Volume 045: Prior to 1873 1290 A.H., Part III (4 of 4)

BH05139: The firm words which were adorned with the mention…

He is God, the Most Pure

The firm words which were adorned with the mention of the Lord of Lords were observed, and the fragrances of Paradise were inhaled therefrom. Blessed art thou! And all the hardships and tribulations thou hast borne in the path of God are remembered with Him. Blessed is thy pen by which the words of the Beloved were inscribed! Indeed, in these days most people have arisen to cause harm.

That honored one must engage in service to the Cause with utmost joy and eagerness, and must act with perfect wisdom. Consider vigilance over the Cause from all directions to be essential, for even the ungodly of the Bayan will spread abroad whatever occurs. Now that the leader of that group has exchanged truth for money, you will hear the details. And the reason for your delay in that land during these days has become somewhat apparent, but be not grieved, and in all things be patient and thankful, for whatsoever appears today has been and will be for the good of the Cause. For each of the names mentioned in your Tablet and in the Tablet of Jinab-i-Mihdi, a sublime Tablet was sent specifically. Convey greetings to all the loved ones, and exert utmost effort in protecting and preserving the Cause that no harm may occur. And the Spirit be upon thee and upon those with thee.

BH05192: O my God! Baha has found comfort in tribulation…

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

O my God! Baha has found comfort in tribulation for love of Thee and Thy good pleasure, even as the Beloved finds comfort in Thy remembrance and praise. He yearns for fate to overtake him in Thy path, O Thou Lord of all names, even as one athirst yearns for the waters of Thy mercy and the fountain of Thy grace. He turns toward it even as lovers turn toward the place wherein shine forth the lights of Thy countenance. Thus hast Thou created me, O Thou Beloved of Baha!

By Thy glory! I complain not of that which hath befallen me in Thy days, nor of that which shall befall me through Thy power and might. I beseech Thee by the waves of the sea of Thy oneness, and by the establishment of the throne of Thy grandeur, and by the remembrances of the leaves of the Tree of Thy singleness, to rain down from the heaven of Thy bounty upon the branches of this Tree that which will make them steadfast in Thy love and cause them to drink at all times the wine of Thy mercy. O my Lord! Verily, he whom I mention is one of them who hath turned toward Thee and turned away from all else.

Ordain for him, O my God, that which Thou hast ordained for the sincere ones among Thy chosen ones. Then send down upon him the good of this world and of the world to come. Thou knowest, O my God, that I perceive from them the fragrance of the love of my Beloved; therefore have I chosen them for Thy remembrance in my days. Sanctify their faces from turning to any save Thee, and their eyes from beholding aught except Thee, and their hearts from mentioning ought beside Thee. Verily, Thou art the Protector of the mystics and the God of all who are in the heavens and on earth.

BH04995: O loved ones of God! May you ever drink…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Glorious

O loved ones of God! May you ever drink from the Kawthar of the peerless Beauty of the Most High, and become so intoxicated from this wine of the Day of Alast that you see none but God and count all else as non-existent. In the emerald Tablets from the Pen of the King of Oneness, the triumph of the Cause through wisdom and utterance hath been recorded. Fix your gaze upon this. The Beloved hath ordained that the conquest of the citadels of hearts be achieved through the sword of the tongue. Thus hath the All-Merciful decreed. He, verily, is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

Your turning to the Ka’bah of Glory and arising to promote His Cause is itself a victory, and God, exalted be His glory, hath accepted it and recorded you among the helpers in the Preserved Tablet. God will soon reward you with a goodly reward. He, verily, is the Protector of the sincere ones. Strive at all times that perchance ye may quicken dead souls through the remembrance of the King of Oneness and bestow the Kawthar of the love of the All-Merciful upon all who dwell within the realm of possibility.

Today, whosoever ariseth to teach will be confirmed by the Spirit of the Cause. Blessed art thou for having turned unto [God] and turned away from those who disbelieved in God, the Lord of all worlds, and for having recognized thy Lord and desired His good-pleasure on a Day whereon the faces of those who turned away were darkened while the faces of those who turned unto Him were illumined. Unite ye in God’s Cause and in His love. Through this shall the back of the idolaters be broken. And the glory rest upon thee and upon those who are with thee in the Cause of thy Lord, the Almighty, the All-Powerful.

BH05173: Lawh-i-Quds 6

In the Name of God Who standeth over all things!

This is the Holy Tablet which We have detailed from the Mother Book and sent unto him who hath believed in God, his Lord, the Most Merciful, that the verses may draw him to the horizon of names and attributes and sanctify him from sorrows, that he may speak forth His remembrance amidst the concourse of all worlds. Verily He is the Ruler over whatsoever He willeth. There is none other God but Him, the Mighty, the Wise.

Let not that which hath befallen thee in His path sadden thee. Be thou patient and of those who are thankful. Dost thou find anyone enduring on earth? Nay, by the Lord of all worlds! That which thou seest shall pass away, and might and power shall remain with the Ancient King. Rejoice thou in My remembrance and leave those who have disbelieved in God. They wronged not you but their own selves, yet because they turned away they became heedless of what they did. Soon shall they behold their deeds. Verily thy Lord is the Ruler over what He willeth. By My life! Were they to know, they would weep until they die. They are in naught but manifest error.

Put thy trust in God. Verily He is with thee and saith: “Blessed art thou for having attained unto tribulations in My path and hardships in My love. Thy reward is preserved in the treasuries of My grace.” Despair not of My Spirit and say: “Praise be unto Thee, O Lord of the worlds!”

BH04980: O Pen of the Ancient Days! Make mention…

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

O Pen of the Ancient Days! Make mention of him who was named Muhammad before Ja’far, that he may be mindful of the remembrance of God, the Most High, the Most Great, and rejoice within himself at the glad-tidings treasured within this blessed, holy and luminous Tablet. O servant! Hearken unto the call of God from this Quarter which God hath sanctified from the indication of every indication and from the knowledge of every knower. Verily, He is God—there is no God but Me, the One with power over all things, and I am the Most High, the Inaccessible, the Most Holy, the Mighty, the Bountiful. Blessed art thou, O servant, in that thou hast attained unto the good-pleasure of God and fulfilled thy Covenant, not forgetting Him throughout these months and years.

