Volume 047: 1872–1873 1289–1290 A.H., Part I (3 of 4)

BH00737: This is a mention from Us to him who…

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

This is a mention from Us to him who hath inhaled the fragrance of the Garment and turned towards the court of God, the Almighty, the Most High, the Most Great. Blessed art thou, inasmuch as the Most High Pen hath raised thy mention between earth and heaven, and the Tongue of the Wronged One addresseth thee whilst He was in the hands of the oppressors. Give thanks for having been aided to turn towards Him when the Manifestation of thy Lord’s Cause, the Self-Sufficient, the Most Exalted, appeared with a Command that caused all who are in the heavens and on earth to tremble, save those who came unto God with illumined hearts. There hath been ordained for thee in thy Lord’s Kingdom that which shall bring solace to all eyes and gladden the hearts of them that know. Preserve this station, then aid thy Lord, and be not of them that tarry. Patience is praiseworthy except in His Cause—thus hath the matter been decreed from the presence of One mighty and wise. That which God showed thee in thy dream is indeed His supreme token unto thee and His most great favor for thee.

Be thankful for what He hath bestowed upon thee—ere long shall the effects of this bounty be made manifest. Verily thy Lord is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. He giveth what He willeth to whom He willeth and ordaineth by His command what He desireth. Can any prevent His command? Nay, by His sovereignty that prevaileth over the worlds! Can His wisdom ever be exhausted? Nay, by His Word that shineth forth from the horizon of utterance! Yet the people are in profound slumber. Soon shall they awaken, but shall find no escape for themselves. Blessed art thou for having recognized these days and cast aside mankind, turning unto God, the Almighty, the All-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful. Hold fast unto the handle of the Cause with utmost steadfastness, and associate with those in whose hearts thou findest the sweet fragrance of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, and on whose faces thou beholdest the radiance of joy. They who act according to that which they are commanded are verily among the people of Paradise in the estimation of thy Lord, while they who are heedless are in a mighty veil. O joy be unto him who hath rent asunder the veils, detached from all else but God, and stood firm in this Cause whereby the feet of the doubters have slipped.

Say: Glory be unto Thee, O my God! Praise be unto Thee for the loftiness of Thy gifts and favors, and the sublimity of Thy care and bounties, whereby Thou hast aided me to turn towards the Dayspring of the light of Thy oneness and the Repository of the manifestations of Thy transcendent unity. I beseech Thee by Thy Name which Thou hast made the Dawning-Place of Thy names and the Dayspring of Thy signs unto all who are in earth and heaven, to make me steadfast in Thy love, moved by Thy will, speaking Thy praise, gazing towards Thy direction, and content with what Thou hast ordained through Thy decree. O my Lord! I have turned unto Thee, detached from all else but Thee. Ordain for me that which befitteth the glory of Thy station and the sublimity of Thy bounties. Then write down for me that whereby my mention shall endure among Thy servants and my spirit in the worlds which Thou hast concealed from Thy creatures. Thou art, verily, powerful over whatsoever Thou pleasest. There is no God but Thee, the Mighty, the All-Praised. And praise be unto Thee, O Lord of the worlds!

In the name of the Adored One of the worlds.

Praised be God that in this divine springtime thou hast been favored with the outpourings from the clouds of heavenly grace, hast inhaled the sweet fragrances of the garment of divine unity, and hast hearkened unto the notes of the celestial Dove. It behooveth thee to render thanks unto Him at all times. Observe how many are the claimants to knowledge, virtue, wealth, affluence, piety and godliness who have remained deprived of the ultimate purpose and the source of divine bounties, despite the fact that they utter His Name night and day and make mention of Him. Fie upon them! They have cast away that for which they were created and have taken that which they were forbidden in the Tablets of God, the Almighty, the Most Exalted, the Most Great.

Blessed art thou and blessed is he who hath attained unto the lights of His countenance. This is through God’s grace which He bestoweth upon whomsoever He willeth. But today steadfastness is most beloved and is accounted as one of the most great affairs in the sight of God. This exalted station hath ever been and shall forever be. As thou canst observe, certain souls have been kept back from the Sovereign of existence by the vain imaginings of the past, whilst these are days wherein all must detach themselves from whatsoever they possess and, with hearts sanctified from all idle fancies, turn towards the Best-Beloved of the worlds. It is most evident that whatsoever the people possessed hath been but vain imagination, as hath now been made clear to some.

Thou shouldst gather, as much as possible, the Persian Tablets that have been sent down from the heaven of the Divine Will and read them, for in all of them are revealed mighty utterances and sovereign declarations which shall be the cause of the steadfastness of souls. Blessed is he who gathereth them, readeth them, and delighteth in their contents. We testify that he is of the sincere ones. God willing, thou shouldst remain steadfast in the Cause of God with utmost constancy, and move and speak with wisdom amongst the peoples of the world. He is verily the True Counsellor, the Trustworthy. We beseech God to assist thee in His service and draw thee nigh unto Him in all conditions. Verily, He is the Self-Sufficient, the Most Exalted.

That which was observed in the dream has come to pass, and it is indeed a manifest truth. This is evidence of God’s gifts and bounties bestowed upon you, that you beheld yourself attaining His presence in a spacious place containing many chambers. From time immemorial and unto eternity, the Truth has been and ever shall be in the most exalted and expansive station, and likewise His loved ones—those souls who are sanctified from the doubts and allusions of the veiled ones. Though outwardly they may be seen in prison, in reality they dwell in the highest chambers of paradise, as hath been revealed in the Tablets. When you found yourself in that praiseworthy station, it behooveth you to thank God, your Lord, for having made you among those who circle round Him and attain His presence. This is the supreme bounty, that before the outward meeting, He hath inwardly reckoned you among those near to Him and who have attained His presence. Verily, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.

That you inquired in that sublime and inaccessible station about Aqa Muhammad-Javad, upon him be the glory of God, concerning the bestowal of divine bounty upon you, is evidence that he was among the means of divine confirmation and spoke to you with truth and sincerity. Be friendly with him and be among those who remember. That you expressed insufficiency is evidence of your increased seeking from the treasury of grace. Yea, those who seek the Ka’bah of the All-Merciful and circle round the sanctuary of the All-Glorious are like fish in the ocean—the more they drink, the more they cry out “Is there more?”

That the bestowal of bounty was mentioned fourfold indicates that multiple bounties have been ordained for you: the bounty of remembrance now flowing from the Pen, the inner bounty stored in the treasuries of knowledge, likewise the hidden bounty concealed in the repositories of power, and the outward bounty inscribed in the heaven of divine command. God willing, you shall attain them all. This is not difficult for God. Be assured of God’s grace to such degree that should all on earth gather to oppose and object, you would see them as absolute nothingness.

As for your request that this be written in ink, verily We promised you this. By My life, this is indeed the Most Exalted Pen, whose shrill voice is heard between the heavens and the earth. Thus doth it remember thee in truth, and this cannot be equaled by aught that hath been or shall be created. Verily thy Lord is the All-Bountiful, the Ancient of Days. Perfect bounty hath been shown unto you; God willing, its effects shall become manifest. Preserve this station lest anything impede it. Thus doth this Wronged One remember thee while seated in prison, detached from all the worlds. Drink forever from the Kawthar of the gifts of the Exalted Lord. That which will assure thee of thy Lord’s grace hath been sent down unto thee, and there shall soon be revealed that which shall cause the fragrances of thy Lord to waft abroad. He is the Protector of those who turn unto Him. We beseech God to preserve thee from those who speak of that which they comprehend not and imagine they do well, though they have not understood what is with their Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

BH00765: Exalted is He Who is the Sovereign of all…

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

Exalted is He Who is the Sovereign of all kingdoms and the King of those who dwell in the realms of inaccessibility, Who hath caused the sun of the Most Great Word to shine forth from the horizon of the Most Ancient Pen, whereby the abstract realities, the sanctified essences, the pure and holy souls, and the assured and steadfast hearts have all been set ablaze. All these have testified to that which the Dove of Heaven hath testified in the midmost heart of eternity: that verily the Kingdom on this day belongeth unto God, the One, the Most Powerful, the All-Glorious.

How excellent are those radiant lights and lofty exemplars who have arisen with the spirit of might amidst the servants and called out to all creation:

“By God! The Lord of the Day of Mutual Calling hath come! His is the glory and greatness, His the majesty and power! He hath taken a gem from among the gems of creation, purified it with the hand of His power and the fingers of His might, and caused the sun of His beauty and the light of His grandeur to shine upon it. Thereupon it prostrated before His Being and arose to aid His Cause in the world of creation, drank from the pure water of His love, detached itself from the mention of aught else but Him.”

This is he who hath been named in the heaven of faithfulness as Muhammad Mustafa—upon him be the sun of remembrance from the supreme horizon and the light of glorification from the dawning-place of grandeur.

O my God! I know not by what remembrance to remember Thy near servants who have fulfilled Thy Covenant in these days wherein all have broken Thy pledge. They have arisen to aid Thy Cause and have detached themselves from all directions and from their own selves out of love for Thy most exalted Self and Thy Beauty that shineth forth from the horizon of Thy most sublime Being. They have been touched in Thy path by tribulations which the Pen of Creation is powerless to recount. I testify, O my God, that through their turning unto the court of Thy oneness, I have drunk the cup of acceptance from the hand of the Cup-Bearer of Thy mercy, and through their orientation toward the Dayspring of the lights of Thy Revelation, I have attained the light of recognition and turned toward the sanctuary of certitude.

By Thy glory, O my God! Were it not for the lights of their permanence, I would surely have remained in the darkness of annihilation, as one brought to naught. How then can this feeble tongue make mention of those whom Thou hast made the manifestations of the lights of Thy majesty and glory? Among them, O my God, is this blessed Name whom Thou hast made the choicest of the chosen ones and the essence of the righteous and the learned.

O my God! The remembrances of this evanescent one befit not his presence nor are worthy of his station. I beseech Thee by Thy Most Great Remembrance and by Thy Most Perfect and Ancient Name that Thou make mention of him upon the throne of Thy beauty and the seat of Thy majesty with such holy remembrances as lie hidden within the pavilion of Thy mystery and are treasured beneath the veils of Thy Cause, that his eyes and the eyes of them that are nigh unto Thee among Thy servants and the sincere ones among Thy creatures may be solaced thereby. Verily, Thou art the All-Bountiful, possessed of grace and bounty, and the All-Merciful, possessed of generosity and bestowal. There is none other God but Thee, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious.

My spirit be a sacrifice for thee and for thy steadfastness in the Cause of thy Lord, the Lord of all names! Though thou art by outward nationality Iraqi, yet as thou hast for some time associated and communed with Persian friends and learned their expressions, therefore these few words are addressed in Persian to that Iraqi friend. By whatever means, one must find a way to the heart of a friend. O beloved of my heart and soul! The essence of knowledge and deeds, and the most ancient and excellent thereof, is today to arise to aid the Cause of the Lord of creation and the King of nations. Although thou hast exerted great and lofty efforts in all aspects to aid God’s Cause and promote His Faith, what hath been manifested from thee in service and support of the Cause hath been thy portion, and what is now being conveyed is this servant’s portion which thou must fulfill, as the outward means are cut off from this servant.

Be not content that one or two souls attain the water of recognition. Let the scattered tributaries that have branched from the Most Great Ocean be joined to the mightiest stream and enter the shore of the Sea of Seas. This was conveyed before and is now conveyed again, that thou mayest strive in this Cause and take the reins through the power of thy All-Knowing Lord. He will verily assist thee through His command. There is no God but Him, the Mighty, the Powerful.

However, these matters must be approached with complete wisdom, for the foundation of this momentous Cause is based on wisdom, and among wisdom’s requirements are planning and reflection. These two are like the two wings for the bird of the heaven of wisdom. Today these aspects are confined to thy being. Consider thyself alone in teaching and supporting the Cause. It is hoped from the ocean of the Most Merciful’s bounty that thou wilt arise from the horizon of teaching and utterance in such wise as to illumine and brighten all those lands with the lights of guidance and the manifestations of the Sun of Grandeur. This is not difficult for God. The confirmations of the Most Great Spirit have been with thee. God willing, thou wilt act according to what hath been inscribed by the Most Exalted Pen in all circumstances.

Again it is submitted that today teaching God’s Cause is the greatest of all things and most excellent of all that is mentioned. All of us who have been blessed from the Most Wondrous, Most Glorious cup must, with pure servitude and complete humility, detached from ourselves and all else, invite people to the Divine Law. Furthermore, regarding those souls who have been disturbed in this greatest upheaval, they must be treated with conciliation that perchance they may return to the ocean of certitude. It is known that most souls are weak, but God’s pre-existing mercy looks to ensure that no soul remains deprived, especially those who have endured hardships. In any case, it is incumbent upon thee to deal with such souls with kindness that they may not be deprived of divine bounty.

Furthermore, the evil one ʿAli-Muhammad hath written and continues to write whatever his soul dictates, resembling Tablets, on various papers and hath distributed them in the name of Truth. He hath ever been and still is engaged in this work. There he hath committed the same act and given them to certain souls to show people. The harm of this matter is great. Thou must not be heedless of this. We beseech God to remove him from the earth in such wise that no trace of him be seen and none know what became of him. Verily, He hath power over all things.

The circling prisoners of the Most Great Prison, one and all, convey their holy salutations, beyond words and utterance, to your honor and the other loved ones of God. Convey infinite expressions of longing, love and greeting from this evanescent servant to all the loved ones of God in that land and the remaining captives in His path who remain in that city. A petition has been sent to Amin Effendi, upon him be the Most Glorious Beauty of God. Convey this to him with countless greetings. And the spirit that wafts from the paradise of our Lord, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious, be upon you, O you who have been faithful to your Lord’s covenant, steadfast in His Cause, and were among the helpers.

The servant of God

The ring-watch that you had sent to the Most Holy Court was forwarded so that you might sell it and distribute its proceeds among certain handmaidens of God there. One third should be given to Sayfu’llah, that is, the Guest of Baha’u’llah, and the remaining two thirds should be divided between their two sisters and the sisters of Aqa Muhammad-Rida. Furthermore, they said it is necessary to take care of certain handmaidens of God who have been left without support and whose apparent means have been cut off. Verily, He will fully reward the doers of good. And furthermore, whoever intends may send one veil.

