A Gift for Baghdad — Page 61
Reply to the Announcement & Letter 61 I swear by the might of Allah and His majesty that I have pre- ferred the face of my Lord over every other face, His door over every other door, and His pleasure over every other pleasure. I swear by His might that He is with me at all times and I am with Him at all times. I have chosen the wealth of religion as it is suf- ficient for me, even if I do not possess anything at all, not even to prepare my coffin. Truly, I am blessed with favours in spite of my poverty and am devoid of selfish desires and worldly aspira- tions. My Lord has filled me with an ardent passion and my heart is infused with His Countenance. I have a standing with Him of which no one in the entire world has any knowledge. O noble one! Some of the mysteries of the former times were concealed. This was in accordance with a determinate decree. Then, during our time their fulfilment has become evident, the ambiguity has been removed, and the errors of the fanatics have become manifest. Thus, my Lord acted in order to expose the haughtiness of the evil ulama and to show His power in the face of the bigots. The case of the descent of the Messiah is like the case of Elijah’s descent. Allah had promised his [Elijah’s] descent, then John came in his place. In that surely is guidance for those who reflect. If you are uninformed, then ask the Jews and Christians, as this narrative is well known among them and all of them agree to its veracity. Therefore, investigate and be not among the indolent. O revered brother! Certainly, the narrative of Elijah is one of the established truths recurring among the People of the Book, and Allah has revealed the reality of that matter to their Prophets.