accents of God and the divine
mysteries and holy allusions enshrined in that which flowed from the
tongue of Muhammad, and as they neglected to examine the matter in their
own hearts, and followed instead those priests of error who have hindered
the progress of the people in past dispensations and who will continue to
do so in future cycles, they were thus veiled from the divine purpose,
failed to quaff from the celestial streams, and deprived themselves of the
presence of God, the Manifestation of His Essence, and the Dayspring of
His eternity. Thus did they wander in the paths of delusion and the ways
of heedlessness, and return to their abode in that fire which feedeth on
their own souls. These, verily, are numbered with the infidels whose names
have been inscribed by the Pen of God in His holy Book. Nor have they ever
found, or will ever find, a friend or helper.

55 Had these souls but clung steadfastly to the Handle of God manifested
in the Person of Muhammad, had they turned wholly unto God and cast aside
all that they had learned from their divines, He would assuredly have
guided them through His grace and acquainted them with the sacred truths
that are enshrined within His imperishable utterances. For far be it from
His greatness and His glory that He should turn away a seeker at His door,
cast aside from His Threshold one who hath set his hopes on Him, reject
one who hath sought the shelter of His shade, deprive one who hath held
fast to the hem of His mercy, or condemn to remoteness the poor one who
hath found the river of His riches. But as these people failed to turn
wholly unto God, and to hold fast to the hem of His all-pervading mercy at
the appearance of the Daystar of Truth, they passed out from under the
shadow of guidance and entered the city of error. Thus did they become
corrupt and corrupt the people. Thus did they err and lead the people into
error. And thus were they recorded among the oppressors in the books of
heaven.

56 Now that this evanescent One hath reached this exalted point in the
exposition of the inner mysteries, the reason for the denial of these
uncouth souls will be described briefly, that it may serve as a testimony
unto them that are endued with understanding and insight, and be a token
of My favour unto the concourse of the faithful.

57 Know then that when Muhammad, the Point of the Qur'an and the Light of
the All-Glorious, came with perspicuous verses and luminous proofs
m