ignty revealed
in its full splendour. To this bear witness all His honoured servants. Yet
when My brother beheld the rising fame of the Cause, he became filled with
arrogance and pride. Thereupon he emerged from behind the veil of
concealment, rose up against Me, disputed My verses, denied My testimony,
and repudiated My signs. Nor would his hunger be appeased unless he were
to devour My flesh and drink My blood. To this testify such of God's
servants as have accompanied Him in His exile, and they that enjoy near
access unto Him.

27 To this end he conferred with one of My servants(3) and sought to win
him over to his own designs; whereupon the Lord despatched unto Mine
assistance the hosts of the seen and the unseen, protected Me by the power
of truth, and sent down upon Me that which thwarted his purpose. Thus were
foiled the plots of those who disbelieve in the verses of the
All-Merciful. They, truly, are a rejected people. When news spread of that
which the promptings of self had impelled My brother to attempt, and Our
companions in exile learned of his nefarious design, the voice of their
indignation and grief was lifted up and threatened to spread throughout
the city. We forbade, however, such recriminations, and enjoined upon them
patience, that they might be of those that endure steadfastly.

28 By God, besides Whom is none other God! We withstood all these trials
with forbearance, and enjoined upon God's servants to show forth patience
and fortitude. Removing Ourself from their midst, We took up residence in
another house, that perchance the flame of envy might be quenched in Our
brother's breast, and that he might be guided aright. We neither opposed
him, nor saw him again thereafter, but remained in Our home, placing Our
hopes in the bounty of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. When,
however, he realized that his deed had been exposed, he seized the pen of
calumny and wrote unto the servants of God, attributing what he had
himself committed unto Mine own peerless and wronged Beauty. His purpose
was none other than to inspire mischief amongst God's servants, and to
instil hatred into the hearts of those who had believed in God, the
All-Glorious, the All-Loving.

29 By the One in Whose hand is My soul! We were dismayed by his
deceitfulness--nay, bewildered were all things visible and invisible. Nor
did he find respite from what he harboured in his bosom until he had
committed that which no pen dare