Volume 036: Late Edirne (September 1867 – August 1868) (7 of 7)

BH01120: Lawh-i-Napoleon I

He is God, exalted be His glory—the All-Bountiful, the All-Just, and verily He is the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting!

Glorified art Thou, O my God! Thou knowest that in my mention I have sought only Thy mention, and in my turning toward any direction I have turned only toward the direction of Thy grace and Thy gifts. I have desired naught but what Thou hast desired for Thy servants and Thy creation, and in what Thou hast commanded me I have sought only Thy praise and glory. I have willed naught but what Thou hast willed through Thy decree, and I have uttered only what Thou hast commanded me to speak amongst Thy servants and Thy creatures. I have sent no letter to anyone except that I intended thereby the protection of Thy creation and the safeguarding of Thy servants. Nay, by Thy Most Exalted Self! In no matter concerning myself have I sought to preserve my life in Thy dominion—rather have I spent it in Thy path and for the exaltation of Thy Word.

Thou knowest, O my God, what hath befallen Thy servants. Verily, I have desired in all matters naught but Thy manifestation amongst Thy servants and Thy power amongst Thy creatures. O Lord! Thou knowest that all paths have been cut off and calamities have encompassed from every direction. There hath befallen Thy loved ones that which hath befallen no one before. How many heads have been raised upon spears in Thy path, how many breasts have been pierced by arrows in Thy love, how much blood hath been shed upon Thy earth, how many sisters have lamented the loss of their brothers, how many fathers have cried out at the slaying of their sons, and how many sucklings have been cut off from their mothers’ breasts! All this hath come to pass upon these wronged ones after they had all acknowledged Thy unity and confessed Thy oneness.

O Lord! I beseech Thee by Thy Most Beautiful Names and Thy Most Exalted and Perfect Word to aid these oppressed ones. Then cause them to enter the fortress of Thy protection, that none may have the power to wrong them or seize them through tyranny. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the Glorious, the Help in Peril.

This servant submits that for twenty-five years a multitude of souls have not rested for a single night nor found repose for a moment. They have been continually afflicted by the fury of wrath and tormented by manifestations of anger. How many children have been left fatherless, and how many fathers rendered childless! How many mothers have wept in separation from their sons, and how many children have lamented and wailed at the loss of their mothers! How many sucklings have drunk the cup of martyrdom! They showed mercy neither to men nor to women. Many were the nights when all the beasts and birds found rest and repose in their lairs, while these servants, overcome with terror and trepidation, could find no safe refuge nor secure shelter.

How many men who possessed wealth and affluence in the evening were beheld in utter poverty and abasement in the morning, their possessions plundered and their means of livelihood pillaged! No land remained that was not stained with the blood of these wronged ones, and no spot remained that had not become the scene of these helpless ones. How many women were taken captive and carried from land to land and city to city! How many men were sold for a price! How many souls fled to the wilderness, their whereabouts unknown! And how many remain imprisoned! The lamentations of these oppressed ones rise by night and day, and the cry of these captives is heard at all times. All these things have come to pass without any fault of theirs.

Two blessed utterances from the King of this age reached the ears of the oppressed ones—words that are truly royal, the like of which have never been heard from any sovereign. The first was in reply to the Russian government when it inquired about the cause and reason for war. He had said that the cry of those who were unjustly drowned in the Black Sea awakened Us from Our sleep at dawn, and thus We arose to wage war. Yet these oppressed ones are even more wronged and helpless, for the tribulations of those souls lasted but a day, while the afflictions of these servants have continued for twenty-five years, during which time we have been continually subjected to manifest trials.

The second mighty utterance, which was truly a wondrous word that appeared in creation, was this:

“It is incumbent upon Us to hearken to the plea of the oppressed and to answer the cry of those who are helpless.”

The fame of the justice and fairness of the sovereign has given hope to many. Care for the condition of the oppressed ones is characteristic of the King of the world, and attention to the state of the weak is a trait of the Monarch of the age.

Now, there have never been and are not now any oppressed ones on earth like unto these oppressed ones, nor are there any weak ones to be seen like unto these wanderers. For every living creature—be it human, animal, beast, or bird—all rest in the cradle of peace and security except these weak ones who are bound at every hour by the chains of wrath and afflicted with the fetters of anger and violence. No more patience remains in these servants, and forbearance has departed from their hearts and breasts. The plea of these servants is that they be shown a merciful glance, so that all may dwell secure and at rest under the protective shadow of the sovereign.

