a true believer liveth both in this world and in the
world to come."

If by "life" be meant this earthly life, it is evident that death must
needs overtake it.

Similarly, the records of all the scriptures bear witness to this lofty
truth and this most exalted word. Moreover, this verse of the Qur'an,
revealed concerning Hamzih, the "Prince of Martyrs,"(90) and Abu-Jahl, is
a luminous evidence and sure testimony of the truth of Our saying: "Shall
the dead, whom We have quickened, and for whom We have ordained a light
whereby he may walk among men, be like him, whose likeness is in the
darkness, whence he will not come forth?"(91) This verse descended from
the heaven of the Primal Will at a time when Hamzih had already been
invested with the sacred mantle of faith, and Abu-Jahl had waxed
relentless in his opposition and unbelief. From the Wellspring of
omnipotence and the Source of eternal holiness, there came the judgment
that conferred everlasting life upon Hamzih, and condemned Abu-Jahl to
eternal damnation. This was the signal that caused the fires of unbelief
to glow with the hottest flame in the heart of the infidels, and provoked
them openly to repudiate His truth. They loudly clamoured: "When did
Hamzih die? When was he risen? At what hour was such a life conferred upon
him?" As they understood not the significance of these noble sayings, nor
sought enlightenment from the recognized expounders of the Faith, that
these might confer a sprinkling of the Kawthar of divine knowledge upon
them, therefore such fires of mischief were kindled amongst men.

Thou dost witness today how, notwithstanding the radiant splendour of the
Sun of divine knowledge, all the people, whether high or low, have clung
to the ways of those abject manifestations of the Prince of Darkness. They
continually appeal to them for aid in unraveling the intricacies of their
Faith, and, owing to lack of knowledge, they make such replies as can in
no wise damage their fame and fortune. It is evident that these souls,
vile and miserable as the beetle itself, have had no portion of the
musk-laden breeze of eternity, and have never entered the Ridvan of
heavenly delight. How, therefore, can they impart unto others the
imperishable fragrance of holiness? Such is their way, and such will it
remain for ever. Only those will attain to the knowledge of the Word of
God that have turned unto Him, and repudiated the manifestations of Satan.
Thus God hath reaf