Volume 034: Middle Edirne (March 1866 – September 1867) (3 of 8)

BH00287: Lawh-i-Baha

Section 1: “This is the Tablet of Baha…”

This is the Tablet of Baha from the dominion of eternity. Read it, O concourse of the exalted ones, that perchance ye may ascend unto the heaven of the Cause in this atmosphere and stand firm in the Cause of your Lord, the All-Merciful.

He is the Ever-Abiding

O handmaiden of God! Dost thou remain seated after the Youth’s garment hath been dyed crimson with the blood of hatred between earth and heaven, while He crieth out at every moment with a sorrowful voice? And whenever He seeketh help from His loved ones, they draw nigh unto Him with swords of jealousy. Thus hath the matter been, if thou be of them that know. Now hath the Beauty of Baha fallen into the depths of the pit. If thou findest a caravan of the exalted ones, send it forth that perchance it may lower the bucket of faithfulness into this dark well and raise up the Youth thereby, and all the worlds may be illumined by His glance.

O my handmaiden! Dost thou remain in thy place after the Friend hath been afflicted at Nimrod’s hand, finding no helper save God, the Mighty, the Beautiful? O my handmaiden! Dost thou drink water after Husayn was parched with thirst in the land of Taff, when He could but suck drops of luminous blood from His own sweat? Dost thou walk in the paradise after the Beauty of the All-Glorious was transformed by the afflictions visited upon Him by the satanic hosts?

O my handmaiden! Dost thou rejoice after God’s joy hath been changed to the greatest sorrow, whereby the hearts of all contingent beings and then the hearts of them that are nigh unto God were made to bleed behind the veils of wondrous glory? Dost thou partake of God thy Lord’s bounty after the Youth hath been made to eat of pieces of His own liver by that which the hands of the hypocrites have wrought?

Say: O people of the Bayan! Do ye rest in your homes after the Ancient Beauty hath been exiled and settled in lands where none of its people, neither noble nor base, recognize Him? Do ye laugh after the Spirit was in the hands of the Jews who would sting Him like serpents at every moment? Alas for you, in that ye have forgotten God’s covenant and His testament, cast behind you God’s Cause, and taken that which your own desires have commanded you, O company of hypocrites!

O handmaidens of God! Do ye apply kohl to your eyes after the eyes of the Ancient One weep and tears flow down His cheeks like the rain-bearing clouds pour upon the cheeks of a wondrous land? Do ye adorn your bodies after God’s robe hath been pierced by the spears of the deniers? Do ye enter chambers of delight after the sweet fragrances of joy have been cut off from the paradise of My Most Great Name?

O my handmaidens! Do ye redden your faces while God’s face hath grown pale from the blows of hatred from those who believed not in any of God’s Messengers, having denied this mighty, exalted Grace? O my handmaiden! Know thou that the Beloved of the All-Merciful hath been afflicted among the people of the Bayan even as ʿAli was afflicted among the people of the Furqan. By God! Nay, even more grievously, if thou be of them that witness. And Joseph of Beauty crieth out when He hath fallen beneath the claws of the wolf, seeking help from His loved ones, that perchance someone might arise to aid Him and be numbered among the helpers.

Therefore strike ye upon your thighs, then upon your breasts, then upon your heads, for the Youth desireth to depart from among these people because of what hath befallen Him, which none in all the worlds can reckon. By God! The Lote-Tree of the far boundary hath quivered and fallen with its trunk upon the earth, as the winds of poison have blown upon the Divine Lote-Tree from the direction of the hearts of Our idolatrous servants.

O my handmaiden! Dost thou cover thy head after the Youth’s head hath been raised upon the spears of hatred, whereby the Maids of Paradise have bared their heads in the chambers of eternity and torn out their hair when they witnessed the Most Glorious Sovereign standing before the most wretched of men—those who have raised objections against God and numbered themselves among such as have caviled at the Ancient Beauty of might and glory?

