Volume 042: Early Akka 1868–1873, Part II (5 of 6)

BH11796: Wert thou to behold Me, thou wouldst not recognize…

He is the Glorious, the All-Glorious!

Wert thou to behold Me, thou wouldst not recognize Me by reason of what hath befallen Me in the path of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Chosen One. I complain not of what hath come upon Me, but rather of that which the hands of those who have broken the Covenant have wrought to quench the fire of God. When they see their like, they help them bear their burdens, and when they meet the rebellious ones, they say: “Lo, we have rejected the Lord of Lords!” When the verses come unto them, they turn away therefrom, and when the Almighty appeareth, they raise the cry of the impious. They are like unto dogs that pant in every state. Thus do We set forth similitudes for thee. God shall soon roll up their days. Verily thy Lord is the All-Powerful, the All-Compelling.

Grieve thou not, for thou art remembered before the Throne, and there have been revealed for thee in this Most Great Prison verses that shall attract the hearts of the righteous. Say: The Youth feareth not in the Cause of God; He glorifieth His Lord with praise at morn and eventide, in the night season and at dawn. God shall soon exalt the Cause through His power. He, verily, is the Almighty, the All-Glorious, the All-Bountiful.

Be thou steadfast, then remind those around thee in whom thou findest humility before thy Lord, the All-Merciful. And glory be upon thee and upon those who believe in the Day of Reckoning.

BH06686: Unto Thee be praise, O Lord my God! I…

Unto Thee be praise, O Lord my God! I beseech Thee by Thy Most Great Name Who hath been shut up in the prison-town of ʿAkka, and Who—as Thou beholdest, O my God—hath fallen into the hands of His enemies, and is threatened by the swords of the wicked doers, to make me steadfast in His Cause, and to direct mine eyes continually towards His court, in such wise that nothing whatsoever will have the power to turn me back from Him.

I testify, O my Lord, that He hath surrendered His life in Thy path, and hath wished for Himself nothing but tribulation in the love He beareth to Thee. He hath endured all manner of vexations that He may manifest Thy sovereignty unto Thy servants, and exalt Thy word amidst Thy creatures. As the adversities deepened, and the troubles sent down by Thee compassed Him on every side, He became so impassioned by His thought of Thee, that the hosts of all them that had disbelieved in Thee and repudiated Thy signs ceased to affright Him.

I implore Thee, O my Lord, by Him and by whatsoever pertaineth unto Him, to set my affections upon Him even as He hath set His own affections upon Thyself. I testify that His love is Thy love, and His self Thy self, and His beauty Thy beauty, and His Cause Thy Cause. Deny me not, O my Lord, what is with Thee, and suffer me not to be forgetful of what Thou didst desire in Thy days. Thou art, verily, the Almighty, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious, the All-Wise.

BH06577: Glorified art Thou, O my God! Thou seest Thy…

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

Glorified art Thou, O my God! Thou seest Thy servants imprisoned among Thy creatures, deprived of beholding Thy countenance and visiting Thy presence, bound by the shackles of hatred through what the hands of the transgressors among Thy creation have wrought, and chained in Thy path. Should anyone say that Thou hast withdrawn from them the glance of Thy loving-kindness, all things would deny this, for I observe that Thou art watching over them, and that Thy forbearance with the idolaters is due only to a wisdom which Thou hast concealed from the eyes of Thy servants. Soon wilt Thou raise up those who have fallen in Thy love, and exalt those who have been abased in Thy path, and illumine the faces of those who have been disfigured by the blows of the ungodly for Thy Cause.

Thou hast ordained days wherein each one of Thy loved ones shall be raised up through the manifestations of Thy power and the revelations of Thy glory. Such pure ones, who have tasted the edge of swords in their longing for Thy beauty and have drunk poison in their search for Thy presence, are worthy of Thy praise, O Thou Who art the Beloved of Baha! Thou seest Thy Beloved in the prison of ʿAkka, desiring not His own ease but Thy good-pleasure and Thy will. There is no God but Thee, the One extolled by the tongue of Baha in the highest heaven and on earth. Verily, Thou art the Beloved of the worlds.

BH06591: Glorified art Thou, O Thou through Whose remembrance…

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

Glorified art Thou, O Thou through Whose remembrance the intimate companions soar in the atmosphere of the glory of Thy knowledge, and the sincere ones ascend to the seat of Thy nearness and Thy presence! I beseech Thee by Thy Name which Thou hast made the King of Names, that Thou cause me to hear the wondrous melodies of Thy praise and make me drink from the Kawthar of Thy knowledge in such wise that I may detach myself from all else but Thee and turn my face toward Thy countenance, O Thou in Whose grasp is the kingdom of creation!

O my Lord! I am he who lay sleeping upon the couch of heedlessness and forgetfulness when the sweet fragrances of Thy Name, the All-Merciful, wafted over me and awakened me through Thy grace, and turned me toward Thy face, and inspired me with the wonders of Thy remembrance, until these days arrived wherein the Manifestation of Thy Cause is imprisoned in a land from which the hands of those who long for Thee among Thy servants are cut off, and the feet of those who seek Thee among Thy creatures are barred.

O my Lord! It grieves me that I should dwell in my home while I behold the Manifestation of Thy Self in the prison of the enemies. I beseech Thee by Thy Name, the Most Exalted, that Thou unite us with Him and grant us the blessing of attaining His presence. Verily, Thou art the Omnipotent over what Thou willest, and the Lord of the world to come and of the first. There is no God but Thee, the Most Exalted, the Most High.

BH06650: They have imprisoned Us in a fortress built…

In the Name of God, the Ancient One, Who changeth not!

They have imprisoned Us in a fortress built of solid rock, and have made the clouds of idle fancies a barrier between Us and [the loved ones of God, the Most High, the Most Exalted, seeking] to veil the beauty of the Sun behind the clouds of self and passion. By God! All things laugh at them, for thy Lord is, verily, powerful over whatsoever He willeth. The kings cannot withhold Him from that which He desireth, for they are but captives within the grasp of the Lord of the Day of Mutual Invocation. Soon will He manifest His Cause with evident dominion, for He is, in truth, the Quickener of all worlds. Well is it with him who remaineth steadfast in the Cause, who holdeth fast to the Covenant of God and casteth behind him the covenant of all others. He shall assuredly find himself in the All-Highest Prospect, and shall soon find himself in the most exalted station—the station wherein shine forth the lights of the countenance of the Youth. Verily, it is a noble station.

BH11802: O youth! Hearken unto My call from the direction…

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

O youth! Hearken unto My call from the direction of the Prison, that the call may draw thee nigh unto the scene of thy Lord, the Most Glorious. Verily, He is the Almighty, the All-Powerful. We have inhaled from thee the fragrance of love for thy Lord. Be thou steadfast in the Cause and detach thyself from them that doubt. Be thou of such constancy that shouldst all the hosts of the earth surround thee with swords of hatred, thou wouldst still speak forth My Most Great Name, the All-Glorious, saying:

“O people! The breathings of the words of the Lord of Names and Attributes have so seized me that the veils have been rent asunder by the fingers of the power of Him Who is the Fashioner of the heavens and earth, and I have turned toward the countenance whereby the worlds have been illumined.”

O people! The proof hath come from your Lord, the All-Merciful. In what utterance, then, did ye believe at the Dayspring of utterance? Bring it forth, O company of the heedless! Think ye, after the Sun of Certitude hath shone forth before your faces? Fear ye God, and deprive not yourselves of the fragrant breezes of this Day wherein the feet of the ungodly have slipped.

We beseech God to make thee a standard among His servants, one who uttereth His remembrance and praise, and who is detached from all created things.

BH11801: O thou who art endowed with vision! Know thou…

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

O thou who art endowed with vision! Know thou that We have arrived at the Most Exalted Prospect, and they who imagine that I am in prison are in manifest heedlessness. Say: Verily, He is established upon that Spot which God hath made the Point of Adoration for all the worlds. Say: Through Him every land is transformed, did ye but know. Our mention of the prison containeth signs for them that are nigh unto God, and clear proofs for them that are endowed with insight. Say: The Glory of God findeth solace in tribulation, and no harm from the idolaters nor the might of sovereigns grieveth Him in the path of His Lord. Say: From the horizon of tribulation, He calleth all who are in earth and heaven unto God, the Lord of all names, that haply the servants may find a path unto God, the Lord of the Day of Judgment.

That which thou didst send hath come before Us. Blessed art thou for having found comfort in My remembrance amongst My servants. Verily, for thee there is with Me, in the Most Glorious Pavilion, a station. Blessed be the sincere ones! Convey My greetings unto those servants who have attained the presence of God and unto those who have desired to behold His countenance from a remote horizon. For all are degrees with thy Lord, and He suffereth not the reward of the well-doers to be lost.

