BH00013: Praise be to Him Who has rent asunder…
Section 1: “Praise be to Him Who has rent asunder…”
In the Name of our Most Holy, Most Great, Most Exalted, Most Glorious Lord
Praise be to Him Who has rent asunder the veils on the Day of Return, Who has shattered the idols of vain imaginings in the name of the Lord of all Days, and who has arisen to serve the Cause in such wise that the might of the oppressors of the earth—they who have adorned their heads with turbans and have taken control of God’s servants in the name of their Lord, the Creator of all things—could not deter him. They would enter mosques and temples to make mention of God and to recite what He had revealed unto His Beloved and Chosen One. Yet when the horizon of the world was illumined and there shone forth from it the Sun of His Most Great Name—through which the Cause of every Prophet was established and the Mission of every Messenger was fulfilled—they turned away from Him, denied Him, cast His Cause behind their backs, broke His Covenant, and perpetrated that which caused the atoms to lament and the Maids of Heaven to swoon in their chambers.
By God! Through their deeds, the eyes of the denizens of the most exalted Paradise and the supreme Heaven have shed tears. They took pride in His Name amongst the people, yet after His manifestation they visited upon Him that which the Kingdom of Utterance is powerless to describe. They denied the Day of God, whose mention had adorned the Books, the Psalms, the Scrolls and the Tablets. This servant and all things bear witness to their heedlessness, their ignorance and their error. These are they against whom the word of punishment in the Book has been fulfilled. Sufficient unto them is what God hath revealed in the Qur’an:
“And We had given them ears and eyes and hearts; but their ears and eyes and hearts availed them nothing, since they denied the signs of God; and that which they had mocked at encompassed them.”
They have taken the book of their own selves and cast the Mother Book behind their backs. By God! They are the idols, the sources of superstition, the wellsprings of vain imaginings, and they are the oppressors and pharaohs of the earth. They have clung to self and passion, turning away from the Lord of all mankind, relying upon their pens while turning away from what hath been sent down from the Supreme Pen.
Glory be unto Thee, O Thou through Whose verses those in the graves were stirred, and through the fragrance of Whose raiment the Mountain was caused to soar when the Light shone forth from the horizon of Revelation! I beseech Thee by the lamp of Thy Cause and the waves of the ocean of Thy utterance to aid Thy loved ones to make mention of Thee and to praise Thee, and to arise to serve Thee. Then protect them, O my God, through Thy power and might, from those who have denied Thy truth, rejected Thy proof, and disputed Thy signs. Then make them, O my God, the emblems of Thy victory in Thy lands and the standards of Thy glory in Thy realms.
Furthermore, I beseech Thee, O Beloved of the world and the Manifest One through the Most Great Name, to assist him who hath turned toward Thy most exalted horizon and hath arisen to serve Thy Cause amongst mankind. O Lord! Thou seest him as one who aideth Thy Faith, who standeth firm on Thy path, and who uttereth Thy Name amongst Thy servants. Strengthen him with such confirmation that the conditions of the world and the clamor of the nations will not hold him back. Thou art He in Whose grasp are the reins of power and might, and around Whose will revolve the Manifestations of grandeur and authority. There is no God but Thee, the Almighty, the Most Exalted, the All-Powerful, the All-Seeing.
And now, O beloved of my heart and desire of my soul, the trilling of the bird of your utterance hath informed me, the warbling of the nightingale of your praise hath attracted me, and the wine of your remembrance hath intoxicated me in such wise that I desired to soar on the wings of longing to a station which God hath sanctified from the mention of all who dwell on earth. When I attained and was blessed with the lights of the Sun of Glory, I presented what was in your letter before Him Who hath sent down the Mother Book through a movement of His Most Exalted Pen in the kingdom of creation. And after its contents were blessed by the hearing of the Lord of all mankind, the Tongue of Grandeur spoke, saying, exalted be His glory:
O Varqa! O thou who gazest toward the Most Exalted Horizon! Say:
Praise be unto Thee, O my God, Who art sanctified above my mention and utterance and above that which Thy creatures express in Thy kingdom and Thy servants speak in Thy land. I thank Thee for having caused me to traverse the realms of inner meaning until I reached its pole—the station which was named the Luminous Spot and the White Land, and which Thou didst name in another station the Land of Resurrection. Therein didst Thou show me Thy Beauty and give me to drink the choice wine of Thy utterance, and taught me that which drew me away from myself and caused me to forget all else but Thee. I beseech Thee by this supreme gift and this mighty favor to preserve for me this most exalted station.
Verily Thou art the Lord of the latter and the former. This evanescent one beareth witness, O my God, to Thy permanence, this weak one to Thy power and might, and this poor and loving one to the effulgences of the light of the Sun of Thy Beauty. Thou art He Who, O my God, my Lord, my Support and my Desire, through one letter of Thy most exalted Word, didst manifest Thyself on Sinai’s Mount, whereupon the branches and leaves, and beyond them the atoms, spoke as spoke the Tree on the Mount of Knowledge from the presence of the All-Merciful. And Thou didst manifest Thyself through another letter unto the Kingdom of Utterance, whereupon the Torah, the Gospel and the Qur’an were sent down. And through one drop from the Euphrates of Thy mercy flowing from Thy Most Exalted Pen hath appeared the Kawthar of life in all existence. Exalted is Thy power and great is Thy sovereignty!
I beseech Thee, O Thou Who art the Quickening Pulse beating in the body of the world through Thy Most Great Finger, to draw me near unto Thee in all conditions and remind me of the days wherein I drank the Kawthar of Thy reunion from the perspiration of Thy grace and bounty. Thou art He Who, O my God, called me unto Thee and caused me to enter the pavilions of Thy greatness and established me before Thy presence in Thy service, remembrance and praise. O Lord! Thou seest and knowest that my joy is in Thy remembrance and my turning unto Thee, and my gladness in Thy grace and loving-kindness. Send down, then, upon me from the clouds of Thy mercy that which will cause me to smile in Thy days. Verily Thou art the Possessor of bounty and bestowal, and within Thy grasp is the kingdom of names. There is none other God but Thee, the Omnipotent, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
Blessed art thou, O beloved of my heart! Thou hast drunk the water of loving-kindness and life from the cups of the favors of my Beloved and thy Beloved and the Beloved of all who are in the heavens and the earth, in such wise that the atoms should say:
“Blessed art thou and happy art thou, O thou who hast attained unto this supreme grace!”
As to what thou didst write concerning that Mirza ʿAbdu’llah had borne the troubles of that Beloved One and sought recompense—these matters were presented at the Most Holy and Exalted Threshold. This is what the Tongue of God spoke, exalted be His glory:
“O Dove of the Lord of Names! My favors concerning him have flowed from the Most Exalted Pen such that nothing in the world can equal it. This is the essence of recompense which hath been and is beloved in the presence of God, exalted be His glory. But outward favors shall also reach him, God willing. Give him the glad tidings of that which My tongue hath spoken, and I am the Ordainer, the All-Wise.”
As for what thou didst write concerning the apple of thy eye, Mirza Ruhu’llah, it was presented. This is what was revealed from the Kingdom of Will and Utterance, exalted be His grandeur:
“O Dove! Thou shouldst recite in his right ear three times: ʿThou hast come by God’s command and appeared for His remembrance and wast created for His service, the Mighty, the Beloved.’ We mentioned him before when his [mother] cried out, and at this time too, and I am the All-Bountiful, the Manifest. Make mention on My behalf to his mother and give her the glad tidings of that which the Wronged One hath spoken in His mighty prison.”
Know that concerning what you wrote about certain prayers and supplications that have been revealed with make him’ (va aj’alahu), whether it would be considered alteration if recited as make me’ (va aj’alni) which refers to the speaker—it is submitted that this is not an alteration and both forms are permissible. Similarly, regarding the blessed words “Say: O God” and “Say: Praise be to God,” both the omission and inclusion of the word “Say” are correct. However, its inclusion is preferred due to the nobility of the blessed word which has issued from the mouth of the Lord of Oneness, while its omission is permitted as it makes more evident the station of servitude and dedication in this regard.
Concerning what you wrote about Jinab-i-Aqa Mirza Ghulam-ʿAli, upon him be Baha’u’llah, and the extent of his acceptance, steadfastness, sincerity and service—this detail was submitted before the Divine Throne. He, exalted be His grandeur, said:
“Praise be to God, he is aflame with the fire of love and adorned with the light of recognition. The Kawthar of reunion, which is the most precious of the world’s jewels and more exalted than the water of life—praise be to God, he hath attained unto its preservation and manifested its fruit. God willing, may these effects be ever manifest from him. Blessed is the soul that hath attained His presence and hath arisen as befitteth this station. From this station We send Our greetings upon him and upon My loved ones there who have cast away the world and taken hold of that which they were commanded by God, the Lord of eternity.”
