Page:Book of Ighan (1915).djvu/18

6 from despair, and roses from thorns. It is written, "Do men imagine that it shall be sufficient for them to say 'We believe,' while they be not proved (or tested)" (K. S. 29)?

After Noah, the beauty of Hud shone forth from the Day-spring of Creation. For seven hundred years or more, according to different statements, He summoned the people to the Rizwan of Nearness of the Lord of Glory. Like copious rain, calamities fell upon Him. The greater His zeal in summoning, the more obstinate their denial. The more strenuous His effort, the more pronounced their disdain. "And their unbelief shall only increase the perdition of the unbelievers" (K. S. 35).

Then the Temple of Saleh stepped forth from the Invisible Rizwan of Reality and called the servants to the river of Eternal Nearness. During one hundred years or more, He commanded them to obey the precepts of God and shun prohibited things. Nothing resulted and no effect was produced. Several times He secluded Himself. All this, notwithstanding that Eternal Beauty was summoning the people to no other than the City of Unity. It is said, "And unto the tribe of Thamud we sent their brother Saleh. He said unto them, O my people, worship God; ye have no God besides HimThey answered, O Saleh, Thou art a person on whom we placed our hopes before this. Dost thou forbid us to worship that which our fathers worshipped?