O Beauty of the Ancient! Remind the servants of that which We mentioned to thee behind the pavilion of infallibility, then unveil the beauty of mysteries from behind the veils of concealment. None shall turn thereunto save every pure, sagacious and knowing one, that perchance they may recognize what We have sent down of wisdom in the Torah and made it a lesson for those who hear. For in this are signs for the mystics, clear proofs for those possessed of certitude, and evidences for every faithful striver—those whom the allusions of words shall never prevent from attaining the presence before the Throne, this sacred spot by whose dust the people of the most exalted Paradise seek blessing in the retreats of sublime holiness.

Say: We created Balaam aforetime from a handful of clay, then We clothed him with the garment of names such that We made his name renowned among Our near servants and raised his mention to a station wherein people would remember him in most lands. The rain of grace encompassed him from the clouds of Our firm, mighty and powerful Command. When his days were fulfilled, We sent after him Moses with clear signs and sent him to his land. Then he denied Him and was deluded by leadership until he warred against Him by Whose word were created the heavens and all beneath them and the earth and all upon them, and We made Him the Manifestation of My All-Knowing, All-Wise Self.

O servant! Take hold of the reins of the Pen, then restrain what thou hast caused to flow from its mouth of the choice wine of holiness and the luminous Tasnim. Conclude the discourse at this point, then begin with the mention of My chosen ones that it may be a remembrance and honor for those who remember.

Say: O people of Baha! Board ye the Ark of Eternity which saileth upon the crimson sea. God hath ordained no portion thereof for the idolaters, for it beareth none save the people of piety from among the companions of this Youth, Who hath mounted the pavilion of glory and calleth out between heaven and earth, summoning all peoples to the countenance of God that they may be of those who turn unto Him.

O people of Baha! Should ye find one who can engrave diamond and cause it to flow upon tablets, then write ye therewith what hath been revealed in this Tablet, then spread it throughout all lands that the signs of God may be made manifest among His assured servants. And if ye find not such means, then write it with pure gold. Beware lest ye transgress what ye have been commanded and be of the patient ones.

Say: God hath caused suns to dawn from the horizon of these words, whose number none knoweth save God, the Counter, the All-Knowing. By each one thereof He nurtureth a world among His worlds whereof none among all created things is aware save God, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Blessed is he who faceth them, is illumined by them, falleth prostrate at their dawning and is not of the proud ones.

Verily, a single letter of this Tablet sufficeth as proof and evidence for all who are in the heavens and on earth, though none comprehendeth this save every just and insightful one. Were anyone to place it upon all things, or were it to be recited to all who are in the heavens and on earth, thou wouldst find them bowing down before the face of thy Lord. These words We cast upon the servants that perchance the people may be of those who advance, may stand firm in the Cause, and may aid this solitary, unique and peerless Servant.

He is the Ever-Abiding

O handmaid of God! Wouldst thou place patience in the seat of authority, or choose forbearance over agitation, after the garment of God’s Servant and the robe of this Spiritual Beauty hath been stained and reddened with the blood of hatred between earth and heaven, and at every moment He crieth out with a sorrowful voice? And whensoever He seeketh succor from His friends or assistance from His loved ones, they draw near with swords of jealousy and respond with blades of envy and wrath. Thus hath it been with this wronged Beauty, if thou be of them that comprehend. At this hour, the Ancient Beauty is imprisoned in the darksome pit and confined in the night of tribulation. Therefore, if thou findest the wandering star of blindness, guide it to the head of this dark well, and direct it to aid this Joseph of the divine Egypt, that perchance it might lower the bucket of faithfulness into this dark pit, that this divine Beauty might ascend, and by His glances and gaze the worlds might be illumined.

Section 2: “O My handmaid! Wouldst thou remain patient…”

O My handmaid! Wouldst thou remain patient in thy place and seek comfort in thy dwelling after the Friend of the All-Merciful hath fallen into the hands of Nimrod, the sovereign of rebellion, finding no helper and beholding no supporter save God, the Mighty, the Beautiful? O My handmaid! Wouldst thou drink of sweet Euphrates water after the martyred Husayn’s blessed liver was consumed by the fire of thirst, and His radiant face was inflamed by the heat of His parching thirst, to such degree that drops of blood were drawn from His delicate veins?

