BH00011: Tablet of the Sun of Truth

Section 1: “Praise, hallowed above the tongues of contingent beings…”

In the name of Him of Whom all are heedless

Praise, hallowed above the tongues of contingent beings and sanctified beyond the mention of all created things, beseemeth the court of the sanctity of the Ancient King, Who through a single sprinkling from the ocean of His eternal glory hath guided all the atoms of existence to the eternal, goodly city of His own Self, and through one breath of His holy fragrances hath directed all the realities of things to the paradise of His glorious oneness. The clouds of His divine bounty have bestowed such grace that every atom regardeth itself as rich and independent of all else, and the sun of His heavenly favors hath risen with such splendor from the horizon of His most glorious heaven that in all the mirrors of contingent beings is reflected, through His essence and by His essence, the form of the dawning rays of that Sun.

Exalted be His grandeur, elevated His dominion, perfected His bounty, manifest His Cause, and resplendent His countenance! Verily He is the Sovereign, the Abiding, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. And it is in reference to these stations that some have made claims and, having lost all self-control through the wine of divine mercy and the chalice of heavenly grace, have ascended to stations beyond their rank—in the realm of words and utterances, not in the world of meaning and truth and essence.

Prayers primordial and quintessential grace be upon the first Divine Lofty Tree and the first manifestation of the Sun of Oneness, through Whom the mystery of existence was revealed and the Beauty of the Desired One dawned forth and all contingent things returned to seats of hallowed glory, and through Whom the Beauty of the Unseen shone forth and the Nightingale of glory sang and the Dove of the Cause warbled and every hidden matter was made manifest, and upon His guides and loved ones until the Day whereon the Sun of Eternity shall dawn from the horizon of the glory of the Beloved.

Concerning thy question about the Sun of Truth and the mirrors reflecting It: Know that since winds of discord are blowing from every direction and breaths of rancor and hatred encompass all regions, this servant is prevented from mentioning the wondrous hidden knowledge and the treasured pearls of wisdom. For if this matter were truly explained as God, glorified be His majesty, desires, thou wouldst find all rendered unconscious and thunderstruck. Indeed, if the veil were lifted and thou wert to emerge from the imaginary city wherein all people, heedless of God, now dwell and seclude themselves, thou wouldst find the noblest beings and most exalted souls reduced to utter nothingness.

However, since the exalted Truth doth not wish that those who seek should be deprived of His gate of mercy, therefore a drop from the ocean of His bounty is bestowed upon thee and the people of the contingent world, that each may attain his destined portion.

Know thou that in the estimation of those endowed with knowledge and insight, the Sun of Oneness and the Essence of Detachment hath ever been, and will forever be, rising, dawning and shining from Its seat of glory and sanctity and Its retreat of holiness and transcendence. Thus do all possessors of keen vision and subtle perception, all who partake of divine nature and drink the wine of mystic meanings, behold that divine Sun and royal Essence in Its station with the eye of insight, which is sanctified from these darkened and veiled eyes, in such wise that no setting, decline or eclipse can affect It.

As for those who are veiled by their selfish desires and deprived of beholding the lights of the true morn which hath ever been illumined by the grace of the Sun—this affects not the radiance of the Sun’s lights, for It continueth to shine forth and radiate from Its station. This lack of perception pertaineth to the seeing eye and observing gaze, and ever will. Likewise, all affirmation and negation, whether from those who accept or those who reject, relate back to the stations of these weak or strong souls, and in no way pertain to that Sun of Truth. For that Essence of existence dwelleth in the heights of Its elevation and the summit of Its inaccessibility, sanctified from the acceptance of those who turn towards It or the denial of those who turn away.

However, every eye that perceiveth that Ancient Essence with its original nature shall be reckoned as being of It and shall be gathered eternally beneath Its shade, entering the most exalted Paradise which is the highest of all gardens. And those who fail shall enter the darkness of self and the fire of negation, wherein they shall abide as long as God willeth.

Furthermore, were that shining Sun not to appear and were that absolute bounty to withhold Its outpouring from the mirrors of created things, thou wouldst find nothing whatsoever existing upon the face of the earth. Moreover, the existence of the mirrors of Oneness is not of themselves by themselves, as hath been recorded and inscribed in all holy tablets and scriptures, and is evident to every illumined sage and spiritual adult. Rather, the existence of mirrors dependeth upon the existence of the Sun, whether or not they are conscious of this exalted station, for the grace of that Sun which has dawned from the horizon of oneness has been and ever will be bestowed without regard to direction. This is the station of God’s all-embracing mercy which is granted without request or seeking, and without recognition or certitude. At most, some mirrors that have recognized this most exalted station and most glorious rank will be in a higher station and rank than others.

Furthermore, observe that if the Sun did not exist, the mirrors would have no existence whatsoever and would forever remain in the veils of nothingness. And when the Ancient Sun dawns from Its holy horizon, all mirrors reflect It according to their orientation and proximity. Should the Sun set, assuredly the images reflected in the mirrors, which are but shadows, will also set. This matter is more evident than for any person of perfect understanding to fail to comprehend it.

Let any stubborn denier who would deny this evident truth observe the visible sun and its firmly-positioned mirrors: as long as they face the sun, its reflection and manifestation are visible in the mirrors, but after the sun sets no trace will remain. Indeed, he will observe all to be absolute nothingness, utter evanescence, and complete non-existence. In brief, O questioner, cleanse the eye of spiritual insight, which is a divine trust, from the dust of dark and perverse words, that thou mayest behold the Sun of Eternality now in Its exalted station at the zenith of the heaven of justice. By God! Should thine eyes behold It and attain unto Its beauty, they would be solaced.

Yea, that which is recorded in the revealed tablets of the Bayan is the truth in which there is no doubt, and we all believe in it. As that divine Sun and Ancient Essence—may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for Its sake—hath said, the Suns of Truth dawn and appear in every age and cycle from the holy horizon. The intention is the universal Manifestation, meaning in the revelation of verses and the sending down of words and the changing of the law and the renewal of the affairs of the religion. It is with regard to this station that such utterances have appeared from that Essence of creation.

I swear by that spiritual Beauty and holy, eternal Mystery that if He had found the people mature, He would not have mentioned such utterances, for that holy station is sanctified above mention of universality and particularity, manifestation and concealment, since change and transformation occur in the realm of limitations, while that essential Purpose abideth in Its holy dwelling place—glorified be God above what ye imagine! How many Suns of infinite grace have arisen who never changed or transformed any matter, but called the people to the same religion that was current before, for all are from God and all return unto God and appear from God.

In brief, turn thy gaze away from observing the earth and its people and consider the most great vista and most manifest station, that thou mayest behold the divine Sun in the garment of concealment and veiling. Though it hath ever been manifest, radiant and luminous like the celestial sun, yet for numbered years it hath remained hidden from the eyes of the mystics by the veil of envy and hatred—how much more from the limited and the veiled ones. In any case, swim with keen insight in the deep ocean of inner meanings, that thou mayest attain unto the pearls of the sea of oneness and become independent of all else.

Furthermore, entrust not the reins of insight wholly to others, and be not content with the mere outward meaning of certain expressions and allusions. For all these outer words, sacred allusions and glorious references undergo change in every dispensation. From this very change and transformation and renewal it becometh evident that beyond every utterance there lieth concealed in divine knowledge that which transcendeth all wisdom, treasured in the divine repository of wisdom. As was observed in past religions, the meaning of the words and manner of expression in the Torah were transformed after the melodies of the Holy Spirit were revealed, and likewise until the appearance of the Point of the Bayan and the divine Countenance—may the spirit of all existence be sacrificed for Him—Who brought forth all the gems and pearls from the depths of the Quranic seas and adorned them with new and lofty forms.

Similarly in the day of the Sovereign of Eternity and the Most Great King, Him Whom God shall make manifest, all these exalted words and wondrous expressions shall be transformed. It is as though that Essence of Divine Unity and Ancient Beauty, when He appeareth from the divine realm without how or where or sign, and establisheth Himself upon the Most Exalted Paradise and the Most Glorious Throne—which is none other than the consecrated land where that Sun of Eternity dwelleth—shall make manifest all the mysteries deposited in the Bayan. None save that Ancient Beauty can truly comprehend the pearls hidden in this Most Great Sea, for He is the Manifestor and Interpreter of the mysteries and knowledge ordained in the Bayan.

Yea, the mirrors reflecting Him perceive according to their stations and capacities, not as things truly are. Therefore none shall be able to draw nigh unto the Tree of inner meaning on the Mount of the Bayan save whom thy Lord willeth. Hence it hath been mentioned that thou shouldst not be content with certain expressions according to thine own understanding, for minds fall short of comprehending it. Otherwise, one letter of these revealed Books is more precious to this servant than all who are in the heavens and earth—and none knoweth this save those possessed of understanding.

