AME, O MY GOD! THOU BEHOLDEST..."

Lauded be Thy name, O my God! Thou beholdest me in the clutches of my
oppressors. Every time I turn to my right, I hear the voice of the
lamentation of them that are dear to Thee, whom the infidels have made
captives for having believed in Thee and in Thy signs, and for having set
their faces towards the horizon of Thy grace and of Thy loving-kindness.
And when I turn to my left, I hear the clamor of the wicked doers who have
disbelieved in Thee and in Thy signs, and persistently striven to put out
the light of Thy lamp which sheddeth the radiance of Thine own Self over
all that are in Thy heaven and all that are on Thy earth.

The hearts of Thy chosen ones, O my Lord, have melted because of their
separation from Thee, and the souls of Thy loved ones are burnt up by the
fire of their yearning after Thee in Thy days. I implore Thee, O Thou
Maker of the heavens and Lord of all names, by Thy most effulgent Self and
Thy most exalted and all-glorious Remembrance, to send down upon Thy loved
ones that which will draw them nearer unto Thee, and enable them to
hearken unto Thine utterances.

Tear asunder with the hand of Thy transcendent power, O my Lord, the veil
of vain imaginings, that they who are wholly devoted to Thee may see Thee
seated on the throne of Thy majesty, and the eyes of such as adore Thy
unity may rejoice at the splendors of the glory of Thy face. The doors of
hope have been shut against the hearts that long for Thee, O my Lord!
Their keys are in Thy hands; open them by the power of Thy might and Thy
sovereignty. Potent art Thou to do as Thou pleasest. Thou art, verily, the
Almighty, the Beneficent.

VI: "PRAISE BE TO THEE, O LORD MY GOD! I SWEAR BY THY..."

Praise be to Thee, O Lord my God! I swear by Thy might! Successive
afflictions have withheld the pen of the Most High from laying bare that
which is hidden from the eyes of Thy creatures, and incessant trials have
hindered the tongue of the Divine Ordainer from proclaiming the wonders of
Thy glorification and praise. With a stammering tongue, therefore, I call
upon Thee, O my God, and with this my afflicted pen I occupy myself in
remembrance of Thy name.

Is there any man of insight, O my God, that can behold Thee with Thine own
eye, and where is the thirsty one who can direct his face towards the
living waters of Thy love? I am the one, O my God, who hath blotted out
from his heart the remembrance of al