Volume 041: Early Akka 1868–1873, Part I (4 of 5)

BH00622: Shiraz. Nabil Qabli Khalil, upon whom be the glory…

Shiraz. Nabil Qabli Khalil, upon whom be the glory of God, the Mighty, the Powerful, the Sublime—the Most Ancient, the Most Great! This is a remembrance unto him who hath attained My presence, turned unto My countenance, heard My call, and whom God hath enabled to behold My Beauty with Mine own eyes, aided him to recognize Me in My days, and caused him to speak My praise amongst My creatures, that he might once again drink the choice wine from the hands of his Lord’s bounty—the Most Glorious—Who remained among the enemies and cast Himself amidst the wicked ones who abandoned faithfulness, followed their desires, cast aside justice and rose up in tyranny. Yet in such circumstances and amid intensifying tribulations, He shineth from the horizon of power and calleth the people unto God, the Mighty, the Powerful, the All-Wise.

Thy letter hath reached the Prisoner, and We found therein supreme steadfastness in this hidden Mystery and treasured Name. We bear witness that thou hast done what was commanded thee in the Bayan by thy Lord, the All-Merciful. Thus doth God aid whomsoever He willeth—verily He is the Ruler, the Mighty, the Powerful, the All-Knowing. Were people to behold Me with Mine own eyes, they would not hesitate for less than a moment to renounce all creation and hasten with their hearts unto their Lord, the All-Merciful. But their hearts have hardened because they have followed vain imaginings and strayed from this near-at-hand grace.

The world hath been set ablaze by the Word of the Ancient King, yet the people remain heedless thereof, as if they were among the dead. God had counseled His servants to regard this Revelation with His eyes—this after countless other counsels which none can reckon save God, the All-Knowing, the All-Encompassing. They cast God’s counsel behind their backs and clung to the vain imaginings of creation mentioned in bygone ages, whereby they were veiled from Him around Whom revolves every wise command.

Consider the people of the Bayan: had they held fast to this counsel alone, they would not have hesitated in the Cause of Him at Whose advent the Holy Spirit cried out, “By God, the Beloved of the worlds hath appeared!” Some were veiled by mention of succession and the like. Say: Fie upon thee, O thou who art far removed! Hast thou not heard the decree concerning origination? By God, this is the Originator of the heavens and earth! No mention can be compared to His mention, no command to His command. Reflect, that ye may find the sweetness of this wondrous Origination.

O Khalil! The ocean of fire hath dripped from the Pen of the Chosen One. Blessed is he who hath been enkindled thereby in the love of God, thy Lord and the Lord of all worlds. The people of the Bayan speak as spoke the old women of the Furqan. Say: Shatter the idol of vain imaginings—thus have ye been commanded in the Tablets of your Lord, the Mighty, the All-Knowing—when He came with the truth, announcing this manifest Light. Among them are those who cling to fancy, turning away from the Self-Subsisting. When asked by what proof they turned away from the All-Merciful, they speak of tales of old, even while beholding the Sun shining from the horizon of power and the Tongue of Grandeur speaking at every moment.

Some have said that He hath claimed divinity. Say: I lament at this, for He Who came with the truth hath informed creation that everything proclaimeth, “There is none other God but Me, the Forgiving, the Generous.” Verily, he who hath inhaled the fragrance of the Most Merciful’s garment and comprehended what was revealed in the Bayan is assured that He occupieth a station that descriptions cannot ascend unto, nor can mentions attain. Thus hath the matter been decreed in truth from the presence of a powerful, ancient Ordainer.

O Khalil! The people are seen to be sick, not recognizing Him Who would heal their ailments and quench their thirst. Though they have witnessed that all they previously possessed was mere fancy, not a letter of which was fulfilled, nevertheless they cling to countless fancies. If the divine Hand of Power should rend asunder one veil, they would instantly become concealed behind another. By My life, they know not what they say nor perceive to whom they allude. Their hearts have hardened and their eyes are blinded. O friend! Great is the call, but narrow is the throat of the world. The sun is at its zenith of radiance, yet eyes are weak. Would that the people of the Bayan would ponder this blessed word wherein He saith “Behold Him with His own eyes.”

I swear by the Most Great Name that the recognition of this single word would suffice all mankind, yet some are deprived and others shall be deprived. For the Primal Point—may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for His sake—informed the people of the Bayan of this Most Great Revelation and the tribulations that would befall Him, such that they would spend their nights and days in lamentation. Consider now what hath come to pass and what shall yet occur. We are God’s and to Him shall we return.

The wayward ones, by mentioning a fabricated successorship, have prevented and continue to prevent people from the Dawning-Place of guidance, even though were anyone to search the Bayan, he would find no mention of it therein. Yet they cling to it and turn away from Him through a mere gesture of Whose finger successorship and authority and all else above them were established. Such is the condition of the people and their understanding. They are indeed in manifest loss.

Had they gazed upon the Truth with His eyes and acted upon this single word, they would never have been deprived of the eternal springtime nor barred from the outpourings of the ocean of divine unity. Since mention of successorship was, in their estimation, among the most important matters within the community of the Furqan, and people clung to it, they now grasp at it hoping thereby to prevent weak minds from the direction of divine unity. Were it not for the weakness of the people and their lack of understanding, We would have mentioned here that which would have rent asunder the veils, even as We rent asunder what they possessed concerning the mention of the Qa’im, that every person of insight might be convinced that He alone hath been the Beloved of the worlds, and all else was created by His will. He is indeed the most powerful of the powerful ones.

Behold how they have attributed such accusations and calumnies to Him before Whose mention the Primal Point would bow in humility. Still the deluded ones among the people of the Furqan await an imaginary Qa’im who would appear from an imaginary city with conditions they have conceived. Fie upon them and these people! But these are even more veiled than those. They are indeed in grievous delusion.

Blessed art thou, O thou who gazeth upon the Countenance and speaketh the truth and calleth out among the people inasmuch as thou hast recognized the purpose of God and turned unto Him with His own eyes. We testify that thou art among them that behold. Rejoice thou in God’s testimony, for naught that hath been created between the heavens and the earth can equal it. We beseech God to preserve you from the enemies of His Self and to strengthen you in His Cause and to bring low your adversaries. Verily He is the Protector of those who love Him, and He is indeed the Almighty over all the worlds.

The letter thou didst send in the name of Allah-u-Mihdi reached Our presence and was the object of Our loving attention. Most excellent was what thou didst mention regarding patience. Blessed is he who is adorned therewith and who in this followeth his wronged Lord Who was imprisoned at the hands of the oppressors.

How excellent is the state of one who hath returned unto God and ascended unto the Supreme Companion, at a time when the denizens of the highest Paradise inhale the fragrance of the Beloved’s love. For such a soul one ought not grieve. We bear witness that he hath ascended unto the Most Glorious Companion and hath attained the lights of his Lord, the Most Exalted, the Most High. Rather should one grieve, nay lament and weep, for those who remain imprisoned in this world. Were they to turn even slightly toward the divine decree and consummate wisdom, they would observe with the eye of certainty that whatsoever befalleth the loved ones of God is better for them than all that is in the heavens and the earth, for in all circumstances such souls have been and are treated with the utmost grace and favor. By My life! Were the veil to be rent asunder and were they to behold the Supreme Horizon, they would cast aside their bodies and wing their flight unto that holy, radiant and shining station. In their hardship lieth ease, and in their death lieth life. Well is it with them that understand.

As to what thou didst mention regarding thy having turned to certain regions and spoken among them of that which is right—excellent is what thou hast done. We beseech God to cause thee to conquer the citadels of the hearts of His servants and guide them to the straight path. Grieve not for what hath befallen thee and what they have said regarding thee. Soon shall they bear witness unto that which they denied, and point to thee with their fingers, saying:

“We testify that thou art he who turned toward thy Lord, the Most Merciful, when we were wrapped in heedlessness and rebellion.”

They sow for themselves the thorns of loss, yet today they perceive it not. When they awaken they shall cry out for what they have wrought. Thy Lord is indeed the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. In all circumstances be thou vigilant in affairs, with due regard to wisdom, lest anything arise that might extinguish the fire. Verily thy Lord is the Counselor, the Trustworthy.

Convey My greetings unto My Afnan and give them the glad-tidings of My mention of them in this mighty Tablet. We beseech God to aid them to gaze upon His countenance and to be well-pleased with that which He loveth and which pleaseth Him. Then convey My greetings unto My loved ones. We counsel them to show forth supreme steadfastness, for this Cause is mighty, mighty and great, great. Blessed is he who holdeth fast thereunto in the Cause of his Lord, detached from all else. Thou didst in thy letter convey greetings to the servant who is present before the Throne. When he hath finished transcribing that which hath been revealed from the heaven of grandeur and majesty at this moment, We shall convey greetings unto thee. Verily thy Lord is the Most Great, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

BH00631: This is a Book from the Primal Point unto…

In the Name of God, the Most Mighty, the Most Exalted, the Most High

This is a Book from the Primal Point unto him who hath believed in God and journeyed to the precincts of the Prison, until he entered the Garden of Paradise, the spot wherein the Dove of Praise warbled upon the branches of the Tree of Glory that there is none other God but Him, the Almighty, the All-Compelling, the All-Powerful, the All-Knowing. The All-Merciful shone upon him with wondrous rays of His glory and caused him to hear such melodies as drew unto them the denizens of the Supreme Paradise and the realities of those near unto God. They who were veiled in those days heard not a single letter from the words of God, nor shall they ever hear—this is a revelation from One mighty and powerful. For had they heard but one letter of God’s verses, they would not have denied these words which God hath made a testimony unto all who dwell in the heavens and the earth, whereby He hath manifested His Cause throughout all ages and shall continue to manifest it as He pleaseth. Verily, He is the Ruler over whatsoever He willeth.

Say: O people! Fear ye God and worship not those whom ye find upon the brink of the pit of fire. Fear ye God and be of the God-fearing. Stand ye firm in the Cause of God in such wise as to cause the hearts of the perverters to tremble. Should any among those who have disbelieved in God appear before you, suffer him not to utter a word, for it proceedeth from the very depths of hellfire and must needs return thereto. Say: O thou who associateth partners with God! Judge thou fairly, by God: by what proof didst thou believe in the Primal Point? Explain, and be not of those who flee from place to place to cast doubt into the hearts of the believers. Thou and thy like have worshipped vain imaginings for a thousand years and were heedless thereof. And when there appeared among you one who spoke the truth and proclaimed that He would be born, ye denounced him as an infidel and slew him without clear proof or manifest evidence.

We follow not your idle fancies and We beseech God to protect Us from you, from your friends, and from your leaders. Verily, He is the Protector of the virtuous. We are servants who have shattered the chains of blind imitation through the Most Great Name of God and have detached ourselves from those who disbelieved in Him in Whom they had believed, whose eyes were covered with the veils of idle fancy and who were among the heedless. Do ye call upon vain imaginings and forsake the Best of Creators? Woe unto you and unto those whom ye have taken as friends besides God! Thereby have ye entered the abyss of perdition and yet ye rejoice and are not among those who perceive.

Blessed art thou, O Hadi, for having been guided by the lights of the Countenance. Stand thou firm, therefore, in the Cause and grieve not at the clamor of the idolaters. Know thou that thy letter hath come before Us, and We have beheld it and are among those who bear witness.

As to what thou hast asked concerning that which hath been sent down from the Most Exalted Pen regarding the Most Great Word, know thou that by the revelation of the Bayan and what hath appeared in its outward meaning and what hath been concealed in its inward significance, naught was intended except this Revelation which hath been made manifest in truth, and which the people of the Bayan have denied out of their hatred for thy Lord, the All-Merciful. Thus were their names inscribed among the people of vain imaginings, while they remain heedless thereof and are numbered with the negligent. By the True One! His pen moved only in My remembrance, His tongue spoke only in praise of My Self, and His heart beat only with My Name, the All-Powerful, the All-Compelling, the All-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful. And now He findeth Himself beneath the claws and talons of the people of the Bayan, though He had enjoined them in all the Tablets not to be veiled by anything revealed in the Bayan at the time of His manifestation. Yet they denied Me and sought to shed My blood. When their own deceit became apparent, they claimed oppression among the people, even as they had done aforetime, and they are now among the perpetrators thereof.

Say: O people! Do ye believe in the Bayan while denying Him Who hath expounded it? Woe unto you, O company of the deluded! Say: This indeed is the Spirit through Whom whosoever was quickened, he truly liveth in the sight of God, and besides this all are dead even should they fill the East and the West of the earth. Thus doth the Holy Pen reveal unto thee at this moment when moved by the fingers of thy Lord’s will, the All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate. And verily if thou shouldst examine the Qayyumu’l-Asma’, thou wouldst find naught save this Most Great Name, the All-Glorious, the Most Wondrous, the Most Wonderful. He gave the glad-tidings of this Revelation in all the verses, yet the people denied it and surrounded Him with the swords of hatred and rancor, striking Him at every moment. Among the ungodly were those who said that He loved not the Point of the Bayan. Say: Fear ye God and be ashamed before the Manifestation of His Self, for verily He is My Self and I am His Self and His Being, and one word from Him is dearer to Me than the creation of both worlds, were ye of them that know.

Would anyone deny his own spirit? Nay, by the Self of God Who speaketh between the heavens and the earth! Say: O concourse of unbelievers! How long will ye flee from branch to branch? He hath appeared in truth and there is no escape for you save that ye believe in Him or deny all the Messengers of God together. And in another station He desired to manifest His Cause in the station of the Gate, even as thou witnesseth that when the letter Alif standeth upright it is called by the name of Alif, and when it is extended it is called by the name of Ba, though they are one and the same, were ye of them that perceive.

