|
Likewise, there appeared on earth Ahmad and Kazim, those twin resplendent lights - may God sanctify their resting-place!(Ibid. 65) (119:1) 'Ahmad' and 'Kazim' refer to two individuals, Shaykh Ahmad (1753-1831) and Siyyid Kazim (1793-1843), who taught in the early nineteenth century that the time of the end was approaching. These individuals appeared within the Muslim world and, according to Baha'i teachings, were heralds of the Baha'i Revelation. (119:2) Baha'u'llah concludes His explanation of Matthew 24:30 with these words: "From all that We have stated it hath become clear and manifest that before the revelation of each of the Mirrors reflecting the divine Essence, the signs heralding their advent must needs be revealed in the visible heaven as well as in the invisible, wherein is the seat of the sun of knowledge, of the moon of wisdom, and of the stars of understanding and utterance. The sign of the invisible heaven must needs be revealed in the person of that perfect man who, before each Manifestation appeareth, educateth, and prepareth the souls of men for the advent of the divine Luminary, the Light of the unity of God amongst men. (Ibid.66)" (119:3) Each of the instances we have examined, that is, the references to the sun, the moon, and the stars have plausible spiritual meanings. Rather than providing a merely literal understanding, these interpretations reveal a message more relevant to the religious life. Viewing the following verse in a religious context also reinforces this same consistent spiritual message.
(119:4)
|