| Kitáb-i-Íqán | 222 |
reason, the divines of the age and those possessed
of wealth, would scorn and scoff at these people.
Even as He hath revealed concerning them that
erred: "Then said the chiefs of His people who
believed not, `We see in Thee but a man like ourselves;
and we see not any who have followed
Thee except our meanest ones of hasty judgment,
nor see we any excellence in you above ourselves:
nay, we deem you liars.'" (1) They caviled at those
holy Manifestations, and protested saying: "None
hath followed you except the abject amongst us,
those who are worthy of no attention." Their aim
was to show that no one amongst the learned, the
wealthy, and the renowned believed in them. By
this and similar proofs they sought to demonstrate
the falsity of Him that speaketh naught but the
truth.
In this most resplendent Dispensation, however,
this most mighty Sovereignty, a number of illumined
divines, of men of consummate learning, of
doctors of mature wisdom, have attained unto His
Court, drunk the cup of His divine Presence, and
been invested with the honour of His most excellent
favour. They have renounced, for the sake of
the Beloved, the world and all that is therein. We
