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

BH01159: O My name Mihdi! Upon thee be My glory…

O My name Mihdi! Upon thee be My glory, My remembrance and My praise! Blessed art thou for having fulfilled My Covenant, spread My remembrance, arisen to extol Me and serve Me amongst My servants. We created all to attain Our presence, call upon Our Name and turn to Our Countenance. Yet some were deprived of My mercy, strayed from My path and failed to answer My call. Blessed is the distant one who remembers Me. By God, he is among those who stand upon My carpet and attain My presence. And among them is one who mentioned Me, whom We made one of the twigs of My Lote-Tree and leaves of My Tree.

Know then, O My servant who gazeth upon My face, that the servant hath attained the presence of his Sovereign and his letter was presented. When it was presented, the winds of My mercy were stirred and the ocean of My bounty surged. Thus did We cast upon the people of possibility the pearls of utterance through the grace of the All-Merciful. Blessed is he who attaineth unto them, recognizeth their value and preserveth them from those who are unworthy.

O Mihdi! Thy mention hath been made before the Countenance. We beseech God to assist thee in all conditions and to aid thee in the beginning and the end. Verily He is the Self-Sufficient, the Most Exalted.

Although restraint of the Pen is necessary due to the heedlessness of the nations, for the protection of God’s loved ones, yet through His grace, from the Fountainhead of His Will, the pure Water floweth according to measure. Blessed is he who drinketh, detached from all the worlds.

Among the letters received was one from one of the Afnan, upon him be the Glory of God, to whom all things testify of his love for his Lord, the Mighty, the All-Knowing. We have sent through the Trustworthy One to him and those around him that which will gladden the eyes of the mystics and cause the hearts of those who have turned to God to soar.

Thus doth the Supreme Pen address him from the direction of the white dome of the Ultimate Tree: “O thou who bearest My Name! Blessed art thou for having inhaled the fragrance of My raiment, turned to My face, spoken My praise, sought My presence, taken refuge in My sovereignty, heard My call from My Kingdom, answered Me amongst My servants, and soared in the atmosphere of My love, circling round My will. All this is from My confirmations, My care, My grace, My generosity and My mercy.

Blessed is he who turneth unto thee, heareth from thee the mention of thy Lord, and boweth before thee purely for My sake, hoping for My loving-kindness which We have sent down in the scrolls of My power and the tablets of My favor.

We have learned of the calamity that befell you, whereat tears flowed and sighs ascended to God, the Lord of Names and Attributes. By My life! In this ye have followed your Lord. We sacrificed one of the Branches for the exaltation of the Cause of your Lord, the All-Merciful. At the time they were washing him, My tongue was speaking between earth and heaven in remembrance of your Lord, the Most High, and My pen was flowing with that which caused the breezes of the All-Merciful to waft among all possibility. We have sent it to you. Blessed is he who considereth it and reflecteth upon that which hath appeared from the Command of his Lord, the Exalted, the Mighty, the Powerful, the Omnipotent.

Say to his relatives: Grieve not for him. He is with Us and will continue soaring in the atmosphere of the mercy of his Lord, the Forgiving, the Merciful. Through his mention We have adorned the Tablets, for We found in his heart what We found only in a few numbered souls. Blessed is he, and his father, and those who are with him from among My Afnan. Soon We shall send down for each one that which is better for them than all that hath been created in the heavens and earth. Verily, he is alive in My horizon, for We recognized in him what none knoweth save your Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

God willing, those related to the Blessed Tree should not be saddened by this new calamity. In truth, they have followed the example of the Truth, for at all times calamities descended like rain upon the Beauty of Divine Unity. Were the exalted stations specially reserved for that Bird of the heaven of divine love to be mentioned, all would raise their hands in supplication toward the Most Exalted Horizon. We beseech God to aid all to that which He loveth.

The mention of his honor Aqa Shaykh Sadiq, upon him be the Glory of God, which was in your letter, was made before the Divine Presence. Previously a wondrous and glorious Tablet was sent especially for him. Say: O Sadiq! Blessed art thou for having drunk the choice wine sealed from the hand of the mercy of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Self-Subsisting. Nothing hath prevented thee from the remembrance of thy Lord.

By My life! This is a praiseworthy station. It behooveth thee today to arise and say: O people! Follow Him by Whose praise all things speak, and Whose proof hath encompassed both the unseen and the visible. Pass by with the fragrance of thy Lord’s raiment, the All-Merciful, amongst all who dwell within the realm of possibility, that hearts and minds may be set ablaze through thee. We have made mention of thee in numerous Tablets. Verily thy Lord is the Mighty, the Loving. Say: O people! Forsake the world, for your Lord, the Lord of all names, hath come. Do ye imagine it will profit you in aught? Nay, by My Name, through which all who have entered the garment of existence were stirred! It will profit you only for a limited number of days. Cast it behind you, turning to that which your Lord, the All-Merciful, hath desired on this Day wherein the Sun of Revelation hath shone forth and the stars have fallen.

O Sadiq! We have sprinkled upon thee from the ocean of My mercy, lest sorrow overtake thee in the remembrance of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, and that thou mayest speak forth His Name with wisdom and utterance, that perchance the peoples of the worlds may abandon what they possess and hold fast to the cord of thy Lord, the Almighty, the Mighty, the Beloved. Rejoice thou in My remembrance of thee yet again, then inhale therefrom the fragrances of thy Lord’s raiment, the Knower of the unseen.

BH01165: Baha hath been abashed by finding thee abashed…

In the Name of the Glorious, the Bountiful!

Baha hath been abashed by finding thee abashed in His days, and Baha hath been perturbed by finding thee perturbed at what hath escaped thee beneath His shade. Sorrows have seized Me upon learning of thy grief in the Cause of thy Lord, and I have been moved by the stirring of the Lote-Tree of thy love, which the winds of thy Lord’s loving-kindness have set in motion.

By My life! Baha hath been set aflame by the burning of your hearts and the yearning of your souls. We beseech God to make thy confession the hand of power whereby the veils may be rent asunder, and to make thy acknowledgment a support for thee, that through the cord of My Name, the All-Powerful, thou mayest draw forth the Joseph of My luminous remembrance from the well of mysteries. May the attraction of the melodies of My Most Exalted Pen so possess thee that from the horizon of thy heart may rise the sun of faithfulness to My Most Glorious Name, and from the gardens of thy breast may waft that whereby all things shall be attracted, that the sincere ones and they that circle round may discover therefrom the fragrance of the garment of thy Lord’s love, the Lord of Names and Creator of earth and heaven.

Glory be unto Thee, O my God, my God! Thou Who art the Throb within my heart knowest and seest that the shame of Thy loved ones leadeth back to the Manifestation of Thyself and the Dayspring of Thy Cause. Nay, He seeth Himself more ashamed than they when they confess what hath escaped them in Thy days. O my Lord! These are Thy servants who have migrated in Thy love and borne tribulations in Thy path.

By Thy glory, O my God! Whenever any one of them confesseth his transgressions before Thee, shame covereth the face of Baha, for they are Thy servants who have tasted the cup of tribulation in Thy Cause and drunk the chalices of hardship at the appearance of the lights of Thy countenance, and trials have so seized them that they found no rest in Thy presence. By Thy glory! Baha hath melted in love for Thy loved ones and is perturbed by the sorrows that have befallen them at the manifestation of Thy Cause and the surging of the seas of Thy grace and favor. O Lord! From the sighs of their hearts hath my sighing risen, and from the burning of their hearts hath my heart been set aflame. I beseech Thee, O Lord of all being and Educator of the seen and unseen, to make each one of them a standard of Thy guidance among Thy servants and a dawning-place of the lights of the sun of Thy loving care among Thy creatures. Thou hast singled them out, O my God, for Thy love and for attendance before the throne of Thy grandeur. This is a station wherein none hath preceded them.

How many nights, O my God, they slept not in remembrance of Thee, and how many days they lamented for what was wrought against Thee by Thine enemies. I beseech Thee, O King of Kings and Exalter of the lowly, to assist them in the triumph of Thy Cause and the exaltation of Thy Word in such wise that through them Thy remembrance may be spread among Thy creation and Thy praise throughout Thy realm. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the Most Exalted, the All-Forgiving, the Most Generous.

Glory be unto Thee, O Lord my God! This is Thy servant whom Thou hast named with Thine own name in the kingdom of Thy names and reared beneath the wing of Thy grace and favor. Now Thou seest him hastening toward the region of Thy bounties and running unto Thee in quest of Thy bestowals. Adorn him, O my God, with the mantle of Thy generosity and the robe of Thy bounty and grace, that all things may perceive from him the sweet savors of the garment of Thy love. Then crown his head with the diadem of Thy remembrance that he may be known among the servants for his love for Thee and his steadfastness in Thy Cause. Then aid him in all conditions to help Thy Cause and to extol Thee and sing Thy praise amidst Thy creatures.

By Thy glory, O my God! Whenever I contemplate Thy greatness and sovereignty, I find myself the most rebellious of all them that have rebelled in Thy realm, and whenever I behold the stations which Thou hast reserved for Thyself, I perceive my being more sinful than any that dwell upon Thy earth. Were it not for the concealment of Thy Name, the Concealer, and the forgiveness of Thy Name, the All-Forgiving, and the fragrance of Thy Name, the All-Merciful, Thou wouldst behold the chosen ones in the positions of sin and rebellion. Praise be unto Thee for having preceded them with Thy mercy and encompassed them with Thy grace and favor.

After my confession of what hath flowed from my pen, I beseech Thee by Thy Name which Thou hast made the Sovereign over all names and the Supreme Ruler over all who are in earth and heaven, that Thou wilt not turn away him who hath turned toward Thee, nor withhold from him the wonders of Thy grace and the hidden tokens of Thy mercy. Kindle within his heart, by the hands of Thy power, a lamp that will burn in Thy days and cry out in Thy Name in such wise that shyness will not prevent him from soaring in the atmosphere of Thy love and ascending to the horizon of Thy rapture and yearning, nor will the affairs of the people hinder him from exalting Thy Word, that Thou mayest behold him sanctified as Thou desirest and as beseemeth Thy majesty and glory. Though this, O my God, be a mighty station and a great position, for how can any besides Thee bring forth that which would be worthy of Thy presence and befitting of Thy majesty?

Thou art the Generous One, and Thou art the Merciful. All atoms testify that Thou art the Ever-Forgiving, the Kind, the Bestower, the Mighty, the Wise. O my God, look upon him with the eye of Thy loving-kindness and the glance of Thy bounty. Then attract him through the melodies of the Source of Thy Revelation to such a station wherein he may become wholly annihilated in Thy good-pleasure and hopeful of what Thou hast ordained in Thy tablets. Then strengthen his heart through Thy name, the Strong, the Faithful, that he may stretch forth the hand of power and thereby aid Thy Cause at the appearance of the light of Thy Beauty and the dawning of the Sun of Thy Glory.

O Lord! Since Thou hast named him with Thy name, single him out among Thy servants for Thy service. O Lord! Thou knowest that I have desired naught for myself but rather for Thy Cause, and have turned to no one except for Thy Command and the manifestation of Thy bounty. I beseech Thee by Thy Hidden Name which now speaketh, that Thou send down upon him and upon Thy loved ones that which is treasured in the heaven of Thy bestowal and gifts, that yearning and attraction may seize them in Thy Covenant, O Lord of Lords! Then ordain for him and for them what befitteth Thy Name, the All-Bountiful. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the Most Exalted, the Strong, the Mighty, the Great.

BH01220: O My Name! The letter thou didst send hath…

In the Name of Him Who is the Supreme Ruler over all names!

O My Name! The letter thou didst send hath reached Him Who hath testified to that which God hath testified concerning His Own Self unto the ultimate horizon, thy Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. We have taken note of its contents. We beseech God to make it a source of guidance unto all mankind and a sign of His good-pleasure amongst all the worlds.

As to what was mentioned concerning the Afnan and their turning, one and all, unto God—this was what God ordained when We were in Iraq. He, verily, is the Almighty, the Powerful. He manifesteth what He willeth and giveth to drink, unto whom He pleaseth, the wine of understanding. He is, in truth, the Protector of the sincere ones.

He hath mentioned in his letter the name of Bahram, desiring for him God’s grace. We, therefore, make mention of him at this moment, that the sweet savors of remembrance may waft from this luminous quarter upon him. All those whom the Tongue of Grandeur remembereth are remembered by the denizens of the Supreme Paradise and then by those who dwell in the Most Exalted Horizon. Thy Lord is, verily, the Forgiving, the Merciful. Should God so will and desire, We shall send unto him a Tablet wherefrom he will inhale the fragrance of the Best-Beloved. We beseech God to make him steadfast under all conditions and to strengthen him from His presence that he may mention Him amongst His servants. This, verily, is a great bounty.

As to what was mentioned concerning Muhammad-Qabli-ʿAli and his turning towards God’s direction—the sun of permission for his return hath not yet risen. It behooveth him to remain among the people and to guide them through deeds, character, and remembrance, calling them unto God, the Single, the One, the Mighty, the Bountiful. He is among those who have attained Our presence time after time. Say: Be thou grateful for having attained unto the presence of thy Lord, and be thou among the patient ones.

