Volume 029: Middle Baghdad Period (1856–1860) (5 of 7)

BH00064: Hurufat-i-’Alin (=Kalimat-i-’Uliya; the Exalted Letters)

Introduction

This section was written in the hour of affliction for the Most Exalted Letters; yet in these days it was, for my own sake, set apart. Thereupon certain seekers demanded that an explanation and commentary be penned in the Persian tongue; therefore was it committed to writing, and from the gems of the words it became manifest and plain. But since a word-for-word rendering possessed not, in its original nature, any comeliness, whatsoever flowed from the Pen was set down and inscribed. Though the possessors of insight, from a single letter thereof, are able to deduce the whole realities of meanings, from the subtleties of the spirit and the divine significances, yet because there are some whose abode is the world of human nature and whose eye of objection is open, it is fitting that this exposition and clarification be inscribed at the head and forefront of these pages.

He is He

Arabic

Glorified art Thou, O my God! How shall the pen bestir itself, and how shall the ink flow, after the gentle breezes of loving-kindness have been stayed, and the Sun of Thy decree hath shone forth from the horizon of Thy irrevocable judgment; after the sword of affliction hath leaped from the scabbard of fate, and the heaven of sorrows hath been upraised; and from the clouds of Thy doom the spears of sedition and the arrows of vengeance have descended—so grievously that the stars of joy have been eclipsed in the hearts of Thy loved ones, and the measures of gladness have vanished from the breasts of Thine elect? Calamities have followed one upon another, until they have attained unto such a pass that none can bear them, nor can any soul endure to draw nigh unto them; wherefore the doors of hope have been shut fast, the breezes of faithfulness have been cut off, and the fragrances of dissolution have been stirred. By Thy might! the pen weepeth, the ink crieth aloud; the tablet hath been thunderstruck, bodies have trembled, and the pillars have been overthrown. Alas, alas, for that which hath been decreed and irrevocably concluded! And this is of Thy primal solicitude.

Persian

Sanctified and all-glorious art Thou, O my Lord! How can the Pen move, and how can the ink flow, after the breezes of Thy mercy have been stayed, the subtle intimations of Thy loving-kindness have set, the sun of abasement and humiliation hath arisen, the sword of tribulation hath been drawn from its sheath, the heaven of sorrow hath been uplifted, and from the clouds of might the arrows and spears of sedition and vengeance have poured down—so fiercely that the signs and stars of joy have vanished from hearts, the measures of gladness have been effaced from the breasts of this age, the gates of hope have been shut fast, the favouring breath of the morning wind hath been cut off from the garden of fidelity, and the raging blasts of extinction have blown upon the Tree of everlastingness. The Pen is busy with lamentation, the ink renowned for its cry and wailing, the Tablet bewildered by this tumult, and the very essence of understanding seething from the tasting of this anguish and pain; while the nightingale of the unseen, in this melodious chant, crieth: “Woe, woe, for that which hath appeared and been made manifest!” And this is naught but of Thy hidden mercies, O my Lord.

Arabic

And Thou it is Who didst kindle the lamp of love within the niche of Thy loving-kindness, and didst nurture it with the oil of knowledge and wisdom, until it shone forth and shed its radiance; and through its light the splendors of Thine oneness dawned within the niche of the might of Thy sovereignty, and the pillars of the House of Thine eternity were made firm within the gardens of the sanctity of Thy inmost Being. Thou didst guard it with the glass of Thy bounty and the crystal of Thy mercy, that no befouling winds might blow upon it. After this, Thou didst clothe it in the robe of Thy generosity and Thy compassion, and didst manifest it forth, from the kingdom of Thine attributes, upon the temple of Thy names.

But when its creation was consummated and its nature refined, the winds of extinction blew upon it, and the gentle breaths of everlastingness were cut off from it, until its life was taken away, its niche was shattered, and its lights were quenched. Alas, alas, for that which hath been decreed and irrevocably concluded! And this is of Thine other decrees.

Persian

And Thou art He, O my Lord, Who hast kindled the candle of Thy mercy and the lamps of Thy guidance within the sanctuaries of Thy loving-kindness and Thy bountiful favor, and hast reared them with the oils of Thy knowledge and Thy wisdom, until, through their radiance, the lights of guidance were illumined in the chambers of Thy glory; and by them the splendors of Thine oneness were made manifest from the luminaries of Thy grandeur and sovereignty. Thou didst shield it from the fierce, extinguishing winds, that it might remain guarded beneath the shadows of Thy mercy; and thereafter Thou didst attire it with the vestures of Thine abiding gifts, and didst reveal it from the kingdom of attributes in the temple of a name among Thy names.

