Volume 048: 1872–1873 1289–1290 A.H., Part II (4 of 5)

BH03867: The All-Merciful hath shone upon thee, O thou who…

He is the Most Great, the Most Glorious

The All-Merciful hath shone upon thee, O thou who hast turned unto God, the Mighty, the Wise, through this Tablet whereby the lives of all who are in the heavens and the earth were suspended. Give thanks unto God for having aided thee to turn unto Him, after the servants who consider themselves the most exalted of creatures had turned away, and when the Truth came, disbelieved in God, the Lord of the worlds.

Make mention of thy Lord with wisdom and utterance from the All-Merciful, detached from all created things. He, verily, aideth whosoever maketh mention of Him. He is, in truth, the Powerful, the Mighty.

We have heard thy call and have called out to thee from the shore of the Most Great Sea, that the rapture of the Call may seize thee and strengthen thee to make mention of thy Lord, the Most High, the Most Glorious, in this Day wherein the Dove warbleth upon the branches of the Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing. Dominion belongeth unto God, the Single, the One, the All-Informed.

Be thou steadfast in the Cause in such wise that the words of the hypocrites who claim to love Me while uttering in secret that which God hath not permitted them may not cause thee to slip. Verily, they are in manifest loss. Whoso layeth claim to a Cause, he is indeed a lying impostor. Thus hath the All-Merciful decreed. He, verily, is the Mighty, the Wise.

Erelong thou shalt hear from various lands the croaking of the ravens. Leave them behind thee and take fast hold of the cord of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Praised. This is what We foretold unto the servants aforetime when We were in Iraq. With thy Lord is the knowledge of all things preserved in a guarding Tablet.

Convey unto the people that which hath been revealed in the Tablet. Say: Beware lest ye join partners with God and worship idols. Worship ye the one true God and follow not every deluded wanderer.

Blessed art thou, O servant, for having been mentioned before the Throne and for having thy name flow from the Most Exalted Pen. Preserve thou this glorious, this sublime station. Say: Praise be unto Thee, O God of the worlds!

BH03786: Praise be to God that in successive years…

Praise be to God that in successive years from the clouds of Divine mercy the rain of infinite bounties hath been showered upon thee. Thou hast ever been and wilt ever be within Our sight. Blessed art thou for having been faithful to God’s Covenant and His Testament, and for being among those who are firm. God hath seized those who denied the All-Merciful when He came with clear proof.

In this year such tribulations have rained down from the clouds of destiny upon this land that none hath been or will be able to reckon them. Nevertheless, the Pen of Remembrance hath not ceased its movement and at all times hath been engaged in the mention of God. From every direction the idolaters have risen to oppose, yet the Cause of God hath been and will remain triumphant, even as the tongue of God hath been occupied with proclaiming His Cause in the presence of the idolaters and celebrating His wondrous praise. God willing, all must drink of this choice wine—that is, according to their capacity and the receptivity of the people, they must not cease from mentioning the Cause of God.

Thy letter was presented before the Throne and We heard that which thou didst call out to God. Blessed art thou for having drawn nigh and for being among those who have turned towards Him. We beseech God to ordain for thee what He hath ordained for His chosen ones and to make thee known by His name between the heavens and the earth.

Some lands are observed to be in turmoil. We beseech God to preserve you from the evil of the oppressors. Be engaged in the remembrance of the All-Merciful with the utmost joy and delight, detached from all that is mentioned in creation. Verily He is with you and beholdeth you. He is indeed the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

Blessed is he who hath ascended unto God. We have caused him to enter the pavilion of remembrance through the Tablet We sent aforetime, whereby his mention shall be established forever and his spirit unto the endless ages of ages. Say: All praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH03835: A remembrance from Us unto him who hath soared…

In the Name of God—the Most Great, the All-Knowing, the Most Wise.

A remembrance from Us unto him who hath soared, through this remembrance, in that atmosphere wherein the birds of Paradise take their flight, and wherein passeth the fragrance of the Robe from the Temple of God, the All-Prevailing, the Mighty, the All-Wise. Say: He hath no temple of flesh; rather, He Who speaketh hath made it the station of His own Self—wherefore all that is true of Him is true of it. Thus hath the matter been ordained by One Omnipotent, All-Powerful. Whoso saith, “Verily He is other than He,” hath disbelieved in God; and whoso saith, “He is like unto Him,” hath been of the idolaters. He is none other than Himself. Verily He is the Manifestation of God among His servants, and His dawning upon all who are in the heavens and on the earth. Say:

Know thou of a certainty that the Unseen can in no wise incarnate His Essence and reveal it unto men. He is, and hath ever been, immensely exalted beyond all that can either be recounted or perceived. From His retreat of glory His voice is ever proclaiming:

“Verily, I am God; there is none other God besides Me, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. I have manifested Myself unto men, and have sent down Him Who is the Dayspring of the signs of My Revelation. Through Him I have caused all creation to testify that there is none other God except Him, the Incomparable, the All-Informed, the All-Wise.”

He Who is everlastingly hidden from the eyes of men can never be known except through His Manifestation, and His Manifestation can adduce no greater proof of the truth of His Mission than the proof of His own Person.

Whoso testifieth to that whereunto the All-Merciful hath testified in the highest Paradise is, assuredly, of them that confess that which the Lord of religions hath confessed, on this night whereon the dawn hath arisen from the horizon of utterance with wisdom and clear exposition. Verily He is the One, the Peerless, the Mighty, the Beauteous.

I have quickened the dead through the fragrances of Him Who revealeth the verses; yet the people of inner significances We behold as though they were of the dead. The stone hath spoken in remembrance of the Lord of Destiny; yet most of mankind are of the silent. Do thou make mention of the Lord of servants amongst men, that perchance they may be stirred by this binding, wondrous summons. Thus did I remember thee in the presence of the Throne, and this manifest Tablet was sent down unto thee.

BH03858: Upon thee be the glory of God, and His…

In the name of the Peerless Friend.

Upon thee be the glory of God, and His mercy, and His loving-kindness, and His grace. Praise be to God that thou hast been enabled to serve the Cause as befitteth it. This station hath been and shall ever remain, in the sight of God, greater than all else. Every atom beareth witness that thou art he that hath arisen to serve God and His Cause, and hasteneth to perform good deeds. Thy Lord is, verily, the Guardian of good deeds, both in the beginning and in the end.

The emigrants, after circumambulating the Ka’bih, have attained their intended homeland, and the affairs of this land, as was previously announced, have been and continue to be in utter turmoil and upheaval, and have not yet been settled. The Command is in God’s hands—He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth. The letter Sin will present the details of all that hath transpired, and ye shall be informed thereof.

By thy life! Under all conditions We turn to God and make mention of Him in truth, in such wise that neither what hath occurred and will occur, nor what hath appeared and will appear, can hinder Us. Verily thy Lord is the All-Powerful, the Almighty.

All the petitions that were presented before Our presence have been answered and sent. A Tablet was revealed on the night of the Declaration and that too was sent specifically to thee. We beseech God to assist thee under all conditions and to make thee a standard of guidance among His creatures, that thou mayest make mention of His Name amongst the worlds. Although this prayer hath already been answered—for thy mention in the divine worlds is now more renowned than among the people of earth—verily thy Lord is the All-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful.

A Tablet was also sent to be forwarded through Ismu’llah Mihdi. God willing, it will reach thee. Thou art he that is mentioned under all conditions before the Truth, the Rememberer, the Supreme, the Mighty, the Bountiful.

BH03943: This is what hath shone forth from the horizon…

This is what hath shone forth from the horizon of the utterance of the All-Merciful—exalted be His glory: O thou who gazest toward My direction, who hast turned thy face toward My countenance, and who calleth out My Name! Hearken unto the call from the horizon of tribulation: There is no God but Me, the Near One, the Wronged One.

Although We have commanded all servants at all times to be sanctified and detached, nevertheless thou beholdest them staining the holy garment with the dust of selfish desires and the sins of passion. By the Ancient Beauty and by the Most Great Name! If the loved ones had acted according to what they were commanded, thou wouldst now witness all peoples turning toward the Cause of the Cause of all causes.

This is a Day wherein the rock crieth out with the loudest voice, calling all creation to sanctification and detachment, for until hearts are pure and holy, they shall not truly attain the presence of the Beloved nor witness in what appeareth from Him the divine traces and heavenly attributes. Had humanity possessed true vision, the outward acts of the Truth amidst His enemies would have sufficed them all, and they would have beheld the Standard of Truth encompassing all.

The Name “the Concealer” hath become the cause of the people’s being veiled from the Truth, to such an extent have the influences of this Name encompassed them that most of the people have deemed themselves learned and the Truth ignorant. How evil is that which they imagine and suppose!

Gird up the loins of service and be not neglectful in the Cause of God. Forbid the people from begging in the name of the Truth, and be occupied at all times with teaching the Cause. This is the foundation of the matter; after its realization, all affairs will proceed according to His good-pleasure. Verily thy Lord doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth.

BH03785: Praise be to God that through divine grace…

In the Name of God, the Mighty, the All-Wise.

Praise be to God that through divine grace and mercy thou hast arrived at the shore of the Most Great Sea and attained the presence of the Throne. Consider this a great bounty and reflect upon the power of God. Despite falling into the hands of several people with thy property and belongings—from whose grasp none had ever emerged unharmed—the hand of God’s loving-kindness took hold of thee and delivered thee along with all thou hadst. Say: Exalted is the Ancient One, the Lord of great bounty and mighty power.

Thy services have been and are before Our gaze. If one hath drawn a single breath in the path of the Friend, it shall not be lost. Be confident in thy Lord’s grace and strive that with complete detachment and spiritual qualities thou mayest be engaged in the mention of God.

For numbered years thou didst journey in God’s path and chose to be a wanderer, repeatedly attaining the presence of His countenance. Though the fruits thereof may now be hidden from thy sight and from the people, God willing, the time shall come when thou shalt witness them. Then shalt thou say: “Praise be unto Thee, O Beloved of the worlds!” The earthly world cannot manifest lofty stations. By My life! He who turneth unto Him shall behold himself in His Kingdom with manifest sovereignty.

At all times take refuge in the countenance of the All-Merciful, for this station cannot be seized or altered.

Say: O my God! I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which Thou hast subdued the hearts, O Beloved One, to make me in all conditions content with Thy good-pleasure, annihilated in Thy will, turned toward the direction of Thy grace, and detached from all else besides Thee. Verily Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest, and Thou art the Protector, the Self-Subsisting.

BH03880: Your letter hath been read before the Throne. We…

In the name of Him Who is the Most Holy, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious!

Your letter hath been read before the Throne. We hearkened unto it with the ear of loving-kindness and have answered thee with this Tablet, from whose horizon shineth the light of the mercy of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Bountiful. Blessed art thou for having turned unto God and called upon Him in verses from which wafted the sweet savors of thy love for the Beloved of the worlds, Who hath been deprived of rest by reason of that which the hands of the transgressors have wrought. In the prison He calleth upon His Lord, detached from all who dwell on earth.

In thy letter thou didst seek the knowledge of thy Lord. By My life! It is My love, and We shall show it to be present with thee through the wondrous favors of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Great. This is the essence of knowledge, wert thou of them that comprehend. Behold the learned—when they believed not, the name of knowledge could not be applied to them. They are the ignorant ones in the estimation of thy Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

As for what thou didst seek regarding the mystery of mysteries, We shall bestow upon thee that which is better for thee. Verily thy Lord is He Who judgeth as He pleaseth. Blessed art thou for having been enabled to make mention of God and His praise, and for thy letter which hath come into the presence of the Throne, adorned with this Name through which the heavens have been cleft asunder and the earth hath been split. We have ordained for thee in the Tablet a station—God shall soon assist thee to manifest His Cause. He, verily, is the Powerful, the Mighty.

What behooveth thee is steadfastness in My love, for the stench of treachery shall soon spread throughout all regions. Thus doth He inform thee, with Whom is the knowledge of all things in a perspicuous Book. Be thou steadfast through God’s power and might, then make mention of Him amongst the servants. He is the Helper of whosoever seeketh Him and bestoweth upon him that which gladdeneth his heart. Verily thy Lord is the Forgiving, the Merciful.

When thou attainest unto the Tablet, read it and place it upon thine eyes. Say: Praise be unto Thee, O God of the worlds!

BH03834: The Most Holy, The Most Inaccessible, The Most Mighty…

The Most Holy, The Most Inaccessible, The Most Mighty, The Most Glorious

A remembrance from Us unto him who hastened unto God but was then bewildered by the deeds of those who strayed from guidance in following their desires. Know thou that they are among the distracted ones. Know that God hath rendered the essence of desire as dust. Verily thy Lord is the All-Powerful, the Almighty. We have indeed made plain the two paths. Blessed is he who walketh the path commanded in the Book of his Lord. He is assuredly among the triumphant. All paths have ended in this Path, and all lights in this resplendent Light.

O Ali! We answered thee before and made mention of thee in diverse Tablets. Verily thy Lord is the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful. Remember when thou wert in Baghdad beneath the gaze of thy Lord, the Lord of Names, and ponder what thou didst hear from His most wondrous and wonderful tongue. Fix in thy heart that which the Tongue of Grandeur and Majesty hath spoken, then make mention of it and be not of them that remain silent. Many successive years have passed and We received not from thee what We desired for thee. Therefore have We sent unto thee this Tablet that thou mayest arise to remember God and praise Him amidst His heedless servants. We have not forgotten thee. Verily thy Lord is possessed of great bounty. We desire thee to be among the faithful ones in such wise that nothing shall prevent thee from attaining this glorious station.

O Ali, although ages and centuries have passed and no mention was heard from you, yet the Friend hath been occupied with your remembrance, for He is among the faithful ones and hath loved faithfulness, and your name hath been mentioned before Him from among the most ancient names. God willing, through the grace of the All-Merciful and the favors of the Sovereign of Creation, you shall remain steadfast upon the path of faithfulness in such wise that the veils and allusions of the people of intimations shall not prevent you from the Dawning-Place of verses. God willing, you shall hearken with the ear of acceptance unto the counsel of the Friend.

BH03841: The Most Mighty, Most Holy, Most Great. A remembrance…

The Most Mighty, Most Holy, Most Great. A remembrance for him who has turned to God and been illumined by the lights that have shone forth from the horizon of his Lord’s will, the Almighty, the Powerful, that the fragrances of verses might draw him to the station which the Manifestor of clear proofs has destined for him. He is verily the Forgiving, the Merciful.

Arise to make mention of thy Lord among the people, detached from those who have disbelieved in God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. Verily those who are heedless this day shall soon find themselves in the depths of the fire. Thus has the command been issued from the Pen of the Unconstrained in a mighty tablet. Blessed is he who has been illumined by this Lamp through which the heavens and earths have been made to shine. Blessed is he who has been enlightened by this Light through which the worlds have been illumined.

