Volume 042: Early Akka 1868–1873, Part II (4 of 6)

BH04043: The servants are occupied with their vain desires…

In the Name of God, the Most Unapproachable, the Most Holy, the Most Glorious!

The servants are occupied with their vain desires and rejoice in the possession of fleeting ornaments, while We, in tribulation, call upon the Lord of Names at eventide and at dawn. By My life! I love tribulation in the path of God, the Creator of all things, even as people love their sight—nay, even more. Your Lord, the Mighty, the Self-Subsisting, bears witness to this.

Soon shall Our sorrow pass away and their joy shall end. Then shall We be in the most exalted station, while they shall be in the lowest fires. Were We to mention the stations of those who have turned to the Countenance, by My life, the pens would be thunderstruck. Do you see any permanence in what they possess, when all things testify to their transience? Take heed, O people of insight!

Say: How long will you forsake guidance and follow desire? Open your eyes! Your days are spent, and soon what remains of them shall pass. Hearken to God’s counsel, then turn to Him in spirit and fragrance. Beware lest you take the Evil One as your lord instead of God. Break the idols by the power of your Lord, the Master of all necks. Beware lest you believe him who brings you Satan’s news, for he is among those who have fabricated lies against God, and in whose heart burns the fire of enmity and hatred. Thus has his soul enticed him, and he has turned away from God, the Lord of lords. Purify your faces, then turn with your hearts to the Sacred House.

Say: Praise be to Thee, O my God, for having guided us to the path of righteousness, for having made Thyself known to us in Thy days, and for having sent down to us in the prison that which brings joy to the eyes of the loved ones. I beseech Thee by Thy Most Glorious Name to make us among those who are steadfast in Thy Cause, whom nothing can deter from turning to Thy Name, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.

BH04039: God testifieth that there is none other God but…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Inaccessible, the Most Exalted.

God testifieth that there is none other God but Him, and that this is indeed Ali in the Most Glorious Horizon, and Muhammad in the Kingdom of Eternity, and Husayn before Ali in this Holy and Luminous Temple.

O servant! Hearken unto the Call of God from this blessed and holy Divine Tree upon this blessed and unified Spot. God! There is none other God but Me, the Exalted, the Mighty, the Inaccessible. Beware lest thou forget the remembrance of God, then remember My imprisonment and tribulation among these unbelievers. Purify thy heart from what hath befallen it, then detach thyself from the worlds.

Say: O people! Do ye doubt Him through Whom every proof hath appeared, every Cause hath shone forth, and every clear evidence hath come? Say: O people! Fear ye God and dispute not with Him by Whose command the heavens and earths were created. And when thou perceivest that anyone preventeth thee from God and His love, know thou that he is Satan, even though outwardly he be of the highest of creation. Thus doth the Tongue of the Cause teach thee. Act according to what thou art commanded and be possessed of clear insight.

Neither grieve over the world nor rejoice in it, for it shall pass away and no mention of it shall remain with thy Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Bear thou the trust of God which is My love. Whoso beareth it shall be among the most wealthy of servants, for he possesseth that which cannot be equaled by the treasures of the heavens and earth. And whoso depriveth himself thereof shall be among the poorest of creation in the sight of thy Lord, even though he possesseth all the gold and pearls of precious worth that fill the heavens and earth.

Thus have We made mention of thee and cast upon thee the words of truth that thou mayest be of them that know.

BH04017: A mention from Us to him who sought guidance…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Great

A mention from Us to him who sought guidance in the days of his Lord and attained the lights of the Throne and was of those who turned unto Him, that he may soar from yearning into the atmosphere which God hath sanctified from the doubts of the suspicious ones.

O servant! Hearken unto the call from the direction of ʿAkka, the prison of thy Most Glorious Lord: Verily, I am the Wronged One, the Stranger. We created the servants for My service, yet they denied after We unveiled the Face with manifest light. Those who are heedless shall soon find themselves in manifest loss. Say: Were God to will, He would seize them by His command. He, verily, is the Almighty, the Powerful. They are weak and have not attained maturity. They know not what profiteth them. Verily thy Lord is the Forgiving, the Merciful. He calleth them at all times and remindeth them through His grace that they may turn to this shining and luminous Horizon.

Thou, O wayfarer unto God, remind My servants that they may cast away vain desire and hasten unto the Creator of earth and heaven. Thus hast thou been commanded from the presence of One All-Knowing, All-Wise. Beware lest thou pause in the remembrance of thy Lord. We created thee for My Cause, therefore know and say: Praise be unto Thee, O God of the worlds! If thou findest in any heart the fragrance of the love of thy Lord, commune with him and remind him from Me. My mercy hath preceded all creation. Let not troubles prevent thee from the Lord of Names and Attributes, nor sorrows from the praise of thy Most Glorious Lord. Be thou occupied with His remembrance amidst His heedless servants that they may hear the call of God and find a way unto Him. Verily thy Lord is the Mighty, the Generous.

And the glory be upon thee and upon those who are with thee among thy Lord’s loved ones, every young and old.

BH04054: Say: O peoples of the world! The proof hath…

He is God, the Ever-Abiding, Who knoweth no decline!

Say: O peoples of the world! The proof hath come unto you from the All-Merciful. What hath made you heedless of your Lord on this Day wherein the Point of Oneness hath been fully explained and the sovereignty of God, the Self-Subsisting, the All-Compelling, hath been made manifest? Say: Do ye deny what the Dawning-Place of divine inspiration hath brought? Then are ye in manifest error. This is the King of Days, the Day that hath seen the coming of the Best-Beloved of the worlds. This indeed is He Who hath been the Desired One throughout all eternity. Behold ye the Bayan, that ye may recognize God’s Most Great Treasure, concerning Whom the Tongue of Grandeur speaketh from His right hand, pointing unto Him. By My life! This is the Beloved of all who are in the heavens and on earth.

Arise to serve the Cause and relate unto the people this momentous News. O peoples of the lovers! The Sun of the horizons hath grown dark. This is the Day of the Covenant, if ye be of them that know. Say: Do ye deny Him by Whom the Balance hath been set up? What aileth you that ye comprehend not that which hath been sent down from the Pen of your Lord, the Mighty, the All-Praised? Will the world profit you? Nay, by the Lord of the Throne and of the dust! Will that which ye possess enrich you? Nay, by the Lord of the Mighty Throne!

Be thou steadfast in the Cause and fear not those who have disbelieved. Say: Take your pleasure in this vain life; soon shall the angels of divine wrath seize you, by the decree of One All-Knowing, All-Wise. Verily thy Lord will aid thee in all conditions and will assist thee through His grace and will inspire thee with that which shall illumine the hearts of them that turn unto Him.

Patience is praiseworthy except in teaching the Cause of thy Lord. Thus doth the Tongue of Revelation counsel thee in this manifest Prison. Every companion fleeth from his companion at the hour of death, except thy Lord, the Forgiving, the Merciful. He is with whosoever hath desired Him. Verily thy Lord is the All-Bountiful, the Ancient of Days. And praise be to God, the Mighty, the Powerful, the All-Compelling, the All-Bountiful.

BH04077: This is a book from Us to him who…

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

This is a book from Us to him who hath ascended unto God, that the breezes of grace may waft upon him and adorn him among the Concourse on High with the ornament of his Lord’s favor, the Most Glorious. Verily thy Lord is He Who ordaineth what He pleaseth. There is none other God but Him, the Most High, the Most Great.

O Abu’l-Javad! Grieve not, for thy son hath attained unto that which none else hath attained, and God hath ordained for thee the reward of those who have attained unto His presence, and hath assigned thee a portion. Verily thy Lord is the Mighty, the Generous. Sufficient unto thee is thy deed which We have caused to appear in human form. It is indeed a righteous deed. Give thanks and be of those who are grateful. From this day forth thou shalt be a trust of the All-Merciful among the denizens of Paradise. Blessed art thou inasmuch as the Pen of God hath moved to make mention of thee while confined in the prison with a number of souls. Verily thy Lord is the Forgiving, the Merciful.

Say: Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having adorned my head with the crown of Thy favor amidst the people of Thy Kingdom, and for having made my son a servant of Thine in Thy prison. I beseech Thee, O Lord, by Thy power that hath encompassed all things, to enable him under all conditions to serve Thee, O Lord of all names. Then cause him to be so immersed in the ocean of Thy love that he may desire naught but what Thou hast desired, and may gaze toward the horizon of Thy good-pleasure in such wise that nothing that hath been created in the world may hinder him from remembering Thee, O Fashioner of earth and heaven. And strip not from his temple the robe of special favor throughout the everlasting dominion of Thy Kingdom, O Lord of mankind. Blind is the eye that hath not beheld Thy power and the manifestations of Thy sovereignty, and dumb is the tongue that hath not acknowledged Thy oneness and confessed Thy singleness, and hath not believed in Thy dominion and the potency of Thy command in the kingdom of Thy creation. There is no God but Thee, the Most Wise of judges and the Most Merciful of the merciful ones.

BH11004: In My Name, the Most Exalted, the Most High!

In My Name, the Most Exalted, the Most High!

O My handmaiden! Be thou attracted by My melodies, then drink from the cup of My loving-kindness, then take shelter in the shade of the cloud of My mercy, then become intoxicated with the wine of My bestowals, then hearken unto My call from the direction of My throne, then read the wondrous verses and words I have revealed. And know thou that My words are a light by which the hearts of the yearning ones are illumined, and a fire by which the hearts of the lovers are consumed, and a fountain of life by which My loved ones are quickened, and a wine by which My chosen ones are intoxicated, and an ocean wherein are treasured the pearls of My wisdom, and a treasury wherein are deposited the gems of My knowledge. Blessed is he who hath attained unto the recognition of My Self, and soared in the atmosphere of My love, and ascended unto the heaven of My gracious favors, and immersed himself in the ocean of My divinity, and discovered the sweet fragrances of holiness from the garment of My grace, and hath sanctified himself from all else save Me, and turned with his heart unto the sanctuary of My greatness, and arose to aid My Cause, and walked in the ways of My good-pleasure.

O My handmaiden! Remember thy Lord in thy standing and thy sitting, in thy sleep and thy wakefulness. By God! He who loveth Me sleepeth not even when sleeping, nor is he occupied with aught save My remembrance and My love and My praise, even should he be engaged in all the affairs of earth. Rejoice, O My handmaiden, then grieve, O My servant woman. As for the rejoicing, it is for My manifestation and My dawning and My effulgence and My exaltation and My radiance and My power and My glory; and as for the grief, it is for My anguish and My exile and My distress and My imprisonment and My tribulation. Glad-tidings unto him who readeth this and findeth that which is diffused therefrom. And upon thee, O thou who hast desired thy Lord within thyself and hast been invested with the robe of His guidance, and upon all handmaidens, pure ones, devoted ones, seeking ones, hoping ones, remembering ones.

BH04228: Glorified is He, who hath manifested Himself in His…

He is the Exalted, the Sublime, the Most Glorious

Glorified is He, who hath manifested Himself in His splendid Glory through the power of truth, thus all that dwell in the heavens and on earth were adorned with His presence, save those who turned away from His Face, and were in truth sure to perish. Blessed is he, whom the fragrances of the Day of God hath quickened and caused to be detached from all else.

This is the Day of Prophetic Cry, well is it with him who, with wisdom, calleth out This exalted and mighty Name. Thus hath been prescribed unto you by the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

It doth not beseem man to become a source of sedition; nay, rather, he should endeavor towards that which will cause the affairs of all that dwell on earth to prosper; thus hath the True One proclaimed, He, verily, is the Ever-Forgiving, the Compassionate.

Aid thou Me with good deeds—this truly behooveth ye, if ye be of them that comprehend this truth. For every day a portion hath been ordained in the Book of God. When the appointed time is come, that which He willeth is achieved. He verily reigneth over whatsoever He pleaseth. Those who had cast away the Cause of God, they had verily abandoned the stronghold of justice, and are among the heedless.

The King of Eternity hath come for the betterment of the world. If the people but knew, they would have circumambulated His Throne. Verily, your Lord is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. They are like unto mere children, and our Lord is the Educator of the world. If We but willed, we could have seized them with a single word from Us, yet the mercy of the Lord, the Almighty, the All-Glorious, the All-Powerful, supersedes His wrath. Walk in the path of thy Lord, for He is the most merciful.

Blessed is he who, wholly for the sake of God, calleth the people to the path of His Lord. Be thou shepherds unto His sheep and guard them from the ravening wolves. Thus instructeth thee He with Whom is the knowledge of the heavens and the earth.

Well is it with thee that thou hast forsaken thyself and turned towards the exalted realms, and attained unto the days of God and the knowledge of this Announcement, at which the mountain of corrupt desires was crushed and the Day-Star of divine guidance shone from the horizon of thy Lord, the All-Glorious, the Resplendent.

BH04327: O thou who gazest upon the Countenance and art…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Great

O thou who gazest upon the Countenance and art turned towards the direction of the Throne! Praise thou God, inasmuch as thou hast been mentioned by thy Lord on most occasions. Verily thy Lord is the All-Merciful, He is the Mighty, the Bestower.

After the matter of the land was mentioned verbally to Jinab-i-Amin, it is stated that the intention was for this matter to be accomplished in secret, although some disclosed it. However, God doeth whatsoever He willeth. Verily His Will hath prevailed over the worlds.

And regarding the [direction to turn one’s] face, at the time of departure from the Land of Mystery it was disclosed to Jinab-i-Jamal, and likewise to Jinab-i-Dhabih in the known land and to Abu’l-Hasan in the Most Great Prison, that they might be informed and convey God’s decree to others, so that whenever circumstances require they may act according to the divine testament.

However this was not intended for these days, as the means for it are not available—that is, no soul who would arise to accomplish this matter and convey it is to be seen. It remaineth concealed within the veils of the unseen until such time as God shall manifest it through His command. However Jinab-i-Ismu’llah Mihdi submitted the details and mentioned that person’s intention and acceptance of whatsoever would appear from God, the Self-Sufficient, the Most High. It is known that that person is wholly occupied in service to the Cause. We beseech God to assist thee in all conditions and to shelter thee in the vicinity of His mercy in every world of His worlds. He is the Mighty, the Powerful. Thou art the one who hath preceded others in the service of God. To this doth testify every fair-minded and informed one.

BH04150: Lawh-i-Husayn 1

In the Name of God, the Most Inaccessible, the Most Holy!

O Husayn! Hearken unto My call from the precincts of My prison, that it may draw thee to the Kingdom of My Cause and the heaven of My grandeur. Verily, thy Lord is the All-Powerful, the Almighty.

The idolaters have driven Us from the Land of Mystery and confined Us in the most desolate of lands. For this did the Faithful Spirit lament, yet the Youth was not overtaken by sorrow. He hath ever been gazing toward the direction of thy Lord’s mercy, the Most Merciful, the Compassionate, and from the heart of tribulation He summoneth all created things unto God, the Almighty, the All-Praised.