And concerning what you wrote about Jinab-i-Aqa Yusuf (from the people of Naraq), upon him be Baha’u’llah, it was submitted before the Most Holy, Most Exalted Presence. This is what was revealed from the heaven of the will of our All-Wise Lord:
He is the Most Great, the Most Holy, the Most Glorious
O Yusuf! The Wronged One remembereth thee with such an accent that were all existence, both seen and unseen, to hear it, they would assuredly abandon life and immortality, hastening to the place of sacrifice in this Path, which, when it appeared, the Straight Path proclaimed:
“The Promised One hath come with His manifest, clear, and evident Path!”
By God! Thou wert created for this Day, that I might circle round this Path and announce before it unto the people this Revelation, concerning which God took a covenant from the Prophets and Messengers. O Yusuf! The garment hath been stirred by the breeze of thy Lord’s will, whereby the divine breeze hath wafted over all lands and the fragrance of the All-Merciful hath been diffused throughout the heavens and the earth. We made mention of thee before, and at this time when the Wronged One is established upon the throne of His Great Name. We counsel thee and those who have believed to that which causeth the sun of virtues to shine forth from the horizon of a pure heart. O My loved ones! Aid the All-Merciful through goodly deeds—this is a word We have revealed in numerous Tablets, as beareth witness He Who hath spoken in every instance that there is none other God but Me, the All-Commanding, the All-Knowing. Glory be upon the people of Baha who have drunk the wine of immortality from the cup of the bounty of their Lord, the Generous.
God willing, may all attain to that which is befitting. The essence of the world is seen speaking with one tongue, crying out at the highest pitch “The Lord of Heaven hath come!”, yet none attaineth unto hearing save whom God willeth. Strange that one should himself speak yet himself be heedless. Glory be unto Him Who hath commanded me to silence and to veil His mighty and glorious Cause, even though revelation hath reached such a degree that tongues and pens are powerless to describe it. Again, glory be unto Him Who hath appeared and revealed what He desired, and spoken and caused all things to speak that He is the Omnipotent, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. The Sun of Truth is manifest in the utmost brilliance and the Divine Lamp shineth with perfect radiance, yet all remain veiled and deprived. This evanescent servant beseecheth, and do ye also beseech, that He may heal through the medicine of His grace the chronic diseases of the people which have afflicted them through ignorance. Verily He is the Healer, the Wise. Praise be to God, for He is the Omnipotent, the Forgiving, the Merciful.
Concerning what you wrote about Aqa ʿAli-Muhammad, son of Haji Ahmad-i-Milani, upon them be the glory of God—what you had requested was specially granted for him and sent through his brothers. At this moment when this servant is engaged in writing this letter, the Most Great Branch—may my spirit, my being, and my essence be a sacrifice for the dust of His most pure footsteps—is not present, having gone to the outskirts of this city. God willing, after His return and when I attain His presence, this evanescent servant will show to His blessed sight the new writing which you had sent, and I will present whatever you had written.
Section 2: “As for your mention of Aqa Faraj Aqa…”
As for your mention of Aqa Faraj Aqa and his degrees of sincerity, God willing may he ever be assisted to serve the Beloved of all creation and be confirmed in His praise and glorification. Regarding what was inquired about the trust, it arrived complete and perfect. The servant beareth witness to this, and behind him He Who created him, fashioned him, and caused him to speak His beautiful praise. And since you mentioned him, and this servant also wished that mention of him be made in the Most Holy, Most Exalted Presence, therefore these details were presented before His countenance on the seventh night of the month of Safar, and these manifest verses and perfect words were revealed from the heaven of grace. His word, exalted be His glory:
He is the Manifest, the Hidden
O Faraj! We have mentioned thee before with a mention that all the books of the world cannot equal. Verily thy Lord is He Who keepeth count, the All-Knowing. Rejoice in that thou hast been mentioned time after time, and the face of the Wronged One hath turned toward thee from this mighty Prison. Wert thou to discover what hath been ordained for thee from My Most Exalted Pen, thou wouldst soar upon the wings of joy and ecstasy in this atmosphere from whose rushing winds is heard what the Manifestation heard on Sinai. Verily thy Lord is the True One, the Trustworthy. Blessed art thou for having turned and heard the call of God when it was raised betwixt earth and heaven. By My life! All that eyes see and minds comprehend shall perish, but there shall endure for thee what hath been revealed from this Perspicuous Pen. Say: Praise be unto Thee, O Thou Who hast enabled me to turn to Thy horizon, caused me to hear Thy call, and adorned me with the ornament of certitude while the divines of the age were in grievous doubt. Be content with what hath been ordained for thee, and steadfast in this Cause which, when it appeared, caused the feet of the mature to slip.
We make mention of him who was named Muhammad, who traversed land and sea until he attained the Most Great Sea upon this shore wherefrom was raised the call of the Prophets and Messengers. He presented himself and stood before the Gate, heard the call of the Wronged One, and drank from the hand of His bounty the choice sealed wine. Thus have We made mention of him as a token of Our grace, for verily I am the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous. The glory rest upon thee and upon him and upon whosoever hath inhaled this mighty, wondrous fragrance.
Indeed, His Excellency Haji Aqa Muhammad attained the presence and was honored with the glory of meeting, and time after time outside the prison land he was blessed with that which was intended, namely visiting the Beloved of the worlds.
And concerning what was written about His Excellency Haji Ali Asghar and his pupil, upon them be the glory of God, after being presented, the Sun of favor dawned and the Most Great, Most Holy Tablet was revealed. God willing, they shall be blessed with its honor. His word, exalted be His grandeur:
In My Name, the Hearing, the All-Seeing
O Ali before Asghar! The Lord of Eternity hath appeared, yet the peoples remain veiled from Him. The Sun of Truth hath risen, yet eyes are deprived of beholding it. The river of mercy floweth, yet the people are forbidden therefrom. The Most Exalted Pen moveth and speaketh, yet all are heedless of its sound save whom God willeth. Whosoever today hath attained the recognition of the Lord of existence is among those souls whose mention was recorded by the divine Pen in previous Books. Give thanks to the Beloved of the worlds that He enabled thee to accept His grace and bounty. All the peoples of the world, whether learned ones, mystics or rulers, eagerly longed for this most mighty, most luminous Day, yet when the Sun of Manifestation shone forth and the Call was raised, they failed to turn and hearken.
The greatest cause that held back the peoples were and are the divines of the age. The Messenger lamenteth on account of the oppression of those heedless souls, while those foolish ones remain absorbed in and delighted with their own vain imaginings. The heedlessness of these souls hath caused the heedlessness of the world, and their tyranny hath occasioned the tyranny of the nations. However, the Finger of Power shall rend asunder the veils, as indeed it hath done.
And We make mention of Muhammad before Husayn that he may rejoice in the remembrance of God, the Protecting, the Self-Subsisting. God willing, mayest thou be adorned with the ornament of trustworthiness and manifest divine qualities. Praiseworthy attributes are as lights for the horizon of the heaven of man. Whosoever attaineth unto them, his light shall shine and his relationship to God, exalted be His glory, shall become evident and manifest. God willing, may all attain to that which causeth the exaltation of the Cause. Verily, He ordaineth that whereby the station of man is exalted in the contingent world. To this testifieth every fair-minded, perceiving one.
Praise be to God that the fresh divine table and the enduring, eternal bounty descendeth and floweth continuously from the heaven of oneness. Should anyone reflect even slightly, he would become aware of the ocean of the compassion of God, exalted be His glory. Night and day the tongue of grandeur is occupied with the mention of His friends and speaketh to counsel His enemies. He hath invited all the peoples of the world to the most exalted horizon with utmost kindness and mercy. However, blessed is he who hath heard and turned, and woe unto the heedless. And praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.
And concerning what thou didst mention about the son of his excellency who ascended unto God, who was named Rida, the Spirit in the Book of Names, it was presented and this Most Holy, Most Exalted Tablet was revealed for him from the heaven of the will of the Beloved of all creation. His word, exalted be His grandeur:
In My Name, the One Who Shineth from the Horizon of Utterance
This is a Remembrance revealed by the All-Merciful for one who has turned to His Face on a day when the world’s unity was shattered and lamentation rose between the heavens and earth, that he may rejoice in My remembrance, which God has made the choice wine of life for all creation, the Most Great Spirit among the nations, and the supreme gift to humanity. Exalted is the Lord of Religions Who has come from the heaven of grace with manifest justice.
