Muhammad and Islam: recognition beyond inherited prejudice

Among the great religious systems of the world is Islam. About three hundred million people acknowledge it. For more than a thousand years there has been enmity and strife between Muslims and Christians, owing to misunderstanding and spiritual blindness. If prejudices and imitations were abandoned, there would be no enmity whatever between them, and these hundreds of millions of antagonistic religionists would adorn the world of humanity by their unity.

At the mention of His name Yathrib trembled and the Valley of Mecca overflowed - the Prophet of Mercy, the Remover of Sorrows, the Dispeller of the darkness of error. Thus did the earth shine with the light of its Lord - the Seal of the Prophets, the One addressed by "We sent thee not save as a mercy to the worlds."

Say: Perused ye not the Qur'an? Read it, that haply ye may find the Truth, for this Book is verily the Straight Path. This is the Way of God unto all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth.

Convey my respectful greetings to Shukri Effendi and say: We are people of the Qur'an, we are believers in the Messenger of God, peace be upon Him. We are firm in the Covenant and Testament, and in this path we sacrifice our lives. We believe in all the Prophets, making no distinction between any of His Messengers. For our faith is real, not metaphorical; it is based on investigation, not blind imitation.

There are those pure Baha'is who believe in all the divine religions and subscribe to the truth of Islam.

Through the spreading and circulating of falsehoods in these regions the hearts of certain people have harbored them. I spoke of what I said in Europe and America and of what was spread in the papers. I explained to them that it was not as they understood it. For instance, they believed that we were the enemies of his holiness Mohammed, the Messenger, and yet, many addresses had been given in the Christian churches and in the synagogues of the Jews proving the validity of his holiness the Messenger.

From the day of the appearance of the Prophet until now, no mention of good was made of Him here - people would only speak of Him with contempt. It was impossible to mention His name in churches and temples. Now, praise be to God, through the power of the Blessed Beauty, the truth of the Seal of the Prophets and Guide of all paths is proven in great churches, and the listeners remain silent, with not a soul raising any objection.

And when he said, that in America he established the validity of the sonship of Christ is several Jewish synagogues, they looked at each other in credulous amazement.

"Why do you think Mohamad was a prophet?" they asked. He gave them logical and satisfying reasons.

And then as to Mahomet. We do not consider diverse traditions, either for him or against him. We consider what has been shown forth by him. Thus we perceive that the Koran is full of knowledge and wisdom. In the Arabian deserts, where the lamp of enlightenment was thoroughly extinguished, a man appeared. He educated the Arabian nation, then in the last degree of savagery, and he improved it in all its conditions until in five hundred years it became superior to other nations. It is clear that such a man was a world-educator.

It is therefore evident that mankind requires a universal divine educator who can gather the diverse peoples under the shadow of one Word, cause contending nations to drink from a single fountain, transform enmity and hatred into love and fellowship, and convert strife and conflict into peace and tranquility. Thus did the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon Him) unite the warring, hostile, and savage tribes of the Arabian desert and bring them together under the pavilion of unity. As a result, those desert Arabs achieved tremendous progress, raised the banner of perfection in both spiritual and material realms, and attained everlasting glory.

Muhammad appeared as a Prophet among such a people. He educated these barbarous tribes, lifted them out of their ignorance and savagery and put an end to the continuous strife and hatred which had existed among them. He established agreement and reconciliation among them, unified them and taught them to look upon each other as brothers. Through His training they advanced rapidly in prestige and civilization.

"O King" he said "We were idolaters, we worshipped many gods, we were not faithful to our words, we practiced many evil deeds, we did not believe in the prophets of the past, we were unloyal; then God in His Mercy sent to us a prophet from amongst our own people. He admonished us to worship the one True God, to leave behind misbelief, to keep our words, to practice piety and chastity, to believe in the divine mission of Moses, Jesus Christ, and other prophets and fear the Lord of Hosts."

