the companions of the Prophet to waver, and throwing so great a confusion
into their midst? Yea, such things as throw consternation into the hearts
of all men come to pass only that each soul may be tested by the
touchstone of God, that the true may be known and distinguished from the
false. Thus hath He revealed after the breach amongst the people: "We did
not appoint that which Thou wouldst have to be the Qiblih, but that We
might know him who followeth the Apostle from him who turneth on his
heels."(41) "Affrighted asses fleeing from a lion."(42)

Were you to ponder, but for a while, these utterances in your heart, you
would surely find the portals of understanding unlocked before your face,
and would behold all knowledge and the mysteries thereof unveiled before
your eyes. Such things take place only that the souls of men may develop
and be delivered from the prison-cage of self and desire. Otherwise, that
ideal King hath, throughout eternity, been in His Essence independent of
the comprehension of all beings, and will continue, for ever, in His own
Being to be exalted above the adoration of every soul. A single breeze of
His affluence doth suffice to adorn all mankind with the robe of wealth;
and one drop out of the ocean of His bountiful grace is enough to confer
upon all beings the glory of everlasting life. But inasmuch as the divine
Purpose hath decreed that the true should be known from the false, and the
sun from the shadow, He hath, therefore, in every season sent down upon
mankind the showers of tests from His realm of glory.

Were men to meditate upon the lives of the Prophets of old, so easily
would they come to know and understand the ways of these Prophets that
they would cease to be veiled by such deeds and words as are contrary to
their own worldly desires, and thus consume every intervening veil with
the fire burning in the Bush of divine knowledge, and abide secure upon
the throne of peace and certitude. For instance, consider Moses, son of
'Imran, one of the exalted Prophets and Author of a divinely-revealed
Book. Whilst passing, one day, through the market, in His early days, ere
His ministry was proclaimed, He saw two men engaged in fighting. One of
them asked the help of Moses against his opponent. Whereupon, Moses
intervened and slew him. To this testifieth the record of the sacred Book.
Should the details be cited, they will lengthen and interrupt the course
of the argument. The report of thi