Reading the Bible: symbols, recognition, and a life of understanding

His Holiness Christ, addressing His disciples said: "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt hath lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted?" Now if the believers of God do not exercise the utmost love and fellowship amongst each other, and they are not attracted to each other, then how can they bring about that universal era of brotherhood and love?

O thou rose of the Rose-Garden of the Love of God! His Holiness Christ-may my spirit be His sacrifice!--saith in the Gospel, "Many are called, but few chosen."

… Endeavor and make an effort that certain souls may be trained, of whom His Holiness Christ said, "Ye shall know the tree by its fruits."

O thou who hast diffused the fragrances of truth! Stand thou firm in the Cause of God like unto a tree firmly rooted, with massive trunk, spreading branches and abundant fruits, that thou mayest become the manifestation of that which the glorious Lord hath said in the Gospel: "By their fruits ye shall know them."

'And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brothers eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? O, how wilt thou say to the brother, let me pull the mote out of thine eye and behold, a beam is in thine own eye! Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam that is in thine own eye and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote that is in thy brothers eye.'

In the Gospel it is recorded that an adulteress was brought before Christ and confessed. Those present asked why He did not command her to be stoned. He said that whoever was without sin - that is, had committed no wrong - should arise and stone her. When all examined themselves, they found themselves sinful, and so each fled in a different direction.

Thus when Christ said: "Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the left one also," the purpose was to educate the people, not to imply that one should assist a wolf that has fallen upon a flock of sheep and is intent upon devouring them all. No, if Christ had known that a wolf had entered the fold and was about to destroy the sheep, He most certainly would have prevented it.

In the Glorious Gospel it is said: "Freely ye have received, freely give."

The Spirit [Jesus] hath said: "...If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all and servant of all...and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant."

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Christ addressed the disciples saying: "Ye are the salt of the earth but if the salt hath lost its savour wherefore should it be salted?"

Be a proclaimer of peace and say, 'Now I feel no enmity toward anyone.' Praise all and be mindful of the story of Christ. When everyone expressed disgust on seeing the body of a dead dog, Christ said, 'What white teeth it has!'

The Lord Christ, two thousand years ago, spoke of the importance of finding the lost sheep, so that you have even to leave ninety-nine sheep, in order to go and find the lost lamb, and the joy is greater in finding the little lost lamb than over the ninety-nine sheep.

Read, my daughter, the Holy Books of mankind; as a Christian study particularly the New Testament; show me, where does the great Master Jesus speak of the "Wrath of God"? But rather of the all-consuming love of the Father for His lost son!

I ask God that thou mayest attain such a state of perception, as will enable thee to expound with knowledge the words of the Holy Bible.

O maid-servant of God! I ask God to open before thy face the doors of wisdom, to give thee a drink of the chalice overflowing with the wine of certainty, and to inspire thee with the mysteries of the Holy Book, so that thou mayest know the significances of vision and the reality of revelation, and all the hidden symbols of prophetic Scripture, such as those of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel.

What "oppression" is more grievous than that a soul seeking the truth, and wishing to attain unto the knowledge of God, should know not where to go for it and from whom to seek it? For opinions have sorely differed, and the ways unto the attainment of God have multiplied. This "oppression" is the essential feature of every Revelation. Unless it cometh to pass, the Sun of Truth will not be made manifest.

It is therefore clear that the assertion that the Son of man came down from heaven has a mystical rather than a literal meaning, and is a spiritual rather than a material event.

Furthermore, in John 1:12–13 it is said: "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." It follows clearly from this verse of John that even the existence of the Apostles proceeds from a spiritual reality rather than from a material power.

Q. Then you do not mean this phenomenal heaven?

A. I mean the heaven from which Christ descended and to which he ascended--the heaven of divine Will, the heaven of spirituality.

We will preface our remarks with the text of the Gospel. It is recorded therein that when John the son of Zacharias appeared and announced unto the people the advent of the Kingdom of God, they asked him, "Who art thou? Art thou the promised Messiah?" He replied, "I am not the Messiah." They then asked him, "Art thou Elias?" He replied, "I am not."

