place I
dwell, the first person to have mercy on Me would be thyself. In the heart
of a mountain is a fortress [Maku] ... the inmates of which are confined
to two guards and four dogs. Picture, then, My plight... I swear by the
truth of God! Were he who hath been willing to treat Me in such a manner
to know Who it is Whom he hath so treated, he, verily, would never in his
life be happy. Nay--I, verily, acquaint thee with the truth of the
matter--it is as if he hath imprisoned all the Prophets, and all the men of
truth and all the chosen ones...

When this decree was made known unto Me, I wrote to him who administereth
the affairs of the kingdom, saying: 'Put Me to death, I adjure thee by
God, and send My head wherever thou pleasest. For surely an innocent
person such as I, cannot reconcile himself to being consigned to a place
reserved for criminals and let his life continue.' My plea remained
unanswered. Evidently His Excellency the Haji, is not fully aware of the
truth of our Cause. It would be far more heinous a deed to sadden the
hearts of the faithful, whether men or women, than to lay waste the sacred
House of God.

Verily, the One True God beareth Me witness that in this Day I am the true
mystic Fane of God, and the Essence of all good. He who doeth good unto
Me, it is as if he doeth good unto God, His angels and the entire company
of His loved ones. He who doeth evil unto Me, it is as if he doeth evil
unto God and His chosen ones. Nay, too exalted is the station of God and
of His loved ones for any person's good or evil deed to reach their holy
threshold. Whatever reacheth Me is ordained to reach Me; and that which
hath come unto Me, to him who giveth will it revert. By the One in Whose
hand is My soul, he hath cast no one but himself into prison. For
assuredly whatsoever God hath decreed for Me shall come to pass and naught
else save that which God hath ordained for us shall ever touch us. Woe
betide him from whose hands floweth evil, and blessed the man from whose
hands floweth good. Unto no one do I take My plaint save to God; for He is
the best of judges. Every state of adversity or bliss is from Him alone,
and He is the All-Powerful, the Almighty.

In brief, I hold within My grasp whatsoever any man might wish of the good
of this world and of the next. Were I to remove the veil, all would
recognize Me as their Best Beloved, and no one would deny Me. Let not this
assertion astound Your Majesty; inasmuch a