Volume 031: Late Baghdad Period (1860–1863) (2 of 5)

BH00296: In Thy name, the Most Sweet, the Most Glorious

Section 1: “In Thy name, the Most Sweet, the Most…”

In Thy name, the Most Sweet, the Most Glorious

Since Thou hast, O my God, established Thyself upon the throne of Thy transcendent unity, and ascended the mercy seat of Thy oneness, it befitteth Thee to blot out from the hearts of all beings whatsoever may keep them back from gaining admittance into the sanctuary of Thy Divine mysteries, and may shut them out from the tabernacle of Thy Divinity, that all hearts may mirror Thy beauty, and may reveal Thee, and speak of Thee, and that all created things may show forth the tokens of Thy most august sovereignty, and shed the splendors of the light of Thy most holy governance, and that all who are in heaven and on earth may laud and magnify Thy unity, and give Thee glory, for having manifested Thy Self unto them through Him Who is the Revealer of Thy oneness.

Divest, then, Thy servants, O my God, of the garments of self and desire, or grant that the eyes of Thy people may be lifted up to such heights that they will discern in their desires naught except the stirring of the gentle winds of Thine eternal glory, and may recognize in their own selves nothing but the revelation of Thine own merciful Self, that the earth and all that is therein may be cleansed of whatever is alien to Thee, or anything that manifesteth aught save Thy Self. All this can be fulfilled throughout Thy dominion by Thy word of command, “Be,” and it is! Nay, even swifter than this, and yet the people understand not.

Glorified, immeasurably glorified art Thou, O my Beloved! I swear by Thy glory! I recognize this very moment that Thou hast granted all for which I have supplicated Thee, in this blessed night which, as decreed by Thee, calleth to remembrance Him Who was the Companion of Thy beauty and the Beholder of Thy face, ere I had been mentioned by Thee, or called into being within the court of Thy holiness. I perceive that Thou hast made all things to be the manifestations of Thy behest, and the revelations of Thy handiwork, and the repositories of Thy knowledge, and the treasuries of Thy wisdom. I recognize, moreover, that were any of the revelations of Thy names and Thine attributes to be withheld, though it be the weight of a grain of mustard seed, from whatsoever hath been created by Thy power and begotten by Thy might, the foundations of Thine everlasting handiwork would thereby be made incomplete, and the gems of Thy Divine wisdom would become imperfect.

For the letters of negation, no matter how far they may be removed from the holy fragrances of Thy knowledge, and however forgetful they may become of the wondrous splendors of the dawning light of Thy beauty, which are shed from the heaven of Thy majesty, must needs exist in Thy realm, so that the words which affirm Thee may thereby be exalted.

Thy might beareth me witness, O my Well-Beloved! The entire creation hath been called into being to exalt Thy triumph and to establish Thine ascendancy, and all the bounds that have been set by Thee are but the signs of Thy sovereignty, and proclaim the power of Thy might. How great, how very great, are the revelations of Thy wondrous power in all things! They are such that the lowliest among Thy creatures hath been made by Thee a manifestation of Thy most august attribute, and the most contemptible token of Thy handiwork hath been chosen as a recipient of Thy most mighty name. Poverty, as decreed by Thee, hath been made the means for the revelation of Thy riches, and abasement a path leading to Thy glory, and sinfulness a cause for the exercise of Thy forgiveness. By them Thou hast demonstrated that to Thee belong Thy most excellent titles, and unto Thee pertain the wonders of Thy most exalted attributes.

Since Thou hast purposed, O my God, to cause all created things to enter into the tabernacle of Thy transcendent grace and favor, and to waft over the entire creation the fragrances of the raiment of Thy glorious unity, and to look upon all things with the eyes of Thy bounty and Thy oneness, I beseech Thee, therefore, by Thy love, which Thou hast made to be the mainspring of the revelations of Thine eternal holiness, and the flame that gloweth within the hearts of such of Thy creatures as yearn towards Thee, to create, this very moment, for those of Thy people who are wholly devoted to Thee, and for such of Thy loved ones as love Thee, out of the essence of Thy bounty and Thy generosity, and from the inmost spirit of Thy grace and Thy glory, Thy Paradise of transcendent holiness, and to exalt it above everything except Thee, and to sanctify it from aught else save Thyself.

Create, moreover, within it, O my God, out of the lights shed by Thy throne, handmaidens who will intone the melodies of Thy wondrous and most sweet invention, that they may magnify Thy name with such words as have not been heard by any of Thy creatures, be they the inmates of Thy heaven or the dwellers of Thine earth, nor been comprehended by any of Thy people. Unlock, then, the gates of this Paradise to the faces of Thy loved ones, that haply they may enter them in Thy name, and by the power of Thy sovereignty, that thereby the sovereign bounties vouchsafed by Thee unto Thy chosen ones and the transcendent gifts granted unto Thy trusted ones be perfected, that they may extol Thy virtues with such melodies as none can either intone or describe, and that none of Thy people may conceive the design of appearing in the guise of any of Thy chosen ones, or of emulating the example of Thy loved ones, and that none may fail to discern between Thy friends and Thine enemies, or to distinguish them that are devoted to Thee from such as stubbornly oppose Thee. Potent art Thou to do what Thou willest, and powerful and supreme art Thou over all things.

Exalted, immeasurably exalted art Thou, O my Beloved, above the strivings of any of Thy creatures, however learned, to know Thee; exalted, immensely exalted art Thou above every human attempt, no matter how searching, to describe Thee! For the highest thought of men, however deep their contemplation, can never hope to outsoar the limitations imposed upon Thy creation, nor ascend beyond the state of the contingent world, nor break the bounds irrevocably set for it by Thee. How can, then, a thing that hath been created by Thy will that overruleth the whole of creation, a thing that is itself a part of the contingent world, have the power to soar into the holy atmosphere of Thy knowledge, or reach unto the seat of Thy transcendent power?

High, immeasurably high art Thou above the endeavors of the evanescent creature to soar unto the throne of Thine eternity, or of the poor and wretched to attain the summit of Thine all-sufficing glory! From eternity Thou didst Thyself describe Thine own Self unto Thy Self, and extol, in Thine own Essence, Thine Essence unto Thine Essence. I swear by Thy glory, O my Best-Beloved! Who is there besides Thee that can claim to know Thee, and who save Thyself can make fitting mention of Thee? Thou art He Who, from eternity, abode in His realm, in the glory of His transcendent unity, and the splendors of His holy grandeur. Were any one except Thee to be deemed worthy of mention, in all the kingdoms of Thy creation, from the highest realms of immortality down to the level of this nether world, how could it, then, be demonstrated that Thou art established upon the throne of Thy unity, and how could the wondrous virtues of Thy oneness and Thy singleness be glorified?

I bear witness, this very moment, to what Thou hast testified for Thine own Self, ere Thou hadst created the heavens and the earth, that Thou art God, and that there is none other God besides Thee. Thou hast from everlasting been potent, through the Manifestations of Thy might, to reveal the signs of Thy power, and Thou hast ever made known, through the Daysprings of Thy knowledge, the words of Thy wisdom. No one besides Thee hath ever been found worthy to be mentioned before the Tabernacle of Thy unity, and none except Thyself hath proved himself capable of being praised within the hallowed court of Thy oneness.

Praise be to Thee, O my God, that Thou hast revealed Thy favors and Thy bounties; and glory be to Thee, O my Beloved, that Thou hast manifested the Daystar of Thy loving-kindness and Thy tender mercies. I yield Thee such thanks as can direct the steps of the wayward towards the splendors of the morning light of Thy guidance, and enable those who yearn towards Thee to attain the seat of the revelation of the effulgence of Thy beauty. I yield Thee such thanks as can cause the sick to draw nigh unto the waters of Thy healing, and can help those who are far from Thee to approach the living fountain of Thy presence. I yield Thee such thanks as can divest the bodies of Thy servants of the garments of mortality and abasement, and attire them in the robes of Thine eternity and Thy glory, and lead the poor unto the shores of Thy holiness and all sufficient riches.

I yield Thee such thanks as can enable the Heavenly Dove to warble forth, upon the branches of the Lote-Tree of Immortality, her song: “Verily, Thou art God. No God is there besides Thee. From eternity Thou hast been exalted above the praise of aught else but Thee, and been high above the description of any one except Thyself.” I yield Thee such thanks as can cause the Nightingale of Glory to pour forth its melody in the highest heaven: “’Ali (the Bab), in truth, is Thy servant, Whom Thou hast singled out from among Thy Messengers and Thy chosen Ones, and made Him to be the Manifestation of Thyself in all that pertaineth unto Thee, and that concerneth the revelation of Thine attributes and the evidences of Thy names.”

I yield Thee such thanks as can stir up all things to extol Thee, and to glorify Thine Essence, and can unloose the tongues of all beings to magnify the sovereignty of Thy beauty. I yield Thee such thanks as can fill the heavens and the earth with the signs of Thy transcendent Essence, and assist all created things to enter the Tabernacle of Thy nearness and Thy presence. I yield Thee such thanks as can make every created thing to be a book that shall speak of Thee, and a scroll that shall unfold Thy praise.

I yield Thee such thanks as can establish the Manifestations of Thy sovereignty upon the throne of Thy governance, and set up the Exponents of Thy glory upon the seat of Thy Divinity. I yield Thee such thanks as can make the corrupt tree to bring forth good fruit through the holy breaths of Thy favors, and revive the bodies of all beings with the gentle winds of Thy transcendent grace. I yield Thee such thanks as can cause the signs of Thine exalted singleness to be sent down out of the heaven of Thy holy unity.

I yield Thee such thanks as can teach all things the realities of Thy knowledge and the essence of Thy wisdom, and will not withhold the wretched creatures from the doors of Thy mercy and Thy bountiful favor. I yield Thee such thanks as can enable all who are in heaven and on earth to dispense with all created things, through the treasuries of Thine all-sufficing riches, and can aid all created things to reach unto the summit of Thine almighty favors. I yield Thee such thanks as can assist the hearts of Thine ardent lovers to soar into the atmosphere of nearness to Thee, and of longing for Thee, and kindle the Light of Lights within the land of Iraq.

I yield Thee such thanks as can detach them that are nigh unto Thee from all created things, and draw them to the throne of Thy names and Thine attributes. I yield Thee such thanks as can cause Thee to forgive all sins and trespasses, and to fulfill the needs of the peoples of all religions, and to waft the fragrances of pardon over the entire creation. I yield Thee such thanks as can enable them that recognize Thy unity to scale the heights of Thy love, and cause such as are devoted to Thee to ascend unto the Paradise of Thy presence.

Section 2: “I yield Thee such thanks as can satisfy…”

I yield Thee such thanks as can satisfy the wants of all such as seek Thee, and realize the aims of them that have recognized Thee. I yield Thee such thanks as can blot out from the hearts of men all suggestions of limitations, and inscribe the signs of Thy unity. I yield Thee such thanks as that with which Thou didst from eternity glorify Thine own Self, and didst exalt it above all peers, rivals, and comparisons, O Thou in Whose hands are the heavens of grace and of bounty, and the kingdoms of glory and of majesty!

Lauded be Thy name, O Lord my God, and my Master! Thou bearest witness, and seest, and knowest the things that have befallen Thy loved ones in Thy days, and the continual trials, and the successive tribulations, and the incessant afflictions, which have been sent down upon Thine elect. Such hath been their plight that the earth became too strait for them, and they were encompassed by the evidences of Thy wrath and the signs of Thy fear in every land, and the doors of Thy mercy and Thy loving-kindness were shut against them, and the garden of their hearts was deprived of the overflowing showers of Thy grace and Thy bountiful favors. Wilt Thou withhold, O my God, from such as love Thee the wonders of Thine ascendancy and triumph? Wilt Thou shatter, O my Beloved, the hopes which they who are devoted to Thee have fixed on Thy manifold bounties and gifts? Wilt Thou keep back, O my Master, those that have recognized Thee from the shores of Thy sanctified knowledge, or wilt Thou cease to rain down upon the hearts of such as desire Thee the showers of Thy transcendent grace?

Nay, and to this Thy glory beareth me witness! I testify this very moment that Thy mercy hath surpassed all created things, and Thy loving-kindness encompassed all that are in heaven and all that are on earth. From everlasting the doors of Thy generosity were open to the faces of Thy servants, and the gentle winds of Thy grace were wafted over the hearts of Thy creatures, and the overflowing rains of Thy bounty were showered upon Thy people and the dwellers of Thy realm.

I know full well Thou hast delayed to manifest Thy triumph in the kingdom of creation by reason of Thy knowledge which embraceth both the mysteries of Thy decree, and the hidden things ordained behind the veils of Thine irrevocable purpose, that thereby those who have entered beneath the shadow of Thy transcendent mercy may be separated from those who have dealt disdainfully with Thee, and turned back from Thy presence at the time when Thou didst manifest Thy most exalted Beauty.

Exalted, immeasurably exalted art Thou, therefore, O my Beloved! Forasmuch as Thou hast divided, in Thy realm, Thy loved ones from Thine enemies, and hast perfected Thy most weighty testimony and Thy most infallible Proof unto all who are in heaven and on earth, have mercy, then, upon those who were brought low in Thy land, by reason of what hath befallen them in Thy path. Exalt them, then, O my God, through the power of Thy might and the potency of Thy will, and raise them up to proclaim Thy Cause through Thine omnipotent sovereignty and purpose.

I swear by Thy glory! My sole purpose in showing forth Thine ascendancy hath been to glorify Thy Cause, and to magnify Thy word. I am persuaded that if Thou wert to delay to send down Thy victory and to demonstrate Thy power, the signs of Thy sovereignty would assuredly perish in Thy land, and the tokens of Thy rule would be blotted out throughout Thy dominion.