And yet even more astonishing is that Christ said: Perchance I shall come when you are sleeping, for the coming of the Son of man is like the coming of a thief. Perhaps the thief will be in the house and the owner will be unaware.

His Holiness Christ, addressing the believers, uttereth the following in the Gospel: "Be awake lest the Son of Man come and find ye asleep!"

Thirdly, He says that He speaks not of Himself but is confirmed by the hosts of divine revelation, and declares whatsoever He hears from the Kingdom of Glory. Observe how clear it is that the Comforter is a Person who is inspired by heavenly inspirations and is the source and fountainhead of divine revelation, for the Holy Spirit has no ear to hear.

Also in John 16: 7-15 (ino.) "The Advocate" and the "Spirit of Truth" here spoken of signify Mahomet.

Furthermore, the religion of God is likened to an adorned bride who appears with the utmost grace, as it has been said in chapter twenty-one of the Revelation of John: "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." And in chapter twelve it is said: "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars." This woman is that bride, the religion of God, that descended upon Muhammad. The sun with which she was clothed, and the moon which was under her feet, are the two governments which are under the shadow of that religion, the Persian and the Ottoman, for the emblem of Persia is the sun and that of the Ottoman Empire is the crescent moon.

In the Book of Isaiah - may my spirit be a sacrifice for all besides Him - there is a passage that hath previously testified to that which hath been expounded by the Most Exalted Pen concerning the meaning of the words of the revered Shaykh - upon him be all the most glorious Glory of God. He saith: "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." (Chapter 65, verse 17).

This is that Day of which Joel in his Book saith: "For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?" Likewise Jeremiah saith: "Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it." All that hath appeared was mentioned in the Books of the Messengers, even unto the mention of the Fortress which is now the seat of the Throne and is known as the Most Great Prison, as David saith: "Who will lead me into the strong city?" The strong city is Akka, whose fortress is well-known. This is that Fortress upon which He saith the lights of the Sun of Truth would shine and from whose horizon they would dawn.

Consider this blessed, firm, and established word which is recorded in the Book of Zechariah. He saith: "And in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts." This word implicitly giveth tidings that the Sun of Truth will rise from the horizon of another heaven, and likewise indicateth that whosoever turneth unto the Most Great Name hath been and shall be among the most exalted peoples of the world, for he is associated with Him and characterized by His name.

In the first chapter of the Book of Isaiah it is recorded: "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, and your festivals are mere corruption. Your new moons and your feasts my soul hateth; they are a burden unto me; I am weary to bear them."

… One day He commandeth by the sacrifice of a decree, and another day He may lift that very ordinance. He shall not be asked of what He doeth, and He is the All-Knowing Questioner.

In the first station, We interpret this "heaven" as the heaven of Will, and this "water" as the water of revelation. That is, when God, exalted be He, desired to manifest in all created things a revelation from the revelations of His Beauty and to place in each one of them a trace from the traces of His Majesty, that perchance through beholding it the hearts of the mystics might be quickened and the inner beings of those drawn nigh might rejoice, He sent down the water of divine manifestation and the effulgent light of divine unity upon the manifestations of creation from the heaven of His Will - which is the horizon of His Purpose - so that nothing might exist save that it would guide the servants to the Dawning-Place of creation and His bountiful Countenance.

This is among the divine traditions in the primary manifestations, as Joseph (peace be upon him) saw in his dream that eleven stars prostrated to him, he being the twelfth. This occurred in the cycle of Abraham, while in the cycle of Moses (peace be upon him) there were twelve tribes and twelve chiefs, who were the constellations of mystical reality and the letters of the word of unity in that time.

The Word that was formerly revealed hath at all times appeared with a wondrous spirit from the horizon of the mouth of the Will of the All-Merciful - that Word which I addressed to the Son, meaning the Spirit, saying: Moses came for religion and ritual, and the son of Zachariah for baptism, but I am come to give everlasting life and to bring them into the eternal Kingdom.

