Volume 043: Prior to 1873 1290 A.H., Part I (3 of 4)

BH01216: This is what hath been sent down…

This is what hath been sent down from the direction of the mighty throne unto Our servant who hath been named the Merciful, and verily this is better for him than the sovereignty of earth and heaven. Thus hath it been ordained by One Who is the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

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

Thy letter hath come before the Throne, and the fingers of mercy and power have taken hold of it, and the gaze of thy Lord, the Most Merciful, the Compassionate, hath turned toward it. We found therein the fragrance of sanctity in thy recognition of the Self of God, the Sovereign, the Almighty, the All-Powerful, the Omnipotent. Blessed art thou for having attained unto the breezes of the All-Merciful and for thy soul having been established upon the throne of paradise. This is from God’s bounty unto thee, but most of the people are heedless.

Therefore give thanks unto God for having taken thy hand with the hand of power and might, and delivered thee from the hosts of fancy, and established thee beneath the shadow of His grace and favor, and made thee one of the companions of certitude, and enabled thee to stand firm in His love in days wherein intoxication hath overtaken all who are in the heavens and on earth. Rejoice then within thyself that thy letter hath been read before the presence of grace in sanctified and wondrous precincts. Glory be unto thee and unto him from whose pen flowed that wherewith thou didst call upon God, thy Lord and the Lord of all worlds. Thus doth God bestow His favor upon whomsoever He willeth of His servants and guideth him to the path of His glory and draweth him nigh unto His transcendent grace, the Mighty, the Great.

But thou, O servant, hold fast unto the Tree, then taste of its fruits, then detach thyself from those who have disbelieved and associated partners with God and were among the deniers. Then stand firm in the Cause of thy Lord in such wise that shouldst thine own eye oppose thee therein thou wouldst be detached therefrom, nay, thou wouldst pluck it out from its socket. This is what the Beauty of the Cause commandeth thee from the direction of a mighty throne. By God! Whoso drinketh from this Salsabil shall be detached from every proof from all who are possessed of majesty, and from all who are in the heavens and the earth. His glance shall never return unto them and he shall behold them as children who possess neither reason nor discernment.

Say: O people! Do ye imagine that ye have believed in God after having denied and turned away from the Beauty Who hath shone forth from the horizon of the Unseen, before Whose dawning the faces of grandeur fell prostrate in worship of His exalted, transcendent, sovereign and omnipotent Self? Shut thine eye to all who are in the kingdom, then open it to behold the signs of thy Lord, that thou mayest witness His sovereignty in all things. Thus doth the Pen of sacred knowledge inform thee.

As for those who have fled from the Beauty of the All-Merciful, God hath rendered their deeds void and cast them into the abyss of His wrath as recompense for their actions and they were among the doers thereof. Take heed lest the denial of the deniers grieve thee, for We have found them today isolated in their unbelief, and therefore have We forbidden them from the holy shores with justice from Our presence, and verily We are just.

Say: O people! Be fair unto yourselves—if ye turn away from this Beauty, to what refuge can ye flee this Day? Nay, by My Beauty, there is no refuge for you, no shelter for anyone, and no protector this Day save Mine own Self, the Sovereign, the Most High, the All-Knowing.

Fear ye God and flee not to the right or to the left. Enter ye this straight, manifest and upright Path. Say: Do ye prostrate yourselves before dust while leaving the Lord of Lords behind you? Evil is that which ye have chosen for yourselves. Alas for you, O company of deniers!

Say: Should God desire to send upon you the breezes of His mercy, could anyone prevent them? Nay, by My radiant and mighty Beauty! And should He desire to chastise you with a flame of fire, could any soul deliver you therefrom? Nay, by My manifest, resplendent, all-encompassing sovereignty!

Say: O people! I swear by God the Truth, the Lord of Words hath then come upon clouds of meanings, and around Him are Manifestations of God’s wisdom, then Dawning-places of a wondrous knowledge, and the matter hath been decreed from God, your Lord and the Lord of all creation. Thus do We bestow Our favor upon thee once again, O Rahim, that thou mayest be thankful for thy Lord’s gifts and be among those who remember the Beauty Whom God hath purified from mention by those who disbelieved and joined partners with God and were among the veiled ones.

Leave the ungodly and what issueth from their mouths, for thy Lord hath exposed their falsity between the heavens and the earth, whereunto every discerning and insightful one doth testify. And when it is said unto them, “O people, by what proof have ye believed in God and the Manifestations of His Cause?” they will surely say, “The verses.” Yet when the most excellent Words are recited unto them from what hath been sent down from the heaven of God’s dominion, the Protector, the Almighty, the Powerful, their faces darken and they return to their seats and retreat to their abode in the nethermost fire, and thus do the guards of wrath encompass them, and verily We are the Subduer.

Say: O people, by God the Truth, ye pass by nothing except that it denounceth you for your deeds in most eloquent and wondrous language, but since ye have veiled yourselves with veils of wrath, ye will never hear its call. Thus hath the matter flowed from the finger of ancient glory. And thou, leave them behind thee, then seek thy Lord’s bounty at all times, for His bounty hath ever been nigh unto the doers of good. And glory be upon thee, O people of glory, that thou mayest remain steadfast in thy Lord’s Cause through love of thy Master, the All-Knowing.

BH11702: This is a Book that speaketh with truth…

He is the Mighty, the Powerful, the Exalted, the All-Glorious!

This is a Book that speaketh with truth and wherein is mentioned that which draweth the people nigh unto God, their Creator, detacheth them from all who are in the heavens and the earth, and causeth them to voice the praise of their Lord at eventide and at dawn. Verily it is the Book of God unto all who are in the Concourse on High, and the holy Scriptures unto all who dwell in the Kingdom of eternity, and the Verses of the Command unto all who abide in the depths of the Names, and the Tablet of Glory unto all who are in the kingdom. Verily it is God’s testimony unto His creation, His proof unto His servants, His evidence unto His creatures, and His signs unto all who are in the heavens and on earth. Thus hath the Sun of wisdom dawned from a holy and wondrous horizon.

Follow ye the religion of God and His Faith, then the laws of God and His command, and follow not your desires in aught. This is better for you than all who dwell on earth together. Answer ye the call of God amongst you and differ not in His Cause. Thus hath the Command been inscribed by the finger of the Spirit in truth. Verily those who have denied the signs of God and associated partners with His Self, these are in an abyss of wrath, and God will not hearken unto their call though they should supplicate Him throughout the duration of His kingdom, for He is independent of all worlds.

Hearken, O people, unto that which the Tongue of God addresseth you, and follow not those who bid you to transgression and wickedness. Follow Him Who commandeth you to righteousness and godliness that ye may find a path to God in these days in truth. And thou, O thou who gazest toward the sanctuary of holiness, take thou the cup of life in this paradise wherein shineth the beauty of the All-Merciful, then drink therefrom and fear no one. Put thy trust in God and He will protect thee from every wicked oppressor. Take thou the tablet of God and His sign, then return unto the servants and give them the glad tidings wherewith the Spirit hath given thee glad tidings at the time when there flowed from His lips the oceans of knowledge and wisdom from the presence of One All-Knowing, All-Wise. Perchance thereby may be sanctified the hearts of all created things, and they may be detached from all that they possess and draw nigh unto the station which hath been upraised in the name of God from time immemorial.

O thou traveler! Taste of the fruits wherewith the Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing hath been laden through these words that have been sent down from the King of Names, that thou mayest find thyself independent of all things and stand firm in thy Lord’s Cause, remembering His Name which was at that time witnessed as the Most Great Name from the horizon of glory. And when thou seest the loved ones of God, convey to them what hath befallen My Beauty. Say: By God, O people! The Joseph of Eternity hath fallen into the dark pit and findeth no helper save Him Who created Him and sent Him forth with the truth and made Him a bearer of glad tidings unto all the worlds.

Beware lest the world and its ornaments occupy you from the remembrance of God, and lest the affairs of sovereignty turn you away from the direction of Him Who was remembered by the name of God. Beware lest ye commit what God hath forbidden you, and abandon what ye have been commanded by One Who is Mighty and Wise. And if adversity toucheth you, grieve not; rather, remember what hath befallen My wronged Self in this land wherefrom the feet of seekers were cut off. Remember God at eventide and at dawn, and forget Him not for less than a moment. Thus doth the Pen of Command enjoin you at this time. Act according to what ye have been commanded by One Who is Wise and All-Knowing. Neither grieve for what hath escaped you, nor rejoice in what ye are given, for the world and all that is therein shall perish, and sovereignty shall remain with God, in Whose grasp is the kingdom of all things, and He, verily, encompasseth all things.

And thou, O emigrant servant, be thou assured in thyself, then thank God for having strengthened thee in His Cause and honored thee with meeting the Manifestation of His Self, and provided thee with the bounty which was sent down from the heaven of grace, and for His mercy which encompassed thee when thou didst enter the Sacred Precinct and didst hear the melodies of the Spirit, and the lights of the Countenance shone upon thee from the presence of the Self-Subsisting. By God! A single glance from thy Lord excelleth the treasures of the heavens and earth and all that was and will be, if thou be of them that know. And when thou departest from the city wherein the Beauty of the Cause hath established Himself, lay thy face upon the dust and say:

O my Lord! Praise be to Thee for Thy gracious gifts and wondrous bounties, whereby Thou hast caused me to recognize the Manifestation of Thy Self, honored me with His presence, made me hear His melodies, and brought me before Him. By Thy might! Were I to thank Thee for what Thou hast bestowed upon me throughout the duration of Thy sovereignty, it would still fall short of the wonders of Thy favors. But I beseech Thee by the sovereignty of Thy Name that hath encompassed all created things, to make me steadfast in Thy Cause, speaking in praise of Thy Self, and mindful of Thy wondrous gifts. Verily, Thou hast ever been powerful over all things, and by Thy Self art able to do whatsoever Thou willest.

Thus have We taught thee and strengthened thee and aided thee in this Tablet that thou mayest stand firm in thy Lord’s Cause. And the Spirit be upon thee and upon those who circle round the House with radiant countenance and pure soul.

BH01239: This is an epistle from this servant…

He is the Mighty!

This is an epistle from this servant to the loved ones of God who have been afflicted with a separation the like of which no eye hath ever witnessed and no parallel hath appeared in creation—such that their hearts were consumed, their souls melted, their breasts were constricted, their eyes wept and their tears flowed, whereby signs of agitation appeared in the pillars of the mighty throne.

Say: By God, the spirit hath departed from all things, every matter hath been overturned, all who are in the heavens and earth were shaken, joy hath been lifted from all things, and the Word of God, the Powerful, the Mighty, the Omnipotent, hath been scattered by what the hands of the idolaters have wrought against God and His loved ones.

Say: The sun hath been darkened from the horizon of Iraq and the moon hath been eclipsed by what these oppressors have done. Say: The eyes of the maidens have been blinded, the dwellers of the chambers have lamented, the temples of luminous holiness have fallen to the dust, the garments of the people of the Kingdom have been rent, and the realities of the denizens of the Realm Above have cried out in this great terror. The eyes of the people of the kingdom have never witnessed the like of what befell in those days the countenances of sublime holiness.

Say: O people of the earth! By God, were ye to perceive in yourselves even as a mustard seed, ye would cast black dust upon your faces and fall prostrate upon the earth for all eternity. Alas for you, O company of the wretched, for what your hands have wrought, your tongues have uttered, and your hearts have imagined, until ye drove from His homeland this Bird that dwelt therein by the command of the All-Wise, the All-Knowing.

Say: By God, the leaf of Paradise hath yellowed by what ye have done to servants who have not associated partners with God for even the twinkling of an eye. Say: The branches of the Lote-Tree of the Utmost Boundary have been broken by your turning away from the Beauty of God after He shone forth upon you like the Spirit from an ancient and holy horizon. The boughs of the Furthermost Tree have been demolished by what befell the Word of God, the Most High, the Most Great.

And when, from behind the clouds of mystery, the people of eternity cry out, addressing the City of God: “O City of God! How canst thou endure this separation, wherefrom the horizons have been set aflame, in that reunion hath been changed into a far-off sundering? O City of God! How can the eyes of them that draw nigh unto God rest upon thee, after thou hast remained empty of a Beauty holy and secure? O City of God! How shall the feet of the knowers move within thee, after the Youth, by that which was decreed in the guarded Tablets of might, hath ceased to tread thy earth? O City of God! How shall we behold thy gates, after the doors of meeting within thee have been shut, through that which the hands of the oppressors have wrought? O City of God! How shall we see within thee the Footstep of God? Alas, alas for this grievous sorrow!

O City of God! By God, we cannot bear to look upon thy markets, nor thy walls, nor thy trees, nor the river-bank that flowed within thee by His Name, the One Who maketh it to flow. This, verily, is the certain truth. O City of God! Weep for this separation, whereat the hearts of lovers have been consumed. O City of God! Awake within thyself from this sundering, wherefrom the hearts of the sincere have been torn asunder.”

O City of God! Cast dust upon thy head because of this remoteness, by reason of which the dwellers behind the veil of clouds have been set far from a station of holy and gracious sanctity. O City of God! By God, the hearts of the denizens of the Kingdom have been consumed at that which hath befallen thee of this manifest injustice; and by God, the souls of them that inhabit the Realm on high have been as though annihilated by what hath descended upon thee at the hands of the enemies of the Name of God, the Most High, the All-Knowing. By God, patience itself hath fled from us, as though it had never been created in the hearts of them that yearn.

O City of God! Can I perceive anything within thee after the departure of that radiant and resplendent Sun? Nay, by God! I can neither perceive thee nor behold the beauty of Him through Whom we were blessed with the fruits of nearness every morn and eve. Alas! Alas! The hearts of the people of eternity have been pierced by the arrows of the idolaters. By God, O City! We take no delight in thy blossoms or thy flowers in any springtime, after we no longer behold within thee the rose of glory from the Beauty of the Beloved.