BH01047: I wish to say that, although we have never…

He is God, the Exalted

I wish to say that, although we have never met, I have heard much of your excellency’s praiseworthy qualities, that you behaved with kindness towards all the people, especially my followers, when you were in Tehran. They were and are most grateful for your excellency’s kindness and beneficence, and have mentioned to me the details of your grace and bounty. I, therefore, considered it necessary to give you a short account of what has taken place, that perhaps through your excellency’s attentions some may find peace and dwell in the shade of the protection of the Prince of the Age, the Monarch of the Era, the King of the World, the Most Mighty, Most Noble, and Most Great Emperor.

What I have to relate is as follows: I went from the capital of the kingdom of Iran to Iraq, with the permission and approval of the King and the awareness of the foreign ambassadors, and for twelve whole years I resided in Iraq. Even now I have in my possession the document (issued by) the government of Iran, (stating that) we left with (their) permission and approval. During the period of my residence in Iraq, not one unworthy or untoward action was manifested by me; all the foreign consuls who were then in Iraq will bear witness and attest to (the truth of) what I say. The government of Iran, seeing that some Iranian citizens showed and still show affection towards me, determined to act against me.

Every day, the Iranian consul (karpardaz-i- Iran—Mirza Buzurg Khan?) would write a complaint to the (Ottoman) officials. Since I observed that such developments would lead to mischief, I explained things to the Governor of Iraq, Namiq Pasha. He felt that it would be wise to adopt Ottoman citizenship, and so some of my friends chose to become Turkish citizens. This, however, was contrary to the wishes of the government of Iran, and it was for this reason that they started in earnest to take action against me. They made a request of the Ottoman government, and the latter summoned me to Istanbul. The Governor of Iraq showed great affection and gave me a full account (of the affair). I for my part obeyed the decree of the government and went to Istanbul, together with some of my family, children, and servants.

After arriving in Istanbul, however, it became apparent that they were doing whatever the Iranian ambassador wished. We stayed four months in Istanbul and (during that time) I never went anywhere or associated with anyone. After four months, a decree was issued to the effect that we must go to Edirne. We sought to know the reason for this, and various pretexts were advanced, but it became known to us that the real purpose was to carry out the wishes of the Iranian ambassador. I complied (with the decree) and we arrived in Edirne.

We have been living in Edirne for five years now, and nobody has anything to complain of from me or my relatives. Let enquiries be made of the consuls resident here, that the truth of what I say may be made known. In spite of this, the Iranian ambassador has not rested content with what has been done, nor has he been satisfied. Every day, he has involved himself in some affair and lodged a complaint with the Ottoman state officials. They have accepted and continue to accept whatever he says or wishes.

Things reached such a pitch that, in Mansuriyya in Egypt, the Iranian consul arrested four Ottoman citizens who had committed no offence. However much they protested they were Ottoman citizens, no heed was paid to them. They even took their passports and tore them up, after which they assembled them and banished them in chains and fetters. A certain Hajji Abu’l-Qasim, who was a well-known merchant there, simply on account of the fact that he had gone to Edirne to see me, was, on his return to Mansuriyya, made the object of the hostility of the Iranian consul and, although he had committed no crime or offence, he was arrested. They impounded all he possessed then entered his house, dragged forth his daughter, and carried her to the street and the market-place. But the Ottoman government paid no heed. It is obvious that, whether out of friendship or for other reasons, the Ottoman government undoubtedly carries out and implements whatever the Iranian ambassador says, nor do they neglect his wishes or his good-pleasure. But it is far from clear what the reason for this may be.

Since your excellency is informed as to how things are in Iran, I beg of you to present my petition before the throne of the King of the Age, that perchance he may perform an act of grace whereby the hearts of some people may be put at rest, that all may find ease in the cradle of the protection and security of the Monarch of the World and in the shadow of his bounty. The one God is witness that I have not entertained and do not entertain any thought of myself. I am content with whatever has been written down by the supreme pen on the Tablet of Fate. From the first day that I recognized the Truth, I have set aside both life and property. Nay, at every moment I hope and pray that I may offer up my soul as a sacrifice in the path of the Beloved of the worlds. But since a large number of individuals have been oppressed, I have felt it necessary to explain how matters stand. I beg you to let no-one know of this until the purpose of this petition has been achieved.