This is the station of His Gateship which appeared in truth at the beginning of His Cause and opened unto the faces of all who are in the heavens and the earth, as thou hast witnessed and wert among the witnesses. And this very Alif ascended by itself, then rose to the station of Lam, whereupon appeared the letter of Divine Authority. In this station He removed the veil of Gateship from His countenance and appeared with Divine Authority, saying: “I am the true Qa’im Whose appearance ye have been promised.” Thus shouldst thou understand the Cause of thy Lord and be of them that know.

Then He ascended from this station until He reached the station of Ra, which is the station of Lordship in this stage, and He rent asunder the veils of idle fancy through His sovereignty, the Mighty, the Powerful, the Wise, and said:

“I am your Lord and your Educator and your Creator and your Sustainer and your Quickener and your Slayer and your Resurrector and your Bearer of glad-tidings concerning Him Who shall come in truth. Beware lest ye neglect His Cause and be not of them that hesitate. This is the station of Lordship which hath encompassed and pervaded all worlds.”

But thou, O Hadi, witness today a new spirit in the temples of words and letters. Should one possessed of hearing be found, he would hear from every letter of the Bayan melodies and anthems in remembrance of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Bestower, and would say:

“This indeed is He Who hath manifested the Alif to reveal His Cause, and the Lam to establish His command, and the Ra to spread abroad that which hath appeared from His presence.”

Thus doth He speak the truth, but the people hear not, nor are they among those who perceive. We have indeed interpreted the disconnected letters aforetime with a clear, evident and manifest exposition. Were We to interpret and expound them now, no wayfarer could bear it.

And if thou wouldst sharpen thy vision and reflect, thou wouldst witness that these are the days wherein thy Lord’s Cause hath been spread abroad and hath been and will be decreed, and through it truth is distinguished from falsehood, light from darkness, and the wretched from the blessed. In His manifestation He desireth naught but this Revelation, and by this Name hath the Dove warbled upon the twigs of the Tree of Eternity, and the Cock of the Throne hath crowed, and the Tongue of God hath spoken, and the Pen of Command hath coursed upon tablets of transcendent glory.

Say: O people, fear God! Pervert not the words of God from their places. By the True One! Every goodly mention revealed in the Bayan referreth to this Most Great Remembrance, this Most Ancient and Most Mighty Cause. Through it the matter hath been and will be decreed around the Fire at the axis of Water, nigh unto this all-pervading, sublime, sweet and luminous Air. And were We to find pure hearts, upright minds and penetrating vision, We would bring forth from this Ocean pearls of sanctified worth.

By thy life, O Hadi! Through the buffetings of the idolaters, the mouth of God hath been prevented from His utterance, and the Salsabil from its flowing, and the clouds from their rain, and the Most Great Sea from its waves, and the Lote-Tree of the Extremity from its fruits, and the Holy Land from its vegetation, and the Sun of knowledge from its radiance. Thus have the hosts of Satan assailed the Manifestation of God’s Self.

O Hadi! Is there any helper who will aid the Cause of his Lord, and stand firm in the love of his Master, and be detached from the deniers? Is there any faithful one who will fulfill God’s Covenant and His Testament, and fear not the assault of swine? Is there any zealous one who will not alter God’s bounty upon himself and will guard this heavenly Table from these thieves? Thus have We remembered thee and revealed unto thee that thou mayest stand firm in thy Lord’s Cause and be among them that remember.

Then make mention from Us unto Ibrahim with gracious mention, then recite unto him and his brother who was mentioned in thy letter this impregnable and lofty Tablet, that it may create in them that which the opposition of the opposers cannot extinguish. And the Spirit be upon thee and upon those who have believed in God, then remained steadfast, and are in a state of rapture, attraction, longing and wondrous yearning.

BH00627: Lawh-i-Ibrahim

In the Name of God, the Most High, the Help in Peril!

O questioner! Know thou that there hath come before Us a letter from him who hath been set aflame with the fire of God, and therein We found mention of thee. Therefore have We sprinkled upon thee from the drops of the ocean of eternity from the direction of Paradise, that it may purify thee from all the doubts of creation, may detach thee wholly unto God, and may cause thee to speak His praise amongst the worlds.

Know thou then that We answered thee aforetime concerning what thou didst ask of God, thy Lord, through veils and coverings. At times We showed thee the lights of the Countenance from behind seventy thousand veils, and at times We concealed them, for in those days We found the knowledge of the servants at the stage of a mere drop, and We found none who could bear God’s Trust—the Trust of the Sovereign, the Mighty, the Powerful. Therefore did We hold back the Pen and loosed not its reins save according to a determined measure. And We reared a numbered few through the sovereignty of might and power. When they attained unto what thy Lord desired, We then clothed them with the flesh of certitude and brought forth another creation in the love of thy Lord. Blessed be God, the Sovereign of the mighty, and the Best of creators!

Verily, for all things there is an appointed time with thy Lord. When the promise cometh, He revealeth it through truth and sendeth down upon it what He hath ordained. Verily, He hath power over whatsoever He willeth. Although every word that hath been sent down from Our presence is sufficient for all contingent things and therein are treasured the pearls of wisdom, blessed is he who casteth therein the bucket of knowledge, from which the youth of inner meanings draweth it forth, and thereby becometh independent of all the worlds.

We have ordained for the servants a portion from every word according to their capacity. Blessed is he who taketh his portion and is not among the deprived. However,

It hath been decreed by Us that the Word of God and all the potentialities thereof shall be manifested unto men in strict conformity with such conditions as have been foreordained by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. We have, moreover, ordained that its veil of concealment be none other except its own Self. Such indeed is Our Power to achieve Our Purpose. Should the Word be allowed to release suddenly all the energies latent within it, no man could sustain the weight of so mighty a Revelation. Nay, all that is in heaven and on earth would flee in consternation before it.

Consider that which hath been sent down unto Muhammad, the Apostle of God. The measure of the Revelation of which He was the bearer had been clearly foreordained by Him Who is the Almighty, the All-Powerful. They that heard Him, however, could apprehend His purpose only to the extent of their station and spiritual capacity. He, in like manner, uncovered the Face of Wisdom in proportion to their ability to sustain the burden of His Message. No sooner had mankind attained the stage of maturity, than the Word revealed to men’s eyes the latent energies with which it had been endowed—energies which manifested themselves in the plenitude of their glory when the Ancient Beauty appeared, in the year sixty, in the person of ʿAli-Muhammad, the Bab.

Verily, were We to expound this station fully, neither tablets nor pens would suffice, and thy Lord is witness unto this.

Know of a certainty that in every Dispensation the light of Divine Revelation hath been vouchsafed unto men in direct proportion to their spiritual capacity. Consider the sun. How feeble its rays the moment it appeareth above the horizon. How gradually its warmth and potency increase as it approacheth its zenith, enabling meanwhile all created things to adapt themselves to the growing intensity of its light. How steadily it declineth until it reacheth its setting point. Were it, all of a sudden, to manifest the energies latent within it, it would, no doubt, cause injury to all created things.

Thus observe thou the Sun of Meanings, that thou mayest be among those who are endowed with insight.

In like manner, if the Sun of Truth were suddenly to reveal, at the earliest stages of its manifestation, the full measure of the potencies which the providence of the Almighty hath bestowed upon it, the earth of human understanding would waste away and be consumed; for men’s hearts would neither sustain the intensity of its revelation, nor be able to mirror forth the radiance of its light. Dismayed and overpowered, they would cease to exist.

Therefore it shineth upon them according to their capacity and receptivity, even as ye witnessed at the beginning of the Manifestation of your Lord, the Most Exalted, in the year sixty, when He appeared at first in the garment of the Bab. At this station the drop of acceptance and capacity in all things ascended to become a clot, then He changed the garment to that of divine authority and raised all created things to the state of embryo, and the gradual progression continued through His sovereignty until He brought them to the station of another creation. Then did He manifest Himself unto them through the name of Divine Lordship and proclaimed:

“Verily, I am God! There is none other God but Him, the Mighty, the Powerful, the Exalted, the All-Knowing!”

But today there hath appeared such grace that were all created things to encounter it for less than a moment, it would raise them to a station whereof the Pen of Creation and the tongues of all the worlds are powerless to make mention. For such a Lord beseemeth the glorification of the Concourse of Eternity, and the magnification of the denizens of the Supreme Paradise, and the sanctification of the Company of the Near Ones.

Know thou moreover that if thy Lord should wish to raise all created things from the state of a drop to maturity in less than the twinkling of an eye, He would verily be able to do so through His all-pervading, all-encompassing power. Yet He hath loved to cause all things to progress through their ordained stages and gradual development, according to a wisdom which none save His all-compelling, all-informed Self hath comprehended.

Know thou moreover that God, thy Lord, hath ever been in one condition, neither ascending nor descending, and likewise His Self-Manifestation in that station. Exalted is He above whatsoever the servants attribute to Him from their own understanding; exalted is He above the description of every discerning describer. All words are equal in His sight—He exalteth them at one time and abaseth them at another, and He shall not be questioned about what He doeth. He is verily the Almighty, the All-Powerful. When He saith “I am but a servant,” He thereby educateth the manifestations of servitude, and likewise observe regarding the station of the Bab and beyond that, until it culminateth in “I am God, the Sovereign, the Just, the Wise.”

The relation of all these stations to His exalted Self is equal. Nay, shouldst thou observe with the eye of God, thou wouldst witness them all as creation within His dominion, appearing through His prevailing, mighty, and wise command. Ponder thou upon this Tablet, and when thou attainest unto what is treasured therein, arise and give glad tidings unto the servants, that perchance they may arise from slumber and be numbered among those possessed of true knowledge.

O Khalil! When the appointed time of concealment was fulfilled, We unveiled from the Most Hidden Mystery, veiled by mystery, unto pure truth, a secret less than can be numbered. Thereupon the Manifestations of Names were thunderstruck, and all who are in the heavens and earth were terrified, save those whose hearts were assured by the lights of God and whose eyes were opened by the light of certitude.

If it be your wish, O people, to know God and to discover the greatness of His might, look, then, upon Me with Mine own eyes, and not with the eyes of anyone besides Me. Ye will, otherwise, be never capable of recognizing Me, though ye ponder My Cause as long as My Kingdom endureth, and meditate upon all created things throughout the eternity of God, the Sovereign Lord of all, the Omnipotent, the Ever-Abiding, the All-Wise. Thus have We manifested the truth of Our Revelation, that haply the people may be roused from their heedlessness, and be of them that understand.

Behold the low estate of these men who know full well how I have offered up Mine own Self and My kindred in the path of God and for the preservation of their faith in Him, who are well aware how Mine enemies have compassed Me about, in the days when the hearts of men feared and trembled, the days when they hid themselves from the eyes of the loved ones of God and of His enemies, and were busied in ensuring their own security and peace.

We eventually succeeded in manifesting the Cause of God, and exalted it to so eminent a position that all the people, except those who cherished ill-will in their hearts against this Youth and joined partners with the Almighty, acknowledged the sovereignty of God and His mighty dominion. And yet, notwithstanding this Revelation whose influence hath pervaded all created things, and despite the brightness of this Light, the like of which none of them hath ever beheld, witness how the people of the Bayán have denied and contended with Me. Some have turned away from the Path of God, rejected the authority of Him in Whom they had believed, and acted insolently towards God, the Most Powerful, the Supreme Protector, the Most Exalted, the Most Great.

Others hesitated and halted in His Path, and regarded the Cause of the Creator, in its inmost truth, as invalid unless substantiated by the approval of him who was created through the operation of My Will. Thus have their works come to naught, and yet they failed to perceive it. Among them is he who sought to measure God with the measure of his own self, and was so misled by the names of God as to rise up against Me, who condemned Me as one that deserved to be put to death, and who imputed to Me the very offenses of which he himself was guilty.

Wherefore, do I plead My grief and My sorrow to Him Who created Me and entrusted Me with His Message. Unto Him do I render thanks and praise for the things He hath ordained, for My loneliness, and the anguish I suffer at the hands of these men who have strayed so far from Him. I have patiently sustained, and will continue to sustain, the tribulation that touched Me, and will put My whole trust and confidence in God. Him will I supplicate saying: Guide Thy servants, O My Lord, unto the court of Thy favor and bounty, and suffer them not to be deprived of the wonders of Thy grace and of Thy manifold blessings. For they know not what Thou hast ordained for them by virtue of Thy mercy that encompasseth the whole of creation. Outwardly, O Lord, they are weak and helpless; inwardly they are but orphans. Thou art the All-Bountiful, the Munificent, the Most Exalted, the Most Great. Cast not, O My God, the fury of Thy wrath upon them, and cause them to tarry until such time when the wonders of Thy mercy will have been made manifest, that haply they may return unto Thee, and ask forgiveness of Thee for the things they have committed against Thee. Verily, Thou art the Forgiving, the All-Merciful.

And thou, O Khalil, remember My loneliness and My exile, then My imprisonment and My trials, and be of them that remember. Then mention this to the people purely for the sake of God, that through thee may be quickened the hearts of those who have died from the severity of the Cause and are numbered among the dead. Thus have We commanded thee and conveyed unto thee a clear message. And the glory be upon thee and upon those who are with thee in the Cause of God, the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

BH00638: O friend! God willing, may you remain protected…

He is God, the Most Holy, the Most Pure!

O friend! God willing, may you remain protected from the fire of opposition of the Nimrod-like manifestations, and in all ages be engaged in praising the Truth. Say: The Cause of God is more manifest than to need proof or evidence, for in all times and ages there hath appeared that which transcendeth human capacity. Therefore, the excuse of those who hesitate is unacceptable before God. Were people to adorn themselves with fairness, all would acknowledge that the divine testimony and proof of the All-Glorious, the Self-Subsisting, hath appeared in its essence. How many were the souls who witnessed with their own eyes extraordinary events and divine manifestations, their tongues uttering praise of the All-Merciful Beauty to such extent that they composed countless poems in His praise.

