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themselves. But He, of a truth, is infinitely exalted above the mention of
all His creatures."
The power of Thy might beareth me witness, O my Well-Beloved! Every limb
of my body, methinks, is endowed with a tongue that glorifieth Thee and
magnifieth Thy name. Armed with the power of Thy love, the hatred which
moveth them that are against Thee can never alarm me; and with Thy praise
on my lips, the rulings of Thy decree can in no wise fill me with sorrow.
Fortify, therefore, Thy love within my breast, and suffer me to face the
assaults which all the peoples of the earth may launch against me. I swear
by Thee! Every hair of my head proclaimeth: "But for the adversities that
befall me in Thy path, how could I ever taste the divine sweetness of Thy
tenderness and love?"
Send down, therefore, O my Lord, upon me and upon them that love me, that
which will cause us to become steadfast in Thy Faith. Enable them, then,
to become the Hands of Thy Cause amongst Thy servants, that they may
scatter abroad Thy signs, and show forth Thy sovereignty. There is no God
but Thee, Who art powerful to do whatsoever Thou willest. Thou art, in
truth, the All-Glorious, the All-Praised.
Praise be unto Thee, O my God! I am one of Thy servants, who hath believed
on Thee and on Thy signs. Thou seest how I have set myself towards the
door of Thy mercy, and turned my face in the direction of Thy
loving-kindness. I beseech Thee, by Thy most excellent titles and Thy most
exalted attributes, to open to my face the portals of Thy bestowals. Aid
me, then, to do that which is good, O Thou Who art the Possessor of all
names and attributes!
I am poor, O my Lord, and Thou art the Rich. I have set my face towards
Thee, and detached myself from all but Thee. Deprive me not, I implore
Thee, of the breezes of Thy tender mercy, and withhold not from me what
Thou didst ordain for the chosen among Thy servants.
Remove the veil from mine eyes, O my Lord, that I may recognize what Thou
hast desired for Thy creatures, and discover, in all the manifestations of
Thy handiwork, the revelations of Thine almighty power. Enrapture my soul,
O my Lord, with Thy most mighty signs, and draw me out of the depths of my
corrupt and evil desires. Write down, then, for me the good of this world
and of the world to come. Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. No God
is there but Thee, the All-Glorious, Whose help is sought by all men.
I yield Thee thanks, O my Lord, that Thou hast wakened me from my sleep,
and stirred me up, and created in me the desire to perceive what most of
Thy servants have failed to apprehend. Make me able, therefore, O my Lord,
to behold, for love of Thee and for the sake of Thy pleasure, whatsoever
Thou hast desired. Thou art He to the power of Whose might and sovereignty
all things testify.
There is none other God but Thee, the Almighty, the Beneficent.
Praised be Thou, O my God! Thou seest how Thy righteous servants have
fallen into the hands of the wicked doers, who have disbelieved in Thy
name, the Unconstrained, and denied Thy majesty, and Thine unrestrained
authority, and Thy strength, and Thy sovereign might. Their mouths utter
what the mouths of the Jews uttered aforetime.
Put forth, therefore, out of the bosom of Thy glory, O my Lord, the hand
of Thine omnipotence, and through it assist Thou Thy loved ones who,
though sore-tried in Thy path with such trials as have caused the inmates
of the kingdom of Thy Cause to groan, were not deterred from turning
towards the horizon of Thy Revelation.
Set, then, the seal of Thine unerring protection on their hearts, O my
Lord, lest perchance the remembrance of aught else except Thee enter
therein. Make them able, moreover, to proclaim Thy name amidst Thy
creatures, and supply them with the best of what Thou hast destined for
such of Thy chosen ones as enjoy near access to Thee.
Potent art Thou to do Thy pleasure. Thou truly art the All-Glorious, to
whom all cry for help.
Lauded be Thy name, O Lord my God! Thou seest how Thy servants have
everywhere been compassed with tribulations, how their adversaries have
all risen up against them and grievously wronged them. Thy glory beareth
me witness! Were all the wicked doers of the earth to band themselves
against us, and to cast us into a fire such as no man hath kindled, they
would be powerless to distract our gaze from the horizon of Thy name, the
Most Exalted, the Most High, and would fail to turn aside our hearts from
the seat of Thine effulgent glory.
I swear by Thy might! The arrows that transfix us in Thy path are the
ornaments of our temples, and the spears which pierce us in our love for
Thee are as silk unto our bodies. By the glory of Thy might! Nothing
whatsoever can beseem Thy servants except what the pen of Thine