Therefore, O City of God, inform thy people that the Bird hath taken flight—the Bird whose departure or death was their only desire. This hath been decreed by the Pen of holiness and wisdom. Remain ye, then, in your dwellings and rest upon your seats, for ye have attained what ye desired and achieved all that ye sought. Be ye of them that are at ease. Know with certainty that ye shall never again hear the melodies of God, never draw nigh unto a manifest meeting with Him, never witness the beauty of God among you, and never shall the words of God, the Mighty, the Glorious, the Gracious, be cast upon you. Your seats have been enlarged by the departure of the Bird. Be at ease, then, O company of the heedless!

Then there calleth out from the throne of the spirit a holy and wondrous countenance:

“Blessed are ye, O company of the loved ones, for your patience in this great terror, for hearkening to the counsel of your Lord, and for your steadfastness in a Cause that hath caused the frames of the concourse of the exalted ones to melt away. God shall soon gather you thereby into a holy and luminous seat, as a reward for your patience. How excellent is the reward of the patient ones!”

BH01228: Praise be to God, the Quickener of all beings…

In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate!

Praise be to God, the Quickener of all beings, the Creator of light and darkness, Who dispels the gloom of nights with the light of days, Who brings forth fruits from their sheaths, Who hath chosen from among the days eleven—the number of Huva—which is the Hidden Mystery known only to him who is acquainted with the secrets of destiny. In six of these He created the heavens and the earth, and there remained the number of Ha, which was revealed on the Night of Power. Thus doth every person of insight become convinced that whatsoever was created in the six was created for the Manifestations of Ha, who are the Five People of the Cloak. Then He adorned Ha with the embellishment of Ba, and the authoritative and hidden Word of God was completed—that Word which was the source of the utterance of the Command in the world of creation.

Through it He revealed Himself unto all things, whatsoever hath been created in earth and heaven. Then appeared distinction and detail in every kind among the existent beings and contingent things, which were endowed with elements according to what was ordained by the Lord of Names and Attributes. He that turned toward it believed in the Worshipped One, and he that turned away from it denied prostration and disbelieved in God, the Mighty, the Loving.

When He revealed Himself through it unto the days, certain days turned toward Him, and after the passing of the Vav, He made Ha the festival of Islam and a treasure and honor for all peoples. When the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast was fulfilled, there dawned from the highest horizon the morn of our Festival of Sacrifice. Glorified be He Who ordained it by His irrevocable decree for the people of guidance, and distinguished it for those possessed of understanding who have believed in God, the Lord of the First and the Last.

He made it the brightest star in the brow of days, and the point in the preamble of time’s book from which stream forth the mysteries of the Furqan. It hath its manifestation in both creation and legislation. Blessed is he who bringeth forth the pearl of utterance from the shell of the heart bearing clear exposition. God hath made the first day a sign of unity and a manifestation of oneness for all servants, that all atoms might bear witness that there is none other God but Him, the Creator of earth and heavens.

Then He caused other days to dawn and made them days of Tashriq for this community, and through these three the four pillars were completed among creation. We bear witness that there is none other God but Him. He hath ever been, and there hath been nothing beside Him. He shall ever continue to be even as He hath been.

The way to the knowledge of His Essence is barred, and the path to comprehending His Reality is cut off. The way is blocked and the quest forbidden. His proof is His signs, and His Being is His evidence. He is independent of the mention of aught else and is self-sufficient above the description of all else. He hath sent the Messengers and revealed the Books, and made them the manifestations of His signs and the dawning-places of His names and attributes, that all might bear witness to that which He hath testified of His own Self, by His own Self, before the creation of His heaven and His earth: that there is none other God but Him, and that He hath ever been one God, Single, Individual, Alone, Everlasting, Eternal, Self-Subsisting.

The Messengers have, thereby, reached the One Who guideth to the paths; verily He is in the Most Exalted Scene, and speaketh from that most august station and from the most glorious horizon. Blessed are ye, in that ye have attained, in this Most Great Festival, unto the robe of recognition, and have believed in your Lord, the All-Merciful, and in that which hath been brought by the Pride of the worlds and the Sovereign of creation—through Whom the religions were renewed, and the fragrances of forgiveness passed over the people of disobedience—He Who crowned His head with the diadem of “But for Thee…”; He Who, speaking in the station of sobriety, declared: “Had it not been for Thee, We would not have known Thee,” and in the station of effacement: “I am He, and He is I”—yet is He sanctified above the mention of “I” and “thou”; the Beginning Who was adorned with the vesture of the Seal, and the Manifest Who, through Him, disclosed the mystery of the Hidden—the Manifestation of Eternity and the Glory of the nations: Muhammad, the Chosen One—may the prayers and peace of God be upon Him, and upon His kindred and His companions, through whom that which had ebbed did overflow; and God made them the gates of knowledge unto all that come and all that pass away. There is no God but Him, the Bestower, the Giver, the All-Bounteous.

Glorified art Thou, O my God! I beseech Thee by Thy Most Excellent Names and Thy Most Exalted Attributes, and by Thy Greatest Name—whereby the birds of the hearts of the unity-minded have soared in the heaven of Thy nearness and Thy favour, and the hearts of the sincere have ascended unto the heaven of the might of Thy abidingness—to make this Festival blessed for us and for them that have acknowledged Thy oneness and confessed Thy singleness. O Lord! This is a Day which Thou hast ordained a Festival among days, that Thy remembrance may endure among mankind, and that they may attain unto the highest station.

O Lord! We are poor: we have turned unto the shadow of Thy riches. We are weak: we have hastened unto the Ka’bah of Thy bounties and Thy gifts. We are athirst: we have sped unto the Kawthar of Thy generosity and Thy beneficence. I beseech Thee by Thyself, and by Muhammad Whom Thou didst choose, in the world of eternity, above all peoples, that Thou disappoint us not of the wonders of Thy grace and Thy bounty, and that Thou make us not deprived of that which Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen ones.

O Lord! Send down upon us, from the clouds of Thy mercy and the heaven of Thy loving-kindness, that which shall cleanse us from the defilement of the world and draw us nigh unto Thee—O Thou in Whose hand is the dominion of decree and the kingdom of consummation. O Lord! Enlighten our eyes with the light of Thy recognition, and our hearts with the light of Thy knowledge; then draw us unto the court of nearness, holiness, and beauty. Verily Thou art the Mighty, the Exalted; there is no God but Thee, the Possessor of majesty and bounties.

BH01266: Glorified art Thou, O my Lord and my Beloved!…

He is the Mighty, the Witnessed One!

Glorified art Thou, O my Lord and my Beloved! I render thanks unto Thee for the wondrous favors of Thy oneness, which Thou hast caused to flow forth and hast sent down from the heaven of Thy holy Being. And we praise Thee, O my Heart’s Desire, for that which Thou hast manifested of the gems of Thy bounty that have filled the pillars of the heavens and have encompassed and embraced all who dwell within the realms of contingent beings. And for that which the Daysprings of Thy power have brought forth from the most exalted station—the station of the throne of Thy grandeur—until its manifestations reached the lands of Thy creation, whereby the waves of the ocean of Thy oneness surged in all things, and from all things flowed forth the streams of Thy singular bounty.

By Thy might, O my God! Thy favors have attained such heights that no point can be seen in Thy kingdom but that from it have been detailed the mysteries of the wisdom of the sovereignty of Thy Lordship, and no speck of dust can be found but that it testifies of itself, by itself, to Thy unity through that which hath shone upon it from the effulgences of the lights of Thy oneness. And since such is the condition of Thy creation, how can anyone attain unto Thee or describe Thy beauty?

Therefore do I bear witness before Thee, and call to witness the denizens of the Supreme Concourse and the dwellers of the pavilions of eternity, that Thou hast ever been sanctified above the description of all contingent beings and wilt ever remain hallowed beyond the mention of all created things. All eyes are fixed upon the dawning of the lights of the beauty of Thy handiwork whereby Thou hast created all beings, all minds are bewildered before the signs of Thy majesty whereby Thou hast encompassed all things visible, all souls are thunderstruck before the manifestations of Thy self-subsistence whereby Thou hast revealed all things mentioned.

All this, O my God, is but of the wondrous gifts Thou hast bestowed upon the people of Thy kingdom and the gems of Thy bounty upon Thy creatures, without being asked. How then, O my God, when one of Thy servants asks of Thee or one of Thy bondsmen seeks from Thee? May the self that would ask of Thee that which befitteth not Thy station be nonexistent, and may the being that would seek from Thee that which is unworthy of Thy presence be no more!

By Thy might, O my Beloved! He who hath drunk the wine of Thy beauty will hope for naught save meeting Thee, and he who hath attained unto the remembrance of Thy love will find no rest save in reunion with Thee, and he who hath tasted the sweetness of Thy nearness, how can he be patient in Thy remoteness and separation? Nay, by Thy might! The hearts of the lovers will find no peace save in the precincts of Thy mercy, and the souls of the yearning ones will find no rest save beneath the shade of Thy providence.

Glorified, glorified art Thou, O my Lord, my God, my Object of worship, my One before Whom I prostrate, the Beloved of my heart and the Physician of my soul! I have ever wished to extol the wondrous praise of Thee, yet have found myself powerless to do so, for I observe that my praise is but a sign of Thy eternal handiwork, no more than the buzzing of a bee in the wilderness of Thy power, or the chirping of an ant in the desert of Thy might and sovereignty. How then can my praise ascend to the heaven of Thy holy mercy whereunto the hearts of none of Thy chosen ones have soared? And how can my description reach that station which the minds of none of Thy near ones have attained?

Yet, O my God, when I observe that the praise which floweth from my pen, or issueth from my tongue, or is manifested in my works, is naught but from the wondrous tokens of Thy supreme power and can only be realized through the gems of Thy most great handiwork, then is my heart assured, my being gladdened, and my reality made joyful, for Thy handiwork is naught but a mirror of Thy beauty, and in Thy deed naught can be seen save the lights of the glory of Thy Being and Thy majesty. For were any imperfection […] from deficiency or flaw must needs return unto its Creator and testifieth to its Originator. Far, far be it from me to behold in Thy handiwork aught save the effulgent splendors of Thine unity, or to see therein aught except the treasuries of Thy holy wisdom.

Whatsoever proceedeth from me or floweth from my pen can only be through Thy power and might, and whatsoever is prompted by Thy will and manifested by Thy strength. How could it be befitting to the sovereignty of Thine essence or worthy of the court of Thy glorious dominion? Nay, by Thy resplendent beauty, all that cometh from Thee befitteth Thy presence and is worthy of Thy beauty. This is of the certitude wherewith Thou didst create me and establish me in the kingdom of Thy creation and the dominion of Thy command. Therefore, O my God, were all that I have mentioned in this luminous, radiant Tablet to be reckoned as a single letter, it would contain all that beseemeth Thy station and glory—a truth beyond all doubt, for verily Thou art its Manifestor, Creator, Originator, Maker, and Fashioner.

Since this is so, I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which Thou didst cool the fire in the hearts of them that love Thee, and through which the breezes of reunion wafted over the hearts of Thy loved ones, to aid those who have sought shelter beneath the Sadratu’l-Muntaha in the vicinity of Thy Most Exalted Name. Then raise them up through Thy most sublime exaltation, and turn them toward the shore of eternity, and sanctify them from all that existeth in the realm of creation. Then gather them, O my God, before Thee at the appearance of Thy beauty in Thy final Manifestation, for verily Thou doest what Thou willest, and Thou art, in truth, the Almighty, the All-Bountiful.

BH01251: This sorrowful servant, seated in the land of grief…

This sorrowful servant, seated in the land of grief, nourished by the essence of sorrow, drinking from the springs of sadness, rained upon by showers of anguish from the clouds of woe, and drenched by torrents of grief from the heavens of tribulation, calls out to you and all who are with you with a mournful voice, bidding you to act upon all that hath been inscribed in the testaments, both past and future. Be not deprived of the outpourings of the boundless breezes of mercy, and remain not distant from the rapturous melodies of the eternal Dove, for whatsoever hath appeared of the wondrous and manifold bounties shall pass away, and whatsoever melodious and delicate songs are heard shall vanish.

Therefore, with pure striving and the essence of endeavor, walk ye upon the path of the exalted and glorious Living One, and thereafter find repose upon the carpet of glory and the throne of power. Ere long shall ye drink the cup of evanescence from the hand of the cupbearer of eternity, and quaff the chalices of love from the hand of the celestial maiden. Make ye ready, that perchance ye may not waste the blessing of life and be accounted among the heedless. Strive then with utmost power, that haply some service may proceed from you that shall win the good-pleasure of the King of the realms of blindness and the Sovereign of light.

I swear by God, Who hath seated this servant upon the throne of sorrow, that this station is greater than whatsoever existeth in the highest heavens and the lowest earth. Strive, while life endureth and ye have not yet departed from this mortal cage, that ye may not commit that which would be a cause of remorse and regret. This servant, despite all the afflictions ye have heard about—and verily none greater than these hath appeared in all creation—passeth not a moment without feeling shame and embarrassment before the holy countenances and the faces of the near ones, for no service hath proceeded from this sorrowful servant that might bring joy to Their presence. How fitting is this verse in this regard:

How can I lift my face in shame before my Friend, When no worthy service from my hand did descend?