Grieve not for what hath befallen Us. Through tribulation hath the temple of Baha been adorned—thus hath the matter been decreed by One Who is All-Knowing, All-Wise. Make mention of the servants and pay no heed to what hath transpired in the land. By His Self, the Most Merciful! All that dwelleth thereon shall perish, and there shall endure only the face of thy Lord, the Most Exalted, the Most Great.

Be as the ocean, that tribulations may not prevent thee from the surging waves of remembrance of the Lord of names and attributes. Thus doth thy Lord, the All-Commanding, the All-Knowing, bid thee. Can the barking of dogs prevent the warbling of the dove, or the clamor of the people obstruct the radiance of the sun? Nay, by thy Lord, the Almighty, the Most Exalted, the Most Great!

O ʿAli! That which We foretold thee hath come to pass. With thy Lord is the knowledge of all things preserved in a guarding tablet. God shall soon manifest in the earth that which shall gladden the hearts of the sincere ones. We beseech God to assist thee in all conditions, to protect thee from those who have denied God, the One, the Mighty, the Bountiful, to cause thee to abide as long as His own Self abideth, and to grant thee the best of what He hath ordained for His chosen ones who are nigh unto Him.

Beware lest tribulation prevent thee from the remembrance of the Lord of Names. Remember Him throughout all days, that thy remembrance may endure amongst the worlds. And upon thee be glory for as long as God, the Almighty, the Mighty, the Beautiful, endureth.

BH04153: O Muhammad! Hearken unto the call of this Husayn…

In the name of the Most Ancient, the Most Precedent, the Most Exalted

O Muhammad! Hearken unto the call of this Husayn, at a time when His head lieth beneath the sword of the malevolent ones, and He crieth out saying: “O people! Fear ye God and deny not Him Whose presence was promised unto you, whereof all the Tablets bear witness, if ye be possessed of knowledge.

O people! By God, I speak not of Mine own desire, but rather I speak that which God hath taught Me at the Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing, as attested by that which hath appeared from Him and by these verses which have encompassed all the worlds.

O people! Slay Me not with the swords of rejection and hatred, and deny not that whereby your faith was established and your station exalted and this Cause upraised, through which the feet of every wicked transgressor have slipped.

O ʿAli! If thou wishest to weep, weep for Me. By God the Truth, there hath befallen Me that which hath befallen no one before Me, as every atom doth testify, if thou hast ears to hear. And thou, arise to aid Me. Verily, to aid Me is to teach My Cause, which hath caused the hearts of all created things to tremble, save those whom God hath strengthened in His Cause and into whose hearts He hath sent down tranquility from His presence, for He, verily, hath ever been merciful unto all worlds.

Thus have We informed thee and made mention of thee, that thou mayest rejoice within thyself and be gladdened by the glad-tidings of the Spirit in these days wherein the Beauty of God lieth imprisoned in this Prison. And the glory be upon thee and upon whomsoever hath followed the Cause of God and remained steadfast in the Cause.”

BH04148: O thou who believest in God! Bear thou witness…

He is the Mighty, the All-Knowing!

O thou who believest in God! Bear thou witness within thyself that there is none other God but Him and that ʿAli before Nabil is the Manifestation of His Essence and the Manifestation of His Cause unto all the worlds.

Through Him hath His proof appeared and His argument been perfected and His Word been fulfilled and His countenance shone forth and His evidence been established unto all who are in the heavens and on earth, and God was witness unto this. Through Him the Resurrection came to pass and the Hour arrived and the Balance was set up and the Bridge was raised according to that which had been ordained in the Mother Book as exalted. Through Him all things were resurrected and all who dwell on earth were gathered together, whether rich or poor.

Say: By God! He is verily the Sovereign of the Messengers and His Tablet is the Mother of Tablets, and through a single letter from Him was everything created with the ornament of luminous glory.

Take thou this Book with power and hold fast unto what is therein and fear no one, but place thy trust in God, thy Lord, the Merciful, the Compassionate, for He doth keep watch over thee. Open thou thine eyes and ponder what hath been sent down unto thee, and take it with strength that is firmly founded upon truth. Then emerge from behind the veils and arise in the name of God from a holy and resplendent horizon. Then aid thy Lord according to thy capacity and remain true to thy nature.

Know thou that We have been cast into prison through that which the hands of the oppressors have wrought, and this is what hath been decreed in truth upon preserved tablets of holiness. We give thanks unto God for what hath befallen Us and make mention of Him throughout all days, nay rather, at every moment and instant.

BH04155: O Ali! O target of fate! O Ali! O…

He is the All-Glorious!

O Ali! O target of fate! O Ali! O thou who art pierced by the arrows of hatred! Hearken to the call of Him Who preceded thee in tribulation in the path of God, Creator of heaven. There is no God but Him, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious. All things have borne witness to what hath befallen you in the love of God, the Lord of Names. The winds lament for you, the thunder trembleth at your afflictions, and heaven weepeth, its tears the rain. The Youth in His prison remembereth your tribulations, detached from His own, for He hath sacrificed Himself for the life of the world. Thus hath He ascended the heaven of tribulation and calleth the people unto God, the Powerful, the Unconstrained.

Can anything prevent Him from that which He is bidden? Nay, by Him Who commandeth the winds! Can the might of kings frighten Him? Nay, by Him Who alternateth night and day! His likeness is as the sea—can the happenings of time prevent its waves? Nay, by thy Lord, the All-Merciful! Behold the sun—though the earth should quake, or the mountains fall and their roots be torn up, and people slay or be slain, it remaineth unperturbed and continueth to shed its radiance. Or like the winds that blow by the power of their Lord, and nothing can impede them. Thus do We set forth similitudes for thee. Glorify thy Lord’s praise at morn and eventide. Then stand firm in the Cause and fear not the factions. Soon shall We seize them as We seized the generations of old. Verily thy Lord is the All-Compelling, and when His promise cometh, severe in His chastisement. Soon shall the sun of glory rise from the horizon of My Cause and illumine all regions. Thus have We sent down the verses unto thee that thou mayest rejoice in thy soul and arise to remember thy Lord, the Mighty, the Bestower.

BH04195: Praise be to the Best-Beloved of the worlds…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Great

Praise be to the Best-Beloved of the worlds that thou hast been made the recipient of His infinite bounties and hast not been debarred from the direction of His oneness. This was due to none other than the sincerity which was at times manifested from thee. Though it may not be apparent to thee now, God was and is aware of it. Know thou the value of this most great favor. Say: Praise be to Thee, O Best-Beloved of the worlds, for having enabled me to remain steadfast in Thy Cause. I testify that Thou art indeed the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous.

Thereafter, be thou not sorrowful. By My life, thou art near! This testimony which hath flowed from the Pen of Ancient Days sufficeth thee. Glory in God’s testimony unto thee, for all things have been and shall ever be dependent upon His testimony. Praise be to God that thou didst attain His presence, though it was before the time of Manifestation. However, in those days the fragrance of the divine breezes was wafting with utmost delicacy and gentleness. Blessed is he who hath attained, witnessed and heard that which was uttered by the Dawning-Place of his Lord’s verses, the Mighty, the All-Wise.

It is not permissible for thee to direct thyself to this quarter, for the good of the Cause. For this Wronged One is imprisoned, and the highway robbers lie in ambush. In such circumstances, it is necessary that thou protect thyself with the utmost care, that perchance through thee some service may be rendered that will cause the exaltation of the Word. Yea, if the way were open, We would have summoned thee to Our presence. Grieve not over anything. In all matters place thy trust in the Self-Subsisting, the Eternal. Verily, He is with thee and knoweth what thou art upon. He is in truth the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. And upon thee be glory, and upon those who are with thee.

BH04188: These are the verses of God which have been…

He is God, the Most Holy, the Most Impregnable, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious!

These are the verses of God which have been sent down in truth unto a leaf among the leaves that was witnessed to be of the Tree of Love, that she might rejoice within herself and place her trust in God in all matters, and stand firm in the Cause which hath been sent down in truth from the heaven of mighty exaltation.

O leaf! Move upon the Tree of Paradise by the name of thy Lord, and grieve not over this world and whatsoever is therein, neither rejoice in what hath been created thereupon. Detach thyself unto God, then remember Him every eventide and morn. Know thou that God’s favor hath been upon thee, and He hath sent unto thee that which quickeneth thy heart and the hearts of all the worlds together, for in every letter of God’s words there flow rivers of pure wine and camphor. Blessed is he who drinketh therefrom and is not held back by the veils of every rejected misbeliever.

Be thou assured regarding thy sister, for she hath believed in her Lord and hath been mentioned in truth before the Throne in the heights of Paradise by the Tongue of Holiness. She doth circle round the Tree, and God hath made her one of the leaves of the Tree which hath been planted by the hand of God in the land of glory. Thus was the matter ordained, and We have informed thee of it that thou mightest thank thy Lord and be of those who are gladdened by the joy of the Cause.

Take comfort in the remembrance of thy Lord, and should tribulations weigh heavily upon thee, remember My afflictions in this prison from those who disbelieved in God and His verses and were deprived of the holy fragrances. And the glory be upon thee and upon those handmaidens who remember their Lord and are mentioned in the Tablet as being among the triumphant ones.

BH04289: The Grace of God hath been sent down…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Holy

The Grace of God hath been sent down from the heaven of the will of your Lord, the Most Merciful. Verily thou seest it embodied in human form. Thus hath the matter been ordained.

O people! Gather ye around this table which We have sent down in truth, and be not like those who turned away from it. Thus doth the Ancient Pen command you, for it hath power over all things.

Say: O concourse of unbelievers! From whom do ye flee? Have ye found for yourselves any helper or protector? By My life! There is no refuge for anyone save under the shade that hath been extended in the name of God.

Say: Cast behind you your vain imaginings. This is your Lord, the Most Merciful, Who hath come with the truth—He Who was promised to you in a Tablet that was preserved in truth. Follow not those who have joined partners with God, nor turn to him who hath disbelieved in God and been an obstinate oppressor. Believe in God Who created you and sustained you—God sufficeth as a Helper.

Say: We desire for you naught but the eternal life, yet ye have chosen for yourselves the abyss of wrath. Why do ye not understand this utterance?

Grieve thou not over anything. Put thy trust in God—verily He is near to the sincere ones. Remember thou My tribulation and imprisonment and trials, then rejoice in the manifestations of My majesty and grandeur. Verily thy Lord remembereth him who hath uttered His remembrance—He is merciful to His servants. If harm befalleth thee in My path, grieve not. By My life! Your names and whatsoever hath befallen you have been inscribed in the Tablet, and God thy Lord sufficeth as a Reckoner. Remember thou those who are with thee from Us—those who have taken the Most Merciful as their Helper.

BH04229: Prayer for the Ridvan festival

He Is God

Glorified art Thou, O Lord my God! This is one of the days of the Ridvan Festival whereon a dwelling-place in the Prison hath been embellished through the presence of the Exponent of Thy Beauty, Who deigned to accept an invitation at the earnest request of one that hath been carried away by longing and desire.

Magnified be Thou, inasmuch as Thou hast shone forth above the horizon of the Prison with so dazzling a splendour that all parts of the world have been illumined by virtue of the bounty Thou hast conferred upon those that have entered beneath Thy shadow and were admitted within Thy precincts. On this Day Thou didst unloose Thy tongue with holy utterances and scattered abroad pearls of inner meaning and exposition upon all the denizens of the entire creation. Through the influence of this chalice, do Thou revive O Lord, all the dwellers of the earth and ordain for the people of Baha—they that yearn to behold Thy face but have been turned away by reason of what the hands of Thine enemies have wrought—ordain for them that which will profit them, O Thou Who art the Lord of names and the Possessor of earth and heavens! Grant them then a portion from the outpourings of Thy mercy in these days, when every abased one is exalted, every believer is adorned with grace, every dejected soul is stirred up with joy, every poor one is enriched and every seeker hath voiced Thy praise.

O Lord! Glory be to Thee for Thou hast singled out Thy loved ones, distinguished them from among Thy people and hast turned Thy gaze towards them from this place, wherein the Tabernacle of Thy Cause is incarcerated. O Lord! Hinder them not from attaining the things Thou dost possess, but cause their hearts to be enraptured by the sweet savours of Thy divine Revelation, in such wise that they may, thereby, be detached from all else but Thee and may set their faces towards the court of Thy favour and loving kindness. Verily, potent art Thou to do what Thou willest; powerful art Thou over all things, and lauded art Thou, O Desire of the worlds!

BH04296: In the Name of God, the Most Inaccessible…

In the Name of God, the Most Inaccessible, the Most Holy, the Most Mighty, the Most Exalted! This is a Book from this Wronged One Who hath been imprisoned in the pit of envy and hatred through that which the hands of the wretched ones have wrought—they who claim to have believed in God, the Powerful, the Most High, the Great.

Say: O people! If ye believed in Ali aforetime, by what proof do ye slay Him Who hath come to you with the Kingdom of God and His dominion, then with God’s power and His mercy which hath preceded all worlds? Nay, by the Self of the All-Merciful! They believed not in the Beauty of the All-Glorious and denied God from time immemorial and were among the idolaters.

Say: O people! We clothed some of Our servants with the garment of names in the kingdom of creation that they might aid their Lord, the Most High, the Most Exalted, in this Beauty Who hath appeared once again with His Most Glorious Name, and that they might be among those endued with certitude. Yet when they witnessed the spread of their names, they became veiled by leadership and turned away from the Beauty of Divine Unity and were among the heedless.

Thus have We recounted the mysteries with brevity that the righteous might become aware thereof and learn of what hath befallen the Beauty of the Chosen One in these grievous days. And thou, O servant, look not unto names and their glory, but look unto Him from Whom was manifested the Kingdom of names, and be of them that know.

Beware lest thou consort with them who have denied God, thy Lord and the Lord of all things and the Lord of all creation. But consort with them on whose foreheads hath been inscribed by the Pen of Eternity:

“By God, this is of the people of Baha who hath embarked upon the Crimson Ark in the name of his Lord, the Most High, the Most Exalted, and hath detached himself from the world.”

Thus have We commanded thee in truth that thou mayest be among the successful ones.

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

BH04307: O loved ones of God! Be not of those…

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

O loved ones of God! Be not of those who, when the breezes of might blow, say “We believe in God, the Lord of all creation,” but when trials come are so shaken that the fire of divine unity is extinguished in their breasts. Hearken unto My call from this Prison and stand firm in the Cause of God, your Lord, the All-Merciful, in such wise that neither trials nor tribulations shall hold you back.