Likewise shall that Holy Being elevate these exalted expressions of today. For instance, the mention of the “sun” which is the greatest mention and mightiest expression in the Bayan—perchance He shall bestow this mention and station upon one of His servants, not through merit but through His grace, mercy and generosity will He grant this most great bounty and mighty favor. And His own noble Self, which is the dawning-place of the fire of the Primal Tree and the rising-point of the Final Light, He shall designate as the “heaven,” for the Sun shall rise from its horizon and shall be upheld by His existence. And just as thou dost observe today in all the Bayan the mention of the Sun, in the tablets of that holy heaven of meaning thou shalt observe the mention of Heaven, referring to that same sanctified and most holy Essence of the Unseen.

If I wished, I could mention until the endless end all that the holy Manifestations would speak at the beginning of their Revelation, through my Lord’s grace. However, since I have been and am imprisoned amidst vain imaginings, I have not deemed it fitting to convey the songs of the Dove of the divine Unseen, for the beauty of the eternal Rose and the paradise of divine oneness befitteth not the mention of the spiritual nightingale among these weak, idolatrous souls who have become so nonexistent and lost in the veils of fancy that should they observe the Essence of the Unseen through the most evident holy utterances and most glorious divine manifestations, they would turn away and close their eyes. In any case, O questioner, transform Satan’s footsteps into the steps of the All-Merciful, and walk in the expanded land of divine knowledge with the power of witnessing and discovery, that thou mayest attain the ultimate destination of certitude, which is the station of recognition—the dwelling-place of these words—and mayest be illumined by the Egypt of divine unity, which is the very Paradise of Glory. Blessed are they who attain!

This rising and setting that is mentioned regarding the ancient Manifestations is not the rising and setting that these souls comprehend, for that rising and setting falls under vision, while that essential Purpose stands beyond sight in the greatest prospect. Rather, the intent of setting is the failure of the eyes of the veiled ones and the limited vision to perceive. For instance, if the visible sun should pass behind a cloud, outward eyes would be prevented from beholding it, and in their view the sun would be absent, though it would remain brilliant and luminous in its station. But the cloud does not prevent those possessed of spiritual vision, nor are they veiled by the clouds, and they observe from behind a hundred thousand veils and coverings.

Observe how most of the people of the earth, despite the lofty elevation of the Sun that hath risen in the Bayan, have remained utterly heedless, abiding in darkness, hidden and veiled. Likewise consider the people of the Bayan, how despite the exalted grandeur and sublime greatness of this most elevated Cause that hath appeared and shone forth in the most glorious holy heaven, none hath comprehended it, and all have walked and will walk according to their own desires. Yet this heedlessness will not prove the nonexistence of that ancient Sun, even though that Supreme Pen, that most glorious Essence, that most resplendent Reality hath counseled in all revealed books and sent scriptures that should a soul, or an essence, or a light, or a manifestation dawn from the divine horizon of will, they should not be veiled by anything but should enter beneath that blessed shadow which is the very shadow of God.

And they have declared that all the Bayan and prescribed deeds and sanctified acts therein culminate in the recognition of that holy Being. Nevertheless, they have remained so veiled by the clouds of fancy, self and imagination that they have never sought the Divine Stream, the Ancient Ocean, and the Everlasting Paradise of the Lord. Indeed, they have not even sought to know that Holy Being Who is the very essence of the knowledge of God. All consider themselves firmly established upon the seat of faith and the throne of certitude, unaware that today they are not and never will be mentioned in the presence of God. God will not look upon them, nor speak with them, nor turn to them ever.

Despite the fact that all proofs have been manifested in their highest splendor and ultimate ascension, such that none has any excuse to turn away or close their eyes, unless they wholly reject all revealed Books and Messengers sent forth.

Section 2: “O servants wanting in worthiness and maturity! If…”

O servants wanting in worthiness and maturity! If but a drop from the cloud of mercy were bestowed upon all the earth, thou wouldst witness all temples of existence proclaiming the divine fire and declaring “I am God!” And if a sprinkling from this Most Great Ocean were to be shed upon all the mirrors of created things, thou wouldst behold all beings adorned with holy and sanctified glory. Indeed, the flight of this divine Falcon is far too lofty for earthly birds to attain, and the melody of this sacred Dove is far too subtle to be heard by the ears of these senseless ones steeped in the mortal realm. God speaks the truth, but people hear not.

Verily, through these unceasing effusions, all contingent beings and realms have become ready. Yet how long must they wait before they attain to the station of nearness before the Merciful One—the ultimate degree of the throne of manifestation and concealment—whether in heart or in body? Perchance the holy breeze of the unknowable might waft from the paradise of the incomprehensible, drawing distant souls who dwell in the lowest realm of limitations to this most exalted station and highest horizon, that they might not be deprived of this wondrous bounty and glorious favor. God provides for whomsoever He wishes, but I am not the provider of the dead. Verily, He is the Provider, the Bestower, the Generous One.

And furthermore, thou didst ask about the multiplicity of the dawning-places of Oneness and holy Manifestations. It must be evident to thee that the divine Cause, the celestial Will, and the heavenly Purpose have never been confined by limitations. In some ages there hath been a single Soul, and in other times multiple Temples have appeared from the Dayspring of the Cause, as is recorded and evident in all the Books of old and recent times. Were this servant to undertake a detailed exposition, a lengthy volume would need to be written.

And if in certain utterances of the Manifestations of the Cause and holy Dawning-places thou perceivest limitation to one, be not veiled thereby but consider the origin of the divine Tree and holy Sapling, for the Cause of God hath ever appeared and shall ever appear without limit or number. Indeed, these limitations are but firm mirrors intended to preserve and protect God’s Cause from tyrannical souls and pharaohlike temples, lest they dare approach and defile the sanctuary of the Cause with their treacherous glances and hearts, and lest satanic manifestations set foot in the holy Solomonic seat.

As is witnessed today, every soul is possessed by some desire, and every devil of the commanding self is lost in the delusions of its own fancy, and from every corner a cry is raised. How many dead bodies and hearts have arisen, moved by the croaking of their own vain desires, and have set foot in the land of Pharaoh! Yet for the possessors of pure hearts and those who have attained the City of Unity, truth hath ever been and shall ever be distinguished and separated from falsehood, never to be confused.

In brief, in no Manifestation hath the Truth, in its holy essence, ever been limited by the limitations of the pen that floweth with ink, nor veiled by the veils of words. The Cause is in His grasp; He manifesteth whatsoever He willeth. Verily, He doeth what He pleaseth. All else is as naught before Him and can never attain unto Him. He cannot be numbered, nor limited, nor indicated by any sign, nor associated with any token, nor veiled by any veil, nor hindered by any word. Verily, He is the Single, the Self-Subsisting, Who hath ever been the Willing One through His Will, and shall ever be the Powerful One through His Purpose, and all act by His command.

It is due to the immaturity of the People of the Book that in each Manifestation of the divine Manifestations, they have remained veiled from the Source and Originator of the Cause, cast into the darkness of their vain imaginings, nay, reduced to nothingness. Glory be to God! How can any will take precedence over His Will, when all else hath been given life by His Word and gathered into the resurrection of its own existence in its appointed places? As was mentioned in the Persian Tablet written some years ago, wherein most matters that were hidden from the eyes of the mystics were revealed. Should anyone observe with the eye of his heart, he would comprehend all holy knowledge and the meanings of perfect utterances, nay, would witness them manifest before him.

Therefore, leave the flimsiest of dwellings, which are the vain imaginings of rejected, ephemeral souls, and enter the holy, pure, and impregnable City, and exchange not the songs of the Divine Dove for invented melodies, and be not content with a murky, transient draught in place of the holy Salsabil that flows from the right hand of the Merciful Throne. Kindle instead the Mosaic Flame, and inhale with thy heart the Holy Spirit’s breath of Jesus. Like the Friend of God, with resignation and tranquility, enter into this Ancient Fire and this blazing Flame. Annihilate thy heart, thy soul, and thy will within the heart, soul and will of thy Beloved, that God may grant thee light and mercy—and verily He is the Protector of them that do good.

With complete attention, be vigilant lest thou remain veiled from the First Name that was revealed in the Prayer of the Night of Power. Let not the opposition of the opposers nor the denial of the deniers prevent thee from reaching and entering the shore of the Most Great Ocean. For this blessed Name, which precedeth all names, hath ever been illumined by the rays of the Holy Sun and will forever be lit by the gleaming lights of the Divine Invisible Presence. A radiant eye is needed to behold the manifestations of the Fire of the Sinaitic Tree from the holy and goodly Mount of Revelation. Both the Exalted One and the Most Glorious Beauty have spoken at length regarding this Name and its precedence over all other names—return ye to the Bayan if ye wish to know.