Yet they became so veiled by that which hath never been deemed to exist in God’s sight that they denied it all, and now they wander in the wilderness of error and traverse the desert of heedlessness and ignorance, to such degree that they have become oblivious to all they had witnessed with their own eyes and perceived with their own hearts. Thus hath it ever been and ever shall be. Even if the Truth should at all times appear with clear and manifest proof, the idolaters would derive no benefit therefrom. Just as in every age they demanded miracles and extraordinary signs from the Manifestations of God Himself, and whenever these appeared, the opposition of the deniers and the fire of hatred grew fiercer and more intense.

As ye have heard, I swear by the peerless God that not a single atom moveth in the heavens and earth save by His leave and will. He knoweth what is hidden and concealed in the hearts of His servants, and is able to subdue the earth and all who dwell therein with a single word. However, were such matters to be manifested, all would acknowledge them willingly or unwillingly, yet such acknowledgment would have no value. Therefore, at times the divine manifestations of power are revealed and apparent, and at times concealed and hidden. In their revelation, they draw the people of attainment to the heaven of witnessing, and in their concealment, they distinguish between those of certainty and those of doubt.

Thus was it witnessed how people slipped from the path of God’s Cause when the winds of trials blew, though in all divine tablets mention had been made of severe days to come. It was clear and evident that a great tribulation would surely appear. This was announced only that people might be informed and prepared, that perchance they would not be disturbed when trials appeared, but would ascend with complete assurance to the heaven of the All-Merciful and walk in the paradise of certitude. Nevertheless, some remained veiled and others became disturbed and shaken, except those divine souls who were planted by God’s hand in the paradise of certitude and were given to drink from the living waters. These are the children of the spirit on earth and God’s trustees in all lands. God created them from the lights of the Throne, and He verily is the Ancient Bestower.

Say: O loved ones of God! Strive ye to drink from the cup of faith in the name of the All-Merciful during the days of trials, for what is beloved is that people should turn toward the realm of divine oneness during severe times. Otherwise, when the winds of might blow from the direction of God’s power, all will enter the shore of faith and claim certitude. However, this faith and certitude are contingent upon another trial, until such time and such an age when it shall be made manifest, for the cause of this faith has been outward means rather than divine attractions. We beseech God to assist those who have believed, to make them steadfast in His love, and to nourish them from the fruits of the holy tree, which whosoever partakes thereof, nothing in the heavens and earth shall cause him to grieve.

Say: O servants! Hearken unto the counsels of this Prisoner, which He imparteth purely for the sake of God. Fear not for your lives in the path of the Beloved, and be not dismayed by the manifestations of oppression and tyranny. By the Most Great Luminary! None of the peoples of the earth hath or shall have dominion over those who are assured of God, save over their outward bodies, and they have not and shall never have authority in the realms of the spirit.

And were the idolaters to reflect, even in some slight measure, they would never lay hands upon the Temples of Oneness. For the intent of the deniers, in what they commit, hath been—and ever will be—the abasement of those assured souls. Yet did they but know that within the martyrdom of such souls are concealed lives everlasting, and that in their humiliation for the sake of the All-Merciful there lieth enfolded the kingdom of glory, they would not dare to assail them. The ascent of spirits from their bodies shall, in every case, come to pass—whether by outward maladies or by instruments of war. Blessed, then, are those who, in the path of the Friend, lay down their lives and hasten unto the Most Exalted Companion.

O friends of the True One! Deem not this peerless bounty a small thing, nor be ye troubled when the winds of trial blow. And should any soul be vouchsafed martyrdom, let him count it a precious gain; for this sovereignty that shall never pass away is not granted to every ignorant one, nor shall it fall to the lot of every blind soul. This cup is the portion of the longing ones, and this wine is for the lovers; the hypocrites have been, and shall ever be, deprived thereof.

O Khalil! In all the Tablets of constancy wherein mention hath been made of grievous days, We have counseled all servants with compassionate exhortations that none should molest anyone, and no soul should contend with another. The decree of killing hath been entirely forbidden in the wondrous Tablets. Nevertheless, that which happened hath happened. Say: O servants of God! Defile not the good earth with the blood of idolatrous souls. The victory of truth hath been through goodly counsels and wise exhortations, not through conflict and contention. Hearken unto the counsels of the Most Exalted Pen and transgress not the command of God. In this Revelation, corruption hath been entirely forbidden, and the purpose hath been and shall be the reformation of the earth and the unity of its peoples. By the Sun of the horizon of sanctification! If My loved ones are slain, it is more beloved to this Servant than the shedding of anyone’s blood. Say: O friends! Be not content with harm to any animal, much less to humans. God hath ever commanded and decreed that which is for the good of mankind. If they turn unto God’s guidance, this good shall return unto those accepting souls, otherwise thy Lord is indeed independent of all worlds.

He maketh mention, moreover, of Jinab-i-Niyaz. Should you meet with him, say that whatsoever hath been manifested sufficeth all existence. Several times have We revealed Ourself unto you, both in sleep and in wakefulness, including once when you were walking upon the mountain. Reflect a little, that perchance you may become aware of that which transpired. After you have turned unto Him and attained certitude, the grace of God shall encompass you. Soon shall the commander and the commanded fall silent, and God shall aid you through the truth if ye be of them that are assured of Him. Verily, He is nigh unto them that do good.

It behooveth you in these days to arise in service to the Cause of God. Consider the diverse peoples, how they are all deprived from the shores of divine unity, inasmuch as they have found the Manifestation of Truth to be contrary to their vain imaginings. Thus do they all still wait, even though He Whom they await hath appeared like unto the sun from the horizon of divine unity.

In these times, remain not veiled from the manifestation of two Names in a single Temple, and account all else as non-existent. The springtime hath appeared and the beauty of the rose is unveiled and manifest. O nightingale! Cease not thy melody, for this is thy time and thy day, as none but thee hath such a share of the beauty of the rose. Sing and warble in this Garden as thou pleasest, and be not of them that are silent.

It would be a pity if you, who for years have been known and remembered by the name of Truth, should today remain veiled from the Truth. Finally, it is said: O Khalil, sacrifice the servant of the Bayan in the path of the All-Merciful, and fear not the hosts of Satan—that is, dedicate thy wisdom and utterance to the promotion of the Cause of the All-Merciful. The loved ones of God must, one and all, be distinguished from all who dwell on earth by their words and deeds, such that truthfulness may be evident from their words and the sweet fragrances of holiness may waft from their deeds. The Spirit be upon thee and upon thy brethren, then upon those whom divine guidance hath preceded from God, the Almighty, the Mighty, the Bountiful.

BH00647: Lawh-i-Pisar-’Amm (Tablet to the Cousin)

In the Name of the One Beloved Friend

O son of My uncle! Give thanks unto God that this supreme kinship was not severed, and that thou didst outstrip all others among the kindred until thou wert blessed to attain the presence of the Ancient Beauty in the Most Great Prison. Consider this favor as a priceless treasure, for naught that hath been created in earth or heaven can compare with it. By the might and power of the All-Merciful, and by divine leave and permission, return to thy homeland and be occupied with the remembrance of the Friend. Thou must conduct thyself in such wise that all the inhabitants of thy land may inhale from thee the fragrance of the garment of the Chosen One. Preserve thy kinship and keep it safe in the vessel of trust in God, detachment, truthfulness and purity.

Manifest among all people such divine qualities that all may witness in thee that which is beloved in the sight of God. Be not grieved by the world and its transient affairs, for these have never endured and never shall endure, and the honored servants pay no heed to that which is destined to perish. How many were the mighty who were suddenly afflicted with abasement, and how many were the wealthy who returned to poverty. Therefore, seek thou that which no abasement shall follow its glory, and no poverty shall overtake its wealth. By My life! It is none other than holding fast to My Name and clinging to the hem of My sacred and luminous Robe. Convey My greetings to all the loved ones of God, be they kindred or otherwise.

And if thou shouldst meet Jinab-i-Ism, convey to him My greetings and say:

“Why hast thou withheld thyself from Him for Whose sake the Concourse on High would sacrifice their souls, and through Whom the eyes of them that are nigh unto God were solaced?”

What hath befallen you that ye are observed in such fear and trepidation? Reflect upon the state of that Soul Who was raised up by the Holy Spirit and Who, alone and single-handed, turned with the divine Tablet to the appointed place, and with utmost power and assurance proclaimed the messages of the All-Merciful, never disturbed by might or wrath. Dost thou fear for thyself or for that which thou possessest? Hearken unto My call from the direction of tribulation and withhold not thyself from that which hath been ordained in the Kingdom of eternity. Turn with thy whole being unto God and fear not those who have wronged, and if thou desirest to preserve thy life, beseech God, thy Lord. Verily, He will protect thee even if thou be in the depths of the ocean, or in the valleys of fire, or in the mouth of the crocodile, or amidst the swords of the oppressors. By God, the Truth! Not a leaf stirreth save by His leave, nor do the winds blow except by His will, nor doth any soul draw breath save through His aid. Cast aside thy vain imaginings and hold fast unto thy Lord, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

We counsel thee purely for the sake of thy Lord, for We desire not that thy connection to God, the Mighty, the Wise, be severed. Remember when thou wast in prison and God aided thee with the truth and protected thee with the hosts of the seen and the unseen until He delivered thee by His power and made thee to be among those who rejoice. We were with thee in prison and found from thee the fragrance of devotion to a degree; therefore We delivered thee as We delivered whom We wished when he was in the hands of the heedless. Ponder what We have imparted unto thee that thou mayest be awakened by My remembrance and recall thy Lord’s favor among His servants. He, verily, is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Be thou in such wise that neither wealth divert thee from thy ultimate end nor means from the Cause of all causes.

Hearken unto the words of one who loveth thee and desireth for thee what he desireth for himself. Cast away the world entire and take what thou hast been given from the presence of One mighty and powerful. Art thou content with this transient life, having forsaken the eternal life? By My life! This beseemeth thee not, wert thou of them that know. Would that I could sacrifice myself again and again in the love of God, and that at every moment every land might be dyed with my blood in the path of God, thy Lord and the Lord of all the worlds. Finally, why dost thou not reflect? The days have passed and life hath reached its end.

Now judge thou fairly: is it better that at the end of one’s days one should give up one’s soul on a bed, suffering from illness and severe pain, or that in these few remaining days of life one should sacrifice oneself in the path of God? I swear by the Ancient Beauty that the former is loss while the latter is spirit and fragrance. What regret and remorse that one should not sacrifice these few borrowed breaths remaining of life in the path of the Friend, but rather should surrender them on the bed of heedlessness after drinking repugnant and foul medicines. Tell Me truthfully which of these two is more worthy? Say: The first course, by my Lord, the Most Exalted, the Possessor of the Throne and of the dust.

The point is that the loved ones of God should not be disturbed and fearful, but rather should consider martyrdom in the path of the Friend a mighty achievement if it should occur, not that they should cast themselves into danger, for in this Revelation, all are enjoined to act with wisdom. Hear the call of the Wronged One Who, in the extremity of tribulation, sorrow and grief, summoneth thee unto God. All are commanded to observe wisdom. Detach thyself from the world and its peoples, and take shelter beneath the shadow of His mercy. Know thou, moreover, that one hath appeared before the Presence and claimed that he had seen thee, saying that thou hadst declared: “We shall no longer send thee any Tablet.”

Thereupon did the eye of My loving-kindness weep for thee. By Him Who hath caused Me to voice His praise between earth and heaven! Hadst thou but sensed the fragrance of the Divine Garment and perused but one of the Tablets of thy Lord which We sent unto thee, thou wouldst have sacrificed thy life and all thou dost possess for but a single word thereof, and wouldst have been content to be slain a thousand times in every moment rather than be deprived of the sweet fragrances of the Ancient of Days and the breezes of God wafting from the direction of His Most Great Name.

I know not by what thing thou hast been kept back from this most bountiful favor, and hast remained encompassed by doubts and idle fancies. Make thou amends, O my brother, for that which hath escaped thee, and turn unto the Qiblih of all worlds, saying:

“I have turned with my whole being unto Thee, O Creator of the heavens and earth! Pardon me for my heedlessness concerning Thee. Verily Thou art the Lord of all worlds.”

Beware lest pride keep thee back from the Lord of all creation. Cast away idle fancy and take fast hold of thy Lord, the Most Glorious. This is better for thee, and God is witness to what I say.

And to the other people of the village, whomsoever thou findest turning unto God, make mention of them on God’s behalf and say: Be not grieved at what hath befallen you, for worse than this hath been inflicted upon the Ancient Beauty, Who is now confined in the Most Great Prison, where conditions are so severe that they have blocked both entry and exit. Yet we are engaged in remembrance of the All-Merciful with utmost joy and fragrance. Be not saddened by what hath been plundered, for soon will all who dwell on earth make mention of you. The reward of no soul hath been, nor ever shall be, lost. Whatsoever worldly ornaments have been taken from you in His path, He will surely compensate you for them in this world, and in the next life will bestow stations such that were but one of them to be revealed to the peoples of the earth, they would sacrifice themselves in the path of the Beloved, hoping to attain that most exalted station.

Hearken unto the testament of the Ancient Beauty, Who calleth unto you from the direction of the Most Great Prison: Abandon sedition and rebellion, and hold fast unto righteousness. Sanctify your souls from satanic deeds and adorn them with divine attributes. Corruption and contention have never been, nor shall ever be, worthy of the people of truth. Shun reprehensible acts and walk in the paths of sanctity, submission and contentment. Strive that divine qualities and attributes may be made manifest from you, and walk among mankind with perfect detachment and tranquility. Deal with one another with the utmost justice and equity. Transform treachery into trustworthiness, backbiting into self-purification, tyranny into justice, and heedlessness into remembrance. This is the counsel of the All-Merciful that hath been revealed from the mouth of divine Will.