(I remain) obedient to your command.

BH11588: To be typed

To be typed.

BH01925: Most mighty ambassador, most noble minister

Most mighty ambassador, most noble minister,

Allow me to say that the tribulations of these servants have reached such a point that pen and ink are powerless to record them. During these (last) few years, I have (addressed myself?) to the officials of the Ottoman government. Whatever has befallen me, I have endured it patiently, relying on God, nay I have been contented and grateful. The one God is witness that I have at all times expected martyrdom, but since I observed that a number of poor ones occupied with the mention of God and detached from all save Him were oppressed and downtrodden in every land, both men and women, young and old, I felt compelled to speak. And this despite the fact that, in the sixteen years from my arrival in Baghdad until now, no offense has been committed by anyone.

Your excellency will have heard that, before those sixteen years, this sect did not endure oppression, but took revenge. I forbade all (to do so), so that they were put to death in every land, yet opposed no one. It is now sixteen years that, although members of this sect have been killed, they have not shown opposition, despite the fact that they are stronger than before and are greater in numbers in every part of Iran. Nevertheless, whatever oppression has befallen them, they have remained and remain silent and patient, and are the most oppressed of the people of the earth.

It is, therefore, incumbent on me to present the plea of these oppressed ones before the King of the World. I pray he may show such grace that men will behave towards these downtrodden ones as they do towards others and may not transgress the basic laws of the nations. It befits the sun to rise up and shed its light, and it behoves the cloud to pour down rain. It is, therefore, necessary for his highness the King to look after the interests of an oppressed people.

In these days, the case of these prisoners has become extremely serious. Hour by hour, the severity of our condition increases. They have imprisoned nearly seventy individuals, all of whom are in discomfort and ill, yet they will not allow anyone to go out to obtain medicine or food, nor have they yet given us even a dinar for our expenses. A few days ago, a pasha came to my son and said they had telegraphed to say that some (of us) would be given one franc per day, others half a franc. It seems that the purpose of this was to bring dishonour on me.

Some time ago, I sent a report of what had happened to the Austrian ambassador. If he should pay heed, things will improve, for there has been no fault on our part. They have never proved legally that this sect has committed wrong, nor have they explained the reason for this affliction. Undoubtedly, your excellency will pay attention to our affairs as far as lies within your capacity. The one God is witness that your excellency has shown the greatest favour, to such a degree that you remembered me at such a time. That, in truth, is in itself sufficient, and it shall never be erased from my memory. I pray that God may increase your life and glory and prosperity every day.

I remain obedient to your command.

BH11601: To be typed

To be typed.

BH11581: First Tablet to Faris, in honor of Nabil

To be typed.

BH06618: Most mighty and noble ambassador, most great minister, may…

Most mighty and noble ambassador, most great minister, may your prosperity continue, I wish to say that your letter has arrived and that it was productive of the greatest joy and happiness. We are more grateful to you than can be estimated. The one God is witness that the tongues of these prisoners and confined ones are occupied night and day in praying for your excellency’s life, felicity, and prosperity. At every moment, we beseech the True One to increase your life, your felicity, and your glory.

Nothing fresh has occurred; things are just as they were before. But, in truth, whenever the letters of your excellency are received, we experience unlimited exaltation and happiness. Yet we are, at the same time, extremely embarrassed to be the cause of inconvenience to your excellency. We hope that, God willing, this trouble and inconvenience may result in a good reputation and a perpetuation of goodly remembrance for your excellency, for at this moment a great many are busied with heart and soul in praying for you.

I remain obedient to your command. Salutations.

BH07042: Most great minister, most mighty and noble ambassador, may…

He is God

Most great minister, most mighty and noble ambassador, may your prosperity endure, I wish to mention that a petition was written and that, at the time it was sent, your excellency’s second letter brought joy to the hearts of these withered souls. God be praised that the (favorable) news of your blessed and exalted existence and your investigation of the circumstances of these prisoners, rendered joyful these sad ones. I am very, very grateful to your excellency; our gratitude is more than can be rendered by either speech or utterance.

The affairs of these oppressed ones have worsened every day—I have already given you the details. We hope that God may increase your excellency’s life, prosperity, and glory at all times. I am most ashamed to have put your excellency to such trouble. But we hope that, God willing, this trouble may prove the cause of the goodly mention of your excellency, and that you may attain to all your hopes in both this world and the next.

