Volume 051: Akka 1290 A.H. (1873–1874) (1 of 5)

BH00082: Lawh-i-’Andalib

Section 1: “Praise be to God Who, through His power…”

He is the One Who calls out in truth before the faces of all men!

Praise be to God Who, through His power, caused the Sun of Utterance to shine forth and, through His sovereignty, the Moon of Proof to appear—He Who by His command rolled up what was spread out over six days, whereupon the heavens of knowledge were raised up in less than the twinkling of an eye, and the Greatest Scene was revealed when He Who conversed on Sinai established Himself upon the throne of manifestation. The Divine Lote-Tree spoke before all faces, and thereby the call was raised from earth and heaven:

“This is a Manifestation that has caused existence, both seen and unseen, to smile, that has brought joy to all eyes and illumined all sight. The command is God’s, the One, the Mighty, the Unconstrained.”

By God! The Day has come, yet the people are in wondrous doubt. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to assist His servants to draw nigh unto the Dayspring of lights, to grant them success in returning to the gate of His grace and in making good what they have missed during the Lord of Days. And may peace and blessings, glorification and splendor rest upon the Hands of His Cause, whom neither the clamor of the people prevented from drawing near to God, the Lord of lords. They cast aside all else and turned to Him with such steadfastness as broke the backs of the wicked. Neither the opposition of the opposers nor the objections of the ungodly—who speak according to their idle fancies to turn people away from the straight path—could deter them. Say: He has come with that which draws you to the supreme horizon and brings you near to a station illumined by the lights of your Lord’s utterance, the Lord of all beings.

O Nightingale! Upon thee be My glory and My loving-kindness. Blessed art thou for having drunk the choice wine of everlasting life from the hand of bounty and for having arisen to serve the Cause with such steadfastness as has disturbed those who sit still and caused the factions to lament, save those whom God, thy Lord, the Master of the Day of Resurrection, has willed. Praise be to God that thou art at all times occupied with remembrance and praise, and art steadfast in service.

Know of a certainty that God has commanded all to proclaim His Cause and to exalt His authoritative Word among all created things. After this binding decree which hath descended from the heaven of the will of the Lord of eternity, all are obligated to obey. If they attain unto the divine commandments and act as befitteth, they shall be accepted before God. Otherwise the matter returneth unto itself and the heedless are in manifest loss.

In former Books, God hath called all servants His children, and this was due to the effulgence of the light of His mercy which encompassed all. Yet many of those children opposed Him, and every fair-minded person hath testified and doth testify to that which hath flowed from the Most Exalted Pen. What say they about Satan who, despite his lofty rank and station, was deprived of the realms of nearness and the presence of God? According to some he was the teacher of the Kingdom—yet what can be said of this station that was bestowed upon him, when in an instant he fell from the highest station in the Kingdom to the lowest realm of the material world, and was debarred and deprived of all grace? What can one say to Him Who doeth what He willeth? At one time he was worthy of grace and mercy, at another deserving of wrath and punishment.

Reflect upon the consort of the Apostle of God. That holy Being—may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for His sake—said “Speak to me, O Humayra, speak!” This exalted word which issued forth from the Dayspring of the mouth of the Lord of all beings indicateth His supreme loving-kindness and compassion. Yet now the Shi’ih sect say concerning her that which all know. What was the cause of that acceptance, and what is the reason for this rejection by the Shi’ih sect? One of the bishops of Antioch said: “Why did your Prophet accept at first and make His intimate companion one who would ultimately be rejected?” Say: Ponder, O people, then judge with fairness concerning that which the Speaker of Sinai hath uttered when seated upon the throne of Manifestation, and be not of the wrongdoers.

One of the most distinguished of the Helpers, who was named Tu’mah, after the appearance of the Day-Star of Hijaz from the horizon of Yathrib, shared all he possessed with the Emigrants. Later, despite his evident nearness, there appeared from him that which made the very essence of truth to weep. After his rejected deed became known, he joined with the Jews. The Prophet was thoughtful and perplexed, for in the early stages of the Cause such matters cause disturbance and upheaval among the servants. At that hour Gabriel descended and recited this verse:

“We have sent down unto thee the Book in truth, that thou mightest judge between men by that which God hath shown thee, and be not thou an advocate for those who betray their trust.”

In any case, let them refer to what the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Qur’an. Concerning the creation of man He saith: “Yet are they in doubt about a new creation.” This moment is different from the moments before and after. Say: Reflect, that thou mayest take fairness as thy helper.

Apart from these matters, two aspects exist in man—one directed toward God and one toward his own self. When the glance of grace beholdeth the first aspect, it mentioneth concerning him that which hath no equal in all creation. O Nightingale! Upon thee be My glory!

Say: What sayest thou about Isma’il, the son of Ja’far the Truthful? This is the same Ismail to whom the Ismailis cling and adhere. His Holiness designated him as Imam and successor, and this decree was established. Later He removed him, which caused disturbance among the companions. Baghdadrah, who was among the most distinguished companions of His Holiness, asked whether it was possible for an Imam to be removed. In response, He said there was a change of divine will. The narrator of this tradition, Kulayni, and the objector Baghdadrah are both considered reliable by scholars of biographical evaluation. Say: Observe, that you may recognize what the Supreme Pen hath spoken in this mighty and wondrous station.

Furthermore, it is clear and evident what the opposers and objectors have said in this regard. Among them were those who said:

“If he was unworthy from the beginning, why was he appointed leader of the people? And if he was worthy, why was he removed? The station of Imam is that of guiding people in the first degree, and in your belief, His Holiness possesses knowledge of the first and the last. Therefore, such a matter which is contradictory and inconsistent should not appear from him.”

In any case, these matters are mentioned in relation to the beliefs of that group, as every fair-minded one, every learned one, and every trustworthy truthful one beareth witness.

In every age and century, some among the servants raised objections. After the Battle of Uhud, when the Bedouins of the surrounding areas went to congratulate the Quraysh, Sulafah, whose husband and sons were killed in battle, said to Sufyan that if anyone killed the murderer of her husband and children, she would give him a hundred camels. These words ignited the fire of greed and avarice in Sufyan. He sent seven Bedouins from Mecca who came to the presence of the Prophet and outwardly embraced Islam, saying “O Messenger of God, a group of us have attained to faith and acknowledge the oneness of God and thy prophethood. We request that thou command some of thy companions to come with us and teach us the divine laws regarding what is lawful and unlawful.” Among others, they asked for Asim.

His Holiness chose ten from among the companions and commanded them to go among the tribes and teach the Quran and its laws. Asim and those with him set out for that region as commanded, and after their departure and arrival there occurred that which caused the greatest sorrow for the people of Yathrib. Some of the hypocrites arose in mockery, saying “Why did Muhammad’s God not inform him that this group had accepted Islam hypocritically?” And concerning what transpired, they judged His Holiness to be ignorant and lacking knowledge.RetryClaude can make mistakes. Please double-check responses.

O thou who gazest upon the Countenance! The objector hath been and ever will be. In one instance that same person hath spoken the truth, inasmuch as the deeds of this group in the early days were, we seek refuge in God, truly such that no man could bear to mention them. However, concerning this Wronged One he hath not spoken with fairness, as thou and the manifestations of justice, equity and truthfulness can testify that this Wronged One, after arrival in Iraq by permission of His Majesty the Sultan, arose with complete determination, night and day, to educate souls and purify minds and hearts. Through God’s grace and loving-kindness, exalted be His glory, We strictly forbade conflict, corruption and contention in the Book, and commanded the servants to praiseworthy deeds and pleasing conduct. For nearly forty years, in no place hath the fire of war been kindled; rather, through the living waters of divine counsels and heavenly wisdom, tranquility and peace were established to the extent possible. We hope that henceforth no trace of corruption, conflict and contention shall remain in the world. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to unite their hearts and aid them to reform the souls of men and improve the countries. Verily, He hath power over all things.

O Nightingale! Upon thee be My glory! Concerning the person mentioned, ask from God, exalted be His glory, whatsoever conduceth to the manifestation of justice and fairness. This Wronged One too asketh for him that which causeth return unto God. My God, my God! Aid Thy servants to perform such deeds as will diffuse the fragrance of Thy acceptance, and to speak such words as are adorned with the glory of Thy good-pleasure, and enable them to manifest such character as will spread abroad the sweet savors of Thy days. Then ordain for them return unto Thee and repentance before the waves of the ocean of Thy forgiveness. Verily, Thou art the Omnipotent to do what Thou willest through Thy Will that prevaileth over all who are in the heavens and on earth.

That which those souls have uttered in response hath been adorned with the crown of acceptance. Every day objections have been raised by the heedless against His Holiness and His companions, yet God hath seized them through His power, and His Will hath effaced their traces through His sovereignty, and His Purpose hath taken hold of them with the grasp of One mighty and powerful. We have not mentioned some of these objections, for such matters are beyond reckoning. Were the eyes of the servants to be cleansed from the ophthalmia of desire and their hearts purified from the fire of hatred, they would witness that which they are deprived of today. Say: Know thou that We have commanded all to teach the Cause and have revealed regarding the conditions of teachers that which would enable every discerning one to recognize the bounty of this Revelation and its glory and generosity and favors and bestowals.

It behooveth everyone who desireth to turn towards the Most Exalted Horizon to purify his outward and inward being from whatsoever hath been forbidden in the Book of God, the Lord of all worlds. And in the first step he must hold fast and act according to that which the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Furqan where He saith: “Say: ʿGod’ then leave them to plunge in their idle diversions,” and to regard all else save God as but a handful of dust. Thus hath the light of the Cause shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of God’s Will, the Mighty, the Powerful, the Bestower. And in another step he must turn wholly towards the Divine Countenance and, with the tongue of the spirit and reality, advancing towards the Most Great House, arise and say: “I have abandoned the religion of a people who believe not in God and who are disbelievers in the Hereafter.”

When a soul hath attained these two stations and these two commands, verily it hath been recorded by the Most Exalted Pen as being of the people of Baha in the Crimson Book. Blessed is the soul that hath arisen before the Divine Kaaba and acted according to that which hath been revealed in this time from the True Commander and Dayspring of Divine Revelation.