And concerning the tribulations that have befallen the loved ones—there hath befallen them in that place what befell Us in the prison. Say: Be not grieved thereby. God shall soon exalt them through the truth and abase the arrogant ones and the wrong-doers. He shall establish the truth through His sovereignty and seize those who have disbelieved and then committed injustice. He is, verily, the Subduer, the Mighty.

What hath been mentioned concerning Our servant, ar-Rahim, beareth witness thereto: the Tongue of Grandeur testifieth that he hath not fallen short in the Cause of God, but hath been faithful to His Covenant and His pledge. By My life! this sufficeth him, for the testimony of God is matched by naught of all that hath been created in the heavens and on the earth. There hath come upon Us a greater wrong than that which hath befallen him; it behoveth him to glory therein, and to be of the thankful. We revealed unto him aforetime a Tablet, and set down therein what befell him in the path of God. God shall assuredly recompense him with the fairest recompense, and shall shield him from the malice of the unjust.

Were affliction to be a cause of remissness, then I would be the first of the remiss. Say: Be thou assured through the bounty of thy Lord, and then give thanks unto Him for that which hath been sent down unto thee in this lucid Tablet. Say: All that hath appeared from thee in the service of God is recorded in the Tablets; verily He was with thee in all conditions. Beware lest thou sorrow for what hath come upon thee; nay rather it behoveth thee to be of them that rejoice.

And what hath been mentioned concerning one of My Afnan, who hath ascended unto the horizon of My loving-kindness, the companion of My grace and of My bounty—We bear witness that he was called, and he answered his Eternal Lord; he was adorned with the mantle of faith, and turned toward the Beloved with a comely face. We heard his cry at the hour of his ascent, and answered him from this noble station. Blessed is he—blessed is he—and blessed also are they whom he hath left behind. We shall send down for them that which shall cause their eyes to be refreshed. Do thou, on My behalf, make mention of them, and give them glad tidings of this mighty remembrance. Verily We remember them in the loftiest station, and send unto them breaths of sanctity from this manifest horizon.

O My Name! The book of Mir was received and beheld before the Throne. The glance of divine favor hath ever been and will continue to be directed towards him. The answers to some questions, as ordained by God, were sent down from the heaven of the Divine Will and dispatched. Write unto him and convey Our greetings from this near yet far station. As for his request for forgiveness for one who has passed away, We have forgiven him. Indeed We have accepted his intercession, and We have increased the punishment of him who denied God, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

O My Name Mihdi! The dispatching of souls to various regions is not favored, for an unwholesome odor is perceived therefrom. Perchance people might imagine that which is unworthy of thy Lord’s holy court, sanctified above all worlds. In the early years, it was necessary to exalt the Word of God and manifest the Cause among His servants, even as the diffusion of the fragrances of the sublime Tablets and the sweet perfumes of the divine utterances were spread outwardly through messengers and inwardly through the angels brought nigh. Beyond what hearts and minds can comprehend was bestowed upon all who dwell on earth from the Source of the Cause and the Dayspring of grace. However, at present, the coming and going of designated souls is not viewed favorably, as it might cause perturbation in the hearts of the weak and the destruction of certain servants. Thus, from one perspective it is favored, and from another, it is not. The administrators of God’s Cause should ponder upon this matter and implement whatever is beneficial for His servants. The glory be upon thee and upon My loved ones who have attained unto the Cause of God, the Unalterable, the Mighty, the Great. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH01255: The All-Sanctified, the Most Great, the Most Inaccessible…

The All-Sanctified, the Most Great, the Most Inaccessible, the Most Glorious! All things proclaim that He Who is the Lord of Names is come, yet the people remain behind a clear veil. The seas have surged by virtue of that Most Great Name which hath appeared from the horizon of eternity, yet most of the people remain fast asleep. The call of God hath been raised from the lofty Tree in the heart of Paradise, yet the people of creation remain in manifest remoteness.

O My loved ones in that land! Hearken unto the call of your Lord, the All-Glorious, from the Ultimate Tree upraised upon the luminous Spot. Verily, there is none other God but Him, the All-Forgiving, the Bountiful. Turn with your hearts unto the Best-Beloved, then take the chalices of life in the name of your Lord, the All-Merciful, and drink therefrom in His Name, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

By My life! This honor sufficeth you—that ye have drawn nigh unto the Best-Beloved while the people are in grievous loss, that ye have attained unto Him Who is the Purpose while they remain in grave delusion. Arise in the name of your Lord, the All-Merciful, amidst all creation in such wise that the sincere shall find in your faces the radiance of the All-Glorious. Thus doth this imprisoned Stranger command you.

Do sorrows overtake you when ye behold yourselves beneath the shadow of your Lord, the Most High, the All-Knowing? God shall soon exalt you through the truth, inasmuch as ye have turned unto Him in days wherein the feet of all the world have slipped. They have clung to vain imaginings while ye have won the recognition of Him Who is known, when He Who is the Self-Subsisting appeared with His name, the Mighty, the Inaccessible. Did ye but know the measure of this bounty, ye would soar with longing in this subtle atmosphere.

Blessed are ye for having heard, turned unto Him and said: “Here am I, O God of the worlds!” How many a mighty one was prevented, and how many a weak one was strengthened through His Name, the Powerful, the Almighty! How many a lofty one descended from his seat, and how many a lowly one was raised up through His Name, the Mighty, the Wise!

Blessed be your faces, for ye have turned unto Him Who is the Intended One; blessed be your hearts for having borne the trust of the love of the Beloved; blessed be your ears for having heard His sweet and wondrous call. Beware lest the vain imaginings of them that have disbelieved in God, the One, the Peerless, the All-Informed, disturb you. Stand firm in the Cause in such wise that neither the gloom of glory nor the might of them that have turned away from the Fountain of nearness and are numbered with the heedless may shake you.

We behold you in your station and hear your call. Verily, He is with His sincere servants. Your names have not been withheld from the Supreme Pen. By My life! It hath moved in your remembrance, and He Who speaketh in this remote station beareth witness unto this. He desireth him who hath desired Him and loveth him who hath loved Him, and His remembrance hath preceded all who remember.

Know ye that We are in the Most Great Prison between two factions among the nations, and there befalleth Us at all times that which hath not befallen any of the Messengers. Whereat the Dove hath lamented and the Beauty of the Ancient of Days hath mourned in the pavilion of grandeur. Thus doth your Lord, the Mighty, the All-Praised, inform you. Can tribulation prevent Me from the remembrance of the Lord of Names? Nay, by the Creator of the heavens, if ye be of them that know!

Arise to aid the Cause of your Lord as your Master hath arisen, in such wise that neither the greatness of the turbans nor the might of them that have wronged and are among the most lost shall prevent you. When ye desire to render aid, hold fast unto the cord of wisdom. Thus hath the All-Merciful commanded you in the Tablets. Verily, He is the Ruler over what He willeth.

Unite in the Cause, for thereby are gladdened the hearts of the chosen ones and grieved the hearts of them that deny. Through unity will the Cause of your Lord, the Possessor of creation, become manifest. Blessed is he who hath held fast thereunto—he is assuredly among the triumphant.

Let not the world and its conditions sadden you. All shall perish and there shall endure what hath been ordained for you in the Kingdom of your glorious and beauteous Lord. For him that hath no helper, He is his Helper, and for him that hath no friend, He is the Friend of them that turn unto Him. Verily the Cause is in God’s hands; He giveth to whomsoever He willeth whatsoever He pleaseth. He is the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful.

O concourse of the righteous! When ye receive the Tablet of God, take it with hands of certitude, then read it with the spirit of joy and fragrance. Verily it will draw you nigh unto your Lord, the All-Merciful, and will aid you in that which your Ancient Master hath desired. Ye are in your homes while the Lord of the House remembereth you in the land of exile. Be ye thankful and be of them that remember.

Ponder ye upon God’s favor and His mercy. Verily He hath revealed unto you the verses in the prison after it was encompassed by the hosts of the oppressors. We have veiled that which hath befallen Us; were We to unveil it the trees would be overturned, the spirits would swoon, the rivers would cease to flow, the fruits would fall, the mountains would crumble, and they that are in the heavens and on earth would be sorely troubled. How wonderful are these tribulations that have descended in the path of God, and how wonderful are these hardships that have encompassed Me in the Cause of your Lord and the Lord of all worlds!

Blessed is he who hath this day fulfilled God’s covenant and His testament, and was of them that are guided. Blessed is he who hath been stirred by the breeze of God and was of them that are detached. Blessed is he who hath cast away the world, turning unto God, the Most High, the Most Great, and was of them that are steadfast. Blessed is he who hath detached himself in the love of his Lord from all else beside Him, and was of them that are firm.

Thus have We sent down unto you the verses; they are clear proofs unto all in the kingdom. May the glory that hath shone forth from the horizon of the Most Glorious be upon you, O loved ones of God, inasmuch as ye have turned unto the Qiblih of the horizons and were of them that are assured.

BH01390: This is a Book from the Prisoner to him…

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

This is a Book from the Prisoner to him who hath desired his Lord, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting, that he may cast away what he hath and hold fast unto the Handle which God hath manifested in the temple of man. Blessed is He Who sent Him with the truth and made Him the Manifestation of His Cause for what hath been and what shall be. Blessed is he who hath turned unto the All-Knowing, detached from idle fancies. He is assuredly among those who have attained the lights of guidance and followed that which they were commanded by the All-Knowing, the Knower of things unseen.

Verily, I am God’s servant among you. He hath sent Me with the truth to manifest His Cause. Every atom beareth witness to this, as doth this hidden Pillar Who hath borne afflictions in manifesting God’s Cause and hath cast behind Him all creation. The Lord of Names beareth witness to this, but the people comprehend not.

Let not the idle fancies that have issued from the mouths of men disturb thee. Be thou assured through the grace of thy Lord, with a heart sanctified from the allusions of those who disbelieved in the All-Merciful when He came with clear proof. Thus hath it been sent down unto thee this day from the presence of the Lord of existence.

Verily, those who slumber today and are kept back from the ocean are the dead. They rejoice in what they possess, but soon shall they find themselves in unrelenting torment. It behooveth him who hath drawn nigh unto the Light to forget darkness and all that is therein. By My life! He soareth above hearts and minds. Didst thou know the station thou hast attained, thou wouldst cast away idle fancies and proclaim unto all peoples this treasured Name.

Those who bear burdens and by them weigh the Self-Sufficient, the Most High—these are people who understand not. Leave what they possess, by the sovereignty of thy Lord, the Creator of the heavens. Say: O my Lord! I have turned with my whole being unto Thee, detached from all else but Thee. Write down for me that which shall profit me in this world and the hereafter. With Thee is the knowledge of all things in a preserved tablet, for I know nothing. I have abandoned my desire in what Thou hast desired, so make me steadfast in Thy Cause and a servant to Thy Self. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the Mighty, the Beloved.

Consider the generations of old when We sent unto them the Manifestations of the Cause. Why did they turn away and deny? Thus doth command thee He Whom sorrows have encompassed in the days of thy Lord, the All-Merciful. Reflect, that thou mayest find the fragrance of musk from this Sent Garment.

Place thy trust in all things in God, thy Lord. Verily, He aideth whom He willeth through His sovereignty and ordaineth for him that which maketh him soar in the atmosphere of revelation and witnessing. Should thou return to thy place and someone ask thee whither thou wentest and what thou sawest, say: I moved for the sake of God until I entered the place wherein was raised the mention of my Lord, the Mighty, the Loving, and I heard the call of Him Who was immersed in the ocean of tribulation in God’s path, the Originator of all things, and Who summoneth all unto God, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting.

Weigh what thou hast against what hath appeared from Him, that thou mayest be assured that His proof is sovereign over all proofs and His evidence shineth from the horizon of grace. Thus doth the Pen of Revelation speak, and the angels and the Spirit glorify. Thy Lord hath ordained for thee what thou knowest not. Wouldst thou reflect, thou wouldst be certain that at the time thou wert present before the Face, all thy needs were fulfilled, and to this the Self itself beareth witness.

Be thou steadfast in such wise that the whisperings of the people move thee not. Thus hast thou been commanded by the Truth. Blessed is he who followeth his Lord, detached from those who are heedless. Witness naught save what God hath witnessed, and see naught save what We have shown thee in truth. Thus have We broken the seal, and this is the sealed wine.

When thou didst turn unto the Path, this inscribed Tablet was sent down unto thee. Say: Glory be unto Thee, O my God! Thou knowest that I turned toward the direction of Thy grace and the horizon of Thy bounties until I reached the shore of the sea which was surging with Thy Name and remembrance. By Thy might! Were I to thank Thee for as long as Thy Self endureth and Thy Essence abideth, I would be powerless to render thanks for what Thou hast bestowed upon me through Thy grace, though I deserve it not.