I remain obedient to your command.

(Address) Petition detailing events, addressed to his noble and illumined excellency Count Gobineau, Minister Plenipotentiary of the French Government in Brazil.

BH07156: Your excellency’s letter has been received. It showed great…

He is God, the Exalted

Your excellency’s letter has been received. It showed great kindness and was productive of the utmost joy and happiness, gladness and delight. It is obvious that, whatever is done by your excellency, it will not be deficient. In reality, what you are doing involves good-will towards the King of the Age (and his government?), for a large number (of people) will arise to pray for the continuation of his rule; in all the provinces of Iran, there shall endure until the resurrection continued well-wishing for the King of the Age and for yourself. I have not until now referred to any matter before any government. We hope, therefore, that, through your excellency’s attention, this matter may come to a conclusion, that all may, in the utmost ease, devote themselves to speaking of the continuation of (the king’s) rule.

(I remain) obedient to your command.

The purpose of this letter is to show gratitude to your excellency for having shown the greatest kindness and having delivered the petition.

BH08012: Sir

Sir

In the name of God and humanity we protest to you against the plight which we have been subjected to from the Turkish government. Six years ago we were invited at the Ottoman suggestion and we have accepted. Later, without having committed any fault and at the request of Persia we were sent from Baghdad to Constantinople. After a stay of four months, we were exiled to Adrianople.

Now, once again, we are being exiled from Adrianople without the knowledge of where we are destined and without any reason, and all our possessions were disposed of. If the Turkish government does not welcome us any more, and as we are not of this country, let us be free to go to a country of another power. It is to the sovereigns of Europe who like to help the oppressed that we plead, supplicating them to release us from this bondage.

Aug 9th 1868

signed: Hussein-Ali

BH00260: Suriy-i-Ra’is

Section 1: “Hearken, O Chief, to the voice of God…”

In His name, the All-Glorious!

Hearken, O Chief, to the voice of God, the Sovereign, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. He, verily, calleth aloud between heaven and earth, summoning all mankind unto the scene of transcendent glory. Neither thy grunting, nor the barking of those around thee, nor the opposition of the hosts of the world can withhold the Almighty from achieving His purpose. The whole world hath been set ablaze by the Word of thy Lord, the All-Glorious, a Word softer than the morning breeze. It hath been manifested in the form of the human temple, and through it God hath quickened the souls of the sincere among His servants. In its inner essence, this Word is the living water by which God hath purified the hearts of such as have turned unto Him and forgotten every other mention, and through which He draweth them nigh unto the seat of His mighty Name. We have sprinkled it upon the people of the graves, and lo, they have risen up, with their gaze fixed upon the shining and resplendent Beauty of their Lord.

Thou hast, O Chief, committed that which hath caused Muhammad, the Apostle of God, to lament in the most sublime Paradise. The world hath made thee proud, so much so that thou hast turned away from the Face through whose brightness the Concourse on high hath been illumined. Soon thou shalt find thyself in manifest loss! Thou didst conspire with the Persian Ambassador to harm Me, though I had come unto you from the source of majesty and grandeur with a Revelation that hath solaced the eyes of the favoured ones of God.

By God! This is the Day wherein the undying Fire crieth out from within all created things: “The Best-Beloved of the worlds is come!” And before all things there standeth a Moses, hearkening to the Word of thy Lord, the Almighty, the All-Knowing. Were We to divest Ourself of the mortal raiment which We have worn in consideration of your weakness, all that are in heaven and on earth would offer up their souls for My sake. To this thy Lord Himself doth testify. None, however, can perceive it save those who have detached themselves from all things for love of their Lord, the Almighty, the Most Powerful.

Hast thou imagined thyself capable of extinguishing the fire which God hath kindled in the heart of creation? Nay, by Him Who is the Eternal Truth, couldst thou but know it. Rather, on account of what thy hands have wrought, it blazed higher and burned more fiercely. Erelong will it encompass the earth and all that dwell therein. Thus hath it been decreed by God, and the powers of earth and heaven are unable to thwart His purpose.

The day is approaching when the Land of Mystery and what is beside it shall be changed, and shall pass out of the hands of the King, and commotions shall appear, and the voice of lamentation shall be raised, and the evidences of mischief shall be revealed on all sides, and confusion shall spread by reason of that which hath befallen these captives at the hands of the hosts of oppression. The course of things shall be altered, and conditions shall wax so grievous, that the very sands on the desolate hills will moan, and the trees on the mountain will weep, and blood will flow out of all things. Then wilt thou behold the people in sore distress.