Though the revealed verses and manifest evidences are too clear to require further proof, yet the people of fancy and conjecture, who speak naught but their own desires, have looked to such proofs, and today they remain as they were before. And if anyone today claims that the world of the Divine Command has been limited or can be explained by mere allusion, such a soul is most remote from the straight path of justice. For the realm of the Divine Command hath from all eternity been sanctified above limitation and restriction. Were pure and sanctified hearts to face, even less than that, the Sun of Unity—which today remaineth imprisoned in the suspicions of men and confined in the imaginings of the servants—all the mysteries of what was and what will be would be impressed upon those hearts according to their capacity and receptivity.

Yet now, not only have they failed to accept such a supreme grace, but hatred and rancor have appeared from most souls. Still they consider themselves believers in the Bayan and are pleased with themselves, unaware that the entire Bayan, in all tongues, curseth those who turn away from this station. In brief, all the veiled ones now dwell in association of partners with God, in the fire of negation and remoteness, and in the depths of torment and the abyss of wrath. To such a degree are these heedless ones unaware that they have become as lifeless things, unmoved by the breeze of grace that in every moment wafteth from the treasury of divine bounty with manifest fragrances—much less would they pitch their tents toward the Ancient Beauty or raise their pavilions on the shore of the Most Great Ocean.

All these utterances are mentioned in the Tablets due to the expectation and seeking of the servants; otherwise the resplendent, manifest, and shining Sun is sanctified above being described by any description, characterized by any attribute, or mentioned by any mention. All mention and attributes appear and shine forth through His effulgence. Hearken unto the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking from this exalted and glorious Tree, through one melody of which extinct and perishing bodies are quickened to enter the everlasting and eternal Kingdom, until thou beholdest all the earth and its peoples, both high and low, beneath its extended shade, and through the decisive nature of these lustrous and manifest verses, thou art delivered from the dubious fancies of idle imaginings to enter the Paradise of Truth, which is the station of the Divine Throne’s establishment, attaining the sweet fruits of the Garden of Oneness.

Was it not witnessed in the Divine Springtime, which marked the days of the manifestation of the Ultimate Tree and the dawning of the Most Exalted Countenance, how many holy souls and glorious temples became illumined by that Ancient Sun, each claiming lofty stations and infinite ranks? All existing creation has witnessed with their own eyes how His Holiness Quddus, who was the highest and most glorious fruit of the Tree, appeared with such sovereignty that it was as though the Tree of Fire called out at one of his revelations. Likewise did the countenance of Ta appear, and others who exist among you.

Yet despite all these peoples witnessing and hearing these stations with their own eyes and ears and comprehending them, they have clung to certain sayings and words, remaining deprived of the Source and Sender of this vast mercy. Though scarcely any time has passed since what they witnessed with their own eyes, they have cast such doubt upon their own visual testimony that they raise questions anew. They are so immersed in idle fancies that if someone should present, according to their own desires, two proofs flimsier than a spider’s web and declare all God’s infinite bounties to be limited and finite, all would willingly and uncompelled accept it, treating what they themselves had seen and heard as though it had never existed. A hundred thousand expressions of wonderment and regret upon such weak, unsettled, and unsteady souls who, with the slightest breeze, turn from the right hand of knowledge and steadfastness to the left hand of doubt and error.

Like past peoples, they have limited all successive divine bounties and endless divine manifestations according to their vain imaginings, and have been and will remain worshippers of their own desires instead of God. Yet in all books, tablets, psalms, scrolls, and writings, it is explicitly stated without any allusion that the Ever-Flowing Grace shall never cease, nor shall the Bountiful One’s favor ever be delayed or cut off, nor shall infinite manifestations ever end. Nevertheless, all upon the earth are now seen to acknowledge and accept the limitation and cessation of grace and bounty, indeed they are content and pleased with this. Thus the people of the Furqan (Qur’an) are occupied and pleased with a few names they have arranged and recorded, while remaining heedless and deprived of the Essence of Names and their Creator and Manifestor, by one attraction of whose blessed name the oceans of names and attributes surge and overflow. And God guides whom He willeth unto His path, for verily He is the Guide of the Way, and He is in truth the Beginning and the End, and unto Him ascendeth the cry of His servants, and He is the Mighty, the Beautiful.

Beyond all these luminous, resplendent, sound and firm utterances, that Manifestation of Divine Unity and Primal Sun hath, in all His verses, utterances and discourses which have descended from that heaven of divine Will and that Source and Dawning-Place of knowledge and wisdom, beseeched the King of the Unseen and the undoubted Reality—which is the hidden, inner, invisible station—to raise up in every year a mirror, nay rather in every city, nay in every hour. How then can it be that every soul should follow his own idle fancy and set limits to the Cause of God? Exalted is He above what they know and say! Consider the transient mirage as though it had never been, and hasten to the everlasting, divine Kawthar. Flee with thy self, thy spirit, thy heart and thy feet unto God, unto Whom is thy return and abode, and turn not unto the dwelling-place of the wrongdoers and the idolaters.

Then give thanks to Him at all times for having sent down unto thee the verses in truth, that perchance mankind might be guided by the signs of God. Take heed of the holy breezes of the divine presence which are wafting and passing from the musk-laden fragrance of these exalted, manifest and firm words, and pay no attention to all shadowy, unreal utterances and rejected, unheard words. These breezes have ever been and shall ever be wafting, yet none hath perceived them. The life of all who are in the heavens and on earth dependeth upon them, yet all remain veiled from this essence of creation and this primary nature. Were this radiant, luminous and manifest grace to be cut off from the mirrors of existent beings, thou wouldst find them all to be utter nothingness, nay rather absolute non-existence. Exalted be this spiritual breeze which hath not been and shall not be limited by attention and awareness or the lack thereof. It hath ever blown and shall ever blow upon lifeless bodies, decayed bones and enduring temples, whether any soul be aware of it or remain heedless and veiled.

For example, the spring breeze bloweth upon all things and passeth over all who dwell on earth, both those who are unconscious in the sleep of negligence and those who are conscious through God’s mercy. Yet blessed are they that are aware, for the heedless have ever been rejected and unacceptable in the sight of God, as hath been mentioned. Today all who profess the Bayan and others among diverse peoples are commanded to enter beneath the shade of this exalted Tree, this Speaking Tree, this all-embracing Word, this conclusive Proof, this clear Evidence and this manifest Path. No soul hath or shall have any refuge, shelter or resting-place save this. All are personally responsible for this Cause, wondrous and exalted. Moreover, acknowledgment of this Word hath never been and shall never be dependent upon or conditional on any soul’s acceptance, as is clear and evident to every person of insight.

Section 3: “How can it be that he who…”

How can it be that he who is asked about it should himself be heedless, even as the peoples of the Qur’an, having fixed their gaze upon this very thing, have remained deprived of the divine revelation and the source of absolute divine bounty, and have made all eyes and ears dependent upon the words and deeds of their leaders. The Point of Existence and Beauty of the Desired One (may the spirit of all in the kingdom be sacrificed for Him) has, in numerous passages of the Bayan, given exalted counsels and eloquent exhortations regarding this rugged and harsh station of Dhikvan.

Thus in one passage He says that those among the people of the Bayan who attain to the Day of the Manifestation of the dawning Suns of the glory of Oneness must, by themselves and of their own accord, draw nigh unto that divine Tree, and must attain to the station of His recognition—which is the reality of the wondrous Paradise and the Ridvan of Oneness—through their own intellect, heart and ears, rather than making themselves dependent upon the acceptance or rejection of the leaders of the age. And He has elevated this theme further and specifically mentioned that if any of the Letters were to exist in that Day and deny Him, none should be prevented by their prohibition nor deprive themselves of the bounty of the heaven of glory. What if they remain deprived of nearness to the Tree due to their attention to transient causes or outward leadership?

And in another passage He states that on that Day none should be veiled by anything, for perhaps even the guides to My light might remain veiled. Therefore hold fast, O people, to the cord of God and His grace, and be not among the questioners. Turn to none but Him in recognizing Him, for His proof is His verses and His existence is His evidence, if ye be of the assured ones. Beware, O people of the Bayan, lest ye be veiled by books, even if all the heavens and earth were filled with decisive books, nor by the revealed verses, for nothing can excel Him in anything. Thus know Him, if ye be of those who know. For all the sublime words and consummate wisdom in the books, scriptures and psalms are all confirmed by His Word, if ye be of those who know.