But when its creation was consummated and its nature made fair, there blew upon it the contrary winds of extinction, and the doors of everlastingness were barred against it, until its brightness was quenched, its lantern was broken, its abode left void, and its light consumed. Wherefore, alas! alas! for that which hath been decreed and made manifest! And this is of Thine irrevocable command, O my Lord.

Arabic

How shall I, O my God, make mention of the wondrous subtleties of Thy handiwork and the mysteries of Thy wisdom, seeing that Thou hast created, from the essences of Thy bounties, that pearl-like water, and hast caused it to flow forth from the loins of fathers, conveying it from loin to loin, until it came to rest in the back of one among Thy servants? Then didst Thou cause this delicate and limpid water to descend into the shell of a handmaid among Thy handmaids, and didst foster it therein by the hands of Thy hidden Purpose and the gentle ministrations of Thy compassion, and didst order it by the ordinances of Thy wisdom, until Thou didst fashion it within the womb of the mother in the form of honor and with the most comely proportion.

Thereafter didst Thou bring it forth; Thou didst nurse it, didst bestow Thy favors upon it, didst feed it and give it drink, didst ennoble it, exalt it, sustain it, and cause it to grow, until Thou didst lead it to that goal which in Thy creation hath no goal, and to that height which in Thy dominion hath no end—so that Thou didst cause it to ascend unto the heaven of Thy Cause and the atmosphere of the sanctity of Thy mighty glory, and didst bring it to the ladders of journeys in Thy presence; Thou didst sever it from every direction, and didst turn it back from Thee unto Thee, until it entered in upon Thee and came to abide through Thee.

Yet, O my God, when it had entered in upon Thee, Thou didst strip its body, for Thou didst desire none but it; Thou didst take away its garments, for Thou didst will none beside it; and Thou didst cause it to dwell in a house wherein was neither companion nor helper, neither associate nor intimate, neither lamp nor couch. And it remained therein—poor, destitute, alone, and seeking refuge. Alas, alas! for thereby the breezes of honor were cut off from the border of everlastingness; the dove of the Cause was wearied of the melodies of faithfulness; existence was rent asunder, and over its temple were torn the saffron robes; the maidens of heaven cast ashes upon their faces; and the eyes of majesty, in the inner recesses of contingent being, wept tears of crimson. Alas, alas! That which was decreed hath been irrevocably accomplished, and this is of Thy most grievous afflictions.

Persian

How shall I, O my Beloved and my Heart’s Desire, make mention of Thy consummate wisdom, as revealed in the ever-fresh manifestations of Thy creative power, and of the mysteries of Thy sovereignty and Thy providence—mysteries that have been veiled from the sight of eyes and sanctified beyond the grasp of minds? For Thou didst create, from the very essences of Thy bounties, a subtle and luminous water; Thou didst cause it to flow through hallowed loins, and didst transfer it from loins unto loins and from abode unto abode, until it was brought to its term and made to settle in the back of one among Thy servants. Then didst Thou cause it to descend from his back into the shell of one of Thy handmaids, and didst nurture it by Thine inward hands and the delicate breathings of Thy bounty and mercy, until Thou didst fashion it in the mother’s womb upon the temple of honor and greatness, and didst adorn it with the fairest of forms.

From pure fountains didst Thou give it suck, and by Thy perfect might didst Thou guard it, until it waxed strong beneath the shelter of Thy mercy and dwelt in the domains of Thy dominion. It tasted of the wines of Thy munificence and drank of the springs of Thy favor, until it entered the garden of recognition and found repose in the retreat of certitude; it walked in the gardens of nearness and vision, and paced the carpet of reunion and disclosure, until it was honored with the glory of Thy presence and was sustained by the wine of abiding life. It plucked the fruit of nearness from the tree of union, and drank the limpid water from the fountain of beauty; it apprehended the pure draughts of divine knowledge from the peerless Countenance of the Eternal One. It traversed the realms of love, and passed along the perilous paths of patience and search, until it entered upon Thee, returned unto Thee, turned back to Thee, and came to abide at the Pole of the placeless realm, facing Thy Beauty.

At that hour the sea of Thy decree surged, and the fierce winds were stirred in the air of Thy trials. Then didst Thou strip his body and abase his frame, and didst lodge him in a house wherein no carpet was spread and no lamp made ready; wherein was neither companion to keep him company, nor friend and intimate with whom he might find solace. Wherefore, alas, alas! the tokens of joy were shut up, the nightingale of manifestation was silenced, the very essence of existence rent its garments asunder, the maid of Paradise cast black dust upon her head, and from the fountains of power the rivers of abasement were made to flow. Alas, alas, for that which hath appeared and been made manifest! This, verily, is of Thy grievous afflictions, O my Lord.