Strive that through divine assistance, what hath been ordained in the Kingdom of destiny may not be altered or changed by reprehensible deeds. At all times, implore and beseech the Goal of all creation that He may not deprive you of His grace and favor, and that He may grant you shelter beneath the Tree of affirmation and the Sadrih of names and attributes. And peace be upon you from God, your Ancient Lord, and praise be to God, the Most High, the Most Great.

BH00681: The Most Exalted Pen makes mention of His friends…

The Most Exalted Pen makes mention of His friends and calls them all to the straight path. Today the straight path is manifest and the hidden mystery that was forever concealed in the divine treasuries of infallibility is now evident. Blessed are they whom the outward circumstances of the world and its ornaments have not deprived of the Most Exalted Horizon. The waves of the ocean of the All-Merciful’s utterance have reached their highest surge, and the horizon of the world is illumined and radiant with the lights of the Greatest Luminary, yet the various sects and heedless souls remain deprived and forbidden. Those servants who considered themselves the most exalted, most excellent and most learned of all creation, on the Day of Manifestation prevented people from turning to the Truth and encouraged them to turn away. These are the ones who, throughout all ages and centuries, have done to the Manifestations of God’s Cause and the Dawning Places of His Divine Revelation that which caused grief and sorrow to the world. By God’s life! Had the Sources of Divine commandments not been saddened, you would have beheld all the world rejoicing. From the sorrow of those holy souls, the fire of grief was kindled in the world and the light of joy was veiled.

O Allah-Virdi! The Wronged One of the horizons mentions thee from this Most Great Prison, and likewise His loved ones—those souls who have drunk from the sealed wine in the name of the Self-Subsisting God and who are gazing toward and are turned to the Most Exalted Horizon. All must recognize the worth of this most exalted station and supreme rank, and must occupy themselves with the praise and glorification of the Peerless Beloved. They must hold fast to the cord of unity and cleave to the hem of concord, for through unity the light of the Cause will encompass the horizons and illumine hearts. Today the springtime of utterance hath made the world fresh and adorned, and the true door of inner meanings hath been opened in the name of the Divine…. All things and the Concourse on High speak in remembrance of the Lord of Names and make mention of His praise. Today every secret is made manifest and every hidden thing is revealed. The loved ones of God must arise with the utmost endeavor and striving to exalt the Word of God—an arising that neither the calumnies of the world nor the doubts of the nations can prevent.

We previously informed all of the braying of the brayerers who will soon pass through that land. These are the manifestations of Satan who, with the utmost cunning, deception, and outward humility and submissiveness, prevent the servants from the Dawning Place of the Light of Oneness. All must drink from the Kawthar of steadfastness and from the cup of assurance in such wise that the braying of the brayerers will not affect them. Hearken unto the call of the Wronged One and hold fast to that which hath been sent down from the Supreme Pen. Verily, He sufficeth you, by the Lord of all the worlds.

We counsel all to such deeds as will guide humanity and to such character as will deliver the servants from the wilderness of error. Religion is as a lamp, and trustworthiness is as a kind companion, and truthfulness is as a garment for the temple of man. The doer is known by his deeds, not his words. Deeds are as a mirror that telleth the story of the doers. Acceptable deeds are clearly distinguished from those that are rejected. Some, with perfect adornment, consider themselves superior to all creation, though they are not worthy of mention—they are as a straw before the fierce winds of self and passion, which carry them wheresoever they list. From the beginning of days until now, We have mentioned the servants with clear utterance, imparted the Word and shown the Way, and commanded that which leads to success and prosperity. Blessed are they whose evil deeds have not prevented them from good and pure deeds. Hearken unto the voice of the Wronged One, and beseech God to protect you from the hosts of self and passion, and to aid you in that which befits His days.

Muhammad and Muhammad attained the Most Holy Court and achieved that which was recorded and inscribed in the divine Books. The first Muhammad twice partook of the cup of reunion, and the second once. Their reward is with God, their Creator. Every pure deed is a treasure for its doer with God, exalted be His glory. Blessed is he who has attained, and woe unto the heedless.

They mentioned the friends of that land, both men and women, and each has been blessed by God’s favors. Some have sought permission for attainment of His presence. In these days this is not permitted, as the transgressors and idolaters lie in wait. However, for every soul who is today enkindled with the fire of divine love and stands firm on the path of His Cause, the Supreme Pen records for them, should God will and desire, the reward of attainment. O people of God! Strive that ye may achieve that which befits this most great bounty.

From this station We send Our greetings upon you and upon those who have testified to that which the Tongue of Grandeur spoke before the creation of the heavens and earth. These are indeed among the triumphant in God’s Book, the Lord of the worlds. They who have acted according to what God has revealed—these are the successful ones. And they who have held fast to the Book when it was sent down in truth—these are the near ones. O people of God! Take hold of God’s Book with the strength that comes from Him, then act according to what is revealed therein. Verily your Lord, the All-Merciful, hears and sees, and He is the Truth, the Knower of the unseen.

O My Most Exalted Pen! Make mention of him who turned to the Most Glorious Horizon, who arose to serve his Lord, attained His presence, and drank the choice wine of life from the hands of His bounty. He was named Varqa in the Book of Names. We beseech God, the Lord of the Throne and earth, to strengthen him, draw him nigh unto Him, and ordain for him what He has ordained for His chosen ones who were not frightened by hosts and multitudes. O Varqa! Hear the call of thy Lord, then remind the people of what has been sent down from God, the Lord of existence. Let not the affairs of men grieve thee. Set aside what the people possess and hold fast to the Book of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Loving. He has remembered thee at this hour and adorned thy temple with the ornament of grace. Be thankful and say: Praise be to Thee, O Thou the Goal of the world, and all glory be to Thee, O Thou the Beloved of all that was and shall be.

We make mention of Alif and Ha [Ahmad] who turned to the Countenance on a day wherein trembling seized the inhabitants of earth and the tribes wailed out of fear of God, the Lord of this promised Day. O Ahmad! Rejoice in My remembrance of thee, then thank thy Lord. We have remembered thee with that which nothing in all creation can equal, as attesteth He with Whom is the Preserved Tablet. O Ahmad! Thank God for having enabled thee and thy sons to recognize the Dawning-Place of His verses, the Dayspring of His Cause, and the Manifestation of His Self, Whose appearance was heralded in God’s Books of the past and future, and beyond them the Tongue of Grandeur in this praiseworthy station. The splendor shining from the horizon of the heaven of My mercy be upon you, O My loved ones, and upon you, O My handmaidens, and upon every servant who has attained and every maidservant who has turned to and believed in God, the Sovereign, the Self-Subsisting.

O my God and my Lord! Thou seest Thy servants turning unto Thee, acknowledging Thy oneness and Thy singleness, and confessing that which Thou hast sent down unto them from the heaven of Thy Will and the clouds of Thy Purpose. I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which all created things appeared and all contingent beings emerged, and through which the breezes of Thy bounty wafted over Thy creation and the streams of Thy mercy flowed amongst Thy servants, to aid them to remain steadfast in Thy Cause. Then inscribe, through Thy Most Exalted Pen, for the people of Sin and Ya and their surroundings that which will draw them nigh unto Thee, O Lord of Names and Creator of Heaven.

Then ordain for those who have lamented in their separation from Thee and cried out for reunion with Thee the recompense of meeting Thee. Verily, Thou art the Almighty Whom the conditions of the world cannot frustrate. Strengthen the limbs of Thy loved ones to serve Thee. Thou art He to Whose power every possessor of a tongue hath testified, and to Whose sovereignty every person of grandeur hath confessed. Thou doest what Thou willest by Thy command, and decreest what Thou desirest by Thy will. There is none other God but Thee, the Omnipotent over what Thou willest. Within Thy grasp are the reins of all who are in the heavens and on earth.

BH00687: Qad Ihtaraqa’l-Mukhlisun (The Fire Tablet)

In His Name—the Joyous, the Sorrowing

O Mahdi! Behold, from the horizon of the Beginning, the lights of the Countenance of thy Lord, the Most High, the All-Glorious; then give ear unto the call of this Most Exalted Pen: “There is none other God but Me, the All-Powerful, the Self-Subsisting.” Cast off the garments of sorrow, assured of the bounty of thy Lord, the All-Merciful; then appear with such attraction that hearts and minds shall be drawn thereby. Be thou in such a state that the fire of God may be kindled through thee in all besides Him. Such beseemeth thy relation unto God, the Sovereign of the unseen and the seen. Be thou the dayspring of the joy of thy Lord, and the manifest sign of that gladness upon which no grief can intrude. Busy not thyself with that which maketh thee sorrowful, but with that which causeth thee to soar in the atmosphere of rejoicing. If thy sorrow should wax grievous, ponder thou what hath befallen this Wronged One. Be thou so confident of the care of thy Lord that from the horizon of thy heart the Sun of tranquillity may arise. This behoveth thee—by My fixed and irrevocable resolve.

The letter of the Mim hath been brought into Our presence, and We have learned what it containeth of the remembrance of God, the Mighty, the Well-Beloved. Blessed is he, in that he remained steadfast in the Cause and arose in the love of his Lord, after all the rejected idolaters had turned away from him. Verily, though We should send unto him the Robe, once again and yet again—thy Lord is, indeed, the Mighty, the Forgiving—that he might be enkindled by the warmth of the utterance of thy Lord with such intensity that the coldness of those who have been heedless of the remembrance of their Lord and have followed vain imaginings and conjectures may not chill him. We beseech God to strengthen him in all conditions, and to inspire him with that whereby hearts are illumined. That which was mentioned concerning My servant, and that which hath befallen him in My path—We were with him when the idolaters rose up against him. Say: Grieve not at this, for thou hast followed the example of thy Lord when the oppressors encompassed Him. He hath drunk of what thou hast drunk. Blessed am I and blessed is he—for, by My life, this is sealed wine.

All that cometh upon Us in the path of God—verily it is the Best-Beloved, and My Name, resplendent, upon whatsoever hath been and shall be. If it be sickness, it is healing; if it be poison, it is an antidote; and if it be death, it is life. Yet the people understand not. Were We to will, We could seize the forelock of every oppressor; but We have left them for a few days unto an appointed time. We shall assuredly lay hold on those who have wronged him. Thy Lord is witness to what they do. They have done what none did of those servants who aforetime transgressed against God—yet they shall be the losers. There hath been revealed for the wicked one, from thy Lord the Severe, that which befitteth him; but We have not yet sent it unto him. Soon shall he behold the might of his Lord and find himself in the lowest depths of hell. Of this hath mention been made in his letter—upon him be the glory of God, the King, the Mighty, the All-Beautiful.

We have sent unto him that which will rejoice his heart and cause him to arise for the succour of this Stranger. Blessed are My loved ones in those parts who have been faithful to the Covenant and Testament of God and have stood fast in this mighty Cause.

O Ismi Mahdi! There hath come into the presence of the Countenance that which the son of thy brother hath composed in praise of his Lord, and We have discerned therein longing and yearning; and We have sent down for him that whereby ardour and burning love may be kindled for God, the Lord of the Day of Severance. Blessed is he that readeth and pondereth that which hath been revealed from God, the Almighty, the All-Powerful.

In the Name of God, the Most Ancient, the Most Great.

Indeed the hearts of the sincere are consumed in the fire of separation: Where is the gleaming of the light of Thy Countenance, O Beloved of the worlds?

Those who are near unto Thee have been abandoned in the darkness of desolation: Where is the shining of the morn of Thy reunion, O Desire of the worlds?

The bodies of Thy chosen ones lie quivering on distant sands: Where is the ocean of Thy presence, O Enchanter of the worlds?

Longing hands are uplifted to the heaven of Thy grace and generosity: Where are the rains of Thy bestowal, O Answerer of the worlds?

The infidels have arisen in tyranny on every hand: Where is the compelling power of Thine ordaining pen, O Conqueror of the worlds?

The barking of dogs is loud on every side: Where is the lion of the forest of Thy might, O Chastiser of the worlds?

Coldness hath gripped all mankind: Where is the warmth of Thy love, O Fire of the worlds?

Calamity hath reached its height: Where are the signs of Thy succor, O Salvation of the worlds?

Darkness hath enveloped most of the peoples: Where is the brightness of Thy splendor, O Radiance of the worlds?

The necks of men are stretched out in malice: Where are the swords of Thy vengeance, O Destroyer of the worlds?

Abasement hath reached its lowest depth: Where are the emblems of Thy glory, O Glory of the worlds?

Sorrows have afflicted the Revealer of Thy Name, the All-Merciful: Where is the joy of the Dayspring of Thy Revelation, O Delight of the worlds?

Anguish hath befallen all the peoples of the earth: Where are the ensigns of Thy gladness, O Joy of the worlds?

Thou seest the Dawning Place of Thy signs veiled by evil suggestions: Where are the fingers of Thy might, O Power of the worlds?

Sore thirst hath overcome all men: Where is the river of Thy bounty, O Mercy of the worlds?

Greed hath made captive all mankind: Where are the embodiments of detachment, O Lord of the worlds?

Thou seest this Wronged One lonely in exile: Where are the hosts of the heaven of Thy Command, O Sovereign of the worlds?

I have been forsaken in a foreign land: Where are the emblems of Thy faithfulness, O Trust of the worlds?

The agonies of death have laid hold on all men: Where is the surging of Thine ocean of eternal life, O Life of the worlds?

The whisperings of Satan have been breathed to every creature: Where is the meteor of Thy fire, O Light of the worlds?

The drunkenness of passion hath perverted most of mankind: Where are the daysprings of purity, O Desire of the worlds?

Thou seest this Wronged One veiled in tyranny among the Syrians: Where is the radiance of Thy dawning light, O Light of the worlds?