In any case, exercise the utmost care and vigilance lest thou measure the surging, billowing Most Great Ocean by a drop, for naught else is mentioned before Him. Glory be to God above what ye say! The purpose of mentioning these words is that perchance heedlessness might not encompass and seize thee, and that at the time of the dawning of the rising Suns thou mightest not cling to anyone’s acceptance or rejection. In short, seek not to cling to anyone, but rather turn with thine own being to the dawning of that Sun of bounty and grace, for that same dawning is more evident than all conclusive proofs and greater than all decisive arguments, and ever shall be. This meaning is recorded in the revealed Books.

Now, O people of fancy and desire, come to your senses and reflect upon the loftiness of God’s Cause and the exaltation of God’s Word, that perchance limited souls and thick veils might not become a barrier between you and the recognition of the King of Names. And beyond all this, a person is either mad or sane—the mad one bears no responsibility and is charged with no duty, while the sane one, who possesses an upright mind, an illumined heart, a seeing eye and a hearing ear, surely has the capacity to recognize that Sun of Certitude, for if one possessed not this most great station, one would not be entrusted with this supreme command and the recognition of the Most Perfect Word. Thus doth God perfect His proof unto you and manifest unto you the paths of His knowledge, that His proof may be fulfilled against you, that perchance ye may ponder the signs of God.

In brief, the essence of all that hath been said is this: It is incumbent upon everyone in this Day to take fast hold of the Ark of Guidance of the Noah of His Cause, that they may perchance be saved from drowning in the sea of self and passion and the vain imaginings and idle fancies of the people of wickedness and iniquity. Well is it with them that draw nigh unto this divine Lote-Tree, that inhale these most holy breezes, and that turn unto this Ancient Light. And should any soul in the western regions become prepared to receive the effusions of this exalted Cloud and this glorious Mist, assuredly will the outpourings of the Holy Spirit and Its breath, which is nearer than nearness itself, encompass him from all directions, and all the exalted stations and universal words and lofty ranks that lay hidden and concealed within him will be made manifest and revealed to him through his own self.

Consider, for instance, the grain—how limited is its size and weight! Yet when it is deposited in pure earth and the holy city of existence, and is nurtured by the sun and the blowing of the winds, how its hidden splendors—its branches and offshoots, its leaves and fruits—become manifest through its own essence unto its own essence! Now, O ye who are veiled by the veils of fancy, prepare yourselves for this most great bounty and most mighty grace, that through a drop thereof the hidden bounties and treasured pearls may become manifest and visible from illumined breasts. Deprive not thyself of His boundless mercy, and despair not of His everlasting breath. None despaireth of God’s Spirit save the people who are corrupt.

Another question was asked concerning the Sun of Baha—in what station it now appeareth. By God! The heavens are well-nigh rent asunder by thy words, and the earth of divine purpose cleft, and every lofty and towering mountain brought low. Turn unto God Who created thee and fashioned thee, then return unto Him from thy words, then seek His forgiveness for what thou hast imagined within thyself, and be thou of the contrite. Beware lest thou mention again what thou hast mentioned, for thereby will every exalted one be perturbed and the feet of the mystics slip. And since this servant loveth not to disappoint those who hope in Him, or turn away those who seek Him, or sadden those who love Him, or trouble those who yearn for Him, therefore doth He cause to rain down upon thee from this pure and luminous cloud according to what God hath willed for thee, not according to what it was, that thou mayest be of the thankful.

Pledge thyself that thou wilt not ask about such matters, from Me or from any other, nor let their like occur to thy heart, nor move thy tongue to speak of them. Be thou in an impregnable fortress. Fear God and ask not about things which, if revealed to thee, would grieve thee. Be content with what We have revealed unto you in the year eighty and before it in the ninth year, if ye be of them that are assured.

By God! Were it not for My love for thee, I would have restrained the Pen and would not have released it unto all eternity, lest it move upon that whereupon thy pen hath moved. Glory be to God above what thou didst intend within thyself! Exalted is He above that which the tongues of these prattlers utter! Beware, beware, O servant, lest thou mention that which would raise the clamor of the perplexed, then the cry of the believers, then the tumult of the mystics. And wert thou capable within thyself, We would have commanded thee to seek God’s forgiveness for seventy thousand ages of the ancients. And wert thou possessed of earthly riches, We would have commanded thee to spend a quintal of gold in amends for what hath issued from thy mouth and appeared from thy pen. And We are, verily, the Ruler. And wert thou possessed of physical strength, We would have inflicted upon thee a thousand lashes in requital for what thou didst ask, that thou mayest be of the mindful.

Doth it beseem a mere clot of blood to ask about Him Whom no possessor of excellence, however lofty, can know? Or for dust to inquire about the Lord of Lords? Exalted is He above all that ye are upon and all that ye inquire about! Can the non-existent be mentioned before the Sovereign of existence? Or can nothingness appear before the Ancient of Days? Or can the evanescent ascend to the heaven of eternity, that holy and exalted seat? The blind can never know the sun in its entirety, and must needs be content with what is revealed unto him of its heat which proceedeth from its effects. Therefore know thou thy station and the station of them that ask.

Verily the clot hath the right to ask its Lord about the station of the embryo, and likewise the embryo about the bones, then the bones about the clothing of flesh, until it reacheth the station which hath been ordained for it in its rank, if ye be of them that understand. And were the embryo to ask God to raise it at once to the station of every learned and discerning one, such a request would be rejected, for it cannot attain to this except by ascending the steps until it reacheth this lofty and glorious station. Consider the seed that is sown in the earth: certain months pass over it, and the hands of providence nurture it according to what God hath ordained in the earth itself, until there emerges from it that which ye witness and of which ye are among the witnesses. And when the earth bringeth it forth, none shall benefit thereby except it attain unto its appointed station. Thus must ye understand the wisdom of God, if ye be among them that seek.

Consider likewise the tree: when it is planted, it beareth not fruit immediately, but must ascend through the stations God hath ordained for it. Then shall it yield fruits of exalted glory. Though thy Lord is verily able to manifest all that hath been and shall be from a handful of clay, for He is the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

And should He wish to bring forth from a single drop the creation of the first and the last in less than a moment, He would be able, for He is verily the Ordainer, the Administrator, the All-Wise, the All-Knowing. However, as He hath ordained stations, degrees and measures for all things, He loveth that each thing should attain what He hath ordained of these stations, that ye may be among those who perceive God’s wisdom. Strive thou to see all things in their proper stations as they are, that thou mayest be upon a straight and just path.

And as I find My love for thee, I counsel thee to guard thyself in these days wherein every soul is seized with intoxication and is in manifest heedlessness. For God created them, sustained them, caused them to die and brought them to life, then raised them up to know the Manifestation of His Cause. Yet all are veiled and cling to their own suppositions and idle fancies. They oppose the very purpose for which they were created, and perceive it not. Among them are those who read God’s words at all times, yet turn away from His beauty. They speak of what was revealed in the Bayan, yet themselves understand it not. They imagine themselves in the highest paradise while they abide in the nethermost fire, did they but perceive it. They bid others to righteousness while forgetting their own selves, as ye witness in their deeds. They attribute themselves to God, yet show pride before His beauty.

Consider in these days all that thou hast heard and seen in the days of God aforetime, wherein no decree was altered, if ye but know. When ʿAli came unto them with the truth with a manifest Book, they opposed and proudly rejected him with all their might. They turned away, then sought to adduce proofs from the Book of God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. Each day they took verses from the Qur’an whereby to refute the truth, as ye witness from these people. They move their tongues with falsehood, saying “This is from God” when it is not from God but from their own selves, if ye could understand. Had it been from God, they would not have opposed God Who created them and fashioned them. Thus did their souls entice them to earn what they earned. Each day they cling to a word from the Book and oppose Him through Whom the Scriptures of God, the Mighty, the Beloved, were revealed.

Say: Nothing shall suffice you after His manifestation, though ye cling to all things. Say: All books bear witness to this and all scriptures prove it, if ye would but read. Ye shall not find in the books a single letter that hath not testified within itself that this is the Truth of Truth from the presence of One Mighty, Self-Subsisting. Apart from this, I ask you, O people of the Bayan, one word in pure truthfulness, if ye be fair: If ye possessed a thousand books—nay, beyond count, indeed beyond your power to number—and should ye outwardly witness these books and draw proofs from what is contained therein concerning your belief, even as all peoples thus act, and should someone come to you with something different from what ye possess and know of the Book’s decree—what then would ye say? Would ye contend against him who hath come to you with the signs of God, the Supreme, the Self-Subsisting, as ye now witness with your own eyes? Or would ye attribute error to yourselves, having read God’s Books yet failed to grasp their meaning? Alas for you, O heedless ones!