BH00780: What has befallen the Tree, its branches and leaves…

What has befallen the Tree, its branches and leaves hath caused the Cause of God to be exalted, yet the people remain behind a veil and covering. Whatsoever harm hath come upon Us, We have made it a means of exalting God’s Cause, the Lord of creation. We have knowledge of what hath befallen them in the path of God, and We have sent down for each one of them that which shall solace their eyes. Give them the glad tidings that their names were mentioned before the Throne. Thy Lord is, verily, the Mighty, the All-Knowing. We counsel them with wisdom, for through it flow the springs of knowledge amongst all created things. Blessed are they who have stood firm in the Cause and have tasted in His love what none before them have tasted. By My life! They are among the choicest of servants before the Mighty, the Bestower.

Blessed is he who hath been named the Trustworthy and who hath made mention with the tongue of his Lord, the Creator of all things, and blessed is Muhammad who hath attained unto the days of his Lord and hath answered his Master’s call. He is assuredly among the righteous. No more is permitted in this letter. Gladden ye all through the favors of God. All names have been revealed in the Tablets and have been and shall be under the glance of His grace. They must walk with the utmost wisdom lest anything occur that might cause the weak to stumble. If they act according to what hath been revealed from the Pen of the Cause, they shall soon witness all people turning towards it.

Concerning the two persons mentioned, their petition was presented before the Face, and this is what was sent down from the heaven of Will: O Aziz! Give thanks unto God for having enabled thee to recognize Him and for having given thee to drink of the pure wine in the days of His Manifestation, and for having aided thee to turn unto Him after every contumacious infidel had turned away. Say: Glory be to Thee, O my God! I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which the sun of Thy Revelation shone forth from the horizon of Thy Will, and which Thou hast made to hold sway over all who are in Thy earth and heaven, to make me detached from all else save Thee and to fix my gaze upon the horizon of Thy grace and bounties.

O Lord! Thou art the Rich and I am the poor. I have raised my hands of supplication to the heaven of Thy grace and my eyes await the wonders of Thy mercy. Send down upon me from the heaven of Thy generosity that which will draw me nigh unto Thee and make me steadfast in Thy Cause and firm in Thy love. Verily, Thou hast ever been established in Thy transcendent might and power. I testify that Thy power hath encompassed all worlds. There is no God but Thee, the Mighty, the Generous.

O Aziz! This is a Day wherein if thou wouldst turn with the ear of thine innate nature unto the rock, thou wouldst hear it proclaim:

“The Day is come and the Promised One hath appeared with manifest sovereignty.”

The power of thy Lord hath encompassed all contingent things. Ask thou of Iraq those who walk the path of fairness and thou shalt be assured that He hath appeared with all the signs. He hath shattered the idols of vain imaginings through the sovereignty of thy Lord, the Mighty, the All-Knowing. When thou hast attained unto that which hath flowed from the Most Exalted Pen, say: Praise be to Thee for having sent down unto me that which shall cause me to endure in the kingdom of names and shall establish my remembrance among the righteous.

O Razzaq! Thy letter hath come before the Face and We found from it the fragrance of thy love for thy Lord, the Mighty, the Self-Subsisting. We have pardoned what is past and have sent down for thee that which shall cause spirits to soar. Verily thy Lord is the Mighty, the All-Forgiving. Soar thou in My atmosphere, make mention of My Name and voice My praise among My servants in such wise as to transform the servants when the breezes of the All-Merciful waft over thee from this Book which hath been sent down from the heaven of utterance. Turn with thy heart to the Qiblih of all creation. Say:

O my God and my Beloved! Praise be unto Thee for having caused me to recognize the Manifestation of Thy Self, the Dawning-Place of Thy Beauty, and the Dayspring of Thy Revelation. I beseech Thee not to shut me out from Thy gate which Thou hast opened unto all who are in Thy heaven and on Thy earth. O my Lord! Aid me to love Thee in such wise that I may be content with Thy good-pleasure, moved by Thy command, and in all conditions be turned toward the realm of Thy grace and bounty, immersed in the ocean of Thy knowledge which hath appeared through Thy Most Great Name, from every drop of which can be heard: “There is none other God but Him, the Mighty, the All-Wise.”

Blessed art thou, O servant, inasmuch as thy mention hath been made from this glorious horizon. Say: He desireth naught for Himself. I summon you from this prison unto God, the Mighty, the All-Knowing. Say: O people! Ponder upon God’s ambassadors of the past and this Cause through which the standards of His Command have been raised. Beware lest ye deny Him through Whom the eyes of them that are nigh unto God have been solaced. When thou hast drunk the Salsabil of divine exposition from the utterance of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, say: Praise be unto Thee, O Thou the Goal of them that know Thee.

Had circumstances permitted, unique and sublime Tablets would have been revealed and sent unto all. However, due to the clamor of the heedless and the croaking of the ungodly, this brief message shall suffice. We send greetings and glorification to all the loved ones in the land of Ba and Sad. Blessed are they, for their names have been mentioned before the Presence. This, verily, is a great bounty.

Regarding the attestation of Shaykh Muhammad, We beseech God to strengthen him at all times according to what his Lord, the All-Merciful, hath willed, to cause the Salsabil of life to flow from his tongue, and to enable him to make mention of Him and praise Him among His servants. Verily, He is the Ruler over whatsoever He willeth.

As for what thou hast mentioned concerning the imprisoned one, he is indeed imprisoned as his Lord was imprisoned. Blessed is he for having followed His example. None of the souls dwelling in that land are commissioned to teach; rather, all must conduct themselves among the servants with spiritual qualities and praiseworthy attributes that will engender the love of people. This much sufficeth. Should any soul utter words that cause disturbance to another in that land, the harm will rebound upon all. Surely forbid the servants from such mentions that cause people to become alarmed. As for their expression of distress and desire for permission to proceed elsewhere—since each of the friends and associates in that land has no connection save through thee, praise be to God that thou hast attained unto this relationship, and this sufficeth.

Concerning what was mentioned about the child: Blessed art thou for having sacrificed him in the path of God. Indeed, it hath been revealed in one of the Tablets, these words—exalted be His glory:

“Were the Word of God to be confined to a single word, the books of all the worlds could not equal it.”

Be not grieved at Our having abbreviated the Tablet, for therein is seen a mighty Book. This is a Tablet mingled with the salt of God; when thou hast tasted it and discovered its savor, arise and say: Praise be to Thee, O God of the worlds! Marvel not if We jest in prison, for grief hath never overtaken Us in the path of thy Lord, and We are in wondrous joy. We have indeed sacrificed one of the Branches. Say: Thine be the praise, O Glory of the worlds! Would that thou knewest the surgings of this Most Great Ocean and what lieth therein of the pearls of thy Lord’s mysteries, the Mighty, the All-Praised.

In this Cause thou hast followed the truth. Well is it with thee for having attained thereunto. Let nothing grieve thee in the love of God, the Mighty, the All-Knowing. Be thou engaged in the service of the Cause with the utmost dedication. All matters shall, God willing, be set aright if He so wisheth and decreeth. Be thou patient, for He is verily the All-Forgiving, the Most Generous.

The matter which is of the utmost importance in the sight of God is that all should strive to unite souls, that all may become united and in truth abide in perfect love, harmony and unity. This matter hath been revealed in most of the Tablets. Blessed are they that act accordingly.

Mention was made of Jinab-i-Rida. We beseech God to aid him in the service of his Lord. He hath rendered and continueth to render many services. These shall surely not remain without fruit and recompense. Give him the glad-tidings of My remembrance of him, for He is the best of them that remember.

BH00802: O Imam! There hath come before the Throne…

He is the Ruler over whatsoever He willeth by His all-compelling dominion that encompasseth the horizons!

O Imam! There hath come before the Throne a letter wherein was thy mention. We have, therefore, adorned thee with this remembrance which hath proceeded from the mouth of thy Lord, that thou mayest glory therein amidst the heavens and earths. How sweet is this fragrance that hath wafted from the utterance of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, throughout all creation! Blessed is he who hath perceived it and is of them that advance.

O Imam! Arise with such steadfastness as cannot be altered by the doubts of men or the might of rulers. Thus doth thy Lord, the All-Knowing, command thee. Say: O thou remote oppressor! Hearest thou not how the Trump proclaimeth this Revelation and the Bell ringeth out this Most Great Name? The Most Exalted Pen hath been sounded, and all in creation were thunderstruck save whom thy Lord, the Lord of Names, did will. He is verily the Almighty, the Powerful.

The branches of denial have been broken and the tail of Satan severed by the sword of the All-Merciful. Thus was raised the clamor of them that disbelieved, and the pillars of every heedless remote one were shaken. When the fire of malice was kindled, We closed the door for known months. Then did God raise up those whom He destroyed by His pure might. He is verily the Protector over His servants. There is none other God but Him, the Most High, the Most Great. Should God wish, We would detail what hath transpired and send it unto thee. He is verily the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Thus have We adorned thy temple with the raiment of remembrance and sprinkled upon thee from the ocean of thy Lord’s mercy, the Mighty, the Bountiful.

O thou who art rich! Hearken unto the call from the direction of the Lord of Names, from the Most Exalted Tree. Verily, there is none other God but Him, the Almighty, the Unconstrained. The people of blindness rose against Us with swords of rejection. When opposition reached its height, the Tongue of Unity spoke, after the door was closed and the veil drawn, saying—and His word is the truth:

“The necks have grown long with hypocrisy. Where are Thy swords of vengeance, O Destroyer of the worlds?”

Then did God raise up a people possessed of mighty strength who arose to aid the Cause with force and power. Thus did the hosts of oppression encompass Us, and there befell Us that which the pens are powerless to recount. Yet in such condition We continue to summon all beings unto God, the Lord of all men. Nothing shall prevent Us from the remembrance of God, even as the tyranny of every doubting oppressor did not prevent Us. Be thou steadfast in the Cause, then make mention of it among the servants, that perchance they who sleep upon the couch of heedlessness and ignorance may become aware and turn unto the Lord of all mankind.

O Shafi’! Give thanks unto thy Lord for having turned toward thee the face of God from this noble prospect. Blessed are ye for having heard the call and turned unto God, the Lord of the worlds. He that is moved by the fragrance of reunion and drawn by the lights of beauty is assuredly among the people of Baha, inscribed in a mighty tablet. Say: The Sun of the Promised One hath dawned. By God! He is verily the Desired One. Blessed is he who hath advanced with his heart and drunk of this luminous nectar. Be thou in such wise that neither the winds of trials move thee nor the veils of the oppressors hinder thee. Arise from the horizon of certitude with radiant countenance and gladdened eyes, speaking this Most Great Name. We have created you for the service of the Cause and exalted you through this manifest grace. God shall soon manifest your glory throughout the lands. He is verily the Ruler over what He willeth by His all-compelling sovereignty over the worlds.

O Fath’u’llah! We have opened unto thee the gate of remembrance from this far-distant place, and the Tongue of Eternity makes mention of thee from the Most Great Prison. By My life! If thou wert to taste the sweetness of this bounty, thou wouldst detach thyself from all else and arise to serve thy glorious Lord. Thy name hath been mentioned before the Countenance, and there have been revealed for thee these verses which nothing created on earth can equal. Blessed is he who hears and says: “Praise be to Thee, O God of the worlds!” The Wronged One calls the people to God while they have drawn the swords of opposition against His radiant and wondrous face. Say: God is the protector of all things; He guards whomsoever He willeth through His sovereignty. When protection comes from His presence, the swords of the world cannot harm him. Thus have We caused to shine upon thee from the horizon of grace the sun of remembrance and utterance. When thou art illumined by its lights, render thanks and be of those who praise.

O Ayn! Know thou that the eye is the highest of the senses, and its station is that of fire among the four elements. Therefore, it behooveth thee to manifest through the fire of thy Lord’s love in such wise that the hearts of the righteous may be set ablaze through thee. Thy name was inscribed in the Book which was presented before the Throne, and We have revealed verses for thee and sent them to thee that thou mayest be assured of His bounty toward thee and be of those who have attained to the mention of their Lord, the Mighty, the Bestower. Blessed art thou, O Ayn, for the eye of God hath turned toward thee from this Scene which God hath made the Qiblih of all who are in earth and heaven. Be thou as a bird soaring in My atmosphere, speaking My Name, celebrating My remembrance, and steadfast in this Cause whereby feet have slipped. The Lord of all beings hath been afflicted in the land of Syria amidst the people of darkness by what the hands of those who turned away from the countenance of Beauty have wrought. Be thou not grieved by what hath befallen Us. Be thou vocal with this Name amongst the servants.

O Sharif! Hearken unto the call from this luminous Station from whose horizon the Book of Union was manifestly witnessed through grace. Blessed is he to whom the Countenance of the Ancient of Days hath turned from this Most Great Prison, and by whose name moved the Pen that was held between the fingers of the All-Merciful.

O My loved ones! Be not saddened by the barking of dogs. Hold fast to the cord of grace in this Day wherein that which was hidden from time immemorial hath been manifested. Take up the chalices in the name of the Cleaver of Dawn, then drink therefrom the choice wine of salvation, despite those who denied the proof when the All-Merciful came with an all-encompassing sovereignty. Beware lest the veils of the wicked prevent you from your Chosen Lord. Be steadfast in the Cause; thus hath the decree been irrevocably fixed by the truth.

O Pen of loving-kindness! Turn toward Javad and make mention of him from the presence of the Lord of creation, Who hath come from the heaven of utterance with the sovereignty of God, the Self-Subsisting, that the fragrance of verses from the Lord of attributes might stir him and establish him in the love of God in such wise that neither the allusions of the deniers nor the signs of those who have turned away from God, the Mighty, the Beloved, can hinder him. Hold fast to the handle of sanctity and be a sign of detachment among the people. Thus doth thy Lord, the Mighty, the Loving, command thee. Say: Blessed is he who hath detached himself from all else and followed what hath been revealed in the Tablets. He is truly the apple of the eye of existence. Make mention of your Lord, the All-Merciful, with wisdom and utterance. God will soon assist you with authority from His presence and will exalt whomsoever He willeth among His creation. He, verily, is the Truth, the Knower of things unseen. All things are within the grasp of His power; neither is anything in the unseen or visible realms hidden from His knowledge.