Thou seest Me forbidden to speak forth: Then from where will spring Thy melodies, O Nightingale of the worlds?

Most of the people are enwrapped in fancy and idle imaginings: Where are the exponents of Thy certitude, O Assurance of the worlds?

Baha drowning in a sea of tribulation: Where is the Ark of Thy salvation, O Savior of the worlds?

Thou seest the Dayspring of Thine utterance in the darkness of creation: Where is the sun of the heaven of Thy grace, O Lightgiver of the worlds?

The lamps of truth and purity, of loyalty and honor, have been put out: Where are the signs of Thine avenging wrath, O Mover of the worlds?

Canst Thou see any who have championed Thy Self, or who ponder on what hath befallen Him in the pathway of Thy love? Now doth My pen halt, O Beloved of the worlds?

The branches of the Divine Lote-Tree lie broken by the onrushing gales of destiny: Where are the banners of Thy succor, O Champion of the worlds?

This Face is hidden in the dust of slander: Where are the breezes of Thy compassion, O Mercy of the worlds?

The robe of sanctity is sullied by the people of deceit: Where is the vesture of Thy holiness, O Adorner of the worlds?

The sea of grace is stilled for what the hands of men have wrought: Where are the waves of Thy bounty, O Desire of the worlds?

The door leading to the Divine Presence is locked through the tyranny of Thy foes: Where is the key of Thy bestowal, O Unlocker of the worlds?

The leaves are yellowed by the poisoning winds of sedition: Where is the downpour of the clouds of Thy bounty, O Giver of the worlds?

The universe is darkened with the dust of sin: Where are the breezes of Thy forgiveness, O Forgiver of the worlds?

This Youth is lonely in a desolate land: Where is the rain of Thy heavenly grace, O Bestower of the worlds?

O Supreme Pen, We have heard Thy most sweet call in the eternal realm: Give Thou ear unto what the Tongue of Grandeur uttereth, O Wronged One of the worlds?

Were it not for the cold, how would the heat of Thy words prevail, O Expounder of the worlds?

Were it not for calamity, how would the sun of Thy patience shine, O Light of the worlds?

Lament not because of the wicked. Thou wert created to bear and endure, O Patience of the worlds.

How sweet was Thy dawning on the horizon of the Covenant among the stirrers of sedition, and Thy yearning after God, O Love of the worlds.

By Thee the banner of independence was planted on the highest peaks, and the sea of bounty surged, O Rapture of the worlds.

By Thine aloneness the Sun of Oneness shone, and by Thy banishment the land of Unity was adorned. Be patient, O Thou Exile of the worlds.

We have made abasement the garment of glory, and affliction the adornment of Thy temple, O Pride of the worlds.

Thou seest the hearts are filled with hate, and to overlook is Thine, O Thou Concealer of the sins of the worlds.

When the swords flash, go forward! When the shafts fly, press onward! O Thou Sacrifice of the worlds.

Dost Thou wail, or shall I wail? Rather shall I weep at the fewness of Thy champions, O Thou Who hast caused the wailing of the worlds.

Verily, I have heard Thy call, O All-Glorious Beloved; and now is the face of Baha flaming with the heat of tribulation and with the fire of Thy shining word, and He hath risen up in faithfulness at the place of sacrifice, looking toward Thy pleasure, O Ordainer of the worlds.

O ʿAli-Akbar, thank thy Lord for this Tablet whence thou canst breathe the fragrances of My meekness, and know what hath beset Us in the path of God, the Adored of all the worlds.

Should all the servants read and ponder this, there shall be kindled in their veins a fire that shall set aflame the worlds.

BH00739: Lawh-i-Sahab (Tablet of the Cloud)

The Tablet of the Cloud, revealed by God, the Lord of all men

In the Name of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise

This is a Book from the All-Merciful to those who have turned towards the Qiblih of all who are in the heavens and on earth, that the verses of God may gladden them, draw them to the horizon of Revelation, and bring them near to the station wherein all things proclaim: “There is none other God but I, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.” Arise to serve the Cause through God’s might and power. Say: O people of the Bayan! Remember the favor of God unto you when ye were on the brink of the abyss of forgetfulness, and He sent down to you from the heaven of exposition that which taught you this clear and straight Path.

O Ancient Pen! Make mention in the Tablet of that which may bring joy to the hearts of the sincere ones and assure every person of insight that I am, verily, powerful over whatsoever I desire. None on earth can prevent Me from that which I will, and I am the Mighty, the Wise. Say: The idolaters have violated God’s covenant and His testament, and have imprisoned Us with manifest injustice. When We arrived, We desired to convey unto the kings the messages of God, the Mighty, the Great, the Supreme. Among them was the King of Persia, to whom We unveiled the beauty of the Cause and made Ourselves known, after We had chosen one from among the distinguished ones, breathed into his heart the spirit of might and power, and sent him unto him like a ball of fire with a Tablet from thy Lord, the Mighty, the Powerful. Therein We explained what his hands had wrought and what the King of Rome had perpetrated, that they might know that tribulation would never prevent the Glory (Baha) from what the Lord of Names had willed, and that the might of those who had denied God, the Mighty, the Praised, would never frighten Us.

Thereby did We sound the trumpet of might once again, whereat every stubborn tyrant was shaken. Therein We sent down such counsels and admonitions as would awaken the hearts of those who slumber. We have revealed therein a clear explanation of every matter. Blessed is he who readeth it and pondereth its allusions. By My life! A single word therefrom would suffice all mankind; were it to descend upon the mountains, they would soar with longing toward God, the Mighty, the Beautiful. We desired naught from him save the manifestation of God’s sovereignty and grandeur, the spreading of His Cause, and the demonstration of His independence among His doubting servants. We left therein no excuse for anyone. Read thou and be of the thankful.

Say: O peoples of the earth! Consider how We revealed in the Tablet to your leader that he should gather Us together with the learned men of the age that God’s Cause and His proof might be made manifest unto you. He committed that which caused the dwellers of the Kingdom to lament. After this, to what will ye cling and to whom will ye turn? Be fair and be not of the wrongdoers. Likewise did We desire in Iraq to meet with the divines of Persia. When they heard of it, they fled and said: “This is naught but a manifest sorcerer.” These are words that issued forth from the mouths of their like before, and these people objected to them for what they said, yet today they speak the same words and understand not. By My life! They are like ashes in the sight of thy Lord; when He willeth, tempestuous winds pass over them and render them as dust. Verily, thy Lord is powerful over what He willeth.

Those lands were honored by the advent of their Chosen Lord, and every stone and clod did speak. The forelock of days hath appeared and the Desired One hath come with manifest glory. The land of Hijaz was seized with trembling and stirred by the breeze of reunion, saying:

“O my Lord, the Most High! Praise be unto Thee for having brought me to life through the fragrances of Thy reunion after I had been slain by Thy separation. Blessed is he who hath turned unto Thee, and woe unto the heedless ones.”

Mount Sinai hath been enkindled with the light of the Manifestation, and hath proclaimed:

“I have inhaled the fragrance of Thee, O Thou Who art the God of all who are in the heavens and on earth!”

This is the land wherein We raised up the Prophets and the Messengers; therein was uplifted the call of the Friend, then of the Speaker, and thereafter of the Son. All proclaimed and gave the glad-tidings unto the servants of this mighty Announcement and of His advent in that very land. Thus was it sent down in the Tablets from the presence of an ancient Lord.

The Tree calleth out:

“O people of the realm below! The Lord of the Kingdom is come and hath mounted the throne, surrounded by His near angels. Abandon churches and mosques; hasten to the Dayspring of Revelation and follow not the imaginings of the heedless. By God! The Dawn of Certitude hath broken. The temples are for His remembrance—He Who is remembered hath come with great sovereignty. Beware lest remembrances hold you back from your Chosen Lord. Cast aside what the people possess, then turn to the Source of inspiration. This is better for you, did ye but know it.”

Arise to make mention of Me. Let not the words of the idolaters deter thee. The tongue was created to mention the All-Merciful. Remind the people, but with wisdom. Thus hath the matter been decreed and inscribed by the Pen of thy Lord’s will, the All-Knowing, the Powerful.

Gather My loved ones and command them from Us to righteousness and piety. Thus art thou commanded by thy Most Glorious Lord, and for thee is today with Us an honoured station.

Those who obstruct the path, consume people’s wealth, and spread corruption in the land—I am quit of them, and God is witness to what I say. By My life! My imprisonment is not My abasement—it is glory for Me. Rather, abasement lies in the deeds of My loved ones who claim attachment to Us yet follow Satan in their actions. They are assuredly among the lost.

When the Cause was fulfilled and the Luminary of the horizons shone forth from the direction of Iraq, We commanded them to that which would sanctify them from all peoples. Some were seized by desire and turned away from what was commanded, while others followed the truth with guidance and were of the guided ones.

Say: Those who commit indecency and cling to the world are not of the people of Baha. The latter are souls who, should they pass through a valley of gold, would pass it by as passing clouds, never turning toward it. They are indeed of Me—the Concourse on High would surely find from their garments the fragrance of sanctity. Thy Lord beareth witness to this, as do those endowed with knowledge of the Book. Were the most beautiful women to appear before them in their finest adornment, their eyes would not turn toward them with desire. These are they who were created from piety. Thus doth the Ancient Pen teach you from your Lord, the Mighty, the Bestower.

O thou who hast turned! Deliver the messages of thy Lord, that perchance people might abandon desire and take up what they are commanded by God, the Cleaver of the Dawn. Say: Waste not God’s Cause among you, and follow not those who have denied God, the Sender of the winds. Aid God with your tongues, for the tongue is the sword of the All-Merciful. Open therewith the cities of hearts. This is the station of man—know this, O ye who are endued with insight.

Say: O concourse of divines! Can any one of you race with the Divine Youth in the arena of wisdom and utterance, or soar with Him to the heaven of inner meanings and explanation? Nay, by My Lord, the All-Merciful! All are struck dumb this day by the Word of thy Lord. They are as dead, not alive, except those whom thy Lord, the Mighty, the Unconstrained, willeth. He, verily, is of those endowed with knowledge in the estimation of the All-Knowing. Upon him shall the denizens of Paradise and the dwellers of the sanctified retreats pray at eventide and at dawn. Can he whose legs are made of wood withstand him whose legs God hath made of iron? Nay, by Him Who illumineth the horizons! They who have violated the Covenant of God and His Testament, these are they whom the breaths of punishment have overtaken. They shall soon behold their habitations in the fire. How wretched the abode of every arrogant oppressor!

Say: O people! Consider the generations that have passed before you. We sent unto them Messengers; they denied the signs of their Lord. We seized them for their sins and left them as a warning unto men of understanding. Where are they who reclined upon cushions of vain glory in their palaces? We have returned them to their graves. Those houses they left to the spider. Take ye warning, O ye who are endowed with discernment! Say: Awaken, O people! The Herald hath cried out in the wilderness of the Bayan, and this is the Day of the great calling. How long will ye slumber on the couch of heedlessness and desire? Arise and turn unto God, and follow not every doubting idolater. We have, aforetime, revealed unto thee clear verses. These, once again, We have sent down as a token of Our grace. We, verily, are the Mighty, the Forgiving. That thou mayest arise to serve God and praise Him at morn and eventide.

Thus have We expounded the verses and sent them unto thee. Thy Lord, verily, is the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

BH00742: He is the Revealer without delay and the Sender…

He is the Revealer without delay and the Sender without hindrance. Never have the eyes of creation witnessed any cessation in the wonders of His bounty, and thus hath His mercy preceded all mankind.

O Nabil! We have sent thee a Tablet, and before it a Book, and before that Sacred Writings, and before that Scriptures, a single letter of which was the most weighty burden between heaven and earth and the mightiest spirit for those in the kingdom of command and creation. Yet We found not from thee the fragrance of true knowledge, and this beseemeth thee not if thou art to be fair in thine own self. Reflect upon that which hath been sent down unto thee from the cloud of mighty mercy. We commanded thee aforetime to cast behind thee all mention, then to contemplate those who have gone before, and to gaze toward the direction of the Cause with the vision of thy Lord, and to be among those who observe what is inscribed in the Mother Book. Purify thyself in such wise that the word of none shall affect thee, nor shall the indication of any indicator trouble thee. Witness with the eye of certitude that which hath been sent down from the heaven of thy Lord’s might, and be illumined with clear vision.

If thou wouldst hear what We have commanded thee, the truth would become manifest unto thee in less than a moment. Thou wouldst witness the dawning of the Sun from the holy horizon, would fall prostrate upon thy face before thy Lord, and wouldst be well-pleased in the religion of God. Therefore, hear My words and forget not God’s favor upon thee, and deprive not thyself of the sacred sanctuary. Then look with primary vision upon that which was revealed unto the Prophets and Messengers, that the Sun of certitude might shine upon thee from a holy and mighty horizon.

Wouldst thou wish to be like those who came before? By My life, this beseemeth thee not! Therefore, take for thyself beneath the shade of thy Lord a station that is faithful to the truth. When the Sun of Words dawneth upon thee from the horizon of the Kawthar of thy Lord’s mercy, be illumined by its light and deprive not thyself of the wondrous bounties. Follow God’s ways and His command—this is My love, shouldst thou turn thy vision to all the Tablets. Thus doth the Tongue of God speak at the time when He was established upon the throne of a mighty name.

Say: The days have dawned from the horizon of this Day, and the mornings have broken forth from this Dayspring which hath been witnessed from the holy horizon. Deprive not thyself of thy portion of the bounty of that Day. Then observe how the Tree of Fire is ignited and illumined upon a spot of light, and all in the kingdom cry out with a mighty and glorious call. When We answered thee before, We withheld not the Pen from thy mention, that perchance thou mightest take for thyself, near the remembrance of thy Lord, a station that was wondrous in truth. If thou payest no heed to what We have sent thee, We shall remind thee until thou art turned from the direction of remoteness and established in a holy station near at hand.