BH07020: These are the verses of God which have been…

In the Name of Him Who hath created all things through His binding, transcendent, irrevocable and wise Command!

These are the verses of God which have been sent down in truth from the presence of the Mighty, the All-Knowing, that through them such servants as have detached themselves from all who are in the heavens and on earth and have taken unto the court of their Lord, the All-Merciful, a true path, might be reminded.

O servant! Arise to aid the Cause of God, then hearken unto that which the Spirit imparteth unto thee at this time when He hath been imprisoned in this Prison through what the hands of the aggressors have wrought, that haply the breezes of the Spirit wafting from the Most Great Paradise, the Seat of God, the Exalted, the Great, may attract thee and sever thee from the world and draw thee nigh unto the precincts of eternity and cause thee to voice His praise amidst all peoples, and that thou mayest aid the Beauty of the All-Merciful Who is encompassed by sorrows and findeth for Himself neither helper nor supporter.

Thus doth the Ancient Beauty command thee as a token of His grace unto thee, that thou mayest be of them that remember. And glory be upon thee and upon whosoever hath turned unto God and cast behind him that which issueth from the mouths of the idolaters.

BH07018: These are the verses of God, the King…

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

These are the verses of God, the King, the Truth, the Manifest Justice, sent down from the heaven of your Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Follow none but Him—this is a straight path. The Tongue of Grandeur hath testified to this, as have they who circle round the Throne, if ye be of them that comprehend.

Arise to carry out God’s command and His remembrance. Say: O people! This is the Day wherein the faces of them that are nigh unto God have been illumined, and the Dove hath called out upon the branches of the Divine Lote-Tree: O peoples of earth and heaven! By God! He hath accepted all manner of tribulations—He for Whom the heavens and earth were created.

And from the precincts of the Prison He calleth you unto God and biddeth you to that which is better for you. Fear ye God, and follow not them who have denied this Day after having been promised it in the Tablets of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

We beseech God to aid thee in His remembrance and praise, and to draw thee nigh unto the place wherein the Youth speaketh forth the praise of your Lord, the All-Merciful, at eventide and at dawn, at daybreak and at dusk.

BH06979: Ziyarat-Namiy-i-Hadrat-i-Ukht

Visitation prayer for the most great Leaf, her holiness the sister

He is.

The first remembrance uttered by the Tongue of Majesty and Grandeur rest upon thee, O thou exalted leaf shining from the horizon of Command in the days of God, the Possessor of Names! I bear witness that thou didst turn toward the all-highest paradise and didst attain unto that which most of the people have not attained. I testify moreover that thou didst verily bear hardships and tribulations in the path of God, the Fashioner of the heavens. So unwavering was thy conviction that neither the blame of blamers nor the denial of the ungodly among the women held thee back in the Cause of God.

Blessed art thou and them that visit thy shrine and seek thee through that which hath appeared from the Pen of God, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious, the One Whom the oppressors have imprisoned in the citadel of ʿAkka. I testify that thou verily surrendered thy spirit while separated after being ablaze with the fire of longing during the days of God, the Lord of the Judgement Day.

Wretched be those who have recognized not thy station and who drank not from the chalice of thy remembrance, and happy are those that remember thee through that wherewith God hath remembered thee in His Books and Tablets.

BH06930: Hearken unto that which is revealed unto thee…

He is the Most Luminous, the Most Great, the Most Glorious

Hearken unto that which is revealed unto thee from the direction of the Prison, the horizon of the most grievous tribulation, from the Tree of Decree. Verily, there is none other God but Me, the Almighty, the Unconstrained. We created thee for My service and My remembrance. Grieve not over what hath befallen thee. God shall soon assist thee through the truth and shall exalt thy name. He, verily, is the Mighty, the Bestower. Know thou that the vanquished is the victor, and thy Lord is victorious over all who are on earth. He, verily, is the Mighty, the Compelling. Know what thy Lord hath purposed and grieve not because of them that have wronged. Verily thy Lord lieth in wait.

Say: Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having caused the sun of Thy beauty to shine upon me and for having made me know the Dawning-Place of Thy signs. O Lord! Make me content with what Thou hast ordained for me. Thou art, verily, the Mighty, the All-Forgiving.

BH11495: O servant who art mentioned in the scrolls…

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

O servant who art mentioned in the scrolls of thy Lord’s protection, the Mighty, the All-Forgiving! Hearken unto the call of this Wronged One Who summoneth the servants from this Prison unto God, the Almighty, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting. Grieve not for what hath befallen thee and thy brother. By His very Self! He knoweth what hath been and what shall be. Looking from this horizon upon those who have wronged Us, He shall assuredly seize them through His justice. Be not sorrowful, but patient, for He is with them that endure with patience.

Consider the world and those who pursued it aforetime—dost thou see them in their former state? Nay, by thy Lord, the Almighty, the All-Compelling, the Most Beloved! Soon shall the gates be opened before the faces of them who have stood firm, and when they enter therein they shall find themselves the monarchs of all who dwell in the realm of being.

Had the world held any worth in thy Lord’s estimation, He would not have allowed His loved ones to suffer that which hath caused them such distress as witnessed by both the seen and the unseen. Soon shall it perish, and glory shall remain with those who accepted abasement in the path of God, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting.

Convey My greetings unto those who have set their faces toward the Sacred Sanctuary—they are indeed the sincere ones.

BH11546: O thou who hast pioneered! Listen to the voice…

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

O thou who hast pioneered! Listen to the voice of God from the shores of the Prison. There is no god but He, the Mighty, the Omnipotent. Do not be unhappy, do not be sad in your loneliness or separation. Your Lord is near those who have turned toward Him. He is the Beloved. God has always been with you. He is the Merciful, the Kind.

That which thou hast asked from Him in His path has already been granted to you. God is nearer to you than your own eyes. God is He who knows and has knowledge of the unknown. Read or chant the Tablets of your Lord with joy and happiness. These Tablets will bring you nearer to heaven, nearer to His Paradise. This Paradise is that place which has been lit by the Light of thy Lord’s face—the merciful, the Compassionate. Come Nearer to that Light!

Beware of becoming unhappy or sorrowful as a result of those who are sowing injustice in the world. Be happy—and be happy from the joy of God! He is the Source of all joy and happiness. These Tablets will bring you nearer to heaven. Fly with the two wings of detachment into that atmosphere in which He will not see anything anymore except the effulgence or bounties of your Lord.

Then thou shalt find thyself immersed in an ocean of joy. In this way we have made descend for thee a great spiritual banquet from the clouds of heaven of the Mercy of the Lord. Always make mention of Him—such is the Will of God.

BH07163: Glorified art Thou, O my God! Thou seest what…

He is God, exalted be His radiance!

Glorified art Thou, O my God! Thou seest what Thou seest, and dost witness what hath befallen this servant of Thine through that which the hands of Thy servants have wrought against him. They have assailed him and slandered him through their evil surmises and vain imaginings, and have slain him with the swords of their misbelief, and have imprisoned him in the jail of their unbelief, and have banished him from their lands and dwelling-places. They utter concerning him that which Thou hast not permitted them, and they transgress against Thee in attributing to Thy servant that for which they have no authority from Thee nor any Book from Thy presence. Thereby they seek to spread corruption in Thy land and to commit excess in Thy realm.

I beseech Thee, therefore, O my God, by the fire of Thy Essence which cannot be quenched and by the light of Thine eternity which shall never fade, to make me a fortress for Thy servants and a barrier against the Gog of Thy creation, lest they transgress the bounds which Thou hast ordained from Thy presence for the people of Thy earth and Thy heaven.

Verily, Thou art the King, the Single One, the Almighty, the Exalted, the Powerful, the Impregnable.

BH11815: This is an epistle from the Prisoner unto him…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Holy

This is an epistle from the Prisoner unto him whom the clamor of the servants did not prevent from drawing nigh unto his Lord, the Master of the Day of Gathering, until he became a stranger from his homeland, turning towards the Lord of Names, his Lord, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious, that he might rejoice in His remembrance of him and be detached from the worlds and remain steadfast as he was, in such wise that he would be set ablaze by the heat of the love of his Lord, the Powerful, the Mighty. Beware lest thou grieve over what hath befallen thee in My path. Be thou grateful and be of the patient ones. Doth anyone imagine that he will be left uncontrolled? Nay, by the Lord of the worlds! Through your exile We draw the servants nigh unto the Salsabil of mercy—blessed are they that drink thereof! And through your abasement We clothe with the garment of glory those who hasten to the station wherein the Tongue of Grandeur and Majesty proclaimeth: “I, verily, am your Lord, the Most Merciful, the Compassionate.” Blessed are ye, and blessed are the mothers who bore your bodies, and your fathers who reared you. How excellent is that lofty and exalted station!

