In this day no less than seventy thousand people make
pilgrimage every year to the holy House of God in compliance with the bidding
of the Apostle of God; while He Himself Who ordained this ordinance took refuge
for seven years in the mountains of Mecca. [1] And this notwithstanding that
the One Who enjoined this commandment is far greater than the commandment
itself. Hence all this people who at this time go on pilgrimage do not do so
with true understanding, otherwise in this Day of His Return which is mightier
than His former Dispensation, they would have followed His commandment. But now
behold what hath happened. People who profess belief in His former religion,
who in the daytime and in the night season bow down in worship in His Name,
have assigned Him to a dwelling place in a mountain, while each one of them
would regard attaining recognition of Him as an honour.
(The Báb, excerpt from
Persian Bayan; ‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb)
[1] For no less than seven years no one acknowledged His Teachings
except Imám ‘Ali, His son-in-law.