My breast is straitened, O my God, and sorrows and vexations have compassed me round, for I hear among Thy servants every praise except Thy wondrous praise, and behold amidst Thy people the evidences of all things save the evidences of what Thou hast prescribed unto them by Thy behest, and destined for them through Thy sovereign will, and ordained unto them by Thine overruling decree. They have strayed so far from Thee that should any of Thy loved ones deliver unto them the wondrous tokens of Thy unity, and the gem-like utterances that attest Thy transcendent oneness, they would thrust their fingers into their ears, and would cavil at him and mock him. All this hast Thou set down through Thine all-encompassing sovereignty, and apprehended through Thine omnipotent supremacy.

Glorified, immeasurably glorified art Thou, O my Master! Look, then, upon the hearts which, in their love for Thee, have been transfixed by the darts of Thine enemies, and the heads which were borne on spears for the sake of the exaltation of Thy Cause and the glorification of Thy name. Have pity, then, upon those hearts which have been consumed by the fire of Thy love, and been touched by such tribulations as are known only unto Thee.

All laud and honor to Thee, O my God! Thou well knowest the things which, for a score of years, have happened in Thy days, and have continued to happen until this hour. No man can reckon, nor can any tongue tell, what hath befallen Thy chosen ones during all this time. They could obtain no shelter, nor find any refuge in which they could abide in safety. Turn, then, O my God, their fear into the evidences of Thy peace and Thy security, and their abasement into the sovereignty of Thy glory, and their poverty into Thine all-sufficient riches, and their distress into the wonders of Thy perfect tranquility. Vouchsafe unto them the fragrances of Thy might and Thy mercy, and send down upon them, out of Thy marvelous loving-kindness, what will enable them to dispense with all except Thee, and will detach them from aught save Thyself, that the sovereignty of Thy oneness may be revealed and the supremacy of Thy grace and Thy bounty demonstrated.

Wilt Thou not, O my God, look upon the tears which Thy loved ones have shed? Wilt Thou not pity, O my Beloved, the eyes which have been dimmed by reason of their separation from Thee, and because of the cessation of the signs of Thy victory? Wilt Thou not behold, O my Master, the hearts wherein have beaten the wings of the dove of longing and love for Thee? By Thy glory! Things have come to such a pass that hope hath well nigh been banished from the hearts of Thy chosen ones, and the breaths of despair are ready to seize them, by reason of what hath befallen them in Thy days.

Behold me, then, O my God, how I have fled from myself unto Thee, and have abandoned my own being that I may attain unto the splendors of the light of Thy Being, and have forsaken all that keepeth me back from Thee, and maketh me forgetful of Thee, in order that I may inhale the fragrances of Thy presence and Thy remembrance. Behold how I have stepped upon the dust of the city of Thy forgiveness and Thy bounty, and dwelt within the precincts of Thy transcendent mercy, and have besought Thee, through the sovereignty of Him Who is Thy Remembrance and Who hath appeared in the robe of Thy most pure and most august Beauty, to send down, in the course of this year, upon Thy loved ones what will enable them to dispense with any one except Thee, and will set them free to recognize the evidences of Thy sovereign will and all-conquering purpose, in such wise that they will seek only what Thou didst wish for them through Thy bidding, and will desire naught except what Thou didst desire for them through Thy will.

Sanctify, then, their eyes, O my God, that they may behold the light of Thy Beauty, and purge their ears, that they may listen to the melodies of the Dove of Thy transcendent oneness. Flood, then, their hearts with the wonders of Thy love, and preserve their tongues from mentioning any one save Thee, and guard their faces from turning to aught else except Thyself. Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. Thou, verily, art the Almighty, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.

Protect, moreover, O my Beloved, through Thy love for them and through the love they bear to Thee, this servant, who hath sacrificed his all for Thee, and expended whatsoever Thou hast given him in the path of Thy love and Thy good pleasure, and preserve him from all that Thou abhorrest, and from whatsoever may hinder him from entering into the Tabernacle of Thy holy sovereignty, and from attaining the seat of Thy transcendent oneness. Number him, then, O my God, with such as have allowed nothing whatever to deter them from beholding Thy beauty, or from meditating on the wondrous evidences of Thine everlasting handiwork, that he may have fellowship with none except Thee, and turn to naught save Thyself, and discover in whatever hath been created by Thee in the kingdoms of earth and heaven nothing but Thy wondrous Beauty and the revelation of the splendors of Thy face, and be so immersed beneath the billowing oceans of Thine overruling providence and the surging seas of Thy holy unity, that he will forget every mention except the mention of Thy transcendent oneness, and banish from his soul the traces of all evil suggestions, O Thou in Whose hands are the kingdoms of all names and attributes!

Lauded be Thy name, O Thou Who art the Goal of my desire! I swear by Thy glory! How great is my wish to attain unto a detachment so complete that were there to appear before me those countenances which are hid within the chambers of chastity, and the beauty of which Thou didst veil from the eyes of the entire creation, and whose faces Thou didst sanctify from the sight of all beings, and were they to unveil themselves in all the glory of the splendors of Thine incomparable beauty, I would refuse to look upon them, and would behold them solely for the purpose of discerning the mysteries of Thy handiwork, which have perplexed the minds of such as have drawn nigh unto Thee, and awed the souls of all them that have recognized Thee. I would, by Thy power and Thy might, soar to such heights that nothing whatsoever would have the power to keep me back from the manifold evidences of Thy transcendent dominion, nor would any earthly scheme shut me out from the manifestations of Thy Divine holiness.

Glorified, immeasurably glorified art Thou, O my God, and my Beloved, and my Master, and my Desire! Shatter not the hopes of this lowly one to attain the shores of Thy glory, and deprive not this wretched creature of the immensities of Thy riches, and cast not away this suppliant from the doors of Thy grace, and Thy bounty, and Thy gifts. Have mercy, then, upon this poor and desolate soul who hath sought no friend but Thee, and no companion except Thee, and no comforter save Thee, and no beloved apart from Thee, nor cherished any desire but Thyself.

Cast, then, upon me, O my God, the glances of Thy mercy, and forgive me my trespasses and the trespasses of them that are dear to Thee, and which come in between us and the revelation of Thy triumph and Thy grace. Cancel Thou, moreover, our sins which have shut off our faces from the splendors of the Daystar of Thy favors. Powerful art Thou to do Thy pleasure. Thou ordainest what Thou willest, and art not asked of what Thou wishest through the power of Thy sovereignty, nor canst Thou be frustrated in whatsoever Thou prescribest through Thine irrevocable decree. No God is there save Thee, the Almighty, the Most Powerful, the Ever-living, the Most Compassionate.

BH05552: This is a Tablet wherein are mentioned verses…

He is the Mighty.

This is a Tablet wherein are mentioned verses of separation from this poor and wretched servant at the time when He departeth from the region of Iraq by reason of that which the hands of the oppressors have wrought.

Say: By God! This is in truth Husayn Who hath appeared among you by the command of God, the Mighty, the Powerful. He dwelt among you for numbered days while ye were heedless of His beauty and were among the negligent ones. Ye have driven Him from the land and knew not His worth, and God is witness unto this. Ye have visited upon Him that which was visited from before, and now do the denizens of the highest Paradise cry out.

Say: O people of hatred! Rejoice not in what ye have done, for God will seize you with a vengeance that is indeed severe in justice. Say: Would ye slay Husayn, yet kiss the earth of the land that is attributed to Him? Alas for you, O company of mischief-makers!

Say: He feareth not you, nor your kings, nor all who are in the heavens and the earth. Say: Whoso hath known God will know none else besides Him, and unto Him do the hearts of them that have recognized Him turn.

Say: We have offered up our spirits for God, the Lord of the worlds, and We beseech Him at every moment to accept from Us this lowly offering, and We thank Him for this and for all that He hath decreed for Us. Verily He is the Bestower, the Ordainer, the Gracious.

BH01058: He is God, the One with power over all…

He is God, the One with power over all things, and all through fear of Him are filled with dread, though they perceive it not. Glorified then be He Who hath sent down the verses in truth, and will continue to send them down as He pleaseth. And verily He is the Truth, there is no God but Him. He bestoweth authority upon whomsoever He willeth through His command, and verily He hath power over all things. He shall grant His servants whatsoever they ask of Him, and shall cast the fear of God into the heart of whomsoever He pleaseth, and shall guide those who have detached themselves unto Him with their wealth and their souls. Thus doth He recompense the doers of good. O servant! Give glad-tidings unto them who have believed in God and His signs that they should not grieve over anything, nor let Satan bar them from God’s path, nor think evil thoughts of God lest they be counted among the heedless. Announce unto My servants that they should be content with what We have ordained for them and desire not what We do not desire for them. Thus was the command from Us in the Torah and the Gospel and the Psalms, and thus do We judge from Our presence those who are God-fearing.

Say: Put your trust in God in your return and your abode, and follow not the vain desires of those who disbelieved and turned away after having believed. Thus were We empowered over whatsoever We please, and We cause those in whose hearts is disease to turn away from rancor, that it may be a reminder to the God-fearing.

Say: Verily those who have believed in guidance and remained steadfast in the fear of the Cause, the Spirit shall appear unto them and God shall come to them in canopies of light, and their faces shall shine with the light of their Lord, whereby the heavens and earth shall be illumined. Therefore rejoice, O ye sincere ones!

Thus doth He bestow upon whomsoever He willeth, and cast knowledge and wisdom upon those who have persevered in His path and have placed their trust in Him.

Say: Fear God, then follow what the Spirit casteth unto you, and walk not in the ways of Satan after We have sent down the verses in a Book mighty and wise, wherein no falsehood can enter, wherein the measures of all things have been decreed, and wherein every matter hath been expounded in clear detail, that ye may know the paths of truth and guidance and avoid grave sins and indecency, and be among the guided ones.

Thus do We turn evil away from you as We turned it away from those who came before, and We mention them now in the tablets with most beautiful and gracious mention.

Say: These are among the melodies of the Spirit that give you glad tidings of the meeting with God and speak with pure truth, that it may be a light and mercy from Our presence upon those who have believed and been patient. And thus doth He fully reward the doers of good—those whom nothing can bar and who fear no one, and when they hear the call from thy Lord’s presence, they arise to render aid and tarry not a moment when the angels of the Spirit receive them with light, saying:

“Enter the garden that hath been raised up in the word of victory, and be not among the fearful.”

Say: Verily those who have left their homes, detached themselves unto God, migrated for His sake, and journeyed in His path that they might circle round His Being and visit the invisible beauty of His countenance—these are the companions of truth and guidance. Upon them be prayers from their Lord and forgiveness and a great reward from God.

Were the servants to recognize and perceive the Cause, they would surely act as these have acted, and their spirits would leave their bodies in their longing for the meeting with God. But they remain veiled therefrom, having occupied themselves with their own selves, and are among the heedless.

Say: God is well-pleased with you and hath ordained for you what He desired, and He will mention you in the Book of the Cause upon tablets of mighty splendor, and will honor you with His meeting, and will grant you the blessing of visiting His beauty and the Ka’bah of His Being, and will assist you in the Cause as He pleaseth. Thus doth He deal with the doers of good.

Say: O concourse! Remind the servants of God not to slay those who have believed in God and His signs, and if ye witness one in the Bayan who believed and turned away, then turned back and retreated, then transgressed and disbelieved, remind him with love and according to what God hath prescribed in the Book. And if he remembereth not, leave him to himself and put your trust in God, and be not of them that interfere, for God hath prohibited you from this. No matter can be except after His leave, and thus hath it been detailed in the Book as a detailed exposition of all things, and sent down according to a just and certain measure. Say: God will accomplish His purpose concerning whomsoever He willeth, and will seize those who have disbelieved and associated partners with God after having believed and turned towards Him. Verily there is no God but Him, and He will assuredly punish the wrongdoers.

Glorified art Thou, O my God! Forgive these souls, then forgive me and have mercy upon me, then pardon me for what I have committed before Thee, for this is a station Thou hast reserved for Thyself and made it a testimony of Thy Being and a guidance and a light and a mercy unto all the worlds. Thou knowest, O my God, that I have chosen naught for myself and desired naught save the manifestation of Thy power in Thy dominion and the tokens of Thy sovereignty in Thy lands. And when I witnessed that these souls have turned toward Thy holy court and directed themselves to the realms of Thy mercy, I desired to make mention of them with the most excellent mention from Thee, that it might become a remembrance for others.

Thou knowest how the ocean of rancor and hypocrisy surgeth in the breasts of those who claim faith openly yet disbelieve in secret, who follow their idle fancies and attribute them to Thyself, and who desired for Thy servant what they desired. Therefore forgive them and inform them of their condition and remind them of Thy days, then guide them to the straight path, for they know nothing and possess nothing for themselves. Have mercy upon them through Thy bounty, for Thou art the Almighty over what Thou willest, and Thou art the Most Merciful of the merciful.

Say: Here hath the morn dawned from the dayspring of the divine cloud, and the Spirit of Holiness hath spoken the truth, and the Light hath come in clouds of radiance, and God hath arisen with His Cause, and the Face hath appeared from behind the veils. Hasten ye, and be not of them that tarry. Baha

BH03882: Say: The Bird of Immortality hath winged its flight…

He is the Mighty

Say: The Bird of Immortality hath winged its flight unto the realms on high. Say: The Breeze of Divine Good-Pleasure hath returned unto the City of Nearness before God, the Lord of all worlds. Say: The Nightingale of Holiness hath soared from the branch of Iraq unto a mighty and glorious branch. Say: The Lamp of Oneness hath changed its niche through that which the hands of the oppressors have wrought. O people of the Bayan, be ye not disturbed by this, but place your trust in God, the Lord of all worlds. Say: This Bird feareth no one, nor shall it be perturbed by any soul, even should all who are in the kingdom gather against it, for it hath detached itself wholly unto God and turned with its entire being unto the countenance of God, the Mighty, the Beautiful.

