One of the principal reasons why people of other religions
have shunned and failed to become converted to the Faith of God is fanaticism
and unreasoning religious zeal. See for example the divine words that were
addressed to Muhammad, the Ark of Salvation, the Luminous Countenance and Lord
of Men, bidding Him to be gentle with the people and long-suffering: “Debate
with them in the kindliest manner.”[1] That Blessed Tree Whose light was
“neither of the East nor of the West”[2] and Who cast over all the peoples of
the earth the sheltering shade of a measureless grace, showed forth infinite
kindness and forbearance in His dealings with every one. In these words,
likewise, were Moses and Aaron commanded to challenge Pharaoh, Lord of the
Stakes:[3] “Speak ye to him with gentle speech.”[4]
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘The
Secret of Divine Civilization’)
1 Qur’án 16:126
2 Qur’án 24:35
3 Dhu’l-Awtád is variously rendered by translators
of the Qur’án as The Impaler, The Contriver of the Stakes, The Lord of a Strong
Dominion, The One Surrounded by Ministers, etc. Awtád means pegs or tent
stakes. See Qur’án 38:11 and 89:9.
4 Qur’án 20:46