Hold fast to the cord of the Cause and cling to the hem of the Ancient of Days. Beware lest anything prevent thee from the remembrance of thy Lord or the words of the ungodly sadden thee. Turn not to the world and what is therein. Set thy gaze toward the Most Exalted Horizon.

Say: O Lord of Names and Creator of Heaven! I beseech Thee by the Dawning-Place of Thy most excellent names and the Source of Thy most exalted attributes, Who has been imprisoned in Thy path amidst the wicked, that Thou aid me to make mention of Thee and praise Thee, and assist me in serving Thee in such wise that neither the might of the transgressors nor the power of the evil ones shall hold me back. O my Lord! I am he who has turned to the door of Thy grace and set his face toward the throne of Thy grandeur. Ordain for me what is best, for I know not what profiteth me. Thou art verily the All-Knowing, the Powerful, the Most High, the Mighty, the Wise.

O my Lord! Deal with me according to Thy grace and bounty, then protect me from those who have denied Thy Manifestation and turned away from Thy Beauty. Make me then steadfast in Thy love in such wise that the winds that blow from the hearts of Thy heedless servants and the ungodly among Thy creatures shall not move me. Thou art verily the Protector over whatsoever Thou willest. There is no God but Thee, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

BH03827: The Most Holy, Most Great, Most Exalted! A mention…

The Most Holy, Most Great, Most Exalted! A mention from Us to the Leaf who hath spoken upon the Tree of Knowledge even as the Dove hath warbled upon the branches. The Kingdom belongeth unto God, the One, the Mighty, the All-Wise.

Blessed art thou for having attained unto the lights of the Countenance and been moved by the breezes of thy Lord’s will, the Mighty, the Bountiful. Beware lest the imaginings of those who have disbelieved in God, thy Lord and the Lord of all worlds, hold thee back. Take firm hold of the Tree, then remember thy Lord with this wise remembrance.

O Leaf! Praise be to God that through divine favors in these radiant days thou hast attained unto that which was intended. Be not grieved at the oppression of the enemies. I swear by the Sun of the horizon of sanctification that whosoever in the days of the Lord of all creation hath drunk of the choice wine of knowledge regardeth all who are on earth as non-existent and absent—how much more so the weak souls whom following their own desires and passions hath deprived of turning unto the Lord of Names and Creator of all things, and whose verbal limitations and manifestations of self have veiled them from the Dayspring of the All-Merciful.

Observe how the people of the Qur’an have remained far from the Lord of all creation. There is no doubt that they have been held back from the Lord of the Day of Judgment by the words of those possessed of vain imaginings. Likewise have the people of the Bayan been veiled from the Lord of Names and Attributes by their own imaginings, although all are commanded in this Revelation to fix their gaze upon the Revelation itself, not upon what they possess, even though it be the books of the first and the last. And this bounty hath been specially revealed in this Manifestation; nevertheless through falsehood they have been debarred from the Lord of Causes.

Thou must stand firm in the Cause of God with such firmness as to be the cause of steadfastness in the weak ones. We beseech God to assist thee and strengthen thee in His remembrance and praise. Verily He is the Protector of those who remember and the Helper of those who remember.

BH03812: In the name of God, the Ever-Abiding, Who perisheth…

In the name of God, the Ever-Abiding, Who perisheth not! The Book hath been sent down from before God, the Mighty, the Bestower. Verily it is the Lamp of Eternity amidst the nations and the Sign of the All-Merciful unto all who dwell within the realm of possibility. They who have inhaled from it the fragrance of their Lord, the Most High, the Most Exalted—these are the people of Baha in the presence of their Lord, the Originator of Creation. And they who have remained heedless—these are numbered with the dead before the Self-Sufficient, the Most High.

Say: O people! Answer your Lord, the All-Merciful, in these days wherein the Call hath been raised from all things, and the Spirit of Holiness proclaimeth between earth and heaven: “The sovereignty belongeth unto God, the Powerful, the Mighty, the Unconstrained!” Thus hath the Command been sent down in this Tablet which God hath made the Dayspring of inspiration.

O Most Exalted Pen! Make mention of him whose name was mentioned before the Throne, that he may arise to aid the Cause and assist his Lord through utterance. Blessed is thy brother, who remained faithful to the Covenant until he ascended unto the Most Glorious Companion. The dwellers of Paradise shall pray for him throughout the duration of the kingdom and the dominion. Upon him rest the remembrance of God and His praise at all times.

Draw nigh unto his resting-place and stand before that station, saying: Upon thee, O tested servant, be the remembrance of God, the Knower of the hidden and the manifest, and the praise of all things and of those servants who circle round the Throne from time immemorial. I testify that thou didst cast away what was with the people and didst take what was sent unto thee from thy Lord, the Mighty, the Compelling. Thou art he who attained the presence of God before the Manifestation, and when the Call was raised thou didst respond, saying:

“Here am I, O God of all who are in earth and heaven!”

Thou art among those who rent asunder the veils when the Bestower came in the shadows of the clouds. Blessed is he who visiteth thee after thy ascension and remembereth thee purely for the sake of thy Lord. He, verily, is among the righteous.

Thus have We commanded thee in truth. Act thou according to that which thou hast been commanded by the Lord of the Day of Reckoning.

BH03898: A gracious Book sent down from the presence…

He is the Most Mighty of the Mighty

A gracious Book sent down from the presence of the Mighty, the Wise. Verily it is the Light of God amongst His servants and His remembrance to the worlds. Read ye the verses of God with natural melodies. By My life, they will attract you to a glorious station. In each one of them hath been ordained that whereby the heart of the world would be attracted, but the people are in thick veils. Soon shall they awaken and hasten, but those who have believed today have outstripped them and attained the bounty of God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

O thou who art mentioned! Hearken unto the Call from this quarter of the Frequented House, from this Unfurled Scroll: Verily there is no God but Me, the Forgiving, the Merciful. Say: O peoples of the worlds! Aid ye your Lord, the All-Merciful, in this Day which the hosts of tyranny have encompassed, they who have disbelieved in the Lord of the Mighty Throne. Those who have attained to recognition—these are the people of this glorious scene, and those who are prevented—they are among the people of error, even should they be among those who circle round.

Hold ye fast to the Greater Steadfastness—verily it hath a mighty station with your Lord, the Powerful, the Almighty. Blessed is the one strong enough to rend the veils asunder through the name of his Lord, the Mighty, the Bestower, and who hath arisen to aid this wondrous Cause. It behooveth every soul to abandon whatsoever he possesseth, turning unto the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Blessed is he who hath turned toward the Most Great Scene, detached from all created things.

Were the people to know the value of this Day, they would surely arise among the servants and cry out with this Cause from whose horizon hath shone the Sun of the Beauty of thy Lord, the Forgiving, the Bountiful. Blessed is he who heareth at all times the call of the All-Merciful from this Station whereon the Ancient Beauty hath established Himself upon the throne of His Most Exalted Name.

Rejoice thou in My mention of thee, then make mention of thy Lord in such wise as to attract the hearts of the heedless ones. The glory be upon thee and upon whosoever hath attained to the love of his Ancient Lord.

BH03899: A Book from Us to him who hath desired…

He is the Ever-Abiding, without extinction

A Book from Us to him who hath desired his Lord, that He may make him to soar in this atmosphere and cause him to hear that which the Tongue of Grandeur proclaimeth in this exalted station. Arise to make mention of thy Lord. Say: O concourse of divines! Cast aside that which ye imagine. He Who is Known hath come with His Name, the Self-Subsisting. Beware lest ye perpetrate what your likes have perpetrated in the days of God, your Lord, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

Cast your sciences behind you. Behold, the ocean of knowledge hath surged before your faces. Turn ye unto it with manifest humility. This is a Day wherein nothing shall profit a soul, though it bring forth all the knowledge of the ancients, save through its adherence to the cord of knowledge which hath appeared in truth from God, the Powerful, the Mighty, the Wise. Say: O people! How long will ye follow your desires? Cast them aside and take what hath been sent down from God, the Powerful, the Mighty, the Wise.

Stand thou firm in the love of thy Lord, then summon the people with wisdom. Thus hath commanded thee the Lord of creation. He, verily, is the Ruler over what He willeth. Grieve not at the onslaught of the people and their clamor, for thy Lord protecteth whom He willeth. He, verily, encompasseth all things. He protecteth whomsoever He desireth through His sovereignty, though such a one be in the mouth of the serpent. Thus did the All-Merciful reveal aforetime and in this wondrous Tablet.

When thou art moved by the movement of the Most Exalted Pen and art drawn by the call of thy Lord, the Most High, the Most Glorious, turn with all thy being unto Him, detached from the worlds. Say: Thine be the glory, O Lord of Names and Creator of earth and heaven! I testify that Thou wast ever powerful and self-subsisting and wilt continue to be as Thou hast been from time immemorial. Nothing can prevent Thy self-subsistence. I beseech Thee by Thy Great Name to make me one who uttereth Thy remembrance and calleth out Thy Name and turneth in all conditions unto Thyself. Verily, Thou art the Powerful, the Exalted, the Mighty, the Generous.

BH03936: O people of the world! Your Lord, the Most…

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

O people of the world! Your Lord, the Most Merciful, hath made manifest the fragrances of the garment of glory throughout all worlds, and the Word of God hath been upraised, and the Herald hath called out: “The Kingdom belongeth unto God, the Mighty, the All-Knowing!” They who have found and turned unto Him, these are the people of Baha, inscribed in a mighty Tablet. And they who have turned away, all things curse them; verily, they are the companions of the Fire.

Glad tidings unto him who hath on this day detached himself from all directions, turning toward God, the Revealer of verses. He is among God’s sincere servants—the denizens of Paradise and they who circle round God’s throne, the Almighty, the Most High, the Great, pray for him.

O loved ones of God! Take ye the chalices of victory in the name of your Lord, Who ruleth over all the worlds. Then drink therefrom with His remembrance and praise, despite those who turned away from the countenance of their Lord after they were created to turn toward the dawning-place of His luminous Cause.

How many a lofty one hath been abased, and how many a lowly one exalted through the name of his Lord, the Mighty, the Impregnable! How many a learned one hath been reckoned as ignorant before the Throne, and how many an ignorant one confirmed with knowledge in the Tablet of thy Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed! He doeth what He willeth as He pleaseth, and ordaineth what He desireth.

Blessed art thou for having drunk the choice wine of everlasting life in the days of thy Lord, the Most Merciful, and attained unto the lights of faith when the Lord of all religions appeared with manifest sovereignty. Pay no heed to the people and their vain fancies and allusions. Leave these behind thee, holding fast to that which hath been revealed by Him Who speaketh between the heavens and the earth that there is none other God but Him, the Most High, the All-Knowing.

Thus have We sent down the verses unto thee. By My life! They are manifest signs that have appeared and shone forth from the horizon of the Will of thy Lord, yet the people are wrapped in thick veils. Rend asunder the veils through His Name, the Bestower, then make mention of thy Lord with wisdom and utterance. Thus doth this Wronged One command thee, the imprisoned, the exile, the lone and unique.

BH04087: The Most Great, the Most Glorious! This…

The Most Great, the Most Glorious! This is a Tablet which We have adorned with the ornament of the Pen moved by the fingers of the Lord of Eternity, and We have sent it to him who hath turned unto God, the Almighty, the Self-Subsisting, that he may find therein that which will comfort his eyes and gladden his heart. He, verily, is the Mighty, the All-Loving.

This is a Day wherein the veils have been rent asunder and the idols have lamented, and trembling hath seized the dwellers of the cities of creation, except such as thy Lord, the Mighty, the Best-Beloved, hath willed. Among the ungodly are those who have clung to the Evil One and turned away from the Kingdom of their Lord when He appeared with this Hidden Name. Blessed is he who hath rent asunder the veils and drunk the choice wine of life when the All-Bountiful came with manifest sovereignty.

Be thou steadfast in thy love for thy Lord, such that the veils of those who have disbelieved in the Lord of the Invisible and the Visible shall not keep thee back. The world hath been set ablaze by the fire of thy Lord’s Word, yet the people are heedless thereof, except they are a people confounded—save those whom God, thy Lord, hath willed. These are indeed the people of Baha, recorded in a preserved Tablet.

Drink thou the Kawthar of life at all times, turning unto thy Lord, the All-Merciful. He, verily, ordaineth for whomsoever He pleaseth that which He desireth, but the people understand not. Give thanks unto God for having sent down unto thee that which causeth the sincere ones to soar.

Say: Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having remembered me and revealed unto me that which cheereth the eyes. My soul be a sacrifice for Thy tribulations, O Lord of Names and O Thou Who art imprisoned and estranged! The very essence of patience lamenteth at what hath befallen Thee, and its eyes weep for Thee, O Beloved! I beseech Thee, O my God, by the Manifestation of Thyself and the Dayspring of Thy signs, to record me among those who have attained unto Thy days and answered Thy call. Verily, Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest, and Thou art the Truth, the Knower of things unseen.

BH04082: In the Name of God, the Most Holy…

In the Name of God, the Most Holy, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed! This is a Book from Us to him whose letter hath reached Our presence—around which circle the denizens of the Supreme Paradise and then the spirits of the chosen ones. We have taken note of its contents, for verily He is the All-Knowing Witness. We have caused to flow for him in this Tablet the Salsabil of life, that he may drink in the name of his Lord and be numbered among those who are firmly grounded.

There is no matter but it hath been made manifest from this perspicuous Book, and no evidence but it hath shone forth from the horizon of grace; yet most men remain heedless. The proof hath circled round the All-Merciful, and the evidence hath submitted to His wondrous and glorious manifestation.

Be thou severed in thy love for thy Lord from all else, then speak forth His remembrance in every morn and eventide. Take heed lest the affairs of the world sadden thee, or the hints of the doubtful ones prevent thee from the Most Great Ocean. Be thou steadfast in the Cause through God’s might and power. Thus doth command thee He Who was afflicted at the hands of the oppressors.

Know thou, moreover, that We love to see all thy pursuits unified into a single pursuit, and all thy deeds and purposes transformed into a single remembrance—the remembrance of this wondrous Remembrance—that We may behold thee extinct to thy will and abiding by the will of God, the Almighty, the All-Compelling, the All-Powerful. This is what thy Lord, the Unconstrained, hath chosen for thee. Verily, He mentioneth unto whomsoever He pleaseth whatsoever He willeth. He, verily, encompasseth all things.

It behooveth thee this day to behold Me with Mine eye and arise to serve Me. Thus hath it been decreed in the Book by One Who is Mighty, All-Praised. Whoso attaineth unto that which hath been mentioned shall be assisted by God in all conditions, and He shall ordain for him whatsoever He willeth out of His all-embracing grace. Thus have We adorned thy temple with the ornament of utterance and sent unto thee that through which the fragrance of the Garment hath been wafted among the worlds.