We are told in the Bible of the Baptism of Water and of the Spirit, and also of the Baptism of Spirit and of Fire, and these are Three Baptisms.

It was in this instance that His Holiness Christ says: He that drinketh of this water shall never thirst! This means the infinite bestowals of God; the virtues of the Divine world, the perfections of the world of humanity and the ideals of the heavenly realm.

The Master said: "The loaves are five Words with which Christ answered and satisfied the questioning multitude. The fish represents the spiritual meaning of these Words. The basketful that remained is the superabundant teaching gathered from the Words."

Just as the sheep sacrificed its life, likewise this natural state of man, which is the animalistic state, must be sacrificed. How should it be sacrificed? The vices of the animalistic state of man must be entirely annihilated, and he must be characterized with divine virtues. … This was a mystery of that higher sacrifice and when Christ came he said, I will sacrifice myself for the sake of the salvation of all. What did He mean? He meant to change their characters, and in this way make them heavenly, in this way make them God-like, spiritual and divine.

There are two meanings to this narrative - the material and the spiritual. As to the former the occurrence is correctly stated and really happened. In the spiritual significance, we find that Abel represents the Divine Law or Religion, and Cain the human nature. The Divine Law is present in man and attains a certain development when the human nature overcomes it. A man may take a forest and by skillful attention turn it into a garden. But if it be neglected for a time, it reverts into its former condition. So there is always present the tendency to nullify the action of the Divine Law or Religion.

As for the fish and the whale, what is meant is those people who swallowed him, and in the darkness of their ignorance, animality and selfish desires, he remembered God, and finally God saved him - meaning he guided the people.

And in the Torah the story of Dhun-Nun is by the name of Jonah, and the Europeans completely denied this story, saying it was one of the false tales.

The river of Egypt being changed into blood, signifies that for the Egyptians it was very difficult for them to take in and to live by the Religion of God, just as it would have been impossible for them to drink blood. But for the Jews this religion was as the Water of Life. The thick darkness signifies the darkness of error which surrounded Pharaoh's people. The mosquitoes, frogs, and all signify spiritual hardships and trials. The Plague signifies a spiritual disease; the thunder and hail show the anger of God.

Think about it - if today a general were to stand and say 'Sun, stand still!' and the sun stood still, would the opposing side dare to continue fighting? All these things have meanings, but it is not that they are beyond divine power.

"In God's sight, forced belief is not acceptable. Consider - is a forced friendship acceptable to you? If you tell someone 'If you don't believe, I will kill you' and they believe, this is not faith. Faith must be through recognition, through insight, through guidance, through the diffusion of divine fragrances, through the dawning of lights.

"In the Old Testament several of the Prophets are mentioned as having lived long periods, as Methusaleh, 969 years. Does not this refer to their cycles as Manifestations?"

"Yes, it means that the dominion of their laws and ordinances covered such periods.

Elijah and Enoch were believed to have come from human source, but ascended bodily into heaven. Jesus said this could not be.

Creation is good. "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light. And God saw the light that it was good."

And he called the people unto God, the Most High, and drew them nigh unto the Shore whereat melted the hearts of those who dwelt in the pavilions of eternity in the blessed spot, entering therein by God's leave.

When Moses cast off the sandals of allusion and detached himself unto God, then did God call unto him from the holy Tree amidst the flames of fire: "O Moses! Verily, I am God, thy Lord and the Lord of thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."

Unto Him Who conversed with God it is the haven of peace and security, and unto the Friend of God a shelter and a refuge. For Lot it is "a mighty pillar", and for Jacob a glorious homeland. For David it is the altar of adoration, and for Solomon the throne alluded to thus: "My Lord, grant a kingdom unto me such as shall not befit anyone after me." Unto Zechariah it is the sanctuary of supplication and servitude, and unto John the Baptist the vale of the Kingdom and the wilderness of glad-tidings. … It is the abode of the Prophets and the dawning-place of the lights of the mighty signs of the Lord. It is the dayspring of holiness and the niche wherein appear the splendours of the all-glorious Lord.

