Volume 044: Prior to 1873 1290 A.H., Part II (2 of 4)

BH02006: Lauded and glorified art Thou, O Lord my God!…

He is God, exalted be His mighty station

Lauded and glorified art Thou, O Lord my God! Thou art He Who from everlasting hath been clothed with majesty, with authority and power, and will continue unto everlasting to be arrayed with honor, with strength and glory. The learned, one and all, stand aghast before the signs and tokens of Thy handiwork, while the wise find themselves, without exception, impotent to unravel the mystery of Them Who are the Manifestations of Thy might and power. Every man of insight hath confessed his powerlessness to scale the heights of Thy knowledge, and every man of learning hath acknowledged his failure to fathom the nature of Thine Essence.

Having barred the way that leadeth unto Thee, Thou hast, by virtue of Thine authority and through the potency of Thy will, called into being Them Who are the Manifestations of Thy Self, and hast entrusted Them with Thy message unto Thy people, and caused Them to become the Daysprings of Thine inspiration, the Exponents of Thy Revelation, the Treasuries of Thy Knowledge and the Repositories of Thy Faith, that all men may, through Them, turn their faces towards Thee, and may draw nigh unto the kingdom of Thy Revelation and the heaven of Thy grace.

I beseech Thee, therefore, by Thyself and by Them, to send down, from the right hand of the throne of Thy grace, upon all that dwell on earth, that which shall wash them from the stain of their trespasses against Thee, and cause them to become wholly devoted to Thy Self, O Thou in Whose hand is the source of all gifts, that they may all arise to serve Thy Cause, and may detach themselves entirely from all except Thee. Thou art the Almighty, the All-Glorious, the Unrestrained.

O my God, my Master, my Best-Beloved! I am Thy servant and the son of Thy servant. I have held fast the cord of Thy grace, and clung to the hem of the garment of Thy loving providence. I entreat Thee, by Thy Most Great Name, Whom Thou hast appointed as the unerring Balance among the nations, and Thine infallible Proof unto all men, not to forsake me, nor to abandon me to my corrupt desires. Do Thou preserve me beneath the shadow of Thy Supreme Sinlessness, and enable me to magnify Thine own Self amidst the concourse of Thy creatures. Withhold not from me the Divine fragrance of Thy days, and deprive me not of the sweet savors wafting from the Dayspring of Thy Revelation. Bestow on me the good of this world and of the next, through the power of Thy grace that hath encompassed all created things and Thy mercy that hath surpassed the entire creation. Thou art He Who holdeth in His grasp the kingdom of all things. Thou doest what Thou willest through Thy decree, and choosest, through the power of Thy might, whatsoever Thou desirest. None can resist Thy will; naught can exhaust the impelling force of Thy command. There is no God but Thee, the Almighty, the All-Glorious, the Most Bountiful.

O Ali! Blessed art thou for having drunk from the Salsabil of inner meanings from the hands of thy Lord’s mercy, the Mighty, the Self-Subsisting. Grieve not over anything, but trust in all matters in God, thy Lord. He is verily with His chosen servants. Say: O people! By God, the Primal Point hath distinguished, and the Divine Alif hath arisen, and the sovereignty of God, the One, the Mighty, the All-Compelling, hath been made manifest. Say: O people! Fear ye God and deprive not yourselves of this bounty which hath dawned from the horizon of His Command. This is better for you than that which ye do in secret and in public. We have loved thee before and We shall love thee, by God’s might and power, for having turned to thy Lord, the Mighty, the All-Forgiving.

Be thou steadfast in thy love for the Youth, then convey unto the people the Command of thy Lord with wisdom and utterance, lest the clamor of the heedless and the howling of the wicked be raised. Cast the kingdom behind thee, then turn unto thy Lord. The world and all that is therein shall perish, and sovereignty shall remain with God, the Lord of grandeur and power. Thus have We remembered thee in this Tablet and caused thee to hear the melodies of the Dove upon the branches in various measures, that thou mayest be drawn unto God, the Lord of the Day of Mutual Calling.

Make mention from Our presence unto thy father that We have not forgotten him.

BH02010: He is the Self-Subsisting, the EverlastingGlorified be He Who…

He is the Self-Subsisting, the EverlastingGlorified be He Who possesseth the kingdom of the heavens and earth, and He, verily, hath knowledge of all things. Before Him boweth down whatsoever is in the heavens and the Throne, and He, verily, is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. His is the bounty and grace—He quickeneth whom He willeth through His sovereignty, and He, verily, is the Almighty, the Powerful. His is the sovereignty and eternity, the grandeur and glory, the loftiness and splendor, the might and radiance, the majesty and creativity. He forgiveth whom He willeth and chastiseth whom He willeth, and He, verily, is wise in all things.

Say: God is the Creator of all things, and We, verily, are witness unto this. Say: God is the Provider of all things, and We, verily, are cognizant of this. Say: God is the Quickener of all things, their Maker, the Sovereign over all things and their Creator, and He, verily, encompasseth all things.

Say: O people, fear God and believe in Him Who hath come to you with clear sovereignty and authority. Beware lest ye disdain the worship of your Lord or wax proud after the proof hath reached you from every near direction. Follow not the bidding of your desires, but hasten unto a station of transcendent glory.

Say: The test hath come upon you from all directions, and the thunderbolts of the Cause have seized you from every novel quarter. Fear ye God, then stand firm in the Cause, then be steadfast upon the path, and be not tyrannical oppressors in the land. Fear God and drive not away Him Who hath come to you with clear signs—He summoneth you only through a mighty sovereignty. He remembereth you with most excellent remembrance in the Word that hath gleamed from God’s horizon. He commandeth you to righteousness and piety, and forbiddeth you transgression and wickedness, and causeth you to hear wondrous and novel verses.

O people, if ye have forgotten God’s decree in ages past, the people of the Furqan are not far from you. Have the tidings not reached you of those who lived before, who denied God’s signs and mocked His Messengers, whereupon He seized them with manifest wrath? Fear ye God and reflect upon what hath passed, that ye may be guided in these days when signs descend from every direction. Say: Should all who are in the heavens and earth prevent you from this, pay no heed but turn away from them and advance toward a beauteous divine countenance.

Know then that what thou hast written hath come before Us, and We found therein the fragrance of an exalted love. We answer thee with these verses which have descended in truth from an elevated holy heaven. Know that We loved thee before and love thee now, and desire for thee in Paradise a noble and honored station—a station preceded by none save as God, thy Lord and the Lord of all worlds, willeth. And thou, O My loved one, strive within thyself to be steadfast in thy love, firm in thy religion, and holding fast to that handle which is mighty in truth. Thus do We impart unto thee that which is better for thee than all in the heavens and earth, if thou behold with the eye of the spirit. Then remember from Our presence all who have believed in God and the Last Day, and who remain constant in love and steadfast in the Cause.

BH02020: This is a Book sent down in truth, wherein…

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

This is a Book sent down in truth, wherein is guidance and remembrance for all the worlds. Hearken, O servant, unto that which is revealed unto thee from the direction of the Throne, the Station round which circle the denizens of the Concourse on High, then those who dwell in the depths of Names, then they who move in the atmosphere of holiness, this sacred and luminous Space: that there is none other God but Him, alone with no partner, no minister, no peer and no likeness unto Him. He hath ever been single in His Essence and unique in His Being. He sent forth the Messengers aforetime unto His creation, testifying that there is none other God but Him, the Almighty, the Most High, the Great.

Bear thou witness, even as God hath caused thy heart and tongue to witness, and be thou of them that are assured of the Revelation of God and the Manifestation of His Self, and be of the steadfast. Know thou then that thy name was mentioned before the Face, and therefore were verses of mighty glory sent down from the cloud of holiness, and We sent them unto thee as a mercy from Our presence that thou mayest be of the thankful. When they reach thee, take them with the hand of power and might, then read them with the melodies of them that are nigh. Through them shall be produced in hearts that which shall detach them from contingent things and draw them nigh unto the direction of a mighty throne.

Be thou steadfast in the Cause of God and His love, and there shall descend upon thee from the heaven of the unseen that which shall gladden thy heart, for He is the Rewarder of the steadfast. Beware that thou grieve not over this world, for it shall pass away, and that which remaineth for thee is what hath been ordained in the Most Exalted Kingdom by the Pen of thy Lord, and this is a certain truth. Seek thou, O servant, the grace of God and His mercy, and despair not of His wondrous mercy that hath encompassed all created things. Thus hath the Command been sent down at this moment in truth, that thou mayest be of them that rejoice.

He sendeth down at every moment upon His servants whatsoever He willeth, and with Him is the knowledge of all things that have been created between the heavens and the earth. Not an atom escapeth His knowledge. He ruleth over the kingdom as He pleaseth by His sovereignty, and none can gainsay His irrevocable and wise decree. Remember thou thy Lord in the night season and the days, then at eventide and dawn, and fear thou no one, for He shall guard thee from the hosts of the oppressors. Put thy trust in Him in all matters and be of them that trust. Then be content with whatsoever God hath been pleased with in these days, for this is His Revelation and His sovereignty amongst the worlds.

Say: O my Lord! I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which Thou hast manifested Thyself unto all created things and hast risen above all beings, to detach me from all that Thy good-pleasure abhorreth and to send down upon me that which is best for me, for Thou knowest what profiteth me and I know not, and Thou art the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. O my Lord! Leave me not to myself and my desires, then send down upon me from the cloud of Thy mercy that which shall purify me from the mention of aught else but Thee. Then assign me a seat of truth with Thee, then send down upon me the good of this world and the next. Verily, Thou art powerful over what Thou willest, and Thou art the Munificent, the Generous.

Thus have We remembered thee and commanded thee that thou mayest be of them that act. And glory be upon thee and upon them who are steadfast in the Cause of God and are of the firm ones.

BH02052: Glorified be He Who sendeth down the verses…

He is the Ever-Abiding, the Most Glorious.

Glorified be He Who sendeth down the verses in truth and will continue to send them down as He pleaseth by His command, and verily He hath power over all things. Before Him bow down in adoration all who are in the heavens and on earth, though He is in truth independent of the worship of all creation. All that He commandeth men is from His grace unto them, that He may bring them to the holy habitation, the station which hath been raised in truth above Paradise itself. The worship of all who are in the heavens and on earth profiteth Him not, nor doth the opposition of any in all the worlds harm Him.

O Muhammad! Praise thy Lord in the evening and at dawn, then take Him as thy trustee in truth. Find solace in Him and forget all else—thus doth the Pen of Command bid thee from the presence of the Mighty, the Powerful. Arise in thy love for thy Lord, then detach thyself from all things—this will make thee independent of all who are in the heavens and earth. God is witness to what I say. Would one who harbors in his heart the trust of love for his Ancient Lord exchange it for aught else that hath been created on earth? Nay, by God, besides Whom there is no other God—save he who hath deprived himself of the sweet savors of holiness. Take fast hold of God’s command and cast all else behind thee. Thus hath the utterance descended on the clouds of wisdom and the matter been decreed from the presence of the Protector, the Self-Subsisting.

O Rida! Be content with what God hath ordained for thee, then walk in the ways of His good-pleasure. This is better for thee than all that is on earth, though none know this save they who are endowed with insight. Blessed is he who walketh in the paths of his Lord’s good-pleasure and severeth himself from every sinful idolater. Shun those who have denied God and His verses, then guard thyself against them and remain under mighty protection. Do not that which thy heart approveth not. Act according to that which thou hast been commanded by the Mighty, the Wise. Thus have We sent down unto thee verses from the heaven of names and attributes, that thou mayest be gladdened in thy soul and stand firm in the eternal Faith, steadfast in thy love for God, thy Lord.

They who have denied God and His verses—their souls have made evil seem fair to them and Satan hath adorned their deeds in their eyes, and they were on that day far removed from the shore of grace upon the path of wrongdoing. Soon will Satan enter therein and forbid you from the love of the Youth. Therefore shun him and remain under impregnable protection. Say: O Satan! By what proof didst thou believe in the Beauty of the All-Merciful and by what evidence didst thou deny? If thou didst believe in Him Who came from the dawning-place of the Command by the name of Ali through what was revealed unto Him of verses—these are His verses that have filled the East and West of the earth, which none deny save every froward wretch. Thus have We informed thee and acquainted thee with what is hidden from the eyes of all the worlds. And the glory rest upon thee, if thou remainest steadfast in thy Lord’s command.

BH02060: This is a Book from Us to him who…

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

This is a Book from Us to him who has turned to God, the Lord of the worlds. We mention to him what has befallen Us from the hosts of the oppressors when they brought Us to this place. The matter became so severe it cannot be described in words. Verily thy Lord is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

Each day the affliction increases—one day they prevent people from attaining the presence of this Noble Scene, another day they quarrel with the loved ones of God and prevent them from tending to their needs—these are truly companions of hellfire. Another day they say “You are sending Tablets,” and another day they cling to some other pretext—these are truly among those who have wronged throughout the ages and disbelieved in God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. Verily He Who created the world for Himself—they prevent Him from looking upon any of His loved ones. This is nothing but manifest tyranny.

One said: “Through you the fragrances of revelation have wafted through the lands and transformed the servants unto God, the Mighty, the Wise.” Another said: “Through you the lamp of remembrance has been lit and we wished to extinguish it. If this be my crime then I am the most guilty of the two worlds. I am innocent of you and you are innocent of me. The matter between us is decided, and He is the Best of Judges.” They said: “You have come with a white hand and radiant scrolls which our souls do not desire. You are but one of the mischief-makers.”

If this were so, servants before Me would have preceded Me, reciting unto you the verses of God, the Mighty, the Inaccessible. Whenever We recited clear verses unto them they said “These are forgeries,” and when We showed them what their likes were powerless to produce, they said “This is manifest sorcery.” We know not by what discourse their souls would be satisfied—they are truly among the drowned ones. They are drowned in the sea of passion yet reckon themselves to be among the guided ones. Thus have their souls seduced them and they are today among the transgressors.