O Imam! Glorify on behalf of thy Lord those who have heard, have turned towards Him and have answered the Call of God when it was raised in truth from this exalted station. The name of not one of those who have turned unto Him hath been left out of thy Lord’s Book. He, verily, is the One Whose grace is manifest. Remember them at all times, that they may be drawn by this wise Remembrance. Say: Sorrow not over anything, for He is with you and this sufficeth you, did ye but know. Rejoice in My remembrance of you and in My turning towards you from this Spot which God hath made the Source of His mighty and wondrous Cause. Thus hath the Divine Lote-Tree spoken forth from this most sublime Station, out of Its love for you, that ye may give thanks unto your Lord, the Most Merciful, at all times, and arise to aid His Cause amidst His heedless servants. And the glory be upon thee and upon those who are with thee amongst the loved ones of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Bountiful.

BH00817: O thou who gazest upon the Friend and awaitest…

He is the Manifest Interpreter

O thou who gazest upon the Friend and awaitest the appearance of the Glorious One! Know thou that We have read the Gospel and with Us are its meanings and mysteries which none hath discovered save whom God willeth. Then know that wisdom requireth giving to each seeker his measure. The ocean containeth what is in the cup, but the cup cannot contain what is in the ocean. The cup hath been given according to its capacity and the ocean according to its measure. Ponder that thou mayest be of them that comprehend. We give the thirsty to drink of the wine of understanding—verily it is the Kawthar of life. Blessed are they that drink thereof.

Consider when Jesus was asked at the time when the Pharisees had gathered round Him; He said to the questioner: “Thou sayest,” and gave no other answer. Thus was the matter ordained in the Book. The hour hath come wherein the Spirit glorified His Lord, but ponder thou that hour whose knowledge was concealed from all who are on earth, and none discovered it save the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Whoso attaineth its recognition at the time of its manifestation hath attained eternal life and entered the Kingdom and partaken of what hath been perfected therein. Blessed is he who hath found the fragrance of the utterance and turned towards it, detached from all else.

Beware lest the veils hinder thee. Look, then remember when the Spirit came: He was denied by the Pharisees who possessed knowledge of the Law and its minutiae, while those who caught fish believed in Him, as did those who were publicans. Take heed and be of them that remember. Reflect upon the cause of these men’s rejection and the reason for those men’s acceptance, that the truth may become manifest to thee and thou mayest behold the light shining from its manifest and luminous horizon.

Among the Pharisees were those who cited the Torah as proof of His falsity, after the Torah had testified of Him and what was revealed in the scrolls of the Messengers. Had they understood the Books and what God intended therein, they would not have been debarred from recognizing that which was their purpose. To this testifieth every fair-minded one possessed of knowledge. When they interpreted what was in the Books according to their desires, they were veiled from the Spirit and committed that which caused the eyes of them that are nigh to shed tears.

We have cast thee into the depths of these allusions that which sufficeth thee, wouldst thou ponder them with a pure and sanctified and illumined heart. Blessed is the eye that seeth, the ear that heareth, the hand that graspeth, and the heart that turneth unto the Lord of great glory. Among the people are those who turn to Him through their desires, and among them are those who turn according to what their Lord desireth. Blessed is he whose desire is what his Lord, the Mighty, the Great, desireth.

As to what thou hast asked concerning my condition, know thou that I am a captive, and I would that trees had been cut down for my name and a portion of my body crucified upon each one of them. Thus do We impart unto thee that thou mayest be of them that comprehend. We beseech God to draw thee nigh unto Him and cause thee to hear the melody of the Dove which warbleth upon the branches in diverse notes. He, verily, is the Almighty, the Glorious, the Bountiful.

O thou who gazest! Know that this is a Day wherein questioning beseemeth no one. It hath been ordained for every soul that, when he heareth the Call from the direction of the snow-white Spot, he should hasten and say:

“Here am I, O God of earth and heaven, Creator of names!”

Woe betide them who were not stirred by the breezes of the All-Merciful in those days and were not awakened by the shrill voice of His Most Exalted Pen. They have not risen from among the dead, nor attained unto that for which they were created. We testify that they are of the dead.

The appointed time hath come, the Hour hath struck, and the Beloved of all who are in the heavens and on earth hath appeared. Thou didst leave thy home, turning toward the Spot wherein the Manifestation was promised in the tablets of God, the Mighty, the Impregnable. Thou hast reached the sea and beholdest its waves. Beware lest vain imaginings prevent thee from immersing thyself therein. Seek assistance through the Name of thy Lord, then enter it, stripped of the garments of allusion. Thus wilt thou find its pearls and say: “Praise be unto Thee, O Quickener of the worlds!”

We see the veil to be thin. Rend it with the finger of certitude that thou mayest behold the Sun of Beauty shining from behind it and be of them that attain. Beware lest that which prevented the divines of the earth when the Spirit came with the kingdom of His Lord, the Mighty, the Generous, prevent thee. Shouldst thou hear what the Tongue of Eternity addresseth unto thee, thou wouldst abandon all thou hast and turn toward the Station before which the Kingdom crieth out: “The King of Kings hath come with great glory!”

Reflect on that which hath flowed from the Pen that thou mayest find therefrom the fragrance of eternity. This is of His grace upon thee and upon the peoples, if thou be of them that turn. Withhold not thy tongue from the remembrance of thy Lord, nor thine eyes from gazing upon the scene of God, the Almighty, the Powerful. Arise from among the dead in the name of thy Lord, the Most High, the Most Exalted, and be thou one that crieth out His remembrance amidst His heedless servants.

Blessed is the heart that hath drunk what hath flowed in those days, and the temple that hath attained to standing in the presence of the All-Merciful and been honored with that which was promised in the Book from One true and faithful. Shouldst thou turn toward the Bell, thou wouldst hear from it the name of thy Lord, and shouldst thou look upon the Law, thou wouldst find it adorned with this wondrous remembrance.

How many Pharisees secluded themselves in temples awaiting the days of Christ, yet when He came with the truth from the heaven of thy Lord’s will, they denied Him and were of the oppressors! How many learned ones were barred from the ocean of knowledge, and how many ignorant ones hastened, drank, and said:

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

How many wise ones were heedless of the Purpose, and how many children turned and attained unto that which their Lord, the Mighty, the Impregnable, desired! How many women arrived and attained unto the presence of the Spirit and His knowledge, and how many men of power kept far from that noble Scene!

We beseech God to make thee a champion of His Cause and a servant of His Manifestation, and to make thee a standard of guidance among creation, that thy remembrance may endure in the realm below and thy spirit in the Kingdom above. Verily, He is powerful over whatsoever He willeth. When thou hast drunk from the Kawthar of life and attained unto that which the All-Merciful hath desired for thee, detach thyself wholly from all else, then turn with radiant countenance unto thy Lord. The Most Holy Sanctuary hath been adorned with the mention of thy Lord, the Lord of all names, and the land of Batha hath been stirred by the call of thy Lord, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious.

Wilt thou remain still when all things have been set in motion by this Name, at Whose revelation all who are in the heavens and on earth were thunder-struck, save whom thy Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise, hath willed? The Temple hath been raised by the hand of the All-Merciful’s loving-kindness and adorned with the ornament of utterance. Is this better for you, or that which hath been built of clay? Judge ye fairly, if ye be of them that know.

From the right hand of the Throne there hath been raised a Call whereby the Pens were struck dumb, the Tablets were shaken, and the dwellers of the heavens and earth were thrown into confusion. The Kawthar of life hath flowed by the will of the All-Merciful, and the choice wine of immortality is bestowed by the hands of bounty. Take ye and drink in My Name, whereby all in the worlds have been subdued. Cast behind you the intimations of self; this is your Lord Who hath come with His holy kingdom, the Mighty, the Inaccessible. Do the might of kings or the cawing of the owned one frighten you? He, verily, aideth whom He willeth through a sovereignty from His presence, and He is indeed the All-Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

If thou findest weakness in thyself, seek strength through the power of thy Lord, and if thou perceivest lassitude in thyself, speak forth this remembrance that thou mayest be attracted by the signs of thy Lord and soar in the atmosphere of His love. Then wilt thou hear the cry of all things: “Blessed be God, the most excellent of creators!” Thus have We adorned the Kingdom with the lights of the Divine Realm and caused the sun of thy Lord’s beauty to shine forth from its horizon, the All-Knowing, the Ancient of Days. When thou hast attained unto this, draw near and say: “Praise be unto Thee, O Beloved of the worlds!”

BH00873: Your letter addressed to this servant, present before…

In the Name of the Peerless, Incomparable God!

Your letter addressed to this servant, present before the Throne, was received before the Divine Presence. Previously, a detailed Tablet was written and sent to you, and likewise to Ali and Anis, upon them be the glory of God. God willing, may all else be awakened by the fragrances of your love and the wondrous expressions of your remembrance, and may they incline their hearts toward the Beloved, Who is sanctified above all directions. The letter which the Afnan had written to you was also presented and observed before the Most Great Presence, and from it was inhaled the fragrance of the love of the All-Merciful. Blessed is he, and glory be unto him from his Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

In his letter mention was made of two of the Afnan; therefore the ocean of thy Lord’s loving-kindness surged, and the winds of thy Master’s favors were stirred, and there was revealed for each of them a Tablet that brought solace to the eyes. In the Land of Mystery and Iraq it was revealed in Tablets that all the Afnan would attain unto the Everlasting Law. Thus did God will it, and His will hath been and ever shall be sovereign and all-encompassing. The gaze of mercy and the glance of bounty have ever been directed towards them and, God willing, ever shall be. Had all who dwell on earth been mentioned in His Book, We would have revealed for them that which would cause spirits to soar and minds to be attracted. This is of Our grace upon him. Verily, thy Lord is the All-Bountiful, the All-Knowing, the All-Forgiving.

We beseech God that all may remain steadfast and firm in His love, in such wise that the fragrances of their constancy may waft throughout the realm. This is a station concerning which the Beloved of the world made complaint—though in truth it was not a complaint, but rather a revelation of the greatness of this station. He said, and His word is the truth: “These two verses have turned My hair white.”

O My Name! The utmost joy and delight were occasioned by the turning of those two souls whose mention was outwardly made in the Most Holy Court, for God hath never wished that any of those souls should remain veiled. Say: Take ye the chalices of salvation in the name of Him Who causeth the dawn to break, then drink therefrom in remembrance of this Light on this morn. Well is it with you, O ye that drink!

O My Name! The fragrances of the All-Merciful’s loving-kindness are wafting with the utmost joy and fragrance throughout all creation, and the utterance of the Beloved is manifest with supreme delicacy and sweetness. The Pen of the Lord of eternity floweth with perfect clarity and sweetness. Nevertheless, behold how many of the people remain veiled and remote. Hath any melody equaled this melody? Nay, by the Lord of all created things! Hath any call more exalted or more sweet reached mortal ears? Nay, by My all-compelling Self!

O Mihdi! At a time when the Manifest Beauty was imprisoned at the hands of the oppressors of the earth, and both those without and those within were engaged in the utmost heedlessness and error, tyranny and insolence, the call was that which thou didst hear, and the Tablets were those that were sent to the rulers of the earth. Have I ever compromised in the Cause of God? Then would the Lord of Lords declare: Nay, by thy life, O thou through whom sovereignty and power have been manifested!

O Mihdi! Nevertheless, some of the veiled ones among the people of the Bayan have preferred and chosen the buzzing of flies over the wondrous melodies of the Lord of Names and Attributes. This is indeed oppression, wert thou to perceive it. They have abandoned the most pure and fragrant Kawthar and turned to the putrid and noxious pool.

O Mihdi! The exposition is vast and time is short; therefore it is better that we turn to mention other matters.

Furthermore, in the letter from Afnan was mentioned his brother and sister who had intended to journey to the Most Holy Court. How excellent was their intention! However, this land continues to be in turmoil, as was previously detailed in the Tablets. The manifestation of turmoil is in these days, therefore permission was not granted on this occasion. O My Name! We perceive from Muhammad, in most times, the fragrance of love for his Lord, the All-Merciful. Think not that thy Lord is heedless. With Him is the knowledge of all things, but the people are in heedlessness and behind a veil. We make mention of him at times, as testified by Him Who has knowledge of mysteries. Convey My greetings unto him and unto the sister. For them is a goodly return.

In his letter was mention of the Trustworthy One. We beseech God to strengthen him at all times. Verily, He is the Answerer of the prayers of the supplicants. May He enable him to do what He loves and is pleased with. Verily, He is the Ruler over what He wishes. Say unto him: We have known what thou hast done in the path of thy Lord. We were with thee in all conditions. We testify and We see.

Likewise, the letter of Ibn-i-Za’, upon him be the Glory of God, which he had written to thee, was presented before the Face. Convey My greetings unto his face. We beseech God to strengthen him in the service of his Lord. We testify that he is among those who have attained and witnessed the testimony of his Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. This is better for him than what is witnessed and seen. Verily thy Lord is the Munificent Giver. He makes mention of Us in the letter Ha; We make mention of him in this Great Prison. Say: Say: My spirit be a sacrifice for Thy favors, O Beloved of the worlds!

Furthermore, regarding the aforementioned sum that the honored Afnan had mentioned—verily he is the trustee from the presence of the Truth. This was decreed aforetime from One All-Knowing, All-Wise. We had previously given permission that whatever amount your honor needs for occupation may be requested. Now the decree remains the same, however major commerce in that land is not permitted for your honor. Let it be just enough to keep you occupied and to expend, for enemies seek to grasp at various pretexts and arise in pursuit. This apparent wisdom is mentioned, otherwise thy Lord is verily the Protector in all conditions. Verily, He has power over all things. We have previously commanded the observance of outward matters, therefore the Pen flows upon such matters.

Likewise, a special Tablet for the honored Uncle, upon him be the Glory of God, was revealed from the heaven of the Will of the Self-Sufficient, the Most Exalted, and was sent. O My Name! Convey sublime greetings from this Prisoner to all the loved ones of that land and other regions. The poems of his honor ʿAli were mentioned before the Face. Blessed is he in having drunk the wine of faith and having opened his lips in praise of his Lord, the All-Merciful.

Say to Isma’il: We had previously answered thee, as if thou hast forgotten it. Be thou assured and trust in God. He will give thee what He willeth. He is verily the Mighty, the Generous.

Say: O Moses! We beseech God to cause thee to hear from this Tree what the Interlocutor heard. He is verily the Almighty, the Powerful. O My Name! Convey what We have conveyed to thee in this Tablet, then send what was revealed for thee before, and be of those who remember. The Glory be upon thee and upon those who are with thee, who have remained steadfast in the Cause and were among the firm ones.

