BH00018: Praise be to God Who hath through His sovereignty…

Section 1: “Praise be to God Who hath through His…”

He is the Manifest, the Speaking, the All-Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise

Praise be to God Who hath through His sovereignty revealed whatsoever He willeth, Who hath adorned this Day through its association with Him and hath named it in the Books of heaven the Day of God. On this Day there hath appeared that wherewith His Messengers, His Books and His Scriptures had given glad tidings. When the Promise came to pass, the Sun of Manifestation shone forth. He verily is the One Who spoke on Sinai with such sovereignty that neither the might of the divines and princes, nor the power of tyrants, nor the oppression of Pharaohs could deter Him. He stood before all faces and proclaimed:

“By God! I am the Hidden One, I am the Treasured One, I am He through Whose remembrance the heaven of proof hath been adorned with the stars of utterance and all creation with the light of knowledge.”

Exalted is He Who hath manifested Himself, sent down His proof, and caused all to hear His verses. Glory and praise be upon the Hands of His Cause among His servants, whom He hath made the interpreters of His Revelation and of that which He hath sent down in His Book. Through them the ocean of knowledge hath surged amidst all religions, the Sun of learning hath shone from the horizon of possibility, its light hath illumined all regions, and by it have the hearts of lovers been stirred on this Day of the Covenant.

O thou who soarest in the atmosphere of divine knowledge and gazest toward the horizon of thy Lord’s mercy, the All-Merciful! We have withheld the Pen by reason of that which the hands of the nations have wrought, and We have seized its reins for a time due to the sorrows that have encompassed Us from those who have cast behind them righteousness and fear of God, and have taken up wickedness and lewdness. These are they who have been consumed by the fire of greed and passion, and have betrayed the wealth of the people without permission from God, the Lord of the Throne and of the dust, the Master of the Hereafter and of this world. Say:

My God, my God! Drive me not from the ocean of Thy bounty, nor withhold me from beneath the shade of the tabernacles of Thy grace. By Thy might, O Sovereign of existence and King of the realms of generosity and bounty, I have taken no sovereign besides Thee, nor any lord other than Thee. I beseech Thee by the murmuring of the Kawthar of utterance, by the rustling of the breezes of Thy manifestation throughout creation, by Thy most great signs, and by the whispering of the Divine Lote-Tree, to assist Thy servants to act with justice in Thy Cause and with equity in Thy Revelation. O Lord! Thou seest them turning away from the court of Thy glory and clinging to their vain imaginings in Thy days. They have cast the ocean of knowledge behind their backs, turning instead to the pool of fancy. I know not, O my God, by what proof they follow what they possess, and by what evidence they deny that which Thou hast sent down to them from the heaven of Thy grace and revealed to them from the shells of the ocean of Thy Will. I testify that by Thy manifestation the Way hath appeared, the Evidence hath been sent down, the Proof hath been perfected, and the Blessing hath been completed.

O Lord! I am Thy servant and the son of Thy servant. I remain turned toward the lights of Thy countenance, holding fast to the cord of Thy loving-kindness, acknowledging the ocean of Thy utterance and the heaven of Thy wisdom, and confessing that which the tongue of Thy grandeur hath spoken and that which Thou hast revealed in Thy Books. O Lord! Aid the heedless to acknowledge that which Thou hast manifested through Thy power, the turning away to turn toward the gate of Thy mercy, and the deniers to confess Thy unity and oneness. O Lord! Enable them to return unto Thee and to arise to make up for what they have missed during the dawning of the lights of the Sun of Thy manifestation.

Thou art He Who through Thy will hath raised the banner of Thy Name, the All-Bountiful, in the final abode, and hath caused the pavilion of Thy glory to be lifted before the faces of Thy loved ones. Blessed is the stranger who hath sought Thy shelter, and the poor one who hath desired the ocean of Thy riches, and blessed is the seeker who hath held fast to the cord of Thy nearness and clung to the hem of Thy bounty, and blessed is the one who hath aimed at the stream of Thy mercy and the treasury of Thy generosity, and blessed is the detached one who hath cast aside all else save Thee and taken that which Thou hast commanded in Thy perspicuous Book.

Hear thou in Persian the Voice of the Wronged One. The immature ones of the world have wrought that which no oppressor hath ever wrought, and uttered that which no idolater hath ever spoken. Souls immersed in the clay of fancy and idle imaginings are not, nor shall ever be, capable of comprehending the effulgent rays of the Sun of Truth. Until the heart is freed from the fire of vain imaginings, it shall assuredly not attain unto the light of certitude. Where are those illusory, darkened souls, and where are those who have passed beyond this world and pitched their tents upon the shores of the sea of detachment?

O thou who gazest upon the Countenance! For some time We withheld the Pen from inscription, and the cause thereof was the sorrows that had befallen Us. For the Lord of Piety was seen beneath the claws of self and passion. The fire of greed and covetousness inflicted upon the Temple of Sanctity that which the Pen is powerless to recount and pages insufficient to bear. The souls that now exist are not, nor shall ever be, capable of comprehending the stations of the Great Announcement, save whom thy Lord willeth. The wing of vain desire is powerless to soar in this holy and blessed atmosphere. Say: O people! Fear ye God and be not of the heedless ones. Cast away what ye have heard and seen and taken, and take what hath been given unto you from God, the Lord of all worlds. By the life of God! That which ye possess shall not profit you, nor shall that which the factions possess benefit you. Cast away vain imaginings and idle fancies, turning unto the horizon from which the Day-Star of Certitude hath shone forth from the All-Merciful. This is what ye were commanded aforetime in diverse Tablets and in this perspicuous Tablet.

O Muhammad! Upon thee be My glory! Today, should any soul desire to turn unto the Sun of Truth shining from the horizon of the heaven of the Prison, he must sanctify his perceptive powers from the tales of the past, adorn the crown of knowledge with detachment and the temple of being with the ornament of piety, and then plunge into the depths of the sea of oneness.

O Ali! Upon thee be the everlasting glory of God! Today is the day of the blessed word “Say: God; then leave them to their vain discourses.” They who seek must, at their first step, drink from the fountain of this blessed verse, and likewise at their second step before the Divine Ka’bah, recite with the tongue of truth this verse: “Verily, I have abandoned the ways of a people who believe not in God and who deny the life to come.” If the seeker attaineth unto that which hath been mentioned, he is worthy of drawing nigh and entering the presence, and capable of soaring in this holy atmosphere. Otherwise, he must follow the vain imaginings of the deniers and corrupters, even as they have done.

O Muhammad-Qabli-ʿAli! Not every bramble and chaff is worthy of this threshold, nor can it be. Verily the means of drawing nigh unto the shore of the sea of inner meanings and of approaching the lights of the Sun of Truth are as was mentioned; without these the path is blocked and the quest rejected. We have summoned all, with the most exalted call, to the supreme horizon, yet the heedless and the wayward accepted it not. Beseech God—exalted be His glory—that He may aid His servants and grant them strength and power to ascend the ladder of names, that is, to transcend them and seek the heaven of inner meanings.