O Chief! We revealed Ourself unto thee at one time upon Mount Tina, and at another time upon Mount Zayta, and yet again in this hallowed Spot. Following, however, thy corrupt inclinations, thou didst fail to respond and wert accounted with the heedless. Consider, then, and call thou to mind the time when Muhammad came with clear tokens from Him Who is the Almighty, the All-Knowing. The people were wont to pelt Him with stones from hidden places and in the markets, and they rejected the signs of God, thy Lord and the Lord of thy forefathers. The learned also denied Him, as did their followers, and likewise the kings of the earth, as thou hast heard from the tales of old. Among those kings was Chosroes, to whom Muhammad sent a blessed epistle summoning him unto God and forbidding him from misbelief. Verily, thy Lord knoweth all things. Following the promptings of his evil and corrupt desires, however, Chosroes waxed arrogant before God and tore up the Tablet. He, verily, is accounted among the inmates of the nethermost fire.

Was it in Pharaoh’s power to stay the hand of God from exercising His sovereignty when he acted wantonly in the land and was of the transgressors? From within his own house and in spite of his will We brought forth Him Who conversed with God. Well able are We to achieve Our purpose. Recall, moreover, how Nimrod kindled the fire of impiety that its flames might consume Abraham, the Friend of God; We delivered Him, however, through the power of truth and seized Nimrod with the fury of Our wrath. Say: The Oppressor put to death the Beloved of the worlds to quench the light of God amongst the people and to debar them from the wellspring of life eternal in the days of thy Lord, the Gracious, the Most Bountiful.

We, too, have revealed the Cause of God in His cities and raised aloft His remembrance amidst them that truly believe in Him. Say: This Youth hath come to quicken the world and unite all its peoples. The day is approaching when that which God hath purposed will have prevailed and thou shalt behold the earth transformed into the all-glorious paradise. Thus hath it been inscribed by the Pen of Revelation upon this weighty Tablet.

Forsake Thy mention of the Chief, O Pen, and call to remembrance Anis, that intimate of the love of God who severed himself from the wayward and the infidel. He tore the veils asunder in such wise that the inmates of Paradise could hear them being rent. Glorified be God, the Sovereign, the Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

O nightingale! Incline thine ear unto the voice of the All-Glorious on this night when armed troops have surrounded Us while We remain in a state of utmost joy. O would that our blood might be shed upon the earth and our bodies cast upon the dust in the path of God! This, indeed, is My desire and the desire of whosoever hath sought Me and attained unto My most wondrous, Mine incomparable Kingdom.

Know thou, O servant, that one day, upon awakening, We found the beloved of God at the mercy of Our adversaries. Sentinels were posted at every gate and no one was permitted to enter or leave. Indeed, they perpetrated a sore injustice, for the loved ones of God and His kindred were left on the first night without food. Such was the fate of those for whose sake the world and all that is therein have been created. Woe betide the perpetrators and those who led them into such evil! Erelong will God consume their souls in the fire. He, verily, is the fiercest of avengers.

The people surrounded the house, and Muslims and Christians wept over Us, and the voice of lamentation was upraised between earth and heaven by reason of what the hands of the oppressors had wrought. We perceived that the weeping of the people of the Son exceeded the weeping of others—a sign for such as ponder.

One of My companions offered up his life, cutting his throat with his own hands for the love of God, an act unheard of in bygone centuries and which God hath set apart for this Revelation as an evidence of the power of His might. He, verily, is the Unconstrained, the All-Subduing. As for the one who thus slew himself in ʿIraq, he truly is the King and Beloved of Martyrs, and that which he evinced was a testimony from God unto the peoples of the earth. Such souls have been influenced by the Word of God, have tasted the sweetness of His remembrance, and are so transported by the breezes of reunion that they have detached themselves from all that dwell on earth and turned unto the Divine Countenance with faces beaming with light. And though they have committed an act which God hath forbidden, He hath nevertheless forgiven them as a token of His mercy. He, verily, is the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Compassionate. So enraptured were these souls by Him Who is the All-Compelling that the reins of volition slipped from their grasp, until at last they ascended to the dwelling of the Unseen and entered the presence of God, the Almighty, the All-Knowing.