O Hadi! We sent forth the Qaim, but all the divines of the age denied Him, save those whom God, the Lord of the worlds, willed. When successive years had passed, We manifested Our Self with Our Name, the Self-Subsisting, yet the people turned away until they pronounced judgment against Us with such tyranny as caused the Faithful Spirit to lament. They seized Us time after time and imprisoned Us repeatedly—once in the land of Ta, again in Mim, yet again in Ta, and in the Land of Mystery, and in this Great Prison. In all these circumstances We give thanks to God and have accepted what befell Us at the hands of those who were heedless of God, the Almighty, the Powerful.
We make mention of thy father, through whom the lips of mystical knowledge smiled throughout all possibility and who attained the presence of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. We have remembered him in such wise as nothing on earth can equal, and We remember him throughout the everlasting dominion of the kingdom, for We are indeed the Compassionate, the Generous.
O Rida! Rejoice that the Lord of Names makes mention of thee from the prison with such remembrance as draws to it the Concourse on High, the dwellers of Paradise, and those who circle round the Throne at morn and eventide. Blessed is he who turns to thee and visits thee, as ordained by My Most Exalted Pen, and stands before thy noble resting place. Thou art he who turned to God’s horizon and set thy face toward Him on a day when every heedless and remote soul turned away.
The first remembrance uttered by the tongue of the Ancient of Days among the nations is upon thee, O thou who speaks in remembrance of God and who has turned thy face to Him after the passing of all things. I bear witness that thou didst drink the sealed wine from the hand of His Name, the Self-Subsisting, cast vain imaginings behind thee, and took firm hold of certitude through the power proceeding from God, the Strong, the Mighty, the Glorious, the Praiseworthy. Blessed art thou, for thy head hath been adorned with the crown of acceptance and thy temple with the ornament of God’s favor in His wondrous Day. Glory and remembrance and spirit and peace and the fragrant breezes wafting from the garment of thy Lord’s mercy be upon thee, O thou who hast attained the favor of thy Lord when He came with manifest sovereignty.
As to thy mention of the people of Saysan and the enkindled souls, God willing, may they all attain His grace. This prayer has now been answered. A most mighty and holy Tablet has been revealed specifically for those accepted and assured souls, who have previously also been blessed with divine Tablets. His word, exalted be His glory and majesty:
In the Name of the All-Seeing, the Peerless One
I announce to the beloved ones of Saysan glad tidings through the bounty of the All-Merciful. All are and have been beneath the gaze of His grace and have taken up their abode in the shadow of the lofty divine Tree. Reflect upon God’s bounty: the divines of the world who counted themselves the most learned, knowledgeable, understanding and exalted among all peoples have not attained to a drop from the ocean of utterance nor been honored with mention before the All-Merciful. Yet those souls have, through God’s grace—exalted be His glory—attained to such a station that the Supreme Pen in the Most Great Prison is engaged in their mention. Exalted be this most high and resplendent station, and exalted be this most great and sublime mention!
Who can fulfill the obligation of gratitude to God? By the Sun of Truth that shineth from the horizon of this Prison, if a soul possessed tongues numbering as the atoms and offered praise and thanksgiving from the beginning that hath no beginning to the end that hath no end, it would not equal a single “O My servant” issuing from the Dayspring of utterance. And now the tongue of the All-Merciful speaketh “O My loved ones in Saysan.” God willing, may all regard this station as mighty and strive to become aware of its greatness. And if they truly attain to this station, they will find themselves detached from the world and all therein.
O friends! The Beloved of all creation maketh mention of you and hath designated for each one a station in the Kingdom of grace. Rejoice in what God announceth unto you. He is verily the Forgiving, the Merciful. We have mentioned you before in verses which none hath comprehended save God, the Numberer, the All-Knowing. We bid you observe wisdom and guide you to His straight path. Hold fast to the cord of wisdom and deal with the servants lest the clamor of those who are heedless of My mighty Cause be raised. The glory be upon you and upon My handmaidens there who have heard and responded to that which hath been raised from My luminous horizon.
That which was revealed aforetime specifically for the friends of God in Saysan is such that its fragrance shall never be cut off from the world. Praise be to God, the cloud of bounty is raised up in such wise that it encompasseth every atom, how much more those souls who have turned to God and are at peace, who have drunk from the chalice of certitude and attained the station of assurance. They have a station with their Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. This servant, with the utmost humility and contrition, conveyeth his greetings to each one of them as an expression of his sincerity toward them and proclamation of his love for them.
As to what was written regarding the mention of the friends of God and their gathering in the house of Aqa Muhammad Hasan—upon them and upon him be the glory of God—these matters were presented before the Beloved of the worlds. This most mighty and holy Tablet hath risen and shone forth from the horizon of the will of the Lord of Oneness specifically for those souls and the owner of that house. God willing, may they be illumined by its lights and drink from the ocean of its meanings. He is verily the All-Bountiful, the Generous. His word—exalted be His grandeur:
In My Name, the Expositor, the All-Knowing
The Tongue of Grandeur gives glad tidings to those who have gathered for the remembrance of God and have drunk, in His name, from the Kawthar of praise. These are sincere servants upon whom the denizens of the supreme Paradise pray, and behind whom stand the near-stationed angels. Blessed is the ear that has attained to the hearing of My verses and blessed the house wherein My forbidden remembrance is raised. We created the servants for My remembrance, My praise and the service of My Cause; yet when I manifested My Self, they turned away from Me, save whom God, the Sovereign, the Self-Subsisting, willed. O loved ones of the All-Merciful! Arise for remembrance and praise in such wise that the world shall not withhold you. Thus doth the Lord of Names make mention of you. He, verily, is the Compassionate, the Mighty, the Loving. Rejoice in that ye have been mentioned in the presence of the Wronged One and in that this irrevocable Book hath been sent down unto you. Glory be upon you and upon those whom the might of the divines hath not deterred from God, the Lord of all that was and that shall be.
The names of those assured souls whom you mentioned and who were present in that house for the remembrance of God were submitted, and each, by God’s grace and favor, attained His true bounties. He giveth and withholdeth, and He is the Omnipotent, the All-Powerful. Moreover, praise and thanks be to God that mention hath been and is being made of J.B, upon him be the Glory of God. The gaze of favor is directed towards him. In these days, this evanescent one repeatedly heard mention of him from the Tongue of Grandeur. God willing, may he be assisted in accordance with the wisdom sent down. The servant beareth witness that he hath attained to turning unto God, to His love, His service, His remembrance and His praise, and assuredly they shall attain the recompense of these deeds. Verily our Lord, the All-Merciful, is the Forgiving, the Generous, the Benevolent, the Merciful, the Bestower, the Compassionate, the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.
Section 3: “And in another letter you mentioned the elevated…”
And in another letter you mentioned the elevated Jinab-i-Dhabih, upon him be the Glory of God and His mercy. A special Tablet was revealed for Aqa Mirza Ghulam-ʿAli, upon him be the Glory of God, wherein mention of him who ascended flowed from the Supreme Pen. May he ever be and continue to be the recipient of God’s favors. His word, exalted be His grandeur:
He is the Most Ancient, the Most Great, the Most Glorious
The inner meanings have soared for a thousand years to attain to the station of this Word which the Tongue of God, the Sovereign, the Self-Subsisting, hath uttered. The Spirit hath soared through centuries which none can reckon save God, to visit this Body that walketh in the Supreme Paradise which hath been named, by the Tongue of God, the Lord of the seen and unseen, as the Most Great Prison. God hath testified unto His own Self that He hath appeared in truth and speaketh in this Castle wherein all matters have been confined to the mention of this Most Great Remembrance through which the great terror hath appeared in the world and every heedless and veiled one hath lamented.
O servant! The Lord of all beings makes mention of thee and calls to thy remembrance the time when thou didst stand before His presence at the gate which was opened by the finger of might unto all who are in the heavens and on earth. Thus does the Ancient Beauty speak from this exalted station. Look thou and remember when thou didst hear the call of thy Lord, and He conversed with thee with loving-kindness and grace. Verily thy Lord is the Mighty, the Loving. We make mention of thy father who attained the ornament of certitude and testified to that which God had testified, and uttered that which was inscribed in the Preserved Tablet. We bear witness that he hesitated not in this Cause, and when he heard the call from the direction of his Lord, the Lord of Names, he said:
“Here am I, here am I, O God of the seen and unseen!”