O My handmaid! Wouldst thou direct thy steps toward pleasure gardens or transport thyself to paradise groves for recreation and delight after the Beauty of the All-Glorious hath withered from the persecution and torment of the satanic hosts of self, and the fire of His countenance hath been extinguished and grown cold? O My handmaid! Wouldst thou seek joy and gladness, or pursue delight and pleasure, after the joy and happiness of thy Lord hath been transformed into supreme sorrow and grief, wherefore the pieces of the livers of all created things and the hearts of them that are nigh have been turned to crimson blood behind the veils?

O My handmaid! Wouldst thou seek enjoyment from the bounties of thy Lord and pursue contentment after God’s Servant must feed upon pieces of His own liver because of what the hands of the hypocrites have wrought? Therefore cry out with a loud voice and with greatest lamentation: O people of the Bayan! Would ye rest in your homes after the Beauty of the Ancient One hath set from the realms of nearness and descended in a land where none of its people, whether lowly or noble, recognize Him? Would ye smile and laugh after the Spirit fell into the hands of the Jews and was slain and crucified by the wound of the envious and the gallows of the malicious, while at every moment the serpent of hatred doth bite Him? Alas for you, inasmuch as ye have forgotten and consigned to oblivion the Covenant and Testament of Him Who is the Lord of Glory, and have abandoned the Divine Command, willingly and eagerly embracing that which your own carnal desires have bidden you pursue.

O company of hypocrites! O handmaidens of God! Do you adorn your eyes with kohl after the eyes of the Ancient One are weeping, and tears flow down His cheeks like spring rain? Do you bedeck your bodies after the robe of the Beloved has been pierced by the spears of the deniers? Do you enter chambers of delight and attend gatherings of joy and manifestation after the breezes of joy have been cut off and the signs of gladness and manifestation have been forbidden from the paradise of My Great Name?

O My handmaidens! Do you paint your cheeks rose-red when the Most Glorious Beauty has turned pale from the blows of hatred inflicted by those who have believed in none of the Messengers of their Lord, having denied this mighty, exalted grace? O My handmaiden! Know that the Beloved of the All-Merciful among the people of the Bayan has been afflicted as was the Primal Point among the people of the Furqan. I swear by the Beauty of the All-Glorious that the tribulations of this Beauty are greater than the tribulations of all those who have gone before and shall come after. At this hour, the Joseph of Beauty cries out with sorrowful voice from beneath the claws of the wolf, seeking help from His loved ones, that perchance some soul might arise with divine power and sovereignty to aid this wronged Beauty.

O handmaidens of God! At this time, when this spiritual servant has determined to conceal the luminous Beauty from the eyes of believers and deniers alike, strike your heads and breasts in utmost regret and bewilderment, and harmonize with mournful lamentations and cries of grief, until springs of blood surge from your eyes and rivers of blood flow from your hearts. By God! The furthermost Tree in the most exalted paradise has fallen to the ground at its root, for poisonous winds have blown upon this Divine Lote-Tree and the Most Glorious Beauty from the hearts of those who were and ever shall be unbelievers.

O My handmaiden! Would you cover and adorn your head with colored veils after the head of the Youth of the immortal realm has been raised upon the spears of hatred? For this cause have the Maids of Paradise dwelling in the lofty chambers of eternity uncovered their heads and disheveled their hair, for they have witnessed the Most Sublime King in the hands of the wicked ones, who at every moment raise objections against this Ancient Beauty.

At this moment, the Most Glorious Beauty speaks with holy, divine utterances and sublime, glorified words, saying: O companions of Baha! Board the Ark of eternity and sail upon the crimson sea in this Greatest City. Know your station in this place, for none has been or ever shall be partner to this mighty bounty and supreme favor, since today all ships are engulfed in the depths of the ocean of annihilation save this divine and glorified Ark of the All-Merciful—whosoever clingeth thereunto shall be preserved from the tribulations of the age, and the Lord hath sanctified it from bearing the ungodly and from the sitting of the opponents. This is the bounty of the Lord that is specially reserved for the leaves of the Sacred Lote-Tree which have appeared from the bosom of the Most Glorious Vesture with the most wondrous and purest radiance. Know ye then the worth of this wondrous bounty and exalted grace, lest the manifestations of Satan prevent you from the shade of the Lote-Tree of the All-Merciful and ye be reckoned among the deprived ones in the land.