BH04095: The Most Holy, Most Glorious, Most Splendid! O My…

The Most Holy, Most Glorious, Most Splendid! O My loved ones! Wisdom must precede utterance—thus hath it been revealed in the Tablets of your Lord, the All-Merciful. Blessed is he who heareth and followeth his Lord, the Mighty, the Bestower. Show mercy, insofar as ye are able, to the weak ones among you and to your poor. This behooveth all who have turned unto God, the Lord of the Day of Judgment.

Should ye be seized with abasement for My Name’s sake, be not saddened; God shall soon turn it into glory for you. He, verily, is the Almighty, the Unconstrained. Should tribulations overtake you in My path, be not troubled. Consider what hath befallen My Beauty after I desired life for all who are in earth and heaven. Can afflictions grieve you after God hath made them a crown for the head of Baha? Know ye the worth of that which befalleth you in My love—naught in all creation can equal it.

O thou who art mentioned by the Pen of Revelation! Arise to serve the Cause in such wise that nothing whatsoever shall deter thee from God, thy Lord, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful. Make mention of Him amongst His servants. This hath been prescribed for every soul in this Revelation, from whose horizon hath shone forth the Sun of remembrance. How many are the servants who follow their desires while imagining themselves to be among the people of certitude. Thy Lord verily accepteth not what they imagine. The destiny of all things hath been ordained by God’s testimony, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

Say: Be ye steadfast in the Cause, then subdue the lands through My Name. Remind the servants of what We have revealed unto thee, that they may detach themselves from idle fancies and turn unto God, the Lord of mankind. Give thanks unto God for having revealed unto thee these verses, from which the near ones inhale the fragrance of the mercy of their Lord, the Mighty, the All-Forgiving.

BH04097: In the Name of God, the Most Wondrous…

In the Name of God, the Most Wondrous, the Most Glorious! O Hadi! Blessed art thou for having been guided by the guidance of God, the Lord of the mighty throne. The signs of the people of the veils did not prevent thee from this straight and manifest path. We hear the call that was raised in this wise Remembrance and We behold him who hath turned to the Countenance. Verily thy Lord is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

Leave those who speak according to their desires and hold fast to the hem of thy Lord’s mercy, the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful. Thy mention hath been recorded in the Tablet by the Pen of thy Lord’s command, the Almighty, the Powerful.

Say: O people! Dispute not in God’s Cause. This is verily the Exalted One in the kingdom of the Most High, and the Noble One in the dominion of the Most Glorious, and the Light in the horizon of manifestation, and He is verily the Self-Subsisting, the Guardian over all who are in the heavens and on earth.

Say: We are engaged in a momentous Cause. It behooveth you to aid your Lord, the All-Merciful. Beware lest ye utter that which would cause the standards of discord to be raised throughout the lands. This is what ye have been commanded in the Tablets from the presence of the Mighty, the Wise.

Say: If ye will not aid Him, at least dispute not about His Cause. Have mercy upon yourselves and upon him who, while in the jaws of wolves, calleth the people unto the Mighty, the Bestower. Doth doubt befit this Lord? Nay, by the Lord of the worlds!

Say: O people, unite in this Cause, for through your unity the hosts of the idolaters shall be scattered. We have set forth all things in detail in the Tablets, that each soul may know his station and be numbered with them that comprehend.

Thus have We imparted unto thee and taught thee, that thou mayest inform those who have been heedless of that which thy Lord, the Mighty, the All-Praised, hath willed. Glory be upon thee and upon those who have turned to the Countenance when it appeared from this luminous horizon.

BH04044: The Most Holy, Most Impregnable, Most Great, Most Ancient!…

The Most Holy, Most Impregnable, Most Great, Most Ancient! All things have turned towards God, the Cleaver of the heavens, yet most of the people are far removed. The vain desires of those whom they have taken as lords beside God have prevented them—verily, they are among the perishing ones. The Tongue of Grandeur calls them, yet they have cast it behind their backs and turned to every ignorant remote one.

Say: Ye were created for this Call. By God! Were ye to turn with illumined hearts to God, the Lord of Names, there would flow from your hearts the river of wisdom and utterance in this perspicuous News. Say: Is there any doubt about it, or about that which ye possess? Be fair, and be not of the wrongdoers.

Every proof hath bowed down before My Cause, and every evidence hath yielded to this manifest and mighty proof. Fear God, and deprive not yourselves of that for which ye were created. Thus doth the Most Exalted Pen counsel you, as a favor from Him, if ye be of them that comprehend.

Nothing can profit Him nor can any matter harm Him. God hath rendered Him sanctified from all that ye possess. Every discerning one who knoweth beareth witness to this. Beware lest ye follow them who have disbelieved in God and His signs, and turned away from Him unto Whom the Concourse on High, then the Prophets and Messengers have turned.

Set your faces toward the Most Remote Prison—verily it is the Sadratul-Muntaha, if ye be of the assured ones. Thus have We imparted unto you the word of truth: whoso turneth toward it, he is of the people of Baha, and whoso turneth away, he is of the companions of the Fire. Blessed is the eye that hath turned to this quarter, and the face that hath turned toward the Face, and the heart that hath turned to God, the Mighty, the Wise.

Thus doth God single out whom He willeth of His servants and reveal unto whomsoever He desireth that whereby His mention shall be established in creation. Verily, He is the Mighty, the Powerful.

BH03997: O Rafi’, may you ever dwell, God willing, beneath…

In His Name, the Protector over all things!

O Rafi’, may you ever dwell, God willing, beneath the shadow of divine grace, content and at rest. Blessed art thou for having migrated unto God and returned by His command. Thy obedience to God’s command has not been and will never be forgotten from His sight, and has been recorded by the Pen of His Cause in the divine Books. Well is it with thee for having attained this supreme triumph.

Remember all the chosen ones with the remembrance of the Chosen One, convey to all the greetings of the Wronged One, and counsel all to manifest spiritual qualities and praiseworthy attributes acceptable before the Wronged One, that they may arise to perform deeds that please Him and cause people to turn towards the Friend.

Trustworthiness and truthfulness are two garments adorned with the ornament of honor and acceptance. God willing, all must appear with perfect trustworthiness and speak with truthfulness, arising to serve God through their deeds. The manifestation of these qualities has been and ever shall be the cause of the exaltation of God’s Word, while their absence is the cause of the veiling of humanity, as is evident.

Should anyone manifest any unacceptable deed, people attribute it to the root of the Tree. God protect us and you from this.

The world has had and shall have no worth. The purpose is that the divine attributes should be manifested through each of God’s loved ones among humanity, that all may be drawn by that brilliant lamp to the Dawning-Place of Revelation and turn towards it.

Be thou engaged in the remembrance of God with the utmost joy and delight, for His grace has been and shall ever be with thee. Give thanks for this wondrous remembrance and say: Praise be unto Thee, O God of all the worlds!

BH04031: In the Name of Him Who hath power over…

In the Name of Him Who hath power over what was and what will be! Glorified be He Who hath sent down the verses unto people who perceive. These verses are indeed the decisive Word between the servants. Blessed are the people who understand. Say: The Balance moveth, would ye but recognize it, and the Path speaketh, would ye but hear it. Say: This is He at Whose presence the mighty ones were shaken and the verses trembled, would ye but know it. This is He Who cannot be compared with anyone, would ye but ponder it. Say: This is He Who hath not read what ye possess, nor was He among those who are taught. Say: With Him is the knowledge of all things—to this testifieth what hath appeared from Him—yet most people do not understand.

O ʿAli-Akbar! Thy letter which thou didst send through the servant who is present before the Throne hath come before the Countenance, and We have become acquainted with its contents. Thy Lord is, in truth, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Hold fast to the cord of wisdom in all matters. This is God’s decree in most of the Tablets, yet most people remain veiled therefrom. Say: O people! Transgress not beyond it, nor commit that which would kindle the fire of hatred. Thus hath the matter been decreed by God, the Lord of Names, if ye be of them that know. Grieve not over anything, but stand firm in the Cause. Thy Lord is the Best of Protectors. Illumine faces with the lights of thy Lord’s remembrance, and hearts with His Name, the One with power over the worlds.

O ʿAli! We make mention of thee most often and We see thy condition. He is, in truth, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. This is God’s favor unto thee, with which nothing on earth can compare. Thy Lord is, in truth, the Almighty, the Powerful. May the glory rest upon thee and upon those who are with thee among them who have turned unto God, the Mighty, the Great.

BH03982: O Javad! The Lord of Creation calleth thee…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Great

O Javad! The Lord of Creation calleth thee from the direction of His Name, the Most Exalted, the Most Great. Verily, there is none other God but Me, the Mighty, the All-Wise. They who have hearkened unto the Call and turned towards it are numbered among the guided ones. This is a Day wherein that which was hidden in all things is made manifest. Verily thy Lord is the Uncoverer, the Concealer, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

I counsel you, O My loved ones, to manifest the most great steadfastness. Remember when the Messenger said that it had turned his hair white. Thus doth the Faithful Counselor remind you. How many are the wolves who appear in the garment of men! Know ye them, and follow not every wicked impostor. He who remaineth steadfast in the Cause is assuredly of the people of Baha in a mighty tablet. Verily the Cause is mighty, mighty, and the soul is commanding, commanding. We beseech God to protect all from its flame. Verily He hath power over all things.

Behold, then remember when the Primal Point and those with Him were cast into prison. A numbered few among those who had believed openly denied Him, save those who arose from the horizon of steadfastness and were martyred with their Lord—upon them be My splendor and the splendor of those in the heavens and earth. None among them remained faithful to the Covenant save one. Thus was it with the Beloved of the worlds.

Say: O my God! Having called me unto Thee and caused me to enter the pavilion of Thy Cause, deprive me not, through Thy bounty, then preserve me from the schemes of every schemer and the devices of every deceiver and the call of every lying pretender. Moreover, ordain for me the good of this world and the next. Verily Thou art the Mighty, the All-Bestowing.

Convey my greetings to the face of her who hath turned towards God, and to every man and woman who hath turned towards Him. Verily thy Lord is the Mighty, the All-Forgiving.

BH04053: Unto Thee be praise, O Lord my God! I…

In His name, the Most Holy, the Most Ancient, the Most Mighty

Unto Thee be praise, O Lord my God! I testify that Thou art God, and that there is none other God besides Thee. Thou hast from eternity been immeasurably exalted above the praise of any one except Thee, and far above the description of any of Thy creatures. All created things have borne witness to Thy unity, and every dweller in Thy kingdom hath confessed Thy oneness. The essence of the apprehension of the assured among Thy creatures can never attain unto Thee, and the gem-like utterances with which Thy people have praised and glorified Thee can never hope to ascend unto the atmosphere of Thy holiness. For men’s apprehension of Thee is but the apprehension of Thine own creation; how can it reach up to Thee? And all human praise and glorification of Thee pertain unto Thy servants; how can they be deemed worthy of the court of Thy oneness?

I swear by Thy glory! The quintessence of knowledge is powerless to comprehend Thy nature, and the inmost reality of every praise of Thee falleth short of the seat of Thy great glory and of Thine all-compelling power. Every utterance that seeketh to describe Thee, and every knowledge that attempteth to comprehend Thee, is but an expression of Thine own creating, and is begotten by Thy will, and fashioned in conformity with Thy purpose.

I implore Thee, O Thou Who art inscrutable to all except Thee, and can be comprehended through naught else save Thyself, by the wrongs which He Who is the Day-Spring of Thy Cause hath suffered at the hands of the ignoble among Thy creatures, and by what hath befallen Him in Thy path, to grant that I may, at all times, be wholly dissolved in Thee, and fix my gaze upon the horizon of Thy will and be steadfast in Thy love.

I have, O my Lord, turned unto Thee according to what Thou hast commanded me in Thy Book, and have set my face towards the horizon of Thy loving-kindness even as Thou hast permitted me in Thy Tablets. Cast me not out of the door of Thy grace, I beseech Thee, and write down for me the recompense destined for him who hath entered Thy presence, and hath risen to serve Thee, and hath been carried away by the drops sprinkled upon him from the Ocean of Thy favors in Thy days, and by the splendors of the Day-Star of Thy gifts that have been shed upon him at the revelation of the light of Thy countenance.

Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. No God is there save Thee, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.

That which thou didst send hath been presented before the Countenance; We accepted it through a grace from Our presence bestowed upon thee. Verily He is the Protector of the doers of good.

BH04079: A Book from Us to him who hath attained…

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

A Book from Us to him who hath attained unto the lights of the All-Merciful after he was denied by every heedless doubter. Thy name hath been mentioned before the Throne, and there hath been sent down for thee that which causeth minds and spirits to take flight. Verily, He remembereth in the prison him who hath turned unto Him. His grace hath encompassed all regions.

How many a wise one hath failed to attain the presence of his Lord, and how many a youth, upon hearing the call, hath exclaimed: “Here am I, O Lord of Lords!” Blessed is the face that hath turned unto the Countenance, and the heart that hath been illumined from the Dayspring of inspiration.

They who have taken as friends others besides God—these have been prevented by following vain imaginings. They worship idols while supposing themselves to be among the choicest of creation in the sight of the sublime Truth. Say: God knoweth what is hidden in the breasts. With Him is the knowledge of all things in the Book.

Give thanks unto God for having attained unto this Choice Wine, whose seal We have loosened with the finger of power and might, and for having been honored in His days, and for having had the Pen of Revelation from the Lord of all mankind move upon thy mention.

Say: O my God! Aid me in that which Thou lovest, then ordain for me that which shall make me ever-gazing toward Thee, speaking Thy Name, and proclaiming Thy Cause amidst all creation. I am he who hath turned unto Thee and placed his trust in Thee. Make me, then, to be of those who have entered the pavilion of Thy glory, who are steadfast in Thy Cause, and who stand firm in that which Thou hast commanded them in Thy Tablets. Verily Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the All-Bestowing.

The Glory be upon thee, and upon thy father and mother, and upon all who are with you, whether male or female. And praise be to God, the Lord of all beings.

BH03998: O Ali! May you be assisted through God’s grace…

O Ali! May you be assisted through God’s grace in reforming the affairs of those who, when they hear, respond. You must make every effort to protect Nabil Qabl-i-Ali and safely deliver him and what he possesses to a secure location by God’s grace. This is a service specifically entrusted to you—you must carry it out with the utmost joy and fragrance. Your reward and his are with God, your Lord and the Lord of all worlds. Convey my greetings to him and say: We bear witness that you have fulfilled what was incumbent upon you, drawn near to the station, and attained the presence of your Lord, the Master of all. Be grateful and among those who remember.

