BahÃĄâ•Žuâ•ŽllÃĄh and the New Era - Knowledge Rush

444 Baháâuâlláh and the New Erathe things he possessed? Take warning, and be not of themthat are fast asleep. He it was who cast the Tablet of Godbehind him, when We made known unto him what the hosts oftyranny had caused Us to suffer. Wherefore, disgrace assailedhim from all sides, and he went down to dust in great loss.Think deeply, O King, concerning him, and concerning themwho, like unto thee, have conquered cities and ruled overmen. The All-Merciful brought them down from their palacesto their graves. Be warned, be of them who reflect....O banks of the Rhine! We have seen you coveredwith gore, inasmuch as the swords of retribution were drawnagainst you; and you shall have another turn. And We hear thelamentations of Berlin, though she be today in conspicuousglory.—Kitáb-i-Aqdas.During the period of German successes in the Great War of1914–1918, and especially during the last great German offensivein the spring of 1918, this well-known prophecy was extensivelyquoted by the opponents of the Bahá’í Faith in Persia, inorder to discredit Bahá’u’lláh; but when the forward sweep ofthe victorious Germans was suddenly transformed into crushing,overwhelming disaster, the efforts of these enemies of the Bahá’íCause recoiled on themselves, and the notoriety which they hadgiven to the prophecy became a powerful means of enhancingthe reputation of Bahá’u’lláh. PersiaIn the Book of Aqdas written when the tyrannical Náciri’d-DínSháh was at the height of his power, Bahá’u’lláh blesses the cityof lihrán, which is the capital of Persia, and His own birthplace,and says of it:—Let nothing grieve thee, O Land of Tá (lihrán), for Godhath chosen thee to be the source of the joy of all mankind. Heshall, if it be His will, bless thy throne with one who will rulewith justice, who will gather together the flock of God whichthe wolves have scattered. Such a ruler will, with joy and