they inspire neither affection nor respect?  Hath not that sovereignty, through the potency of one word, subdued, quickened, and revitalized the whole world?  What!  Can the lowly dust compare with Him Who is the Lord of Lords?  What tongue dare utter the immensity of difference that lieth between them?  Nay, all comparison falleth short in attaining the hallowed sanctuary of His sovereignty.  Were man to reflect, he would surely perceive that even the servant of His threshold ruleth over all created things!  This hath already been witnessed, and will in future be made manifest.

This is but one of the meanings of the spiritual sovereignty which We have set forth in accordance with the capacity and receptiveness of the people.  For He, the Mover of all beings, that glorified Countenance, is the source of such potencies as neither this wronged One can reveal, nor this unworthy people comprehend.  Immensely exalted is He above men’s praise of His sovereignty; glorified is He beyond that which they attribute unto Him!

And now, ponder this in thine heart:  Were sovereignty to mean earthly sovereignty and worldly dominion, were it to imply the subjection and external allegiance of all the peoples and kindreds of the earth—­whereby His loved ones should be exalted and be made to live in peace, and His enemies be abased and tormented—­such form of sovereignty would not be true of God Himself, the Source of all dominion, Whose majesty and power all things testify.  For, dost thou not witness how the generality of mankind is under the sway of His enemies?  Have they not all turned away from the path of His good-pleasure?  Have they not done that which He hath forbidden, and left undone, nay repudiated and opposed, those things which He hath commanded?  Have not His friends ever been the victims of the tyranny of His foes?  All these things are more obvious than even the splendour of the noon-tide sun.

Know, therefore, O questioning seeker, that earthly sovereignty is of no worth, nor will it ever be, in the eyes of God and His chosen Ones.  Moreover, if ascendency and dominion be interpreted to mean earthly supremacy and temporal power, how impossible will it be for thee to explain these verses:  “And verily Our host shall conquer."(92) “Fain would they put out God’s light with their mouths:  But God hath willed to perfect His light, albeit the infidels abhor it."(93) “He is the Dominant, above all things.”  Similarly, most of the Qur’an testifieth to this truth.

Were the idle contention of these foolish and despicable souls to be true, they would have none other alternative than to reject all these holy utterances and heavenly allusions.  For no warrior could be found on earth more excellent and nearer to God than Husayn, son of ’Ali, so peerless and incomparable was he.  “There was none to equal or to match him in the world.”  Yet, thou must have heard what befell him.  “God’s malison on the head of the people of tyranny!"(94)