He heard and responded and submitted when the Command came to him from the Dawning-Place of the revelation of his Lord, the Lord of existence. We have adorned the heaven of his heart with the luminary of My love, the Mighty, the Beloved. He attained the pure wine when Iraq was Our Greatest Scene. He took and drank in My Blessed Name, the Mighty, the Inaccessible. Once he attained in Iraq and again when the heedless expelled Us from the Land of Mystery. Thus does the Ancient Beauty speak before the face of the world, but most of the people understand not.
O Dhabih! Thy Lord makes mention of thee and of what befell thee in this path wherein the Guide Himself was guided by what was attributed to God, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. I testify that thou didst believe in God when He appeared with the truth, and neither the veils of learning nor the imaginings of those who denied God, the Lord of the worlds, held thee back. Thou didst cast away what was with the people and took what was with God, thy Lord and the Lord of the glorious throne. Thou didst turn away from the people, turning unto My Self-Subsisting Name, and abandoned all else in thy longing for the presence of God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. Thou art he whom neither the howling of wolves frightened nor the barking of those who turned away from the truth, clinging to their vain imaginings—verily they are in manifest loss.
O Dhabih! The Goal of the world has turned toward thee and makes mention of thee with that which quickeneth every mouldering bone. He remembers thee and remembers thy days and what thou didst utter on this mighty, wondrous path. Thou art he who took hold of the Book with the power of thy Lord and cast aside the book of the wicked in the lowest depths of hell. Thou art he who acknowledged what God had acknowledged and drank the wine of steadfastness on a day wherein the limbs of all names trembled and all who dwell in the kingdom of creation were shaken. Verily thy Lord is the Rememberer, the Compassionate, the Generous. Thou didst hear for God’s sake the taunts of every oppressor and didst bear from the aggressors that which caused every just and discerning one to weep.
Blessed art thou and blessed is he who draws nigh unto thee and makes mention of thee with that which the Most Great Remembrance hath uttered, through whose name the gate of heaven was opened and the sea of names surged and the fragrance of God, the Forgiving, the Merciful, was wafted. The peace that shone forth from the horizon of the Abode of Peace and the glory that dawned and gleamed from the horizon of eternity be upon thee and upon him who speaks in remembrance and praise of thee and visits thy grave, by the command of a mighty and powerful Ordainer.
Is there any tongue in the world worthy of thanksgiving or deserving of praise? Even if all the oceans with their waves, the whole world with its winds, the trees with their branches and leaves and fruits, the earth with its grass and all that is upon it of hills and mountains and thickets, and the heavens with all that is therein of suns and stars and moons, were to speak in praise of the Beloved of all horizons, they would surely confess their shortcoming and acknowledge their failure to attain. Not an atom’s weight of deeds is lost or will be lost in the Most Holy Court.
O beloved of my heart! Reflect upon the oceans of mercy, compassion and bounty of God, exalted be His glory. If a soul has uttered or utters one word for the sake of God, its recompense has been and will be recorded by the Supreme Pen in the most excellent manner. There are many matters which this servant, due to lack of permission, has veiled. One of the mirrors of divine knowledge is the manifestation of the Name “Swift to Account.” God is Most Great! The mention of this station is most mighty and great. That mirror, moment by moment, reflects the movements, stillness, utterances, gestures, signs and manifestations of the world.
At one time, out of pure grace, this evanescent servant was summoned to His presence, and by His command, less than that was revealed to this servant—I was nearly struck with thunderous awe. This word is not of suppositions and imaginings, but rather is the manifestation of the countenance of certitude. There is no power nor strength except through Him. What more can be said of the mirrors above that? All matters are in the grasp of His power and dependent upon His leave, His will and His desire. This evanescent servant beseeches God, exalted be His glory, not to leave him to himself in any condition and to keep him steadfast through His grace. Verily, He is my Protector in this world and the next.
Praise be to God! All that your honor sought from the Goal of the worlds was granted, one after another. This is attested by what was revealed concerning him whose mention you desired, from God, the Single, the All-Informed. That beloved one should convey to His Honor Aqa Mirza Ghulam-ʿAli, upon him be the Glory of God, and to those who have ascended, what has been revealed. The mention of glorification from this evanescent one to them is dependent upon the grace of that beloved one. And concerning what you wrote about His Honor Aqa Muhammad-Rida, upon him be the Glory of God, son of him who circumambulated the Throne and attained the presence—the Kawthar of reunion in numbered months—blessed be he and may it be wholesome unto him! The Tongue of Grandeur has testified to his humility and submissiveness before God, the Self-Sufficient, the Most High. These details were presented in the presence of Him from Whose knowledge nothing is hidden, and these wondrous, sublime, decisive and comprehensive verses were revealed from the horizon of grace of the King of Oneness. His word, exalted be His grandeur:
In the name of the One, the Seeing God
The lights of the Manifestation have encompassed the world to such an extent that every stone of Sinai cries out with the same cry as did the Burning Bush, yet the people of the earth have not succeeded in hearing it, save for a few souls who have drunk of the wine of immortality in the name of Baha and have become purified and cleansed from the dust of the world. Every person of insight in the past has been occupied with the mention of this most exalted, most mighty, most holy Day, beseeching from God, exalted be His glory, the blessing of attaining His presence. But since the understanding of the people and their power of recognition were tainted with idle fancies and vain imaginings, they remained deprived of the Dawning Place of the hidden Mystery and the treasured Secret, and were forbidden from the lights of the Sun of certitude.
Give thanks to the Beloved of the world that He assisted thee to turn unto a Cause from which the learned of the age have turned away. Blessed are they whom the might of the Pharaohs—namely, the divines—did not prevent from the most pure wine, nor deprive of the most great prospect. Remember those days when the Exalted Name was circumambulating and engaged in service. Blessed be he and his days. Verily, he did not violate God’s Covenant and His Testament. He was recorded by the Pen of Command as one of the faithful. Be not grieved by the world and its conflicts and conditions. That which endureth not is unworthy of mention and attention. God willing, strive after that which is worthy and befitting. Great is this Day and mighty His Cause. Not every blind one is capable of beholding, nor every deaf one worthy of hearing. Know thou the value of the station thou hast attained, and preserve it in the name of the Preserver. Blessed is he who remaineth steadfast in this mighty Cause. We have mentioned thee before, and thy father. Verily thy Lord is the All-Bountiful, the Generous. Glory be upon thee and upon those who have preceded others in recognizing God, the Lord of this luminous Day.
Praise be to God! The Sun of loving-kindness hath risen, and He hath bestowed upon each of the friends and loved ones who are turned toward the Most Exalted Horizon a portion and share of His light. He is verily the All-Bountiful, the Generous, the Bestower, the Munificent.
As to their request for permission to visit—in these days this land is somewhat disturbed, and this inner turmoil was previously revealed from the Most Exalted Pen and foretold. He is verily the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Therefore, turning hither is not permitted. The Command is in His hands. He writeth for whomsoever He willeth the reward of attaining His presence. He is the All-Bountiful, the Mighty, the Wise. This evanescent one conveyeth greetings and salutations to the one mentioned, upon him be the glory of God, and beseecheth God that he may ever be found in the gathering of the people of Baha with a luminous countenance and an illumined heart, giving voice to the praise of the peerless Friend.
As regards what you wrote about Jinab-i-Aqa ʿAli-i-Milani, who attained permission and returned with permission—in truth he is enkindled with the fire of the love of God. A few days ago, this evanescent one heard mention of him from the blessed tongue of the Truth, exalted be His glory. The servant testifies that he attained the presence and drank the wine of immortality. Blessed is he for what he drank, and blessed am I for mentioning him out of love for God, our Lord and your Lord, our Beloved and your Beloved, and the Beloved of all who are in the heavens and the earth. Some time ago, a Most Holy, Most Exalted Tablet was specifically revealed and sent to him, that it might bring joy to the eyes of the people in the cities of names who have held fast to the cord of the favor of their Lord, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious.
As for the aforementioned one’s request for mention and favor from the Truth, exalted be His glory, on behalf of Jinab-i-Aqa Muhammad Ja’far and Aqa Muhammad Husayn and his sister—this request was granted by the True Desired One, may the spirit of all in the kingdom of command and creation be sacrificed for Him. Verily He is the Answerer of every supplicant, the Giver to every seeker, the Helper of every weak one, the Haven of every stranger, and the Goal of every wayfarer.
