The Book of the Most Holy CHAPTER SIX

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Division 196-225

THE MOST HOLY

196.

Lament not in your hours of trial, neither rejoice therein;

197.

seek ye the Middle Way which is the remembrance of Me

in your afflictions and reflection over that which may befall you in future.

Thus informeth you He Who is the Omniscient, He Who is aware.

197.

Shave not your heads;

God hath adorned them with hair, and in this there are signs from the Lord of creation to those who reflect upon the requirements of nature.

He, verily, is the God of strength and wisdom.

198.

Notwithstanding, it is not seemly to let the hair pass beyond the limit of the ears.

Thus hath it been decreed by Him Who is the Lord of all worlds.

199.

Exile and imprisonment are decreed for the thief,

200.

and, on the third offence, place ye a mark upon his brow

so that, thus identified, he may not be accepted in the cities of God and His countries.

201.

Beware lest, through compassion, ye neglect to carry out the statutes of the religion of God;

202.

do that which hath been bidden you by Him Who is compassionate and merciful.

203.

We school you with the rod of wisdom and laws, like unto the father who educateth his son,

and this for naught but the protection of your own selves and the elevation of your stations.

204.

By My life, were ye to discover what We have desired for you in revealing Our holy laws,

ye would offer up your very souls for this sacred, this mighty, and most exalted Faith.

205.

Whoso wisheth to make use of vessels of silver and gold is at liberty to do so.

206.

Take heed lest, when partaking of food,

ye plunge your hands into the contents of bowls and platters.

207.

Adopt ye such usages as are most in keeping with refinement.

208.

He, verily, desireth to see in you the manners of the inmates of Paradise in His mighty and most sublime Kingdom.

209.

Hold ye fast unto refinement under all conditions,

that your eyes may be preserved from beholding what is repugnant

both to your own selves and to the dwellers of Paradise.

210.

Should anyone depart therefrom, his deed shall at that moment be rendered vain;

yet should he have good reason, God will excuse him.

He, in truth, is the Gracious, the Most Bountiful.

211.

He Who is the Dawning-place of God's Cause hath no partner in the Most Great Infallibility.

212.

He it is Who, in the kingdom of creation,

is the Manifestation of " He doeth whatsoever He willeth".

213.

God hath reserved this distinction unto His own Self,

and ordained for none a share in so sublime and transcendent a station.

214.

This is the Decree of God, concealed ere now within the veil of impenetrable mystery.

215.

We have disclosed it in this Revelation,

and have thereby rent asunder the veils of such as have failed to recognize

that which the Book of God set forth,

and who were therefore numbered with the heedless.

216.

Unto every father hath been enjoined the instruction of his son and daughter in the art of reading and writing and in all that hath been laid down in the Holy Tablet.

217.

He that putteth away that which is commanded unto him,

the Trustees are then to take from him that which is required for their instruction if he be wealthy

and, if not, the matter devolveth upon the House of Justice.

218.

Verily have We made it a shelter for the poor and needy.

219.

He that bringeth up his son or the son of another, it is as though he hath brought up a son of Mine;

upon him rest My glory, My loving-kindness, My mercy, that have compassed the world.

220.

God hath imposed a fine on every adulterer and adulteress, to be paid to the House of Justice:

nine mithqá ls of gold, to be doubled if they should repeat the offence.

221.

Such is the penalty which He Who is the Lord of Names hath assigned them in this world;

and in the world to come He hath ordained for them a humiliating torment.

222.

Should anyone be afflicted by a sin,

it behoveth him to repent thereof and return unto his Lord.

223.

He, verily, granteth forgiveness unto whomsoever He willeth,

and none may question that which it pleaseth Him to ordain.

He is, in truth, the Ever-Forgiving,

the Almighty, the All-Praised.

224.

Beware lest ye be hindered by the veils of glory from partaking of the crystal waters of this living Fountain.

225.

Seize ye the chalice of salvation at this dawntide in the name of Him Who causeth the day to break, and drink your fill in praise of Him Who is the All-Glorious, the Incomparable.

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