Arabic

Glorified art Thou, O my God! After Thou hadst caused him to ascend unto the arenas of the “He is”—the throne of abiding life—and to the effacement of self and subsistence through the Most Exalted Light upon the rafters of the primal beginning; after his attainment unto Thee and his knowledge of himself; after he had proclaimed Thy light and beheld Thy beauty—then didst Thou give him to drink from the wondrous, limpid springs, from the gems of Thy hidden knowledge; Thou didst array him in the mantle of guidance, and didst cause him to quaff from the cups of godliness, until he heard the melody of the Dove within the very center of the Cloud, and stood before the Most Great Vision, and arose within the Sanctuary of Majesty, and clung unto the Yellow Cord in the Crimson Spot; until, through his inmost being, he became independent by Thee, and through his very self endured by Thee; he witnessed with his eye that which he witnessed, and knew with his heart that which he knew; and he ascended wholly unto that station which none shall ever precede in love for Thee, in contentment with Thy decree, and in submission to Thy trial.

And he remained in that most exalted condition and that most glorious, most faithful rank, until Thou didst breathe upon him from the breathings of Thy decree and the winds of Thy affliction, and didst take from him all that Thou hadst bestowed through Thy bounty—so that his feet were withheld from walking, his hands from grasping, his sight from beholding Thy beauty, his hearing from hearkening to Thy melodies, his heart from discerning the sites of Thy unity, and his inmost soul from certitude in the manifestations of Thy singleness. Nor wert Thou content with this, until Thou didst strip from him the robes of Thy solicitude, and didst cast him down from the palaces of glory to the dust of abasement, and from the treasuries of riches to the lurking-place of poverty; and he came to dwell in the belly of the earth—alone, a stranger, naked, bereft, forsaken. Alas, alas, for that which hath been decreed and irrevocably accomplished! And this is of Thy greatest calamity.

Persian

(A marvel, indeed, is this: that after his entrance into the garden of everlastingness, after he had drained the cups of abiding life, and had soared in the heaven of abiding life, and attained the retreats of abiding life, and reached a station wherein naught was witnessed save abiding life, and nothing existed save the pure footsteps of the Cause—lo, the hosts of extinction encompassed him from every side, until they seized him. Ponder this, O people of the Bayan, for fifty thousand years, if ye be of them that are firmly grounded in the knowledge of God! Nay, by my Lord! ye shall not comprehend it, though ye were to reflect from everlasting to everlasting.)

Pure and sanctified art Thou, O my Desire! After Thou hadst exalted him unto the stations of the glory of Paradise, and caused him to enter the gardens of holy immortality—so that the gates of extinction were never again opened before him—until he was consumed from self and abided through Thy abiding; until he entered the garden of reunion, and drank from the fountain of beauty, and perceived the gems of knowledge and the unmingled essences of wisdom from the hidden springs; until he was arrayed in the garments of guidance, and tasted of the cups of godliness, and heard the melodies of the Dove of God from the harps and lutes of the Everlasting; until he cut himself off from all besides Thee, joined himself unto Thy presence, and laid down the head of submission in the deserts of Thy nearness—until, at last, in the wildernesses of search, he yielded up his life.

Then didst Thou take from him that which Thou hadst bestowed upon him, until his feet were held back from walking, his hands fell from motion, his eyes were veiled from beholding the beauty, and his ears were forbidden to hear Thy utterance. Thou didst strip from him the robes of Thy mercy, until he lay naked and bare upon the dust; he passed from the lofty palaces of glory to the dwelling of abasement, and from the high degrees of riches to the land of poverty, and remained within the midst of the earth—alone, a stranger, solitary, destitute. Wherefore, alas, alas, for that which hath appeared and been made manifest! And this is of Thy great afflictions, O my Lord.

Arabic

And Thou it is Who didst plant a goodly tree in a blessed and delicate soil, and didst cause it to drink the camphor-water from the springs of Thy Manifestation. Thou didst rear it by the sovereign might of Thy dominion, and didst guard it by the hands of Thy power, until it rose and was exalted; and Thou didst make its root firm in the earth of Thy Will, through a name among Thy names, and its branch in the heaven of Thy Purpose. Thus did it become established and uplifted, and was made possessed of lofty boughs and upraised branches, a strong and mighty tree, with great and unassailable limbs. Upon its boughs did the spirits of the glory of Thine own Being alight, and upon its branches did the doves of the sanctity of Thine eternity find rest; cages of light were hung thereon, and within them were birds of glory singing, and doves of holiness warbling—each of them making mention of God, their Lord, with wondrous tongue in melodies, and with steadfast word upon the branches. By their strains the hearts of the sincere were enraptured, and the souls of the near ones found tranquillity.

