies have encompassed the dwellers of the earth and debarred them from turning towards the Horizon of Certitude, and its brightness, and its manifestations and its lights.  Vain imaginings have withheld them from Him Who is the Self-Subsisting.  They speak as prompted by their own caprices, and understand not.  Among them are those who have said:  ’Have the verses been sent down?’ Say:  ‘Yea, by Him Who is the Lord of the heavens!’ ’Hath the Hour come?’ ’Nay, more; it hath passed, by Him Who is the Revealer of clear tokens!  Verily, the Inevitable is come, and He, the True One, hath appeared with proof and testimony.  The Plain is disclosed, and mankind is sore vexed and fearful.  Earthquakes have broken loose, and the tribes have lamented, for fear of God, the Lord of Strength, the All-Compelling.’  Say:  ’The stunning trumpet blast hath been loudly raised, and the Day is God’s, the One, the Unconstrained.’  ‘Hath the Catastrophe come to pass?’ Say:  ‘Yea, by the Lord of Lords!’ ‘Is the Resurrection come?’ ’Nay, more; He Who is the Self-Subsisting hath appeared with the Kingdom of His signs.’  ‘Seest thou men laid low?’ ‘Yea, by my Lord, the Exalted, the Most High!’ ‘Have the tree-stumps been uprooted?’ ’Yea, more; the mountains have been scattered in dust; by Him the Lord of attributes!’ They say:  ’Where is Paradise, and where is Hell?’ Say:  ’The one is reunion with Me; the other thine own self, O thou who dost associate a partner with God and doubtest.’  They say:  ‘We see not the Balance.’  Say:  ’Surely, by my Lord, the God of Mercy!