But I call upon the Intended One in this state wherein from the clouds of love the drops of yearning pour down as torrential rain, and from the winds of grace the breezes of tenderness flow forth in melting streams, while the cauldron of longing sings its melodies, and the dove of separation warbles its tunes, and the hoopoe of affection takes wing in flight, and the peacock of oneness arrays itself in splendor, and the owl of gloom trills its song, and the salamander burns in the fire of desire, and the fish in the ocean of love’s radiance is submerged, while the heavens of union are lifted up and the stars of attainment are obscured, and the sun of manifestation is veiled and the light of emergence is concealed, and the earth of sorrow is spread wide and the tree of despair is planted firm, and the mountains of tranquility are crushed and the seas of concealment overflow, and the brilliance of hope is darkened, and the eye of the beloved waits expectantly—perchance the nightingale of faithfulness might sing upon the branches of the tree of extinction, and the nightingale of radiance might take wing among the boughs of the Lote-Tree of Sinai, and the leaf of the dove might warble upon the leaves of the tree of eternity, that haply the withered tree might bear fruit and the fallen Lote-Tree might be replanted, and the silenced nightingale might burst into song, and the wing-clipped hoopoe might soar to the holy heights, and the extinguished fire might blaze forth, and the stagnant stream might flow again, that we might be nourished from the cups of joy and delight, and taste the fruits of the tree of love, and gaze into the polished mirror.

But God knows that at this moment such tears have rained from my eyes and such drops have streamed down my face like the rain of mercy that the sighs of my eyes have stopped the pen from moving and the flood of tears has prevented ink from marking the page. How excellent are these words:

My weeping makes Noah’s flood seem but like my tears, And the fire of Abraham is as my passion’s burning;

Were it not for my sighs, my tears would drown me, And were it not for my tears, my sighs would consume me;

Jacob’s grief expressed not the least of my sorrow, And all Job’s afflictions are but a portion of my tribulation.

And if what afflicts Me were to befall the mountains, and were Mount Sinai to bear them before the Divine Manifestation, verily it would have crumbled to dust. Yet, despite all these tribulations and afflictions, these trials both hidden and manifest, I remain expectant and watchful for successive favors and manifest bounties, that perchance the Cup-Bearer of the Countenance of Glory might, from the crimson chalice, give Me to drink the wine of destiny, so that the hoopoe of sorrow might be gladdened by the fragrances from the city of Sheba, and become enchanted by the cooing of the Dove of Glory. Perchance this darkened mirror might be illumined by the Countenance of Beauty, and this blackened stone might be made to shine by the Face of Majesty. Haply this dejected heart might find solace, and this grieving soul might attain unto glad-tidings. Wherefore I say: There is no power nor strength except through God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. We are God’s, and unto Him shall we return.

BH01285: These are the verses of God which have been…

He is the Most Wondrous in the All-Glorious Horizon!

These are the verses of God which have been sent down in truth from the presence of the Mighty, the All-Knowing. They are indeed a guidance to those who believe, and a mercy and reminder to another people. We have verily sent down to thee from the heaven of grace a Book before whose contents the hearts of all the world are powerless to comprehend. We have sent it unto thee as a mercy from Our presence upon thee and upon Our near servants. Should God so please, it shall reach thee and bestow upon thee what it containeth of the mysteries of thy Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

When it reacheth thee, take it with the hand of might and power, then act in accordance with what thou hast been commanded therein from the presence of the Mighty, the Most Beautiful. Tarry not in any matter, but make mention of thy Lord in secret and in public, and be of those who are steadfast in the Cause and are among the trusting ones.

Beware lest anything deter thee from the path of thy Lord, or the denial of those who disbelieved after having acknowledged God their Lord at the time when the veils of fancy were rent asunder and the Sun of the name of thy Lord, the Most High, the Most Great, shone forth from the holy horizon. When He once again manifested Himself unto them from the direction of the Throne through His Most Glorious Name, they denied Him, and thereby their falsehood in the former time became evident. They returned to their abode and joined those who had preceded them among Our idolatrous servants. Thus doth God render void the deeds of those who have made a jest of the Cause within themselves and who were in grave doubt and schism.

Know thou then that he whose name correspondeth to that of Nabil hath appeared before the Throne, and upon him hath shone the light of the Sun of the Beauty of thy Lord, the Almighty, the Mighty, the All-Knowing. He attained the presence of God and His verses according to what was ordained for him, and verily thy Lord is the Bestower, the Forgiving, the Bountiful. When the time appointed for his sojourn in the precincts of thy Lord’s mercy was fulfilled, We sent him back unto thee with a clear Book, and We favored thee once again and revealed this Tablet and dispatched it unto thee that thou mightest find from it the fragrance of the Beloved and be among the successful ones.

Arise to serve the Cause, then remind the people of the verses of God, the Ancient Sovereign. Grieve not; give glad tidings of what hath appeared and shone forth from the holy horizon. He walketh, and behind Him walk the realities of all things, but the people have veiled themselves from the Revelation of God and His Cause, and are among the heedless. They have taken fancy as their lord besides God. By My life! They are more heedless than the peoples of old, as evidenced by what issueth from their mouths, even as thou hast heard from them and art among those who have heard. Rend asunder their veils by a power from Our presence and a might from Us, that they may ascend unto a holy and gentle atmosphere.

Say: O people! By God, ye were created for this Day, and concerning this hath God taken a covenant from you in the particle of the Bayan, then in the particle of the Furqan, then in the particle of the Gospel, then in the particle of the Torah, then in the particle of every world of His worlds and every page of the pages of His glory. To this do all atoms bear witness, were ye of the fair-minded.

Beware, O people, lest ye break God’s covenant and His pledge. Rather, fulfill that which ye pledged in the presence of the near ones and the Messengers. When the deniers are asked, “Who is your God?” they say “Allah.” And when asked, “By what proof?” they say “The verses.” Yet when God’s verses are recited unto them, they flee therefrom and become among the turn-aways. The eye of creation hath not witnessed any more heedless than these, for they deny that whereby they pride themselves above all the peoples of the earth and whereby their faith is established, yet they perceive not. Say: If ye deny this proof, then by what proof do ye reject the Faith of the Furqan?

If ye say they denied God and His verses after they were sent down in truth, ye too have denied their like and their Revealer. What, then, is the difference between you, O company of the deluded? By thy life! Their likeness is as those who affirm the rays for the stars yet deny the manifestations of the Sun with such brilliant, radiant light; or as those who worship that which neither heareth nor seeth, and when asked “By what proof?” they say “Thus found we it in the books of our forefathers of old.” Know thou that these believed not in the Primal Point, but rather in the idols of their own selves and desires. For had they believed in Him, they would not have denied Him in this Revelation whose lights have encompassed all worlds.

Thus have We detailed unto thee the stories of these people and explained the verses with clear and evident signs. We sent unto those who believed therein Tablets, one of which sufficeth as proof for all the worlds. Do thou bring forth the pearls of knowledge and wisdom from the shells of their words, that perchance they who are detached may discover what lieth therein and be of those who are assured. Thus did We command thee before, and We command thee now, that thou mayest be of those who act. And since We sent thee a Tablet before, We have therefore been brief in this Tablet. Yet were We to will to remain in this transient world, We would assuredly send thee whatsoever God wisheth and desireth, for verily He is the Best of Senders.

BH01289: O Letter Ba’ to Letter Jim! Grieve not at…

He is God, exalted be His glory, to Him belong greatness and majesty!

O Letter Ba’ to Letter Jim! Grieve not at the vicissitudes of the world. Find solace in the remembrance of God and be content therewith above all else. By Him Who made the Letter Ha’ the ornament of His Own Self, and with it adorned His kingdom and His dominion and His holy realms, ye have profited in your trade in such wise as none can reckon save God, your Lord and the Lord of all worlds. He maketh mention of you in His seat, that ye may mention Him amongst the servants with wisdom and utterance, perchance ye may find them lightened from the burden of earth and all that is therein, and ascend unto a station that was highly exalted in the supreme Paradise.

Beware, beware lest ye step forth from the robe of wisdom. They in whose hearts is doubt have appeared in the garments of faith, and thy Lord beareth witness that they are liars. Believe not every claimant who speaketh as his passion biddeth him. Thus doth He Who speaketh the truth command you. He, verily, is the All-Knowing, the Unseen. Rejoice in His days and behold the signs of your Lord, the All-Merciful, and ponder them. By My life! They have encompassed the worlds. Glory and spirit be upon thee and upon those who have chosen the path unto God, the Almighty, the Great.

He is God, exalted be His glory, to Him belong greatness and majesty!

O Letter Ha’! Hear the call of the Letter Ha’ that speaketh in the crimson hill, the place wherefrom the decree of destiny was severed, and from which the fragrance of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, was diffused. Grieve not at the world and what occureth therein. By My life! All that is thereon shall perish, and there shall endure the face of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Bestower. Blessed art thou for having urged on the steed of high resolve until the beauty of the Divine Unity was made manifest unto thee. We have accepted what hath passed from thee. Verily thy Lord is the Powerful, the Helper. This is the Day whereon the heaven was cleft asunder and the earth was rent and the path was set up, and this, verily, is the Balance.

Say: The Balance hath appeared in the form of man, and walketh and speaketh and writeth what proceedeth from His lips—the servant in attendance before the Throne, whom the peoples of all worlds from among those who followed Satan could not prevent. We have forsaken the world and its people, and have turned to a station wherein naught is seen save God, the Lord of all religions. By Him Who illumined the dawn and manifested the Night of Power! He speaketh between the heavens and the earth and calleth all unto God, and the might of the oppressors preventeth Him not, though they should all unite against Him with sword and spear. God hath written down for you the reward of them who have attained His presence and heard His call. Be content with what God hath been content with. He, verily, is the Mighty, the Merciful.

He is God, exalted be His glory, to Him belong greatness and majesty!

This is a Book from Us unto him who hath turned towards the Holy Court. Verily his Lord is the Mighty, the Generous. They who follow God’s command, by My life, are in My good-pleasure and soar in My atmosphere and hear My call and circle round Me. They are, verily, the companions of paradise. Give thanks unto thy Lord for having wandered from thy homeland until thou drewest nigh unto thy Lord, the All-Merciful. Exalted be this noble and mighty station! Had the people known what lieth beyond the veil, they would have turned unto it with their heads, but they have been prevented from this mighty grace by what they have earned. They who have drawn nigh unto the Dayspring of Revelation are of the people of Baha. Their names have been inscribed by the Most Exalted Pen in a preserved and mighty tablet. Glory be upon thee and upon him who hath drunk the cup of tribulation in the path of his Lord, the Forgiving, the Merciful.

He is God, exalted be His glory, to Him belong greatness and majesty!

By the grace of the All-Merciful, may His Chosen Ones be joyous at all times, content with the good-pleasure of the Friend and thankful. Today, wisdom is beloved for the education of the peoples of the world. All the loved ones must assuredly not transgress it. It has been observed that in every place where actions were taken contrary to that which God hath permitted, naught but sedition was manifested as a result. Hearken unto the call of the Friend, act according to His bidding, and be content. Be not grieved by separation, for afterwards, by His command, that very separation was the essence of nearness, and parting by His leave was the reality of union. These are the pure waters of inner meaning that have flowed from the Wellspring of the Pen of the All-Merciful. Drink thereof and be of the thankful ones.

He is God, exalted be His station, to Him belong all glory and grandeur.

O Sin! The Manifest Truth declareth: This is the Day wherein the chosen ones must fix their gaze upon the command of the Unconstrained One and must efface their own will before the Will of God. That is, after the issuance of the binding decree from the direction of the Fashioner of bones and the Lord of all nations, that very command must become the beloved thing. How blessed, then, is he who ascendeth unto this station! Therefore, ye must observe with perfect wisdom whatsoever is deemed beneficial to the Cause, and act accordingly. Deeds take precedence over words. A goodly deed hath been and shall forever be the distinguishing feature. Be thou never grieved. Verily, He ordaineth for each one that which is best for him. He, verily, is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

BH01276: He is God. Praise be to God, Who hath…

He is God. Praise be to God, Who hath ever endured through the endurance of His Essence and subsisted through the subsistence of His Being and was exalted through the transcendence of His holy eternity—He Who brought forth all created things through a single word from His Book and clothed them in the garment of existence through His command and will. And I offer prayers and salutations upon the first Tree that brought forth the fruits of knowledge and wisdom, and the first Light that shone forth from the dawn of Oneness, and the first Mirror that reflected all the names and attributes in the sanctified realms—He Who was Muhammad in name and praiseworthy in deed—and upon His family, with abundant and everlasting peace forever.

O My brother! Your letter has reached Us and We have understood all the references and words contained therein. The lamentation of your heart and the cry of your soul have been heard regarding the poverty, need, adversity and distress that encompass you. We beseech God to grant you that which you love and with which you are content, for verily He is the Generous, the Bountiful.

Know thou at the outset that I am not worthy to associate with the servants in the lands after corruption has appeared on land and sea through that which the hands of men have wrought. Dost thou not witness and see how the dogs of the earth from all regions have gathered against Me, attributing to Me that which cannot be uttered in speech nor flow from the pen? How then canst thou be with Me, or sit in My presence, or associate with Me?

From the day God made Himself known to Me and taught Me the wonders of His knowledge and the gems of His wisdom, I have sacrificed My spirit, My soul and My body in His path, and each day I await what God hath ordained for Me through His inevitable decrees and His established judgments. Hast thou not heard how they seized Us and Our possessions, expelled Us from Our homes, and then drew forth against Us the sword of hatred from the sheath of enmity? These transgressors shot at Us the arrows of rancor though We called them to naught but God and desired for them only that which would transform them from the left hand of self and passion to the right hand of glory and eternity. We commanded them only what God had commanded them in the Book. Then they all rose against Me in hypocrisy and slew Me with the swords of discord, as though I were imprisoned in an iron cage, My cries and lamentations unheard, such that I could not utter a single letter of what God had graciously bestowed upon Me and honored Me with through His bounty.