But when it had attained unto the loftiest of its stations, the lightnings of Thy wrath and the tempests of Thy tribulation seized it, until its branches were broken, its leaves turned yellow, its fruits fell, its cages were shattered, and its birds took flight—until it collapsed altogether, root and branch, as though it had never been planted, nor created, nor made manifest, nor risen, nor been exalted. Alas, alas! That which was decreed hath been irrevocably accomplished, and this is by the all-compelling power of Thy most great sovereignty.

Persian

And Thou, O my Lord, didst plant a fair and tender tree in a blessed and fruitful soil, and didst nurture it with the hands of Thy loving-kindness and Thy care, and didst guard it in the shelter of Thy power and Thy prevailing might, until its branches were upraised and its boughs brought forth fruit; until its root was firmly established in the earth of recognition, and its branch was lifted up unto the heaven of Thy knowledge and wisdom. Upon its leaves did the spirits of the holiness of Thy solicitude alight, and upon its boughs the lights of the glory of Thy munificence found repose; and upon its branches dwelt the birds of attraction and longing, and the nightingales of love and rapture—whereat the souls of the sanctified and the spirits of the near ones were confounded by the Hijazi chants, the ʿIraqi melodies, and the holy strains of God, and were delivered from the confines of existence.

But when its appointed term was fulfilled, the lightnings of Thy wrath encompassed it, in such wise that its boughs were broken, its leaves turned yellow, its fruits were scattered, its cages were overthrown, its birds flew away, and it fell upon the face of the earth as though it had never been created, nor made manifest, nor borne fruit. Wherefore, alas, alas, for that which hath been decreed and made manifest! And this is of the manifestations of Thy sovereignty, O my Lord.

Arabic

Thou art He Who didst send down the ordinance of power from the heaven of glory, and by Thy leave the decree of judgment shone forth, irrevocably confirmed, in the kingdom of primal beginning, that the Spot of Majesty might be established upon pillars of well-wrought iron, firm and skilfully fashioned. Thou didst level it with the dust of Thy solicitude from the Paradise of Thine eternity; Thou didst rear it upon four foundations, fashioned from the temples of the glory of Thine oneness; Thou didst adorn it with the suns of Thy self-subsistence, and didst broider it with the purest gold of Thy mercy. Thou didst cause its gates to be embellished with the red ruby in Thy Name, the Most Exalted, the Most High; and its wall to be inlaid with the pearls of Thine exalted attributes in Thy Most Great, Most Glorious remembrance; and Thou didst make its roof and its throne of moist, most limpid diamond, in the most perfect, the most ancient, the most faithful commemoration. Glory be to God—its Creator, its Originator, its Manifestor, and its Ordainer!

And after it had attained its end and appeared in the fairest of its forms, it remained until its appointed time was fulfilled. Then did the heaven of Thy affliction rise up in the realm of Thy overpowering might, and the angels of Thy wrath uttered over it the word of Thy chastisement; whereupon the very foundations of the house were shaken, until its pillars fell, its thrones were cast down, its gates were shattered, its walls were effaced, and its very signs were blotted out—as though it had never been built upon Thy earth, nor raised in Thy dominions, nor made manifest in Thy lands. Its dust was scattered, its remembrance forgotten, and its traces erased. Alas, alas! That which was decreed hath been irrevocably accomplished. Yet praise be unto Thee for Thy most exalted and wondrous ordaining, and unto Thee be thanksgiving for the sweetness of Thy most comely judgment.

Persian

And Thou, O my Possessor and my Hope, didst send down from the kingdom of Thy glory the firm decree of judgment, and from the pavilions of Thy power the irrevocable ordinance of destiny, for the raising of a House wherein agitated souls might abide, and in whose precincts detached minds might find repose. Thou didst build it of pure and hallowed dust, from one atom whereof were created the exalted realities and the hearts of the sanctified; and upon the divine foundations didst Thou establish its pillars. Thou didst adorn it with suns rising from the horizon of beauty, and didst broider it with purest gold. Its gates Thou didst embellish with a wondrous ruby, created from the very essence of Being; and its walls Thou didst inlay with steadfast pearls that had appeared from the subtle depths of the sea of oneness. And when its edifice was completed, its signs made manifest, and its tokens clearly shown, Thou didst command that all who moved in the heavens of Thy power and coursed in the airs of Thy glory should circle round about it, should visit its dust, and should turn toward its gates. Rejected was he that tarried, and accepted was he that hastened unto it.