O people of the Bayan, follow Me in all this, for this is better for you than all who are in the heavens and on earth. And thou, remind the servants in the days of the Spirit, and grieve not for what hath befallen Us, but be thou of the thankful. For in this departure are signs and tokens and evidences for the mindful. And therein lies the concealment of the mysteries of wisdom which none hath discovered save he who cometh unto God with a sound heart. God shall soon assist His Cause with truth and raise up His oppressed servants. And the Spirit be upon thee and upon whoso attaineth the presence of the Bird in His days. By God, he is possessed of a mighty triumph.

His honor Aqa Siyyid Mihdi is the agent of this servant and resides in the land of [Ba]. As some debts have accumulated in this land, we have therefore left him behind to settle these and other matters. Whosoever wishes to pay the Huququ’llah should send it to him. Peace.

BH04855: This is a Tablet that tells of the heaven…

He is the All-Knowing, the Forbearing

This is a Tablet that tells of the heaven of immortality, and this is a bounty from God unto all created things. Say: Verily in the Spirit’s departure from the body of Iraq are wondrous signs unto all who are in the heavens and on earth. This is a revelation from One wise and informed.

Say: O concourse of the earth, rejoice not at My departure, for this was not from you but from One mighty and powerful. This is what God ordained for Us before the creation of the heavens and earth, and God was witness unto this. When the bounty of heaven is lifted from your midst, punishment will seize you from a nearby quarter, and the angels of wrath will seize you—then shall you find for yourselves neither helper nor supporter. Woe unto you, O concourse of the earth, for having turned away from the Beauty that was witnessed from the holy horizon. Say: Not an atom’s weight of your deeds and actions shall be left unrecorded, save that it be inscribed in the book of your own selves—this is what the Finger of the Spirit has traced upon hidden tablets of glory.

And you, O loved ones of God, grieve not at this nor at what has befallen you in these days. Rather, be patient in God and remain steadfast. Soon shall you find the wrongdoers in the lowest depths of the fire. Thus has the matter been decreed in the Mother Book. And glory be upon you and upon those who have turned their faces toward the direction of the Spirit in the East.

BH00379: The day-star of words, dawning above the horizon…

Section 1: “The day-star of words, dawning above the horizon…”

The day-star of words, dawning above the horizon of the utterance of Him Who is the Lord of all names and attributes, hath, at this most blessed of hours, shone forth in all truth with the splendours of the light of God. The spirit of understanding, flowing from the Pen of the All-Glorious, hath, by virtue of His grace, been conferred upon all created things. The mystery of all mysteries, emerging from behind the veils of concealment, hath, in very truth, been revealed to the righteous, as bidden by God, the Almighty, the Unconstrained.

God, the Most Powerful, the Most Exalted, the Most Great, addresseth the holy Beings created through the Primal Word that proceeded from His mouth, and beyond them the Concourse on high, and beyond them those whom He hath sanctified above the comprehension of all who are on earth and in heaven and whom He hath raised up through His hidden and inscrutable Will, saying:

“Rejoice in your very souls, for the most auspicious time hath come; and the Hour hath struck round which revolve all the other hours foretold in the Tablets of God, the Almighty, the All-Glorious, the Most Merciful; and the hidden Morn hath broken forth, in this treasured Name, from the dayspring of divinity, shedding its radiance upon all that hath been and all that shall be.”

Blessed be the Lord of all bounty, the source of this supernal grace!

The promised Day of God is come! He Who is the Manifestation of the Adored One hath been established upon the throne of His name, the All-Loving, and the sun of His bounty hath cast its rays upon the seeing and seen alike. Wherefore renounce ye, O denizens of the realms of limitation, that which ye possess, adorn your temples with His glorious vesture, and behold with untainted vision Him Who is the luminous Beauty of God seated upon the throne of glory in His transcendent, His almighty and all-subduing sovereignty. All praise be to the Best-Beloved, Who hath revealed His hidden beauty with such manifest authority!

All days have attained their consummation in this most august of days, and all hours in this noblest of hours, and the Unseen hath willed to confer every grace upon the inmates of earth and heaven, to establish, before all who are in the kingdoms of revelation and creation, the Manifestation of God and His loftiness, and the sovereignty of God and His grandeur, that His favour might be made complete unto His servants and His bounty fulfilled unto His creation. And yet, when once He appeared, the eyes of all who had awaited Him were dazzled, save for those whom His might had protected and from whose sight He had lifted all worldly veils. Blessed, then, be He Who hath been made manifest through the power of truth in this wondrous, this shining vesture!

And when the appointed hour of His Revelation struck on this promised Day, the veils of destiny were rent asunder and the divine decree was fulfilled with the departure of the Luminary of the heaven of eternity from the city of Baghdad. This came to pass by reason of what the hands of the malicious had wrought against this Light—a Light that hath outshone every other in its sacred and wondrous splendour. Blessed, then, be He Who hath sent down these twin Revelations through His most great, His most mighty sovereignty!

At the advent of this Manifestation the realities of all created things were filled with joy, and all seized the cup of ecstasy with the hands of longing and rapture and drank thereof the choicest wine for love of this Beauty—a Beauty that hath appeared through the power of truth, arrayed with the ornament of God, the Sovereign, the Just, the All-Wise. Blessed, then, be He Who, through this Revelation, hath attracted the hearts of the well-favoured of the Lord!

Say: This is the Day for which the Pen of the Most High hath ordained no peer, and whose like the denizens of the Concourse on high and the realities of the Prophets and Messengers of God have never attained. Blessed, then, be He Who hath made manifest this hallowed and sacred, this mighty and wondrous Day!

This is the Day whereon the pillars of the Throne trembled in their yearning for God to establish Himself thereon, the Day whereon the foundations of the most lofty Seat were stirred into motion. Blessed, then, be God, the Source of this rapture that hath seized the entire creation!

This is the Day whereon the Sun of Beauty dawned above the horizon of the countenance of God, the Most Exalted, the Most Great, and the clouds of bounty rained down, and the trees of Paradise yielded such fruits as God hath apportioned to them that turn unto Him with radiant hearts in this Dispensation. Blessed, then, be God, Who hath ordained this surpassing grace!

This is the Day whereon the spirits departed from their bodies in their eagerness to behold the unveiled countenance of the Ancient Beauty. Blessed, then, be the One Who hath manifested this mighty Day!

This is the Day whereon the Most Great Spirit was embodied in the most comely of forms, and, proceeding from the Realm on high, approached the Scene of transcendent glory with such radiance as to delight the Maid of Heaven, until she paused, suspended in the air before Our presence, with such an adorning as to seize with longing the hearts of the Messengers of God. Blessed, then, be God, Who hath created this noble angel!

Thereupon the inmates of Paradise, and beyond them the inhabitants of the retreats of holiness and the realms of communion, and beyond them they that dwell within the habitations of heaven and they that abide beneath the tabernacle of concealment, stepped forth one and all from their lofty mansions, and, conversing in hushed tones, apprised one another of that which had come to pass upon the earth. It was as though the Ancient King had revealed Himself unto Himself, and then, with undisputed sovereignty, unto His servants and His creatures in the realm of creation. Blessed, then, be God, Who bringeth forth whatsoever He pleaseth through the potency of His all-compelling command!

Then the Most Great Spirit raised a call that resounded through the entire creation, saying:

“Solaced be your eyes, O ye inhabitants of earth and heaven, O ye manifestations of the divine names and attributes, and O ye who are immersed beneath the oceans of grandeur that lie beyond the worlds of intimation and allusion! This is the Day whereon God Himself, the Most Exalted, the Most High, through His own sacred and glorious Self, beareth round unto every soul, high and low alike, the cup of nearness and reunion.”

Blessed, then, be God, Who hath revealed Himself in all His manifold grace on this greatest of all days!

This is the Day whereon the most grievous veil was torn asunder and the Scene of transcendent purity was made manifest; the Day whereon the face of God smiled with the joy of reunion, and the gates of His presence were flung open to the embodiments of His beauty and majesty and to them that had pierced the veils of glory through the power born of God, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise; the Day whereon all things visible and invisible cried out: “Hallowed be the Lord, the most excellent of all creators!”

Whereupon the Most Great Spirit was summoned to silence, and the rapture of God seized the inhabitants of the cities of eternity, the inmates of the crimson chambers, and the dwellers of the kingdom of names. One and all they descended from their habitations until they stood betwixt earth and heaven, with utmost humility and submissiveness, before His Countenance. Blessed, then, be God, Who hath made manifest this resistless, this all-glorious and transcendent Cause!

Then were their voices lifted up in praise and exultation on this glorious Day, a Day whose radiance deriveth not from the sun and its rays but from the effulgent light of the Countenance of God, the King, the Exalted, the All-Bountiful. Blessed, then, be He Who hath caused it to appear through the power of truth and Who hath resurrected therein the souls of all humankind!

And then another herald called out from the Scene of transcendent glory:

“By God! This is the Day whereon the veils of contention were torn asunder, and the breezes of unity were wafted, and the Lord of creation appeared, invested with manifest sovereignty and riding upon the clouds of grandeur on this, His promised Day.”

Blessed, then, be God, Who hath descended in truth from the heaven of sublime holiness!

This is the Day whereon fire and water were joined together as one, and the veils were removed from the face of all mysteries, inasmuch as the Beauty of the Unconstrained came forth arrayed in the raiment of His own Self, the Help in Peril, the Almighty, the Incomparable. All glory be to this Day whose advent hath cheered the eyes of the well-favoured of God!

When that joy born of God had taken hold of all else besides Him, the Most Great Spirit called out once more, proclaiming:

“O ye dwellers of the kingdoms of earth and heaven! O ye denizens of the realms of revelation and creation! Blessed are your ears, for they have hearkened unto the verses of nearness and reunion. Hear now the tidings of remoteness and separation, for the Luminary of the world hath purposed to depart from the land of ʿIraq, in accordance with the firm covenant that hath been set forth in the Scriptures of God, the All-Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.”

Section 2: “At this announcement the dwellers of earth…”

At this announcement the dwellers of earth and heaven were filled with dismay. Such was their weeping and wailing that they fell prostrate upon the dust, consumed with sorrow. How strange that grievous and sore-trying separation! All things visible and invisible were bewildered by this call. Such was their plight that the letter “B” became oblivious of the letter “E”, and the lovers forsook the face of their Beloved, the Almighty, the All-Praised. How woeful was that manifest and irrevocable decree!

When matters came to such a pass, the Ancient Beauty bestirred Himself, and all things were inwardly and outwardly set in motion. Then He arose, and through His arising the Most Great Resurrection was ushered in betwixt earth and heaven. Whereupon the Spirit called out once again, before His presence: “O Israfil! By the righteousness of God, thou wert created for this day. Wherefore, sound thy trumpet to proclaim the advent of this Manifestation, that every mouldering bone may be quickened thereby!” As bidden, the angel sounded his trumpet, causing all who dwell in heaven and on earth to swoon away. Then he sounded his trumpet anew; they arose and, fixing their gaze upon this glorious Vision, cried out: “Hallowed be the Lord, the most excellent of all creators!”

The Ancient Beauty stepped forth, while the Kingdom of Revelation preceded Him and the Heaven of divine Inspiration followed in His wake. On His right strode the Realm of Command, and on His left marched the hosts of the well-favoured ones. All glory be to this manifest and wondrous Cause!

And when He reached the courtyard of the House, the concourse of the realm of holiness prostrated themselves at His feet, and the foundations of the House trembled in their separation from God, the All-Powerful, the Almighty, the Most Exalted. The inhabitants of every city cried out, and the hearts of them that circle round God were sorely shaken. How grievous that separation which caused the very pillars of the world to crumble!

Upon hearing the lamentations of the inhabitants of the realm of dust, the Beauty of the All-Beloved lingered a moment, and the Eye of majesty wept sore at their weeping. Indeed, the sighs of His loved ones caused His heart to swell with such grief that none in the heavens or on the earth could bear its weight.

He proceeded until He reached the concealing veil, and there at His feet He beheld a child that had removed itself from its mother’s breast. And this infant clung to the hem of His robe so earnestly and besought Him in such piteous tones to stay, that the dust of sorrow shrouded the face of every perceiving soul and the winds of anguish blew upon the entire creation. How heavy the burden of grief that clouded the countenance of the sincere! Were it not for the protection of God, the seven heavens would at that moment have been cleft asunder, and the earth would have swallowed up all that dwell upon it, and every lofty peak would have been reduced to dust.

The Hand of Power then parted the veil of grandeur, whence the Beauty of the All-Glorious emerged with supreme sovereignty. When He Who is the Self of God, the Almighty, the All-Bountiful, purposed to pass through the gate, the Most Great Spirit made its final proclamation:

“By God! The Well-Beloved of the worlds hath departed from His House by reason of what the hands of the oppressors have wrought.”

He then wept within Himself with such a weeping that the dwellers of earth and heaven, and those suspended in the air before Him, and those circling round the Countenance of grandeur, wept with Him. And He spoke unto them, saying:

“Know ye that in such a departure on the very Day of Our Appearance there are signs and tokens for them that understand. Haply, by reason of Our departure on this most sublime and wondrous Day, the peoples of earth and heaven may emerge from behind the veils of self and passion; draw nigh unto God, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious; and become detached from whatsoever He hath created or ordained in this world. This is that which God had purposed for them as a bounty from His presence. He, verily, is the All-Bountiful, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Generous.”

Blessed, then, be God, the source of this most manifest, this most exalted bestowal!

The King of Eternity went forth, flanked by the hosts of the seen and the unseen, with His gaze fixed upon the court of the divine decree. Before Him arose the sighs of His lovers, whilst behind Him could be heard the lamentations of them that yearn after Him. When He reached the banks of the river, He parted from His loved ones, and it was as though the very souls of those devoted servants had parted from their bodies. But He exhorted them to patience and fortitude, and summoned them to the fear of God, the All-Powerful, the Almighty, the Unconstrained. And then, crossing the river, He entered the Garden of Ridvan, wherein He ascended the throne of His wondrous sovereignty. Blessed, then, be the All-Bountiful, the Source of this all-encompassing grace!