This is what was sent down from the Kingdom of Utterance to him who was named Muhammad Ja’far. His word, exalted be His grandeur:
In My Most Holy, Most Glorious Name
This is a Book sent down by the All-Bountiful to him who answered his Lord when He came with the truth to guide all to His straight path. Verily He has appeared with grace and manifested with justice what He desired. He is, in truth, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Those who have heard and responded, they are indeed of the people of this noble scene. The Concourse on High pray for them and those who circle round the will of their Lord, the All-Informed.
How many a servant has attained this most exalted station, and how many a servant has denied and turned away from God, the One, the Single, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. Blessed art thou, O Ja’far, for having desired to drink the most pure wine from the hand of the Lord of Destiny, Who speaks from His most great scene:
“Verily there is no God but Me, the Manifest, the Speaking, the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.”
Section 4: “When thou dost find My fragrance from My…”
When thou dost find My fragrance from My utterance and the wine of My verses intoxicates thee, turn thy face toward My prison and say:
“I testify that Thou hast manifested what was hidden in the treasury of the Unseen, and made clear what was concealed in knowledge and inscribed in the Books of God, the Lord of the worlds. My spirit be a sacrifice for Thy prison, O Thou Wronged One, the Stranger. My soul be a sacrifice for Thy sorrow, O Thou Who hast borne hardships in Thy straight path. I beseech Thee to assist me to be steadfast in this Cause whereby the feet of the mystics have slipped. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.”
And this is what was sent down from the Heaven of Proof to him who was named Muhammad Husayn. His word, exalted be His majesty:
In My Name, the One Who Rules over all names
The Book hath been sent down by the Lord of the Throne and of earth unto him who hath turned unto the Dayspring of Revelation, that he may rejoice and be of them that are thankful. O Muhammad-Qabl-i-Husayn! Hearken unto the call of the Wronged One, from Whom His servants have turned away and against Whom every remote scholar hath objected. He calleth at all times them that are in the contingent world unto the All-Merciful, yet most of the people are in manifest error. They have cast their God behind their backs, turning instead unto those who have followed without any clear proof from God, the Lord of all worlds. Grieve not at anything, place thy trust in all matters in the Strong, the Almighty. He is with those who have believed—He witnesseth and seeth, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. Not a thing escapeth His knowledge, nor can the power of the mighty weaken Him. He is, verily, the Omnipotent, the Almighty.
O people of Baha! Abandon that which leadeth you to extinction. Take the cup of immortality in My Most Generous Name. Thus have We illumined the horizon of the Book with the mention of God, the Lord of all men, and have sent down that which delighteth the eyes of them that are nigh. Glory be upon the people of Baha, who have not broken God’s Covenant and His Testament, and who have been so inebriated with the choice wine of their Lord’s utterance that they have cast the world and its peoples behind their backs, turning unto the ocean of light in this Revelation, at whose appearance all faces prostrated themselves before God, the Lord of all worlds.
And this is what was sent down from the Kingdom of Grace to His sister:
In the name of the Beloved of all worlds
O handmaiden of God! If thou didst know the value of this blessed word, thou wouldst forsake the world out of joy and occupy thyself with the mention of the Peerless One. How many kings and queens of the world who, throughout the nights and days, beseeched God, exalted be His glory, to grant them the presence of the Dawning-Place of His verses, yet remained deprived of Him on the day of His appearance. They neither perceived the fragrance of His raiment nor hearkened unto His call, returning to their abodes in complete heedlessness.
O handmaiden of God! Thy mention hath been made in the Most Holy Court, and the Wronged One of the horizons hath remembered thee with these brilliant words. Know thou thy station and recognize the rank of this Cause, and beseech God, exalted be His glory, at all times to adorn thee with the ornament of steadfastness and to keep thee sanctified and pure from the doubts and allusions of the people. Verily thy Lord is the One with power over whatsoever He willeth, and in His grasp are the reins of all who are in the kingdoms of creation. He is, verily, the Overseer, the Omnipotent, the Almighty.
Furthermore, let that beloved one convey these Tablets in whatever manner he deemeth advisable, that they may become the cause of joy, tranquility and steadfastness. Verily, He guideth whom He willeth unto His presence, the Mighty, the Wondrous, and sendeth down for whomsoever He willeth that which draweth him nigh unto Him, and He is the Forgiving, the Generous. All the letters of that beloved one, adorned with supplications to God, glorified and exalted be He, reached the Most Holy and Most Glorious Court, and all that was requested was presented before the Presence of the Desired One of all worlds. This is what the Tongue of Grandeur hath spoken, exalted be His majesty:
O Varqa! O you who speak in praise of the Lord of Names! Give praise to the Beloved of the worlds, in that you have attained to that which was the purpose of the world’s existence. You have heard and turned to God and won the presence of God, the Lord of the worlds. All existence is for this: that souls might attain to the word of acceptance from the Supreme Pen. With a hundred thousand tongues must thanks be rendered for your attainment to this station. Preserve this bounty and be of the thankful ones. The glances of God’s favor have been and will ever be directed towards you.
God willing, you shall at all times achieve that which He loves and with which He is well-pleased. Convey My greetings to the friends of God in every land and place you visit, and make them aware of what befits this Most Holy and Most Luminous Day, that perchance the doubts and imaginings of the divines and the world’s distractions may not withhold God’s loved ones from the Most Pure Nectar. We enjoin upon all goodly deeds and spiritual qualities, that the fragrance of deeds may enlighten the world and reveal the purpose of the appearance of the True One, exalted be His glory, and likewise that the fragrance of virtues may gladden and bring joy to the Concourse on High.
Say: Today the Tree of Fire is ablaze, speaking, and manifest at the heart of the seas. Strive that you may not be deprived of the lights of His manifestation. Man must not be seen as inferior to dry kindling—a single flame can set alight a whole wilderness of wood, yet now an entire world of fire appears before all faces, and an ocean of light is manifest and visible from the light of His countenance. Hearken to the call of the Peerless Friend and with perfect steadfastness and certitude hold fast to His mention, praise, and the teaching of His Cause, which is the greatest of all deeds. In all circumstances you must be mindful of wisdom. O Warqa!
O you who circle round Me, who gaze upon My face and speak My praise! We, from this station, send Our greetings and peace upon you and upon those who hearken to your words concerning the Cause of God, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting.
In regard to what you had mentioned concerning the honored Aqa Mirza Mihdi and Aqa Mirza Sulayman, upon them be the glory of God, this is what God hath revealed for him who is named Mihdi, upon him be Baha’u’llah:
He it is who rideth upon the Clouds
Glorified be He Who hath manifested whatsoever He desired and made known unto all His clear and straight pathway, and guided His servants unto the Dayspring of knowledge, and sent down for them that whereby the fragrance of divine recognition hath been diffused throughout all creation. Verily, He is the Ancient Revealer, the Speaker of Sinai Who calleth and summoneth mankind unto that which He willeth. And I am the Ruler over whatsoever I desire.
O Mihdi! Glorify the Name of thy Lord, then make mention of Him with the supplications of the sincere ones. Blessed are they who have humbled themselves before the verses of their Lord, and well is it with thee for having quaffed from the Kawthar of My love, the Mighty, the Wondrous. Verily, We made mention of thee aforetime, and in this luminous Tablet. Be thou steadfast in the Cause and eloquent in this Most Great Name. Blessed art thou and thy father who sought the Object of his quest and ascended unto God, the Lord of all the worlds. We were present at the time of his ascension, and We are the Hearer, the Answerer. Beware lest the affairs of the people sadden thee. Place thy trust in all matters upon the True One, the Sovereign of this Impregnable Day. We shall confirm thee in the service of the Cause and enable thee to achieve that which thou hast purposed in the days of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Upon thee be glory, and upon every sincere soul who turneth towards Him with uprightness. End.
And this is what the All-Merciful hath revealed for him who is named Sulayman—He speaketh, exalted be His grandeur:
He is the Most Holy, the Most Great, the Most Glorious
O Sulayman! The days draw near to their end, and the people of the earth are seen to be in manifest heedlessness and evident error. The tongue of morn speaketh “The Truth hath come,” and the Day proclaimeth “I am the Day of God,” and all things declare “The Mother Book hath been sent down.” Few are the ears that attain unto the call, and few the hearts that are adorned with the love of God, the Lord of Names. Morning and evening, the peoples of the earth, of diverse faiths, turn to mosques, temples, shrines and churches for the remembrance of God, yet remain heedless of Him Who is remembered. The One remembered standeth before their eyes, yet they remain veiled and recognize Him not.