Arise, then, to the remembrance of God and fear no one, for verily He will preserve thee within the protection of His mighty and impregnable safekeeping. How excellent it is for you that ye have exchanged the tablets of fire for the light and have taken the traces of God from the hands of the idolaters. Those who altered the Tablets of God—these have lost both this world and the next, and they shall have no portion of this cup. These have sold the traces of God for their own selves and their desires. Soon shall they discover what they have wrought when the angels of wrath seize them with a grievous punishment. Thus doth God distinguish between truth and falsehood, and between the believers and the idolaters. And the glory be upon thee and upon those who are with thee upon a mighty and exalted path.

BH05030: The Most Great, the Most Glorious

The Most Great, the Most Glorious

The remembrance of God hath verily appeared from the horizon of Revelation, visible to all, that He might summon mankind unto a station which hath been exalted in the Tablet. At times thou beholdest Him in the form of fire—from its roaring thou hearest “There is none other God but Him”—and at other times in the form of light, illumining all who dwell on earth. Thus hath the Spirit spoken in this Tablet which hath been preserved before the Throne. And at times thou beholdest Him in human form—blessed be the All-Merciful Who hath sent Him in truth, for verily He hath power over all things. He hath other manifestations which, were We to mention them, would exhaust the ink, for verily He hath knowledge of all things.

Ponder upon the Revelation of God and His sovereignty, and immerse thyself in the oceans of utterance, that thou mayest discover the pearls of knowledge and wisdom that draw thee to a station inscribed in the Book. Let not allusions grieve thee, nor follow thou those who have denied the sovereignty of the verses. Their efforts in this world have gone astray, and they shall find no path to the Cause. They walk in the wilderness of error and rejoice in what their base desires command them. By My life! They are in the depths of wrath and shall find none to help them.

Remind the people of this announcement which hath been sent down in the Tablets. Say: O people! When ye hear the call of the Calf, leave it behind you. This is what God hath counseled you, for verily He is witness to all things. We have imparted unto thee that which quickeneth souls, and thy Lord sufficeth as a helper.

BH05090: Glorified art Thou, O my God! Thou art He…

Glorified art Thou, O my God! Thou art He Whom none hath ever known, for Thy knowledge can never be associated with the knowledge of Thy creatures, and Thou canst never be described by any description save Thine own, since the description of all else besides Thee is created by Thy command and brought into being by Thy will. I testify at this moment that the ultimate description of those who have attained, and the highest knowledge of those who know, returneth to Thy creation which was created by Thy command and came into being by Thy will. Glorified, glorified art Thou from the hearts of Thy servants reaching unto Thee or the minds of Thy creatures attaining the seat of Thy glory!

By Thy might, I am bewildered in Thy Cause and in that which Thou hast inspired me through Thy bounty and grace. For were I to explain that which Thou hast graciously bestowed upon me through Thy loving-kindness and favor, the clamor of the heedless would be raised thereby. And were I not to mention that which Thou hast given me through Thy generosity, I would be ungrateful for Thy blessing, O Thou in Whose hand is the kingdom of the worlds’ dominion.

Therefore, O my God, I beseech Thee by Thy Most Great Name and Thy Most Ancient, Most Perfect Word to purify the hearts of Thy loved ones from the veils of fancy and imitation, that they may know Thee with their own eyes and behold Thy beauty with their own sight. Perchance they may be enabled to draw nigh unto the Tree of Thy nearness which none besides Thee hath known. Verily, Thou art the Mighty, the Glorious, the Bountiful.

I moreover beseech Thee, O my God, by Him Whom Thou hast manifested and by Him Whom Thou wilt manifest, to send down upon us from every good thing its perfection and from every grace its greatest measure, and to withhold not from us all that is with Thee. Verily, Thou art the Sovereign, the Powerful, the Almighty.

BH05195: O My handmaiden! Know that We have sent forth…

In the Name of God, the Most Holy

O My handmaiden! Know that We have sent forth loving-kindness in the form of this Tablet and dispatched it unto thee that thou mayest glory therein amongst the worlds. We visited thy house at a time when thou wast heedless of it, and We found not therein the sweet fragrance of holiness. Thus doth the All-Informed apprise thee.

Cleanse your houses, O people, and wash your garments of whatsoever is abhorrent unto God. Thus doth the All-Knowing counsel you. We love refinement in all conditions. Beware lest ye transgress that whereunto ye have been bidden in the Book of God, the Mighty, the Most Praised.

Adorn your temples with the raiment of piety—this consisteth not of tattered and threadbare cloth, nor of worn wool and cotton, but rather of refinement and wisdom that restraineth you from base desire. This is the truth, did ye but know.

Be ye utterly refined, for whoso lacketh refinement shall never perceive the fragrances of the All-Merciful nor associate with the dwellers of the Ridvan. Fear God and be not of the ignorant ones.

Wash away whatsoever the pure nature abhorreth. Thus have ye been commanded aforetime by One Who is mighty and ancient. Follow that which We have enjoined upon you in the Tablets. Beware lest ye follow the heedless ones. Those who are heedless are among those who wander in the wilderness of error.

O My handmaiden! Drink thou the Kawthar of utterance from the words of thy Lord, then give thanks and prostrate thyself before the face of thy Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Thus have We imparted unto thee the Word of Truth, after which there is naught but manifest error.

BH04968: The Kingdom on that Day shall belong to God…

The Kingdom on that Day shall belong to God, the Sovereign, the Mighty, the Unconstrained. O My loved ones! This is the Day whereof We gave you tidings in all the Tablets through a most holy and glorious Pen. Stand ye firm in the Cause, then weep for this Wronged One Who hath been slain by the sword of hatred and cast by the idolators into this pit whose depths no rope of possibility can fathom, and whose cry no ear can hear save whom your Lord, the All-Merciful, willeth. Thus hath the decree been fulfilled against the Beauty of the All-Glorious by the embodiments of tyrannous wickedness.

Tear ye asunder the veils of glory, then emerge from behind the veil through My Name that encompasseth all the worlds. Beware lest ye break My Covenant or forget My days or join partners with My Self, for this verily would be a grievous sin.

Unite ye in the Cause of God and His religion, and stand ye firm in love, for the idolators have gathered there and whisper unto men at all times that which Satan hath cast into their hearts, that they may cause them to slip from this Path which hath been raised up in the name of Him Who was exalted in truth. Today is the day of victory—aid ye then the Youth, and follow not every accursed Satan.