Say: This Youth hath departed out of this country and deposited beneath every tree and every stone a trust, which God will erelong bring forth through the power of truth. Thus hath the True One come and the command of Him Who is the Ordainer, the All-Wise, been fulfilled. The hosts of earth and heaven are powerless to resist His Cause, nor can all the kings and rulers of the world ever frustrate His purpose. Say: Adversity is the oil which feedeth the flame of this Lamp and by which its light is increased, did ye but know. Indeed, the repudiation of the froward serveth but to proclaim this Faith and to spread the Cause of God and His Revelation throughout the world.

Great is your blessedness, inasmuch as ye have forsaken your homes and wandered the land for the love of your Lord, the Almighty, the Ancient of Days, until ye entered the Land of Mystery at a time when the fire of oppression was ablaze and the croaking of the raven of discord had been raised. Ye are My partners in My tribulations, for ye were present with Us during the darksome night in which the hearts of those who testify to the unity of God were agitated. Ye entered this land for the sake of Our love, and departed therefrom through Our command. By the righteousness of God! Because of you the earth itself glorieth over heaven. How excellent is this most sublime, this glorious and exalted bounty! Ye have been deprived of your nest, O birds of eternity, for the sake of your Lord, the Unconstrained, but your true abode is beneath the wings of the grace of the All-Merciful. Blessed are they that understand.

O My Dhabih! May the breaths of the spirit waft upon thee and upon such as have sought communion with thee, inhaled from thee the sweet fragrance of My presence, and hearkened unto that whereby the hearts of the true seekers are sanctified. Render thanks unto God inasmuch as thou hast attained unto the shores of this Most Great Ocean, and give ear to the very atoms of the earth proclaiming: “This is the Best-Beloved of the worlds!” The dwellers of the earth have wronged Him and failed to recognize the One Whose name they ceaselessly invoke. Lost are such as have remained heedless and have opposed Him for Whose loved ones it would have behoved them to offer up their lives, how much more for His own luminous and resplendent Beauty!

Be thou patient, though thy heart be consumed in its separation from God, for He hath granted thee an exalted station in His presence. Nay, thou art even now standing before His face, and We are imparting unto thee, through the tongue of might and power, such words as even the ears of the sincere ones have been deprived of hearing. Say: Were He to utter but one word, that word alone would exceed in sweetness all the sayings of men.

Had Muhammad, the Apostle of God, attained this Day, He would have exclaimed: “I have truly recognized Thee, O Thou the Desire of the Divine Messengers!” Had Abraham attained it, He too, falling prostrate upon the ground, and in the utmost lowliness before the Lord thy God, would have cried: “Mine heart is filled with peace, O Thou Lord of all that is in heaven and on earth! I testify that Thou hast unveiled before mine eyes all the glory of Thy power and the full majesty of Thy law! I bear witness, moreover, that through Thy Revelation the hearts of the faithful are well assured and contented.” Had Moses Himself attained it, He, likewise, would have raised His voice saying: “All praise be to Thee for having lifted upon me the light of Thy countenance and enrolled me among them that have been privileged to behold Thy face!”

Consider the people and their condition. Reflect upon the things that their mouths have uttered and that their hands have wrought in this blessed, this most holy and peerless Day. They that have tarnished the good name of the Cause of God and turned unto the Evil One are accursed of all created things and are numbered among the inmates of the fire. Verily, whosoever hath hearkened to My call shall remain unperturbed by the clamour of all that are on earth; and whosoever is influenced by the words of anyone beside Me hath never heard My call. By God! Such a man is deprived of entering My Kingdom, is debarred from My realms of majesty and power, and is of them that are in utter loss.

Section 2: “Sorrow not for that which hath befallen thee…”

Sorrow not for that which hath befallen thee. Thou hast borne for My love that which most people have never endured. Thy Lord knoweth and is informed of all. He was with thee in the assemblages and gatherings, and heard that which flowed from the wellspring of thy heart in remembrance of thy Lord, the All-Merciful. This, indeed, is a token of His bountiful favour.

Erelong will God raise up from among the kings one who will aid His loved ones. He, verily, encompasseth all things. He will instill in the hearts the love of His loved ones. This, indeed, is irrevocably decreed by One Who is the Almighty, the Beneficent.