Remember when Nabil entered with his brothers, turning to God, the Lord of the worlds. They were seized at the gate by what the Impostor had inspired in the hearts of the oppressors. When they entered the seat of judgment, it was said: “We perceive from you the fragrance of the Divine Paradise and from your faces the radiance of the All-Merciful. There is no place for you with us—leave at once!” He said: “Have you not heard ʿHonor the guest’?” Then he who had wronged was confounded. He said: “Expel him from the city”—thus did the chief of the transgressors command us. There befell Nabil before Ali and those with him what had befallen him. Verily thy Lord is the All-Knowing, the All-Seeing.

We beseech God to suffice thee against the evil of these two—verily He hath power over all things. They plot, but soon shall the fire of their plotting blaze forth. May God extinguish it through His sovereignty and raise up one who will suffice against their evil. He is verily the Ordainer of what He willeth. They have committed that which hath caused the dwellers of the pavilion of sanctity to lament, and their plotting hath seized every young and old.

We have recounted some of what hath befallen Us that thou mayest be informed of what hath transpired and arise to aid this Wronged One and remember thy Lord by this wondrous Name. The breezes of hypocrisy have stirred and the Light of the Cause is in the darkness of the horizons. Be thou not troubled—We love to behold thee among the steadfast ones. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH02048: God testifies that there is none other God but…

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

God testifies that there is none other God but Him. His is the creation and the command, and all are prostrate before Him. He gives life and causes death, then resurrects as He wishes through His grace. Verily, there is none other God but Him. His is the creation and the command, and all are worshippers before Him.

O Pen of Command! Make mention of the servant who is named Ali, that he may stand firm on the Path and purify himself from those who have denied God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. O Ali! Strip thyself from all veils and allusions, and cast behind thee all that they who joined partners with God have clung to, and take fast hold of the cord of God, the Almighty, the Powerful, the Beloved.

Say: O people! Fear God and spread not corruption in God’s earth after God hath come from the Orient of Grandeur with manifest sovereignty. Say: This indeed is the Essence of Oneness in the Most Exalted Assembly, and the Reality of Divine Unity in the Kingdom of Eternity, and the Mystery of Divinity in the Kingdom of Names, and the Ancient Beauty in this radiant and noble Temple. He is indeed the One through Whom every Prophet was raised up, every Messenger was sent forth, and every irrevocable decree was revealed.

Say: O people of the Bayan! Fear God and war not against Him through Whom your worth was exalted, your name was made manifest, and your traces became renowned among the worlds. O Ali! Express what We have shown thee in thy soul’s journey unto God, then ascend to the atmosphere of nearness and holiness that thou mayest witness what no mystic hath witnessed. Guard thyself lest thou be stirred by the winds of hypocrisy which blow from the direction of the wicked ones who warred against God and turned away from His beauty after He appeared with all verses, scriptures and perspicuous books.

Stand firm in the Cause, then convey unto the people thy Lord’s command, and be not of the patient ones. Know thou that those who were given the Bayan seek to invalidate the Truth using the same arguments used by the transgressors of the Qur’an when the Sovereign of the Cause came to them with God’s kingdom—the True, the Certain One. They wrote tablets rejecting God just as the people of the Qur’an wrote rejecting Ali before Nabil. We have ordained for whoever is able that he write in support of this Cause that which casts the spirit into his breast, and this is from God’s grace upon His steadfast servants.

Arise in the Cause, then drink the cup of life from the hands of the All-Merciful, then detach thyself from every sinful deceiver. Turn not to the right or the left; set thy face toward thy Lord, the Most High, the Great. Hearken unto what is revealed unto thee from the right side of the Throne, the place whose very air proclaims: “This indeed is the Beloved in the heart of Glory,” and whose heaven calls out: “This indeed is the One mentioned in the scrolls of mighty glory,” and from Whose dust particles is heard: “There is none other God but I, the Powerful over what I wish, and I am the Mighty, the Exalted, the Wise.”

Thus do We cast upon thee that thou mayest stand firm in the Cause and convey unto the people what thou art commanded by God, the Most High, the Powerful, the All-Knowing. And glory be upon thee if thou standest firm in the Cause and detachest thyself from the worlds, and upon those who hear thy words concerning God, thy Lord and the Lord of thy forefathers of old.

BH02033: O Letter of the Living! Hearken to the call…

In the Name of God, the Luminous, the Most Luminous

O Letter of the Living! Hearken to the call of thy Lord once again in this most holy and most luminous Dominion. Then remember what is now being revealed unto thee from the direction of the Throne above the Lote-Tree of the Utmost Boundary, that thou mayest recall within thyself what We previously mentioned to thee by the tongue of God the first time. Therefore reflect on what remaineth thereof, that thou mayest be among the people of the Hereafter in this primary world.

Say: By God! The decree of the Nine hath appeared and the beauty of the Eighty hath shone forth. And verily thou didst not comprehend its beginning, so strive within thyself that thou mayest comprehend its end, that thou mayest be among those possessed of understanding.

Therefore stand firm in the Cause of thy Lord, then remind the people of what the Dove remindeth thee at this moment from God’s most sublime Kingdom. Take heed that thou fear nothing, nor hesitate in the Cause of thy Lord, nor be among the blind. Come forth from behind the veil of silence, then loose thy tongue in praise of thy Lord, that thou mayest be among those who are guided, and remind people through thy remembrance, that perchance through thee may be brought about in them what God hath chosen for them. Thus do We bestow Our grace upon thee once again, that thou mayest be assured in the Cause of thy Lord and rend asunder the veils from the face of remembrance.

Say: By God! The Spirit at this moment moveth before His presence, and the Sun deriveth its light from His resplendent brow, and the Beauty of the Unseen speaketh above His head with a call that draweth unto it the hearts of those possessed of understanding:

“This, verily, is He Who appeared in the year sixty, and this is one of His mighty signs.”

And these are the pearls which We have brought forth from the Shell of Holiness and cast from the Ocean of Grandeur, that ye may find what hath been ordained for you by your Lord, the Most Exalted, the Most High. And this, verily, is the Beauty of God which hath dawned from behind the veils with a sovereignty that cannot be concealed nor hidden. And this, verily, is the Sea that surgeth within itself, and these are its waves, if ye be of those possessed of wisdom. And these, verily, are the breezes of God in truth, and this is their wafting in this morning time.

Say: The Noah of eternity hath fashioned the Ark of immortality, and it saileth upon the sea of grandeur—glorified be thy Lord, the Most High! And thou, turn thy face towards it and hold fast unto it, that thou mayest be among the companions of the Garden of Refuge.

And this, verily, is the Voice of God raised between the heavens and the earth. Therefore put off the shoes of vain desire, that thou mayest be turned towards the Sinai of the Spirit in this most distant expanse. Take heed that nothing prevent thee, even should all who are in the kingdom oppose thee. Then hearken unto the call of thy Lord, that thou mayest be of those who have heard and called out. Thus have We cast upon thee and inspired thee with that which will sever thee unto God, thy Lord, that thou mayest rejoice within thyself and be of those who have believed and are guided.

Say: By God! The Beauty of the First hath appeared in the Point of the Last. By God! This is thy Lord, the Most High, and whoso turneth away from Him and denieth His signs hath indeed gone astray and transgressed. Thus do We call out to thee once again, that thou mayest hear the call of thy Lord in the Dominion of eternity, and be stirred within thyself, and arise in the Cause of thy Lord with supreme steadfastness.

Say: By God! Whoso hesitateth in His Cause, God will surely return him to the lowest depths. Thus have We informed thee and taught thee, that thou mayest be mindful of the remembrance of thy Lord and be of those who drew nigh and approached.

BH02085: In the Name of Him at Whose bidding…

In the Name of Him at Whose bidding the Nightingale warbles in the Realm of Eternity that there is none other God but Me, the Almighty, the All-Wise!

O Tongue of Eternity! Make mention of him who emigrated unto God until he entered the Spot of Immortality, the seat from whose horizon the Sun of Glory shone forth with manifest and brilliant rays, and entered God’s precinct where the glances of holy radiance were turned unto him, and tasted the sweetness of remembrance from this Remembrance, Who, were the veil to be lifted from His face, would cause all who are in the heavens and on earth to swoon away, except such as have detached themselves from all created things.

O servant! God the true One is My Witness! This is the Day whereon it is incumbent upon everyone that seeth to behold, and every ear that hearkeneth to hear, and every heart that understandeth to perceive, and every tongue that speaketh to proclaim unto all who are in heaven and on earth, this holy, this exalted, and all-highest Name.

Thus does the Tongue of Holiness speak forth now in the realm of mighty glory.

I swear by the one true God! This is the day of those who have detached themselves from all but Him, the day of those who have recognized His unity, the day whereon God createth, with the hands of His power, divine beings and imperishable essences, every one of whom will cast the world and all that is therein behind him, and will wax so steadfast in the Cause of God that every wise and understanding heart will marvel.

O servant! Hear what issueth from the mouths of those who have disbelieved in God after having believed in Him. By God, they speak as spoke the divines of the Qur’an at the time when ʿAli came upon the clouds of My Name that encompasseth the worlds. O servant, forget not My remembrance, nor the days when thou wert in the presence of My countenance. Remember then My grief and tribulation, that God may raise up one who will help the Youth. Thus hath the Pen of Eternity taught thee, that thou mayest arise to serve His Cause with mighty detachment.

Stand firm in such wise that should all the Manifestations of Our most beauteous Names descend and seek to turn thee from that whereon thou standest in thy Lord’s Cause, thou wouldst not turn unto them nor unto what they possess, by My sovereignty that hath dawned from the horizon of holiness with wondrous lights. Know thou that whatsoever thou hast heard regarding this Cause hath, by God, appeared from the direction of My command, and none hath been apprised thereof save God—of this thou art well aware. When We raised up the Cause, they who served Me and circled round Me morning and evening arose to slay Me. Thus mayest thou know the state of these souls and those who followed them and took them as lords for themselves instead of God. By God, they and their idols are in the fire, and naught shall protect them from thy Lord’s torment save that they repent and return unto God Who created them by His command. Verily, He hath ever been All-Forgiving, All-Merciful.

Rejoice, O servant, within thyself that God hath accepted thee for love of Himself and honored thee with His presence and inscribed thy name upon tablets which lie before the Throne, sealed with the seal of preservation by the fingers of power, in truth and by the truth. Glory be upon thee and upon them that are with thee and upon them that remember their Lord and are detached from those who know not their right hand from their left and who follow every froward devil.

BH02107: The Supreme Pen speaks in the name…

In the Name of the Beloved of the world

The Supreme Pen speaks in the name of the Beloved of the worlds: Your letter was received before the Countenance, and from its expression was inhaled the fragrance of the love of the Beloved of the worlds. Praise be to God that through divine grace, in this spiritual dawn, you have attained to that which was intended and have been illumined by the effulgences of the Divine Word which has dawned from the Dayspring of Will.

The effulgences of the Word have encompassed all who are on earth, yet most people remain deprived of the Dayspring of divine manifestations due to imaginary veils. Soon all shall turn toward the intended Goal, but alas for those souls who today remain deprived of the shining lights. I swear by the Dawning-Place of the Most Great Name that if people would rend asunder the veils and hearken with the ear of their true nature to the Call of God raised from the right side of the luminous Spot, all would turn with illumined hearts toward the Beloved. The veils have prevented them—soon they shall wail and weep, though now they perceive it not.

Blessed are those souls who today have attained the recognition of God and have turned toward the Most Great Name and the Ancient Ocean. Although today the enkindled and devoted souls have been encompassed by abasement due to their turning to the Word of God, yet soon all on earth shall engage in glorifying their mention with utmost honor.

That which exists and is witnessed shall soon vanish, but any deed performed by any soul for the triumph of God’s Cause, even if it be but a sigh breathed forth for the love of God, shall endure forever and its effects shall be manifested in all the divine worlds through wondrous and sublime appearances. This is God’s hidden grace of which none is aware. If the divine fingers of power were to rend this veil, you would witness all turning with complete devotion, perfect hope and supreme steadfastness to sacrifice themselves in the path of the Friend, counting all that exists in the world and whatsoever is related to it as non-existent. Since the preservation of souls for the triumph of God’s Cause is observed according to divine wisdom’s requirements, therefore this station remains unrevealed and hidden behind the veils of the unseen.

Blessed are you for having attained, arisen, turned, heard and said: “Here am I, here am I, O Beloved of the worlds!” These are pearls and treasures that shall remain preserved in the divine treasuries of the unseen, and the hands of the treacherous and thieves shall be barred from them.

Say: Praise be to Thee, O my God, for having caused me to be present before the Throne, to hear Thy call and be honored with meeting Thee. I beseech Thee by Thy Name that rules over all names to ordain for me to meet Thee in every world of Thy worlds, to cause me to soar at all times in the atmosphere of Thy love, and to turn toward the Kaaba of Thy reunion and meeting. Thou art powerful over what Thou willest, and Thou art the Forgiving, the Merciful.

The Glory be upon thee and upon those with thee. The mentioned Tablets were sent. Verily, He is the best of rememberers. Say: Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH02077: Praise be to God that thou hast steered…

In the name of the Peerless Beloved!

Praise be to God that thou hast steered the ship of high endeavor upon the sea of detachment and hast been blessed with divine outpourings and merciful bestowals. Thou art he through whom the victory of God’s Cause was made manifest, inasmuch as thou didst not fall short in His service. To this testify all atoms, through what hath flowed from the Pen of thy Lord, the Almighty, the Glorious, the All-Wise.

It is most clear and evident that the world hath neither fidelity nor permanence, nor shall it ever have. All shall return to nothingness save the righteous deeds that have appeared from holy souls in the Cause of the King of Oneness. I swear by the Most Great Luminary, whose light shineth resplendent in all worlds, that even in the material realm God, exalted be His mention, causeth every tongue to praise such souls.

Look not upon the power of the enemies and the veiling of the people today. Though outwardly they appear strong, in truth they are the weakest of creatures. Soon shall they all turn with great remorse and supreme regret toward their Lord, the Most High, the All-Glorious. But they have been preceded by servants who have attained unto the days of God. Should God, exalted be His glory, forgive those souls, they would be under the shadow of the assured ones who are manifest today in His Name; otherwise thy Lord is indeed the All-Knowing.