Even as after Muhammad, the Messenger of God, all who followed the Qur’an drew proofs from the Book that Messengership and Prophethood were sealed with Him and that none would come after Him with a Cause from God or laws from His presence—this ye witnessed with your eyes and heard with your ears from them. And ye, O people of the Bayan, were of them and thus did ye argue in your days until ʿAli came with the truth. Then were your suppositions and knowledge turned back upon yourselves, and God’s Cause shone forth through His command “Be!” and it was. Thus comprehend the Cause in these days unto an end that hath no end, if ye doubt not what ye have seen and are among those who are certain of what they witness.

Say: He hath appeared with the truth and naught in your possession can veil Him, nor can anything in the heavens and earth hinder Him. He speaketh the truth with His most exalted voice in the dominion of Command and Creation, and feareth no one, as ye witness. Whether ye accept or turn away is equal, for He is independent of what ye comprehend.

Section 4: “We now set forth for you a parable…”

We now set forth for you a parable through grace, that ye might attain to what ye love. Verily, the ocean remaineth as it is in its station—if none approaches to draw water from it or harvest its pearls, doth anything decrease from it, if ye but know? Likewise doth the sun shine as it ever hath—if none looketh upon it, is its light and radiance diminished? Reflect then on God’s wisdom, if ye be of those who reflect. Nay, whoever turneth to it—this is God’s grace upon him, for he benefiteth from it what he cannot benefit from aught else. Thus do We set forth parables that ye might understand.

O people! Leave what ye possess and take what is with God through His power, and beware lest ye be veiled. Then be immersed in God’s hue in these days, then enter the pavilion that hath been raised in truth, and rely upon Him, and be of those whom no blame of the blamer, nor gloating of the transgressor, nor turning away of any rejected denier can deter.

Say: Today We observe with holy vision servants who claim faith within themselves yet are veiled from what they formerly knew, and thereby their falsehood is exposed though they perceive it not. Consider then within thyself: if all who are in the heavens and on earth to be veiled this day from their Creator, would any loss revert to Him? Nay, by the glory of God, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting! Rather would the loss revert entirely to themselves, did they but know it. And verily in this We find Ourselves in an exaltation that no exaltation can approach, and in a joy whereof were but a drop to overflow upon all existence and its manifestations, they would all fall in a swoon.

Say: Glorified art Thou, O Lord, my Best-Beloved! Make me steadfast in Thy Cause, then number me among those who have not broken Thy Covenant nor followed the idols of their vain imaginings. Assign me then a seat of truth in Thy presence, grant me mercy from Thy grace, and join me with those servants of Thine upon whom no fear shall come, nor shall they grieve. O Lord, leave me not to myself, nor deprive me of recognizing the Manifestation of Thine Own Self, nor reckon me among those who have forgotten Thy presence.

Make me, O my God, among those who gaze upon Thy Beauty and find such delight therein that they would not exchange a single moment thereof for the sovereignty of the kingdom of the heavens and earth and all that was and shall be. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, in these days wherein heedlessness hath seized all the dwellers of Thy earth. Then grant me, O my God, the best of what lieth with Thee, for verily Thou art the All-Powerful, the Mighty, the Gracious, the Forgiving. Make me not, O my God, among those whose ears are deaf, whose eyes are blind, whose tongues are dumb, and whose hearts understand not. O Lord, deliver me from the fire of ignorance and desire, then cause me to enter within the precincts of Thy most great mercy. Send down upon me that which Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen ones, for verily Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest, and Thou art, in truth, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting.

O concourse of the Bayan! Fear ye God, and follow not your idle fancies, but rather follow the decree of God as revealed in all the Tablets from the heaven of sublime glory. Say: With Him is the knowledge of all things. He knoweth the mysteries of the heavens and the earth, and the knowledge of what was and what shall be, and knoweth what is within your hearts and souls, whether ye conceal it or declare it openly. Nothing whatsoever is hidden from God your Lord, nor doth anything escape His knowledge, if ye but knew.

If ye desire God to protect you from every test and from these people, fear God with true fear, then turn away from them and put thy trust in God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. Say: We believe in God and His angels and His Messengers and in all that they have brought of every scroll and tablet and hidden scripture, and in what was revealed unto Muhammad the Messenger of God, and in what was revealed unto ʿAli, and in what was with him and what shall be, and in what hath been and what is now being revealed of the verses of God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. Thus did We counsel thee before, and now again, that thou mayest be of those who are assured.

Say: This is My path, if ye would behold the path of God. This is My proof, if ye would heed the proof of God. Say: This is My testimony, if ye would be certain of God’s testimony. Say: This is the path of God in the heavens and on earth, if ye desire to traverse it. Say: If God were to punish anyone for believing in these revealed and dispatched verses, by what proof would He then punish those who believed not in the Point of the Bayan, and before Him in Muhammad the Messenger of God, and before Him in the Son of Mary, and before Him in Moses the Prophet, until the matter returneth to the Primal Beginning, if ye be fair-minded.

Know thou that whosoever hesitates in this Cause that hath appeared hath verily hesitated in every Cause, if ye would understand. And he who believeth not in this, hath disbelieved in all the Messengers before, even unto the Primal Creation, and this is a manifest truth. Consider within thyself: if thou believest not in the Point of the Bayan, can the designation of belief in any of God’s Messengers before Him be true for thee? Likewise, if thou believest not in any of the Messengers until the endless end, can the designation of belief in any of them be true for you? Glory be to God above what ye imagine! There is no doubt that belief cannot be true for anyone except through believing in all that hath been revealed from God or shall be revealed, and this is what hath been inscribed upon every preserved tablet.

Thus know thou God’s Cause and His way in every age, that matters may not become confused for you. Look upon the Manifestations’ relationship to God in what is revealed unto them, not in their differences. Behold in the revelation naught but the beauty of the Revealer, and in the revelation naught but its Revealer, if ye would see. Then witness the beauty of every Manifestation in His words, that the truth may become evident to thee and thou mayest be of those who know. For God hath made their words mirrors of their souls, and casteth upon each one according to how they face the Sun, and thus do ye witness. By these degrees are their stations made manifest, if ye would understand. All these are degrees in the stations of the mirrors’ manifestation when facing the Sun, but concerning the Sun in these days ye do not inquire.

Then bear witness that It hath ever been one in Its essence, one in Its attributes, and one in Its deeds, and apart from this no verdict of absolute unity can be established for It, nor can the sanctification of Its essence from similitude and limitation be confirmed, if ye would understand. Beware lest ye associate partners with God or call upon another god besides Him, or take for Him a partner or likeness or minister or peer—this is the truth of faith, if ye would know. We have forbidden thee from mentioning that with a mighty prohibition, and We have commanded thee to seek forgiveness from thy Lord and return unto Him for what thy fingers have wrought in mentioning this hidden matter and this treasured mystery.

But when this Bird ascended in the pole of this heaven to the station wherein all things are witnessed in Its shadow, and found thee in the land of bewilderment, therefore It casteth upon thee what God causeth to flow from My pen according to what people are capable of understanding. Know thou that God thy Lord hath never withheld His outpouring grace and bounty from anything that was or will be. Rather, He created all things and ordained in them every known bounty and that which none hath discovered, if ye would understand. This is the station of the capacities that have been ordained in all things, manifesting therefrom as days pass until reaching the end of what was destined for it, as ye witness in all things.

If thou art able to detach thyself from all thou hast heard and ascend to this mighty, praiseworthy station, then witness all names as rising suns—as there is no end to the names, likewise there is no end to the suns. For example, one of God’s names is the All-Bountiful—it is a sun in its station, shining upon the mirrors of all created things, and the lights of this radiance appear upon all things according to their capacity, as ye observe. And the effect of this sun is first witnessed in man, such that thou findest in every human being the effect of the manifestation of this name.

The difference is that in some it appeareth in the fullness of perfection, bestowing bounty upon themselves in all God hath provided them, and upon their kindred and loved ones, and upon those who draw nigh unto them, and likewise upon all who enter into faith, and beyond that upon every person of sound and unsound mind. And in others thou findest not this perfection, such that they show bounty to themselves and those of kinship and relation, but withhold it from others. And in some thou findest bounty only to themselves and withholding from all else. Thus know the stations of the manifestation of this sun in these temples according to what they do.

Blessed is he who looketh not to himself and his kindred, but rather looketh with the eye of grace, showing bounty to himself and others, turning toward no direction save the direction of God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting, and bestowing upon the believers what God hath given him through His generosity of goodly character, exalted attributes, praiseworthy manners, and accumulated wealth, both of himself and others, that he might fully reflect this Sun and be among those who have spent all they possess in the path of God, the Mighty, the Powerful, the Beloved.