BH11816: This is a Book from Us to him who…

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

This is a Book from Us to him who migrated with God until he entered the Most Great Prison—this Station which God hath made the Dawning-place of His Revelation and the Dayspring of His conclusive Command—that he might be assured through the grace of his Lord and be raised to a station where the allusions of the peoples shall not grieve him. Say: O people! By God, I have come to you from the Dawning-place of divine favor for the life of the world and the joy of those who have turned to God. Beware lest ye commit that which would sadden your hearts and the hearts of His loved ones. This is God’s counsel given both privately and openly. Know thou that We have commanded the servants naught else but unity, and this is testified to by him who speaketh at the resurrection and then in the sanctuary and the holy precincts. Say: Beware lest ye backbite one another. This is what We have forbidden in the laws and ordinances. We have desired naught for the servants except love and unity. We beseech God to enable them to achieve what He hath willed for them and draw them nigh unto the Ancient King.

BH11818: O letter Jim! Hearken unto the call of thy…

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

O letter Jim! Hearken unto the call of thy Lord, the Merciful, from the direction of the Prison. There is none other God but He, the Mighty, the Powerful, the Bountiful. Be thou in the Cause of thy Lord as sweet water, that there may grow from thee, in the soil of hearts, the trees of certitude and assurance. Or be as the breezes that waft from the direction of holiness, from which the servants who have turned towards the Most Great Scene, this hallowed and luminous horizon, perceive the fragrance of the garment. Thou hast been mentioned before the Throne. Soon there shall descend upon thee from the heaven of grace that which hath been ordained for thee by One Who is All-Knowing, All-Informed. Verily, he whom We exalted hath turned away from the Truth, having been deceived by the world and its ornaments. Soon thou shalt find him in manifest loss. Despair not of the Spirit of God. He is with thee and with those who are round about thee. Remind them of the wonders of My remembrance, that they may rejoice in the glad-tidings of God, the King, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

BH07717: The All-Glorious, the Most Great

The All-Glorious, the Most Great

Blessed art thou, inasmuch as from the direction of the Prison have been sent down unto thee the verses of thy Lord. This is of My bounty unto thee, that thou mayest be of the thankful ones. Verily, in the midst of tribulation, He calleth the loved ones unto God, the Lord of the Day of Judgment. Unite ye in the Cause. Whosoever ye find heedless, remind him with wisdom for a limited number of days. Should he turn away and reject guidance after it hath come unto him, then turn away from him and set your hearts toward God, the Lord of all worlds. My mercy hath preceded My wrath. Follow ye your Lord in respect to virtuous conduct—this is better for you than whatsoever is in the heavens and earths. Say: Avoid ye grievous sins and draw not nigh unto that which calleth you to the fire. Fear ye God and be of the God-fearing.

BH07862: This is a Tablet for him who hath believed…

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

This is a Tablet for him who hath believed in God, the Lord of eternity. Blessed art thou, O servant, inasmuch as God hath brought forth from thy loins one who hath attained unto the Most Great Pilgrimage and to whose love the denizens of the Supreme Concourse, and then those of the Sacred Precinct and the Holy Sanctuary, have testified. There hath been sent down in his behalf, from the heaven of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, that which the Pen is powerless to describe. Thus doth God single out whom He pleaseth through His grace, even as He singled out those who preceded him among the peoples.

Be thou thankful unto God for having been mentioned by the Most Exalted Pen in this Most Great Prison. Grieve thou not over anything, but put thy trust in God, Who quickeneth the moldering bones. If thou didst but know what hath been ordained for thee, by God, thou wouldst soar with longing to the spot wherein He Who causeth the eyes of the sincere ones, and then the Sacred Place and Zamzam, to weep, hath been imprisoned. And the glory be upon thee and upon those who are around thee, from thy Lord, the Most Bountiful.

BH07654: Praised be Thou, O Lord my God! I implore…

Praised be Thou, O Lord my God! I implore Thee by Thine Ancient Beauty and Most Great Name, Whom Thou hast sacrificed that all the dwellers of Thine earth and heaven may be born anew, and Whom Thou hast cast into prison that mankind may, as a token of Thy bounty and of Thy sovereign might, be released from the bondage of evil passions and corrupt desires, to number me with those who have so deeply inhaled the fragrance of Thy mercy, and hastened with such speed unto the living waters of Thy grace, that no dart could hinder them from turning unto Thee, nor any spear from setting their faces towards the orient of Thy Revelation.

We testify, O my Lord, that Thou art God and that there is none other God besides Thee. From everlasting Thou wast enthroned on the inaccessible heights of Thy power, and wilt unto everlasting continue to exercise Thy transcendent and unrestrained dominion. The hosts of the world are powerless to frustrate Thy will, nor can all the dwellers of the earth and all the inmates of heaven annul Thy decree. Thou truly art the Almighty, the Most Exalted, the Most Great.

Bless, O my God, those of the followers of the Bayan as have been numbered with the people of Baha, who have entered within the Crimson Ark in Thy Name, the Most Exalted, the Most High. Thy might, verily, is equal to all things.

BH07763: While thy Lord, the Most Merciful, was confined…

In the Name of God, Who prevaileth over all things!

While thy Lord, the Most Merciful, was confined in the prison of Adhirbayjan, there were two souls: Husayn, who grasped the hand of grace, and Hasan, who rejected the hand of justice, though he had, in the sight of My Beloved and My Herald, a certain station among stations. And We were imprisoned with seventy souls of those who had emigrated with God, and among them were a few numbered souls who cast away whatever worldly vanities they possessed, who were not content with separation, and who soared in the atmosphere of longing to a station wherein gold prevented them not from attaining the presence of their Lord, the Chosen One, the Mighty. We beseech God to assist them in that which He loveth and is pleased with, and to preserve them all from self and passion, that they may circle round about Him and be moved by His command. Be thou not heedless of the remembrance of thy Lord. Remember Him in spirit and fragrance. He will guard thee from the hosts of Satan. Beware lest thou be heedless of Him, for soon shall the world pass away, and sovereignty shall remain with thy Lord, the Mighty, the Gracious.

BH07869: This is a Book from Us unto thee…

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

This is a Book from Us unto thee that thou mayest be illumined by its lights in these days wherein darkness hath encompassed all regions, and that thou mayest aid thy Lord with a manifest victory. Know thou that every letter that proceedeth from the Pen of Command is verily a sun from which the realities of all things are illumined. Thy Lord is, in truth, the All-Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Though We be imprisoned and prevented and afflicted with trials and tribulations, We have not been hindered from remembrance and utterance, and We speak forth upon the branches of the Tree of Exposition that He is the One worshipped by all the worlds.

It behooveth everyone who hath turned unto God to be detached from those who have disbelieved and turned away, and to be speaking in remembrance of his Lord amongst all peoples. Blessed is he who hath fulfilled God’s covenant and whom the oppression of the transgressors hath not kept back from His love. Be thou steadfast in the love of thy Lord and say with thy tongue, both in secret and openly:

“I have turned toward Thee, O Thou Beloved of them that know, and praise be unto Thee, O Thou in Whose hand is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth.”

BH11830: Verily in the departure of the Ancient Beauty…

In the name of God, Who is manifest without concealment!

Verily in the departure of the Ancient Beauty from the Land of Mystery and His entry into the Most Great Prison are signs for the nations, but they do not understand. Observe how when We sent Muhammad, the Messenger of God, the people denied Him and expelled those who believed in God and His verses from their homelands. This is from the way of thy Lord which hath been ordained in ages past, would that ye might know. By My life! Nothing descendeth upon My loved ones save that which is best for them, but the people perceive not. Turn thy face toward the Intended One and say:

O my Lord, the Mighty, the Loving! I beseech Thee by Thy Most Beautiful Names and by Thy Beauty that hath shone forth from the horizon of Thy Most Glorious Name, to make me among those whom tribulation hath not kept back from Thy direction nor decree from turning toward Thy face. Then write down for me what is best for me. Verily, Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty, the Generous.

BH08256: All praise be to Thee, O Lord my God!…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Glorious.

All praise be to Thee, O Lord my God! This is one of the days of Thy Riḍvan Festival whereon a servant of Thine hath extended an invitation to the Manifestation of Thine Essence and the Revealer of Thy Sovereignty, and hath decked forth a place in the prison to receive Thine all-glorious Beauty, O Thou Who art the Lord of earth and heaven! All glory be to this hour wherein He Who is the Dayspring of Thy transcendent might hath directed His steps from one room of the prison to another. I beseech Thee, O Thou Who art the King of Names and Creator of earth and heaven, to write down for such of Thy loved ones as have been debarred from entering the precincts of Thy mercy and standing before the throne of Thy might the recompense decreed for such as have attained Thy presence and beheld Him Who is Thy Beauty.