In these days when darkness hath encompassed all regions, it behooveth you to shine forth with the lights of the countenance of your chosen Lord. Know ye that death cometh to all, and each hath his destined portion. Its arrow pierceth and its sword is sharp. It altereth all conditions, and wealth availeth not against it. This being so, it behooveth every seeing one to detach himself from the world and all that is therein, and every wise one to turn away from it and all that is upon it, and to turn with his whole being and essence toward God, his Lord, the Sovereign of earth and heaven.

Consider, then remember what ye have heard from the chosen ones. By God! Had the world any worth or station, they would not have abandoned it and chosen tribulation for themselves in the path of their Lord, the Most Exalted, the Most High. And We, despite the afflictions We endure, such as no eye in all time hath witnessed the like thereof, would not exchange an atom of these trials for all the treasures of the earth. We are content with what God hath ordained for Us. Would that My loved ones might taste the sweetness of this Kawthar which floweth from this Pen in this darksome night! By God! It is the quickener of all worlds. O thou servant! Drink, and fear not the oppressors. Say: All praise be to God, the Lord of all worlds.

BH04479: The idolaters have banished Us from the City…

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

The idolaters have banished Us from the City of Mystery and cast Us into the fortress of ʿAkka, wherein the Ancient Beauty hath been imprisoned. From the horizon of this Prison He calleth out to all nations: By God! I have accepted sorrows for the joy of the worlds, and afflictions for the well-being of all who dwell on earth, and imprisonment for the liberation of all on earth from the chains of self and passion. Thus doth the Most Exalted Pen speak forth from thy Lord, the Most High, the Most Great. Adorn yourselves with My characteristics and embellish yourselves with My nature, that sorrows may not prevent you from turning toward the All-Merciful, nor the might of all possible things deter you from gazing upon the face of your Lord, the Dawning-Place, the Luminous.

This is the Day wherein the holy eyes are turned toward those who have detached themselves from all things and have turned unto the Lord of Names, and upon whom the denizens of Paradise and those within the tabernacles of holiness do shower their prayers. He, verily, is cognizant of all things. We had intended to send unto each one of you who have turned toward the Countenance manifest verses, but We have been prevented by the oppressors who have encompassed Us from every side. Woe unto them for what their hands have wrought in this vain life! Soon shall they find themselves in manifest loss. Therefore, gather My loved ones in remembrance of Me, then make mention to them of that which hath been sent down from the direction of My Throne, that they may soar in the atmosphere of My nearness and ascend unto the heaven of My grandeur. Say: He remembereth you in the prison, that ye may remember your Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. And praise be to God, the Lord of the Day of Judgment.

BH04569: O my God! Praise be unto Thee…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Glorious

O my God! Praise be unto Thee that the dawn of Thy Ridvan Festival hath broken, and that therein hath prospered whosoever hath turned unto Thee, O our Lord, the All-Merciful. How many of Thy loved ones, O my God, are hastening across the Syrian wilderness, yearning for Thy beauty, yet are prevented from attaining the court of Thy transcendent oneness through the deeds wrought by the hands of Thine enemies who have disbelieved in Thee and Thy sovereignty.

O Lord! Behold the oppressors among Thy creatures with the glance of Thy wrath and might. In their tyranny they have reached a state which none can reckon save Thy all-knowing Self. Thy loved ones are content to enter and dwell in prison, yet they are not content with this, transgressing against the Manifestation of Thy Cause. Blessed is he who perceiveth in all that befalleth him in Thy path the exaltation of his station and the advancement of Thy Cause, O Thou God of the worlds.

By Thy might! Should all who are on earth gather together to harm any one of the people of Baha, they would be powerless, for whatsoever they regard as harm unto Thy chosen ones is light unto them and fire unto Thine enemies. Had the Dayspring of Thy Causation not been established in the Most Great Prison, how could Thy Cause have been spread abroad, Thy sovereignty manifested, Thy power proclaimed, and Thy signs demonstrated? Would that I might bear all tribulations out of love for Thee and for Thy creation. O Lord! Open Thou the eyes of Thy servants that they may behold Thee in all conditions seated upon the throne of Thy grandeur and ascendant over all who are in Thy earth and Thy heaven. Verily Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Almighty, the All-Powerful.

BH04468: God testifieth that there is none other God but…

In the Name of God, the Most Holy, the Most Inaccessible, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious

God testifieth that there is none other God but Him and that this Youth is He Who speaketh in all things: “There is none other God but Me, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting.” I created all contingent beings to manifest My power and the atoms of existence to reveal My grace. I am He Who hath ever been powerful over all things, and I am the Most Exalted, the Almighty, the Glorious, the Best-Beloved.

O Rida! Give thanks unto God for having enabled thee to arrive at this Blessed, Divine, Most Holy, Eternal, and Absolute Spot, wherein every atom of its dust proclaimeth:

“I am God, there is none other God but Him, the Most Exalted, the Most Holy, the Glorious, the Witnessed.”

Beware lest thou grieve over anything. Rather, remember thy Lord at all times and forget not God’s favor upon thee, and be thou of them that render thanks. We have learned of the hardships that have befallen thee. Beware lest thou be saddened by them. Rather, call to mind My sorrow and My hardship and My imprisonment and My tribulation in this land wherefrom the feet of entry and exit have been cut off, save for whom thy Lord willeth. Verily, He doeth what He willeth through His sovereignty and createth what He desireth by His word “Be” and it is. Beware lest thou hesitate in the Cause of thy Lord. Rather, ascend at all times unto the heaven of His love and be of them that ascend.

And glory be upon thee and upon them that have desired the countenance of God and who recline upon the cushions of glory.

BH04382: O My handmaiden! Hearken unto My call, then detach…

He is God, the Mighty, the Beautiful!

O My handmaiden! Hearken unto My call, then detach thyself from all else besides Me, then drink from the cup of My praise from the fingers of My mercy and grandeur, then raise thy right hand in My Most Great Name and rend asunder therewith the veils of the handmaidens through My sovereignty and majesty and power and might, then hearken unto other melodies from the Divine Lote-Tree which hath been planted by the hand of Baha in the Garden of Refuge, and every leaf thereof speaketh that which attracteth the hearts of the Concourse on High. Blessed is the ear that turneth toward it and heareth therefrom its sighing and lamentation at what hath befallen its Planter from the hosts of the malicious ones. Thus hath the matter been decreed on the Day of the Covenant.

Then hearken, O My handmaiden, unto My sweetest melodies once again, that they may purify thee from all else besides Me and draw thee nigh unto My presence and bring thee to My dawning-place wherein the lights of My beauty have shone forth from the direction of My throne. Then take in My name the cup of My mercy and the chalice of My favor, then drink thereof thyself and give to drink unto My handmaidens that they may be drawn to My direction and be purified from mentions in their search for My remembrance and be detached from all things in their longing for My presence. Then arise to remember and praise Me amongst My handmaidens. Thus doth command thee in this prison the Sovereign of thy Lord’s will, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Since a letter from the name of God, Nabil, was present before Me wherein mention was made of that handmaiden of God, therefore from the Pen of Command thy mention was revealed. “Remember Me in My earth, that I may remember you in My heaven.” Convey My greetings to all the handmaidens of God.

BH04549: This is a letter from the Prisoner to him…

In the Name of God, the Most Exalted, the Most Great, the Most Glorious

This is a letter from the Prisoner to him who was named Abdullah in the Tablets and whose name was mentioned before God, that he may stand firm in the Cause and detach himself from all who are in the heavens and on earth, and turn with his heart toward the direction of the Spirit, the station from whose horizon the lights were dawning. O servant! Hear the call of this Grieved One, whom adversity hath touched from every lowly oppressor. The ordeals were created for His Self, and the trials were raised up for His Being, and the afflictions for this Countenance which was, in truth, manifest from the holy horizon.

Take thou the remembrance of God and leave behind all other remembrances. Thus doth the Tongue of God command thee. Act according to that which thou hast been commanded by One All-Knowing, All-Wise. Draw near unto the Tree of the Cause with thy heart and be thou far removed from the worlds. Then mention among the servants what hath befallen Us, that perchance through thy remembrance the fire may be kindled in the hearts of those who have taken fancy as their guide. Beware lest thou grieve over anything. Put thy trust in God in all matters, for verily He will protect thee with the hosts of a mighty victory. Thus do We make mention of thee in this Tablet, that thou mayest remain steadfast in the Cause. And glory be upon thee and upon whosoever hath recognized God through his sight and heart and hath detached himself from all the worlds. And praise be to God, thy Lord and the Lord of the mighty throne.

BH04747: Glorified art Thou, O my God! Thou seest how…

He is the Imprisoned One

Glorified art Thou, O my God! Thou seest how the Dayspring of Utterance hath been prevented from the wondrous expressions of Thy remembrance by reason of what the hands of the tyrannical ones among Thy servants have wrought, and how they have forbidden Thy loved ones, who have sought Thy face from diverse regions and countries, from attaining His presence. Among them, O my God, is he who hath purposed to attain Thy presence and turned toward the realm of Thy bounties, yet when he entered the city he was forbidden from meeting Thee; and among them is he who was seized at the door and driven from Thy vicinity; and among them is he who remained in the open, turning unto Thee and awaiting Thy grace and favors.

I beseech Thee, O my Lord, by Thy Name through which the rivers of hearts have been connected with the Most Great Ocean which surgeth before Thy face, to accept their turning unto the Kaaba of Thy presence and their orientation toward that Spot wherein Thy countenance hath shone. O Lord, forgive them through Thy generosity, then ordain for them what Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen ones, and decree for them the good of this world and the next through Thy bounty and favor. O Lord, aid him who hath turned unto Thee, then raise him up before Thy face in every world of Thy worlds. Verily Thou art the Mighty, the Generous. Then cause to succeed, O my God, him whom We have desired to mention in this Tablet and assist him to aid Thy Cause and exalt Thy Word.

Then preserve him from the harm of those who have disbelieved in Thee and Thy signs, and inscribe him among the people of Baha who are established upon the Crimson Ark. Verily Thou art the Powerful over what Thou willest. There is no God but Thee, the Mighty, the Generous.

BH04746: Glorified be Thy name, O Lord my God! Thou…

Glorified be Thy name, O Lord my God! Thou beholdest my dwelling-place, and the prison into which I am cast, and the woes I suffer. By Thy might! No pen can recount them, nor can any tongue describe or number them. I know not, O my God, for what purpose Thou hast abandoned me to Thine adversaries. Thy glory beareth me witness! I sorrow not for the vexations I endure for love of Thee, nor feel perturbed by the calamities that overtake me in Thy path. My grief is rather because Thou delayest to fulfill what Thou hast determined in the Tablets of Thy Revelation, and ordained in the books of Thy decree and judgment.

My blood, at all times, addresseth me saying: “O Thou Who art the Image of the Most Merciful! How long will it be ere Thou riddest me of the captivity of this world, and deliverest me from the bondage of this life? Didst Thou not promise me that Thou shalt dye the earth with me, and sprinkle me on the faces of the inmates of Thy Paradise?” To this I make reply: “Be thou patient and quiet thyself. The things thou desireth can last but an hour. As to me, however, I quaff continually in the path of God the cup of His decree, and wish not that the ruling of His will should cease to operate, or that the woes I suffer for the sake of my Lord, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious, should be ended.

Seek thou my wish and forsake thine own. Thy bondage is not for my protection, but to enable me to sustain successive tribulations, and to prepare me for the trials that must needs repeatedly assail me. Perish that lover who discerneth between the pleasant and the poisonous in his love for his beloved! Be thou satisfied with what God hath destined for thee. He, verily, ruleth over thee as He willeth and pleaseth. No God is there but Him, the Inaccessible, the Most High.”

BH04650: In the Name of God, the Most Ancient…

In the Name of God, the Most Ancient of the Most Ancient! O Karim! Hear the call of the All-Bountiful. He is verily the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful. Be not disturbed by separation. We have ordained for thee the reward of them that have circled round Me, soared in the atmosphere of My love, held fast unto My cord, and clung to My robe. Thus hath the decree been fulfilled and grace hath come from the presence of One All-Knowing, All-Wise.

Thou art of those who have kept faithful to God’s Covenant and have not broken His pledge, and have sought His face from all directions. Be thou assured and be of the thankful. They who have kept faithful to the Covenant are indeed of the people of Baha. Thus hath it been inscribed by the Most Exalted Pen, and they shall have a seat of truth with One mighty and powerful.

When sorrows encompass thee, remember the days of My presence and that which the tongue of might doth speak. By God! Through it are drawn the hearts of them that know. Act ye, O My loved ones, according to that which hath been sent down unto you from the realm of wisdom and utterance. They who have transgressed beyond wisdom are in the hollow of heedlessness, yet God hath pardoned them as a bounty from His presence. He is verily the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful.

Be thou assured of My favor unto thee, My mercy towards thee, and My loving-kindness bestowed upon thee. Say: O my Lord! Praise be unto Thee for having remembered me in Thy Most Great Prison and sent unto me that which hath gladdened mine eyes, assured my soul, and attracted my heart. I beseech Thee by Thy Most Glorious Name to ordain what is best for me, for I know not what lieth within Thy Self, and Thou art the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

BH04738: Glorified be He Who hath sent down the verses…

He is the Mighty, the Most Holy, the Most Glorious

Glorified be He Who hath sent down the verses in truth. There is no God but Him. His is the creation and the command, and He encompasseth all things. Say: O people, fear ye God and cut not asunder the strength of His Cause with the swords of your idle fancies. Fear God and be God-fearing in His religion. Eat of what hath been sent down unto you from the clouds of wisdom, the table of inner meanings, then detach yourselves from all that is on earth.

Say: Today nothing shall profit anyone save that he turn unto God and be faithful to the Covenant. And thou, O Hadi, hear My call in this prison wherein I have remained alone, and I have taken for Myself no helper save God, my Lord and thy Lord, and I shall never take any, through God’s might and power. Thus hath the matter in this Tablet been ordained by the Finger of the Spirit. Give thanks unto God for having ordained for thee what thou desired, and for not depriving thee of the wondrous tokens of His grace, for He hath ever been merciful unto His servants. Beware lest thou take anyone besides Me as thy protector, or as thy beloved. Be steadfast in the Cause, then remember Me at eventide and at dawn, and be firm in thy Lord’s Cause. Then convey Our greetings unto thy wife and give her the glad-tidings of what God hath mentioned of her from the Holy and Glorious Pen. And the Spirit be upon thee and upon every faithful servant.

BH04633: Hearken unto My call from the direction…

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

Hearken unto My call from the direction of the Throne: He is, verily, none other God but Him, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. Know thou that the idolaters drove Us out of the Land of Mystery, and one sacrificed himself in My path by cutting his own throat, and when the Most Great Ocean was established upon the Ark another cast himself into the sea, dreading separation from Me, and the Luminous One offered up his spirit at the time when he was bowed before My feet, until they brought Us to the most desolate of lands in this remote prison. Thus did We receive at the hands of those who invoke Us day and night—the stupor of heedlessness and passion hath seized them and they understand not.

