t
for that which We had covenanted with them before the foundation of the
world. And lo, but for a few radiant faces and eloquent tongues, We found
most of the people dumbfounded, their eyes staring up in fear. From the
former We brought forth the creation of all that hath been and all that
shall be. These are they whose countenances God hath graciously turned
away from the face of the unbelievers, and whom He hath sheltered beneath
the shadow of the Tree of His own Being; they upon whose hearts He hath
bestowed the gift of peace and tranquillity, and whom He hath strengthened
and assisted through the hosts of the seen and the unseen.

19 O Eyes of this Temple! Look not upon the heavens and that which they
contain, nor upon the earth and them that dwell thereon, for We have
created you to behold Our own Beauty: See it now before you! Withhold not
your gaze therefrom, and deprive not yourselves of the Beauty of your
Lord, the All-Glorious, the Best-Beloved. Erelong shall We bring into
being through you keen and penetrating eyes that will contemplate the
manifold signs of their Creator and turn away from all that is perceived
by the people of the world. Through you shall We bestow the power of
vision upon whomsoever We desire, and lay hold upon those who have
deprived themselves of this gracious bounty. These, verily, have drunk
from the cup of delusion, though they perceive it not.

20 O Ears of this Temple! Purge yourselves from all idle clamour and
hearken unto the voice of your Lord. He, verily, revealeth unto you, from
the Throne of glory, that there is none other God save Me, the
All-Glorious, the Almighty, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.
Erelong shall We bring into being through you pure and undefiled ears
which will heed the Word of God and that which hath appeared from the
Dayspring of the Utterance of your Lord, the All-Merciful. They shall
assuredly perceive the sweet accents of Divine Revelation that proceed
from these most blessed and hallowed precincts.

21 O Tongue of this Temple! We, verily, have created thee through Our
name, the All-Merciful, have taught thee whatsoever had remained concealed
in the Bayan, and have bestowed upon thee the power of utterance, that
thou mayest make mention of Mine exalted Self amidst My creatures.
Proclaim, then, this wondrous and mighty Remembrance, and fear not the
manifestations of the Evil One. Thou wert called into being for this very
purpose by virtue of My