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“O ye who are attracted by the Fragrances of God!…” |
The truth, I say unto you, |
O ye beloved of God! When the winds blow severely,
rains fall fiercely, the lightning flashes, the thunder
roars, the bold descends and storms of trial become
severe, grieve not; for after this storm, verily, the
divine spring will arrive, the hills and fields will become
verdant, the expanses of grain will joyfully wave,
the earth will become covered with blossoms, the trees
will be clothed with green garments and adorned with
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blossoms and fruits. Thus blessings become manifest
in all countries. These favors are results of those
storms and hurricanes.
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The discerning man rejoiceth at the day of trials,
his breast becometh dilated at the time of severe
storms, his eyes become brightened when seeing the
showers of rain and gusts of wind, whereby trees are
uprooted; because he foreseeth the result and the end
(of these trials), the leaves, blossoms and fruits (which
follow this wintry storm); while the ignorant (short-sighted)
person becometh troubled when he seeth a
storm, is saddened when it raineth severely, is terrified
by the thunder and trembleth at the surging of the
waves which storm the shores.
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As ye have heard of the former times, when (for example)
Christ—glory be to Him! —appeared, a storm
of trials arose, afflictions appeared, the winds of tests
blew, the thunder of temptation descended and hosts
of people (Pharisees) surrounded the houses of the
friends; then the weak ones were shaken and were misled
after once being guided; but the disciples withstood
the hardships and endured the storms of ordeals, remaining
firm in the Religion of God. Then observe
that which occurred after the storm and what appeared
subsequent to that severity, whereby the members (followers)
trembled.
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God hath changed the sorrow to joy, the destructive
darkness of calamity into the shining light from the Supreme
Concourse. The people at the beginning persecuted
and reviled the believers in God and said of them:
“These are the people of aberration.” Then, when
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their light appeared, their stars shone and their lamps
illuminated, the people returned into love and affinity;
they prayed to them, offered words of glory night and
day (in their name) and remembered them in eulogy,
reverence, honor and majesty.
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Therefore, O ye beloved of God, be not grieved
when people stand against you, persecute you, afflict
and trouble you and say all manner of evil against you.
The darkness will pass away and the light of the manifest
signs will appear, the veil will be withdrawn and
the Light of Reality will shine forth from the unseen
[Kingdom] of El-Abha. This we inform you before
it occurs, so that when the hosts of people arise against
you for my love, be not disturbed or troubled; nay,
rather, be firm as a mountain, for this persecution and
reviling of the people upon you is a pre-ordained matter.
Blessed is the soul who is firm in the path!
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