Thou hearest, O Lord, their sighs and lamentations in their separation and remoteness from Thee. I beseech Thee to ordain for them all the good Thou dost possess. Potent art Thou to do as Thou willest. No God is there but Thee, the Almighty, the All-Praised.

BH08223: The springtime of divine mercy hath appeared in these…

In the name of the Friend

The springtime of divine mercy hath appeared in these days, and the Sun of heavenly bounty hath dawned from the horizon of the prison. Some have attained His presence, while others yearn for it from afar. The fire of separation hath consumed hearts, and the flame of remoteness from the Ancient Beauty hath melted both horizons and souls. O friends! The most tender and sensitive heart hath endured all grievous trials, that perchance some souls might be sanctified from the allusions and veils of all who dwell in the realms of creation and turn toward the All-Merciful. O friend! Behold all things save Him as transient, and hold fast unto the Eternal Beauty. Strive that thou mayest cause a soul to drink from the Salsabil of divine knowledge and lead it to the Most Great Horizon, for this deed is accounted as the king of deeds before the presence of the Almighty. Upon thee be the glory of God.

BH08474: This is a Book sent down in truth wherein…

He is God, the Most Wondrous, the Most Glorious!

This is a Book sent down in truth wherein mention is made of Our servant who was named Muhammad before Hashim, that he may rejoice within himself and be of those who draw nigh unto the Sanctuary of Beauty and then the Kaaba of Glory, and be detached from all else save God.

O servant! Call to mind this Prisoner Who hath fallen into the pit of darkness through that which the hands of the oppressors have wrought, and upon Whom at every moment there descendeth tribulation and ordeal. Yet in all conditions He rendereth thanks and is among the thankful ones. Guard thyself lest the odors of discord stir thee, for this is My counsel unto thee and unto Our seeking servants. Remember thy Lord with thy heart and tongue, and place thy trust in Him in all matters, for verily He loveth those who place their trust in Him.

And the glory rest upon thee and upon those who have held fast to the cord of the love of God in these grievous days.

BH08062: O servant! Be trustworthy in the trust of thy…

He is God, exalted be His sovereignty!

O servant! Be trustworthy in the trust of thy Lord, which is the love of God and the love of His chosen ones. Withhold not thyself from bearing the trust which neither the heavens nor the earth could bear, save whom thy Lord willeth. Thus hath the matter been decreed, if thou be of them that know. Know thou that God hath made the hearts of His loved ones the treasury of the pearls of His love. Strive thou therefore to preserve them, and be thou faithful to the truth. Thus doth this Prisoner make mention of thee, that thou mayest be mindful of God, thy Lord, at morn and eventide. Beware lest thou forget the remembrance of thy Lord. Be thou intimate with Him, and be not of them that are deprived of the wonders of His grace. Soon shall the world and all that thou beholdest perish, and sovereignty shall remain with God, thy Lord and the Lord of all created things.

BH11686: 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 attained the lights of the Countenance and heard the call of his Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise, that it may be unto him a glad-tiding from Our presence and a mercy from Us. Verily, the bounty of thy Lord hath encompassed the worlds. Thou art the first one to attain the divine presence in His Most Great Prison. Take heed lest what thou hast heard from the tongue of thy Lord, the Potent, the Powerful, be obliterated from thy heart. Make thou mention of Him all the time and call to mind the days when thou didst enter the most desolate of the cities until thou didst present thyself before the face of thy Lord, the Ruler of the Day of Judgement, and achieved that which is ordained for thee in His Preserved Tablet.

Let not the happenings of the earth grieve thee. Turn thou unto the Most Glorious Horizon and detach thyself from the hosts of the heedless. Convey My greetings unto the faces of My loved ones and thy kindred who have believed in God, the Single, the One, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

BH08261: Glorified art Thou, O my God! Thou seest how…

In the Name of God, the One Who has power over whatsoever He pleaseth!

Glorified art Thou, O my God! Thou seest how I have been imprisoned in this city wherein none dwelleth save its inhabitants, and which is the most hideous and ruined of all the cities of the world. The heedless ones have prevented us from leaving it and have shut all doors before our faces. By Thy glory! I am not dismayed by this, for I have accepted all tribulations in Thy love and have chosen all ordeals in Thy path. But what perplexes me is certain of Thy decrees and ordinances—how Thou hast unsealed the musk-vessel among those who know not its fragrance but rather flee from it.

I bear witness, O my God, that in every one of Thy deeds there is wisdom upon wisdom, and mystery upon mystery, which Thou revealest in its time and manifesteth in its season. I beseech Thee by Thy Self not to withhold from those who love Thee this musk whose sweet scents have been wafted abroad. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the Supreme, the Self-Subsisting.

BH08362: The breezes of opposition from those who walk upon…

He is the One, the Eternal!

The breezes of opposition from those who walk upon the shifting sands of heedlessness and negligence have wafted over the meadows of thy bountiful Lord, that what was recorded in the Tablets might be fulfilled. Say: The Youth hath grown so intimate with tribulations even as infants are intimate with their mothers’ breasts. Whenever tribulations and trials touch Him, His love for God, the Mighty, the Trusted, the Knower of the seen and unseen, increaseth. Grieve not that I have become a captive in the hands of the enemies and that My family are prisoners in the land of falsehood. The Youth shall soon appear with the adornment of the All-Merciful amidst all existence. He shall be recognized by those who knew Him not, and shall be seen by those who saw Him not. On that day the heedless shall lament while the sincere shall rejoice.

Blessed is he who is steadfast today and aideth his Lord and spreadeth His verses among His servants. He is indeed of the people of Baha in the Kingdom of eternity, and the Concourse on High shall assist him. Thus hath it been sent down from the heaven of God, the Exalted, the Great.

BH08369: Say: O My loved ones and My chosen ones!…

Say: O My loved ones and My chosen ones! Hearken unto the call of this Prisoner Who is confined in this Most Great Prison. Should you find anyone who showeth the least sign of aversion, turn away from him and eschew his fellowship. This is what We have enjoined upon you in all the Tablets, and to this do all things bear witness, both from the unseen realm and from the visible world, and beyond them the Beauty of matchless glory. For they are the manifestations of Satan in this day. By God the True One! The name of God floweth not from their tongues except to turn the servants of the All-Merciful away from the shore of resplendent glory. Beware, O loved ones of God! Draw not nigh unto these people, nor associate with them in any place. Hold fast unto the cord of God, the Almighty, the All-Glorious, the All-Knowing. Sanctify your souls from the love of aught else but God, then detach yourselves from those who follow naught but the paths of the deluded ones.

BH11834: Hearken unto My voice from the direction…

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

Hearken unto My voice from the direction of the Prison, that the call of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, may draw thee to the dawning-place of His most excellent names and bring thee nigh unto a station that hath been recorded in the Tablets. Strive in thy Lord’s Cause and make mention of Him amongst the servants, that perchance they may arise from the slumber of passion and turn towards the countenance of their Lord, the Most High, the Most Exalted. Thus hath the tongue of revelation spoken forth in this station which hath been illumined by the lights of the Countenance. They that follow their passions have no way to reach unto God. Leave those who have denied their Lord to their vain imaginings, and commune with them whom the breathings of thy Lord’s mercy have stirred. Thus doth the Pen command thee in this Tablet which hath been made to shine with the light of the Countenance. And glory be upon thee and upon whosoever hath stood firm in this Day wherein feet have slipped save those who have drawn nigh unto a station that hath been praised from all eternity.

BH08670: O My handmaiden! Grieve not for that which hath…

In the name of Him Who sendeth the winds!

O My handmaiden! Grieve not for that which hath befallen Us. We have ordained whatsoever hath appeared in the Tablets. Verily thy Lord is powerful over all things. The hosts of earth and heaven cannot frustrate Him. He hath decreed for Us the Most Great Prison, wherein lieth a wisdom which none knoweth save thy Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Remember thy Lord in the hours of night and at the break of day, and He remembereth thee through His grace, and verily His remembrance of thee is better for thee than the kingdom of the worlds. Stand firm in the love of God and His Cause, for soon shall the world and all that is therein pass away, and there shall remain unto thee that which hath been ordained for thee. Verily thy Lord is the All-Bountiful, and all praise be to God, the King, the Compeller, the Almighty, the All-Powerful.

BH09182: O My sister and the leaf of My Tree!…

In His Name, the Most Holy, the Most Glorious!