By God! If thou wert to become aware of My secret, thou wouldst weep for the adversity and hardship that have befallen Me. And were the veil to be lifted from the eye of thy heart, thou wouldst flee to the mountain peaks from My sorrow and what hath come upon Me. In these circumstances of tribulation and these calamities that have descended, I have clung to the hem of patience and resignation, held fast to the cord of trust and detachment, and in every moment I say: “There is no power nor strength except in God.”

Therefore, consider within thyself: Can anyone accompany this destitute servant, this limited and abased one? Nay, by My Lord, unless he walks in His footsteps—that is, turns with his whole being to his Lord and turns away from all else, hastening to the fields of struggle in his Lord’s path as he rushed to the assemblies of glory in pursuit of his desires. He must be steadfast in God’s Cause such that his foot does not slip even if all creation opposes him. He must not boast over anyone in anything, nor desire for others what he does not desire for himself. In contentment, he must reach such a station that if he finds means he spends, and if he lacks he gives thanks.

Each day he must increase in his love for his Lord and in his submission to his Creator. In resignation he must reach such a state that were the rains of poverty and abasement to pour upon him, he would not grieve in his soul nor change in his essence. In these days, no one can enter the shore of this ocean, much less its depths. Therefore, it behooveth thee to return to thy place and, if thou findest within thyself My love, beseech God, thy Lord, to protect this lamp from these diverse winds, and this dove from the talons of these reprobates. Verily He is near, ever-ready to answer. And if thou art adorned with these attributes, then it behooveth thee to recite this prayer morning and evening:

Glory be unto Thee, O Lord my God! I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which Thou didst cause the rivers of Thy holy oneness to flow, and didst send down from the clouds of Thy mercy the outpourings of Thine eternal might, to have mercy upon this poor and needy one who hath entered the shore of Thy riches, and this lowly one who hath arrived at the wellspring of Thy glory, and this weak one who hath clung to the cord of Thy power, and this ignorant one who hath hastened from every direction until he entered the city of Thy knowledge. In Thy hand is the dominion of command and the kingdom of creation. Verily, Thou art powerful over all things.

BH01314: Your letter which you sent to this servant, who…

He is the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious!

Your letter which you sent to this servant, who circles round the Throne, was forwarded from the great city and was witnessed, and its contents were understood. God willing, may you ever drink from the incomparable sweet waters of the Lord of Majesty and be sanctified from all who dwell in the heavens and the earth. O thou Phoenix of fire! Conquer hearts through the remembrance of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Unconstrained. Then give the contingent beings to drink from the chalice of divine verses through the hands of maidens who dwell in the chambers of the words of the Revealer of mysteries, whom no strangers or evil ones have touched, and whose presence God has made exclusive to those among His servants possessed of insight, who were among the choicest of creation and held fast to the cord of God, the Almighty, the Compelling. Soon shall We send down unto thee what We have ordained for thee. Be thou, therefore, at peace within thyself and be of them that are at rest.

For each person mentioned in your letter, a Tablet was revealed and sent down as a token of Our grace upon thee and upon Our devoted servants. Now observe the condition of the people and what proceeds from their mouths. They acknowledge that every light is darkened before His splendor, as was revealed in the Bayan and testified to by the Tongue of the All-Merciful. Likewise do they say that He transforms light into darkness, as was revealed in the prayers by God, the Mighty, the Gracious, the Bestower. Yet when the meaning of what they have confessed and acknowledged becomes manifest, they flee from the Lion of inner meanings and join Satan’s hosts, even though they have not understood him whom they have taken as lord instead of God, nor his true nature, nor the origin of his cause—to this do they who are endued with understanding bear witness.

Strange indeed that these people, though they behold with their outward eyes the inexhaustible Kawthar, have nevertheless contented themselves with a mirage. Such hath ever been the way of creation, even as among the peoples of old there are today those who worship the calf instead of God and rejoice in their idol. He Who hath arisen by His own Self would be ashamed to be known by such servants, and were it not for His grace and mercy, He would never have revealed His Cause. But the decree hath been fulfilled, for He is the Almighty, the Unconstrained.

And after the manifestation of God and the establishment of His Temple upon the throne of His Most Great Name, the All-Glorious, these people still make mention of Imamate, succession, and vicegerency. Such is the condition of the leaders of this people, let alone those souls who have followed these insects of the earth. In truth, all are today seen as immature. If a soul attaineth unto this wondrous Cause, by God! the dust of his sandal is, in God’s sight, more exalted and distinguished than all who have turned aside among the people of the Bayan, and ever shall be. None shall enter this everlasting City of Oneness save holy souls who are detached from all save God. This cup is not the portion of every heedless ignorant one, nor is this pure wine the share of every stubborn infidel. They who drink from the Abha cup are of another essence and from another realm. Thus hath the matter been decreed, but the people understand not.

God willing, may ye ever be present in the court of the All-Glorious, the Majestic, and be gazers unto His most pure horizon. Convey God’s greetings unto the faces of them that are settled upon the cushions of detachment and abstraction among His triumphant servants, then unto thy wife and sister and thy kinsmen and the handmaidens of God, then unto those two women who emigrated unto God and whom the hand of grace returned to their abode. Say unto them: By God! We were with you and walked above your heads and witnessed your love and heard what ye uttered, and We are the Best of hearers. Blessed are ye, and God hath accepted from you and shall surely reward you, for He is the Best of rewarders.

And if thou seest the servant before the Merciful, convey unto his face the greetings from Us, then give him the glad tidings of Our mention of him in this wondrous Tablet. Say: We have heard what thou hast composed in remembrance of thy Lord. God shall soon reward thee with the best of rewards, for He bestoweth upon His remembering servants, and We had sent him a tablet before wherein was recorded that which was a guidance and remembrance for all the worlds. Then convey greetings unto the face of Nasir, that he may rejoice within himself through God’s grace and mercy and be of the assured ones. We have indeed sent down unto him from the heaven of holiness verses of the Cause and sent them to him before, that he may rejoice in God’s remembrance, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

And likewise unto the face of Hasan who hath attained unto God’s tablet and its effect, that he may be of the thankful ones. And if thou seest Dhabih, remind him from Us, saying: Beware lest thou be patient in God’s Cause. Rend asunder the veils of glory in their entirety in such wise that the denizens of the Supreme Paradise shall hear the sound of their rending. This is better for thee than clinging to the hems of the ascetics. And say: Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH01315: O Muhammad of Sirjan! In the Name of God…

O Muhammad of Sirjan! In the Name of God, the Most Mighty, the Most Holy, the Most Invincible, the Most Exalted!

This is a Book from the Primal Point Who testifieth and declareth:

“Verily, I am alive in the Most Glorious Horizon. Therefore, O people, behold ye My beauty, then hearken unto My melodies, then witness My power, My sovereignty and My glory, then My mercy that hath preceded all worlds.”

O people! By God, We have indeed informed you aforetime and testified with Our truthful tongue that I have ever existed through the eternity of God and shall manifest Myself unto you through My Most Great, Most Glorious Name. Beware lest ye object thereunto and be counted among the idolaters. By God, this is a mystery more manifest than the sun at high noon, yet when We bestowed the Name apart from Our Self, the servants knew Us not. This mystery was veiled within mystery upon mystery, shrouded by yet another mystery, which none among all created things could fathom.

When the idolaters persisted and thy Lord’s appointed time was fulfilled, then did the Hand of Power lift from the face of mystery a veil of mystery. Thereupon all who dwell in the heavens and earth were struck with terror, save those whom God preserved within the fortress of His protection and numbered among the secure ones.

O Muhammad! By God the Truth, whatsoever thou hast heard concerning this Cause hath proceeded from Me, and God knoweth that none besides Me was aware of aught, and this is a wisdom known to none save God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. When the opposers found assurance within themselves and the breezes of security wafted from this holy, wondrous and blessed right hand side, they came forth with arrows, then spears, then swords of hatred, smiting Me at every moment with all their might. Thus were they recorded among the oppressors in tablets of ancient glory.

Thou knowest well that one who harbors deceit within himself and practices deception in God’s Cause can never stand before the enemies between the heavens and earth, nor can he speak God’s praise amidst adversaries, nor can he face the opposers in days when all religious sects united against him while he, by himself alone, championed his Lord’s Cause, detached from all else. Thus didst thou hear, and they who were in Iraq witnessed with their own eyes and do now testify thereto, if they be among the fair-minded.

By God, wert thou to ponder within thyself, thou wouldst find My deeds sufficient witness to that which issueth from My mouth and floweth from My pen, requiring no further testimony from these people or from all the worlds.

O Muhammad! Every deed hath its trace and every existence its fragrance. Therefore inhale from all that hath appeared from this Youth and flowed from His pen. If thou perceivest therein the fragrance of the Beloved, then detach thyself from all else and turn thy face toward His holy, transcendent, mighty and wondrous countenance. God’s Cause cannot be confounded with aught else. It standeth manifest above all things, shining with the lights of beauty in the heaven of grandeur. None but every remote transgressor shall deny it.

By God, all that hath appeared from Me is proof conclusive for all created things, yet people have confused the matter for themselves. Apart from this, verily thy Lord’s Cause is more manifest than can be concealed, and God is witness to what I say. Sufficient is their abasement that they worship one whom We named with a name among names and mentioned among the servants, making him a veil before their eyes through Our wisdom, lest they recognize this luminous and noble Manifestation. When he returned unto God […] He hath waged war against Our Cause by his own self. We commanded the people to rend asunder the veils, whereupon all who are in the heavens and on earth were thunderstruck, except for certain letters that were manifestations of My Name, the All-Merciful, the Most Merciful.

If thou wouldst ponder My Cause and the veiling of My countenance after My manifestation at the axis of all horizons, thou wouldst, by God, become acquainted with a mystery wherewith even the realities of mysteries have not been acquainted—how much less these hypocrites! Thereby will mystery after mystery be unveiled unto thee, then treasure after treasure, then store after store, and thou wilt find thyself enriched through thy Lord’s bounty beyond all that hath been created between the heavens and the earth. This, verily, is certain truth. Know thou, moreover, that We loved thee aforetime and have not forgotten thee, and now We bid thee rend asunder the veils through the sovereignty of thy Lord’s Name, the Powerful, the Mighty, the Omnipotent, and emerge from behind them with a radiant and shining face.

Take heed that thou fear no one. Then make mention of thy Lord amongst those in whose hearts thou findest the sweet savors of divine good-pleasure. Verily thy Lord will guard thee from the harm of every harmful one. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth. Thus have We inspired thee and made mention of thee on this night out of Our love for thee, that thou mayest be of those who remember this lonely Wronged One. And the glory be upon thee and upon those who are with thee on this path wherefrom the feet of most of the servants have slipped, save those whom God hath singled out for the recognition of His exalted, His hallowed, His gracious Self.

BH01340: Revealed for Muhammad Quli of Sabzivar, that he may…

Revealed for Muhammad Quli of Sabzivar, that he may be guided by the guidance of the Spirit and turn unto God, the Mighty, the All-Knowing

He is God, the Help in Peril, there is none other God but Him

The Light hath dawned from the horizon of manifestation and Beauty hath shone forth from the dayspring of glory. Thereupon all things cried out in their inmost essence: “By God, this is a noble King!” Say: O people, deny not the grace of these days and despair not of the Spirit of God and His mercy, for verily His mercy hath preceded all worlds. Arise from the slumber of passion, then turn your faces toward the Sacred Precinct, the House of God, the Mighty, the Gracious. They who have not drunk the wine of certitude from the hand of this Youth, these are they who have lost in this world and the next, and their names are not inscribed upon the preserved tablets of glory.

Say: O people, fear God and contend not with His servant, and be not of the wrongdoers. And whoso disputeth with God and His signs, him do all who dwell in the heavens and earth curse. O people, answer the call of God among you and cast not His proof behind your backs. Fear ye the Day whereon all creatures shall be shaken, save those who have entered beneath the shadow of His countenance—these shall be of those that are secure.

By God the Truth! Whoso wavereth in this Cause, his faith shall not be accepted though he bring the worship of both worlds. Whoso worshippeth God in these days while remaining heedless of His Manifestation and His sovereignty, upon him shall be pronounced the judgment passed upon the followers of former religions, for they made mention of God and worshipped Him yet knew Him not, and thereby their works were rendered vain and they were among the lost. Nay, this is an even greater heedlessness, for he hath recognized God’s bounty, then denied it. Thus do We impart unto thee that whereby thou mayest in these days distinguish between the two parties, and choose for thyself that which is best for thee, and be possessed of clear insight.

Purify thy heart for the knowledge of thy Lord, thine ear for hearkening unto that which is sent down from Him, and thine eyes for that which appeareth from the direction of a mighty throne. Were anyone today to possess all the treasures of the heavens and earth and expend them in the path of God, it would not equal a single letter of that which hath been sent down in truth on this day, for by it doth God create creation as He willeth, even as He created in former ages.

And when this Tablet reacheth thee, receive it with hands of contentment, then read it in those times wherein thou findest thyself detached from all that hath been created between the heavens and earth. Thus have We commanded thee through Our grace, that thou mayest be of them that act.

Know thou moreover that in these days, when intoxication hath seized all who dwell in the heavens and earth, it beseemeth not them who have believed to remain seated in their places. Rather, it behooveth every soul to convey the Cause of his Lord unto His servants. Thus hath the sun of divine command dawned from the horizon of wisdom from One Who is knowing, wise. Say: O people, convey God’s Cause with wisdom, not disputation, that the people may become aware of that which hath appeared and shone forth from the direction of the Throne. Whoso believeth, it shall be to his own benefit; and whoso turneth away shall return to his abode—evil indeed is the abode of them that turn away.

O servant! Guard thyself at all times from the arrows of them who have disbelieved in the All-Merciful and were among the idolaters.