Beware lest ye frequent the dwelling-place of those who have disbelieved in God and His signs, and in whose hearts hatred for the Youth lieth concealed. Take ye the cup of Baha with the fingers of faithfulness, then drink thereof that your hearts may be purified thereby. Thus hath the Pen of Destiny inscribed from a luminous and mighty Finger.

BH05018: How many nights and days did all mankind gaze…

He is the Ever-Abiding, the Eternal, the Most Mighty, the Most Holy, the Most Glorious

How many nights and days did all mankind gaze toward the highest horizon, beseeching God that they might attain unto His days. Yet when the veil was rent asunder and the Sun of the Beauty of the Beloved appeared at the point of setting, all remained veiled by the clouds of fancy and through their hypocrisy were deprived of the Daystar of the horizons, save those souls who quaffed the wine of inner meanings from the chalices of divine utterance. Those souls, through the attraction of God’s Word, turned toward the realm of oneness and attained unto the Purpose of all worlds.

Praise be to God that the breezes of the mercy of the All-Merciful passed over that leaf and guided her to the House of Unity and the Divine Ka’bah. This is among God’s greatest favors, which He bestoweth specially upon whomsoever He willeth. Most men were seized with trembling and remained deprived of the presence of the Lord of Glory, yet that leaf must, God willing, stand firm with manly courage in the love of the Lord of all creation. Ere long shall the world and whatsoever existeth therein pass away. Those souls who now recline upon the throne of glory and those who dwell upon the dust of abasement—all shall return to the earth. How excellent is the state of those souls from whom the denizens of the Concourse on High inhale the fragrance of divine love. Would that my people knew!

BH05168: This is a Book sent down in truth…

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

This is a Book sent down in truth from the Kingdom of God, the Almighty, the Most High, the Most Great. Every word revealed from the Supreme Pen verily calls all to the Beloved of the worlds. Whosoever hath heard its call hath detached himself from all else save God and turned with sincere devotion toward the Court of His Cause. And whosoever hath not heard it is indeed deprived of the paradise of eternity and is truly among the lost. By God! Soon shall he who hath been neglectful of God’s Cause know, when he descendeth from his station to his grave with great remorse, and lamenteth over what he hath committed in the days of God, and findeth for himself no intimate friend. Thou dost not look to the world.

By God! My servants who have turned with radiant countenance toward the All-Merciful have divorced it. He in whose heart is found love for aught else beside Me shall never enter the pavilion of My glory and the kingdom of My Cause and the heaven of My bounty, and though he may ascend unto the heaven of My grace, the angels shall cast him down with a flaming dart. Blessed is he who hath cast behind him all else save God and hath emerged from behind the veils, clinging to My Name and holding fast to My cord, and calleth out to the people from My creation: “By God! The Truth hath come with manifest sovereignty!” Neither veils nor the might of those who have made captive the kindred of God in diverse regions can prevent Him. Thus hath the Command been revealed from the Pen of Revelation by One Who is All-Knowing, All-Wise. And praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH05171: This is a Book that speaketh with truth…

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

This is a Book that speaketh with truth, and God hath made it a proof unto all who are in the kingdom. Verily it hath been sent down upon the Temple of the Youth in the heaven of immortality, then upon the Temple of the Command in the kingdom of glory, then in the form of a Tablet in this fashion which was witnessed from the direction of God. Even thus do We cast down mysteries with veils and coverings, that the believers might ascend to the heaven of knowledge and the demons be prevented from ascending to the court of holy recognition. We have set forth therein a matter which none hath discovered, and We have turned therein the verses as a remembrance from Our presence unto those who have believed in God and His signs, and have detached themselves from those who have disbelieved and associated partners with God and who stood at the station of opposition.

O youth! Rejoice within thyself that God hath related thee to thy brother. Then know his worth and take the Book of God which We have sent down unto thee through a grace from Us, and His grace hath ever encompassed the worlds. And when it reacheth thee, take it with the hand of power, for those who have taken the Tablet of God in those days are nobles in the Concourse on High and great ones in the realms of immortality and eloquent ones concerning the Command, even though they be but youths upon the earth. And the glory be upon thee and upon those who are in the household, both female and male.

BH05205: In the Name of God, the Most Holy…

In the Name of God, the Most Holy, the Most Exalted! O servant! Hearken unto the Call from the direction of the Throne of grandeur and glory. By God! The Call of thy Lord in these days is greater than the creation of the heavens and the earth. It was raised in days when the people of the lands rose up against Us. Verily, thy Lord is powerful over all things. Neither tribulation preventeth Him from His Cause, nor the hosts of the wicked from His decree. He sendeth down what He willeth through His sovereignty. He, verily, is the Ruler over whatsoever He desireth.

Let not this most great terror prevent thee from gazing upon the most great scene. Be thou steadfast in the love of thy Lord, then summon the people unto Him. And whenever thou partakest of the chalices of prosperity, adorn them with the remembrance of the Cleaver of the dawn. And when the wine of the mercy of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, intoxicateth thee, speak forth amidst the concourse of all created things in remembrance of God, the Self-Subsisting, the All-Compelling, that there might be generated in their hearts that which will cause them to be stirred in the love of God and detach them from the worlds.

They who have desired the presence of God, it behooveth them to make their deeds and their remembrances such as will cause the Most Great Remembrance to be exalted among the nations, and to arise for the education of all who dwell in the realms of creation. Thus doth the Most Exalted Pen make mention of thee, that the rapture of thy Lord might seize thee in such wise that thou wilt arise to proclaim and say: “Verily, He is the Beloved of all worlds!”

We have been with thee in all conditions. Nothing whatsoever escapeth the knowledge of thy Lord. He, verily, is the Truth, the Knower of things unseen. Be thou thankful unto Him and say: “Praise be unto God, the Lord of all worlds!”

BH05304: O Nabíl! May God reward thee with the fairest…

He is the Mighty.

O Nabíl! May God reward thee with the fairest reward, and bring thee, in thy return and thy journeying, unto the utmost limit of that which thou desirest. I bear witness that God hath accepted from thee thine obedience in His path, thy visitation of His House, thy turning unto His Sanctuary, thy drawing nigh unto His sacred precincts, and thy directing of thy face toward His Beauty; and He will recompense thee with the good things which are with Him, both in this world and in the world to come. Verily, He is gracious unto the doers of good.