I beseech Thee by Thy Self, the Sovereign over all things, that Thou deprive me not of Thy knowledge. Then assist me in all conditions to serve the Wronged One Who is imprisoned in the hands of the oppressors among Thy creation and the heedless among Thy servants. O my Lord! Thou art the Generous, Thou art the Great. I beseech Thee by Thy greatness and Thy power that Thou leave me not to myself and my desires. Draw me unto Thee, even if by chains and fetters. Verily, Thou art the Self-Sufficient, the Most High. There is no God but Thee, the Mighty, the Generous.

Then I beseech Thee, O my God, to consume what I possess with the fire of attraction, then cause me to dwell in the Garden of Eternity, the station of those among Thy servants who are at peace and those among Thy chosen ones who are steadfast, who have no will save what Thou hast willed and no purpose save what Thou hast decreed. Thus doth Thy servant beseech Thee in his final call. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the Answerer, and Thou art the Most Merciful of the merciful.

BH01399: O Ali! Give thanks to God for having enabled…

He is the Most Mighty, the Most Inaccessible, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious

O Ali! Give thanks to God for having enabled thee to attain the presence of thy Lord, the All-Forgiving, at His Throne, and to drink the choice wine of revelation from the cup of the utterance of the All-Merciful when the Tongue of Grandeur proclaimed: “There is none other God but Me, the Mighty, the Generous.” Thou hast been honored to attain the presence of the Self-Subsisting when He appeared with His Name “the Wronged One” in this mighty prison. We bear witness that thou didst turn to Him, enter His presence, arise, behold, and hear, and didst attain that which thy Ancient Lord desired for thee in these days wherein the sun of grace hath dawned and the moon of bounty hath shone upon all who are in the heavens and on earth.

It behooveth thee to soar on the wings of yearning in the atmosphere of inner meanings and utterance, and to speak amongst all created things of this wondrous Name. O Akbar! Hearken once again unto the call from this Blessed Divine Lote-Tree, the Primal Unity, planted in the soil of grandeur, to the melodies of thy Most Glorious Lord, Who speaketh betwixt earth and heaven: “There is none other God but Me, the Mighty, the All-Wise.” Thou hast entered the precincts of the All-Merciful by My leave. Now return by My command to thy home, that through thee might be wafted the sweet savors of the Desired One amongst His assured servants.

We speak naught except by God’s command, and breathe naught save that which returneth unto Him, and We command no one save that through which are manifested the attributes of his Lord’s Cause, the Mighty, the Impregnable. We have never desired aught for Ourselves, but rather the Self of God, yet the people remain behind a thick veil. Say: We have forsaken that which would give rest to Our bodies, and have desired that which would cause hearts to burn in the path of the Beloved. This is the way of Baha, which He hath chosen for Himself, were ye to know. What thou hast known of My tribulations is as nothing in thy Lord’s sight. We have concealed most matters, in view of Our mercy that hath encompassed the worlds.

O Akbar! Blessed art thou for having turned to the Most Great Prospect and been among the successful ones. Thus doth God assist whom He willeth among His servants; He is the Protector of those who draw nigh unto Him. How many servants have sought yet reached not their goal, and how many have attained, succeeded, heard, and said: “Praise be to Thee, O Thou Beloved of them that know!” And how many a servant who attained not Our presence—We have written for him the reward of one who hath attained the presence of God, for he is indeed of those whom the All-Merciful hath testified are among those who have attained.

Blessed is he who moveth by God’s leave and command, and blessed is he who remaineth still through God’s Will and decree. We bear witness that he is among those who draw nigh. O Ali! Thou art in thy place, yet the Tongue of the Most High speaketh thy praise. Dost thou see any bounty greater than this? Nay, by thy Lord, We have ever been mindful. The Finger of loving-kindness hath moved the Most Exalted Pen to make mention of thee purely for the sake of God; He is indeed the Most Merciful of the merciful.

Be thou of such character that whosoever approacheth thee may be drawn by the mention of thy Lord, the Ancient of Days. Thus it behooveth one who hath turned to the Countenance and attained His mighty throne. Convey My greetings to My loved ones who soar in the atmosphere of My love and speak My Name, make mention of Me, and sing My praise. Then recount to them what thou hast learned of the story of the Youth, that they may arise to render assistance as We have commanded them in the Tablets We have sent through those who sought Us.

This is not the day for stillness and patience. The Lote-Tree of Fire proclaimeth: “There is none other God but He, the Mighty, the All-Praised.” O My loved ones! Grieve not over the world and what hath befallen you in My path. By God! Your reward lieth within the treasuries of My power and the repositories of My protection. He is indeed the Bestower, the Mighty, the Trusted One.

Make mention of your Lord with wisdom and utterance, then stand firm in such wise that the hearts of the unbelievers may be troubled and the backs of the idolaters be broken. Thus have We inspired thee and taught thee that thou mayest thank thy Lord at all times and be of those who remember. Go forth with God’s Tablet and its influence to those who have attained to the love of God and His Cause, and are among the steadfast ones, that they may hear the call of the Beloved time and again, and be assured that He is indeed the All-Bountiful, the Giver, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Convey My greetings to the radiant faces among the people of Baha, who, when they heard the call, responded: “Yea, O Thou Wronged One of the worlds!” Say: O My loved ones! This is the day of triumph and victory. Arise to serve the Cause by leave of your Lord, the Unconstrained. Beware lest anything prevent you from making mention of this All-Wise Remembrance. Ye are the gems of the earth. We have taken you through Our sovereignty and raised you to the dome of true knowledge. Preserve ye this exalted station, the mighty, the impregnable. Thus have ye been commanded by the Lord of Pre-existence, Who is imprisoned through what the hands of the nations who denied God, the Lord of all worlds, have wrought.

BH01413: A Book from Our presence to those who have…

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

A Book from Our presence to those who have attained unto the lights of mystic knowledge in the days of their Lord, the Most Merciful, and who have stood firm in the Cause when most of the servants turned away from it, that the fragrances of revelation may draw them nigh unto a station wherein naught is mentioned save God, the Almighty, the Glorious, the All-Praised.

There have come before Our presence various petitions from those who have turned towards God, and We make mention of them in this exalted Tablet. Among them is Samandar, who desired to enter the Most Great Scene. He is among those whom nothing deterred when the All-Merciful came with manifest sovereignty. O Samandar! Thy letter hath come before Us, and We have heard that wherewith thou didst call upon God, thy Lord, the Mighty, the Generous. Blessed art thou for having fulfilled God’s covenant and arisen to serve Him amidst His heedless servants. Be thou a lamp of guidance among the people and a dawning-place of utterance through this Great Name. Grieve not over anything. Verily thy Lord is with thee and will aid thee as He pleaseth. There is none other God but He, the Almighty, the All-Powerful.

And among them is Dhabih, who believed in God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. O Dhabih! Give thanks for Our having aided thee to turn towards Him when the ascetics turned away. We have read what thou didst send and heard that wherewith thou didst commune with God, the Lord of what was and what shall be. We have, of a truth, mentioned thee in the Tablets as a token of grace from Our presence. Thy Lord is, verily, the Mighty, the Loving. It behooveth thee not to grieve over anything. By God! His remembrance sufficeth thee in truth, whereunto testify honored servants.

And among them is Husayn, who turned towards the horizon of his Lord’s loving-kindness, the Mighty, the All-Bestowing. O Husayn! Hearken unto the Call from the Dayspring of grandeur and glory. There is none other God but He, the Almighty, the Glorious, the Unconstrained. Thy letter hath been honored in the presence of thy Lord, and the Wronged One hath turned His gaze toward it while imprisoned among the wicked. O servant! Act in accordance with what hath been sent down in the Most Holy Book. By God! It is truly the Balance of guidance among the people and the proof of the All-Merciful to all who are in earth and heaven. Grieve not over anything. Trust in God under all conditions.

Say: O my God! I beseech Thee by the Lamp which Thou hast kindled with the fire of Thy Cause between Thy heaven and earth, and by Thy Name through which Thou hast distinguished between Thy servants and Thy creatures, to assist me in Thy remembrance and praise, and preserve me from that which Thy good-pleasure abhorreth. O Lord! This transient one hath clung to the hem of Thy eternity. I beseech Thee not to deprive me of the outpourings of the ocean of Thy bounty, and ordain for me that which shall profit me in this world and the next. Verily, Thou art powerful over what Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Most Exalted, the Mighty, the Bountiful.

And among them is he who is named Ali, who attained unto the lights of faith when the horizon of certitude was illumined by the Sun of the utterance of his Lord, the Mighty, the Wise. O Ali! We have heard thy call and answered thee before, and in this wondrous Tablet. Blessed art thou for having attained unto the recognition of God and the Dawning-Place of His revelation when He appeared with His Name, the Protector of the worlds. The glory of God rest upon thee and upon thy brother, from God, the One, the Peerless, the All-Knowing, the Generous.

And among them is the Leaf of Ridvan who hath believed in God, the Lord of the worlds. We have read thy letter and understood its contents. He is, verily, the Mighty, the Generous. We have sent thee various Tablets through those who have journeyed there. Thy Lord is, verily, the True One, the Faithful. We beseech God to aid thee in His service and to make thee a sign of piety among His handmaidens who have believed in God, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

In the Persian tongue it is mentioned that some days ago, specially dedicated Tablets, sublime and wondrous, were revealed and sent to most of the loved ones of God, as was done before. Therefore, this time We have sufficed with this brief message. We beseech God, exalted be His glory, to give all to drink of the living waters and cause them to speak His praise. O friends! Strive to become dawning-places of divine outpourings, that is, to manifest such conduct as is beloved and praiseworthy before God, that all may be awakened by your deeds, actions, and character, and turn towards the Friend. In most Tablets it hath been revealed that the victory of the Truth hath been and shall be through goodly deeds, befitting actions, and pleasing character.

Strive ye in that which ye have been commanded in the Book. By God! Through it shall your souls profit and those who are in the world. Thus doth the Wronged One counsel you as He counseled you before. To this testifieth every knowing and informed one. Blessed is he who hath attained unto that which he hath been commanded in the Tablets. He is, verily, of the people of Baha in the presence of the Lord of Names. Upon him be the glory of God and the glory of all things at all times.

BH01427: In the name of the All-Knowing, the All-Informed Expounder!…

In the name of the All-Knowing, the All-Informed Expounder! O seeker of the utterance, hearken unto the Purpose in the Persian tongue, that thou mayest attain unto the wondrous tokens of the All-Merciful’s favors, unto the infinite outpourings that lie hidden and treasured within these words. Thy letter was presented before the Countenance, and that which was inscribed therein was heard and understood before its arrival. This is not difficult for God. With Him is the knowledge of the heavens and earth, and the knowledge of what was and what shall be. As to what thou didst write concerning the unveiling of the names and attributes—by God! We have rent asunder the veils and torn away the shrouds on the Day when We manifested Ourselves with all names unto all things. Blessed are they that behold! Blessed are they that know!

O seeking servant! Strange it is that thou didst not witness this station and recognize it. No veil remained, except that it was rent asunder by the finger of might, and no mystery remained, except that it was made manifest and evident through the revelation of Truth. The hidden treasure cannot be known, and the concealed secret cannot be described. Now it calleth unto thee from the midmost heart and summoneth thee unto the Truth. No question is permitted at this station, for the One questioned is manifest, and no words are befitting, for the meaning is evident and clear. All knowledge hath been specifically meant for the recognition of the Known One, and all remembrances are but steps for attaining the Remembered One. Now the Known One Himself hath appeared by His Name, the Self-Subsisting. Beseech God, exalted be His glory, that thou mayest attain unto this most great bounty and recognize the Truth in this wondrous garment.

When thou art present before the Countenance, behold God with the eye of thy heart. Then shalt thou witness His grandeur and His sovereignty, and become acquainted, according to thy capacity, with the Dawning-Place of mysteries. Verily thy Lord is the Expounder, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Be not as the fish that, though in water, asketh about it. Thus doth He Who possesseth a Preserved Tablet teach thee.

I swear by the Sun of the horizon of inner meanings that creation hath been specifically created for this Day, and ears have been brought into being to hearken unto this most sweet utterance, and sight hath come into existence for this Most Great Vision. Strive that thou mayest attain unto it. Verily, He is the Manifest, the Near One.

As to thy seeking and mentioning the recognition of reality, and saying “Will not my will unite with Thy will?”—the tongue should seek forgiveness of God for this utterance, for this station is one whereunto the recognition of the mystics, the knowledge of the learned, and the realities of those in earth and heaven cannot attain. He hath ever been, in the heights of inaccessibility, sanctified above all else but Himself, and will forever remain, in the summit of His exaltation, hallowed above all that is besides Him. No one hath known Him as He should be known, and no soul hath comprehended Him as He should be comprehended, for this station hath been and shall ever be sanctified and exalted. The Books and Scriptures have testified to His sanctification and transcendence.

Whosoever today beholdeth and recognizeth the hidden treasure through the concealed Name, hath attained unto his own Paradise and Kingdom, and this is the utmost station of the servant’s recognition within the realm of possibility. Beyond this the path is barred and seeking is rejected. His proof is His Revelation, and His evidence is His being established upon His mighty Throne.

