These attributes of God are not and have never been vouchsafed specially unto certain Prophets, and withheld from others.  Nay, all the Prophets of God, His well-favoured, His holy, and chosen Messengers, are, without exception, the bearers of His names, and the embodiments of His attributes.  They only differ in the intensity of their revelation, and the comparative potency of their light.  Even as He hath revealed:  “Some of the Apostles We have caused to excel the others."(76) It hath therefore become manifest and evident that within the tabernacles of these Prophets and chosen Ones of God the light of His infinite names and exalted attributes hath been reflected, even though the light of some of these attributes may or may not be outwardly revealed from these luminous Temples to the eyes of men.  That a certain attribute of God hath not been outwardly manifested by these Essences of Detachment doth in no wise imply that they Who are the Daysprings of God’s attributes and the Treasuries of His holy names did not actually possess it.  Therefore, these illuminated Souls, these beauteous Countenances have, each and every one of them, been endowed with all the attributes of God, such as sovereignty, dominion, and the like, even though to outward seeming they be shorn of all earthly majesty.  To every discerning eye this is evident and manifest; it requireth neither proof nor evidence.

Yea, inasmuch as the peoples of the world have failed to seek from the luminous and crystal Springs of divine knowledge the inner meaning of God’s holy words, they therefore have languished, stricken and sore athirst, in the vale of idle fancy and waywardness.  They have strayed far from the fresh and thirst-subduing waters, and gathered round the salt that burneth bitterly.  Concerning them, the Dove of Eternity hath spoken:  “And if they see the path of righteousness, they will not take it for their path; but if they see the path of error, for their path will they take it.  This, because they treated Our signs as lies, and were heedless of them."(77)

To this testifieth that which hath been witnessed in this wondrous and exalted Dispensation.  Myriads of holy verses have descended from the heaven of might and grace, yet no one hath turned thereunto, nor ceased to cling to those words of men, not one letter of which they that have spoken them comprehend.  For this reason the people have doubted incontestable truths, such as these, and caused themselves to be deprived of the Ridvan of divine knowledge, and the eternal meads of celestial wisdom.

And now, to resume Our argument concerning the question:  Why is it that the sovereignty of the Qa’im, affirmed in the text of recorded traditions, and handed down by the shining stars of the Muhammadan Dispensation, hath not in the least been made manifest?  Nay, the contrary hath come to pass.  Have not His disciples and companions been afflicted of men?  Are they not still the victims of the fierce opposition