From the prison’s precincts I summon all who dwell on earth and call them unto God, the King, the Mighty, the Beautiful. Be thou steadfast in such wise that neither veils nor sorrows shall prevent thee from the remembrance of thy Lord, the Master of the Day of Judgment. Say: He is, verily, the Originator of the heavens and earth, were ye of them that know. Follow thy Lord in all conditions such that neither the oppression of the wrongdoers nor the rejection of the idolaters shall frighten thee. We have been with thee and are aware of what hath befallen thee. Thy Lord is, in truth, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. We have ordained for thee before the Throne a magnificent station. God shall soon exalt thy name in truth—He is, verily, the Protector of the doers of good. Hold fast to the cord of servitude unto God, the True One. Through it the Cause shall be established and the pillars of the transgressors shall be broken. And praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH04667: O Karim! Your call reached the threshold…

In the Name of God, the Most Holy, the Most Great

O Karim! Your call reached the threshold of the Throne of the Merciful, and the divine sacred ear inclined to hear it. Blessed is the soul that is mentioned today in the Most Great Scene and is honored with divine favors, for this favor is like a seed deposited in noble and lofty soil. Soon, in every world of the divine worlds, its fruits and ears of corn shall appear. Blessed art thou for the seeds of thy Lord’s favors, the Revealer of verses, have been sown for thee. God willing, you must at all times be occupied with the mention of the Sovereign of possibility, in such wise that the fragrant breezes of remembrance may perfume all created things.

Praise the Beloved of the worlds that your mention was made in the Most Great Prison, and from the direction of the Ancient Beauty the tongue of the favor of the Lord of nations turned toward you, speaking these lustrous words: The spring rain of the All-Merciful’s mercy is ever-descending and flowing from the clouds of grace. Blessed are they who have detached themselves from all that exists and have turned with illumined and pure hearts toward the All-Merciful. These are among the people of Baha, upon whom the dwellers of the cities of names shower their prayers.

BH04644: O Hakim! Be firm in the Cause of thy…

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

O Hakim! Be firm in the Cause of thy Lord, such that the tempests that blow from the direction of the oppressors may not shake thee. Stand steadfast in the Cause through God’s might and power. Say: O people! How long will ye gather the fruits of error and choose the paths of passion over guidance? Do ye not see that whoso departeth from among you returneth not, and whoso is scattered cannot be reunited? Your remaining days shall pass away even as your bygone days have passed. Fear your Lord, the All-Merciful. By God! He desireth for you naught save that which shall draw you nigh unto Him and cause you to enter the kingdom of eternity. He is, verily, the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful. Eat freely of the fruits of the everlasting Tree wheresoever ye will. And whoso is deprived thereof is veiled by a thick veil.

Know thou that We have been imprisoned in a place where eyes are prevented from beholding it and ears from hearing what is revealed therein of the verses of God, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. By this means they desired to prevent the servants from hearing the verses of God, that they might thereby extinguish His light amongst His near ones. But God hath refused save to perfect His light by His power, and He sendeth down what He willeth and conveyeth it to those who have turned unto Him with radiant countenance.

Preserve what We have counselled thee. Verily, thou hast with thy Lord a station among stations. Be thou grateful unto Him and be of the thankful ones. Grieve not at what hath befallen Us, but be content with what God hath ordained for Us, for We are in manifest joy. And praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds!

BH04884: O thou whom the Youth calleth from His prison!…

In the Name of God, the Most High, the Everlasting

O thou whom the Youth calleth from His prison! Previously were verses clear and evident sent down for thee, and verily they are a remembrance unto all the worlds. And this Tablet is sent once again in truth, and verily it is a mercy unto the sincere ones. Cast away what thou hast and take what hath come unto thee—this is better for thee than the kingdom of the heavens and earth.

Hearken unto this call which hath been raised between earth and heaven. By God! The proofs of all the world cannot match it. It hath been raised in days when kings gathered for My killing and servants for My destruction, and whensoever one turneth to the right or to the left, one findeth naught but enemies of My Self. Therefore, O My spirit, blessed be this Day wherein the Youth hath severed Himself from all save His Lord, the Mighty, the All-Knowing, and declareth that there is none other God but Him and that He is the Object of worship of those near unto God. We beseech God to soften thy heart through the waters of wisdom and utterance which have descended from the clouds of thy Lord’s knowledge, the All-Merciful.

O My brother! By God, all that thou seest shall perish, and were the matter as they say, the Youth would not have accepted the arrows of the people nor placed Himself beneath the claws of the idolaters. Rend asunder the veils, then emerge from behind them and turn thy face toward Him Who hath fashioned the heavens and earth. Say: O my Lord! I have heard Thy call and answered Thee, and here am I, content with what Thou hast ordained for me, and I am among those who have repented. And praise be to God, the Quickener of the worlds.

BH04850: This is a Book sent down in truth…

In the name of Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed!

This is a Book sent down in truth from the heaven of the will of the All-Merciful unto the peoples of the worlds, that it may detach them from whatsoever they possess and draw them nigh unto that Paradise wherein the veils of glory were drawn aside from the countenance of Beauty, and the Cause was made manifest through a clear sovereignty.

Therein hath been sent down that which was inscribed upon the Preserved Tablet by the Pen of God, the Mighty, the All-Wise. Blessed is he who hath hearkened unto the verses of God and purified his heart from the allusions of them that have turned aside—they who opposed God after He came upon the clouds of utterance with manifest sovereignty.

O Ahmad! Know thou that God hath created every soul for the recognition of the Manifestation of His Self, and this verily is the purpose revealed in all the Tablets. Yet when He appeared, all turned away save those who held fast to the Sure Handle and detached themselves from the deluded ones. Remember thou the time when Muhammad, the Apostle of God, appeared from the horizon of Hijaz—the divines opposed Him and denied the signs of God, the Mighty, the All-Knowing. Among them was Ibn Suriya, who was among the most learned of Jewish scholars. He opposed Him, saying:

“No sign hath been sent down unto thee whereby we should follow thee.”

His learning kept him from turning toward God, the Lord of the Day of Judgment. Among them also were Abu ʿAmir the monk, and likewise Huyay ibn Akhtab, and Ka’b ibn al-Ashraf, and their like—all opposed Muhammad, the Apostle of God and Seal of the Prophets, denied the signs of God, rejected His Cause, warred against the Manifestation of His Self, and disputed with what they possessed of satanic whisperings. Through them the people of that age turned away, distanced themselves from the law of nearness, and reached such a state of rejection that they sought to shed His blood, after He had come to them with a clear proof….

Give thanks unto God for having strengthened thee to dispel illusion, to attain unto clear knowledge, to remove the veil from thy face, and to become one of those possessed of insight. Were all the treasures of the earth of pure gold to be thine and were thou to expend them, thou wouldst not attain unto this station save by His leave. He, verily, is the Truth, and with Him is the knowledge of all things in a clear Book. Thus doth God single out whom He pleaseth with bounty from His presence, and He is verily the Most Powerful of the powerful ones….

BH04938: And We make mention of My other handmaiden…

And We make mention of My other handmaiden and remind her of God’s verses and that which hath appeared from Him in this exalted station. O My handmaiden! Take the chalice of eternity in the name of thy Lord, the Lord of earth and heaven, then drink therefrom, detached from all who are in the heavens and on earth. The ocean of knowledge hath surged in the words of thy Lord. Blessed is he who hath witnessed and drunk therefrom. Woe unto the heedless ones….

O Ibrahim! By God, the Friend of God circled round the Cause of God and acknowledged and confessed that which the Tongue of Grandeur hath spoken. The Tongue of God, the Mighty, the Wondrous, beareth witness to this. Give the glad-tidings of the appearance of God, His sovereignty, His grandeur and His power unto the people, that they may perceive the fragrance of divine utterance on this blessed and luminous Day. We have commanded all with that which will exalt the station of the Word among creation, and have revealed that which causes bodies to soar, let alone spirits. Yet most of the people are fast asleep. They raise not their heads from their beds as though they were among the dead.

They have not been awakened by the cry, nor by the trumpet blast, nor by this Call which has encompassed all who are in the heavens and on earth. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to aid His servants to cling to His most pure and luminous hem, and to hold fast unto His firm and shining cord. We desire to mention [My handmaiden who was with thee. Give her the glad-tidings of her Lord’s loving-kindness and illumine her heart with the light of] My resplendent remembrance. Thus has the matter been decreed and the verses sent down from the heaven of the bounty of God, the Mighty, the Powerful….

BH05077: Praised be Thou, O my God! Thou seest me…

Praised be Thou, O my God! Thou seest me shut up in this Prison, and art well aware that I have entered it solely for Thy sake and for the sake of the glorification of Thy word and the proclamation of Thy Cause. I cry out to Thee, at this very moment, O Thou Who art the Lord of all worlds, beseeching Thee, by Thine undoubted Name, to attract the hearts of Thy servants unto the Day-Spring of Thy most excellent titles and the Dawning-Place of Thy most resplendent signs.

But for the troubles that touch me in Thy path, O my God, how else could my heart rejoice in Thy days; and were it not for the blood which is shed for love of Thee, what else could tinge the faces of Thy chosen ones before the eyes of Thy creatures? I swear by Thy might! The ornament that adorneth the countenance of Thy dear ones is the blood which, in their love for Thee, floweth out of their foreheads over their faces.

Thou beholdest, O my God, how every bone in my body soundeth like a pipe with the music of Thine inspiration, revealing the signs of Thy oneness and the clear tokens of Thy unity. I entreat Thee, O my God, by Thy Name which irradiateth all things, to raise up such servants as shall incline their ears to the voice of the melodies that hath ascended from the right hand of the throne of Thy glory. Make them, then, to quaff from the hand of Thy grace the wine of Thy mercy, that it may assure their hearts, and cause them to turn away from the left hand of idle fancies and vain imaginings to the right hand of confidence and certitude.

Now that Thou hast guided them unto the door of Thy grace, O my Lord, cast them not away, by Thy bounty; and now that Thou hast summoned them unto the horizon of Thy Cause, keep them not back from Thee, by Thy graciousness and favor. Powerful art Thou to do as Thou pleaseth. No God is there but Thee, the Omniscient, the All-Informed.

BH05157: In the Name of God, the Most Holy…

In the Name of God, the Most Holy, the Most Exalted! This is a Book from Us to him who was illumined by the splendors of the light of his Lord and who journeyed from his homeland until he arrived in the vicinity of the mercy of his Lord, the All-Merciful, in the land which We had formerly named the Green Isle and subsequently the Land of Mystery, as ordained in the Tablet of Destiny by One Who is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

Blessed art thou for having attained the presence of God time and again, and for having inquired of Him in this remote prison. Be thou assured through His grace that He is with those who have been faithful to His Covenant and who have laid hold of the Book with might and evident sovereignty. Be thou united with My loved ones. Through this His signs are spread amongst His servants. In His hand is the kingdom of Command and Creation. He guideth whom He willeth unto the straight path.

Those who expelled you—God will soon abase them and exalt your names and record your deeds in a Tablet wherein no deed of those who act is left unmentioned. Rejoice in My joy though sorrow encompass Me from all sides. Take the cup of tea in My Name, then drink it in remembrance of Me and My glory. Then call to mind the days of meeting Me and the warbling of the birds of eternity upon the branches of the Tree of My grandeur and majesty.

Thus have We remembered you in the Most Great Prison that you might be reminded of the Most Great Scene, the station wherein the decree of fate was suspended. Verily He beholdeth you from this Spot. He is near unto the doers of good. And glory be upon thee and upon those who have purified their hearts and have united in the Cause of God, the Most High, the Most Great.

BH05251: O My handmaid! Ponder upon that which hath befallen…

…O My handmaid! Ponder upon that which hath befallen My Beauty from My kindred and from the adherents of former Faiths, causing the heaven to be cleft asunder and the earth split. Despite all this, My own sister hath risen up against Me with a manifest sword. We beseech God to open her eyes and to purge her from worldly things that she may recognize her Lord, for verily thy God’s bounty is abundant.

Recite unto thy Lord: Praised be Thou, O My God! I beseech Thee by Thy Beauty through which the Sun of Thy Oneness hath risen upon all creation, to protect the Manifestation of Thine Essence from the handmaids who have denied Thee. Thou art verily the Possessor of names and attributes. O my God! Thou beholdest Thy Best Beloved imprisoned amidst Thy enemies and saddened by what hath befallen Him at the hands of Thy servants. Notwithstanding that He is surrounded by deniers from every direction, He hath also been wronged by His sister whom Thou hast fashioned and created through Thy power and inspiration. I beseech Thee at this time, O My God, by Thyself to protect Him from her and from the harm of Thy creatures. Thou art verily the Powerful, the Mighty and the Beneficent.

BH05158: This is a Book from Us to him whom…

In the Name of God, the Most Holy, the Most Glorious.

This is a Book from Us to him whom God hath caused to grow from blessed and goodly soil. This, verily, is a great bounty.

It behooveth thee to let thy tongue make mention of thy Lord, thine eyes be directed toward the court of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, thy hands be raised unto God, the Creator of all worlds, and thy fingers point to all peoples.

By God, the Truth! O people, the veils of fancy have been rent asunder and the Ever-Abiding hath come with mighty sovereignty. Do ye follow vain imaginings after the Sovereign of certitude hath appeared from the horizon of the will of your Lord, the Most High, the Most Great? Or do ye cleave to idle fancies when this is your Lord, the Almighty, the All-Knowing?

Fear God, O people, and follow not those who have denied the Dawning-Place of the Cause but for Whom no revelation would have been sent down from time immemorial. Thus doth the Tongue of Grandeur speak forth from the pavilion of glory, yet the people are wrapped in a thick veil.

Rend asunder the veils through My Name, then draw strength from the power of thy Lord, the Almighty, the All-Powerful. Say: Verily, He calleth you unto God from His prison in such wise that His tribulations have not hindered Him from making mention of the Lord of Names. Turn ye unto Him and be not of the lost.

Grieve thou not over anything. Soon shalt thou behold that which hath been ordained for thee. Thy Lord is with thee under all conditions. He, verily, is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

And glory be upon thee and upon those who have stood firm in the Cause of their Lord, the Almighty, the All-Powerful.

BH05106: The Most Holy, the Most Glorious. There hath appeared…

The Most Holy, the Most Glorious. There hath appeared before Us the book of Our servant Al-Mihdi, who hath believed in God, the Mighty, the All-Wise. Therein he made mention of thee and of those who have cast behind their backs all created things and have laid fast hold on the Covenant of God, their Lord and the Lord of their forebears of old.