But when its appointed time was fulfilled and its dispensation ended, the clouds of tribulation rose from the east of Thy might and wrath, and the angels of vengeance spoke a single word, whereat a trembling seized the foundations of the House—so that its pillars were overthrown, its roofs fell in upon it, and its very signs were effaced, as though it had never been built nor raised. So complete was its obliteration that its name was forgotten, its dust scattered, and its traces utterly blotted out. Wherefore, alas, alas, for that which hath appeared and been made manifest! This is of the wondrous marvels of Thine exalted decrees, O my Master; and I render Thee praise for the beauty of Thy sweet judgment, O my Lord.

Arabic

By Thy might, O my God! I complain not unto Thee of that which hath befallen from Thy presence and hath been sent down from Thy court. Nay, I rather beseech Thy forgiveness for whatsoever I have mentioned, recounted, and uttered of my transgressions—transgressions that can testify to naught save my heedlessness of Thy remembrance and my turning away from the gardens of Thy nearness. For I have recognized the seats of Thy wisdom, and have been made aware of the ordinances of the glory of Thy Lordship, and have attained assured conviction that, through the sovereignty of Thy grace, Thou wilt never deal with Thy servants save in a manner befitting the majesty of Thy glory and consonant with the wonders of Thy bounties. Nor hath the decree of return issued from the horizon of Thy power and the dominion of Thy will, except that it might lead Thy servants unto the goal of Thy favor, and unto the utmost degrees of Thy generosity and Thy effulgent grace.

And I know that he who hath ascended unto Thee and come to abide with Thee hath risen to the heavens of the glory of Thine eternity, hath dwelt within the precincts of the sanctity of Thy Lordship, and hath settled upon the seat of honor at the dawning of the lights of Thy beauty; he hath lain in the cradle of abiding life at the manifestation of the glory of Thy Divinity. Methinks, even at this moment, I behold him flying on the two wings of glory in the atmosphere of the holiness of Thy mercy, moving through the cities of the spirit of Thine oneness, drinking from the cups of reunion and meeting with Thee, and nourished by the bounties of nearness and union with Thee. How blessed that spirit, through that most glorious honor and that greatest solicitude! Yet inasmuch as Thou hast hidden from Thy creatures that which Thou hast unveiled unto Thy servant, grievous hath the ordinance of separation become to the people, hard to endure hath appeared to the lowly the manifestation of severance from the horizon of divorce, and bitter to Thy loved ones hath been the apparition of extinction within the temples of abiding life.

Therefore hath there descended upon Thy loved ones that which none can number, which no soul can compass, which no heart can sustain, and which no mind can bear—among them this calamity that hath been sent down, and this affliction that hath come to pass, whereby livers have been consumed, servants set aflame, and cities thrown into turmoil. No eye remaineth that hath not wept, no head that hath not been made bare, no soul that hath not been confounded, no heart that hath not been troubled, no light that hath not been darkened, no spirit that hath not been severed, and no joy that hath not been transformed. Alas, alas, for that which hath been decreed and irrevocably accomplished! And this is of Thy ordinance inscribed in the Crimson Tree.

Persian

By Thy might and Thy glory, O my Lord, my Guide, and my Well-Beloved! I complain not unto Thee of that which hath befallen from Thy presence and hath appeared from Thy side. Nay rather, the heads of them that love Thee yearn for Thy strong nooses, and the necks of them that seek Thy countenance await Thy keen-edged swords; and breasts illumined by attraction and longing lie in wait for the poisoned arrows. For, in the sight of true lovers, deadly poisons are sweeter than the wine of life, and slaying wounds purer than the most delicate and stainless draught. Perish, then, the soul that doth not lay down its life in the path of Thy love; and lost be the being that doth not bow its head in quest of reunion with Thee; and dead be the heart that is not quickened by Thy remembrance; and far removed the frame that is not, with all its being, a seeker after nearness unto Thee, and tasteth not the hardships of the wilderness of love.

Yet, O my Master, I turn back in repentance from that wherein I have been occupied, in the sanctified court of Thy holiness, by these words—words that have proceeded from naught save the heedlessness of this servant of the stations of nearness and reunion. For whoso attaineth unto Thee is cut off from all besides Thee; and whoso passeth beyond Thee is busied with aught other than Thee. Woe, then, unto him who hath severed himself from Thee and cleaved unto another, who remaineth bewildered in the valley of self, and dieth, deprived of the City of abiding life and everlasting existence.

By Thy might and Thy majesty, O my Lord! I behold the friends and confidants of Thy Ka’bih of reunion, and the intoxicated ones of the wine of Thy beauty, rejoicing in the marvels of Thy decree, and glad in the afflictions that descend from Thee—though they be sheer wrath, or pure indignation. For this wrath is the possessor of all grace, and this anger the sovereign of all loving-kindness; this poison is the quickener of souls; the dominion of glory circleth round this abasement, and the kingdom of riches seeketh this poverty.