Once seated on His throne, the Ancient Beauty shed the splendour of His name, the Self-Subsisting, upon all things, so as to fulfil that which had been recorded by the Supreme Pen at the bidding of God, the Most Exalted, the Most High. Then He cast the light of His name, the All-Possessing, upon all things seen and unseen; and of His name, the Most Manifest, upon all that is mentioned and all that is concealed; and of His name, the Most Great, upon the embodiments of eternity and all other peoples; and of His name, the All-Knowing, upon the exponents of the names of God. Well is it with the one who hath turned towards that which He hath revealed through His unfailing grace on this most august Day.

How glorious was His assumption of that seat of majesty, through which the hearts of them that enjoy near access to Him were assured, and the souls of them that have recognized Him drew nigh, and the faces of them that have turned towards Him were illumined, and the spirits of them that have fixed their gaze upon Him were sanctified, and the eyes of the Concourse on high were cheered, and the tongues of all things, visible and invisible, were unloosed in praise of God, the Sovereign Lord, the Mighty, the Gracious! Sweet indeed was that heavenly fragrance through which the musk of hidden meanings was scattered throughout the worlds!

The Ancient Beauty’s ascent upon His throne took place at the very moment the people arose to offer the afternoon prayer unto God, the Almighty, the Beauteous. Even in this there are signs for those who are well assured, evidences for them that discern, and allusions for such as have been endued with insight. The Beauty of the All-Merciful tarried in the Garden of Ridvan for twelve days, during which the hosts of the Concourse on high, the well-favoured angels of God, and the souls of His Messengers circled day and night round the Tabernacle of grandeur and the Pavilion of inviolable sanctity, guarding and protecting the people of God from the hosts of the Evil One. Blessed, then, be God, Who manifested this incomparable, this glorious station!

During every moment of those days, the inmates of the chambers of Paradise descended from on high, bearing chalices brimming over with the living waters of revelation and cups overflowing with the choice wine of holiness, which they proffered unto the dwellers of the pavilion of glory and the inmates of the tabernacle of resplendent majesty. Blessed, then, be God for this most exalted, this all-encompassing grace! And when the appointed time of tarrying was fulfilled and the decree of departure was received, the Beauty of the All-Merciful arose and went out from the Ridvan Garden riding upon the finest stallion. Blessed, then, be the All-Glorious, Who appeared in the world of creation with a sovereignty that transcendeth the heavens and the earth!

As He departed, a cry of sorrow ascended from the garden, and its trees, and leaves, and fruits, and walls, and air, and ground, and pavilion, while the dwellers of the deserts and the wilderness, and even the very dunes and the dust of the earth, rejoiced at His approach.

Thus did the Beauty of the All-Glorious establish Himself upon the lofty heights of eternity, inasmuch as His gaze was fixed upon the decree which the Finger of God, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious, had inscribed upon the blessed and snow-white Tablet. And thus do We relate unto you the account of the day of Our Manifestation and the circumstances of Our banishment by reason of the machinations of such seditious souls as had disbelieved in and joined partners with God, the All-Powerful, the Almighty, the Most Bountiful.

BH01775: He is the Mighty! Glorified be He Who hath…

He is the Mighty! Glorified be He Who hath sent down the verses in a holy, all-knowing tongue, and Who ruleth over all created things as He pleaseth by His command. There is none other God but Him, the Mighty, the Wise. His is the bounty and grace; He loveth for whomsoever He willeth whatsoever He willeth, and verily He is powerful over all things. Verily He ruleth His creation as He pleaseth, and He is the Mighty, the Beautiful. His is the creation and the command, and unto Him return the deeds of all created things.

Say: In the revelation of verses are clear proofs for those who are illumined by the lights of the Spirit. Say: He it is Who hath sent the Messengers from a beginning that hath no beginning—and this was ordained in the preserved tablets of might—and He will continue to send them unto an end that hath no end. There is none other God but Him, the Bestower, the All-Knowing. And He sent down with them decisive proofs and clear evidences, that they might command the people in the days of God with that which would guide them to the paths of holy radiance.

And when their Messengers came unto them with clear proofs, among the people were those who turned away and denied the signs of God, the Supreme, the Mighty, the All-Informed. And among them were those who remembered the remembrance of God and were of those who hastened along the paths of guidance—until the Cause reached a station whereat the minds of the wise were confounded and the feet of the mystics did slip.

And ʿAli came with the truth, and with Him were clear signs, a single letter of which would suffice all who are in the heavens and the earth. He said: “O people! I am in truth the son of Muhammad, and I have come unto you from the Saba of holiness, from the direction of immortality, with a momentous announcement that was truly mighty.” And He said: “O people! This is the proof of God, and this is the countenance that shall endure in truth through the eternity of God, the King, the Mighty, the Generous.” And: “O people! Soon shall the earth and all that is thereon perish, and ye shall return to the court of manifest might and shall be questioned concerning what ye did to God’s Messengers, and shall be requited for what ye have earned or will earn.”

He said:

“O people! By God! Ye were created for naught else but the recognition of God’s Self, the Supreme, the Mighty, and this is the purpose of your creation, were ye of those who know. And this is what God desired for His servants, and by this did He take from them their covenant in the immortal dust, were ye of those who are aware. For by God! If ye attain not unto this, nothing in all existence shall profit you, and this is a mighty truth with God.”

And this was inscribed in all the tablets in the time of every Prophet, and thus doth the Pen of the Command testify, and God was witness unto this.

And ye recognized not the worth of those days, and ye knew not God, your Creator, in His days, and were an evil, most lost people. And ye were not content with your heedlessness of His beauty, but grew proud against Him, and were not satisfied even with that, until ye gathered against Him with the talons of hatred and suspended Him in the air and fired upon His body the bullets of mighty unbelief. And for this were ye cursed in this world and the next, and became companions of the fire. Nay! The curse of God be upon those who wronged Him without clear proof or illumined Book!

Until the Cause reached these days wherein these servants expelled Us from that land which had become the refuge of the oppressors. And some among them rejoiced at this and were of those who were glad. Say: O people of the earth! Rejoice not at this, for soon shall come upon you the punishment of a barren day, and the effects of wrath shall seize you from every direction, and this shall be grievous for the unbelievers. And ye shall hear the melodies of the Dove when She soareth above you from the presence of God, the Mighty, the Beautiful. Then shall nothing profit you, and naught shall accompany you save God, the Mighty, the Generous. And the Spirit be upon you and upon the sincere servants.

BH01864: O Letter Ra! Hearken unto the Call of God…

He is the Mighty, the Exalted!

O Letter Ra! Hearken unto the Call of God from the holy paradise, the Spot which God hath sanctified from the understanding of them that are nigh unto Him and hath made it the resting-place of His Most Exalted Foot on the Day wherein none was mentioned save God, the Lord of all worlds.

Know thou that the Spirit will depart from the region of Iraq, and this hath been decreed by One Who is mighty and powerful. I have repeated the story in the soul of Husayn regarding how the claws of the oppressors seized him, and he left the Abode of Peace due to what the hands of the Muslims had wrought—they who claim Islam with their tongues while their deeds belie them at all times. When thou hearest this, grieve not but place thy trust in God, the Mighty, the Wise. Be not dismayed by the terror of that Day, neither be thou frightened by this fear which hath caused the eyes of the dwellers of the heavens and earth to weep, for in this is a matter which none of the mystics hath comprehended, and there shall appear in truth from God One Who is mighty, transcendent and glorious. After My departure, fear ye nothing and be not of them that are perturbed. Remind thou God’s servants each day with wisdom and be not of the patient ones, for they who have recognized their Lord close their eyes to all else, even should all creation turn them away.

Say: The Bird hath ascended from paradise and seeketh another paradise, if ye be of them that know. He feareth no one and will never fear any soul through the power of God, the Mighty, the Beautiful. Beware lest thou forget God’s favor upon thee; then walk in My footsteps and be not of the fearful ones. Counsel God’s loved ones as much as thou art able and be of them that remember, for We have made thee a remembrance for Our sincere servants that thou mayest remind them by Our command, and We are ever mindful. And the Spirit be upon thee and upon them that follow thy word by the command of One Who is wise and knowing. 152

He is God!

Praise be to God Who hath made His loved ones the dawning-places of His decree, and this servant, at this time when all tribulations are raining from the clouds of destiny, hath been and will remain thankful to Him with every tongue and utterance, for whatever is attributed to the Beloved is surely sought after by the lover with all his heart. In any case, this servant in these days hath intended to journey to another land, and the details of this will become known. The loved ones of God must walk in the footsteps of this servant and henceforth be more firm and steadfast in the Cause, that through divine grace they may soar with these servants in the eternal realms.

We have left his honor Aqa Siyyid Mihdi in this land for certain matters and We shall send correspondence to him.

He is God!

We send greetings, mention and glory to all the loved ones. Blessed are they who in the divine days have attained the honor of nearness and meeting. Happy are they in having won a blessing wherein God hath ordained no portion for any besides them. If anyone wishes to send the Huququ’llah, let them send it to Aqa Siyyid Mihdi, as some debts were outstanding and have been transferred to him. The rest is as it was.

Know then, O concourse of the beloved! When the Sun setteth, the birds of night will surely fly in the darkness. At such time, turn not your attention to them and be not of those who incline towards them. Purify your faces for God, the Lord of all worlds. Thus have We informed you through Our grace, as a gift from Us to all worlds.

BH01911: Huwa Munfikhu’r-Ruh (Lawh-i-Nuqtih?)

In the Name of Him Who breatheth the spirit into the bodies of words with a Holy, wondrous Breath

Praise be to God, for the fountains of the hidden, living water, which were concealed behind the veils of the divine covering, have, through the confirmations of the exalted Holy Spirit, begun to flow and circulate from the realities of the words. Yea, that well-known fountain of life, for which certain servants have hastened in quest, bestoweth an outward, elemental life; but this Fountain of Life, which, in the darknesses of the heavenly words, floweth hidden and concealed, conferreth an everlasting life and a sanctified spirit. The origin and well-spring of that fountain are the darknesses of the earth; and the origin and cause of this fountain is the curling tresses of the Well-Beloved—like unto a maiden of meanings—which, from all eternity, lay hidden behind the pavilion of the all-sufficient, immaculate sanctity.

At such a time as she besought leave from the sacred court of the Eternal King to pass from the chambers of spiritual solitude into the assemblage of divine mercy, and to shed one ray from among the concealed effulgences upon the realms of the hallowed Oneness, lo, a herald, from the source of supreme Divinity and the treasury of most great Lordship, cried aloud that no creation was yet visible which could serve as the locus of such an effulgence and irradiation. Thereupon command was given for a new creation and a wondrous handiwork. All the denizens of the Concourse on high and the inhabitants of the tabernacles of immortality were bewildered as to of what element this strange creation should be fashioned and from what reality it should come to be.

In that instant the zephyr of holiness blew from the Saba of the spiritual Paradise, bearing with it a subtle, fragrant dust from the tresses of that celestial maiden. And in that hour a few drops of luminous wine from the Kawthar of the Beauty of the All-Merciful fell upon that dust. Then did the hand of the all-sufficing Power, issuing from the hidden treasure of the sovereign mercy, appear and knead that spiritual dust with the sweet, shining water. Thereafter a breath from the eternal Breath was breathed into it; whereupon they arose as a creation such that, were but one of them to cast the merest glance upon the peoples of the heavens and the earth, all would be annihilated, overturned, and made to return unto the ancient nothingness.

After this, an irrevocable decree descended from the heaven of the divine Command, bidding the people of the pavilion of majesty, the dwellers in the veils of power, the concourse of the cherubim and the realities of the sinless, to adorn the Paradise of eternity with the lights of Beauty, and to carpet it with the silken and brocaded fabrics of holiness. Then leave was granted to go forth from the heaven of manifestation, and that spiritual maiden emerged from behind the pavilion of grandeur and bestowed true spirit upon the dwellers of the heavens and the earth.

When she had mounted the couch of silk and arisen thereon, she moved; and from that movement a few dark points from her locks—tokens of that luminous darkness—fell upon the brocaded earth. From those few scattered points these wondrous words were embellished, and the river of love was hidden in the darknesses, in the springs, of these words. Wherefore, O ye winging your flight in the air of holiness, by turning your gaze unto this fleeting world, shut not yourselves out from this everlasting fountain, that haply ye may be granted leave to enter the pavilions of reunion with the Beauty of the Lord of Glory.

Thus do We recount unto you the mysteries, in that Water which, under the name of the Water of Life, hath been mentioned in all the Tablets, concerning that which hath been veiled from your minds and hearts, that perchance ye may, in this wellspring, after severing yourselves from all who are in the heavens and on the earth, attain unto that Water, and return unto the wondrous effusions of His grace and bounty.

BH02034: O Rida! God hath recorded thy slumber within thee…

He is the Most Exalted, the Most High

O Rida! God hath recorded thy slumber within thee before thou wast created in thy mother’s womb, and hath interpreted it for the Concourse on High before the spirit was breathed into the bodies of those brought nigh. Yet it behooveth not to reveal this unto the righteous, much less unto these transgressors who claim to love, but from whom naught appeareth save that which giveth rise to tyranny and hatred, without any proof from God or command from His presence.

By the Lord of the realm of ʿAma! I have grieved over a matter which the Pen cannot describe, nor ink enumerate, nor can spirits bear. I have withdrawn myself from these corrupt ones. Thou seest how conflict hath arisen among them after God forbade them this, to such extent that some denounce others as infidels and backbite their loved ones behind their backs, such that the fragrance of love hath been lifted from their midst and hatred hath settled in their breasts, as though they had turned away from God their Creator and followed what their souls desired and their passions craved.