Blessed art thou for having turned to the Best-Beloved of the worlds and turned away from them that have disbelieved in God after He came with manifest sovereignty and truth. Thou hast fulfilled His Covenant and occupied thyself with His verses.

By My life! Whosoever hath caused to flow from his pen a single verse from among the verses of his Lord—God hath ordained for him the reward of one who hath circled round His presence and been honored to attain His meeting. He is assuredly among the triumphant ones. Were We to expound what We possess and reveal that which is hidden, they that are in the heavens and on earth would fall thunderstruck.

Arise to serve the Cause in My Name and place thy trust in God in all thine affairs. He is the Protector of whosoever hath turned towards Him, and He is indeed nigh unto them that do good.

Write down the verses of thy Lord and recite them, that they may draw thee to My Kingdom and thou mayest witness that which hath been forbidden to the eyes of them that have been heedless of this wise Remembrance.

Be thou of such constancy that tribulation shall not deter thee from making mention of Me, even as the kings and rulers united against Us failed to deter Us. By God! From the horizon of this Prison do We summon the servants unto the mercy of their Lord, the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful.

Rejoice thou in My remembrance and find solace in My praise. Verily He maketh mention of thee in His Kingdom. There is none other God but He, the Mighty, the Beautiful.

BH11775: O leaf of love! Hearken unto the call…

In the Name of God, the Most Unapproachable, the Most Holy, the Most Glorious!

O leaf of love! Hearken unto the call of thy Lord from the direction of this Prison, that the melodies of the All-Merciful may draw thee to that station wherein hath shone the countenance of Him concerning Whom hath been inscribed by the Pen of God:

“This is for the Face of God, the Powerful, the Supreme, the Mighty, the Self-Subsisting.”

Give thanks, O leaf, that the fragrances of the Beloved have wafted upon thee, and God hath made thee one of the leaves of that Tree beneath whose shade have sought refuge servants who are detached. Remember thy Lord throughout all days and be not heedless of Him, for verily He shall suffice thee against those who have disbelieved and who have joined partners with God, the Mighty, the Beloved.

Taste of the fruits of that Tree and deny not thyself thereof. Then place thy trust in God, thy Lord, in all matters. Strive within thyself that there may be manifested from thee that which befitteth thy kinship unto God, and be not of them who claim relationship unto the Self of God, yet walk not in the paths of His good-pleasure.

Be thou lowly in thy devotion and remember thy Lord in these days wherein people have taken for themselves a lord besides God, and have perished in the ways of tyranny and error, yet they perceive it not. Thus have We imparted unto thee the word of truth that thou mayest rejoice in the remembrance of the Beloved and be of those handmaidens who rejoice in the remembrance of their Lord.

And the glory be upon thee and upon those who have believed in God their Lord and have detached themselves from every enchanted idol.

BH04981: O Karim! Hear the call of thy Lord…

In the Name of God, the Most Holy, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious!

O Karim! Hear the call of thy Lord, the Most High, the Most Great. He speaketh from the precincts of the Prison and summoneth the people unto God, the King, the Mighty, the Beauteous. By God the Truth! O Karim! The more afflictions have increased in the path of God, the Lord of Names, the more hath grown the love of Baha in the Cause of his Lord, the Mighty, the Bountiful.

I know not what fire hath been kindled in the horizons, such that the hearts of the peoples of the world have been set ablaze thereby. Arise at My bidding to make mention of Me amongst My servants. Beware lest the veils hinder thee or the might of monarchs overtake thee. Take refuge in the Name of thy Lord—verily He will protect thee—then shine forth from the horizon of certitude. Say: By God the Truth! The proof hath come from the All-Glorious. Fear God, O people of the Bayan, and deny not God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Be thou enkindled with the fire of thy Lord’s love in such wise that its heat may be felt by all who dwell in the lands. Thus doth the Chosen One command thee from the presence of the Mighty, the Powerful. Dost thou grieve within thyself while thy Lord is manifestly joyous? He hath ordained for thee in the Kingdom of eternity that which the minds of the wise are powerless to comprehend. Turn thou unto the Sanctuary of Grandeur and say:

O my Lord! I have come unto Thee, detached from all save Thee. O my Lord! I have turned my face unto Thee. Sanctify me from whatsoever is repugnant to Thy good-pleasure, then cause me to speak Thy praise amongst Thy servants in a manner befitting Thy majesty and worthy of Thy glory. Verily, Thou art the All-Powerful, the Most Exalted, the Most High, the Most Great.

BH05203: O Leaf who hast been present before the Throne…

In His Name that overshadoweth all things

O Leaf who hast been present before the Throne in the Land of Mystery! In His name Who standeth over all things! O Leaf! That which We foretold thee hath come to pass, at the time when thou wert before the Countenance at the Spot wherein shone forth the beauty of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, and there appeared that which was concealed in the Land of Mystery, and the Youth departed therefrom according to what was ordained in the Tablet of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Bestower. Verily thy Lord knoweth best what is veiled from eyes, and with Him is the knowledge of what will be even as with Him is the knowledge of what hath been.

Grieve not for what hath befallen Us. Soon shall appear that which hath been inscribed by the Most Exalted Pen in a Tablet which God hath preserved in the pavilion of grandeur through power and might.

Forget not what We have enjoined upon thee. Guard the Cause of thy Lord and withhold thyself from that which thou hast been forbidden. Verily thy Lord is with thee at all times. When the leaves of fire approach thee, leave them behind thee. Take refuge in God thy Lord, then make mention of Him amongst His handmaidens through verses whereby the worlds are attracted.

Glorify on My behalf the handmaidens of God who have found the fragrance of the musk of inner meanings from the vessel whose seal hath been broken by the hand of the power of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Most Holy.

We have sent unto thee what was presented before the Face concerning that which thou didst entrust to Our servant, Sayyah. Although thou didst spend it, yet We loved not that any but thee should dispose of it, as a favor from Us unto thee. Verily thy Lord, He is the Mighty, the Helper.

BH04943: Know thou that We have come to the Most…

In the Name of God, the Most Holy, the Most Glorious

Know thou that We have come to the Most Great Prison that the servants might be freed from the prison of self and desire, and turn unto the sanctuary of their Lord, the Mighty, the Gracious. We summon the servants from the horizon of this tribulation unto God, the Lord of Names, that perchance the breaths of the words of Him Who is the Fashioner of the heavens might take hold of them. Verily thy Lord is the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful.

We have not forgotten thee. We have revealed for thee in the Tablet that which shall gladden the eyes of them that are endued with understanding. Say: O people! The Day hath come. Arise to help your Lord, the Most Exalted, the Mighty, the All-Praised. When the clamor of them that have disbelieved is raised, shun them and turn thy face toward God, the Most High, the Most Great. Be thou in such wise that he who possesseth authority shall not withhold thee from the remembrance of God on this Day whereon eyes have been blinded and feet have slipped, save whom thy Lord willeth, the Mighty, the Peerless. Arise to the Cause of thy Lord and bid the people unto righteousness. Thus have We commanded thee before and in this hour.

Say: O people! Abandon that which ye possess and turn unto that Quarter wherefrom the Concourse on High hath been illumined. And whoso turneth away, he is indeed in manifest error. Soon shall the horizons be illumined through the Name of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Gracious. Grieve not at anything. Verily thy Lord is with thee under all conditions. When the promise cometh to pass, there shall descend upon thee that which hath been ordained for thee. He, verily, is the Ruler over whatsoever He willeth.

BH05551: This is a Tablet that speaketh the truth, wherein…

He is the Most Mighty, the Most Holy, the Most Inaccessible, the Most Glorious

This is a Tablet that speaketh the truth, wherein mention is made of one of the handmaidens of God who hath believed in her Lord and detached herself from every wicked transgressor, and from whose heart have wafted the sweet savors of love. God hath therefore made mention of her in this Tablet, that she may glory therein among all the world.

O handmaiden of God! Glad-tidings unto thee for having been enabled to recognize God and for having fixed thy gaze upon His countenance, and for having fallen prostrate upon thy face before Him, weeping. We have indeed become aware of what is in thy heart and have sent unto thee that which will gladden thy heart, that thou mayest remain steadfast in the Cause. Remember thy Lord, then be devoutly obedient, and bow down in submission before God Who created thee and all things, for He hath power over all things. Beware lest thou be disturbed by that which hath disturbed the hearts of those who believed and then turned away from God and made Satan their path. Remember thou My exile and tribulation, then My imprisonment at morn and eventide. Know thou that We have ordained for thee in the heaven of the Cause a station that is truly exalted. Be thou at peace through the grace of thy Lord and forget not His remembrance, that thou mayest be numbered among those handmaidens who are mentioned in the Tablets. And the glory be upon thee and upon those who follow the command of their Lord and take refuge in His mighty stronghold.

BH05311: Thou knowest, O my God, that in Thy love…

In the Name of Him from Whom there is no escape save unto Him!

Thou knowest, O my God, that in Thy love I complain not of calamities, nor do I recoil from tribulations in Thy path. Thou seest how the kings have gathered to harm and destroy me, and how those in every land have united in hatred against me and in afflicting me. Yet despite this tumult which hath seized the worlds and all within them, I remain radiant from the horizon of Thy glory, speaking forth Thy praise and glorification. The winds of destiny have not prevented me from manifesting Thy sovereignty and power, nor have the doings of the people of creation hindered me from revealing Thy commandments and ordinances.

But my sorrow is for him whom I nurtured with the hands of My mercy and protected by My arm of power, who hath united with one as vile as himself, and together they have betrayed Thy Cause until the fire of sedition was kindled among Thy loved ones. O my God, purify Thy land of them both. Verily, Thou art powerful over what Thou willest. There is no God but Thee, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

O servant! We have withheld the Pen from mentioning thy name to protect thee. Behold then the faithfulness of thy Lord Who, despite His imprisonment and tribulations and trials, remembereth thee in a station round which circle the denizens of the Supreme Concourse. By God! This sufficeth thee, wert thou to gaze toward the horizon of the Cause. Be thou grateful and among the thankful ones.

Several Tablets were sent—deliver them to the Afnan and others.

BH05297: O My servant! Hearken unto My call…

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

O My servant! Hearken unto My call from the direction of My prison, for verily I am the Wronged One, the Lonely One. Remember thou the days of thy reunion with Me and what thou didst hear from My tongue as thou didst walk behind Me. Thy Lord remembereth thee even as He remembered thee before. Verily thy Lord is the Forgiving, the Merciful. Blessed art thou for having been faithful to My Covenant and held fast to My Testament, and for not having cast behind thee My remembrance after he who was created by My command turned away from Me, the Mighty, the Wondrous.

Grieve not, for thy reward is with Us. Yet We counsel thee with that wherewith We have counseled Our near servants. Sorrow not for what hath passed, neither be thou distressed by what Our servants who denied the signs of God have wrought after the Truth came with manifest sovereignty. Hearken not unto that which beseemeth not to be heard. Rather, seek thou the grace of God, the Exalted, the All-Wise. Do that which befitteth the days of thy Lord. How excellent are these fragrances which We have sent forth at all times unto those who have chosen the All-Merciful and cast the worlds behind them! These, verily, are of the sincere ones. Blessed are ye for having drunk the cup of tribulations in My path and dwelt in the lands of exile for My Name. Soon shall ye find yourselves in a station of ancient holiness with your Lord, the Most High, the Most Great.

BH05384: The Most Exalted, the Most Holy, the Most Glorious

The Most Exalted, the Most Holy, the Most Glorious

A remembrance for him who has rent asunder the veils when the All-Bestowing came in the shadows of the clouds. How sweet is My remembrance of My servants who were attracted by the verses in days wherein the mountains were scattered. Say: Verily, He in the prison summons the peoples unto God, the Lord of the ancient, and draws mankind near unto the Self-Sufficient, the Most Exalted.

Say: Are you content with the pool while you behold the Kawthar before your faces? What aileth you, O people of error? Take what you are commanded in the Tablet. Cast away what hopes you have from the people. Among men are those who have cast away religion and exalted clay, and among them are those who have chosen desires over guidance. By My life, all these shall perish, and sovereignty belongeth unto God, the Lord of the beginning and the end. Say: O people, do you not see the sun? Verily it is at its zenith. Through it the moon of fancy was eclipsed and the stars of idle imaginings have fallen. Blessed is he who has rent asunder the veils with the finger of might. Think not that those who are heedless are sleeping—nay, they are dead in the wilderness of error. The breezes of chastisement have seized them from all directions, and they have no protector from God this Day. Give thanks to thy Lord for having aided thee to recognize the Manifestation of His Essence and drawn thee near unto this station which hath been illumined by the lights of Beauty. Beware lest anything prevent thee from God. Leave all else but Him, then remember Him in the morning and the evening.

BH05544: This is a letter from the Wronged One…

In the name of God, the Most Exalted, the Most Holy, the Most Glorious

This is a letter from the Wronged One to him who hath made his way unto the All-Merciful, that it may detach him from his own self and draw him to a place illumined with the lights of His countenance.

O servant! Blessed art thou for having recognized the Truth and turned away from him who denied the All-Merciful and was recorded as a wretched one in the Mother Book. Be thou steadfast in the love of God and His Cause, then aid Him through utterance. Thus doth the All-Merciful command thee at a time when He was imprisoned by the hands of the oppressors. When tribulations overtake thee in My path, remember thou My tribulation and My exile and My imprisonment. Thus do We impart unto thee from the presence of One mighty and wise.

By My life! The day is approaching when We will have rolled up the world and all that is therein, and spread out a new order in its stead. He, verily, hath power over all things.

Sanctify thy heart for My remembrance and thine ear for hearkening unto My verses, then turn thy face toward the Spot wherein the throne of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, is established.

Say: O my Lord! Praise be to Thee for having enabled me to recognize the Manifestation of Thyself and caused me to turn toward the Kaaba of Thy reunion and meeting with Thee. I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which the heaven was cleft asunder and the earth was rent to ordain for me what Thou hast ordained for him who turned away from all else save Thee and turned unto Thee, and to decree for me a seat of truth with Thee in the Most Glorious Pavilion. Thou, verily, doest what Thou willest. There is no God but Thee, the Mighty, the Wise.

BH05571: Thou beholdest, O my God, Thy servant who dwelleth…

Thou beholdest, O my God, Thy servant who dwelleth in this prison-house, wholly detached from any one but Thee, his eyes turned in the direction of the Day-Spring of Thy mercy, his heart longing for the wondrous manifestations of Thy grace. Thou, O my Lord, hast reckoned up the ills that have afflicted him in Thy path. Thou seest him compassed about with such of Thy creatures as have transgressed and rebelled against Thee, who have come in between him and Thy loved ones, who have fixed his abode in this land and wronged Thee, and who have hindered Thy servants from turning towards Thee.