They hear, yet comprehend not. All this heedlessness and error and ignorance that hath encompassed the world—its primary cause hath been and is the divines of the earth, for they have devised vain imaginings and through countless wiles and promptings have instilled these into the minds of the ignorant of the earth. So long as these imaginings persist, they remain deprived of the splendors of the Sun of certitude. Thus both they and their hapless followers are forbidden the outpouring grace and deprived of that which profiteth them. Were the rulers of the earth truly obedient to these heedless souls, the Truth and its evidences would not be found in the world save with those souls who are sanctified from the doubts, veils and imaginings of men.
They are honored in the name of Truth, yet in the abasement of Truth they cling to diverse means. Would that they were content with this! Nay, by My life! Every possessor of insight witnesseth the traces of the oppression of those heedless ones.
Blessed is the learned one who hath recognized Him Who is the Known. Strange that despite such deeds, they reject the divines of other lands and regions, counting themselves the saviors, guides, most learned and most God-fearing. Perdition betide them and those who follow them without proof, evidence, testimony or sign! O Sulayman! Praise the Beloved of all creation, Who aided thee to recognize this bounty the like of which heaven hath not witnessed nor earth borne. Rejoice thou and be of the thankful. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.
These two most holy, most exalted Tablets were revealed from the heaven of favor for two brothers. God willing, may they attain His presence, perceive their fragrance, and arise to accomplish that which God hath willed.
At one time this exalted word shone forth from the Dayspring of the Kingdom of utterance—exalted be His glory:
The essence of knowledge hath appeared as a bird, singing between earth and heaven this most exalted word in the sweetest of melodies:
“O people of the world! Set aside your wishes and desires, and take what God, your Beloved and your Goal, hath willed.”
May God grant that all the friends, chosen ones and pure ones of God attain to this most exalted station.
Concerning what thou didst write about Aqa Mirza Muhammad-Taqi, upon him be the Glory of God, mention of him and his circumstances were submitted in the Most Holy, Most Exalted, Most Glorious Presence. A Tablet hath dawned from the horizon of grace. God willing, may he attain unto its presence and be sustained by the Kawthar of the utterance of the All-Merciful. His words, exalted be His grandeur:
In the Name of the Peerless Friend
Today the teaching of God’s Cause is the greatest of all deeds and ever shall be, but it must be done with such wisdom as has been decreed by the Most Exalted Pen. The Truth, exalted be His glory, hath appeared for the reformation of the world, that all upon earth may be seen as one soul. He hath commanded all to speak in one language and to adopt one script, that the whole earth may be regarded as one homeland. We have uttered this exalted Word so that the rays of the Sun of Justice may illumine all the differing parties and lead them to the station of unity. Glory is not to him who loveth his country, but to him who loveth the world. Should anyone hearken to the song of this Bird of Inner Meanings, which wingeth its flight in this luminous atmosphere, he will be adorned with the ornament of supreme detachment. This is the true meaning of liberty, but most people are unaware of it.
For the teaching of the Cause, conditions have been revealed in God’s Book. The peoples of the earth are seen as children; therefore one must first speak to them with mild and gentle words which are like milk, that through education they may attain to maturity, which is the station of recognition of God. We have formerly said that one word is like milk and another like a sword. Blessed is he who acteth with wisdom and depositeth the Word of God in blessed and goodly soil.
Thy mention hath been made before the Wronged One, both before and after, and the glance of His favor is directed towards thee. God willing, thou shalt drink from the ocean of wisdom and knowledge and engage in that which is acceptable this day. As this land is somewhat in motion, We have therefore paused in giving permission. He verily ordaineth for whomsoever He willeth and prescribeth for whomsoever He desireth the reward of His presence, the Mighty, the Wondrous. Give thanks unto God for having made thee attain unto this Most Great, this Impregnable Tablet, and for having revealed for thee that which shall not change throughout the duration of the names of God, the Lord of all worlds. The end.
Section 5: “And as for what thou didst write concerning…”
And as for what thou didst write concerning his attaining the presence of His Holiness the King of Martyrs, may my spirit be a sacrifice for his sacred dust, and his companionship with him—how pleasing and delightful this is for him! Praise be to God that he hath been blessed with that which God desired and hath attained the presence of him who loved God and whom God loved. This evanescent servant conveyeth his greetings to him and giveth him the glad tidings of the favor of God, exalted be His glory.
And concerning what thou didst write about His Honor Mirza Jalil, upon him be the Glory of God, the Mighty, the Beautiful King—some time ago a Most Holy, Most Exalted Tablet was revealed specially for him and was sent with the son of His Honor Haji Ahha, upon him be the Glory of God, and this is yet another bounty upon you both. Verily our Lord, the All-Merciful, is the Compassionate, the Responsive. His word, exalted be His grandeur:
He is the One Who speaketh in the Kingdom of Utterance
Today is the Day of mention and utterance, and today is the Day in which its proof and essence calls out between the worlds, saying: O people of earth! If you are thirsty, the Choice Wine has been unsealed and flows forth from the Finger of the Self-Subsisting—deprive not yourselves of it. If you seek the Manifestation, the Hidden and Treasured Lord is visible and evident. If you seek verses, the horizons are filled with them. If you seek proofs, they have appeared in such wise that none deny them save every sinful transgressor. Say: O friends! The Sun of Truth has risen from the horizon of the world and the Ocean of Knowledge is manifest before all faces. Deprive not yourselves and withhold not yourselves from God’s infinite bounties.
Today is the Day of sight, for the Face of God is risen and manifest from the Most Exalted Horizon. It is the Day of hearing, for the Call of God, exalted be His glory, is raised. O people of Baha! The Crimson Ark awaits you in the midst of the Most Great Sea. Turn ye unto it, then embark upon it in the Name of God, the Lord of Names and Creator of Heaven. O Jalil! God willing, thou shalt kindle cold souls with the fire of the Friend, and bestow upon the thirsty ones the Living Waters in the name of the True One. Arise with perfect steadfastness to serve the Cause of the Lord of all beings, and with His mention, conquer hearts and souls, that all may attain to that for which the worlds were created. Say:
Glory be to Thee, O my God, my Beloved, my Purpose, the Master of my destiny, and the Sovereign over my spirit, my soul, my essence and my frame! I beseech Thee by the ocean of Thy utterance and the lights of the Sun of Thy countenance to […] make my mention and my call effective in the hearts of Thy servants and a living water for the dead among the people of Thy realm. Move them, O my God, by the hands of Thy grace, then grant them the sweet flowing waters of Thy knowledge. O Lord! Thou art He Whose grace hath preceded all, Whose generosity hath encompassed all, and Whose mercy hath embraced all. Take the hands of Thy servants through Thy loving-kindness, then deliver them from the depths of self and passion. Verily Thou art the Lord of all creation and the Master of the hereafter and the former times. There is no God but Thee, the All-Forgiving, the Most Generous.
God willing, through this Most Holy, Most Exalted Tablet, the dead in the valley of heedlessness shall be quickened and attain unto new life. Whosoever speaks for God’s sake with moderation this day, assuredly his utterance will be effective, his mention prevailing, and his will victorious. Every matter is difficult for us but not difficult for God. Convey my greetings to his honor and express my complete sincerity, and I beseech the Exalted Truth to manifest through him that which shall be eternally remembered and preserved in the book of the world. Verily He is the Powerful, the Mighty. There is no God but Him, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
Concerning what was written about the friends attaining the presence of his honor Aqa Mirza ʿA.B., upon him be the Glory of God, on Friday—blessed are the people of Baha whom the heat of the love of God has so seized that the near ones behold the radiance of the All-Merciful in their faces and hear His beautiful praise from their tongues. This matter was presented in the Most Holy, Most Exalted Court, and these blessed, decisive words were sent down from the heaven of favor—His words, exalted be His grandeur:
They who in this day speak forth the praise of God and remain firm and steadfast in His Cause—upon them shall the Concourse on high send down their blessings both at eventide and at dawn. Blessed is the house that hath been illumined with the light of My remembrance, and wherein the voice of My loved ones hath been raised—they who have cast behind them all else save Me and followed that which was ordained in My perspicuous Book. His honour A.B., upon him be My glory, hath attained, praise be to God, unto the mention of the Truth, the grace of the Truth, and service to the Truth. This station is, in the sight of God, more exalted than what hath been witnessed. May he, God willing, ever remain steadfast therein, but with wisdom.