BH00869: O Abdul-Ghani! Hearken unto the call of the All-Bountiful…

In the name of Him Who is seated upon the throne of Divine Unity

O Abdul-Ghani! Hearken unto the call of the All-Bountiful in the most wondrous and sweet language. This is the Day wherein every soul, detached from all else, must occupy itself with the remembrance of the Sovereign Lord of verses. Look not at what hath been mentioned, but at what hath shone forth from this Horizon, from which the Sun of Glory and Power hath dawned.

Arise with the utmost diligence and endeavor to promote the Cause. Soon shall the people of truth behold in the Kingdom the fruits of acceptance and deeds. This is the Day of helplessness and supplication. Pure nothingness hath been and shall ever be beloved, and whosoever attaineth unto this station shall be reckoned before God among the dwellers of the cities of eternity.

Many are those who have remained deprived and forbidden from a single word of the Sovereign of Oneness. The Tablets sent down from the heaven of God’s Will have been revealed concerning every matter. No mention remaineth except that which hath flowed from the Most Exalted Pen, and no question is seen except that its answer hath dawned and appeared from the horizon of the heaven of inner meanings.

Although much of what was revealed hath been lost and effaced due to lack of time and the rebellion of the people of hatred, strive to obtain that which exists, that thou mayest testify with complete certitude that all that hath been and will be mentioned hath flowed from the Ancient Pen.

As to thy question about the Mathnavi poetry, it would be a pity in this Day for the Most Exalted Pen to flow in such mentions. Hast thou not observed that the Primal Point, the Most Exalted Remembrance, saith “His mention shall be ʿThere is none other God but I, O My creation, bear ye witness unto Me”’? Nevertheless, in previous years there hath flowed from the Ancient Pen in these stations that which sufficeth.

Similarly, questions were asked about the disconnected letters. During the sojourn of the Day Star of the horizons in Iraq, countless verses were revealed concerning these matters, some of which were sent. By My life! If thou wert to look with penetrating vision, thou wouldst find therein that which would make thee soar in the atmosphere of wisdom and utterance. Reflect upon those revealed verses, for We have deposited in the depths of those allusions the mysteries of thy Lord, the Source of verses. Oceans of meanings lie concealed therein, and divine consummate wisdom is hidden therein. Blessed is he who recognizeth and saith:

“I testify, O my God, that Thou art the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.”

Likewise, previously some explanations flowed from the Pen of Command concerning a single verse of the Mathnavi and were sent. In truth, the meanings of what thou hast asked and what thou hast not asked are all concealed and inscribed therein.

Furthermore, concerning the blessed verse “Alif Lam Mim. The Romans have been defeated,” thou hadst inquired. In this regard, a mention of the Sovereign was previously revealed. Search that thou mayest find and be of them who know. However, We have commanded the Most Great Branch to interpret anew that blessed verse and send it.

Moreover, mention was made of the Dawning-Places of Manifestations and the Rising-Points of divine verses, especially in Tablets concerning the mention of Names, their essences, their effulgences, their realities, their origins, their influences, their ascents and their descents, revealed from the Source of Command in response to one of the loved ones in the Land of Mystery. Blessed is he who findeth and readeth and saith: “Praise be unto Thee, O God of the worlds.”

In the Epistle of Badi’, which was sent down from the heaven of Will in the name of one of the servants, reflect thou upon the unveiling of certain veiled matters therein.

O illumined one! A Tablet from God, the Lord of creation, hath been sent unto thee. We beseech God to aid thee in all conditions and to make thee among those who have attained to what He desired for them in the beginning and the end. If God should will and desire it, divine Tablets shall reach thee hereafter, and thou shalt attain unto them.

Make mention on My behalf of Our servant who is named Majid. Say: Blessed art thou for having turned unto the Qiblih of all horizons. Happy art thou and happy is he who hath drunk the cup of life from the fingers of the mercy of his Lord, the All-Merciful, on this Day which God hath made the solace of all days. Grieve not over remoteness, for how many a remote one have We decreed to be near, and how many a near one is verily in the fire. Be as thy Lord desireth thee to be. He desireth for those who turn unto Him naught save what He hath desired for His chosen servants. Blessed art thou, inasmuch as mention of thee hath flowed from the Most Great Pen and thy name hath been uttered by the tongue of thy Lord, the All-Forgiving.

Then make mention of the Hearing One. Say: Hearken unto that which the Lord of Destiny calleth thee from the direction of His most great prospect.

Then make mention of the Bearer of Glad Tidings. Say: By God! The moon hath been cleft asunder and the Ancient Beauty hath been established upon the throne of His name, the All-Merciful, the Most Compassionate. Blessed be the ear that hath heard the call of its Lord and hath said: “Yea, O Beloved of the heavens and the earth!” Blessed art thou for having turned unto the Qiblih of them that have recognized Him, and for having mentioned Him with thy tongue while He was imprisoned in this mighty prison. This prison hath been named the Most Great Prison. Ponder upon this, that ye may comprehend what your Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise, hath intended. Before this, We were beneath chains and fetters when We were in the prison of the wicked in the land of Ta, yet that was not named the Most Great. Thus doth the Lord of nations inform thee that thou mayest be among the discerning ones.

Then make mention of him who was named by the Most Great Name. Say: Give thanks unto thy Lord for having aided thee to recognize His Self on this Day whereon earthquakes have seized all the tribes of the earth and the veils of idle fancy have been rent asunder through this Name whereby the standards of thy Lord’s Cause, the All-Glorious, the All-Knowing, have been raised aloft and that which was hidden hath been revealed. Render thanks unto God for having aided thee to turn unto the horizon of Beauty and for having bestowed upon thee that which hath been sent down from the heaven of His name, the Self-Subsisting. Put thy trust in Him in all matters. Say: Unto Thee be praise, O Lord of the seen and the unseen! Blessed art thou for having attained unto the recognition of thy Lord after all the ungodly rejected Him. Adorn thy breast with the ornament of divine knowledge, thy heart with the remembrance of the All-Merciful, and thy tongue with His Name, the One Who overlordeth all that witnesseth and is witnessed. Rejoice in what hath been sent down unto thee from the direction of the Throne—manifest verses which nothing in the heavens or earth can equal. Verily, thy Lord is the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting.

O My loved ones! Grieve not over anything. Put your trust in God. By My life! He hath ordained for you that which shall never perish. He is the Mighty, the All-Loving. O thou who art rich! God willing, thou hast been and wilt ever be the recipient of the effulgent favors shining from the Dayspring of Beauty, and with utmost joy and fragrance thou art occupied in helping the Cause of the All-Merciful through gracious utterances and penetrating counsels. This is the most great bounty and the most ancient grace. In all divine words, diligent effort is necessary. Acquire what thou canst and occupy thyself therewith. Thou art accounted among the people of Baha by the Most Exalted Pen. This bounty sufficeth thee—be thou grateful and among the thankful ones. All praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds. Convey My greetings to the faces of My loved ones and give them the glad tidings of the mention of their Lord, the All-Bountiful.

BH00898: This is a remembrance from Us to one who…

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

This is a remembrance from Us to one who was mentioned before Our presence and concerning whom Our Most Exalted Pen was moved to write, in such wise that the pages were filled therewith. Grieve not at anything, but put thy trust in God, the Illuminator of the horizons. Soon shall He exalt those who have aided His Cause and abase those who have lifted up their necks in pride and who waxed arrogant against God when He came unto them with all His signs. We testify that they are among the people of hypocrisy who have risen up with tyranny in all regions, wielding the swords of treachery and iniquity. Verily thy Lord is the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

O My Name! The Beloved is in such tribulation as hath no parallel in all lands, and the Wronged One is in such adversity as the eye of creation hath never witnessed. Yet in such a state do We summon all beings unto God, their Lord, the Master of the Day of Mutual Calling. We address all created things with the most exalted call: Awaken ye to the call of your Lord Who hath come with power and sovereignty!

At times We address the company of the Torah and call them to the Revealer of verses Who hath come from the presence of the Lord of all men. We say: The Most Great Law hath come, and the Ancient Beauty ruleth upon the throne of David. Thus hath the Pen spoken that which was mentioned in the tales of the ancients among the followers of all religions. But now David crieth out, saying:

“O my Lord, the All-Loving! Make me to be of them who are steadfast in Thy Cause, O Thou through Whom faces have shone and feet have slipped!”

O My Name! Were We to manifest that which beseemeth Us, thou wouldst witness the earth changed into another earth, the heavens cleft asunder, all faces turned toward, and all eyes fixed upon, the direction of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Bestower. O My Name! By God! We have donned a garment of camel’s hair lest anyone should recognize Me, and those whose garments of pride have been soiled should flee from around Me. Thus doth the tongue of faithfulness speak. Blessed is he who hath turned unto that which hath proceeded from the mouth of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Bountiful.

By God! Were We to desire to bring forth the hand of Our grandeur from the sleeve of Our will, other hands would prevent it. Thus have We ordained it for Our Self in the kingdom of Our Cause, lest the eyes of those who have doubted and risen up in tyranny should fall upon it. Wert thou to look with Mine eye, thou wouldst see that the Pen moveth for Mine own Self, the verses descend for Mine ear, Beauty hath appeared for Mine eye, and utterance hath been created for the tongue of thy Lord, the All-Merciful.

O Mihdi! This is a station that none among the servants hath known from the beginning that hath no beginning, nor shall anyone ascend unto it save through My might, My power, and My sovereignty that hath encompassed all regions. At such times, We sit alone in the house, awaiting that which shall deliver Us from the hands of the wicked. Thou dost witness this station, and also those who follow their own desires yet claim to be of the people of Baha in the kingdom of names. By God! They are but worshippers of passion, to which thy Lord, the Mighty, the All-Uttering, doth testify.

Observe thou the people of the Bayan, how they have been veiled by mention of succession and the like from Him Who, by the movement of His finger, created that which the hearts of the successors cannot comprehend. By My life! Were We to lift this veil, the hearts of them who are possessed of understanding would be rent asunder.

O My Name! We have sprinkled upon thee a sprinkling from the surging seas that were hidden in thy Lord’s knowledge, that thou mayest become aware of what hath befallen Us at the hands of the people of error.

It behooveth Us to turn now to another rendering of the verses and return to what We set forth at the beginning of the Book. At one time We address the concourse of the Gospel, saying: The All-Glorious hath come with this Name through which the divine fragrance hath wafted o’er all lands. O concourse of the Son! The Temple hath been built by the hands of the Will of your Lord, the Mighty, the Bestower. Tell Me truthfully, O people: Is that which is built of clay better, or that which is built by the hands of the power of your Lord, the Revealer of verses? This is the Temple that was promised you in the Tablets, calling out:

“O people of the kingdom! Hasten ye unto the Lord of all Cause, and follow not every doubting idolator.”

At another time We address the concourse of the Furqan: Fear ye the All-Merciful, and oppose not Him through Whom all religions have been fulfilled. Say: The laws have been ordained in My Name, and the verses have been sent down for My Remembrance, which God hath made the Sovereign of all remembrance.

Say: O concourse of the Bayan! Your mention beseemeth you not, for ye are the most veiled of all people before the Self-Sufficient, the Most High. We have rent asunder some of the veils for you that ye might recognize the others. Even then We behold you at the first obstacle, worshipping idle fancies. Say: Ponder the utterance of God that ye may comprehend His purpose, O people of the veils!

Say: O concourse of the wise! Be fair before God—can any among you race with the Knight of utterance in the arena of grandeur and majesty? Nay, by My Self, were ye of the fair-minded!

How long will ye, O concourse of divines, level the spears of hatred at the face of Baha? Rein in your pens. Lo, the Most Sublime Pen speaketh betwixt earth and heaven. Fear God, and follow not your desires which have altered the face of creation. Purify your ears that they may hearken unto the Voice of God. By God! It is even as fire that consumeth the veils, and as water that washeth the souls of all who are in the universe.

O concourse of poets and men of letters! The Day of Praise hath come. Open your tongues in this Remembrance whereby the idols have been shattered. Cast aside your adorned and intricate verses, and that whereof ye boast—both the ornate and the unadorned, the unadorned. Take hold of that which ye have been commanded by God, the Cleaver of the Dawn.

O concourse of mystics! By My life, ye are as nothing. We behold you immersed in the oceans of fancy and idle imaginings. It is as though ye speak beneath a covering. Say: Lift up your heads, for the Sun hath dawned from the horizon of grandeur and might. The mystic is he who hath recognized Him Who is known, and the learned one is he who hath turned toward Him Who is known. Thus hath the Tablet of Declaration been adorned with the seal of utterance.

Say: O concourse of merchants! By God, this is a Day wherein every commerce shall prosper, were ye possessed of insight. Know ye that your affairs shall not prevent you from your Lord, the Knower of secrets. Occupy yourselves by His leave, then by His remembrance. Thus have ye been commanded in most of the Tablets.

Know thou, moreover, that We have written Tablets for the followers of the Magian Faith and have therein adorned the Law. Blessed is he who remembereth them with joy and fragrance. And We have revealed therein the essence of what was concealed in their Books of symbols and allusions. Verily thy Lord is the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

O My Name! Glorify My loved ones who are there, that they may rejoice in this remembrance which hath dawned from the horizon of sorrows. They are mentioned before the Throne, to this testifieth every atom. Say: Blessed are ye, inasmuch as ye have fulfilled God’s Covenant and remained steadfast in the Cause whereby the foundations were shaken. O ʿAli! Thou art in My sight, and We have turned unto thee from this Station which God hath made the most exalted of stations. Hold thou fast, under all conditions, to the cord of thy Lord’s loving-kindness. He is with thee at all times. The son of Za’ hath been mentioned in the presence of the Countenance, and We have glorified him from this Quarter from whose horizon hath shone forth the Sun of thy Lord’s loving-kindness, the Lord of all worlds and of the heavens.

BH00914: This is a mention from Our presence to one…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Exalted, the Most Great

This is a mention from Our presence to one who has attained unto tribulations and afflictions even as his Lord, the King of Names, attained unto trials beyond the reckoning of all created things. Exalted is God, Creator of the heavens, Who hath made Me a target for the arrows of fate, that the Most Great Word might be made manifest between the heavens and the earth.

