e earth made
mention of her and celebrated her praise. He, verily, overshadoweth all
that is in the heavens and on earth. No God is there but Him, the
Almighty, the Great. Thus have We adorned the heaven of Our Tablet with
the suns of Our words. Blessed the man that hath attained thereunto and
been illumined with their light, and woe betide such as have turned aside,
and denied Him, and strayed far from Him. Praised be God, the Lord of the
worlds!

KITAB-I-'AHD (BOOK OF THE COVENANT)

ALTHOUGH the Realm of Glory hath none of the vanities of the world, yet
within the treasury of trust and resignation We have bequeathed to Our
heirs an excellent and priceless heritage. Earthly treasures We have not
bequeathed, nor have We added such cares as they entail. By God! In
earthly riches fear is hidden and peril is concealed. Consider ye and call
to mind that which the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Qur'an: 'Woe
betide every slanderer and defamer, him that layeth up riches and counteth
them.'(85) Fleeting are the riches of the world; all that perisheth and
changeth is not, and hath never been, worthy of attention, except to a
recognized measure.

The aim of this Wronged One in sustaining woes and tribulations, in
revealing the Holy Verses and in demonstrating proofs hath been naught but
to quench the flame of hate and enmity, that the horizon of the hearts of
men may be illumined with the light of concord and attain real peace and
tranquillity. From the dawning-place of the divine Tablet the day-star of
this utterance shineth resplendent, and it behoveth everyone to fix his
gaze upon it: We exhort you, O peoples of the world, to observe that which
will elevate your station. Hold fast to the fear of God and firmly adhere
to what is right. Verily I say, the tongue is for mentioning what is good,
defile it not with unseemly talk. God hath forgiven what is past.
Henceforward everyone should utter that which is meet and seemly, and
should refrain from slander, abuse and whatever causeth sadness in men.
Lofty is the station of man! Not long ago this exalted Word streamed forth
from the treasury of Our Pen of Glory: Great and blessed is this Day--the
Day in which all that lay latent in man hath been and will be made
manifest. Lofty is the station of man, were he to hold fast to
righteousness and truth and to remain firm and steadfast in the Cause. In
the eyes of the All-Merciful a true man appeareth eve