O Varqa! O thou who gazest toward the Most Sublime Horizon! In all circumstances hold fast to wisdom and cleave thereunto. The gatherings of friends, when they exceed the bounds of moderation, will become a cause of agitation among souls, for until this time the people of the earth, their divines, and their rulers have not been informed of the purpose of God, exalted be His glory. Through the instigation of certain ignorant ones who consider themselves learned men of the earth, they have regarded and continue to regard the Source of Divine Revelation and the Dawning-Place of inspiration as the cause and origin of sedition and the fountainhead of mischief. For this reason, they have considered the gatherings of the friends of God as a means of disrupting people and scattering what they possess. Therefore, in all matters one must observe moderation, owing to the weakness of heedless souls. I swear by the reality of the Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing that were they to gain awareness even less than a needle’s eye and become cognizant, all would soar on the wings of longing and yearning and hasten toward their Ultimate Goal, the Most Exalted Summit and the Supreme End.
Greed hath deprived the people of the world from the All-Possessing Lord. They know not what hath come to pass and what tidings have appeared, for they have neither sought nor do they seek enlightenment. In one of Our Tablets We have stated that the eyelid, thin as it is, can deprive the physical eye from beholding the world and all that is therein. Consider then what the veil of greed will do when it descends upon the heart. The fire of fancy hath consumed the world; conjectures and idle fancies have darkened man’s realm of perception. The rulers of the earth are not, in truth, opposed to anyone’s religion or faith today, but when they observe any gathering that might lead to the association and coming together of people, they exercise the utmost caution and restraint, for various forms of mischief and sedition have arisen from such matters in the past. Now, when they witness people’s inclination toward this Cause, they make comparisons with the past and arise to obstruct and prevent it.
Implore God to enable those souls to partake of a drop from the ocean of knowledge and to illumine them with a ray from the Sun of wisdom, that all may become sanctified from their own desires and arise to carry out the Divine Will, that they may not compare this Cause, which is the Source of life to the world and the Dawning-Place of its cultivation, with past events, and that they may distinguish between corruption and righteousness. God, exalted be His glory, is able to raise up one among the rulers who will become informed and enlighten others. The tongue of wisdom declareth: Grant unto each day that which befitteth it; observe the requirements of every hour. Verily, He doeth what is right and guideth to the straight path. The Command is God’s, the Mighty, the Beauteous.
O Varqa! I have said before: “Believe not every speaker, nor trust every newcomer” and the like. Nevertheless, some of the friends accept anyone upon mere claim and consider him trustworthy. This hath been and will continue to be an error. Although, praise be to God, the gatherings, meetings, and assemblies of the loved ones are sanctified and free from sedition and mischief, yet knowledge of such gatherings and the coming and going of God’s friends is a matter that stirreth up the hearts and thoughts of the heedless ones. Since they are unaware of the fundamental nature of the Cause, they become agitated by such matters.
Since those who are heedless are unaware of the essence of the Cause, they become disturbed by these matters and strive with all their might to extinguish the divine light, though they were and are powerless to do so. Thus have We cast upon thee that which telleth of My grace, My mercy, My loving-kindness, My tenderness and My bounties, that thou mayest thank thy Lord, the Compassionate, the Generous.
God willing, through the attention of that beloved one, these matters in those lands shall be adorned with the ornament of rectification. Great care must be taken in preserving the divine Tablets, and supreme effort is obligatory. Likewise, in concealing the epistles and Tablets that are sent from the Most Holy Court to various regions, effort must be made to the utmost degree. For if some weakling or hypocrite should become aware and make mention of it, harm might come to the Most Holy Court or to the friends of God in various regions. In any case, the concealment and secrecy of these matters is necessary and is counted as prudence. God willing, that beloved one, through the loving-kindness of the Beloved of the worlds, is assisted and confirmed in service to the Cause. Verily, He is the Protector of the sincere ones.
As for thy question regarding the passage about interpretation [ta’wil] that was revealed by the Most Exalted Pen in the Kitab-i-Aqdas, it was presented at the Most Holy and Most Exalted Court. This is what the Tongue of Grandeur spoke:
The purpose of interpretation is that they should not deprive themselves of the outward meaning nor remain veiled from the intended meaning. For instance, if from the heaven of Divine Will it is revealed “wash your faces”, they should not interpret it to mean that the intent of washing is to wash the inner face and that it must be cleansed with the water of knowledge, and similar interpretations. Often it happens that due to such interpretations, a person’s face remains soiled and unclean while in their imagination they have fulfilled God’s command, whereas in this instance it is clear and evident that it means washing the face with physical water.
Some divine words can be interpreted, that is, interpretations that do not cause doubts and delusions and do not deprive one of the divine purpose. Reflect on what the All-Merciful has revealed in the Qur’an, His exalted Word: “And whoever has been given wisdom has certainly been given much good.” Some maintain that by wisdom is meant the divine laws revealed in the Book. Others hold that this wisdom refers to medical science, and whoever attains it has attained much good, as it pertains to humanity and knowledge of bodies, and this science is nobler than other sciences, as the tongue of wisdom has previously uttered this supreme word: “Knowledge is of two kinds: knowledge of bodies and knowledge of religions.” Knowledge of bodies is given precedence in this blessed word, and in truth it is precedent, for the manifestation of truth and divine laws have all been and will be for the education of humanity, its advancement, and the preservation of the people of the world and the like. Therefore, whatever causes and leads to the preservation, health and well-being of human existence has been and will be precedent.
This point is clear and evident. Some believe that wisdom is the knowledge of the realities of things, and whoever attains this station will possess lofty stations. Some hold that wisdom is acting upon that which benefits humanity; whoever succeeds in this has much good. Many believe that wisdom is that which preserves man from what debases him and guides him to what exalts him. Some maintain that wisdom is the science of association with people and treating servants of God with moderation. Others have said that wisdom is theology according to the principles of previous philosophers. Likewise, they have said wisdom is the knowledge of substances and accidents, as well as astronomy and the like. Some have said wisdom is the knowledge of livelihood in this world.
Some assert that wisdom is the knowledge of principles. Some souls maintain that wisdom pertains to matters of justice, which is and will be giving each their due right. Some believe it is the knowledge of the elixir—whoever attains it has attained much good. Some hold it to be geometry and similar sciences. Each group, according to their understanding, has presented proofs and evidence for each of what has been mentioned, which if detailed would add to weariness. Glory be to Him Who spoke this supreme word: “The beginning of wisdom is the fear of God,” for the fear and awe of God restraineth man from whatsoever causeth abasement and degradation of the human station, and aideth him in that which leadeth to elevation and glory.
The wise man avoideth shameful deeds, for he beholdeth punishment in their wake. The pavilion of world order is upheld upon two pillars: Reward and Punishment. Some time ago this blessed verse shone forth from the Dayspring of utterance: “Justice hath a mighty force. It is none other than reward and punishment for men’s actions. By these two are the tent of order raised up in the world, and every transgressor restraineth his own self, through fear of retribution.” Thus hath spoken the Lord of Names; He, verily, is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.
Section 6: “In the past, certain souls have called themselves…”
In the past, certain souls have called themselves people of the Path, as evidenced by their traces that exist in the world today. Various groups have each adopted a path, whereby Islam became divided and channels branched off from the Most Great Ocean, until at length there befell the religion of God that which did befall it. Islam, with all its mighty power, was transformed through the deeds and actions of those who claimed adherence to it into utter weakness, as all have observed and continue to observe. Some souls who call themselves dervishes have interpreted all divine laws and commandments. If it be said that prayer is among God’s binding ordinances, they say “prayer means supplication and we came into being with supplication, thus we have performed the true prayer, while this poor one is deprived of the outer form, let alone its inner meaning.” The vain imaginings of heedless souls have exceeded all reckoning.
In brief, through indolence and sloth they have interpreted all divine commandments which are as an impregnable fortress for the preservation and security of the world, and having secluded themselves in their convents, they have chosen no occupation save eating and sleeping. In matters of knowledge they affirm whatever is said, yet thus far no trace of the warmth of the love of God hath been witnessed from them, save for a very few who have tasted the sweetness of the Word and have to some extent become aware of the purpose of the Revelation. Some of these interpretations mentioned regarding wisdom are each correct in their proper place, as they do not conflict with the fundamental divine laws. The verses that pertain to divine commands and prohibitions, such as those concerning worship, indemnities, crimes and the like—their outward meaning was and is intended to be acted upon.
However, the divine verses that were revealed concerning the Resurrection and the Hour, both in previous Books and in the Qur’an, are mostly to be interpreted, “and none knoweth its interpretation save God.” These matters are clearly and evidently set forth in the Book of Certitude. Whosoever pondereth thereon will become aware of that which hath been hidden from the eyes of all. Consider what the All-Bountiful hath revealed in the Book, these words of the Almighty: “It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor doth the night outstrip the day.” This blessed verse has been interpreted and explained by the divines of the past and present, each finding its meaning according to their own understanding. But this station is beyond knowledge, and these are ranks of conjecture and fancy. One who is called the Sultan of Interpreters, namely Qadi Baydawi, said this verse was revealed to refute the sun-worshippers. Observe how far this is from the source of knowledge, despite his supposed erudition in the eyes of men. The reins of all knowledge are in the grasp of divine power—He bestows it upon whomsoever He willeth.