The Call hath been raised from the luminous Spot, from the crimson Tree: “Verily, there is none other God but Me, the Mighty, the Wise!” The turning away of those who have turned away grieveth Me not, nor doth the acceptance of all the world bring Me joy. Can tribulations ever prevent the Lord of Names from raising His call betwixt earth and heaven? Nay, by His very Self, the True One—witness to this is this Call which hath been raised in the midst of tribulation from the Divine Lote-Tree: “Behold Me, O people of Baha! This is He Who hath been established upon the Throne and hath manifested Himself unto all created things through His Names that have encompassed the worlds.” Blessed is he who hath heard this sweetest Call; woe unto the heedless! He who hath heard is neither grieved by the veils of the unbelievers nor by the oppression of those who have turned away from this Straight Path. Blessed is the strong one who hath arisen with the pillar of fire among the wicked and hath spoken forth this wondrous Name.

The All-Merciful calleth and saith:

“Blessed art thou, O servant, for thou hast turned thy face toward My countenance, hast drawn nigh unto My court, hast spoken My praise, hast borne tribulation in My love, hast accepted fate for My Name’s sake, and hast drunk the choice wine of utterance in the days of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, after all the ungodly had turned away from it in their remoteness.”

We have seized the leader of ignorance who laid claim to knowledge. Thus doth God ordain what hath been sent down in the Tablets. Verily thy Lord is the Mighty, the Powerful. We sent him a Tablet that hath no equal in all the heavens and earth. He cast away God’s Tablet, having followed his own desires. Lo! He is of the companions of the Fire. Through him the fire of sedition was kindled amongst the people, and there befell My loved ones that which caused the Most Exalted Pen to lament in the heaven of eternity. When death came to him and he beheld the punishment, he wailed with the wailing of those who are lost. Then did none of his deeds profit him, and he became of the most grievous losers. God shall soon seize those servants who have wronged, even as He seized aforetime. Verily thy Lord is the Strong, the Great.

Convey My greetings unto her who hath believed in her Lord and turned toward the Kaaba of God, the Mighty, the Generous.

O Pen of loving-kindness! Make mention of Muhammad-Javad from thy Lord, the Creator of all existence, that he may rejoice in My remembrance of him and arise to serve the Cause in such wise that the hints of those who have denied the Day of Judgment shall not deter him. Drink thou a draught from the choice wine of utterance which hath flowed from the Pen of thy Lord, the All-Merciful. By My life! It will attract thee in such wise that the clamor of those in the land will not grieve thee. Hold fast unto the Sure Handle through which the fragrance of the All-Merciful hath wafted among the servants. Say: Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having caused me to turn toward the court of Thy bounties and to gaze toward the horizon of Thy favors. I beseech Thee by Thy Name which hath dominated all names, to aid me to be steadfast in Thy Cause and to arise to celebrate Thy praise amongst Thy creation. Verily, Thou art the Omnipotent over whatsoever Thou willest and art sanctified from all opposites. Glory be upon thee and upon those who are with thee and upon those who have believed in God, the Lord of the Day of Mutual Calling.

O Most Pure Countenance! Turn from this Most Great Scene unto him who hath been named ʿAli-Akbar, that he may hear the call of the Lord of Destiny from the Tree planted upon the crimson hill. Verily, there is none other God but Him, the Mighty, the Self-Subsisting. By My life! If thou didst but know, thou wouldst sacrifice thyself for this bounty which hath turned unto thee and encompassed all horizons. They that are heedless this day have no portion of the presence of thy Lord, and are indeed among the wayward. Give thanks unto thy Lord for having turned unto thee while He was in the hands of the wicked. He by Whose word all created things were stirred now dwelleth in His house behind drawn curtains—thus have they dealt with Him Whom they invoke at eventide and at dawn.

We conceal that which hath befallen Us lest the hearts of the righteous be saddened thereby. Give thanks unto God that the Countenance of the Ancient of Days hath turned toward thee and the Tongue of God hath spoken thy name from the most exalted station. The glory rest upon thee and upon thy brother who bowed down when thy Lord appeared with grandeur and might. Convey My greetings unto his face and give him the glad tidings of this remembrance which hath no equal among all in earth and heaven. Then glory from the All-Glorious upon thy wife whom the breathings of thy Lord’s days, the Lord of all men, have stirred.

Then We turned unto Our servant Mihdi that he might hear the call of the Everlasting God from this Ancient Beauty, at Whose settling upon the throne all things proclaimed: “The Kingdom belongeth unto God, the Almighty, the All-Powerful, the All-Forgiving!” Blessed is the tongue that hath spoken My Name, the eye that hath beheld My signs, the heart that hath recognized My power, the hand that hath taken My Book, and the soul that hath been set ablaze with the fire of love for its Lord, the Almighty, the Compelling. Rejoice thou with this supreme joy and say: “Praise be unto Thee, O Creator of the heavens and Author of all names! I testify that Thou art the Almighty over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Most High, the All-Possessing, the Mighty, the Bountiful.” Remember on My behalf My handmaiden who hath believed in My signs and attained unto this Cause before which necks have bowed low, and My other handmaiden who hath been illumined by the lights of the Lord and perceived the fragrance of My raiment when it was wafted among the servants.

O Imprisoned Pen! Make mention of Husayn from the Wronged One, that the call of God, the Supreme, the Self-Subsisting, may attract him, that he may be assured that My favor hath preceded My loved ones and My mercy hath encompassed Our servants who have sought the most distant Shrine and attained unto the lights of God, the Mighty, the Beloved. By God! Were We to mention what hath befallen Us at the hands of those who have wronged the Remembrance, the heavens would be cleft asunder, the earth would be rent, and the mountains would crumble. Thus doth thy Lord, the Mighty, the All-Loving, inform thee. We praise God in all conditions and rejoice in His remembrance and the exaltation of His Cause among all who witness and are witnessed.

Be as thy Lord hath been, such that neither the gestures of the ignorant disturb thee nor the darkness of the desires of those who judge alarm thee. Remember thy Lord at all times and turn not unto those who have cast the covenant and testament of God behind their backs and followed the promptings of their own desires—these are indeed the lost. Blessed art thou, and thy father and mother, and all thy kindred who have turned with illumined hearts unto this praiseworthy station. Ye have stations with your Lord—to this doth testify this exalted and mighty Tablet.

Convey My greetings unto the faces of My loved ones who have been consumed by the fire of separation—they are indeed of those for whom is ordained the reward of them that have attained unto the presence of the Beloved. We beseech God to assist them to remain steadfast in His Cause in such wise that no rejected misbeliever may cause them to waver.

BH00950: The Most Holy, the Most Glorious

The Most Holy, the Most Glorious

The Book of God hath been sent down in truth—verily it is a perspicuous Book. It proclaimeth: “There is none other God but Me, the Mighty, the Bountiful.” O people, follow not your selfish desires, but follow Him Who hath come with His mighty and impregnable Kingdom. Beware lest ye invalidate the truth with what ye possess. Blessed is he who soareth in the atmosphere of justice and pondereth upon this wondrous Cause.

The Spirit proclaimeth by His sovereignty: “The sovereignty of God hath been manifested, were ye of those who know.” And the Beloved declareth by His arising: “The Hour hath come, were ye of the fair-minded.” The Lord of the Bayan proclaimeth that He is the Best-Beloved of the worlds. He hath come at a time when no one among men had expected His mention, and this is His proof, were ye of those who know.

He is the One Whose manifestation none hath known save His own Self. To this testify all atoms and beyond them the Tongue of God, the True One, the Trustworthy. God hath made His Day transcend understanding, even as His own Self transcendeth comprehension. Thus hath the decree been sent down from One Who is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

This is the Manifestation which none hath known save he who hath cast away what the people possess and turned wholly unto the Countenance of God, the Radiant, the Luminous. Among the people are those who say: “He hath appeared differently from what we expected.” Say: Thus must it be, by your Lord, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. And among the people are those who say: “He hath appeared too soon.” Say: This is His proof, were ye of the discerning ones.

Say: O people of the Bayan! Fear ye the All-Merciful and speak not that which would cause the hearts of them who are nigh unto God to burn. He hath come as He willeth. The command is in God’s hands—He ordaineth what He pleaseth. Verily He is the Almighty, the Powerful. Look ye at what He possesseth, not at what ye possess. This is what We counsel you in the Tablets. Read them and follow not the ways of the calumniators.

Say: If ye deny Him Who speaketh between earth and heaven, unto whom will ye turn? Consider, if ye be of the truthful. Have ye not heard that He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He desireth? I was silent; the Truth made Me speak. I was seated; He raised Me up for His firm and mighty Cause. Were the matter in My hands, I would have veiled My face from all on earth, but God hath manifested Me in truth. Verily He is the Powerful, the Trustworthy.

Say: O people of the Bayan! The All-Merciful Himself calleth you, yet ye are as the dead. Ye object to Him through Whom the breeze of God hath wafted over all things, and by Whom the eyes of the Messengers have been solaced. Your objection returneth not unto Me but unto God, were ye aware of it. Your hatred falleth not upon Me but upon God—to this testifieth every fair-minded and clear-sighted one.

Hearken ye unto the Call from the Most Glorious Tree upon the Crimson Spot:

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

Turn not unto those who point to what was decreed in former ages, nor hearken unto the tales they tell you of what hath passed. Hearken ye unto the Call of your Lord, the Mighty, the Beautiful. Ponder what We have sent down in truth that ye may perchance know God’s purpose and follow that which ye have been commanded in His Book, the Mighty, the Impregnable.

Say: The seas have surged, the trees have yielded their fruits, the rains have fallen, the birds have sung their songs, yet ye walk in the wilderness of ignorance. The Sun hath testified to this resplendent Light, and the atoms have proclaimed this Name that dominateth all who are in the heavens and on earth. The Rock hath cried out to the Lord of all creation, yet ye remain heedless. The Dominion hath been adorned with the stars of utterance, and the Kingdom with this wondrous Remembrance, and the horizons were illumined by the light of His countenance, yet ye are among those who turn aside.

Say: O people of the Bayan! Do ye object to Him through Whom religions have appeared and the Cause of the All-Merciful hath been established? This is naught but grievous wrong. In the midst of supreme tribulation He calleth all created things, as witnessed by all things, if ye be of them that hear. Do ye imagine yourselves to be the guides? Nay, by My Most Glorious Beauty! Do ye reckon yourselves among those who have witnessed and seen? Nay, by the Self of God Who dominateth all things great and small!

This day ye are blind and deaf, thus hath the All-Merciful testified, and no testimony in all the worlds can equal His testimony. Ye have believed in your own vain imaginings and followed what your desires commanded you. This is naught but manifest transgression. Had ye perceived the fragrance of the All-Merciful, ye would not have denied this bounty which hath appeared in human form. Blessed is He Who sent Him with the truth and caused Him to speak forth a Word that made the limbs of the idolaters quake.

Trample under foot the head of him who led you astray, and turn ye towards the Dawning-Place of your Lord’s revelation, the Mighty, the Peerless. Say: Beware lest ye be among those who turned away from the Known and followed the conjectural, and were of them that wander.

Consider the people of the Furqan, who await that which was promised them, even after the moon was cleft by the fingers of Him Who ruleth destiny, and the heaven was rent asunder, and the All-Merciful came upon clouds of light, and the heavens and earth were illumined. They rejected Him Who came with the signs of the All-Merciful, following instead the people of perdition who were occupied with their own desires and were among the lost.

Turn your ears that ye may hear the call of God. By God! The Self-Subsisting calleth you from a manifest horizon, if ye be of them that know. Do ye reject Him behind your backs and turn to your own desires? Woe unto you, O heedless ones! At My call the pebbles were stirred and the atoms cried out: “The Kingdom is God’s, the Almighty, the All-Praiseworthy!”

Be fair in God’s name and oppose not Him Who was promised you in the Tablets of your Lord, the All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate. Were ye to read the Bayan, ye would know what hath been sent down from One All-Knowing, All-Wise. Thus doth the Pen of Revelation command you from One All-Knowing, All-Informed.

O thou who gazeth upon the Face, hearken unto what We counsel thee and be of the thankful. Recite the verses of thy Lord to them that are there of the loved ones of thy Master, that perchance the breezes of revelation may cause them to be among those who are steadfast in the Cause and are firmly rooted. Should thou find objectors among the people of the Bayan, deliver unto them what We have revealed to thee from the heaven of thy Lord, the Almighty, the Powerful, that they may perchance be awakened by God’s call and turn with radiant faces toward the Dayspring of the Cause.

Be thou a servant of thy Master’s Cause in all conditions. This will profit thee in the hereafter and in this world. He is with His remembering servants. Thou art in the House while thy Lord hath turned toward thee from this distant Prison and revealed for thee that which hath diffused the fragrances of the Beloved. Blessed is he who hath found and hath said:

“Praise be to Thee, O Wronged One of the worlds! I testify that Thou hast established God’s Cause and manifested it in such wise as hath rendered the workers powerless.”

BH00956: He is God! It is not permissible…

He is God! It is not permissible for a lover to show forth claims of existence and self in the presence of the Beloved. If he should take one step beyond this path, he would no longer be counted among the lovers. Never doth true love accept a living soul, nor doth the hawk take a dead mouse as prey.

Yea, some lovers have recounted their tribulations and hardships in the presence of the Beloved of all creation, and their purpose was communion with the Beloved and attention to the Lord of their goal, not the mention of self and desire. Now a messenger has come down from the most exalted goals of glory’s purpose and speaks certain words—understand who speaks and what is spoken. By God! If ye but knew and were informed of the mysteries of your Lord, the Most High, the Most Exalted, that lie behind the veil of grandeur, ye would sacrifice yourselves out of love for God, the Lord of all names.

The aforementioned messenger related a tale that once when We were at the Mount of Splendor, and the Beloved of all horizons went forth intending to reach the Mount of Glory, He implored with utmost humility those who claimed to love Him, saying that though this journey and migration might outwardly seem easy and simple, yet inwardly it was severe and a gate of tests, and though it appeared to be with sovereignty and power, in reality it concealed countless trials and distresses. “Do not present yourselves and cause yourselves hardship—let Me migrate alone.” All the loving and compassionate words He spoke, both indirect and direct, proved ineffective. This servant and a group, claiming we desired no provision save His good-pleasure and had no purpose save His countenance, in our own estimation remained steadfast but heedless of the sincere counsel and certainty of the Friend. We resolved to journey and became fellow travelers with the Beloved’s presence.