O Nightingale! Upon thee rest My Glory! The radiant conditions for teachers shine forth like the sun from the horizons of the heavens of divine Tablets. Strange that until now they have not taken notice. The command to teach hath been sent down from the heaven of the Cause for all—that is, all are commanded to it. Likewise, concerning the conditions that have been mentioned, ask God to confirm all in that which is befitting. Some of the questioners who attend gatherings seek to learn of divine laws, while others merely mock and cast doubt in hearts. Verily thy Lord is with them, hearing and seeing all, for He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. And in one instance these exalted words were revealed: “It behooveth him who desireth to teach the Cause of his Lord to adorn his head with the crown of detachment and his temple with the robe of godliness.” And in another place: “It behooveth every teacher to ignore what he and others possess, fixing his gaze upon what is with God, the Sovereign, the Self-Subsisting.” This Wronged One hath repeatedly mentioned in these instances that which no fair-minded person hath rejected.

Section 2: “By the life of God! Had a few…”

By the life of God! Had a few souls acted according to what God intended, surely the lights of the traces of the Supreme Pen would have encompassed the world. From some souls who have attributed and do attribute themselves to the Truth, there hath appeared that which hath caused the greatest terror. We have said, and Our word is the truth:

“The affliction is not My imprisonment, nor what hath befallen Me at the hands of Mine enemies, but rather from those who claim attachment to My Person yet commit that which causeth My heart and My Pen to lament, and every informed one and every discerning one to weep.”

Time and again have such verses been sent down from the heaven of divine bounty, yet ears polluted with vain tales are deprived and forbidden from hearkening to these exalted and decisive words. If they would truly hearken to but one verse of the revealed verses, they would surely return from what they possess to what God possesseth, and would testify to the grace, bounty and justice of God, exalted be His glory, towards all. Concerning all, ye must beseech justice and fairness.

Say: O my God, my God! Aid Thy servants to return unto Thee and to behold in the traces of Thy Supreme Pen with Thine eye. O Lord! Deny them not the ocean of Thy generosity and the sun of Thy bestowal, and keep them not away from Thy holy courts. O Lord! I beseech Thee by the light of Thy Cause which, at its manifestation, effaced the traces of misbelief and hypocrisy, to transform the throne of ignorance into the seat of knowledge and wisdom, and the throne of tyranny and oppression into the chair of justice and fairness. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the Glorious, the Bountiful.

In one passage this blessed verse was revealed, from which every hearing ear perceives the lamentation of this Wronged One:

“Verily, Thou wert created for My help and the service of My Cause, yet thou didst aid Mine enemies through deeds more powerful than the hosts of kings and rulers.”

In truth, today unseemly conduct from the people of God aids the enemies rather than the friends. O nightingale! We have manifested the pearls of wisdom and utterance from the treasuries of the Supreme Pen solely for those possessed of insight, that they might be drawn to the most exalted summit of justice and fairness. One must seek sight and hearing from God. That which had neither appeared before nor shall appear hereafter hath been made manifest in the world—to this beareth witness the Mother Book in the Kingdom of utterance. Blessed are they that hear, and blessed are they that attain!

Thou hast seen and knowest these people—most are occupied with the buzzing of flies, deprived and forbidden from the cooing of the doves of the Most Exalted Paradise. Consider the deniers of the Cause, who soar on wings of idle fancies in the atmosphere of vain imaginings. Until now they remain unaware that the Lord they have chosen as creator is exactly like the Shi’ih sect, occupied with the fanciful traditions of the deluded ones, heedless and veiled from the reality of the Cause. The Word hath ever been cast by God; thereafter, deeds return to their doers—“whoso doeth good works it is for his own benefit, and whoso doeth evil, it is to his own loss.” Say: O servants of God! He hath come with the word “He doeth whatsoever He willeth,” and before this word the objections of the world are as naught. He saith: “Were He to decree the earth to be heaven, or heaven to be earth, none hath the right to question His authority.” Had there been ears to hear and eyes to see, that which would raise the earth above the heavens would have been revealed. But for those lost in fancy, the clear Book needeth not such ringing tones.

Say: O ear of the world! Hear but this one word: The Primal Point—that is, the Herald, may my spirit be sacrificed for all else but Him—in answer to a question from one of the Letters of the Living, concerning Him Whom God shall make manifest, exalted be His glory and abundant be His grace, and may the spirit of all creation be sacrificed for Him, spoke these words, mighty be their remembrance:

“If thou shouldst recite but one verse from the verses of Him Whom God shall make manifest, this would be more meritorious in the sight of God than if thou shouldst inscribe the entire Bayan, for on that Day that single verse would grant thee salvation, whereas the entire Bayan would not.”

Now observe what station they have abandoned through vain imaginings and to what station they cling! Leave them to their idle fancies, leave them to their heedlessness, leave them to their vain imaginings, leave them to their idle conjectures wherein they disport themselves. There is no God but He, the Almighty, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting.

You have mentioned Akhtar, who has manifested such contention as hath no peer or likeness. Through unworthy means and vain desires he hath committed that which hath caused the reality of being to lament. You and all the friends know how that unrighteous one from Isfahan unjustly seized the property of the Afnan and other loved ones. He was so consumed by the fire of greed and passion that none save God can reckon its measure. In these days the government hath taken from him what he seized, yet until now it hath not reached its rightful owners. Let us see what will unfold hereafter and what fire greed and avarice will next ignite. In most of Our Tablets We have enjoined upon all trustworthiness, godliness, truthfulness and sincerity. Yet some have forsaken trustworthiness, chastity and truthfulness, clinging instead to treachery and calumnies in order to wrongfully devour people’s wealth. And some in this land have engaged in unseemly deeds. Purely to protect them We commanded them to depart, yet they committed what no heedless one hath ever done. Our purpose in their departure was protection and care, but it gave rise to enmity. We desired for them light and protection, while they desired for Us oppression and calumny. The cry of the oppressors is nothing but error.

In any case, opposition and objection were not confined to the one from Isfahan and his companion. Haji Muhammad Karim Khan of Kirman wrote a book of refutation every year, as did other ignorant ones known as learned. And the author of Nasikhu’t-Tawarikh wrote concerning the Bab what no atheist hath ever written. We beseech God to aid His servants to observe with justice and fairness His signs and what hath appeared from Him. Should they achieve this blessing, all would proclaim the blessed words “I have abandoned the ways of a people who have turned away from Thee and who dispute with falsehood.” Verily aid is in His hand and confirmation in His grasp. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth. But the deeds of His servants have prevented them from beholding the waves of the ocean of utterance of the One desired by all the worlds. Eyes are barred from seeing and ears from hearing. God willing, they shall hereafter attain unto that which beseemeth them.

Today deeds and character are supporters and helpers. You must adorn all with the ornament of goodly character and pure deeds, and remind them of justice and fairness. By God! The Wronged One, though in the dragon’s mouth, mentioneth them and counseleth them for the sake of God, desiring from them neither recompense nor aught else, even while seeing Himself in grave danger, for We have concealed nothing but have clearly enjoined upon all that which leadeth to their elevation and advancement.

Regarding what you mentioned about the prisoners and the charity of some—praise be to God Who enabled them to perform a deed that hath attained the glory of His good-pleasure and been adorned with the ornament of His acceptance. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to open before their faces the gates of grace and bounty, to draw them nigh unto Him, and to assist them to champion His Cause through the hosts of wisdom and utterance, of deeds and character. Verily, He hath power over all things.

O Nightingale! Dost thou see anyone who finds the sweetness of My utterance, or who dealeth justly concerning that which hath appeared from Me? And dost thou see anyone who soareth on the wings of detachment in this atmosphere? Say: O people, if ye deny this Most Great Cause, what matter is worthy of affirmation or capable of proof? Say: No obliteration can efface this proof, and this standing is sanctified above sitting or reclining—it was and is. And whatsoever hath flowed from the Most Exalted Pen shall assuredly be made manifest, and there shall remain not a single letter but the fair-minded shall behold it established upon the throne of revelation. Thy Lord knoweth and declareth, but most people know not.

Regarding what thou didst mention about the dissemination of Tablets and the spreading of the writings and the mention of the Most Great Branch—all were privileged to witness and hear this. Praise be to God Who hath confirmed thee in that which conduceth to the refinement of souls and the exaltation of God’s binding Word. The Most Great Branch hath recently turned his attention to its execution. We beseech God to confirm him in aiding His Cause, exalting His Word and elevating His servants, and to grant him success in purifying hearts and sanctifying souls. Verily, He is the Almighty, the Powerful, the All-Bestowing.

Thou didst mention the son of the late honored Mirza Aqa, upon him be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious. Praise be to God, his thoughts are adorned with the maidens of praise and glorification, bedecked with eloquence and rhetoric. As he speaketh in praise of the Desired One of the righteous, he is mentioned before the Throne and illumined with the light of acceptance. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to aid him in that which He loveth and is pleased with, and through him to open the doors of hearts through His Name, the Mighty, the Beloved.

O Nasru’llah! Thou hast been mentioned by one who hath soared in My atmosphere and clung to My cord. We have remembered thee with a remembrance through which faces have turned toward the Lord of generosity and bounty. Give thanks and say: Praise be unto Thee for having remembered me and revealed unto me that which every letter thereof proclaimeth Thy tender mercy, Thy compassion, Thy grace and Thy bestowal. O my Lord! Thou seest me attracted by Thy verses and enkindled by the fire of Thy love. I beseech Thee to make me steadfast and firm in Thy Cause whereby hearts and minds have been shaken. There is none other God but Thee, the Single, the One, the Mighty, the Loving.

O Nasru’llah! Upon thee be the Glory of God and His tender mercy. Remember on My behalf thy mother. She hath attained unto My mention aforetime. Blessed is she. We testify that she hath attained unto a gem beyond compare and unto a pearl which God hath sanctified above all likeness and similitude, and these are My love, the mighty, the wondrous. Remember her on My behalf and give her the glad-tidings of My tender mercy and illumine her with the lights of the Day-Star of My knowledge. Verily thy Lord is the Compassionate, the Generous.

