so gracious a favour that hath pervaded the whole world.

O thou who hast set thy face towards the splendours of My Countenance!
Vague fancies have encompassed the dwellers of the earth and debarred them
from turning towards the Horizon of Certitude, and its brightness, and its
manifestations and its lights. Vain imaginings have withheld them from Him
Who is the Self-Subsisting. They speak as prompted by their own caprices,
and understand not. Among them are those who have said: 'Have the verses
been sent down?' Say 'Yea, by Him Who is the Lord of the heavens!' 'Hath
the Hour come?' 'Nay, more; it hath passed, by Him Who is the Revealer of
clear tokens! Verily, the Inevitable is come, and He, the True One, hath
appeared with proof and testimony. The Plain is disclosed, and mankind is
sore vexed and fearful. Earthquakes have broken loose, and the tribes have
lamented, for fear of God, the Lord of Strength, the All-Compelling.' Say:
'The stunning trumpet-blast hath been loudly raised, and the Day is God's,
the One, the Unconstrained.' And they say: 'Hath the Catastrophe come to
pass?' Say: 'Yea, by the Lord of Lords!' 'Is the Resurrection come?' 'Nay,
more; He Who is the Self-Subsisting hath appeared with the Kingdom of His
signs.' 'Seest thou men laid low?' 'Yea, by my Lord, the Most High, the
Most Glorious!' 'Have the tree-stumps been uprooted?' 'Yea, more; the
mountains have been scattered in dust; by Him the Lord of attributes!'
They say: 'Where is Paradise, and where is Hell?' Say: 'The one is reunion
with Me; the other thine own self, O thou who dost associate a partner
with God and doubtest.' They say: 'We see not the Balance.' Say: 'Surely,
by my Lord, the God of Mercy! None can see it except such as are endued
with insight.' They say: 'Have the stars fallen?' Say: 'Yea, when He Who
is the Self-Subsisting dwelt in the Land of Mystery.(42) Take heed, ye who
are endued with discernment!' All the signs appeared when We drew forth
the Hand of Power from the bosom of majesty and might. Verily, the Crier
hath cried out, when the promised time came, and they that have recognized
the splendours of Sinai have swooned away in the wilderness of hesitation,
before the awful majesty of thy Lord, the Lord of creation. The trumpet
asketh: 'Hath the Bugle been sounded?' Say: 'Yea, by the King of
Revelation! when He mounted the throne of His Name, the All-Merciful.'
Darkness hath been chased away by the dawning light of the mercy of