anny and
gathering the scattered peoples of Persia under the wings of his dominion.
Thanks to the restoring influence of his continual care, Persia that had
lain withered and desolate was quickened into life and rapidly changed
into the fairest of all flourishing nations. He rebuilt and reinforced the
disorganized powers of the state, and the renown of his righteousness and
justice echoed across the seven climes,(43) until the peoples rose up out
of their degradation and misery to the heights of felicity and honor.
Although he was a Magian, Muhammad, that Center of creation and Sun of
prophethood, said of him: "I was born in the time of a just king," and
rejoiced at having come into the world during his reign. Did this
illustrious personage achieve his exalted station by virtue of his
admirable qualities or rather by reaching out to conquer the earth and
spill the blood of its peoples? Observe that he attained to such a
distinguished rank in the heart of the world that his greatness still
rings out through all the impermanence of time, and he won eternal life.
Should We comment on the continuing life of the great, this brief essay
would be unduly prolonged, and since it is by no means certain that public
opinion in Persia will be materially affected by its perusal, We shall
abridge the work, and go on to other matters which come within the purview
of the public mind. If, however, it develops that this abridgement
produces favorable results, We shall, God willing, write a number of books
dealing at length and usefully with fundamental principles of the Divine
wisdom in its relation to the phenomenal world.

No power on earth can prevail against the armies of justice, and every
citadel must fall before them; for men willingly go down under the
triumphant strokes of this decisive blade, and desolate places bloom and
flourish under the tramplings of this host. There are two mighty banners
which, when they cast their shadow across the crown of any king, will
cause the influence of his government quickly and easily to penetrate the
whole earth, even as if it were the light of the sun: the first of these
two banners is wisdom; the second is justice. Against these two most
potent forces, the iron hills cannot prevail, and Alexander's wall will
break before them. It is clear that life in this fast-fading world is as
fleeting and inconstant as the morning wind, and this being so, how
fortunate are the great who leave a good name b