to all them that dwell on earth, be they high or low. It
behoveth not, therefore, him who was created from dust, who will return
unto it, and will again be brought forth out of it, to swell with pride
before God, and before His loved ones, to proudly scorn them, and be
filled with disdainful arrogance. Nay, rather it behoveth thee and those
like thee to submit yourselves to them Who are the Manifestations of the
unity of God, and to defer humbly to the faithful, who have forsaken their
all for the sake of God, and have detached themselves from the things
which engross men's attention, and lead them astray from the path of God,
the All-Glorious, the All-Praised. Thus do We send down upon you that
which shall profit you and profit them that have placed their whole trust
and confidence in their Lord.

CXIV: HEARKEN, O KING (SULTAN 'ABDU'L-'AZIZ),...

Hearken, O King (Sultan 'Abdu'l-'Aziz), to the speech of Him that speaketh
the truth, Him that doth not ask thee to recompense Him with the things
God hath chosen to bestow upon thee, Him Who unerringly treadeth the
straight Path. He it is Who summoneth thee unto God, thy Lord, Who showeth
thee the right course, the way that leadeth to true felicity, that haply
thou mayest be of them with whom it shall be well.

Beware, O King, that thou gather not around thee such ministers as follow
the desires of a corrupt inclination, as have cast behind their backs that
which hath been committed into their hands and manifestly betrayed their
trust. Be bounteous to others as God hath been bounteous to thee, and
abandon not the interests of thy people to the mercy of such ministers as
these. Lay not aside the fear of God, and be thou of them that act
uprightly. Gather around thee those ministers from whom thou canst
perceive the fragrance of faith and of justice, and take thou counsel with
them, and choose whatever is best in thy sight, and be of them that act
generously.

Know thou for a certainty that whoso disbelieveth in God is neither
trustworthy nor truthful. This, indeed, is the truth, the undoubted truth.
He that acteth treacherously towards God will, also, act treacherously
towards his king. Nothing whatever can deter such a man from evil, nothing
can hinder him from betraying his neighbor, nothing can induce him to walk
uprightly.

Take heed that thou resign not the reins of the affairs of thy state into
the hands of others, and repose not thy confidence in ministers