Convey profound greetings to all the friends, especially to Ahmad, upon him be the glory of God, the One, the Single. O ʿAli! This is the second time you have attained the presence. May God bring about another matter. He is the Protector of the doers of good. The Persian Tablet that was revealed specifically for the friends in the Land of Qaf—it would be good if copies reach the Land of Ta and other regions. We beseech the Most High to assist you in serving Him and spreading His Cause, and to manifest through you that which will bring peace to the hearts of the sincere ones.

Meet with Husayn in the Land of Ta and convey greetings from the True One. Say to him: What you did with the concealed matter is good, but better is what We commanded you at first. Whatever you do with it, watch it in the fire lest it become too intense, and work with it to the extent that it draws away the coldness preventing it. We instruct you to reflect on what We sent you so you may understand all of it and the subtleties revealed therein. And the Glory be upon you.

BH04064: A Book from Us to him who was present…

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

A Book from Us to him who was present before the Throne and was among the successful ones, and heard the call of his Lord, the Most Merciful, when He was established upon the throne of His Great Name. Blessed art thou, O servant, for having emigrated in the path of God and for having drunk the choice wine of revelation from this Great Sea. We beseech God to assist thee in all conditions, to make thee a servant unto His Self, steadfast in His love, and firm in His Cause which hath encompassed the worlds.

O servant who gazeth upon the Countenance! Praise be to the Self-Subsisting Lord Who, through His all-encompassing power and mighty sovereignty, caused you in these days—when sedition hath encompassed all and the fire of hatred hath been kindled—to arrive in your city and granted you dwelling near the sanctuary of holiness and sanctity. Be thou thankful and among those who praise. His power hath been and shall ever be all-encompassing, and His sovereignty hath been and shall ever be all-pervading. None can prevent that which He willeth. He hath ever manifested whatsoever He hath desired and shall continue to manifest whatsoever He willeth. Verily He is the All-Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

As to what thou didst request regarding the name, We have named thee before the Throne ʿAbdu’l-Baha. This is from Our favor unto thee, that thou mayest be among those who remember. God willing, thou shouldst return to thy homeland in the utmost joy and fragrance, in such wise that all may witness in thee the morals and conduct of the All-Merciful. Convey greetings from the True One to his honor H and the other loved ones of God. Upon him and upon them be the glory of God, the Sovereign, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

BH04105: O thou who journeyest in the lands in My…

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

O thou who journeyest in the lands in My name and hast migrated for love of Me! Hearken unto My call from the precincts of My grandeur and power, which hath been raised from the Divine Lote-Tree upon the spot of My utterance: Verily, there is no God but Me, the Imprisoned, the Stranger, the Unique One. Let not separation and remoteness grieve thee. Thou hast indeed fulfilled the Covenant, and We have recorded thee among the faithful ones. Blessed is this remoteness, to which We have testified nearness. Thy Lord is, verily, the Almighty, the Powerful. All things depend upon God’s testimony. We have testified for thee on this day that thou mayest be of them that rejoice.

Shouldst thou taste the sweetness of thy Lord’s utterance, thou wouldst abandon creation behind thee and say:

“O my God, the Most High! Praise be unto Thee in all conditions. Thou art, verily, praised in what Thou doest and obeyed in what Thou willest.”

I beseech Thee, O King of eternity and Lord of all nations, to ordain for me that which is best for me in this world and the next. Then make me content with Thy good-pleasure, effaced in Thy will, steadfast in Thy love, holding fast to the cord of Thy favors and clinging to the hem of Thy bounties. Thou art, verily, the Almighty, the Powerful, the All-Wise.

We have been with thee in thy joy and thy sorrow, and are aware of what hath befallen thee. Thy Lord is, verily, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Soon will all that thou seest today perish, but that which hath been ordained for thee in a mighty Tablet shall endure. Blessed is he who hath migrated in the path of God, and woe unto him who hath prevented people from attaining the presence of the Countenance and hath become a hindering veil between them and their Ancient Lord. Rejoice thou in My remembrance of thee. Say: Praise be unto Thee for having remembered me while I was in the hands of the oppressors.

BH04048: Every least pebble hath testified unto God, the Lord…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Exalted

Every least pebble hath testified unto God, the Lord of Names and Attributes, yet the people of allusions have deprived themselves of the fragrances of the days of their Lord, the Mighty, the Wise. The trees cry out “The Chosen One hath come!” yet the wicked are in manifest loss. When it is said to them “The Promised One hath appeared,” they say “Where is the proof?” after it hath encompassed the worlds. Say: Die in your wrath! The All-Giving hath come, riding upon the clouds, and the sincere behold and say “I believe in Thee, O Thou in Whose grasp is the dominion of the worlds!” Blessed is he who hath turned to his Lord and detached himself from all else. Woe unto the transgressors!

O Muhammad-Qabli-Hasan! Give thanks unto God, thy Lord, for having caused thy name to flow from the Pen of Revelation—this is indeed a manifest bounty. Rejoice in My remembrance of thee and be mindful of His Cause among the servants, that perchance they who slumber may arise and turn with their hearts toward this noble Scene. Let nothing in thy Lord’s days grieve thee. Trust in Him in all matters—verily He is with His trusting servants. When thou hast quaffed the wine of life and attained unto thy Lord’s verses, arise amidst the concourse of creation saying:

“This is He Who was mentioned in God’s ancient scriptures, and this is He Who was promised to you in the Tablets, if ye be of those who know!”

If thou wishest to mention thy Lord, mention Him with wisdom lest a sedition arise causing the feet of the weak to slip. Protect the Cause from all directions lest the fire of hatred be kindled in the breasts of the deluded ones. Through wisdom have We revealed the Cause and through it have We commanded you in all the Tablets. Hold fast unto it from One mighty and all-knowing. Say: O my Lord! Praise be unto Thee for having made Thyself known to me and given me to drink from the cup of Thy bounty. I testify that Thou art the Bestower, the Generous, the Forgiving, the Merciful.

BH04066: The Most Evident Book hath been sent down…

The Most Evident Book hath been sent down in truth from the heaven of grace unto a people who understand. There is no God but Him. By Him the horizons were illumined and His hidden Name appeared—a joy to the people of delight who have taken the cup of detachment in the name of the Creator of new creation and drunk therefrom that which quickeneth hearts. Blessed is he who hath adorned himself in the worlds of possibility with the ornament of love for his Lord, the All-Merciful, and hath turned with his heart to the Intended One.

Say: O people, leave those who have denied God, then turn with your hearts toward the court of God, the Mighty, the Beloved. Hath the world prevented you from your Lord, the Lord of Names, or vain desire? Be fair, O people, and be not of those who deny.

How many a great one hath been kept back from the heavenly wine, and how many a lowly one hath drunk thereof and said: “Praise be to Thee, O God of the seen and unseen!” Blessed is he who hath rent asunder the veils and made mention of his Lord amongst the servants. He is indeed of those who have attained to the light of faith in the days of their Lord, the All-Merciful, and who circled round the Throne at eventide and at dawn.

Grieve not at remoteness, for He is with whomsoever desireth Him. He is verily the Truth, the Knower of the unseen.

O servants of the All-Merciful! Remember God with remembrance and utterance. He aideth him who aideth Him. He, verily, is powerful over what He willeth. There is no God but Him, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. Aid ye your Lord in His days and turn not unto those who deny.

Say: Nothing of all that hath been created in the heavens and on earth will profit you today, did ye but know, except through believing in God and casting behind you what ye possess of idle fancies and vain imaginings. Thus doth God counsel you through His grace, did ye but know.

BH04068: Thy letter was presented before the Divine Throne…

In the name of the One True Friend

Thy letter was presented before the Divine Throne and God hath regarded it. Blessed art thou for having fulfilled God’s Covenant and His Testament. Grieve not—with Us are the rewards of the sincere. Great, great is the Cause and great, great is this Day! How excellent is the state of those souls who in this day manifest complete sincerity, such that every possessor of spiritual sense can detect from them the fragrance of the sanctified Garment of the All-Merciful. These are the gems of existence—upon them be My blessings and My mercy.

O Hasan! I complain unto thee of those who claim adherence to My Cause yet commit that which causeth My heart to lament. My grief is not from My imprisonment, nor from what hath befallen Me at the hands of the followers of religions, but rather from My loved ones who follow their desires while imagining they are guided aright. Some have mixed the divine fragrances with their carnal desires and have erased the divine counsels from their hearts.

I swear by the Most Great Name that if the loved ones of God had moved according to God’s will, thou wouldst now witness most of mankind turning toward God. The favors of God and His concealment have been such that most of the servants assume God is like themselves, imagining their deeds are hidden from Him—vain indeed are their imaginings! But be not grieved—ere long the banners of His Cause shall be raised in most lands and that which God hath willed shall become manifest and evident. Verily, He is powerful over all things. Rejoice in what hath been revealed unto thee from the Pen of Revelation in this mighty Prison. And the Glory be upon thee and upon thy son and daughter and those with thee. Verily, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.

BH04081: This is a Tablet from Us to the one…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Glorious

This is a Tablet from Us to the one who emigrated until he attained the presence of the Throne and won the meeting with his Lord, the Mighty, the All-Wise—O Joseph who has attained the Most Holy, Most Glorious Presence. He heard God’s call with his own ear and witnessed the manifestations of the All-Merciful with his own eye, when he stood before the Countenance with evident humility. Blessed art thou, O Joseph, for having found the fragrance of thy Lord’s garment, the Most Exalted, the Most Great. Thou art the one who entered the Most Great Scene by God’s leave, the Possessor of Destiny, and departed from it by His command, the Mighty, the Wondrous.

We bear witness that thou didst endure hardships to attain thy Lord’s presence and didst turn toward the Countenance when most of the servants were prevented from it through what the hands of the oppressors had wrought. God will soon reveal the recompense of thy deed if thou preservest it through piety. Verily thy Lord is the Forgiving, the Merciful.

Be a sign of sanctification among My servants—thus hast thou been commanded by One mighty and powerful. Convey My glorification to My loved ones in every city who have drawn nigh unto the Noble Scene. Say: O My loved ones, be united in the Cause. Beware lest ye believe those who claim what God hath not permitted them. By My life, with this Revelation every wise matter hath been concluded. Those who follow every crier are among the heedless.

Illumine faces with thy Lord’s praise, then hearts with My mighty remembrance. Blessed is he who hath cast away what he hath and taken what he hath been commanded by One wise and knowing. Those who follow their passions are immersed in doubts—they are indeed among the veiled ones. Be steadfast in the love of thy Lord, then give the people glad tidings of this resplendent, manifest, shining Light.

The glory be upon thee and upon thy sight and hearing, for what thou hast seen and heard in this Station round which circle the angels of the near ones. And praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH03986: O Supreme Pen! Give unto the people…

O Supreme Pen! Give unto the people of the Bayan to drink from the living waters of divine explanation. Exalted is the All-Merciful Who hath spoken the truth between the heavens and the earth. Close not the gates of divine knowledge to those who dwell in the realm of contingent being. Be thou ever speaking in the name of thy Lord, the All-Merciful. Thus hast thou been commanded by thy Lord, the Mighty, the All-Wise.

Thy remembrance is healing for all ills and a flowing stream for those seized by the heat of temptation, and a mercy unto all the worlds. Adorn hearts with remembrance of the Beloved and bodies with praise of thy Lord, the Sovereign of all creation. Beware lest the conditions of creation hold thee back from remembrance of the Truth or the cawing of those around thee who have disbelieved in God, the Exalted, the Great, make thee sorrowful.

And remember when one said unto another: “Hast thou seen the Kingdom?” Say: It hath been adorned with the ornament of the name of my Lord, the Most Glorious, whilst thou, O blind one, wert behind a thick veil.

O Finger of Power! Take hold of the reins of the Pen lest it move according to what hath befallen the Ancient Beauty from those who followed their desires after We had shone upon them with Our most beautiful names and revealed unto them that which all on earth were powerless to comprehend. Verily thy Lord is the All-Known, the All-Informed.

If thou findest no helper for thyself, let thy Lord suffice thee. Thus did We command thee before and in this glorious Tablet. Speak not except in remembrance of Me and turn not except unto My shining and luminous countenance. If thou desirest to stroll in the kingdom, enter the paradise of My loving-kindness, and if thou desirest to find solace in anyone, find it in My Self, which hath power over all in the heavens and earths. If thou desirest to hear melody, hearken unto the melodies of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Bountiful.

Say: O my God! Praise be unto Thee for having made me a herald from Thy presence unto all the worlds.

BH04070: Your brief letter and what was sent from you…

He is God, exalted be His glory, the Most Great, the Most Powerful

Your brief letter and what was sent from you has arrived. Praise be to God that outwardly I learned of your good health. However, “We would not exchange meeting you for anything else.” Would that you were present and saw and heard and knew, and we saw and heard and found. If only the preventing circumstances by divine decree were removed and meeting became possible. We are content with God’s good pleasure in all He has ordained.

Your pilgrimage is accepted, but your effort is not appreciated, for in such days as these, beholding the oppressed and wandering ones has incalculable reward and is in truth the robe of deeds and the crown of actions. Since this matter did not come to pass, half your deeds remain suspended. We hope that through God’s infinite bounties, without any indication, you will become detached from all created things and in all conditions remain focused on the Truth. What remains for you—by your Lord, the Lord of Names—if you would hear from Me: Take in this morning the cup of success in the name of your Lord, the Cleaver of Dawn and Sender of Winds, then drink from it and be detached from the worlds.

We beseech God to protect you from the evil of every oppressor, the deceit of every deceiver, and the craftiness of every crafty one. He is indeed the Powerful, the Mighty. A matter that was very serious was the meeting, and that, due to the exigencies of the time and people’s lack of capacity, remained delayed and postponed. We beseech God to ordain what is best for us. Convey greetings to all in the household, and peace be upon you.

BH04075: In the Name of the Patient, the All-Forgiving…

In the Name of the Patient, the All-Forgiving, the Mighty, the Generous! This is an epistle from Baha to one of His handmaidens who was saddened by the calamities that befell her in this world, that joy might possess her after sorrow.

O My handmaiden! Hearken unto My call from the precincts of My prison, and know that the tribulations were all created for My Self. Thus was it ordained in the heaven of My decree and the kingdom of My determination. Thy Lord is, verily, powerful over whatsoever He willeth. Were I to recount unto thee that which hath befallen Me in the path of God, the Lord of all names, thou wouldst lament throughout thy days and weep for the Wronged One at eventide and at dawn.

We were created for the Cause of God and His service. He hath ordained for Us naught save that which is better than whatsoever hath been created in earth and heaven. Verily, he who hath ascended is in the Most Exalted Horizon, thy Lord, the Mighty, the All-Knowing, doth testify to this.

