Thy might beareth me witness! Were it not to celebrate Thy
praise, my tongue would be of no use to me, and were it not for the sake of
rendering service to Thee, my existence would avail me not. But for the
pleasure of beholding the splendours of Thy realm of glory, why should I
cherish sight? And but for the joy of giving ear to Thy most sweet voice, of
what use is hearing?
Alas! Alas! I know not, O my God, my Mainstay, my heart’s
Desire, whether Thou hast ordained for me that which shall bring solace to mine
eyes, gladden my bosom and rejoice my heart, or whether Thine irrevocable
decree, O King of eternity and the sovereign Lord of all nations, will debar me
from presenting myself before Thy throne. I swear by Thy glory and majesty and
by Thy dominion and power, the darkness of my remoteness from Thee hath
destroyed me. What hath become of the light of Thy nearness, O Desire of every
understanding heart? The tormenting agony of separation from Thee hath consumed
me. Where is the effulgent light of Thy reunion, O Well-Beloved of such as are
wholly devoted to Thee?
- Baha’u’llah (‘Ishraqat’ [Splendours], ‘Tablets of Baha’u’llah
revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