Thou must watch over God’s Cause in all matters, but with utmost protection, concealment and wisdom. For whenever the sun of victory in God’s Cause hath dawned from the dayspring of detachment of any soul, the envious have inevitably risen up with the fire of hatred. For every light there is fire. In all matters be mindful of wisdom and move with moderation. Remind the people, on behalf of the Dawning-Place of the Divine Word, of godly attributes and spiritual character, lest mischief appear from anyone that might cause the fire of the Cause to be extinguished among the people. Mischief hath never been and shall never be acceptable. All must walk among the righteous and the wicked with rectitude, steadfastness, dignity and composure, that the number of the righteous may increase and the wicked be called to the Chosen One. A goodly deed is in its essence a promoter of the Cause and a guide to the path of truth.

Convey to the loved ones these hidden words which have shone forth from the Dayspring of the Divine Pen at this spiritual dawn, that all may be illumined by the lights of the Word and hold fast to divine counsels before their faces, lest they become heedless and remain veiled. Blessed art thou and those who are with thee and who hear what thou remindest them of through the remembrance of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

Thou art he whom God hath related to Himself and singled out for the service of His Cause. By My life! Soon shall the tablet of creation be adorned with thy name for having turned with thy whole being to the countenance of the Intended One. Thy Lord is indeed the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

Convey My greetings to the faces of those who were with thee, whether female or male, young or old. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH11722: This is a Book from the Primal Point unto…

In the Name of the Most Unapproachable, the Most Holy, the Exalted, the Most High

This is a Book from the Primal Point unto him who hath believed in God and His signs, that he may stand firm in the Cause and be detached from all the worlds. Bear thou witness, O servant, unto that which God hath testified of His Own Self unto His Own Self, that there is none other God but Him, and that the Primal Point is the Glory of God unto all who are in the heavens and the earth, His proof unto all who dwell in the kingdoms of Command and creation, and His evidence unto all who are upon the earth. Blessed is he who hath detached himself from all things, turned unto Him, and hearkened unto His melodies which have enraptured the denizens of the most exalted Paradise, then those who dwell in the depths of the Names, then the hearts of every pure soul.

Verily, He is the Hidden Scroll in the unseen realm of the divine cloud, the Treasured Book within the pavilions of the Names, the Tablet of the Spirit in the fields of eternity, and the Scripture of Command in the kingdom of creation. Thus hath the Command been sent down at this hour with truth from the presence of One mighty and powerful. Say: By God! He hath appeared with all the signs, the recognition of which hath proved beyond the capacity of every person of understanding. On His right hand was the Kingdom of God, then on His left the Dominion of Command, and before Him marched the hosts of a wondrous Revelation. Thus were the clouds of idle fancy rent asunder, and God came with the authority of His Cause, while around Him circled the hosts of hidden glory.

Then did they who harbored hatred for this Youth in their hearts deny Him—this Youth at the sight of Whom the eyes of Grandeur were consoled behind pavilions of impregnable glory. They warred against Him, disputed His verses, and denied the grace that encompassed all the worlds. O servant! Cast behind thee all allusions, then burn away the veils of idle fancy through a power from Our presence. Stand firm in the Cause through an authority from Us, and fear no one. Put thy trust in God, thy Lord, and He shall protect thee from every accursed misbeliever. Then give thanks unto God within thyself, for the glances of God have been directed toward thee, and the fingers of holiness have moved upon thy name with this Pen which hath been fashioned by God’s handiwork. Through it the knowledge of all things hath appeared, and the knowledge of what was and what will be, and through it the measures of the Cause have been ordained in the heaven of destiny and sent down in a prescribed measure.

Grieve not over this world, but rejoice in the gladness of the Cause. Choose for thyself a praiseworthy station in the shadow of thy Lord’s mercy. Purify thyself from whatsoever hath occurred to thee, and thy breast from the promptings of them who have disbelieved in God and who move about in the wilderness of passion, having deprived themselves of God’s mercy. Be thou at peace within thyself, then stand firm in the Cause, for God hath ordained for thee a station that hath been, in truth, elevated. Soon will He send down upon thee the wonders of His mercy and draw thee nigh unto a luminous station of glory. Know thou that We had previously sent down unto thee a Tablet, and before it another Tablet, and We sent them unto thee as a grace from Us, that thou mightest stand firm in the Cause. And the mercy that descendeth from the heaven of the Cause be upon thee, upon those who love thee in God, and upon every discerning believer.

BH02088: To the son of Haji Mirza Musa who has…

To the son of Haji Mirza Musa who has ascended to the Supreme Companion—We have revealed this for Abu-Talib that he may seek through it what God has ordained for him and be mighty in assistance. He is God, the Doer of whatsoever He willeth.

The Beauty of God behind the clouds hath been witnessed from the holy horizon through grace. And verily the clouds are wisdom whereby God manifesteth His Cause among His creatures—were He to lift them, all who are in the heavens and earth would be terrified and every lofty and impregnable mountain would crumble. There is nothing but that its treasuries are in the heaven of destiny, and We send them down only in accordance with a measured decree.

O Pen of Command! Make mention of the servant of God who is named Abu-Talib, that he may rejoice in his soul that his name hath flowed from thee and been mentioned before the Throne.

O servant! We sent thee aforetime a Tablet that cannot be equaled by all that is on earth, and after it We sent this Tablet whereby are attracted the hearts of those who have drawn nigh and been purified from earthly allusions through the hidden mystery.

O servant! Purify thy heart from aught else but Me, then read what hath been revealed unto thee, that it may preserve thee from sorrows in this time when the heaven hath come with manifest smoke. Guard thyself through My Name the Preserver lest the darts of Satan strike thee and make thee far removed from the seat of nearness. Take comfort in My remembrance and abandon all else—this is better in thy Lord’s sight than all that hath been created on earth. Thus hath the matter been decreed from One All-Knowing, All-Wise.

Illumine thy heart with My love and thy tongue with My remembrance and the remembrance of My tribulations, for by My Self, wert thou to become aware of them thou wouldst weep for months and years.

Behold then, O servant, how grieved is the Master Who takes a servant and nurtures him with mighty hands of glory, and teaches him what He willeth, and preserves him from hardship and distress, and keeps him safe from all calamities in the protective sanctuary, and mentions him among the servants, and raises his name in the Concourse of Names to a station where all, young and old, make mention of him. Yet when he witnessed the matter thus and became assured in himself, he emerged from behind the veil and denied his Lord and rejected what He had bestowed upon him through His grace, until he arose to slay Him, then cried out among those whom the foolish of the earth had recognized, saying “I have left these people while wronged”—that he might cause doubt to enter the hearts of the believers and cause the rancor of the youth to enter the breasts of his followers. And God is witness to that.

By God! He did this only because he knew the people to be worthless rabble, else how could he deny this grace which was more manifest than the light of the sun in the midst of heaven? By God! None would deny it save every ignorant blind one. Such was My Cause—ponder this in thyself that thou mayest become aware of it and be among the servants with insight into what befell this Wronged One Who was cast into the pit.

Whereupon grief seized My heart and My pen, and it would not flow as desired, therefore We complete the Tablet. Be content with what hath been sent down unto thee from an exalted and uplifted heaven.

BH04645: In the Name of the All-Glorious, the Most Glorious!…

In the Name of the All-Glorious, the Most Glorious! O servant! Hearken unto what the Herald of Sinai calleth out to thee from the Temple of this Revelation, that thou mayest be enraptured by the melodies of thy Lord, flee from thyself, and draw nigh unto the Self of God, the Most High, the Almighty, the Great.

Know thou that We have created within thee a sacred wilderness and have spread it forth through Our sovereignty and power from Our presence. Therefore, cast off the sandals of wickedness and enter therein, that thou mayest hear from the Tree of thine own being what Moses, son of ʿImran, heard from the Sinai of the All-Merciful:

“Verily, I am God! There is none other God but Me, the Help in Peril, the Gracious, the Almighty, the Powerful, the Omnipotent!”

Therefore, emerge from the shadow of what thou possessest and take shelter in the shade of Our mercy, which We have raised up in truth and have sent forth in the form of a cloud, lest the heat of remoteness harm thee and thou be numbered among those who draw nigh. And this is the Pomegranate Grove which We have sent forth in the form of a Tablet and through which We shine upon the mirror of thy heart, shouldst thou turn it toward the dawning of this Sun through whose light the first and the last have been raised up.

O servant! Lower the bucket of detachment into this Well, that there may gush forth for thee the sweet waters of knowledge and wisdom from this Salsabil which hath been ordained by thy Lord, the Everlasting, the Generous.

Know thou that We have ordained for thee, in the mystery of these words, the Staff of might and power. Therefore, take it by Our leave, then cleave therewith the sea of passion that the sign of thy Lord’s revelation within thee may pass beyond it, and that thou mayest traverse the wilderness of heedlessness and extinction and enter, upon the path of immortality, a sacred and resplendent land. Then strike with this Staff We have given thee upon the hearts of thy kindred, that there may gush forth from them the fountains of wisdom and knowledge, that perchance they may recognize Him Who revealeth Himself on Sinai in this luminous raiment.

And if thou hearest My words, abandon the world and whatsoever is therein and thereon of its customs and creeds, for all these are one and the same in judgment, wert thou of them that comprehend. For whatsoever veils man from the recognition of his Lord and from attaining the presence of his Master—this is the world, even though it be the most excellent of deeds. Thus hath it been sent down from the heaven of thy Lord’s mighty Pen, the Exalted, the All-Wise. And should anything draw thee near unto God, even though it appear blameworthy outwardly, it is approved in the sight of thy Lord. Therefore ponder what hath been sent down unto thee and be of them that reflect, that thou mayest discover the intent of what hath been outwardly ordained and be of them whom nothing in the heavens or on earth deterreth from that which hath been revealed.

Know thou then that thy letter hath come before Us and We have learned of what it contained of the yearning of them that are drawn to God, and We have answered thee with an answer through one letter of which the hearts of the sanctified are attracted, yet We have not sent it until now. And should God wish, We shall send it through grace, for He is the Protector of the righteous.

And if thou perceivest the fragrance of thy Lord from this Garment which hath been sent in the form of a Tablet, it shall suffice thee and suffice all the worlds. Thus have We sent down upon thee from the cloud of holiness the heavenly table of the manna of grace and the quails of immortality, that thou mayest be sustained thereby and be of them that give thanks unto God Who created thee by a command from Him and sent unto thee that which He hath made a proof unto all created things.

BH02082: O My brother and My loved one! Hearken unto…

He is the Most Wondrous, the Most Exalted, the Most Holy, the Most High!

O My brother and My loved one! Hearken unto the call of Him Who hath loved thee and maketh mention of thee for the sake of God, that thou mayest stand firm in a Cause which hath been recorded in all the Tablets by God’s will, and which no veils of contingent beings can obstruct, nor can the opposition of created things impede it, even should they arise against it with swords of steel.

Thou knowest what hath befallen Me at the hands of him whom I protected from the harm of creatures, whom I assisted at all times, and whom I taught by night and by day that he might aid the Cause of God and be God-fearing in His religion. Yet when the sun of certitude dawned upon his back, he shed his skin like a serpent, and the first thing he decreed was to shed My blood without any proof or illuminating Book. By God, O beloved one, I am not among those who have calumniated the servants, and God is My witness to what I say. Ponder thou his deeds and what proceeded from him, then ponder My deeds and what proceeded from Me. Then shall the sun of certitude shine upon thee and thou shalt be established in that which thy Lord desireth.

Hearken unto that which is revealed unto thee from the holy precincts, a station which God hath raised above the knowledge of the worlds. Follow thou the religion of God and His Faith in this Cause which hath appeared and shone forth from the horizon of the Spirit from the presence of One mighty and powerful.

Hear the words of thy brother and arise to serve the Cause in these days wherein all who are in the heavens and earth were shaken, and the dwellers of the realms of Command and creation were terrified, and all the kindreds of the earth lamented, save only a number of the letters of Our most beautiful Names, who at that time were rejoicing in the highest paradise by thy Lord the All-Merciful’s leave, and thus was the matter decreed by God. Rend asunder the veils, then emerge from behind the clouds with resplendent lights. Arise to serve the Cause and detach thyself from all who are in the heavens and earth. Then adorn thy tongue with utterance in remembrance of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Bestower. This is better for thee than all that is on earth.

Grieve not over the world and what hath befallen thee of adversity, but place thy trust in all matters in God, the Most High, the Most Exalted. He will protect thee from whatsoever displeaseth thee, and He is the Observer of all things. By God, O My brother, there hath come upon Me from the malevolent ones arrow after arrow, spear after spear, lance after lance, and sword after sword, whereat the eye of Ali in the Supreme Companion weepeth for Me, and then the eyes of the Messengers in a most holy and exalted station. Were I to detail for thee what hath befallen Me, thou wouldst detach thyself from all things. We have therefore veiled it to protect thee, and have mentioned only what was destined.

Know then that thy letter reached Me and I understood its contents. We beseech God to assist thee and Us in His Cause and to unite Us and thee in a station that was praised in truth. And glory be upon thee and upon those who have believed in God and were steadfast in the straight path.

BH02151: Glorified art Thou, O my God! Praise be unto…

In the Name of God, the Ancient, the Everlasting

Glorified art Thou, O my God! Praise be unto Thee for having drawn Thy near ones through the breaths of Thy oneness and attracted them through the wondrous melodies of Thy voice. Thou hast made them helpers of Thy Cause among Thy creatures and celebrants of Thy name amongst Thy servants. Through them were enkindled the hearts of those who were heedless of Thy remembrance and had strayed from the pathway of nearness unto Thee. Thou hast raised them to a station Thou didst specially ordain for them through Thy grace, and through them Thy signs were spread throughout Thy dominion. Thou hast made them the embodiment of Thy most beautiful names for all who dwell on earth and in heaven.