O Nightingale! The souls mentioned in thy letter have attained unto remembrance. Praise be to God Who hath aided them to turn towards Him on a day wherein the fire of rejection was ablaze, and Who enabled them to hearken when most of mankind were debarred therefrom. Blessed are the hearts illumined by the light of recognition, and the faces that have turned towards the effulgent countenance of their Lord, the All-Merciful, and the eyes that have been solaced by the light of certitude, and the ears that have been privileged to hear the Call as it was raised betwixt earth and heaven. We beseech God to aid them to stand firm with supreme steadfastness in His Cause, the Most Mighty, the Most Exalted, the Most High, in such wise that neither the hosts of the earth and their ranks shall deter them, nor shall the clamor of the ignorant and their leaders frighten them. May He ordain for them a light that shall go before their faces in all His worlds. Verily, He is the Mighty, the Generous, the Forgiving, the Merciful.

We have not mentioned their names, and this is a wisdom from Us, and I am the Ordainer, the All-Wise. The radiant light from the horizon of the heaven of My mercy be upon them and upon those women who have believed and turned unto the All-Informed, whether they be men or women who are sincere, devout, mindful, or turned towards God. All are remembered in the presence of the Wronged One, and that honored one should gladden them with these supreme tidings.

As for him who hath mentioned the matter of the veil and the revelation of a Tablet concerning it, most are content merely to hear and cling to that which their souls and desires dictate. O Nightingale! Had they been observed to be sanctified from transgression and iniquity and adorned with righteousness and the fear of God, all would have been illumined by the manifestations of the lights of certitude, assurance and wealth. They have taken what is with the people and cast behind their backs what is with God as a recompense for their deeds.

Section 3: “Thou art witness and God doth testify…”

Thou art witness and God doth testify that this Wronged One, after the rising of the Orb of the horizons from the horizon of Iraq, summoned the people of Iran to the horizon of the favor of the Lord of all worlds through two true messengers and spiritual heralds by night and by day. These two heralds were the pen and the inkwell. At all times the Kawthar of counsel flowed from the pen and the Salsabil of utterance appeared before all faces by His will. There was no purpose save the reformation of the world and the education of its peoples. In the early days of the Cause, deeds were observed to be so reprehensible that every person of insight would take refuge in God, and every hearing ear would, by night and by day, implore deliverance with humility and supplication, until through grace and favor, repugnant deeds were gradually transformed into goodly deeds and unacceptable conduct into acceptable behavior. Ask thou God to aid the people to recognize the purpose of this Wronged One, for should they become aware, they would themselves acknowledge that which they now deny. We ask for them success in all conditions. Verily, He is the Self-Sufficient, the Most High.

They made mention of the departed and exalted Hasan Khan, who ascended to the Most Glorious Horizon and Supreme Companion while in the prison of the opposers and deniers. Blessed is he and joy be unto him! By My life, he hath attained to that which none before him attained. The near ones now behold him in an exalted station. We were with him when he desired to attain the presence and meet Us, and We mentioned him in such wise that the ocean of forgiveness surged in all existence and the fragrance of God’s loving-kindness, the Lord of all worlds, was diffused. We revealed for him that which brought solace to the eyes of the mystics and We sent it to the Land of Ta. Verily, the mercy of thy Lord hath encompassed all existence, both seen and unseen. Woe unto those who recognized not his station and committed that which caused every fair-minded soul to lament and the tears of the lovers to flow.

Will the oppressors endure, or will they find for themselves, at the time of reckoning, any escape or refuge? Nay, by My utterance, through which the realities of the Supreme Concourse, the Most Glorious Paradise, and the Highest Heaven were attracted! Say: My God, my God! Unite the hearts of Thy servants and cause them to know what Thou hast desired for them through Thy bounty. Were they to know, they would surely lament their own selves and weep for what hath escaped them in Thy days. O Lord! Leave them not to themselves, and withhold them not from drawing nigh unto the sun of Thy knowledge. Thou art, verily, powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. Then make the reward of those who transported him a treasure with Thee. Verily, Thou art the All-Bountiful, the Trustworthy, the Guardian, the Helper, the Sustainer.

Mention of other souls who were with him hath been revealed and sent down in Tablets from the Divine Pen. Happy are they!

They made mention of the wife of Qasim Khan, upon her be the Glory of God. When We desired to make mention of her, We heard the call from the direction of grandeur and majesty of her arrival in the highest Paradise and her settlement in a chamber above whose door was inscribed: “This chamber hath been built for the people of Baha.” We beseech God to send down upon her at all times that which will comfort her eyes and gladden her heart. He is, verily, the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful.

Ye made mention of the mother and two sisters. Blessed are they and joy be unto them! The Wronged One, in the Most Great Prison, desireth to make mention of them in such wise that their names shall endure throughout the kingdom of God, the Almighty, the All-Praised. Blessed art thou, O my handmaiden and my leaf, in that God hath manifested through thee one who hath arisen to serve My Cause, to make mention of Me amongst My servants, and to praise Me amidst My creation. God, blessed and exalted be He, hath enabled him to spread His signs by whose light earth and heaven were illumined and hearts and minds were enlightened. We have ordained for thee a portion of his reward in teaching the Cause and manifesting the Word with wisdom and utterance. O Nightingale! Convey My glorification unto her and give her the glad-tidings of My loving-kindness and mercy which have preceded all things, and My light whereby existence hath been illumined.

And We make mention of thy sister at this time and give her the glad-tidings of God’s loving-kindness, the Lord of the mighty throne. O My leaf! Upon thee be My glory and My mercy. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to adorn thee with the robe of recognition and illumine thee with the lights of certitude, and to ordain for thee what He hath ordained for His handmaidens who circle round the throne. He is, verily, the Hearer, the Answerer.

And We make mention of My other handmaiden. Blessed is the ear that hath heard the call “O My handmaiden” and “O My servant,” and blessed is the heart that hath turned unto God, the Lord of the Day of Judgment. Rejoice thou in My mention of thee and glorify the praise of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Great.

We make mention of My handmaidens in all regions and give them glad tidings of what hath been ordained for them from God, the Peerless, the All-Informed. Verily, she who hath attained unto acceptance is regarded by God as among the most exalted of men. Blessed are they, men and women, who have attained. Praise be to God, the Lord of all worlds.

You made mention of Ghulam-Ali. O Ghulam-Qabli-Ali! Canst thou hear My utterance with such steadfastness as to open thereby the ears of all creation? And canst thou speak with such utterance as to cause the tongues of the world to speak? Say: Nay, by thy life, except through Thy might and power. Unto God belong the treasuries of utterance. Were He to reveal but one verse therefrom, or manifest one pearl thereof, thou wouldst surely behold people intoxicated by the choice wine of God’s utterance, the Lord of all beings. Verily thy Lord is powerful over whatsoever He willeth, and He is the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous. He who arose to serve My Cause and soared in the atmosphere of My love hath made mention of thee. We have remembered thee with verses whose outer meaning is light and whose inner meaning is mercy, and within their innermost meaning is that which proclaimeth this momentous News. The glory rest upon thee and upon those whom the might of every heedless doubter hath not frightened.

O Nightingale! Those souls who have turned unto God and associated in love with thee, and who have accepted that which thou didst speak concerning this Most Great Cause, and likewise those handmaidens who have sought His good-pleasure and besought mention from the Lord of Remembrance—all have been blessed with the effulgences of the Sun of loving-kindness of the Desired One of the worlds. Today the ocean is surging, the sun is shining, and the light is radiant. Whosoever hath turned unto God and attained unto service to His loved ones is accounted among the people of Baha in the Qayyumu’l-Asma’, recorded by the Most Exalted Pen.

Convey My greetings and praise to the loved ones of that land, and likewise to the assured handmaidens who outwardly are veiled in names but inwardly are manifest and evident. In these days divine wisdom hath prevailed. Verily, He is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. With Him is the knowledge of all things in a clear Book.

You made mention of Haji Ali and likewise of his turning toward the Most Holy Court. Divine ordinances and laws are each conditional upon the requirements of wisdom. Haji Ali, upon him be My glory, must observe that which hath flowed from the Most Exalted Pen. If it accordeth with movement, let him move, and if it accordeth with stillness, let him be still. Moreover, he must first determine the means of the journey, and thereafter proceed. The sale of property is not beloved in the sight of this Wronged One, save for the payment of debts. Many souls desired to sell their property for the payment of the Huququ’llah, but We forbade them.

O Nightingale! The greatest cause of this Wronged One’s tribulations hath been the gathering of people around Him. In the prison are assembled people of every kind. Now there are nearly three hundred souls, young and old, male and female. The rest is clear and evident. Some are firm as mountains and steadfast, some are like brilliant light, and others rise at times and fall at others. God dealeth with all with supreme loving-kindness. For twenty-one years have We dwelt in prison with this company. Say: Power belongeth unto God, the Lord of the worlds. Wisdom belongeth unto God, the Goal of them that know. Mercy belongeth unto God, the Object of worship of all in the heavens and the earth. Compassion belongeth unto God, the Lord of the first and the last. Jalal had permission to come, and as for the other two, after arriving in Port Said they sought permission and were not deprived of the ocean of grace. Verily thy Lord is the Hearer, the Answerer.

In brief, these are the conditions for those who have permission to visit: first, a sound constitution and healthy body; second, the means for travel including funds and other requirements. And the condition which is the greatest of conditions is to obtain permission in the place and station. Even if all else be present, if wisdom does not require it, movement and visitation is not permitted. God says: “Pilgrimage to the House is a duty unto God for mankind,” and then He says: “for those who are able to make their way there.” We beseech God to aid all to perform that which they are commanded.

From the Dayspring of God’s Command naught appears save that which leads to the exaltation, elevation, love, fellowship and unity of His servants. He, verily, is the Commander, the All-Wise.

Regarding what thou didst mention about the eagerness of the servants and their enthusiasm, that each year a great multitude, inspired by the encouragement of the chavushes, intend to journey to the Most Exalted Horizon and the Supreme Summit—this is a cause for thanksgiving, for the penetrating influence of the Supreme Pen hath brought the servants to this station. Despite the opposition of all, it hath taken hold of the gems of existence through His absolute Will. This, notwithstanding that it hath appeared in days when ranks upon ranks, thousands upon thousands, cannons and swords were arrayed against it. Yet, detached from all else, We summoned all to that which conduceth to the upliftment of existence, the advancement of souls, the tranquility of servants and the development of countries.

