seemeth far from the truth, and is surely of no profit. On the contrary,
by the term “earth” is meant the earth of understanding and knowledge, and
by “heavens” the heavens of divine Revelation. Reflect thou, how, in one
hand, He hath, by His mighty grasp, turned the earth of knowledge and
understanding, previously unfolded, into a mere handful, and, on the
other, spread out a new and highly exalted earth in the hearts of men,
thus causing the freshest and loveliest blossoms, and the mightiest and
loftiest trees to spring forth from the illumined bosom of man.

In like manner, reflect how the elevated heavens of the Dispensations of
the past have, in the right hand of power, been folded together, how the
heavens of divine Revelation have been raised by the command of God, and
been adorned by the sun, the moon, and stars of His wondrous commandments.
Such are the mysteries of the Word of God, which have been unveiled and
made manifest, that haply thou mayest apprehend the morning light of
divine guidance, mayest quench, by the power of reliance and renunciation,
the lamp of idle fancy, of vain imaginings, of hesitation, and doubt, and
mayest kindle, in the inmost chamber of thine heart, the new-born light of
divine knowledge and certitude.

Know verily that the purpose underlying all these symbolic terms and
abstruse allusions, which emanate from the Revealers of God’s holy Cause,
hath been to test and prove the peoples of the world; that thereby the
earth of the pure and illuminated hearts may be known from the perishable
and barren soil. From time immemorial such hath been the way of God amidst
His creatures, and to this testify the records of the sacred books.

And likewise, reflect upon the revealed verse concerning the “Qiblih.”(33)
When Muḥammad, the Sun of Prophethood, had fled from the dayspring of
Bathá(34) unto Yathrib,(35) He continued to turn His face, while praying,