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The Book of Ighan
85

Command ordered the scribe to write: "A dead man hath bought from a dead man, a house bounded by four limits; one extending toward the grave, one toward the tomb, one toward the sirat (bridge), and one either toward paradise or toward hell."

If these two souls had been quickened by Ali's trumpet of life and raised from the grave of heedlessness through love of His Holiness, "death" would certainly not have been applied to them. In no age and cycle hath the purpose of the Prophets and Holy Ones been other than the real life, real resurrection and real revival. By reflection upon this statement of His Holiness, what hath been intended by "grave," "tomb," "sirat," "paradise" and "hell" will be disclosed, but alas, all the people are veiled within the tomb of self and buried in the grave of passion. To resume; were ye to taste a little of the clear water of Divine Knowledge, ye would know that the real life is the life of heart and not the life of body; for both animals and men share in the life of body. But this Life is assigned to possessors of brilliant souls who drink from the ocean of faith and partake of the fruit of assurance. This Life is not followed by death nor this immortality by mortality; as it is said: "A true believer is alive both in this world and the world to come." If by "Life" be meant the outward life of body, it is evident that death overtakes it. There are likewise other statements recorded in all the books, which indicate this exalted fact and lofty word. Also