BB00509: Ziyarat for the first [to believe]

If, on that Day, thou shouldst find thyself in the presence of Him Whom God shall make manifest, that alone would suffice thee, before God, for every remembrance and praise. But if thou art in the darkest night, then, first of all, be not veiled by the outward conjunctions of this world, nor face them with either acceptance or aversion. For the honour of God cometh only by a command from His presence, and the abasement which descendeth from Him cometh only by a prohibition from Him. Thus, if God desireth to exalt a soul by His remembrance of it and His good-pleasure with it, He exalteth it; and if He desireth to abase a people in like manner, then, when God maketh mention of them without the right that is meet, He abaseth them.

Worldly conjunctions and outward circumstances are, at every moment, renewed—whether in the Manifestations of Truth or in those beneath them. Consider the appearance of the Messenger of God: God hath rehearsed to all religions the tale of abasement, and how often honour and humiliation were exchanged among the communities. If such things were among the measures by which the servant should accept or by which he should be veiled, how then wouldst thou regard these peoples? Perchance, in every day, He exalteth servants whose number none can reckon save God, and in like manner He abaseth others. If, then, thou desirest to make such outward conditions the balance of His religion, how shalt thou ever know God and Him Whom He shall make manifest?

All this is that, on the Day of the appearance of Him Whom God shall make manifest, thou mayest not infer, from royal and worldly conjunctions, the abasement of any who have not believed in Him, nor the honour of any who have believed in Him. For the might of God is His command unto whomsoever He willeth, and the measure of abasement is His prohibition concerning whomsoever He willeth. This is the beginning and the end of the matter for such as dwell upon the pinnacle of the names and attributes. Otherwise, the True One exalteth and abaseth, and others likewise; yet such states can never serve as conclusive proofs whereby any soul may rightfully infer the truth. Say: All glory lieth in the Cause of Him Whom God shall make manifest, for whomsoever He commandeth; and all abasement belongeth unto whomsoever He forbiddeth. This is the testimony whereunto the people of knowledge hold fast, and whatsoever is beside this, God hath not loved as yet.

There is, in very truth, no doubt that the entire matter is in the hand of God, and that no soul hath any motion or stillness save through God, exalted be His glory. All honour, moreover, consisteth in faith in God, and this is naught but true faith in Him Whom God shall make manifest. For, on the Day of His manifestation, there shall remain upon the earth no truth save such as have believed in Him. Whoso believeth in Him, God will exalt and honour; God will succour him, assist him, and cause him to be made manifest upon the earth, for the confirmations of God shall descend upon him and be cut off from all else. And though there should appear a division in the outward means, this is not outside the realm of glory; for glory resideth in the Cause of God, whether or not its means appear in the earthly kingdom at every moment.

Consider, for example, that had all who were upon the earth believed in the Messenger of God at the first dawning of His Revelation, this would have been in conformity with what befitteth the following of His command. But when the Most Exalted One was denied, this wrought no diminution in the bounty of the glory of God; it was rather the result of the veiling of the people and of the means. All that is with God—were He to unveil it—none among His servants, who are all within His grasp, could endure it. There is no affair but by the leave of God. Unto Him belong creation and command, in the beginning and in the end. There is no God but He, the Mighty, the Well-Beloved.

Then, if thou shouldst find thyself in one of the foremost seats, say: Verily, the Glory is from God, then from all His Names, then from everyone who hath believed in God and in His signs—upon thee be that glory, O thou who art well-pleasing and well-pleased, O exalted, impregnable Word—at every moment, and before time and after time. And when thou desirest to stand before the body of one of thy near kindred, then remember God, in that place, by means of that Word, nineteen times; for with every letter thereof will God send down upon him that whereby his eye shall be cheered. Verily, He hath encompassed all things in His knowledge.

There is no God but God, one God; and we all are, in very truth, His sincere servants.