om, thou wouldst have been able to plainly
behold thine own helplessness and that of all who dwell on earth. Our
abasement is indeed the glory of His Cause, could ye but understand.

24 This Youth hath ever been disinclined to breathe a word contrary to
courtesy, for courtesy is Our raiment, wherewith We have adorned the
temples of Our well-favoured servants. Otherwise, some of the deeds that
ye believe to be concealed would have been divulged in this Tablet.

25 O exponent of might and power! These young children and these poor ones
in God did not need to be accompanied by officers and soldiers. Upon our
arrival in Gallipoli, a major by the name of 'Umar came into Our presence.
God is well aware of what he said. After some exchanges in which his own
innocence and thy guilt were mentioned, We declared: "From the outset, a
gathering should have been convened at which the learned men of this age
could have met with this Youth in order to determine what offence these
servants have committed. But now the matter hath gone beyond such
considerations, and, according to thine own assertion, thou art charged
with incarcerating Us in the most desolate of cities. There is a matter,
which, if thou findest it possible, I request thee to submit to His
Majesty the Sultan, that for ten minutes this Youth be enabled to meet
him, so that he may demand whatsoever he deemeth as a sufficient testimony
and regardeth as proof of the veracity of Him Who is the Truth. Should God
enable Him to produce it, let him, then, release these wronged ones, and
leave them to themselves."

26 He promised to transmit this message, and to give Us his reply. We
received, however, no news from him. Although it becometh not Him Who is
the Truth to present Himself before any person, inasmuch as all have been
created to obey Him, yet in view of the condition of these little children
and the large number of women so far removed from their friends and
countries, We have acquiesced in this matter. In spite of this nothing
hath resulted. 'Umar himself is alive and accessible. Inquire from him,
that the truth may be made known unto you.

27 Most of Our companions now lie sick in this prison, and none knoweth
what befell Us, except God, the Almighty, the All-Knowing. In the days
following Our arrival, two of these servants hastened to the realms above.
For an entire day the guards insisted that, until they were paid for the
shrouds and burial, those blessed bodies co