ed depths of the Holy Writings.

Those who have rejected God and firmly cling to Nature as it is in itself
are, verily, bereft of knowledge and wisdom. They are truly of them that
are far astray. They have failed to attain the lofty summit and have
fallen short of the ultimate purpose; therefore their eyes were shut and
their thoughts differed, while the leaders among them have believed in God
and in His invincible sovereignty. Unto this beareth witness thy Lord, the
Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.

When the eyes of the people of the East were captivated by the arts and
wonders of the West, they roved distraught in the wilderness of material
causes, oblivious of the One Who is the Causer of Causes, and the
Sustainer thereof, while such men as were the source and the wellspring of
Wisdom never denied the moving Impulse behind these causes, nor the
Creator or the Origin thereof. Thy Lord knoweth, yet most of the people
know not.

Now We have, for the sake of God, the Lord of Names, set Ourself the task
of mentioning in this Tablet some accounts of the sages,(52) that the eyes
of the people may be opened thereby and that they may become fully assured
that He is in truth the Maker, the Omnipotent, the Creator, the
Originator, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Although it is recognized that the contemporary men of learning are highly
qualified in philosophy, arts and crafts, yet were anyone to observe with
a discriminating eye he would readily comprehend that most of this
knowledge hath been acquired from the sages of the past, for it is they
who have laid the foundation of philosophy, reared its structure and
reinforced its pillars. Thus doth thy Lord, the Ancient of Days, inform
thee. The sages aforetime acquired their knowledge from the Prophets,
inasmuch as the latter were the Exponents of divine philosophy and the
Revealers of heavenly mysteries. Men quaffed the crystal, living waters of
Their utterance, while others satisfied themselves with the dregs.
Everyone receiveth a portion according to his measure. Verily He is the
Equitable, the Wise.

Empedocles, who distinguished himself in philosophy, was a contemporary of
David, while Pythagoras lived in the days of Solomon, son of David, and
acquired Wisdom from the treasury of prophethood. It is he who claimed to
have heard the whispering sound of the heavens and to have attained the
station of the angels. In truth thy Lord will clearly set forth all
things, if He