We hope, God willing, that thou wilt drink from the Salsabil of this utterance and quaff the wine of “Am I not?” from the hand of the Friend, and become intoxicated, speaking His praise and glorification amongst the servants. This is the crown of deeds and the essence of actions and the ultimate earthly home.

Furthermore, no one’s will hath ever been or shall ever be united with God’s will, for the will of all hath been and shall ever be as nothingness before His will. The glory of existence is for one to make his own will fade away in God’s will—that is, to have no will, thought or imagination of his own, but to move by God’s will and act accordingly. Deem not this matter imaginary. Whosoever today hath drunk of the sealed wine and acted according to that which hath proceeded from the Source of Command, hath attained unto God’s will, and he is of the people of truth. And whosoever remaineth veiled from this station is accounted among the dead, even should he manifest the knowledge and recognition of the ancients.

Strive that thou mayest attain, through divine grace, unto God’s good-pleasure and move according to His will. This is the ultimate station—whosoever attaineth unto it hath attained unto the furthermost goal and the most exalted summit. And peace be upon him who followeth guidance!

BH01490: Glorified is He Who hath revealed the Word…

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

Glorified is He Who hath revealed the Word with authority from His presence. Verily it speaketh amongst the people of creation that there is none other God but Him, the Mighty, the Gracious. Should anyone turn unto it with the ear of his true nature, he would soar, with spirit and sweet fragrance, into the atmosphere of his Lord’s love, the All-Merciful. Say: It is a fire unto him who hath turned away from the One Who is Chosen, and a light unto the righteous. Through it are distinguished the one who accepteth from him who turneth away. Verily it is the Balance of deeds, and verily it is the Path of the Cause for all who are in the heavens and on earth, and the Fountain of Life for all who dwell in the realm of possibility. Blessed is he who hath turned unto it and laid hold on this Name which God hath made to exercise dominion over all regions.

The wretchedness of those who denied the Days of God, wherein the Cause dawned from the horizon of mysteries, hath prevailed. We have seized those who disbelieved in God and wronged the Dawning-Places of Revelation. Verily thy Lord is severe in punishment. Among them were those whom We seized with might from Our presence, those whom We destroyed with a single cry, those whom We drowned in the sea, those whom We caused the earth to swallow, those whom We burned with the flames of fire, and those upon whom We rained stones. Thus have We sent down their stories in the Tablets. Verily thy Lord is the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

Soon shall We seize those who have wronged, even as We seized the transgressors in those regions who drove Us from the Land of Mystery when they opposed God, the Lord of all men. We seized them all with authority from Our presence. Thus was it sent down in the Tablet of the Heart. Blessed are they who possess insight.

We seized the first one as We had promised him in the Book, and We seized the second one and those with him with such might as caused the hearts of the wicked to tremble. They arose, and naught could be heard from their dwellings save the echo and the croaking of ravens.

O Most Exalted Pen! Make mention of when We sent the Wondrous One with clear signs unto him who was heedless and in schism. He committed that which caused the denizens of Paradise and the realities of the Concourse on High to lament. We then left the wrongdoer to himself in wisdom and seized those in the lands. Soon shall We seize him by Our command, for verily We are powerful over what We desire.

Blessed is he who hath read God’s Tablet which We sent unto him, that he might be assured that We were not deterred by what befell Us. The Tongue of Grandeur hath spoken with pure truth, that all might testify that He is the Mighty, the Chosen One. Thy Lord’s proof hath been completed against them, and the evidence hath shone forth from the horizon of certitude. Those who read God’s verses find the sweetness of their Lord’s utterance, the Mighty, the Bestower, and turn with pure hearts toward the direction wherein appeared the Luminary of creation.

There hath come before the Throne a letter from him who, upon hearing the Call, said: “Yea, yea, O Render of veils!” Therefore have We sent down unto thee this Tablet through which the fragrance of the Garment hath been wafted throughout all worlds. Be thou thankful unto thy Lord for having directed toward thee the gaze of the Wronged One while imprisoned in the most remote of lands.

O Husayn! Hearken unto the call of Husayn. Stand firm in such wise that the limbs of those who have disbelieved in God, the Lord of all men, may quake. Say: O concourse of divines! The Most Exalted Pen doth move in the fields of Tablets. Is there any among you who can race with the Horseman of might in this arena? Nay, by My Self! They are like the lame one, having halted in the mire of idle fancies. Say: This is the Sun of knowledge which hath dawned from the horizon of utterance, despite you, O company of the wicked! Leave these people be; sufficient unto them is thy Lord’s punishment, the Mighty, the Compelling.

Be thou observant in all circumstances with the eye of wisdom. Thus have We commanded creation in most of Our Tablets. Blessed art thou and blessed is he who hath caused thee to hear the cooing of the Dove upon the branches and the flowing of the River of Utterance in these days. By My life! He is the One mentioned before the Throne and the One Who remembereth with this remembrance whereby the idols have been reduced to naught.

Say: O Friend! Hearken unto the call of the Glorious One Who calleth thee from the tongue of this Afflicted One Who hath been tried among the people of dissension. Amidst darkness the light hath shone, and in tribulation this Man hath remained steadfast in such wise that the mountains cannot rival Him. Blessed art thou for having become the cup-bearer of the All-Merciful, giving the wine of life unto those who have turned to God, the Help in Peril. Clear verses have been sent down unto thee and We sent them aforetime. Verily He is the Mover of the cord of love.

The glory be upon you, O people of Baha, from your Lord, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.

BH01509: The beginning of speech is the praise…

The beginning of speech is the praise of the Lord. O servants! The springs of divine bounty are flowing—drink from them, that by the help of the peerless Friend ye may be cleansed from the dust of earth and enter the precincts of the one true Friend. Pass beyond the world and set your face toward the city of the Beloved.

O servants! The consuming fire is kindled by My hand—quench it not with the waters of ignorance. The heavens are a sign of My greatness—behold them with pure eyes. And the stars bear witness to My truth—testify ye to this truth.

O servants! Sight belongeth to the eye and hearing to the ear. Whoso in this blessed day hath not heard the voice of the divine herald hath not possessed, nor doth he possess, ears. The ear is not that piece of flesh at which thou gazest—open the hidden eye that thou mayest behold the fire of God, and hearken with the ear of the spirit that thou mayest hear the sweet voice of the Beloved.

O servants! If ye desire healing, lo, the remedy hath appeared. If ye possess seeing eyes, behold the countenance of the Beloved manifest in the marketplace. Kindle the fire of knowledge and flee from the ignorant. This is the word of the Lord of the worlds.

O servants! The body without spirit is dead, and the heart without the remembrance of God is withered. Therefore commune ye with the Friend and shun the enemy. Your enemy is those things which ye have acquired of your own desire and have cherished, and wherewith ye have defiled your souls. The soul is for the remembrance of the Beloved—keep it pure. The tongue is for the testimony of God—sully it not with mention of the wayward.

O servants! I speak in truth: the truthful one is he who hath beheld the straight path—and that path is one, which the Lord hath chosen and made ready. This path among all paths is like the sun among the stars. Whoso hath not attained unto this path is unaware and astray. This is the word of the peerless Lord, the incomparable One.

O servants! The world is the abode of demons—keep yourselves from approaching them. The demons are the wayward ones who lie in the sleep of heedlessness with corrupt deeds. Their sleep is sweeter than wakefulness, and their death more attractive than life.

O servants! Not every body possesseth a spirit, nor every frame a soul. Today he possesseth a spirit whose body hath set out for the precincts of the Beloved. The end of every beginning is today—blind not yourselves. The one true Friend is near—make not yourselves remote.

O servants! Your bodies are as saplings in a garden, and from lack of water are nearly withered. Therefore freshen them with the heavenly water flowing from the clouds of divine bounty. Words must be followed by deeds. Whoso accepteth the words of the Friend is a man of deeds—otherwise a corpse is better than he.

O servants! Sweet is the word of the Friend—where is he who will find it, and where is the ear that will hear it? Blessed is he who today joineth with the Friend and in His path forsaketh and turneth away from all else save Him, that he may behold a new world and attain to the everlasting paradise.

The Lord of the worlds declareth: O servants! Abandon your desires and seek that which I have desired for you. Travel not the way without a guide, nor accept every guide’s words. Many guides are themselves astray and have not found the right path. A guide is one who is free from the bonds of the world and whom nothing preventeth from speaking the truth.

O servants! Practice truthfulness, turn not away from the destitute, make mention of Me before the great ones, and fear not.

O servants! Be pure in your deeds and follow the word of your Lord. This is the utterance of the one true God.

BH01558: In the Name of the One Friend! Your letter…

In the Name of the One Friend! Your letter reached the Divine Throne and the glance of loving-kindness was directed toward it. All that was mentioned therein was understood. We have heard that which thou didst call out to God, thy Lord and the Lord of the worlds, and the yearning of thy heart at what befell thee in His days. He is verily the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

Forget not what We counseled thee during thy presence. Hold fast unto it—it shall suffice thee if thou be of them that comprehend. Thy Lord speaketh naught but the pure truth. Soon shalt thou witness what We have informed thee of, if thou hearkenest to what We caused thee to hear and act according to that which thou hast been commanded by One All-Knowing, All-Wise.

This is not a day of grief, for the Ancient Beauty is outwardly speaking and established upon the throne. Ye must manifest such joy and gladness as to cause the world and all therein to rejoice. What God desireth from you is that which befitteth these days and manifesteth that which attracteth the hearts of all creation. Thou wert in the presence of the Throne and heard what the Tongue of Grandeur spoke, and knew what He loveth and is pleased with. Act according to what He desired. He is the Friend of whosoever befriendeth Him, and He is verily the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

Be assured of God’s loving-kindness. He is verily the Forgiving, the Pardoning, the Merciful, the Compassionate. Know thou with certitude that whatsoever hath been revealed from the Mouth of the Divine Will shall assuredly come to pass.

Thou didst mention tribulation. Grieve not at this, for the tribulation of this wronged Prisoner is greater than the tribulations of the first and the last. Observe and reflect how in the Most Great Prison He is afflicted between two parties, to such an extent that no end can be seen to its mention. Nevertheless, with utmost joy and delight He summoneth the people to the most exalted station, which is the recognition of God. No harm hath prevented Him and no tribulation hath hindered Him from the remembrance of God.

All the loved ones of God must appear among the people of the world adorned with the ornament of steadfastness and assurance, and at all times remind the people, that perchance their worn and tattered garments may be exchanged for new and sanctified raiment. All that is seen and exists in the world shall pass away, and what endureth is the deed performed in the path of God.

Follow what thou hast been commanded by the Intended One. Soon shalt thou witness what thou wert promised in His presence. Nothing escapeth His knowledge. He is cognizant of all things. Previously, wondrous verses were revealed and sent especially for the honored Karim and thyself. Likewise, before that, a mighty Tablet was sent with the letter Sin. Never have ye been absent from sight, nor shall ye ever be.

These are the days for the manifestation of the most great steadfastness. Blessed is the soul that hath drunk from this most pure wine and partaken of this most luminous nectar.

Convey from this Prisoner in the realm of possibility the most wondrous and most glorious greetings to them that soar in the atmosphere of the love of the All-Merciful, especially to those souls who have drawn nigh and turned to God’s imperative Command. Blessed are they, and again blessed are they! By God, the Pen moved to inscribe their names and the tongue to make mention of them. This sufficeth them, would they but know it. A special Tablet hath been revealed for each one. God willing, they shall be sent through a trusted messenger.

We beseech God to gather all upon the shore of this Ocean and give them to drink that which shall make them the helpers of His Cause, the rememberers of His Name, the utterers of His praise, and them that are detached from all else besides Him. He is verily the Powerful, the Mighty.

His favor hath reached such a degree that He maketh mention of His loved ones in the Most Great Prison. Have ye witnessed any bounty greater than this? Nay, by His Self! Have ye found any lord more merciful than He? Nay, by His Beauty! Have ye known any beloved more compassionate than He? Nay, by His Command which hath subdued the worlds!

Appear ye among the people of the world in the utmost spirit and fragrance, bearing His Name, and strive to teach His Cause. This is the pure good which the Pen of Command hath recorded. Blessed are they that act accordingly. Glory be upon thee and upon those who have remained steadfast in this Cause whereby the mountains have been crushed, the heaven cleft asunder, and the earth rent in twain.

BH01552: A mention from Us to him who turned towards…

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

A mention from Us to him who turned towards the Dawning-Place of Revelation and attained the presence of his Lord while He was in the Most Great Prison through that which the hands of the wicked had wrought, that he might once again inhale the fragrance of his Beloved from His garment which We have sent in the form of a Tablet. Verily thy Lord is the Almighty, the Mighty, the Unconstrained.

Blessed be thy face for having turned towards the countenance of the Beloved, and thy tongue for having voiced the praise of God, the Self-Sufficient, the Most High. Be thou aflame with the fire of God in such wise that the sincere ones may find from thee the warmth of thy Lord’s love, the Cleaver of the Dawn.