This Revelation is the Revelation of the Most Great Mercy and Supreme Bounty, for it hath erased and forbidden the decree of holy war from the Book, and hath enjoined fellowship with the followers of all religions in a spirit of fragrance and joy. His honor hath witnessed what hath been revealed from the Supreme Pen in scriptures and tablets. Corruption, conflict and disputation have been forbidden. Likewise have We commanded the reading of the books of all peoples. All these matters are a great bounty for the servants, for previously they were forbidden and commanded to wage holy war. The wearing of foreign dress and the perusal of the books of other peoples were formerly forbidden, and traces of this prohibition can be found in the books. However, in this Most Great Revelation, the barrier of prohibition hath been lifted and freedom hath been granted and bestowed in its place.

God willing, may his honor be aided to conquer the cities of hearts with fragrance and joy, and be assisted in spreading the divine verses with wisdom and utterance. Verily, He will aid thee with the hosts of utterance. He, verily, is powerful over all things. We give thee glad tidings at this moment of the presence of that which was born of the maidens of thy thoughts and hath dawned from the horizon of thy sincerity, submissiveness and humility, and hath been read before all faces. We beseech God to grant thee a reward in every world of His worlds and to ordain for thee that which shall endure as long as His Kingdom shall endure. He, verily, is the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous, the Helper, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

Convey to the loved ones in every place greetings and glory from the Wronged One, and illumine them with the lights of the Luminary of utterance of the All-Merciful. Thy work of reasoning hath attained the Most Holy Court. God willing, it shall be considered in these days. We beseech God to manifest for thee in His mention and praise that which shall attract the hearts. He, verily, is the Almighty, the Mighty, the Beloved. The light that shineth from the heaven of My utterance be upon thee and upon those who hearken to thy words concerning this Most Great Announcement and this Mighty Matter.

BH00501: Lawh-i-Karim

In the Name of the One True God

O Karim! God grant that, through the bounty of the Most Generous [Karim], thou art reposing beneath the shade of the Tree of the Lord of all worlds, and that thou hast attained the gracious outpourings which have come down from the heaven of bestowal. Mention of thee hath been and will continue to be made before the Throne, and this is accounted as one of the greatest of God’s bounties.

O Karim! Gird up the loins of service, that haply, in mentioning the King of creation, weak souls may come forth with the utmost love and strength of the heart, in such wise that the world and all that lieth therein shall not keep them back from God, and all will appear with a godly character in these radiant days.

O Karim! The mystic Wine of the spirit is prepared and the celestial Cup-bearer is present, but most men are seen to be debarred and deprived. God is manifest, conspicuous as can be, and His creation are yearning with the utmost longing, yet the lovers are bereft of their Beloved, and they burn in the wilderness of separation. Hence, they require a Guide, a Counselor, a Teacher, that they may come to know the reason for their debarment and the cause of their remoteness.

Some servants are not in need of teaching. They can be seen as like unto the eye, in that the eye need not be taught to see; so too the ear with hearing. The moment the eye is opened by the aid of the Spirit, it is able to see on its own, yet at all times must it seek refuge with the Face of God, lest bleariness or some other impairment develop and become a barrier. They are those servants who have turned toward the Supreme Horizon after the call was lifted up, so steadfast that none hath the power to divert the gaze of those well-assured souls from the direction of God. At every moment have they drunk and do they drink still from the living waters of the utterance of the Merciful; they read the divine Words with intimate familiarity and eagerness. Those apart from these souls stand in need of goodly exhortations and compassionate counsels. Therefore, the loved ones of God must carry out this weighty task with wisdom and clarity. Let some teach with their words, some with their deeds and actions, and some with their characters, drawing others toward God. Virtuous deeds and spiritual conduct are themselves teachers of the Cause.

Certain people should not be sad that they are unlearned and have not acquired human knowledge. Consider the time of the Apostle [Muhammad]: Following the appearance of that Most Great Luminary, all the divines, men of letters, and sages remained deprived of that Path to the recognition of the All-Merciful, while the instant that Abu Dhar—a mere shepherd—accepted Him Who is the All-Possessing and the Most High, oceans of wisdom and utterance flowed from his heart and his tongue. Thou seest how all the learned ones humble themselves today at the very mention of his name, whereas in the early days of that Revelation, none paid him any mind. Exalted be the Ancient of Days, the Lord of grace abounding! He, verily, ordaineth as He pleaseth; He is the Almighty, the Most Powerful. It is thus that each and every loved one of God who hath truly turned to the horizon of eternity shall be bountifully given what will guide mankind aright.

Say: O My loved ones! Ye are the world’s spiritual physicians. It is incumbent upon you, through the power and might of God, to heal by the sovereign remedy of the Most Great Name the soul-sickness of the kindreds of the earth and clarify the vision of all mankind, that all may set their faces toward the shores of the Most Great Ocean in the days of the Ancient King. It behoveth ye all so to adorn your inner and outer beings that, robed in trustworthiness, girt with righteousness and arrayed in truthfulness and rectitude, ye may become a means for the exaltation of the Cause and the education of the human race.

This Revelation hath not come to enforce earthly commandments, as were recorded in the Bayan by the Pen of the Merciful, but rather to manifest the evidences of perfection in human souls—that their spirits may be lifted up to eternal stations and that which their minds can scarcely believe may brilliantly appear—till all may ultimately tread above the kingdoms of earth and heaven. By My life! Were I to rend asunder the veil in this connection, men’s souls would soar unto the Court of thy Lord, He Who causeth the dawn to break. Since, however, We have enjoined wisdom, We have kept some of these stations undisclosed, in order that the ecstasy of the Unconstrained may not seize the reins of volition, and so that all might walk amongst men with evident rectitude and lead the people aright.

It may be that certain minds might not believe in some of the aforementioned boundaries laid down in the Books of God due to an unawareness of their hidden benefits, but that which hath streamed forth from the Ancient Pen in this Most Great Revelation with regard to men’s gathering together and becoming unified—along with their morals, conduct, and occupation with that which will profit humanity—hath not been and cannot be denied by anyone, unless they are altogether senseless. Should the loved ones of God not be adorned with the ornaments of trustworthiness, truthfulness, and rectitude, the detriment thereof will redound both to those people themselves and all mankind more generally. In the first place, those people will never be trusted with the divine Word and the hidden celestial mysteries. Secondly, they shall mislead men and cause them to turn away, and beyond that will they incur the wrath of God and His fury, His chastisement and His malediction.

O Karim! Hear thou the heavenly voice from the Pen of the Spirit in the Persian tongue. By My life! It shall attract thee to such a degree that thou wilt behold naught else in the world but the effulgences of this Cause, which hath shone forth above the horizon of the bestowals of thy Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Were the whole of humanity to rend the veils that hinder them—and hearken to the shrill voice of the Supreme Pen which is lifted up, by the leave of the Possessor of Names, in this luminous Spot—they would all turn, with their very souls, to the direction of the All-Merciful. But lo, their corrupt desires have kept them back, and they are dumbfounded in this day.

O Karim! The sun of the Word of God, which hath dawned resplendently from the dayspring of Divine Will, can be perceived by every person of insight. Even as the physical sun, that Word shineth with brilliance and radiance amidst the words of all mankind. This is not a day for the Pen of the Most High to busy itself with these utterances. It behoveth every soul in this day, when he hath heard the Call coming from the Most Exalted Horizon, to cast the world behind his back; arise by the power of God, with his face turned to his Lord; and say,

“Here am I, O Best-Beloved of all who dwell in heaven and on earth!”

The Tongue of the All-Merciful hath proclaimed these blessed words in the garden of the Bayan; the utterance of that Most Great Luminary hath ever been and shall always be,

“No God is there but Me . . . O, My creatures! Me alone do ye worship.”

That which hath streamed forth in this connection from the Pen of Him Who is the Fashioner of the heavens and the Creator of every attribute hath been revealed in view of the all-pervading mercy that hath encompassed all created things, that haply the people of the earth may not remain deprived of the living waters that are flowing from the right hand of the clemency of the Most Compassionate. He is, in truth, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Merciful, though He Himself can well dispense with all creatures.

Some of the people of the Qur’an and the Bayan who have halted on the steep path of hesitation, or that of doubt and other such paths, have done so as a result of the idle fancies that prevailed among men in the past. Say: O My servants! This is the day in which ye must rend all the veils asunder and do away with every vain imagining; the day for ye to turn, in complete acceptance and with all your hearts, toward the horizon of Beauty, inasmuch as the footpath hath been blocked by reason of what the hands of the oppressors have wrought; and the day wherein ye are not to gaze on any cause but the One that hath appeared from this Revelation, for many are the words current among men which are illusory and unprofitable. It is those very illusions that have debarred some of the people of the Bayan from the Daystar of the All-Merciful that hath risen above the world’s horizon, and those souls are seen to be utterly bereft of insight and reason.

Say: “O ye who wander lost in the valley of error! Which one of the idle fancies purported by you to be a verity hath proved genuine, that from it you have inhaled the fragrance of truth? Nay, by Myself, the True One! They have all reverted to your so-called ‘truths,’ vainly imagined as they are, while the Cause hath persisted for God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. For a thousand years or more, ye had given credence to an imaginary person in a fictitious city, along with a number of women and children, and to those illusions did ye devotedly cling.”

Reflect on that whereunto they held fast in those thousand years. By Him Who hath caused Me to speak in truth! My Pen is ashamed to mention those veiled and deluded souls. Regarding what was prevalent among that people as it concerned the mention of that Most Great Luminary, which is to say the Qa’im, not a single letter thereof hath had any truth to it, nor hath it been worthy of mention in the estimation of God, as was made clear and evident unto all after the advent of this Revelation.

This was but one of the illusions of those people. After the Hand of Divine Power rent the veil, some became informed, and in that same way must they regard other illusions which exist among men and have yet to be dispelled. Perchance God may tear them apart for whomsoever He willeth. With a purged breast and radiant heart, one must turn toward the Cause sanctified from all allusions and words. Say: This is not a day for doubt and suspicion; burn them with the fire of the Word of your Lord, the Almighty, the Most Bountiful.