For all these things I offer thanksgiving unto Thee, O my Lord! I implore Thee to assist me and them that love me to magnify Thy Word, and to endow us with such strength that the ills of this world and its tribulations will be powerless to hinder us from remembering Thee and from extolling Thy virtues. Powerful art Thou to do all things; resplendent art Thou above all things.

Every conqueror is but a serf whom Thy hand hath subjected, and the richest of the rich is as destitute before the immensity of Thy wealth. The noblest of nobles is humbled when faced with the manifestations of Thy glory, and the mightiest of potentates is a mere abject one when confronted with the compelling evidences of Thine authority.

Tear asunder, O my God, the veil of vain imaginings that hath obscured the vision of Thy people, that all may haste towards Thee, may tread the path of Thy pleasure, and walk in the ways of Thy Faith. We are, O my God, Thy servants and Thy bondsmen. Thou art sufficient unto us so that we can dispense with the world and all that is therein. We are wholly satisfied with all that hath befallen us in Thy path, and exclaim:

“Praised be Thou, in Whose hand are the realms of revelation and of creation, and all the kingdoms of earth and heaven!”

BH05370: In the Name of God, the Most Great…

In the Name of God, the Most Great. A remembrance from Us to a handmaiden of God, that she may give thanks to her Lord and remain steadfast in her love for Him, after feet have slipped save those whom their Lord, the Mighty, the All-Knowing, preserved.

Know thou that thy Lord’s mercy hath preceded all created things, and of His mercy is that from this Prison, whose gate is held by the hosts of passion, He calleth mankind unto God Who created the heavens and earth and caused the Youth to speak. Soon shall the prison gate be opened and he who desireth to depart shall depart. Thus doth revelation flow unto thee from the Dawning-Place of inspiration.

Remember thy Lord in prosperity even as He remembereth thee in an adversity the like of which the eyes of mankind have never beheld. Grieve not for My tribulation, My abasement and My trials. By God! I am in the most exalted Paradise, while around Me circle the hosts of revelation with standards and ensigns. That which befalleth Us in God’s path is a mercy unto Us, and We accepted it aforetime; otherwise, by Him Who causeth My tongue to speak His praise, We could have subdued all who are on earth with but one word from Him. Thus hath the Pen inscribed from the irrevocable decree, and none knoweth it save him who hath drawn nigh unto Me and severed himself from all mankind.

He it is Who created the heavens by His command and the earth by His sovereignty, Who subjected the clouds and brought forth fruits from their sheaths. There is none other God but Him, the Mighty, the Supreme, the Powerful, the All-Knowing.

BH05430: Blessed is he who hath hearkened unto the melodies…

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

Blessed is he who hath hearkened unto the melodies from the quarter of the All-Merciful in this station whose air hath been perfumed by the fragrant breezes wafting from the raiment of his Lord, the Most Exalted, the Most Great. The very air of the prison hath been made to exult by reason of the breath of God having ascended unto it, were ye of them that comprehend, and its earth glorieth above all other regions of the earth.

This is a revelation from One Who is mighty and ancient. O servant! Hearken unto My words, then detach thyself from the world and all that is therein. By My life! There hath come unto thee that which is better for thee than all that is on earth, and thy Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise, beareth witness thereto. A noble station hath been ordained for thee in the pavilions of grandeur. Seek what God hath desired, then in His love detach thyself from the peoples of the world. Thy name hath been mentioned in the presence of the Countenance, and verses have been sent down unto thee at an hour when the denizens of Paradise and the angels drawn nigh were circling round the Throne.

Grieve not for what hath befallen Us. By God! The Youth doth not lament in the love of God even should all tribulations descend upon Him, and thy Lord is witness unto what I say. Stand firm in the Cause, then aid it through wisdom and utterance. Thus have We commanded aforetime and afterwards, but the people are in manifest error. Glory be upon thee and upon whosoever hath turned unto the Dawning-Place of Revelation and turned away from the idolaters.

BH05545: The Most Holy, The Most Great. This…

The Most Holy, The Most Great. This is a Book which hath been sent down in truth from the presence of One mighty and wise. It speaketh that I am the Prisoner in this mighty Prison.

O My loved ones! Look not today to your own selves but rather to the Self of God, if ye be of them that comprehend. Ponder not upon that which would bring comfort to your bodies, but rather upon that which would exalt My remembrance amongst the worlds. Grieve not at anything, for He is with you. Soon will He open before you a gate whereby your affairs shall prosper both in this world and in the next. A mighty station is yours if ye gather together for the triumph of God and His Faith. Beware lest ye differ in the Cause of your Lord, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

All that hath been revealed in the Bayan is My remembrance, and all that hath been revealed in this Manifestation is the embellishment of Mine Own Self, which We have created for My Temple, the Mighty, the Inaccessible. My outward calleth unto My inward, and My inward unto My outward. There is none other in the kingdom save Me, yet the people are in manifest heedlessness. Verily the Branches that have branched from the Divine Lote-Tree are My evidences amongst My creatures and My breezes between the heavens and earth.

See ye any partner or peer unto God, your Lord? Nay, by the Lord of the worlds! Speak not of that which God hath not permitted you. Fear ye the All-Merciful, and be of them that are endued with insight. Grieve not thou, for nothing escapeth the knowledge of thy Lord. He is cognizant of all things. Remind the people with wisdom from thy Lord, the Mighty, the Powerful.

BH05301: O servant! On this Naw-Ruz, when the Sun has…

In the Name of God, the Most Holy, the Most Great

O servant! On this Naw-Ruz, when the Sun has risen from the constellation of grandeur, most faces have turned black except for those whom your Lord, the All-Merciful, has willed. We see people in distress and turmoil, descending and ascending, not knowing. Some faces are gloomy and frowning, others radiant and joyful. Some eyes are weeping and staring, others sharp and observant. Some ears are deaf and forbidden, others hearing and attentive. Some tongues are dull and fettered, others eloquent and speaking. Some hands are restricted and bound, others extended and giving. Some hearts are fearful and heedless, others pure and expectant. Some souls are agitated and commanding to evil, others tranquil and well-pleased. Some feet are trembling and unsteady, others firm and steadfast. Thus do We observe the servants and inform you in this wondrous Tablet.

Grieve not for those who have disbelieved. Remember those on whose faces you find the radiance of the beauty of your Lord, the Most High, the All-Knowing. Verily, in this Great Prison We summon the people unto God, the Lord of all worlds. Be as We are in the Cause of God and fear not the oppressors. He is with you and will help you in truth. He is the Protector of those who remember Him. We beseech God to purify the servants from the world and to turn them toward the Dawning-Place of His Most Beautiful Names. Verily, He is the Hearer of Prayer and He encompasses all the worlds.

BH05457: Muhammad-Hasan! In the Name of God, the Most Manifest!…

Muhammad-Hasan! In the Name of God, the Most Manifest! Your name hath been mentioned before the Face in this prison, and verses have been revealed for thee that all the kingdoms of the world cannot equal. Look not upon what hath been sent down from the Supreme Pen as thou lookest upon what the people possess. Thus doth the All-Informed apprise thee.

From every letter of the words of God there is created in the realm of creation that which none knoweth save God and those whom He hath made the manifestations of His knowledge. Thus doth the All-Knowing teach thee in this perspicuous Tablet. The people of insight behold the effects of the Word in those who have believed even as they behold the radiance of the sun in the horizons when it riseth from the horizon of heaven. Verily thy Lord’s Word hath encompassed the heavens and the earth.

Hearken thou unto My words: Leave the people and what they possess and take comfort in the remembrance of thy Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Death is truth; its messenger cometh from the presence of One mighty and powerful. When this is established, it behooveth not the seeing one to turn unto the world and whatsoever is therein. Thus do We make mention of him whom the remembrance profiteth, from the presence of One mighty and praiseworthy.

The former generations have passed away and others will follow them. Be thou patient and grieve not over anything. If thou remainest firm in the love of thy Lord, thou shalt soon find thyself in manifest glory. In His hand is the Command. He confirmeth whatsoever He willeth of what He desireth, and He eraseth, and with Him is the Mother Book. And praise be to God, the Lord of Lords.

BH05535: In the Name of God, the Most Holy…

In the Name of God, the Most Holy, the Most Inaccessible, the Most Mighty, the Most Exalted! This is the Book of God, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting, unto him who hath turned towards the Dawning-Place of the Cause on a day when faces were darkened. Arise to aid the Cause of God and His Command. Thus doth the Ancient Pen enjoin thee on behalf of thy Lord, the Mighty, the All-Loving.

The hearts of the pure ones have been consumed by reason of what hath befallen the Dawning-Place of Names, yet the Youth remaineth in gladness and joy. Neither do adversities and hardships sadden Him, nor do the hosts of the wicked prevent Him from that which He hath been commanded by God, the Mighty, the Beloved. It behooveth everyone who hath quaffed from this Cup to be so steadfast that no veils shall hinder him from turning unto the Mighty, the Bestower. Thus hath it been inscribed by the Finger of thy Lord’s Will, the All-Merciful, in a preserved Tablet.

Thy letter hath come before Us, and thereby We have ordained for thee an exalted station. Grieve not because of the world and whatsoever happeneth therein. Verily thy Lord doth both expand and contract, and in His right hand is the dominion of the kingdom of the heavens and of the earth, but the people understand not.

Convey My greetings unto My loved ones. Say: Today it behooveth him who hath believed in Him to manifest that which will attract the hearts of men and gladden honored servants. Say: The Spirit be upon you and the Glory be upon you, O ye whom God hath singled out for this grace which minds have never comprehended the like thereof.

BH05541: This is an epistle from this wronged, grief-stricken Prisoner…

He is God, the Most Knowing, the Most Glorious

This is an epistle from this wronged, grief-stricken Prisoner unto him who hath believed in God and taken the Spirit as his beloved, and who is among those that understand in the days of God, that the words of his Lord may move him and remind him through grace and detach him from those who are not guided by the signs of God. O servant! We had previously sent down a tablet unto thee and dispatched it that thine eyes might be consoled thereby and that thou mightest soar on wings of longing in the holy atmosphere of the Beloved.

And now once again hath the breeze of sorrow and grace wafted upon thee from the direction of thy Lord’s most exalted Throne, that it may free thee from thy self and cause thee to walk in the cities of holiness and establish thee firmly in the Cause of God, the Protector, the Mighty, the Self-Subsisting. Beware lest thou grieve at what hath befallen thee in this transient life, for it shall pass and come to an end, while that which hath been ordained for thee in the tablets of might shall enduringly remain. Take comfort in My remembrance and forget those who have denied My Self, for this is the best counsel shouldst thou be of them that know. Thus hath the tongue of thy Lord spoken out of love for thee, that thou mightest rejoice within thyself and be of them that take delight in the remembrance of God. And upon thee be glory, and upon whosoever hath detached himself from them that have disbelieved and associated partners with God, the One, the Single, the Mighty, the Beloved.

BH05295: O My handmaid! Mention was made of thy name…

In the name of God, the Ever-Abiding!

O My handmaid! Mention was made of thy name before the Throne, and the Sun of Grace hath shone upon thee, and this Tablet is one of its effulgences. Verily, the earth declareth unto God its tidings. The Youth hath dwelt in the prison of ʿAkka, and the sincere ones perceive the fragrance of His garment from its environs.

The verses have been sent down from the right hand of the throne of thy Lord, the Possessor of Names and Attributes, and that which hath flowed from the Pen is its proof. Be thou patient and grieve not. Soon shall the power of thy Lord be made manifest and the people shall be seized by its signs. The ranks have been drawn up and the angels have descended with crimson standards, and the earth hath trembled and its earthquake hath seized the ungodly.

This is the Tree of God—blessed is the one who draweth nigh unto it and holdeth fast to its branches. Its leaves speak: “By God, this is the Beloved of the worlds!” O people, fear ye God, then hearken unto its melodies. The heaven and earth have been rolled up in My grasp, and the transgressors bear their burdens. We have created the heavens and adorned them with shining suns—blessed is the one who is illumined by their lights.

The Hour hath come and the moon of reckoning hath been cleft, and trembling hath seized the ungodly. The palm trees have been uprooted and souls have been thunderstruck, and the houses lie desolate upon their trellises. Grieve thou not over anything, but remember thy Lord, the All-Merciful, then be thankful unto Him. Blessed is the handmaid whose face hath been illumined in the days of her Lord and who hath remained faithful to her covenant.

BH05526: In the Name of the One Friend! Thy letter…

In the Name of the One Friend! Thy letter in the Persian tongue was presented before the Divine Throne and was regarded with the glance of favor. God willing, may all praise the Goal of the world’s peoples in the most wondrous Persian language, for this tongue was and shall ever be sweet. How blessed is the state of one whose mention floweth from the Pen of the Ancient in this Most Great Prison, or whose petition is regarded by the Divine Unity.

Tablets were newly revealed in answer to the question of one of the servants and these were sent. Consider the words revealed aforetime and after in the hidden knowledge, and after gaining understanding and knowledge, begin to act upon them. Be not disheartened. Be grateful and content with whatsoever hath been ordained, for God, exalted be His glory, hath been and shall ever be watching over you, and is closer and more kind to you than you are to yourself.

Since He hath ordained for every thing an effect and means through the manifestation of the Influential Name, one must seek from the Causer of causes through these means. God willing, may you ever be gladdened by divine grace, for His grace hath encompassed you, and this is more excellent than whatsoever hath been created in the heavens and on earth.

And the Spirit be upon you and upon those who are with you among the loved ones of God.

BH05518: Praise be unto Thee, O my exalted Lord…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Glorious

Praise be unto Thee, O my exalted Lord, in all conditions, and for having lifted the decree of contention and ordained that in this Dispensation Thy Cause should triumph through utterance. O my God! Aid Thy loved ones to remember and praise Thee, then inspire them with that which shall subdue the hearts of Thy creatures and the souls of them that dwell in Thy dominion. O Lord! Diffuse the fragrance of Thy raiment through the hands of them that bear glad-tidings among Thy loved ones, that the sweet-scent of Thy love may be wafted throughout Thy lands and may attract unto it the hearts of Thy servants. O Lord! Praise be unto Thee for having moved the Pen of the Most High to make mention of him whom Thou didst desire, while confined in the Most Great Prison. By Thy glory! This grace cannot be equaled by whatsoever existeth in the kingdom of creation and the realm of invention.

Blessed is he who hath inhaled Thy fragrances in Thy days and remained steadfast in Thy Cause after the concealment of Thy countenance. Blessed is he upon whom the Pen of Thy Command hath traced mention and unto whom hath been directed the glance of Thy loving-kindness from Thy prison. I beseech Thee, O my God, to aid Thy servants unto that which Thou lovest and art pleased with. Verily Thou art the Creator of earth and heaven and the Maker of names. There is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.

BH11783: We have heard thy call and have answered thee…

He is the All-Glorious!