Convey My greetings unto My loved ones and remind them of that which thine ears have heard from the tongue of thy Lord, the Mighty, the All-Bestowing. Then bid them to wisdom and utterance. This is better for the exaltation of thy Lord’s Cause amongst His servants.

Say: Beware lest the affairs of the kingdom sadden you or the veils of those who follow vain imaginings prevent you. That which they possess shall perish, while might and power shall endure for you, O concourse of the righteous.

Rejoice, O assemblage of ardent lovers! By God, the Beloved hath appeared and the horizons have been illumined by His countenance. Be ye jubilant and magnify this Name through which the atoms are entranced when it is mentioned. Blessed are they who have borne tribulations in My path and have been imprisoned for My Name. These, verily, abide beneath the canopy of My majesty. Soon shall We adorn the pages of the Book of Creation with their names amidst all existence.

Then make mention on My behalf of him who hath been named Muhammad-Qabli-Ali. Say: Grieve not for thy imprisonment. Verily thy Lord is in the Most Great Prison through that which the hands of the infidels who have denied God, the Lord of all names, have wrought. Thou wert mentioned before the Throne and praised before the Face, and the Tongue of Eternity spoke in remembrance of thee, and this Pen, which God hath made the sovereign of all pens, hath flowed over thy name. Blessed art thou for having turned towards Him, recognized Him, quaffed, and been attracted by this Light, one ray of which, when it appeared, caused the tongues of the Concourse on High to proclaim: “This, verily, is the Most Great Name and the Ancient Beauty”; and the tongues of those within the pavilions of grandeur and majesty to exclaim: “This is the Ancient Mystery and the Essence of His Great Name”; then the tongues of the denizens of Paradise cried out: “This, verily, is He Who was promised unto us in the Tablets of God, the Almighty, the Loving”; and the tongues of the inhabitants of the Kingdom proclaimed: “This, verily, is the Beloved through Whom eyes were solaced and faces were illumined.”

Then the call was raised above the head of the Youth from the horizon of glory and power: “By His life! That which ye have mentioned is limited by your own selves. This is the Beloved of God, the Almighty, the Beautiful. This is He Who, were He to rend asunder the veils and appear in the full splendor of His Beauty, would cause the very essence of beauty to sever its own hand and exclaim: May my soul be a sacrifice unto Thee, O Thou Who art the sacrifice of all worlds!”’

O Muhammad-Qabli-ʿAli! Verily thy Lord maketh mention of thee even as thou makest mention of Him, and His mention hath preceded all worlds. Were it not for His mention, who would know what mention is, that he might speak of it in creation? Thus doth the Lord of invention inform thee—He through Whose name the ocean of inner meanings surgeth in the heart of utterance, and the proof of the All-Merciful hath been perfected unto all worlds.

Be thou as a bird soaring in the atmosphere of thy Lord’s love. When thou inclinest to the right, say: “In Thy Name, O Lord of all worlds!” When thou turnest to the left, say: “Through Thy remembrance, O Thou Who art the Most High, the Self-Sufficient!” And when thou seeketh the south, say: “Through Thy praise, O Thou Who art the Beloved of all in the heavens and the earth!” Grieve not, for verily thy Lord is with thee. He is with His sincere servants.

Upon thee, O Mustafa, be the remembrance of God, His praise and the praise of them who have detached themselves from all save God, the Mighty, the Most Praised. Guard thou the Cause from all directions, even as thou hast been bidden by the One Who revealeth the verses. He, verily, is the Omnipotent, the Almighty. If thou shouldst meet Amin, attract him through the remembrance of thy Lord. He is indeed among those who are remembered and will be remembered before the Throne. This is from the bounty of thy Lord, the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful. Blessed is he for having borne abasement for the glory of the Cause. By My life! He shall find himself in manifest glory.

Say: O My loved ones! Let not exile grieve you. Whosoever seeketh Me, in whatsoever land he may be, verily dwelleth in the homeland of the All-Merciful. Thus hath the matter been decreed from the presence of the Lord of all creation in a Tablet sealed with the finger of thy Lord, the Strong, the Trustworthy.

Then make mention on My behalf of Abdullah, who hath borne tribulation for the victory of the Lord of creation. Upon him be the glory of God, His remembrance and the remembrance of them that remember. And upon thee, and upon him, and upon them all be glory.

BH01556: In the Name of Him Who encompasses existence, both…

In the Name of Him Who encompasses existence, both seen and unseen. This is a sealed Book, to which the near ones bear witness that it has been sent down from God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. Shed no blood and harbor no doubts concerning this Cause, through which all religions have been fulfilled in the realm of possibility—thus has the All-Merciful decreed, if you but knew. Do not consume the property of others, nor follow those who have risen in hypocrisy when the Luminary of the horizons has come with His promised Name.

O people! Turn not away from Him Who has turned to you, nor oppose Him Who calls you to God, the Mighty, the Loving. How long will you follow your desires and pursue your vain imaginings? Rend asunder all veils in the name of your Lord, Who has power over what was and what shall be.

Days and nights have passed while you slumbered. The dawn has broken from the horizon of the Cause while you slept. The light has appeared yet you flee to darkness. The living waters have flowed from the mouth of your Lord’s will, the All-Merciful, yet you turn away. The nightingales of utterance sing upon the branches with various melodies, yet you remain distant. You run to the crier but perceive not.

Is there anyone who beholds his Lord with his own eye, detached from all else in people’s hands? Verily such a one is among the people of Baha in the preserved tablet. Ears were created to hearken to this utterance and hearts to recognize this Beloved. You drink stagnant water thinking it the pure stream, and worship idols yet understand not. Blessed are those who have cast aside their desires and turned with their hearts to this horizon from which has risen the sun of the remembrance of their Lord’s name, the Mighty, the Forgiving.

O rememberer! Hearken to the call of the Remembered One, through Whose name those in the graves have arisen. When you see one who is immersed in his desires, listen not to what he says. Rather hear this sweetest call raised from the mouth of your Lord, the Possessor of Names:

“Verily there is no God but Me. O My creation, behold Me!”

When you detect from anyone the fragrance of aversion, draw not near to him—thus does the Lord of the seen and unseen command you.

Despair not of God’s spirit and mercy, and forget not this praiseworthy portion. Arise to your Lord’s Cause through His might and power, and be a herald of His name among the worlds. Say: O people! The Lord of Days has come, and the King of mankind calls out: “To Me, to Me, O lovers!” The Beloved calls you at all times and summons you to His luminous beauty. Follow not vain imaginings—open your eyes. By God, this is the light of certitude which has shone from the horizon of detachment, illuminating the heavens and earth. Deprive not yourselves of the outpourings sent down from the heaven of your Lord’s bounty, the Mighty, the Generous.

This is God’s Day which you were promised in His mighty Book. This is God’s Balance which has been set up by the hands of your Lord, the Strong, the Trustworthy. This is the appointed time for all servants and the return of mankind, did you but know. This is He through Whose name mosques and temples were built, and through Whose remembrance hearts took flight and turned to God, the Mighty, the Inaccessible.

Say: O people! Fear God and pervert not the Word from its place—this is it, were you but fair-minded. Whoever acknowledges otherwise has perverted the Word and is among the wrongdoers. Say: If you seek its dawning-place, it is this, and if its setting-place, He speaks now with God’s verses, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

Do you know by what you have been barred from the heaven of bounty? No, by the Self of Baha! And do you realize by what cause you turned away from the Intended One? No, by His radiant, wondrous Command! Vain imaginings from the idols who claim knowledge without proof or clear Book have overcome you.

Say: O people! Have mercy on yourselves and break not God’s covenant and testament. This is sincere counsel, were you but hearing. Break down the barriers in My Name, the Loving, then rend asunder the veils in My Name, the Powerful, the Bestower, that you may know your Lord, the Mighty, the Great. Thus have the fragrances of verses wafted when the Lord of Names and Attributes spoke. When you find, say: Praise be to Thee, O Wronged One, and glory be to Thee, O Glory of the worlds, and praise be to God, the Beloved of the mystics.

BH01573: In His Most Holy, Most Ancient, Most Luminous, Most…

In His Most Holy, Most Ancient, Most Luminous, Most Great Name, I am the Rewarder of all the worlds. These are the verses of Glory sent down from the heaven of destiny. Blessed are they that hear them.

It behooveth no one to cleave unto what is with the people, but rather unto that which is with their Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. That which is with the people profiteth them not. Verily God is the Self-Sufficient, the Powerful. He enricheth whomsoever He willeth through His command, and guideth whomsoever He desireth through His Name, the One Who ruleth over the worlds.

Every great one hath become great through His greatness, and every powerful one through His Name, the Powerful. Every matter hath appeared through His sovereignty and everything hath become great through His Name, the Great. His names have encompassed all who are in creation. Verily He is independent of them, were ye of the assured ones. The names are with you, while with Him there is naught save His Self, the Mighty, the All-Informed. All things have bowed down before His Name, and every sovereign hath been humbled before His sovereignty, and in His grasp is every wise command.

Take what ye are bidden by God and abandon what ye are bidden by every remote ignorant one. Every learned one who hath not known his Lord is counted among the ignorant, and every ignorant one who hath known his Lord is reckoned among the learned. We abase him who hath exalted himself and We exalt him who hath abased himself, for I am powerful over what I desire.

Say: The Command is in My hand. I do what I will. There is no God but Me, the Mighty, the Generous. Say: Were We to decree for light the decree of darkness, none hath the right to object. Thus hath it been sent down in the Tablets, were ye of those who know. Were We to decree good as evil, no soul hath the right to say “why?” Whoso sayeth this is among the transgressors. Verily He decreeth for the seeing one the decree of the blind, and for the blind one the name of the seeing. He is the All-Seeing, the All-Perceiving. All affairs are in the grasp of His power and are created by His Word, but most of the people are heedless.

We hear from the servants what they object to God. Lo! they are among the lost. Say: O My servants, first ponder upon the origin of the Cause. When ye have recognized it, ye shall find yourselves in a vast expanse and shall not object to God even if He were to decree for all upon earth. Blessed are they that perceive. Were it not for My mercy, they would see the decree other than what they have, but My mercy hath preceded and My grace hath encompassed the worlds.

Arise, O My servants, to assist My Cause, and be not of those who hesitate. Most of the servants who followed vain imaginings have objected to Us. Lo! they are among the wrongdoers. Those who have denied God’s verses and His proof have lost. Lo! they are among the bewildered ones. They see the ocean yet hasten to the pond. This is naught but manifest wrong. They wrong their own souls and are not among those who are aware. They call upon God with their tongues, yet when He commandeth them with what their souls desire not, they return to their place in the depths of hell. They visit the House yet object to Him Who built it in His Name. Thus do their desires move them. Lo! they are among the godless ones.

Blessed is he who hath shattered the idols of vain imaginings through the sovereignty of his Lord, the Lord of all men, and hath arisen among the servants with this wondrous Remembrance. He aideth whomsoever desireth to assist His Cause and inspireth whoso openeth his tongue in His mighty Name.

O My loved ones! Be as beacons of unity among mankind and as lamps of detachment unto those who dwell in the heavens and on earth. Beware lest the dust of the world darken your hearts or the veils of the wayward conceal your faces. Be as stars of guidance among creation and as lights of utterance unto all in the realm of possibility. This beseemeth those who have attained the lights of the countenance in this brilliant dawn.

O thou who hast turned to God! Recite the verses of thy Lord unto those who are there, that perchance they may arise unto that which beseemeth a Day like this, wherein the Spirit lamenteth and the Beloved crieth out in grief for the Beloved of the worlds. The Pen moveth and the tongue of the Lord of Eternity speaketh in this hour wherein the hosts of those who believed not in God have encompassed Him and were engaged in manifest oppression. Be patient, O Pen, and mention not that which saddeneth the loved ones of thy Lord, and be of the patient ones. God hath made tribulation the Kawthar of Glory. Thus hath the matter been decreed from the presence of One mighty and great. Verily glory from the Glory be upon those who have heard the call of Grandeur when it was raised in truth. Lo! they are among the sincere ones.

BH01580: O My Most Holy and Most Exalted Messenger! Grieve…

O My Most Holy and Most Exalted Messenger! Grieve not for what hath befallen thee. By My life! Thou art beneath the wing of thy Lord’s grace, the Mighty, the All-Praised. I testify that thou hast attained the presence of God and achieved that which thy Lord, the All-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful, hath desired for thee. He was with thee when the oppressors drove thee from the City of God, whereat the eyes of the Concourse on High wept and the dwellers of the pavilions of Glory and Grandeur lamented. Thus doth thy Lord, the Most Glorious, bear witness, and He is, verily, the All-Knowing.

Rejoice thou in this Most Great Remembrance from the Ancient King. By God! It behooveth thee to soar with rapture at that which God hath testified for thee in this Tablet, from whose horizon hath shone forth the Sun of thy Lord’s loving-kindness, the Mighty, the Inaccessible. Thou hast indeed fulfilled God’s Covenant and His Testament, and turned unto Him with a luminous heart. Thy mention hath been revealed in the Tablets in such wise as to gladden the eyes of the sincere ones who shall come after thee. The very act of thy departure and exile from the City is identical with drawing nigh unto God. Thus doth He Who causeth the dawn to break testify in the Tablets, and He is verily the Ruler over what He willeth.

