O ye beloved of God! When the winds blow severely, rains fall fiercely,
the lightning flashes, the thunder roars, the bolt descends and storms of
trial become severe, grieve not; for after this storm, verily, the divine
spring will arrive, the hills and fields will become verdant, the expanses
of grain will joyfully wave, the earth will become covered with blossoms,
the trees will be clothed with green garments and adorned with blossoms
and fruits. Thus blessings become manifest in all countries. These favors
are results of those storms and hurricanes.
The discerning man rejoiceth at the day of trials, his breast becometh
dilated at the time of severe storms, his eyes become brightened when
seeing the showers of rain and gusts of wind, whereby trees are uprooted;
because he foreseeth the result and the end, the leaves, blossoms and
fruits; while the ignorant person becometh troubled when he seeth a storm,
is saddened when it raineth severely, is terrified by the thunder and
trembleth at the surging of the waves which storm the shores.
As ye have heard of the former times, when Christ--glory be to
Him!--appeared, a storm of trials arose, afflictions appeared, the winds of
tests blew, the thunder of temptation descended and hosts of people
surrounded the houses of the friends; then the weak ones were shaken and
were misled after once being guided; but the disciples withstood the
hardships and endured the storms of ordeals, remaining firm in the
Religion of God. Then observe that which occurred after the storm and what
appeared subsequent to that severity, whereby the members trembled.
God changed the sorrow to joy, the destructive darkness of calamity into
the shining light from the Supreme Concourse. The people at the beginning
persecuted and reviled the believers in God and said of them: "These are
the people of aberration." Then, when their light appeared, their stars
shone and their lamps illuminated, the people returned into love and
affinity; they prayed to them, offered words of glory night and day and
remembered them in eulogy, reverence, honor and majesty.
Therefore, O ye beloved of God, be not grieved when people stand against
you, persecute you, afflict and trouble you and say all manner of evil
against you. The darkness will pass away and the light of the manifest
signs will appear, the veil will be withdrawn and the Light of Reality
will shine forth from the unseen Kingdom of El-Abha. This we inform you
before it occurs, so that when the hosts of people arise against you for
my love, be not disturbed or troubled; nay, rather, be firm as a mountain,
for this persecution and reviling of the people upon you is a pre-ordained
matter. Blessed is the soul who is firm in the path!