Say: Fie upon you, and upon your deeds, and upon what ye possess and what ye deserve! Verily, I love them not, nor do I wish to sit with them or meet with them, unless they repent and return unto God their Lord. By Him Who holdeth my soul in His hand! I desire naught but to flee from them and dwell in a land devoid of their faces, even as I fled before. But since God decreed for me what He decreed, I returned to them and witnessed from them what none of His enemies—much less His loved ones—had ever witnessed. Therefore I remain in the house and show patience in my affair, trusting in God my Lord, until I return unto Him and soar unto the heaven of His holiness.

They shall soon fall into disagreement and scatter from this land after my concealment or wrongful departure, and they shall be tested as they were tested before. But ye shall not be dismayed by the terror of that day. Be as immovable mountains, and trust in God your Lord. Turn to Him with the essence of your hearts, that He may bring about for you a matter whereby ye shall be saved and draw nigh unto Him, that ye may be of those whose hearts are at rest through God’s light, and who are guided by His signs.

With utmost joy and assurance, soar in the heaven of love. God willing, enter the city of submission, be sustained by the wine of contentment, and drink from the Salsabil of oneness, that thou mayest witness the vastness of divine mercy and become aware of the lights of the Beauty of the All-Glorious, until thou art intoxicated with the wine of reunion and steppest into the wilderness of nearness and meeting, closing thine eyes to all contingent things and opening them to the countenance of the Friend, severing thyself from all else and binding thyself to Him.

After ascending beyond the stations of annihilation and reaching the dawning-places of eternity, thou shalt become the cupbearer on the carpet of sanctification and drink the chalice of divine unity. After reaching this homeland, thou shalt present the pure water of inner meanings in the cup of the heart in remembrance of the peerless Divine Beauty, and it shall be taken from the hand of grace and accepted. How lofty is this station if thou attainest unto it! Thou shalt bestow a portion of the Holy Spirit upon the loved ones and the righteous ones.

BH02051: Glorified be He Who hath sent down the verses…

He is the All-Possessing, the Most High, the Mighty, the Beloved

Glorified be He Who hath sent down the verses in truth unto people who believe. He it is Who hath sent down the Book and sent forth the Messengers. Fear ye God and be guided by His Messengers.

Among them was Adam, whom God forgave after he transgressed what was forbidden him, and made him a Prophet and sent him with truth to give glad tidings to those who were certain of the presence of God.

And after him He sent Noah with guidance, who said:

“O people! Fear ye God and follow His Messengers if ye have believed in God. Then remember God and be ye among those who remember God.”

When they turned away from him, God drowned them in the depths of fire in the waves of heedlessness in the valley of sulfur, and therein they perished.

And among them was Moses, whom God assisted with the rod of His Command and honored with nine verses from the Bayan. He said:

“O people! These are the signs of God which ye behold. Fear ye God and be guided by His guidance.”

None believed in him save those whom God made as lights upon the earth, who were illumined by the light of divine attraction. When they denied and turned away and came not unto the Manifestation of the Spirit, God afflicted them in the wilderness of rejection and made them among those who turned away from the good-pleasure of God and were? from the canopy of Beauty.

And among them was Jesus, whom God assisted with the Holy Spirit and sent with truth. He said:

“Fear ye God, O people of the earth, and be not of those who are not guided by the light of God.”

Thus did God send Messengers aforetime and will send them hereafter, but they believed not in them nor will they believe save those who walk in the good-pleasure of God.

Thus do We recount unto thee from the stories of the Command that thou mayest be informed of those who denied and recognize the matter of those who showed pride before God and turned away from Him, and that thou mayest not be heedless of the Command but be among those who circle round Beauty, turning not to aught of the world, and when touched by hardship give thanks to God and place their trust in Him. And when they hear the verses of God they fall down in prostration and are struck unconscious by the melodies of Paradise.

Say: O people! This is a servant of God who draweth you nigh unto God and calleth you to a station unto which all spirits ascend. He commandeth you naught save to return unto God and the Manifestations of His Cause. Thus do We cast upon thee from the word of piety that perchance ye may be nourished by the fruits of the spirit.

Then command the people to justice and piety and forbid them from transgression and indecency. Fear thou no one and trust in God, and be not of those who turned away from the Face.

Say: These days shall pass away and depart from you, and God will not accept from you what ye imagined regarding His loved ones, and all this hath been written in a Tablet whereof ye are heedless, save those who turned in repentance—these are the companions of guidance for whom the angels seek forgiveness. These are they whom the rejection of the rejecter deterreth not, nor the denial of the denier, and they turn toward the canopy of nearness and detachment.

And the Spirit be upon thee and upon the sincere servants.

BH02319: He is the Mighty! O Letter M! Hear My…

He is the Mighty! O Letter M! Hear My call and be not of the heedless ones. Say: The Bird of Immortality hath taken flight in truth, and thereby have the hearts of them that are near been consumed. Say: The Nightingale of the Spirit hath flown from the branch of Iraq and seeketh another branch, as decreed by the mysteries of destiny in the preserved tablets of holiness. Say: O peoples of the earth! By God the Truth, this is indeed a Dove that calleth out at all times and feareth none save God, the Lord of the worlds. It turneth not toward any soul nor regardeth any that are in the heavens or on earth, for whoso turneth toward God will never turn to aught else—such is the way of the sincere ones.

Alas for you, O people of the earth, that ye have been heedless of these days and were among the negligent ones. Ye have not heard the melodies of the Spirit—and this indeed is a grievous heedlessness. Say: They who were not present in that land were in manifest loss. Know then that God hath ordained this migration for a wisdom none knoweth save God, the Mighty, the Wise. O people of the Bayan, grieve not over this, but put your trust in God—in Him let them that profess His unity place their trust. Then make mention from Us to those servants who have been patient in God and were among the patient ones. And the Spirit be upon you, O loved ones of God, and upon those who were steadfast in the Cause. 152

Furthermore, We make mention of the divine friends. The promised Bird that was sent in the tablets of Muhammad-ʿAli hath now taken flight and sought the heights of nearness. While time remained, none perceived it and all were heedless. We are God’s and to Him do we return. Now I counsel all that, God willing, they may hereafter move in perfect unity and remain steadfast in the Cause, discerning with insight between truth and falsehood, for truth is as manifest from falsehood as the radiant morn from the dark night. Let them not cling to their own suppositions. Though truth be bitter, yet God willing, I hope it will prove sweeter than honey to their taste. This is of God’s grace unto whomsoever He willeth. These very tribulations suffice as a reminder to all. God is the Guide, and verily He guideth the way.

Furthermore, regarding the aforementioned matter, no word hath reached Us from you. In any case, if Aqa Murtada-Quli and the heirs of the deceased are acting according to the will and sending any funds, let them send them to Aqa Siyyid Mihdi-i-Yazdi in Baghdad. As debts have also accumulated in this land, we have therefore left the Siyyid and appointed him trustee over affairs and payment of debts. Were it not for this, it would never have been revealed, just as it was not revealed until now.

BH02467: Lawh-i-Firayjat

He is the Almighty, the Self-Subsisting.

Glorified art Thou, O Lord my God! I call upon Thee at this time when the accents of the dove of separation are raised from the land of Iraq, and the warbling of the Nightingale of fervent longing is heard from the horizon of the world—at such a time do I call upon Thee, proclaiming:

“Thou in truth art God, the King, the Mighty, the Beauteous. From everlasting, O my God, Thou hast been exalted in the supremacy of Thy might, Thy power, and Thy glory, and unto all eternity Thou wilt remain transcendent in the sublimity of Thy grandeur, Thy majesty, and Thy splendour. Every Prophet is filled with consternation when confronted by the manifold evidences of Thy wrath, and every Chosen One standeth dismayed before the revelations of Thy might. No God is there but Thee, the Almighty, the All-Powerful, the All-Compelling.”

I yield Thee thanks, O my God, in these days when the oppressors amongst Thy people and the rebellious amongst Thy creatures have arrayed themselves against us, and are rejoicing at the adversities which, through the mysterious workings of Thy decree, Thou hast caused to descend upon us as gems from the treasury of Thy providence. Such hath ever been Thy custom with Thy loved ones and Thy practice with Thy chosen servants. I swear by Thy might, O my Beloved, that though others may flee from tribulations suffered in Thy path, I am he who, in his love for Thee, yearneth after every woe and trial. I ask Thee, then, by Thy Name through which the seas of names have surged before the evidences of Thy transcendent oneness, and through which Thou hast been exalted above all creation in the hallowed sovereignty of thy Lordship, to send down whatever afflictions Thou hast destined for Thy loved ones upon this Thy servant, lest there should befall them that which would still the quickness of their love for Thee, or dampen the fervency of their devotion.

I am he, O my God, who would ransom with his life and soul whatsoever proceedeth from Thee or befalleth at Thy bidding. To all this shall I be true, through Thy power and Thy might. No God is there but Thee, the Generous, the Subtile, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

I ask Thee then, O my God, by the lights of Thy divine unity, and the hidden mysteries of Thine ancient and everlasting Being, to preserve Thy loved ones after I am gone, lest their feet should slip upon Thy path. Gather them then together upon the shore of Thy munificence and bounty, and sever them from all but Thee so that they may stand in fear of no one, nor be overawed by any soul. Open then their eyes, O my God, through the wondrous evidences of Thy might and the sovereign potency of Thy dominion, in order that they may see all things held within Thy grasp, and all matters contained within the palm of Thine omnipotence. I swear by Thy beauty, O Thou my hope, that shouldst Thou cause them to ascend to this most sublime and all-highest station, they would tell of Thee continually, and would so completely return unto Thee that naught could cause them any perturbation, though all who are in heaven and on earth should rise up unitedly against them.

I ask Thee then, O my God, by Thy light which hath illuminated all beings, and by Thy glory which hath irradiated the whole of creation, to remember Thy servant who hath been designated “Jim” in the realms of Thine eternity and the canopy of Thy grandeur. Cause him then, O my God, to hearken unto the holy melodies of Thy tender mercy, that they may draw him away from himself and from whatsoever is not of Thee, and attract him unto the dawning splendours of Thy love and adoration. Potent art Thou to accomplish this through Thy transcendent might.

BH02427: Muhammad ʿAli! He is the Mighty, the Beloved!

Muhammad ʿAli! He is the Mighty, the Beloved!

Then did the Dove of Separation sing forth from the City of Eternity, and the Holy Spirit cried out between earth and heaven: “Embark, O people of God, for this is what hath been ordained for you in the preserved Tablets of holiness.” Then did the Maiden of Parting raise her head from the chambers of eternity and cry out: “Cast ashes upon your faces, O peoples of the earth, for the Bird of Divine Identity hath willed to soar away from your midst and return to the hallowed and mighty Paradise. And thereby is joy lifted from among you, and if ye rejoice in aught, by God, ye are then in a mighty veil, for were the people of earth to become aware in less than a moment, they would consume the dust from this grief which is mighty in God’s sight.”

Say: The Bird dwelt among you for successive years while ye perceived Him not and were among the heedless, until He flew from the branches and journeyed from the Sinai of the Spirit to the Sheba of Holiness, and thereby were the hearts of the knowing consumed. Say: O peoples of the earth! Since ye were heedless of this, arise then with your spirits and hearken to what He counseleth you at the time of parting. Lie not upon your couches in slumber, differ not in God’s Cause, fear no one, turn not to the faces of the satans. Rather, be at peace through God’s mercy and grace, and place your trust in Him, for this sufficeth you above all the worlds.

Beware lest ye be disturbed by anything or saddened by any matter, even should the talons of the hateful ones seize you, for God will aid you in all circumstances and will not neglect you for less than a moment, and will raise you up in truth if ye take counsel from what We have counseled you in this Tablet. This is what He hath truly promised His sincere servants. Then gather ye upon the truth and follow not those who have become heedless of God’s remembrance, the Protector, the Mighty, the Powerful. Beware lest ye forget one another or do what ye have been forbidden in the mighty, resplendent Tablets. Then give thanks to God, your Creator, morning and evening, for thus have We commanded you in truth, and all in the Concourse on high bear witness to you, as do the near-stationed angels.

Say: Those who have grasped the cord of God, the Protector, the Wise, will never become heedless of Him, will never turn to anyone else, and will grasp naught but God’s cord. This is what We remind you of in this Tablet, that ye may not be disturbed by anything or be touched by the harm of these deluded ones. And the Spirit be upon you and upon those who followed God’s decree in this time, and before this time, and after this time.

BH02764: At this hour, when the divine Dispensation hath been…

He is the All-Glorious.

At this hour, when the divine Dispensation hath been renewed and made fresh, and Husayn of Eternity hath arisen from the land of Ba, and with a small company, both young and old, hath set forth—this is of that wont which aforetime was decreed for the near ones of God.

The people of the world have grievously erred, for they fondly imagine that they can exterminate the Cause of God, that they would be able to extinguish His effulgent light and put out His heavenly lamps. Vain indeed are their imaginings. I swear by the righteousness of God that the more they endeavour to quench His Light, the brighter will it shine, and the more they strive to smother its flame, the fiercer will it burn. God’s invincible Will far transcendeth their devices, and His Purpose is supreme above all human desires, inasmuch as all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth have been called into being through a single holy breeze—the Word of His command—wafted from His presence, and all shall be brought to naught through but one letter of His. From time immemorial He hath been established upon the seat of His sovereignty, and through eternity will He continue to occupy the inaccessible heights of His glory. Every created thing is impotent before the evidences of His invincible might, and all beings fade into utter nothingness when confronted with the revelation of His awesome majesty.

The eyes of His loved ones have always wept sore, while His enemies have rejoiced and made merry by reason of their heedlessness. However, that weeping was followed by a myriad blessings and this jubilation by grievous retribution. Erelong the fruits of these two shall appear from the tree of His irrevocable Decree. Therefore how justifiably proud must be the eye which is worthy of shedding tears, and how great the felicity of the neck that is fit to be ensnared in the noose of the Friend.