O My loved ones! I call on you to look with the eye of fairness. This Wronged One is caught in the maw of the serpent, and at all times such calamities befall Him as are known only to God. He hath offered up His life that haply ye might rise above the horizon of detachment, and that through you the kingdoms of creation and invention may be thoroughly illumined. Know ye the value of your own selves, and abstain from things that will harm the Cause in the eyes of men. Say: O would that ye knew the waves of this Sea and what lieth concealed therein from the pearls of the wisdom of your Lord, the All-Glorious, the All-Praised!

O Karim! Though the melodies of the Supreme Pen are without end, yet have We now set Ourself to a different tone.

Glorified art Thou, O Lord my God! I beseech Thee by Thy Name—through which the rain of Thy mercy hath fallen, the signs of Thy power have appeared, the sun of Thy Will hath dawned forth, and Thy mercy hath encompassed all who are in Thy heaven and on Thine earth—to clothe them that have believed with the vesture of trustworthiness and detachment. Draw them, then, unto that Dayspring from which the Orb of inaccessible glory shineth resplendent, that through them may be manifested the holiness of Thy Cause amidst Thy servants and the sanctity of Thy laws within Thy realm.

O Lord! Thou art the Rich and they are poor; lay not hold on them by reason of their negligence. Have mercy on them and pardon them, for they have endured hardships in Thy Path. Though they have neglected to observe some of Thy commandments, yet have they hastened to Thee both with their hearts and their feet. Look not upon their sins, rather do Thou behold the splendors shining from the horizons of their hearts, as well as the afflictions that have struck them on Thy Path—then aid them, in light of this, to do that whereby the banners of Thy Cause may be hoisted in Thy cities and the standards of Thy grandeur upraised in Thy lands. Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee, and in Thy grasp Thou holdest the kingdom of creation. No God is there but Thee, the Most High, the Sovereign Protector, the Exalted, the Mighty.

O Karim! Recount and recite for every soul the divine admonitions, that perchance they may carry out what God hath purposed.

Give My remembrance to whosoever is with thee, every man and woman alike. Say: Praised be Thou, O My Lord, the All-Glorious, the Ever-Forgiving!

BH00513: Suriy-i-Dhabih (= Lawh-i-Dhabih)

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

My spirit and soul be a sacrifice unto thee! The blessed letter, adorned with the ornament of love for the Beloved of all worlds, was perused by this evanescent servant. Praise be to God that in this Most Great Prison He gladdeneth us with the sweet fragrances of love wafting from the direction of them who are nigh unto the threshold of His oneness. God the One is my witness that at all times thy mention hath been and is upon my heart and tongue. That which indicated the well-being of your honor was the source of boundless joy, while that which was written regarding certain deeds of those who claim to love the Cause brought infinite sorrow. For thou knowest that unseemly acts have become the cause of veiling and have deprived most of humanity from the shores of oneness. In all His Tablets, the Exalted Truth hath called His loved ones to sanctity and detachment, and hath forbidden all from corruption, conflict, contention and the consumption of others’ wealth. Thus in one of His exalted Tablets He hath revealed—the meaning whereof in Persian is:

“The people of Baha are those who, should they pass through cities of gold, would not deign to look thereon, and should all the women of the earth appear before them in their finest ornament and most wondrous beauty, they would not gaze upon them with lustful intent.”

Thou thyself knowest how abundantly such themes have flowed from the Pen of the Lord of eternity. Yet despite this, as thou observest, they are not content with their vile and reprehensible deeds but occupy themselves with blocking the way. Strange it is that such souls should associate themselves with the Truth. We beseech God to aid all to do that which He loveth and which pleaseth Him, and to cause them to return unto Him, repentant, submissive, lowly, devoted and detached. Verily, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful. Likewise hath He commanded all to observe wisdom, yet most have failed to act accordingly. Had the loved ones of God acted in accordance with that which they were bidden, thou wouldst have witnessed all hearts turned toward the Qiblih of the worlds and all faces directed to the countenance of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

After the receipt of that honoured person’s letter, at a fitting time I attained the station of being present in the Most Holy Presence, and submitted, in its entirety, whatsoever had been set down therein. Tokens of sorrow were perceived upon the Blessed Countenance. Thereupon did these firm and unassailable words shine forth from the Day-Spring of the Cause of the Lord of Names and Attributes:

His Word—exalted be His glory and magnified be His utterance: O Dhabih! In the greater number of the divine Tablets, revealed from the Pen of My Cause, We have enjoined upon all the loved ones of God that they suffer not the holy hem to be sullied with the clay of forbidden deeds and the dust of reprehensible morals. Likewise have We admonished them to gaze upon that which hath been sent down in the Tablets. Had they hearkened, with the ear of the soul, unto the divine counsels which have shone forth from the Dayspring of the Pen of the All-Merciful, and had they attained unto the blessing of attentive obedience, thou wouldst now behold the greater part of all created things adorned with the robe of guidance. But what hath been decreed hath been decreed.

Now once again doth the Tongue of Grandeur, in this Most Great Prison, upon this snow-white scroll proclaim: O loved ones of God! Hasten forth from the narrow wastes of self and passion unto the hallowed expanses of the Divine and take up your abode in the garden of sanctity and detachment, that the fragrance of your deeds may cause all creation to turn towards the shores of the glory of oneness. It is in no wise permissible to speak about worldly matters and whatsoever pertaineth thereunto, or about the leaders that govern them. God, exalted and glorified be He, hath bestowed the visible kingdom upon its rulers. It is not permissible for anyone to commit that which would be contrary to the views of the leaders of the realm. That which He hath desired for Himself are the cities of men’s hearts, and the loved ones of God are in this day as the keys thereto. Through the power of the Most Great Name they must all strive to unlock those gates. This is the divine assistance which hath been recorded in all the Scriptures and Tablets by the Pen that cleaveth the dawn.

Moreover, they must associate with all people with the utmost kindliness and conduct themselves with perfect sanctity, detachment, truthfulness and fairness, in such wise that all people may regard them as the trustees of God amongst His servants. Now observe in what heaven the bird of God’s command doth soar, and in what realm those feeble souls do dwell. Blessed are they who, on the wings of certitude, have soared in the atmosphere which hath wafted from thy Lord, the All-Merciful.

O Dhabih! Consider the doings of God and say: exalted, exalted is His power that hath encompassed the worlds; exalted, exalted is His detachment that hath transcended all created things; exalted, exalted is His martyrdom which hath set ablaze the hearts of them that are nigh unto Him. Though afflicted with countless tribulations at the hands of Our enemies, We have proclaimed unto all the rulers of the earth, one after another, that which His Will had purposed, that all nations might know that no affliction can hinder the Pen of the Ancient of Days. Verily, it moveth by the leave of God, the Fashioner of all bones that have crumbled to dust. Now, given this supreme occupation, it behooveth all the loved ones to gird up the loins of endeavor and turn their attention to the triumph of God’s Cause, rather than engage in reprehensible deeds.

Wert thou to observe but slightly the manifest actions and deeds of the Truth, thou wouldst surely fall upon thy face in the dust and say: O Lord of Lords! I testify that Thou art the Master of existence and the Educator of both the seen and the unseen. I testify that Thy power hath encompassed all created things, that the hosts of the earth cannot frighten Thee, nor can the might of its peoples hinder Thee. And I testify that Thou hast desired naught save the life of the world, the unity of its peoples, and the salvation of all that dwell therein.

Consider carefully what station the friends of God must move in, and in what atmosphere they must soar. I beseech God, thy Lord, the All-Merciful, at all times, to aid them to achieve what He desires. He is verily the Mighty, the Glorious, the All-Knowing.

O Dhabih! The harm to this Wronged One has not been and is not from imprisonment, plunder, captivity, martyrdom and outward abasement. Rather, the harm lies in the deeds which the loved ones of God commit and attribute to Him. This is My harm, by His Self that dominates the worlds! And another greatest harm is that each day someone from among the people of the Bayan claims the Cause, some clinging to one of the Branches, and some independently saying what they have said and doing what they do. O Dhabih! The Tongue of Grandeur proclaims: By My Self, the Truth! All Revelations have ended with this Most Great Revelation, and whoever claims after it is indeed a lying impostor. We beseech God to guide him to recant; if he repents, He is verily the Forgiver, and if he persists in what he claims, He will send against him one who will show no mercy. He is verily the Mighty, the Powerful.

Observe how the people of the Bayan have not understood that whatever My Herald and the Herald of My Beauty uttered was in anticipation of this Revelation and its establishment of the Cause. Otherwise, by His True Self, they would not utter a single word of what He revealed. These ignorant ones have regarded the Cause of the Self-Sufficient, the Most High as child’s play. Each day they move according to some fancy and wander in some wilderness. Were the Cause as they claim, how could thy Lord’s Cause be established upon the throne of tranquility? Reflect and be of the discerning ones. Reflect and be of those who perceive. Reflect and be of the steadfast ones. Reflect and be of the assured ones, to such degree that should all humanity make every possible claim or beyond it, thou wouldst not turn to them but would leave them behind thee, advancing toward the Qiblih of all worlds. By My life! The Cause is mighty, mighty, and the Day is mighty, mighty. Blessed is he who hath cast the world behind him, turning toward the countenance of Him through Whose light the heavens and earth were illumined.

O Dhabih! A penetrating vision is needed, and a steadfast heart, and legs of brass, lest one slip through the whisperings of the hosts of self. This is the firm decree which hath been sent down through the pen of the Most Great Name by the will of the Ancient King. Preserve it as thou wouldst preserve thine eye, and be of the thankful ones. By day and by night occupy thyself with the service of God, detached from all else. By My life! Whatever thou seest today shall pass away, and thou shalt find thyself in the most exalted station if thou remainest steadfast in what thy Lord hath commanded thee. Unto Him is thy return and thy abode. Here end the words of God.