Therefore, O ye who seek His countenance, who stand at His threshold, and whose hearts are quickened by His fragrance - turn ye wholly toward Him, and receive bounty from His nature, that ye may behold the fire of Moses, witness the flame of Sinai, inhale the breath of the Messiah, see the garden of Abraham, observe the blood sacrifice of John son of Zacharias, find the fountain of life of Khidr, contemplate the sacrifice of the Offering, perceive the beauty of Joseph, hear the sighing and lamentation of Jacob, know the affliction and sorrow of Job, establish the lesson of Enoch, understand the intensity of Eve's separation, and recognize the chastity and purity of Mary.

Then after him We sent forth the Friend (Abraham) and gave him ten scrolls from Our presence and sent him to Nimrod and his chiefs to remind them of the days of God and guide them to this clear and luminous path.

When will the dark nights of separation and estrangement finally end? Even if lovers' souls should depart their bodies, when will the messenger of the soul journey from the Sheba of the Beloved? When will the Egyptian herald bring to the aged one of Canaan glad tidings of Joseph's garment?

Said one among them: "Slay not Joseph, but cast him into the depths of the pit; some traveller will find him, if ye must do some deed."

… "And they brought his shirt with false blood upon it. He said: Nay, but your souls have made a matter light for you, so comely patience! And Allah is He Whose help is sought against what you describe."

O Isma'il! A single flame from the fire of God's love shone forth upon Solomon and set him ablaze - such a blaze that he lost all control and spoke that which he spoke. God aided him to recognize Him and enabled him to build that renowned edifice which was named the Remote Mosque in the kingdom of creation.

They progressed in all degrees of existence until, in the time of David and Solomon, they reached such a station that the fame of their nobility reached all horizons and news of their virtues and qualities reached East and West.

He said, "Yes, Melchisedec," and that Melchisedec was the one who taught Abraham about God and through Abraham there came the "School of the Prophets," who guided the Hebrew race in spiritual truths, that Jesus Christ could be born to them.

Thus said the Lord of Host, the Lord who delivered you out of the tyranny of Pharaohs, brought you out of Egypt and gave you the land flowing with milk and honey; the God of your fathers Abraham, Jacob, Isaac and Joseph.

Furthermore, in Numbers 20:23-24 it is said: "And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying, Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah;" and in 20:13: "This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the Lord, and he was sanctified in them."

Know then that the Torah consists of that which was revealed on the Tablets to Moses - peace be upon Him - or what He commanded. As for the stories, these are historical accounts written after Moses - peace be upon Him. The proof of this is that in the final book, events that occurred after Moses are recorded and related. This is clear and evident proof that these stories were recorded after Moses - peace be upon Him. Therefore, there can be no reliance upon such sayings which are mere stories and accounts, for which God has sent down no authority.

Isaiah is a true Prophet but the Book of Esther is a mere tradition or story. In Solomon's Song, the symbolism which is used throughout it of a bride and bridegroom is true symbolism or allegory - no real bride or bridegroom is intended. David was a great saint but not a great Prophet and many of the statements made about him are not accurate.

Some among mankind are ever intent upon denial and objection, as evidenced by how the people of the Bayan have repeatedly inquired why the Point (the Bab), may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for His sake, made mention of David, the Psalmist, before Moses, peace be upon Him, when historically David came after Moses. … Say: Fear God and object not to Him Whom God hath adorned with the Most Great Infallibility, His most beautiful names and His most exalted attributes. It behooveth the servants to affirm whatsoever proceedeth from the Dayspring of God's Cause, for none save God is aware of the requirements of His consummate wisdom.