Say: Glorified art Thou, O my God! I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which Thou didst cause me to hear Thy Call, and didst make known unto me the Manifestation of Thyself, and didst inspire me with Thy remembrance, and didst strengthen me through Thy Cause, that Thou leave me not to myself in these days, for I have clung to Thy Name, the Most Exalted, the Most Great. O my God! Look upon me, then, with the glances of the eyes of Thy favors, and deprive me not of the wonders of Thy grace and bounties, and make me not of those who believed in Thee one day and disbelieved another day and were among the perished ones.

O Lord! I am he who hath raised the hands of hope toward the heaven of Thy mercy and bounty, and hath fled from all directions and entered beneath the shadow of Thy Cause and Thy generosity. Therefore, O my God, leave me not disappointed of the wonders of Thy grace, nor deprived of the manifestations of Thy tenderness. Verily, Thou hast power over all things. Then make me steadfast, O my God, in Thy Cause wherein none can stand firm save him who hath detached himself from all else except Thee. Then preserve me, O my God, lest I associate any partners with Thee, or dispute Thy signs, or contend against Thy Self. Verily, Thou art the Bestower, the Forgiver, the Merciful.

Then open Thou my eyes, O my God, that I may know Thee through Thyself, not through aught else of what hath been created between the heavens and earth. Thus have We commanded thee and taught thee that thou mayest remember thy Lord thereby and be of them that remember.

And glory be upon thee and upon those who have turned with all their being unto God and have detached themselves from all the worlds.

BH01326: O ʿAli! Thy letter hath been presented before…

In the Name of Him Who is sanctified above all created things, in His Most Exalted Name

O ʿAli! Thy letter hath been presented before the Divine Throne, and We have taken note of the words contained therein, and We have witnessed that thou hast associated God, thy Lord, with another in the beginning of thy tablet. Beware, beware lest thou associate His mention with the mention of anyone else, or His name with the name of aught else that hath been created between the heavens and the earth, and make no allusion to Him, for He is sanctified above the mention of all created things and exalted above being associated with His creation. He hath ever been, and there hath been nothing beside Him, and He shall ever continue to be even as He hath been, if thou be of them that know. All else besides Him is created by His command and brought into being by His will, and is held within the grasp of thy Lord, the Almighty, the Most High, the Most Great.

Verily, He cannot be known except through Himself, nor can He be described save by Himself. Whoso claimeth to know Him through any other than Him hath indeed borne a grievous calumny and sin, and hath followed his own desires, and what he imagineth in his knowledge is but a fancy that hath encompassed him and veiled him from the knowledge of God, the Sovereign, the Mighty, the All-Knowing. Say: He is one in His essence, one in His attributes, and one in His deeds, and whatsoever proceedeth from Him and appeareth from His presence is that which proceedeth from the Manifestation of His glorious and wise Self. Beyond this, there is no way for anyone to know Him, exalted be He. Thus have We revealed aforetime and now, if thou be of them that know.

They who worship names instead of Me, these are indeed idolaters in the sight of thy Lord, the Almighty, the Powerful. Say: Do ye take names as lords for yourselves besides God and forsake the Most Excellent of Creators? Fear ye God, then sanctify yourselves from the veils of fancy and be ye of them who take none besides God as their helper or protector. Thus doth the Mighty Cause instruct thee through this holy and luminous Pen.

Purify thy soul, thy spirit, and thy heart through My Name, then speak forth My praise and proclaim My Cause. Then will the Spirit strengthen thee and all things will circle round thee, and this is of God’s grace upon thee, if thou be of them who know. Beware lest what thou possessest veil thee from the Beauty of the Ancient One Who hath appeared in truth from this resplendent and manifest Horizon. Cast aside what the people possess and take hold of the Book of God with strength and great power. Be not of them who recite the verses of God by night and day, yet when their like is revealed and their Revealer appeareth, deny both them and their Revealer. Thus do their souls entice them to evil, and they are of the idolaters.

Then suffice thyself with thy Lord apart from all else, and He will suffice thee against all who are in the heavens and on earth. Say: O people! Do ye deny Him through Whom the proof of God appeared among you and through Whom your faith in God, the Mighty, the Exalted, the Wise, was established? Woe unto you and unto those who follow you without permission from Our presence, for the truth is what appeareth from Me, and after truth there is naught save manifest error.

Say: After the Manifestation of God, no soul’s faith shall profit it except after recognizing Him, and none denieth this save every hostile and hateful denier. Whoso acknowledgeth this Cause today hath indeed attained unto all good, and all his deeds shall be accepted, and God shall clothe him with the robe of forgiveness, for He is the Forgiving, the Merciful. He heareth his call and regardeth him with the glances of mercy, and ordaineth for him the good of this world and the next in preserved tablets of glory. And whoso denieth this Cause and doubteth therein, his works shall be rendered vain, and his cry shall not ascend unto God, and naught shall be accepted from him even should he worship as heavily as both humans and jinn. That which purifieth man is the recognition of the beauty of thy Lord, the All-Merciful. Thus hath the Command flowed from the Pen of the All-Glorious in all tablets, if ye be of them that know.

Whoso maketh mention of God today without being certain of God, his mention shall be struck upon his head while he perceiveth it not, and he shall be of the heedless. And whoso writeth the verses of God without being drawn unto Him, his very fingers curse him, nay, all atoms, if ye be of them that hear. O thou servant! Arise and remind the people of the verses of thy Lord that they may become aware within themselves and seek forgiveness for what they have committed against God, and be of the penitent. Thus have We commanded thee. Follow what thou art commanded, and this is better for thee than the kingdom of the heavens and earth. And glory be upon thee and upon those who have placed their trust in God and have detached themselves from all else. And praise be to God, thy Lord and the Lord of the Mighty Throne.

BH01328: Lawh-i-Ziyarih

This is the Tablet of Visitation which hath been sent down from the Kingdom of Eternity for the Name of God Who was called Hasan and was related to His Self, the All-Compelling, the Mighty, the Self-Subsisting. Blessed are they who visit him and are among the visitors and draw nigh through him unto God, the Mighty, the Beloved.

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

The first splendor that appeared and shone forth from the Dayspring of eternity, and the first light that gleamed from the Horizon of glory, and the first mercy that descended from the clouds of grandeur be upon thee, O thou whom God hath sanctified from the allusions of the people of creation, and associated with the Manifestation of His own Self, the Most Exalted, the Most High, and the Dawning-Place of His Cause between earth and heaven, and aided thee with the Most Great Spirit in days wherein the hearts of the men of wisdom were sorely shaken, and the cries of all things ascended to the most remote sanctuaries and the Divine Lote-Tree.

I bear witness before God and the Concourse on High and the dwellers of the Paradise of Refuge and those who abide within the crimson chambers behind the veils of destiny, that thou didst drink the choice wine of faith from the hands of grace vouchsafed by thy Lord, the All-Merciful, and didst enter the precincts of paradise, the spot wherein shone forth the lights of glory, and didst attain unto the bounties of God, the Mighty, the Glorious, the Bestower. And I testify that thou didst believe in God and wert assured of His signs, and didst submit to His sovereignty and acknowledge His oneness and confess His unity and bow before His Cause and humble thyself before the Manifestation of His Self and the Dayspring of His Beauty and the Rising-Place of His Revelation and the Treasury of His inspiration and the Repository of His verses.

And I bear witness that thy spirit ascended to the Supreme Companion, purified from the veils of the people of creation, and entered the most great vision. May God’s curse be upon those who wronged thee and invaded thy resting-place and dispersed those who were around thee and violated thy sanctity and took thy kindred captive and were among the oppressors. And I testify that at thy calamity there flowed the tears of the believers and the faces of those near to God turned pale and the hearts of the sincere were consumed.

I bear witness before Thee, O my God, from this station—and those who are seated upon the thrones of eternity, and the angels that circle round the throne of Thy Most Exalted Beauty bear witness likewise—that I have believed in Thee and in Thy greatest signs at the hour when the heaven of destiny was cleft asunder and the Manifestation of Thy Self appeared in the kingdom of names. And I believe in those who preceded Him before the creation of earth and heaven, who entered beneath the shadow of His grace and drank from the chalice of His mercy, who acknowledged His sovereignty and confessed His grandeur and power, who prostrated themselves at the dawning of the lights of His countenance and were recorded among those who turned unto Him in the tablets of glory by the Pen of Command.

I bear witness, O my God and my Lord, that He Who appeared in those days is indeed Thy Glory, Thy Manifestation, Thy Revelation, Thy Power, and Thy Sovereignty unto all who are in the heavens and on earth. Blessed is he who hath recognized Him, hearkened to His call, responded to His command, circled around Him and sought His gate. Woe unto him who wronged Him, denied His Cause, disputed His signs, warred against His Self, gave the lie to His proof, arose in opposition before His face, waxed proud against Him, and was recorded among the opposers in the Book.

I beseech Thee, O my God, in this noble station, by Thy Most Exalted Self and by this Most Manifest, Most Glorious Revelation whereby the earth and heaven were illumined and the sun of destiny rose from the horizon of beginning, to make firm, O my God, my feet upon this path whereon most feet have slipped. Then cause me to gaze toward the direction of His good-pleasure, to turn unto the sanctuary of His holy grandeur, to remain steadfast in His love, to be certain of whatsoever proceedeth from Him, to be upright in what He willeth. Verily Thou doest what Thou pleasest, and Thou art powerful over all things.

O my God, I adjure Thee by the lights of Thy countenance which have encompassed all created things, and by Thy mercy which hath preceded all existence, not to deprive me of the holy fragrances of Thy grace and favors, nor to make me despair of the outpourings of Thy mercy and gifts. Then raise me up by Thy sovereignty unto Thy love and remembrance, sever me from all else but Thee, and preserve me, O my God, lest I dispute Thy signs at the time of the Manifestations of Thy Cause, the Dawning-Places of Thy revelation, and the Daysprings of Thy grace. Then open my eyes, O my God, that I may know Thee through Thyself and not through aught else, and that I may not cling to anything that hath been created between the heavens and earth. Verily Thou hast knowledge of all things.

Then forgive me, O my God, and my father and mother, and those who are related to me. Then send down upon me of every good thing Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen servants. Then assign me a seat of truth in the vicinity of Thy greatest mercy. Then purify me from all that veils me from Thee. Then prepare me for meeting Thee in the next resurrection. Verily Thou art He in Whose grasp is the kingdom of earth and heaven, and Thou hast ever been merciful unto Thy servants.

BH01335: He is God, exalted be His station! Glory…

He is God, exalted be His station! Glory and majesty! My spirit and soul be a sacrifice unto thee! According to the words of him who said: “The heart is before Thee; ask it about its condition.” The All-Knowing, the All-Informed beareth witness that in most times I am occupied with thy remembrance and am gladdened and rejoiced by thy soul-refreshing utterances. We beseech God to aid thee in all conditions and assist thee in His remembrance and praise and the promotion of His Cause amongst His servants.

My utmost care, from its very source, towards thee is evident and manifest and needeth no mention or explanation. God willing, thou shouldst adorn the loved ones of God and the seekers of the path of unity and detachment with the ornament of divine remembrance. Be not grieved by separation. A nearness hath been ordained for thee which no remoteness can affect. Verily, He is the Friend of him who hath detached himself in His love and turned to Him with a luminous countenance.

Convey greetings from this evanescent servant to all the loved ones of God. Those who circle round the sanctuary of mystic knowledge all send their greetings. I send boundless greetings to thy honored son. I hope that through divine grace and favor he may be assisted and confirmed in his youth to serve the Cause and to serve thee, for the rights of parents are most great in the sight of the Beloved, especially in this matter wherein they have placed great emphasis. We beseech God to record him among those who circle round His Cause and gaze upon His countenance throughout the duration of His kingdom and dominion. Verily, He is the Most Merciful of the merciful.

They have bidden me write to thee that, God willing, thou shouldst, with complete reliance upon God and detachment from all else, through His might and power, proceed with the utmost joy and fragrance. I beseech God to grant thee such confirmation that thou mayest, through divine assistance, gladden and rejoice those who thirst in the desert of separation with the pure waters of the Friend’s remembrance. The Friend is ever occupied with the mention of the friends of the All-Merciful and the seekers of the heaven of the All-Glorious, to such extent that in the extremity of hardship and affliction, or joy and ease, their remembrance is never cut off from His tongue.

All must walk among men with goodly attributes and praiseworthy character, holding fast with complete sincerity and perfect piety. The best garment hath ever been and will ever be the garment of piety. Blessed is the soul that hath attained thereunto and is numbered among the God-fearing. Reprehensible deeds have ever been and will ever be rejected. All must conduct themselves in such wise as to become trusted and reliable to all on earth. This is the station of the people of truth, and after truth there is naught but error.

Say: O friends! Occupy yourselves with the reformation of the world through wisdom and utterance. This is the station of man. Corruption, conflict and contention have never been and are not the station of the people of truth. Rather, ye should purify and illumine hearts with the burnishing of the Beloved’s remembrance. Hearken unto the call of the Wronged One and transgress not His counsels. I swear by the Most Great Name that He hath never desired and will never desire for you aught save that which will endure with God.

Furthermore, prevent the friends from turning towards this spot, for the situation in this land is difficult and arduous. Let all be occupied at all times with the service of the Truth. This is the fruit of existence in this promised and appointed Day. Praise the Beloved of the worlds that through His grace and favor He did not deprive thee, and thou didst drink from the waters of nearness and reunion. Thou art among those souls who have ever been and will ever be in His sight. Therefore give thanks and be of the grateful ones.

Say: O My loved ones! Hearken unto My call. Beware lest ye associate partners with God, and beware lest ye follow the cawing of those who are heedless of the Truth and claim what God hath not permitted them. And beware lest ye commit that whereby the sanctity of His Cause would be diminished among His servants. This is the essence and greatest of counsels—that ye follow God’s command and follow not the heedless ones.

