faith" that have been
mentioned in this verse. It saith that the heavens and the earth, the
throne, the sun and the moon, all have been created to the end that His
servants may have unswerving faith in His presence in His days. By the
righteousness of God! Contemplate, O My brother, the greatness of this
station, and behold the condition of the people in these days, fleeing
from the Countenance of God and His Beauty "as though they were affrighted
asses".(39) Wert thou to reflect upon that which We have revealed unto
thee, thou wouldst undoubtedly grasp Our purpose in this utterance and
discover that which We have desired to impart unto thee within this
paradise. Perchance thine eyes may rejoice in beholding it, thine ears
take delight in hearing that which is recited therein, thy soul be
enthralled by recognizing it, thy heart illumined by comprehending it, and
thy spirit gladdened by the fragrant breezes that waft therefrom. Haply
thou mayest attain unto the pinnacle of divine grace and abide within the
Ridvan of transcendent holiness.

61 He, however, who denied God in His Truth, who turned his back upon Him
and rebelled, who disbelieved and made mischief, the verdict of "impiety",
"blasphemy", "death", and "fire" was passed upon him. For, what blasphemy
is greater than to turn unto the manifestations of Satan, to follow the
doctors of oblivion and the people of rebellion? What impiety is more
grievous than to deny the Lord on the day when faith itself is renewed and
regenerated by God, the Almighty, the Beneficent? What death is more
wretched than to flee from the Source of everlasting life? What fire is
fiercer on the Day of Reckoning than that of remoteness from the divine
Beauty and the celestial Glory?

62 These were the very words and utterances used by the pagan Arabs living
in the days of Muhammad to dispute with and pronounce judgement against
Him. They said: "Those who believed in Muhammad dwelt in our midst and
associated with us day and night. When did they die and when were they
raised again to life?" Hearken unto that which was revealed in reply: "If
ever thou dost marvel, marvellous surely is their saying, 'What! When we
have become dust and mouldering bones, shall we be restored in a new
creation?'"(40) And in another passage: "And if thou shouldst say, 'After
death ye shall surely be raised again', the infidels will certainly
exclaim, 'This is naught but palpable sorcery.'"(41) Thus did they mock
an