O My sister and the leaf of My Tree! Give ear to the call of this Wronged One raised from the direction of His renowned and infamous Prison: ʿThere is no God save Him, the Help-in-Peril, the Self-Subsisting’, and say:

All grace, O Thou Beloved of the world, and all bounty and generosity, O Possessor of nations, are Thine for having called me to the heaven of Thy recognition and the ocean of Thy reunion. Thou hast aided me to recognize the Dawning-place of Thy Revelation and the Dayspring of the splendours of Thy Oneness. I beseech Thee by Thy name through which Thou hast conquered all the dwellers of earth and heaven, to ordain for me and for Thy handmaids that which will draw them close to Thee in every world of Thy worlds. Write down, then, for me and for them, from Thy Supreme Pen, that which will be of benefit to me and to them in this world and the next. Verily, Thou rulest over whatever Thou desirest. Thou art verily the Most Powerful.

BH09022: Whenever I remember Thee, O my God, in prison…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Great, the Most Glorious!

Whenever I remember Thee, O my God, in prison, I witness that all created things join with me in glorifying Thee, O Lord of Names and Attributes. Among them are those who know Thee and make mention of Thee, and those who make mention of Thee yet know not Thy sovereignty and power, even though, O my God, they may cling to one of Thy names. But since they have turned aside from what Thou didst desire, their mention shall not be remembered before Thy face. I beseech Thee by that Name through which Thou didst subdue all who are in Thy heaven and on Thy earth, and through which Thy power and sovereignty were made manifest, to draw Thy servants nigh unto the court of Thy gifts and the dawning-place of the light of Thy favors. Verily Thou art He Who hath ever been mighty through Thy sovereignty, and all-compelling through Thy power and strength. There is none other God but Thee, the Almighty, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.

BH11839: O Talib! The Sought One calls out to you…

He is the Most Great, the Most Great!

O Talib! The Sought One calls out to you, saying: Leave mankind behind you, then drink the wine of inner meanings from the cup of your Lord’s countenance. And when you have partaken of the chalices and the warmth of the wine of your Lord’s knowledge has seized you, then greet the dawn, arise amidst the concourse of the earth and say:

“To Me, to Me, O people of righteousness, that I may draw you nigh unto the Most Sublime Vision and cause you to know your Lord, the Ordainer of destiny, through Whom the sun was darkened and the moon was cleft asunder!”

Beware lest you deprive yourselves of that for which you were created. Abandon vain desire and hold fast unto the Lord of the Throne on high and of the earth below. This is better for you, as doth testify thereunto the Tongue of Ancient Days in His Most Great Prison, and he who hath knowledge of the Book. Blessed art thou for having attained unto recognition and held fast unto God, thy Lord, the Mighty, the Powerful, the All-Bountiful.

BH08842: Glorified art Thou, O my God! This…

In the Name of God, the Most Glorious

Glorified art Thou, O my God! This is a day among the days of Ridvan wherein Thou didst manifest Thyself to all who are on earth through Thy name, the All-Merciful, and didst reveal Thy power and dominion to all who dwell in the realms of creation. O Lord! Thou seest this day one of Thy loved ones who hath invited the Manifestation of Thy Being from one place to another within the prison, and a gathering hath been held in Thy name and adorned by Thy presence, such that the sun of Thy beauty hath shone forth from its horizon. Blessed is the soul that hath attained thereunto, and blessed the day that hath been honored by Thy manifestation, and blessed the land that hath been illumined by the lights of Thy countenance. O Lord! Ordain for him and for Thy servants who have been deprived of meeting Thee the reward of those who have attained Thy presence and arranged an assembly for Thy name and remembrance. Then write down for them what Thou hast written for those near unto Thee. Verily, Thou art powerful over all things.

BH08669: O My handmaiden! Hearken unto My call…

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

O My handmaiden! Hearken unto My call from the direction of the Prison, then make mention of thy Lord at eventide and at dawn. Cast behind thee all else besides Him—thus doth the Luminary of the horizons command thee. Grieve not over anything, but place thy trust in God. Verily, He is with His steadfast handmaidens. Remember thou the Youth and what hath befallen Him morning and evening. They who have denied God—these are they who dwell in heedlessness and error. Blessed art thou for having drunk the water of life from the hands of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Most High. Take comfort in Him—verily He sufficeth thee above all women and men. God shall soon send down that which shall gladden the hearts of His chosen ones. He is, in truth, the Almighty, the Glorious, the All-Bountiful. And the Glory rest upon whosoever hath turned unto the Countenance and detached himself from all earthly hopes.

BH08903: Praise be to Thee, O my God! Thou beholdest…

He is the Almighty

Praise be to Thee, O my God! Thou beholdest my dwelling-place in the prison of the enemies, and my seat in the jail of the wicked, whereby I have become far removed from the nearness of Thy loved ones and forbidden from meeting Thy chosen ones. Through this the life of those whose hands are cut off from the hem of Thy robe hath become troubled, and whose bodies are kept distant from drawing nigh unto the lights of Thy beauty. Therefore, O my God! Glory be unto Thee! Since Thou hast prevented them from entering the sanctuary of Thy nearness and presence, cut not off from their hearts the sweet-scented breezes of Thy oneness and the winds of Thy holy bounty. Verily, Thou hast power over all things.

He was vigilant in preserving and protecting at all times, and was with his master in utmost truthfulness and sincerity, for therein lies divine good-pleasure. And peace be upon him who followeth guidance.

BH08827: I give praise to Thee, O Lord my God!…

I give praise to Thee, O Lord my God! I entreat Thee by Thy Name through which Thou didst cause the dawn to appear, and the winds to blow, and the seas to surge, and the trees to bring forth their fruits, and the earth to be beautified with its rivers, that Thou wilt aid all them that are dear to Thee with both Thy visible and invisible hosts. Render them, moreover, victorious over all those who have so rebelled in Thy land, and dishonored Thy name, and disbelieved in Thy signs, and broken Thy Covenant, and cast behind their backs Thy laws, and have to such an extent risen up against Thee, that they carried into captivity Thy kindred, and flung the Manifestation of Thy Self into prison, and immured Him Who is the Day-Spring of Thine Essence in the most desolate of cities.

Thou, O my Lord, art He whose strength is immense, Whose decree is terrible. Lay hold on Thine adversaries by the power of Thy sovereignty, and assemble Thy loved ones beneath the shadow of the tree of Thy oneness, that they may stand before Thy throne, and catch the accents of Thy voice, and gaze on Thy beauty, and discover the power of Thy might. Thou art, verily, the All-Powerful, the Almighty.

BH08927: God hath heard the cry of His loved ones…

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

God hath heard the cry of His loved ones from all regions, and the gaze of God hath been fixed upon them in all conditions. The deeds of His servants escape not His knowledge, and He suffereth not to be lost the reward of anyone who draweth breath in His love, how much less of one who endureth hardships in His path. O My loved ones! Be steadfast in the love of God and His Cause. Despite all the tribulations that have befallen Him, He remembereth you in this prison. He loveth faithfulness, abandoneth not those who love Him, wasteth not the reward of those who seek Him, and remaineth not distant from those who draw nigh unto Him. For such a Lord must ye offer your praise and remembrance and render Him assistance through your own selves. We beseech God to gather you all in His most exalted Paradise. Verily He doeth what He willeth. There is none other God but He, the Lord, the Mighty, the Generous.

BH09085: Salat-i-Mayyit (Prayer for the Dead)

O my God! This is Thy servant and the son of Thy servant who hath believed in Thee and in Thy signs, and set his face towards Thee, wholly detached from all except Thee. Thou art, verily, of those who show mercy the most merciful. Deal with him, O Thou Who forgivest the sins of men and concealest their faults, as beseemeth the heaven of Thy bounty and the ocean of Thy grace. Grant him admission within the precincts of Thy transcendent mercy that was before the foundation of earth and heaven. There is no God but Thee, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Generous.

[Let him, then, repeat six times the greeting “Allah-u-Abha,” and then repeat nineteen times each of the following verses:]

We all, verily, worship God.

We all, verily, bow down before God.

We all, verily, are devoted unto God.

We all, verily, give praise unto God.

We all, verily, yield thanks unto God.

We all, verily, are patient in God.

[If the dead be a woman, let him say: This is Thy handmaiden and the daughter of Thy handmaiden, etc.]

BH09628: O My handmaiden! Verily a noble letter hath been…

In the name of God, the Most Holy

O My handmaiden! Verily a noble letter hath been written for thee from the presence of the All-Merciful, the Most Compassionate. The veils of those who have denied the signs of thy Lord have come between thee and it. God willing, He may rend them asunder through His sovereignty and honor thee with that which hath been sent down from the presence of the Mighty, the All-Knowing. Once again it hath been revealed from the right hand of the throne of thy Lord, the Forgiving, the Generous.