In the books of old, most of what flowed from the Supreme Pen concerning this Revelation is allegorical. For instance, it is said “The valleys shall melt like wax before the Lord,” and likewise “His tent shall be raised upon the mountains” as indeed it has been, and in another place “His is a tent whose cords shall not be severed, whose stakes shall not be uprooted, and which shall not be moved from place to place.” These passages are allegorical. The fair-minded person understands which station calls for interpretation and which for literal acceptance of the text.
In any case, that which today can purify mankind from defilement and lead them to true tranquility is the religion of God, the Faith of God, and the Cause of God. Thus have the rains of utterance poured down from the heaven of knowledge as a bounty upon thee. Give thanks and say:
“Praise be to Thee, O Beloved of the mystics! Glory be to Thee, O Desire of the worlds! Thanks be to Thee, O Thou in Whose grasp lies the kingdom of the heavens and the earth!”
End.
From what hath been revealed from the Kingdom of the All-Merciful’s utterance, it is clear and evident that certain divine verses concerning association, conduct, behavior, transactions, ordinances and the like—were their meaning to depart from the literal sense, God’s Cause would be suspended and impeded. To this every discerning scholar beareth witness. Beseech ye God to adorn the people of the world with the ornament of fairness. They profess belief in minor matters, limited miracles, and counted verses, while turning away from their oceans. Man is bewildered. Glorified be He Who hath concealed from them and revealed to us!
As to thy question regarding pure water and the limit of what constitutes “used” water, it was submitted before the Throne. This is what God hath pronounced: A small amount of water, such as one, two or three cups, in which hands and face are washed, is considered “used.” However, if it reaches the amount of a kurr, washing one or two faces does not change it, and there is and has been no objection to its use. If one of the three qualities appears therein—that is, if the color of the water changes even slightly—it is considered used. O thou who drinkest from the cup of My loving-kindness! The intention is cleanliness. Thou art aware of the pools [of Persia]—the more effort is expended on cleanliness, the more beloved it is in the sight of God. End.
Concerning what you wrote about the mention that some of the friends of God rise before sunrise and engage in the remembrance of God, exalted be His glory, while this remembrance pertains to the day, and the day during the Fast is defined from sunrise to sunset—this matter was presented before the Most Holy Presence of Him from Whose knowledge nothing escapes. This is what the Truth, exalted be His glory, has pronounced: The day is indeed defined from sunrise to sunset in the exposition, but for those souls who rise before sunrise out of love for God and engage in remembrance—this is beloved and acceptable before the Throne. No reiteration is necessary. Similarly, in the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar, the friends of God, adhering to what was revealed in the Kitab-i-Aqdas, turn to the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar at dawn and engage in the remembrance of the Beloved of the worlds.
For them too, if they engage in remembrance at sunrise and for an hour after sunrise, it is acceptable. The Truth has desired comfort for the servants in all conditions, and His remembrance, if it proceeds from one who remembers with complete joy and fragrance, has been and will always be beloved and acceptable. Blessed is the soul that breathes with love for its Lord, and blessed is the servant whom the fragrances of the love of God have awakened. End.
Regarding what you wrote mentioning Aqa Khalil-i-ʿAttar, upon him be the Glory of God, and the ascension of his brother, this is what God revealed for him. His words, exalted be His grandeur:
In My Name, the Most Ancient, the Most Great
This is a Book sent down in truth for him whom the attraction of the utterance of the All-Merciful seized and who answered his Lord when He came with a mighty command, and who calls out on the Day of God to all else. Blessed is he who hath heard and listened, and he whose heart hath turned to Him with evident joy. Verily, the Sun, despite its radiance, deriveth light from His light, yet most of the people are heedless. All that was hidden behind the veils of the Unseen hath been revealed, and all that was recorded in the Books of God, the Lord of the worlds, hath appeared. Among the people are those who have found the fragrance of My garment and hastened to the ocean of My grace, and among them are those who turned away and objected to what was sent down from the kingdom of My wondrous utterance. How many a learned one hath violated God’s Covenant and His testament, and how many a heedless one hath heard the call from the Supreme Horizon and turned with his heart to God, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.
O Khalil! We have mentioned thee before and sent unto thee that which told of My manifestation, My power, My mercy, My compassion, and My grace that hath encompassed all who are in the heavens and on earth. Grieve not for what hath befallen thee. He who believed in God, the Lord of this luminous Day, hath attained unto the Supreme Companion. We make mention of him as a favor from Us unto thee and unto him, and I am verily the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous. Blessed is he for having attained unto acceptance while most of My servants whom We created for the service of My Cause, the Firm, the Impregnable, turned away from Me. Verily thy Lord forgave thy brother at the time of his ascension, purified him from sins, and admitted him to a station whose description hath exhausted the tongues of the knowing ones. We send from this station Our greetings unto My loved ones there who have drunk the choice wine of My utterance and have attained unto that which hath flowed from My Most Exalted Pen. Verily thy Lord is the Forgiving, the Merciful. The Glory from God, the Lord of Names, be upon thee and upon those whose names were sent down in My Preserved Tablet. End.
Praise be to God! The Sun of generosity has risen, the Ocean of favor is manifest, and the Euphrates of utterance flows unceasingly. This evanescent one beseeches the True One and hopes that He will not deprive any soul on earth of the fragrant breezes of this most holy and transcendent Day, and will aid all to achieve that which He loves and is pleased with. Verily, He is the Powerful, the Mighty.
Convey greetings on behalf of this evanescent one to all the friends and say: These days are unlike other days, and this time unlike times past and future. Strive that ye may receive your portion of the lights of the divine dawn. Verily, He is the One with power over whatsoever He willeth. There is no God but He, the Mighty, the Great.
Blessings be upon you and upon those with you, and upon those who have turned with illumined hearts unto God, our Lord and your Lord, our Goal and your Goal, and the Goal of all who are in the heavens and on earth.
After the completion of the letter and attendance in the Most Holy Court, the Tongue of the Beloved uttered these blessed supreme words:
“O Varqa! Upon thee be My glory, My mercy and My favor!”
Some mention was made of wisdom and its meanings, but the wisdom of today consists in such conduct, deeds and words as will guide people to the highest horizon without raising any clamor or causing any mischief or corruption. Verily, the people are in a strange sleep and manifest doubt, worshipping suppositions while understanding not, and hastening toward vain imaginings while perceiving not. The heedless must be awakened with kindliness and compassion and guided to the ocean of grace. Some ignorant ones who soar on the wings of passion and desire and are aflame with the fire of hatred lie in wait to find some pretext to object against the Truth, exalted be His glory, and His loved ones. End.
God willing, may all divine friends be adorned with the ornament of wisdom, and may there appear from each one that which betokens and indicates the exaltation of the Cause. May God grant fairness and the eye of grace to the divines of the age, that they may behold the lights of the Sun of Truth shining resplendent at its meridian and not remain deprived thereof. These souls have ever been and continue to be the cause of waywardness and error, save whom God willeth. The servant beseecheth his Lord to make them know and learn what they have ignored and draw them nigh unto Him through His grace. Verily, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.
Another matter concerns what you had written regarding the exalted departed, His Holiness the Father—he who attained unto the Divine Presence at the time of his ascension. During those days when the honored Abu’l-Hasan, upon him be Baha’u’llah, was present in the Most Holy Land, on one of the days when this servant and he were both in attendance before the Most Sacred Court in the Divine Presence, suddenly the Tongue of the Desire of the worlds spoke forth, and a Most Mighty and Sacred Tablet was revealed in mention of him, which was given to the aforementioned gentleman that he might convey it to that beloved one, so that they might be assured concerning His Holiness the Exalted One, upon him be all glory from Me.
In numerous instances mention of him hath been revealed in such wise as to cause the hearts of the mystic knowers to soar with joy. On several occasions his services and his steadfastness in the Cause of God were heard from the tongue of the Beloved of the worlds. He hath been mentioned with that which decay cannot touch, and He remembereth him with that toward which hearts and souls turn in adoration.
At the conclusion of this epistle, this evanescent one maketh this brief submission: through the bounty of the Beloved may you attain unto success, and this is glad-tidings from Me unto you.