Date: 11 Nov 92 07:52:49
Distribution: world
From: 10-Nov-1992 1609 <hakim@bigq.enet.dec.com>
Newsgroups: soc.religion.bahai
Organization: <none>
Subject: The Book of Certitude (part 7)

And now, concerning His words -"The sun shall be darkened, and the moon 
shall not give light and the stars shall fall from heaven."- [Matthew 24:29]
By the terms "sun" and "moon", mentioned in the writings of the Prophets of 
God, is not meant solely the sun and moon of the visible universe. Nay rather,
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manifold are the meanings they have intended for these terms. In every 
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instance they have attached to them a particular significance. Thus, by the
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"sun" in one sense is meant those Suns of Truth Who rise from the dayspring 
of ancient glory, and fill the world with a liberal effusion of grace from 
on high. These Suns of Truth are the universal Manifestations of God, [i.e. 
The Messengers of God like Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, Krishna, Buddha, Zoroaster, 
etc... KH], in the worlds of His attributes and names, even as the visible 
sun that assisteth, as decreed by God, the true One, the Adored, in the 
development of all earthly things, such as the trees, the fruits, and 
colours thereof, the minerals of the earth, and all that may be witnessed 
in the world of creation, so do the divine Luminaries [i.e. the Messengers 
of God. KH], by their loving care and educative influence, cause the trees 
of divine unity, the fruits of His oneness, the leaves of detachment, the 
blossoms of knowledge and certitude, and the myrtles of wisdom and 
utterance, to exist and be made manifest. Thus it is through the rise of 
these Luminaries of God the world is made new, the waters of everlasting 
life stream forth, the billows of living-kindness surge, the clouds of 
grace are gathered, and the breeze of bounty bloweth upon all created
things. It is the warmth that these Luminaries of God generate, and the 
undying fires they kindle, which cause the light of the love of God to 
burn fiercely in the heart of humanity. it is  through the abundant grace 
of these Symbols of Detachment, [i.e. the Messengers of God. KH], that the 
Spirit of life everlasting is breathed into the bodies of the dead [i.e. 
The term dead is an allusion to one who has not attained the spirit of 
faith, belief or certitude. KH]. Assuredly the visible sun is but a sign 
of the splendour of that Day-star of Truth, that Sun Which can never have 
a peer, a likeness, or rival. Through Him all things live, move, and have 
their being. Through His grace they are made manifest, and unto Him they 
all return. From Him all things have sprung, and unto the treasures of His 
revelation they all have repaired. From Him all created things did proceed,
and to the depositories of His law they did revert. 

That these divine Luminaries [i.e. The Messengers of God. KH] seem to be 
confined at times to specific designations and, as you have observed and 
are now observing, is due to the imperfect and limited comprehension of 
certain minds. Otherwise, they have been at all times, and will through 
eternity continue to be, exalted above every praising name and sanctified 
>from every descriptive attribute. The quintessence of every name can hope 
for no access unto their court of holiness, and the highest and purest of 
all attributes can never approach their kingdom of glory. Immeasurably high 
are the Prophets of God exalted above the comprehension of men, who can 
never know them except by their own Selves. Far be it from His glory that 
His chosen Ones should be magnified by any other than their own persons. 
Glorified are they above the praise of men; exalted are they above human 
understanding. 

The term  "suns"  hath many a time  been applied  in the writings of the 
'immaculate Souls' unto the the Prophets of God, those luminous Emblems of 
Detachment. Among  those writings are the following words recorded in the 
"Prayer of Nudbih" [i.e. Prayer of Lamentation written by the Imam Ali, 
the son in law of Prophet Muhammad, the 4th Khalif according to Sunnis, and 
the first rightful successor of Prophet Muhammad according to Shiets. KH], 
"Whither are gone the resplendent Suns? Where unto have departed those 
shining Moons and sparkling Stars?" Thus it hath become evident that the 
terms "sun", "moon" and "stars" primarily signify the Prophets of God, the 
saints, and their companions, those Luminaries, the light of Whose knowledge 
hath shed illumination upon the worlds of the visible and the invisible. 

In another sense, by these terms is intended the divines of the former 
Dispensation, [i.e. The religious leaders of the former religion. KH], who 
live in the days of the subsequent Revelations, and who hold the reins of
religion in their grasp. If these divines be illumined by the light of the
latter Revelation, [i.e. The new religion. KH], they will be acceptable unto
God, and will shine with a light everlasting. Otherwise, they will be declared
as darkened, even though to outward seeming they be leaders of men, inasmuch 
as belief and unbelief, guidance and error, felicity and misery, light and 
darkness, are all dependent upon the sanction of Him Who is the Day-star of
Truth [i.e. The Manifestation of God. KH]. Whosoever among the divines of 
every age receiveth, in the Day of Reckoning [i.e. The day when the Messenger 
of God is present among mankind. KH], the testimony of faith from the Source 
of true knowledge, he verily becometh the recipient of learning, of divine 
favour, and of the light of true understanding. Otherwise, he is branded as 
guilty of folly, denial, blasphemy, and oppression.

