The Kitáb-i-Íqán : The Book of Certitude
Part Two
that either a king or a man of preeminent power may call upon him to translate this science from the realm of fancy to the domain of fact and from the plane of mere pretension to that of actual achievement. Would that this unlearned and humble Servant, who never laid any pretension to such things, nor even regarded them as the criterion of true knowledge, might undertake the same task, that thereby the truth might be known and distinguished from falsehood. But of what avail! All this generation could offer Us were wounds from its darts, and the only cup it proffered to Our lips was the cup of its venom. On our neck We still bear the scar of chains, and upon Our body are imprinted the evidences of an unyielding cruelty.
209And as to this man’s attainments, his ignorance, understanding and belief, behold what the Book which embraceth all things hath revealed; “Verily, the tree of Zaqqúm144 shall be the food of the Áthím.”145 And then follow certain verses, until He saith: “Taste this, for thou forsooth art the mighty Karím!”146 Consider how clearly and explicitly he hath been described in God’s incorruptible Book!
144 Infernal tree.
145 Sinner or sinful. Qur’án 44:43–44.
146 Honourable—Qur’án 44:49.
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