Therefore, O My servants and mirrors of My beauty, if ye find one who is able to dissolve and cause diamonds to flow, then write with diamond ink that which hath been sent down from the heaven of glory and sanctity, and spread it throughout all lands that the divine traces may be diffused among His servants. And if ye find not such a one and are unable to accomplish this, then write these wondrous and exalted words with pure gold ink and send them to My cities and territories that perchance the people of the lands may find their way to the Beauty of the Chosen One and be guided, and may drink from this Salsabil of holy exaltation and this Tasnim of wondrous glory. This is the counsel of your Lord if ye be of them that hearken.

From the horizon of these words the Lord of the worlds hath caused to shine forth such suns of divine glory that none can reckon their number save your Lord, Who is the Counter and the All-Knowing. And through each of these suns He educateth a world from among His worlds, worlds which none among all created things hath discovered save His Self, Who is the All-Knowing and the All-Encompassing over all His worlds. Glad tidings, then, to the one who turneth the mirror of his heart toward these suns of mighty establishment which have risen from the dawning-places of the Command of the Lord of the Worlds and have shed their radiance, and who falleth upon his face in the dust at the rising of these Suns of inner meaning, and who is not of the proud ones.

These words have been mentioned in the translation of the verses of divine glory in the Persian tongue, that every soul may seek everlasting life from the holy living waters that flow and stream from the mouth of the All-Merciful. Some verses of this exalted missive have not been translated, being dependent upon and conditional on the understanding of the readers, that they may comprehend what they will. Upon God is the goal of the path; He guideth whom He willeth unto His mighty and straight path.

BH00970: Lawh-i-Laylatu’l-Quds (Tablet of the Sacred Night—Adrianople)

In the name of Him through Whose remembrance the hearts of the Concourse on High are quickened!

Glorified art Thou, O my God! Thou dost witness and behold how I have been tried amongst Thy servants, though I desired naught but to humble myself before the door of Thy mercy which Thou hast opened unto all who are in Thy heaven and on Thy earth. I have commanded them only what Thou didst command me, and called them only to that whereunto Thou didst raise me up. By Thy glory! I desired not to exalt myself above anyone in any matter, nor to glory over them through what Thou hast bestowed upon me through Thy bounty and favor. For I find within myself, O my God, no manifestation before Thy manifestation, nor any authority save after Thy permission and will.

Rather, at every moment my heart doth cry, “Would that I were dust whereupon tread the feet of Thy sincere ones among Thy loved ones and Thy chosen ones among Thy pure ones!” Were one possessed of hearing to turn unto my members, he would hear from my outer and inner being, my heart and tongue, my veins and limbs, “Would that there might appear from me that which would gladden the hearts of those who have tasted the sweetness of the remembrance of my Lord, the Most High, the Most Exalted, and that through my call someone might ascend to the heaven of Thy Cause and the kingdom of Thy knowledge, O Thou in Whose hand is the kingdom of eternity and the realm of creation!”

And if I say, “Unto me, unto me, O people of creation!”, I desire by this naught but Thy Cause through which Thou hast manifested me and raised me up, that all might turn unto the seat of Thy oneness and the throne of Thy singleness. Thou knowest, O Beloved of Baha and Desire of Baha, that he desireth naught but Thy love and Thy good-pleasure, and he wisheth to purify the hearts of Thy servants from the promptings of self and passion, and to bring them to the City of Eternity that they might be united in Thy Cause and gathered together under the standard of Thy good-pleasure.