Yet, O thou believing wayfarer and emigrant! Strive first within thine own self, and then labour with all the power of thy being, that thou mayest know God with thine own eye and in thy inmost soul, and enter the Sanctuary of Him Whose very Manifestation hath ever been the veil of His Face, and be therein numbered with them that are secure, and attain unto a station wherein thy foot shall not slip, nor thy soul be troubled, though the denizens of the Most Exalted Concourse should rise up against thee.

And peace be upon them that strive and them that emigrate.

He is the Hearer.

Hearken unto My call, and be not of the heedless. Turn thou, with thy heart, unto the Path of God, the Most High, the Most Great. This, verily, is a Revelation from the Lord of the worlds, sent down in truth, despite the will of the idolaters.

He is the Ever-Abiding.

The remembrance of the True One hath ever been beloved; and from the creation no other purpose was intended than the knowledge of Him. Whoso hath attained unto this, hath indeed reached unto every good. Thus doth God reward the well-doers. And praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

He is the All-Sufficing.

Praise be to God Who hath revealed Himself through a letter of the letters of His peerless might in the world of eternity, when the temples of the Cause appeared in the Most Exalted Concourse; and Who hath spoken the supreme Word in the Kingdom of the unseen, when the Bayan was made manifest amongst all beings, and made it His Proof unto all that are in the heavens and on the earth, that perchance men may not deny the Proof of God, nor mock at His evidences.

BH05284: Hearken unto what is revealed unto thee…

He is the Ever-Abiding, the All-Sufficing

Hearken unto what is revealed unto thee from the realm of glory and power, the seat of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Chosen One. Verily, there is none other God but Him, and He Who speaketh is indeed the Truth in the heavens and on earth. We have heard thy call and witnessed thy distress. Verily your Lord is with you; He is indeed the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

God’s curse be upon those who have wronged you and driven you from your homes—they are assuredly the companions of the fire. Let not what hath befallen thee in the path of God sadden thee. He will surely recompense those who have been touched by tribulation in His path; He is the Protector of the sincere ones. Dost thou see those who committed injustice aforetime? We seized them for their sins. Verily thy Lord is the Mighty, the Powerful. Soon shall We seize these ones and join them with an evil and most wretched people. Were the veil to be lifted and you were to behold what is ordained for you, you would cast the world and all that is therein behind you. But it hath been concealed through what hath been ordained by One Who is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

Be ye united in this Cause, that no enmity or hatred arise between you. Thus have ye been commanded in the Tablet of Decree. He is verily the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. By My life! All that is on earth shall perish, and glory shall remain with those who have turned to the Dayspring of the Cause and were of them that have attained. And the splendor rest upon thee and upon those who have acted according to what they were commanded by One Who is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

BH05402: Lauded by Thy name, O Lord my God! Thou…

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

Lauded by Thy name, O Lord my God! Thou beholdest how my gaze is fixed toward Thy tender mercies, and how mine eyes are bent upon the horizon of Thy grace, and Thy loving-kindness, and how my hands are stretched out unto the heaven of Thy bestowals. Thy might beareth me witness! Every limb of my body crieth out to Thee and saith:

“O Thou Who art the Well-Beloved of the worlds, and the Lord of all that are in heaven and on earth, and the one Desire of the hearts which are devoted to Thee! I implore Thee, by Thine Ocean unto which Thou didst summon all the inmates of heaven and all the dwellers of the earth, to help Thy servants who have been kept back from turning unto it and from approaching its shores. Make them, then, O my God, to be detached from all else but Thee, and enable them to speak forth Thy praise and extol Thy virtues. Supply them, moreover, O my God, with the choice Wine of Thy mercy, that it may cause them to be forgetful of any one except Thee, and to arise to serve Thy Cause, and to be steadfast in their love for Thee. Thou art, verily, the Lord of their lives and the Object of their adoration. If they be driven away by Thee, who will then look upon them; and if they be removed far from Thee, who is there that can help them to approach Thy Presence? I swear by Thy might! No refuge is there to flee to except Thee, and no shelter to seek except Thy shelter, and no protection except Thy protection. Woe betide him who hath taken as Lord any one beside Thee, and blessed are the ones who have rid themselves of all attachment to all the dwellers of Thine earth, and clung to the hem of Thy bounteousness. These! the people of Baha, before all that are in heaven and all that are on earth. No God is there but Thee, the Omniscient, the All-Wise.”

Praise be to God, the Lord of all worlds.

BH05408: Lauded be Thy name, O my God! I am…

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

Lauded be Thy name, O my God! I am so carried away by the breezes blowing from Thy presence that I have forgotten my self and all that I possess. This is but a sign of the wonders of Thy grace and bountiful favors vouchsafed unto me. I give praise to Thee, O my God, that Thou hast chosen me out of all Thy creatures, and made me to be the Day-Spring of Thy strength and the Manifestation of Thy might, and empowered me to reveal such of Thy signs and such tokens of Thy majesty and power as none, whether in Thy heaven or on Thy earth, can produce.

I beseech Thee, O my Lord, by Thy most effulgent Name, to acquaint my people with the things Thou didst destine for them. Do Thou, then, preserve them within the stronghold of Thy guardianship and the tabernacle of Thine unerring protection, lest through them may appear what will divide Thy servants. Assemble them, O my Lord, on the shores of this Ocean, every drop of which proclaimeth Thee to be God, besides Whom there is none other God, the All-Glorious, the All-Wise.

Uncover before them, O my Lord, the majesty of Thy Cause, lest they be led to doubt Thy sovereignty and the power of Thy might. I swear by Thy glory, O Thou Who art the Beloved of the worlds! Had they been aware of Thy power they would of a certainty have refused to utter what Thou didst not ordain for them in the heaven of Thy will.

Inspire them, O my Lord, with a sense of their own powerlessness before Him Who is the Manifestation of Thy Self, and teach them to recognize the poverty of their own nature in the face of the manifold tokens of Thy self-sufficiency and riches, that they may gather together round Thy Cause, and cling to the hem of Thy mercy, and cleave to the cord of the good-pleasure of Thy will.

Thou art the Lord of the worlds, and of all those who show mercy, art the Most Merciful.

BH05415: God testifieth that there is none other God besides…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Glorious

God testifieth that there is none other God besides Him. His is the creation and the command, and all bow down before Him. His is the glory and the power, and His is the grandeur and might. He quickeneth whom He willeth through a word from His presence. There is none other God but Him, the Almighty, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting.