We counseled Hadi Dawlat-Abadi with kindly advice and wise admonitions, that perchance he might turn from the north of fancy to the right hand of certitude, and from vain imaginings to the direction of the Self-Subsisting, and attain unto the lights of the All-Knowing Lord. The counsels of the Most Exalted Pen left no impression upon that rock-like hardness, and yielded no fruit. Now a group, like unto the Shi’ih sect, has been formed and is occupied with misleading those heedless souls, devoted to the idols of names. Glory be to God! What profit did the former party gain from trafficking in names, and what triumph did they achieve? On the Day of Reckoning all were seen to be deprived of the rustling of the Divine Lote-Tree, and they cut down the Blessed Tree with hands of tyranny and transgression, and were and are engaged in cursing and reviling from their pulpits. Observe how God hath made their highest to become their lowest, and their lowest to become their highest.

A person from among the Sunnis and the Community claimed the station of the Qa’im in a certain region, and until recently nearly one hundred thousand souls obeyed him and arose to serve him. The true Qa’im arose in Iran with divine light to establish the Cause, yet they martyred Him and strove with all their might to extinguish His light, and wrought that which caused the reality itself to weep. From the time of this Wronged One’s arrival in Zawra until now, the tablets of the Desired One of all worlds have rained like showers upon the people of Iran. Nevertheless, they remained unaware, abiding in their ancient heedlessness and wretchedness. Had such bounty been directed from that quarter to these regions, you would now find all turned towards God. He verily speaks the truth, but the people are in evident veils.

Hearken to the call from the direction of ʿAkka, and take in thy right hand a cup of the choice wine of thy Lord’s utterance, the Lord of all beings, and in thy other hand a goblet of My Most Glorious remembrance, despite those who dwell in the world of creation who have denied My greatest signs in that they followed the people of tyranny and transgression and the manifestations of self and passion. O thou who art turned to the lights of the Countenance! In the name of God—exalted be His glory—drink at every moment from this choice wine. This wine is the source of joy and delight, not of intoxication and corruption. Say: My God, my God! Unto Thee be praise for having mentioned me by Thy Most Exalted Pen, and adorned me with the ornament of Thy might and bounty, and illumined my heart with the light of Thy knowledge.

I beseech Thee, O Thou through Whose name the unity-professing ones soared in the atmosphere of Thy nearness and the hearts of the sincere ones were attracted by the drops from the ocean of Thy utterance, to aid Thy servants to acknowledge what Thou hast manifested unto them through Thy generosity and bounty and what Thou hast sent down upon them from the heaven of Thy knowledge. Thou art verily the All-Bountiful, the Generous, the Almighty, the Powerful, the Great.

Give thanks unto God, thy Lord, the Lord of the mighty throne and the exalted seat, for having sent down unto thee that whereby thy name and remembrance shall endure through the duration of His most excellent names and most exalted attributes. He is verily the All-Bestowing, possessed of great bounty, and He is the All-Bountiful, possessed of manifest grace. There is no God but Him, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

O Nabil-i-A’zam! The bats of the world are preventing the servants of God from the effulgent rays of the Sun of Truth through a hundred thousand idle fancies and vain imaginings. The Kawthar of steadfastness and utterance, and the choice wine of certitude and assurance, are the portion of the one who gazes toward the Most Exalted Horizon with the eye of justice and inclines his ear to hearken unto His call. Today the waves of the ocean of utterance of the Desired One of all worlds are manifest before the faces of all religions, and the effulgent lights of the Manifestation of Him Who conversed on Sinai are visible, and the Divine Lote-Tree is speaking in the midmost heart of the highest Paradise. Would that My people knew! Would that My people heard! Would that My people saw!

In these days the divine sheep are afflicted among the wolves of the earth, and this Wronged One is beneath the talons of hatred. Yet We are thankful that the True One hath graciously aided and empowered Us to such extent that We have, without any veil or concealment, proclaimed amongst all peoples that which is the greatest means for the reformation of the world and the salvation of nations. We have shown no compromise with anyone, nor have We hesitated in implementing the divine commandments. The oppression of the oppressors and the harm of the aggressors have not prevented the Most Exalted Pen from revealing the Most Great Word. Whenever anyone from among journalists or others would rise in opposition, the officials and members of the government would secretly and openly encourage and support them.

In short, both outwardly and inwardly, they strove diligently to destroy the Cause of God. Yet this Wronged One, detached from the world and its peoples, mentioned that which would purify the world from rancor and hatred and extinguish the fire of wickedness and depravity. No helper or supporter was to be seen. From every direction the arrows of calumnies of the deceivers and the spears of the atheists were striking the body of the Cause. Throughout successive years, this Wronged One uttered these exalted words:

Section 2: “Glorified art Thou, O my God! Were it…”

“Glorified art Thou, O my God! Were it not for the tribulations suffered in Thy path, how could Thy true lovers be recognized; and were it not for the trials endured for love of Thee, how could the station of those who yearn for Thee be revealed? By Thy might! The companions of Thy loved ones are their tears, and the comforters of Thy seekers are their sighs, and the food of them who hasten to meet Thee are the fragments of their broken hearts. How sweet is the deadly poison in Thy path, and how precious are the arrows of Thine enemies for the exaltation of Thy word! O my God! Give me to drink in Thy Cause whatsoever Thou didst desire, and send down upon me in Thy love all that Thou didst ordain. By Thy might! I wish only what Thou wishest, and love only what Thou lovest. In Thee have I ever placed my trust.

“I beseech Thee, O my God, to raise up for the triumph of this Cause one who is worthy of Thy name and sovereignty, that he may remember me among Thy creatures and raise the standards of Thy victory in Thy realm. Thou art, verily, powerful to do what Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Pervading, the Self-Subsisting. Glorified art Thou, O Lord my God! Strengthen the hearts of Thy loved ones by Thy power and might, lest they be affrighted by those on earth. Then make them, O my God, dawning places of Thy grandeur and daysprings of Thine authority. O Lord! Adorn them with the ornament of justice and equity, and illumine their hearts with the lights of bounty and grace. Thou art, verily, the One, the Single, the Mighty, the Great. I beseech Thee, O Lord of eternity and Sovereign of nations and Goal of all peoples, by Thy Most Great Name, to transform the throne of tyranny into the seat of Thy justice, and the seat of pride and oppression into the throne of humility and equity. Verily, Thou doest what Thou willest, and Thou art, in truth, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.”

Say: O people of God! From every direction the enemies have surrounded Us with the swords of hatred, and there hath been no helper or champion in outward appearance. Some heedless and deluded souls, through the display of enmity and calumnies, have hoped and yearned for station and prestige for themselves. And seeing this Wronged One without helper or champion, they have attacked with the swords of hatred and animosity.

Glory be to God! For forty years We counseled and admonished the servants, forbidding them from conflict, corruption and strife. Through divine grace and merciful bounty, this people turned from weapons to reformation, and preferred God’s will to their own desires. Each day some tyranny appeared from the oppressors and some fire was kindled; nevertheless they showed patience and left matters to God. In some lands the oppressors were occupied each year with shedding blood, while the oppressed people held fast to these words We had previously uttered: “To be killed is better for you than to kill.” Praise be to God, they were slain in God’s path but slew not, for they were focused on God’s command and still are.