We have heard thy call and have answered thee. Verily thy Lord is the Answerer of prayers. He is with thee and will aid thee with truth. He, verily, is the Almighty, the All-Powerful. We have previously sent thee a Tablet that no sovereignty in the heavens or earth can equal, and in this Prison hath this perspicuous Tablet been revealed. Wert thou to become aware of what hath been ordained for thee in the Tablets, thou wouldst soar with joy. Thy Lord is indeed possessed of great bounty. Be thou steadfast in all conditions and place thy trust in God, the Lord of the exalted Throne. Watch over thy Lord’s Cause with wisdom. Thus hath the Ancient King commanded thee through the Pen of His Most Ancient Name. Act according to what thou hast been commanded, then assist thy Lord in these days wherein feet have slipped save those who have come unto their Lord with hearts purified from all who dwell on earth.

Say: Glory be to Thee, O my God! I beseech Thee by the wafting of the breezes of Thy grace over all created things, and by the manifestation of Thy Most Great Name upon the Daysprings of Thy names and attributes, to make me steadfast in Thy Cause and detached from Thine enemies. Then ordain for me, through the Pen of Destiny, union with Thee and the attainment of Thy presence in every world of Thy worlds. Thou, verily, art the Almighty, the All-Powerful.

Soon will the cry of the Calf be raised from most lands. Avoid it and be among those who stand firm in the stronghold of the Cause. Praise be to God, the Lord of all worlds.

BH05932: O son of Vahid, upon thee be the Glory…

In the Name of God, the Most Great, the Most High

O son of Vahid, upon thee be the Glory of God! It behoveth thee to aid thy Lord in these days and to speak forth Our Most Great Name, the All-Glorious—He Who hath been imprisoned for the education of the world, that men might be guided to this Straight and Manifest Path. Be thou steadfast in the love of God and His Cause in such wise that from thy countenance might be seen the radiance of Vahid who sacrificed himself in My path. Then, verily, in My exalted, holy and luminous Kingdom—by God!—wert thou to behold him thou wouldst swoon away with longing for that glorious and wondrous station. Turn not unto the world and whatsoever hath been created therein, be it what it may, but hold fast unto the hem of thy Lord’s mercy, the Mighty, the All-Wise.

Be thou a herald of My Cause amongst My servants, that I may cause thee to enter the pavilion of My glory and show thee that which the eyes of those near unto God were prevented from beholding. Verily the grace of thy Lord hath encompassed thee aforetime, and We shall soon exalt you throughout the lands through My Name. He, verily, is the Almighty, the All-Powerful. Stand firm in the Cause of thy Lord through God’s might and power in such wise that the veils of the idolaters shall not withhold thee. Make mention of him who remembereth thee in the prison, purely for the sake of thy Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. And the Glory be upon thee and upon whosoever hath been illumined by this Light that hath shone forth from the horizon of the name of thy Lord, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.

BH05805: We have previously informed you in the Tablets…

He is God, exalted is He!

We have previously informed you in the Tablets of that which hath been ordained by the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. He hath indeed decreed with truth, and We are among those who render thanks. Grieve not over what hath been decreed and ordained, but be filled with supreme gladness, for in this mighty seizure and great captivity We are in manifest ease and comfort. Praise be unto Him for having made me a prisoner in His path, and made my kindred captives in the hands of the oppressors.

By God! The Most Great Sea hath been established upon a sea whereof every drop proclaimeth between the heavens and the earth that He is indeed the Truth and the Beloved of all the worlds. And the letter Ha circleth round it, and neither tribulations can prevent it from His Cause nor calamities from His sovereignty. Erelong will it emerge through truth, for verily He is the One with power over whatsoever He willeth.

Say: In this prison are signs for them that possess true knowledge, and clear evidences for them that are near unto God. God desired not thereby to extinguish His fire, but rather to kindle it, and in all that He doeth there is a wisdom which none comprehend save they who are endowed with clear vision.

Remember thy Lord, for verily He is with thee at all times and will aid thee through the truth. And there is no help save from Him—verily He is the Protector of the sincere ones. And praise be to God, the Lord of all the worlds.

BH05806: The heedless ones drove Us from the land…

In the name of Him Who giveth and taketh as He pleaseth!

The heedless ones drove Us from the land of mystery with manifest tyranny, until We reached the shore of the sea. Then We embarked upon the ship by God’s command—He, the Exalted, the Great. At all times the verses of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, were sent down, and by them the hearts of those who circled round were attracted, until We arrived at this Great Prison. The hosts of the oppressors seized control of the prison gate. The first to turn toward God in this land was he who was named Abu’l-Hasan. He attained the presence once and heard the melodies of God. He was indeed a trustworthy man. God accepted from him the hardships he bore in His path and which he continued to bear on his return journey. Thy Lord is verily the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

After him entered servants who did not attain the presence of the Youth because of what the hands of the oppressors had wrought. For each one God ordained a great reward. Thus have We revealed unto thee some of what befell Us, that thou mayest be informed thereof and hear the call of this Wronged One from this far-off place, and remember thy Lord in all conditions. Verily He is with His remembering servants. And glory be upon the loved ones of God who stood fast in His Cause and were of those who remained firm. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH05971: O thou who makest mention of Me! Hear My…

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

O thou who makest mention of Me! Hear My call from the direction of My prison, and ponder My Cause and what hath befallen My Self. Then behold how I have stood firm in all conditions upon the Cause of God, thy Lord and the Lord of all worlds. By God! Every member of My body crieth out: O people! He is verily the Beloved of those who know, and every hair of Mine proclaimeth: O people! He is verily the Object of worship of all worlds. Tribulation shall never prevent Me from the remembrance of thy Lord, the Most Exalted, the All-Highest, even as it prevented Me not aforetime. Verily thy Lord is the All-Powerful, the Most High, the All-Knowing.

Say: O people! None may draw nigh unto that Tree save after his detachment from all things. Thus hath the Pen of Command inscribed in this Day wherein God hath been established upon the throne of grandeur with manifest sovereignty. We have heard thy mention and thy praise. Blessed art thou for having attained unto that which most of the servants have missed and which none in all lands have reached save those who have come unto God with radiant countenance. Be thou steadfast in My love and say: Through His remembrance God hath made me independent of the remembrance of all else. Verily He is the Guardian of those who turn unto Him. Convey the greetings of thy Lord unto those whom thou findest upon a straight path. Praise be unto God, the Lord of all worlds.

BH05715: Thou beholdest, O my God, the Day-Star of Thy…

He is the Most Manifest, the Most Glorious

Thou beholdest, O my God, the Day-Star of Thy Word shining above the horizon of Thy prison-city, inasmuch as within its walls He who is the Manifestation of Thy Self and the Day-Spring of the light of Thy unity hath raised His voice and uttered Thy praise. The fragrances of Thy love have thereby been wafted over Thy cities and have encompassed all the dwellers of Thy realm.

Since Thou hast revealed Thy grace, O my God, deter not Thy servants from directing their eyes towards it. Consider not, O my God, their estate, and their concerns and their works. Consider the greatness of Thy glory, and the plenteousness of Thy gifts, and the power of Thy might, and the excellence of Thy favors. I swear by Thy glory! Wert Thou to look upon them with the eye of justice, all would deserve Thy wrath and the rod of Thine anger. Hold Thou Thy creatures, O my God, with the hands of Thy grace, and make Thou known unto them what is best for them of all the things that have been created in the kingdom of Thine invention.

We testify, O my God, that Thou art God, and that there is no God besides Thee. From eternity Thou hast existed with none to equal or rival Thee, and wilt abide for ever the same. I beseech Thee, by the eyes which see Thee stablished upon the throne of unity and the seat of oneness, to aid all them that love Thee by Thy Most Great Name, and to lift them up into such heights that they will testify with their own beings and with their tongues that Thou art God alone, the Incomparable, the One, the Ever-Abiding. Thou hast had at no time any peer or partner. Thou, in truth, art the All-Glorious, the Almighty, Whose help is implored by all men.

BH05923: This is a Tablet from the Youth to one…

In the Name of God, the Most Holy

This is a Tablet from the Youth to one of His handmaidens, the Mother of Piety who hath visited her Lord, that she may give thanks unto her Lord and be numbered among the steadfast. Thus doth the Pen of Command enjoin His handmaidens who have believed in God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. O My handmaiden! Remember, then prostrate thyself before thy Lord, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. Grieve thou not save for My imprisonment, and rejoice not save in My manifestation, and turn not thy face except toward the Face of God, the Dawning, the Luminous. Verily, He is with thee and seeth thee in thy condition and heareth thy sighing in His love. He, verily, encompasseth all things. Await thou the lights of My Beauty, then ascend to the atmosphere of My nearness, then hearken unto My call from the direction of My Throne, and this indeed is a great bounty. Then say:

“Glory be unto Thee, O my God! Make my life Thy Name, and my spirit Thy remembrance, and my hope Thy Beauty, and my paradise Thy nearness, and my Kawthar Thy call, and my Ka’bih Thy love, and my sanctuary Thine atmosphere, and my goal the seat of Thy mighty Throne. O Lord! Drive me not from the door of Thy mercy, and forbid me not from the wonders of Thy signs, and leave me not among Thy handmaidens. Verily, Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. There is no God but Thee, the Mighty, the Generous.”

BH05847: Say: Praise be to God Who hath caused…

He is the All-Wise, the All-Knowing Expositor.

Say: Praise be to God Who hath caused the people of Baha to enjoy that which none but the Supreme Power hath brought forth. I beseech Him, exalted be He, to make me one of the companions of the Crimson Ark which hath adorned the sea of grandeur when He came Who illumined thereby the Most Exalted Horizon. O Hamid! We bear witness, as We bore witness before the creation of the heavens and earth, that there is none other God but Me, the Self-Subsisting, the All-Compelling. That which an Afnan hath praised through thy tongue hath been presented before Us. Verily thy Lord is the All-Hearing, the Answering. The months have passed during which My Most Exalted Pen moved not in this noble station. Give thanks unto God that We have answered thee and made mention of thee in this mighty prison. Remember thy Lord at all times. Verily He loveth them that remember Him. Say:

O my God and the God of all that are in the heavens and on earth! I beseech Thee by the Name through which the eyes were illumined, that Thou protect me from every affliction and hurt, and aid me to stand firm in this Cause whereby all who are on earth were shaken except such as were preserved through Thy Name, the All-Compelling, the Almighty, the All-Powerful.

We send Our greetings unto thee from this spot that thou mayest rejoice in this manifest grace.

BH05716: Thou dost witness, O my God, how He Who…

He is the Most Exalted, the Most Holy, the Most Glorious

Thou dost witness, O my God, how He Who is Thy splendor calleth Thee to remembrance, notwithstanding the manifold troubles that have touched Him, troubles which none except Thee can number. Thou beholdest how, in His prison-house, He recounteth Thy wondrous praises with which Thou didst inspire Him. Such is His fervor that His enemies are powerless to deter Him from mentioning Thee, O Thou Who art the Possessor of all names!

Praised be Thou that Thou hast so strengthened Him with Thy strength, and endowed Him by Thine almighty power with such potency, that aught save Thee is in His estimation but a handful of dust. The lights of unfading splendor have so enveloped Him that all else but Thee is in His eyes but a shadow. And when Thine irresistible summons reached me, I arose, fortified by Thy strength, and called all that are in Thy heaven and all that are on Thy earth to turn in the direction of Thy favors and the horizon of Thy bounties. Some caviled at me, and determined to hurt me and slay me. Others drank to the full of the wine of Thy grace, and hastened towards the habitation of Thy throne.

I beseech Thee, O Thou Who art the Creator of earth and heaven and the Source of all things, to attract Thy servants through the fragrances of the Robe of Thine Inspiration and Thy Revelation, and to help them attain the Tabernacle of Thy behest and power. From eternity Thou wert by Thy transcendent might supreme over all things, and Thou wilt be exalted unto eternity in Thy Godhead and surpassing sovereignty. Let Thy mercy, then, be upon Thy servants and Thy creatures. Thou art, in truth, the Almighty, the Inaccessible, the All-Glorious, the Unconditioned.

BH11788: This is a Book which hath been sent down…

In the Name of God, the Most Holy, the Most Holy!

This is a Book which hath been sent down in truth unto him who hath attained the presence of his Lord, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate, at His Throne, and who hath been seized by the breezes of revelation before His countenance. He is, verily, among those who have attained. Hearken, O servant, unto the call of thy Lord, the Most High, the Most Exalted, from the horizon of tribulation, that thou mayest be moved by the Word of thy Lord and arise to celebrate His remembrance amidst His heedless servants.

We have, in truth, sent down unto thee aforetime clear verses, and verily they are glad-tidings from the Most Merciful unto thee and unto all who dwell in the realms of being, that they might inhale the fragrance of the garment from that which hath been sent down from the direction of a mighty throne. We have been with thee in all conditions and behold thee in joy and in sorrow. Hear My words: place thy trust in all things in thy Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Grieve thou not except for My grief. He will send down unto thee that which hath been ordained for thee. He, verily, is the Almighty, the All-Powerful.

None shall attain immortality save him who hath quaffed the choice wine of life from the words of his Lord, the Mighty, the Bountiful. By God! He shall not see extinction. He shall soon find himself possessed of a mighty dominion. Remember thy Lord amongst His servants; verily, He remembereth thee in this Prison, and this wondrous Tablet sent down beareth witness unto this.

BH06051: That which was revealed for Rida who emigrated…

That which was revealed for Rida who emigrated and returned

In the Name of God, the Most Wondrous, the Most Glorious

O Rida! Bear thou witness to My love for thee, whereof all things bear witness, and beyond them My Self, the Mighty, the All-Forgiving. Blessed art thou, and blessed is thy emigration and thy return by the leave of God, the One, the Mighty, the Compelling. My remembrance of thee hath preceded, and likewise My description of thy soul. Be thou of such character as God loveth and as He desireth, for verily He is the Unconstrained One. Through My remembrance of thee, the realities of existence, both unseen and seen, make mention of thee. Beware lest thou forget this station which the necks of them that are endued with insight have stretched forth to attain, and which none hath reached save by Our leave. Verily, We abase whom We will and We exalt whom We will unto the Dayspring of light. Guard thyself lest thy feet slip from this station wherefrom feet have slipped, save those whom God preserved through His grace. He, verily, is the Almighty, the Mighty, the Most Bountiful. Say: The sovereignty on that Day shall be God’s, the One, the Almighty, the Mighty, the All-Compelling. And the glory be upon its people from this Servant Who hath been imprisoned in this Prison through that which the hands of the wicked have wrought.

BH06394: God calls from the prison quarter unto His chosen…

In the Name of God, the Most Unapproachable, the Most Holy, the Most Glorious!