Among them, O my God, is one who loved Thee and desired Thy presence. When he heard Thy mention and Thy call, he turned toward the horizon of Thy voice. The affairs of the world and the whisperings of the rebellious and the wayward did not prevent him from Thy remembrance. He hath plucked from the garden of Thy loving-kindness the fruits of the tree of Thy oneness, and beheld from the horizon of Thy favors the lights of Thy countenance and beauty. I beseech Thee, O my God, to assist him in all conditions that he may aid Thy Cause among Thy servants, and to protect him from the people of error that he may be occupied with Thy praise amidst Thy creation. Verily, Thou art powerful over what Thou willest, and Thou art the Mighty, the Powerful.

O thou who soarest in the atmosphere of faithfulness! Know that We have arrived in the fortress of Akka, and the heedless ones have surrounded Us from every direction. They desire to cut off the fragrant breezes of revelation from the universe, but this Youth hath not been deterred by the tribulations that have befallen Him and speaketh at all times that there is no God but Him. Say: Verily this Youth remembereth His Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Neither the swords of men nor the vicissitudes of days have prevented Him. He calleth out between earth and heaven and summoneth all unto God, unto Whom is His return and dwelling place.

Then know thou that the letter S entered the city, but the oppressors prevented him from attaining the presence before the Throne. They have barred the doors, but God shall open them when He willeth and desireth. Grieve thou not, for soon there shall descend from the clouds of grace that which shall cause people to enter into the religion of God in troops. Verily thy Lord hath power over all things. We beseech God to assist thee in all conditions and to send down upon thee the good of this world and the next. Thus hath it been ordained for thee in the Tablet, and that which hath been inscribed by the Pen of Command shall not be altered. Be thou thankful and among the grateful ones.

We desired to send thee Tablets concerning that which was mentioned before, but the idolaters intervened. We shall send them when God willeth and desireth. Verily, He is with His near servants. When God’s loved ones gather together for the Cause, remember them on My behalf. We have sent Tablets wherein no names were mentioned for their protection. Give to each soul one of these Tablets. That which is befitting for each servant hath been sent down. Verily thy Lord is knowing of all things.

Then know that one of My loved ones sent a Tablet there in the name of M. It was not revealed for him and there was a mistake, but perhaps God will bring about some remembrance through it. Thus doth the knowledge of thy Lord encompass all things, but the people are in heedlessness and schism.

BH02129: That which the All-Merciful has spoken: If his honor…

That which the All-Merciful has spoken: If his honor J. departs, a Tablet will be sent specifically for both of them. Today we and they must all be mindful of God’s Cause. If they are outwardly prevented from attaining His presence, no matter—God will grant them what He desires. If his honor Muhammad can establish a business in these parts it would be pleasing, however it would be more beloved if his companion, his honor Ali, returns to Iran, as lethargy and torpor have encompassed all regions, that perhaps he may become a cause of enkindlement.

He said the plants of God’s garden have withered from lack of water—someone must return to the Euphrates of the All-Merciful’s mercy so that all may be refreshed by the sweet fragrances of the mention of their Chosen Lord. When drought intensifies, the springtime of grace arrives. Although Truth has Its servants under domes who are not distracted from God’s remembrance by what was or will be, they are few, and these souls cry out “Are there any more?” For they are created from the breezes of divine love and must receive sustenance both outwardly and inwardly. Therefore if that person returns with the waves of the Most Great Sea, it will cause life, freshness and delicacy in the trees of the All-Merciful’s garden. And certain Tablets specifically for the friends in various regions will be sent.

O My Name! By My life, tribulations do not prevent Me from God’s remembrance, nor do calamities stop Me from what He desires. In one of the Tablets was revealed: “I passed not by a tree but My heart addressed it saying: ʿWould that thou wert cut down in My name and My body were crucified upon thee in God’s path.”’ By God! If the servants were to drink the wine hidden in this exalted word, it would suffice them and the intoxication of love would seize them to such degree as to detach them from all the worlds. Do they deny after witnessing that each morn the Youth faces tribulations beyond description?

However God’s loved ones in different regions must all conduct themselves with perfect wisdom and render assistance. No action should occur that would cause affliction to those souls, for if all are afflicted, who would call people to God? Therefore protection is necessary, and though God is powerful over what He wills, He loves these beloved ones to assist Him. The trials of the Ancient Beauty Himself suffice, and this very wondrous trial is itself assistance. Soon the people will recognize what they are veiled from today. The loved ones must engage in assistance with perfect wisdom.

By God! The world laughs at those who have denied and occupied themselves with it, addressing them saying:

“Soon will I disavow you. Are you content with that which has never been faithful to anyone like you? Woe unto you! Has anyone seen from me what you desire? Did those before you attain from me what would benefit them? Far from it! I left them all disappointed and at loss. Soon will I join you with the former ones.”

But O My Name! The heedless hear not its call and they do not perceive.

BH02154: In the Name of God, the Most Holy…

In the Name of God, the Most Holy, the Most Glorious! The Call hath been raised from the right of the blessed and luminous Spot, from the Divine Lote-Tree, a Call which the realities of all things hear:

“Verily, there is none other God but Me, the Mighty, the All-Wise.”

O people of the earth! Let not your ears be prevented from hearkening to the Word of God. By God! Through it are hearts drawn to the Station wherein they behold the power of God, their Lord and the Lord of their forebears. Come ye forth from the cities of fancy and idle imagination, then set your faces toward the Sacred House which God hath made the Qiblih of all who are in the heavens and on earth. Shatter the idols of vain desire through the name of your Lord, the Lord of all names. Thus have ye been commanded by the All-Glorious in a preserved Tablet.

Bear ye witness, O people, to that whereunto God hath testified for His Own Self, by His Own Self, before the creation of all things:

“Verily, there is none other God but Me, the Mighty, the Bountiful.”

The heaven hath come with the smoke of destiny, and men are enshrouded by the veils of allusion, save those who have cast the world behind them and turned unto the countenance of God, the Luminous, the Resplendent.

Say: Recognition is My recognition, and the Path is My straight and manifest way. Say: Beware lest ye be veiled by desire from the Lord of all names. Follow that which ye have been commanded in the Book, and be not as those who, when the proof came unto them from the All-Merciful, violated the Covenant and denied God, the Lord of all worlds. Hearken unto the word of Him Who calleth you unto God. Cast behind you all who are on earth. Doth not God suffice you, He Who created all things by His command? There is no God but Him. In His grasp is the dominion of all things. He is, verily, powerful over all things.

Those who have denied the All-Merciful after He came from the heaven of revelation with a mighty proof—these are they whom desire hath overcome, and thus were they debarred from the mercy of their Lord, the Mighty, the Bountiful.

O people! Hold fast unto the cord of God and His mercy. He, verily, will protect you and aid those who have turned unto Him. He is nigh unto the doers of good. Not a thing escapeth His knowledge. With Him is the knowledge of the heavens and the knowledge of what hath been and what shall be, in a Book inscribed by the Most Exalted Pen, whereof none is aware save the Lord of Names, Who hath come with His Most Glorious Name, were ye of them who know.

O people! Adorn yourselves with My qualities and array your temples in the garments of knowledge and refinement, and be ye witnesses among His servants. Thus hath the matter been decreed by your Lord. Blessed is he who hath turned unto Him and is of the successful ones.

O thou who hast turned to God! Give thanks unto thy Lord, for this Most Great Sea hath surged in thy remembrance, and the Lord of Pre-existence hath spoken thy name and sent unto thee this Tablet, from which the fragrance of the garment of thy Lord, the All-Glorious, is wafted between earth and heaven. Blessed is he who perceiveth it and saith:

“Praise be unto Thee, O God of all who are in the heavens and on earth!”

Make mention of My loved ones on My behalf. We have indeed recorded their names in a perspicuous Tablet, that their names may be confirmed in the Kingdom of creation and their spirits in the Realms of Glory—a bounty from Our presence, and I am verily the Bountiful, the Generous.

BH02215: Glorified art Thou, O Thou before Whose manifestations…

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

Glorified art Thou, O Thou before Whose manifestations of power every mighty one hath acknowledged powerlessness, and before Whose manifestations of knowledge every possessor of knowledge hath confessed ignorance. Thou art He Who hath adorned the brocade of creation with the ornament of Thy Most Glorious Name, and hath embellished the countenance of existence, both seen and unseen, with the decoration of the Point from which emergeth the letter Ha’, that the words revealed by Thee unto the Manifestation of Thine exalted Self might be fulfilled.

When through Thy power and majesty the Point was differentiated by the letter Ba’ and established upon the Ha’, Thy creatures and creation were struck with terror, save those upon whose foreheads Thy Most Exalted Pen had inscribed:

“This is the Lord of the kingdoms of eternity and the Ruler over all things, and this indeed is He Who rideth upon the Ark of Glory.”

Exalted is this bounty which Thou hast specially reserved for Thy loved ones and ordained for Thy chosen ones.

This was naught but a token of Thy grace, Thy favors, Thy generosity and Thy gifts, with none having any right to claim it, for if Thou, O my God, were to regard us with the glances of Thy justice, we would deserve all Thy wrath and punishment. I beseech Thee to regard us with the glances of Thy grace and beneficence, whereupon we become deserving of Thy mercy, Thy care, Thy generosity and Thy favor.

O Lord! We are powerless and Thou art the Almighty, the All-Powerful. We are poor and Thou art the All-Possessing, of boundless generosity. O Thou Who art the Kawthar for those who thirst in their love and yearning for Thee, and the Refuge for those who wander in the wilderness of separation and remoteness!

I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which all necks have bowed before Thy sovereignty and power, and all faces have submitted to the radiance of the lights of Thy countenance, to preserve us from the evil of Thine enemies who have denied Thy favor and opposed the Manifestation of Thy Self after He came in the shadows of the Bayan for the revelation of the meanings hidden in Thy Tablets, whereby was established what Thou hadst testified of Thyself by Thyself, and was fulfilled what Thou hadst described of Thine Essence by Thine Essence.

O Lord! Purify us from all else but Thee and sanctify us from the mention of aught except Thee, that we may become pure in Thy sight, helpers of Thy Cause, promoters of Thy signs, and utterers of Thy praise. Preserve, O my God, these weak ones beneath the shadow of Thy strength, and these poor ones within the pavilion of Thy wealth.

O Lord! The very essence of power testifieth to its weakness before the manifestations of Thy might, and the very essence of knowledge beareth witness to its ignorance before the revelations of Thy knowledge, and the very essence of loftiness confesseth to its lowliness before the appearances of Thy transcendence and exaltation. Yet despite our knowledge of this, we know not by what remembrance to remember Thee, by what description to describe Thee, or by what power to ascend unto the heaven of Thy Cause. By Thy glory! Our very weakness in its reality beseecheth Thy strength, and our poverty in its essence imploreth Thy wealth.

O Lord! We have come unto Thee detached from all else but Thee, and have hastened to the shore of Thy mercy and bounty and to the ocean of Thy grandeur and power. Deprive us not of that which lieth with Thee. We beseech Thee by Thy Most Glorious Beloved to preserve the Glory from the evil of Thine enemies. By Thy might! He hath been afflicted among them in such wise as cannot be mentioned in words. Verily Thou art the All-Merciful; there is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the Help in Peril.

BH02199: Write to his honor Zein on my behalf: O…

Write to his honor Zein on my behalf: O Zein! The most great convulsion mentioned in the Tablets of Divine decree from the Pen of the Lord of Creation has shaken the pillars of all lands and perturbed the hearts of the servants. Glory be to God! How many souls cling to their borrowed life and grasp onto this base world. Of what use is a life not sacrificed in the path of the Friend? A body not offered in the way of the Beloved is not worth a mustard seed.

In all Tablets it has been revealed that the victory of God’s Cause today has been and will be through wisdom and utterance, not through conflict and contention. Yet they committed that which was forbidden them. What was destined has come to pass. Soon will the words of the deniers and epistles of the ungodly be spread abroad. By the one true God! In the sight of those who gaze upon the Most Glorious Horizon, all that they have written has been and will be devoid of the garment of true meaning, deprived of the robe of acceptance, and bereft of the fragrances of truth. When the veils of fancy were rent asunder by the fingers of divine power, the words of the manifestations of Satan appeared more insignificant than the words of children.

Take thou the Pen of might and power, by the sovereignty of thy Lord, the All-Compelling, the Unconstrained. Then write in response to them, in complete detachment, whatsoever God has cast into thy heart. Thus does He command thee in truth, as a grace from Us upon thee, and I am the Almighty, the Glorious, the All-Compelling.

Tarry not today in the Cause of God, for the clamor has been raised from every quarter. Take thou the most pure wine in My Most Great Name, then pass it round among the people of Baha, that they may drink and become detached from all that hath been created in the realm of existence, and soar unto the station of thy Lord, the Most High, the Most Exalted. Thus hath the Most Glorious Pen inscribed in thy name in these days wherein the hearts of the chosen ones have been sorely troubled.

Say: By God! The Hour itself now wails and smites its head by reason of the severity of the Cause. The Resurrection itself hath arisen bewildered before the Face, turning now to the right, now to the left, as though waiting for that which is hidden from sight. Say: By God! The Trumpet hath not borne this most great blast, and the cords of the Balance have snapped, and the tribes of Names have lamented in the kingdom of destiny, and the seas have dried up, and the lands have been submerged, and the heavens of idle fancies have been rolled up in the grasp of the power of thy Lord, the Mighty, the All-Knowing. Then was spread the carpet of certitude with sovereignty and power.

By God the Truth! A single hair of those servants who have today shattered the greatest idol would be better in God’s sight than all that hath been created on earth, and God would prefer it above all things, for they have borne what none before them have borne, whereunto testifieth the Tongue of God, the Peerless, the Mighty, the All-Forgiving.

Say: Were all the tablets and pages and books and scriptures between earth and heaven to be filled, and were no fragrance of My remembrance to waft from them, by God! The buzzing of a fly would be better than they in thy Lord’s sight. Thus hath the Pen of the Unconstrained inscribed wondrous mysteries.