And if thou wert to look upon all who are in the heavens and the earth, thou wouldst find naught except that wherein thou wouldst discover the lights of this Sun, save in those who turn not towards it. Yet We have found none like unto this, if ye be of them that perceive. Thus observe thou the reflection of this Sun in all created things besides man, then ponder thereon. Consider, for example, the tree, how it bestoweth upon every soul that which appeareth from it of forbidden fruits—this is the effect of that reflection within it, if ye be of them that are assured. Likewise the earth bestoweth all that God hath stored within its depths of everything, including the ears of grain whereof ye eat.

Thus learn thou of all the suns of the names as We have taught thee in truth, that thou mayest be of those who know and who reflect upon the wisdom of God. Then witness the manifestation of the Sun’s reflection through His name ʿthe Governor’ in all things that were and shall be, and thou shalt witness the manifestation of this name and all other names in man most completely and perfectly, as ye know and observe, whereby every form of governance appeareth from him by the command of the Mighty, the Self-Subsisting.

This reflection from this blessed and manifest Name is not confined to any one person to the exclusion of others, as ye hear and witness among the various sects who follow not the truth. They have attained in governance unto a station that none before them hath attained, and this is from God’s bounty unto them, though they perceive it not. Thus hath His mercy preceded all created things and His grace encompassed all from the highest creation down to the most limited mineral. When these people strove to manifest this reflection within themselves and turned toward this Sun, the hand of grace withheld them not from this station—this from His all-pervading bounty that encompasseth all things, though most men understand not.

But these people occupied themselves with this name in this station and were heedless of God’s other beauteous names and their manifestations, as ye witness, and they remained fixed in that condition, then devoted themselves to it according to their own desires rather than what God desired for them. Therefore their names were recorded among the worshippers of names, for they were devoted thereto. For God desired through this name their governance in their religion in the primal reality, yet they veiled themselves therefrom as ye know. When they believed not in the Manifestations of justice, it was proven that they had not attained unto the true governance of this blessed and beloved Name.

Then observe the reflection of this Name in the earth, how whatsoever is entrusted to its atmosphere is not betrayed therein, but is governed throughout days and months until it reacheth its station, whereupon it emergeth therefrom in a beautiful and pleasing form. Thus witness thou the reflection of this Sun from this Name in all things, that thou mayest become aware of the suns of the names and be of those who are informed of the mysteries of the Cause.

Were I to mention the suns of the names and their reflections as God hath ordained for them unto an end that hath no end, it would never be exhausted, would ye but understand. We have sufficed with what We have expounded unto thee; be thou content with what hath been ordained for thee from this Hidden Pen. We have opened before thy face the gates of knowledge and wisdom in what We have cast upon thee in truth, that thou mayest draw forth from this ocean whatsoever thou desirest of the pearls of hidden knowledge. Shouldst thou desire to bring forth from each gate a hundred thousand gates, thou wouldst be empowered to approach this Hidden and Treasured Name, which hath been tried at the hands of those who believed not in God for the twinkling of an eye, though they claim within themselves to be the essence of faith.

Section 5: “Knowledge appeareth from His presence, and He, verily…”

Say: Knowledge appeareth from His presence, and He, verily, is the Truth, the Knower of all knowledge. Should anyone come with all the knowledge of the first and the last, and enter not beneath this shadow, naught would be accepted from him, would ye but be assured. Even as when Muhammad appeared with the truth, naught was accepted from the divines of the Gospel, and likewise in the Bayan. Consider how when ʿAli came with the truth, the knowledge of the divines of the Qur’an profited them not, save those who entered beneath His shadow, would ye but perceive. Know this likewise from the beginning that hath no beginning unto the end that hath no end, and be of them who discern all things with the eye of God. Should anyone come who possesseth not a single letter of knowledge, yet entereth beneath this shadow, he is more learned than every erudite scholar, for the knowledge that hath ever been mentioned before God is His recognition and the recognition of the Manifestations of His Cause, would ye but look unto the Books of God.

All this ye shall find in the Bayan, would ye but read. My Pen moveth only as moved by the Pen of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. Say: O people of the Bayan! Take Me not to task for the revelation of verses unto Me. By God! This fault is not Mine, but the Spirit moveth Me at all times, would ye but hearken. Were ye to sanctify your souls, ye would surely find the breezes of God wafting from this most fragrant musk; but since ye have debarred yourselves from this Paradise, ye shall find naught, even as the people of the Qur’an found not the fragrance of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.

And thou, O questioner, ponder what We have cast upon thee, and take for thyself what thou desirest. If thou seekest from the sun these shining suns, We have surely revealed unto thee their names and their mysteries, and have shown thee their effulgences upon the mirrors of all created things, and their dawning upon all that was and shall be. And if thou seekest the Sun of suns, and the Sovereign of existence, and the King of the desired One, around Whom circle these suns and their realities, say: Glorified be the Possessor of grandeur, before Whom boweth down every possessor of grandeur and power! Glorified be the Possessor of might, before Whom prostrateth every possessor of might and exaltation! Glorified be the Possessor of glory, before Whom is abased every possessor of glory and independence! Glorified be the Possessor of power, before Whom is brought low every possessor of power and splendor!

Then know that none besides Him can attain unto Him, and all else is as nothing before Him. He, verily, is the Almighty, the Powerful, the Best-Beloved. All names are raised up by His Word, and all attributes appear by His command, would ye but know. Beware lest thou ascribe this station to any besides Him, nor make mention of anyone when mentioning Him, nor associate with Him any sign or expression, for He, exalted and glorified be He, will never be indicated by any sign save His own, nor be associated with the recognition of His creatures, if ye only knew. Verily, the highest recognition of those who recognize and the utmost attainment of those who attain returneth unto His creation which was created by His word “Be! and it is.” All else besides Him is created by His command, brought into being by His will, prostrate before His countenance, and submissive before His presence, and all are preserved with Him in a guarded tablet.

Verily, He shall appear in truth as God hath promised you in the Book. Fear God, then speak not concerning His Cause, and await His Day even as all who are in the heavens and on earth await His days, though in their souls they perceive it not. Know thou that I believed in Him before His manifestation, and after His manifestation, and at the time of His manifestation, and I await His days according to what hath been inscribed upon the tablets of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. Beware lest thou mention this Name or harbor evil thoughts concerning His Cause, and be of those who seek forgiveness every day.

We have forbidden thee to mention this Name lest anyone imagine in himself nearness unto this Hidden Tree, and lest thou be questioned about anyone as thou hast been questioned, and mention not anyone by this Name, for this is exclusively His, if ye would but hearken unto what this Dove teacheth you through what the Spirit hath cast upon Him of the words of God, the Mighty, the Self-Subsisting. O people! Be not neglectful of the Book, nor alter the Word of God, nor be of those who speak of that which they know not.

By God! The dust of His footsteps is more exalted than all that hath been and shall be created, than all that was and that will be. If thou knewest that souls would not be disturbed, I would say that it is the Throne of God on earth, for upon it resteth His mighty and beloved foot. Be thou steadfast in what We have imparted unto thee such that thy feet shall not slip, and be not of those who know not and who attribute this station to those who desire it. By God! This is an error the like of which existeth not in all creation. Fear God, O people, and transgress not beyond what hath been ordained in the Book of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.

Glorified art Thou, O my God! Thou art He Who hath inspired me with the wondrous tokens of Thy remembrance, and then prevented me from revealing them to Thy creatures, and hath placed me in such a position wherein I am forbidden from manifesting the entirety of the mysteries of Thy wisdom, due to the appearance of heedlessness among Thy creation. For if I, O my God, were to conceal from the people that which Thou hast bestowed upon me through Thy bounty, I would be ungrateful for Thy favor; and if I were to disclose to them that which Thou hast honored me with through Thy grace, then the clamor of Thy servants would be raised. I see naught of this save from Thee, for Thou hast raised me up and manifested me in days wherein Thou hast never raised up any of Thy chosen ones, and I know not what Thou hast intended through the manifestations of Thy decree and ordainment, and the operations of Thy command and direction.

By Thy might, O my Beloved! I testify that Thy knowledge hath never encompassed a day greater and more severe than these days, for in them all servants, both lowly and noble, are being tested. Yet I, despite my powerlessness, poverty, distress and destitution, shall remain steadfast in Thy Cause through Thy might and power, even if no one should accept this Countenance in their quest to meet Thee. I thank Thee for that which Thou hast granted me and honored me with—a steadfastness which none can remove from its station, even if the swords of the deniers and the opposition of the idolaters be raised above my head. I testify that a particle of this steadfastness is better than the worship of both humans and jinn.