As for those who have denied God’s signs, by what proof did they believe in the Manifestations of the past? Say: Bring forth your proof, O concourse of the earth! Nay, by My life, they have neither proof nor evidence, and to this testify the tongues of all created things, and beyond them thy Lord was witness to that. By God, O Nabil, I speak not from desire. If thou wouldst but purify thy sight, thou wouldst witness that the Spirit speaketh above My head and calleth out in the loudest voice: “By God, this is the Beloved of the mystics!” Woe unto the soul that hath turned away from His beauty and been veiled from the presence of its Lord.

Say: O people of the Bayan! Reflect within yourselves for a moment, then be fair. O people! If you deny God and His signs, then be ashamed within yourselves and harm Him not with the swords of your imaginings, and be God-fearing in His religion. Say: Do you worship names which you have named and taken as lords for yourselves besides God, while you reject Him by Whose word the names and their kingdoms were created, and Who in truth encompasses all the worlds? Fear God and do not act as did the people of the Furqan. Arise from the couches of heedlessness and take the Book of God with hands of submission, then place it upon your heads. By God, this is better for you than all that exists in the kingdom, were you but to know it.

O Nabil! Would that thou hadst been standing before Us and present in the holy court, that thou mightest hear what no ear of creation hath heard, and witness what no eye of invention hath witnessed, and attain unto that which none in all the realm hath attained. But this hath passed thee by due to the distance between us and what hath been ordained in the preserved tablets. Purify thyself from the allusions that have come between thee and the Lord of Names, then drink the cup of submission from this Beauty Who hath dawned from the horizon of glory. Hearken unto the counsel of one who counseleth thee in truth and seeketh from thee neither recompense nor thanks.

Know thou that there hath come upon Me that which hath come upon no one before. The servants who were created by My word have pronounced judgment against Me. Thus do We recount unto thee in truth that thou mayest become aware of that which is veiled from the eyes of every heedless one far removed. Come forth from behind the veils in the name of thy Lord, and stand between the heavens and the earth. Fear no one and trust in all matters in God, thy Lord and the Lord of all the worlds. Then remind the people of what the Spirit hath inspired in thee, and be not silent in the remembrance of thy Lord. Thus hath the Pen of Command counseled thee before and counseleth thee now through grace, out of love for thyself, that thou mayest remain steadfast upon this path.

Say: By God, this is the path of God between the heavens and earth, His Most Great Throne among the servants, His Manifestation to all in the lands, the Expression of His Essence to those in the kingdoms of Command and Creation, and the Dawning-Place of His Being to those in the realm of might and truth. None comprehendeth it save those possessed of penetrating vision. If thou wert to incline thine ear to all things, thou wouldst hear their lamentations at what hath befallen the Manifestation of God’s Self in these days the like of which the eyes of grandeur have never witnessed. Thus hath the matter been decreed by the Pen of Wisdom.

Illumine thy heart, then illumine the hearts of the people that the breezes of detachment may waft from thee upon all things, that thy Lord’s grace unto thee may be perfected and thou mayest attain unto a mighty love. Beware, beware lest thou cast behind thee the melodies of the Spirit or turn unto those who have denied God’s verses after their revelation and who remain veiled behind the veils of their own selves. Taste of the tree and the fruits it hath yielded, and deprive not thyself of what hath been ordained for thee in the realm of exalted glory. By God, none hath any escape save either to deny all the verses or to believe in what hath been sent down in truth from the holy and wondrous clouds. This is thy Lord’s mercy which hath descended through grace—and is there in all creation anything more excellent than this?

Thus doth the Tongue of God bear witness at this moment, if thou be of them that hear. Though We desire not to tarry in mentioning the loved ones of God, yet We desire to make mention according to what is possible, lest they pause regarding that which hath been revealed unto them. Otherwise, by Him Who holdeth my soul in His hand, were We to find in any soul the warmth of the love of God, We would assuredly cast upon it, in number as the raindrops, verses of impregnable glory. Nay, We would send down upon such a one in such wise as none can reckon save God and the Manifestations of His Cause. Thus hath it been sent down at this moment from the finger of thy Lord, the Almighty.

And the Spirit and the Glory and the splendor be upon thee and upon all who are steadfast in the Cause and stand firm in their love.

BH00747: This is what the Tongue of Utterance hath spoken…

This is what the Tongue of Utterance hath spoken: His mention hath been made before the Face, and We have mentioned him in such wise as to cause the ocean of utterance to surge in the kingdom of exposition, and the sweet savors of the mention of the All-Merciful to be wafted among all possibilities. We beseech God to aid him, to make him successful in attaining His good-pleasure, and to ordain for him the reward of those who visit Him in spirit and fragrance. Verily the Pen loveth to make mention of the peoples who have held fast to the hem of the Ancient of Days in these times, the like of which have not been witnessed in the past nor shall be seen in the future. Thy Lord is, verily, the Mighty, the All-Knowing. Blessed is the soul that hath detached itself, turned towards God, and attained the mention of the Most Great One from the Lord of the Beginning and the End. We beseech God to make Us and those who have believed steadfast in His Cause and in acting according to His good-pleasure. This is better for us than all that hath been created in the worlds.

There hath come before the Face a letter from the Noble One, from whom We perceived the fragrance of his love for the Beloved of the worlds. Previously, a glorious letter was sent to him in eloquent Persian which, by My life, causeth the hearts of the lovers to soar and the fire of separation to be stilled. We beseech God to solace his eyes through meeting Him. He, verily, is the Protector of the doers of good. Give him the glad-tidings of My remembrance of him time and again. O My physician! By My life, the breezes of Truth waft at all times from the direction of grace towards the loved ones of God, thy Lord and the Lord of the worlds. Say: Blessed art thou, O Noble One, for thy letter hath come, adorned with the mention of Him through Whom God’s binding Word was made manifest and every wise matter distinguished. We beseech God to make him and those with him successful, and also he whose letter was in his handwriting, and to unite them upon one Word. Verily His mercy hath preceded every small and great one.

Likewise came a letter from “B” before “Q” who attained the presence in the Land of Mystery and was occupied with the verses of his Lord, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. Blessed is he, for We found in his letter pure servitude towards God, the King, the Mighty, the Beautiful. How excellent is the soul that hath adorned its temple with the ornament of servitude. This is truly an exalted station. O Baqir! Grieve not over anything. Trust in God in all matters. He is the Protector of whosoever turneth unto Him, and He is the Protector of those who advance towards Him. Give glad-tidings to the people of “N” of their mention in the court of the Throne. For each one of them hath been written a reward and station which none knoweth save God, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

Then remind him who wept in separation. A letter hath been revealed for him and We sent it with “S”. We beseech God to make him a herald of His Name, steadfast in His love, and one who speaketh His praise among His slumbering servants. O Baqir! Be as thy Lord desireth thee to be, such that everyone possessed of smell may detect from thee the fragrance of holiness. This is My counsel unto thee and My word for thee and for those who have held fast to the hem of the Holy, the Luminous One.

O Baqir! Hearken in Persian: Today it behooveth all to be sanctified and holy to such extent that the fragrances of truth may at all times waft from the people of truth amongst creation. Thy letter hath arrived. Praise the Beloved of the worlds that thou hast attained unto His mention and become assured of His Cause. Convey My greetings unto him who is named Muhammad the Bookbinder and give him the glad-tidings of My remembrance of him. The treasures of the heavens and earth cannot equal it. Blessed is he for having attained the recognition of the Beloved and turned with his heart toward the direction of the Intended One. We beseech God to grant him success, to aid him, and to make him among the steadfast ones.

As to what thou hast asked concerning the Night of Power, say: The Most Great Day hath appeared, and around it hath circled the Night of Power, after We revealed it and adorned it with the ornament of Our mighty and impregnable Name. When it passed, its mention becometh not befitting. Hold fast unto the Most Great Day, whereon God shone forth upon all things. Verily thy Lord is the Ruler over whatsoever He willeth. He Who announced unto men My Revelation hath interpreted it. It hath been adorned with that which was revealed therein of the Letter “Ha’,” from which have branched all the oceans of names. Know thou this and be of the thankful ones. In its outward appearance, it is the night wherein the Beloved of the worlds was born, and mention of it hath been revealed in the Tablet which We have adorned with this mighty and wondrous remembrance.

The Mighty Pen forgetteth not to make mention of the Exalted One and those who are with him from among God’s sincere servants. Blessed are they, inasmuch as they have acquiesced in that which hath been sent down from the Pen of Command from their Lord, the Most High, and have returned with manifest joy. Upon them be the glory of God, His remembrance, and His praise. By My life! There hath been revealed for them that which shall solace the eyes of the believers.

Then make mention of him who was named Nabil-i-Baqir, who hath believed in God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Say: Blessed art thou, O servant, inasmuch as thy letter hath attained unto this noble Scene. Say: Glory be unto Thee, O my God! Thou knowest my turning unto Thee, my facing toward Thy Self, my clinging to the hem of Thy mercy, and my holding fast unto the cord of Thy favors. I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which Thou hast raised up the heavens of Thy Cause and sent down the tokens of Thy oneness, to make me steadfast in Thy Cause in such wise that nothing shall prevent me from turning toward Thee. Moreover, ordain for me that which Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen ones, who move not except by Thy leave and will. Then cause me to soar in the atmosphere of Thy will and to be enkindled with the fire of Thy love. O my Lord! Thou knowest what profiteth me. Write down for me that which is best for me. I have placed my trust in Thee and have committed my affairs unto Thee. Verily, Thou art the Forgiving, the Kind, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

As to what thou hast mentioned concerning the debt of him who was named Muhammad, excellent is that which thou hast done. Blessed art thou for having borne hardships in thy Lord’s path. He repayeth whomsoever He willeth whatsoever He pleaseth. Verily thy Lord is the Mighty, the Generous. If the loved ones in that land are able to give to certain of God’s loved ones and handmaidens, with utter humility and submissiveness, and complete detachment and absolute freedom from worldly ornaments, it would be and will be acceptable in the sight of God—that is, they should record all as a debt until an appointed time. Excellent is that which Our honored servant hath done regarding Our glorious Name. We beseech God to assist him in this. Soon will thy Lord repay the debts of His loved ones and bestow from His grace upon those servants who have assisted them in their affairs. He, verily, is the Rewarder of the doers of good.

Make mention of the youth named ʿAli. Say: That which thou didst send previously hath attained Our presence, but We have no house to adorn. Verily, thy Lord is in the hands of the oppressors.

As to what thou hast mentioned regarding the remembrance of Muhammad-ʿAli, say: We have heard thy call. Grieve not. He is with thee. He is with His servants who have held fast unto the cord of His love, detached from all the worlds. Upon thee be My glory from this Scene which hath been illumined with the lights of the countenance of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Wise.

As for what thou hast mentioned regarding the remembrance of the wife of Our Name the Mihdi, convey to her My greetings and give her the glad-tidings of her Lord’s loving-kindness toward her. She is among those women who have believed in God, the Single, the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. We beseech God to solace her eyes through meeting Him and to make her one of those who have attained.

O physician! We have noted the letter from Ghulam-Husayn, who attained and returned, and signs of sorrow were evident therein. Convey to him, on behalf of this Prisoner, profound greetings, and say: You must be thankful at all times and be seen in the utmost joy and gladness, for praise be to God, through the favors of the Ancient King, you attained the Most Great Prison and were blessed with attaining His presence. The bounties of God have never been, nor ever shall be, confined or limited to any one thing. If there be a delay in sending Tablets specifically intended for certain loved ones, this hath not been, nor is it, evidence of the absence of divine favors. Verily, He heareth the call of the seekers and accompanieth His God-fearing servants. God willing, through His grace, you will soar in the atmosphere of joy and traverse the expanse of gladness. Be confident in the bounty of your Lord. Verily, He loveth those who love Him. Be not grieved by your poverty, for truly wealthy is he in whose heart are found the pearls of the knowledge of Our Name, the Mighty, the Great. We beseech God to assist those who have believed to turn their attention to your affairs. Verily, He is powerful over all things.

BH00751: O Amin! Through the bounty of the Lord…

He is God, exalted be His station, the Almighty, the All-Powerful

O Amin! Through the bounty of the Lord of the worlds thou hast attained unto the manifest horizon and been blessed in these resplendent days with the dawning light of the Ancient Beauty. The Cause hath ever been, and shall forever remain, within the grasp of God’s omnipotent power. Many are the souls whom He hath, after their acceptance of the Faith, raised from the lowest depths to the most exalted heights where the light of His countenance doth shine forth, leading them to the All-Glorious Horizon. Others, through their own actions, He hath cast down from the loftiest heights to the lowest of stations. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth.

Blessed is the one who hath, in these days of the Lord of creation, drunk from the chalice of detachment and arisen with utmost sincerity to serve the King of all mankind. As thou dost witness, certain souls have emerged from the horizon of detachment in such wise that they regard all else but God as non-existent and have relinquished all they possess for that which is with God. Though such souls are and shall ever be rarer than the rarest substance, yet in these days, through divine grace and heavenly bounty, a few can be found who have, with the utmost determination, girded up their loins to serve the Cause. Their worth is not known today, but by My life, God shall make them, both outwardly and inwardly, the source of all goodly mention. He is, verily, the Almighty, the All-Powerful.

On behalf of the Wronged One, convey greetings to all the loved ones. I counsel all humanity to remain steadfast in the Cause, to be faithful to their religion, and to uphold trustworthiness, which hath ever been and shall forever remain beloved. Blessed is he who hath adorned his temple with the raiment of trustworthiness. All must attain unto this luminous vesture, that all who dwell on earth may be guided by the deeds of God’s loved ones. A goodly deed itself guideth humanity, as hath been witnessed when certain blessed souls performed such praiseworthy acts that through these very deeds people were drawn to accept the Faith and were attracted to the shores of the ocean of oneness.

