And now, to resume Our argument
concerning the question: Why is it that the sovereignty of the Qá’im, affirmed
in the text of recorded traditions, and handed down by the shining stars of the
Muḥammadan
Dispensation, hath not in the least been made manifest? Nay, the contrary hath
come to pass. Have not His disciples and companions been afflicted of men? Are
they not still the victims of the fierce opposition of their enemies? Are they
not today leading the life of abased and impotent mortals? Yea, the sovereignty
attributed to the Qá’im and spoken of in the scriptures, is a reality, the
truth of which none can doubt. This sovereignty, however, is not the
sovereignty which the minds of men have falsely imagined. Moreover, the
Prophets of old, each and every one, whenever announcing to the people of their
day the advent of the coming Revelation, have invariably and specifically
referred to that sovereignty with which the promised Manifestation must needs
be invested. This is attested by the records of the scriptures of the past.
This sovereignty hath not been solely and exclusively attributed to the Qá’im.
Nay rather, the attribute of sovereignty and all other names and attributes of
God have been and will ever be vouchsafed unto all the Manifestations of God,
before and after Him, inasmuch as these Manifestations, as it hath already been
explained, are the Embodiments of the attributes of God, the Invisible, and the
Revealers of the divine mysteries.
Furthermore, by sovereignty is meant the all-encompassing, all-pervading
power which is inherently exercised by the Qá’im whether or not He appear to
the world clothed in the majesty of earthly dominion. This is solely dependent
upon the will and pleasure of the Qá’im Himself.
- Baha’u’llah (‘The
Kitab-i-Iqan)