Through this my heart finds rest and my soul becomes tranquil, and I behold all who are in the heavens and earth as but a handful of clay, nay, more contemptible than that, except for those who have entered beneath Thy shadow in this Most Great Name, whereby all names have been transformed and all attributes have been changed in the dominion of origination. For those who know Thee not have no station with Thee, nor any mention before Thee. Therefore, I beseech Thee, O my Beloved, that my feet slip not from Thy Cause, beside which nothing can endure. Then confirm me through Thy bounty and grace, and sever me from all else but Thee. Verily, Thou art the Mighty, the Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise, the Self-Subsisting.

We were writing these Tablets in Persian when God stayed the Pen and returned it to a clear Arabic tongue. Therefore, We have cast upon thee from the mysteries of knowledge and wisdom in this tongue, then We shall return to the Persian language that God’s proof, His evidence, His testimony and His signs may be complete unto thee, that thou mayest be of those who turn toward God Who created Me and you, and we are among His worshippers. And praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

From these utterances, shining forth from the horizon of divine exposition, it hath been made clear and evident that the attribution of the name “Sun” to each of these aforementioned manifest Names hath been and is most fitting. Thus, if in the utterances of the Manifestations of Divine Unity and the Daysprings of eternal holiness mention is made of the Sun, the intent is these resplendent Suns and luminous Lights, except as thy Lord willeth.

Furthermore, it is clear and manifest to those endowed with knowledge and wisdom, possessed of pure nature and enlightened character, that in every age and dispensation when the veils of glory are lifted from the countenance of Beauty, and the hidden, veiled and concealed Countenance emerges from behind the mystic veil, that Tree of divine Reality and celestial Fruit must be recognized by His own Self, for all else hath been and shall ever be under His shadow, and the hidden stations of that Treasury of Unity can be comprehended only through His luminous utterances.

Although the penetrating vision, sanctified from all limitation and restriction, perceiveth in all that proceedeth from Him the signs of God’s grandeur—for the effulgences of that all-encompassing Sun are too manifest to remain hidden from the eyes of the knowing, and the surging waves of that mighty Ocean are too evident to be concealed from the sight of them that are nigh unto God—yet since men differ in their stages of knowledge and certitude, therefore, as a token of His grace and bounty and as evidence of His loving-kindness unto all created things, He hath made the verses sent down from the heaven of His Will and the evidences shining forth from the horizon of grace to be His testimony, that all men, both high and low, might through these conclusive proofs and these radiant, gleaming verses recognize that Ancient Being and Most Perfect Word.

All this is of His grace toward His servants, though they deserve it not, that haply they may not be deprived of the divine outpourings and holy favors. Otherwise, the rejection of all created things or the acceptance of all contingent beings would be equal in that most holy Court. Moreover, on the Day of the manifestation of that Most Great Luminary, no excuse from any soul shall be accepted. For example, should all who are on earth adduce proofs from all the heavenly Books and Scriptures in support of some matter, and that Essence of being should appear in opposition to that accepted and established matter, none hath the right to object, for all command and prohibition are conditional upon His will and acceptance, and the utterances that proceed from that heaven of Divine Unity have not been and shall never be conditional upon anything.

O seeker with enlightened heart! Enter this Sinai of the spirit that thou mayest behold in the mount of the heart the radiance of the Sun of inner meanings, and with the power of Abraham break the idols of fancy and conjecture, and being purified and sanctified from blind imitation, restriction and limitation, mayest ascend to the heights of certitude, steadfastness and constancy.

Consider further that if all who are within the Bayan should, through all that is in the Bayan, adduce proofs concerning the conditions of the subsequent Manifestation and hold as established that the Promised Beauty and Sun of Being must needs appear with this mentioned sign, but should that Essence of free choice manifest contrary to it, what then wouldst thou do? Wouldst thou remain content with thine own understanding, independent of the recognition of that Sun of knowledge? Nay, by Him Who hath taught this Pen the mysteries of eternity! Nothing will suffice thee save clinging to the hem of His loving-kindness.

Hast thou not observed how the peoples of old, by clinging to the idols of fancy and desire, remained deprived of the grace of the Day of Distinction? In all circumstances, take refuge in God, that thou mayest not be withheld from the Tree of Purpose and His knowledge—which is identical with the knowledge of all the Primary and Ultimate Manifestations of God—by whatsoever thou beholdest in the heavens and on earth, be it established utterances or outward conditions. Strive that ye may not be veiled from the copious rain of the exalted divine clouds.

Although the clouds of grace are ever elevated and know no cessation, yet not every cloud is the manifestation of universal bounty, nor will it ever be. Consider the sun and its rising and setting. Though in its essence it is sanctified above rising and setting, yet through the changing of its stations and signs it appeareth in different measures. For instance, in the sign of Leo it manifesteth with utmost brilliance and heat, while in other signs it appeareth otherwise. And now that, by God’s grace, the clouds of mercy have encompassed the whole earth and its inhabitants, and the Sun of favor hath appeared with perfect radiance and heat, occupy not thyself with the promptings of the satanic self and the embodiments of rancorous envy.

In all circumstances and conditions, know God to be the Sovereign Doer and the Executor of whatsoever He willeth, and remain firm and steadfast in this all-embracing word, which is the greatest of all revealed words, that perchance thou mayest remain constant in the religion of God and His Cause. This is pure truth, and what is beyond truth but error? And just as the sacred Essence of Truth is its own proof, and all else falls short and is incapable of knowing It as It deserves and merits to be known, likewise the verses sent down from the heaven of His Command attest to His Revelation, and all else is utter nothingness, sheer non-existence, and wholly unmentioned in that realm. And God sufficeth as a witness.

One must exercise the utmost reflection and contemplation upon these comprehensive revealed words, that through each of their gates infinite doors of knowledge may be opened unto infinity before the faces of the seekers and the sincere. This is a station wherein none can tread save through the essence of their nature and the purity of their innate disposition. Should the mirrors of hearts be tarnished by even a hair’s breadth with the dust of all else, never shall the radiance of this glorious Light and wondrous Cause be reflected and manifested therein. How exalted and inaccessible is this station that accepteth naught but pure sanctification! How lofty and transcendent that it receiveth naught but absolute detachment!

Section 6: “Ah, above all sighs! Ah, beneath all sighs!…”

Ah, above all sighs! Ah, beneath all sighs! Ah, that filleth the heavens with the yearning of lovers! Ah, that filleth the earth with the cry of the longing ones! Ah, that causeth crimson tears to flow from eyes! Ah, again ah, again ah, from the beginning that hath no beginning to the end that no learned one can reckon! Ah, whose fire appeareth in existence and whose anguish ariseth in manifestation, causing all created things to grieve, and behind it the denizens of the highest Paradise! Ah, that hath consumed hearts and shaken lands! Ah, that none knoweth save God, the Mighty, the Beautiful!

How the people have veiled themselves from the Beauty of God and His manifestation, from the Countenance of God and His dawning, and He hath fallen before these people with an abasement incomparable to any abasement, and with a sorrow that no sorrow can match, neither among the former nor the latter generations. Thereby hath the life of every person of understanding been transformed and the pillars of the mighty throne have quaked. Yet the people remain heedless and joyous, in evident gladness.

Thus doth God render vain the work of those who have been heedless of His remembrance and have denied the signs in their possession from God, the Powerful, the Mighty, the Omnipotent. And the Spirit be upon the people of the spirit from this ancient, resplendent Glory!

In these days, preserve thyself during this great testing, lest thou slip from the straight path, for ere long thou shalt witness all people disturbed and shaken, nay turned away, save whom thy Lord willeth. Two years ago in the City a leaf was revealed wherein all subsequent events were recorded. If thou turnest today to attain understanding, refer to that blessed leaf, that perchance thou mayest deliver thyself from the abyss of extinction and enter the abode of immortality, and passing beyond the city of names and its kingdom, thou mayest enter the holy and generous realm which is the station of pure sanctification and absolute detachment, and through the riches of God be freed from the abasement of questioning. For questioning itself hath ever been and shall be evidence of the wavering and lack of steadfastness of the questioner, although the exalted Truth hath loved and loveth to be questioned, for the sake of bestowing grace and conferring bounty. However, true knowledge hath another station, and it pertaineth to sight and heart and inner vision, not to the mention of pen and ink. Thus doth the Pen of righteousness impart unto thee on this Day, unto which returneth the decree of the beginning and the end.

And further, thou didst ask what station and rank this servant hath claimed for himself. I am naught but a servant who hath believed in God, His Messengers, His Books, all that hath been revealed from Him, that which was revealed unto ʿAli in truth, that which is now being revealed, and that which shall be revealed in the time of the One Whom God shall make manifest, when all who are in the heavens and on earth shall be renewed. Then shall the Hour come, the Balance be set up, the Bridge be laid down, and God shall come with His Cause, if ye be of them that know. All that God hath ordained concerning me beareth witness to this, if ye be of them that testify.

