…the divinity of God, which is the totality of all perfections, reveals
itself in the reality of man -- that is, the divine Essence is the sum total of
all perfections, and from this station it casts a ray of its splendour upon the
human reality. In other words, the Sun of Truth is reflected in this mirror.
Thus man is a perfect mirror facing the Sun of Truth and is the seat of its
reflection. The splendour of all the divine perfections is manifest in the
reality of man, and it is for this reason that he is the vicegerent and apostle
of God. If man did not exist, the universe would be without result, for the
purpose of existence is the revelation of the divine perfections. We cannot
say, then, that there was a time when man was not. At most we can say that there
was a time when this earth did not exist, and that at the beginning man was not
present upon it.
But from the beginning that has no beginning to the end that has no end,
a perfect Manifestation has always existed. This Man of Whom we speak here is
not just any man: That which we intend is the Perfect Man. For the noblest part
of the tree, and the fundamental purpose of its existence, is the fruit. A tree
without fruit is of no use. Therefore, it cannot be imagined that the world of
existence, whether in the realms above or below, was once populated by cows and
donkeys, cats, and mice, and yet was deprived of the presence of man. What a
false and vacuous notion!
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Table talks in Akka, authenticated by
‘Abdu’l-Baha; ‘Some Answered Questions’ – 2014 revised translation by the
Baha’i World Centre)
