irst. The divine bread
is coming down from heaven, and yet we grope and stumble in a
famine-stricken land. "Between the weeping and the telling, I spin out my
days."

One of the principal reasons why people of other religions have shunned
and failed to become converted to the Faith of God is fanaticism and
unreasoning religious zeal. See for example the divine words that were
addressed to Muhammad, the Ark of Salvation, the Luminous Countenance and
Lord of Men, bidding Him to be gentle with the people and long-suffering:
"Debate with them in the kindliest manner."(31) That Blessed Tree Whose
light was "neither of the East nor of the West"(32) and Who cast over all
the peoples of the earth the sheltering shade of a measureless grace,
showed forth infinite kindness and forbearance in His dealings with every
one. In these words, likewise, were Moses and Aaron commanded to challenge
Pharaoh, Lord of the Stakes:(33) "Speak ye to him with gentle speech."(34)

Although the noble conduct of the Prophets and Holy Ones of God is widely
known, and it is indeed, until the coming of the Hour,(35) in every aspect
of life an excellent pattern for all mankind to follow, nevertheless some
have remained neglectful of and separated from these qualities of
extraordinary sympathy and loving-kindness, and have been prevented from
attaining to the inner significances of the Holy Books. Not only do they
scrupulously shun the adherents of religions other than their own, they do
not even permit themselves to show them common courtesy. If one is not
allowed to associate with another, how can one guide him out of the dark
and empty night of denial, of "there-is-no-God," into the bright morning
of belief, and the affirmation, "but God."(36) And how can one urge him on
and encourage him to rise up out of the abyss of perdition and ignorance
and climb the heights of salvation and knowledge? Consider justly: had not
Hanzala treated Nu'man with true friendship, showing him kindness and
hospitality, could he have brought the King and a great number of other
idolaters to acknowledge the unity of God? To keep aloof from people, to
shun them, to be harsh with them, will make them shrink away, while
affection and consideration, mildness and forbearance will attract their
hearts toward God. If a true believer when meeting an individual from a
foreign country should express revulsion, and should speak the horrible
words forbidding association with foreigners