He is the Helper of him who hath no helper, and the Companion of him who hath no companion. He is, verily, the Lord of all mankind. If thou seekest a helper, here am I, thy helper, and if thou desirest a companion, here am I, thy companion.

Rejoice thou in this Tablet from whose horizon hath shone forth the sun of favors. Blessed art thou for having turned unto the Countenance when most men have turned away therefrom. Grieve thou not save in My grief, and rejoice not save in My joy. This is better for thee than all the treasures of creation.

Trust thou in God under all conditions. He is, verily, with thee at all times. By My life! Thy Lord sufficeth thee, and he who hath ascended is in joy and fragrance. Verily, he who hath quaffed the choice wine of his Lord’s love, death shall not overtake him. Blessed are they who are endued with insight.

Thus have We sent down from the heaven of bounty that which shall gladden thy heart. Thy Lord is, verily, the Mighty, the All-Forgiving. Magnify thou My Name amongst those who are round about thee, from the Revealer of verses.

BH04078: In the Name of Him Who was before contingent…

In the Name of Him Who was before contingent things! This is an epistle from Us to him who hath believed in God on a day wherein the Herald hath called out from the precincts of the Kingdom: “Behold Me, O ye who are endued with insight! The lights of the Countenance have shone forth from the horizon of the Command and have illumined all regions. Every atom proclaimeth: ʿThe Self-Subsisting is come, and sovereignty belongeth unto God, the All-Powerful, the Self-Subsisting, the All-Compelling, the Unconstrained.’

The Kingdom hath been adorned with My Name, and the Realm of Might with My remembrance. Blessed is he who hath rent asunder the veils. Rend ye asunder the veils of idle fancies with the fingers of certitude, then shatter the idols of vain imaginings through the power of My Name, the All-Compelling over all creation. This is a Day wherein the heaven hath been rolled up and the mountains have been scattered. Blessed is the soul that hath attained, and the heart that hath turned unto the Qiblih of all horizons.

O thou who hast turned! Hearken unto the call from the Divine Lote-Tree: ʿVerily, there is none other God but Me, the All-Powerful, the Almighty, the All-Compelling.’ Be thou steadfast in the Cause, then make mention of thy Lord amongst the servants. Say: Vain imaginings have been effaced and the light of certitude hath shone forth from the horizon of the Divine Will with sovereignty and power. Blessed is the thirsty one who hath turned unto the Most Great Ocean, and the seeker who hath set his face toward the Salsabil of divine knowledge.

Beware lest the world prevent thee from the remembrance of thy Lord, the All-Glorious. Draw nigh unto God through the power of remembrance, for this is My remembrance—thus hath the matter been ordained in the Scriptures and Tablets. Those who have turned away, these wander in the wilderness of vain hopes. Can one who is laden with hopes ever attain unto God, the Lord of the end? Nay, by thy Lord, the Mighty, the Most Exalted!

Say: O my Lord! I have cast away what was with me, seeking Thy countenance. I beseech Thee to assist me in Thy remembrance in all conditions. Verily, Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Powerful, the All-Bountiful. And praise be unto Thee, O Thou in Whose hand is the Kingdom of earth and heaven.

BH04276: A Book have We sent down in truth…

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

A Book have We sent down in truth, and have dispatched it unto him who hath been guided by the face of guidance and hath been of them that turned toward Us, that he may rejoice in the remembrance of his Lord–He Whom sorrows have encompassed on the part of all created things, and Who hath been in the hands of the unjust. Verily, they that make mention of My tribulations and of that which hath befallen My Person are of those whose names are recorded in a guarded Tablet; but they that have cast the remembrance of God behind their backs and busied themselves with the remembrance of their own selves and with what they possess—these are of the heedless. Ere long shall they behold themselves in the nethermost depths of hell.

Say: O people! rend asunder the veils of glory, that ye may behold the Dayspring of beauty which hath shone forth from this manifest horizon. Let not vain allusions withhold you from Him Who revealeth the verses, nor symbols keep you back from this Most Great Announcement. Turn ye, with radiant hearts, unto the Crimson Tree, which at all times proclaimeth: There is none other God but Me, the Mighty, the Generous. Say: The Generous One calleth you unto that which befitteth this Name, yet ye are of them that slumber. Arise from the couches of idle desire, and turn your faces toward the Most Exalted Horizon. This is better for you, could ye but judge with fairness.

Will what ye possess avail you? Nay, by the life of the Beloved! Will what ye have come to know suffice you? Nay, by this Name that ruleth over all worlds! Thus hath the Tongue of Truth spoken from the presence of One Omnipotent, All-Powerful. Seize ye the grace of God and His mercy. Verily He hath appeared with a bounty the like of which no discerning eye of any true knower hath ever beheld.

Do thou, then, give thanks unto thy Lord, in that the face of the Wronged One hath been turned toward thee from this far-off station. Then read what hath been sent unto thee amid the loftiness of the sincere, and say: Praise be to God, the Lord of all worlds.

BH04210: O Mulla ʿAbdu’l-Husayn, the Most Ancient and Most Great!…

O Mulla ʿAbdu’l-Husayn, the Most Ancient and Most Great! A mention from Us to one who hath remembered his Lord, that the call of his Lord may attract him to a station ordained in the Tablets. The Face hath shone forth from the horizon of thy Lord’s will, and the Nightingale of Eternity hath warbled in the Kingdom of Creation, and the Lamp hath been lit. All things have spoken in praise of thy Lord, while they that are heedless are numbered among the dead. This is a Day wherein the Path hath been laid, and the Balance set up, and the Command belongeth unto God, the Mighty, the Bestower.

Know thou then that thy letter hath come before the Face, and there hath been revealed for thee that which hath illumined the horizons. Blessed is the tongue that hath spoken in remembrance of the All-Merciful, and the heart that hath turned, and the face that hath directed itself toward the Mighty, the All-Bountiful. Arise to serve God and remember Him with such steadfastness as shall make feet to stand firm.

Say: Gather ye together around the Law which We have ordained in truth, that the backs of those who have disbelieved in God, the Lord of the Day of Judgment, may be broken. Seize ye these days and then gather together around that which God, the Lord of all mankind, hath willed.

O servant! Do thou aid thy Lord through utterance in such wise that the fragrance of the Garment may be wafted among all contingent beings. God willing, mayest thou ever speak in praise of the Truth and strive for the unity of hearts. It is most evident that discord causeth separation, while unity and harmony give rise to the manifestation of power and might.

Gird up thy loins to serve, and guide the people to the Most Great Name, detached from all else. This is the binding decree that hath shone forth from the horizon of the Pen of the Ancient of Days. Hold fast unto it, detached from the worlds. Verily, the glory be upon thee and upon those who have believed in God, the Single, the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

BH04168: O handmaid of God! Steadfastness in the Cause…

In the Name of God, the Peerless

O handmaid of God! Steadfastness in the Cause is mentioned in the Tablets and set forth by the Pen of the Ancient of Days. Render thanks to the Beloved of the world that thou hast set thy heart on Him and art uttering His praise. Many a man hath in this day been deprived of making mention of the All-Sufficing Lord and of recognizing His truth; and many a woman hath fixed her gaze upon the Horizon of the Most High, and hath adorned herself with the garb of the love of the Desire of the world. This is God’s grace which He bestoweth upon whomsoever He pleaseth.

By the Day-Star of ancient mysteries! The sweet-scented fragrance of every breath breathed in the love of God is wafted in the court of the presence of the Lord of Revelation. The reward of no good deed is or ever will be lost. Blessed art thou, doubly blessed art thou! Thou art reckoned amongst those handmaidens whose love for their kin hath not prevented them from attaining the shores of the Sea of Grace and Mercy. God willing, thou shalt rest eternally neath the shade of the favours of the All-Merciful and shalt be assured of His bounties. Engage in the praise of the True One and rejoice in His loving-kindness.

The world passeth away, and that which is everlasting is the love of God. God willing, thou shalt circumambulate the True One in every world of His worlds and shalt be free from all else save Him. Blessed is thy son who hath believed in God, the Mighty, the Glorious, the Wise.

Magnify, on My behalf, his countenance. Verily We make mention of him in truth. Thy Lord, assuredly, is the All-Forgiving, the Most Generous.

It behoveth him to remain steadfast in such wise that neither the vain imaginings of them that have disbelieved, nor the words of the idolaters, may shake him. They who have wholly severed themselves in His path–these are of the companions of certitude; upon them shall the denizens of Ridvan invoke blessings. Verily thy Lord is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

BH04264: Lo, the Book walks in human form and calls…

He is the Most Mighty, the Most Ancient

Lo, the Book walks in human form and calls the people unto Him Who is the Mighty, the Loving. Verily the Ocean hath appeared in human form and proclaimeth “The Kingdom is God’s, the Almighty, the Self-Subsisting.” Lo, the Tree crieth out “He Who is the Lord of Destiny hath appeared,” yet most of the people hear not. The Pen exclaimeth with loudest voice “The Lord of Eternity and Creator of Nations hath come,” yet most of the people perceive not. Those who sleep this day are accounted as dead—to this beareth witness the Lord of the invisible and visible realms. And they who have heard the Call—these are of the people of Baha, preserved in a guarded Tablet. Blessed is he who hath heard and remained steadfast, and woe betide him who hath followed every rejected idolator.

Say: O people, follow not your selfish desires. Follow rather what ye are commanded in the Tablet—this is better for you, did ye but know. Commit not what is forbidden you in the Book, and abandon not what ye are commanded in the revealed Tablet. Say: Be not like those who call upon the All-Merciful with their tongues while following Satan in their deeds—these are indeed the lost. We have commanded none save what is better for him than all that existeth in the invisible and visible realms. Hold fast to the Most Great Cord—verily it hath appeared with truth through a manifest sovereignty. It is God’s trust among you and His sovereignty within you, would that ye might understand.

O servant! Be not disturbed by those who are moved by the winds of self and passion. Cling to the hem of thy Lord’s loving-kindness, the Mighty, the All-Forgiving. Thus have We sent down the verses and dispatched them unto thee that thou mayest read them and give thanks unto thy Lord, the Lord of what was and what shall be.

BH04252: All things have turned unto God, the Fashioner…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Inaccessible, the Most Great, the Most Ancient

All things have turned unto God, the Fashioner of Names, yet most people remain far removed. The vain desires of those whom they have taken as lords besides God have held them back—these are they that have perished. The Tongue of Grandeur calls them, yet they have cast it behind their backs and turned to every remote dumb one.

Say: Ye were created for this Call. By God! Were ye to turn with illumined hearts unto God, the Lord of Names, there would flow from them the Euphrates of wisdom and utterance in this Manifest Announcement. Say: Is there any doubt concerning it, or concerning that which ye possess, if ye be fair and not of the wrongdoers? Every proof hath bowed before My Cause and every evidence hath testified to this manifest, impregnable Evidence. Fear God and deprive not yourselves of that for which ye were created. Thus doth the Most Exalted Pen counsel you as a token of His grace, if ye be of them that know.

Nothing can profit Him nor can any matter harm Him. God hath sanctified Him from all that ye possess—to this testifieth every knowing, perceiving one. Beware lest ye follow them who have disbelieved in God and His signs, and turned away from Him unto Whom have turned the Concourse on High, then the Prophets and Messengers. Set your faces toward the Most Distant Station—verily it is the Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing, if ye be of the assured ones.

Thus have We imparted unto you the Word of Truth. Whoso turneth toward it is of the people of Baha, and whoso turneth away is of the companions of the Fire. Blessed is the eye that turneth and the heart that inclineth unto God, the Almighty, the All-Wise. Thus doth God single out whom He pleaseth from among His servants and sendeth down upon whomsoever He willeth that whereby His mention shall be established in creation. He, verily, is the Almighty, the Powerful.

BH04253: Thy letter hath come before the Throne. We found…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Ancient, the Most Great

Thy letter hath come before the Throne. We found it sanctified from the mention of strangers and purified from the allusions of the heedless. Blessed art thou for having attained unto the Most Great Bounty and for not being affected by the words of the ungodly, and for not being prevented by kinship from the Lord of Oneness, and for not being kept remote by the nearness of the deniers.

By God! This is a Day wherein no ties of kinship exist between anyone save those who have held fast to the cord of the kinship of their Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Grieve not over what hath befallen thee. Be thou among the thankful in all conditions. Verily, He is with thee, by the Lord of all worlds. His kinship sufficeth thee. Hold thou fast unto it and say:

“Praise be unto Thee, O Beloved of them that have recognized Thee!”

O Leaf! Thy letter came before the Presence of Oneness and was mentioned before Us. Praise be to God that thou hast attained to this supreme bounty and been honored with this greatest nobility, and that outward kinship did not prevent thee from the Beauty of Oneness. I swear by the Ancient Beauty that this honor alone sufficeth thee. Be confident in the grace of God. Verily He hath related thee to Himself despite the ungodly. Thou art at all times mentioned before the Throne and the rain of merciful bounty hath been and will continue to be showered upon thee. We verily raise thee up in truth. Thy Lord is, verily, powerful over all things.

God willing, sublime Tablets will hereafter be revealed and sent. Praise be to God that thou hast attained unto His mention and art honored and distinguished by His kinship, and with His kinship the kinship of anyone in the worlds is not befitting. Say: “Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.” Verily, the Glory be upon thee and upon thy progeny from one Who is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

BH04158: O Nabil-i-Qabl-i-Karim! Hearken unto the voice of the Most…

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

O Nabil-i-Qabl-i-Karim! Hearken unto the voice of the Most Sublime Pen from the direction of thy Lord, the Most Great. Verily, there is none other God but Him, the Mighty, the All-Wise. He speaketh at all times, yet those who are veiled hear not His Word. We testify this day that they are numbered among the dead. Thus doth the All-Merciful bear witness against them. He, verily, knoweth all things. Soon shall they behold the recompense of their deeds. Verily, thy Lord repayeth the recompense of all worlds.

Make mention of God amongst His servants, that perchance through thy remembrance he that slumbereth may be awakened and turn unto the Dayspring of the Cause of his Lord, the Most High, the Most Great. Grieve not for that which hath befallen thee. We have sacrificed in the prison one of the Branches. Verily, thy Lord ordaineth as He pleaseth. Grief becometh those who remain in this world, whereas he who hath ascended is in a glorious station.

Grieve not for thy father. He is in the most sublime Companion, and glorieth in what he hath received of the love of this Beauty, the Radiant, the Luminous. By My life! In that station he payeth no heed to those on earth, having been seized with the intoxication of the wine of thy Lord’s mercy, the Mighty, the Gracious. The Tongue of Grandeur therefore addresseth him as He addressed him before. Verily, thy Lord is the Almighty, the All-Powerful.