In the Tablets of the Exalted One mention is made of a David who lived before Moses. Some have supposed this refers to David son of Jesse, when in fact David son of Jesse lived after Moses. Therefore the deceivers and objectors who lie in wait seized upon this as a pretext and - God forbid - spoke from pulpits of ignorance and foolishness. But the truth of the matter is that there were two Davids - one before Moses and one after Moses, just as in the Qur'an there are two Ishmaels - one Ishmael son of Abraham, and another Ishmael who was among the prophets of Israel.

There are two Davids - one before Moses and one after Moses. Their way and disposition and taste were similar, therefore the Exalted One [the Bab] mentioned David before Moses, meaning the first David.

Jesus was a dyer by trade. He also lived in Egypt 'Out of Egypt have I called My Son' (Matt. 2:15, Hos. 11:1) was spoken of Jesus. The 5th Gospel which is considered noncanonical gave other history of Jesus than is contained in the Gospels of the New Testament. There were fifty gospels, but only four were accepted as genuine by the priesthood.

We have at present time in our hands four Gospels, two of these were written 60 years after Christ; but today there are ever so many books written on the Cause, proving its authority and greatness.

Matthew, chapter 24 verse 15 to 16: Abomination of desolation is Titus and when he came Judea's Christians fled into the mountains of Leganan and to owe that remained were killed and in that time Mt. Lebanon was give its glory.

It is recorded in the Old Testament that the Lord is the Excellency of Carmel and Carmel means the vineyard of God. Practically all the Prophets of Israel have visited this mountain.

Even His Holiness Jesus Christ has been here several times and now the remains of the Bab are resting on its slope.

One day I spoke with a well-known Rabbi who knew me formerly, and told him the contents of my addresses in the American Synagogues. At the end of nearly two hours talk, I looked into his face, and there was not one glimmer of interest.

Verily, the obstinate Nimrod with the power of his armies could not resist the Affectionate Friend (Abraham). The fierce Pharaoh with the power of steel could not repel the Glorious Moses. The obstinate Jews were capable were not capable of extinguishing the Praised Light, the promised Christ. And the communities in Mecca and Medina could not quench that Fire enkindled on Mount Paran.

The designation of "son of God" at the time of Moses and Christ was a term which was used also in relation to the Children of Israel, as in the Torah they have been called "sons of God". In Exodus at the end of chapter four, God said unto Moses to inform Pharaoh that "the children of Israel are my first-born sons. If thou wilt not free them, I will slay thy first-born son."

Therefore, if according to the explicit text of the Torah the Children of Israel are sons of God, then what special station or glory is there in Christ being the son of God?

It is mentioned in the Gospel that a man called His Holiness, Christ, "Good Master." His Holiness said unto him, "Why callest thou Me good? None is good save One, that is God."

The allusions followed the pattern of the words of Habib the Carpenter, who was one of the trustees of Christ, who said "Why should I not worship Him Who hath created me, and unto Whom ye shall be brought back?" - meaning "Why do ye not worship Him Who created you?"

Canaan did not appreciate, therefore the divine address came to His Holiness Noah: "He is not of thy family," for misconduct and violation of the Covenant removed nobility of lineage.

And that is the words of Christ when told that 'your brothers have come to see you'. He said, 'They are not my brethren but you are my brethren and kindred.'

It is stated in the Gospel, (Mathew 10:14) "Even shake the dust from off your feet." Consider how great is the Cause and how much it requires Sanctification and purity.

O friends of God! It is mentioned in the glorious Gospel that one day a group of Jews came to the holy presence of His Holiness the Spirit of God (Christ) and had a coin in their hand. They asked to whom they should submit this coin, meaning to whom should they pay tribute and tax. He asked what was engraved on the coin. They said the name of Caesar. He said render unto God what is God's and unto Caesar what is Caesar's.

Haven't you read in the Gospel that Christ sent two of His disciples to a nearby village and instructed them, 'There you will find a young donkey tied up - bring it.' They went and brought the donkey, and Christ rode it with His disciples into Jerusalem.

