As ye have heard of the former times, when (for example)
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 (Pharisees) 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 (followers) trembled.
God hath 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 (in their
name) 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signs will appear, the veil will be withdrawn and the Light of Reality will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 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! (‘Abdu’l-Baha, Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’, vol. 1)