Grieve thou not over anything, but place thy trust in Him under all conditions. Verily He is nearer to thee than thyself, and He, verily, encompasseth all the worlds. Make mention of Him among the handmaidens, that they may turn unto God and recognize thy Ancient Lord. Preserve what hath been revealed from the Supreme Pen, then recite it unto My handmaidens with a wondrous melody.

Be thou so steadfast in the love of God that should all beings in the universe deny the All-Merciful, no disturbance would overtake thee. Thus doth thy Lord, the Mighty, the All-Bestowing, command thee. Verily He is the Ruler over whatsoever He willeth. Blessed is the one who soareth in My atmosphere, who hath detached himself from all else save Me, and who hath held fast unto the cord of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

Convey My supreme glorification unto the faces of My handmaidens from this Prisoner, the Stranger, Who abideth alone. And praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH09400: Glorified art Thou, O my God! Praise be unto…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Glorious!

Glorified art Thou, O my God! Praise be unto Thee for having delivered Thy Cause and manifested Thy sovereignty and power, and for having sent unto every chief that which made known unto him Thy path and the loftiness of what Thou didst desire for Thy creatures, after having been imprisoned by the hands of the heedless ones among Thy creation. I testify, O my God, that Thou art the One Who hath power over whatsoever Thou willest. The oppression of others cannot prevent that which Thou hast purposed through Thy will. Thou rulest as Thou pleasest by Thy command and doest what Thou desirest through Thy sovereignty. I beseech Thee, O my God, by this power which hath subdued all things, to assist those who have turned towards Thee and have aided the Manifestation of Thy Self. Then make them to be among the steadfast ones whom the veils of humanity have not withheld from beholding the Most Great Scene. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the Exalted, the All-Wise.

BH09356: My remembrance unto My handmaiden whom God hath manifested…

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

My remembrance unto My handmaiden whom God hath manifested in His days that she may inhale the fragrances of her Lord, the All-Merciful, from the direction of the Ridvan. This is a mighty triumph. Give thanks unto thy Lord for having been present before the Face through one whom God hath related unto thee. This is an honor for thee, and thy Lord is the Ruler over whatsoever He willeth. He exalteth whomsoever He pleaseth through His command. Verily, He is the Protector of the doers of good. Blessed art thou and blessed are those handmaidens who have believed in God and who have detached themselves in His love from all else except Him. Take comfort in the remembrance of My Name. Verily thy Lord remembereth thee in this mighty prison. And upon thee be the glory, and upon those handmaidens who have attained unto this Most Great, this wondrous Remembrance. And praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH09584: This is the Most Glorious Book unto him who…

He is God!

This is the Most Glorious Book unto him who hath held fast to the cord of guidance. O Mustafa! Hear My call from the precincts of the Prison, that verily there is none other God but Him, the Lord of the Last and the First. Aid thy Lord according to thy power, then make mention of Him that perchance the fragrances of the remembrance of the name of thy Lord, the Most Exalted, the Most High, may be diffused. Say: O people! The Lord of the Throne and of the dust hath come, and from all His parts, even unto the hair, thou hearest the most great signs of your Lord. Say: Do ye forsake God and worship Lat and Uzza? This is naught but manifest error, O people of tyranny and transgression. And the Spirit be upon thee and upon those who are with thee among the companions of guidance.

BH09185: How canst thou grieve over anything after having endured…

He is the Most Great, the Most Great

How canst thou grieve over anything after having endured tribulations in My love and calamities in My path? By My life! If thou but knew and saw with Mine eye, thou wouldst soar in thy longing to the heaven of My gladness, to the kingdom of My delight, and to the dominion of My joy and loving-kindness. Whence cometh sorrow unto thee? Is it from the world, after thou hast seen it passing, passing away? Is it from thy remoteness from My presence, after the Tongue of the All-Merciful hath testified that thou art with Him at all times? Be happy and say: O my Lord! Praise be unto Thee for having remembered me in Thy prison and sent unto me a Tablet that nothing in Thy earth can equal, and from which I have inhaled the fragrance of Thy mercy, O Thou in Whose hand is the dominion of the heavens and the earth.

BH09463: They have imprisoned Us in a city whose air…

In the Name of God, the Everlasting One Who knoweth no death!

They have imprisoned Us in a city whose air is foul, wherein naught can be perceived save fever and wherein no sound is heard from its outskirts save the bleating of sheep. Though outwardly We are in straits, affliction and abasement, inwardly We find Ourselves in expansion, ease, amplitude and a glory that no glory of the worlds can equal. Say: Tribulation shall not deter Us from that which We have purposed, nor shall destiny prevent Us from that which We have been bidden. Can the crowing of the raven prevent the warbling of the dove? Nay, by my Lord, the All-Merciful! She warbleth upon the twigs of the Divine Lote-Tree and giveth glad tidings unto them that are nigh and unto the sincere ones. The hosts of the heedless shall not prevent her, and praise be to God, the Beloved of the mystics.

BH09472: God hath heard thy cry and answereth thee…

In the name of Him before Whose fear all are struck with terror!

God hath heard thy cry and answereth thee from the direction of His Throne. Hearken unto that which is being revealed unto thee. He is verily none other but God—His is the majesty and the glory. He giveth unto whomsoever He willeth whatsoever He pleaseth. He is in truth the Almighty, the All-Powerful. Grieve not over this world. Rather, rejoice in this Most Great Name, the Most Mighty. Despair not of God’s grace and bounty. He sendeth down for whomsoever He loveth that which is best for him. He is verily the All-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful. Be thou steadfast in thy love for God, then make mention of Him and He verily maketh mention of thee in this Prison—the place wherefrom ascend and descend the angels that are nigh unto God. Say: All praise be to God, the Lord of all worlds.

BH11848: This is a book from Baha unto a handmaiden…

In the name of God, the Most Wondrous!

This is a book from Baha unto a handmaiden among the handmaidens of God, that the melodies of her Lord may attract her and draw her nigh unto her Creator, and bestow upon her that which may solace her eyes and give her to drink that whereby her heart may be tranquillized and her breast illumined, her soul purified and her tongue moved to make mention, throughout her days, of her Creator, her Fashioner, her Beloved and her Goal, and to remember her Lord among the handmaidens of God. O My handmaiden! Be not grieved, rather be thou gladdened by the Tablet of God and its influence. Take hold of it with the hand of certitude, then give thanks unto thy Lord Who hath sent down unto thee the verses in this mighty Prison. And praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH11850: This is a Tablet from the Most High…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Exalted

This is a Tablet from the Most High, the Most Holy One, from the Prisoner to the prisoner, that He may make him soar in the atmosphere of longing in such wise that neither the happenings of the world nor the tyranny of the hypocritical ones may grieve him, and that He may prosper him in the Cause of his Lord, the Mighty, the All-Wise. Sorrow not for that which hath befallen thee in the path of thy Lord, the Most High, the Most Great. Say:

O my Lord! Praise be unto Thee for having made me steadfast in Thy Cause and firm in Thy love, in such wise that neither tribulations have deterred me from Thy path nor calamities from turning unto Thy face. O my Lord! Ordain for me a seat of truth with Thee and decree for me that which shall cause me to endure through the endurance of Thy Kingdom. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the Forgiver, the Merciful.

BH09819: Praise be to the Beloved Who, through His supreme…

In the Name of the Beloved of the horizons!

Praise be to the Beloved Who, through His supreme benevolence, sacrificed the Blessed Beauty for the life of the peoples of the world. How excellent is the state of the one who, amidst these darknesses, shineth even as a lamp. The Life of the World saith: O My handmaidens! Consider My mercy. While ye repose in your gatherings, the Ancient Beauty, together with a number of friends and members of the household, hath fallen into the hands of enemies and in this Most Great Prison is occupied with the remembrance of the friends of God. It therefore behooveth you to act in accordance with the requirements of love and to be ever turned toward God. And the glory be upon you.

BH09852: Glorified art Thou, O my God! Thou seest my…

He is God, exalted is He!

Glorified art Thou, O my God! Thou seest my tribulation in all these days. Thou hast imprisoned me with seventy souls from among Thy servants, in accordance with what Thou hast ordained in the tablets of Thy Cause through Thy fixed decree. Among them are those who gaze upon Thee, who are submissive unto Thee and humble before Thy Cause, and among them are those who rise up at one time and fall at another. I beseech Thee by those whose eyes Thou hast opened and who behold at every moment the signs of Thy power and the evidences of Thy greatness, that Thou forgive those who have been heedless, as a token of grace and bounty toward those who circle round Thee, whose faces are illumined by the lights of Thy countenance, and whose hearts are transformed by the fingers of Thy might. Verily, Thou art the Mighty, the Generous.

