For this reason did Muhammad cry out:  “No Prophet of God hath suffered such harm as I have suffered.”  And in the Qur’an are recorded all the calumnies and reproaches uttered against Him, as well as all the afflictions which He suffered.  Refer ye thereunto, that haply ye may be informed of that which hath befallen His Revelation.  So grievous was His plight, that for a time all ceased to hold intercourse with Him and His companions.  Whoever associated with Him fell a victim to the relentless cruelty of His enemies.

We shall cite in this connection only one verse of that Book.  Shouldst thou observe it with a discerning eye, thou wilt, all the remaining days of thy life, lament and bewail the injury of Muhammad, that wronged and oppressed Messenger of God.  That verse was revealed at a time when Muhammad languished weary and sorrowful beneath the weight of the opposition of the people, and of their unceasing torture.  In the midst of His agony, the Voice of Gabriel, calling from the Sadratu’l-Muntaha, was heard saying:  “But if their opposition be grievous to Thee—­if Thou canst, seek out an opening into the earth or a ladder into heaven."(78) The implication of this utterance is that His case had no remedy, that they would not withhold their hands from Him unless He should hide Himself beneath the depths of the earth, or take His flight unto heaven.

Consider, how great is the change today!  Behold, how many are the Sovereigns who bow the knee before His name!  How numerous the nations and kingdoms who have sought the shelter of His shadow, who bear allegiance to His Faith, and pride themselves therein!  From the pulpit-top there ascendeth today the words of praise which, in utter lowliness, glorify His blessed name; and from the heights of minarets there resoundeth the call that summoneth the concourse of His people to adore Him.  Even those Kings of the earth who have refused to embrace His Faith and to put off the garment of unbelief, none the less confess and acknowledge the greatness and overpowering majesty of that Day-star of loving kindness.  Such is His earthly sovereignty, the evidences of which thou dost on every side behold.  This sovereignty must needs be revealed and established either in the lifetime of every Manifestation of God or after His ascension unto His true habitation in the realms above.  What thou dost witness today is but a confirmation of this truth.  That spiritual ascendency, however, which is primarily intended, resideth within, and revolveth around Them from eternity even unto eternity.  It can never for a moment be divorced from Them.  Its dominion hath encompassed all that is in heaven and on earth.