234 Those doctors who have indeed drunk of the cup of renunciation have never interfered with this Servant.  Thus, for example, Shaykh Murtada(38)—­may God exalt his station and cause him to repose beneath the canopy of His grace!—­showed forth kindness during Our sojourn in ’Iraq, and never spoke of this Cause otherwise than as God hath given leave.  We beseech God to graciously assist all to do His will and pleasure.

235 Now, however, all have lost sight of every other consideration, and are bent upon the persecution of this people.  Thus, if it be inquired of certain persons who, by the grace of their Lord, repose beneath the shadow of thy royal mercy and enjoy countless favours, “What service have ye rendered in return for these royal favours?  Have ye through wise policy annexed a further territory to the realm?  Have ye applied yourselves to aught that would secure the welfare of the people, the prosperity of the kingdom, and the lasting glory of the state?”, they will have no other reply than to designate, justly or falsely, a group of people before thy royal presence as Babis, and forthwith to engage in massacre and pillage.  In Tabriz, for instance, and in the Egyptian town of Mansuriyyih, a number of this people were ransomed and large sums were seized, yet no account of these matters was ever made in the court of thy presence.

236 The reason for which all these things have come to pass is that their persecutors, finding these unfortunate ones without protection, have forgone more weighty matters and occupied themselves instead with harassing this afflicted people.  Numerous confessions and divers creeds abide peacefully beneath the shadow of thy sovereignty.  Let this people be also numbered with them.  Nay, those who serve the King should be animated by such lofty aims and sublime intentions as to continually strive to bring all religions beneath the shelter of his shadow, and to rule over them with perfect justice.

237 To enforce the laws of God is naught but justice, and is the source of universal content.  Nay more, the divine statutes have always been, and will ever remain, the cause and instrument of the preservation of mankind, as witnessed by His exalted words:  “In punishment will ye find life, O men of insight!"(39) It would, however, ill beseem the justice of thy Majesty that for the trespass of a single soul a whole group of people should be subjected to the scourge of thy wrath.  The one true God—­glorified be His Name!—­hath said:  “None shall bear the burden of another."(40) It is clear and evident that in every community there have been, and will ever be, the learned and the ignorant, the wise and the heedless, the profligate and the pious.  That a wise and reflecting soul should commit a heinous deed is most improbable, inasmuch as such a person either seeketh after this world or hath forsaken it:  if he be of the latter, he would assuredly have no regard for aught else besides God, and moreover the