Upon thee, O thou who hast turned to God, be My mercy, My remembrance, and My praise. I bear witness that thou didst believe on a Day wherein hearts were troubled and the pillars of the mystics did quake. Rejoice in what We have ordained for him and for thy brother from Our presence in that glorious and exalted station. The glory be upon thee and upon those who are with thee and upon those who have turned unto God, the Mighty, the All-Praised.

BH04329: O family of Ibrahim! Hearken to the call…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Great

O family of Ibrahim! Hearken to the call of your Lord, the All-Bountiful, in this mighty prison. God—there is no God but Him, the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful. Be thankful that the Ancient Beauty makes mention of you, having found from you the fragrance of the love of God, the Almighty, the All-Powerful. Grieve not over anything, but trust in Him in all matters. Verily, He loves those who put their trust in Him.

Blessed are you for having given protection to him who sought your shelter, and for being among the beneficent ones. We bear witness that he is among those who fulfilled the Covenant of the All-Merciful and was among those who remember. Your Lord sees you in your condition and ordains for you what is best in His sight. He is, in truth, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

Let not the might of those who disbelieved disturb you, nor the intimations of the ungodly who, when the Truth came, denied the Lord of the worlds. Arise and be steadfast in the love of God in such wise that the whisperings of the deniers will not cause you to slip. Whoso is steadfast in His Cause is among the most exalted of creation—thus hath it been sent down in a preserved Tablet. How many a servant claimed belief, yet when the test came denied the All-Merciful and joined with the ungodly. Blessed are you for having turned to the Countenance after every deceitful sinner turned away. Hold fast to the cord of God and associate with His loved ones, then turn away from those who turn away.

Blessed are you and your mother who believed in God, the Single, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. O my handmaiden! Rejoice that your name hath been mentioned by the Prisoner and this wondrous Tablet hath been revealed for you. May glory be upon you and upon him who ascended unto God. He is assuredly among those who entered the Most High Paradise in the name of his Lord, the Most Glorious, and drank the Kawthar of immortality through this wise remembrance.

BH04291: The Most Holy, Most Great, Most Glorious! This…

The Most Holy, Most Great, Most Glorious! This is a remembrance from Us to him who turned toward the Qiblih of the lovers but was prevented by the idolaters from attaining the presence of the Throne. Thereby was he consumed by the fire of separation.

Say: O people! He hath come from the heaven of eternity with His Most Great Name to draw you nigh unto God, the Lord of the Day of Meeting, yet ye denied Him after He came with proof and testimony. I know not by what cord ye hold fast, nor to what hem ye cling, O company of the wicked! Do ye imagine for yourselves any place of refuge? Nay, by the Luminary of the horizons! None hath any protector this Day save those who have turned to the Dayspring of Revelation and detached themselves from every idolatrous infidel. Thus doth the Pen of Revelation make mention of thee, from thy Lord, the Mighty, the Unconstrained.

Grieve not that thou wert prevented from attaining His presence. God hath ordained for thee the reward of those who attained the presence of the Throne. He, verily, is the Ruler over whatsoever He willeth. We bear witness for thee of the reward of those who attained His presence, heard His call, and beheld His countenance. Rejoice in what God hath testified for thee in this Tablet, from which the faces of the righteous have been illumined.

Thou didst enter the City through love of thy Lord, and departed through what the hands of the infidels who denied God, the Lord of the Day of Reckoning, had wrought. Make mention of God amongst His servants—this is the most excellent of all deeds before the Self-Sufficient, the Most Exalted. Mention of you and what befell you hath been sent down in various Tablets from thy Lord, the Revealer of verses. Be thou assured through the grace of thy Lord.

Say: Praise be unto Thee, O Thou through Whom the horizon of Revelation was illumined and the earth and heavens were made to shine! Thus have We addressed thee and revealed for thee verses from this Pen at which all other pens were thunderstruck.

BH04176: O My handmaiden and daughter of My servant! Hear…

He is the Eternal that perisheth not

O My handmaiden and daughter of My servant! Hear with the ear of thy soul the call of the All-Merciful from the precincts of the Prison, and stand firm with all thy being in His love. Praise be to the Beloved of the worlds that thou hast taken and drunk the Most Pure Wine from the hand of the Most Luminous Cup-bearer at the Most Great Horizon. This hath been and shall ever be among the special favors of God. Know thou the value of this bounty and be ever mindful of it at all times, and be gladdened by His love.

Convey greetings from God to all the handmaidens of God. Say: Take hold of the hem of divine mercy with hands of detachment, and from His tavern of All-Merciful grace, take and give to drink from the goblets of salvation.

Praise be to God! The Most Great Ocean is surging, the rain of generosity is pouring down, the Sun of grace is shining, and the Lamp of oneness is alight. By My life! Were anyone to observe with the eye of truth, they would witness that by this light all who are in the heavens and earth have been illumined. The mention of Truth hath been and shall ever be the quickener of hearts.

Arise ye in remembrance of the Friend and with complete detachment speak forth His praise. Ye are the leaves of the Tree of Mercy. Beseech ye God that ye may remain firm in His love and hold fast unto the Tree from which ye have sprung forth, that the winds of trials and the tempests of tests may not sever those leaves from the Tree. Verily He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.

The glory be upon thee and upon thy father from the presence of One Mighty, Praiseworthy. That which thou didst send hath arrived.

BH04259: Thy letter hath attained unto the presence of thy…

In His Name, the Ever-Abiding after the passing away of all things!

Thy letter hath attained unto the presence of thy Lord, the All-Bountiful, and the Countenance of the Ancient of Days hath turned towards it, as a token of His grace. He, verily, is the All-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful. We have taken note of thy remembrance of thy Lord therein, and from it have inhaled the fragrance of thy love for Him Who is the Beloved of them that know.

Say: This is a Day wherein the very rocks cry out, “He Who is the Lord of Destiny hath appeared,” and the very clods of earth glorify their Lord in this Most Great Scene. The hills proclaim, “The All-Bestowing hath come!” and the plains cry aloud, “The appointed time hath passed, and the Lamp hath been lit for all who dwell in the heavens and on earth!” Blessed is the soul that hath turned unto Him, and blessed the eye that hath gazed with fairness upon the evidences of the mercy of its Lord, the Mighty, the All-Wise, as manifested in creation.

Blessed art thou, inasmuch as thy letter hath attained unto the Divine Throne, and thou hast been mentioned by His glorious and mighty Pen. Render thanks unto God that thy tongue hath acknowledged what the Desired One hath acknowledged, and thine ear hath heard that which was raised from this luminous and holy Land from the Ultimate Tree. There is none other God but Me, the Mighty, the Bountiful.

Place thy trust in God and remain steadfast in His Cause in such wise as befitteth the days of thy Lord, the Mighty, the All-Praised. Be thou vocal in His Name, mindful in His remembrance, and arise to aid His Cause amidst His heedless servants. God hath testified to that which thou didst testify in thy letter—this, verily, is a great bounty—and hath sent down for thee in the prison that which caused the sun of favors to shine. He, verily, is the Ancient Bestower. He loveth him that loveth Him, and remembereth him that uttereth His Name in His mighty and impregnable Kingdom. The glory of God rest upon thee and upon him that hath turned towards this luminous horizon.

BH04152: In the name of God, the Most Holy…

In the name of God, the Most Holy, the Most Exalted! O Sulayman! Hearken unto the call of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, from the horizon of sorrows. Verily, there is none other God but Me, the Mighty, the All-Wise.

Blessed art thou, inasmuch as thy letter hath attained Our presence, and We have inhaled from it the fragrance of thy love for thy Lord, the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful. We have sent down unto thee this Tablet, from which the sweet savors of the divine call are wafted. When thou findest them, say: Praise be unto Thee, O God of all who are in the heavens and on earth!

Beware lest the affairs of the world debar thee from turning toward the Most Glorious Horizon. Thus hast thou been commanded by One Who is the Mighty, the Ancient of Days. Be thou mindful of My Name amongst My servants and hold fast unto the cord of thy Lord’s mercy. He will protect thee through His sovereignty. He, verily, ordaineth what He pleaseth.

Convey My glory unto thy sister and give her the glad-tidings of her Lord’s remembrance, the Mighty, the All-Knowing. Then make mention, on My behalf, of thy wife who hath believed in her Lord and turned toward the Dawning-Place of Revelation, that she may rejoice in the remembrance of her Lord, the Mighty, the Bountiful. Blessed is the handmaiden who hath been mentioned by the Most Exalted Pen, and blessed is the youth who hath attained unto this mighty remembrance.

O My servants! Preserve My trust within your hearts through My Name, the One Who overshadoweth the worlds. Make mention of ʿAta’u’llah and her who is with him. Blessed are they both in that they have been remembered before the Throne. This is naught but a great favor.

Say: Blessed art thou, O Dhu’l-Faqar, inasmuch as thy name hath flowed from the Pen of the Chosen One. Hold fast unto the hem of thy Lord, the All-Forgiving, the Mighty, the Inaccessible.

Thus have We sent down unto thee the verses and made mention therein of those servants who were mentioned in thy letter, as a token of Our grace. Verily thy Lord is the One Who ordaineth what He pleaseth. There is none other God but He, the Mighty, the All-Praised.

BH04208: The Most Holy, the Most Ancient, the Most Great…

The Most Holy, the Most Ancient, the Most Great. A remembrance from Us to whoever desires to enter within the pavilion of grandeur and glory and to arrive at the City wherein the Call has been raised from the luminous Tree—God, there is no God but Him, the Mighty, the Bestower—that he may attain the presence of the Throne and hear what the Tongue of his Lord, the Self-Sufficient, the Most High, doth speak.

O My loved ones! We have loved your presence even as you love it, but between Us have intervened the veils of those who disbelieved in God, the Lord of lords. When the fire of their souls was kindled, We prevented the loved ones from turning toward this Spot from whose horizon hath shone the Sun of the Will of your Lord, the Lord of Religions.

Follow the decree of God and circle round His Cause. Thus hath it been sent down in the Book. They who have followed that which they were commanded, these are of the people of Baha in the Scriptures and Tablets. Whoso turneth toward Him with his heart, that which he desireth shall be accepted from him. He, verily, is the Mighty, the Forgiving.

Arise to promote the Cause, then make mention of it among the servants with wisdom and utterance. This is better for thee than all that hath been created in existence. Confine thy affairs to the remembrance of thy Lord and that which profiteth thee in thy days. Thus doth the Lord of all men command thee.

Be thou steadfast in such wise that thou forsakest what is with the people, turning unto thy Lord Who hath appeared unto thee from the horizon of the prison with the lights of the face of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Chosen One. Didst thou but know, thou wouldst sacrifice thy self for My Self, thy spirit for My Name, and thy being for this Grief-Stricken One Who hath been imprisoned amidst the wicked. But today what was mentioned hath been fulfilled and We have commanded all to preserve their lives. Thus hath the matter been decreed and the decree hath come from God, the One Who causeth the rivers to flow.

BH04332: O Daughter of My Sister! Your letter was presented…

In the Name of the Desire of the world

O Daughter of My Sister! Your letter was presented before My countenance and was honored by the glance of favor. Praise be to the True Beloved that thou hast been illumined by the dawning of the Sun of Oneness and sanctified from the transient conditions of contingent beings.

How many were those who claimed attachment and kindled the fire of affection, yet afterwards, without any proof, remained deprived of the Straight Path and became remote from the Glorious Lord. The greatest cause and mightiest reason was the love of the world, which prevented those souls from the Lord of Names. I swear by the Most Great Name that ere long they shall return to dust, disappointed and in loss, and should some remain for certain days, they shall find themselves regretful. The Truth has ever been and shall ever be triumphant over creation. His abasement is the glory of all glory and His Will prevails over all things.

We praise God for having protected thee from the allusions of those who disbelieved in God and aided thee to turn towards Him. Verily He is the Protector of those who turn unto Him and the Lord of those who have turned. Praise be to the Ancient King Who delivered thee from the rebellious company and guided thee to the direction of oneness. Blessed art thou, then blessed art thou!

That which hath befallen you hath befallen Us. We beseech God to assist you to be patient and steadfast and to ordain for you the good of this world and the next. Verily He is the Mighty, the Wise.

Furthermore, God willing, mighty Tablets shall be sent. Under all conditions remain steadfast in the remembrance of God and be confident in His favor. Verily the glory be upon thee and upon those with thee.

BH04294: Lawh-i-Abdu’r-Rahim

The Most Holy, the Most Exalted. This is a Book from Us to him who hath attained unto the Dawning-Place of Revelation and the Dayspring of Lights, that he may rejoice in the remembrance of God in such wise that the harm which hath befallen him shall not grieve him when he beholdeth the face of his Lord, the Mighty, the Unconstrained.

Make mention when thou didst enter the City and the hosts of the wicked seized the prison gate. We blinded their eyes and brought thee into the seat of the Throne through power and sovereignty, until thou didst attain the presence and didst hear the call of thy Lord, the Mighty, the All-Bestowing. Thine eyes were solaced by the meeting with God and His beauty, and thou didst attain unto that which most of the people of the land were debarred from, and didst drink the choice wine of utterance from the lips of the All-Merciful and the Kawthar of purity from this Revelation whereby faces became radiant and eyes were consoled.

Blessed is he who hath turned with his heart toward the Qiblih of the lovers and hath attained unto the lights of the Countenance whereby the horizons were illumined.

Thereupon did Nabil-i-Qabl-ʿAli circle round the Throne after We had admitted him into the prison. Verily thy Lord is He Who ordaineth what He willeth. We gave him leave to seclude himself in the vicinity of his Lord for a certain number of days as a token of grace from Us. Verily thy Lord is the Mighty, the Forgiving.

Make thou mention of My loved ones on My behalf, then remind them of what thou hast known and witnessed. Thus hast thou been bidden by thy Lord, the Mighty, the All-Knowing. We have named thee with Our name, the All-Merciful. Strive thou that there may be manifested through thee that which We have desired from this exalted Name.

And when thou receivest the Tablet, place it upon thy face and say: Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having admitted me into the seat of the throne of Thy grandeur and for having revealed Thyself unto me through the lights of Thy countenance. I beseech Thee by Thy Self to make me steadfast in Thy Cause and firm in Thy love. Verily Thou art the Mighty, the Powerful, the All-Compelling.

BH04191: My love for Thee hath inspired Me to remember…

He is the Most Mighty, the Most Ancient

My love for Thee hath inspired Me to remember thee, though thou hast forgotten Me. I entered into the Most Great Prison by reason of what the hands of the oppressors had wrought. Even shouldst thou forget, We shall not forget thee, as thy Lord, the Mighty, the All-Knowing, doth testify.

We have withheld the Pen outwardly lest there should descend upon thee that which would sadden thy heart. Verily thy Lord is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. We beseech God to make thee one who rendeth asunder the veils and resolveth matters in their beginning and their end, and to exalt thee to such a station that thou mayest become a standard of guidance among all creatures, that thereby thy remembrance may be established by the Supreme Pen and thy name among the worlds.