After traversing some distance in the wilderness, the fire of love became extinguished and beauty’s attraction became veiled. When we passed beyond that station, we counted good deeds as evil and evil deeds as good, until we arrived at the Green Isle. There the divine ark settled upon the mount of the Cause.

Thereafter we traveled morning and evening upon the steeds of desire through the desert of suspicions and fancies—sometimes gathered, sometimes scattered, sometimes in love, sometimes in heedlessness we passed our days and nights. The Salsabil of utterance constantly flowed from the Merciful One’s lips, yet thirst was absent; the lights of His countenance shone from the horizon of glory, yet attraction was not found. Each day we increased in fancy and conjecture while decreasing in attention to truth.

And with these displeasing conditions and unseemly attributes, we became so immersed in the depths of heedlessness and desire that we grew unmindful even of our own state. Through all conditions we observed the Beloved’s countenance showing complete kindness and gentleness. Some of us wondered how, if divine all-encompassing knowledge exists, we could be accepted despite these reprehensible deeds. Finally we considered the Truth heedless and ourselves wise and knowing, unaware that the Most Great Mercy prevents the tearing of veils. If we rendered any service, we followed it with obligation and injury.

After that land He intended to migrate and again forbade all from accompanying Him. We neither perceived nor awakened to what was the cause of the prohibition and why. Once again we migrated and traversed wildernesses with the Lord of the goal until we arrived in another land and settled with the Friend in one place, secretly.

O soul! We have become preoccupied until the fire of desire gained ascendancy and we were barred from the Most Glorious Horizon. Through the abundance of meetings, we lost sight of the value of attainment, and the veil of shame was rent asunder. Now we have imprisoned the Beloved in a place and at all times, to the extent of our ability and power, we spare Him not from the arrows of suspicion and the spears of fancy, for we have found Him imprisoned, incarcerated and solitary. Heedlessness has reached such a state that in that blessed place, to which all the Concourse on High turn their gaze and from which they seek assistance, we openly utter the most abhorrent words and engage in the most misguided and base deeds. Woe unto us! The words of God have not affected us, and yet we have not awakened. If we could not be faithful, at least let us not be unfaithful. Not a night do we spend in remembrance, nor in contemplation.

It is related that Fudayl of Khurasan was among the most wicked of men and a highwayman. He fell in love with a maiden and one night went to her, climbing over a wall. Then he heard someone reciting this verse: “Has not the time come for the hearts of those who believe to submit to the remembrance of God?” It affected his heart and he said: “Yes, my Lord, the time has indeed come!” He turned back, repented, and made his way to the Sacred House where he dwelt for thirty years until his spirit ascended to the supreme horizon. It is strange that hearing the Word of God from the tongue of one of His servants had such an effect that in an instant he returned from the lowest depths of existence to the horizon of the All-Merciful, while these servants have repeatedly and continuously heard the melodies of the All-Merciful Spirit from the tongue of power and majesty, yet they have not been affected enough to become aware even of the repugnance of their deeds, actions, suspicions and idle fancies.

When the narrative reached this point, the heaven of utterance was thunderstruck upon the mount of speech, and the pen fell unconscious, severed from expression. “Naught shall befall us save what God hath prescribed for us.” We beseech God to open our eyes and make us aware of ourselves and our deeds. If we are not enabled to know His exalted Self, may we at least be enabled to know our heedless selves, and may He remove from our faces the veils that prevent us from beholding Him rising from the horizon of grace and bounty, that we may detach ourselves from all who dwell in the realms of creation and turn wholly toward Him, for He is our All-Merciful Lord. We beseech Him to enable us to turn to Him in repentance morning and evening, and to protect the Dawning-Place of His countenance’s lights from the spears of His loved ones, for He seeks no helper other than Himself, and He is their source and their ultimate end, and He declares: “There is no God but God.”

BH00965: This is what hath dawned from the horizon…

This is what hath dawned from the horizon of thy Lord, the All-Merciful. O My Name! Today is the day of divine assistance and, by the truth of My Being, all the realities of the exalted ones and the spirits of those nigh unto God who circle round have beseeched to appear in the outward vesture of human temples and arise to aid the Cause of God in the visible realm. It beseemeth no one to seek departure from this world in the days of the manifestation of the Lord of Eternity. Rather must all, at all times, be turned toward the horizon of the All-Merciful and beseech God that some service to this most wondrous and impregnable Cause might be manifested from him, even if it be but the mention of one of His words. This, verily, is a great bounty, a great good, and a great matter.

As to approaching the Most Holy Court in these days, this is outwardly not permitted. We have revealed in one of the Tablets: “How many are near whom We do not confirm in their nearness, and how many are remote and, by the Self of the Beloved, are yet nigh!” And in another Tablet: “How many who are near are yet strangers, and how many who are distant are yet near! Blessed is he who is near and drew near!” And in yet another Tablet: “How many a beloved one became but the foam of the sea, and how many a companion We found to be a flatterer, and how many who were distant are near, and how many who were near We testify are in a station remote.”

Though it is evident that no grace, bounty, station or rank can ever equal attaining the presence of God in the visible realm, I swear by the Sun of the glory of oneness, rising from the dawning-place of detachment in My Name, the All-Powerful, that nothing can equal appearing before the Throne in the visible realm, even for a moment, though one possessed all that is in the heavens and earth. Some people have been deprived of the divine spiritual wine-house. Thus have the effects of these matters and their fruits remained hidden from their sight. Therefore they remain occupied with their own imaginings and veiled from the Lord of all beings.

The purpose is this: many souls, in the very midst of nearness, are deprived of attainment, while many souls who are outwardly remote attain to the waters of reunion. This is from the bounty of thy Lord, the Giver, the Mighty, the Generous. Blessed is the soul that hath attained both, detached from all save His good-pleasure and annihilated in the good-pleasure of his Lord. By God! No deed can equal this.

If this veil were to be rent asunder by the finger of the will of the Lord of Lords, thou wouldst witness all who are on earth, both the mighty and the lowly, cast behind them poverty and wealth, sovereignty and glory, and hasten to that station whereof every atom of its dust proclaimeth:

“There is none other God but He, the Almighty, the Glorious, the Unconstrained.”

O Beauty of the Essence of Oneness, Who is sanctified above all limitations and purified from words, allusions, names, attributes, manifestations and revelations, hath appeared in human temple. Therefore most people, looking upon human habits manifested from the Divine Temple, remain veiled, heedless that herein lies the essence of power. Reflect that thou mayest know, and say: Praise be unto Thee, O God of the worlds! Praise be unto Thee, O Thou the Essence of Power that calleth from behind Thee: “Thine are the greatness and the might, O Thou in Whose grasp is the dominion of the worlds!” And praise be unto Thee, O Thou the Essence of Greatness that calleth: “Greatness is Thine, O Thou through Whose manifestation the faces of those near unto Thee were illumined!”

O Jamal! These humiliations that have befallen thee were for the sake of God’s Cause, and this is a glory excelling all glories. By God! If thou but knew, thou wouldst find solace in humiliation and say: “O humiliation! May my soul be a sacrifice unto thee! Where art thou? I have accepted thee all for my Lord, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.” Thou hast attained unto far more than thou didst desire. God willing, He will cause thee to know what He hath intended for thee, that thou mayest rejoice and soar and say: “Unto Thee be praise, O Thou Who art the Praise of all worlds!” The head of Baha hath been adorned with the crown of tribulation, and in this doth He glory amidst earth and heaven. True glory lieth not in what the people comprehend; rather, all glory is in the humiliation We have borne for God’s Cause, the Mighty, the Powerful, the All-Wise.

We have ordained for thee what We have loved, that thy remembrance might endure in the realm of dust amongst Our sincere servants, in the Kingdom amongst the angels drawn nigh, and in the Realm of Might amongst God’s chosen ones, they who are detached from all else save Him. Can any bounty equal this which thou didst desire? Nay, by My mercy that hath embraced all worlds! O Jamal! If thou wouldst inhale from the outer meanings of what the Tongue of Grandeur hath spoken the sweet-scented breezes of inner significance and certitude, thou wouldst assuredly know that whatsoever hath appeared from Him shall endure as long as the dominion of earth and heaven endureth, and that it is better for thee than all that was and shall be. The fragrance of the Beloved’s raiment hath been diffused through that which hath been revealed at this hour, and by it have the dwellers of earth and heaven been perfumed. Blessed are they that attain thereunto.

Whatsoever We have desired for Ourselves, We have desired and continue to desire for Our sincere loved ones. By My life! Soon shalt thou find thyself in manifest glory. Be not grieved by straits and distress. Occupy thyself with God’s Cause. He shall assuredly set right all things. Be thou assured and numbered among the thankful ones.

As for what thou hast mentioned regarding certain differences, this is what hath been sent down in the Tablets from thy Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed: “Whoso layeth claim to a Cause before the completion of a full thousand years is verily a lying impostor. And whoso interpreteth this verse differently is indeed among the most lost.” And in another Tablet: “Whoso layeth claim to a Cause before the completion of a full thousand years is verily a lying impostor. We beseech God that He may assist him to repent should he repent. Verily thy Lord is the Ever-Forgiving. And should he persist in what he hath claimed, there shall be raised up against him one who will show him no mercy.

Verily thy Lord is severe in punishment.” For these souls have been and shall continue to be the cause of harm to the root of the Cause and the source of discord among the people. Were it to be thus, that every ignorant one might understand as he pleased, then never would the divine Tree of the Cause be established amongst men, nor would God’s commandments and laws become effective and operative. Strange indeed is the lack of understanding among the people! However, some attribute certain things to others out of their selfish desires, but with thy Lord is the knowledge of all things in a clear Book. The truth hath never been, nor shall it ever be, obscured from Him. Verily He is the All-Knowing.

BH00986: Your letter hath come before Our presence…

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

Your letter hath come before Our presence and the gaze of thy Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed, hath been directed towards it. I have apprehended its contents and understood what thou didst desire concerning that matter whereby the eye of certitude was gladdened. O thou who gazeth upon the Countenance and standeth before the Throne! Hearken unto the call from the Most Glorious Tree which hath risen through its own power in the Cause, and which neither the heedlessness of those who remained unmindful nor the oppression of those who disbelieved in God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy, could impede.

O Mustafa! By My life! Whoso heareth My call with the ear of the heart, verily he soareth in the atmosphere of My love and subdueth all who are on earth through My Name, the Mighty, the Inaccessible. He who hath found the sweetness of the utterance which hath proceeded from the mouth of the All-Merciful hath adorned his heart with the ornament of faith in such wise that the very essence of certitude proclaimeth from behind him:

“Blessed art thou, O thou through whom the temple of tranquility hath been adorned with the raiment of love for the mention of the Name of thy Lord, the Glorious, the Most High, the Mighty, the Wondrous!”

Grieve not at anything. Put thy trust in God at all times. Verily, He will help thee as He helped thee before when thou wast heedless of the Cause. Then did We unveil the Beauty and manifest unto thee that which is better in thy Lord’s sight than all that hath been created in the heavens and earth. We took thy hand with the hand of grace and power and delivered thee through Our sovereign might. Verily thy Lord’s mercy hath preceded all creation.

Be not disturbed by what the tongues of the people utter. The Sovereign of the Day hath come, and now He calleth unto thee from the horizon of the House: “Be at peace through thy Lord’s favor and say: ʿPraise be unto Thee, O God of the worlds!”’ Blessed art thou for having heard the call and having said: “Yea, yea, O Beloved of the worlds!” Rejoice thou in thy Lord’s gladness in such wise that thy joy may influence Our servants whom the stupor of sorrows hath overtaken because they followed vain imaginings. Rend asunder the veil of idle fancy through My Name, the Self-Subsisting. Say: By God! He Who is known hath come with great sovereignty. We have commanded the people to follow what is known and forbidden them from what is imagined. Some have attained to what their Lord desired, while others have clung to their own desires—these are verily among the lost.

O Mustafa! By My life! Thou art beneath My wing and within the stronghold of My protection. Preserve this station through the remembrance of My Name, the Guardian over the worlds. Let not the clamor of those who have committed what they were forbidden grieve thee. The winds of passion have stirred them. Among them are those who have returned and repented. Verily thy Lord is the Ever-Forgiving, the Merciful. Blessed is he who hath drunk the choice wine of reunion from the hands of his Lord, the Mighty, the Most High—he is assuredly among the triumphant.

How many are the servants who claim with their tongues what is not in their hearts, and God revealeth it through one means or another. Verily thy Lord is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. We bear witness that thou hast turned unto God with pure sincerity for His radiant and luminous face. From whomsoever thou perceivest the fragrance of aversion, in whatever land he may be, avoid him, then turn with thy heart to the Qiblih of them that know.

Say: O my God! I beseech Thee by Thy Most Glorious Name, through which what lay hidden in hearts and breasts was revealed, to make me content with what Thou hast ordained for me and to fix my gaze upon Thee under all conditions. Verily Thou art the All-Forgiving, the Bountiful. O my Lord! Preserve me within the shelter of Thy great mercy, then cause me to speak Thy praise amidst the concourse of creation in such wise that I may become forgetful of myself and evanescent in Thy Name. Verily Thou art He in Whose grasp are the reins of all created things. Thou ordainest what Thou pleasest and doest what Thou desirest.

O Mustafa! Thus has the Tongue of Eternity spoken in the Most Great Prison. Read thou and be of the thankful ones. Then remember wherefore We named this Prison the Most Great, after We had formerly been under chains and fetters. Verily thy Lord is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Believe not what thou hast heard and hearest. Hearken unto that which the Tongue of Grandeur and Majesty hath spoken in this station wherein the Kingdom crieth out: “My spirit be a sacrifice to Thy dust,” then the Realm of Might: “My soul be a sacrifice to Thy air,” then the Kingdom of Names: “All my being be a sacrifice to Thy prison,” O Thou at Whose finger’s beckoning every wise decree is suspended! Be thou at all times directing thy gaze toward the court of thy Lord’s will. When the Sun of His Command dawneth from His horizon, say thou with submission and contentment: “My soul be a sacrifice to Thy command, O Thou Who art the Desire of the sincere ones!”

We have chosen thee and adorned thee with the garment of My love. By God! Soon shall the tongues of all things speak forth thy praise and the praise of those who have cast away their idle fancies and have turned with radiant faces toward the Most Glorious Horizon. These, verily, are of them that are nigh unto God. Through My remembrance is every matter established. Be thou assured by that which hath flowed from My tongue in thy praise, and by thy mention from the Lord of the Pens, through Whose movement the hearts of them that are detached have taken flight.

