stand ready
before the throne of thy sovereignty. Decide, then, for Me or against Me.

222 The All-Merciful saith in the Qur'an, His abiding testimony unto all
the peoples of the world: "Wish ye then for death, if ye be men of
truth."(32) Behold how He hath declared the yearning for death to be the
touchstone of sincerity! And, in the luminous mirror of thy judgement, it
is doubtless clear and evident which people have chosen, in this day, to
lay down their lives in the path of the Beloved of the worlds. Indeed,
were the books supporting the beliefs of this people to be written with
the blood spilled in the path of God--exalted be His glory!--then countless
volumes would have already appeared amongst men for all to see.

223 How, We fain would ask, is it possible to impugn this people whose
deeds are in conformity with their words, and to give credence instead to
those who have refused to relinquish one jot of their worldly authority in
the path of Him Who is the Unconstrained? Some of the divines who have
declared this Servant an infidel have at no time met with Me. Never having
seen Me, or become acquainted with My purpose, they have nevertheless
spoken as they pleased and acted as they desired. Yet every claim
requireth a proof, not mere words and displays of outward piety.

224 In this connection the text of several passages from the Hidden Book
of Fatimih--the blessings of God be upon her!--which are relevant to the
present theme will be cited in the Persian tongue, that certain matters
which have ere now been hidden may be revealed before thy presence. The
people addressed in the aforementioned Book, which is today known as the
Hidden Words, are those who, though outwardly known for learning and
piety, are inwardly the slaves of self and passion.

225 He saith: O ye that are foolish, yet have a name to be wise! Wherefore
do ye wear the guise of the shepherd, when inwardly ye have become wolves,
intent upon My flock? Ye are even as the star, which riseth ere the dawn,
and which, though it seem radiant and luminous, leadeth the wayfarers of
My city astray into the paths of perdition.

226 And likewise He saith: O ye seeming fair yet inwardly foul! Ye are
like clear but bitter water, which to outward seeming is crystal pure but
of which, when tested by the Divine Assayer, not a drop is accepted. Yea,
the sunbeam falls alike upon the dust and the mirror, yet differ they in
reflection even as doth the star from the