God willing, we shall remain steadfast and resolute in the covenant which we pledged in that primordial and everlasting realm, even though we be rejected by men and driven from the land—as indeed we have been. Soon shall the world and all that dwell therein pass away, and the people of God shall enter the abiding pavilions. We are of God, and to Him shall we return.

And we hope that His honoured person may drink of this subtle spring, and thus reckon all these seeming existences, which are in truth but emptiness, as vanished; and behold the Sovereign of Oneness as present, witnessed, manifest, and resplendent. Wherefore, God willing, be ye joyous, and repose upon the throne of glory.

And furthermore: we have dispatched Nasir to render service, and have bidden him not to neglect attendance upon you.

BH02682: O Lord of the Letter Kaf! He…

O Lord of the Letter Kaf! He is the Mighty. These are the verses of the Spirit sent down in truth that perchance the people may become aware within themselves and then be guided by His verses in the days of the Spirit.

Say: O people! The Hour hath come in truth, the Dove hath warbled, the Cock of the Throne hath crowed, and God hath come with the Manifestation of His Self in the shadows of clouds, while the believers rejoice in the gladness of nearness. Yet ye have not become aware of any of this, and have taken lords for yourselves besides God, and have turned away from the Beauty of the Mighty, the Beloved. Therefore hearken unto My words and turn toward the Sanctuary of Beauty; then deny not, through God’s favor, His Most Great Remembrance. This is better for you than all that ye witness and know in the kingdom.

The world and all that is therein shall perish, and ye shall return to the seat of a mighty, self-subsisting Sovereign, and shall be questioned concerning what ye acquired in your vain days, and shall be recompensed for what ye have earned or will earn. Nothing shall profit you, no soul shall show you mercy, none shall deliver you, and all shall tremble at the might of the Cause. Have mercy upon yourselves and make up for what ye have neglected in regard to God; then ponder His Cause. And thou thyself bear witness that there is no God but Him, the King, the Powerful, the Self-Subsisting.

And if thou hearest of My departure from that land, be not grieved or troubled, for therein lie mysteries that none can comprehend save those who perceive with the eye of God in His Cause. Then know that We have spent all that We had and all that was due Us in the ways of God, the Mighty, the Praised. I fear no one, and We shall fulfill what We covenanted in the realm of pre-existence, did ye but know. And thou, strive with thy soul to be as We were, that the whisperings of Satan may not cause thee to slip from thy Lord’s Cause, and that thou mayest return with the lights of might to the fields of unity.

We thank God for what hath befallen Us before and what shall befall Us hereafter. We are all His servants and unto Him do we all return. And the Spirit be upon thee and upon God’s sincere servants. 152

Say: Glory be to Thee, O my God! I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which Thou didst warble upon the branches of the Tree of Thy Lordship, to send down upon me of every good its completion, of every grace its perfection, and of every remembrance its greatest. Then, O my God, set right my affairs in this world and the next. Verily Thou art powerful over all things.

BH02697: He is the Mighty! We have read thy letter…

He is the Mighty! We have read thy letter and understood what was therein. Know thou that We desire for the servants naught save that which is better for them than whatsoever the sun shineth upon. We have made clear unto them that which draweth them nigh unto God and detacheth them from all else. Moreover, no one hath need of aught else.

Beware lest ye divide the religion of God and His Word, and be ye steadfast in all that ye have been commanded through the gems of knowledge and wisdom. Then detach yourselves from all else and turn with your entire being unto His Beauty. By God! We have loved you before and We love you now, and We counsel you to fear God Who created you and sustained you with the good things of His provision and caused you to know the Manifestation of His Self and sent down unto you that which hath made you independent of all who are in the heavens and on earth. Therefore give thanks unto Him with your hearts and remember Him with your tongues.

Beware lest ye go astray after God and His signs, and follow not every ignorant multitude, nor pursue those who have taken their idle fancies as lords beside God. Be ye pure in heart before God such that your feet slip not and your souls be not troubled. By God! Whoso hath taken the covenant from his Lord will accept no covenant from any other, and whoso hath turned unto Him will turn unto none else.

Moreover, I counsel you, O loved ones of God, to be patient in this most great terror and to be forbearing in this tribulation, and to be as fire amidst the wicked and as light amidst the righteous. Further do I counsel you not to spread corruption in the earth and to be God’s trusted ones among His servants, such that the signs of sanctity may appear from your faces and the lights of detachment from your temples.

By God! The world and its ornaments and embellishments shall pass away, and naught thereof shall profit you. And whoso is not adorned with the attributes of God shall not be reckoned as His own—this is a truth in which there is no doubt. Whoso maketh mention of aught else shall not succeed in His remembrance, and whoso drinketh the love of any other shall not attain unto the love of his Lord.

Therefore strive within yourselves to reach such station in your love that ye move not save by His leave, nor turn save unto the paths of His good-pleasure, nor speak save that which ye are commanded in His Book. Thus did We counsel you before and thus do We counsel you at this time of separation from the shores of Iraq. And I take God and His loved ones as witnesses that I have left no counsel unspoken and have explained all that I was commanded by God, the All-Knowing.

BH03087: These are the verses of the Tablet, sent down…

He is the Mighty, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting

These are the verses of the Tablet, sent down in truth for a people who understand. Therein is healing for the breasts of those who have believed in God and who place their trust in their Lord. It is verily a remembrance from Us, and a guidance and reminder for a people who fear God.

O Letter of Love! Bear thou witness within thyself that there is none other God but Him, the Mighty, the Best-Beloved. He hath created all things for the knowledge of His Self and the Manifestations of His Cause, and this hath been ordained in truth for what was and what will be.

In every age He hath sent forth a Messenger through His grace to remind men of the days of God and guide them to the path of glory and love. Then hath He sent down tribulations, trials and afflictions, both hidden and manifest, that He might thereby separate between light and darkness. This is among the ways that have proceeded from God, the Protector, the Mighty, the Self-Subsisting.

By God! Were He not looking to this station, He would subdue all who are in the heavens and earth through a single word from His presence, and this is a known truth. Thus understand thou the Cause, then be thou at peace within thyself and be of those who show patience in times of hardship.

Know thou that thou hast been mentioned in the Book by the Pen of God, the Mighty, the Powerful, the Beloved. Soon will thy name be raised up in truth among the Concourse on High, and the dove of longing in thy breast will be stilled, for He is God, the King, the Mighty, the All-Praised. It behooveth thee to thank God, thy Lord, in thy heart and remember Him in thy soul and spirit, and to be among those who rejoice in God’s gladness.

When thou hearest the Bird of Eternity hath flown to the Kingdom of the divine cloud, grieve not within thyself but place thy trust in God, for in Him do the detached ones place their trust. In this there is wisdom none knoweth save God, and ye shall come to know it when the mysteries are unveiled and the Cock of the Throne crieth out.

This is what hath been inscribed by the Pen of Creation on a preserved holy tablet. Thus have We cast upon thee the word of truth and revealed unto thee this Tablet at whose comprehension the learned are bewildered. And the Spirit be upon thee and upon those who soar in the heaven of love.

BH03108: O Mirza Aqa! Glory be to God for this…

O Mirza Aqa! Glory be to God for this hour and time when the essence of light has donned the garment of birds that perchance it may enter the paradise of the love of the Divine Identity and alight upon the branches of the tree of faithfulness and the boughs of the Lote-Tree of eternity.

And the pristine being has put on the veil of limitations that it may become a messenger from the cloud of love and find its way to the Sheba of divine love, that it may partake and receive its portion of the overwhelming ecstasy and the attractions of longing.

And the holy form has accepted the mantle of the morning breeze that perchance it may enter from the chambers of the city and waft over the hair of majesty and the face of the Beloved’s beauty, that through association and communion with Him it may acquire the fragrances of the camphor of radiance and the perfume of eternity.

And the divine form has become the bearer of the luminous robe of the lamp that it may be ignited and kindled in those abodes before the Beloved. And the mighty ocean has become like a river that perchance it may flow and course through that paradise.

Glory be to God! What a holy gathering has been raised up and what a delightful feast has been spread! All the cherubim of the Supreme Concourse have erased and effaced from their hearts the holy stations of nearness to the most glorious horizon and the Lote-Tree of the Uttermost Boundary, and have detached and sanctified the ears of their inner consciousness from the melodies of the Dove of the Throne and the warbling of the Divine Spirit’s might, that they may enter that station and be honored and glorified by whatsoever exists in that realm.

But this is a grace that appeareth from the hidden mysteries of the Cause unto whomsoever He willeth. Thus doth He give as He pleaseth and spend as He pleaseth. Verily He is powerful over whatsoever He willeth, and verily He is the All-Powerful, the Best-Beloved.

In these days when the birds of the cloud of being have gathered and formed ranks in the heaven of manifestation, the hoopoe of attraction’s sovereignty has taken flight from the heaven of mighty glory and turned from the eternal East to the eternal West, that it may bring tidings from the city of the Divine Identity of love. Remember thou Isma’il.

BH03243: Glorified be He Who hath sent down the verses…

Glorified be He Who hath sent down the verses in truth for people who know. There is no God but Him. His is the creation and the command, and all are created by His command. Say: They who have attained unto the presence of this Servant, these shall return unto God their Lord. And they who have not attained, these are they who are far removed.

Say: O people! The Dove of Eternity hath taken flight from the shores of Iraq, if ye be of them that know. And then the breezes of separation blow upon all the servants, if ye be of them that understand. And ye, O concourse of the earth, were heedless of this union which God had ordained for you, and were among the negligent.

But when the Bird took flight from the Branch, then did ye recognize how ye had failed in your duty toward this Servant Who believed in God, the Living, the Self-Subsisting, and Who turned not to anyone in the kingdom but was wholly turned toward God, the Mighty, the Beloved. And thus hath passed from you that which ye do not now comprehend. But ye shall understand hereafter, if God should will and desire—there is no God but Him, the Powerful, the Dominant, the Mighty, the Self-Subsisting.

And ye, O people of the Bayan, hear My call at this moment and then know Me. Take heed of My counsel and beware lest ye transgress. When ye hear that the Servant hath migrated unto God, be ye not then disturbed nor grieve at anything, but be patient and be not of them who are impatient. Say: Verily We have loved you in truth and We love to be with you, but this is what God hath decreed for Us in a preserved Tablet. And He hath not willed that any should be with Me save a few numbered souls. Therefore be content with God’s good-pleasure and transgress not His command. This is better for you than all that ye desire or love.

Then I remind you not to be heedless of the remembrance of God in any matter, but to walk in His good-pleasure. And seek not from Him save what He hath ordained for you, for He knoweth you better than your own selves, and this is a manifest truth. So rest ye in your places and put your trust in Him, if ye be of them that know.

BH03204: The Herald of the Cloud of the Divine Throne…

In the Name of Him Who is the Herald!

The Herald of the Cloud of the Divine Throne, adorned in the robe of sublime glory of the realm of oneness, hath journeyed from the unseen realm of eternal subsistence in the City of Faithfulness toward the Egypt of the divine beauty in the Sinai of love. Through its fragrance, the divine perfumes and holy celestial scents have perfumed and adorned the atmosphere of sacred divine existence. It seems the heavenly Kawthar of the All-Merciful and the pure water of the absolute Paradise have been perfumed by this enchanting fragrance.

Crystal goblets are in the hand of the Cupbearer of eternity and ruby cups in the hand of the sanctified Countenance, while from every direction they seek crimson wine and incomparable, sweet, pure water—to see who shall receive a portion and who shall gain a share, that He may illumine with this radiant garment the divine eye of insight which is reflected therein, and with this hidden wine of oneness may He quench the heart’s thirst, that without mentioning names it may mention names, and without describing attributes it may describe attributes.

Glory be to God for the wondrous comprehensive divine wisdom and the radiant all-encompassing power of the realm of oneness, whereby all created things are bewildered by a single letter thereof and all contingent things are intoxicated and senseless from its melody. Indeed, this wine of the eternal morn requireth a vessel of light, and this pure honey of the everlasting dawn needeth a cup of crystal camphor, that the apple of the eye of the holy temples and beauty may drink of this incomparable water of life and thereafter become the cupbearer at the divine banquet and the lordly gathering.

In these days when the birds of the realm of existence have gathered and formed ranks in the heaven of manifestation, the hoopoe of divine attraction hath taken flight from the atmosphere of mighty power and turned from the eternal East to the everlasting West, that it may hear what it will from the holy Beauty and the intimate Countenance in the City of Divine Identity and Love, and what tidings it may bring.

Clothe and honor with the radiant silk robe of glorification whomsoever thou pleasest. And the Spirit be upon you all.

BH03399: He is the Mighty, the Beloved! This…

He is the Mighty, the Beloved! This is a Book which hath been sent down in truth through a holy and gentle tongue. Whoso readeth it becometh lightened of the weight of earth and all that is therein, and soareth unto a heaven of sublime glory wherein nothing shall prevent his ascent to the vicinity of a mighty Throne. Through it are the souls of them that are nigh drawn unto a seat of wondrous Name, and the hearts of the sincere are severed from all hostile limitations. Say: By God, these are verses which give sustenance to all created things from the table of nearness to the Eternal, and bestow upon all beings from the grace of union with the One.

Say: This indeed is Husayn in truth, unto whom are attracted the spirits of all worlds. And when the Spirit desireth to depart from bodies, the temples of existence quake—then hearken unto the cry of the people of earth, for this is from the terror of a Day which was decreed as inevitable.

Say: The Spirit at that time departeth from Iraq and turneth toward a western direction. Thereat do the heavens and earth weep every morn and eve, and the tears of the mystics flow upon radiant crimson cheeks, and the Maidens in their chambers strike their heads with hands white and dyed. Among the people are those who are heedless of this, and those whose tears flow ceaselessly in separation, and those who rejoice at this, and those who are consumed by this fire.