We beseech God to gladden the hearts of His servants through thy call, to make thee an ensign of guidance in His lands, and to assist through thee those who have been brought low. Heed not the one who raised a loud clamour and he who raiseth it even now. Let thy Lord, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Generous, be all-sufficient unto thee. Relate unto My loved ones that which thou hast seen and learned of the tale of this Youth, and convey unto them that which We have imparted unto thee. Verily, thy Lord assisteth and watcheth over thee at all times and under all conditions. The blessings of the Concourse on high surround thee, and the kindred and the leaves of the holy family who circle round the celestial Tree extol thee with a wondrous praise.

O Pen of Revelation! Call Thou to remembrance him whose letter reached Us during this darksome night. He it is who wandered from region to region until he entered the City, seeking the shelter of the mercy of his Lord, the Almighty, the Most High. Eagerly awaiting the favours of his Lord, he dwelt therein for a night, but departed therefrom the following morning as bidden by God, filling with sorrow the heart of this Youth. To this the Almighty is Himself a witness.

Great is thy blessedness, for thou hast received the wine of utterance from the hand of the All-Merciful, and became so enraptured by the sweet fragrance of the Best-Beloved as to renounce thy comfort and to be numbered with them that have hastened unto His Paradise, the Dawning-Place of the signs of thy Lord, the Gracious, the Peerless. Happy the one who hath quaffed the wine of inner mysteries from the countenance of his Lord and been intoxicated by this pure and crystal draught. By God! It causeth every true believer to soar in the heaven of majesty and grandeur, and transmuteth every doubt into certainty.

Grieve not at what hath befallen thee, but put thy whole trust in God, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the Wise. Raise thy house upon the solid foundation of divine utterances, and give praise to thy Lord. He, verily, shall suffice thee above all the peoples of the earth.

God hath, in truth, inscribed your names upon a Tablet wherein are enshrined the hidden secrets of all that hath been. Erelong shall the faithful call to remembrance your exile and all your journeys in His path. He, verily, loveth those who love Him, and is the helper of the sincere. By the righteousness of God! The eyes of the Concourse on high are fixed upon you and their fingers point towards you. Thus doth the bounty of your Lord encompass you. Would that the people might recognize that which hath escaped them in the days of God, the All-Glorious, the All-Praised.

Render thanks unto God for having aided thee to know Him and to enter within the precincts of His court at a time when the ungodly surrounded the family of thy Lord and His loved ones, and expelled them from their homes with manifest cruelty, intending to separate us at the shore of the sea. Verily, thy Lord is aware of that which lieth concealed within the breasts of the unbelievers. Say: Even should ye tear our bodies asunder, ye could not banish from our hearts the love of God. We were of a truth created for sacrifice, and in this do we take pride before all creation.

O thou who art set aglow with the fire of the love of God! Know thou that thy letter hath reached Us and that We have been apprised of its contents. We beseech God to confirm thee in His love and in His good pleasure, to assist thee in the promotion of His Cause, and to number thee with such as have arisen for the triumph of His Faith.

As to thy question regarding the soul: Know thou that among the people there are numerous treatises and manifold views as to its stations. Among these are the soul of the kingdom, the soul of the dominion, the celestial soul, the divine soul, the sanctified soul, as well as the benevolent soul, the contented soul, the soul pleasing unto God, the inspired soul, the irascible soul, and the concupiscent soul. Every group hath its own pronouncements concerning the soul and We are disinclined to dwell upon the sayings of the past. Verily, with thy Lord is the knowledge of the former and latter generations.

Would that thou wert present before Our throne to hear from the Tongue of Grandeur itself that which thou desirest and scale the loftiest heights of knowledge by the grace of Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise! The ungodly, however, have intervened between us. Take heed lest thou be grieved thereby. Be content with that which hath been ordained by an irrevocable decree, and be of them that endure with patience.

Know that the soul which is common to all men cometh forth following the commingling of things and after their maturation, as thou dost observe in the germ: once it hath developed to its predestined stage, God manifesteth the soul that was latent within it. Thy Lord, verily, doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth.

As to the soul which is intended, in truth it hath been called forth by the Word of God and is such that, if it be kindled with the fire of the love of its Lord, neither the waters of opposition nor the oceans of the world can quench its flame. That soul is indeed a fire ablaze in the tree of man which proclaimeth: “No God is there but Him!” Whosoever hearkeneth unto its call is verily of those who have attained unto Him. And when it casteth off its earthly frame, God shall raise it up again in the most excellent of forms and cause it to enter a sublime paradise. Thy Lord, of a certainty, hath power over all things.