For numbered years, each moment of which hath passed like fifty thousand years, tribulations have followed one upon another and calamities have succeeded each other without cease. Beyond these outward tribulations, by Him Who hath manifested the very essence of all created things through His sovereignty and power, there have been at all times and seasons inner tribulations, hidden from all eyes, minds and souls, which none save God hath known. Apart from what hath been mentioned, ye have surely heard what manifold calumnies and false imaginings the people of the Bayan have attributed and referred to this blessed, goodly Tree of Divine Unity. Indeed, not content with what the enemies have brought forth, this group hath spared no effort in what they were capable of doing, although the existence of this servant hath at all times been the cause of the exaltation of the Good Word, as ye all know and have witnessed.

Now if some are prevented by their vain imaginings from sincere belief and deny this sublime grace, that is another matter, and unto God do all matters return. Consider the inner like the outer, if ye look with the eye of the spirit. Throughout all these tribulations, afflictions and trials, both hidden and manifest, naught hath appeared from this imprisoned servant save absolute servitude, and as ye have observed, during the period of sojourn in the City of Peace, this servant associated with all the people of that land and its surroundings, both learned and otherwise, and strove to the extent possible, nay beyond that, to promote the Cause and exalt it, not neglecting a single moment, such that the Word was elevated to a degree that encompassed all the people of the earth.

Never did he compromise with the enemies of God, but rather exerted the utmost effort and mighty endeavor in mentioning the Word of Remembrance. Finally, matters led to departure from the city, and it is evident to every person of insight how this exodus and migration manifested the glory of this Cause and its exaltation, until we became imprisoned and confined in this place. We thank God for all this, we praise Him, we remember Him, and we are patient in His trials, for verily He rewardeth the patient ones. Praise be to God for all this; there is no refuge save in Him and no help except through Him, and verily He is the Mighty, the Glorious, the Merciful.

Yea, throughout all these past years, praise be to God, the oceans of inner meanings and divine lights have surged in the heart to such extent that, without intention, their dewdrops were bestowed upon all created things, and the favors of the Lord of Glory encompassed all in such measure that their enumeration and limitation are beyond the realm of possibility and its people. And if mention was made by this servant regarding these stations in revealed tablets, it was only in obedience to that exalted word which states: “But as for thy Lord’s favor, proclaim it!” However, your honor has considered the root of the matter, which has never been and will never be confounded with aught else.

And if thou canst not recognize and perceive the exalted Truth by His own Self, and besides Him, if thou gazest upon the words revealed from the heaven of holy oneness, then turn to the books revealed from the heaven of Will, wherein thou wilt witness, both explicitly and implicitly, mention of this all-embracing and hidden Word in most of them. Observe in the great Epistle and others, and likewise most of the verses of the Qayyumu’l-Asma indicate the dominion of this lofty and exalted Tree. I swear by God, I am ashamed to mention these utterances, for but few days have passed since the manifestation of that Dawning Sun of Oneness, and all have witnessed with their own eyes the circumstances of its appearance, yet all remain veiled.

And what mention and utterance could be more evident than the Manifestation itself, that one should seek proof thereby? Consider now how much the concealment and delay of this Cause indicates and proves the loftiness of this Revelation, as if its delay had no cause save the testing and trial of all who are in the heavens and on earth. And likewise He says: “In the ninth year ye shall attain unto the Presence of God.” Although some have sought to interpret this holy and eternal Manifestation and the dawning of the divine light as referring to other than the Tree itself, and have striven mightily to distort this all-embracing Word, yet “the Command is in God’s hands; He guideth whom He pleaseth unto the straight path.”

O people of the Bayan! Exercise the utmost effort lest ye become like the people of the Furqan, who attributed all names and attributes, from the highest station of the heaven of might down to the lowest degree of the mortal realm, to invisible entities, while remaining and continuing to remain heedless of the Dawning-Places of Oneness and the Manifestations of Eternity who actually exist.

Now, O servants, observe with the eye of justice and fairness that this servant—I swear by Him Whom God shall make manifest—if during my stay in the Abode of Peace I imagined I would survive a day or night, for enemies surrounded me on all sides with the utmost determination to destroy me, as all the inhabitants of that place know well, until divine destiny prevailed over satanic scheming, and the Sovereign of the highest heaven triumphed over the forms of the nethermost fire. And despite this elevation and fame, I emigrated with a group of other emigrants, and the exaltation of this name and fame and its manifestation occurred without intention.

What more can I say about what has befallen and been visited upon this servant? By God, neither one possessed of love nor one possessed of heart could bear to hear it.

Verily, divine mysteries have ever been and shall forever remain treasured within the repositories of infallible protection and preserved behind the veils of divine safekeeping. Were it not that the mountain of men’s souls would be utterly shattered, I would make mention of a symbol from among the veiled, concealed, and hidden mysteries. But God reveals whatsoever He willeth, and I am not one to reveal that which is hidden. It is known to all of you and to the peoples of the earth what degree of servitude and humility hath been manifested by this servant to all the friends and loved ones from the first dawning of the Sun of Truth until this day. Yet what false accusations have been directed at this servant, and none hath arisen to dispel them. Unto God do I commit my affairs, in Him do I place my trust, and in Him let His detached servants place their trust.

Furthermore, it was asked how it is that the words of the exalted ones can be transformed into those of the debased, and how the letters of affirmation can be reckoned among the manifestations of negation. It should be known to you that when that Sun of divine grace and Ocean of heavenly bounty shone forth upon all the mirrors of creation, in some that faced It directly Its disk became reflected, while in others only Its radiance was apparent. Thus when that Ancient Sun, after being reflected in the forms of mirrors, describeth the mirrors with Its own infinite attributes, It is in truth describing Its own Self, for It beholdeth Its own lights in the mirrors, and all these exalted attributes in reality return unto It. This bounty exists in mirrors by virtue of their facing It, and after they turn away it will vanish and be no more.

Now cleanse thy vision from the dust of all else save Him, that thou mayest recognize that Sun which, were all the mirrors of existence to face It in the slightest degree, would be reflected and imprinted in them all with the lights of truth and the traces of Divine Unity, from time immemorial unto eternity. And besides this, God eraseth what He willeth and confirmeth what He willeth, and with Him is the Mother Book. The All-Powerful hath power to erase after confirming, and likewise the reverse. It is in this connection that He saith: “Grieve not for what hath escaped you, neither exult in what hath been given to you.” This is the point of justice, whereby all things besides God have been and shall ever be both fearful and hopeful. Every exalted one feareth erasure, and every lowly one hopeth for confirmation. By Him Who holdeth the soul of Husayn in His hand! Were I to explain this station as it hath been ordained, thou wouldst find most of mankind wavering. Call to mind His words, exalted be His remembrance: “Had We willed, We would have taken away what We have revealed unto thee.” By My life! Were more than this to be cast upon thee, the falsifiers would surely doubt.

I do not wish to mention more than this in this connection, for people are immersed in pure fancy. And regarding certain events about which thou didst inquire that occurred in this servant’s absence, their good and evil return unto their doers and performers. In brief, all matters are clear and evident, were the veils of people’s fancies to be rent asunder and were they to observe the Cause of God with their own eyes—they would witness all mysteries as manifest realities. We hope, God willing, that a bounty from the Source of generosity and favors of the Lord of Glory and Grandeur may be revealed and draw all the veiled ones from the veils of darkness unto the pavilions of unity. God bestoweth what He willeth, and verily He is the Ancient Bestower. And praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

And another testament of this servant to all is that they should not be heedless for a moment but rather be vigilant in the Cause of God, and exercise the utmost diligence and effort in its protection and preservation, for this is the source of all good and its foundation, inasmuch as the first duty has been and will ever be the recognition of God, and all that hath been heard and witnessed revolveth around this Cause, since all things have appeared from it and unto it do they return. And after recognition of the One True God, obedience to His Cause and the observance of His laws are of the most mighty matters, and have been and will forever be. The breezes of remembrance have ever wafted from the City of the Divine Command, and the signs of God, through this holy and eternal Fragrance, shall remain established amongst humanity. In brief, God willing, may they turn with pure and sanctified hearts to their Source at all times and seasons, and become detached from all else but God, that perchance in these darkened days they may not remain veiled from the recognition of that Sun of Unity.

This servant beseecheth the Lord of Glory to bestow upon all a vision and hearing sanctified from limitation and imitation. God granteth whatsoever He willeth, and verily He is the All-Bountiful, the All-Knowing, the Most Generous. And I seal these spiritual melodies with the mention of God, the Most Great, the Most Mighty, the Supreme, that its ending may be musk—yea, by this are the souls of the sincere attracted at all times. And praise be to God, the Lord of all the worlds.