The revelation of the prophet -- their innate knowledge.
O
affectionate seeker! Shouldst thou soar in the holy realm of the spirit,
thou
wouldst
recognize God manifest and exalted above all things, in such wise that
thine
eyes would behold none else but Him. "God was alone; there was none else
besides
Him." So lofty is this station that no testimony can bear it witness,
neither
evidence do justice to its truth. Wert thou to explore the sacred
domain
of truth, thou wilt find that all things are known only by the light of
His
recognition, that He hath ever been, and will continue for ever to be,
known
through Himself. And if thou dwellest in the land of testimony, content
thyself
with that which He, Himself, hath revealed: "Is it not enough for them
that
We have sent down unto Thee the Book?" This is the testimony which He,
Himself,
hath ordained; greater proof than this there is none, nor ever will
be:
"This proof is His Word; His own Self, the testimony of His truth."
--
Bahá'u'lláh, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 91
In
another passage He likewise saith: "And if ye be in doubt as to that
which
We have sent down to Our Servant, then produce a Súrah like it,
and
summon
your witnesses, beside God, if ye are men of truth." [Quran 2:23]
Behold,
how lofty is the station, and how consummate the virtue, of these
verses
which He hath declared to be His surest testimony, His infallible
proof,
the evidence of His all-subduing power, and a revelation of the
potency
of His will. He, the divine King, hath proclaimed the undisputed
supremacy
of the verses of His Book over all things that testify to His
truth.
For compared with all other proofs and tokens, the divinely-revealed
verses
shine as the sun, whilst all others are as stars. To the peoples of
the
world they are the abiding testimony, the incontrovertible proof, the
shining
light of the ideal King. Their excellence is unrivalled, their
virtue
nothing can surpass. They are the treasury of the divine pearls and
the
depository of the divine mysteries. They constitute the indissoluble
Bond,
the firm Cord, the Urvatu'l-Vuthqá, the inextinguishable Light.
Through
them floweth the river of divine knowledge, and gloweth the fire of
His
ancient and consummate wisdom. This is the fire which, in one and the
same
moment, kindleth the flame of love in the breasts of the faithful, and
induceth
the chill of heedlessness in the heart of the enemy.
--
Bahá'u'lláh, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 204-205
If
ye contend that these verses cannot, of themselves, be regarded as a
proof,
scan the pages of the Qur'án. If God hath established therein any
evidence
other than the revealed verses to demonstrate the validity of the
prophethood
of His Apostle--may the blessings of God rest upon Him--ye may
then
have your scruples about Him...
Concerning
the sufficiency of the Book as a proof, God hath revealed: `Is
it
not enough for them that We have sent down unto Thee the Book to be
recited
to them? In this verily is a mercy and a warning to those who
believe.'
When God hath testified that the Book is a sufficient testimony,
as
is affirmed in the text, how can one dispute this truth by saying that
the
Book in itself is not a conclusive proof?... II, 1.
--
The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 82
XX.
Know thou of a certainty that the Unseen can in no wise incarnate His
Essence
and reveal it unto men. He is, and hath ever been, immensely exalted
beyond
all that can either be recounted or perceived. From His retreat of glory
His
voice is ever proclaiming: "Verily, I am God; there is none other God
besides
Me, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. I have manifested Myself unto men,
and
have sent down Him Who is the Day Spring of the signs of My Revelation.
Through
Him I have caused all creation to testify that there is none other God
except
Him, the Incomparable, the All-Informed, the All-Wise." He Who is
everlastingly
hidden from the eyes of men can never be known except through His
Manifestation,
and His Manifestation can adduce no greater proof of the truth
of
His Mission than the proof of His own Person.
--
Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah,
p. 49
The
evidence set forth by God can never be compared with the evidences produced
by
any one of the peoples and kindreds of the earth; and beyond a shadow of
doubt
no evidence is set forth by God save through the One Who is appointed as
His
supreme Testimony. Moreover, the proof of revealed verses doth, alone and
of
itself, conclusively demonstrate the utter impotence of all created things
on
earth, for this is a proof which hath proceeded from God and shall endure
until
the Day of Resurrection.
And
if anyone should reflect on the appearance of this Tree, he will
undoubtedly
testify to the loftiness of the Cause of God. For if one from whose
life
only twenty-four years have passed, and who is devoid of those sciences
wherein
all are learned, now reciteth verses after such fashion without thought
or
hesitation, writes a thousand verses of prayer in the course of five hours
without
pause of the pen, and produceth commentaries and learned treatises on
such
lofty themes as the true understanding of God and of the oneness of His
Being,
in a manner which doctors and philosophers confess surpasseth their
power
of understanding, then there is no doubt that all that hath been
manifested
is divinely inspired. Notwithstanding their life-long diligent
study,
what pains do these divines take when writing a single line in Arabic!
Yet
after such efforts the result is but words which are unworthy of mention.