Say: O concourse of earth! Rejoice not at this, but rather weep for what hath passed you by of the holy breezes of union. Say: The earth hath borne the burden of this greatest terror, and soon shall it give birth to its load. Then shall ye flee to the right and find no friend for yourselves, and run to the left and find no helper for your beings.

Thus do We cast upon thee gentle holy words, hidden verses of might, and manifest tokens of attraction, that thou mayest remind the people in days wherein the Holy Spirit speaketh upon the branches of the Lote-Tree of supreme glory. And the Spirit be upon you, O concourse of loved ones, every morn and eve.

BH03458: O servant! Hear My call and be not…

He is the Mighty!

O servant! Hear My call and be not of them that are disturbed in the Cause and are among the lost. I counsel thee to fear God Who created thee by His command and made thee to be of the guided ones. Be patient in all that hath befallen Us and be not dismayed by anything. Therefore, be patient in thyself and be of the patient ones.

Say: Verily in the flight of this Bird there are signs for them that are discerning. Say: It hath taken wing from the branch of Iraq, and in its flight ye shall witness signs of tranquility, if ye be of them that know.

Say: O people of hatred! Die in your wrath and rejoice not in what hath befallen Us, and be not of them that make merry. For what hath befallen Us is of God’s way that was foreordained for His near servants. Say: God will soon turn your joy to grief, and this is what the All-Merciful, the Compassionate, hath prescribed for Himself. Thus do We impart unto thee that which shall make thee independent of all who dwell in the kingdom.

Know thou that after Me the Samiri will bray, whereupon ye shall not turn toward him nor be of them that approach. And the Baal will stir within herself and arise to practice deceit among you, whereupon ye shall turn away from her and be not of them that make mention. Remember God within yourselves, and put your trust in Him, for in Him do His sincere servants place their trust.

Say: We were with you and shall be among you, if ye be of them that know. And ye shall behold the beauty of the Cause if ye purify your eyes from the veils of gross pride.

O people of the Bayan! Hear My call at the time of departure from the shore of Iraq, and be not of the heedless ones. Be still within yourselves, then find tranquility in the mercy of God, the Mighty, the Merciful. Soon there shall reach you an august missive from One Who is All-Wise, All-Informed. Thus have We taught thee the ways of knowledge and inspired thee with that which shall guard thee from the darts of the evil ones. And the Spirit be upon thee and upon the patient servants of God.

BH03471: He is the Mighty! These are the verses…

He is the Mighty! These are the verses of the Spirit which have been sent down upon the Pen of Eternity from God, the Exalted, the All-Wise. Therein is that which causeth the hearts of them that circle round the Throne to take flight.

And thou, O Muhammad, hearken unto that which is revealed unto thee from this hallowed and luminous Quarter, that there is none other God but Him, the Exalted, the Mighty, the All-Knowing. There hath been decreed for them that are nigh unto God that which causeth the hearts of the sincere ones to tremble. Be thou assured by that which We have cast upon thee of the Spirit, and fear thou no one. Put thy trust in God, the Mighty, the Powerful. He will guard thee by His command and protect thee by His grace from these wrongdoers.

Then know thou and be certain that all who are in the heavens and on earth are, in God’s sight, as but a handful of clay. He doeth what He willeth by His command, as He did in truth while ye were witnesses. He will do what He desireth by His wisdom and seize these idolaters by His might. Nothing hath delayed this save that which hath preceded it in knowledge in a preserved Book which none hath comprehended save God, the Single, the Most Exalted, the Mighty, the Beautiful.

And when thou hearest that the Lamp of Hijaz hath left the Niche of Iraq, grieve not, for therein lie mighty secrets. It will shine resplendently within another globe, as predestined by Him who is the Omnipotent, the Ancient of Days. Through this God’s Cause shall be exalted in the Word of God, and thereby shall the Cause of God, the Mighty, the Exalted, be upraised.

Say: This servant feareth no one, even should all the kings of the earth and all who are behind them rise up against Him, for We desire for Ourselves naught save what God desired for Us before the creation of the heavens and earth. He who desireth God will desire naught else besides Him and will fear none other than Him. Our deeds bear witness to this, and beyond them these verses, the understanding of which bewildereth the minds of the mystics. Erelong will ye behold this Divine Youth riding upon the steed of victory. Then will the hearts of the envious be seized with trembling.

BH03559: He is the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting! This…

He is the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting! This is a Book which speaketh with truth, and in it is that which causeth tears to flow from the eyes of them that are nigh unto God. Verily it is a revelation sent down through grace from God, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

And therein is set forth that point of sorrow whereby the hearts of the lovers were consumed, and by reason of which the leaves were severed from the trees and the faces of the mystics turned pale, and the breezes of the spirit were withheld from the paradise of eternity, and then the holy fragrances were cut off from the hearts of the Messengers, for therein is mentioned that which causeth the winds of separation to blow upon the temples of all beings.

And therein hath the nightingale of separation warbled in the region of Iraq with such a melody that thereby were the pillars of the Word scattered and the realities of the Concourse on high were separated. Say: The Bird of Oneness hath flown from branch to another branch, and thereby are the spirits of the lovers brought to naught. Say: The Holy Nightingale hath winged its flight unto the paradise of transcendent glory. By God! The temples of the people of eternity have donned the garments of separation, inasmuch as the Dove of Constancy hath ascended from the region of Iraq, and this is a strange sorrow.

Say: O people of the earth! Ye have been heedless of that which God hath graciously bestowed upon you, and thus have ye remained in manifest error. Say: Now hath the heavenly table been withdrawn from your midst, and this is an abasement unto all created things. Therefore take ye cognizance within yourselves and fear God, your Creator, then have mercy upon your souls and be not of the heedless ones.

Arise to redress what ye have missed and make good wherein ye have been negligent, and turn unto God, the Mighty, the Generous. Then be patient and grieve not at the separation, and be content with what hath been ordained for you by the All-Wise, the All-Knowing. For He is more knowing of all things and ordaineth the measures of the Cause, and this is what hath been decreed in the preserved Tablets of might. Then gather ye together in the Cause and be as mountains in the Cause of God, such that your feet shall not slip upon the path even should all who are in the kingdoms of creation combine against you.

BH03724: Hasan in Sad, He is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed…

Hasan in Sad, He is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. This is a Book which speaks with truth, and in it is that which guides people to a wondrous spring, and in it are detailed the gems of knowledge from the presence of One mighty and powerful, and in it are mentioned the signs of separation on the day when the Dove of the Cause shall wing its flight from the branch of Iraq to the holy and luminous Ridvan. And thereby shall the breezes of the Spirit be cut off from the direction of the horizons, and the pillars of the concourse of the exalted ones shall be shaken. But grieve not at this, O concourse of the Spirit, and trust in God, the True King, the Certain One, for in this lies concealed the wisdom of God, the Mighty, the Powerful, the All-Wise.

Say: O people of the Bayan, place your trust in God in all matters, then walk in Our footsteps in such wise that your feet slip not from the Cause, and let not the standards of the ungodly frighten you. God shall soon raise up the standards of victory and aid His servants, they who believe in His unity.

And as for what thou hast asked concerning what is mentioned in the Tablets about the jinn—yea, it is the truth, and We are of those who are certain of it. However, this name has diverse applications, if ye be of those who understand. Among them, it is applied to men who are like lightning in the days of God, such that they pass by all who are in the heavens and the earth in less than a moment, and for this reason is this name applied to them, if ye be of those who know. Similarly, know thou that in all the worlds of God this name and what is named thereby is according to what befits it, and this is what hath been ordained by God, the Exalted, the Great.

And now, since We are a traveler unto God, We have sufficed with what We have imparted unto thee in truth, that thou mayest be of those who are certain. And verily, that which the people speak of is pure falsehood, and what hath been detailed from God is the truth, and We are among those who bear witness. And the Spirit and glory be upon you, O concourse of the sincere ones.

BH03967: He is the Mighty! Hearken unto the call…

He is the Mighty! Hearken unto the call of the Beloved at the time when He turned towards the distant realms of exile and was wronged by the swine of oppression until they drove Him from His holy homeland.

Say: O concourse of the loved ones! Differ not concerning Him Who was in truth exalted. Spread not corruption in the land, follow not the Samiri within yourselves, nor pursue any accursed calf. Thus do We impart unto you that which shall protect you from all those who would lead astray.

And do thou remember Husayn within thy soul every morn and eve. Then remember this Exile upon Whom from all directions have rained down the showers of tribulations—this was ordained in the mighty, impregnable scrolls.

Say: By God! This is Husayn Who hath appeared among you in truth with a holy and wondrous beauty, with mighty signs of attraction, with delicate melodies of the spirit, and with sweet strains of love—yet ye recognized not His worth, nor hearkened to His melodies, nor perceived His beauty, nor attained unto the radiant beauty of His light. Therefore, when ye denied God’s favor, it was lifted from your midst—this from God’s chastisement, for He is indeed knowing of all things.

By God! Ye shall cry out within yourselves and exclaim in your own beings, saying:

“Alas for us, for what we neglected regarding the glorious and luminous Beauty, the very dust of Whose sandals was visited by the dwellers of the realm of might, and all the people of Paradise attained unto His presence!”

But nothing shall profit them after this, for God is indeed aware of all things.

Grieve thou not over anything, nor be thou troubled by any matter. God will surely reckon with thee in truth, and He is your Guardian. We shall inform thee of what hath befallen Us, that thou mayest find solace in thy heart and be trustworthy in all things.

BH04444: God hath spoken in the tree of separation: Be…

He is the Almighty!

God hath spoken in the tree of separation: Be patient for me, O friends!

Beware that ye be not careless of Our loving remembrance in Our days. Say: The Beauty of the Spirit is withdrawn, on account of which all eyes have wept and all hearts have burned up.

O Rida! Remember My days and My notes and the sweet melodies of the Glory of the Beloved, and reflect upon the days of the Spirit; how He appeared and stayed amongst you for a number of years. Watch over thyself, and over all those who are in thy house, both men and women.

Know verily that We have made this Tablet as a garment for thyself, from which thou mayest inhale the fragrances of the Lord, the Beloved, the Almighty. We have sent to you from this garment the fragrances of Bounty upon all who entered into the Robe of existence. Happy is the man who hath been exposed to it and who hath been turned thereby towards the Egypt of invisible Might.

Whoso reciteth this Tablet with the love of the Lord in his heart will witness in his dreams whatever he hath desired of reunion with God, the Almighty, the Beloved. Thus have we favored thee, once again, that thou mayest be satisfied of Me and of thyself in these days which the near ones have not attained.

Call thou to our remembrance they who have dwelt in thy house, so that the Love of God may be created amongst them and amongst those who have gathered for the Cause of God, and be kind to her whom God hath related to the one who has pioneered with His servant. This is the truth whereunto We have admonished you, if ye be of those that comprehend.

May the Spirit be upon you and upon those who have put their reliance in their God.

BH04940: When the Bird of Captivity calls out…

He is the Most High, the Great, the Exalted

When the Bird of Captivity calls out from the direction of Iraq and sings the verses of separation, thereby are the hearts of those who are nigh unto God disturbed. Yet you should not be disturbed by any matter, nor be dismayed by this dismay which causes the tears of the mystics to flow. This is what We had informed you of before in preserved holy Tablets. Therefore put your trust in God in all matters, for in Him do His sincere servants place their trust. Soon will God bring about His Cause and make manifest His command and establish His proof. There is no God but Him. All were created by a word from His presence, and all are in fear of His awe.

Know then that with God you have a great station, and soon will your name be elevated through His grace among the concourse of the exalted ones. This was inscribed by a luminous holy Finger. Beware, beware lest you forget God’s favor upon you, and grieve not over the world and its constraints. Rather, rejoice in the joy of God, the Most High, the Most Great. And when you hear that the Bird of Holiness has flown from one branch to another, grieve not within yourself nor be of the disturbed ones. Be content with what God has decreed for us, then be patient and be of the patient ones. And remind those who are around you, for this is indeed a beautiful permission. And the Spirit be upon you and upon those who are attracted by the melody of God, the King, the Exalted, the Mighty, the Powerful.

BH05055: A mention of the Leaf of Paradise…

He is the Mighty, the Conquering, the Bestowing!

A mention of the Leaf of Paradise in the Tree of Separation. God, there is no God but Him! He hath ordained in these days for His chosen ones that which hath caused the faces of all the dwellers of Paradise to turn pale. O chosen ones of God! Let not the oppression of these wretched ones grieve you. Put your trust in God—verily He is your Guardian, and He sufficeth you against all who are in the heavens and on earth. He will raise up your names in truth to an exalted sanctuary. Soon will your faces shine like the sun at its meridian, and the Dove of the Cause will warble:

“Prostrate yourselves, O people of the earth, before these faces that have shown humility before God, their Lord, from all eternity.”

Thus doth God bestow His grace upon whomsoever He willeth of His creation, and aid those who have been humble before Him and turned unto Him.

Verily those who rejoice at the departure of these servants from that land have no awareness within themselves. Say: God will soon turn your joy to grief, and will visit upon you an evil day that shall truly be barren. By God! Were ye to perceive within yourselves, ye would weep with the weeping of the bereaved for this Sun that hath vanished from you, which had been illumined with the light of God. Thus do We reveal unto you the mysteries of the Cause and cast upon you that which will make you independent of all the worlds. Whoso willeth, let him believe, and whoso willeth, let him deny. Verily God is independent of all the worlds. And glory and splendor rest upon you and upon the emigrants, morning and evening.

BH05546: This is a Book We have sent down…

He is the Mighty, the Best-Beloved in the heavens and on earth

This is a Book We have sent down in truth unto a people who understand. Verily there is no God but Him, the Mighty, the Self-Subsisting.