O Mustafa! When the Tablet was read before Our face a second time, We added to it another word. Know thou that aforetime it was revealed: “Soon shall the prison door be opened, and he that entered shall go forth and he that went forth shall enter,” and in another Tablet: “Soon shall that which was closed be opened and that which was joined be severed, and he that was forbidden shall enter and he that was gathered shall be scattered, and that which was difficult shall be made easy, and that which was hidden shall be revealed.” Ponder, O ye who are endued with discernment, that ye may recognize what hath been inscribed of the mysteries.

O Mustafa! By My life, every matter hath been revealed in the Tablets. Verily thy Lord is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. They who were not present before the Throne yet claim inner presence—these have followed vain imaginings, by thy Lord, the All-Knowing! He who hath attained the presence of the Countenance in the manifest outer realm—this is better for him than the worship of both humans and jinn. Around this outward manifestation revolve the worlds of the inner reality, yet the people remain in evident obscurity.

If thou seest the letter Nun before Za’, say: “Look unto thy Lord and not unto thyself.” Thou wilt not see the raven as a dove—thus doth the All-Informed apprise thee. Blessed is the soul that hath attained the presence of the Throne and to whom We have testified reunion—he is the best of men before thy gracious Lord. How many who were near, to whom We testified not nearness, and how many who were far, for whom the decree of nearness was revealed from the Pen of God, the Mighty, the Impregnable! Blessed is he who hath attained and recognized both excellences—he hath outstripped all others. Verily thy Lord confirmeth what He willeth. How many who were near are in the highest paradise, and how many who were near are in the lowest fire. Thus hath the decree shone forth from the horizon of the Pen of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, in this mighty Prison. The glory be upon thee and upon those who have attained, and been blessed, and been present, and have drunk, and have heard, and have said: “Here am I, here am I, O Lord of the worlds!”

BH01030: A remembrance from Our presence to him who hath…

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

A remembrance from Our presence to him who hath attained unto the lights of divine knowledge in the days of his Lord, the Most Merciful, and hath voiced His praise amidst the concourse of all created things. He is verily of those who have attained. Blessed is he who hath stood firm in the Cause of God and desired that which his Ancient Lord desired. It behooveth thee to arise to serve the Cause in such wise that whatsoever proceedeth from the Pen of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy, shall not grieve thee. We have chosen thee for Our Cause, as witnessed by all things and beyond them this All-Knowing Pen. We have sent thee numerous Tablets which well-nigh fill the horizons. Thy Lord is verily the All-Numbering, the All-Informed. It behooveth thee to render thanks unto Him at morn and eventide, and to soar on the wings of spirit and joy in the atmosphere of the love of thy Lord, the Merciful, the Compassionate.

We have revealed for everyone mentioned in thy book clear verses that cannot be equaled by the treasuries of the heavens and earth. This is of My grace upon thee, and thou dost witness what God hath witnessed, wouldst thou but reflect. Thy Lord is verily the Forgiving, the Merciful. He was with thee when thou wert in Iraq and other lands, and heard what thy tongue uttered in remembrance of this Wronged One, this Exile, and testified unto thee with His truthful and trustworthy tongue. Behold the Tablets We sent thee aforetime, that thou mayest be assured that His grace hath encompassed thee and His mercy hath preceded thee in every matter. He is verily the Lord of those who turn unto Him.

Wert thou to gather all that hath been revealed for thee, thou wouldst find it a book wherein every word indicateth thy Lord’s loving care. Read thou and be of them that render thanks. The ocean of grace hath surged and the heaven of bounty hath been adorned with the stars of thy Lord’s favors, the Lord of all names. Drink thou therefrom and say: Praise be unto Thee, O Thou the Goal of all seekers!

O My Tabib! God’s grace and bounties have ever been and shall ever continue to be. Out of pure loving-kindness, numerous wondrous and sublime Tablets have been revealed and sent to thee at most times, and for every soul mentioned in thy book, divine verses were specifically revealed and dispatched. Most of this bounty pertaineth to thee thyself. Thou must, God willing, conduct thyself in such manner that whatsoever proceedeth from God and the Dawning-Place of His Cause should be regarded as thy desire and purpose. His purpose and whatsoever proceedeth from Him hath been and shall ever be. O My Name! Thy will must be connected to what God willeth, and thy desire must be annihilated in His desire—that is, thou must regard God’s will as thy desire and His wish as thy purpose. It is most evident that the condition of all is witnessed and known before the Divine Throne, and His gaze hath ever been and shall ever be fixed upon His loved ones. Thou art now counted among those related to the Truth. Let not certain matters grieve thee. Be confident in God’s grace and be detached and free from aught else but Him.

Write that they should take heed not to trust in him, for he has not been and will never be steadfast. Whatever matters he comprehends and understands, he will surely mention in due time. If the Tablet to the Sultan is given, there is no harm, as most of the opponents have seen it and it has even reached the source of opposition. Therefore, if it reaches anyone, no harm will come of it. However, nothing else is ever permitted. They should exercise utmost care. His example is like that of a serpent—when it reaches maturity, it strikes and hisses. Regarding the House, the intention is that it be purified from strangers. If the name Mim with utmost gratitude and joy and fragrance relinquishes the House to him to whom it belongs, this is most beloved and praiseworthy. Otherwise, speak not of it and turn not unto it. Thus does the All-Knowing, the All-Informed command you. Soon you shall witness what is in your Lord’s knowledge and shall say:

“Praise be unto Thee, O Thou in Whose possession is the knowledge of all things in a Mighty Book.”

Write for Muhammad-Mustafa, upon him be the Glory of the Lord of Names, that which hath been revealed for him. We beseech God to assist him and those with him to aid His Cause and exalt His Word through wisdom and utterance. Verily He is the Powerful, the Mighty, the Bestower. Convey My greetings upon him and upon those who were with him, that they may rejoice within themselves and be of the thankful ones.

Concerning what you mentioned about Ha preceding Sin becoming Sipahsalar—listen not to this. His neck was between the fingers of thy Lord’s power. Soon shall you hear from him what you heard from those who opposed Us in the Great City. Verily thy Lord is the Powerful, the Mighty.

Regarding what you wrote about the return of the loved ones to Iraq—whosoever can go, there is no objection. Soon shall all attain to divine favors and bounties. What is beloved of all is steadfastness in the love of God. If they remain firm in this station through God’s grace, they shall comprehend all inner and outer effusions. Those who have become captives in His path and afflicted with exile shall never be erased from the view of the Most Great Scene. Blessed are they for what hath befallen them in the path of God. We beseech God to grant such grace that they may remain steadfast and properly preserve the trust of God, which is His love, lest any deed appear from anyone that would cause the hardships and difficulties they have borne in God’s path to be wasted. We beseech God to assist all to His love and good-pleasure. Verily He has power over all things.

A letter from Zaynu’l-Muqarrabin, upon him be the Glory of God, was written to this servant present before the Countenance. It was observed. Its answer will reach him, God willing. Glorify him on My behalf, then give him the glad-tidings of My remembrance of him. Verily thy Lord is the Best of those who remember. Adorn the temple of each one of My loved ones with the ornament of My remembrance and glorification, then give them glad-tidings of what God hath desired for them. Verily He is the Rewarder of the doers of good.

BH01043: From the Dayspring of Divine utterance it is revealed…

From the Dayspring of Divine utterance it is revealed… It is evident and clear that the True One, exalted be His mention, is never pleased that anyone should transgress against another. Some among the servants, from every group, have transformed the breaths of the All-Merciful into the promptings of self, attributing these to the Truth. All such matters stem from heedlessness, and His holy and sanctified garment is pure and free from these. I beseech God to guide all and make them steadfast in His love. We have accepted all the tribulations of the world specifically for the deliverance and tranquility of the loved ones and their unity.

At all times, Jinab-i-Haji and Aqa ʿAli have been mentioned before the Divine Presence, and without interruption the Sun of Grace has dawned and shone upon them from the horizon of favor, until certain words appeared from them which were and are contrary to God’s Cause. For the Truth has risen from the horizon of eternity specifically for the unity of the world’s peoples, yet from them have issued words that oppose the Will of God, as they have caused division. Let Haji himself and the others look with the eye of fairness: if every day a new Truth—that is, a new Manifestation of the complete sovereignty of the One True God—were to appear, how could the divine Cause remain firm among creation?

Today one Truth appears, speaking a word, and tomorrow another Truth speaks a different word than the first. What then is the duty of the people? If we say these two words are seen with the same perspective, this is utterly remote from reason and wisdom, and people of insight would never utter such words. For among the utterances of Truth are commandments and prohibitions which all need, and in essential reality the order of the world, the preservation of existence, and the unity of all on earth depend upon and are connected to these. If every day a new Authority were to appear, all these matters would become void and ineffective, and the helpless people would have to abandon all things each day and turn to a new qiblih.

Consider somewhat the Bayan: The example of this Revelation and the Revelation of the Point of the Bayan is exactly like the appearance of the son of Zachariah and Jesus the son of Mary. The son of Zachariah, despite his station of prophethood and the greatness of his rank, gave the people glad tidings of the appearance of the Spirit, and both were in the same age. Some of the words of the son of Zachariah were understood by the people as to their meaning, while others were not understood. Thus after the martyrdom of the son of Zachariah, some of his followers did not turn to the Manifestation of the All-Merciful, namely Jesus son of Mary, and departed from the divine law, and they still exist on earth and are known to some as Sabeans. These souls consider themselves followers of that holy one, but remain veiled from the purpose, for had they understood the purpose they would not have turned away from the son of Mary who was the beloved of the son of Zachariah and his purpose.

Likewise consider the Revelation of the Primal Point, who despite His exalted station was the Herald of this Most Great Revelation. And if one possessed of insight were to observe the Bayan fairly, he would see nothing except mention of Him Who is the Origin of a new creation, and if one possessed of a refined sense were to inhale the gentle fragrance of the Bayan, he would perceive naught but the sweet scent of this Garment.

This is the beginning and end of the matter of truth that was mentioned. Furthermore, whosoever drinks of this wine of oneness shall be counted among the guides and manifestations of the Manifester, so long as he dwells beneath His shadow. The meaning of unity is not to see two or ten as one—this is the very essence of misbelief and atheism itself—rather, the one who believes in unity is he who sees the Truth as one from all directions, sanctified from all names and likenesses, and beholds all else as subsisting through Him and existing by His command. And whosoever is deprived of this most pure Kawthar, which flows from the direction of the Most Great Scene, is non-existent in the sight of God, let alone being mentioned among the people of unity. Today, ears and hearts must be emptied of their own words and imaginings, that perchance they may become recipients of divine outpourings and confirmations.

O Hasan! God willing, thou shalt become intoxicated with the pure, flowing waters of these merciful utterances and shalt pass beyond the world and all who dwell therein in the path of the Lord of all creation, in such wise that no zeal shall hold thee back. And like the brilliant morn thou shalt rise from the horizon of the heaven of divine love and shalt openly and secretly acknowledge among men that which God hath acknowledged in this Tablet. Then will power be made manifest unto all, and thy station with God shall be exalted and resplendent. If thou be of the birds, wing thy flight in this spiritual atmosphere and outstrip all other birds in thy soaring. I swear by the Ancient Beauty that there is no atmosphere save this atmosphere, and no space visible except this space.

O My bird! Soar in this atmosphere through My Name and My sovereignty; then, in My love, detach thyself from the worlds. By My life! The Revelations have ended with this Most Great Revelation. Whoso layeth claim to a Revelation before the completion of a full thousand years, such a one is assuredly a lying impostor. And whosoever interpreteth this verse is one who hath turned away from the All-Merciful and is counted among the lost. Although for those possessed of insight, mention was made aforetime of the dominion of Husayn lasting eighty thousand years, yet the people of Baha must at least hold to a thousand years.

O Hasan and O ʿAli! Hearken unto the call of Him Who hath, for God’s sake, occupied Himself with making mention of these matters to you in this Most Great Prison. Turn ye unto Him with all your being. Thus doth command you your Lord, the Imprisoned, the Alone.

BH01104: As to what was asked about the Most Great…

…As to what was asked about the Most Great Festival, it begins after the passage of thirty-two days from the Festival of Fasting, with the first day of the month of Baha being counted as the first of these thirty-two days. On the thirty-second day, at the time of the afternoon prayer, the Ancient Beauty entered the Garden of Ridvan. That moment marks the beginning of the Most Great Festival, and that day together with the second day of the Festival are reckoned as one day. It is strictly forbidden in the Book to engage in work on the first, ninth and twelfth days, but there is no objection to working on the other days.

As to the matter of the Festival of Fasting, the intercalary days fall before the days of fasting, after which one enters into the Fast. One must fast for the full nineteen days.

And as for the day associated with the Most Great Name, which is the Festival day—if the transition occurs, for example, after noon or in the afternoon, that day will be the Festival day. For that hour is like unto the sun—its radiance falls upon the entire day. Especially since it is associated with the Most Great Name, its afternoon is regarded in the sight of God as equivalent to its dawn. Therefore, at whatever time during the day the transition occurs, that day will be the Festival day. Blessed are they who partake of this bounty.

As to the matter of the Most Holy, Most Glorious Birth, it is at the first dawn of the second day of Muharram. However, the first day, which is the day of the birth of the Herald, together with the second day, is reckoned as one day in the sight of God….

…you wrote that several souls who had set out were prevented and returned. This was presented at the Most Holy Court, and He said:

“What happened was good, for in these days it is not advisable for multiple souls to arrive in one place. Praise be to God that what was best came to pass. In such journeys, it is not permissible to exceed two persons, for most people are corrupt and are waiting to seize upon something to create mischief.”

BH01115: The Call of God is raised from the direction…

In the name of the one God

The Call of God is raised from the direction of Akka, saying:

“Blessed is he who hath turned unto God and hath hearkened with both outer and inner ear to His divine call.”

Such souls are the people of the Most Great Vista and the partakers of the Most Pure Wine—especially those who, in these days when the darkness of vain imaginings hath seized most of mankind, have not been hindered from turning toward the Court of Oneness. For this reason have the Manifestations of the past, from time immemorial and forever after, made mention of these souls in their Tablets. In this tribulation it is observed that the truly sincere ones are rarer than red sulfur. Were the servants to perceive the sweetness of the divine call and recognize the greatness of the Source of the Word, all would turn unveiled toward the Lord of Lords.

