The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 496
AT-TABLIGH―TO THE NOBLE AND PIOUS OF THE ARABS 495 They fell into the misconceptions of ignorance, and intended to declare me a disbeliever, and give me the lie. They tried to seize me by my collar and remained stubborn in their claims. I have perfected my argument against them, and the dawn of my truthfulness has shone upon them, but they refused to accept my message; their souls were convinced of it but their tongues continued to reject it. I find their hearts full of fear and their souls replete with agony and anguish. The truth has been manifested to them but they feign ignorance. I see them splitting up and becoming divided into many groups about me. Some of them have testified to my truthfulness and they are among the humble and righteous; others have given the lie to me, have turned away and looked disdainfully upon me out of arrogance and hate, and it is none but they who are arrogant. I find the witnesses of my truthfulness to be on the rise while I see the deniers to be diminishing. My Lord is visiting the land, reducing it from its outlying borders. He keeps on making the hearts understand, opening the eyes and eliminat- ing misconceptions. Those who come to me with signs of righteousness eventually rec- ognize me and swear allegiance to me, thus refining the insight of their righteousness, and they cease to doubt. My Lord has revealed to me that I am like the Ark of Noah for mankind, so whosoever comes to me and enters into allegiance with me shall be saved from being wasted. Blessed are those who are saved. I do not enjoin the people but with the Quran, and to the Quran and to the obedience of the Lord to whom shall they return. Indeed, Allah has found the people's hearts, limbs, eyes, ears, and desires filled with sin, offence, and filth. He found them smitten with various kinds of grave sins and wrongdoings. Thus, He raised a servant from His servants to call them to the essence of religion and the true nature of the Shariah, of which these people have never savoured and remain deprived. O ye brethren from Arabia, Egypt, the lands of Levant, and others! When I found that this blessing is indeed a great favour, a provision descending from Heaven, and a great Sign from the Benevolent Lord,