We have seen thy departure as arrival, thy going forth as entering in, and thy absence as presence before thy Lord. Such is the bounty ordained for thee by the One Who is the Almighty, the Ancient of Days. The heavens may vanish at thy Lord’s behest, but that which hath been revealed for thee by the Pen of the Ancient of Days shall never pass away. Say: Praise be to Thee, O God of all the worlds! Joy and sorrow have embraced each other through what hath befallen you in the path of God. Blessed are they who understand. The sun of joy hath dawned through the manifestation of the Lord of Revelation unto you with the lights of grace and bounty, while sorrow hath consumed the hearts of the pure ones through what hath befallen you at the hands of the oppressors. The world and all that the wrongdoers behold for themselves shall perish, but that which hath been ordained for you in a clear Tablet shall endure.

Soar thou in the atmosphere of longing and yearning, since the Day-Star of the horizons hath shone upon thee through this wondrous Tablet. O Messenger! Read thou the Tablet wherefrom emanates that which hath perfumed all creation with the fragrance of the All-Merciful, by which the Holy Spirit hath been rendered fragrant. Say: All glory is in God’s hands; He bestoweth it upon whomsoever He willeth of His creation. He is, verily, the One Who hath power over His purpose. There is none other God but Him, the Mighty, the All-Wise.

Remember My loved ones on My behalf, then choose for thyself the service of thy Lord. He will, verily, assist thee with the truth. He is with His sincere servants. Say: Glorified art Thou, O my God! Praise be to Thee for having caused my name to flow from Thy Most Exalted Pen, and for having mentioned my remembrance before Thy Most Great Throne. I beseech Thee, O Beloved of the worlds and God of all who are in the heavens and on earth, to make me steadfast in Thy love, firm in Thy Cause, gazing toward Thy direction, serving Thy Self, rising with Thy remembrance, and shining forth with Thy Name amongst all beings.

I testify, O my God, that with Thee the reward of one who hath borne hardships in Thy good-pleasure shall not be lost. Blessed is the soul that hath trusted in Thee and turned toward Thee. Woe betide him who hath denied and disbelieved and was among the transgressors. O Lord! Aid me in all conditions to serve Thee amidst Thy creatures. I testify that service unto Thee is naught but the exaltation of Thy remembrance and such deeds as manifest the sanctity of Thy Cause among the peoples of the world.

O Lord! I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which Thou hast subdued all who are in the heavens and earth, through which Thy remembrance was exalted, Thy proof was established, Thy evidences appeared, and Thy verses were sent down, to assist Thy loved ones in that which Thou hast purposed for them through Thy bounty and favor. Then deliver them from the fire of self and passion, and cause them to enter beneath the shadow of Thy Most Great Mercy. Ordain for each one of them that which shall render him independent through Thy riches, powerful through Thy might, and triumphant over the enemies through Thy sovereignty and power, in such wise that the hosts of earth and the authority of those dwelling thereon shall not frighten him. Verily, Thou art the One Who hath power over whatsoever Thou willest. Thou doest what Thou pleasest through Thy pervading Will, and Thou decreest what Thou desirest through Thy all-encompassing Purpose. The clamor of the heedless shall not prevent Thee from that which Thou hast willed, nor shall the power of the oppressors render Thee impotent in that which Thou hast ordained.

Have mercy upon us, O our God! We call upon Thee and remember Thee by Thy Name, the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful. Praise be to Thee, O Thou Who art the Goal of them that seek Thee and the Ka’bah of them that yearn for Thee!

BH01626: O my God and my Beloved! I know not…

He is God, exalted be His station in loftiness and transcendence

O my God and my Beloved! I know not how to remember Thee or by what means to mention Thee, for I perceive that the very reality of remembrance is in itself severed from the places of Thy description, and in its essence and being is bewildered before the effulgent rays of the Sun of Thy Glory. By its root and substance it declares:

“O Source of all sources! Remaineth there in the unseen of the unseen, or in the worlds which Thou hast created by the Word of Thy Command, any remembrance wherewith Thou hast been remembered, or any description wherewith Thou hast been described, or any name whereby Thou hast been called?”

I testify, O my God, that Thou hast remembrances within the pavilions of preservation and beauty whereof no Manifestations whom Thou hast manifested from time immemorial have become aware, and no Dawning-places of Thy Most-Learned Name have uttered mention of any of them. Should I say I desire to remember Thee by such remembrances, I see this is not my station or rank. Nay, were the thought of this station to cross my mind, I would have committed a sin beyond compare with any other sin in existence. Were it not for Thy pre-existing grace and mercy, I would deserve eternal destruction and endless consignment to an unquenchable fire that knoweth no end. For I would have desired to drink from a sea wherefrom Thy chosen ones, Thy trusted ones, the Manifestations of Thy Cause and Dawning-places of Thy wisdom have not drunk.

Alas, alas! My very being nearly dissolveth from fear. O Lord! Have mercy upon me through Thy grace, then hold me fast by the hand of Thy loving-kindness. Verily Thou art the Most Merciful of the merciful.

And should I desire to remember Thee with remembrances wherewith Thou hast been remembered before, by Thy glory! My heart would not be content therewith, nor would the essence which Thou hast deposited in my heart and stored within my innermost being be pleased thereby. Therefore, O my God, cause me to drink from the pure wine of Thy love to such degree that it may intoxicate my entire being and remove the spirit of consciousness from all my limbs and members. Then shall the tongue speak through the heat of Thy love’s motion and describe Thee as Thou dost manifest through the appearances of Thy grace and the emergences of Thy favors.

Yet I know, O my God, that none can ascend into this atmosphere and no soul can rise into this cloud save through love of Thy loved ones and friendship with Thy chosen ones. For their love is identical with Thy love in the worlds of Command and Creation. Therefore I beseech Thee, O my Beloved, to give me to drink from the pure water of this cup from whose depths shineth forth the star of Thy love and wherein Thou hast manifested Thyself through the lights of the Sun of Thy Glory—a cup which hath two most exalted names in the heaven of names and one name before Thy Most Great and Most Exalted Throne.

Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having singled him out for Thy love, confirmed him in Thy service, made him manifest in Thy days, and caused him to be among those who have attained and succeeded in reaching the city of Thy nearness and the sanctuary of Thy reunion and presence. There is no God but Thee, the Mighty, the Beautiful.

Thou hast sent unto this evanescent servant that which perfumeth the hand of him who receiveth it, illumineth the eye of him who beholdeth it, gladdeneth the heart of him who learneth what is therein, enricheth him who possesseth it, and preserveth him who treasureth it—for it was sent through the love of God, the Mighty, the Wise, and containeth the gems of remembrance and praise of the Beloved of all worlds.

The letter of that honored one, which was purified from allusions and indications, reached this evanescent servant. All the elements attained, through what was ordained for them, to the wondrous remembrances that were revealed in praise of the Chosen Beauty and to the spirit of communion with the Lord of Names and Attributes. God willing, may this eternal spring water ever flow and descend from the fountain of the spiritual heart, that the dead lands of the hearts and souls of the servants may attain, through these sweet and subtle waters, unto a wondrous new life and become the place for the appearance of the plants of faith and knowledge. This is not difficult for God. The exalted branches of the divine Tree remember that honored one with wondrous praise. Glory, holiness and splendor be upon you.

The servant, 18 Jumada II 1289

BH01606: O Most Holy, Most Impregnable, Most Exalted One! Make…

O Most Holy, Most Impregnable, Most Exalted One! Make mention of him who turned towards Thee until he entered the Spot wherein shone forth the Sun of the Beauty of Thy Lord, the Mighty, the All-Praised, that the rapture of the verses might seize him in such wise as to make him steadfast in the Cause of God and in His love. This, verily, is a glorious station. Blessed art thou, inasmuch as thou hast hastened to the Goal and attained the presence of His Countenance and hearkened unto that which the Tongue of Grandeur and Glory hath spoken. This, verily, is a great triumph.

Give thanks unto thy Lord for this bounty. Say: O my God and the God of all who are in the heavens and on earth, my Beloved and the Beloved of the worlds! I testify that through Thee the fragrance of the Robe hath wafted over all regions and the faces of the righteous have been illumined, and through Thee the banners of sanctity have been raised throughout the lands and the standard of detachment hath been planted upon the highest mountains. I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which Thou didst subdue all created things and caused all beings to speak forth Thy remembrance, O Thou Who sendest down the verses and Who art the Originator of earth and heaven, to make me wholly detached from all else save Thee and turning in all conditions towards the court of Thy bounty and the horizon of Thy favors. Verily, Thou art the Almighty over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful.

O my Lord! Thou knowest that I have turned towards Thee and hastened to the place wherein He Who is the Manifestation of Thy Self, the Dawning-Place of Thy verses and the Dayspring of Thy evidences was imprisoned. Had it not been for Thy grace and bounty, how could I have attained unto this station from which Thy servants and creatures were debarred? Praise be to Thee, O my God, for that which Thou hast honored me through Thy generosity and bestowed upon me through Thy grace. I beseech Thee, O Thou Who art the Ultimate Hope of the sincere ones and the Beloved of the hearts of the lovers, to aid me in serving Thee and in promoting Thy Cause amongst Thy servants and creatures, and to make me one of those who have partaken of the wine of steadfastness and assurance and have attained unto that which Thou didst desire for them, O Thou Who art the Lord of Religions and the Creator of the worlds.

O Lord! Deprive me not of that which lieth with Thee, nor withhold from me that which Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen ones. Make me one whose will is subordinate to Thy Will, whose movement is by Thy Command, whose flight is by Thy leave, whose repose is in Thy love, whose refuge is in Thy presence, and whose shelter is in Thy court, in such wise that I turn to none save Thee, speak naught except of Thy love, and set my face toward none but Thy face. Verily, Thou art He Who hath ever been supreme through Thy Will and shall ever be powerful through Thy Purpose. All things are captive in the grasp of Thy might, every wealthy one is poor before the ocean of Thy riches, and every mighty one is abased before the surging sea of Thy greatness.

I beseech Thee, O Thou Who controlleth the winds and Who causeth the dawn to break, to absolve me of whatsoever Thou lovest not, then preserve me beneath the shade of the Tree of Thy mercy and the Lote-Tree of Thy oneness. Verily, Thou art He in Whose grasp is the kingdom of all things and in Whose right hand are the reins of all names. Thou doest what Thou willest through Thy sovereignty and ordainest what Thou pleasest through Thy power. Every possessor of might, O my God, confesseth his powerlessness before the manifestations of Thy might, and every possessor of wealth acknowledgeth his poverty before the evidences of Thy wealth.

I beseech Thee, O Lord of creation and Beloved of all who dwell in the realm of invention, to assist me in all conditions to turn towards the Kaaba of Thy Cause and to arise independently to manifest Thy love amongst Thy creatures. Then write down for me, through Thy grace, that which shall profit me in this world and in the world to come. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious, the All-Powerful.

O Ali! Recite what hath been sent down unto thee. Verily, it will strengthen thee in the Cause of thy Lord and protect thee from those who have disbelieved in God, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. This is a gift which hath shone forth from the horizon of the bounty of thy Lord, the Most High, the Most Great. When thou hast attained unto it and been nourished thereby, turn with thy heart toward the Qiblih of existence Who is imprisoned among the Jews, and say: Thine is the giving, O Bestower of gifts, and Thine is the bounty, O Lord of justice! I testify that Thou art the Source of all good things and the Dawning-Place of all blessings. Thou dost send down to whomsoever seeketh Thee that which is best for him, and ordain for whomsoever loveth Thee that which shall profit him in every world of Thy worlds.

O Lord! Drive not away him who hath drawn nigh unto the ocean of Thy favors, and deny not this poor one access to the shores of Thy bounties. The atoms testify that Thou art the Lord of names and attributes, and that Thou art the Almighty, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious, the All-Bountiful.

BH01607: Worthy of praise is the Lord of creation

Worthy of praise is the Lord of creation

O Jafar, may the effulgent rays of the Most Great Countenance illumine thee! The successive calls and repeated voices raised by thee have reached the ears of the Lord of all beings. He calleth thee with the most excellent and wondrous call. Today, praise be to God, through the bounty of the All-Merciful, the Living Waters are flowing, the Celestial Stream is coursing, and the Sealed Wine is unsealed. Be thou gladdened by the favors of God and freed and detached from the veils of creation. Think not that thou art forgotten from His sight. He is possessed of great faithfulness. Thou art remembered and observed in most times. Thou shouldst, God willing, be engaged in the remembrance of God with the utmost assurance and with spirit and fragrance. We beseech God to assist thee in all conditions and to ordain for thee the best of circumstances. Verily, He is the Self-Sufficient, the Most High.

The Primal Point—may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for His sake—hath said that the purpose of all that is in the Bayan is that on that blessed Day the people may attain unto the good-pleasure of the Beloved and be engaged in His remembrance, even as He saith:

“The word of good-pleasure from that Dawning-Place of Names is better than all that existeth and is visible.”

