| Kitáb-i-Íqán | 76 |
A number of the divines, who hold firmly to the
letter of the Word of God, have come to regard
this verse as one of the signs of that expected resurrection
which is born of their idle fancy. This,
notwithstanding the fact that similar references
have been made in most of the heavenly Books,
and have been recorded in all the passages
connected with the signs of the coming Manifestation.
Likewise, He saith: "On the day when the
heaven shall give out a palpable smoke, which shall
enshroud mankind: this will be an afflictive torment." (1)
The All-Glorious hath decreed these very
things, that are contrary to the desires of wicked
men, to be the touchstone and standard whereby
He proveth His servants, that the just may be
known from the wicked, and the faithful distinguished
from the infidel. The symbolic term
"smoke" denotes grave dissensions, the abrogation
and demolition of recognized standards, and the
utter destruction of their narrow-minded exponents.
What smoke more dense and overpowering
than the one which hath now enshrouded all the
peoples of the world, which hath become a torment