BH02228: He is the One with power over whatsoever He…

He is the One with power over whatsoever He willeth. A glorious Book from the Lord of the worlds unto those who have believed in this Great Announcement. Verily it is a reminder for whoso hath been guided and a remembrance from Us to whoso hath turned unto the Lord of the mystics.

They who have been given insight from God—these do recognize the truth and are not prevented by the veils of the ungodly. They behold the lights of the Kingdom even as they behold the sun in the midst of heaven—these are indeed among those drawn nigh.

Blessed is he who hath cast away the world and mounted the Crimson Ark by the sovereignty of the Names. He is indeed of the people of Baha. Thus hath it been sent down in truth from the One Who revealeth the utterance, as witnesseth whosoever hath judged with fairness in the Cause of God and was of the witnesses.

We sent forth ʿAli who announced to you before Our presence the Kingdom, who called out to you in the wilderness of oneness, and summoned you unto God, the Mighty, the Most High, the Supreme. Were it not for him, it would not befit anyone to object to this Revelation—how much less after We have sent down the Bayan and adorned it with the ornament of My wondrous remembrance.

Say: O people! Do ye cling to names while forsaking their Creator? This is naught but a grievous error. Arise to aid the Cause of God, then call the people to this noble prospect. Say: Do the threats of the oppressors frighten you, after ye behold the power of your Lord, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy? Follow your Lord, the All-Merciful.

Verily He, in the midst of the greatest tribulation, summoneth the people unto truth, and the oppression of the unjust ones hath not hindered Him, nor the harm wrought by the ungodly. Verily your Lord, the All-Merciful, preserveth whomsoever He willeth, though he be in the mouth of the serpent. By My life! Not a leaf stirreth save by His leave. He is indeed the Mighty, the Powerful. And he whose time hath come—death shall overtake him though he be in an impregnable fortress.

Victory lieth not in disputation but in goodly counsel. Thy Lord is verily the Forgiving, the Merciful. His mercy hath preceded His wrath; therefore have We borne hardships from every base one, though within Our grasp lieth the kingdom of the heavens and earth.

Beware lest ye commit that which would cause sedition. Be united in the Cause and be not of those who differ. Through unity shall the back of those who have disbelieved in the Lord of creation be broken. This will profit you, if ye be of the certain ones. We desire for you naught save that which draweth you nigh unto God. Hearken unto the truth and follow not the steps of Satan.

O thou who remembereth Me by My remembrance and gazeth upon My countenance! Deliver unto the people that which We have commanded thee, that perchance the breezes of Paradise may stir them and turn them toward the Qiblih of the worlds. Cleanse the people with the water of inner meanings which We have deposited within the verses. By My life! It is indeed the water of life which the All-Merciful hath sent down from the heaven of grace for the life of the worlds.

The night hath passed wherein God counseled those around Him. Gather ye beneath the shade of what hath been raised up from this divine Lote-Tree. Thus do We counsel you as We counseled before. Blessed are they who attain. Beware lest ye differ in God’s Cause and follow the imaginings of the doubters. He is with whosoever remembereth Me and aideth this Cause through which the fragrance of the All-Merciful hath wafted amongst the worlds.

BH02265: Ha. Sin. Nun. The Remembrance of God, upon…

He is the All-Mighty, the All-Subduing, the Self-Subsisting

Ha. Sin. Nun. The Remembrance of God, upon the right side of the Sinai of Nearness, on the Eternal Spot in the Paradise of Glory, has indeed been witnessed. Bear thou witness that no God is there but Him, He who pronounceth at all times that I am God, there is none other God but Me, verily, I am, at all times independent of the entire creation. He revealed Himself unto thee once in the Realm of Glory, then once in the contingent world and the heavenly kingdom, then yet again during these days whence the lights west of the Sacred Realm are aglow, and with their radiance have illumined the denizens of the cities of eternity, and the Concourse of high, and thereafter them who set within themselves their path towards His Countenance. Go thou straight on and persevere in that which the Pen of God, in truth, commandeth thee, and remain upon the straight path of God, steadfast in His Cause.

Say: Verily, this is the straight path of God upon earth and heaven, and His Testimony in the kingdoms of Revelation and creation. He was named “Ali” amongst the people of the Bayan, and then Muhammad amongst the people of the Qur’an, and, in ancient times, was named with each one of the most excellent names of God. Thus does the Tongue of power and might counsel you with Verses that have embraced all mankind, that thou mayest rejoice within thyself and convey unto all people the glad tidings of this Announcement, hitherto concealed from the world, and proclaim unto all men that which we have proclaimed unto thee in this Tablet, and bid them to turn with justice towards the Most Exalted Throne. Say, the Truth proclaimeth; By God! No created thing having His love can ever be harmed. Verily, He is the Spring that floweth from the well-spring of a Name that is great indeed. Whosoever drinketh therefrom shall fear no one, and heaven and earth cannot withstand him. Thus hath the sacred Pen of glory irrevocably decreed.

Be thou steadfast in the Cause of God, and in that which hath been prescribed unto thee, and fear no one. Place thy trust in Him, He verily shall protect thee from every plotting sinful one. By God! Whosoever hath the love of this Youth in his heart, God shall verily render him victorious over all who dwell upon earth and heaven, and verily God shall be the witness thereof. He shall walk upon water as he waketh upon the earth, and shall soar in the realm of the Spirit in the limitless expanse of heaven.

Thou shalt find the infidels fleeing from this Youth as mules flee from the lions of eternity, and they shall turn upon their heels, and shall violate the Covenant of God after It hath been revealed. Verily His knowledge embraceth all things.

It behooveth thee to make firm thy steps in the Cause of God. Admonish then the people with thine loudest voice in this Ridvan that is in truth exalted. May the Spirit of God, His glory and grandeur be upon thee and upon thine consort, and upon them who, whence they heard the announcer call them to God, responded, and held fast unto the chord of glorious splendor.

BH02284: May God reward you, O Mihdi, with a recompense…

He is the Mighty!

May God reward you, O Mihdi, with a recompense not bound by beginning. We testify that you did not harm this Servant during His departure from the Abode of Peace, and you followed God’s decree regarding yourself, while all others harmed Him and followed their own desires.

Say: By God, those who did not heed My words are burning in the fire of their own selves, if you but knew, and We are innocent of them. And those who emigrated and traveled without Our leave, by God, they are dead in the veils of their own selves. Soon their news shall reach you, if you be patient.

The baker whom God loved in his heart has come to Us, and We heard from him that which caused the hearts of those who believed in God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting, to tremble. Say: Have mercy on Me, O concourse of the beloved ones! Be content with the tribulations and trials that have afflicted Us. Say: By God, if similar deeds appear from you, the harm will return to Us.

Say: Do you not reflect within yourselves upon the fruits that will come from the tree of your suspicions after Me? Or do you, following the desires of your souls, do what you know not? Say: Fear God and forget not My counsels—this is better for you, if you but knew. No fruit has come from this tree that has grown in the soil of your selves except the destruction of Myself and those with Me, could you but see with the eye of the spirit.

By God, the harm of this matter is greater than the harm inflicted upon Us by Our enemies. Therefore, O people of the Bayan, have mercy upon Me! I swear by God that the harm of this repugnant matter all returns to this Servant. Say to the people of the Bayan: None has ever heard until today of one who, with the tongue of friendship, would show complete enmity. After all, after the departure of this Servant, what use remains for this matter and what benefit accrues from it? By God, all that they do is vain!

And it has come to pass that I, meaning this Servant, demonstrate with a hundred thousand oaths My powerlessness, showing that these matters and their like are ultimately harmful to the Cause of God, yet still they do not become aware. They must either be false in their love or consider this Servant false. I complain of My grief and sorrow unto God. Verily, we are God’s and unto Him do we return. God is witness to the condition that merely hearing of this matter has caused the utmost harm—how much more its occurrence!

In any case, immediately upon receipt of this writing, either summon Haji Abdul-Rahim and Haji Abdul-Majid, or go to them yourselves. Beseech them to forgive Us, to show mercy to these little ones who are with this caravan, not to cause any harm to befall them. By God, this matter will cause divine assistance to be cut off. All should await news of this Servant’s arrival and learn what purpose lies in this journey. Say: By God, divine assistance is better than what you desire.

BH02266: O ʿAli before Muhammad! Rejoice within thyself at how…

He is the All-Glorious, the Most Glorious

O ʿAli before Muhammad! Rejoice within thyself at how God hath at this hour magnified thy countenance and sent unto thee the holy fragrances from this Prison which was far removed.

Say: The precincts of sanctification have been purified from nearness and remoteness, and all things are equal in His sight. Distance preventeth Him not from what He willeth, nor do the veils of contingent being conceal Him, for unto whomsoever calleth upon Him, He is near. And at the moment when the glorification issued forth from the mouth of God, thy Lord, the tongues of the Concourse on High were loosed in glorification of thee, and this was a bounty which was great before the Throne.

Blessed art thou in that thou didst attain the presence of God while yet young, and when thou didst grow older the breaths of the All-Merciful took hold of thee from this Paradise which was made manifest through the Word of God at the dawn of time, visible at the right hand of the Throne. Be thou steadfast in the love of God, then enter upon the Ark of eternity which saileth upon the sea of names through My Most Glorious Name. Fear thou no one, but put thy trust in God. Verily He will sanctify thee from the doubts of those who are seized with vain imaginings and idle fancies and who stand arrested in the wilderness of heedlessness by the most great intoxication, turned away from the truth.

Say: O people! Turn not today to the right or to the left, but behold that which hath shone forth from the holy horizon with a sovereignty that encompasseth the worlds. By God! This is the Primal Point Who came to you with all the signs and hath appeared in this final revolution with the Most Great Mystery—secrets beyond reckoning. Thereupon the idolaters dispersed from around Him and cast Him into the well of darkness, and at every moment they hurled upon Him the darts of misery. None was aware of this save God, Who knoweth all things.

And from the depths of the pit He crieth out saying:

“O people of the Bayan! Be fair, by God, and look upon that which hath been sent down from before the Throne, and be not tyrannous oppressors in the land. O people! This is not from Mine own self, but the Spirit speaketh within My breast, and My proof hath filled the horizons. Besides it, naught hath been sent down from the presence of One powerful and self-subsisting. Say: If ye be in doubt, then present yourselves before the Throne that ye may witness how the verses descend from a mighty and sublime dominion. Say: There hath been sent down the equivalent of what was sent down before, and this is testified to by those servants who have attained the presence of the Throne and who are illumined by the holy lights.”

Thus have We informed thee that thou mayest stand firm with manifest steadfastness, for We have loved thee and thy father who was at that time present before the Countenance. And We beseech God that He may enable him to arise to the Cause in such wise that he may rend asunder the greatest veil through a power from Us and may arise to the Cause with a luminous face.

BH02289: The Most Great, the Most Holy. We have sent…

The Most Great, the Most Holy. We have sent down verses at eventide and at dawn, and made them guidance and remembrance for those possessed of understanding. Turn to God with humility and contrition. When the verses of your Lord are recited, prostrate yourselves upon your faces and chins before God, your Lord, the Mighty, the Bestower.

O people! This is the Day of hearing—turn with your hearts and ears toward the Dawning-Place of Revelation. He has appeared in truth—blessed are they who possess insight. The breezes of reunion have wafted, causing bodies and temples to quiver. Rend asunder the veils by the power of your Lord, the Master of all necks.

Do you slumber after the Cry has been raised in truth? This is indeed a wondrous thing. The heaven has been rolled up and the All-Merciful has come with power and sovereignty. Arise and behold—He is above your heads, O ye who have eyes to see. Follow not your desires nor every doubting misbeliever.

Take the chalice of immortality in My Most Glorious Name and pass round the cups—thus has the heaven of Command been adorned by the One Who cleaves the dawn. We have rained down from the heaven of utterance clear verses at morn and eventide. They suffice you above all that exists in secret or manifest. Seize My days—by My life, they are the choicest of all days. Thus has the matter been detailed from God, the Lord of all beings.

This is a Day wherein eyes are transfixed, souls are troubled and feet do slip, save those who have detached themselves from all in the heavens and earth and turned to the Kaaba of knowledge. O people! Hearken to God’s call in this Dawn wherefrom lights have shone forth, wherein angels descend with spirit and fragrance. Those who are heedless are indeed remote—they are truly of the people of fire. Soon shall punishment come upon them and they shall find no protector.

The Most Great Ocean has surged through this Name which has shone from the horizon of all regions. The idols have fallen upon their faces, the Jibt has wailed, and the lamp has been lit. Turn to Him—He is truly God’s lamp between the heavens and earth, as your Lord, the Mighty, the Chosen One, bears witness.

Does anyone have any excuse left? No, by the Revealer of verses! When the ungodly saw God’s power and sovereignty, they said “This is but a lying sorcerer.” Such were their words before—We have left them as a reminder for those possessed of understanding. Say: If you were asked about what you say, O people of the veils! The Book has been sent down—take it with strength from Us and follow not those who, when proof came, denied God, the Revealer of verses.

We have subdued the kingdom of verses by Our sovereignty and adorned the heaven and sent the winds. Can anything withstand Our Cause? No, by the Lord of lords! Look at those who disbelieved—they are like children who understand nothing and comprehend not speech. Cast away vain imaginings and take what you are commanded by your Lord, the Mighty, the All-Knowing. He protects whom He wishes even if they be in the fire. In His hand is all power and in His grasp is the kingdom of Command. He is truly the Mighty, the Helper.

BH02349: In the Name of God, the Most Holy…

In the Name of God, the Most Holy, the Most Exalted, the Most High! This is a Book from Us to all who are on earth. Worship none but Him. Verily, He sufficeth you, and He is the Witness over all things. Follow Him Who asketh no recompense of you and Who summoneth you at all times unto your Lord, the All-Merciful. There hath befallen Him in exile that which no eye hath seen nor ear heard, yet He remaineth content with what God hath decreed for Him and is numbered among the thankful ones. Therein God addresseth one of His servants that he may rejoice in the remembrance of the All-Merciful and be of them that remember Him.