O handmaiden of God! Hearken unto the call of thy Lord from the right-hand side upon this blessed and divine Spot which God hath created beyond the sea of grandeur, that there is none other God but Him, the Exalted, the Mighty, the Best-Beloved.

Rejoice within thyself that thou hast been mentioned by the Pen of Holiness in this sacred and hidden Tablet. Then remain steadfast in the love of God and turn away from those who have disbelieved and associated partners with God and are among those who understand not.

Say: Glory be unto Thee, O my God! I beseech Thee by Thy Beauty, whose lights have encompassed all that was and shall be, that Thou protect Thy handmaiden from the evil of Satan and his hosts. Then cause her to drink from the Kawthar of Thy forgiveness, that she may be purified from all that veils her from recognizing the Manifestation of Thy Self. Verily, Thou art powerful over what Thou willest. Thou ordainest what Thou desirest through Thy word “Be” and it is. And glory be upon thee and upon whoso holdeth fast unto the Sure Handle and turneth away from every rejected misbeliever.

BH05431: Blessed is he who hath cast away what…

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

Blessed is he who hath cast away what the people possess and taken that which hath been given him from the presence of One mighty and wise.

Grieve not over anything, and be not troubled in this Day wherein most of the servants have been troubled and turned away from God, thy Lord and the Lord of all worlds. It behooveth everyone who hath believed in God to stand firm in His Cause in such wise that naught that happeneth in the earth shall deter him. Verily thy Lord is well aware of what I say. Stand firm in the Cause, then summon the people unto God, thy Lord, and fear not the oppressors. Desire not for thyself save what God hath desired, and love not thyself except for the manifestation of His Cause. Thus doth He command thee Who hath loved thee for the sake of God, thy Lord, the Most Exalted, the Most Great.

Say: O people! By what proof have ye disbelieved in your Lord, the All-Merciful? Fear God and be not of them that turn aside. Hearken unto Him Who calleth you, under the sword, unto God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Doth He Who summoneth you amidst the depths of tribulations speak out of His own desire? Nay, by your Lord, the Most Exalted, the Most High! Ponder within yourselves that ye may perchance find a way unto God. Thus hath the Sun of Utterance shone forth upon thee from the horizon of Revelation, that thou mayest be assured through the grace of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, and that the veils of them that deny may not withhold thee from His love.

BH05296: O Husayn! Hearken unto the call of this Husayn…

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

O Husayn! Hearken unto the call of this Husayn once again, and know thou that He hath sacrificed His spirit, His body and His frame for God, the Lord of the first and the last. He it is Who hath stood at the midmost heart of creation and summoned all beings unto their Lord, the All-Merciful. Neither the tyranny of the oppressor nor the opposition of those who have disbelieved in God, the Lord of the Throne on high and of the earth below, could deter Him.

Say: Verily, He dwelleth at the Most Glorious Horizon, and at this moment all things cry out, and He is the One mentioned in the ancient Scriptures. Blessed art thou for having hearkened unto the call of God, for having detached thyself from all else save Him, and for having desired to offer up thy life for God Who hath shattered the might of Lat and ʿUzza. Know thou, moreover, that whatsoever hath flowed from the Pen of Glory is irrevocably ordained in the Tablet of Decree—thereof some is manifest outwardly and some pertaineth to that which is hidden—and thus hath the matter been decreed by God, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious. I have accepted all tribulations for Mine own Self, and he that hath drunk from the cup of My love hath a portion of that which is ordained for Us—to this do they who are endued with understanding testify. Grieve thou not over anything, for verily He is with thee. There is none other God but Him, the Most Exalted, the Most High. And glory be upon thee and upon them that have attained unto the mighty signs of God.

BH05401: Glorified art Thou, O my God! I beseech Thee…

Glorified art Thou, O my God! I beseech Thee by the Most Exalted Word and by the Most Beautiful Names and by the Supreme Manifestation of Thy Self, and by that Name through which Thou didst distinguish between the Manifestations of the Names and didst ordain the measures of all things from Thy Most Exalted Pen, that Thou deprive me not of the breezes of Thy days wherein Thou didst reveal Thyself to all who are in Thy earth and Thy heaven, and that Thou keep me not far from the shore of Thy nearness and good-pleasure.

O Lord! This is a leaf from the leaves of the trees in the garden of Thy Cause and a handmaiden among Thy handmaidens who hath turned unto Thee, directed herself toward the court of Thy bounty and gifts, gazed upon the effulgences of the light of Thy countenance, and drawn nigh unto the sanctuary of Thy glorious oneness and the dawning-place of the manifestations of Thy singleness.

O Lord! I beseech Thee by the Manifestations of Thy Cause and the Daysprings of Thy Names that Thou disappoint me not from the gate of Thy grace and mercy. Then make me steadfast, O my God, in Thy love in such wise that the veils of Thy creatures and the allusions of Thy creation and the denial of those who disbelieved in Thy Self and rejected Thy signs shall not withhold me.

O Lord! Enable me to remember Thee and praise Thee among Thy handmaidens. Then send down upon me from the clouds of Thy mercy that which shall sever me from all else save Thee and draw me nigh unto Thee. Then grant me the good of this world and the world to come. Verily, Thou art the One Who hath power over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Most Exalted, the Self-Subsisting, the All-Glorious, the Ever-Helping.

BH05549: This is a Book which makes mention with truth…

He is the Most Wondrous!

This is a Book which makes mention with truth, and therein do people drink from a sealed choice wine. Blessed is he who drinks thereof and detaches himself from all who are in the kingdom and becomes of those who are certain.

Say: The cup is the words of God and the choice wine is what is concealed therein of the mysteries of hidden knowledge. God has ordained it for those who have sanctified themselves from doubt and uncertainty and have entered the precincts of Paradise, the station of holy witnessing. Give thanks unto God for having entered therein at a time when thou wast heedless thereof. Thus was it ordained for thee from the presence of the Mighty, the Self-Subsisting.

Be thou steadfast in the Cause and turn not unto what appeareth in the kingdom. Say: All matters end in the Self of God Who hath appeared in truth with supreme sovereignty over all created things, and around Him circle the hosts of revelation, whereby the fire of hatred hath been kindled in the breast of every rejected misbeliever.

Behold with the eye of the Beginning the Cause of God. Say: By God! The Tradition hath returned in the Self of Ali and the Tree hath called out upon the holy Sinai in Hurayth of this Paran, “There is none other God but I, the Guardian, the Self-Subsisting.”