And Thou, O my Lord, hast caused this bird to return from its dusky body to the realm of meanings; nourished with spiritual sustenance, and favored with the gifts of the Everlasting; it hath returned unto Thee and entered in upon Thee, hath leaped to the rafters of Thy holiness, and found repose in the precincts of Thy mercy; it hath taken up its seat upon the throne of honor, and flieth in the airs of the glory of the spirit, drinking of the wine of reunion with Thine oneness, and quaffing the draughts of meeting with Thy self-subsisting Lordship. But since, through Thy consummate wisdom, Thou hast veiled these stations behind the curtains of Thy power, grievous hath the ordinance of separation become unto Thy servants; hard is the decree of divorce in their eyes; souls are seized with anguish at the thought thereof, and minds are smitten with terror at the sight of it.

Among those foreordained afflictions and those manifest yet hidden calamities is this wondrous sorrow and this new tribulation, whereby livers have been consumed, the realities of servants set aflame, and the people of the lands thrown into turmoil. No eye remaineth but hath wept blood; no heart endureth but hath tasted the cup of pain; exalted heads have been left bare and uncovered; even patient souls have cried out in grief; hearts have been troubled, lights have grown dim and dark, spirits have been cut off from their abodes, and joy hath been transformed in its assemblies. Alas, alas, for that which hath appeared and been made manifest! And this is of Thy decrees made firm in the Tree of Thy Manifestation, O my Lord.

Arabic

Verily Thou, O my God, my Beloved, and my Hope, knowest that calamities have risen from the horizon of Thy decree, have encompassed all contingent being and whatsoever is therein, and have prevailed over all worlds and whatever pertaineth unto them. Yet hast Thou, in these days, singled them out for two holy Countenances, and hast called the first by the name of her whom Thou didst choose, and hast made her the Mother of all created things; and the other by the name of her whom Thou didst elect above the women of the world.

Upon them, at that time, Thou didst send down affliction, when neither had a mother to rend her garments, or to cast ashes upon her head, or to share their sorrow, or to weep for that which had befallen them, or to bare her head at the descent of that which descended upon them; nor had they companions to comfort them and withhold them from their tears, nor associates to dry the tears upon their cheeks, nor spotless maidens to veil their tresses, nor tender-hearted ones to still their trembling, or to lament in their calamities, or to stain their hands, or to comb their hair after their mourning.

Therefore, O my God, since Thou hast decreed by Thy command that which Thou hast decreed, and hast irrevocably accomplished by Thy judgment that which Thou hast accomplished, do Thou honor them, and clothe them in garments of silk and shining robes, through the word of magnification, that their eyes may be solaced by the wonders of Thy mercy, and their sorrow be transmuted into the jewels of Thy joy, and into the lights of the Light in the dawning-place of Thy Sinai. Then cause them to hear the melodies of Thine identity from the Lote-Tree of the glory of Thine eternity, and the Tree of the sanctity of Thine oneness—those strains at the hearing whereof minds are thunderstruck, souls are stirred at their appearing, and spirits are drawn heavenward at their manifestation.

Then bestow upon them the fruits of the Tree of Thy Lordship, and cause them to taste the wine of life from the springs of Thy self-subsistence. Then bring them down into the river of Thy nearness and the city of reunion with Thee, and cause them to dwell within the precincts of Thy mercy, beneath the shade of the garden of Thy meeting and Thy union. Then pour out upon them patience from Thy presence; then make them, and those who were with them, to rely wholly upon Thee, to be severed from all beside Thee, to be occupied with Thy remembrance, to find solace in Thy Name, to long for Thy beauty, to hasten unto reunion and meeting with Thee, to be sustained from the cup of Thy bounty, to circle round Thy Self, to rest in the cradle of Thy nearness, to soar in the heaven of Thy love, to walk in the lands of Thy good-pleasure, to run toward the retreats of Thy lights, to seek the beauty of Thy decree, to be content at the descent of Thy trials, patient in Thee and satisfied with Thee—so that their eyes may be expectant of the wonders of Thy mercy, and their hearts lie in wait for the revelation of Thy loving-kindness; for they have taken none as Lord but Thee, no beloved save Thee, and no goal other than Thee.

And I beseech Thee by Him whom Thou hast manifested aforetime and wilt manifest hereafter, that Thou wilt not deprive them and Thy servants of the sanctuary of Thy majesty, nor turn them away from the gates of the city into whose court have descended all who are in the heavens and on the earth, and have stood at its door—yet entered it none save those whom Thou hast singled out by Thy bounty, whom Thou hast made mirrors of Thy Self and manifestations of Thy Essence, the dawning-places of Thy glory, the daysprings of Thy holiness, the sunsets of Thy Spirit, the treasuries of Thy revelation, the repositories of Thy light, the seas of Thy knowledge, and the billows of Thy wisdom. Thus, indeed, Thou hast ever been powerful to do what Thou desirest, and sovereign over what Thou willest; and Thou art, verily, the Almighty, the Self-Subsisting.

