| Kitáb-i-Íqán | 193 |
day how most of the people, because of such love
and hate, are bereft of the immortal Face, have
strayed far from the Embodiments of the divine
mysteries, and, shepherdless, are roaming through
the wilderness of oblivion and error. That seeker
must at all times put his trust in God, must renounce
the peoples of the earth, detach himself
from the world of dust, and cleave unto Him Who
is the Lord of Lords. He must never seek to exalt
himself above any one, must wash away from the
tablet of his heart every trace of pride and vainglory,
must cling unto patience and resignation,
observe silence, and refrain from idle talk. For the
tongue is a smouldering fire, and excess of speech
a deadly poison. Material fire consumeth the body,
whereas the fire of the tongue devoureth both heart
and soul. The force of the former lasteth but for
a time, whilst the effects of the latter endure a
century.
That seeker should also regard backbiting as
grievous error, and keep himself aloof from its
dominion, inasmuch as backbiting quencheth the
light of the heart, and extinguisheth the life of
the soul. He should be content with little, and
be freed from all inordinate desire. He should