Thus have We imparted unto thee the Word of truth that it may make thee steadfast in the Cause and sever thee from every rejected denier. And glory be upon thee and upon every patient and thankful one.

BH05543: Glorified art Thou, O Lord my God! I give…

Glorified art Thou, O Lord my God! I give Thee thanks inasmuch as Thou hast called me into being in Thy days, and infused into me Thy love and Thy knowledge. I beseech Thee, by Thy name whereby the goodly pearls of Thy wisdom and Thine utterance were brought forth out of the treasuries of the hearts of such of Thy servants as are nigh unto Thee, and through which the Day-Star of Thy name, the Compassionate, hath shed its radiance upon all that are in Thy heaven and on Thy earth, to supply me, by Thy grace and bounty, with Thy wondrous and hidden bounties.

These are the earliest days of my life, O my God, which Thou hast linked with Thine own days. Now that Thou hast conferred upon me so great an honor, withhold not from me the things Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen ones.

I am, O my God, but a tiny seed which Thou hast sown in the soil of Thy love, and caused to spring forth by the hand of Thy bounty. This seed craveth, therefore, in its inmost being, for the waters of Thy mercy and the living fountain of Thy grace. Send down upon it, from the heaven of Thy loving-kindness, that which will enable it to flourish beneath Thy shadow and within the borders of Thy court. Thou art He Who watereth the hearts of all that have recognized Thee from Thy plenteous stream and the fountain of Thy living waters.

Praised be God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH05557: Is the earth adorned with those whom trials cannot…

In the Name of God, the Everlasting, the All-Sufficient

Is the earth adorned with those whom trials cannot prevent from turning to God, the Most High, the Most Exalted? And does there walk upon it one in whom it would take pride, could it boast before heaven? And dost thou see in the heavens any who speak My Name and arise to aid My Cause through wisdom and utterance, forsaking all else out of love for God, the Lord of all worlds?

O servant! Sorrows have touched thee in My path, and hardships in thy love for Me. Though today thou seest them as abasement, soon shalt thou behold them as glory for all who are in the heavens and on earth. Verily, abasement in the path of God is the sovereign of glory, through which those near to God seek blessing. Forget not thy Lord—remember Him amongst the servants and be not of the heedless. Every soul shall taste of death, and after its certainty, who would fear in the love of God? None, by His True Self, save the doubters. Since death is ordained, how wonderful were it to come in the Cause of God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy! Arise by God’s leave and make mention of Him. He will protect thee, and He hath power over all things. Thus hath the Pen taught thee. Arise and fear not the oppressors. The world and all that is therein shall perish; then shall the sincere find themselves in the highest paradise, while the idolaters shall be in the fire. And praise be to God, the Lord of all worlds.

BH05461: The satans of the Bayan have acted treacherously…

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

The satans of the Bayan have acted treacherously in the Cause of their Lord, the All-Merciful, and have conspired until the fire of sedition was kindled. By this means they desired to extinguish the light of God in His dominion and to quench the fire of God among His creatures. But their scheming has first recoiled upon themselves, and they have found themselves among the lost. This indeed is the manifest loss.

However, the consuls of that city (Adrianople) gathered in the presence of this Youth at the hour of His departure and expressed their desire to aid Him. They, verily, evinced towards Us manifest affection.

God will soon raise up from among the kings one who will help His Cause, for He is potent over all things.

Grieve not over Our Cause and thine, but make mention of Us throughout all days. Thy Lord will assist thee with truth, for He is the Almighty over all the worlds. Thou knowest that the idolaters have made My family captives from the land of Zawra, and the Youth is in the hands of the oppressors. Yet despite all thou hast heard regarding what hath befallen Us, We remain in a joy that no joy in the heavens or earth can equal, and We remain content with what God hath ordained for Us. Soon will the breezes of glory waft, and the nightingale of gladness will warble in the hearts of the loved ones of thy Lord, the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful. Praise be to God, the Lord of all worlds.

BH11392: My remembrance of My servant who was imprisoned…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Exalted

My remembrance of My servant who was imprisoned in My path, taken captive for My remembrance, and banished for My love—that My verses may attract him, the winds of My grace stir him, the breezes of My Cause move him, My melodies draw him near, My call raise him to the heights of My bounties, My praise cause him to speak among My creatures, and make him so steadfast that neither calamities shall keep him from My nearness nor tribulations from the heaven of My mercy.

O youth! Hearken unto the call of thy Lord, the Mighty, the All-Knowing. Know thou that We were aware of what befell thee in Our path, and We were with thee in hardship and ease. Beware lest the thorns of the enemies prevent thee from the mention of thy Lord, the Most Glorious. By God! Their glory is abasement and their wealth is poverty, but they understand not. Their portion in this world is as the portion of animals, and their pleasure is as the pleasure of serpents. Woe unto them for what they have wrought! Turn thy face to the Most Great Scene and say:

“O Lord of destiny and Kindler of fire in hell! I beseech Thee by Thy most pure Face to make torment in Thy love sweet unto me and hardship in Thy path a comfort unto me. Then cause me, O my God, to circle round Thy Cause until my spirit ascendeth unto Thee. Verily Thou art powerful over what Thou willest, and Thou art the Protector, the Self-Subsisting.”

And upon thee be the glory from God, the Sovereign of kings.

BH05383: Thy mention hath been made before the Throne…

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

Thy mention hath been made before the Throne, and from the Dayspring of Revelation this blessed word hath been inscribed: O Asad! Regard all save God as non-existent, and behold Him as the Ever-Present. The effulgence of the All-Merciful’s grace hath never ceased, nor shall it ever cease. If the Ancient Beauty is manifest, His mercy’s splendors shine forth outwardly and inwardly without interruption, and if the Ancient Beauty is concealed, the effulgences of His grace have been and shall forever be directed toward those who have turned unto Him. Therefore, the infinite outpourings of divine bounty are present at all times.

Blessed are they who are not deprived of the Sovereign of Oneness by evanescent fancies, nor kept back from the divine court by the whisperings of malicious souls. O Asad! The names descend from heaven. God willing, thou shalt remain steadfast and firm in the Cause of God with the courage of a lion and the might of a fierce beast. Verily all grace is in His hands—He bestoweth it upon whomsoever He willeth through His command. He is, verily, powerful over all things. Verily He calleth unto him who calleth upon Him and answereth him who invoketh Him. His mercy hath indeed preceded all created things and His grace hath encompassed the worlds.

