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Two Years in the Wilderness |
About a year after coming to Baghdád, He departed alone
into the wilderness of Sulaymáníyyih, taking with Him nothing
but a change of clothes. Regarding this period He write in the
Book of Íqán
1
as follows:—
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In the early days of Our arrival in this land, when
We discerned the signs of impending events, We decided,
ere they happened, to retire. We betook Ourselves to the
wilderness, and there, separated and alone, led for two
years a life of complete solitude. From Our eyes there
rained tears of anguish, and in Our bleeding heart there
surged an ocean of agonizing pain. Many a night We had
no food for sustenance, and many a day Our body found
no rest. by Him Who hath My being between His hands!
notwithstanding these showers of afflictions and unceasing
calamities, Our soul was wrapt in blissful joy, and Our
whole being evinced an ineffable gladness. For in Our
solitude We were unaware of the harm or benefit, the
health or ailment, of any soul. Alone, We communed with
Our spirit, oblivious of the world and all that is therein.
We knew not, however, that the mesh of divine destiny
exceedeth the vastest of mortal conceptions, and the dart
of His decree transcendeth the boldest of human designs.
None can escape the snares He setteth, and no soul can
find release except through submission to His will. By the
righteousness of God! Our withdrawal contemplated no
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return, and Our separation hoped for no reunion. The one
object of Our retirement was to avoid becoming a subject
of discord among the faithful, a source of disturbance
unto Our companions, the means of injury to any soul,
or the cause of sorrow to any heart. Beyond these, We
cherished no other intention, and apart from them, We
had no end in view. And yet, each person schemed after
his own desire, and pursued his own idle fancy, until the
hour when, from the Mystic Source, there came the summons
bidding Us return whence We came. Surrendering
Our will to His, We submitted to His injunction.
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1. | This was early in the year 1853, or nine years after the Báb’s Declaration, thus fulfilling certain prophecies of the Báb concerning “the year nine.” [ Back To Reference] |