| Kitáb-i-Íqán | 10 |
the people to no other than the city of God. Even
as it is revealed: "And unto the tribe of Thamud
We sent their brother Salih. `O my people,' said
He, `Worship God, ye have none other God beside
Him....' They made reply: `O Salih, our
hopes were fixed on thee until now; forbiddest
thou us to worship that which our fathers worshipped?
Truly we misdoubt that whereunto thou
callest us as suspicious.'" (1) All this proved fruitless,
until at last there went up a great cry, and all
fell into utter perdition.
Later, the beauty of the countenance of the
Friend of God (2) appeared from behind the veil,
and another standard of divine guidance was
hoisted. He invited the people of the earth to the
light of righteousness. The more passionately He
exhorted them, the fiercer waxed the envy and
waywardness of the people, except those who
wholly detached themselves from all save God,
and ascended on the wings of certainty to the station
which God hath exalted beyond the comprehension
of men. It is well known what a host of
enemies besieged Him, until at last the fires of
envy and rebellion were kindled against Him.