Praise be to God that thou hast attained unto this station, inasmuch as thou didst seek the Intended One and attain unto His presence, and the word of good-pleasure hath appeared from the Source of Revelation. What sorrow remaineth and what care?

The Trusted One, the Faithful, saith:

“Be not sorrowful on Our account. Soar with the wings of joy and delight in the atmosphere of the Manifestation.”

Blessed art thou in that God hath enabled thee to achieve that which most of His servants have failed to attain. Be thou thankful unto Him and be of them that render thanks.

O thou who gazest upon the Countenance! Hearken once again unto the call of thy Lord, the All-Glorious:

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

Whensoever thou movest, He is with thee, and whensoever thou speakest, He heareth and seeth. Thy Lord is indeed the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Grieve not over the world and its conditions. By My life! His love sufficeth thee, wert thou of them that know. He beareth witness for thee with such a testimony that wert thou to recognize it, thou wouldst cry out for joy. Thy Lord is verily the Ruler over whatsoever He willeth.

Remember when thou wert by the sea and didst drink what was ordained for thee by thy Lord, the Mighty, the Wise, and didst attain unto the presence of God and didst hear His most wondrous, most sweet, mighty and impregnable utterance. Can anything grieve thee after being under the glances of thy Lord, the Forgiving, the Merciful? Rejoice thou in the Spirit of God and His grace, and be of them that are thankful. Recite thou the verses of God with the sweetest of melodies. Then wilt thou find thyself in manifest ecstasy and the breezes of revelation will seize thee in such wise that thou wilt regard all existence as kneaded clay.

O thou who rememberest Me! The Remembered One calleth thee and saith: “Thou art of them that have attained.” Can the testimony of men equal His testimony? Nay, by My Self! But most men are heedless. All things have been awakened by the breezes of revelation, yet they remain asleep.

Glorify thy Lord and say: “O my God! I beseech Thee by the oppression of the Source of Justice whom Thou seest lonely amidst the hands of the oppressors among Thy creatures and the transgressors among Thy servants, to protect me from the allusions of them who have turned away from Thee and have denied Thy signs and have risen in tyranny in Thy days. Then make me of them whom neither cares have seized at the surging of the ocean of Thy joy nor sorrows at the manifestations of Thy gladness, that I may give unto the people the glad-tidings of Thy tidings, that every possessor of spirit may rejoice in Thy remembrance and praise. Thou art He in Whose grasp is the kingdom of names. Thou doest what Thou pleasest through Thy sovereignty that hath encompassed all who are in creation and through Thy power that hath prevailed over the worlds.

“O Lord! Make all my deeds as one deed and all my remembrances as one remembrance, that whatsoever appeareth from me may tell of Thy remembrance whereby the heavens and earth have been illumined. O Lord! Leave me not to myself. Make me moved by Thy will, breathing by Thy providence, willing by Thy command, and speaking by Thy leave. Thou art He Whose knowledge hath preceded all in creation and Whose mercy hath encompassed all in the worlds. There is none other God but Thee, the Most Exalted, the Almighty, the All-Compelling, the Mighty, the Gracious.”

BH01651: A remembrance from Me unto him who hath attained…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Impregnable, the Most Mighty, the Most Exalted

A remembrance from Me unto him who hath attained unto the lights of divine knowledge in the days of his Lord, the All-Merciful, that the fragrance of remembrance may draw him to a station wherein he shall cast aside all sorrows and immerse himself in the ocean of life through this remembrance, before which the Spirit proclaimeth: “The Joy of the worlds is come!” He is a helper to him that hath no helper, and a son to him whose son was martyred in the love of God, the Almighty, the Exalted, the Great.

All atoms and all things in their entirety, and beyond them the Tongue of God, the King, the Transcendent, the Mighty, the Impregnable, bear witness that he who dieth in the love of God is assuredly among those who have been martyred in His path and was of those who have attained. Wouldst thou grieve after that which the Tongue of the Wronged One and the Most Exalted, the Self-Subsisting, hath spoken? Through this word the denizens of the highest Paradise rejoiced, and the Dove warbled upon the branches of the Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing. Blessed is he whom God hath singled out for this bounty, whereby the faces of His chosen ones were illumined in the most exalted Paradise, and the sweet fragrance of loving-kindness wafted over the dwellers of the heavens and the earth.

From thy Lord’s word have been planted the trees of hope in the hearts of all created things, and the sun of generosity hath shone upon all in existence from this horizon which hath been illumined by the countenance of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Bountiful. By My life! Hadst thou been present before the Face and heard with thine own ears the verses of thy Lord, thou wouldst have forsaken the world and all that is therein, and wouldst have arisen amidst the peoples of all worlds, calling upon thy Lord, the All-Merciful:

“I am content with Thy good-pleasure, O Thou the Beloved of the worlds, and I praise Thee for my son’s martyrdom in the year wherein the Son of the Wronged One was martyred in the land of exile. Blessed are the two sons who have attained unto God’s remembrance and His Word, and whose names have adorned the Tablet of Creation from the presence of One All-Knowing, All-Wise.”

Marvel not at the supreme loving-kindness of thy Lord, for He beholdeth that which none hath comprehended save His all-embracing Self, which encompasseth all created things. Were We to acquaint thee with the station of him who hath ascended unto God and his love for his Lord, thou wouldst assuredly arise to praise and remember him at all times. The Cause is in the grasp of thy Lord’s power—He ordaineth what He pleaseth for whom He pleaseth, and bestoweth upon whom He willeth that which He desireth. He, verily, is the Ruler over what He willeth. There is none other God but Him, the Mighty, the All-Praised.

Follow thou thy Lord. Neither afflictions nor sorrows have deterred Him from that which He was commanded in the path of God, the Lord of all religions. In the ocean of tribulation, He calleth those on land among the peoples of creation to this Cause, through which the horizon of certitude hath been illumined. When the rapture of the All-Merciful’s utterance overtaketh thee and thou drinkest the choice wine of life from the hands of grace and bounty, arise and lift up thy hands unto God, thy Lord and the Lord of all worlds.

Say: Glory be unto Thee, O my God! I have come unto Thee, detached from all else beside Thee, heedless of any other than Thee, turning unto the horizon of Thy grace, the Dayspring of Thy generosity, and the Source of Thy favors. I beseech Thee by the wrongs suffered by Him Who is the Manifestation of Thy Self, and by His exile in Thy lands, and His loneliness among Thy creatures, to make me one of those whom the might of Thine enemies hath not kept back from drawing nigh unto Thee, and whom the veils of Thy creatures and the coverings of Thy people have not prevented from beholding Thy face.

O Lord! Thou seest me standing before Thy gate, enkindled with the fire of Thy love, gazing toward the hidden gifts of Thy bounty, content with what Thou hast ordained for me in the tablets of Thy decree and the pages of Thy destiny. I beseech Thee by Thy Self to strengthen me in Thy love in such wise that I shall suffice myself with Thee as mine aid. O Lord! Turn unto him who hath turned unto Thee, then ordain for him what is best in Thy knowledge, for Thou knowest him better than he knoweth himself, and Thou art the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

Grant me, O my God, the sweetness of that which hath proceeded from the mouth of Thy bounty and descended from the heaven of Thy grace. I beseech Thee not to withhold from me the outpourings of the heaven of Thy mercy and the rain-showers of the clouds of Thy tender care. I have committed my soul into Thy hands; turn it about as Thou pleasest with the fingers of Thy power. This is my request and my hope, O Thou Beloved of the hearts of them that know, and Thou Goal of the hearts of them that are nigh unto Thee.

BH01641: O ʿAli! Hearken unto that which thy Lord…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious

O ʿAli! Hearken unto that which thy Lord, the Grief-Stricken, the Stranger, Who is encompassed by sorrows from every direction through those who have disbelieved in God when He came with His Great Name, revealeth unto thee. Take heed lest the mention of grief sadden thee. Verily, thy Lord is not saddened by aught of what hath been created in the heavens and the earth. By God! His station is one which the birds of the hearts of the doubters can never attain, nor the fragrances of the hearts of the mystics. Were We to manifest this station, thou wouldst be bewildered within thyself and wouldst say: “Verily, Thou art the Omnipotent over whatsoever Thou willest.” Thou wert hidden in the eternity of eternities and shalt remain treasured in the pavilions of Thy Cause. None knoweth Thee save Thine Own All-Knowing Self.

O Ali! Whenever We turn towards the stations of the earth and its conditions, We make mention of sorrows and the like thereof. Dost thou not witness how by the fragrances of My utterance all things have been stirred, and by the outpourings of My Pen every mouldering bone hath been quickened? Can grief prevent the Ocean of joy? Nay, by thy Lord, the Ever-Forgiving! Verily, He is the One Who dominateth over all who are in the heavens and on earth. We are radiant in the darkness and standing firm among those who sit still—those who, when it is said unto them “Arise!”, they remain seated. They are indeed among the lost. Blessed art thou for having drawn nigh unto the station wherein the horizon of utterance hath shone forth with the mention of thy Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

O Ali! Were We to make mention of tribulations, rest and tranquility would be cut off. Consider them as a mercy, for they have been sent down in the path of God, the Beloved of the worlds. Say: O people! The Tongue of Grandeur speaketh, yet ye hear not, and the Counsellor calleth you, yet ye understand not. The Herald cried out before Me, yet ye heard not and hear not. The verses have been sent down and the signs have appeared, yet ye know not. All things have testified to the Creator of heaven, yet ye are as dead. How long will ye look to yourselves? This is the Spirit of God—behold ye bear witness! We draw you near through the cords of grace, yet ye flee. Will that which ye cling to profit you? Nay, by the Self of God, the Dominant, the Self-Subsisting! Will your divines avail you this Day? Nay, by My life! Rather, they are the ignorant ones, did ye but know. How long will ye look with eyes that have been blinded by the ophthalmia of ignorance, were ye to be fair! Behold Me with Mine eye—thus have ye been commanded in a hidden Tablet.

Arise with supreme steadfastness in the Cause of the Lord of Names, then summon the concourse of creation to this praiseworthy station. Verily, those who hesitate this day are a people who shall not be helped. They cling to their vain imaginings as did the servants before them. They are indeed a blind people. Vain desire hath prevented them from My Most Glorious Name, and they hasten in the wilderness of error. When it is said unto them: “Come ye to the Dayspring of the Cause,” they say: “Sufficient unto us is that which we possess.” Thus spoke those before them. They call upon God, yet know Him not. They journey to the House from the furthermost lands, while the Object of their quest witnesseth that they are turned aside. They turn towards different directions, thinking themselves to be the triumphant ones.

Say: All directions have ended in My direction, and all paths in this manifest Path. Say: Fear God and take not your vain imaginings as lords besides God. Follow Him Who calleth you to the Mighty, the Loving. That which never appeared in creation hath appeared. Blessed is he who hath attained and hath said:

“Praise be unto Thee, O Lord of the seen and the unseen!”

Those who have been given insight by God—they are the people of vision, and those besides them are deaf and blind, to which thy Lord, the Knower of the unseen, doth testify.

Thus have We sent down the verses unto thee and dispatched them to thee that thou mayest recite them at eventide and at dawn, and remember thy Lord Who hath come with the truth, whereby the horizons have been illumined. Convey My greetings unto My loved ones who have believed in God and been faithful to the Covenant, that they may arise to make mention of their Creator and aid Him with the swords of remembrance. The glory from before the All-Glorious be upon thee, O thou who gazeth toward God, and upon those whom the oppression of the enemies hath not prevented from drawing nigh unto God, the Mighty, the Bestower.

BH01642: O Nabil! Your petitions have been presented and your…

O Nabil! Your petitions have been presented and your call has been heard. Its answer depends on the time, for some are still present in this land. After their departure, God willing, judgment will be rendered according to what is required. Be not distressed. Be the embodiment of “announce glad tidings.” Beware, beware lest you mention your Lord to anyone.

O Nabil! Many times have We commanded, and again We say: In the wilderness of Syria, mention of the Lord of all names is not and has not been permissible, for its people are exceedingly remote from the shore of nearness and deprived of the choice wine of grace. Its land is supremely blessed, yet its people are supremely unfortunate, save whom thy Lord willeth. Should they, after countless counsels, desire to draw near, their approach would be and will be like the approach of a serpent. Shun them and be of the vigilant. All have been raised in corruption and nurtured in corruption. Likewise the strangers in these parts have never had and do not have any worth. Some souls, being cut off from all directions, will grasp at any rope that appears and cling to it. But this clinging has been and will be for the sake of passion—the effect of hellfire will become manifest from it.

Although from Our first arrival in this land and entry into the Most Great Prison, this Servant has not uttered a word except what God has ordained, and we have ever spoken what is in the Holy Books, nevertheless you saw what they perpetrated and heard what they said. The human-like beings are more fearsome than these people, as if they were born of Satan. Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind.