Furthermore, it is incumbent upon each of the loved ones to read the Lawh-i-Mallahu’l-Quds [Tablet of the Holy Mariner], which was revealed before the migration from Iraq, and to reflect upon it, that they may understand what hath appeared or will appear thereafter from what was recorded beforehand. Blessed are they who understand. All the tribulations that have befallen were inscribed in that blessed Tablet beforehand. Read it and reflect upon it, O ye who are endued with understanding.

I beseech the True One, exalted be He, not to deprive thee of His eternal holy realms and to ordain for thee in all worlds that which beseemeth His generosity and befitteth His sovereignty. By My life and thine, this is not difficult for God. Therefore praise and be of those who render thanks, and say: All praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH01360: The remembrance of God hath been raised between earth…

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

The remembrance of God hath been raised between earth and heaven from this Tongue which moveth only in celebration of God’s praise, as beareth witness the Concourse on High, and those who abide beneath the pavilions of grandeur beyond the Crimson Sea of Glory—the spot which, in the cities of eternity, hath been named the Mount of Divine Command, in the Kingdom of Names the Blessed Vale, and in the realms of radiance the Paran of the All-Merciful. Thus doth the Pen of Command impart unto thee what God hath revealed in this Tablet, wherein He hath manifested Himself with an authority that is evident and true. Stand firm, through God’s power, in His Cause, even if thine eyes should oppose thee therein—pluck them out and cast them behind thee. By God, the True One! He will grant thee such vision as will enable thee to behold all things in their essence, their reality and their innermost being, and to witness the effulgent rays of Beauty from the Sovereign of grandeur and majesty, for He, verily, hath power over all things.

O Kazim! Be fair, by God, and bring thyself into His presence on the Day of Resurrection. Hast thou heard melodies more wondrous than these which have truly been raised? Nay, by My very life, if thou art possessed of true knowledge! Purify thyself from all allusions, cast behind thee every mention, then speak forth amongst the servants concerning this Message which hath been, from time immemorial, supremely great. Say: O people! Were we to deny this Beauty, against Whom all have contended, Who hath arisen by His own authority and appeared with a sovereignty that hath encompassed all worlds, by what proof could we then establish our faith in God Who created us and all things? Be fair therefore, O people of malice, and tarry not even for a moment. By God, the True One!

O thou who art mentioned in the presence of the Throne! Thou shalt find their faces darkened by the fire of hell, uttering that which the followers of the Qur’an uttered at the hour when the heaven of the Cause was cleft asunder and God came in the shadows of the clouds. Be thou enkindled with this fire which hath been ignited in the midmost heart of eternity and which the idolaters have sought to extinguish. Say: By God! Ye shall never succeed in this, even should ye seek the aid of all who are in the heavens and on earth. Say: O people! The Primal Point crieth out in the highest Paradise, saying: Fie upon you, O people! By God! There hath appeared that which hath never appeared in creation, yet ye have turned away therefrom after We had summoned you unto it in all Our Tablets, nay in every impregnable line.

Then know that your letter has come before Us, and We found from it the fragrance of your love for your Lord. Therefore have We sent down upon you these verses and dispatched them to you, that you may take them and enter the dwelling-place of those who turn away, with an authority that was manifest in truth. And when you enter, say:

“O people! I have come to you from the Dayspring of the Cause with a message that was mighty in the Mother Book. And if you deny what you have heard and witnessed of God’s power—your Lord—and the manifestations of His grandeur and the expressions of His might, then I bring you another proof, which is this Tablet that God has sent to this servant of His. Here I am, reciting it to you—so read what you have, that the truth may be made manifest between us.”

Thus does the Pen of the Cause command you to act, and fear not, for your Lord will protect you from every sinful idolater.

O for God’s sake, where is one with vision! O for God’s sake, where is one with insight! O for God’s sake, where is one with fairness who would perceive the fragrance of the Beloved in all that appears from Him, who would judge with truth and detach himself from every stubborn denier, who would purify himself from all allusions and cry out between earth and heaven:

“I have become independent through God from all that has been created in existence, and I shall remain, through God’s might, steadfast in His Cause!”

Thus has the Dove of Eternity spoken in the heaven of glory, out of love for you and mercy upon your being, that you might be transformed from the left of fancy to the exalted station at the right hand.

Then know that We found in the heart of she whom God made your companion a sorrow, which We have changed to joy by Our command, that God might grant you the gladness of the Cause from this Tree which was planted by the hand of the All-Merciful in the highest paradise in truth. And as for what you desired regarding your presence before the Face, We love this and permit you in truth. No harm shall befall you, and what you desire shall not become known among the people. Thus has the matter been decreed from the Pen of Destiny by One who is Mighty and Wise. And should you attain Our presence, you would discover what none in all the worlds has discovered, and witness what has befallen My soul at the hands of those who were created by My word, and you would be possessed of brilliant insight. And glory be upon you and upon those who are with you on a straight path.

BH01363: This is a Book that speaketh with truth, wherein…

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

This is a Book that speaketh with truth, wherein is mentioned that which gladdeneth the hearts of the mystics, and through which the breezes of holiness are wafted over all created things. Say: We have ordained on this Night joy for Our chosen ones, and thereafter delight for Our near servants. Say: O people of the earth! Hearken unto the call of God from the divine Lote-Tree in this sacred and luminous Valley, that there is none other God but Him, and that ʿAli-before-Nabil is the Sovereign of existence, all are His servants and all shall return unto Him.

Say: O concourse of earth! Be not grieved on this blessed, holy, eternal Night of Oneness, and be not among the sorrowing ones. Celebrate on this Night and its morn, then glorify and magnify and praise your Lord, the Most Merciful, the Compassionate. Say: By God! This is the Night wherein the Temple of God was established upon a mighty holy throne, and through which were illumined the faces of all contingent beings, then the faces of the dwellers of the pavilion of eternity, then the faces of those near unto God. O concourse of earth! Deprive not yourselves of His beauty, seize ye the grace from His presence and be not of the lost.

Say: Hasten ye to the paradise of God and His presence. By God! He hath appeared in such wise as to dazzle eyes from beholding His beauty, if ye be of them that see. Say: The mighty oceans have surged from this tempestuous, foam-flecked, billowing, flowing, great Sea, and the heaven hath been raised from this heaven which was elevated in this Glory. Seek ye shelter in its shade if ye be of them that know. Say: There hath appeared a grace that no grace in creation hath preceded it, if ye be of them that hear.

Say: O people! Dispute not concerning Him and follow not your desires, and be not of the heedless. Follow ye the ways of God in this Cause which hath appeared in truth upon the Temple of the Youth, before whom prostrate themselves the dwellers of the heavens and earth. Say: He hath been named in the most exalted Concourse as Muhammad, then in the canopy of eternity as the Spirit, then from behind the holy pavilion as the Interlocutor, then in the celestial realm of immortality as ʿAli in truth, if ye be of the assured ones. Therefore, celebrate within yourselves, then rejoice in your souls, and say with the melody of your hearts: This is the Beauty of God which hath appeared in truth, blessed be God, the Creator of all beings.

O concourse of the Bayan! Draw ye near unto this Fire which hath been kindled in this wilderness and hath appeared upon the Temple of the Square in the form of the Triangle, and which speaketh forth the truth at every moment that there is none other God but I, the Protector, the Mighty, the Powerful. By God! There is no escape for anyone in these days save by entering beneath My shadow, and this is what hath been inscribed by the Finger of God, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

O Sadiq! Give thanks to God, thy Lord, inasmuch as He hath singled thee out for that which none among all created things hath been singled out, and hath raised up through thee all who mention within themselves the name of their Lord, though they recognize Him not. Thus hath Our mercy preceded all things, and We are the All-Powerful, the Most Exalted, the Bestower, the Bountiful, the All-Generous. By God! Were We to desire it, We would raise up from thee the creation of the first and the last. However, when We found the people of the Bayan more veiled than the people of the Furqan, We therefore concealed the Cause from them and covered Ourselves with a thick veil. Turn thou away from all else but the face of thy Lord, and remain under mighty protection.

By God! The Sun of eternity hath dawned from the horizon of glory and the mountains have passed away like the passing of clouds, if ye be of them that perceive. Say: O concourse of the loved ones, rejoice within yourselves! Then, O concourse of the hateful ones, perish in your wrath! The Cause hath appeared in truth and there is no escape for anyone in all the worlds. Say: He hath appeared in such wise that were He to take a handful of dust and breathe into it the spirit of life, it would, by God’s leave, become everlasting—He, the All-Powerful, the Most Exalted, the All-Knowing. Thus have We made manifest the Cause unto thee and sent down the verses in truth and expounded them for thee, that thine eyes may be solaced thereby and thou mayest be of them that remember.

O Sadiq! We counsel thee at the end of this Tablet to read these verses and preserve them within thyself, that thou mayest be of them that guard. And when thou beholdest in anyone’s countenance the radiance of God, the Protector, the Mighty, the Powerful, recite unto him what We have now revealed unto thee, that perchance he may arise from the couches of heedlessness and flee unto a manifest place of security. Thus doth the Dove of Holiness counsel thee and the Pen of the Command instruct thee, lest thou be grieved within thyself for less than a moment, and remember thy Lord at all times, and be of them that are assured. And the Spirit be upon thee and upon those who have turned toward the shore of the Cause on the coast of this surging and mighty ocean.

BH01350: In this day that which is acceptable before…

He is the Everlasting One upon the Throne of Command, in His Most Glorious Name!

In this day that which is acceptable before the Throne is the teaching of God’s Cause, and thus hath the Command been ordained by the One Who is the Unconstrained. However, teaching through goodly utterance and exalted mention is acceptable, not through disputation and conflict. Do good even as God hath done good unto you. The triumph of the Cause hath been made to depend upon utterance and mention by the tongue. Thus hath the Command been ordained by the All-Merciful.

O loved ones of Truth! Conduct yourselves in such wise upon the earth that His signs may be made manifest through you, in such manner that all souls may witness the signs of Truth in your deeds, acts and words, and hasten unto the everlasting goal of glory. You have ever been remembered before the Throne. Blessed art thou for having attained unto that which most of the servants have failed to attain.

Furthermore, be it known unto you that ere long Satan will appear in that land in the guise of man, seeking to cause the loved ones of the Glory of the All-Glorious to deviate from the straight path through base suggestions and satanic promptings, and to deprive them of the holy shores of the Divine Unity. This is one of the hidden tidings wherewith We have acquainted the chosen ones, lest they be debarred from the praiseworthy station through association with such embodiments of hatred.

It therefore behooveth all the loved ones of God to shun any soul from whom they perceive the fragrance of hatred for the Most Glorious Beauty, even should that soul speak forth all the verses and lay claim to all the Books, for the purpose of verses and books hath ever been and shall ever be the recognition of the All-Merciful. Let them therefore guard themselves with the utmost vigilance lest they fall into the snare of guile and craftiness. This is the counsel of the Pen of Destiny which hath been set down. Whoso obeyeth, it shall be for his own good; and whoso turneth away, verily God loveth not those who turn away.

These satans are seen to be of several kinds. Some are souls who appear forthwith in that same land in a satanic spirit in human form. Others come from the lowest hell in the guise of seekers. Yet others are dispatched in utter darkness in the form of a tablet. In short, Satan hath in this day appeared and shall appear in all forms, that perchance he may, through some aspect or another means, veil the people from the Source of the Cause, even as he hath already veiled most through this veil. Were there to be found a penetrating and keen sight, it would perceive the fire of hell in the outward form of the enemies of God.

Strive diligently to safeguard your souls, for the satans shall appear in diverse garments and shall approach each soul in his own way, until having perceived him to be like unto themselves, they shall then leave him to his own devices. And in this day it is inevitable that from among the enemies of the All-Glorious One some shall arise from among the people of the Bayan, for the pure essences of this people who are adorned with the most exalted garment and have quaffed from the Most Glorious Wine have been and shall ever be accounted as the best of creation in the sight of God, while the base elements of this people are recorded before God as the most evil of all created things and the most remote of all souls. Therefore must the evil ones of this people rise up to wage war against this manifest, all-encompassing and perspicuous Revelation, for the more luminous the Revelation, the thicker the veils that are witnessed, and the more radiantly the Sun of the Glory of the All-Glorious shineth forth, the stronger grow those who turn away in their opposition.

Thus have We sent down the Command unto you and related that which was hidden from you, that ye may be informed thereof before and after its occurrence, and may be among those who are aware, that perchance ye may not be touched by the abasement of souls and their falsehoods in the words and traces that proceed from them, and that ye may be among those who are mindful and steadfast in the Cause of your Lord.

Therefore must the loved ones of God in this day manifest themselves in such wise that were all who are in the world to assemble against them with drawn swords, they would pay no heed whatsoever and would, through the power of their Lord, regard them all as a thing unworthy of mention.

Therefore, O faithful servant, hearken unto that which hath been mentioned in this exalted Tablet and convey these revealed Persian words to all the loved ones of God and teach them, that all may become aware. Thus do We counsel you with truth, that ye may be of them that act.

BH01389: O physician, upon thee be the Glory of God…

O physician, upon thee be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious!

In the name of God, the Ever-Abiding, Who perisheth not!

This is a Tablet from Us unto him who hath stood firm in the Cause of his Lord, and through whom the robe of certitude hath been adorned, and who hath been so attracted by the Divine Call that he hath detached himself from all things and turned unto the face of his Lord, the Mighty, the All-Wise, and hath spoken that which his Lord desired. He is the One through Whom the idols were shaken and the hearts of the ungodly melted. We were with thee when thou didst speak forth from the presence of the Truth amidst the company of the wrongdoers, and We heard thy call and whatsoever thou didst utter in the gathering of the people. Verily thy Lord is witness unto all things. They who have wronged thee shall soon be turned back on their heels, and theirs shall be the torment of hell-fire.