His is the Command and the Creation. He doeth what He willeth through His word “Be” and it is. None can gainsay His command. Through the sovereignty of His Will, He ordaineth whatsoever He hath decreed, and He, verily, is the Mighty, the Best-Beloved. He exalteth His Cause through His eternal designs, and this is what hath been inscribed in a Preserved Book. Among these is the departure of this Servant from this land, did ye but know it. Say: In this departure are signs that none shall comprehend save God, the Mighty, the Powerful, the All-Praised. God shall soon make manifest that which hath been concealed from the eyes of them that are veiled, and the Herald of the Spirit shall cry out in the midst of heaven, saying: This is the Day whereon God shall establish Himself upon the throne of victory and seize them that have tyrannized upon the earth—and this is a truth well-known.

O people of the Bayan! Grieve not at this, but put your trust in God, if ye be of them that know. Say: The breezes of might shall waft, and God’s Cause shall be made manifest in truth, and all shall hasten unto Him. Thus do We impart unto you that which shall tranquilize your hearts, that ye may be of them that are well-assured. The Spirit and the light and the glory be upon you, O concourse of the sincere ones!

BH11865: Say: This is a chalice filled with the mercy…

In the Name of my Lord, the Most Exalted, the Most High!

Say: This is a chalice filled with the mercy of God; drink ye of it, O people of the Bayan! Say: This is a cup wherein surge the mysteries of God’s hidden secret; draw ye nigh unto it, O people of certitude! Say: This is the Lote-Tree wherein burneth the Fire of God; hasten ye unto it, O people of glory! Say: This is the Lamp of holiness, kindled by the love of God; be ye illumined by it, O companions of the All-Merciful! Say: This is the Sun which hath dawned from the horizon of God’s beauty; turn ye towards it, O ye who are beloved! Say: This verily is a Remembrance that remindeth you of the remembrance of God; remember ye Him, O ye companions! Say: This is the breeze of Paradise, wafting from the holy Ridvan from the direction of God’s loving-kindness; hasten ye unto it, O people of eternity, then O people of faithfulness! Say: This is a bounty that hath yielded fruit from the Tree of the Spirit in the shade of the City of God; seek ye after it, O ye that dwell in earth and heaven!

Thus have We taught you the ways of holiness and shown you the paths of glory, and instructed you in the stations of unity, and cast upon you the words of detachment, that perchance thereby the fire may be kindled in the hearts of them that burn not with the heat of the love of God. And the spirit, and the glory, and the holiness, and the presence be upon you, O people of earth, if ye soar on the wings of the Cause toward this heaven.

BH05736: At a time when the heavens of love have…

He is God, exalted be His might and glorified be His grandeur!

At a time when the heavens of love have been upraised, and the sun of affection hath dawned from the dayspring of the morn of fidelity, and the moon of loving-kindness hath appeared from the horizon of friendship, and the stars of grace shine forth from the dawning-place of bounty, and crimson-faced beauties with cups of faithful wine are singing, and white-faced maidens with goblets of pure milk move in circles melodiously, and the maidens of the paradise of intimacy in the pavilions of holiness warble with verses of attraction, and the beauties of the Throne of meeting in the garden of eternity chant with the Most Glorious letters, and the dove of loving-kindness upon the branches of the tree of divine authority is joyous, and the nightingale of the divine lote-tree upon the twigs of the tree of oneness is in song and ecstasy, and the divine fire from the tree of Sinai in the land of joy through verses of attraction is praised and celebrated, and the light of the Eternal from the Lote Tree of camphor upon the Throne of manifestation through melodies of resurrection is renowned—blessed are ye and joy be unto you and unto whosoever hath entered into your love and drunk from the cups of your affection and the goblets of your attraction.

Therefore give thanks unto God, your Lord and your Beloved, and turn not unto any other than Him, and be of those who prostrate themselves before His countenance.

And praise be to God, the Lord of all worlds.

BH06117: Blessed is He Who hath ordained for those near…

He is the Almighty

Blessed is He Who hath ordained for those near unto Him to drink from the chalices of mighty tribulation, and Who hath purchased from the believers their souls in exchange for the manifestation of a clear Name. Thus hath His way ever been with His sincere servants. O people of God! Grieve not for what hath befallen Us in this great calamity, for God shall soon requite His servants with truth and raise up His Cause above all who dwell in the kingdom of command and creation. This is what the All-Bountiful, the Ancient of Days, hath prescribed for Himself. Say: O people! Would ye banish a man for saying ʿMy Lord is God,’ when he hath come to you with a clear proof that all who are in the heavens and earth are powerless to produce?

Yet ye answered him not concerning his Cause and remained heedless of him until he departed from your lands with profound sorrow. By this were consumed the hearts of the pure maidens in their lofty chambers, and the eyes of the denizens of Paradise wept morn and eve. Yet do We thank God, Our Beloved, for all that hath befallen Us of wondrous and impregnable tribulations. And glory be upon you, O trusted ones of God, for your patience in the path of God, the Bestower, the Gracious.

BH06695: Say: O people of the Bayan! Hear ye My…

He is the Most High, the Mighty, the Beautiful

Say: O people of the Bayan! Hear ye My call at the time when the Bird of Oneness hath soared into the atmosphere of holy and luminous sanctity, then detached itself from all who are in the heavens and on earth.

Say: By God! Ye recognized not this divine, eternal, and everlasting Bird until it took flight into the atmosphere of mighty exaltation. And thereby were the hands of the ungodly and the believers cut off from this holy and mighty hem. Had ye been among those who truly know, the Face of God, the Most High, the Great, would not have been hidden from you. Therefore it behooveth you not to differ in the Cause of God. Then call upon Him in your inmost hearts, that perchance there may return unto you that which hath departed from your midst. And verily He is the All-Knowing, possessed of grace.

This is what the tongue of wisdom counseleth you at the time when the breezes of separation blow from every direction, from the presence of One mighty and powerful. Say: In the flight of this Bird there are signs for them that know, and it guideth all, through this detachment, unto the precincts of a mighty nearness. And the Spirit and Glory rest upon him who is steadfast in the Cause of God, the Mighty, the Merciful.

BH07501: O Letter of Submission, hear My call and be…

He is the Almighty, the All-Knowing

O Letter of Submission, hear My call and be not of the patient ones. Do not grieve over anything but trust in God, the Mighty, the All-Knowing. Then know that We loved you before as We love you now, and We mentioned you in a beautiful Tablet that you might find tranquility in your soul and be among those firm in love. Then know that after My departure the idol of rancor will stir and the Baal of hatred will roar and the calf of the liars will cry out. You must therefore be discerning within yourself and guard the Cause of your Lord, the Mighty, the Generous. Then remind the servants and fear no one, and be of those who remember. We have commanded you thus that perchance the people will not differ regarding the Cause of God, the Mighty, the Luminous. Then guard yourself and speak with wisdom, and this is better for you and for the Cause of God, the Powerful, the Omnipotent. And the Spirit be upon you and upon the patient servants.

BH07723: Unto Him Who is the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting

Unto Him Who is the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting

Glorified art Thou, O my God! Thou knowest that all the servants have united to humiliate me, and Thou hast strengthened them in what they desire. All those who slumber have gathered to banish me, and Thou hast empowered them to do what they love.

Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for what they do, for all they have done was naught but Thy deed, and all they have wrought was naught but by Thy command. Glorified art Thou, O my God! Wouldst Thou cast out him whom all the servants have cast out, or banish him whom they have banished from every land? Though my sin be greater than can be forgiven, yet Thy forgiveness surpasseth all reckoning. Though my transgression be more manifest than can be concealed, yet Thy loving-kindness is greater than can be extinguished. Glorified art Thou! Glorified art Thou! Verily, I have been the first of sinners and the last of penitents. And shower Thy blessings upon the Mystery of the Cloud, the Point of Light, the Beloved of the mystics.

BH08632: Hearken unto the call of Him Who summoneth thee…

He is the Mighty, the All-Glorious

Hearken unto the call of Him Who summoneth thee at this time when the breezes of separation blow from the direction of Iraq, and the nightingales of yearning warble, and the believers are in great sorrow, while thou art not grieved by anything. Put thy trust in God, the King, the Mighty, the Powerful. Then remember the servants with the most excellent remembrance, then gather them together unto the Cause of thy Lord, and be thou of the thankful. Say: O people of the Bayan! Hearken unto My call, then put your trust in God, the Powerful, the Supreme, the Mighty. God will assuredly exalt His Cause in truth and aid His oppressed servants, and the light shall appear from the dawning-place of nearness, whereby the foundations of the idolaters shall be demolished. Be thou assured through thy Lord’s grace and fear not anyone, even should the hypocrites all unite against thee, for God will suffice thee against them and against all who are in the heavens and on earth.

BH10400: This is a Book which speaks with truth…

In the Name of the Most Mighty, He is the All-Glorious

This is a Book which speaks with truth and makes mention of the people in this Day wherein the Nightingale of Iraq cries out with a wondrous lamentation, and counsels His loved ones to remember God, the All-Subduing, the Mighty, the Powerful. Therefore, O ye luminous concourse, grieve not over anything, nor over all that hath befallen Us at the hands of the company of the idolaters, for We have offered up Our spirit in the days of God ere the creation of the heavens and the earth. And ye, strive within your own selves and souls to follow the Cause of God and to be numbered among the strivers, that the lights of guidance may shine forth unto you from a holy and luminous dawn.

BH11060: The Holy Spirit is watchful and the Spirit…

He is the Ever-Living

The Holy Spirit is watchful and the Spirit of companionship waiting expectantly—when will the melody of light be mentioned and the drumbeat of manifestation become renowned? When will the countenance of the letter Ha without garment unveil itself and the face of the letter Ba without veil reveal its mystery? So that the mighty throne may quiver and the ancient seat be filled with delight. And peace be upon you.

BH01644: Lawh-i-Bulbulu’l-Firaq (Tablet of the Nightingale of Bereavement)

The nightingale of separation, perched upon the bough of horizons, calleth aloud: “This is the hour of severance, O concourse of longing!”

And the bird of fidelity chanteth upon the Tree of Eternity: “This is the hour of severance, O concourse of longing!”

And the dove of exile warbleth upon the branches of the Lote-Tree of parting, proclaiming: “Severance hath come, O concourse of longing!”

Say: The season of union is ended, and the decree of division hath descended from behind the veils of destiny; and this is the hour of severance, O concourse of longing!

Tears have streamed from the eyes of the denizens of abidingness in the Concourse on high, at this separation—O concourse of longing!

The breezes of joy have been cut off from the Ridvan of splendor by this separation—O concourse of longing!

By God! the faces of the inmates of the lofty chambers have paled through this separation, and the ease of all things betwixt earth and heaven hath been changed—O concourse of longing!

The houris shall stain their eyelids with the blood-red hue, for that they have heard the cry of separation—O concourse of longing!

Nor shall they adorn their temples with the silks of immortality, inasmuch as they have hearkened unto that summons of severance—O concourse of longing!

And this is a sorrow that no sorrow can measure within the dominion of the unseen cloud, forasmuch as the wind of separation hath breathed—O concourse of longing!

In this hour, when the Bird of Eternity hath [flown forth] from the land of ʿIraq, and the people of yearning and desire are consumed in the fire of parting, this epistle—sent from this perishing ant unto the loved ones of God—declareth: O friends! So long as ye have eyes, weep; and so long as breath remaineth, lament; for the carpet of union and communion, of nearness and meeting, hath been rolled up, and the sovereign decree, in accordance with the measured ordinance, hath spread the couch of division and separation, of exile and estrangement. The winds of severance have blown with such violence that every branch of existence, whether of the unseen or the seen, hath been clothed in the robe of mortality, and hath been joined unto an abiding autumn.

Therefore, O eye, shed tears; O ear, hearken unto lamentation; O tongue, raise the cry of wailing and mourning; O body, take thy place in the dust of thy homeland. Yet, notwithstanding all this, we praise God for that He hath singled us out for these successive afflictions and these recurring calamities; and we thank Him at every moment, in all conditions; and He, the very Truth, is Himself witness to what we say.

In all the Tablets aforetime mention was made that a day would come, and an hour would be witnessed, wherein the Bird of ʿIraq would turn its song toward Hijaz. Hasten ye then unto Him, O lovers of the beauty of the All-Glorious, O enraptured ones of the Sanctuary of the Lord! That hour hath now arrived; that breeze hath blown; that Bird hath flown—yet ye beheld not, and attained not, and reached not the goal. Alas! What was written ye did not embrace, and what was uttered ye did not heed. That hour is passed; that Day hath slipped from your grasp. Never again shall that breeze blow in this land; never shall that rose unclose its countenance; never shall that gate be opened.

Have ye ever heard that the nightingale of the divine garden seeketh repose, or chooseth a dwelling, save in the spiritual rose-garden? Or that the hoopoe of the Sheba of love taketh its homeland anywhere but in the Sinai of the spirit? Or that the hearts of lovers desire aught save the beauty of the Beloved?

Yet ye, O lovers, busied yourselves with your own imaginings, and never resolved to journey unto the realm of the Desired One. Wondrous is the heedlessness that hath encompassed the world: the sun shineth at the very zenith of decline, radiant and clear, and the birds of night have become its intimates and companions.

I seal my words with that which the nightingale of separation sang in the land of ʿIraq, and with that wherewith it summoneth all who dwell in every quarter of the horizons:

“The Bird of Eternity hath flown unto the City of the Unseen Cloud; and the Dove of the Spirit hath ascended from one branch, seeking another.”

Then weep ye, O concourse of lovers, and O people of the world!

Thus do We cast upon you the verses of separation, that haply ye may arise from the couches of heedlessness, and be numbered among them that remember.

Say: O people of hypocrisy! This nightingale, once captive, hath fled from the rose of reunion, and set its face toward the rose-garden of separation, and hath consumed the lovers of the horizons in the quarter of ʿIraq. Therefore, O friends, though afflicted by estrangement, forget not the union with the Beloved. Lament, and sow the seed of patience in the pure soil of the heart, and water it with tears, that it may yield sweet fruit. This is the counsel of the nightingale of the garden of God—therefore hearken.