In the land of Sad and ʿIshqabad the oppressors kindled the fire of tyranny and shed the blood of God’s loved ones. Say: My God, my God! Thou seest Thy loved ones beneath the scourges of the oppressors and Thy sheep among the wolves of Thy earth. I beseech Thee by Thy power that hath encompassed all created things, and by Thy sovereignty that hath embraced all existence, to illumine the hearts of Thy servants with the light of Thy justice and adorn them with the ornament of righteousness and piety in Thy kingdom. Verily Thou art the Almighty, the Glorious, the All-Bountiful.

In these days the rebellion of the calumniators and the hatred of the treacherous ones hath exceeded all bounds. One who was occupied day and night in that which is forbidden—whom We banished for his own protection—hath gone to the great city and united with his like, busying himself with undermining the Cause of God. They have taken the most abject one as their helper and champion in spreading their calumnies. And that person who was banished from the Holy Land joined with Shaykh Muhammad Yazdi, and following his brother’s ruling they arose to harm the Wronged One and consume people’s wealth. Since they know the rulers and divines of Iran to be opposed and antagonistic, therefore the most abject one and others have arisen in enmity—especially the most abject one who, merely to obtain money and prestige, hath written that which he himself testifies is false. By the life of God, he is in manifest error! Assuredly, none rising from the dawning-places of transgression, indecency, tyranny and oppression would sincerely speak of or cling to that station which most of the world’s people have denied—that which would cause the most great terror.

However, this Wronged One, through God’s grace and favor, regardeth all else but Him as a handful of dust, and their clamor and uproar as the buzzing of flies—except those souls who, through divine grace, are adorned with justice, trustworthiness, truthfulness and purity. They heed neither the prestige and dissimulation of the mystics nor the clamor of the divines. Before all faces We manifested the Cause of God. Naught shall befall us save what God hath decreed for us. Although in these days the dawning-places of oppression and tyranny have arisen to harm this Wronged One, God shall soon reveal His treasures for the victory of His Cause and His Message. And these treasures are men whom no authority deterreth, no power frighteneth, and no hosts or legions weaken. They shall conquer the realm of possibility through wisdom and utterance.

Say: O people of God! Know with clear certainty that corruption, conflict, murder and plunder are traits of the beasts of the earth. The station of man and his distinction lie in knowledge and deeds. In most Tablets, We have forbidden the servants from that which harmeth them and commanded that which profiteth them. O people of God! Associate with all the peoples of the world with love and fellowship. Corruption and all that pertaineth thereunto have been strictly forbidden in the Book of God, the Lord of all worlds. Although in the early days there was revealed from the Most Exalted Pen that which outwardly appeared to conflict with God’s new Cause—such as passages like “The necks have been stretched forth in hypocrisy; here are the swords of Thy power, O Subduer of the worlds!”—the intent was not strife and corruption, but rather to demonstrate the extent of the oppression of the oppressors and the wickedness of the idolaters, that all might know that the tyranny of the pharaohs of the earth had reached such a degree that such verses were revealed from the Most Exalted Pen.

And now We counsel the servants of God not to cling thereafter to certain utterances and become the cause of harm to others. Victory in this Most Great Revelation is confined to wisdom and utterance. The hosts of God have ever been pure and goodly deeds and holy, pleasing character traits, and the commander of these hosts is the fear of God. This utterance hath repeatedly been revealed in the Scriptures, Books and Tablets: Take, O people, that which ye are bidden by God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. He commandeth you that which shall protect and profit you. He is verily the All-Bountiful, the Gracious.

Today steadfastness is accounted as the greatest of all deeds before the Self-Sufficient, the Most High. Glory be to God! Certain souls who for years laid claim to steadfastness, when tested even slightly, fled like frightened asses fleeing from a lion.

Some time ago a letter was sent from the village of Manshad to the Most Holy Court, wherein the writers sought supernatural signs from God, exalted be His glory, for the assurance of souls and the conviction of hearts. However, the petitioners were certain doctors of the Qur’an. It was observed that were mention to be made of this Revelation and its proofs and evidences in the name of those souls, it might cause an uproar among the doctors of the Qur’an. We therefore altered and modified the references, and there was revealed from the Kingdom of Utterance that which would cause any fair-minded person who readeth it to exclaim “I turn to Thee, O Thou the Goal of the world!” for the rest of his life.

And one of those souls had expressed belief, but after observing the modification of references was seen to waver. Nothing whatsoever escapeth His knowledge. He heareth and seeth, and He is supreme over all who are in the heavens and on earth. We hope they may pass from agitation to certitude and from hesitation to return. Verily He is the Ever-Forgiving, the Gracious. Although the people of that village are present in this land and outwardly their affairs are known and evident, yet there occurred that which was unworthy. How vast is the difference between the station of such souls and those who have transcended doubt, misgiving, conjecture and the imaginings of men, and have set their faces toward the ocean of inner meanings. The Primal Point hath said: Were He to pronounce upon the earth the judgment of heaven, or upon heaven the judgment of earth, none hath the right to question why or wherefore.

Verily, certain heedless souls in every land are secretly engaged, like Satan, in sowing the seeds of dissension, though they are manifest in the sight of God.

O party of God! We make mention of you for the sake of God and counsel you, that perchance ye may ascend from the lowest depths to the loftiest heights, and turn from vain imaginings to the light of certitude, and be content with whatsoever appeareth from His presence. God, exalted be His glory, hath come with “He doeth whatsoever He willeth” and the banner of “He ordaineth whatsoever He pleaseth” is raised before His face. Fix your gaze upon it and be detached from all else. Know of a certainty that whatsoever is revealed by Him is the truth, wherein there is no doubt. We cherish the hope that through God’s grace and loving-kindness His chosen ones—namely those souls who are counted among the companions of the Crimson Ark and the people of Baha—may not be debarred or kept back from the sealed wine and the Self-Subsisting Name by the doubts of the peoples of the world.

Some among mankind are ever intent upon denial and objection, as evidenced by how the people of the Bayan have repeatedly inquired why the Point (the Bab), may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for His sake, made mention of David, the Psalmist, before Moses, peace be upon Him, when historically David came after Moses. This seems to them contrary to the Holy Books and the traditions of the Messengers. Say: Fear God and object not to Him Whom God hath adorned with the Most Great Infallibility, His most beautiful names and His most exalted attributes. It behooveth the servants to affirm whatsoever proceedeth from the Dayspring of God’s Cause, for none save God is aware of the requirements of His consummate wisdom. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth, and He is the Almighty, the All-Powerful.

We summoned four souls from among the people of Manshad that they might appear before Us to hear that for which ears were created to hearken unto, but they came not. Vain imaginings have withheld them from the light of certitude. We beseech God to aid all to be submissive and content. Verily, He is the Hearer, the Answerer. It is incumbent upon the people of God in this day to beseech the Lord of Lords, the Possessor of the seen and unseen, from the ocean of His bounty, that the people of the earth may not be afflicted with the vain imaginings of former religious communities. However, certain souls like Hadi Dawlat-Abadi and Mihdi Najaf-Abadi have devoted all their energies to leading people astray and have manifested such deception and guile as to leave the dwellers of the cities of knowledge and understanding bewildered. Would that someone had asked such questions of that Soul dwelling on the Isle, that there might have been revealed unto him what hath been sent down in truth from this glorious and impregnable station.

