anifested in such signs as are beyond the power of all existence to
produce, He bade all men follow this lofty and outstretched Path in
accordance with the precepts that He had brought from God. Whoso
acknowledged Him, recognized the signs of God in His inmost Being, and saw
in His beauty the changeless beauty of God, the decree of "resurrection",
"ingathering", "life", and "paradise" was passed upon him. For he who had
believed in God and in the Manifestation of His beauty was raised from the
grave of heedlessness, gathered together in the sacred ground of the
heart, quickened to the life of faith and certitude, and admitted into the
paradise of the divine presence. What paradise can be loftier than this,
what ingathering mightier, and what resurrection greater? Indeed, should a
soul be acquainted with these mysteries, he would grasp that which none
other hath fathomed.

58 Know then that the paradise that appeareth in the day of God surpasseth
every other paradise and excelleth the realities of Heaven. For when
God--blessed and glorified is He--sealed the station of prophethood in the
person of Him Who was His Friend, His Chosen One, and His Treasure amongst
His creatures, as hath been revealed from the Kingdom of glory: "but He is
the Apostle of God and the Seal of the Prophets",(37) He promised all men
that they shall attain unto His own presence in the Day of Resurrection.
In this He meant to emphasize the greatness of the Revelation to come, as
it hath indeed been manifested through the power of truth. And there is of
a certainty no paradise greater than this, nor station higher, should ye
reflect upon the verses of the Qur'an. Blessed be he who knoweth of a
certainty that he shall attain unto the presence of God on that day when
His Beauty shall be made manifest.

59 Were I to recount all the verses that have been revealed in connection
with this exalted theme, it would weary the reader and divert Us from Our
purpose. The following verse shall therefore suffice Us; may thine eyes be
solaced therewith, and mayest thou attain unto that which hath been
treasured and concealed therein: "It is God who hath reared the heavens
without pillars thou canst behold; then mounted His throne, and imposed
laws on the sun and moon: each travelleth to its appointed goal. He
ordereth all things. He maketh His signs clear, that ye may have firm
faith in the presence of your Lord."(38)

60 Ponder then, O My friend, the words "firm