The Arabs then excelled all the peoples of the world in science and the arts, in industry and invention, in philosophy, government and moral character. And truly, the rise of this brutish and despicable element, in such a short interval, to the supreme heights of human perfection, is the greatest demonstration of the rightfulness of the Lord Muhammad's Prophethood.

When the Beauty of Muhammad dawned from the horizon of Yathrib and Bat'ha, the religion of God manifested such power and might that in a brief span these ignorant peoples became the foremost among the learned in all sciences and arts, and perfected the deficiencies in the sciences and arts of the philosophers. Likewise, in all degrees of progress they reached the highest pinnacle, such that Baghdad became the center of learning and Bukhara the source of the arts, and knowledge raised such a standard in Andalusia that all the learned ones of Europe came to the schools of Cordova and Cordoba to acquire the light of knowledge from the lamp of Islamic schools.

For thirteen years He suffered at their hands every conceivable tribulation, till at last He fled the city and emigrated to Medina. And yet, far from desisting, these people joined forces, raised an army, and attacked with the aim of exterminating every man, woman, and child among His followers.

… Muhammad never fought against the Christians; on the contrary, He treated them with consideration and accorded them complete freedom. In Najran there lived a community of Christians, and they were under His care and protection. Muhammad said: "Should anyone infringe upon their rights, I myself will be his enemy and will charge him before God."

So it was with the Arabian nations who, being uncivilized, were oppressed by the Persian and Greek governments. When the Light of Muhammad shone forth all Arabia was brightened. These oppressed and degraded peoples became enlightened and cultured; so much so, indeed, that other nations imbibed Arabian civilization from Arabia. This was the proof of Muhammad's divine mission.

Mohammed through his power was enabled to elevate a nation, for on his teachings a mighty civilization was constructed in the Arabian peninsula, the influence of which, as recorded in history, extended as far west as Spain.

His Holiness the Prophet educated the desert-dwelling Arabs until they reached the utmost degree of progress in all stations of existence, such that Europe's current advancement was in reality derived from Arab Spain and the Arab tribes of Syria, Egypt and Baghdad.

Furthermore, they could never have civilized the desert-dwelling wild ones of Arabia so thoroughly as to empower them to conquer great cities and transform the hearts of differing peoples, to the extent that that once brutal people had become enabled to so quickly establish the schools of Andalusia - schools which the denizens of Europe attended to learn the hallmarks of civilization, and returned to the West to promote the arts and sciences they had studied.

Suddenly the Muhammadan light shone forth and established the foundation of divine justice. The Arabian desert became illumined. The divine law raised its banner in the wilderness of knowledge. Savage tribes were educated and progress was achieved in God's law.

They attained the greatest degree of virtues, dispelling the darkness of vices, becoming a center for divine inspirations and a mirror for heavenly outpourings.

How was it that when His Holiness Mohamed appeared in that great chersonese or Arabian peninsula, a mighty spiritual revolution shook that empire-desert to its centre? With what power did the Prophet of Allah change the character of the primitive, savage Arabs, reformed their social customs, unified the heterogeneous, independent nomadic tribes and created in their midst a spiritual democracy? With what Light did he illumine the waste Sahara?

As for the Holy Apostle Muhammad, the one chosen by God (Peace be upon him), God raised him up in a valley without farms, where nothing would grow, among a discordant multitude of warlike peoples, among tribes who had fallen to the depths of ignorance and blindness, not knowing who spread out the earth, not recognizing a single character in the Book, not understanding any part of God's message. They were scattered in the deserts of Arabia and dwelling in sandy wastelands, subsisting on camel milk, with a few dates and grapes.

The Arab nation was in utmost degradation, extremely bloodthirsty and savage - so savage that fathers would bury their daughters alive. See how savage they were! They were warring tribes in the Arabian desert, fighting each other, plundering each other's property, taking women and children captive, killing each other, and taking as many wives as they wanted. Muhammad appeared among them and educated these savage tribes. He endowed them with noble qualities, eliminated bloodshed among them, taught them, and elevated them until they ruled four regions of the world.