Say: O friends of God! Hearken unto the voice of this Wronged One with the ear of the spirit and gaze upon His signs with the eye of truth. By My life! Then shall be revealed unto you that which had been concealed from the eyes of men. Verily, God is the All-Counselling, the All-Bountiful, the Compassionate, the Generous.

O thou who art attracted by My verses! Hear what We have revealed to one of Our friends. We have desired naught in the world save reformation. The Lamp of the world beareth witness to this—a Lamp which neither requireth glass nor crystal nor any other protection. By God’s life! Baha hath not spoken out of desire, but rather that which will draw people nigh unto a station wherein their hearts shall find tranquility and their souls find rest. Thou knowest, and God knoweth beyond thee, that I have taken no helper for Myself and have aided God’s Cause through a power before which the might of the world and the prowess of the nations—who have cast off the fear of God and embraced wickedness without any clear proof or evidence—have proven powerless.

Say: O servants, hear ye the counsels of the Wronged One. The first of all things is the recognition of Him Who is the Eternal Truth. He is the Sustainer of all, the Teacher of all. The first fruit of recognition is love and unity among all men, for through unity the horizons of the world are illumined and made radiant. The purpose of unity is association, and the purpose of association is mutual aid. That which outwardly promoteth unity, fellowship, amity and love is forbearance and righteousness. In one of Our Tablets We have uttered this exalted word: Blessed is he who retireth to his bed at night with a heart purified from rancor and hatred. Glory is not his who loveth his country, but glory is his who loveth the world.

Section 3: “The fear of God hath ever been…”

The fear of God hath ever been a sure stronghold and a safe guardian against the promptings of the evil self. It is the cause of the refinement of souls and the sanctification of being, both outwardly and inwardly. We have repeatedly stated that the assistance mentioned in Our Books, Tablets and Scriptures hath been through wisdom and utterance, and also through goodly deeds and praiseworthy character. By the life of God! The hosts of praiseworthy character and goodly deeds are, verily, the most powerful armies of the world. The sword of virtue is keener than blades of steel, could ye but understand it.

Without concealment or hindrance have We proclaimed the Cause of God before the faces of the peoples, and have enjoined upon all that which shall draw them nigh unto Him, preserve them and exalt them. From the first day until now, We have borne whatever hath befallen Us in the path of the One Beloved, and have shown patience. Through God’s grace and bounty, We have been and are sanctified from anything that would spread corruption, even to the extent of a needle’s eye.

That which is worthy of mention today is that which promoteth unity, harmony and the exaltation of all. A goodly deed is as a tree, and from it appear delicate and pleasing fruits. This is the day of goodly deeds and praiseworthy character. Let not the counsels of the Wronged One be forgotten.

We cherish the hope that the fragrance of love and fellowship may waft among the friends, and that they may consort with one another in love and kindness. In one of Our Tablets We have uttered these words: The heaven of divine wisdom is illumined with the two luminaries of consultation and compassion. The tabernacle of world order is upheld upon the two pillars of reward and punishment. Such matters pertain to the kings of the age. They are the manifestations of God’s power and the daysprings of His divine majesty.

After recognition of the Lord, exalted be His glory, two things are necessary: service to and obedience to the just government, and adherence to consummate wisdom. These two ensure the elevation and progress of being and its advancement. We beseech God to illumine His Majesty the Shah—may God assist him—with the splendors of the Day-Star of justice. If the divines of the Shi’ih sect would but allow it, his royal benevolence would embrace all, and he would rule with justice and equity. This Wronged One hath ever loved and still loveth faithfulness. O that one of the kings of the earth might be confirmed in assisting the oppressed ones of the world! The path of truth and its balance have ever been justice and equity. We beseech God, exalted be His glory, whose hallmark is justice and fairness, not to deprive His servants of that which hath been mentioned.

The divines of Persia have become the cause of preventing the servants from the Divine Path. Say: O concourse of divines! Cast aside your pens, for the shrill voice of the Supreme Pen hath been raised between earth and heaven. Cast aside that which ye have composed with the hands of idle fancies and vain imaginings. The ocean of knowledge hath surged, and the day-star of certitude hath shone forth from the horizon of the Will of God, the Lord of the worlds. Once again We counsel the loved ones of God to trustworthiness, godliness, chastity, and the fear of God, the Leader of the hosts of justice from God, the Commander, the All-Wise.

My God, my God! Aid Thy loved ones to perform such deeds as will diffuse the fragrance of Thy good-pleasure and be adorned with the glory of Thy acceptance. O Lord! Thou hearest their sighs, beholdest their tears, and knowest what hath befallen them without any clear proof from Thee. Verily Thou knowest what is in the hearts of Thy servants, and nothing whatsoever escapeth Thy knowledge. All created things have testified that Thou art the Truth, the Knower of things unseen.

Blessed is the soul that hath held fast unto the cord of patience and resignation in whatsoever hath befallen it in the path of God, the Lord of the mighty Throne. The Wronged One’s Pen hath, at all times, counselled the servants to that which profiteth them and draweth them nigh unto Him. We hope that God—glorified be His majesty—will purify the ears of the world that they may hearken with the ear of acceptance to the counsels and exhortations of the Wronged One and act accordingly.

My God, my God! Aid Thy heedless servants to return unto Thee. Verily Thou art the Ever-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful, the All-Giving, the All-Pardoning, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

One of God’s chosen ones, upon whom be the Glory of God, who had drunk from the chalice of steadfastness and to whom all save God was as naught, met Hadi Dawlat-Abadi in the land of Sad. That heedless one mentioned that the Primal Point had decreed the purity of seminal fluid out of respect for the seed of “Him Whom God shall make manifest,” and at that time the Ancient Beauty was twenty-five years old. His intention in making this statement was to deny the Manifestation of God, reject Him, and establish his own vain imaginings.

First, this statement is from the Bayan, and He says that on that Day the Bayan will profit none and you should not cling to it. He has said, and His word is the truth: “He cannot be known through My attributes nor through what was revealed in the Bayan.” And by what he mentioned, his opposition to the Primal Point is clear and evident to those possessed of insight, for the Exalted One says: “Beware, beware lest thou be veiled by what hath been revealed in the Bayan.” He has clearly opposed this and is unaware of it. Say: By God’s life, none can find in the Bayan aught save the fragrance of the revelation of Him Who conversed on Sinai, Who proclaims in the most exalted call: “The Kingdom is God’s, the Lord of all mankind!” O Hadi, be not the cause of discord and misguidance. The lights of the Sun of Truth have illumined the world of inner meanings and utterance, and divine verses are being sent down and showered forth like rain from the clouds of grace. All the Bayan circles round Him today, would that ye could understand.

Glory be to God! Hadi does not realize what he is saying, nor what he has understood from the Primal Point’s statement regarding the seed. Secondly, say: O heedless one! The seed of “Him Whom God shall make manifest”—may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for Him—was and is pure and purifying, and that blessed seed hath no need of anyone’s mention. I adjure thee by God Who created thee and fashioned thee: in one moment purify thy heart from hatred, then ponder on what thou hast mentioned. Perchance thou shalt be enabled to utter the blessed words “I turn unto Thee, O Lord of the worlds.” Is the purity and sanctity of the seed of “Him Whom God shall make manifest” dependent upon the word of His servants? I seek God’s forgiveness from this manifest delusion! I seek God’s forgiveness from this great wrong! I seek God’s forgiveness from this grievous error!

