ka, and the
excesses committed by them against several people, etc...." Unto them who
are the exponents of justice and the daysprings of equity the intention of
the writer is evident and his purpose clear. Briefly, he arose and
inflicted upon Me divers tribulations, and treated Me with injustice and
cruelty. By God! This Wronged One would not barter this place of exile for
the Most Sublime Habitation. In the estimation of men of insight
whatsoever befalleth in the path of God is manifest glory and a supreme
attainment. Already We have said: "Glory to Thee, O my God! But for the
tribulations which are sustained in Thy path, how could Thy true lovers be
recognized; and were it not for the trials which are borne for love of
Thee, how could the station of such as yearn for Thee be revealed?"

Such abasement hath been inflicted that each day they spread fresh
calumnies. This Wronged One, however, cleaveth to seemly patience. Would
that His Majesty the _Sh_ah of Persia would ask for a report of the things
which befell Us in Constantinople, that he might become fully acquainted
with the true facts. O _Sh_ah! I adjure thee by thy Lord, the God of
Mercy, to look into this matter with the eye of fairness. Is there to be
found a just man who will judge in this day according to that which God
hath sent down in His Book? Where is the fair-minded person who will
equitably consider what hath been perpetrated against Us without any clear
token or proof?

O _Sh_ay_kh_! Ponder the behavior of men. The inmates of the cities of
knowledge and wisdom are sore perplexed asking themselves why it is that
the _Sh_i'ih sect, which regarded itself as the most learned, the most
righteous, and the most pious of all the peoples of the world, hath turned
aside in the Day of His Revelation, and hath shown a cruelty such as hath
never been experienced. It is incumbent upon thee to reflect a while. From
the inception of this sect until the present day how great hath been the
number of the divines that have appeared, none of whom became cognizant of
the nature of this Revelation. What could have been the cause of this
waywardness? Were We to mention it, their limbs would cleave asunder. It
is necessary for them to meditate, to meditate for a thousand thousand
years, that haply they may attain unto a sprinkling from the ocean of
knowledge, and discover the things whereof they are oblivious in this day.

I was walking in the Land of Ta (Tihran)--the dayspr