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As to Baha'u'llah, the passages I cite in these pages constitute but a fraction of the references to the Muslim divines with which His writings abound. "The Lote-Tree beyond Which there is no passing," He exclaims, "crieth out, by reason of the cruelty of the divines. It shouteth aloud, and bewaileth itself." "From the inception of this sect (Shi'ih)," He, in His "Epistle to the Son of the Wolf," has written, "until the present day, how great hath been the number of the divines that have appeared, none of whom became cognizant of the nature of this Revelation. What could have been the cause of this waywardness? Were We to mention it, their limbs would cleave asunder. It is necessary for them to meditate, nay to meditate for a thousand years, that haply they may attain unto a sprinkling from the ocean of knowledge, and discover the things whereof they are oblivious in this day. I was walking in the Land of Ta (Tihran) - the dayspring of the signs of thy Lord - when lo, I heard the lamentation of the pulpits and the voice of their supplication unto God, blessed and glorified be He! They cried out and said: 'O God of the world and Lord of the nations! Thou beholdest our state and the things which have befallen us, by reason of the cruelty of Thy servants. Thou hast created us and revealed us for Thy glorification and praise. Thou dost now hear what the wayward proclaim upon us in Thy days. By Thy might! Our souls are melted, and our limbs are trembling. Alas, alas! Would that we had never been created and revealed by Thee!' The hearts of them that enjoy near access to God are consumed by these words, and from them the cries of such as are devoted to Him are raised."
(89:2)
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