BH10055: O thou who walkest in the wilderness of guidance!…

He is the Almighty, the Most Glorious

O thou who walkest in the wilderness of guidance! Hearken unto the call from the right side of the Most Exalted Tree: Verily, there is none other God but Me, the Mighty, the Bestower. By My life! Were all who are on earth to turn towards that which hath proceeded from the mouth of God, He would surely draw them to the horizon of His Cause. Thus hath the matter been decreed by thy Lord, the Chosen One. Blessed art thou for having attained unto the remembrance of God. Verily, He remembereth thee in the Prison midst tribulations the like of which the eye of time hath never beheld. To this testifieth He with Whom is the knowledge of all things and with Whom is the knowledge of the Tablets.

BH09865: Glory be unto Thee, O my God! One…

In the Name of God, the Most Unapproachable!

Glory be unto Thee, O my God! One of Thy handmaidens hath believed in Thee in this Revelation through which Thou hast manifested Thyself unto the people of Thy kingdom with Thy most beautiful names and most exalted attributes. The winds of Thy love seized her in such wise that she turned unto Thee and detached herself from all else except Thee. I beseech Thee, O my God, by Thyself and by Him Who was imprisoned in Thy path and bore tribulations in Thy love, leave her not to herself. Protect her from the assaults of the evil ones who call the people unto other than Thee. Comfort her eyes, O my God, by gazing upon the horizon of Thy favors. Verily, Thou art the Ruler over whatsoever Thou willest, and Thou art the Mighty, the Generous.

BH09921: Blessed is the face that shineth forth amidst…

In the Name of Him at Whose bidding the mountains pass away

Blessed is the face that shineth forth amidst the darkness of these days, and is not affected by the vain imaginings of the peoples, and beholdeth the lights of his Lord’s countenance through the veils. By God! From his face do the dwellers in the cities of Names derive their radiance. O thou who hast turned toward Me! Hear My call from this Most Great Prison. By God! Whenever the winds blow from this direction, they waft the fragrances of thy Lord, the All-Merciful. Turn unto them that thou mayest discover the sweet savours of thy Lord therefrom and hear from their wafting that there is none other God but He and that He is the Object of worship of all worlds. And praise be to Him Who quickeneth, through a word from His presence, the hearts of them that know.

BH10159: God—there is no God but Him…

He is the Most Glorious!

God—there is no God but Him, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting.

In the name of the Beloved of the worlds

This is a Day wherein all the denizens of heaven are gazing upon the faces of those souls who are standing firm and steadfast in the path of truth, inasmuch as the Ancient Beauty hath entered into the Most Great Prison. The handmaids of God must, God willing, fix their gaze upon the Luminary of the horizons and be detached from the people of hypocrisy, and like unto the rays of the dawn of inner meanings, shine forth resplendent from the horizon of the Countenance of the All-Merciful amongst the handmaids of God. Be not grieved, for the hand of divine power is not fettered. He verily is powerful and mighty over all things.

BH10330: He is the Mighty. Glorified art Thou, O my…

He is the Mighty. Glorified art Thou, O my God! This is Thy servant who hath sewn the robe of the glory of Thy sovereignty and the garments of the sanctity of Thy Temple, and who emigrated with Thy Most Exalted Beauty until he entered with Him into this Most Great Prison. I beseech Thee therefore, O my God, not to sever the thread which Thou hast made a means between him and the lights of Thy Beauty and the knowledge of Thyself. Then make him steadfast in Thy love, and grant him the best of what lieth with Thee, and establish for him from Thy grace a seat of constancy, and prepare for him from Thy command in this Cause guidance.

BH10639: This is the Clear Book sent down from God…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Glorious.

This is the Clear Book sent down from God, the Lord of the worlds, unto him who hath grasped His firm and mighty cord. He remembereth in the prison His servant that he may rejoice in the verses of God, the Lord of the mighty throne. Beware lest the things of the world withhold thee from the Lord of Names. Drink thou the water of life in My Name, the Mighty, the Wondrous. Say: O my God! Thou beholdest me turning towards the sanctuary of Thy presence and the Kaaba of Thy Cause. I beseech Thee by Thy radiant and luminous Beauty to make me steadfast in Thy love in such wise that the power of the oppressors shall not frighten me.

BH10535: God is Most Great with exceeding greatness!

God is Most Great with exceeding greatness!

O father of the emigrant! Hear the call of the King of Kings from the right-hand side from this Prison which We built by the hand of power for Our Own Self, the Truth, before the creation of the heavens and the earth—that there is no God but Me, the Beloved, from a beginning that hath no beginning. Then he whom God brought forth from thy loins, verily he hath emigrated with God and is now circling round the mighty throne.

BH01782: As for the matter of that person’s dream, these…

As for the matter of that person’s dream, these words issued from the Source of Command:

“We are commanded to look to the outward, not the inward. God willing this dream is true, and if, God forbid, it be mixed with fancy, We decree for him what We decreed for him who was in prison when he said ʿThe matter about which ye inquired is decreed.’ Reflect that thou mayest understand, and be of the thankful ones.”

BH11006: O handmaiden of God! Hearken unto the call…

He is the Most Glorious

O handmaiden of God! Hearken unto the call of this Youth Who hath been afflicted in the prison of envy and hath been slain at every moment by the sword of hatred—and God is my witness to what I say. I weep for My loneliness and solitude and exile. Purify thyself, then, from the love of aught else but Me, that thou mayest find a way to attain My presence.

BH11070: Glorified art Thou, O my God! Thanks be…

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

Glorified art Thou, O my God! Thanks be to Thee for having sacrificed me for the life of the worlds, and thanks be to Thee for having imprisoned me for the emancipation of the worlds. I beseech Thee by Thyself not to turn away Thy servants from the Dayspring of Thy grace, nor to withhold them from the Kawthar of Life in Thy days. Thou art, verily, the All-Powerful, the Supreme, the Self-Subsisting.

BH10741: I testify that thou hast rendered victorious assistance unto…

He is the Helper

I testify that thou hast rendered victorious assistance unto thy Lord and art accounted among His helpers. By My testimony all things bear witness—this is the foundation, wert thou to be among those who know. What thou doest by His command and good-pleasure is true help in the sight of thy Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Go forth but commit not that which would cause sedition. Trust in God—verily He seizeth whom He willest, and He hath power over all things. We have accepted what thou didst intend in the path of God. Return to thy place, then remember thy Lord, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

BH01732: Verily, the sea of calamity hath surged, and gales…

Verily, the sea of calamity hath surged, and gales have overtaken the Ark of God, the All-Encompassing, the Self-Subsistent. O Mariner! Be not daunted by gales, for He Who is the Breaker of Dawns is with Thee in this darkness which hath enveloped the worlds. Place thy trust in God under all conditions, and fear not the tempests of hatred. Take refuge in God, thy Lord, the Almighty, the All-Knowing. He protecteth whomsoever He willeth through His sovereign might. He, verily, is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

In the midst of darkness, the Face was radiant with a light that encompassed all who are in the heavens and on earth. In that state, We summon all beings unto God, and the gathering of those who disbelieved in God when He came with a wondrous Cause shall not frighten Us. The thief hath stolen what was revealed from the Throne and presented it before those who rule over the servants. Thus did that remote misbeliever. Say: Die in thy fury, O ignorant one! Dost thou imagine that thou canst outstrip Us? Nay, by My Name, through which the sweet savors of the Spirit have wafted over all things small and great! We have conveyed the Cause through Our messengers, for verily We are powerful. Then We spread it through the hands of those who turned away. The schemes of the schemers shall not harm it.

The slinking whisperer hath appeared with My letter amongst the people, thinking thereby they would assail the Dayspring of the Cause and thereby diminish God’s sovereignty over all else. Thus did his soul entice him, and the word of punishment from the presence of the Mighty, the All-Encompassing, was fulfilled against him. Say: Thereby is His Cause exalted, His verses spread abroad, and this Remembrance elevated, through which every wise matter hath been ordained.

Would that the servants would gather against Us and shed Our blood in this straight Path! We have sacrificed what We possess in God’s path. This is attested by the tribulations We endure, and beyond them by the Pen through which God’s Cause, the Mighty, the Wise, hath been established. Say: I await the day wherein I shall find Myself among the parties of the oppressors’ hosts. By God! Then shall they hear what they have never heard before, and shall witness what no eyes of those gone before have seen. He, verily, is the Ruler over what He willeth, and He is the Strong, the Powerful.

