mbryo. For had the embryo not existed, how could he have reached his
present state? Likewise had the religion taught by Adam not existed, this
Faith would not have attained its present stage. Thus consider thou the
development of God's Faith until the end that hath no end. V, 4.

"Twelve hundred and seventy years have elapsed since ..."

Twelve hundred and seventy years have elapsed since the declaration of
Muhammad, and each year unnumbered people have circumambulated the House
of God [Mecca]. In the concluding year of this period He Who is Himself
the Founder of the House went on pilgrimage. Great God! There was a vast
concourse of pilgrims from every sect. Yet not one recognized Him, though
He recognized every one of them--souls tightly held in the grasp of His
former commandment. The only person who recognized Him and performed
pilgrimage with Him is the one round whom revolve eight Vahids,(63) in
whom God hath gloried before the Concourse on high by virtue of his
absolute detachment and for his being wholly devoted to the Will of God.
This doth not mean that he was made the object of a special favour, nay,
this is a favour which God hath vouchsafed unto all men, yet they have
suffered themselves to be veiled from it. The Commentary on the Surih of
Joseph had, in the first year of this Revelation, been widely distributed.
Nevertheless, when the people realized that fellow supporters were not
forthcoming they hesitated to accept it; while it never occurred to them
that the very Qur'an whereunto unnumbered souls bear fealty today, was
revealed in the midmost heart of the Arab world, yet to outward seeming
for no less than seven years no one acknowledged its truth except the
Commander of the Faithful [Imam 'Ali]--may the peace of God rest upon
him--who, in response to the conclusive proofs advanced by God's supreme
Testimony, recognized the Truth and did not fix his eyes on others. Thus
on the Day of Resurrection God will ask everyone of his understanding and
not of his following in the footsteps of others. How often a person,
having inclined his ears to the holy verses, would bow down in humility
and would embrace the Truth, while his leader would not do so. Thus every
individual must bear his own responsibility, rather than someone else
bearing it for him. At the time of the appearance of Him Whom God will
make manifest the most distinguished among the learned and the lowliest of
men shall both be judged alike