A Traveler's Narrative
page 85
[His] servants. That which this Oppressed One seeketh of all is
justice and fairness: let them not be satisfied with listening; let
them ponder on what hath become manifest from this Oppressed
One. I swear by the Sun of Revelation, which hath
shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of the Kingdom
of the Merciful One, that, if any [other] expositor or speaker
had been beheld, I would not have made Myself an object
for the malevolence and the calumnies of mankind." Finis.
By these sentences a clue to the principles, ideas, line of
conduct, behavior, and intentions of this sect is placed in the
hand; whereas if we seek to become acquainted with the truth
of this matter through the accounts and stories which are in
the mouths of men, the truth will be entirely concealed and
hidden by reason of their manifold differences and contrariety.
It is therefore best to discover the principles and objects of
this sect from the contents of their teachings, tracts, and
epistles. There is no authority nor are there any proofs or texts
superior to these, for this is the foundation of foundations and
the ultimate criterion. One cannot judge of the generality by
the speech or action of individuals, for diversity of states is one
of the peculiarities and concomitants of the human race.
At all events, in the beginning of the year one thousand two
hundred and eighty-five [A.H.] they transferred Bahá'u'lláh
and all those persons who were with Him from Adrianople to
the prison of Akká, and Mírzá Yahyá to the fortress of
Famagusta, and there they remained. (48) But in Persia after a
while sundry persons who were discerning in matters, notable
for wise policy, and aware and cognizant of the truth of the
earlier and later events, made representation before the presence
of His Majesty the King saying, "What has hitherto been
reported, related, asserted, and alleged concerning this sect in
the Royal Presence was either an exaggeration, or else [the
speakers] fabricated statements with a view to [their own]
48. 1868.
[Previous Page] [NextPage] [Jump to a Page] [Whole Text]
[Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá] [Bahá'í Writings] [Notes on Writings]