Say: O Hadi, if at this moment thou wouldst purify thine ears from false tales, thou wouldst hear from the tongue of the Primal Point: “Verily, I am the first of them that worship Him.” “Him Whom God shall make manifest”—may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for Him—was All-Encompassing, not encompassed. The station of the Point was and is established through His word. Verily, He is independent of all who are in the heavens and on earth. All are in need of Him, and in these stations the Primal Point uttered the aforementioned word. Hear, then be fair, and be not of the wrongdoers.

And if thou sayest the Primal Point’s purpose in mentioning the seed was to make the people aware—if people are like thee, they will never become aware, for they prevent their eyes and ears from seeing and hearing. And if the purpose was to make fair-minded souls aware, they have understood the station of that pure seed and that sanctified divine essence from the mention of “Him Whom God shall make manifest” and His Word, which the Primal Point foretold, saying: “Verily, He shall speak forth in every condition, ʿI, verily, am God”’ to the end of the verse.

Know and understand that pure, divine mystery. In any case, His purpose in mentioning these remembrances was to be engaged in the remembrance of that Beloved One. “Know and be of the thankful.” “Know and be of the repentant ones.” “Observe and be of the fair-minded.” He declares that the Tree of Affirmation becomes the Tree of Negation through turning away from Him. By God’s life! The call of the Bayan is raised, lamenting and crying out: “O people! The Day is God’s Day, and the Cause is His Cause. Be not debarred by a drop from the ocean, nor deprived by a particle from the Sun of Revelation.” By My life, O Hadi! Thou hast taken the pond and cast the Sea of God behind thee. Fear God, then be fair in what hath been revealed in truth. Verily He enricheth thee above all else and guideth thee to His mighty announcement.

O Hadi! Can he whom thou desirest race with the Divine Horseman in the arena of wisdom and utterance? Nay, by thy Lord, the All-Merciful! Take hold of the reins of thy passion, then return unto thy Lord. Verily unto Him is thy return and abode. O Hadi! Say to the Mihdi: “Thou art not of the horsemen of this field. Know thy station and be not of the transgressors. Purify thy heart from the promptings of men and thine eyes from the disease of desire, that thou mayest recognize Him Who hath come from the horizon of power with the standards of verses, and be of them that know.” O Mihdi! For this Day wert thou created. Cling not to deception and craft, be not the cause of misguidance, and oppose not the Primal Point. The ocean of utterance surgeth before thy sight, and the sun of truth shineth resplendent above thy head. Look and say: “Thine is the praise, O Goal of the world! And Thine is the glory, O Beloved of those who are in the heavens and the earth!”

O Hadi! Be fair in what hath been made manifest. Every day thou schemest to protect thine own life while preventing the people from the Truth through money and unseemly utterances. Have mercy upon thyself and upon the people. In thy ignorance thou hast reached such a state as to make the purity of Him Whom God shall make manifest contingent upon the word of the Point. I seek God’s forgiveness from this clear delusion! I seek God’s forgiveness from this great injustice! I seek God’s forgiveness from this grievous tyranny! I seek God’s forgiveness from this error which hath no likeness or parallel! I swear by the Sun of proof which today shineth resplendent from the highest horizon of the world that this Wronged One counseleth thee for the sake of God, that thou mayest perchance take heed or fear. Thou wast not with Us and art not aware of the root of the Cause. Return to the sacred writings that perchance the door of justice and fairness may be opened before thy face and thou mayest be numbered with them that are assured.

After mentioning the seed before the person in question—upon him be the glory of God and His loving-kindness—he said:

“I have fifty volumes of Yahya’s books with me. Stay tonight and see.”

Although he had heard conclusive answers to his objections, his hatred prevented him from turning to the Most Exalted Horizon. God is witness and aware that he spoke falsely. Yahya had two volumes of the prayers of the Point—may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for Him—and had copied them repeatedly. Perhaps he gave what he wrote to Hadi. Furthermore, even if he possessed a thousand books, on this Day neither he nor his like would derive any benefit therefrom. A single diamond is better than a hundred thousand loads of stone. A hundred pounds of iron and copper cannot equal one ruby.

Apart from these matters, the equivalent of all heavenly books from the Point and before Him is now present and available. Come and see, and be present at the time of revelation, that perchance the breezes of divine revelation may attract thee, or the fragrance of inspiration may lead thee to thy goal. O Hadi! If thou art prevented from being present, appoint a deputy or representative. Perchance ye may find that of which ye are now heedless and turn towards that from which ye have turned away. The Wronged One calleth and saith: My God, my God! Prevent not Thy servants from the shore of the ocean of Thy grace, and cause them not to be numbered with them who have denied Thee and Thy signs and have rejected what Thou hast revealed from Thy Most Exalted Pen in Thy days. O Lord! Make them aware of Thy message and teach them Thy path and station. Thou art, verily, the Mighty, the Ever-Forgiving.

Say: O Hadi! When this Wronged One was in chains, thou wast reclining upon thy couch in utmost comfort. Throughout the days and nights, We bore tribulation and adversity for the exaltation of the Word of God. The afflictions and trials of this Wronged One are beyond reckoning. In days when the world was darkened by the wrath of divines and rulers, this Wronged One, detached from all else, arose before the faces of all peoples through divine power and heavenly might to proclaim the Cause. From all directions wafted the sweet savors and shone forth the light of the Day-Star of clear evidence.

When the Sun of the Cause began to shine from the horizon of every city, thou and thy like emerged from behind the veil with swords of hatred, malice, falsehood and calumny, and sought to harm the Wronged One without proof or evidence. Fear God, O Hadi, and be not of the wrongdoers. We call you to the light while you call Me to the fire. What ails you that you do not use your reason and reflect upon that which has appeared? Hearken unto the call of the Wronged One, then present thyself before God, then judge with fairness in this Most Great Announcement and be not of the wrongdoers. By what proof didst thou accept and acknowledge the Point (the Bab)—may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for His sake? With the eye of fairness observe that which is greater, that thou mayest take God as thy helper and find a way unto Him.

Section 4: “By the waves of the ocean of utterance…”

By the waves of the ocean of utterance, We have dispensed with the faith of thee and thy like. Create not hatred in hearts. Hear the counsel of the faithful Counselor and turn to His signs in complete detachment. By the life of God! They will guide thee and lead thee to the straight path of God. Each day thou dost cling to some vain imagination and persist in turning away and raising objections. One of you came to this land and mentioned that those who have turned away from the Bayan prevent those who have accepted it from turning towards God, instilling thoughts of murder, oppression and the like, thus depriving the faithful of the straight path. God, exalted be His glory, is sanctified and exempt from the comprehension and minds of those who have turned away. One must look to establish the truth and hold fast to proof and evidence. Once truth is established, then whatever proceeds from Him is truth. Doubt and uncertainty have no place in that realm.

Some time ago this blessed sermon was revealed from the Supreme Pen. Now it is mentioned again, that perchance thou mayest ascend the heights of fairness and reflect upon that which hath appeared, attaining unto that which is the greatest means for the salvation of nations and the reformation of the world. [BH01109]

He is the Rememberer, the Comforter, the All-Knowing, the All-Seeing.