Then, O my God, cause this guest who hath entered in upon Thee to ascend above that which Thou hast caused him to ascend by Thy bounty, that he may enter the domes of grandeur behind the pavilions of oneness, in the neighborhood of Thy Most Glorious Name and Thy Most Exalted Essence, beside the Furthermost Tree, the Garden of Refuge, and Thy most sublime Spirit—so that the fragrances of holiness may lay hold upon him from the Primal Point, the Most Exalted Center, and the Most Sweet Essence; that he may revolve around His beauty, circle His sanctuary of majesty, and visit the light of His attributes in the Ka’bah of His names. Then clothe him in robes of joy, that thereby he may rejoice in the concourse of manifestation, and may hear the melodies of nearness from the Tree of camphor, that the White Dove may sing, in the accents of attraction, upon this Crimson Leaf, and upon all trees, with the voice of the Almighty, from this kindled flame, from this fire—testifying that there is none other God but Him, the King, the All-Powerful, the Mighty, the Compelling; and that He, verily, is God, the Mighty, the Guardian, the All-Subduing.

And then shall the utterance be sealed with the words: “Praise be unto God, the Incomparable, the All-Powerful.” And Thou wilt, O my God, accomplish that which Thou desirest; and this is of Thy most perfect, most ancient, most faithful bestowal.

Persian

Verily, Thou, O my Beloved, beholdest how calamities and afflictions have arisen from the dawning-place of Thy decree, how the rains of Thy wrath have begun to pour down from every side, and how the winds of sorrow have been set in motion. How many countless lives have been offered up in the path of the Friend, and how many renowned heads have been lifted upon the gallows! In no instant hath repose been granted, and in no night hath ease been vouchsafed. The noose of Thy love hath bound the heads of them that know Thee, and the arrow of Thy affection hath wearied the hearts of them that adore Thee.

Fourteen years have passed wherein tranquility hath been cut off and the gates of comfort shut fast. They have reaped no delight from the blessings of the kingdom, nor have they inhaled any breeze of the mercy of the Spirit. At one time have they been afflicted with abasement in prison; at another have they been hidden in the wilderness of separation. From every homeland have they been rejected, from every land cast out, and from every rest deprived. How many strong cords have been severed, and how many firm bonds have been cut asunder! Of every portion have they been left portionless, and of every share deprived. The bounties of realms have been turned into the scourges of perils; the Sun of the Daysprings of Divinity hath been concealed in the sunsets of obscurity; the lamp of Lordship hath been hidden within the glass of breasts; the eternal Fire hath remained veiled within the tree of the mystery; the pearl of self-subsistence hath been stored within the shell of the unseen; and the Daystar of Godhead hath been enshrined within the veil of holiness.

How, then, can the pen trace aught, or utterance venture a step? And Thou, O my Lord and my Master, art aware of what hath befallen this servant, and of what hath descended upon him: in no moment hath he rested in a sure abode, nor for any time been established upon a seat of honor. Save the blood of the heart hath he not drunk as water, and save a piece of liver hath he not been nourished as food. At one time was he a captive in the hands of the unbelievers, journeying from city to city; at another, a companion of fetters and chains—especially in these days, when he hath become the target of the arrows of two contending factions and the object of vengeance for both parties.

Unto friends my abasement is glory and my sorrow their joy; and unto enemies my very being is a burning rancor within their hearts. How many hatreds have been hidden in breasts, and how many rancors concealed within hearts! From the outward prison have I come forth, yet have I been imprisoned in the jail of the souls of the idolaters. The darts of suspicion rain down from every direction, and the swords of envy pour from all sides like a driving shower. Yet, notwithstanding all these afflictions and tribulations and these grievous, well-compacted calamities, there remaineth hope that I shall not be withheld from service, nor shall the foot of steadfastness slip, but that eyes shall fix upon Thy path and stand firm in Thy service.

At this hour, when tears flow from the eyes and crimson blood courses from my heart, I cry unto Thee, beseeching Thee to make my sorrowful heart heedless of all save Thee, and wholly occupied with Thee, that it may be cut off from all else and bound fast unto Thee. For he that is bound to Thee shall never be loosed, and he whom Thou hast accepted shall never be rejected. He is a sovereign though he be judged by men; victorious though no soul aid him; beloved though he be spurned.