God calls from the prison quarter unto His chosen servants and summons them to the station wherefrom the lights have shone forth, that the fragrances of their Lord’s verses, the Fashioner of earth and heaven, may take hold of them. Hearken unto that which is revealed unto thee from the right hand of the Throne—sovereignty belongeth unto God, the Almighty, the Powerful, the Compelling. Make mention of him who maketh mention of thee in this prison, that perchance the people may turn their faces unto their Lord, the Mighty, the Unconstrained. Say: O people! The gates of heaven have been opened, the clouds pour down their rain, and the horizons are illumined. Cast aside what ye possess and turn unto Him Who calleth you to a station that transcendeth all mention.

Thus do We command thee as a token of Our grace—verily thy Lord is the Mighty, the All-Bestowing. Beware lest the world hold thee back from the remembrance of thy Lord, the Most High, the Most Glorious. Leave it to its people and hold fast unto Him Who hath come from the dayspring of revelation with power and sovereignty. Soon shall the world and all that is therein perish, and there shall endure for thee what hath been ordained for thee in the Tablets. Rejoice in that thou hast been mentioned before the Throne and in that which hath flowed for thee from the Most Exalted Pen whereby thy mention shall be established in creation. Praise be to God, the Mighty, the Transcendent!

BH06309: This is a Book from Us to one…

In the Name of God, the Most Holy, the Most Glorious

This is a Book from Us to one of Our handmaidens who hath borne tribulations in My path, and grief in My love, and poverty for My beauty, that she may rejoice in what hath been sent down unto her from God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. Know thou that We have become aware of what hath befallen thee in the path of God, and We are apprised of what thou hast witnessed in His love and good-pleasure. Thy Lord is verily the Truth, the Knower of the unseen. Nothing whatsoever escapeth His knowledge. With Him is the knowledge of the heavens and of the earth, but most people do not understand. Soon will God seize those who have wronged, and raise up those who were oppressed.

He, verily, is powerful over what He willeth through His word “Be,” and it is. Take comfort in My remembrance, for it shall suffice thee above all that is on earth. We have ordained for thee a station in a sealed tablet which none can unlock save God, the Mighty, the Loving. Be thou thankful and grieve not. Verily, thy Lord is with those who have remained faithful to the Covenant on the day of separation. He knoweth what lieth within the breasts. Give praise unto thy Lord for having sent down unto thee this Tablet after He was imprisoned through what the hands of the heedless have wrought.

BH06062: O leaf whose father hath ascended unto God! Hearken…

In the name of God, the Ruler over all who are on earth and in heaven.

O leaf whose father hath ascended unto God! Hearken thou unto the call of God from the direction of the throne of thy Lord, the All-Merciful. Verily, His call unto thee from this Most Great Prison is better for thee than all that is on earth, whereunto beareth witness the Tongue of the Chosen One upon His most great and glorious Throne. Be thou assured through the grace of thy Lord, and despair not of the spirit of God. Indeed His favor upon thee is great. Let not the imprisonment of the Youth sadden thee. We had made mention of it aforetime in a perspicuous Tablet, wherein lieth consummate wisdom with thy Lord Who knoweth what was and what shall be and what is hidden from the eyes of the worlds.

We were with thee at the time when thou didst what thou didst in the name of thy Lord. Verily thy Lord is cognizant of all things. Nothing whatsoever escapeth His knowledge and He, verily, encompasseth all the worlds. Blessed art thou for having inhaled the fragrances of the Raiment and turned away from the idolaters. Stand thou firm in the love of thy Lord. He is with thee under all conditions, and He is verily the One possessed of great bounty. And praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH06315: This is a Tablet from the Point…

He is God, the Most Glorious, the Most Glorious

This is a Tablet from the Point of the Bayan to Salman, that he may be illumined by the lights of his Lord, the All-Merciful, in these days wherein all have turned away from the Beauty of the All-Glorious and followed Satan in their own selves, and were among the idolaters. Hearken, O servant, to the call of this Prisoner from the depths of this pit, that perchance thou mayest aid this Wronged One Who hath been afflicted at the hands of His servants and subjects who have disbelieved and associated partners with God, the Protector, the Almighty, the Most Exalted, the Most Great. Be thou steadfast in the Cause of God, then summon the people unto this Paradise, the Most Great Paradise of God, and be not of them who have violated God’s Covenant after it was revealed with every wise command.

Say: O people! Do ye remember the Primal Point yet deny His own Self? What aileth you that ye perceive not? Say: O My loved ones! By God the Truth, this is the Day the like of which the eyes of creation have never witnessed. Beware lest ye be heedless of it and of Him Who hath appeared therein. Remember Him at eventide and at dawn, then lament for what hath befallen Him at the hands of the hypocrites. Thus have We made mention of thee, as a token of Our grace unto thee and unto Our upright servants.

BH06318: This is a Book sent down from before…

In the Name of God, the Most Holy, the Most Glorious

This is a Book sent down from before the Throne to him who hath believed in God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting, and who hath perceived the fragrance of the All-Merciful from the garment of Our Most Great Name, whereby all that was and will be hath arisen, surging like the sea in remembrance of God, the Mighty, the Beloved. Say: O people! This is the Day wherein the heaven hath been cleft asunder, and the earth hath been rent, and the skin hath crept with fear, save of him who hath answered his Lord and turned toward this outstretched Shadow. Be thou a lamp of the remembrance of thy Lord amongst His servants, that through thee may be illumined the faces of those whom the veils have not withheld from the remembrance of their Lord, the Munificent, the All-Bestowing.

Thus hath the Command come, but the people understand not. Soon shall the sincere ones find the signs of their Lord’s victory, the All-Merciful, and by them shall those who associate partners with God be shaken. Say: Verily in this Prison are signs for the people of Baha and clear proofs for those who fear God. Arise at thy Lord’s command, the All-Merciful, and remind the people of this Name whereby the Herald hath called out in the midst of the heavens: “Your Lord, the Mighty, the Loving, hath come!” And glory be upon thee and upon those who have believed in God and who in His love have detached themselves from all that is seen and unseen.

BH06236: Rest hath departed from all possibility save for him…

In the Name of God, the Ruler!

Rest hath departed from all possibility save for him who hath partaken of the wine of inner meanings and utterance from the cup of his Lord’s mercy, the All-Merciful. Dost thou imagine rest to lie in wealth and riches, or in the glory wherein the people of the world pride themselves? Nay, by Him Who speaketh from the All-Glorious Horizon! Rest was not created save in the shadow of God and His love. Verily, hardship in His path is the sovereign of ease, and extinction in His love is the monarch of immortality. By His very Self! Tribulation in His good-pleasure is a gift to His lovers, and abasement in His Cause is glory to them that yearn for Him. Would that the Glory might sacrifice himself a thousand times each day in the path of his Lord!

O thou who art remembered throughout the worlds and mentioned by the tongue of thy Lord, the All-Merciful! Hearken unto My call from the precincts of My prison, and arise to serve thy Lord amongst My servants in such wise that the veils of My creatures and the clouds of My creation shall not hinder thee. In such days as these it behooveth thee to stand firm in the love of thy Master and to aid the remembrance of the name of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate. Proclaim “Allah-u-Akbar” on My behalf unto My servants, that the proclamation may draw them to the countenance of thy resplendent Lord. And praise be to God, the Mighty, the All-Wise.

BH06469: O friends! Today is the day when each…

In the Name of God, the Most Great, the Most Glorious

O friends! Today is the day when each of the loved ones must arise to render assistance to the All-Merciful, inasmuch as most of those on earth have striven to extinguish the fire of God and His light. He Who hath come for the life of the peoples of the world and the salvation of all nations hath, with utmost tyranny and injustice, been imprisoned in the most desolate of cities. I swear by the Dawning-Place of the Most Great Name that all tribulations and afflictions have not and will never prevent this Servant from the remembrance of God. All the friends of Truth must exert their utmost endeavor that perchance a soul may attain unto the Salsabil of inner meanings. This deed is accounted as the most great of all deeds in the sight of God. Blessed are they who have detached themselves from all else save God in His path and who have, purely for His sake, arisen to scatter the divine utterances throughout all regions, that they might find one who is ready and call him to the eternal city. These souls are recorded in the sight of God as among His goodly names. Blessed are they and those who have followed the Truth.

BH06742: The Most Holy, Most Glorious

The Most Holy, Most Glorious

A Book from Me to My servant, that he may rejoice in My remembrance, be stirred by My fragrances, be gladdened by My verses, arise from the horizon of My steadfastness, and make mention of his Lord amongst His servants. Thus hath spoken the tongue of the Will of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, from the direction of the Prison. Be thou thankful and among those who remember. Know thou that We have nurtured Our body in tribulations in the path of God, the Fashioner of the heavens, and We drink at every moment from the cup of destiny that which none among the worlds hath become aware. And the more tribulations increase, the more Our eagerness intensifies, and the more calamities encompass Us, We repel them through the name of thy Lord, the Most High, the Most Great. Be as thou wert in the Cause of thy Master and adorn thyself with the attributes of thy Lord, the Mighty, the All-Wise, in such wise that the hardships of the world sadden thee not, nor occupy thee the vanities of all who are in the realm. Be content with thy Lord. Say:

O my God and my Master! I beseech Thee by that which Thou art, in Thy greatness and majesty, to make me one of those who have circled round Thy Will and have turned toward Thy face, detached from all else besides Thee. Thou art my Goal in this world and the next. Ordain for me, then, a seat of truth. Verily, Thou art the Forgiving, the Generous.

BH06743: How many who are near are far and know…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Glorious!

How many who are near are far and know it not, and how many who are far are in truth near! Draw nigh with your hearts—this is the Beloved and My luminous Beauty. Whoso combineth in himself the outward and the inward, verily he hath attained unto all good from the presence of a mighty, a wise One. Such a one is rarer than the red sulphur—to this every possessor of sublime knowledge doth testify. Blessed is he who, though near, is not held back by human allusions from the Beauty of the Divine Unity, and blessed is he who, though far, hath found the fragrance of God from the garment of His Name, the Most Wondrous. Whoso desireth Me, verily he is near and the beauty of the Beloved; and he who desireth Me not is far, though he be in this exalted station.

Let no one feel secure in himself, for the self indeed commandeth to evil. He must needs remember it at all times. Thus hath flowed from the Pen that which was sent down from the presence of the Lord of all peoples, that it might be a reminder to the sincere ones. O thou who art mentioned before the Throne! Give thanks unto thy Lord, the Mighty, the Praised, for having inscribed thy mention by the Most Exalted Pen whilst it was in the Most Great Prison. Hold fast unto the Most Great Name and conquer hearts through this wise remembrance.

BH06443: O My servant! Hear My call from the heaven…

In the name of God, the Triumphant, the Powerful

O My servant! Hear My call from the heaven of My loving-kindness and from the right hand of the throne of My grandeur—that I am the One grief-stricken by My servants and saddened by what hath befallen My Beauty at the hands of the manifestations of My wrath. Therefore, ascend with thy heart unto the kingdom of My nearness, and soar with thy spirit in the atmosphere of My grace and favor, that thou mayest hear My melodies and become aware of what Mine enemies have brought down upon My Beauty.

O My servant! Cut thyself from the paths of heedlessness, then walk in the ways of My grace and My favors that thou mayest attain unto the Ridvan of My love and the garden of My affection and My grandeur. By God, the True One! Verily My fragrances guide the longing ones unto the gardens of My mercy, and the radiance of My countenance leadeth those who desire Me unto the seat of My throne and My power, and then unto the Kawthar of My grace and My gifts. Thus hath the breeze of wisdom wafted from the direction of My finger upon My loved ones, that they may become aware of My Self—the Wronged One, the Stranger, the Prisoner, the Lonely One, the Sorrowful, the Slain One.

And the Glory be upon thee, O servant, from thy Lord, the Mighty, the All-Knowing. There is no God but Him, the Powerful, the Mighty, the Merciful, the Possessor of Grace and Bounty.

BH06535: A mention from Us to the servant who gained…

In the Name of God, the Most Holy, the Most Glorious

A mention from Us to the servant who gained the days of God and was recorded among the doers of good in the Tablets, that He may make him steadfast in the Cause in such wise that the veils of the worlds shall not withhold him from the direction that was renowned by the name of the All-Merciful, and that he may summon the people unto God, that they may draw nigh unto the Source of Revelation and enter beneath the shade that hath been, through grace, extended from all eternity. Arise to serve the Cause through the might and power of God and leave all created things behind thee. Thus doth command thee the Ancient King, at a time when He was imprisoned in the most desolate of cities.

Say: O people! By God, whatsoever ye possess shall perish and your traces shall be effaced by destiny. Enter ye, then, the Kingdom of eternity. Thus doth counsel you your Lord, the Most High, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious. This indeed is the best counsel for you, and your Lord, the All-Merciful, is verily witness to what I say. There is no protector today for anyone save God, your Lord. Turn ye unto Him. He summoneth you unto that which is best for you. Fear God and follow not those who have turned away from the Truth after We called them unto the Dawning-Place that was illumined with the lights of the Throne.

BH06792: He speaketh forth with grace and is manifest…

He speaketh forth with grace and is manifest with justice

O Abul-Qasim! The Most Exalted Pen, in the prison of Akka, beareth witness to the sanctification of the Divine Being from any peer or likeness, and from any equal or similitude. The Tongue of Grandeur hath testified to the sanctification of His Essence from the mention of aught else and the exaltation of His Being from the knowledge of any other. And it beareth witness to thy turning from the earthly homeland to the divine homeland. Praise be to God Who assisted thee and through the means of heaven and earth brought thee to thy goal. Thou didst arrive at the shore of the Most Great Ocean and didst hear the call of the Lord of Eternity, and didst enter through a door that was opened unto the faces of all who are in the heavens and the earth.

Blessed art thou for having drunk, from the hands of bounty, the Kawthar of the divine encounter, and for having attained that which was recorded in the Books of the Prophets and Messengers. Praise be to God that thou didst turn and didst attain, and during numbered years thou didst arise to serve. Know thou with clear certitude that this testimony which hath in this moment been revealed and sent down from the Most Exalted Pen is better than whatsoever existeth on earth and whatsoever lieth hidden within it. Convey My greetings to the loved ones of God. Say:

My God, my God! Deliver Thy sheep from the wolves of Thy land. O Lord! Thou seest them beneath the claws of the lion of the earth. Preserve them through Thy bounty, then guard them through Thy power, Thy might and Thy sovereignty. Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. O my Lord! Ordain for me and for my wife and for those with me who have quaffed the choice wine of utterance from the cup of Thy bounty that which beseemeth the ocean of Thy generosity. Then make them to be among those whom the howling of the wolf doth not frighten when it is raised in Thy lands. Verily Thou art He Whom nothing whatsoever can frustrate and no affair can render powerless. Through Thy Name the standard of triumph was hoisted upon the most exalted ensigns. Thou art verily the Almighty, the August, the All-Knowing.