Say: O fly! Canst thou soar with the Dove in this atmosphere wherein no birds of the world have flown? All that befalleth Us is a mercy unto Us—to this testifieth every discerning believer. The atoms weep at Our affliction, yet We are in manifest joy. We have made gladness appear from the horizon of sorrows. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth.

O servant who gazeth toward God! Were I to recount for thee what hath befallen Us through the tyranny of the wicked ones and the rancor of the enemies, thou wouldst wail and weep until thy spirit would take flight from thy body. Therefore have We concealed it and shall continue to do so. Thy Lord, verily, is the Concealer, the Forgiving, the Merciful.

We drink the cup of tribulation at all times, yet disclose it to no one, lest the dust of grief should cloud them in this resplendent morn. Grieve not at what We have revealed unto thee. Rejoice in God and His signs, and be thou of the thankful. He calleth thee from this Prison in such a state, purely for the sake of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Generous. My love and remembrance have preceded thee. Rejoice in this remembrance which hath flowed from the mouth of the Will of thy Lord, the Most Exalted, the Inaccessible. Thus have We sprinkled upon thee a drop from the ocean of Our tribulation, that thou mayest be of those who are informed.

Stand firm in the Cause through God’s might and power, and be of the steadfast. Convey My glorification to the faces of My loved ones who have turned to My countenance, spoken in My praise, and arisen to make mention of Me. These are assuredly among the triumphant. Blessed are they and those who love them for the sake of God. They are among the most exalted of creation in the sight of the Truth. Thus hath the matter been decreed in a preserved Tablet.

BH00708: God the Blessed, the Exalted, hath revealed unto certain…

God the Blessed, the Exalted, hath revealed unto certain of His Prophets in some of His revelations: By My glory and majesty! I shall assuredly sever all hope of any who hopeth in aught but Me, and shall clothe him with the garment of humiliation before all people, and shall remove him far from My grace and My relief. Doth My servant look to others in times of hardship when the key thereof is in My hands? How is it that I see My servant turning away from Me when I have given him what he hath not asked of Me? Shall one ask and I not be generous? Nay! Do not bounty and generosity belong to Me? Are not this world and the next in My hands? Were each one of the inhabitants of the heavens to ask of Me the like of the heavens and earth, and were I to grant his wish, this would not diminish from My dominion even to the extent of a gnat’s wing.

Such utterances as these, most of which do not now come to mind, continually streamed forth from the Fountain of the All-Merciful’s mouth. The cups of utterance have been filled with the wine of thy Lord’s remembrance, the All-Merciful.

That which remaineth in this servant’s memory hath been submitted. How can I describe how the verses of power, majesty and sovereignty were revealed and made manifest on that blessed night? It was as though the Salsabil of utterance was bestowed upon all creation, and the ocean of generosity washed over all nations, and the Mystery veiled in mystery was revealed unto all who dwell in the realm of the seen and unseen. Many utterances have entirely passed from memory.

Then at the seventh hour, one of the officers came and took away the Ancient Beauty, the two Most Great Branches, and Aqa Mirza Muhammad-Quli. As mentioned in the previous petition, the Ancient Beauty and the Greater Branch were placed in a location adjacent to the prison, Aqay-i-Aqa in another place, and His Holiness the Most Great Branch in the prison under chains. This servant and the other loved ones were imprisoned under chains in a very dark place within the building itself. On the second night a telegram arrived from the governor and they changed the location of the Ancient Beauty to an elevated dome above the prison. The two Most Great Branches and Aqay-i-Aqa were in His most holy presence.

After thirty-eight and a half hours in the dome, again on Thursday at the fourth hour after sunrise they were summoned to the building for questioning. While proceeding to the assembly, the Tongue of Grandeur uttered these words:

“Ye have taken your own principles and cast the principles of God behind your backs. Why do ye not understand?”

This verse was repeatedly uttered by the Tongue of Grandeur.

After the Ancient Beauty’s arrival, the Pasha and the members of the assembly apologized, saying they were obliged to investigate since three people had been killed and all the inhabitants of the city were fearful and terrified, therefore they must proceed according to law. The poor man seemed to have no knowledge of the law.

In any case, they asked about His blessed name and homeland, explaining that according to law these questions must be asked and recorded. He said: “It is more manifest than the sun.” They asked again. He said: “It behooveth not to mention the name. Look at the government decree which is in your possession.” Then with utmost courtesy they requested that He Himself tell them. The Temple of Grandeur sat composed upon the chair and spoke with the tongue of power and might: “My name is Baha’u’llah and My country is Nur. Be ye apprized of it.”

Then the Ancient Face turned toward the Mufti and spoke, mighty in His grandeur: “Had ye but known, We would have caused you to hear the cooing of the Dove of Glory upon the branch of the Divine Lote-Tree, that ye might perceive what servitude hath spoken—that essence whose inmost reality is lordship.” Those present were struck dumb by this eternal Word of God. Then, addressing all, He said: “What is the purpose of this gathering, this question and answer? If ye wish to acknowledge what is your true purpose and the desire of your hearts—for I do not wish to remain in this world even for an hour.” And He recited verses from the Surih of the Kings, including this blessed passage: “I have never passed by a tree, but My heart addressed it saying: ʿO would that thou wert cut down in My name, and My body crucified upon thee for My Lord’s sake.”’ During this utterance, the pillars of the All-Merciful were seized with trembling. Then He arose and the Beauty of Youth turned toward another place outside the gathering.

Indeed, what a wondrous day and remarkable time it was! In some souls the Sun of the Word of God had dawned and they showed forth their love. In truth, this servant is powerless to recount the divine utterances. The author of the Mathnavi has spoken words fitting for this station:

“Those words the Prophet spoke in that moment If cast upon night would turn it to dawn

That night would become bright as morning-tide Those holy words I cannot now describe

Thou knowest what the sun in Aries Speaks to the flowers with pure sincerity

Thou knowest what the crystal waters say Unto the flowers and saplings day by day”

In truth, this servant was and will ever be powerless to recount the divine utterances and heavenly expressions.

Afterward, the Pasha sent word requesting His return to the house and apologized for what had transpired. He said return to the prison was preferable, as many were imprisoned there. Some who were present before Him submitted that the townspeople were in commotion and the prisoners could not be brought out; it would be better to wait some days. Then He returned to the house, and this was at the eleventh hour on Thursday.

The summary of the incident is this: From the moment the Ancient Beauty set forth from the Sanctuary until the time of His arrival, there elapsed sixty-nine and one-half hours. The halt at the caravanserai on the first night lasted five and one-half hours; the imprisonment beside the barracks endured eighteen and one-half hours; the confinement in the vaulted chamber above the barracks continued thirty-eight and one-half hours; and the entry into the caravanserai, and the sojourn therein for the second time, lasted seven hours. Thus was the matter consummated by the will of God, the All-Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Furthermore, there is one named Sohbat from the people of Za’—upon him be God’s curse—when he invented lies, when he made promises he broke them, and when he was trusted he betrayed. These are the attributes of the hypocrites, and a hundred thousand times worse than these exist in that vile one. Before the occurrence of these mentioned events, he arrived in this land and dwelt in the abode of the ungodly, and for some time associated with evil souls, then returned with false and erroneous reports. In every place he reached, he mentioned calumnies. He and Aqa Jan—upon both be God’s wrath—became narrators of fabricated calumnies from false sources. Thus after the upheavals in the great city and the dismissal of Mushir and death of the Grand Vizier, they attributed these events as having occurred due to the oppression against Us, and claimed that the chief of the ungodly had foretold these matters—all of this is pure falsehood. Any fair-minded person who has attained even a portion of justice would testify to their lies, for all souls from among the Arabs, Persians and Turks were pursuing the Ancient Beauty and had risen up in complete enmity, and they did not consider others to even exist, and whatever befell others was merely incidental.

In any case, the seizure of the oppressors and what befell them and what will befall them has all been revealed with perfect clarity in the Tablet of Ra’is and other Tablets, and now this servant mentions some of these so all may know that those souls were and will be liars, and that the Dawning-Place of divine verses and Source of merciful outpourings had foretold what would occur. Among these is the Tablet of Ibn-i-Nabil—upon him be the Glory of God—which was revealed upon first arrival at the Most Great Prison, and the original is with the aforementioned person and copies of it are with Zaynu’l-Muqarrabin—upon him be the Glory of God—and the loved ones. Let them seek it out and investigate so they may know with certainty that the reins of knowledge have been in the hands of the Mighty, the All-Knowing. None knoweth the unseen except Him; He revealeth to whom He willeth and concealeth from whom He willeth what He willeth. Verily He is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.