Nothing hath been created without a fragrance; all things have had and shall have their own sweet scent. Blessed is the soul from whom emanates the fragrance of the raiment of holiness. Such a one is indeed among the choicest of creation in the sight of God. Thy Lord is, verily, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

Blessed art thou, O Amin, for having turned unto God, entered His presence, attained His court, won His good-pleasure, beheld His glory, and hearkened unto the call of thy Lord, the Most Exalted, the Most Great. Through the warmth of divine love, thou must manifest thyself in every land in such a manner that all shall be stirred by that warmth and turn their hearts toward the Beloved, for the path of the faithful servant hath been barred through that which the hands of the oppressors have wrought.

O Amin! The cause of motion is heat, and the cause of heat is the Word of God. Therefore must the loved ones, through the fire of God’s Word, guide His servants from the left hand of idle fancies to the right hand of certitude, and through the warmth of the divine Word be so stirred that they may ascend from the fleeting realms of self to the sublime heights of eternity. O Amin! If people were to act according to the divine virtues and heavenly attributes recorded in the revealed Tablets, thou wouldst surely witness all who dwell on earth turning unto God, thy Lord and the Lord of all worlds.

Stations of sanctification, detachment, acceptance, nearness and attainment unto His presence are not, and never shall be, incompatible with outward affairs. In this Most Great Revelation, all are commanded to engage in crafts, trades and professions, placing their trust in God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. This commandment hath been emphatically revealed in the Tablets. Blessed is he who hath attained unto that which his Lord, the All-Wise, the All-Knowing, hath ordained. Rejoice, O Trustee, in that We have adorned thee with the raiment of trustworthiness. Guard thou this station. Say: Praise be unto Thee, O God of the worlds. We beseech God to grant thee success in all conditions and to aid thee in that which He desireth. Verily, He is the Protector of those who do good.

Thou hast become aware of some of the tribulations that have befallen this Prisoner. It is evident to every person of insight that We are immersed in an ocean of trials and are seated beneath the hands of the oppressors, inasmuch as We have never compromised in the Cause of God with any of the most distinguished among the people of the world, nor with those beneath them, as can be understood from the Tablets that were sent to the rulers of the earth. Therefore it is clear and evident to every just and discerning person that all these souls have been, and continue to be, secretly harboring the utmost hatred toward this Voice of Truth. Yet notwithstanding these matters, We have at all times called the people unto the truth and continue to do so. Were the people to reflect even slightly upon that which hath appeared, they would know with certainty that this Cause hath been made manifest through the power of God and hath shone forth with divine sovereignty and might, and that never hath it regarded, nor will it ever regard, its own ease, comfort or deliverance. Its example is as a nightingale caught in the talons of oppression.

O people of the earth! Hearken unto the call of this Wronged One, Who crieth out purely for the sake of God. Reflect somewhat upon the world and the events and consequences thereof, and likewise upon that which hath dawned from the horizon of the Cause and hath appeared in His days. Perchance ye may thus perceive that the One Who calleth out doth so for God’s sake and speaketh by God’s command, lest ye be deprived of the eternal stations by the cawing of the heedless and the doubts of the deluded—whether they be among those who are known by the name of truth or those who are not. Behold this Prisoner as a target, at whom arrows fly continuously and successively from all directions. Yet through divine grace He hath thus far remained protected, and afterwards the matter resteth in His hands. Verily, I love what He loveth and desire what He desireth, and I long for whatsoever God hath ordained for Me, for that which appeareth from Him is My Beloved and the Beloved of My heart. It is better for Me. Verily, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful. O Trustee! That which was uttered in thy presence must be carried out with the utmost wisdom. When thou passeth through the lands, say:

O my God, my Lord, Beloved of my heart, Hope of my soul, and He Who is remembered in my outward and inward being! I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which He who sacrificed His life in Thy path, bore tribulations in His love for Thee and the promotion of Thy Cause, to waft over these lands the fragrant breezes of the garment of Thy mercy and Thy favors. O Lord! These are Thy servants and these are Thy lands, though they have been veiled by their desires and thereby prevented from turning toward the court of Thy grace and from drawing nigh unto the Kaaba of Thy knowledge. Yet Thou art He Whose mercy hath preceded all created things and Whose grace hath encompassed all possibilities.

I beseech Thee by Thy Hidden Name which hath been made manifest through Thy sovereignty and which Thou hast made to be the overseer of all who are in Thy earth and heaven, not to leave these souls to their own devices. Send down upon them that which shall cause them to turn toward the direction of Thy favor and to gaze upon Thy countenance. Look upon them, O my God, with the glances of Thy mercy, and take their hands through Thy power and sovereignty. Draw forth, O my God, from the bosom of Thy grace the hand of Thy power, and thereby rend asunder the veils that have come between them and Thee, that all may hasten to the fountain of Thy nearness and circle round Thy will and purpose.

If Thou shouldst banish them, who else would deliver them from the fire, O Light of the heavens and earth? And according to the command, should you meet any of the loved ones of God who are oriented toward this direction, you must, on behalf of the True One, bid them return, for the situation in this land has become exceedingly difficult, and without permission they shall achieve no result. This is the firm and decisive command that hath flowed from the Pen of Will, by leave of the Lord of all humanity. And glory be upon him who followeth the Truth and heareth what he hath been commanded.

BH00781: Your letter reached the Most Great Vision…

He is Most Great, Most Ancient

Your letter reached the Most Great Vision, and that which you asked concerning the divine verses, this servant present before His face sends to you. O Zayn, the delay in answering what you asked about the verses has been for the preservation of change, for in the early days there was absolutely no consideration of the people’s rules at the time of revelation, while in these days it is observed out of wisdom. Therefore, if a Tablet from before is read in the presence of the Countenance, it descends in some stations differently than what was revealed before. This refers to the outward expression, but in reality whatever was revealed was and will be correct.

In the Land of Mystery, it was intended that rules in divine knowledge be revealed so that all might be informed. Due to the sorrows that descended, the successive occupations, and the consecutive trials, it was delayed. Another greater reason was that any ignorant one might compose fabricated words and people, considering those rules, would deem them correct, even though if asked about it himself, he would not know a single letter—as you observe in Yahya and his followers.

Knowledge is in His grasp; He turns it how He wishes. For example, in some places a verse that according to outward rules should be in the nominative or genitive case is revealed in the accusative case. In this instance, either “kana” is implied, or similar accusative particles and their positions. And if somewhere it is revealed in the genitive while according to common practice it should not be, in this case the genitive particle or the possessive construct that causes the genitive is omitted. Apply this rule universally.

Likewise, in some instances it relates to the style of verses—We do not wish to mention rhyme in this station. Similarly, according to the leaders of grammar, an intransitive verb appears in transitive form in three ways: through repetition, with “ba”, and with “hamza”. This is respected among the people, but in divine knowledge, by contextual evidence, an intransitive verb becomes transitive and a transitive verb becomes intransitive. Blessed are those who know, and blessed is he who is certain that all sciences are in the grasp of his Lord’s power, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

Similarly, a transitive verb, for example like “rafa’a” is revealed as “arfa’a”, and examples of this existed in heavenly books before. This is for emphasis—there is no harm in it. O Zayn of the near ones, the Manifest Beauty is afflicted between two parties. If creation were to become aware in what state the shrill voice of the Most Exalted Pen is raised, and in what tribulation the Tongue of Grandeur speaks, all would cast off the garment of existence and seek the adornment of non-existence.

For a thousand years and more there was dispute and contention among Islamic scholars about whether God or another is the originator of words. Now, despite the appearance of Truth in what has been revealed from Him, they have objected and continue to object, as did Karim-i-Kermani and likewise the scholars of the age who have made countless objections to divine words, as you have heard. Although similar matters were revealed before, yet musk becomes more fragrant the more it is repeated. Most Tablets were revealed at times when there was no opportunity to review them. That which flowed from the Pen of this Servant, in the very presence of the Countenance, hath been disseminated abroad; it is thus possible that in certain places omissions may have occurred, or that there may be excesses or deficiencies, for no soul is able, at the very moment of revelation, to commit to writing in its entirety that which is sent down.

Whatsoever may be enquired about in these matters hath been, and will remain, beloved; albeit, to this Prisoner, the descent of fresh revelation is dearer than recourse to what hath been sent down aforetime. Yet to turn thereto is more fitting, and to direct one’s gaze thereunto more easy. And God is the Lord of Causes.

As to what thou hast asked concerning attainment to the divine presence, be patient, for thy Lord is the All-Patient. For just as this land hath become the dawning-place of the Chosen One and the habitation of the righteous, likewise hath it become the source of the wicked and the abode of the impious. For every truth there is falsehood, yet despair not of God’s spirit and mercy. When He willeth, He changeth all through His word “Be!” and it is. We testify that thou art among those who have attained the presence of God, associated with Him, heard His call, and stood before His Most Great Gate. Grieve not over anything; remain steadfast in thy condition, for the Cause is mighty, mighty indeed.

Behold the weakness of the people who, despite the manifestation of truth, power, majesty and His signs, have been kept back from the Lord of Oneness by artificial words of the past and vain imaginings. By My life! They are among the lost. Woe unto those who turn to them and hear what they possess. Blessed are they who are detached. This Most Great Revelation—the Truth alone is established upon the throne. Whosoever pondereth upon this Most Great Revelation and the dawning of the Ancient Beauty will testify to this Manifestation, whereby is established the sanctification of His Essence from any likeness and the purification of His Self from any resemblance.

Observe the people of the Bayan who are in truth worshippers of names and vain imaginings. With their tongues they profess His oneness, yet whoever pondereth on what they say will testify that they are among the idolaters. Hence the sum of their deeds hath become turning away from the Truth. Upon them be what they deserve.

Concerning the Hidden Words which thou didst mention—some were revealed at one time in a single tablet, while others were revealed at different times. Some have gathered them all together, while others remain scattered. It would be best if they were all gathered together, in the estimation of God, thy Lord and the Lord of all worlds.

Regarding inheritance, that which the Primal Point—may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for His sake—hath commanded is beloved. Whatever exists of those entitled to portions, let them divide their wealth among themselves. For those below this rank, the matter must be referred to the Most Holy Court. The command is in His hands—He ordaineth as He pleaseth. In this connection, a decree was revealed in the Land of Mystery, and the portions of missing persons were temporarily assigned to existing heirs until the establishment of the House of Justice. After its establishment, its ruling shall become manifest. However, the inheritance of those who emigrated in the year in which the Ancient Beauty emigrated shall return to their heirs. This is from God’s bounty unto them.

The possessions of Jinab-i-Mulla Hasan, upon him be the Glory of God, rightfully revert [to God], for he is among those martyred in His path and those who have attained His presence. Blessed is he for having fulfilled God’s Covenant and Testament. By My life! He hath attained the lights of the Countenance and hath drunk the choice wine of life from the fingers of his Lord’s bounty, the All-Forgiving, the Most Generous. Send to the Most Holy Court even a small amount of his ink, though it be as small as a chickpea, and the remainder is bestowed upon you. Look not upon its outward unworthiness, for with God it hath a distinguished station. He, verily, is the All-Loving, the All-Forgiving.

Should anyone return to Iran, write concerning Jinab-i-Ha’, upon him be the Glory of God, informing the Trustee. Pause in what thou wast commanded regarding the matter of the handmaidens. Verily, He is the Ruler over whatsoever He willeth. There is no God but Him, the Almighty, the All-Powerful. Blessed art thou, O Zayn, in thy steadfastness in the Cause of thy Lord. We testify that he is among the sincere ones. We send him Our greetings from this most exalted, most glorious Station, and We beseech God to protect him from those who have disbelieved, to assist him in His service in every circumstance, and to ordain for him what He hath ordained for His chosen ones. Verily, He is the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful.

May the Glory be upon thee and upon him and upon those who are there, from this Captive, this Exile. And praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH00795: This is what hath been sent down…

This is what hath been sent down from the heaven of loving-kindness:

O My physician! We have loved thee and made mention of thee in divers Tablets. Verily thy Lord is with such of His servants as have turned unto Him and have detached themselves from all else. He is the Protector of them that have turned unto Him. Through thy gratitude to thy Lord the ocean of grace surgeth and mentioneth thee with this glorious mention. Grieve thou not over anything, but place thy trust in God, the Sovereign, the Almighty, the Most Exalted, the Most Great. By My life! There hath been sent down for thee in the Tablets that which nothing in all creation can equal. Verily thy Lord, the All-Merciful, is the Almighty, the All-Powerful. Glorify the praise of thy Lord, then praise Him at morn and eventide.

Say: My soul be a sacrifice for Thine exile, O Root of Glory and Tree of the Uttermost End and Source of all good amongst the people of creation! My spirit be a sacrifice for Thy imprisonment, O Thou Who hast sacrificed Thyself for the Cause of God, the Lord of all names! By Thy glory, O Beloved of the worlds and Desire of them that have recognized Thee! I love naught but Thy remembrance, desire naught but Thy good-pleasure, and turn to none save Thy luminous countenance. I beseech Thee to ordain for me what Thou hast ordained for them who have tasted the sweetness of utterance from the mouth of Thy Will and who have circled round Thy Cause until they were martyred in Thy path.

O Lord! Thou art the Generous One—all atoms testify to Thy generosity. Thou art the Merciful One—Thy mercy hath preceded all created things, and in the grasp of Thy Will is the control of all existence. Thou seest me burning with the fire of separation and aflame with the heat of longing. I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which the Covenant was manifested on the Day of Separation and which Thou didst manifest in human form, and concerning which Thou didst question those who clung to it, by Thy power that dominateth the world, to make me in all conditions one who gazeth upon Thy countenance, is certain of Thy Cause, standeth in Thy service, sitteth in Thy love, is adorned with the ornament of Thy grace, uttereth the remembrance of Thy days and what befell Thy Beauty at the hands of the oppressors.