Praised be God Who is established upon the throne with grandeur, might and majesty, and Who spoke whereat the trumpet was sounded, they that lay in their graves were quickened, and all who dwell on earth and in heaven were thunderstruck, save those whom God, the Lord of Names, willed to spare. Through Him was raised the standard “He doeth whatsoever He willeth,” and was unfurled the banner “The kingdom on that day shall be God’s,” the Lord of all mankind and the Possessor of the throne of eternity and of all existence. He is the One from Whose realm of glory the decree of truth is inseparable, even should He adjudge existence to that which hath no existence. From the atmosphere of His sanctity no flutter of the wings of the bird of rebellion can be heard, even should He make lawful that which from time immemorial had been forbidden.

He is the One Worshipped, to Whose grandeur and sovereignty all atoms bear witness, and to Whose power and might all created things testify. The One Who standeth firm is he who hath arisen to make mention of Him and to voice His praise, and the Self-Subsisting is he who hath attained unto steadfastness in His Cause. Exalted, immensely exalted, is He Who speaketh the truth! Exalted, immensely exalted, is He Who hath been tried among the people! Exalted, immensely exalted, is He Who seeth Himself alone amidst the multitude, and single among the concourse of men! Praised be God Who hath made tribulation an adornment for His loved ones, and through it hath decked them among His creation and His creatures.

Verily, He is the Judge Whom the veils of the world have not hindered, nor the mists of the nations prevented. None hath comprehended that which lieth with Him save His own Self, as attested by him who hath knowledge of the Tablets.

The intention is that His sanctified presence is exalted above error and transgression, and whatsoever appears from the Kingdom of His commandments and ordinances, all must grasp and act upon without hesitation. The deeds of this faction have been and are evident and clear to you and all the people of the Bayan—they showed no restraint in shedding blood, seizing people’s property, and committing oppression and transgression. After the dawning of the Day-Star of Revelation from the horizon of Iraq, We forbade all from reprehensible deeds and detested behavior. The atoms of creation bear witness that in all conditions We have commanded the servants to that which exalts them and forbidden that which leads to abasement and humiliation. We have had and have no purpose except the exaltation of the Word of God, the reformation of the world, and the salvation of nations. Is there any fair one who will judge with fairness in this Most Great Cause? Is there any just one who will speak with justice regarding this Momentous News? We beseech God to aid His servants in that which will elevate them and acquaint them with that which will draw them near unto Him. Verily He is the True One, the Omnipotent, the Supreme, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

What sayest thou regarding the manifestation of the Seal of the Prophets, may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for His sake, when in three days seven hundred souls were beheaded in the wilderness of Syria, and many people in surrounding areas were deprived of existence? In any case, God has authority over all deeds and actions. Reflect upon what was mentioned, perchance thou mayest become aware and find that which leads to eternal life. After the establishment of truth, neither rejection nor objection is permissible. Nevertheless, by His very Self, the Truth, that which was revealed in this station is such that every fair-minded one testifies that this Wronged One’s purpose has been and is the protection of people and the extinguishing of the fire of hatred in hearts and souls. Look in the revealed Books, sacred Scrolls and luminous Tablets, that thou mayest attain to that which is the cause of the manifestation of justice and fairness.

Praise be to God, through the grace of God, exalted be His glory, and His all-encompassing will, for forty years the fire of contention, conflict and corruption has been extinguished and subdued in Iran. Consider what occurred in Ishqabad—one of the friends was martyred by a rebellious, transgressing group, and the wounds inflicted exceeded thirty. Nevertheless, the Party of God did not retaliate and held fast to this blessed verse which was repeatedly revealed from the Supreme Pen:

“Verily He is the Concealer, He commandeth you to conceal; and He is the Most Patient, He commandeth you to exercise beautiful patience.”

Their compassion and love reached such a station that they interceded for the murderers and oppressors. Blessed are they! We testify that they have partaken of the Kawthar of contentment from the hands of the bounty of their Lord, the Ever-Flowing, the Forgiving, the Merciful. If you deny the grace of this Revelation, assuredly God, exalted be His glory, will raise up souls who will arise for the sake of God and speak the truth. Reflect upon the deeds and actions of the friends of the past, and likewise upon the deeds of these days, that perchance thou mayest remove oppression through the sword of righteousness and turn to fairness.

Say: O my God, my God! I testify that Thou didst turn to me when I was turning away, and called me when I was silent. I beseech Thee, O Subduer of hearts and souls, by Thy Best-Beloved Name, to assist Thy servants in that which will exalt them through Thy Name and make them standards of Thy guidance in Thy land. O Lord! Illumine their hearts with the lights of the Day-Star of justice and fairness, and ordain for them that which will adorn them with the ornament of Thy forgiveness and Thy good-pleasure. Verily Thou art the Omnipotent, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.

O people of God! Fix your gaze upon the horizon of the Will of Him Who subsisteth by His own Being, and hold fast unto that which beseemeth His days. Great is this Day, and mighty this Cause! Strange indeed that some among the people who count themselves followers of the Bayan are afflicted with the same vain imaginings as the people of the past.

Today none of the books of the world can provide deliverance save through a single word that hath shone forth from the dayspring of the mouth of God’s Will. Every utterance adorned thereby attaineth the honor of acceptance. Today from the blessed Word the fragrance of true unity is wafted. Well is it with him who hath perceived it, and woe betide the heedless!

Say: O people of God! Cast away that which the deniers possess and take hold of that which ye have been commanded by God, the Lord of all worlds. By My life! The books of the world cannot compare with His Word. Now with pure and sanctified hearing, hearken unto this most exalted verse revealed by the Primal Point. His glorious Word declareth: If thou shouldst recite but one verse from the verses of Him Whom God shall make manifest, this would be more meritorious in the sight of God than if thou wert to set down the entire Bayan, for on that Day that single verse would grant thee salvation while the entire Bayan would not.

Now ponder the loftiness of His station and the sublimity thereof, that ye may not be debarred from drawing nigh unto God through the doubts of those who cause others to err and the allusions of the transgressors. Glory be to God! Some have made the word “Mustaghath” a veil, and by that word have debarred the people from the Truth, even though the mention of Mustaghath is itself from the Bayan. He saith: Let not the Bayan and its ordinances keep you back from Him Who is the Sovereign and the Source thereof. Moreover, He saith: None knoweth the time of the Revelation except God. Whenever it appeareth, all must recognize the Point of Truth and render thanks unto God.

Today the people of Baha have found their dwelling place beneath the canopy of the greatness and infallibility of God, exalted be His glory, and have chosen their habitation. They have manifested such steadfastness as hath no peer or likeness. Every person of insight is indeed amazed, and every possessor of knowledge astounded. For in this Most Great Revelation there hath appeared what hath never appeared from the beginning of creation until now. The Sun of Power shineth before all faces, the Ocean of Knowledge is manifest, and the heaven of grace is raised high.

Nevertheless, We summon the people unto the dawning-place of Revelation with proofs and evidences, that they may not be deprived. Such bounty hath been vouchsafed that the Lord of the Kingdom of Utterance adduceth the words of others as proof for the establishment of His Cause.