Concerning what thou hadst written about the trials and tribulations that had befallen thee, it produced in me, on the one hand, grief beyond endurance, and on the other, boundless joy. The grief was due to the fact that, outwardly, diverse afflictions and manifold trials had descended upon thee. The joy was because this servant knoweth with certainty that ere long the heedless, sleeping souls shall, after becoming conscious and awakening, all make mention of thy name and shall wail and weep for what befell thee, though now they perceive it not. Moreover, in tribulation and hardship and trials thou hast been a partner with the Truth, and hast borne all difficulties for the Cause of God. I swear by the Truth, this is a station whose description can never be exhausted by the pen nor concluded by speech. We beseech God to make thee hold fast unto Him, to be detached from all else save Him, and to speak forth His remembrance and praise amongst His servants.

As for what thou hadst written about thy distress, it is evident—property plundered and thy person afflicted with hardships and trials. I beseech God to assist thee in all conditions. Verily, He is powerful over all things.

Some time ago, fifty tumans were transferred. The draft and letter of this servant were, by the Most Holy Command, written to the known person and given to Husayn of the people of Ya, that he might give it to that person to deliver to thee. God willing, it will reach thee. May thy honor be ever engaged in the service of the Truth. The rectification of all matters, both outward and inward, hath been and shall be through this Most Great Cause. May my spirit be a sacrifice for thy sorrow and trials and exile.

The Tablet which thou hadst mentioned specifically for Andalib, upon him be the Glory of God, hath been revealed from the Dawning-Place of Revelation and sent. Perfect bounty concerning him is shining and radiant from the horizon of the Sun of Eternity. Blessed is he, and again, joy be unto him. If thou seest him, convey the greetings of this evanescent one unto him. We beseech God to preserve him and make him steadfast in His Cause. Verily, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.

Verily, the Glory be upon thee, then Remembrance be upon thee, then the Spirit be upon thee and upon those whom God hath related to thy presence.

BH01034: Lawh-i-Jamal-i-Burujirdi

He is the Most Exalted!

The Ocean of Revelation, concealed within the Most Exalted Pen, hath distilled these words: O Jamal! Thou hast attained unto the Most Holy Court and been blessed with the Most Great Vision. With thine outward eye thou hast beheld the waves of the divine ocean of meanings, and with thine own ears thou hast hearkened unto the perfect Words, each a treasury of the pearls of wisdom and utterance. Thou hast comprehended, insofar as is possible and befitting thee, the outpouring grace of the All-Merciful and the vast divine mercy extended to all created things.

O Jamal! On this day ye must manifest such love, kindness, humility, submissiveness, sanctity and detachment that no one among all people might detect from your deeds, actions, character and words any trace of the deeds and words of former peoples who, upon hearing a single word, would curse and revile one another.

Verily, We have created souls with different capacities: Some soar in the highest realms of understanding, while others remain below. For instance, one soul beholds the Unknowable and Inaccessible Mystery manifest in the Temple of Revelation without separation or connection, while another regards the Temple of Revelation as the Manifestation of God and His commandments and prohibitions as the very commandments of Truth. Both these stations are acceptable before the Divine Throne. However, should the holders of these two stations dispute and contend regarding these two ranks, both shall be and are rejected. For the purpose of understanding and expressing the highest stations is to attract hearts, unite souls, and promote the Cause of God. Through the disputation and contention of those who hold these two stations, the Cause of God hath been and will be compromised. Therefore, both are destined for the fire, even though in their own estimation they soar in the highest horizon of understanding.

O Jamal! The Unknowable and Inaccessible Mystery lamenteth and weepeth, for He perceiveth not that which is well-pleasing on this day. The people of truth must reflect His attributes. Verily, He is the Concealer of faults, the Knower of all that is hidden, and the Forgiver of sins.

This is the Day whereon the Ocean of God’s mercy hath been manifested unto men, the Day in which the Daystar of His loving-kindness hath shed its radiance upon them, the Day in which the clouds of His bountiful favor have overshadowed the whole of mankind. Now is the time to cheer and refresh the downcast through the invigorating breeze of love and fellowship, and the living waters of friendliness and charity.

They who are the beloved of God, in whatever place they gather and whomsoever they may meet, must evince, in their attitude towards God, and in the manner of their celebration of His praise and glory, such humility and submissiveness that every atom of the dust beneath their feet may attest the depth of their devotion. The conversation carried by these holy souls should be informed with such power that these same atoms of dust will be thrilled by its influence. They should conduct themselves in such manner that the earth upon which they tread may never be allowed to address to them such words as these: “I am to be preferred above you. For witness, how patient I am in bearing the burden which the husbandman layeth upon me. I am the instrument that continually imparteth unto all beings the blessings with which He Who is the Source of all grace hath entrusted me. Notwithstanding the honor conferred upon me, and the unnumbered evidences of my wealth—a wealth that supplieth the needs of all creation—behold the measure of my humility, witness with what absolute submissiveness I allow myself to be trodden beneath the feet of men.”

Consider the divines and mystics of the past: Though they soared in the atmosphere of unity and spoke in praise of the stations of detachment and glorification, not a single word from those souls was acceptable in the presence of the Word. Those who never achieved acceptance were nonetheless accepted, and those unable to utter the word of divine unity, upon recognizing the Manifestation, found their unperformed deeds accepted and their unspoken praise beloved. Take heed, O ye who possess insight!

I swear by the waves of the ocean of meanings that are hidden from sight that none has been or is capable of describing this Most Great Revelation as it truly is. Therefore,

Show forbearance and benevolence and love to one another. Should anyone among you be incapable of grasping a certain truth, or be striving to comprehend it, show forth, when conversing with him, a spirit of extreme kindliness and goodwill. Help him to see and recognize the truth, without esteeming yourself to be, in the least, superior to him, or to be possessed of greater endowments.

The whole duty of man in this Day is to attain that share of the flood of grace which God poureth forth for him. Let none, therefore, consider the largeness or smallness of the receptacle. The portion of some might lie in the palm of a man’s hand, the portion of others might fill a cup, and of others even a gallon-measure.

Every eye, in this Day, should seek what will best promote the Cause of God. He, Who is the Eternal Truth, beareth Me witness! Nothing whatever can, in this Day, inflict a greater harm upon this Cause than dissension and strife, contention, estrangement and apathy, among the loved ones of God. Flee them, through the power of God and His sovereign aid, and strive ye to knit together the hearts of men, in His Name, the Unifier, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Beseech ye the one true God to grant that ye may taste the savor of such deeds as are performed in His path, and partake of the sweetness of such humility and submissiveness as are shown for His sake. Forget your own selves, and turn your eyes towards your neighbor. Bend your energies to whatever may foster the education of men. Nothing is, or can ever be, hidden from God. If ye follow in His way, His incalculable and imperishable blessings will be showered upon you. This is the luminous Tablet, whose verses have streamed from the moving Pen of Him Who is the Lord of all worlds. Ponder it in your hearts, and be ye of them that observe its precepts.

Those souls who are today commanded by God to teach His Cause and have been specially favored with His particular bounties—all must show humility toward them, for that humility is shown unto God, and since it is by God’s command it returns unto Him. However, those souls who have been specially chosen must demonstrate perfect unity among themselves. Furthermore, their levels of knowledge and stations are and will remain evident before God. Thus have We lit the lamp of utterance among all possibilities. Blessed is he who hath acquired from its niche and been illumined by its lights. He is among the successful ones who are honored. And praise be to God, the Lord of the Worlds.

BH00587: Lawh-i-Siyyid Mihdiy-i-Dahaji

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

O My Name! Yield thou praise unto God for having graciously chosen thee to be a shower of bounty for that which We have sown in the pure and blessed soil and enabled thee to serve as a springtime of tender mercy for the wondrous and sublime trees We have planted. Indeed so great is this favor that of all created things in the world of existence, none can ever hope to rival it. We have moreover given thee to drink the choice wine of utterance from the chalice of the heavenly bestowals of thy merciful Lord, which is none other than this Tongue of holiness—a Tongue that, as soon as it was unloosed, quickened the entire creation, set in motion all beings and caused the Nightingale to pour forth its melodies. This is the Fountain of living water for all that dwell in the realm of being.

Oftentimes have We wafted upon thee the sweet savors of the All-Merciful from this Branch which moveth over the Tablet of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Unconstrained. By the righteousness of the One true God! Were all created things, visible and invisible, to direct themselves towards Him, thou wouldst find them winging their flight unto the Supreme Goal, the Spot wherein the divine Lote-Tree exclaimeth: Verily, no God is there but Me, the Almighty, the All-Bountiful.

Great is thy blessedness, inasmuch as thou hast been journeying throughout the lands of God, and been the embodiment of joy and assurance for the people of Baha who have renounced all else but Him, and set their hearts towards this Court which hath shed its radiance upon all realms, and sprinkled them with the surging waters of this Ocean wherewith thou thyself hast been sprinkled—an Ocean which hath encompassed all created things.

Indeed thou didst grasp the significance of rendering assistance unto God and didst arise to achieve this through the power of wisdom and utterance. Say: To assist Me is to teach My Cause. This is a theme with which whole Tablets are laden. This is the changeless commandment of God, eternal in the past, eternal in the future. Comprehend this, O ye men of insight. They that have passed beyond the bounds of wisdom fail to understand the meaning of assisting God as set forth in the Book. Say: Fear ye God and sow not the seeds of dissension amongst men. Observe ye that which hath been enjoined upon you by your Lord, the Almighty, the All-Knowing. He knoweth the reality of victory and hath taught it to you with an utterance that the vain imaginings of them that rove distraught in the wilderness of doubt can never corrupt.

O My Name! Suffer all created things to quaff once again from this chalice which hath caused the seas to rise. Kindle then in the hearts the blazing fire which this crimson Tree hath ignited, that they may arise to extol and magnify His Name amidst the adherents of all Faiths.

Numerous letters from thee have been presented before Our Throne. We have perused them as a token of grace on Our part, and for each name thou didst mention therein We have revealed that which will stir the minds of men and will cause the spirits to soar. Moreover We have repeatedly enabled thee to hearken unto the warblings of the birds of heaven and to incline thine ear to the songs of the nightingales pouring forth their melodies upon the branches. Thus was the Pen of God set in motion in thy remembrance that thou mightest admonish men through the power of this utterance which is divinely ordained to be the revealer of the signs of His glory.

Blessed is the spot wherein the anthem of His praise is raised, and blessed the ear that hearkeneth unto that which hath been sent down from the heaven of the loving-kindness of thy Lord, the All-Merciful.