By Thy glory, O my Beloved! Were Thou to afflict me at every moment with a fresh tribulation, it would be more beloved to me than that there should occur among Thy loved ones that which would sadden their hearts or cause their unity to be scattered. For Thou hast raised me up only for their unity in Thy Cause—before which the creation of Thy heaven and earth cannot endure—and for their detachment from all else but Thee, their turning unto the horizon of Thy mighty glory, and their orientation toward the direction of Thy good-pleasure. Therefore, O my God, send down from the clouds of Thy hidden grace that which will purify them from sorrows and human limitations, that the Concourse on High might perceive from them the fragrances of sanctity and detachment.

Then aid them, O my God, unto the unity which Thou hast desired, which is that none should behold another save that he beholdeth in him the revelation wherewith Thou didst reveal Thyself unto him in this Manifestation, whose covenant Thou didst take in the atoms of the Bayan from all who dwell in the realms of being. Whoso gazeth upon this most mighty, most glorious station and this most great, most resplendent condition will never show pride toward anyone. Blessed are they who have attained unto this station; they consort with all in the spirit of joy and fragrance. This is of the unity which Thou hast ever loved and ordained for the sincere among Thy servants and the near ones among Thy creatures.

Therefore I beseech Thee, O King of Kings, by Thy Name through which Thou didst establish the law of love and concord among Thy servants, to create among Thy loved ones that which will render them united in all things, that through them may be manifested the signs of Thy unity among Thy creatures and the evidences of Thy oneness in Thy kingdom. Verily, Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. There is no God but Thee, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting.

The Most Exalted Pen proclaims: O friends of Truth! The purpose of bearing these successive tribulations and consecutive trials is that souls firm in their faith in God should walk together in perfect unity, in such wise that all difference, duality and strangeness might be effaced from their midst, save within those special bounds that have been revealed in the Divine Books. The man of insight suffers no deficiency in any matter; whatsoever occurs is evidence of the greatness of his station and the purity of his nature. For instance, if one shows humility for God’s sake toward the friends of God, this humility in truth returns unto God, as it regards his faith in God. In this case, if the other person does not reciprocate in like manner, or shows pride, the man of insight has attained and will attain unto the exaltation of his deed and its reward, while the harmful consequence of the opposing person’s deed returns unto himself. Likewise, if anyone shows pride toward another, that pride returns unto God—God forbid!

O ye who are endowed with insight! The Most Great Name beareth Me witness! How sad if any man were, in this Day, to rest his heart on the transitory things of this world! Arise, and cling firmly to the Cause of God. Be most loving one to another. Burn away, wholly for the sake of the Well-Beloved, the veil of self with the flame of the undying Fire, and with faces joyous and beaming with light, associate with your neighbor. Ye have well observed, in all its aspects, the behavior of Him Who is the Word of Truth amidst you. Ye know full well how hard it is for this Youth to allow, though it be for one night, the heart of anyone of the beloved of God to be saddened by Him.

The Word of God hath set the heart of the world afire; how regrettable if ye fail to be enkindled with its flame! Please God, ye will regard this blessed night as the night of unity, will knit your souls together, and resolve to adorn yourselves with the ornament of a goodly and praiseworthy character. Let your principal concern be to rescue the fallen from the slough of impending extinction, and to help him embrace the ancient Faith of God. Your behavior towards your neighbor should be such as to manifest clearly the signs of the one true God, for ye are the first among men to be recreated by His Spirit, the first to adore and bow the knee before Him, the first to circle round His throne of glory.

I swear by Him Who hath caused Me to reveal whatever hath pleased Him! Ye are better known to the inmates of the Kingdom on high than ye are known to your own selves. Think ye these words to be vain and empty? Would that ye had the power to perceive the things your Lord, the All-Merciful, doth see—things that attest the excellence of your rank, that bear witness to the greatness of your worth, that proclaim the sublimity of your station! God grant that your desires and unmortified passions may not hinder you from that which hath been ordained for you.

We hope that ye will conduct yourselves with one another in the utmost affection, love and friendship, in such wise that through your unity the standard of oneness may be raised aloft and the banner of misbelief cast down, and that ye may outstrip one another in good deeds and in showing forth that which He desireth—His is the creation and the command. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth. And verily He is the All-Powerful, the Mighty, the Omnipotent.