As to Dayyan—­upon him be the glory of God and His mercy—­he attained Our presence in accordance with that which had been revealed by the pen of the Primal Point.  We pray God to aid the heedless to turn unto Him, and such as have turned aside to direct themselves towards Him, and them that have denied Him to acknowledge this Cause, which, no sooner did it appear than all created things proclaimed:  “He that was hidden in the Treasury of Knowledge, and inscribed by the Pen of the Most High in His Books, and His Scriptures, and His Scrolls, and His Tablets, is come!”

In this connection it hath been deemed necessary to mention such traditions as have been recorded regarding the blessed and honored city of Akka, that haply thou mayest, O Hadi, seek a path unto the Truth, and a road leading unto God.

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

The following hath been recorded concerning the merits of Akka, and of the sea, and of Aynu’l-Baqar (The Spring of the Cow) which is in Akka: 

’Abdu’l-’Aziz, son of ’Abdu’-Salam, hath related unto us that the Prophet—­ may the blessings of God and His salutations be upon him—­hath said:  “Akka is a city in Syria to which God hath shown His special mercy.”

Ibn-i-Mas’ud—­may God be pleased with him—­hath stated:  “The Prophet—­may the blessings of God and His salutations be upon Him—­hath said:  ’Of all shores the best is the shore of Askelon, and Akka is, verily, better than Askelon, and the merit of Akka above that of Askelon and all other shores is as the merit of Muhammad above that of all other Prophets.  I bring you tidings of a city betwixt two mountains in Syria, in the middle of a meadow, which is called Akka.  Verily, he that entereth therein, longing for it and eager to visit it, God will forgive his sins, both of the past and of the future.  And he that departeth from it, other than as a pilgrim, God will not bless his departure.  In it is a spring called the Spring of the Cow.  Whoso drinketh a draught therefrom, God will fill his heart with light, and will protect him from the most great terror on the Day of Resurrection.’”

Anas, son of Malik—­may God be pleased with him—­hath said:  “The Apostle of God—­may the blessings of God and His salutations be upon Him—­hath said:  ’By the shore of the sea is a city, suspended beneath the Throne, and named Akka.  He that dwelleth therein, firm and expecting a reward from God—­exalted be He—­God will write down for him, until the Day of Resurrection, the recompense of such as have been patient, and have stood up, and knelt down, and prostrated themselves, before Him.’”