-- provisional translation by Ahang Rabbani
He is God!
In this enlightened age, which is the century of the Almighty God, by the effulgence of the Sun of Reality, the lights of civilization are diffused over all horizons, and human attainments and divine virtues, just as dawn swells in the morning, are so spread in the East and the West that ferocity and bloodshed among mankind are abandoned; nay, rather, in civilized countries they are entirely forgotten. Religious contentions are completely eradicated and the prejudices of the dark ages are abolished. Among diverse groups and tribes no conflicts, discords or hostilities have remained save national conflicts and political ambitions. All peoples and nations, reposing in the cradle of security and safety, are well protected against the cruelty of tyrants.
In Iran, when the Divine Call was raised, the radiant morn
appeared and the Sun of Truth arose, many people were delivered from the lowest
depths of ignorance, attained the highest human perfections, became the center
of heavenly virtues, spirit incarnate and righteousness embodied – appearing in
the world of humanity with spiritual qualities and holy attributes. However,
the adherents of the old religions still held fast to their former teachings
and traditions, and day by day became more ignorant until they degenerated into
ferocious wolves and rabid dogs, even surpassing the ravenous man-eating
beasts. Thus, they began to oppose those holy souls, each day instigating
persecution, every hour causing new oppressions, each moment kindling the fires
of destruction, burning the sanctified ones in the flames of hatred and malice,
setting their heads upon spears, torturing, their children, plundering houses
and property, looting wealth and possessions, and banishing women and children
from their native land. The honorable were debased, the revered were despised,
and the virtuous were taken captive.
Among such outrages are numbered the recent events of Yazd
and Isfahán, which caused the hearts to burn and quake, and the people of
equity to shed tears of blood and beat their breasts. Although the Bahá’ís are
brave and courageous, and in the field of combat each able to battle a large
number of opponents, and when war ensues they manifest such valor as would
quickly break the ranks of their foes [1] , as it has been proven that in
bravery they have no equal or like, yet, because by the divine and firm decree
of God, they are commanded to maintain universal peace and entrusted with
absolute meekness, when tyrants extend to them the hand of cruelty, attacking
them like blood-thirsty wolves, the Divine Friends must submit like lambs
before them, without offering the least resistance, accepting the wounds of
daggers and swords as babes accept the honey and milk [from their mothers],
kissing the hand of the assassin while receiving a stab in the heart; and,
while yielding their lives in the path of God, begging His forgiveness for the
oppressors and asking for remission of their sins.