All
these things are for a proof unto the people; otherwise the religion of
God
is
too mighty and glorious for anyone to comprehend through aught but itself;
rather
by it all else is understood.
--
The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 109
Inasmuch
as His Holiness Moses through the influence of his great mission was
instrumental
in releasing the Israelites from a low state of debasement and
humiliation,
establishing them in a station of prestige and glorification,
disciplining
and educating them, it is necessary for us to reach a fair and
just
judgment in regard to such a marvelous teacher. For in this great
accomplishment
he stood single and alone. Could he have made such a change and
brought
about such a condition among these people without the sanction and
assistance
of a heavenly power? Could he have transformed a people from
humiliation
to glory without a holy and divine support?
No
other than a divine power could have done this. Therein lies the proof
of
prophethood
because the mission of a prophet is education of the human race
such
as this personage accomplished, proving him to be a mighty prophet among
the
prophets, and his book the very Book of God. This is a rational, direct
and
perfect
proof.
--
`Abdu'l-Bahá, Foundations of World Unity, p. 95
It
has become the subject of much talk, but the people do not understand:
The
miracles
that have been mentioned and attributed to this abased one are lies
fabricated
by prevaricators. But those attributed to the original Point (the
Bab)
the wellspring of the primal emanation and to the Mirrors who speak of
him,
are true, a truth to which the sincere attain. What he revealed in the
Bayan
from the heaven of bounty and the clouds of compassion is, moreover, a
universal
and convincing proof. Aside from revealing verses, he did not affirm
anything.
This was and is God's proof to the people of the earth. Any sign
beyond
it that appears from the mine of grace and glory is a bounty from God.
--
Bahá'u'lláh, Book of the Tigris (a provisional translation)
Muhammad,
Himself, as the end of His mission drew nigh, spoke these words:
"Verily,
I leave amongst you My twin weighty testimonies: The Book of God and
My
Family." Although many traditions had been revealed by that Source of
Prophethood
and Mine of divine Guidance, yet He mentioned only that Book,
thereby
appointing it as the mightiest instrument and surest testimony for the
seekers;
a guide for the people until the Day of Resurrection.
With
unswerving vision, with pure heart, and sanctified spirit, consider
attentively
what God hath established as the testimony of guidance for His
people
in His Book, which is recognized as authentic by both the high and
lowly.
To this testimony we both, as well as all the peoples of the world, must
cling,
that through its light we may know and distinguish between truth and
falsehood,
guidance and error. Inasmuch as Muhammad hath confined His
testimonies
to His Book and to His Family, and whereas the latter hath passed
away,
there remaineth His Book only as His one testimony amongst the people.
In
the beginning of His Book He saith: "Alif. Lám. Mím. No doubt
is there about
this
Book: It is a guidance unto the God-fearing." In the disconnected letters
of
the Qur'án the mysteries of the divine Essence are enshrined, and
within
their
shells the pearls of His Unity are treasured. For lack of space We do not
dwell
upon them at this moment. Outwardly they signify Muhammad Himself, Whom
God
addresseth saying: "O Muhammad, there is no doubt nor uncertainty about
this
Book which hath been sent down from the heaven of divine Unity. In it is
guidance
unto them that fear God."
--
Bahá'u'lláh, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 201
We
have decreed, O people, that the highest and last end of all learning be
the
recognition
of Him Who is the Object of all knowledge; and yet, behold how ye
have
allowed your learning to shut you out, as by a veil, from Him Who is the
Day
Spring of this Light, through Whom every hidden thing hath been revealed.
Could
ye but discover the source whence the splendor of this utterance is
diffused,
ye would cast away the peoples of the world and all that they
possess,
and would draw nigh unto this most blessed Seat of glory.
Say:
This, verily, is the heaven in which the Mother Book is treasured, could
ye
but comprehend it. He it is Who hath caused the Rock to shout, and the
Burning
Bush to lift up its voice, upon the Mount rising above the Holy Land,
and
proclaim: "The Kingdom is God's, the sovereign Lord of all, the
All-Powerful,
the Loving!"
We
have not entered any school, nor read any of your dissertations. Incline
your
ears to the words of this unlettered One, wherewith He summoneth you unto
God,
the Ever-Abiding. Better is this for you than all the treasures of the
earth,
could ye but comprehend it.
--
Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah,
p. 199
Explanation of holy writings and prophecies
....
Thus it is recorded: "Every knowledge hath seventy meanings, of which one
only
is known amongst the people. And when the Qá'im shall arise, He
shall
reveal
unto men all that which remaineth." He also saith: "We speak one word,
and
by it we intend one and seventy meanings; each one of these meanings we
can
explain."
--
Bahá'u'lláh, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 255
In
another instance, it is said: "Our Cause is sorely trying, highly perplexing;
none
can bear it except a favorite of heaven, or an inspired Prophet,
or he whose
faith
God hath tested."
--
Bahá'u'lláh, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 82
Their appearance is the
fulfilment of earlier prophecies (links on main page)
