death ye shall surely be raised again’, the infidels will certainly exclaim, ‘This is naught but palpable sorcery.’"(41) Thus did they mock and deride Him, for they had read in their Books and heard from their divines the terms “life” and “death”, and understood them as this elemental life and physical death, and hence when they found not that which their vain imaginings and their false and wicked minds had conceived, they hoisted the banners of discord and the standards of sedition and kindled the flame of war.  God, however, quenched it through the power of His might, as thou seest again in this day with these infidels and evil-doers.

63 At this hour, when the sweet savours of attraction have wafted over Me from the everlasting city, when transports of yearning have seized Me from the land of splendours at the dawning of the Daystar of the worlds above the horizon of ’Iraq, and the sweet melodies of Hijaz have brought to Mine ears the mysteries of separation, I have purposed to relate unto thine eminence a portion of that which the Mystic Dove hath warbled in the midmost heart of Paradise as to the true meaning of life and death, though the task be impossible.  For were I to interpret these words for thee as it hath been inscribed in the Guarded Tablets, all the books and pages of the world could not contain it, nor could the souls of men bear its weight.  I shall nonetheless mention that which beseemeth this day and age, that it might serve as a guidance unto whosoever desireth to gain admittance into the retreats of glory in the realms above, to hearken unto the melodies of the spirit intoned by this divine and mystic bird, and to be numbered with those who have severed themselves from all save God and who in this day rejoice in the presence of their Lord.

64 Know then that “life” hath a twofold meaning.  The first pertaineth to the appearance of man in an elemental body, and is as manifest to thine eminence and to others as the midday sun.  This life cometh to an end with physical death, which is a God-ordained and inescapable reality.  That life, however, which is mentioned in the Books of the Prophets and the Chosen Ones of God is the life of knowledge; that is to say, the servant’s recognition of the sign of the splendours wherewith He Who is the Source of all splendour hath Himself invested him, and his certitude of attaining unto the presence of God through the Manifestations of His Cause.  This is that blessed and everlasting life that perisheth not:  whosoever is quickened thereby shall never die, but will endure as long as His Lord and Creator will endure.

65 The first life, which pertaineth to the elemental body, will come to an end, as hath been revealed by God:  “Every soul shall taste of death."(42) But the second life, which ariseth from the knowledge of God, knoweth no death, as hath been revealed aforetime:  “Him will We surely quicken to a blessed life."(43) And in another passage concerning the martyrs:  “Nay, they are alive and sustained by their Lord."(44) And from the Traditions:  “He who is a true believer liveth both in this world and in the world to come."(45) Numerous examples of similar words are to be found in the Books of God and of the Embodiments of His justice.  For the sake of brevity, however, We have contented Ourself with the above passages.