O servant! We have remembered thee on this night and have sent down unto thee clear verses that thou mayest read them and turn through them to thy Ancient Lord. If thou findest comfort for thyself, remember My distress, and if joy overtaketh thee, remember My sorrow and tribulation, and be not of the heedless ones. We have sacrificed Ourself for all who are in the heavens and on earth, that all may enter beneath the shade of thy Lord’s mercy, the Mighty, the Great. We have borne hardships that God’s loved ones may find rest and be of them that rejoice. Blessed art thou for having been enkindled with the fire of thy Lord’s love, and for having been turned toward the right hand side, and for being numbered among the triumphant.

Verses of wondrous glory have been sent down for all the loved ones, but We have withheld them from being dispatched, for Satan lieth in wait, and this is indeed a grievous wrong. We shall send them when God willeth and desireth. Convey thou My greetings unto them and give them the glad-tidings of what hath been sent down for them from the heaven of mighty glory. The Spirit and glory be upon thee and upon God’s chosen servants who have rent asunder the greatest veil and turned toward the most pure Manifestation. By God! They are of the denizens of the Supreme Paradise who dwell upon the earth, yet the idolaters are wrapt in thick veils.

Remember Me to thy father and say that thy Lord preserved thee aforetime from grievous tribulation. Thus doth the Ancient Pen inform thee. Turn wholly unto Him and be not of them whom the multiplication of worldly things hath altered and who have turned away. Think upon the one who came before Us in Iraq and whom We promised the good things of this world, yet when he attained unto them he turned away. Soon shall he find himself in manifest loss, unless he return unto God and be of the penitent. We beseech God to grant him success in returning, for He is the Most Merciful of the merciful.

Know thou that with thy Lord is the knowledge of the heavens and earth. Nothing escapeth His knowledge. He encompasseth all things. Soon shall the earth and all that is seen thereon perish, and there shall endure what hath been ordained for thee, which the fires of doubt and suspicion shall not overtake. Once again have We preserved thee from another tribulation. Beware lest thou forget thy Lord’s favor. Cast away vain imaginings and hold fast to the hem of thy Lord’s mercy, the Mighty, the All-Knowing. He is with His sincere servants.

BH02361: O thou who seekest My traces! Know thou…

In the Name of God, the Most Glorious!

O thou who seekest My traces! Know thou that My traces encompass the heavens and the earth, and in every station My traces are found, if thou be of them that know. Verily, the heaven is the trace of My exaltation and the earth the trace of My tranquility, and the Hour whose calamity hath seized the servants is the trace of My power that dominateth the worlds. The clouds are the trace of My movement and the winds are sent forth by My Word, and the signs appear by My wondrous command. By God! The sun is the trace of My Face, shining and luminous, and the stupor which thou seest in the people is from the trace of My awe which hath encompassed creation. Thus hath the Truth spoken—hearken and be of the thankful ones.

Creation is the trace of My Will, and for My love for them have I unveiled My Beauty and manifested My sovereignty which hath conquered the worlds. Dost thou see any besides Me, that thou shouldst recognize My nearness unto him? Say: Glory be to God! All is nothingness before the Ancient One. The kingdom belongeth to none save God, the One, the Single, the Peerless, the Mighty. He hath neither nearness nor remoteness, and such mentions are made in the cities of names. Verily thy Lord is sanctified above what the servants know. He is indeed exalted above all creation.

All that hath been created is My trace, not My Self. Know thou this and be of the thankful ones. Beware lest thou mention creation at the manifestation of Truth. Avoid those who take partners with Him and know not that they are among the heedless ones. Are darkness and light equal? Say: Glory be to the Manifestation, that the birds of the hearts of the mystics should ascend unto Him!

Whatsoever appeareth in the kingdom of that which We have explained to thee is created from the trace of thy Lord’s Pen, and that which descendeth from it is the sovereign of traces and is better than that upon which the sun shineth. Blessed art thou and blessed is he who seeketh it from God, thy Lord and the Lord of the worlds.

As to what thou hast asked thy Lord, the Great, the Most High, know thou that although We desire not to turn away any who ask, yet wouldst thou be content in thyself that this trace, upon which dependeth the life of the world, should be governed by what any of the servants hath spoken? Say: Glory be to Thee, O my God! Cause me to know what Thou desirest, for I am among the worshippers. I have forsaken what is with me in hope of what is with Thee, for Thou art the Most Merciful of the merciful ones.

And since We behold thee asking thy Lord, We shall not disappoint thee from this mighty gate. Know thou that since it is established that He encompasseth all things and knoweth them, it is established that He is nearer to things than they are to themselves. Dost thou not see how We erase and confirm and inspire in hearts? And verily He is the Truth, the Knower of the unseen. There is no God but Him, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting.

This is the sovereign utterance in this station. If thou knowest, thou wouldst say: Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds. And this is a word which none denieth, and it is the ornament of knowledge for what thou hast asked. Be content therewith and be of the thankful ones.

BH02321: O accepted servant! It is well known and evident…

He is God, exalted is He!

O accepted servant! It is well known and evident that divine favors have been and will be complete in relation to all creation, and He created all creatures to drink from the wine of oneness. And the meaning of this wine in the view of the Concourse on High has been the presence of the Lord of Names. Therefore, all servants have been created for the meeting and knowledge of God, and have come into being through the Word “Be.” This door in the days of God has been open to all else, sometimes outwardly manifest and sometimes inwardly, and never has the decree of prohibition descended from the horizon of the Cause except for the good of the servants and the exigencies of events in different lands. For His grace has preceded and His mercy has encompassed all. And whatever appears from the Source of the Cause of the Lord of Destiny, all must be content and thankful for it. For the decree of prohibition has not been and will not be for those who have accepted, rather it has been due to the turning away of the deniers and the protection of the Cause of the Lord of the Day of Judgment.

Observe that this servant has been among the claimants of love day and night, and at all times has summoned all to the horizon of the All-Merciful. Nevertheless it bore no fruit, as you have seen and heard that the new denier, despite the perfection of grace and favor manifested toward him from the Dawning-Place of the Manifestation, did not appreciate it and finally arose in a sin greater than the creation of the heavens and earth. The more perfect the manifestation of favors, the greater his turning away. He never observed the rights of God, and arose in such wickedness and enmity that nothing above it can be imagined. Fie upon him and his faithfulness! For successive years he was occupied in disbelief and mockery of the Messengers of God. Nevertheless We concealed it until he rent asunder the veil of honor with fingers of hatred. Therefore We banished him from the door. Verily thy Lord is He Who judgeth at the beginning and the end.

Your honor should not be saddened by this new prohibition. In all cases be content with the good-pleasure of God. Although patience is bitter, yet by the command of the Friend it is sweet and blessed. It is incumbent upon those who have accepted to be content with the good-pleasure of the Friend and to be found submissive and obedient at the dawning of the divine Sun of the Cause.

If the outward door is closed, the inward door is open. Verily He is with whomsoever desireth Him and He is the Protector of those who have accepted. We beseech God to remove what hath come between us and to send down from the heaven of His sovereignty that whereby the lights of His countenance may shine forth from the horizon of His mighty and wondrous Cause. Praise be to God that thou dwellest in His vicinity and art at rest in His shadow. Verily He seeth thee in all conditions. Verily He perceiveth all eyes and He is the All-Subtle, the All-Informed.

BH02339: Your noble letter has reached this servant…

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

Your noble letter has reached this servant, from which wafted the fragrance of your love for God, the Mighty, the Inaccessible. I witnessed therein that which brought joy to my eyes, happiness to my soul, delight to my spirit, attraction to my heart, illumination to my sight, and trembling to my limbs. Every member of my body was moved, and longing seized my flesh and bones and blood and every hair, as I found its letters, words and meanings all indicative of the degrees of servitude and sincerity towards God, our Lord, the Mighty, the Worshipped, and reflective of the manifestations of your steadfastness in this Cause whereby the hearts of the servants and the foundations of lands were shaken. We beseech Him, exalted be He, to give us to drink from the cup of recognition of this Revelation as befits, to make us steadfast therein as befits, then to aid us in its service as is worthy and befits. Verily He is the Helper, the Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

After your letter was visited and read, along with the petition that had been submitted to the Most Holy, Most Exalted Presence, both were presented before the Ancient Beauty. Thereupon the sea of the bounty of our Lord, the Bestower, the All-Bountiful, the Generous surged, and the heaven of utterance of our Lord, the All-Merciful, was upraised with verses whereby the realities of all in the contingent realm and the kingdoms of creation were attracted. He hath sent unto thee, as a grace, bounty and mercy from His presence, then as a light and radiance for the worlds. God willing, they shall attain unto the never-ending divine favors that shine forth like suns from the horizons of that mighty Tablet, and shall be sustained by what hath been ordained therein of divine, eternal, everlasting blessings. From this moment and the moment when thou shall attain unto it and thereafter, I say: “Well is it with thee and pleasant it is to thee,” then I say: “Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.”

It is hoped that through the wondrous, sublime confirmations of the King of Oneness, you will arise to serve and assist and teach this momentous Cause with such spirit as was breathed by the Pen of the Ancient of Days in that Most Holy, Most Exalted Tablet through His power and mighty breath, in such wise that you will illumine all those regions with the light of recognition of the Countenance of the All-Merciful, and all shall be adorned with the crown of guidance and the robe of sanctification from all else but God. Verily He will assist thee with truth and will send down upon thee from the heaven of His Cause that which will comfort the hearts of the oppressed. He, verily, is the most powerful of the powerful ones.

Convey from this evanescent one most holy greetings, sanctified from the world of creation, to all the masters, servants and friends. The Tablets that were requested specifically for the mentioned souls have been sent, and likewise previously several Tablets were sent specifically for the mentioned names. They will ever make this servant joyous and happy with glad tidings of their well-being. The glory be upon thee and upon the loved ones of God in those parts.

The evanescent servant

BH02377: He is the Most Wondrous! O Hasan! Show excellence…

He is the Most Wondrous! O Hasan! Show excellence even as God has shown excellence unto thee, inasmuch as He hath caused thee to recognize the Manifestation of His Self and brought thee to the shore of grace, a praiseworthy seat of glory, and hath bestowed upon thee that which is better in His sight than all who are in the heavens and earth—and He Himself is witness to this. Therefore arise and show excellence unto thyself and then unto the souls of the servants. Fear no one, but place thy trust in God Who created all things by His command, for verily He hath power over all the worlds.

Verily, thy excellence unto thyself is thy steadfastness in the Cause of God and thy following this Light which hath appeared from the horizon of grace in manifest truth. Well is it with thee for having recognized God thy Lord in days wherein all were far removed from the holy precinct, and for having found solace in Him Who hath attained the presence of God, heard His melodies, beheld His countenance, and remained turned toward Him at every morn and eve. Beware lest thou separate thyself from Him. Hold fast unto Him in these days and take Him as thy friend.

Give thanks unto God thy Lord for having made the fire as light unto thee, whereby He opened before thy face in the prison a gate from the Ridvan and caused the breezes of glorious love to waft upon thee, awakened thee from thy slumber, caused thee to know His Self, and inscribed thy name among the triumphant ones in the preserved tablets of holiness. Thus doth God make imprisonment as paradise for whomsoever He willeth among His servants. There is no God but Him. His is the creation and the command, and verily He encompasseth all things.

Cast behind thee all allusions and take hold of the Tablet of God with strength from Him, and follow not those who have taken Satan as their friend. Beware lest thou forget the grace of God or turn to the world and what is ordained therein, for verily His grace unto thee hath been great. Remember thyself throughout all days lest thou become heedless of the remembrance of thy Lord and remain veiled behind the veils.

For those who claim belief have disbelieved in God and His signs after they came unto them from the Dayspring of the Cause with manifest sovereignty—save him who held fast to the cord of His grace, purified his heart from the dust of blind imitation and passion, and soared in this heaven with the wings of detachment in manifest truth. Thus have We taught thee and informed thee that thou mayest rejoice within thyself and remain steadfast in the Cause of thy Lord.

Grieve not over the world and what hath befallen thee, for it shall perish by a word, and sovereignty shall remain with God, thy Lord and the Lord of all things and the Lord of all the worlds. And the mercy that floweth from the direction of the Throne be upon thee and upon those who have remained firm in the Cause and have held fast in these days to the cord of grace in truth.

BH02407: God beareth witness that there is none other God…

He is the Mighty, the Guide!

God beareth witness that there is none other God but Him, and that the Primal Tree hath spoken upon the branch of God with truth. Verily He was exalted in name, and through Him was revealed the hidden mystery and the joining of the Kaf to the Nun, and there rose the mystery of what was and what shall be from a holy and luminous Dawning-Place.

Say: Verily He is God’s testimony and His Cause, and God’s treasure and His mystery unto all who are in the kingdom, and through Him was established every truth and nullified every falsehood, and the lamp was lit in an ancient and glorious lamp-niche.

Thus doth the Dove of the Cause warble in the pole of eternity and speak upon the twigs of holy newness, and remind the loved ones of God lest the world and its ornaments and its embellishments should occupy them from the Beauty Who hath shone forth from God’s horizon with an impregnable cup, and giveth drink to the believers from the wine that doth kindle and shine and whose color is resplendent. From it arose heat in contingent being and appeared the fire of attraction in the lofty and glorious Tree.

Say: Compare it not with what the people possess, for it floweth from the direction of the Throne with a novel and sweet voice. And whoso drinketh not thereof shall not know it, even should he hear its description from every knowing sage. Say: By God, it is outwardly fire and inwardly light, and in its trace is spirit and mercy to the sinners from the presence of the Mighty, the Powerful. Blessed be he who hath drunk thereof and found its fragrance and tasted its flavor in a glorious and resplendent Name. Thus hath God made Me speak, Who hath made all things speak with truth, that His grace might encompass the worlds.

O My name! The days have passed and the nights have elapsed and the hours have vanished, and no trace hath come to Us from thee, as if thou hadst broken thy covenant and wert not steadfast in the promise. Yet We have not forgotten thee and will never forget thee, God willing, and We remember thee with an exalted remembrance, that thou mayest know We were established upon the cushions of faithfulness with mighty power.