Meanwhile GOD sent Mohammed, who was also a man without learning and he raised up these savages to a higher state of civilization. And while Mohammed was unlettered and held no intercourse with nations, and knew not the laws-notwithstanding all this, he guided these people to GOD. Mohammed brought them up by spiritual teaching. He revealed the Koran and organized the law of GOD among them.

Of the people of the earth, the inhabitants of Arabia were in the greatest ignorance and darkness and were following every wind that blew. They were so degraded that it was a common practice among them to bury their children alive. But all changed for them when Mahomet appeared amongst them and they ascended from the lowest condition to a very high one.

In any case, tonight is the night of the birth of the Prophet. The Muslims are celebrating His birth, and their celebration consists of thousand-year-old customs which they carry out according to their traditions, rules and practices. But in truth, this birth produced new effects in the world and beneficial results were obtained. This birth caused the condition of Asia to change and transform, moving from one state to another.

In any case, I hope they will awaken and become conscious, and at least realize that Muhammad appeared in Mecca when it was but a rocky tract - no trees, no vegetation, no greenery, no meadow, no agriculture, no industry - the dwelling place of savage Arab tribes. When Muhammad appeared from Mecca, Mecca became the Qiblih of Asia, Africa, and some regions of Europe, where all turn to pray, and this rocky tract became the annual center of the greatest gathering of men from Asia and Africa.

Consider how the Arabian desert, a wilderness of sand, dried mountains, hot climate, uncultivable ground, savage, primitive inhabitants, the country situated near the Equator - through the appearance of Mohammad and his disciples - became the mother of all the countries, the Kaaba for millions of souls and the object of veneration by all mankind.

Especially since today the greatest justification for the intervention of powerful civilized nations in other countries is precisely this: that to witness a country and nation in a state of chaos and anarchy despite civilization and capability, and to remain at peace, is far from justice and outside the duty of civilized and educated people. Therefore the hand of politics must be extended and one must charge forth in the arena of power and might.

Despite this, when the name of the religion of the Chief of Messengers is mentioned, they speak with utmost prejudice and out of extreme bias express such expectation and regret, saying: "If only such a Messenger had not been raised up among the Arab tribes, and had not cut short the aggressive hand of the parties of ignorance and savagery, had not laid the foundation of happiness, and through the blessing of His guidance and sufficiency the signs of civilization had not reached from Asia to the bounds of Europe!"

At the time of Muhammad, He sanctioned war for the preservation of the lives of His followers. The laws of individual justice were confused and preliminary in the souls of men. Therefore, the law of general justice of the community was revealed by this Prophet. He commanded His followers to carry the Religion of God by the sword. … There must be a law to prevent the wolves , from destroying the lambs at such a period of religious history. That is why the Shepherd sanctioned such vigorous protection for the sheep. Behind such laws of a Manifestation there is always a supreme wisdom.

Thou art He Who united hearts when Muhammad Thy Messenger came, and through them Thou didst conquer Thy cities and Thy realms and Thy lands with spears and swords.

By virtue of divine wisdom, heavenly grace, and manifest mysteries, it was ordained that the bearer of this primary grace should receive his mission after completing forty years, remaining thereafter in Mecca for thirteen years before migrating to Medina where he dwelt for ten years. He remained in this world for sixty-three years and was taken on a Monday, after twelve nights had passed of the first month.

His Holiness Muhammad came here also. He came here twice, once when he was eleven years old and once when he was twenty-eight.

Reflect upon the Seal of the Prophets - may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for His sake. He had five male children who ascended, whereupon the idolaters began to gloat. And when He remained without issue, they called Him - God forbid - "abtar" (cut off).

And blessings and peace be upon him whose light shone forth from the horizon of Batha, and through whose appearance the regions were adorned, and the herald proclaimed: "O people of the earth! He Who was promised hath come, and through Him have appeared the most excellent names of God and His most exalted attributes" - he against whom the idolaters arose until the decree of emigration came from God, the Lord of all beings.

Then We sent after him Muhammad, the Messenger of God, with a perspicuous Book, and through him We distinguished between truth and falsehood, if ye be of them that know. We made him a mercy unto all the worlds, for whenever tribulation and adversity touched him in the path of God, he remained patient within himself.

Consider the days of the Apostle of God [Muhammad]. On the day of His ascension, nearly one hundred thousand souls or more from surrounding regions were present in Medina and its environs. Most of these individuals were considered companions in custom, for they had associated with Him. Nevertheless, those who acted upon His teachings and were God-fearing were found to be few in number.

For in the Sahih of Bukhari---that book of traditions which the people of Sunni Islam account among their sound and authoritative collections, whose transmitters are deemed trustworthy and whose authenticity is held to be above suspicion---it is recorded and set down that when the signs of ascension began to appear upon the blessed countenance of the Messenger of God---may the spirit of all worlds be a sacrifice unto Him---that is, when His radiant face grew flushed, He said: "Bring paper and pen, that I may write and declare something whereby ye shall not go astray after Me, and which ye may follow as your rule of conduct."

A proper history was never written in Islam. The best history is that of Abu al-Fida, although it is brief.

His Holiness Mohamad lived 23 years and all his writings are put together in the form of the Book you have in your hands.

The Master: "The Blessed Beauty Baha'u'llah has set down in His Writings the oriental natural philosophy that we share with the Persian Sufis.

Originally we were Mohammedan, but since the declaration of Baha'u'llah we love all humanity.

the Muhammadans were accustomed to think Mahomet the greater because of his title "Seal of the Prophets," but in the time of Jesus spirituality and spiritual life was far greater.

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The appearance of Rumi and his book, the Masnavi, was like unto a column erected to buttress a tilting wall, enabling the dispensation of Islam to extend twelve hundred years.

In answer to all He said: "Say: Glory be to my Lord! Am I aught but a mortal messenger?" Similarly in the clear text of the Quran He says: "If I had knowledge of the unseen, I should have secured abundance for myself, and I know not what shall befall me or you tomorrow."

In the Quran it is mentioned that seven tribes came before the Secret of Being and Essence of Purpose, His Holiness Muhammad, peace be upon Him. Each made his faith contingent upon a miracle. One said: "Bring down a book from heaven." Another said: "Cast down a fragment of heaven to earth." Another said: "Make a spring to flow." Another said: "Ascend to heaven." Another said: "Show us the Lord with His hosts." Another said: "Produce a treasure." Another said: "Bring forth the lofty paradise." In reply to all of these He declares: "Say: Glory be to my Lord! Am I aught but a mortal messenger?"...

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Among the clear texts of the Qur'an is this blessed verse which says: "Verily, those who believe, and those who are Jews, and Christians, and Sabeans - whoever believes in God and the Last Day and does good deeds - their reward is with their Lord, and no fear shall come upon them, neither shall they grieve."

God hath caused the religion of Islam to endure in such wise that seven kings therein have professed the faith of Muhammad in this day. How many since the days of Muhammad until now have come and returned unto their Lord, and until this day do they progress in their stations according to their deeds. God hath manifested Me in the year one thousand two hundred and seventy after the appearance of Muhammad, the Apostle of God, with proofs wherewith God had previously manifested Muhammad, the Apostle of God, that those who have been given the Qur'an might not be able to differ.

And verily the first to [believe] in Me was Muhammad the Messenger of God, then Ali, then those who were witnesses after him, then the Gates of Guidance, then those whom God ordained this grace from among the Prophets, the truthful ones, the martyrs, and those who are assured of God and His signs though they know it not.

In this way and manner He made manifest His infinite revelations in every age and made evident in every era a Prophet and a Book, calling His creation unto Himself, until He sealed the Messengers with Muhammad, His Apostle, revealed unto Him His Book of Truth which was the true Furqan, and in it called His creation unto the Manifestation of His Self, making him the Manifestation of His Divinity, as He hath revealed in His verses, which are His words, in several instances.

This is the Day which the Seal of the Prophets--may the life of all else be sacrificed for His sake--gave unto all as a glad-tiding.

O Muhammad! Reflect upon the days of the Seal of the Prophets - may the spirit of all else but Him be sacrificed for His sake.

Your Beloved Muhammad, Who possesses such glory, is more submissive than anyone possessing submission and more humble than anyone possessing humility. None owns this glory except Him. And despite His lofty glory before Thee, He is indeed humble and prostrate before Thee, submissive and low.

Thou art God, there is no God but Thee, alone with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad - Thy blessings be upon him and his family - is Thy servant whom Thou didst bring into being and choose for Thyself, singling him out for Thy Cause and accepting him for Thy knowledge.

And I bear witness unto Muhammad -- the Messenger of God, may the blessings of God rest upon Him -- that God chose Him from the inmost heart of pre-existence unto the station of adornment, and made Him the locus of His own decree in proclamation and in judgment, even as it hath been revealed: "Vision perceiveth Him not, but He perceiveth all vision; and He is the Subtle, the All-Aware."

And I bear witness in this my station upon the surface of this mountain that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger, whom He hath chosen from the midst of the apex of creation through the manifestation of His sovereignty, and whom He hath clothed with the garment of grace for the revelation of His grandeur, and made him unique among all peers and equals in the kingdoms of His earth and heaven, that those who seek proofs might know His attributes through His attributes and His qualities through His qualities.

He is the One Who hath aforetime raised up Muhammad and made Him a Messenger to all the worlds, and revealed unto Him the Furqan, having strengthened Him with the Spirit from His presence.

Thou didst create Muhammad - Thy blessings be upon him - by Thy command, and didst choose him for Thy covenant, and didst select him for Thy remembrance, and didst single him out for Thy providence, and didst place him above all Thy Prophets and Messengers, and didst establish him upon the station of the sovereignty of Thy oneness in the kingdom of Thy earth and the heaven of Thy lordship, that he might convey unto all things that Thou art God, that there is no God but Thee, and that all else besides Thee is Thy creation and within Thy grasp.

… Therefore, O God, send blessings upon Muhammad superior to what Thou hast bestowed upon any of Thy creation, and upon him what Thou hast specially conferred upon any of Thy servants, and more exalted than what Thou hast graciously bestowed upon any of Thy chosen ones, and more glorious than what Thou hast honored any of Thy sincere ones - blessings that have no equal in Thy knowledge, no likeness in Thy Book, no peer in Thy kingdom, and no companion among the manifestations of Thy creation.

And there is none like unto Muhammad His Messenger, neither before nor after, nor in all the worlds. God has indeed chosen him in the Mother Book above all the former and latter ones.

All praise, sanctified beyond the mention of those who praise or are praised, befitteth that Dawning-Place of the Light of Oneness, His Holiness Muhammad, Whose Law is an impregnable fortress and Whose ordinances are the guardians of the Faith. Through Him was the standard of Divine Unity raised aloft and the decree of detachment made firm.

Prayers and peace be upon the Seal of His Prophets through whom was raised the banner of Divine Unity and the Tree of Oneness spoke forth and the fragrance of the garment wafted and the breeze of holiness stirred, Who spoke forth with the wise Qur'an from the presence of One mighty and all-knowing.

And blessings and peace be upon the Primal Point, and the upright and curved Alif, and the All-Embracing Word of Power, and the Divine Spirit of the Kingdom, through Whom existence began and the manifestations of the Unseen in the visible world were sealed - Muhammad, the Chosen One, whom God made the Dawning-Place of His most excellent names and the Manifestation of His most exalted attributes - and upon His family and companions from this day until the Day whereon the tongue of might and power shall speak forth [that "the Kingdom on that Day shall be] God's, the One, the All-Compelling."

Through a single word He created the world and guided it, and appointed the best of creation as Guide, adorning Him with the robe of "Blessed be God, the best of creators" and crowning Him with "Verily He is the Seal of the Prophets." He is the all-embracing Word and He is the Guide of all.

In the Name of God, Exalted be His station, the Most Great, the Most Powerful

Praise be to God Who hath sent down the verses and revealed the clear proofs and created the Messengers and sent them to the servants that they might make known to them the matter of origin and return and guide them to the path of righteousness, until He sealed divine revelation and prophethood with Him by Whose traces the world is illumined and through Whom the decree of unity was established among the nations - He in Whose palm the pebble spoke and to Whom the leaves and the date-stone bore witness, the King of the chosen ones and the Goal of the Prophets, may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for His sake. And the prayer that shineth forth from the horizon of God's tender mercy, exalted be His glory, and the peace that appeareth from the kingdom of His will, widespread be His bounties, be upon Him and upon His family and companions through whom God separated truth from falsehood and through whom appeared the decree of the verses and decisive utterance. These are servants whom the hosts of the world prevented not from the Ancient King. They arose and said: "God is our Lord and the Lord of all who are in the heavens and on earth." Through them flowed the Euphrates of divine knowledge and surged the ocean of wisdom and exposition, and the light of oneness shone forth from the horizons of the hearts of all contingent beings. Exalted be His dominion and exalted be His greatness and exalted be His power. I bear witness that there is no God but God, in acknowledgment of His grandeur and in recognition of His oneness.

And then, may my spirit be sacrificed for thee, thy esteemed letter was the cause of joy and spiritual delight and gladness to this ephemeral one. After perusal it was presented before Him and He said: "God willing, he hath been and is successful. Whatever hath thus far been commanded unto him, he hath immediately arisen to execute. We beseech God to make him distinguished among his peers and companions and to illumine him with the lights of divine unity and in all conditions to aid him to act according to the Book. He is the Powerful, the Mighty, and He is the All-Knowing, the Wise, the All-Subduing, the Omnipotent." End quote.

Furthermore, he conveyeth greetings to all the gentlemen of that land and I beseech God, exalted be His glory, to make them appear as standards among the people - that is, to appear among the people with truthfulness, sincerity, trustworthiness, religiosity and chastity. Each of these qualities is like a standard, as every fair-minded and informed person will testify. Likewise I beseech God, exalted be His glory, to grant them the good of this world and the next. He is the Hearer and He is the Answerer. And praise be to God in all conditions, and peace be upon you and the mercy of God and His blessings.

Praise befitteth the Desired One of the world and the Lord of all nations, Who illumined the world of existence with the Muhammadan Light. He is the Herald of the meeting with divine manifestations on the Day of Resurrection, and He is the Manifestation of the infinite names and attributes. In truth, the knowledge of the world is but a trace of His knowledge, and the understanding of nations is but a fruit of the Tree of His understanding. The appearance and continuance of the world hath been and is through His blessed existence.

This nobility was attained and made manifest through the Muhammadan Revelation and the Ahmadan Light. His grace caused dust to ascend above the heavens, and His mercy enabled the people of the earthly realm of creation to reach the highest Paradise. From the parched valley flowed the Euphrates of grace, and from the veiled Hijaz appeared the Morn of Revelation. Can any likeness be seen for this power, or any similitude be observed? Nay, by His very Self, the Truth! The place that was the abode of idols became the seat of the remembrance of the Lord of all beings.

Exalted be God, the Single, the One, Who sent forth him who was named Muhammad, through whom He adorned the world and revived the nations. Through him the dust proclaimed: "The Manifestation of the Lord of Lords hath come!" The trees spoke: "He Who relateth from God concerning the beginning and the end hath appeared!" The pebbles in his hand bore witness, the date-stone cried out in His name, the atoms circled round Him, and all created things circumambulated a House that God had made blessed for His servants, a point of pilgrimage for His creation, and a refuge for His creatures.

