Amongst the proofs demonstrating the truth of this
Revelation is this, that in every age and Dispensation, whenever the invisible
Essence was revealed in the person of His Manifestation, certain souls, obscure
and detached from all worldly entanglements, would seek illumination from the
Sun of Prophethood and Moon of Divine guidance, and would attain unto the
Divine Presence. For this 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.’” 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 honor of His most
excellent favor. They have renounced, for the sake of the Beloved, the world
and all that is therein....
All these were guided by the light of the Sun of Divine
Revelation, confessed and acknowledged His truth. Such was their faith, that
most of them renounced their substance and kindred, and cleaved to the good
pleasure of the All-Glorious. They laid down their lives for their
Well-Beloved, and surrendered their all in His path. Their breasts were made
targets for the darts of the enemy, and their heads adorned the spears of the
infidel. No land remained which did not drink the blood of these embodiments of
detachment, and no sword that did not bruise their necks. Their deeds, alone,
testify to the truth of their words. Doth not the testimony of these holy
souls, who have so gloriously risen to offer up their lives for their Beloved
that the whole world marveled at the manner of their sacrifice, suffice the
people of this day?
- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)