Know then that We traversed the path of land and sea until We entered into a prison which lay behind mighty mountains, and in this We thank God our Lord and praise Him for having made Us a mirror for His decrees in every morn and eve. And thou, forget not My days and My presence, then remind the servants not to spread corruption in the earth nor be far from the beauty of nearness. Say: O people, remember Me that I may remember you in the spot that was upon the elevated musk-mountain.

And the Spirit and the Glory and the Great be upon thee and upon all in thy household, young and old.

BH02405: In the Name of God, the Most Ancient…

In the Name of God, the Most Ancient, the One, the Single, the Unique, the All-Glorious, the Most Glorious!

Glorified be He Who sendeth down whatsoever He willeth through His command, manifesting it at one time in the form of spirit, then in the frame of a body, then as a physical form, and Who hath ordained for each of these a station that none knoweth save him whom God hath taught from the wonders of His knowledge. With Him is the knowledge of the heavens and earth, and the knowledge of all things in this Speaking and Perspicuous Book.

He hath purified the spirit with waters of its own kind and relation, then dissolved both body and frame with another water that they might become compatible with the spirit. Then He blended them and united them through His power and sovereignty. In this are signs for those who know and clear proofs for those who draw nigh.

He made the spirit manifest from the very essence of the frame, then returned it thereto that they might blend and become as one thing, that He might demonstrate the sovereignty of His oneness throughout all worlds. He deposited these three in a single thing, then made them manifest therefrom, separated and distinguished them, then made them a single pillar. Thus doth His craftsmanship encompass all who are in the heavens and on earth. Ponder then, O ye who know!

And thou, O servant, hearken unto the call of this Spirit, moving and singing in this Temple of Divine Unity and Eternity, that there is no God but Him, and that this is He Whom God hath sanctified beyond all mention or allusion. This indeed is a mighty power.

O servant, rejoice within thyself at what We have remembered thee with on this night, as a mercy from Us unto thee, that thou mayest be of the thankful. Give thanks unto thy Lord and grieve not for the world and what is created thereon, for We have consigned it to its people and purified Our loved ones from turning toward it, that they may be purely devoted to Our exalted and mighty countenance.

Remember thy Lord and convey His Cause with wisdom and utterance, and be of those who remember. We desired to explain in detail for thee what We have set forth through veils and coverings, but finding no opportunity, We have deposited it in the treasuries of My Will until its time shall come. He indeed is the Detailer of every matter in preserved tablets of might.

Follow the religion of God in My love and the way of God in My Cause, and be not of the heedless. Say: O people of the Bayan, hesitate not in this Cause which is more manifest than any manifestation and more wondrous than any wonder. Be not of those who turn away.

Thus have We commanded thee and inspired thee that thou mayest rejoice within thyself and be of those firmly established in the Cause wherefrom have slipped the feet of those who claimed faith within themselves yet were among the liars.

And the Spirit be upon thee that through it thou mayest be made alive with the life of thy Lord, the Ancient of Days.

BH02378: He is the Mighty! O Ali! Hearken unto…

He is the Mighty! O Ali! Hearken unto that which is revealed unto thee from this Fire which shineth forth from this Tree that speaketh the truth that there is none other God but Him, and that Ali-before-Nabil is His eye and His sight and His soul and His tongue amongst His servants, if ye be of them that know.

Through him appeared the Word of Primalness and the Divine Point and the Hidden Beauty and the Standing Alif and the Descended Ha and the Extended Ba, if ye be of them that understand. Through him appeared existence and rose the Beauty of the Worshipped One, and the pure Oneness was bounded by the ornament of a known name, that people might be enabled to draw nigh unto Him—and this verily is a manifest bounty, for were He to appear as He truly is, none would be able to draw nigh unto Him or behold Him or learn from Him the knowledge of what was and what shall be. Thus know thou the mysteries of wisdom through that which We have imparted unto thee, then ponder upon them that God may thereby open unto thy heart the gates of hidden knowledge.

O Ali! Give thanks unto God thy Creator that thou didst attain the presence of the Servant in his final days, and thereby wert among those who were guided by the guidance of His countenance. Blessed be thine eye for what it beheld, and thine ear for what it heard, and thy body for having attained a praiseworthy station of nearness. Happy art thou, O servant, for having emigrated from thy home and journeyed unto God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting, until thou didst arrive at the city which was named the Abode of Peace aforetime, for it submitted in this holy and renowned Manifestation. Thus doth God blot out what He willeth and confirm what He willeth, and with Him is the Mother Book preserved.

And hadst thou delayed in this, thou wouldst not have attained this triumph which the denizens of Paradise long for, if ye be of them that are certain. It would have passed thee by as it hath passed most people who are now in evident grief and lamentation. Therefore know within thyself that it behooveth no one to delay in pursuing good works when able, and this verily is a truth inscribed in this unfurled scroll.

Say: By God! This is verily the frequented House which hath been raised up in truth from God, the Mighty, the Thankworthy. Around it circle the people of the Supreme Concourse and they who have hearkened unto God’s call on this Mount, for it is the source of Revelation and the manifestation of joy from God, the Mighty Sovereign, the Merciful, the Generous, the All-Forgiving.

Thus have We mentioned thee in this Tablet that thine eye might be solaced and thou mightest be certain that We have not forgotten those who have believed in God and His signs, then in His proof and His evidence, then in His glory and His sovereignty, then in His beauty and His majesty, and who were among those who aimed at the goals of glory. And the Spirit be upon [thee] and upon those who have followed God’s decree in every matter and ordinance.

BH02413: By My life, O Fath before A’zam! There lieth…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Glorious

By My life, O Fath before A’zam! There lieth concealed within thee a melody which, were We to reveal it in its fullness, would attract the entire world. Yet We have revealed it in measure, with wisdom. Thus hath the Source of Divinity willed, though the people remain heedless and veiled. Were We to reveal it in its fullness, it would attract all. But after being drawn by the detailed word which is engaged in mending and rending among creation, from one direction would rise the cry of lovers in complete attraction and yearning, while from another the clamor of the people of hatred would be raised in utter rejection and rebellion. In such case the veils of wisdom would be rent asunder. Therefore We revealed it in measure.

Say: Praise be unto Thee, O my Life and Life of the worlds! He teacheth whom He willeth what He willeth, and causeth the tongue of whomsoever He willeth to speak as He desireth. Verily He is the Ruler over what He willeth. Blessed art thou for having been enkindled by the fire of love and having spoken in remembrance of thy Lord’s name by the leave of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Knowledge and utterance have been and shall ever be in the grasp of God’s power. This station hath no connection with the imaginings of people.

Consider the days of the Messenger: after the appearance of that Most Great Luminary, all the divines and men of learning turned away, while Abu Dharr, who was but a shepherd, turned toward the law of nearness and attainment, and was immersed in the ocean of knowledge and utterance. And now all the divines glory in his name and bow before his mention. O how blessed is the soul that pondereth the traces of God and that which floweth from the Pen of His name, the All-Powerful. Even now, were the divines of the earth to gain the slightest awareness, all would turn to thee in complete sincerity, though thou art not known for outward knowledge. By My life, they shall turn to thee, but today they understand not.

Convey to the friends of God, one and all, greetings from God. Say: Blessed are ye for having turned to the Kaaba of the Desired One, and for having your names inscribed in the Tablet of God, the Almighty, the Mighty, the Inaccessible. God willing, all must manifest themselves with utmost eagerness, yearning, attraction and enkindlement in the love of the Lord of the Day of Reckoning, in such wise that the waters of the utterances of those who fancy themselves learned shall not extinguish their fire. For many have imagined and will imagine, and the croaking of the raven shall be raised from most lands, even as mentioned in Tablets revealed during the migration from Iraq. Blessed is he who casteth creation behind him, turning to the Lord of all creation. God willing, mighty tablets shall be sent hereafter. Verily He is the best of rememberers, and praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH02390: These are the verses of the Book sent down…

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

These are the verses of the Book sent down from the cloud of mighty mercy, whereby the hearts of all created things are quickened, that they may turn unto God their Creator and detach themselves from all else. Thus have We sent down the Command in this Tablet as a remembrance from Us to all the worlds.

Verily, they who have denied the signs of God in these days have indeed denied the Manifestations of God’s Self in every age and dispensation, and their names shall not be mentioned before their Lord, nor shall any holy and mighty glance be turned toward them.

And thou, O leader of the people, hearken unto the call of God from this crimson Tree upon this blessed, most holy, eternal and radiant Spot. God, there is no God but Him. He hath created all things for the knowledge of His Self and brought forth all existence to follow His Command—thus hath it been aforetime and will ever be, if thou be of them that know.

Among the people are those who have drunk the cup of recognition and those who have turned away from God even after verses were sent down unto them morning and evening. Know thou that We have been tried among Our servants who believed not in God from all eternity, in whose breasts the fire of hatred was kindled, who returned upon their heels in rejection with manifest tyranny. Sorrows have encompassed Us to such degree that My tongue is powerless to make mention of My Beloved. Thus hath it befallen the Youth in these days, if thou be of them that are informed.

Were the servants to possess attentive ears, what hath been sent down unto them from the mighty and holy dominion would suffice them. But without this they will not turn to the words of God nor hear His sweet melodies, even were verses of manifest glory to descend upon them at every moment like unto rain.

Say: O people, fear God and war not against His Self, nor dispute His signs after they have been sent down in truth and have encompassed all in the worlds together. Hearken unto the call of God, then detach yourselves from all else—this is better for you than the treasures of the heavens and earth, if ye be of them that know and see.

And thou, be steadfast in the Cause of God thy Lord. Beware lest the promptings of Satan cause thee to slip, for he hath risen against the face of the All-Merciful with a rejection that was grievous in the Mother Book. Be firm in the Cause, then remind thyself throughout all days, and if thou art able, convey the Cause of thy Lord to those whom thou findest today in heedlessness and distant schism. Thus doth the Tongue of Grandeur make mention of thee, that thou mayest follow what thou art commanded and be steadfast in thy Lord’s Cause.

And the Glory be upon thee and upon those around thee who have believed and remain firm in the Cause.

BH02391: In the Name of God, the Most Holy…

In the Name of God, the Most Holy, the Most Glorious! These are the verses of God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting, which have been sent down in truth, yet most people do not believe. God Who created the heavens by His command and the earth by His sovereignty, and sent forth the winds and made manifest the signs that perchance the people might reflect in His days.

Those who denied their Lord aforetime—We seized them for their sins and made them a lesson for those who perceive. Soon shall We seize those who followed their tyranny. Verily thy Lord is the One with power over whatsoever He willeth, yet the people perceive not. We have detailed all things in the Book as a mercy from Us to people who know. We delivered those who believed and left the idolaters in the abyss of divine wrath. In this are signs for people who understand.

Say: Do ye hasten on the punishment when signs have already come before you and We seized thereby those who denied God, the Mighty, the Loving? Reflect on those who came before you—they were seized for their deeds and they understood not. We seized no people until after God’s proof and evidence were perfected against them. Thy Lord is indeed gracious to mankind, yet mankind perceive not. Those who fabricate lies against God shall never prosper. We shall seize them from every direction, then cast them into the fire for their unbelief.

Say: O people! Do ye shun Him Who draws you nigh unto God and forbids you from following false gods? Break the idols by My sovereignty and turn to the Dawning-Place of My signs—this is better for you, did ye but know. He who calls you to himself instead of God has indeed denied God, the Mighty, the Beloved. We called him from the direction of grandeur: Hasten thou unto Us and be not of those whom passion hath seized and kept back from God, the Creator of names. But he turned away as did those of old. Blessed is he who fulfills God’s covenant and His pledge, and takes for himself a path to the praiseworthy station.

Say: Beware lest ye worship images like unto yourselves. Worship ye the one God—We are His worshippers. Remember God’s grace when ye were in the wilderness of error—He brought you forth by the truth and made you of the guided ones. We sent down the Bayan and made it glad tidings for mankind lest they stray from the path. But when the promise came to pass and the Promised One appeared, they turned away save those on whose faces thou seest the radiance of divine bounty. When it is said to them “By what proof did ye believe in God?” they say “The Bayan.” Yet when its Revealer came to them they denied the All-Merciful. Lo! they are among the lost.

Say: The Bayan was revealed for My sake and was adorned with My remembrance. Were it not for Me, not a single letter thereof would have been revealed, as attesteth he who hath opened his eyes by God’s light, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. Arise to mention thy Lord amongst the servants, then draw them by the signs of God, the Mighty, the All-Knowing. Turn away from what they say and hold fast to this wise Remembrance. He is with those who keep the Covenant and He will help them through the truth. He hath power over all things.

BH02404: The wayfarers upon the path of the Worshipped One…

He is God, exalted be His glory, the Mighty

The wayfarers upon the path of the Worshipped One and those who have attained the way of the Intended One are sanctified above limitations and pure from conventional forms. They dwell upon the cushions of unity and repose in the nest of oneness. They have traversed the Lote Tree of the utmost realm of love at the beginning of their journey and have perceived the ultimate goal of divine knowledge from the Tree of Paradise. They have found the sweet fruits of immortality from the dawning-place of the soul and have chosen solitude with the Beloved in the throne of the placeless realm. How excellent is what was said:

“Indeed I have been alone with the Beloved, and between us Was a secret more subtle than the breeze when it stirs”

The spirits of these companions are united and their breaths intermingled, even as Rumi, the mystic, says:

“The souls of wolves and dogs are separate indeed But united are the souls of the lions of God”

For they drink from one cup and are sustained from one chalice, they sit upon one carpet and dwell in one station. They soar with the wing of the might of unity and circle in the heaven of the holiness of detachment. In expressing the degrees of love they need no messenger or missive, and in revealing their purposes they seek no aid from pen or ink. They inhale the fragrances of holiness from the north wind of the spirit and breathe in the sweet scents of intimacy from the pure breaths of the heart. They have grasped the firm cord of “God is the light of the heavens and the earth” and have held fast to the hem of the exception “My earth and My heaven contain Me not.” Their remoteness is the essence of nearness and their separation the very spirit of union.

