ose their tongues to
extol their Lord, the denizens of earth and heaven would join in their
anthems of praise--yet how few are they who hear! And were they to glorify
their Lord, all created things would join in their hymns of glory. Thus
hath God exalted them above the rest of His creation, and yet the people
remain unaware!

15 These are they who circle round the Cause of God even as the shadow
doth revolve around the sun. Open, then, your eyes, O people of the Bayan,
that haply ye may behold them! It is by virtue of their movement that all
things are set in motion, and by reason of their stillness all things are
brought to rest, would that ye might be assured thereof! Through them the
believers in the Divine Unity have turned towards Him Who is the Object of
the adoration of the entire creation, and by them the hearts of the
righteous have found rest and composure, could ye but know it! Through
them the earth hath been established, the clouds have rained down their
bounty, and the bread of knowledge hath descended from the heaven of
grace, could ye but perceive it!

16 These souls are the protectors of the Cause of God on earth, who shall
preserve its beauty from the obscuring dust of idle fancies and vain
imaginings. In the path of their Lord they shall not fear for their lives;
rather will they sacrifice their all in their eagerness to behold the face
of their Well-Beloved when once He hath appeared in this Name, the
Almighty, the All-Powerful, the All-Glorious, the Most Holy.

17 O Living Temple! Arise by the power of Thy Self in such wise that all
created things will be moved to arise with Thee. Aid, then, Thy Lord
through such ascendancy and might as We have bestowed upon Thee. Take heed
lest Thou falter on that Day when all created things are filled with
dismay; rather be Thou the revealer of My name, the Help in Peril, the
Self-Subsisting. Assist Thy Lord to the utmost of Thine ability, and pay
no heed to the peoples of the world, for that which their mouths utter is
like unto the droning of a gnat in an endless valley. Quaff the water of
life in My name, the All-Merciful, and proffer unto the near ones amongst
the inmates of this lofty station that which shall cause them to become
detached from all names and enter beneath this blessed and
all-encompassing shadow.

18 O Living Temple! Through Thee have We gathered together all created
things, whether in the heavens or on the earth, and called them to accoun