tories of Knowledge, that these may expound
their meaning, and unravel their mystery. For it behooveth no man to
interpret the holy words according to his own imperfect understanding,
nor, having found them to be contrary to his inclination and desires, to
reject and repudiate their truth. For such, today, is the manner of the
divines and doctors of the age, who occupy the seats of knowledge and
learning, and who have named ignorance knowledge, and called oppression
justice. Were these to ask the Light of Truth concerning those images
which their idle fancy hath carved, and were they to find His answer
inconsistent with their own conceptions and their own understanding of the
Book, they would assuredly denounce Him Who is the Mine and Wellhead of
all Knowledge as the very negation of understanding. Such things have
happened in every age.

For instance, when Muhammad, the Lord of being, was questioned concerning
the new moons, He, as bidden by God, made reply: "They are periods
appointed unto men."(139) Thereupon, they that heard Him denounced Him as
an ignorant man.

Likewise, in the verse concerning the "Spirit," He saith: "And they will
ask Thee of the Spirit. Say, 'the Spirit proceedeth at My Lord's
command.'"(140) As soon as Muhammad's answer was given, they all
clamorously protested, saying: "Lo! an ignorant man who knoweth not what
the Spirit is, calleth Himself the Revealer of divine Knowledge!" And now
behold the divines of the age who, because of their being honoured by His
name, and finding that their fathers have acknowledged His Revelation,
have blindly submitted to His truth. Observe, were this people today to
receive such answers in reply to such questionings, they would
unhesitatingly reject and denounce them--nay, they would again utter the
self-same cavils, even as they have uttered them in this day. All this,
notwithstanding the fact that these Essences of being are immensely
exalted above such fanciful images, and are immeasurably glorified beyond
all these vain sayings and above the comprehension of every understanding
heart. Their so-called learning, when compared with that Knowledge, is
utter falsehood, and all their understanding naught but blatant error.
Nay, whatsoever proceedeth from these Mines of divine Wisdom and these
Treasuries of eternal knowledge is truth, and naught else but the truth.
The saying: "Knowledge is one point, which the foolish have multiplied" is
a proof of Our argument, a