Know thou then, O thou who speaketh My praise and glorification, that We have sent forth one of Our servants after We had raised him up with power from Our presence and dispatched him unto the mouth of the serpent, that all may be assured that thy Lord, the All-Merciful, is the Protector of all worlds. He is verily the Almighty, the Powerful. With him is a Book wherein We have manifested the Cause and perfected the proof unto all who dwell on earth. We have stripped from him the garment of fear and trepidation, and adorned him with the robe of strength and assurance, and kindled him with a word from Our presence, and sent him forth like a sphere of fire in the love of thy Chosen Lord, that he might deliver the Book of his Lord. He shall soon deliver it with a sovereignty from Our presence. Verily thy Lord is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

By My life! Tribulations have not prevented Us from the remembrance of the Lord of Names. We summon the people in all conditions unto God, the Mighty, the Most High. Follow thou the example of thy Lord. He will verily assist thee with the truth and be thy Guardian in this world and the next. There is none other God but He, the Mighty, the All-Wise.

Know thou that those who have entered this City have been afflicted with exhausting air, a troubled life, and tormenting water, such that gladness hath been transformed into sorrow. They have become, in relation to their former state, finer than a needle’s thread and more delicate than embroidered silk. On the right is heard naught but the moaning of those who tremble from the thunder’s fury through what the hands of the malicious have wrought, and on the left the groaning of those whom persistent affliction hath touched through what hath flowed from the pen of the reckoner. We testify that naught hath been ordained from the Pen of Destiny for His loved ones save that which is best for them. We beseech Him to grant them strength to be patient and steadfast, lest tribulations should debar them from the path of God, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

Blessed art thou, O thou who gazeth upon the Countenance, for having drunk the cup of tribulation in the love of the Lord of Names. Ye shall soon find yourselves in the heights of glory and wealth. Verily, He is the Ruler over what He willeth. There is none other God but He, the Most High, the Most Glorious.

Should any Christian ask thee about the Beloved, say: It behooveth us not to speak of what is past. Leave what hath been said and hearken unto the call of thy Lord from the direction of the Kingdom, that it may attract thee to the seat of the Throne and sanctify thee from all peoples. By God! A matter hath appeared which, wert thou to become aware of it, would cause thee to soar heavenward in thy longing. Verily, He Who ascended hath come in His great glory, if thou be of them who know.

Be thou sharp of tongue yet sweet of speech in remembering thy Lord, the All-Merciful, amidst the concourse of all worlds. Thus doth the Pen of Destiny teach thee from the presence of One mighty and powerful. Thou art the star of steadfastness, and through thee We have adorned the heaven of certitude for the followers of all religions. Woe unto them who have wronged thee! God shall soon transform thy abasement into glory for those who are nigh unto Him.

The mercy and glory be upon thee and upon those who have hearkened unto thy word concerning the Cause of thy Lord, the Master of the Day of Judgment. Finally, gather thou My loved ones unto the Cause, lest there should occur among them that which would divide their hearts and minds. There is none other God but He, the Mighty, the All-Bestowing. […] The purpose of mentioning the Christians is that the divines of that community are far removed from the Muhammadan Law—may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for His sake—and in their deficient understanding they have written refutations attempting to invalidate the truth. Therefore, the hearts and ears of that people are filled with unworthy and rejected utterances.

Today it is advisable that if someone from that community should question you about Him, one should not become entangled in yes and no in reply. It is more in keeping with piety to say in response that today is not the time for such discussions. A Cause hath appeared which, shouldst thou become aware of it, would cause thee to soar to heaven out of longing. One must investigate and examine this wondrous Cause, and after turning to the holy court, one will become convinced of and acknowledge the Qur’an, even as some in these parts have, after attaining certitude, affirmed the truth of the Qur’an. Thus doth thy Lord teach thee, and none can inform thee like Him Who is all-aware.

BH01410: God testifieth that there is none other God but…

He is the Mighty, the Everlasting, the Most Holy

God testifieth that there is none other God but Him and that the Point of the Bayan is His servant, His Splendor, His Glory, His Sovereignty, His Exaltation and His Grandeur. All were created by His command and all act by His command. Say: Verily He is the Path of God in the heavens and on earth, and His Light unto all who dwell in the dominions of authority and creation, and all shall return unto Him. Through Him the wayward were guided unto the guidance of God, and the near ones attained unto a station of glorious dignity.

O Nabil! Know thou that We have suffered at the hands of the loved ones that which We suffered not from the enemies. When We departed from Iraq, We commanded them not to leave Iraq except by Our permission, yet they violated what they were commanded, followed their desires, and were among those who trod the path of their own selves. Thereby befell Us what befell Us, and the idolaters drove Us from their lands time and again, and harm touched Us in such wise as cannot be reckoned by any reckoner. Say: O people! Seek forgiveness of God, your Lord, then turn unto Him, and follow not your desires. Follow the decree of God in all things and be not of the doubters in that which ye are commanded. Then remain steadfast upon the Path, fear God as He should be feared, and be not of those who comprehend not.

Say: Whether ye hear or hear not, ye shall never harm God in aught, and verily He ordaineth all things in the Book. In His hand is the dominion of the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. He doeth what He willeth through His sovereignty and decreeth what He desireth by His word “Be” and it is. Those who have been given spiritual insight from God are they who follow not the dictates of their desires, but hold fast unto that which they are commanded, and cleave to the cord of God and His Cause, and drink at all times from the cup of submission.

No harm hath touched Us save through that which the hands of these people have wrought, if ye bear witness. All this they did after We had taken from them a covenant and confirmed it in the name of God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting, that they should not turn towards the Holy Land nor depart from the Abode of Peace until the command should reach them from the Pen of Him by Whom all things were ordained in a preserved Tablet. Yet they heeded not God’s command and tarried not a day, but left the city, and thereby corrupted and caused corruption in God’s wisdom in His Cause, while they perceived it not. Each day a group of them departed from Iraq, whereby those who disbelieved and turned away were troubled, and were among those who associated partners with God.

Then know, O Nabil, that had they not violated God’s command, neither affliction nor adversity would have touched Us. But the matter hath been decreed and fulfilled, and We are patient and put Our trust in God, and in Him let those who profess His unity place their trust. Yet they have not awakened in themselves even to the extent of an atom, as though they had made God’s decree an object of mockery and made sport of that which they were commanded. This is their transgression against God, the Mighty, the Beloved.

Say: O ye believers! Fear God and transgress not His bounds, nor go beyond God’s command. Seek forgiveness, then turn unto Him, for He is verily the Oft-Returning, the Generous, the Forgiving. Say: Glory be unto Thee, O my God! Take us not to task for what our hands have wrought, then forgive our sins, pardon us and have mercy upon us. Thou art verily the Lord of Bounty and Might, the Lord of Grace and Kingdom. Thou knowest the treachery of every soul, and Thou art the Truth, the Knower of the unseen. Deprive us not, O our God, of the fragrances of Thy sanctity, then make us steadfast in Thy Cause, establish for us a truthful station with Thee, and grant us from Thy presence mercy, and join us with those servants of Thine who soar on the wings of glory in the atmosphere of holiness. O Lord! Deprive us not of Thy Cause, nor make us despair of Thy Spirit, then make us successful, O my God, in recognizing Thee in this concealed Word.

And thou, O servant who believeth in God, guard thyself with utmost vigilance. Beware lest thou be heedless of this, for this is God’s command upon thee. Associate not with those whose presence giveth rise to sedition and who are among those who cause discord. Let God, thy Lord, suffice thee, and turn unto Him with thy heart. He will suffice thee against all else and will send down upon thee of His grace as He sent down before. There is no God but Him. His is the creation and the command, and all things are with Him in a hidden Tablet.

BH01405: The beloved of God must walk among humanity…

The beloved of God must walk among humanity with divine characteristics. As can be observed, the greater the tribulations and the more severe the calamities that befell us, the more firmly we engaged in teaching the Cause, even as We sent forth the Call in the form of a Tablet and dispatched it to the center of the lands of Iran, and all who are in the heavens and on earth were thunderstruck save whom thy Lord willed. However, in all circumstances wisdom must be observed, and one must deal with people with kindness and compassion, for they are weak—had they known, they would have circled round the Countenance. The heedless people need wise counselors. This is God’s decree. All must be seen in complete humility and must, in truth, gird up the loins of service firmly.

Had people hearkened to the counsels of the Pen of the Cause, you would have beheld all who are on earth illumined with the lights of guidance and adorned with the Most Glorious ornament. As soon as a measure of security was established in the land, certain ignorant ones in every city laid claim to divinity. Thus from the year of the rising of the Most Great Light from the horizon of Iraq until now, numerous souls have abandoned piety and raised the standards of wickedness and rebellion, and these souls have caused upheaval and revolution in the lands. Soon you will witness that again from every land a calf will raise its call.

All this We foretold at the time of Our departure from Iraq. Observe how the previous Manifestation informed all peoples of this Most Great Manifestation, even as the Son of Zachariah heralded the Son of Mary to the people, and they emphasized it to such a degree that they said if anyone should speak a verse, none should deny it. It is most evident that they did not utter such words and their like except after having knowledge of this Most Great Manifestation; otherwise, such words would never have been sent down from the heaven of the Cause, for it is observed that most have uttered words and by the same have walked the path of pride and arrogance, and were not and will never be mentioned before God. They regarded the Cause of God as vain and did not reflect even to this extent: that if God’s Cause were of this nature, it would never become established.

In any case, the Primal Point—may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for Him—in view of the existence of this Manifestation and its dawning in those days, completed all the Bayan with this Most Great Remembrance, lest the people of the Bayan be debarred from the All-Merciful. Otherwise, never did a previous Manifestation announce a subsequent Manifestation in such manner. And if the intention of the Point of the Bayan were what people have understood, since most of the servants, according to their own fancy, utter verses, then all should be true. Any person of understanding perceives how far these people are from the stream of knowledge and how they have failed to comprehend the purpose. By My life! The intention of that Point of existence was none other than the exaltation of this divine Word.

Some time ago, the most ignorant of people came with two others like himself from Iran to the great city, and according to his fancy uttered verses and made claims. He is but in evident loss and error. God willing, the beloved of Truth must protect the House of Unity from the heedless hosts of the ungodly and counsel the pretenders. They should study extensively the Kiab-i-Badi’, which was revealed from the Source of Revelation through the tongue of one of the beloved, and impart it to the servants, that perchance they may return from passion to guidance and hold fast to humility instead of pride.

It is evident that this Prisoner has foregone comfort, glory, bounty, life, and the like for the life of the world and has shown no compromise with kings in the Cause of God, let alone with others. Now all must unite in raising the comprehensive Word and must, with the utmost striving and effort, engage in teaching God’s Cause with wisdom and forbearance. We beseech God to assist them in this. By My life! If they were to become aware of this Manifestation and its sovereignty, they would be thunderstruck, let alone draw near to it. Most are ignorant to this day—none has become aware of the divine Tree and its sovereignty, grandeur, and power, save whom thy Lord willed. Therefore, an expounder is needed. God willing, you must engage in serving the Cause in a manner that is befitting and appropriate. We beseech God to make you a key to the doors of hearts and minds and to assist you in the victory of His Cause. Verily, He is the Mighty, the Powerful.

BH01442: This is a Book from the presence of Baha…

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

This is a Book from the presence of Baha unto Mustafa, that it may create within his soul that which will prevent his eyes from beholding aught save God, and will open them to His countenance, and cause him to voice His praise amongst those who have denied God’s favor after it was sent down in such wise that none would deny it except every rejected denier.

O servant! Drink from the Salsabil of life in the name of thy Lord, the Most Merciful, which floweth from the right hand of the Throne. A single drop thereof purifieth all created things from the defilement of allusions and draweth them nigh unto a station which none can enter save he who hath detached himself from all things, if thou be of them that know.

Dost thou find peace within thyself in these days when the swords of hatred have been drawn from their sheaths and the pack of wolves have emerged from their lairs, seeking to shed the blood of Him through Whose word their realities and essences were created, and all that was and shall be?

O servant! Adorn thy tongue with the mention of the Most Great One and say: “In the Name of God, the Most Holy, the Most Glorious!” Then burn away the veils of fancy, fear no one, and doubt not this Remembrance, which is celebrated in every heaven by a different mention and name, in all worlds by a different token, and among the concourse of creation as: “There is no God but He, the Sovereign, the Self-Subsisting.”

Verily, those who in these days have stood firm in this Cause are circumambulated by the denizens of the Supreme Paradise, and the maidens of Paradise would sacrifice themselves in their path—yet the people comprehend not.

Say: O people of the Bayan! Be fair within your own selves. If ye deny this grace, in what thing do ye rejoice and upon what seats do ye rest? By My life! None hath a protector this Day save him whom God hath protected from error and delivered from the depths of ignorance, establishing him beneath the shade of the exalted Lote-Tree.

Arise with supreme steadfastness, then remind the people of this News which hath ever been hidden within preserved tablets of glory. By God! All Books have been sent down for My blessed and praiseworthy Name, and all Pages have been inscribed by the finger of My power, would ye but understand. All Scriptures have been revealed by My command, yet the people perceive not.

Say: O people! Do ye follow what your desires command you, while setting aside Him by Whose command the heavens and earth were created, and through Whom the sacred, mighty, and hidden mystery of God was made manifest?

