222 The All-Merciful saith in the Qur’an, His abiding testimony unto all the peoples of the world:  “Wish ye then for death, if ye be men of truth."(32) Behold how He hath declared the yearning for death to be the touchstone of sincerity!  And, in the luminous mirror of thy judgement, it is doubtless clear and evident which people have chosen, in this day, to lay down their lives in the path of the Beloved of the worlds.  Indeed, were the books supporting the beliefs of this people to be written with the blood spilled in the path of God—­exalted be His glory!—­then countless volumes would have already appeared amongst men for all to see.

223 How, We fain would ask, is it possible to impugn this people whose deeds are in conformity with their words, and to give credence instead to those who have refused to relinquish one jot of their worldly authority in the path of Him Who is the Unconstrained?  Some of the divines who have declared this Servant an infidel have at no time met with Me.  Never having seen Me, or become acquainted with My purpose, they have nevertheless spoken as they pleased and acted as they desired.  Yet every claim requireth a proof, not mere words and displays of outward piety.

224 In this connection the text of several passages from the Hidden Book of Fatimih—­the blessings of God be upon her!—­which are relevant to the present theme will be cited in the Persian tongue, that certain matters which have ere now been hidden may be revealed before thy presence.  The people addressed in the aforementioned Book, which is today known as the Hidden Words, are those who, though outwardly known for learning and piety, are inwardly the slaves of self and passion.

225 He saith:  O ye that are foolish, yet have a name to be wise!  Wherefore do ye wear the guise of the shepherd, when inwardly ye have become wolves, intent upon My flock?  Ye are even as the star, which riseth ere the dawn, and which, though it seem radiant and luminous, leadeth the wayfarers of My city astray into the paths of perdition.

226 And likewise He saith:  O ye seeming fair yet inwardly foul!  Ye are like clear but bitter water, which to outward seeming is crystal pure but of which, when tested by the Divine Assayer, not a drop is accepted.  Yea, the sunbeam falls alike upon the dust and the mirror, yet differ they in reflection even as doth the star from the earth:  nay, immeasurable is the difference!

227 And also He saith:  O essence of desire!  At many a dawn have I turned from the realms of the Placeless unto thine abode, and found thee on the bed of ease busied with others than Myself.  Thereupon, even as the flash of the spirit, I returned to the realms of celestial glory, and breathed it not in My retreats above unto the hosts of holiness.

228 And again He saith:  O bondslave of the world!  Many a dawn hath the breeze of My loving-kindness wafted over thee and found thee upon the bed of heedlessness fast asleep.  Bewailing then thy plight it returned whence it came.(33)