s Christ. Behold, how all the learned men
of that generation, though eagerly anticipating the coming of the Promised
One, have nevertheless denied Him. Both Annas, the most learned among the
divines of His day, and Caiaphas, the high priest, denounced Him and
pronounced the sentence of His death.

In like manner, when Muhammad, the Prophet of God--may all men be a
sacrifice unto Him--appeared, the learned men of Mecca and Medina arose, in
the early days of His Revelation, against Him and rejected His Message,
while they who were destitute of all learning recognized and embraced His
Faith. Ponder a while. Consider how Balal, the Ethiopian, unlettered
though he was, ascended into the heaven of faith and certitude, whilst
'Abdu'llah Ubayy, a leader among the learned, maliciously strove to oppose
Him. Behold, how a mere shepherd was so carried away by the ecstasy of the
words of God that he was able to gain admittance into the habitation of
his Best-Beloved, and was united to Him Who is the Lord of Mankind, whilst
they who prided themselves on their knowledge and wisdom strayed far from
His path and remained deprived of His grace. For this reason He hath
written: "He that is exalted among you shall be abased, and he that is
abased shall be exalted." References to this theme are to be found in most
of the heavenly Books, as well as in the sayings of the Prophets and
Messengers of God.

Verily I say, such is the greatness of this Cause that the father flieth
from his son, and the son flieth from his father. Call ye to mind the
story of Noah and Canaan. God grant that, in these days of heavenly
delight, ye may not deprive yourselves of the sweet savors of the
All-Glorious God, and may partake, in this spiritual Springtime, of the
outpourings of His grace. Arise in the name of Him Who is the Object of
all knowledge, and, with absolute detachment from the learning of men,
lift up your voices and proclaim His Cause. I swear by the Day Star of
Divine Revelation! The very moment ye arise, ye will witness how a flood
of Divine knowledge will gush out of your hearts, and will behold the
wonders of His heavenly wisdom manifested in all their glory before you.
Were ye to taste of the sweetness of the sayings of the All-Merciful, ye
would unhesitatingly forsake your selves, and would lay down your lives
for the Well-Beloved.

Who can ever believe that this Servant of God hath at any time cherished
in His heart a desire for any earthly