From time immemorial and forever after, infinite oppression hath been visited upon the divine Manifestations from the daysprings of pharaonic might, yet with utmost power and sovereignty They bore all, that perchance a few souls might be sanctified from the murk of doubts and imaginings and ascend to the heights of divine oneness. Although all witnessed that these Sources of divine authority endured hardships solely for humanity’s salvation, they did what they did—may God’s curse be upon the wrongdoing people!

All know that this world hath no permanence, and when death’s messenger cometh, no veil can conceal him, no power can prevent him, no tyrant’s might can turn him back. Despite certain knowledge of this station, in these numbered days when none knoweth whether tomorrow they will be above the earth or beneath it, all walk the path of self and passion, heedless of God, the Most High and Glorious.

They vainly imagine they can extinguish God’s Lamp amidst creation and prevent the divine Tree from yielding Its holy, celestial fruits. This is as if a salty drop were to oppose and seek to repel the sweet, surging ocean. Did the veils of the people of the Hijaz prevent the Sun? By God, the fingers of destiny rent asunder the veil that intervened, and It shone forth from the horizon of glory!

The holders of outward authority have ever forbidden people from turning to the Court of Oneness and have disliked the gathering of servants at the Most Great Ocean, for they have regarded and still regard such gathering as the cause and means of undermining the foundations of sovereignty. Yet by Him in Whose grasp is the control of all things, the gaze of God’s loved ones hath ever been and shall ever be sanctified from attention to such matters. These things have been spread by the corrupt. Now most imagine that this servant desireth universal rule in the earth, although in all Our Tablets We have forbidden the servants from accepting such rank, for it yieldeth naught but tribulation and affliction, unless one should accept it for God’s sake to help His Cause. Kings are the manifestations of divine power, and what is intended is their justice—if they observe this, they are related to the Truth.

Soon will the veils be rent asunder and the manifestation of Names and Attributes will seize most of the servants, and all will testify to the sanctification and transcendence of those near to God’s court, let alone His exalted Self.

We thank God that He enabled His servants and supported them in His love and good-pleasure, opened their eyes that they might behold Him and know Him, and did not withhold them from this Sun which has dawned, and from this Sea which has surged, and from this Heaven which has been upraised, and from this Grace which has descended, and from this Lamp through whose light the earth has been illumined. Verily He is powerful over all things.

As for what thou didst behold in thy dream, give thanks unto God for having revealed Himself unto thee, unveiled to thee His beauty and admitted thee into the pavilion of His glory. Then know thou that what thou didst see is truth, there is no doubt therein, and the matter is as thou didst see. God will soon manifest from this horizon a light and power whereby the sun shall be darkened and the traces of those who have waxed proud before God shall be obliterated, while the faces of the sincere shall be illumined thereby. Soon shall the lights of thy Lord’s countenance encompass all who are on earth. Verily He is powerful over all things.

Though it hath not been explained in detail, yet from that which hath been revealed from the Source of the Command, the purpose is clear. The interpretation of the dream itself is manifest—every person of insight and vision will recognize it.

Glorified art Thou, O my God! These are Thy servants who have left their homes out of longing to meet Thee, and have forsaken their native lands yearning for the court of Thy mighty throne, the visitation of Thy beauty and presence before Thee. They have been prevented therefrom by reason of what the hands of Thy creatures have wrought. I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which Thou didst attract the hearts of them who are nigh unto Thee and didst cause them to be detached from all else besides Thee, that Thou write down for these servants every bounty from the treasuries of Thy generosity, every favor from the repositories of Thy munificence, every mercy from the heaven of Thy Will, and every good thing Thou hast sent down for Thy chosen ones. Then raise them, O my God, to such a station where sorrows cannot prevent them from turning to Thy face, nor can the vicissitudes of the contingent world disturb their joy in Thy days. Moreover, ordain for them, O my God, the good of this world and the world to come. Verily Thou art the Almighty, the Doer of what Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious.

BH01130: A mention from Us to him who was illumined…

He is the Most Great, the Most Ancient, the Most Exalted!

A mention from Us to him who was illumined by the lights of his Lord’s countenance, the Mighty, the Bestower. When he heard the Call, he turned unto it, and when he was summoned, he responded. Verily, they who have been faithful to God’s Covenant are accounted among the most exalted of beings in the sight of the Sublime Truth. They who were heedless are assuredly numbered with the people of the fire in the estimation of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Chosen One.

Say: The Most Great Balance hath appeared, whereby all deeds are weighed, and verily it is God’s Path for all who are in earth and heaven. Through it every seeker hath turned, and everything hath voiced the remembrance of God, the Cleaver of the Dawn. Blessed art thou, inasmuch as thou hast found the sweetness of utterance in that which hath been sent down from the All-Merciful, and hast recognized thy Lord in this Garment whereby all regions have been illumined.

We had previously sent thee a Tablet wherein wafted the sweet savors of thy Lord’s loving-kindness, the Mighty, the Ever-Forgiving. And before that, another Tablet through which the sun of grace shone forth from the horizon of thy Lord’s mercy upon all creation. Beware lest anything sadden thee or the tyranny of those who have rebelled against God when He came in the clouds of glory cause thee to grieve. When sorrow overtaketh thee, consider Mine affair and reflect upon that which hath befallen this Wronged One when He was made a captive in the hands of the two parties who had turned away from God after He had come unto them with the kingdom of verses.

Blessed is the strong one who hath arisen to serve his Lord’s Cause, and the herald who proclaimeth this Name with wisdom and clear exposition. Say: O people! Where are they who unjustly oppressed the earth, and where are the royal couches and crowns? And where are they who warred against God and His chosen ones? They have been consumed by their wrongful devouring of people’s wealth. Verily thy Lord is severe in punishment.

That which endureth is what He hath ordained for those near unto Him. Thus hath the matter been decreed in the Tablets. By My life! That which is with men shall perish, while glory and power shall remain for those who have turned to the Dayspring of Light. By God! Were they to hear the shrill voice of the Supreme Pen, the ecstasy of God would so seize them that they would cast away their kingdoms and turn to the Kingdom. Thus hath it been sent down from the heaven of might at this time when the tongue of grandeur proclaimeth: The Kingdom is God’s, the Powerful, the Mighty, the Effulgent.

My likeness is as one who hath embarked upon the sea while waves encompass him from every side. In such state he calleth out to creation and summoneth them unto God, the Lord of Lords. Say: Doth such a Beloved deserve praise or hatred? Be fair, O ye possessors of sight, and be not like those who witnessed God’s power yet denied it. These are assuredly companions of the fire. Do they imagine they follow God’s command? Nay, by the Lord of creation! They worshipped vain imaginings for a thousand years, and when the appointed time came and the Dayspring of verses appeared, they were terrified and cried out: “This is none other than a lying impostor!” Say: Fear God, and exchange not the pearl for the shell, nor the jewel for clay. Thus doth your Lord command you out of His love for His servants who were created by His all-compelling command that overshadoweth the horizons.

O servant who gazeth toward God! Praise be to the Best Beloved of the worlds, that thou art blessed with His love, engaged in His remembrance, and turned toward His direction. This hath been and ever shall be among the greatest bounties. God willing, thou shalt be watchful over His Cause in all conditions, for whatsoever is associated with Truth is abiding, eternal and steadfast, while all else is evanescent and as nothingness.

The weak souls today are unaware—some are afflicted in the wilderness of heedlessness, while others are barred from the court of oneness by ancient, worn-out, man-made doctrines. For a thousand years or more, these deluded souls have fixed their gaze upon an imaginary person in an imaginary city, clinging to him; yet after the appearance of the Most Great Luminary, only a few rent asunder the veils of idle fancies, while the rest remained bound by the same vain imaginings. Blessed is he who, by the power of his Lord, the Mighty, the Omnipotent, hath torn away the veils. All that the followers of the Furqan (Qur’an) formerly possessed can be measured by this same standard. The deluded ones have ever been and continue to be thus, as is now witnessed. The one who associateth partners with God and his followers have, through mention of a fabricated successorship, barred people from the Lord of creation. They are in naught but error—thy Lord, the Self-Sufficient, the Most High, is witness. Although all know they have neither understood nor comprehend His Cause, still they wander in the wilderness of error, unaware.

In any case, be not saddened by these matters, for God hath servants who burn away the veils of idle fancy and rend asunder the coverings of the people. These are they whom neither that which is in the hands of men, nor that which their lying tongues utter, can deter. They are the lights of unity in the lands and the stars of detachment among the servants. Soon will their station be made manifest to all on earth. He, verily, is the Almighty, the All-Powerful.

If thou askest about conditions in this land, it is in evident turmoil. That which was foretold in previous Tablets is now manifest. Verily thy Lord is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Would that none but myself had to endure tribulations in the path of God, the Lord of the worlds. In all conditions we have been and are thankful, and are engaged in His praise and glorification. Nothing can prevent Him, even should all kings oppose Him and every bondsman turn away from Him. We beseech God to assist thee in His service and obedience, and to aid thee through His grace. He, verily, is the Most Merciful of the merciful.

Convey exalted and glorious greetings to the Afnan, and likewise to such of God’s sincere servants as are in thy vicinity. The glory from the All-Glorious be upon thee and upon those who love thy Lord, Who standeth at the Straight Path.

BH01139: O thou who bearest My Name in the Kingdom…

In the Name of God, the Luminous, the All-Glorious!

O thou who bearest My Name in the Kingdom of My Cause, My trusted one among My creation, the sign of My remembrance amongst My servants, and who journeyeth through the lands to aid My Cause and promote My Faith! I testify that thou art of Me and hast diffused the fragrance of My raiment throughout the East and West of the earth. Thou art he who hath remained faithful to My Covenant and My Testament. Thou didst depart from the precincts of the Throne by My leave, and didst draw nigh and enter through My good-pleasure. Blessed art thou, and blessed is he who hath found solace in thee out of love for My Being, and hath heard from thee the gems of My laws and commandments.

Know thou that thy letter hath come before the Throne aforetime, and in these days We have answered thee in the Tablet and sent it unto thee by the hand of one of Our servants. This is yet another token of Our grace bestowed upon thee. Verily, thy Lord is the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful. He loveth him who loveth Him, desireth him who desireth Him, and answereth him who calleth upon Him. Within His grasp is the dominion of the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth.

Those whose names thou hast mentioned in thy letters, We have recorded them in the Tablet and have ordained for each one of them that which shall bring solace to their eyes. Verily, thy Lord is the Mighty, the Bountiful. And concerning that which was mentioned in thy letter—We have not fixed a specific time for it. Those who claimed that We commanded the sincere ones as We commanded them were mistaken, that their acceptance and detachment might be made manifest before all the worlds.

We praise God that He hath shown thee servants in this Revelation who have hastened to do good works before their appointed time. These, verily, are among the people of Baha. Upon them rest My mercy, My glory, My remembrance, and My praise at all times. These are they whom the world hath not prevented from treading the path of God, the Lord of all names, and who have spent that which they possessed in their quest for that which is with God. We have accepted from them as a bounty from Our presence. Verily, thy Lord is the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

Hear in the most wondrous Persian tongue: During the sojourn of the Ancient Beauty in the Land of Mystery, when it was observed that the time of the great tribulation drew nigh—even as had been revealed in previous Tablets from the heaven of the Will of the All-Knowing, the All-Informed—therefore when Jamalu’d-Din, upon him be the glory of God, was present before Him, the Tongue of Grandeur spoke certain words concerning the known matter, that they might be mentioned among men and that confirmed souls might act upon them. The essence of these words was this: that after the arrival of the Most Holy Beauty in the great city, the sublime government had allocated a specific sum for designated expenses. Fie upon such bounty that is followed by obligation and injury! However, in view of the exigencies of the time and the consummate divine wisdom, it was not rejected. Although all that exists on earth belonged to the True One, in those days everything was contingent upon the permission and consent of the King of Oneness. Nevertheless, it would be most beloved if each of the Branches of the Divine Tree, the related Twigs, and the loved ones could, at any time or age, reject these funds and receive instead pages adorned with the seal of the Cause.

Likewise was this utterance repeatedly spoken from the Tongue of Grandeur in the Most Great Prison in the presence of two souls. However, this was not intended for these days, for after arrival at this place, the sovereignty of God was openly proclaimed to the kings and other monarchs, and His Cause was publicly taught. Thus were all hearts set ablaze and engaged in schemes. Thus did We grant victory unto Our Cause with true victory.

By My life! No doubt appeared in all the worlds in those days. Sufficient was the fire We kindled in their hearts. Thus doth God transform light into fire for those who waxed proud and were among the oppressors. In such circumstances, the disclosure of that matter is not now permitted. Consider the mercy, power and bounty of God: although the appointed time for that matter was to be later, yet by His guiding hand He raised up certain souls in the goodly land who, after His will and before the appointed time, hastened to this greatest good. These are the helpers of God; God hath accepted their deeds. These souls have attained unto that which God desired; therefore if they themselves dispose of it, no harm shall come to them, for in truth they have acted according to what their Lord, the All-Merciful, desired and decreed. Blessed are they and blessed is he whom thou didst mention in thy letter previously, for he preceded in this matter. Upon him be the glory of God, the Mighty, the Beautiful.

Glory be unto Thee, O my God! Praise be unto Thee for having enabled Thy loved ones to carry out Thy command and manifest that which Thou didst desire through Thy sovereignty. O Lord! Thou knowest that I desired for no one save Thy remembrance and praise, and sought from no soul that which Thou hadst bestowed through Thy bounty and favor. I summoned them in all conditions purely for Thy sake to the court of Thy grace. Thou, O my God, beholdest these who aided Thy Cause with their wealth before Thy manifestation and Thy command, and with their own selves after the dawning of the Sun of Thy wisdom from the dayspring of Thy revelation and inspiration. And Thou seest their steadfastness in Thy love and their firmness in Thy Cause.

O Lord! Ordain for them that which beseemeth Thee and is worthy of Thy presence. Then write down for them the reward of those who circle round Thee in all Thy worlds. Separate them not from Thee throughout the duration of Thy kingdom. This is the most excellent prayer; therefore answer it, O Creator of the heavens! Verily Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. There is no God but Thee, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious.