Standing on a roof, the Imam ‘Alí was dared to throw himself down and prove that the Truth would catch him. His reply turns the whole matter around: it is the Truth that tests us, never we who test the Truth. Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá return to this reversal repeatedly. The tribes who demanded a spring from the earth, a house of gold, a book lowered from heaven, wanted a God who would perform on their terms, and the only answer they received was the glorification of the Lord. Jesus, offered a similar dare from the pinnacle of the Temple, refused to put God to the test [1]. Seeking remains a sacred duty, and honest questions are welcome; what is refused is the posture of a judge who sets the conditions. That refusal leads naturally toward humility, toward the slow unmasking of the pride that hides inside clever demands, and finally toward submission to God, where the seeker discovers that being examined is itself a mercy, and that purity of heart is the sign he was looking for.
Every tester tests himself, for the seeker has no right to test. Someone found His Holiness the Commander [Ali], peace be upon him, on a roof and said "If you have complete trust in preserving the Truth, throw yourself down from above." His Holiness the Commander, peace be upon him, said "The Truth must test me, not I test It."
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1903 ca., to Karbala'i Iskandar from Usku -- AB02886)
02
O you who test him who is the criterion of testing!
It is related that one day His Holiness the Prince of Believers (Ali), peace be upon him, was on the edge of a roof when a stranger submitted: "O Ali, are you confident in God's protection, preservation and safeguarding?" He replied: "How could I not be, when I am the first believer in God?" The man submitted: "Then rely on God's protection and throw yourself from the edge of the roof." He responded: "The higher must test the lower, not anyone testing anyone else anywhere. The Master has the right to test the servant, but the servant has no right to test the Master."
This is why when seven tribes from among the Arab tribes came before His Holiness the Messenger (may my spirit be sacrificed for him), and each demanded a miracle as a test - one saying "until you cause a spring to gush forth from the earth for us," another uttering "or you bring down a book from heaven," another saying "or you have a house of gold," another uttering "or you ascend into heaven" - since their purpose was to test, the answer to all was "Say: Glory be to my Lord!
O you who would test 'Abdu'l-Baha! Does it befit one like you to test a servant who is humble and submissive before God? No, by God! Rather, it is for the Center of the Covenant to test the people of the world, and not for them to make their minds the standard of truth and weigh therewith the lights of dawn.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1899-Jul-26, to Karbala'i Mirza Nasrullah Khan -- AB01531)
04
But is it proper to test 'Abdu'l-Baha? No, by God! The sought after one should test the seeker, not the intended one test the intender. 'Abdu'l-Baha should test others so that purity may adorn their hearts.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1910-May-21, to Ghulam-Rida (Sarvistan) -- AB04272)
05
All that hath been manifested in this Revelation is the proof of God amongst His servants and His testimony unto all who are in the heavens and on earth. None may test his Lord - rather God testeth whomsoever He willeth of His servants.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1290 [1873] or earlier, to Muhammad Ali from Qazvin (pilgrim) -- BH03123)
06
Is it permissible for the seeker to test the Sought, or for the pursuer to wish to try the Pursued? By the life of God, it is not permissible!
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1910-May-21, to Jahan Zir -- AB04526)