Consider, how can he that faileth in the day of God’s Revelation to attain
unto the grace of the “Divine Presence” and to recognize His
Manifestation, be justly called learned, though he may have spent aeons in
the pursuit of knowledge, and acquired all the limited and material
learning of men? It is surely evident that he can in no wise be regarded
as possessed of true knowledge. Whereas, the most unlettered of all men,
if he be honoured with this supreme distinction, he verily is accounted as
one of those divinely-learned men whose knowledge is of God; for such a
man hath attained the acme of knowledge, and hath reached the furthermost
summit of learning.
This station is also one of the signs of the Day of Revelation; even as it
is said: “The abased amongst you, He shall exalt; and they that are
exalted, He shall abase.” And likewise, He hath revealed in the Qur’án:
“And We desire to show favour to those who were brought low in the land,
and to make them spiritual leaders among men, and to make of them Our
heirs.”(110) It hath been witnessed in this day how many of the divines,
owing to their rejection of the Truth, have fallen into, and abide within,
the uttermost depths of ignorance, and whose names have been effaced from
the scroll of the glorious and learned. And how many of the ignorant who,
by reason of their acceptance of the Faith, have soared aloft and attained
the high summit of knowledge, and whose names have been inscribed by the
Pen of Power upon the Tablet of divine Knowledge. Thus, “What He pleaseth
will God abrogate or confirm: for with Him is the Source of
Revelation.”(111) Therefore, it hath been said: “To seek evidence, when
the Proof hath been established is but an unseemly act, and to be busied
with the pursuit of knowledge when the Object of all learning hath been
attained is truly blameworthy.” Say O people of the earth! Behold this
flamelike Youth that speedeth across the limitless profound of the Spirit,
heralding unto you the tidings: “Lo: the Lamp of God is shining,” and
summoning you to heed His Cause which, though hidden beneath the veils of
ancient splendour, shineth in the land of ‘Iráq above the day-spring of
eternal holiness.
O my friend, were the bird of thy mind to explore the heavens of the
Revelation of the Qur’án, were it to contemplate the realm of divine
knowledge unfolded therein, thou wouldst assuredly find unnumbered doors
of knowledge set open before thee. Thou wouldst certainly recognize that
all these things which have in this day hindered this people from
attaining the shores of the ocean of eternal grace, the same things in the
Muḥammadan Dispensation prevented the people of that age from recognizing
that divine Luminary, and from testifying to His truth. Thou wilt also
apprehend the mysteries of “return” and “revelation,” and wilt securely
abide within the loftiest chambers of certitude and assurance.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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