BH05366: The Remembrance of God in the Tree of Eternity…

He is the Most High, the Most Exalted

The Remembrance of God in the Tree of Eternity unto the concourse of Paradise: Hearken ye, that all who are in the heavens and on earth may be reminded thereby and be guided to the sacred seats in a station at which all people are bewildered.

Say: O people! This is the Book of God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. Therein is mentioned every matter in such wise that souls would be thunderstruck were ye to hear with the hearing of God. And He bestoweth upon the people of Paradise that which hath been ordained for them by God, the Mighty, the Beloved. And He giveth unto those near unto God that which attracteth them in the kingdom and detacheth them from all who are in the heavens and on the earth. And He granteth unto the people of earth that which will bring them to the precincts of the Throne and draw them nigh unto a holy and praiseworthy station. Thus do We impart unto thee from the verses of justice and give thee glad tidings of the Ridvan of Oneness, that thou mayest be secured in the fortress of God, the Mighty, the Beloved.

Say: O people! Fear ye God and follow not your desires, and be not of them who enlighten not themselves with the light of God. Thus doth the Dove warble unto thee in the midmost heart of eternity with melodies the like of which have never appeared in the kingdom and none shall attain unto save the sincere ones, that thou mayest give thanks unto God, thy Lord, at all times and follow the Messengers. And upon thee be the Spirit, and upon them that place their trust in God.

BH05291: O Abraham! bear witness within thyself that He…

He is the Mighty!

O Abraham! bear witness within thyself that He is God, there is no God but Him. He hath sent the Messengers with truth and revealed the Books with justice, as a grace from Him to all created things. Among the people are those who have turned toward Him and those who have turned away, remaining far from the shore of nearness. But thou dost not associate partners with God and dost rely upon Him in all matters. He sufficeth thee apart from all else, and He is the best of helpers and sustainers. I counsel thee not to grieve over anything nor turn to anyone. Rather, turn thou toward God, thy Lord, and be of the thankful ones. God will soon grant thee that which will bring peace to thy heart, and this is a certain truth.

Then remember on Our part Husayn who was with thee in the dream, and give him glad tidings of God’s bounty, the Mighty, the Generous. He forgiveth His servants and remitteth their sins, and He is possessed of great bounty. Say unto him: O servant, be steadfast in thy love for the loved ones of God and fear no one. Then help him to the extent thou art able and be not of the heedless ones. The world and its ornaments shall pass away, and sovereignty shall remain with God, the Mighty, the Beautiful. Then remember thy wife and thy sister on behalf of this servant, and this is a wondrous remembrance.

BH05442: The trustworthy messenger caused the musk-scented letter to ascend…

The trustworthy messenger caused the musk-scented letter to ascend with one feather from the heavens of existence and descend to the earth of manifestation. This is the journey of the physical messenger who, in one moment, graciously descended from the highest Sadratu’l-Muntaha to the lowest supreme height. What would happen if the spiritual courier were to move with the Buraq of love and display its majesty!

The wine of our pain makes us mad If it were to become pure, I know not what it would do

This is from God’s grace which He bestoweth upon whomsoever He willeth. And when I removed the veil of covering from the face of the bride of ink, and with complete love lifted it from her head, immediately a light shone forth from the identity of the essence of the words, such that the mountains of tranquility were crushed and the spirit became detached from its attachments. He fell down in a swoon, and when he recovered he said:

Was it lightning that flashed from the direction of the Mount, Or were the veils lifted from Salma’s face?

And from beholding it, the breezes of spirit blew from the north of the soul and bestowed pure victories upon all parts and members, such that the ear received the delight of divine call, and consciousness became unconscious from excess of love, and the mouth drank the wine of reunion, and the tongue strove to give thanks for this bounty. The sorrowful rejoices, the love-smitten is revived, the yearning one finds solace, and the hearer delights. And peace be upon you.

BH05517: Praise be to Thee, O my God, inasmuch…

Praise be to Thee, O my God, inasmuch as Thou hast turned the faces of Thy servants towards the right-hand of the throne of Thy gifts, and hast caused them to be detached from all else besides Thee, that they may recognize Thy sovereignty and acknowledge Thy glory. I testify to the potency of Thy Cause, the pervasive influence of Thy decree, the immutability of Thy will, the endlessness of Thy purpose. All things lie prisoned within the grasp of Thy might, and the whole creation is destitute when brought face to face with the evidences of Thy wealth.

Deal Thou, therefore, O my God, my Beloved, my supreme Desire, with Thy servants and with all that were created by Thee as would beseem Thy beauty and Thy greatness, and would be worthy of Thy generosity and gifts. Thou art, in truth, He Whose mercy hath encompassed all the worlds, and whose grace hath embraced all that dwell on earth and in heaven. Who is there that hath cried after Thee, and whose prayer hath remained unanswered? Where is he to be found who hath reached forth towards Thee, and whom Thou hast failed to approach? Who is he that can claim to have fixed his gaze upon Thee, and toward whom the eye of Thy loving-kindness hath not been directed? I bear witness that Thou hadst turned toward Thy servants ere they had turned toward Thee, and hadst remembered them ere they had remembered Thee. All grace is Thine, O Thou in Whose hand is the kingdom of Divine gifts and the source of every irrevocable decree.

Send down, therefore, O my God, upon all that seek Thee that which will entirely strip them of all that pertaineth not unto Thee, and will draw them nigh unto Thy Self. Assist them, by Thy grace, to love Thee and to conform unto that which shall please Thee. Grant, then, that they may go straight on in the path of Thy Cause, the path wherein have slipped the footsteps of the doubters among Thy people and the froward among Thy servants. Thou art, verily, the All-Powerful, the Almighty, the Most Great.

BH05298: O Rahim! Depart from that land before the Youth…

He is

O Rahim! Depart from that land before the Youth departeth from your midst. Thus do We command thee, that thou mayest be obedient to the bidding of thy Lord. At the time of departure, carry nothing with thee. Let thy provision be My love, thy purpose My Cause, and thy armor trust in My Self, Who was alone in the land. Beware lest thou consort with the deceitful ones. Turn thy face from their faces and thine ears from their melodies, lest thou shouldst inhale the poisonous fumes from their souls and find thyself far removed from the shore of the sea. Then remind the people of this Most Great Remembrance, that perchance they may arise from heedlessness and recognize their Creator in the garment of a wondrous name. Rend asunder the veils of idle fancy by My sovereignty which encompasseth the worlds.

