The Book of the Most Holy CHAPTER FIFTEEN

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The Book of the Most Holy CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Division 461-495

THE MOST HOLY

461.

O ye leaders of religion!

Who is the man amongst you that can rival Me in vision or insight?

462.

Where is he to be found that dareth to claim to be My equal in utterance or wisdom?

463.

No, by My Lord, the All-Merciful!

All on the earth shall pass away; and this is the face of your Lord,

the Almighty, the Well-Beloved.

464.

We have decreed, O people,

that the highest and last end of all learning be the recognition of Him Who is the Object of all knowledge;

465.

and yet, behold how ye have allowed your learning to shut you out, as by a veil, from Him Who is the Dayspring of this Light, through Whom every hidden thing hath been revealed.

466.

Could ye but discover the source whence the splendour of this utterance is diffused,

ye would cast away the peoples of the world and all that they possess,

and would draw nigh unto this most blessed Seat of glory.

467.

Say:

This, verily, is the heaven in which the Mother Book is treasured, could ye but comprehend it.

468.

He it is Who hath caused the Rock to shout, and the Burning Bush to lift up its voice,

upon the Mount rising above the Holy Land, and proclaim:

469.

" The Kingdom is God's, the sovereign Lord of all, the All-Powerful, the Loving! "

470.

We have not entered any school, nor read any of your dissertations.

471.

Incline your ears to the words of this unlettered One, wherewith He summoneth you unto God, the Ever-Abiding.

472.

Better is this for you than all the treasures of the earth, could ye but comprehend it.

473.

Whoso interpreteth what hath been sent down from the heaven of Revelation,

and altereth its evident meaning, he, verily,

is of them that have perverted the Sublime Word of God, and is of the lost ones in the Lucid Book.

474.

It hath been enjoined upon you to pare your nails, to bathe yourselves each week in water that covereth your bodies, and to clean yourselves with whatsoever ye have formerly employed.

475.

Take heed lest through negligence ye fail to observe that which hath been prescribed unto you by Him Who is the Incomparable, the Gracious.

476.

Immerse yourselves in clean water;

it is not permissible to bathe yourselves in water that hath already been used.

477.

See that ye approach not the public pools of Persian baths;

whoso maketh his way toward such baths will smell their fetid odour ere he entereth therein.

478.

Shun them, O people, and be not of those who ignominiously accept such vileness.

479.

In truth, they are as sinks of foulness and contamination, if ye be of them that apprehend.

480.

Avoid ye likewise the malodorous pools in the courtyards of Persian homes,

and be ye of the pure and sanctified.

481.

Truly, We desire to behold you as manifestations of paradise on earth, that there may be diffused from you such fragrance as shall rejoice the hearts of the favoured of God.

482.

If the bather, instead of entering the water, wash himself by pouring it upon his body,

it shall be better for him and shall absolve him of the need for bodily immersion.

483.

The Lord, verily, hath willed, as a bounty from His presence,

to make life easier for you that ye may be of those who are truly thankful.

484.

It is forbidden you to wed your fathers' wives.

485.

We shrink, for very shame, from talking of the subject of boys.

486.

Fear ye the Merciful, O peoples of the world!

487.

Commit not that which is forbidden you in Our Holy Tablet,

and be not of those who rove distractedly in the wilderness of their desires.

488.

To none is it permitted to mutter sacred verses before the public gaze as he walketh in the street or marketplace;

489.

nay rather, if he wish to magnify the Lord,

it behoveth him to do so in such places as have been erected for this purpose, or in his own home.

490.

This is more in keeping with sincerity and godliness.

491.

Thus hath the sun of Our commandment shone forth above the horizon of Our utterance.

492.

Blessed, then, be those who do Our bidding.

493.

Unto everyone hath been enjoined the writing of a will.

494.

The testator should head this document with the adornment of the Most Great Name, bear witness therein unto the oneness of God in the Dayspring of His Revelation,

495.

and make mention, as he may wish, of that which is praiseworthy, so that it may be a testimony for him in the kingdoms of Revelation and Creation and a treasure with his Lord, the Supreme Protector, the Faithful.

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