The Light of Truth — Page 179
PARABLE OF THE CHRISTIANS AND THE ATONEMENT thing that pleases me is remembrance of the Messiah, who is the lord of all the worlds. (May the curse of Allah be on the liars!) 'Notwithstanding, I have taken on all this trouble for your sake, for I observed you to be among those tribes that have a noble heritage and found you to be like the vestiges of past emirs; and because you are facing adversity after having had many bless- ings; and since affection has blossomed between us and an inti- macy has formed. For these reasons, my mercy arose, my com- passion surged, and your good fortune and lucky star drew me towards you, so I determined to make you like the sultans. Soon I shall return to you with freshly picked fruit, so wait for me with cheerful hearts. You will behold radiant white and yellow [i. e. silver and gold] calling to mind a beautifully adorned and radiant bride, and I shall appear before you like a bearer of glad tidings. ' With this, he departed and left them utterly defrauded. They failed to comprehend that he had beguiled them and was simply seeking an escape. Instead, they rejoiced at the thought of attain- ing their desire. They lingered there, waiting for him as one waits for the new moon that marks the beginning of Eid. They waited for him as dear friends anxiously await one another, until the sun itself covered its face as though it were remorseful; donning black clothes like those in mourning; rendering its account null and void like those who had been defrauded; and hiding itself with a sallow face resembling those who had been cheated. When the period of waiting became prolonged; and the time appointed by the deceiver came and went; and they had wasted a great deal of time in anticipation; and it became evident that this man had lied; they arose like madmen and raced off in every direction looking for him, rushing right and left in great distress, thinking about their precious gems and concerned about this [incident] coming into view of the public. When they despaired of ever finding him, like a mother 179