The imprisonment inflicted on this wronged One, O Dhabíh,
did to Him no harm nor can it ever do so; nor can the loss of all His earthly
goods, His exile, or even His martyrdom and outward humiliation, do Him any
hurt. That which can hurt Him are the evil deeds which the beloved of God
commit, and which they impute to Him Who is the Sovereign Truth. This is the
affliction from which I suffer, and to this He, Himself, Who is potent over all
things, beareth Me witness. That which hath sorely hurt Me are the claims which
the people of the Bayán are advancing every day. Some have proclaimed their
allegiance to one of My Branches (Sons), while others have asserted
independently their claims, and acted after their own desires.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)