O my Lord! O my Lord! O my Lord! Thou art He before Whose sovereignty and power all things bow down, and before Whose grandeur and majesty all necks are humbled. I beseech Thee by the water that hath flowed from the wellsprings of Thy Will and which Thou hast made the cause of life for Thy creation, to raise me to such a station that nothing shall prevent me from that which draweth hearts and minds to the court of Thy mercy and Thy favors. Verily Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Dominant, the Self-Subsisting.

As to what was mentioned concerning the handmaidens of God, you must certainly exert your utmost effort and endeavor in managing the affairs of the loved ones of God. Some of the friends of God are somewhat saddened due to the apparent dispersion of means. Say: Be not grieved, but trust in God in all matters. Verily He is with you and hath ordained for you greater things than what you desired or desire. They should not be saddened in any way by the separation of outward things. They have never been and will never be forgotten. Some matters depend upon means and are dealt with accordingly, and if there be delay, they should not be disheartened. What is beloved is that they should be grateful and content with what hath been and will be manifested.

Concerning Haydar-Qabli-ʿAli, upon him be the glory of God, We have indeed accepted him through Our grace and clothed him in the garment of bounty and favor whereby all Paradise was illumined. Verily thy Lord is the Forgiving, the Merciful. However, this station was sealed with him, and whosoever shall commit after him what he committed, God will not make mention of him. Verily He is the Ruler over whatsoever He willeth. Such matters have in truth never been and are not pleasing. Likewise, a limited number in the past sacrificed their lives by their own hands in the path of the Beloved of all creation, and the station of each hath been revealed in the Tablets. Blessed be the King of Martyrs who sacrificed his life in Iraq and his likes in other lands.

O physician! There hath appeared in this Revelation that which hath not appeared before. Verily thy Lord is the Attractive, the Moving, the Penetrating, the Powerful, the Pulsating, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. However, after the martyrdom of the Pride of Martyrs, who was named Badi’ in the Kingdom of Names, all are commanded to preserve their lives that perchance some service to the Cause of God might be rendered by souls. This is what We have desired for them. No one should transgress the bounds set by his Lord. Inform the people of what hath flowed from the Most Exalted Pen in this regard that they may know and be of those who act.

As for what thou hast mentioned concerning Muhammad-Qabli-Rida, say: Turn toward the Most Great Scene. We have accepted what thou didst desire for him and have confirmed it. Be thou grateful and of those who give thanks. However, since prohibition hath preceded and this was truly in the interest of the people—for this land is much disturbed and travelers pass through from every direction, and despite the greatest prohibition they arrive every day—yet this hath not been and is not pleasing, for the harm of these matters affects the root of the Tree. Nevertheless, in view of the favor shown to Rida and through thy intercession, We have sought another matter that his heart may rejoice through the fragrances of these precincts wherein the fragrance of the All-Merciful wafteth over all who dwell in the realm of possibility.

Concerning children, let them not grieve at all, for whosoever hath turned to God, God hath been and shall be his heir. Children are in truth for the remembrance of good, and what remembrance of good can surpass the mention of God? Every mention that hath been made of him in the Tablets is equivalent to a thousand righteous offspring who might have spent their lives and wealth in the path of God. Say: Be grateful, O My loved ones, for this bounty and say: Praise be unto Thee, O God of the worlds! O physician! The servant in attendance before the Countenance hath in these days been afflicted with headache to such extent as to be somewhat prevented from writing, such that last night when a Tablet was revealed concerning thee, he later reported that much had been dropped from the pen and omitted. We have therefore repeated and revealed this Tablet in brief. Be thou grateful and say: Thine is the grace, O my Lord, the Powerful, the Unconstrained.

O servant, ʿAbdu’r-Rahim! Hearken unto the call of the All-Merciful from the Dawning-Place of sorrows in this Prison of contingent being. Verily, there is none other God but Him, the Almighty, the Mighty, the All-Wise. Blessed art thou for having turned thy face toward the Countenance whilst it was in the hands of the oppressors. Grieve not that thou wert prevented from entering; verily thy Lord is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Hatred hath appeared in that land—this is that whereof We had informed Our servants aforetime. With Him is the knowledge of all things preserved in a guarding Tablet. Were anyone to behold Me with the eye of insight, he would see each member of My body in the mouth of a serpent.

Soon shall that which hath been concealed and treasured be made manifest. Verily, thy Lord is He Who unveileth, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Be thou thankful that thou hast been mentioned by the Most Exalted Pen, and that the face of thy Lord’s loving-kindness, the Mighty, the Great, hath been turned toward thee. Verily, he who hath ascended unto God is of those who have drawn nigh. We have accepted him as a bounty from Our presence. Verily thy Lord is the Mighty, the Bountiful. Blessed is he who hath drawn nigh unto the sepulchre and hath said:

“Upon thee be greetings, O thou who hast turned toward God, the Remembrance of God and His praise! I testify that thou didst turn unto the Intended One and didst hasten unto God until thou didst reach the resting-place of those who bore tribulations in the path of God, the Lord of all names, and didst sacrifice thyself therein for the love of God, thy Lord and the Lord of all worlds. I testify that thou art of those who, when they heard the call, responded to their Lord and fulfilled His Covenant and His Testament on a day wherein the foundations of the doubters were shaken. Upon thee be the mercy of God and His grace, and the sweet fragrances of God and His spirit, O thou stranger and exile!”

BH00793: This is a Book from Us to him who…

In the Name of God, the Most Mighty, the Most Glorious!

This is a Book from Us to him who has shattered the idol of vain imaginings through the sovereignty of the remembrance of his Lord, the Lord of all men, and who has turned unto the Countenance in days wherein all names were overturned, save those whom thy Lord, the Mighty, the Bestower, did will. Faces have turned black and souls have been perturbed when God came with the Kingdom of verses. One said: “Why hath He come?” Say: “Despite thy will, O thou who art a misbeliever and filled with doubt!” Another said: “Hath the appointed time come?” Say: “Yea, by Him Who sendeth down the rain! The appointed time is none other than His own Self, could ye but understand, O people of insight!”

Among the idolaters is he who said: “Will the All-Merciful come before the creation of the Bayan appeareth?” Say: “Behold with His eyes—He hath come from the heaven of Command with power and sovereignty. Can the veils of allusions prevent Him? Nay, by the Manifestor of clear evidences!” Among them is he who said: “That which was ordained in the Book hath not been fulfilled.” Say: “Through My manifestation all things are perfected. Reflect, O ye who are endued with insight! Were it not for My mention, the Bayan would not have been revealed, and were it not for My appearance, its creation would not have been completed, even were it to endure as long as the kingdom and the realm endure.” Thus hath the matter been decreed from the presence of God, the Mighty, the Unconstrained. Through My confirmation is every matter established and all that hath been mentioned in the Tablets perfected.

Say: Were We to abrogate what hath been ordained in the Bayan, none hath the right to say “why” or “wherefore.” Thus hath it been sent down in the Tablets from the presence of Him Who causeth the dawn to break. We have not abrogated the Bayan, but rather have been as the morning dew to that which was sown therein with justice. To this testifieth all things, and beyond them He Who knoweth both the hidden and the manifest. Through My manifestation the heaven of the Bayan was raised up and what was revealed therein was established. Those who have denied this are in heedlessness and error.

By My Self! I have rolled up the heaven of vain imaginings and the Sun of wisdom hath shone forth from the horizon of power. Every matter hath been made dependent upon My Word. This is what the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Bayan—read it, that ye may know Him by Whose light the horizons have been illumined. Say: Be fair, O people of the Bayan! Were it not for My manifestation, who would help the All-Merciful amidst all creation? Fear God, O ye by whose words the pillars of the Throne have been shaken and the clouds have wept. Through My arising hath the Sun of remembrance shone forth and the banners of unity been raised upon the hills.

What hath been set forth in the Bayan is a gift unto Mine own Self, and a leaf from the garden of Ridvan. Ponder thereon, that ye may comprehend that wherein the minds have faltered and the eyes have been debarred. We, verily, came not to enact the ordinances of the body, but to quicken the souls—this beareth witness your Lord, the Sender of the winds. Say: In the Bayan He fixed that which befitteth the peoples of the world, that this Most Delicate, Most Subtle, Most Exalted Pen might not be occupied with that which is mentioned in the realms of creation. Yet ye committed, in His Cause, that whereat the Eye of the All-Merciful wept in the loftiest gardens of Paradise.

From the secret retreats of the unseen have I come forth, that I might speak in the Pivot of the world. The Ancient of Days hath appeared—sovereignty belongeth unto God, the Omnipotent, the Supreme, the Almighty, the Subduer. Ye have cast aside that which God, your Lord, the All-Merciful, hath willed, and have seized upon that which the base passions and desires command, until My Most Exalted Pen was constrained to busy itself with the lowest of words. Wherefore did the eyes stream with tears, and the Holy Spirit lament from the loftiest seat.

Do ye know for what cause ye have been debarred from the precincts of bounty? Nay, by the Lord of lords!

O people! If ye seek the manifestations of power—by God! the horizons are encompassed therewith. If ye desire the tokens, the lands and seas are filled with them. And if ye long for the effulgences of Divine Unity, ye shall find them in all things touched by the breathings of the garment of your Lord, the Most Glorious, in this Day wherein every neck is bowed low in humility. Is there doubt therein? Or doth the doubt lie within your hearts? Be fair, O possessors of understanding!

Verily, the latter Manifestation is the more manifest, and His countenance the more resplendent—thereunto testifieth He Who sitteth upon the throne in might and sovereignty.

O people! Would ye contend with Him Who, beneath the sword, calleth you unto God, the Lord of the Day of Summoning? Desireth He aught from you in recompense? Nay, by the Lord of Names! Demandeth He a wage? Nay, and by this dawn which hath broken from the horizon of the Divine Will, invested with power and dominion!

Whence, then, shall He find life for His own Self, when He is cast between the teeth of ravening wolves? By God! The Proof weepeth for My sorrow, and the Eye of Testimony weepeth for the sake of this Wronged One, the All-Merciful. Thus hath the crimson blood flowed from the Most Exalted Pen, melting the heart of Baha with the fire of those who have disbelieved in the Lord of Names. Woe unto them, and woe upon every idolater and doubter!

Doth it beseem to hesitate in this Cause, after the crimson Ark hath sailed upon the sea of names? Nay, by this Beauty through Whose Name the mountains have passed away! Say: Do ye deny Him through Whom all existence hath turned toward the direction of its Purpose, and through Whom the Luminary of the Cause hath shone forth from the horizon of the lands? The head of the Bayan hath been adorned with the crown of My remembrance, and its temple with the robe of My love, yet ye have stripped it bare, O people of the veils! Among them is he who saith “I have believed in the Bayan.” Say: Silence thy tongue, O thou denier and deceiver! The Bayan waileth by reason of thy deed, and with it wail the people of Paradise and the denizens of the holy sanctuaries at eventide and at dawn.

If thou didst believe in the Bayan, why didst thou draw the sword of renunciation against the Beloved of the All-Merciful, through Whom the All-Glorious smiled and through Whom the preamble of the Book of Creation was adorned? Verily, they that have turned away rejoice in their deeds; they walk while the wrath of God pursueth them. We testify that the Bayan is clear of them, and We are clear of them. Thus hath testified He Whom God hath made the Dawning-Place of lights.

Say: Die in your wrath! The heaven of idle fancies hath been rolled up by the grasp of power and might. We have raised up the heaven of the Bayan with wisdom and clear proof, and We have adorned it with the star of Our wondrous Name, whereby all the tribes were seized with trembling, the idol wailed, and the pillars were shaken. Do they see for themselves any refuge? Say: There is no shelter for you this day from God. Whither can they flee, and to whom can they turn? Can they find anyone to protect them? Nay, by My life, they have no protector this day!

O people! This is the Ancient of the heavens and earth. Ponder, that ye may recognize the decree of the Wondrous One. When ye have recognized it, ye shall know this Cause whereof ye were promised in the Tablets and Scriptures. Be united, O peoples of the earth! Through your unity the heaven of tyranny shall be cleft asunder and the idols shall fall. We have borne afflictions for your salvation. To this testifieth this Pen which God hath made the Sovereign of all pens.

Blessed art thou for having been mentioned before the Throne, and for that which hath descended unto thee from the heaven of the Prison, whereby spirits are gladdened. Follow thy Lord in such wise that tribulation shall not prevent thee from remembering the Creator of heaven. Remember thy Lord at morn and eventide. Grieve not over the world and its conditions. That which is visible shall pass away, and sovereignty shall remain with God, the Supreme Protector, the Concealer.

Say: O people of creation! This is the Day of Hearkening. Hearken unto the Call of God, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious, which hath been raised between earth and heaven. By His Call the things have been attracted and faces have turned unto God, the Mighty, the Bestower. Verily, they that have been prevented—these shall have no portion in the kingdom. Soon shall they lament and shall find no refuge for themselves.

Take thou the chalice of eternity in My Name, then drink it by My leave. Thus doth thy Lord, the Mighty, the All-Knowing, command thee. And glory be upon thee and upon those who have turned unto the Countenance with spirit and fragrance.

According to the Most Holy Command, a copy of the missive has been sent. This evanescent servant conveys his salutations to your honor. Blessed art thou for that which hath flowed from thy pen in remembrance of thy Lord. This is what the Lord of Eternity informed me of when I was present before the Throne. Upon thee, O promulgator of God’s Cause, rest the remembrance of God, His praise, and the praise of His near-serving ones. I beseech God that He may aid thy honor under all conditions.