Know, furthermore, that the life of man proceedeth from the spirit, and the spirit turneth to wheresoever the soul directeth it. Ponder upon that which We have revealed unto thee that thou mayest recognize the Soul of God which hath appeared above the Dayspring of bounty invested with manifest sovereignty.

Know also that the soul is endowed with two wings: should it soar in the atmosphere of love and contentment, then it will be related to the All-Merciful. And should it fly in the atmosphere of self and desire, then it will pertain to the Evil One; may God shield and protect us and protect you therefrom, O ye who perceive! Should the soul become ignited with the fire of the love of God, it is called benevolent and pleasing unto God, but should it be consumed with the fire of passion, it is known as the concupiscent soul. Thus have We expounded this subject for thee that thou mayest obtain a clear understanding.

O Pen of the Most High! Recount unto him who hath turned unto Thy Lord, the All-Glorious, that which shall enable him to dispense with the sayings of men. Say: Spirit, mind, soul, and the powers of sight and hearing are but one single reality which hath manifold expressions owing to the diversity of its instruments. As thou dost observe, man’s power to comprehend, move, speak, hear, and see all derive from this sign of his Lord within him. It is single in its essence, yet manifold through the diversity of its instruments. This, verily, is a certain truth. For example, if it directeth its attention to the means of hearing, then hearing and its attributes become manifest. Likewise, if it directeth itself to the means of vision, a different effect and attribute appear. Reflect upon this subject that thou mayest comprehend the true meaning of what hath been intended, find thyself independent of the sayings of the people, and be of them that are well assured. In like manner, when this sign of God turneth towards the brain, the head, and such means, the powers of the mind and the soul are manifested. Thy Lord, verily, is potent to do whatsoever He pleaseth.

All that We have mentioned here hath been elucidated in the Tablets We have revealed in response to questions regarding the disconnected letters of the Qur’an. Ponder them that thou mayest comprehend that which hath been sent down from the Kingdom of Him Who is the Almighty, the All-Praised. Thus have We chosen to be concise in this Tablet. We beseech God to acquaint thee through this brief exposition with that which words can never hope to exhaust, and to give thee to drink of the limitless oceans from this cup. Thy Lord, verily, is the All-Bountiful and unassailable in His power.

O Pen of the Ancient of Days! Call Thou to remembrance Ali, he who sojourned with Thee in Iraq until the Daystar of the world departed therefrom. He forsook his home to attain the court of Thy presence at a time when We were captive in the hands of such as have been deprived of the sweet savours of the All-Merciful. Grieve not at what hath befallen Us and thee in the path of God. Rest assured and persevere. He, verily, rendereth victorious those who love Him, and His might is equal to all things. Whoso turneth unto Him brighteneth thereby the faces of the Concourse on high, and unto this God Himself is My witness.

Say: O people, do ye imagine that, after rejecting the One through Whom the religions of the world have been made manifest, ye still bear allegiance to the Faith of God? By the righteousness of God! Ye are accounted among the inmates of the Fire. Thus hath the decree been recorded in the Tablets by the Pen of God. Say: Never will the barking of dogs deter the Nightingale from warbling its melodies. Ponder awhile that perchance ye may discover a path leading to the Eternal Truth.

Say: Magnified art Thou, O Lord my God! I entreat Thee by the tears Thy lovers have shed in their longing after Thee, and by the yearning of those who cry out in their separation from Thee, and by Thy Best-Beloved Who hath fallen into the hands of Thine adversaries, to graciously assist those who have sought refuge beneath the sheltering wings of Thy favour and loving-kindness, and who have yearned for no other Lord except Thee.

We have forsaken our homes, O Lord, in our eagerness to meet Thee and in our longing to be united with Thee. We have traversed land and sea to attain the court of Thy presence and to give ear to Thy verses. When we arrived at the shores of the sea, however, we were held back from Thee, as the ungodly intervened between us and the light of Thy countenance.

O Lord! Dire thirst hath seized us, and with Thee are the soft-flowing waters of eternal life. Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. Deny us not the object of our quest. Write down then for us the recompense decreed for such of Thy servants as enjoy near access to Thee and are wholly devoted to Thy will. Make us so steadfast in Thy love that naught shall keep us back from Thee or deter us from Thine adoration. Powerful art Thou to do Thy pleasure. Thou, verily, art the Almighty, the Most Generous.