Exhort thou the servants of God unto that whereunto We have exhorted thee that they may abstain from whatsoever is forbidden them in the Mother Book. Those who perpetrate deeds that would create turmoil among the people have indeed strayed far from helping God and His Cause and are numbered with the mischief-makers in the Tablet which God hath designated to be the dawning-place of all Tablets.

Say: If it be Our pleasure We shall render the Cause victorious through the power of a single word from Our presence. He is in truth the Omnipotent, the All-Compelling. Should it be God’s intention, there would appear out of the forests of celestial might the lion of indomitable strength whose roaring is like unto the peals of thunder reverberating in the mountains. However, since Our loving providence surpasseth all things, We have ordained that complete victory should be achieved through speech and utterance, that Our servants throughout the earth may thereby become the recipients of divine good. This is but a token of God’s bounty vouchsafed unto them. Verily thy Lord is the All-Sufficing, the Most Exalted.

Say: Fear ye God and commit not such deeds as would cause My loved ones on earth to lament. Thus biddeth you this Pen which hath set the Pen of Glory in motion within the arena of wisdom and true understanding.

Convey My greetings unto those whose faces mirror forth the radiance of Baha, then mention to them this utterance which cheereth the eyes of the righteous. The glory of God rest upon thee and upon such as have firmly clung to the Cord of God, the Revealer of verses.

O My Name! Some people have not grasped the meaning of assistance, as it is observed that good and evil are still unknown to some—that is, they have not distinguished between them. In most Tablets, they have been explicitly forbidden from corruption, conflict, contention and matters that cause sedition and tumult among the people. Nevertheless, they have risen to pursue matters that have caused disturbance to minds and hearts.

It is said that one of the Arab kings said to one of his companions, “Is it possible for someone to have never eaten faloodeh and not know what it is?” The companion submitted that indeed, there are many who have never eaten it and do not know it. One day an Arab came before the king. The companion suggested that this might be one of those who had never experienced faloodeh and didn’t know what it was. The king said if this proved true, he would give him a purse of gold. Then he ordered a feast to be spread with all manner of foods. They placed the faloodeh before the Arab, who began to eat. From his manner of eating, they realized he did not know what it was. The companion asked him what it was. He replied, “In the Qur’an, God, exalted be His glory, mentions date palms and pomegranates. We have date palms in our land; I assume this must be pomegranate.” The companion said, “O king, you should give me two purses of gold, for he doesn’t know pomegranate either!”

This story was related without its beginning and middle, as we have mentioned what was relevant to the point.

Restrain thou the inhabitants of those regions from provocative acts, from strife, dissension or aught else that would create trouble. That which is praiseworthy in these days is the promotion of the Cause. For instance if those people who pursue certain aims were to dedicate themselves to the teaching of the Cause, all the dwellers of those regions would, ere long, be invested with the mantle of faith.

Should anyone perceive the sweetness of the following passage in the Tablet revealed in honor of Nabíl of Qa’in, he would readily comprehend the significance of assistance: Human utterance is an essence which aspireth to exert its influence and needeth moderation. As to its influence, this is conditional upon refinement, which in turn is dependent upon hearts which are detached and pure. As to its moderation, this hath to be combined with tact and wisdom as prescribed in the Holy Scriptures and Tablets.

O My Name! Utterance must needs possess penetrating power. For if bereft of this quality it would fail to exert influence. And this penetrating influence dependeth on the spirit being pure and the heart stainless. Likewise it needeth moderation, without which the hearer would be unable to bear it, rather he would manifest opposition from the very outset. And moderation will be obtained by blending utterance with the tokens of divine wisdom which are recorded in the sacred Books and Tablets. Thus when the essence of one’s utterance is endowed with these two requisites it will prove highly effective and will be the prime factor in transforming the souls of men. This is the station of supreme victory and celestial dominion. Whoso attaineth thereto is invested with the power to teach the Cause of God and to prevail over the hearts and minds of men.

O My Name! The Daystar of utterance, shining resplendent from the dayspring of divine Revelation, hath so illumined the Scrolls and Tablets that the kingdom of utterance and the exalted dominion of understanding vibrate with joy and ecstasy and shine forth with the splendor of His light, yet the generality of mankind comprehend not.

The reason why the subject of aid and assistance hath time and again streamed and will continue to stream from the Pen of Providence is to warn the friends of God lest they engage in activities that would give rise to strife and turmoil. It is incumbent upon them, one and all, to diligently seek ways to help the Cause of God in such manner as We have explained. This is but a token of His grace especially conferred upon His loved ones that every one of them may attain the station characterized by the words: “Whoso quickeneth a soul hath verily quickened all mankind.”

Temporal ascendancy hath been and will continue to be under the shadow of this station. Its appointed hour is preordained in the Book of God. He is truly cognizant thereof and it will be manifested through the potency of His might. Verily He is the Powerful, the All-Subduing, the Omnipotent, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

The sanctified souls should ponder and meditate in their hearts regarding the methods of teaching. From the texts of the wondrous, heavenly Scriptures they should memorize phrases and passages bearing on various instances, so that in the course of their speech they may recite divine verses whenever the occasion demandeth it, inasmuch as these holy verses are the most potent elixir, the greatest and mightiest talisman. So potent is their influence that the hearer will have no cause for vacillation. I swear by My life! This Revelation is endowed with such a power that it will act as the lodestone for all nations and kindreds of the earth. Should one pause to meditate attentively he would recognize that no place is there, nor can there be, for anyone to flee to.

In such manner hath the Kitab-i-Aqdas been revealed that it attracteth and embraceth all the divinely appointed Dispensations. Blessed those who peruse it. Blessed those who apprehend it. Blessed those who meditate upon it. Blessed those who ponder its meaning. So vast is its range that it hath encompassed all men ere their recognition of it. Ere long will its sovereign power, its pervasive influence and the greatness of its might be manifested on earth. Verily, thy God is the All-Knowing, the All-informed.

O My Name! Hearken thou unto My Voice coming from the direction of My Throne. He wisheth to make mention of thy name at all times inasmuch as thou hast proved thyself steadfast in extolling His virtues amongst men. Indeed thy Lord loveth fidelity as found in the realm of creation, and He hath given it precedence over most of the praiseworthy qualities. Verily, He is Potent and Powerful.

Know thou moreover that We have heard the praise thou hast uttered in thy communion with God, thy Lord, the Exalted, the Gracious. Great indeed is the blessedness awaiting thee, inasmuch as thou hast curtailed thine own affairs in favor of this inviolable, this mighty and enlightened Cause. We entreat God to make thy call a magnet which will attract the embodiments of names in the world of existence that all beings may spontaneously hasten to heed it. No God is there besides Him, the Exalted, the Preeminent, the Ever-Blessed, the Sublime, the Most August, the Most Glorious, the Most Bountiful, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

BH03116: The petition of Jinab-i-Haji Faraj—upon him be…

…The petition of Jinab-i-Haji Faraj—upon him be the glory of God—was submitted. This is what was revealed from the Kingdom of Power:

“In these days let him be engaged in service there; afterwards We shall inform what is intended.”

And regarding the laws of marriage and divorce which you had requested—that which was revealed in this connection in the Kitab-i-Aqdas was sent previously. Likewise, in these days a marriage sermon has been revealed from the heaven of unity. After the consent of both parties and the consent of the parents, they should gather in a place among the God-fearing and recite this blessed sermon with the utmost joy and fragrance. After the recitation of the sermon, the beloved and his beloved should, in a separate place, recite these two blessed verses that were revealed in the Bayan. [The verses mentioned in the Bayan should be written.] Then the husband should deliver the dowry to his wife, and both parties should sign the document, as well as the witnesses. If there be a place where the people are unable to recite the sermon, there is no harm; the recitation of the two verses suffices….

BH01825: O family of Jamal! Hearken to the divine call…

In the name of the one God.

O family of Jamal! Hearken to the divine call in the Persian tongue from the mystic Tree. Every soul that today has attained to hearing the call of Truth has become detached, sanctified and free from the allusions of creation and what lies with them. Praise ye the Best-Beloved of the worlds, that ye are associated with a Name that is truly associated with Him. Though today the station of this is not known, yet soon shall ye behold this station as having no equal. Today, whosoever is enkindled with the fire of the divine Word and has drunk from the Euphrates of the All-Merciful shall live and endure forever, his name recorded and inscribed by the Pen of the Command in the divine Tablets. No created thing past or future can equal this bounty. Well is it with them that understand.

Be not grieved by differences in outward matters. Fix your gaze at all times upon the Dawning-Place of God’s Cause and exert your utmost effort that perchance, through the blessing of the Most Great Name which has encompassed the world, ye may drink of this most pure and luminous nectar that hath been unsealed through the key of remembrance of the Lord of Power. Happy are ye, O people of Beauty, were ye to be of them that drink thereof.

God willing, through the sweetness of the utterance of the All-Merciful, transcend the contingent world and cling to the hem of the bounty of the Lord of nations. Be ablaze with the fire of the love of the Beloved—such a blaze that the people of those regions may turn toward the sanctuary of oneness from that spiritual heat.

O Muniru’d-Din! Hearken unto the call from this manifest Prison. He is, verily, none other than Him, the Almighty over the worlds. Arise to serve the Cause of thy Lord in a manner befitting these days, then summon the people to the horizon from which were illumined the heavens and earth. Be not perturbed today by the intimations of the divines and what they possess. Consider when the Sun of the Cause dawned from the horizon of Batha, the divines and men of learning opposed Him, and before that when the Spirit appeared with the signs of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Great, the greatest among the people turned away from Him. Thus was it ordained aforetime. Verily thy Lord is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Soon will God obliterate the traces of those who disbelieved today, even as thou hast witnessed what the hand of might and power wrought in the past. Nothing can frustrate what He willeth—all are within the grasp of thy Lord’s power, the Most Exalted, the Mighty, the Wise.