I desire to remember thee at all times and send unto thee that which will diffuse the fragrance of the divine Robe throughout all possibility, yet as We are mindful of wisdom, We have been patient and long-suffering. He, verily, is the All-Patient, the Mighty, the Great.

Be thou steadfast in the Cause and speaking forth this wise Remembrance. By God! The treasures of the heavens and earth cannot equal it. All things shall soon perish, but that which hath flowed from the Pen of Revelation shall endure. This, verily, is a certain truth.

Grieve not over anything. He protecteth whomsoever He willeth, though he be in the sea, or in the mouth of the serpent, or between the hands of the idolaters. The Cause is in His grasp. He withholdeth from whomsoever He willeth what He willeth. He, verily, is the All-Powerful, the Almighty.

We beseech Him, exalted be He, to assist thee to exalt His Cause and to ordain for thee the good of this world and of the next, even as We promised thee aforetime when thou wert with Us, which promise We fulfilled, and We have mentioned the latter in this wondrous Tablet. The glory be upon thee and upon those who have turned with their hearts towards the direction of the Beloved and who were among the sincere ones.

BH04167: The Most Holy, Most Wondrous, Most Impregnable! God willing…

The Most Holy, Most Wondrous, Most Impregnable! God willing, may you be occupied at all times with the remembrance of the All-Merciful and be protected from the evil of the followers of religions who have turned away and disbelieved.

If you wish to know about the conditions of this land, it is in upheaval as was revealed in previous Tablets. Verily your Lord is the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

The Tablet of Mallahu’l-Quds which was revealed in Iraq—if you can obtain a correct copy, study it. That which was revealed therein has come to pass. Likewise observe the end of the Tablet of “Subhana Rabbiya’l-A’la” and other Tablets revealed in Iraq and the Land of Mystery. Verily your Lord is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

The Hand of Divine Power is engaged in its own work in this land—God distinguishes between His servants. Verily He is the Mighty, the Powerful, the Compelling.

God willing, may you ever be successful and confirmed, and occupied with service to the Cause, albeit with perfect wisdom. You have always been and continue to be remembered before the Divine Presence. Give thanks unto God for having chosen you and made you one of the sincere ones.

Despite all afflictions, trials and tribulations, both hidden and manifest, this servant has not been remiss in proclaiming the Cause of the Ancient King. At all times he has arisen to do what behooveth the people of creation. Verily He is the Ruler over whatsoever He willeth.

Convey sublime greetings from the Wronged One to the friends and gladden them all with divine bounties. A wondrous Tablet was specifically revealed and sent to you. We have not forgotten you—We have mentioned you and make mention of you in truth. Verily He is your Guardian in this world and the next. Be assured and be of the thankful ones.

Say: Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH04230: The Most Holy, the Most Glorious!

The Most Holy, the Most Glorious!

Glorified art Thou, O my God! This is one of Thy handmaidens who hath turned toward the Kaaba of divine knowledge in Thy days and hath sought what lieth with Thee of the wonders of Thy favors. O Lord! Protect her within the tabernacle of Thy Cause from that which Thy good-pleasure abhorreth, then give her to drink of the Kawthar of everlasting life through the hands of Thy bounties, and ordain for her that which shall profit her in every world of Thy worlds. O Lord! I testify that Thou art the One Who hath power over whatsoever Thou willest and Who ruleth over whatsoever Thou desirest. Send down upon her from the clouds of Thy grace and the heaven of Thy generosity that which shall draw her near unto Thee in all conditions and cause her to speak of Thy remembrance and praise.

O Lord! She is among those who have turned toward the horizon wherein Thy countenance hath appeared and who have faced the Dayspring from which the sun of Thy grandeur and power hath shone forth. I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which all things have hastened to the seat of the throne of Thy grandeur and the realities of all things have spoken in praise of Thy Self, to ordain for her in Thy dominion and kingdom that which befitteth the loftiness of Thy station and the sublimity of Thy favors. Verily, Thou art the One Who hath power over whatsoever Thou pleasest. Within Thy grasp is the kingdom of names. There is no God but Thee, the Powerful, the Mighty, the Most High, the All-Forgiving, the Most Generous, the Most Great, the Most Glorious.

Glorified art Thou, O my God! I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which the Hour hath appeared and the Resurrection hath come to pass and all who are in the heavens and on earth have been seized with terror, to send down from the heaven of Thy mercy and the clouds of Thy tenderness that which shall gladden the hearts of those servants of Thine who have turned toward Thee and have aided Thy Cause. O Lord! Protect Thy male and female servants from the darts of idle fancies and vain imaginings, then give them to drink of the Salsabil of Thy knowledge through the hands of Thy grace. Verily, Thou art the Powerful, the Most High, the All-Forgiving, the Most Generous.

BH04251: We have sent a fragrance from the fragrances…

In His Name, the Self-Subsisting over all things!

We have sent a fragrance from the fragrances of the Ridvan in the form of a Tablet and dispatched it unto thee, that thine eyes and the eyes of the righteous may be gladdened thereby. Hearken unto the call of the Lord of Destiny from the direction of His Most Great Scene. Verily, there is none other God but Him, the Mighty, the Sovereign.

Say: O people! Speak not of the unseen, nor fabricate lies against God Who created all things by His command. Fear ye, O people of error! Say: O concourse of unbelievers! Were ye to reflect upon the perpetuity of the Kingdom and the dominion, ye would not claim knowledge of the unseen, for ye have turned away from Him through Whom the unseen is known and through Whom His signs have shone forth from the horizon of power. Do ye deny Him Who speaketh from His presence while claiming servitude to the unseen? By God! Ye are in naught but heedlessness and error.

The Unseen from the horizon of appearance now speaketh and saith:

“O people of the Bayan! Have ye denied the All-Merciful after that through which My wisdom was made manifest amongst the servants and through which the standards of the Cause were raised in all lands?”

O thou servant! Grieve not at what proceedeth from their mouths. Rather, remain steadfast in thy love for thy Lord and say:

“Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having made Thyself known unto me after most of the people of the lands turned away from Thee. O Lord! I am he who heard Thy call and turned toward Thy countenance. I beseech Thee by Thy Most Great Name not to drive me from Thy gate which Thou hast opened before the faces of all who are in Thy earth and Thy heaven. Make me, then, of those who have remained steadfast in Thy love and good-pleasure. Verily, Thou art powerful over what Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Most High, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.”

BH04215: The Most Great, the Most Ancient, the Most Generous…

The Most Great, the Most Ancient, the Most Generous. A remembrance from Us to him who hath attained unto the ocean of grace and drunk therefrom through this wondrous Name, and who hath inhaled the fragrances of the All-Glorious when they wafted throughout all creation, and who was of them that have prospered.

O servant! Hearken unto that which the Tongue of the All-Merciful uttereth in this station which God hath made to transcend all contingent things: Verily, there is none other God but Me, the Mighty, the Generous. Say: Through My appearance that which was hidden hath appeared, and through My call all things have spoken even as the Tongue of God, the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Knowing, hath spoken. Through My arising the Resurrection hath arisen, and through My movement all things have moved and turned toward My sanctified and luminous horizon.

Do men imagine that they can prevent this Tongue from the praise of the All-Merciful? Nay, by His Self! It speaketh that which it is bidden by One mighty and powerful. Whenever We have tasted the bitterness of tribulation in the path of God, the Lord of all names, We have found it sweeter than honey and more refreshing than the waters of Paradise. Woe unto them that wander in the wilderness of error and have cast aside the Command of God through the calumnies of their own selves—they are assuredly among the perishing ones.

Would that I were alone in the land of exile, but God hath ordained what He willeth, and He is My desire. Blessed are they that attain! We have informed the servants, when We arrived at the Most Great Prison, of that which lay hidden in the knowledge of their Lord, the Mighty, the Great. Blessed is he who hath recognized that which God hath intended in the Tablets which have been sent down in truth from the heaven of the loving providence of his Lord, the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful.

O loved ones of God! Grieve not at anything. Know ye the value of these days, then remember your Lord at morn and at eventide. This is better for you, did ye but know.

BH04219: The Most Holy, Most Glorious is the remembrance…

The Most Holy, Most Glorious is the remembrance of the servants of God that He may draw them to a station wherein the Spirit proclaimeth: “There is none other God but He, the Mighty, the All-Wise.” When thou hearest the Call, arise to offer praise betwixt earth and heaven, then summon the people to that which hath shone forth from the horizon of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Powerful.

It behooveth every soul to assist his Lord through this Most Great Name. Whoso assisteth Him in His land, He will assuredly assist him in worlds which none knoweth save the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Whoso desireth to remember his Lord, the Spirit of Truth will inspire him, and the Spirit of Baha will teach him as his Lord, the Almighty, the All-Powerful, pleaseth.

Place thy trust in Him through Whom power hath been manifested. He is with those who have turned towards the Countenance with a luminous heart. They that are heedless this Day are in grievous loss. Blessed is he whose trade hath prospered in the days of God and who hath attained unto the lights of the divine realm when the Kingdom was manifested through His Name, the Mighty, the Inaccessible.

This is a Day wherein every sick one is healed, every seeker attaineth his goal, every stationary bird taketh flight, every motionless thing is stirred into life, every stammering tongue speaketh forth, and every remote one draweth nigh. Thus hath the grace of thy Lord encompassed all, yet the people are in evident doubt.

Say: Arise ye from the couches of heedlessness through this Great Remembrance. This is the News which ye were promised in the Tablets, and this is the Beauty whereby the eyes of them that are nigh unto God have been solaced. Say: We make mention of you for the sake of God, though We be in the prison amidst the hostile factions. Should anyone look with the eye of innate vision, he would behold Me in both prisons, in the hands of both parties, and thy Lord is, of a truth, witness to what I say and All-Knowing.

Immerse thyself in the ocean of thy Lord’s grace and say: Praise be unto Thee, O Lord of all worlds!

BH04223: Glorified is He Who hath sent down the verses…

In the Name of the Most Great, the All-Glorious!

Glorified is He Who hath sent down the verses in truth. Verily they are clear evidences unto all who are in the heavens and on earth. Blessed is he who findeth from them the fragrance of the garment and followeth the command of his Lord in this Most Great, this mighty Revelation. The sweet savors of the All-Merciful have been wafted—blessed is he who hath found them and said: “Praise be unto Thee, O God of the worlds!”

This is not the day for vain imaginings. The Lord of all beings hath come with clear sovereignty. Break the idols by the name of your Lord, the All-Knowing, then take what hath been sent down unto you from His mighty, His impregnable kingdom. They who have been prevented from drawing nigh—these are in manifest remoteness. And they who have turned with their hearts unto the Beloved—the dwellers of Paradise and then the tongue of God, the King, the Most High, the All-Knowing, shall make mention of them. Blessed is he who hath cast away all else and held fast to the cord of his Lord. He is assuredly among the triumphant.

Say: O concourse of the earth! If ye deny this Cause, by what proof do ye uphold that which ye possess? Reflect, and be not of the heedless. When ye hear the call, turn with radiant faces unto the Dawning-Place of the verses of your Lord, the Most High, the All-Glorious, and say: We have turned unto Thee, O Thou Who art wronged, estranged and alone. We testify that Thou hast borne what none before Thee hath borne, and we testify that Thou hast sacrificed what Thou hadst in the path of God, the Lord of the worlds. Arise to serve thy Lord in such wise that the cawing of the deniers, who adduce proofs from their vain imaginings and await what they were promised in former times, shall not deter thee. And when the Great Bestower came riding upon the clouds, they then denied God, the Most High, the Most Great.

Rejoice in what hath been sent down unto thee in this Tablet, and inhale therefrom the fragrance of thy Lord’s loving-kindness. Say: Praise be unto Thee, O Beloved of them that know!

BH04227: In the Name of the Most Great, the Most…

In the Name of the Most Great, the Most Glorious! Glorified is He Who speaks at all times:

“There is none other God but Me, the Mighty, the Help in Peril.”

They who have turned away, these are the companions of the fire.

Say: O people of the Bayan! Fear ye the All-Merciful, and follow not your idle fancies. Follow Him through Whom the proof hath been established and the evidence made clear. Beware lest ye claim that which hath not been ordained for you. The Cause hath been completed and that which ye were promised in the scrolls and tablets hath appeared. Create not disorder in the land—verily We have adorned it with justice through this grace which hath appeared and before which necks have bowed low. Be ye helpers of Our Cause. Beware lest ye transgress what We have set forth in the Book.

We have chosen tribulations for the reformation of the world and the unity of all therein. Beware lest ye speak that which causeth discord in the Cause. Fear God, O ye who are endued with insight! Adorn yourselves with the raiment of servitude unto God, the True One, that the regions might be illumined with the lights of this dawning. Through servitude is revealed the station of creation; through it do faces turn unto the Mighty, the Bestower.

How many among the people of the Bayan, when they saw that the Cause had been exalted, laid claim to that which caused the Cause to be lost in the lands. When the breezes of tests blew, they veiled their faces in fear for themselves, and when the winds of assurance passed, they came forth and opposed God, the Lord of creation. Thus have We recounted unto thee, that thou mayest remember those who carve out idols each day and cleave unto them. They are naught but in manifest error.

Arise to serve the Cause through God’s might and power, then remind those who have broken the Covenant. Let not the affairs of the people grieve thee. Fix thy gaze upon the Truth—verily thy Lord is the Self-Sufficient, the Most High. Be thou a servant of God’s Cause among His servants. He, verily, aideth through utterance whoso helpeth Him. He is in truth the Mighty, the Help in Peril.

BH04275: In His Name, the Self-Subsisting, over all who are…

In His Name, the Self-Subsisting, over all who are in earth and heaven! This is a Book which We have sent down in truth unto him who hath turned himself unto the Most Great Sea, Who hath appeared in the temple of man. Blessed be the All-Merciful Who hath caused Him to speak amidst all created things. Verily there is none other God but He, the [All-Compelling,] Self-Subsisting, that he might be assured through his Lord’s grace and make mention of Him amongst His servants who have remained heedless of the Dayspring of the Cause when the Truth came with manifest sovereignty.

O thou who hast turned thyself! God hath created thee for the knowledge of His Self and the hearkening unto this Word whereby both the unseen and the visible have been quickened. Say: This is the water whereby God hath revived the earth after its death. Thus hath the matter been decreed in a preserved Tablet. Thou hast attained unto the knowledge of God and the hearkening of His exalted Word.

Therefore it behooveth thee to arise to serve thy Lord in such wise that no ignorant reprobate may hinder thee. Aid thy Lord through utterance—this is the root of service and its branch, yet most among the people know not. Hold thou fast unto the cord of steadfastness in such wise that neither the affairs of men nor the veils of those who have disbelieved in God, the Mighty, the Beloved, may disturb thee.