It is evident and manifest unto every discerning observer that even as the
light of the star fadeth before the effulgent splendour of the sun, so doth
the luminary of earthly knowledge, of wisdom, and understanding vanish into
nothingness when brought face to face with the resplendent glories of the
Sun of Truth, the Day-star of divine enlightenment. [i.e. That is to say: 
the knowledge of the religious leaders and theologians fades away, during 
the time and in the presence of the Manifestation of God. KH] 

That the term "sun" hath been applied to the leaders of religion is due to
their lofty position, their fame, and renown. Such are the universally
recognized divines of every age, who speak with authority, and whose fame is 
securely established. If they be in the likeness of the Sun of Truth [i.e. 
Given that these leaders realize the station and reflect the light of the 
Manifestation of God for their age. KH], they  will surely be accounted as 
the most exalted of all luminaries; otherwise, they are to be recognized as 
the focal centers of hellish fire [i.e. Focal centers of human arrogance and 
self-centerdness. KH]. Even as He saith: "Verily, the sun and the moon are 
both condemned to the torment of infernal fire." [Qur'an 55:5] You are no 
doubt familiar with the interpretation of the term "sun" and "moon" mentioned 
in this verse; no need therefore to refer unto it. And whosoever is of the
element of this "sun" and "moon", that is followeth the example of these
leaders in setting his face towards falsehood and in turning away from the
truth he undoubtedly cometh out of infernal gloom and returneth thereunto. 

And now, O seeker, it behooveth us firmly to cling unto the Urvatu'l-Vuthqa, 
[lit. The strongest handle. Denotes the Faith of God. KH] that perchance we 
may leave behind the darksome night of error, and embrace the dawning light 
of divine guidance. Shall we not flee from the face of denial, and seek the
sheltering shadow of certitude? Shall we not free ourselves from from the
horror of satanic [i.e. The term satanic is synonym with selfish in Baha'i
theology. The Baha'i Scripture rejects the notion of "Satan" as an entity, 
or a personality who forces others to do evil. KH] gloom, and hasten towards
the rising light of the heavenly Beauty [i.e. Baha'u'llah is alluding to His
own Manifestation ushered by the appearance of The Bab. KH]? In such wise, 
we bestow upon you the fruit of the Tree of divine knowledge, that ye may 
gladly and joyously abide in the Ridvan [i.e. Paradise. KH] of divine wisdom. 

In another sense, by the terms "sun", "moon", and "stars" are meant such laws
and teachings as have been established and proclaimed in every Dispensation,
such as the laws of prayer and fasting. These have according to the law of
the Qur'an, been regarded, when the beauty of the Prophet Muhammad had passed
beyond the veil [i.e. After Prophet Muhammad passed away. KH], as the most 
fundamental and binding laws of His dispensation. To this testify the texts 
of the traditions and chronicles, which, on account of their being widely 
known, need not to be referred here. Nay rather, in every Dispensation the 
law concerning prayer hath been emphasized and universally enforced. To this 
testify the recorded traditions ascribed to the lights that have emanated 
>from the Day-star of Truth, the essence of the Prophet Muhammad [i.e. The 
traditions coming down from the Imams of the faith, the sons of Ali. KH]. 

The traditions established the fact that in all Dispensations the law of 
prayer hath constituted a fundamental element of the Revelation of all the
Prophets of God-a law the form and manner of which hath been adapted to the
varying requirements of every age. Inasmuch as every subsequent Revelation 
hath abolished the manners, habits and teachings that have been clearly,
specifically and firmly established by the former Dispensation, these have
accordingly been symbolically expressed in terms of `sun' and `moon'. "That 
He might prove you, which of you excel in deeds." [Qur'an 67:2] 

Moreover, in the traditions the terms `sun' and `moon' have been applied to
prayer and fasting, even as it is said: 'Fasting is illumination, prayer is
light.' [Sunnah]. One day, a well-known divine [i.e. A Muslim clergyman. KH] 
came to visit Us. While We were conversing with him, he referred to the 
above-quoted tradition. He said: "Inasmuch as fasting causeth the heat of 
the body to increase, it hath therefore been likened unto the light of the 
sun; and as the prayer of the night season refresheth man, it hath been 
compared unto the radiance of the moon." Thereupon We realized that that 
poor man had not been favoured with a single drop of the ocean of true 
understanding, and had strayed far from the burning Bush of divine wisdom. 
We then politely observed to him saying: "The interpretation your honour 
hath given to this tradition is the one current amongst the people. Could 
it not be interpreted differently?" He asked Us: "What could it be?" We 
made reply: Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets, and the most distinguished 
of God's chosen Ones, hath likened the Dispensation of the Qur'an unto 
heaven, by reason of its loftiness, its paramount influence, its majesty, 
and the fact that it comprehendeth all religions. And as the sun and moon 
constitute the brightest and most prominent luminaries in the heavens, 
similarly in the heaven of religion of God two shining orbs have been 
ordained-fasting and prayer. "Islam is heaven; fasting is its sun, and 
prayer, its moon."

This is the purpose  underlying the symbolic words of the Manifestations 
of God. Consequently, the application of the terms "sun" and "moon" to the
things already mentioned hath been demonstrated and justified by the text 
of the sacred verses and the recorded traditions. Hence, it is clear and
manifest that by the words "the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall 
not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven" [Matthew 24:29]
is intended the waywardness of the divines, and the annulment of laws firmly
established by divine Revelation, all of which, in symbolic language, have 
been foreshadowed by the Manifestations of God. None except the righteous 
shall partake of this cup, none but the godly can share therein. "The 
righteous shall drink of a cup tempered at the camphor fountain." [Qur'an 
76:5] 
			     The Book of Certitude, Baha'u'llah (p. 33-41)
	
					    To be continued

Note: I have included certain comments and information, however inadequate,
inside [brackets. KH] for further clarification.



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