ankind, calling from the Divine Lote-Tree: Verily, no God is
there but Me, the Almighty, the All-Wise! Cast away all that is on earth,
and attire the head of thy kingdom with the crown of the remembrance of
thy Lord, the All-Glorious. He, in truth, hath come unto the world in His
most great glory, and all that hath been mentioned in the Gospel hath been
fulfilled. The land of Syria hath been honoured by the footsteps of its
Lord, the Lord of all men, and north and south are both inebriated with
the wine of His presence. Blessed is the man that hath inhaled the
fragrance of the Most Merciful, and turned unto the Dawning-Place of His
Beauty, in this resplendent Dawn. The Mosque of Aqsa vibrateth through the
breezes of its Lord, the All-Glorious, whilst Batha(21) trembleth at the
voice of God, the Exalted, the Most High. Whereupon every single stone of
them celebrateth the praise of the Lord, through this Great Name.

172 Lay aside thy desire, and set then thine heart towards thy Lord, the
Ancient of Days. We make mention of thee for the sake of God, and desire
that thy name may be exalted through thy remembrance of God, the Creator
of earth and heaven. He, verily, is witness unto that which I say. We have
been informed that thou hast forbidden the trading in slaves, both men and
women. This, verily, is what God hath enjoined in this wondrous
Revelation. God hath, truly, destined a reward for thee, because of this.
He, verily, will pay the doer of good his due recompense, wert thou to
follow what hath been sent unto thee by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the
All-Informed. As to him who turneth aside, and swelleth with pride, after
the clear tokens have come unto him from the Revealer of signs, his work
shall God bring to naught. He, in truth, hath power over all things. Man's
actions are acceptable after his having recognized (the Manifestation). He
that turneth aside from the True One is indeed the most veiled amongst His
creatures. Thus hath it been decreed by Him Who is the Almighty, the Most
Powerful.

173 We have also heard that thou hast entrusted the reins of counsel into
the hands of the representatives of the people. Thou, indeed, hast done
well, for thereby the foundations of the edifice of thine affairs will be
strengthened, and the hearts of all that are beneath thy shadow, whether
high or low, will be tranquillized. It behoveth them, however, to be
trustworthy among His servants, and to regard themselves as the
r