await.”(101) Also He saith: “They who bear in mind that they shall attain
unto the Presence of their Lord, and that unto Him shall they
return.”(102) Also in another instance He saith: “They who held it as
certain that they must meet God, said, ‘How oft, by God’s will, hath a
small host vanquished a numerous host!’”(103) In yet another instance He
revealeth: “Let him then who hopeth to attain the presence of his Lord
work a righteous work.”(104) And also He saith: “He ordereth all things.
He maketh His signs clear, that ye may have firm faith in attaining the
presence of your Lord.”(105)
This people have repudiated all these verses, that unmistakably testify to
the reality of “attainment unto the Divine Presence.” No theme hath been
more emphatically asserted in the holy scriptures. Notwithstanding, they
have deprived themselves of this lofty and most exalted rank, this supreme
and glorious station. Some have contended that by “attainment unto the
Divine Presence” is meant the “Revelation” of God in the Day of
Resurrection. Should they assert that the “Revelation” of God signifieth a
“Universal Revelation,” it is clear and evident that such revelation
already existeth in all things. The truth of this We have already
established, inasmuch as We have demonstrated that all things are the
recipients and revealers of the splendours of that ideal King, and that
the signs of the revelation of that Sun, the Source of all splendour,
exist and are manifest in the mirrors of beings. Nay, were man to gaze
with the eye of divine and spiritual discernment, he will readily
recognize that nothing whatsoever can exist without the revelation of the
splendour of God, the ideal King. Consider how all created things
eloquently testify to the revelation of that inner Light within them.
Behold how within all things the portals of the Ridván of God are opened,
that seekers may attain the cities of understanding and wisdom, and enter
the gardens of knowledge and power. Within every garden they will behold
the mystic bride of inner meaning enshrined within the chambers of
utterance in the utmost grace and fullest adornment. Most of the verses of
the Qur’án indicate, and bear witness to, this spiritual theme. The verse:
“Neither is there aught which doth not celebrate His praise”(106) is
eloquent testimony thereto; and “We noted all things and wrote them
down,”(107) a faithful witness thereof. Now, if by “attainment unto the
Presence of God” is meant attainment unto the knowledge of such
revelation, it is evident that all men have already attained unto the
presence of the unchangeable Countenance of that peerless King. Why, then,
restrict such revelation to the Day of Resurrection?
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