Say: O people of the Bayan! Fear ye God, and consider with justice and fairness that which hath appeared, and observe it, that ye may attain unto that for which ye were created. The people of former times were occupied with vain imaginings throughout the ages, and these imaginings became a barrier that debarred them from the House of God and prevented them from recognizing the place of circumambulation of them that are nigh unto God and are sincere. Each day one party would execrate another, and they have had and continue to have no peer in rejection and protest.

In the days of Our childhood, one day We went to visit the grandmother of the Most Great Branch during the time when she was married to the late Mirza Isma’il-i-Vazir. Upon arrival, We observed a person wearing a large turban sitting there with another individual. From behind a special curtain, that holy and believing leaf made inquiries. Among other things, she mentioned that we must know and understand who was higher—Gabriel or Qanbar, the servant of the Prince of Believers. Although this Wronged One had not yet reached physical maturity, He was greatly amazed at the understanding of those two heedless ones. In any case, that person, in his own imagination, counted such utterances among divine knowledge and supposed himself to have ascended to the highest station of mystical insight, unaware that he was recorded and numbered before God as among the worshippers of names.

After pausing for a few minutes, this Wronged One stated that if Gabriel was the one referred to in the Mighty Book where it states “The Faithful Spirit hath descended with it upon thy heart,” then Qanbar had no station in comparison. And when We journeyed to the land of Qum, this same person was present there. Repeatedly, similar words were heard from him in several places. Among them, one day he mentioned that we must know who was higher—Salman or ʿAbbas. What fruit or effect have they observed from such discussions, and what is gained from such mentions? The purpose is that the people of God should know that those people were worshippers of vain imaginings and for this reason were deprived of the recognition of Truth, exalted be His glory, in the days of His Manifestation. We hope that such matters will not appear in this Revelation. May they know the Truth as Truth and creation as creation. Blessed are the fair-minded.

According to what hath been reported, Ibn-i-Baqir of the land of Sad hath, in these days, entered the city of Ta by command of His Majesty the Sultan, and in one of the gatherings hath declared:

“Ye must translate the Suriy-i-Tawhid and place it in the hands of every soul in the realm, that all may know that the True One begetteth not, nor is He begotten, whereas the Babis ascribe unto Him divinity and lordship.”

Glorified be God! What hath come to pass, that the Son of ‘Imran, upon the Sinai of mystic knowledge, after he had hearkened unto the words, “Verily, I am God,” from the blessed Tree, made no protest, nor translated the scroll of Divine Unity? In brief, should any soul meet him, let him say on behalf of this Wronged One: “Fear God. Hearken, with the ear of thy inmost nature, unto the call of the faithful and trusted Counsellor; and even as the Interlocutor of God received and accepted that which he heard, so do thou likewise accept from the blessed Tree of Man.” By the life of God! The blessed utterance, “Verily, I am Man,” is, in the sight of this Wronged One, greater than all that they have comprehended.

Section 5: “O Ibn Baqir, ponder this Revelation. He Who…”

Say: O Ibn Baqir, ponder this Revelation. He Who by the power of the Supreme Pen hath manifested that which hath amazed most of the servants, both rulers and ruled, surely possesseth the treasuries of wisdom and utterance. Ye must adorn yourselves with fairness and seek understanding, turning with complete submission and contentment, that perchance ye may attain the hidden pearls in the shells of the Most Great Sea. The loftiness of the call was intended to attract the servants, that after their turning and attention We might impart that whereby every soul would see himself wealthy and independent beneath the shade of the Tree of bounty. And the Secret of existence is witness to what I say.

Say: O Ibn Baqir, recognize thy station and transgress it not. He guideth thee and directeth thee to that which enricheth and preserveth thee. It behooveth thee to thank thy Lord, the All-Bountiful, thy Lord, the Munificent, thy Lord, the Generous. Obtain and read the Tablet of Proof which hath been sent down from the heaven of the will of the All-Merciful specifically for thy father, that perchance thou mayest turn from the left hand of fancy and idle imaginings to the right hand of certitude and assurance, and be illumined by the light of justice.

O Muhammad-Qabli-ʿAli! Upon thee be My glory and loving-kindness. Say: O Ibn Baqir, We mention one word for the sake of God, that perchance thou mayest pass beyond the world of tyranny and oppression and, by the ladder of trust and detachment, seek the cities of justice and fairness. Hath there ever appeared in the world a light or manifestation or radiance which thou and thy like have accepted and not rejected? Specify who it was and what was his name. In any case, set aside insolence and be content with what God hath decreed.

In a previous Tablet this prayer was revealed—read it, that thou mayest acknowledge the authority of Truth and accept that which hath been sent down from the heaven of God’s Will:

Glorified art Thou, O my God! I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which Thou hast subdued all who are in the heavens and the earth, to protect the lamp of Thy Cause within the glass of Thy power and favor, lest the winds of denial from the direction of those who have been heedless of the mysteries of Thy chosen Name should blow upon it. Then increase its light through the oil of Thy wisdom. Thou, verily, hast power over all who are in Thy earth and heaven. O Lord! I beseech Thee by the Most Great Word, whereby all who are in earth and heaven were struck with terror, except such as took fast hold of the Most Firm Handle, not to abandon me among Thy creatures. Raise me up unto Thee, cause me to enter beneath the shadow of Thy mercy, and give me to drink of the pure wine of Thy bounty, that I may dwell within the tabernacle of Thy glory and the pavilions of Thy favor. Thou, verily, hast power to do what Thou willest, and Thou art the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting.

O son of Baqir! The Truth hath appeared with “He doeth whatsoever He willeth.” Thy denial or acceptance hath never been, nor shall ever be, of consequence. The mention of Divinity and Lordship hath ever belonged, and shall continue to belong, to God—glorified be His majesty. This Wronged One hath ever been speaking these sublime words:

My God, my God! I testify to Thy oneness and Thy singleness, and to Thy greatness and Thy sovereignty, and to Thy power and Thy might, O God of all possibilities and Lord of all beings! I long to lay my face upon every spot of Thy earth and upon every fragment thereof, that perchance it might be honored by attaining the station of having been blessed by the footsteps of Thy loved ones. O Lord! Thou hearest my cry and my lamentation and my call in Thy days, and Thou knowest that I summon Thy servants unto the light while they call me unto the fire. I beseech Thee to assist Thy servants to return unto Thee and to repent before the door of Thy grace. Thou, verily, art the All-Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.

Would that thou hadst perceived the fragrances wafting from the verses! Hearken unto the Voice of the Wronged One: Turn from oppression to justice, and from tyranny to equity. Present thyself before the Face, that thou mayest behold the waves of the ocean of thy Lord’s utterance and the effulgences of the light of the Sun of proof. Beware lest leadership debar thee from the Dayspring of the Light of Oneness. Cast away what thou hast and take what thou art bidden by God, the Lord of all worlds.

