judgment, nor see we any excellence in you above ourselves:  nay, we deem you liars.’"(172) They caviled at those holy Manifestations, and protested saying:  “None hath followed you except the abject amongst us, those who are worthy of no attention.”  Their aim was to show that no one amongst the learned, the wealthy, and the renowned believed in them.  By this and similar proofs they sought to demonstrate the falsity of Him that speaketh naught but the truth.

In this most resplendent Dispensation, however, this most mighty Sovereignty, a number of illumined divines, of men of consummate learning, of doctors of mature wisdom, have attained unto His Court, drunk the cup of His divine Presence, and been invested with the honour of His most excellent favour.  They have renounced, for the sake of the Beloved, the world and all that is therein.  We will mention the names of some of them, that perchance it may strengthen the faint-hearted, and encourage the timorous.

Among them was Mulla Husayn, who became the recipient of the effulgent glory of the Sun of divine Revelation.  But for him, God would not have been established upon the seat of His mercy, nor ascended the throne of eternal glory.  Among them also was Siyyid Yahya, that unique and peerless figure of his age,

Mulla Muhammad ’Aliy-i-Zanjani

Mulla ’Aliy-i-Bastami

Mulla Sa’id-i-Barfuru_Sh_i

Mulla Ni’matu’llah-i-Mazindarani

Mulla Yusuf-i-Ardibili

Mulla Mihdiy-i-Khu’i

Siyyid Husayn-i-Tur_Sh_izi

Mulla Mihdiy-i-Kandi

Mulla Baqir

Mulla ’Abdu’l-Khaliq-i-Yazdi

Mulla ’Aliy-i-Baraqani

and others, well nigh four hundred in number, whose names are all inscribed upon the “Guarded Tablet” of God.

All these were guided by the light of that Sun of divine Revelation, confessed and acknowledged His truth.  Such was their faith, that most of them renounced their substance and kindred, and cleaved to the good-pleasure of the All-Glorious.  They laid down their lives for their Well-Beloved, and surrendered their all in His path.  Their breasts were made targets for the darts of the enemy, and their heads adorned the spears of the infidel.  No land remained which did not drink the blood of these embodiments of detachment, and no sword that did not bruise their necks.  Their deeds, alone, testify to the truth of their words.  Doth not the testimony of these holy souls, who have so gloriously risen to offer up their lives for their Beloved that the whole world marvelled at the manner of their sacrifice, suffice the people of this day?  Is it not sufficient witness against the faithlessness of those who for a trifle betrayed their faith, who bartered away immortality for that which perisheth, who gave up the Kawthar of the divine Presence for salty springs, and whose one aim in life is to usurp the property of others?  Even as thou dost witness how all of them have busied themselves with the vanities of the world, and have strayed far from Him Who is the Lord, the Most High.