O people! This is God’s treasure among you, and these are His pearls manifested in the form of words. How excellent is he who possesseth these hidden pearls! This is God’s Most Great Sea, and these are its waves manifested in the form of letters, would ye but know. O people! This is God’s sanctuary among you, the Kaaba of your Lord within you, and the Beauty of the Beloved between the heavens and earth. Open your eyes that ye might behold!

Say: If ye turn not your eyes toward the words of God, God will soon raise up a people who will look upon them with Mine eyes, who will read My verses and weep for what hath befallen My Beauty, the Stranger, the Imprisoned, the Distressed. We have worlds beyond worlds, creation beyond creation, remembrance beyond remembrance, command beyond command, books beyond books, and sanctified, self-subsisting pages. We nurture every world by Our command and favor, for I am the Powerful over what I will, the Mighty, the Beloved.

Say: O people! Have mercy upon yourselves and upon the Soul of God that standeth over all things. If ye believe not, oppose Him not. Beware, O people! Fear ye God in His Cause, and cut not off the wafting of the breezes of grace from the right hand of glory and praise. Purify your ears that ye may hear what proceedeth from the mouth of God, your Lord, that perchance the breathings of the Spirit may transform you and draw you nigh unto the station of God, the Powerful, the Mighty, the Witnessed.

O servant! Loose thy tongue in utterance, for the Holy Spirit will assist those who in these days convey unto the people the Cause of their Lord, the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Knowing. This hath been decreed in truth within sealed tablets of glory. Thus have We taught thee and inspired thee, that thou mayest stand firm in the Cause at which the hearts of those who disbelieved and joined partners with God, the Sovereign, the Self-Subsisting, were perturbed.

And glory be upon thee and upon him who hath detached himself from every direction and turned toward the direction of his Lord, and hath passed along this elevated and extended Path. Praise be to God, the King, the Single, the Mighty, the Transcendent, the Sovereign, the All-Loving.

BH01444: This evanescent atom counsels you at a time when…

This evanescent atom counsels you at a time when he is detached from all who are in the kingdom and relies solely upon the Sovereign of grace and justice, the King of glory and pure beauty. Therefore, hearken unto my call and accept my counsel.

First, my flesh and skin and blood and bones and my inmost reality and being testify that the Sovereign of the Bayan is the mystery of manifestation and pure concealment. He it is Who raised up the heavens of creation through His perfect power and adorned them with the sun of beauty and the point of glory, and established therein brilliant stars and radiant orbs that they might serve as proofs of His oneness and as a way to manifest His power and dominion. He revealed His mighty Book and His supreme decree, and ordained for every soul a portion and share in His Book, and within every letter He ordained a creation such that were all the peoples of the earth to gather together to prevent even a single one of His creatures, they would be powerless. He breathed the spirits of all created things into the temples of words through the breath of power, and from them will be breathed forth unto infinity the mystery of possibility and existence and they shall be created, even though the idolaters be averse. Can anyone prevent a single letter thereof from reaching those for whom it is intended? Nay, by my Lord, even if all were possessed of power.

Therefore hasten, O people of the Bayan, that perchance ye may enter that garden and partake of the blessings ordained therein. I swear by the God Who caused this Tree of Sorrow to journey through all regions and corners, that were I to describe in detail but one level of the levels of the First Garden concealed in the Bayan, all who dwell on earth would be astounded, save whom my Lord willeth. And now ye say, by the Lord of the heavens and earth, this is naught but a mighty creation—whereas this lowly servant hath not enumerated even a single letter thereof as befitteth the sovereignty of His might and the kingdom of His glory. Therefore make haste, O people of the Bayan, that ye may warm yourselves with what God hath ordained for you, and deprive not yourselves if ye but know.

Furthermore, the outward and inward reality of this Point of Sorrow testifieth that today the Dayspring of Eternity is sovereign over all who are in the heavens and on earth. He is the Lord of all books and the Illuminator of all scriptures. Through Him are established the pillars of the Bayan, and through His name was set firm the throne of Paradise in the essence of creation, and through Him were raised the highest heavens, and through Him was the earth made stable upon the pillar of light. Whoso obeyeth Him is saved and whoso turneth away is lost. It is incumbent and obligatory upon all the peoples of the earth, from its east and its west, its lands and its seas, its plains and its mountains, to obey Him in whatsoever is His good-pleasure. God and His own Self, the Truth, suffice as witness to what I say.

Therefore, recognize the worth of this eternal Dayspring, though true recognition is impossible. Yet according to your capacity and ability, He bestoweth from the ocean of His bounty and maketh Himself known. Therefore, knowing the right of these days, do nothing whereby ye may be deprived of His universal and perfect mercy.

Moreover, I beseech you that in these few remaining days of your life, ye live with one another in utmost kindness and mercy, but resting and reposing in the shade of His special favor, for that is the foundation throughout all cycles and the aim in every age. Hold fast to the glory of His loving-kindness and cling to the cord of His forgiveness. Thereafter, recline in perfect might and joy upon the cushions of glory and repose upon the thrones of loftiness. Never allow gloom to approach you, for it causeth heedlessness. Pass your days in perfect harmony. Remove entirely all causes of sorrow. I counsel you, O people of the household, to learn all that We have counseled you, and be not of those who spread corruption in the earth. And peace be upon you and upon God’s sincere servants.

BH01467: God testifieth that there is none other God but…

He is the Most Exalted, the Most High

God testifieth that there is none other God but Him and that the Point of the Bayan is His servant and His Glory. This is what was revealed concerning the previous Manifestation Who was named ʿAli-before-Nabil, and those who followed the Bayan, according to their claim, bore witness to that which God had testified in this blessed, mighty and glorious verse. However, God did not accept their testimony, for they bore witness only until they reached the Servant, but when they came unto His Glory, their feet slipped and they were among the lost. Say: Today no one’s testimony will be accepted except through this Name, by which all who are in the heavens and earth were thunderstruck, save those who have detached themselves from names and their kingdom, and have tasted the sweetness of the fruits from the Lote-Tree of their Chosen Lord in this exalted and lofty Tree. Say: This is the Name whereby God distinguisheth between truth and falsehood. At its mention, the faces of the people of eternity shine forth while the faces of the idolaters are darkened. Verily, it is God’s wrath upon those who have disbelieved, and His mercy upon those who have drawn nigh.

Among the idolaters is one who said that a stone progresseth until it attaineth the station of ruby, and having reached this station, how could it descend from its rank? By this he seeketh to prove to himself that which his passion commandeth him, taking it as a friend and protector besides God. Say: Verily thy Lord hath power over all things. He changeth whatsoever He willeth by His word, if thou be of those who understand. Say: O thou who associateth partners with God, dost thou imagine that He is powerless over anything, or that any matter among all that hath been created between the heavens and the earth can defeat Him? Say: Hast thou not witnessed that He created all things from dust and unto it shall He return them—a promise from His presence? And verily He hath power over all things. By God the Truth! There issueth from the mouths of these people that which causeth the hearts of all created things to be consumed, yet they perceive it not and are numbered among those who sport with their own selves.

Say: O people! This is ʿAli Who hath come unto you with all the signs and a wise remembrance. After the Manifestation of God, doth it beseem anyone to cling to a single letter of the Book after the Mother of Tablets hath been sent down from the holy and luminous Finger? After the appearance and shining forth of the Sun, would it be fitting for anyone to ask a blind man whether it hath risen? Nay, by Him Who hath caused the tongues of all created things to speak forth in praise of His mighty and exalted Self! By God the Truth! The Primal Point in the Supreme Horizon is bewildered, and weepeth and lamenteth over that which the hands of those who claimed faith within themselves yet disbelieved in God have wrought, and were counted among the idolaters.

O Hasan! Wert thou to become aware of what hath befallen My Soul, thou wouldst weep for months and years. O Hasan! Be beneficent in the Cause of God, thy Lord, and grieve not over anything. Cast behind thee the kingdom of blind imitation, then speak forth in remembrance of thy Lord among the worlds. Arise to promote the Cause of God and to aid it, and pay no heed to those who have disbelieved and associated partners with God. Unite with those who seek the Countenance at eventide and at dawn, and who call upon God between the heavens and the earth. Do good unto thyself and unto those from whom thou perceivest the fragrance of the love of thy Lord, the Most Merciful. Thus do We command thee in truth, that thou mayest be among those who act.

Purify thy heart from allusions, and be not among the doubtful concerning this Cause, whereat all feet have slipped save those whom God hath preserved through His grace. Verily, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful. Say: O people! Fear God and associate not partners with Him through Whom the Dove hath warbled in the pole of eternity, and the Cock of the Throne hath crowed upon the Lote-Tree of the uttermost boundary, and the Tongue of Grandeur hath spoken forth in the pavilion of supreme majesty. Fear God, O people, and be among the God-fearing.

Do that for which thou hast sought permission from God, thy Lord. The beauty of permission hath now shone forth from the horizon of thy Lord, the Most High, the Most Great. Verily, thy Lord loveth that His handmaidens be joined in marriage to His believing servants. Thus have We cast upon thee the word of truth as a bounty from Our presence, that thou mayest be among the thankful. Know thou moreover that God hath forgiven the handmaiden whom thou didst mention in thy letter. The breezes of forgiveness have wafted upon her from the direction of thy Lord, the Most Merciful. Verily, He forgiveth whom He willeth by His command, and He is indeed the Most Merciful, the Compassionate. And the radiance which hath shone forth from the right hand of eternity be upon thee and upon those with thee, and upon God’s assured servants.

BH01459: He is the One established upon this resplendent…

He is the One established upon this resplendent and steadfast Throne. O Most Exalted Pen! Give thou the glad-tidings to the denizens of the Supreme Paradise that the veil of concealment hath been rent asunder and the Beauty of God hath appeared from this Most Great Scene with a radiance whereby the suns of His Command have shone forth from the dawning-place of His Great Name. O joy! This is the Festival of God that hath appeared from the horizon of transcendent grace. This is the Festival wherein all things have been adorned with the robe of names, and bounty hath encompassed all existence, of the former and latter generations. O joy! This is the Festival of God that hath dawned from the holy and gleaming Dayspring.

Bid the Maids of Eternity to emerge from their crimson chambers in the likeness of celestial beings and to appear between earth and heaven in My Most Glorious Beauty. Then grant them leave to offer the chalice of life from the Kawthar of the All-Merciful unto the peoples of the world, both high and lowly. O joy! This is the Festival of God that hath appeared from the holy horizon with wondrous rapture.

Then bid the youth created of divine light to come forth from Paradise in the adornment of the All-Merciful and, with fingers of ruby, to offer the cups of eternity unto the people of might among the companions of Baha, that they may be drawn to the Supreme Beauty from this radiant and resplendent Countenance. How excellent is this Festival of God that hath appeared from the horizon of transcendent glory! By God! This is the Festival wherein the Beauty of the Divine Essence hath appeared without veil or concealment, with such sovereignty as hath humbled the necks of the proud. O joy! This is the Festival of God that hath appeared with mighty sovereignty.

This is the Festival wherein the Pen hath been lifted from all things, for the Sovereign of Eternity hath appeared from behind the [veil of] names. Therefore, O people of creation, rejoice within yourselves, for the breezes of forgiveness have wafted over all created things, and the spirit of life hath been breathed into the worlds. O joy! This is the Festival of God that hath appeared from a holy and gleaming Dayspring.

Beware lest ye transgress the bounds of propriety, or commit that which your minds and your pleasure would reject. This is that which ye have been commanded by the Finger of God, the Almighty, the All-Powerful. O joy! This is the Festival of God that hath appeared from the horizon of transcendent grace. This is the Festival wherein the Beauty of the All-Glorious hath been exalted above all things, and hath spoken between earth and heaven whatsoever He wished and desired, without veil or concealment. This is of His grace that hath encompassed all creation. In it the Temple of Baha was established upon the Throne of Eternity, and the Face shone forth from the horizon of the Beginning with wondrous and glorious lights. O joy! This is the Festival of God that hath appeared from the horizon of transcendent grace.

O ye dwellers of the pavilion of grandeur! O ye people of the tabernacle of sinlessness! O ye inhabitants of the tent of glory and mercy! Sing and warble the sweetest melodies in the elevated chambers, for the Beauty of the Concealed One hath appeared in this Revelation, and the Sun of the Unseen hath shone forth from the horizon of ancient glory. O joy! This is the Festival of God that hath appeared with magnificent adorning.

Don ye the pilgrim garb, O denizens of the Supreme Paradise and O people of the City of Eternity, for the Sanctuary of the All-Glorious hath appeared in this Sacred Precinct, round which circle the Heights of the House, then the Sacred Monument and the Station. Therefore, circumambulate and visit the Lord of mankind in these days the like of which the eyes of past generations have never witnessed. O glad tidings! This is the Festival of God that hath risen from the horizon of God, the Mighty, the Bountiful.

Drink ye, O people of earth and heaven, from the cup of eternity offered by the hands of Baha in this Most Exalted Paradise. By God! Whosoever attaineth unto a drop thereof shall never change with the passing of time, nor shall Satan’s schemes affect him, and God shall raise him up in every Revelation with a holy and mighty beauty. O joy! This is the Festival of God that hath appeared from the scene of thy Lord, the All-Wise.

Sanctify yourselves, O people, from this world, then hasten to the Ultimate Lote-Tree in this Farthest Mosque, that ye may hearken unto the call of your Lord, the All-Merciful, in this Paradise which hath been created by the Kawthar of life from the very Spirit of Glory, and before whose gate the people of the holy and guarded pavilions have fallen prostrate. O joy! This is the Festival of God that hath gleamed from the horizon of transcendent glory.

Beware, O people, lest ye deprive yourselves of the fragrances of these days wherein the sweet-scented breeze of the Divine Youth’s raiment wafteth at every moment from a shining and glorious horizon. O joy! This is the Festival of God that hath dawned from the dayspring of My Great Name.