The bounty of this Revelation is of such magnitude that no fair-minded and just person can deny it. For nigh upon forty years this Wronged One hath forbidden the servants from corruption, conflict, contention and bloodshed. Night and day hath the Pen moved and the Tongue spoken. Praise be to God, the loved ones of Truth have accepted and acted upon the counsels of the Wronged One, such that in Ishqabad when they were slain they slew not, but rather interceded for their oppressors and murderers. Likewise in the Land of Sad and other regions, whatsoever befell the people of God, they showed patience and left it to God. All know that previously, every year witnessed strife and conflict, with many souls slain on both sides—one year in Tabarsi, another in Zanjan, another in Nayriz. But after this Wronged One’s departure to Iraq, by permission of His Majesty the Sultan, We forbade all from corruption and strife. If thou deniest this, the world beareth witness, though certain slanderers and deniers have concealed the good deeds of the Most Exalted Pen and spoken and continue to speak according to their desires. But by the life of God! Baha speaketh not from desire, but rather uttereth that which draweth mankind unto the Most Sublime Horizon.

O people of God! Hold fast with justice to the right of the sovereign, and seek for him that which beseemeth his generosity. In truth, he hath repeatedly rendered assistance and protected the divine sheep from wolves. Surely all have heard and know this. Therefore we must beseech God that He may illumine the world through the lights of the sun of his justice. Verily, He is powerful over all things.

My God, my God! Thou seest the oppression of the tyrannous among Thy servants and the wickedness of Thy evil creatures, and what hath befallen Thy chosen ones and trusted ones. O Lord! Aid His Majesty the Sultan that he may assist them through Thy might, power and sovereignty. Then open before their faces the doors of Thy grace, mercy and bounty. O Lord! Illumine the horizons of hearts with the light of Thy knowledge and purify them from rancor and hatred through Thy wisdom which encompasseth all things. Then ordain for those who have sacrificed their souls in Thy path and accepted the arrows of the enemy to exalt Thy Word, the reward of attaining Thy presence. Thou art He Whom the power of the world cannot frustrate, nor can the might of nations weaken, nor can anything escape Thy knowledge. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the Powerful, the All-Wise.

The loved ones and chosen ones must, by night and day, seek confirmation for all. If today the claimants of love would hold fast to and act upon what hath been revealed in the Tablets from the Most Exalted Pen, ere long the divine traces would become manifest to all. The Tongue of Grandeur beareth witness to this in this manifest hour.

O Muhammad-Qabli-ʿAli! Thou hast been mentioned in such wise that its fragrance shall never cease, and thou hast attained unto that which shall endure as long as the kingdom and the heavenly dominion endure. We beseech God to make thee among those whom nothing whatsoever deterreth, whom the clamor of the divines feareth not, and whom the swords of the enemies weaken not.

O Lord! Aid Thy party to assist Thy Cause through the hosts of utterance, and ordain for them that which will exalt their stations among Thy servants and draw them near to the court of Thy glory. Verily, Thou art the One Who hath power over whatsoever Thou willest through Thy firm, decisive, and mighty Word.

This Wronged One chose solitude for two years, wandering alone through deserts and mountains. During these days of seclusion, chaos and confusion appeared. Some were seized by heedlessness, such that they turned away from that which is with God and clung to their own desires. Finally, the fire of tyranny was kindled and they perpetrated against His Holiness Dayyan that which caused the stars of the heaven of joy to fall, the moon of justice to be deprived of light, and the sun of equity to be barred from radiance. In the Kitab-i-Haykal, specifically concerning His Holiness Dayyan, the Point of the Bayan revealed from the heaven of knowledge, these exalted words:

“O Name of Dayyan! This is a hidden, treasured knowledge which We have entrusted unto thee and given thee as a glory from God, as the eye of thy heart is refined and knoweth its worth and exalteth its splendor”

unto the end of His utterance—exalted be His utterance.

At the beginning of the Kitab-i-Haykal these sublime words are inscribed: “That which was revealed for His Holiness the Lion, the Unique, the One, Who is illumined with the Light of the Eternal, the Name of God, the Dayyan.” And in another place He saith: “O Manifestation of Oneness” unto the end of His utterance. Likewise, in one place, addressing him, He saith: “O Third Letter who hath believed in Him Whom God shall make manifest.” The meaning of this name is “the Recompenser of the Day of Recompense,” and he was the third letter who attained to recognition, faith and presence. The purpose of the Kitab-i-Haykal was to make mention of this Most Great Cause and the Great Announcement, yet none perceived it. In one place He saith: “This knowledge is, in the sight of God, more precious than all else.” The intention was to give glad-tidings to those who are detached concerning the appearance of the Hidden Treasure, which would not exceed nineteen years nor reach twenty. Now the fair-minded must judge: if this was not the intention, what could have been the reason for its precedence over other knowledge and its excellence above other utterances?

In brief, desire maketh man to be deprived of justice and equity. They martyred His Holiness the Dayyan with such tyranny as caused the greatest joy to be transformed into supreme sorrow. Some have supposed the Kitab-i-Haykal to be about alchemy and divination. Vain indeed are their imaginings! The purpose of the Book is clear and evident as the sun. Blessed are they who perceive! Likewise, they issued the verdict for the martyrdom of Mirza ʿAli-Akbar and martyred him, and similarly Aqa Abu’l-Qasim and others. In truth, the transgressions of these souls are beyond reckoning. This Wronged One hath never liked nor likes to make such mentions. The purpose is that some might become aware and speak the truth. They named the Dayyan “the father of evil” and Jinab-i-Khalil—concerning whom He saith in the Bayan “O My Khalil in the Scriptures! O My Remembrance in the Books after the Scriptures! O My Name in the Bayan!”—they called him “the father of calamities.” Then they arose to cut down the Blessed Tree, but God drove them away through His power and sovereignty, despite their will. Verily, He is the All-Bountiful, the Effusive, the Protector, the Generous.

Day and night We have arisen to render assistance, in such wise that the opposition of all the world’s peoples could not deter Us, and We have had and have no purpose except to reform and to extinguish the fire of enmity and hatred. To this beareth witness that which hath flowed from My Pen before the faces of men and that which My tongue hath spoken amongst the servants. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to adorn all with that which He loveth and is pleased with, and to assist them to turn and return unto Him. Verily He is the Strong, the Mighty.

O Muhammad-Qabli-ʿAli! We testify that thou hast attained unto a Book whose fragrance, whose call and whose remembrance shall never cease. It behooveth thee to thank God at all times for this manifest grace, and to give the glad-tidings of this mighty announcement unto the servants with wisdom and utterance. Convey My greetings to the loved ones on behalf of the Wronged One, and give them the glad-tidings of the dawning lights of divine bounty. Verily We have mentioned each one of them in such wise as cannot be equaled by all the treasures of the earth. Blessed is he who hath recognized and attained, and woe unto the heedless.

And concerning that which thou didst subsequently ask, verily it shall be made manifest unto thee as a promise from God, the Lord of the Mighty Throne. Thy later petition hath attained unto the Most Holy Court. We praise God Who hath caused thee to know His Cause, taught thee His remembrance, and guided thee to His straight path. The world and all that is therein shall perish, but there shall endure thy deeds in the days of God and that which flowed from thy pen in praise and remembrance of the Wronged One. We beseech Him to strengthen thee, to prosper thee, and to aid thee with the hosts of utterance that thou mayest guide the people and draw them nigh unto Him. Verily He is the Helper, the Mighty, the Powerful, and praise be to God, the Glorious, the All-Praised.