ld they
have countenanced this most grievous betrayal? Briefly, We beseech God to
aid the perpetrator of this deed to repent, and return unto Him. He,
verily, is the Helper, the All-Wise.

As to Dayyan--upon him be the glory of God and His mercy--he attained Our
presence in accordance with that which had been revealed by the pen of the
Primal Point. We pray God to aid the heedless to turn unto Him, and such
as have turned aside to direct themselves towards Him, and them that have
denied Him to acknowledge this Cause, which, no sooner did it appear than
all created things proclaimed: "He that was hidden in the Treasury of
Knowledge, and inscribed by the Pen of the Most High in His Books, and His
Scriptures, and His Scrolls, and His Tablets, is come!"

In this connection it hath been deemed necessary to mention such
traditions as have been recorded regarding the blessed and honored city of
Akka, that haply thou mayest, O Hadi, seek a path unto the Truth, and a
road leading unto God.

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

The following hath been recorded concerning the merits of Akka, and of the
sea, and of Aynu'l-Baqar (The Spring of the Cow) which is in Akka:

'Abdu'l-'Aziz, son of 'Abdu'-Salam, hath related unto us that the
Prophet--may the blessings of God and His salutations be upon him--hath
said: "Akka is a city in Syria to which God hath shown His special mercy."

Ibn-i-Mas'ud--may God be pleased with him--hath stated: "The Prophet--may the
blessings of God and His salutations be upon Him--hath said: 'Of all shores
the best is the shore of Askelon, and Akka is, verily, better than
Askelon, and the merit of Akka above that of Askelon and all other shores
is as the merit of Muhammad above that of all other Prophets. I bring you
tidings of a city betwixt two mountains in Syria, in the middle of a
meadow, which is called Akka. Verily, he that entereth therein, longing
for it and eager to visit it, God will forgive his sins, both of the past
and of the future. And he that departeth from it, other than as a pilgrim,
God will not bless his departure. In it is a spring called the Spring of
the Cow. Whoso drinketh a draught therefrom, God will fill his heart with
light, and will protect him from the most great terror on the Day of
Resurrection.'"

Anas, son of Malik--may God be pleased with him--hath said: "The Apostle of
God--may the blessings of God and His salutations be upon Him--hath said:
'By th