Behold those who have clung to idle fancies and imaginings and turned away from the Sun of Certitude when it shone forth from this praiseworthy horizon. They worship idols, yet perceive it not.

Blessed art thou in that thou hast attained unto God’s bounty as it was sent down from heaven, and hast drunk the choice wine of submission from the hands of thy Lord’s mercy, the Mighty, the Loving. We have found the fragrance of thy love and have sent down unto thee that which gladdeneth hearts and solaceth eyes when thou didst attain unto the lights of the Word shining from the horizon of the Tablet. Say: Praise be unto Thee, O Lord of the unseen and the visible!

BH04534: How sweet is My remembrance of him who has…

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

How sweet is My remembrance of him who has turned to the Kaaba of My Beauty and drunk the wine of reunion with Me from the hands of My bounty and attained the fragrances of My revelation in My days. He is indeed one whom the Most Exalted Pen bears witness to, and he is of the people of Baha who are established upon the Crimson Ark by leave of the Lord of Names. Thus has grace appeared from the Dayspring of Justice. He is, verily, the Mighty, the Powerful.

Whoso has detached himself in My path from all else besides Me, verily he stands before My throne and appears before My presence. Thus does God draw nigh unto him who was far off. He is the Protector of the sincere ones. How many who were near have been decreed to be remote, and how many who were far off are reckoned among those near! Nothing can prevent what He desires. He does what He wills by His sovereignty, yet most people are lost in idle fancies.

Say: Abandon vain imaginings if you would hearken to that which has been raised up from the Tree of Utterance in the days of the All-Merciful. This would be better for you, were you of the fair-minded. Say: Cast away what you have taken up of the suppositions of those who have disbelieved in God, that you may be enabled to soar in this holy and luminous atmosphere.

O thou who hast turned and art mentioned! Give thanks to thy Forgiving Lord for having sent down unto thee that which brings solace to eyes and assurance to the hearts of the mystics. We beseech God to seize those who have interposed themselves between the peoples and the lights of eternity, and to assist His Cause between the heavens and the earth. The glory rest upon thee and upon those who have soared with thee in this atmosphere which has been perfumed by the fragrance of the garment of thy Lord’s mercy, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

BH04393: In His Name, the Ruler over what was…

In His Name, the Ruler over what was and what will be! O servant! Hearken unto the Call from the Kingdom of Names from the direction of thy Lord, the Creator of heaven. Verily, there is none other God but Him, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. He hath created all things for His remembrance and praise, after the recognition of His Self, the One Who overshadoweth all worlds.

When the veil was rent asunder and the All-Bountiful appeared, every remote denier turned away from Him. Verily, He is the Balance of Truth between the heavens and the earth. By Him are all deeds weighed, and from Him doth every wise command appear. How many servants acknowledged God, yet when He was made manifest they denied Him, having followed the evil ones.

This is a Day that cannot be compared with the days that are past, as witnesseth His light, which God hath made to be among the lights of His radiant and luminous countenance. Arise to serve God and praise Him in such wise that there may appear from thee that which shall gladden the hearts of them that know. Shatter the idols by the power of thy Lord, the Master of all men, then be thou steadfast and among the firm.

Shun those from whom thou dost scent offensive odors, and draw nigh unto God, thy Lord and the Lord of all worlds. Leave the pond to its people, then turn with an illumined heart to the Ocean that encompasseth all who are in the heavens and on earth.

Give thanks unto God for having been mentioned by the Most Exalted Pen, and for the revelation unto thee of this wondrous Tablet. Preserve it, then recite it morning and evening. Say: Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having caused me to recognize the Dawning-Place of Thy Cause, then make me to be of those who have circled round Thy good-pleasure with such steadfastness as cannot be shaken by the allusions of the deniers.

BH04552: The friends of God in Mahmu’i, which hath been…

The friends of God in Mahmu’i, which hath been named before the Throne Mahmudi

He is the Most Great, the Most Luminous

This is a Tablet from Us to those who have attained unto the Dayspring of lights when the Chosen One came with the sovereignty of grandeur and power, that the call of God, the Most High, the Most Luminous, might draw them to the horizon whence the Sun of Revelation shone forth and illumined the lands.

O My loved ones! Grieve not over what hath befallen you in My path. Ere long shall ye behold yourselves in a station wherefrom the horizons will be illumined. Ye are under the wing of My grace and the dwellers of the pavilion of My knowledge. By My life! Had they who wronged you known this, they would have circled round you at eventide and at dawn. Erelong shall they curse themselves with their own tongues and say:

“Woe unto us for what we neglected in the days of God when the Bridge was set up and the Balance established!”

For each one of you hath been ordained a station which none knoweth save your Lord, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

O ʿAli! Remember when Muhammad, My Beloved, came, the divines turned away from Him while he who tended the sheep believed in Him. Verily, Abu-Dharr was tending the sheep of the people when he heard the Call and said: “Yea, O Lord of lords!” He left the sheep and turned to the Lord of mankind. How many a learned one was veiled, and how many a heedless one rent asunder the veils! Say: Grace is in the hand of God. He ordaineth whatsoever He willeth for whomsoever He pleaseth. Verily, He is the Ruler over what He willeth.

Drink ye, O My loved ones, from the Living Waters in the name of your Lord, the Most Merciful. Leave ye all created things behind you, then turn with your hearts unto God, the Fashioner of earth and heaven. Blessed are ye, inasmuch as your names have been mentioned in the Mother of Tablets.

BH04414: O Habbatu’llah! The Supreme Pen declares: Your letter was…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Great

O Habbatu’llah! The Supreme Pen declares: Your letter was presented before the Face and was adorned with the lights of the glance of the Lord of Power.

Today it behooveth thee to remain firm and steadfast in the [mighty] Cause of the All-Powerful, in such wise that the denizens of the Supreme Concourse may inhale from thee the fragrance of love for the Lord of Names. From the countenance of whosoever attaineth unto this station, the radiance of the All-Merciful is witnessed. Fix thy gaze at all times upon the horizon of the All-Merciful and be occupied with His remembrance, for His remembrance hath ever been and shall continue to be the quickener of hearts.

This is a Day wherein all must arise to aid the Cause and become detached and free from aught else but God. How excellent is the state of those souls who have quaffed the true wine from the hand of divine favor and soar in the holy atmosphere of the spirit. In this station the inward is the outward itself, and the outward the very inward.

And in one of the Tablets there hath been revealed something even beyond this station, namely:

“The inward of the inward of the inward unto whatsoever God willeth,”

appearing in the form of a chalice that it may become the bearer of the Pure Wine which in this Revelation floweth from the right hand of the Throne. Blessed is the soul that hath drunk thereof and attained thereunto and recognized its worth.

Reflect upon this utterance which hath streamed forth from the Pen of the Will of the All-Merciful, that thou mayest attain unto that which God intendeth. It behooveth thee to render thanks unto thy Lord in thy days for having revealed unto thee this Tablet from which the sincere ones inhale the fragrance of their Lord, the Mighty, the Wise.

BH04542: He hath illumined all faces with this Light…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Knowing, the Most Luminous.

He hath illumined all faces with this Light which God hath made to prevail over all lights. Say: This is a Day wherein the world hath been adorned through the effects of the Pen of the Lord of Eternity, and the breezes of forgiveness have wafted over all contingent beings. Arise from the couches of heedlessness and behold what hath shone forth from the horizon of utterance.

Say: Do ye imagine there is any peer unto Him? Nay, by the Lord of creation! Do ye fancy there is any likeness unto Him? Nay, by His Name, the All-Pervading throughout all regions! Rejoice ye in these days of God—these are days of gladness for you. Take ye the chalice in His Name, then drink in remembrance of Him, the Mighty, the Bestower.

Let not My imprisonment and abasement and banishment grieve you. By God! I am in My native land which no exile can affect, and in a might which no abasement can assail. The Tongue of the Unseen beareth witness to this from this Spot which God hath made the point of adoration for all who are in earth and heaven. Tribulation hath not hindered Me from the remembrance of God, the Lord of Names, nor have sorrows overtaken Me. I have sacrificed one of My Branches in the path of the All-Merciful. Verily, I am the Ruler over what I will, and am empowered through My sovereignty which prevaileth over the worlds.

Were ye to taste the sweetness of the Kawthar of inner meanings which We have caused to flow from the Fount of exposition, ye would be so attracted as to become severed from all that ye possess, out of love for God, the One, the Peerless, the Mighty, the Choice One.

Rejoice thou in My remembrance of thee, for through it there descendeth upon thee from the heaven of grace that which will draw thee nigh unto the Dawning-Place of inspiration. Make thou My remembrance thy companion, and the remembrance of those who have stood firm in this Cause whereby the lands have been illumined.

BH04434: Ha. Sin. Remember the mercy of your Lord…

In His Name that is powerful over all names

Ha. Sin. Remember the mercy of your Lord which has verily been sent down. He makes mention of you through His grace—indeed His grace towards you has been great. Beware lest you forget God’s favor when He has mentioned you in various Tablets. Hold fast to the handle of steadfastness in this Cause which has appeared from the horizon of dawn. Be so steadfast that neither the intimations of those who have disbelieved nor the veils of those who have been debarred from the truth shall hinder you. You have been mentioned before the Throne time and again—this is through the grace of the All-Merciful. Give thanks and say:

“Praise be unto Thee, O Thou Who hast caused me to know Thyself and made me one of those who are steadfast in the Cause.”

By My life, O Husayn, it behooveth thee to turn with radiant vision toward the Most Great Scene, detached from all that hath been mentioned in the realm of creation. Thus hath the All-Merciful spoken out of His love for thee, that thou mayest arise to serve the Cause through this Name which hath in truth encompassed all things.

Convey My greetings to thy family and say:

“Be not disturbed by what thou hast heard and hearest. Verily the Cause is mighty, mighty. Today there is no relationship between anyone except those who have held fast to this Cord which hath been known by the name of God. Put thy trust in God, then manifest such power that the handmaidens will be amazed by their love for thy Lord.”

Thus doth He Who hath loved thee for the sake of God command thee, and God is witness to what I say.

Verily the Glory be upon thee and upon thy progeny and upon those who are with you among the loved ones of thy Lord. Thus hath the matter been decreed.

BH04520: The Most Ancient, Most Great, Most Glorious Book, revealed…

The Most Ancient, Most Great, Most Glorious Book, revealed from God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting, unto him who was illumined by the lights of the Countenance when the Promised One came with manifest sovereignty, that the verses might attract him in such wise as to arise to serve his Lord and aid this Wronged One through Whom the horizon of utterance was illumined and the grace of the All-Merciful encompassed all who dwell in the unseen and visible realms.

O My loved ones! When the earth is shaken in that land, be not shaken, for verily He is with you under all conditions. He is the Mighty, the Loving. Nothing shall befall My loved ones save that which is good for them. Thy Lord, verily, is the Truth, the Knower of things unseen.

Conceal the Cause in your hearts lest every idolatrous infidel who hath denied God, the Mighty, the Beloved, become aware of it. Drink ye the Kawthar of divine knowledge in the days of your Lord, the All-Merciful, and leave those who comprehend not. We have inhaled from thee the fragrance of My love, wherefore We have revealed unto thee and unto those around thee that which shall cause the sincere ones to soar. Give thanks unto God for this bounty which hath encompassed the kingdom of earth and heaven.

Say: O my God! Praise be unto Thee for having made Thyself known unto me, for having caused me to speak forth Thy remembrance and for having adorned me with the ornament of Thy love amidst Thy creatures. I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which Thou didst open the doors of Thy mercy unto all who are in Thy heaven and on Thine earth, to ordain that I may, under all conditions, soar in the atmosphere of Thy nearness, gaze toward the direction of Thy bounty, speak forth Thy remembrance amongst Thy creatures, and circle round Thy Cause in every world of Thy worlds. Thou art, verily, powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. Thou ordainest through Thy hidden knowledge whatsoever Thou desirest for whomsoever Thou pleasest. Thou art, verily, the Powerful over what hath been and what shall be.

BH04495: The Supreme Pen makes mention of him who remembers…

He is the One Who rules over whatsoever He willeth.

The Supreme Pen makes mention of him who remembers his Ancient Lord, that he may rejoice in the remembrance of God in such wise that neither the happenings of the world nor the oppression of those who have denied God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise, may sadden him.

Then know thou that for everything there is a time appointed, and every announcement hath its hour of consummation. Thus hath it been decreed by One Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Conduct affairs at their appointed times through their proper means—thus doth the Causer of causes command thee. He is, verily, the One Who rules over all worlds.

We desire to preserve you that ye may help your Lord, the All-Merciful, throughout all possibilities. Therefore wisdom in affairs is necessary, lest a sedition arise and the hearts of those who have turned to Him be troubled. God willing, be ye in all conditions mindful of the Beloved of endless time, manifest through His Name and gazing toward His direction. Despair not of the Spirit of God and His mercy—soon shall ye behold Him. He is, verily, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

In executing certain matters, delay is necessary as the time is not propitious. The purpose today is your preservation, that through the grace of the All-Merciful ye may become the cause of guidance for the people and draw them to the horizon of oneness. If today in various cities institutions specifically known by the name of House of Justice and the like become known, there is danger for all, as the people are immature. Leave them until their backs are strengthened and they attain their maturity. Thus doth the Truthful, the Trustworthy, command thee.

Blessed art thou, O Jamal, for having arisen to serve thy Lord and recognized the Dawning-Place of Revelation when most of the servants turned away from Him. And praise be to God, the Lord of creation.

BH04400: O Mihdi! Verily, this man is moved by vain…

O Mihdi! Verily, this man is moved by vain desires. Thy Lord is, in truth, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Therefore have We commanded thee not to dwell in his house, for thy Lord is indeed the All-Knowing, the All-Encompassing. Avoid him, for he desires to sow corruption among the servants, and all that he utters is manifest falsehood. We beseech God to aid all to remain steadfast in His Cause—verily He is powerful over all things.

Should he speak again, arise to respond through the power of thy Lord, that there may appear from thee that which will give assurance that thou art upon a straight path. The man’s purpose is corruption. For some time he has sought two emblems from the Branch, but it was not permissible that either be given to him. Then he united with an outsider to sow hatred, and during this time he never made any inquiry. In any case, whatever he has said was false—his purpose being to cause fear in some for his own ends. After responding, it is necessary to avoid him.

As for what he said about Yahya’s letters, say:

“We have seen more of them than you, and even now we will give you as many as you wish. All these letters were not and are not worth a penny. And that person who told you these things was himself the first to turn away from Yahya. Now, due to the rancor hidden in his breast, he has conveyed these words to you. Soon you will understand and confirm what has been mentioned. Do not attribute this to us—speak from yourself and do not mention anyone’s name.”