Say: O people! Exchange not the love of the Youth for aught else, nor sell it for countless coins. By God! Those from whom ye perceive the odor of hatred are worse in character than Nimrod and greater in their unbelief than Pharaoh. Beware lest ye draw nigh unto them. Be on your guard and maintain an impregnable detachment. Then know thou thyself to be more learned than those who have not entered the stronghold of My Cause, lest the pride of the turbaned ones who have disbelieved and associated partners with God cause thee to slip. For knowledge is My love, and all else is but the whisperings of Satan. Thus have We imparted unto thee from the essence of knowledge, that thou mayest be possessed of true learning.

BH05299: He is the Mighty One! O Rida! We have…

He is the Mighty One! O Rida! We have been pleased with thee and God hath been pleased with thee. Therefore, take pride in thyself. Put thy trust in God, the Mighty, the Beautiful. Then ask of God, thy Lord, whatsoever thou desirest, and He will grant thee what thou wishest. Verily, He is the Sovereign, the Great. Grieve not over anything, but remain steadfast in thy love, and He will suffice thee against all the worlds.

He is the Mighty One! O ʿAli! Hear My words and grieve not over anything. Put thy trust in God, the Mighty, the Powerful. Then know that We have not forgotten thee and We make mention of thee in truth before the concourse of the worlds. Thus have We given thee glad tidings through the Spirit that thou mayest be among those who are at rest.

He is the Mighty One! O Rahim! Remember God, thy Lord, in thy heart and forget Him not, and be not of the heedless ones. Verily, We have loved thee in truth for all eternity.

He is the Mighty One! O Ghulam! Remember Our days, and verily We remember thee even at the time when We could not find opportunity to drink a drop of water, and God is witness to what I say.

He is the Mighty One! O Baqir! Be patient in what God hath ordained for Us and fear no one, and be of the patient ones. God will soon gather you together in a holy and luminous seat.

BH05405: Glory to Thee, O Thou Who art the Lord…

Glory to Thee, O Thou Who art the Lord of all worlds, and the Beloved of all such as have recognized Thee! Thou seest me sitting under a sword hanging on a thread, and art well aware that in such a state I have not fallen short of my duty towards Thy Cause, nor failed to shed abroad Thy praise, and declare Thy virtues, and deliver all Thou hadst prescribed unto me in Thy Tablets. Though the sword be ready to fall on my head, I call Thy loved ones with such a calling that the hearts are carried away towards the horizon of Thy majesty and grandeur.

Purge out thoroughly their ears, O my Lord, that they may hearken unto the sweet melodies that have ascended from the right hand of the throne of Thy glory. I swear by Thy might! Were any one to attune his ears to their harmony he would soar up to the kingdom of Thy revelation, wherein every created thing proclaimeth that Thou art God, and that there is none other God save Thee, the Omnipotent, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. Cleanse Thou, O my God, the eyes of Thy servants, and so transport them by the sweetness of Thine utterances that calamities will be powerless to hinder them from turning unto Thee, and from directing their eyes towards the horizon of Thy Revelation.

Darkness hath encompassed every land, O my God, and caused most of Thy servants to tremble. I beseech Thee, by Thy Most Great Name, to raise in every city a new creation that shall turn towards Thee, and shall remember Thee amidst Thy servants, and shall unfurl by virtue of their utterances and wisdom the ensigns of Thy victory, and shall detach themselves from all created things.

Potent art Thou to do Thy pleasure. No God is there but Thee, the Most Powerful, He Whose help is implored by all men.

BH05369: A mention of ʿAbdu’llah in a sublime and holy…

He is the Mighty

A mention of ʿAbdu’llah in a sublime and holy Tablet, that he may find solace therein during his days and read it morning and evening, that God may perchance ease for him the burning of separation and cause him to dwell in the vicinity of a wondrous Name.

O Isma’il! Hearken unto the call of this Bird Who hath turned from the City of God toward a holy and exalted City. Then take counsel from what It counseleth thee in truth, that thou mayest stand firm in love. Know thou that God hath accepted thy obedience and what thou hast done to build the House whose name God hath raised to the heaven of sublime glory. Well is it with thee for having attained unto this station which none besides thee hath attained, and God is witness unto this.

Yet We bid thee to be patient and steadfast, calm and dignified, if thou art obedient to God’s command. Beware lest thou forget My counsel and dispute with anyone. Rather place thy trust in God in all matters, for He is the best of helpers. Associate with people with wisdom, then speak with wisdom lest anyone cause thee harm. Thus do We impart unto thee words of wisdom that thou mayest be gladdened in thy soul and be at ease in the realm.

Then convey Our remembrance to thy sister and to those who have detached themselves from all directions toward a holy and generous station.

And upon you all be the Spirit and Glory.

BH05305: O My Leaf! When the breezes of My grace…

In the Name of God, the Most Holy!

O My Leaf! When the breezes of My grace waft over thee from the dayspring of My loving-kindness, and there appeareth before thy face the Tablet of My Command, which hath been sent down from the heaven of My Will and the firmament of My Purpose, take it and place it upon thine eyes, then recite it with My melody, that it may draw thee to the horizon of My generosity and bring thee nigh unto the Dawning-Place of My verses and the Source of My Revelation, and cause thee to enter the pavilion of My glory and the tabernacle of My bounty, and enable thee to hear the melodies of the birds of My paradise. By God! It verily causeth them that seek Him to ascend unto the heights of My Kingdom and to enter the portico of My mercy and the sanctuary of My nearness. Then shall they drink the wine of My grace from the hand of My bestowal and the pure beverage of My knowledge from the countenance of My beauty.

O My Leaf! Draw My handmaidens to the remembrance of Me and My Name, lest they be influenced by the croaking of them that have disbelieved and the braying of them that have joined partners with God. Blessed is he who hath soared in the atmosphere of My love, who hath detached himself from all else but Me, who hath recognized My Self, who hath heard My call, and who hath held fast to the hem of the loving-kindness of his Lord, the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.

Tablets have been sent down for thee and for them that are in thy land, with any one of which all that hath been created on earth cannot compare. We sent them before the Sovereign of Eternity went forth from the Land of Mystery. We beseech God that He may cause them to reach thee and those that are there, that their eyes may be solaced thereby. Thy Lord, verily, is the All-Powerful, the Almighty.