From the beginning of the world until the present time each
‘Manifestation’ sent from God has been opposed by an embodiment of the ‘Powers
of Darkness’. This dark power has always endeavoured to extinguish the light.
Tyranny has ever sought to overcome justice. Ignorance has persistently tried
to trample knowledge underfoot. This has, from the earliest ages, been the
method of the material world. In the time of Moses, Pharaoh set himself to
prevent the Mosaic Light being spread abroad. In the day of Christ, Annas and
Caiaphas inflamed the Jewish people against Him and the learned doctors of
Israel joined together to resist His Power. All sorts of calumnies were
circulated against Him. The Scribes and Pharisees conspired to make the people
believe Him to be a liar, an apostate, and a blasphemer. They spread these
slanders throughout the whole Eastern world against Christ, and caused Him to
be condemned to a shameful death! In the case of Muhammad also, the learned
doctors of His day determined to extinguish the light of His influence. They
tried by the power of the sword to prevent the spread of His teaching.
In spite of all their efforts the Sun of Truth shone forth
from the horizon. In every case the army of light vanquished the powers of
darkness on the battlefield of the world, and the radiance of the Divine
Teaching illumined the earth. Those who accepted the Teaching and worked for
the Cause of God became luminous stars in the sky of humanity.
- Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk, Paris, November 20, 1911; ‘Paris Talks’)