However, since the manifestation of meaning depends upon the world of words, and the emergence of spirits is conditioned and bound to the appearance of bodies—for every inner reality requires an outward form and every beginning demands an end—so that the form of the clot of blood, after ascending the heights of annihilation, might be honored with the robe of everlasting life—“Blessed be God, the best of creators”—and the essence of beginning, after returning from the realm of the divine identity, might appear in the garment of finality—“but he is the Apostle of God and the Seal of the Prophets”—so that the all-embracing word “He is the First and the Last, and the Manifest and the Hidden” might appear in the arena of existence.

Thus have we revealed these inner loves that were concealed in the heart for ages and centuries through these evident words and conventional forms, so that the neighbor might know that thou art in Our house. God willing, through divine grace we shall circle round the sanctuary of Beauty and visit the Ka’bah of the divine Essence, that we might attain the honor of the divine presence in the throne of immortality. And peace be upon you.

BH02428: Then doth the Pen of eternity weep at what…

In the Name of Him Who is alone in His dominion in this remote prison.

Then doth the Pen of eternity weep at what the Tongue of Glory hath spoken concerning what hath befallen Him at the hands of these wretched ones who have denied God’s bounty after it was sent down from the clouds of holiness in its mightiest, greatest, most gentle and most delicate form, and who were deprived of this grace. I know not which of My tribulations to mention in this Tablet. By God!

Then doth the Spirit of God speak in the heaven of eternity and lament, saying:

“O Most Exalted Pen! Have mercy upon the denizens of the Supreme Paradise and mention not what hath befallen Thy Most Glorious Beauty, for through Thy previous mention were consumed the hearts of the people of the Realm of Eternity and of them who dwell nigh the Divine Lote-Tree above the cities of names. And if Thou desirest to make mention, I shall command the angels of the Command to preserve the heavens lest they fall upon the earth, and to preserve the earth lest it sink into the waters.”

And Thou, O Pen, fulfill what Thou hast been asked, then conceal the mysteries of destiny. Then make mention of Thy Lord, the Most High, the Most Exalted, in this latter Revelation, for through His remembrance all who are in the heavens and on earth will be enriched. This is the truth concerning which there is no doubt, and none deny it save every heedless idolator.

Then make mention of Thy servant who hath remembered Thee in his letter and called out to Thee in his inmost heart with a glorious and mighty call. And thou, O servant, know that thy letter came before Us and God’s gaze turned toward it out of love for thee, and He was ever watchful over thee.

Blessed art thou for having opened the doors of thy heart in thy recognition of God and for having turned thee to a seat of mighty glory and raised thee to a station where thou didst hear the melody of grandeur from the mouth of Glory and where He gave thee to drink of the sweetest nectar from holy and impregnable chalices. Blessed be thine eye for having beheld the Ancient Beauty and for having turned away from every sightless eye.

Be thou steadfast in the Cause of thy Lord, then aid it to the extent of thy power. He will preserve thee by His command, and He hath power over whatsoever He willeth. Sanctify thyself from whatsoever thy good-pleasure abhorreth, then walk in My footsteps. This is better for thee than all who are in the kingdom together.

Hearken unto what the Ancient Beauty counseleth thee, then be steadfast in the Cause and remind the servants with wisdom and utterance, and tarry not less than a moment. Thus have We imparted unto thee the word of truth. Follow what thou hast been commanded and be in the kingdom a trustworthy upholder of the truth.

And the Glory rest upon thee and upon those who have heard God’s call from this Most Glorious Station which hath been, in the eternity of eternities, exalted in the name of God in truth.

BH02459: Glorified be He Who has revealed Himself at high…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Glorious!

Glorified be He Who has revealed Himself at high noon, yet the people recognize Him not. Before He made Himself known, they believed in Him, circled round Him, and prostrated themselves before Him. But when the veil was rent asunder and He shone forth at midday with the lights of God, the Most High, the Most Exalted, they scattered from around Him like locusts dispersed.

Say: O people! He has come with that wherewith came ʿAli, then Muhammad, then the Spirit, then He Who conversed with God, and the Friend of God. Fear ye God and deny not Him by Whose will the Prophets were raised up and through Whom the Kaf was joined with its Nun.

Say: O people, be fair in the name of God! Did We not reveal in all the Tablets that He Who comes with the truth cannot be known by aught else save Himself? Know Him through His own Self and through what appears to you from the proof of God, the Help in Peril, the Mighty, the Self-Subsisting. Did We not proclaim in all the Tablets that all else is known through Him while He is known through His own Self? Yet you have forgotten God’s covenant and His testament and become of those who understand not.

You ask the shadow about the sun and its radiance, though the shadow itself has no light—how then could that through which all created things are illumined be known through it? What ails these people that they comprehend not? Say: O people! Can the depths of the ocean be known through a drop remaining in a pond? Nay, by the Self of God, the Powerful, the Help in Peril, the Mighty, the Best-Beloved!

Say: O people! We have journeyed from the Kingdom of Names to the Kingdom of Eternity and witnessed your hearts veiled by allusions and your souls in turmoil and agitation regarding this Cause which has shone forth from the horizon of the worlds with manifest sovereignty. Fear God, O people! Know God through God, then detach yourselves from those who wage war against My Self, though I came to them with all the signs and a destined message.

And thou, O servant who gazest upon the Countenance, let not God’s glances upon thy heart cease, nor the breezes of grace upon thy soul, and abide under a praiseworthy protection. Purify thyself and then the souls of men with the waters of inner meanings and utterance, then turn to the face of thy Lord, the Most Merciful, then detach thyself from the manifestations of Satan who bid people to deny God—thus do they command. And forget not God’s favor upon thee.

Arise to serve the Cause, then teach the people with wisdom beloved. Thus have We commanded thee in this Tablet as a mercy from Us upon thee. Follow what thou hast been commanded by the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. And the glory be upon thee and upon all who are fair-minded and transgress not the decree of justice in God’s Cause and are among the God-fearing.

BH02440: O Qasim! Take thou thy portion of this bounty…

He is the Most Exalted, the Most Great.

O Qasim! Take thou thy portion of this bounty, then be thou content therewith apart from all the worlds. Verily it shall suffice thee above all things and make thee independent of all that are in the heavens and on earth.

Be thou a distributor of that which descendeth from the direction of the Throne upon Our assured servants, and a breaker of the might of them that have disbelieved and turned away and were among the proud ones. That which descendeth from the direction of the Throne is what We have now revealed in this Tablet and sent unto thee, that thou mayest recite it unto thyself and unto the souls of the servants, that perchance the people may become of them that remember.

Know thou moreover that in every letter of the verses are ordained treasuries of bounty, and for every soul there is a portion thereof. Blessed is he who taketh what is ordained for him and rendereth not himself among the deprived ones. Apart from this, none can draw nigh unto the Throne—how then could any be a distributor of that which appeareth from it and descendeth from its direction? Glorified be God, thy Lord, above the understanding of all created things!

Arise to make mention of God and to spread His Cause, and follow not the ways of the corrupt ones. Beware lest thou draw nigh unto them whose hearts thou findest veiled from the mention of the name of thy Lord, and associate not with them in any place, and be of them who have detached themselves from such as have disbelieved in the signs of God, the Inaccessible, the Mighty, the Wondrous.

Then remember thou the time when thou didst enter the Paradise of the All-Highest, the seat of the throne of thy Lord, the Most High, the Most Great, and didst abide beneath the shadow of His mercy for numbered days, and wert among those upon whom shone the Sun of Beauty from the horizon of the Countenance, and who were among the triumphant ones—they who attained His presence and circled round His house at every morn and eventide. Therefore remind the people of what thou hast seen and known, that they may remember within themselves and be of the assured ones.

Stand thou firm in the Cause at the time when every soul shall raise its cry and the pillars of the idolaters shall quake. Thus have We commanded thee in this Tablet that thou mayest be steadfast in the Cause of thy Ancient Lord, for the people of the Bayan, most of them have disbelieved in Him in Whom they had believed and have returned to the lowest of the low, save him whose hand was taken by the hand of grace and who was delivered from the wrongdoing people—they who wronged their own souls and the souls of the servants, and were not conscious thereof and were among the heedless ones.

And the glory be upon thee and upon them who have not bartered the love of God and His Cause for aught of all that hath been created between the heavens and the earth.

BH02462: Praised be Thou, O my God! Thou beholdest both…

Praised be Thou, O my God! Thou beholdest both the helplessness of Thy dear ones and the ascendancy of Thy foes, both the wretchedness of Thy chosen ones and the glory of them who gainsaid Thy Cause and repudiated Thy signs. The latter deny Thy tokens, and fail to repay Thee for the temporal benefits Thou didst bestow upon them, while the former yield Thee thanks for what hath befallen them in their eagerness to partake of the everlasting gifts Thou dost possess.

How sweet is the thought of Thee in times of adversity and trial, and how delightful to glorify Thee when compassed about with the fierce winds of Thy decree! Thou knowest full well, O my God, that I endure patiently whatsoever toucheth me in Thy path. Nay, I perceive that all the members and limbs of my body long for tribulation, that I may manifest Thy Cause, O Thou Who art the Lord of all names! The waters of Thy love have preserved me in the kingdom of Thy creation, and the fire of my remembrance of Thee hath set me ablaze before all that are in heaven and on earth. Great is my blessedness, and great the blessedness of this fire whose flame crieth out:

“No God is there save Thee, Who art the Object of my heart’s adoration, and the Source and Center of my soul!”

Thy glory beareth me witness! Were all that are in the heavens and all that are on earth to unite and seek to hinder me from remembering Thee and from celebrating Thy praise, they would assuredly have no power over me, and would fail in their purpose. And were the infidels to slay me, my blood would, at Thy command, lift up its voice and proclaim: “There is no God but Thee, O Thou Who art all my heart’s Desire!” And were my flesh to be boiled in the cauldron of hate, the smell which it would send forth would rise towards Thee and cry out: “Where art Thou, O Lord of the worlds, Thou One Desire of them that have known Thee!” And were I to be cast into fire, my ashes would—I swear by Thy glory—declare: “The Youth hath, verily, attained that for which he had besought his Lord, the All-Glorious, the Omniscient.”

How, then, can such a man be fearful of the combination of the kings to injure him in Thy Cause? No, no, I swear by Thyself, O Thou Who art the King of kings! Such is my love for Thee that I can fear no one, though the powers of all the worlds be arrayed against me. Alone and unaided I have, by the power of Thy might, arisen to proclaim Thy Cause, unafraid of the host of my oppressors.

To all that dwell on earth I cry aloud and say:

“Fear ye God, O ye servants of God, and suffer not yourselves to be kept back from this pure Wine that hath flowed from the right hand of the throne of the mercy of your Lord, the Most Merciful. I swear by God! Better for you is what He possesseth than the things ye yourselves possess and the things ye have sought and are now seeking in this vain and empty life. Forsake the world, and set your faces towards the all-glorious Horizon. Whoso hath partaken of the wine of His remembrance will forget every other remembrance, and whoso hath recognized Him will rid himself of all attachment to this life and to all that pertaineth unto it.”

I implore Thee, O my God and my Master, by Thy word through which they who have believed in Thy unity have soared up into the atmosphere of Thy knowledge, and they who are devoted to Thee have ascended into the heaven of Thy oneness, to inspire Thy loved ones with that which will assure their hearts in Thy Cause. Endue them with such steadfastness that nothing whatsoever will hinder them from turning towards Thee.

Thou art, verily, the Bountiful, the Munificent, the Forgiving, the Compassionate.

BH02468: He is God! Glorified art Thou, O my God!…

He is God! Glorified art Thou, O my God! At that moment, by the sovereignty of Thy might, I ascended to the heaven of Thy exalted glory and traversed the realms of holiness and the stations of intimacy until I reached the repository of glory, attainment and reunion, and the treasury of light, majesty and communion. I journeyed from Thee unto Thee, and by Thee I migrated toward Thee, until I arrived at the unseen Essence and the pure Face of the Self-Subsisting, and I recognized all stations in all that Thou hadst created in the dominion of Thy power and the kingdom of Thy might, and all that Thou hadst caused to flow in the heaven of Thy sovereign glory and the human realm of Thy all-encompassing holiness.

And I knew all things in their places and all that would occur thereafter in their stations, without any notion of “after” appearing or any concept of “before” flowing, until I encompassed within myself all who are in the heavens and on earth, such that I numbered all that grew upon the ground of the Divine Essence in the hairs of my head, and all mountains in the mighty parts of my body, and all suns from the daysprings of my being, and all souls in the degrees of my identity, and all pearls in the teeth of my mouth, and all letters in the lines of my skin and fingertips, and all knowledge in the point of my heart, and all spirits in the dawning-place of my spirit.

And at that moment, with all of this and all that Thou hadst given me through Thy generosity and honored me with through Thy beneficence, I took this holy spirit and this divine light and this lordly essence in the palm of my hands, desiring to sacrifice it at Thy feet. This is the ultimate purpose of my existence in Thy dominion and the final goal of my seeking in Thy lands. By Thy glory! I seek from Thee in this no recompense, neither the perpetuation of my name in Thy earth nor the exaltation of my cause in Thy realm, for my name is non-existent before Thy name and my being is lost before Thy Being. Indeed, if Thou desirest the perpetuation of Thy Being and the preservation of Thy Self and the continuation of Thy Name, then verily Thou art sovereign in Thy will and supreme in Thy purpose. Thou doest whatsoever Thou lovest for Thyself and causest to flow whatsoever pleaseth Thee for Thy Being. Thou art beloved in whatsoever Thou willest, and verily Thou art the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

Therefore I beseech Thee now, O my God, to embark this servant with me upon this eternal ark and this holy ship. For it is a ship that, were it to sail upon the water, would be sailing through the air, and were it to walk upon the earth, would be walking through fire in the sphere of fire, as though it moved by fire and flowed upon fire and rushed through fire, and by it the fire is kindled in the hearts of the sincere ones. Blessed, then, is he who is warmed by this fire for the sake of God, the Powerful, the Supreme, the Compeller—from the B before the H.