He adorned the beginning with the ornament of the seal, and We made him the sovereign of existence and named him Ahmad and Muhammad, the Praised One, the radiant and effulgent Light shining from the heaven of God's loving-kindness. Upon him and upon his family and companions, through whom the servants were humbled and the lands were conquered, be the glory of God.

And prayers and peace be upon him through whom Yathrib was honored and the Hijaz smiled - verily he is the Lord through whom God's power was manifested throughout the lands and among the servants - and upon his family and companions who aided the Faith, holding fast to God's mighty cord, and through them the text of the world was adorned with the beauty of commandments and laws, and the faces of nations with the light of His knowledge in the beginning and the end.

Were it not for Him the mysteries of eternity would not have been unveiled nor would the station of nations have been exalted - He Who was named Muhammad in the kingdom of names - and upon His family and companions whom God made the lamps of His guidance, the banners of His victory, the signs of His Cause, the manifestations of His power and the evidences of His might. Through them God conquered the world and His Cause flowed among the nations.

Praise be to the Ancient Lord Who has perfumed the world with the fragrance that wafted by His command from the direction of Hijaz. And blessings and peace be upon Him through Whom the banner of Truth was raised and the standard of metaphor was lowered, and upon His family and companions - the manifestations of divine might and the dawning-places of power amidst creation - through whom the door of divine knowledge was opened to all in the realm of possibility.

He Who raised Him up and sent Him forth with the truth is verily the Lamp of Guidance amongst mankind, the Sign of the Ancient of Days amidst the nations, the Dawning-Place of His most beautiful names and the Dayspring of His most exalted attributes--He Who was named Muhammad in the kingdom of creation. God made Him the Source of His Revelation, the Repository of His Knowledge, and the Manifestation of His Laws.

I beseech Thee, O my God, in this darkest night, the sun of nights in the most enduring months, to send Thy blessings upon Muhammad, the Blessed Tree in the realm of divinity, the Holy Leaf in the thicket of omnipotence, the Blessed Branches in the stations of sovereignty and dominion, the Goodly Fruits in the trees of the earthly realm, and the Manifest Lights in the fragments of the tablets of ruby - the Chosen, the Beloved, the Elected, the Sent One, the Mighty, the Appointed, and the Outpoured Water.

I beseech Thee by the Beloved (Muhammad) - concerning whom the tongue of Thy power spoke "Were it not for Thee, I would not have created the celestial spheres" - and by His family and companions, to ordain for me that which shall profit me in this world and the next.

O Ali, thou didst seek deliverance from the ocean of wonderment, yet this station was besought of God, glorified be His majesty, by the Seal of the Prophets in His words "Lord, increase my wonderment in Thee."

I beseech Thee, O Cleaver of the Dawn and Subduer of the Winds, by Thy Prophets and Thy Messengers and Thy chosen ones and Thy loved ones, whom Thou hast made the emblems of Thy guidance amidst Thy creation and the banners of Thy triumph throughout Thy lands, and by the light that shone forth from the horizon of Hijaz, and whose radiance illuminated both Yathrib and Batha, and all that dwell in the world of creation, to assist Thy servants to remember and praise Thee and to act according to what Thou hast revealed in Thy Book.

They must strive to obtain, from sources that are authoritative and unbiased, a sound knowledge of the history and tenets of Islam--the source and background of their Faith--and approach reverently and with a mind purged from preconceived ideas the study of the Qur'an which, apart from the sacred scriptures of the Babi and Baha'i Revelations, constitutes the only Book which can be regarded as an absolutely authenticated Repository of the Word of God.

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First is the importance of the study of Islam - which subject is still new to the majority of the believers, but whose importance for a proper and sound understanding of the Cause is absolutely indispensable. ...the Guardian would certainly advise, and even urge the friends to make a thorough study of the Qur'an as the knowledge of this Sacred Scripture is absolutely indispensable for every believer who wishes to adequately understand and intelligently read the Writings of Baha'u'llah.

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The Qur'an should be to some extent studied by the Baha'is but they certainly need not seek to acquire a mastery over it, which would take years, unless they really want to.

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