Convey greetings from the Wronged One to all the loved ones and friends. Counsel all to guard their tongues. O Nabil! Drink secretly in this land the living waters in the name of the Lord of all creation and the Beloved of the worlds from His hand of favors, and leave others to themselves. These people are occupied with their own evil and deprived of the glad tidings of God. Speaking of the Friend with a friend is beloved, not with those who devour flesh and chase after skin.

Say: O friends! This Wronged One speaks only what contains your welfare. Pass not beyond His counsel and pursue not your own desires. These lands have become pregnant from the divine fragrance—how long until spiritual children are born from it? He is indeed the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. In brief, all the loved ones are commanded to silence and contemplation of divine favors, merciful manifestations and godly conditions, and are forbidden from aught else.

O Nabil! All trials and afflictions have been borne so that all people might be adorned with spiritual qualities and heavenly attributes. Until the divine friends drink from this spiritual cup, they will not be able to give others to drink. They must first drink themselves, then give others to drink. Ever has God’s purpose in sending Messengers, revealing Books, establishing firm laws and ordained religions been several things, among them the preservation of souls and their rights, and this depends on the appearance of the light of trustworthiness among people. Counsel the friends of God to conduct themselves among people with perfect trustworthiness, religiosity and what was mentioned before. Whoever is adorned with these qualities is attributed to Truth and reckoned of Truth; without them one has never been and will never be accepted. Therefore all must drink from the pure water of this cup and entirely close their eyes to the desires of self.

Peace be upon him who has heard the call of the Wronged One and responded to what he was commanded. Again it is mentioned: Convey Our boundless greetings to the friends present in that land. Indeed glory be upon you all.

BH01693: Revealed on the night whereon certain numbered souls were…

Revealed on the night whereon certain numbered souls were martyred in the love of God, the Lord of Names and Attributes–by an oppression such as the eyes of all contingent beings have never beheld its like. Whoso readeth it, God shall raise him up among them that are nigh unto Him in the Paradise of Refuge, and He shall cause the lights of His Most Exalted, Most High Name to shine upon him. Verily He is the Doer of whatsoever He willeth, and verily He is the Mighty, the Generous.

In the Name of God, the All-Sufficient, the All-Forgiving, the Merciful.

Praise be to Thee, O Lord my God! Thou beholdest what the tongue of no one except Thee can utter, and bearest witness unto things which no mouth can recount. The floods of afflictions are let loose, and the winds of Thy judgment have blown, and from the clouds rain down the darts of tests, and the heavens of Thy decree pour forth the arrows of trial.

Thou seest, O my Lord, how Thy servants, who have believed on Thee and acknowledged Thy signs, have fallen into the clutches of Thine enemies, how the doors of ease and comfort have been shut against them, how they languish in the Fortress wherein neither pleasantness nor hope can be found. They have suffered in Thy path what no man before them hath suffered. To this bear witness they who abide around Thy throne, and the dwellers of the earth, and the Concourse on high.

These, O my God, are Thy servants who, for love of Thy beauty, have forsaken their homes, and been so stirred up by the gentle winds of their desire for Thee that they have sundered every tie in Thy path. Such of Thy servants as dwell in Thy land and have transgressed against Thee have assailed them, and banished them from Thy cities, and made them captives, and delivered them into the hands of workers of iniquity among Thy people and the perverse amidst the wicked doers in Thy realm. And finally, they were made to abide in this place with which no other place, however loathsome, in all Thy dominion, can compare. They were seized with such trials that the clouds weep over them and the thunder groaneth by reason of the manifold tribulations that have afflicted them in their love for Thee and for the sake of Thy pleasure.

Thou knowest full well, O my God, that there is no one on Thine earth who can claim to be related to Thee except these, some of whom have suffered martyrdom for Thy sake, while the rest have been permitted to survive. Though for such as are like unto us, O my God, it beseemeth not to claim to be related to Thee, inasmuch as our misdeeds and our waywardness have hindered us from reaching the depths of the ocean of Thy oneness, and from immersing ourselves beneath the waters of Thy transcendent mercy, yet our tongues, O my God, bear witness, and our hearts testify, and our limbs confess that Thy mercy hath enveloped all created things and Thy compassion surpassed all that are in heaven and all that are on earth.

I beseech Thee, by Thy Most Great Name, through which all created things were rent asunder and the whole creation was shaken, to send down from the clouds of Thy mercy that which will purge them from every ordeal and from whatever is hateful to Thee. Raise them up, then, to such heights that no amount of tribulation will keep them back from Thy wondrous remembrance, nor any trouble hinder them from turning toward the court of Thy transcendent oneness.

By Thy might, O Well-Beloved of Baha and his heart’s Desire! I myself cry out, under all conditions, unto Thee saying: “Would I had, ere this day, drawn nigh unto Thee!” When I hear, however, the sighs of such of Thy people as are wholly devoted to Thee, and those of Thy servants as enjoy near access to Thy court, who have taken no other friend than Thee, and sought no refuge except Thee, and have chosen for themselves, in Thy path, what no man hath chosen in the days of the Manifestations of Thy transcendent unity and the Day-Springs of Thy most holy sovereignty, then my heart is saddened and my soul is vexed, and I cry to Thee, imploring Thee to protect them, by Thy power that hath encompassed the entire creation both visible and invisible, from whatsoever may be abhorrent to Thee. This is not for their own sakes, but that Thy name may, through them, abide amongst Thy servants, and Thy remembrance may continue to endure in Thy dominions.

Thou knowest, O my God, that all Thy servants have turned back from Thee and risen up against Thee. Thou knowest that Thou hast no one to obey Thee except them and such as have believed in Thy Revelation, through which the foundations of the entire universe have been shaken, and the souls of all men have trembled, and all that lay asleep were quickened. Thou art, O my God, the God of bounty, Whose grace is immense.

Send down, then, upon them that which will assure their hearts, and quiet their souls, and renew their spirits, and refresh their bodies. Thou art, verily, their Lord and the Lord of the worlds. Praised be God, the Lord of all creation!

BH01703: This is what hath been sent down…

This is what hath been sent down from the heaven of grace and loving-kindness

Thy letter which thou didst send to the servant who is present before the Throne hath been read, and We have been informed of its contents. Verily thy Lord is the Hearing, the Answering. We were with thee when there befell thee what befell from the hosts of the oppressors. Nothing whatsoever escapeth the knowledge of thy Lord, and He suffereth not the reward of the well-doers to be lost. By reason of what hath befallen thee, there hath been ordained for thee that which the treasuries of the heavens and earth cannot equal. Grieve not over the vicissitudes of time. He remembereth you both in the Most Great Scene. This is of His most great favor, and it shall endure for you throughout the eternity of God, the Mighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Every matter shall change and every thing shall perish save what hath been sent down in the Tablet of God, the Powerful, the Ruler, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Soon shall affairs be altered in that land, inasmuch as vain life hath diverted them from the remembrance of My Name, the Sovereign over all worlds. Hold fast unto the Most Great Handle—verily it shall profit thee in truth. Thus hath the Lord of the knowing ones decreed. God hath absolved thee from what thou didst ask of Him, as a favor from His presence. Verily He is the Forgiving, the Generous. Ye have been at all times beneath the glances of the loving-kindness of your Ancient Lord. The people rejoice in that which perisheth—rejoice ye in that which endureth in My glorious and mighty Kingdom. They have gathered treasures for others, and are unaware. Soon shall the carpet of their glory be rolled up even as was rolled up the carpet of them who preceded them, and they shall behold themselves in an abasement that hath no equal in the earth. They are indeed among the lost.

O servant who gazeth toward God! The letter from thee and thy brother hath been mentioned before the Throne. Although outwardly it was a cause of grief to them that circle round, yet We are in manifest joy, for We look to the root of the matter and what brancheth therefrom. Praise be to God that the glances of divine favors and the expressions of lordly loving-kindness have ever been directed toward you, and all that hath befallen you hath been witnessed and known in the presence of His court. Those souls who have arisen today in the utmost pride—soon shall ye behold them in the utmost submission and humility. And those who today speak with vain imaginings—soon shall they pride themselves before the people on your name and mention.

Since truth is with you, the world in reality is with you. Look not to the outward affairs current among the people—all shall pass away and perish, and that which shall endure is what hath been recorded for you in the mighty Tablet. Even as is witnessed at this time, most of the people of that land are remorseful and at a loss, and are holding fast to your name. This is among the wondrous favors of the Lord. Though not apparent today, it shall soon be made manifest in truth, and there is no alteration in the command of God, the Sovereign, the Self-Subsisting.

The matter that concerneth you is steadfastness in the love of God and the Dawning-Place of His Revelation. God willing, ye must needs remain steadfast in this matter with the utmost power and strength. This point being established, all circle round this station, and in its own time there shall appear whatsoever hath been and shall be meet and fitting. As for the request for permission to come to the Most Holy Court—it is well known and evident that the Truth hath appeared for manifestation and revelation, and all have been created for attainment and circumambulation. Assuredly, were it timely, permission would be granted. Until now this land hath not been at rest, and every day a fire is ignited. We beseech God to extinguish the fire of rancor and hatred and discord and hypocrisy by such means as He knoweth. Verily He is the Powerful, the Mighty.

BH01738: O Abu’-Nur! Hearken unto the Call that hath been…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Glorious, the Most Exalted

O Abu’-Nur! Hearken unto the Call that hath been raised from the Tree on Sinai: “God, there is none other God but Him, the Almighty, the Self-Subsisting.” Thou wert in prison even as We were therein. Be thou thankful and say: “Praise be to Thee, O my God, for having enabled me to achieve this.” I bear witness that Thou art the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.

O Kamal! Arise to serve the Cause of thy Lord, the Self-Sufficient, the Most High, in such wise that neither the veils of glory nor the suggestions of them that have disbelieved in the Beginning and the End shall deter thee. Summon the people with wisdom and utterance. Thus hath thy Lord, the All-Merciful, commanded thee in the Scriptures and Tablets.

O My Kamal! Grieve not for what hath befallen thee in My path. That which hath come upon Us in God’s path could not be borne by all creation. Thou wert Our partner in tribulations and afflictions. Thy Lord, the Lord of creation, beareth witness unto this. Blessed art thou for having fulfilled God’s Covenant and His Testament, and for having circumambulated the House when the Lord of the House was in the land of Iraq. We were with thee when thou wert in the midst of the idolaters, and We behold what thou art engaged in. Thy Lord is, in truth, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

If thou seest Mahmud say: “Where is thy Beloved?” By My life, this is the Praised Station [Maqam-i-Mahmud] whose decree was revealed in the Qur’an. Cast aside the idol and turn unto the Lord of all nations. This behooveth thee and those who have attained unto this Day which God hath made the Dayspring of all days.

O Mahmud! Hearken unto that which thy Lord, the All-Loving, calleth thee from the Divine Lote-Tree which hath been raised above the crimson spot beyond the sea of grandeur: “God, there is none other God but Him, the Mighty, the All-Forgiving.” Cast aside all that thou hast heard, then turn unto the signs of thy Lord. By My life, if thou shouldst taste their sweetness, thou wouldst forsake all creation and turn unto thy Lord, saying: “I believe in Him Who hath sent Thee, O Thou Who art imprisoned in the most desolate of lands!”

Ponder within thyself: Wouldst thou choose to remain silent regarding the Cause of thy Lord after the Most Exalted Pen hath raised its shrill voice between earth and heaven? By My life, were thou to be fair, thou wouldst weep both eventide and dawn. Dost thou imagine that thy belief profiteth Him or thy denial harmeth Him? Nay, by the Revealer of verses! He calleth thee purely for the sake of God while the idolaters surround Him from every side. Cast aside prejudice and hold fast to the cord of the Lord of all creation. This is better for thee than all that hath been created in the earth and heaven. Be not content with illusion, but turn unto thy Lord, the Self-Subsisting, Who hath come with power and authority.

O Kamal! If thou findest in his countenance the freshness of beauty, then recite unto him the verses of thy Lord, the Lord of majesty and glory. Otherwise, turn away from him and turn with thy heart unto God, the Lord of the Day of Reckoning. We have mentioned him in this Tablet by virtue of thy Lord’s preceding mercy; else the Pen of God, the Mighty, the Compelling, would not move for his like, unless he repenteth and returneth unto Him through Whom faces were illumined and the Herald proclaimed.

Convey My greetings to the faces of those who have turned towards Me and have been afflicted with hardships in these grievous days, and give them glad-tidings of thy Lord’s favors. Then recite unto them what hath been revealed from God, the Mighty, the All-Forgiving. We remember them in the prison and have revealed for each one that which shall immortalize their names in the Book of God, the Lord of all lords.

The glory be upon thee and upon thy child and thy family and upon those who have remained steadfast in this Cause whereby the tribes of the world have been shaken. Be thou among the people as thou wert commanded before, that there may be seen in thee that which shall gladden the eyes of the righteous. Thereupon We withhold the Pen, though it desired to flow over the names of My loved ones until the Day that cannot be bounded by mention. Thus have We revealed unto thee the verses as a grace from Us, that thou mayest recite them among the servants who have rent asunder the veils in the name of the Revealer of verses, and who have shattered the idol of fancy through this Remembrance which hath descended from the heaven of might and power.