Thus it is said in the Gospel that Satan took Christ to the top of a high mountain, showed Him the world outspread and told Him that he would give Him all these things if he would follow him. But Christ refused.

It is in this connection that Christ said: Do not be afraid of those people who have control over your body but have fear of those who may control your spirits.

No matter if the limbs of your body are feeble, praised be God your spirit is robust; for it is even as the Christ hath said: The flesh is weak, and despondeth, but the spirit rejoiceth greatly.

Caiaphas had great influence during his life, but as soon as he died, his influence ceased. It was of this kind that Christ said, 'Let the dead bury their dead.'

That is why His Holiness Christ, sayeth in the Gospels: "Let the dead bury the dead!"

The glorious Lord Christ - glory be to Him - said in the Gospel that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God.

This is what Christ states in the Gospels: "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God."

It is just as sure that a camel cannot enter the eye of a needle as that a rich man cannot enter the Kingdom, an utterance of Jesus Christ.

A rich man said to Christ, "I would fain be thy disciple." "Go and put into practice the ten commandments," replied the Christ.

Remember how His Holiness Jesus said: 'Blessed are the poor!'

Marvel not at the command of God, for the Kingdom of God, according to the explicit text of Christ - glory be unto Him - belongeth to children who have nursed at the breast of the bounty of God.

His Highness Christ says: "Happy is the condition of the children."

This is due to excessive power, the Power of God; for he has tried it and experienced it and has seen the unimportance of worldly matters, the same as the child has. This is what Christ says: 'Ye must become as little children.'"

Blessed are the children, of whom His Holiness Christ said: 'Of such are the Kingdom of Heaven.' Children have no worldly ambitions. Their hearts are pure. We must become like children, crowning our heads with the crown of severance (from all material things of the earth); purifying our hearts, that we may see God in His Great Manifestations, and obey the laws brought to us by those, His Messengers.

O, Ye, the Sons of the Kingdom, the Holy Spirit hath uttered no one like you in the glorious Gospel, that a generous Prince hath spread a bountiful feast adorned with various gifts and bounties, and with all that one desires, that the hearts of the people of righteousness rejoice.

And blessed are the noble ones who are a spring of bounty for travelers on the divine path and are rain of mercy for the soil of human hearts, as stated in the glorious Gospel: "Many are called but few are chosen."

O ye who are attracted to the Beauty of Truth! Christ - may my soul be a sacrifice unto Him - hath said in the Gospel: "Many are called but few are chosen."

You were neither ministers nor monks and you have attained this grace. This is what Christ meant when He said, 'Many are called but few are chosen' [Matt. 20:16; 22:141]. Similarly, He said, 'The people are entering the Kingdom from all directions but the sons of the Kingdom are leaving it.'

From its contents the truth of Christ's statement was realized where He says they shall come from all corners of the world and enter into the Kingdom while the children of the Kingdom shall be cast out.

In the Gospel it is stated that groups will come from all corners of the world and enter the Kingdom while the children of the Kingdom will be cast out.

As Christ said, many shall come from the east and west and enter the Kingdom, while the children of the Kingdom shall be cast out.

This is the condition which Christ foretold: "(men) shall come from the east and from the west, etc. but the sons of the Kingdom shall go out, etc., (find correct quote).

(Or literally: 'But I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' Matthew 8:11-12).

"But my mother reads the Psalms all the time; she doesn't deserve that God should desert her so. I read the Psalms myself--the ninety-first Psalm and the twenty-third Psalm every night before I go to bed.

The Master replied:

"It is nearly two thousand years since His holiness the Lord Christ taught this prayer to His people: "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven.'

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"Anything is possible, but Jesus Christ, quoting the words of Isaiah, has said, 'They have eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear; they have hearts, but do not understand -- yet I will grant them healing.'"

This blessed verse has ever been inscribed at the head of the book of deeds by the Most Exalted Pen: "Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, 'We believe,' and will not be tested?"