O Rasúl! Shouldst thou ask concerning the Sun of the heaven
of inner meaning, know that it hath been eclipsed by the clouds of envy; and
shouldst thou enquire regarding the Moon of the realm of everlasting holiness,
be apprised that it hath been obscured by the shrouds of hatred; and shouldst
thou search after the Star of the firmament of unseen reality, be informed that
it hath sunk below the horizon of malice. Behold, a lone Husayn assailed by a
hundred thousand deadly foes! Behold, a solitary Abraham compassed by a myriad
tyrant kings! [1] Behold, one stainless Soul that vast multitudes aim to seize!
Behold, one single Throat that countless daggers seek to pierce!
- Baha’u’llah (‘Days of Remembrance’)
[1] “Deadly foes” (lit., “Shimrs”) and “tyrant kings” (lit.,
“Nimrods”): Shimr dealt the blow that killed Imám Husayn, and Nimrod was the
persecutor of Abraham.