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Chapter 73
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The
divine touchstone -- the appearance and teachings of the Prophet (both
Independent and Dependent) is a divine test by which
true believers are known..
1)
None of the many Prophets sent down, since Moses was made manifest, as
Messengers of the Word of God, such as David, Jesus, and others among
the more exalted Manifestations who have appeared during the
intervening period between the Revelations of Moses and Muhammad, ever
altered the law of the Qiblih. These Messengers of the Lord of creation
have, one and all, directed their peoples to turn unto the same
direction. In the eyes of God, the ideal King, all the places of the
earth are one and the same, excepting that place which, in the days of
His Manifestations, He doth appoint for a particular purpose. Even as
He hath revealed: "The East and West are God's: therefore whichever way
ye turn, there is the face of God."[1] Notwithstanding the truth of
these facts, why should the Qiblih have been changed, thus casting such
dismay amongst the people, causing the companions of the Prophet to
waver, and throwing so great a confusion into their midst? Yea, such
things as throw consternation into the hearts of all men come to pass
only that each soul may be tested by the touchstone of God, that the
true may be known and distinguished from the false. Thus hath He
revealed after the breach amongst the people: "We did not appoint that
which Thou wouldst have to be the Qiblih, but that We might know him
who followeth the Apostle from him who turneth on his heels."[2]
"Affrighted asses fleeing from a lion."[3]
[1 Qur'án 2:115.]
[2 Qur'án 2:143.]
[3 Qur'án 74:50.]
- Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 51
2)
Furthermore, the sign of truth and falsehood is designated and
appointed in the Book. By this divinely-appointed touchstone, the
claims and pretensions of all men must needs be assayed, so that the
truthful may be known and distinguished from the imposter. This
touchstone is no other than this verse: "Wish for death, if ye are men
of truth."[1] Consider these martyrs of unquestionable sincerity, to
whose truthfulness testifieth the explicit text of the Book, and all of
whom, as thou hast witnessed, have sacrificed their life, their
substance, their wives, their children, their all, and ascended unto
the loftiest chambers of Paradise. Is it fair to reject the testimony
of these detached and exalted beings to the truth of this pre-eminent
and glorious Revelation and to regard as acceptable the denunciations
which have been uttered against this resplendent Light by this
faithless people, who for gold have forsaken their faith, and who for
the sake of leadership have repudiated Him Who is the First Leader of
all mankind? This, although their character is now revealed unto all
people who have recognized them as those who will in no wise relinquish
one jot or one tittle of their temporal authority for the sake of God's
holy Faith, how much less their life, their substance, and the like.
[1 Qur'án 2:94, 62:6.]
Behold how the divine Touchstone hath, according to the explicit text
of the Book, separated and distinguished the true from the false.
Notwithstanding, they are still oblivious of this truth, and in the
sleep of heedlessness, are pursuing the vanities of the world, and are
occupied with thoughts of vain and earthly leadership.
-- Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 226
3)
The "veiled and concealed"
meanings in the holy writings, referring to the appearance of future
Prophets and other key events, represent the divine touchstone:
It is evident unto thee that the Birds of Heaven and Doves of Eternity
speak a twofold language. One language, the outward language, is devoid
of allusions, is unconcealed and unveiled; that it may be a guiding
lamp and a beaconing light whereby wayfarers may attain the heights of
holiness, and seekers may advance into the realm of eternal reunion.
Such are the unveiled traditions and the evident verses already
mentioned. The other language is veiled and concealed, so that whatever
lieth hidden in the heart of the malevolent may be made manifest and
their innermost being be disclosed. Thus hath Sadiq [the sixth Imam], son of Muhammad, spoken: "God verily will test them and sift them."
This is the divine standard, this is the Touchstone of God, wherewith
He proveth His servants. None apprehendeth the meaning of these
utterances except them whose hearts are assured, whose souls have found
favour with God, and whose minds are detached from all else but Him. In
such utterances, the literal meaning, as generally understood by the
people, is not what hath been intended. Thus it is recorded: "Every
knowledge hath seventy meanings, of which one only is known amongst the
people. And when the Qá'im shall arise, He shall reveal unto men all
that which remaineth." He also saith: "We speak one word, and by it we
intend one and seventy meanings; each one of these meanings we can
explain."
-- Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 254
4)
The appearance of the Prophet, who unfolds hidden meanings, represents the divine touchstone:
As they have literally interpreted the Word of God, and the sayings and
traditions of the Letters of Unity, and expounded them according to
their own deficient understanding, they have therefore deprived
themselves and all their people of the bountiful showers of the grace
and mercies of God. And yet they bear witness to this well-known
tradition: "Verily Our Word is abstruse, bewilderingly abstruse." In
another instance, it is said: "Our Cause is sorely trying, highly
perplexing; none can bear it except a favorite of heaven, or an
inspired Prophet, or he whose faith God hath tested." These leaders of
religion admit that none of these three specified conditions is
applicable to them. The first two conditions are manifestly beyond
their reach; as to the third, it is evident that at no time have they
been proof against those tests that have been sent by God, and that
when the divine Touchstone appeared, they have shown themselves to be
naught but dross.
-- Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 82
5)
The appearance of the Dependent Prophets ("divine assayers") of Baha'u'llah, represent the divine touchstone:
... For ages and centuries they settled and dwelt in that pleasant and
spiritual station, in that divine and holy rose garden, with perfect
joy and happiness.
Then the gales of divine tests and the winds of lordly temptation blew
from the Sheba of the everlasting Cause. They became distracted by the
beauty of the wine server and grew heedless of the immortal
countenance, to the extent that they imagined the shadow to be the sun
and phantoms to be light. They set out for the ladders of the greatest
name so that they might scale those heavens and arrive at that seat and
place. When they rose toward it, the divine assayers descended upon
them with the sacred touchstone, by the irresistible decree of the
lord. When these emissaries did not perceive the scent of the spiritual
youth, they forbade entry to all. Afterwards, there occurred what is
inscribed upon the guarded tablet.
Then, you who dwell upon the plain of divine love and drink the wine of
unceasing forgiveness, do not exchange nearness to the beauty of the
friend for both worlds. Do not prefer the presence of the wine server
to meeting him, and do not give your heart to the intoxicant of
ignorance and heedlessness in preference to his wine of knowledge and
wisdom. Lips are for mentioning the beloved; do not defile them with
filthy water. The heart is the home of everlasting mysteries, do not
busy it with perishable things. Seek the water of life from the
fountain of the beauty of the All-Praised, not from the manifestations
of Satan.
-- Bahá'u'lláh, Tablet of the Holy Mariner (from the Persian) -- a provisional translation by J. Cole.
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