At this hour shall the torch of unity be kindled, and the mirror of singleness proclaim the mystery of detachment; and the Iraqi reed-pipe, in Hijazi strain, shall chant: “All things perish save His Face.” For the hands of the knowers are shortened, while Thou art enthroned in the lofty retreat of glory; the hearts of lovers are troubled, whilst Thou, in perfect independence, art established upon the treasury of exaltation. How can imagination find a path, that it might soar in that boundless heaven? How can thought attain entrance, that it might set foot upon the court of the holy annihilation? The vain imaginings of men are but dust; and how shall dark, troubled dust reach the hem of Thy purified holiness, or a limited gaze draw nigh unto Thy radiant Countenance? From everlasting Thou hast been unknown, though Thou art more manifest than any manifestation; and for evermore wilt Thou remain concealed, though within all things Thou art more renowned than the thing itself. This is Thy hiddenness in Thy open revelation, and Thy manifestation in Thy mysteries.

Yea, O my Beloved, not every breast is capable of Thy love, nor every heart worthy of Thy affection. Thy love is a blazing fire, and the bodies of men are dry fuel; what stability can fuel retain in the nearness of fire, save that Thine ancient providence step forth, and raise the banner of “coolness and peace,” that the Pen of power may inscribe upon the shining tablet of the heart the love of Thee? And this is of Thy ancient grace; Thou bestowest it upon whomsoever Thou willest of Thy servants.

By Thy might, O Lord! all these afflictions are sweeter than every honey, and more pleasant than every spirit; for the seekers of the Ka’bah of reunion, until they pass beyond the bounds of glory, cannot rejoice in the dawning of beauty; and until they drink of the cup of effacement, they shall not enter the river of abiding life. Until they clothe themselves with the garment of poverty in the path of Thy good-pleasure, they shall not be honored with the lofty mantle of riches; until they are made sick with the pain of love, they shall not attain the abode of healing; until they pass beyond the earthly homeland, they shall not ascend unto the holy homeland of God; until they die in the wilderness of everlasting search, they shall not be endowed with the eternal, abiding life; until they find refuge in the land of abasement, they shall not discover the path to the heaven of glory; until they taste the poison of separation, they shall not be sustained by the honey of abiding; and until they traverse the deserts of distance and exile, they shall not find rest in the cities of nearness and reunion.

Though, O my Lord, afflictions have encompassed all Thy loved ones, yet in these days have they been singled out for two of Thy handmaids—one called by the name of a¸¤awwa, and the other by the name of Maryam. This most great calamity descended at a time when these Thy handmaids had no mother to rend her garment, to cast black dust upon her head, and to weep over the grief that had fallen upon them; nor had they companions to dry their faces of tears, to veil their hair from the darkening dust; nor tender-hearted ones to soothe their sorrow and bring gladness to their hearts; nor consolers to befriend them, and after the affliction to stain their hands with henna and to comb their tresses. They had drunk of blood-red wine, and had been nourished with the bread of grief; and Thou, O my Lord, hast decreed what Thou didst will, and hast caused the irrevocable ordinance of destiny to run its course according to Thy desire.

Therefore, O my Beloved, clothe them in the garments of patience and long-suffering, and in the raiment of mercy and forbearance, that their eyes may be illumined by Thy ever-new mercies, and their hearts be stilled by Thine immeasurable loving-kindness. Cause them to enter the rivers of nearness and the cities of reunion; lodge these homeless ones in the precincts of Thy mercy, beneath the pleasant shades of Thy forgiveness and Thy pardon. Give rest to these agitated souls in Thy sanctified gatherings; cause these thirsty ones to taste of the hidden waters of Kawthar and of the treasured wine of life. Breathe upon them the breezes of the Yemen of Thy love, and bring them into the cities of the abiding companionship of Thy presence, that they may be far removed from all beside Thee and drawn nigh unto Thee; that they may be occupied with Thy remembrance and gladdened by Thy mention; that they may plant the tree of Thy love in the shining earth of the heart and water it with the waters of Thy passion, until its stature be uplifted and its branches bear fruit—until they become steadfast and upright in Thy love; until they walk in the land of Thy good-pleasure, settle in the cradles of Thy nearness, traverse the deserts of Thy union, soar in the heavens of meeting with Thee, pass beyond the limitations of separation, be admitted to the gatherings of unity, and be ennobled, through the breathings of singleness, in the realm of detachment—so that they may close their eyes to all and open them to Thee, flee from all and enter in upon Thee.

Then, O my Lord, bestow Thy favor upon them, and upon this new guest who hath entered in upon Thee—beyond all that hath been mentioned and all that hath been left unsaid, and beyond whatever is sanctified and exalted above both these conditions. Ere long wilt Thou grant that whereunto Thou wast invoked. This is of Thy perfect solicitude which hath outstripped all created things, O my Lord.