The Ocean of Light — Page 84
84 also be similar to them in number. This dissension was absent during the first three centuries, from the first century of Prophethood till the century of the Taba‘ at-T a bi‘ i n 1 ; rather it raised its head after many years and then grew day by day until it reached its zenith in this age. Prejudice has grown, knowledge has left the hearts of men and women, and people have chosen ignorant ones as their leaders, who have neither been given knowledge, nor granted any special spiritual status like the men of God. As such, they have gone astray, and advocate depravity. We see that the glory of faith and the honour of the Magnificence of our Lord God, is withdrawing back towards the H ij a z 2 , just as a serpent shrinks back to its burrow at the time of danger. The glory of faith and the respect for the boundaries it 1 T āb i ‘ū n refers to those who saw and met the Companions of the Holy Prophet s as , while Taba ‘ at-T a bi ‘i n refers to those who saw and met the T āb i ‘ū n. [Publisher] 2 H ij a z refers to the Holy lands of Mecca and Medina and their environs. [Publisher]