Consequently the Most Great Wisdom has ordained that the
fire of tests shall rage and the rushing torrent of ordeals sweep tumultuously
from the Mountain of Revelation, so that the untruthful may become
distinguished from the truthful, the unrighteous be known from the righteous,
the worshipper of self become separated from the worshipper of God, the good
fruit be set apart from the evil fruit, the signs of light become manifest and
the gloom of darkness be dispelled, the nightingale of trustworthiness sing the
melody of love and the raven of oppression croak the discordant notes of error;
the fertile soil become green and verdant and the barren ground produce its
thorns and thistles; the attracted ones to the Breath of Abha become firm and
the follower of passion and desire turn away. This is the wisdom of trials and
this is the cause of ordeals. - ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a Tablet, Star of the West,
vol. 1. No. 3, April 28, 1910)