O Muhyi’d-Din! Rejoice in that thou hast been mentioned by the Pen of the Command, and stand firm in the service of thy Lord in this mighty Revelation. Beware lest the conditions of them that are on earth veil thee. Leave them to themselves and turn thy heart to God, thy Lord and the Lord of the worlds. Beware lest thou deprive thyself of the breezes of the days of thy Lord. We love to see thee soaring in the atmosphere of remembrance and utterance, and speaking forth the name of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, throughout all possibility, that through thee may awaken those servants whom the wine of passion hath overcome and held back from this resplendent horizon. We beseech God to assist you in His love and good-pleasure and to make you among those who have fulfilled God’s Covenant and His Testament, and who have stood firm in the Cause in such wise that neither the doubts of the transgressors, nor the intimations of the oppressors, nor the onslaught of the heedless held them back. The glory be upon you both, and upon your mother and sister, from One mighty, praiseworthy.

Hear with the ear of the spirit what hath been mentioned and reflect upon the divine verses, that ye may behold all the world as non-existent and null. This is the counsel of the Wronged One which hath flowed from the Pen of Command. Blessed are they that act, and blessed are they that are patient. Grieve not at hardship, for ease is in His hand. Verily, He is powerful over all things. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH02435: The Most Holy, Most Impregnable, Most Exalted

The Most Holy, Most Impregnable, Most Exalted

Hearken unto the Call from the direction of tribulation, from God, thy Lord, the Most High, the Most Glorious. Verily, I am God, there is none other God but Me, the Almighty, the Mighty, the Generous. I have created all things for My Name and have raised them up through My sovereignty, and I call unto them from this luminous Quarter. Blessed is he who hath turned unto Him and cast away all else—he is indeed among the sincere ones.

Say: O people, if ye be fair in this Cause—should ye deny the Manifestation of God, His sovereignty, His proof and His evidence—by what proof do ye uphold that which ye possess? Bring it forth if ye be of the truthful. Nay, by Him Who hath caused Me to speak the truth, there is no path for anyone except this Path which We have revealed in truth. By God, this is verily the Most Great Path among the nations and the Most Straight Way for those in the heavens and on earth.

The imaginary hath vanished through the dawning of My Name, the Self-Subsisting, and that which was known hath come with a wondrous command. Say: This is indeed His Most Great Mystery among you, and His Book within you, and His proof unto you. Ponder upon it that ye may recognize the Temple of God which ye were promised in a preserved and mighty Tablet. The Dove hath warbled that which the Spirit uttered and that which Muhammad, the Messenger of God, brought. Were ye to inhale the fragrance of all the Books, ye would find from them naught but the sweet scent of My wondrous Name.

Those who have been kept back from the Path are indeed among the bewildered ones. Look not at the size of their turbans nor the swaying of their necks—they are indeed among the lost. Blessed is the learned one who hath not been veiled, and the ignorant one who hath recognized his Lord, and the woman who hath rent asunder the veils. Thus have We imparted unto thee the truth that thou mayest be among those who know.

Say: Hearken unto My call when My lamentation is raised and My heart doth groan by reason of what hath befallen Me at the hands of the oppressive hosts. Know thou that My tribulation is greater than can be reckoned. To this testifieth the Lord of destiny and the dwellers of the Most Great Scene who have witnessed somewhat of that which We have endured in the path of God, the King, the Most High, the Most Great. Were I not to fix My gaze upon the Command of God, I would not have uttered a word nor would I have spoken a letter of that which I have been commanded by the presence of One mighty and generous. By My life! The Tablet hath well-nigh taken flight through the wafting breaths of the verses of thy Lord. Blessed is he who hath found and rendered thanks. Woe unto those who have turned away.

O servant! Take fast hold of the cord of God. We have indeed manifested it in the form of a Tablet. Thy Lord is verily the Strong, the Powerful. When thou dost inhale My fragrance from the garment of My utterance, arise from thy place, turning toward the direction of thy Lord.

Say: Praise be unto Thee, O my Beloved and the Beloved of the worlds! I testify that through Thee the suns have shone forth, the moons have appeared, and the faces of those near unto Thee have been illumined. I beseech Thee to make me steadfast in Thy love in such wise that the words of the deluded ones and the signs of the heedless ones shall not keep me back from Thee. Thou art verily the Mighty, the Merciful.

BH02870: Glorified is He Who hath sent down the verses…

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

Glorified is He Who hath sent down the verses in truth that He might guide thereby such servants as have been pervaded by the fragrance of faithfulness. He, verily, is the Forgiving, the Merciful. He calleth betwixt earth and heaven and summoneth the people unto this Path which hath appeared in truth—and it is, verily, the straight path. They who have cast away vain imaginings—these are they who are possessed of certitude, as doth attest the Pen of the All-Merciful, moved by the Finger of God, the Almighty, the Powerful. They who have broken the Covenant—these are they who are the hypocrites, in a guarded Tablet. They who have fulfilled their pledge—these are they who are the people of Baha, in a noble Book.

O kings! The Sovereign hath come and calleth you unto the Cause whereby every wise command hath been made manifest. Say: O princes! Take heed lest names hold you back from their Lord. Cast away what ye possess, then hasten unto the Dawning-Place of Revelation, and be not of them that tarry. By My life! No name shall endure save through its connection with this Most Great Name, nor shall any matter endure except by My leave. Thus hath it been sent down in the Book, were ye of them that understand. Purify yourselves from the world and its ornaments, then turn ye unto this Manifestation wherein the divine Sinai proclaimeth: “Sovereignty belongeth unto God, the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.” Fear God and commit not that which causeth the denizens of Paradise to lament. Do that which ye have been commanded by One Mighty, Praiseworthy. Will armies profit you? Nay, by the Self of the Worshipped One! Or will treasures suffice you? Nay, by this resplendent Beauty! We created you from dust and unto it shall We return you—a promise binding upon Us. Verily, We are able to do this.

O concourse of divines! By what proof did ye believe in My previous Manifestations yet deny this Manifestation at Whose appearance all things have cried out: “The Kingdom belongeth unto God, the Mighty, the All-Knowing”? Do ye imagine that ye are the beneficent? Nay, rather ye are among the most lost! Ye have cast away what is known and followed that which ye were forbidden in the Book of God, the Mighty, the Beautiful. Fear God and follow not your desires. This is better for you, did ye but know. Glory not in your learning, for the Known One hath appeared with manifest sovereignty.

O servant! Stand firm in thy Lord’s Cause in such wise that the imaginings of them that imagine shall not cause thee to waver. When any misbeliever argueth with thee, turn away from him and say:

“I have turned my face unto Him Who created me and sustained me and made me to be of the triumphant.”

BH04484: In His name, Who abideth after the passing…

In His name, Who abideth after the passing of all things! The spheres of bounty have been set in motion by the breaths of grace, and the ocean of generosity hath been stirred by the winds of the favor of thy Lord, the All-Compelling over what was and what shall be. The banner of My Most Glorious Name hath been raised between earth and heaven, and the standard of this Most Great Remembrance hath been planted upon every lofty and towering mountain.

O My handmaiden! Hearken unto My call from the direction of My prison. Verily, there is none other God but Him, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting. Then give thanks unto thy Lord for having remembered thee in the presence of the Prisoner, and for having revealed unto thee this Tablet, with which the treasures of what was and what shall be cannot compare.

Were We to say it is the sun, this would be true by virtue of My being, for it hath dawned from this praiseworthy horizon. And were We to say it is the heaven, this too would be true, for it hath been adorned with brilliant stars and luminous planets formed of the words of thy Lord, Who in the heaven of eternity was called the Ancient Truth, and in the realm of the cloud the Most High, the Most Great, and in the kingdom of names the Everlasting God, and then by this Name in the world of creation—the Name whereby the dwellers of earth and heaven were seized with trembling, save whom thy Lord, the Mighty, the Best-Beloved, did will.

Blessed art thou for having turned unto the Most Great Ocean and drunk the sealed wine from My Name, the Manifest, the Hidden. Be thou steadfast in the love of God, then make mention of thy Lord among the handmaidens, that haply they may catch the fragrance of these days and turn unto this manifest horizon. Verily, the glory be upon thee and upon those handmaidens who have believed in God and perceived the fragrance of this perfumed shirt.

BH04681: In the name of the Ever-Abiding, the All-Knowing…

In the name of the Ever-Abiding, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise! Blessed is He Who hath sent down the verses in truth and through them hath caused all things to speak in praise of the Dayspring of His Cause, through Whom was manifested the sovereignty of God and His power over all who are in the heavens and on earth, and through them His proof was perfected and His evidence encompassed all things. These verses are, in the estimation of the people of Baha, the Temple that hath appeared through the Most Great Name, and it speaketh: “There is none other God but He, the Almighty, the Powerful.” Were it to be said that it is the Source of verses, this is indeed the truth concerning which there is no doubt, and were it to be said that they are His very Self, verily He hath spoken the truth, as doth God’s Tongue bear witness thereunto, yet most of the people are heedless.

O thou who art mindful! We have heard thy mention and thy letter hath come before the Countenance, and We found therein thy longing and thy yearning for God, thy Lord and the Lord of the worlds. We beseech God to aid thee to remain steadfast in thy love for thy Master and to bestow upon thee that which hath been sent down from the heaven of grace, and to give thee to drink from the cup whereof whoso drinketh attaineth unto all good from the presence of One knowing and informed.

Blessed art thou, for thy letter hath come and the Wronged One hath answered thee with this perspicuous Tablet. Were the people to know, they would expend all they possess, even their very souls, that My Most Exalted Pen might move upon their names, yet today they remain veiled by following the daysprings of idle fancies. Thy Lord hath indeed recorded all knowledge in a preserved Tablet. Rejoice thou in My mention of thee, then read thou the Tablet; verily it shall draw thee to a station which none hath encompassed save God, the Mighty, the Praised.

BH04837: In the Name of Him Who holdeth dominion over…

In the Name of Him Who holdeth dominion over all who are in earth and heaven! We behold the sinners hastening unto their desires, and them that are nigh unto God hastening unto the Fountain of guidance. These, verily, are of them that have attained. They that in these days have been deprived of the bounties of their Lord, the Lord of mankind—these have lost both this world and the world to come, and for them is grievous torment. And they that have cast away all that is with men, turning unto God—these are numbered with the people of Baha in the Tablet of God, the Mighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

The Tongue of Grandeur speaketh amongst creation: “Unto Me, unto Me, O people of faithfulness!” Yet most of the people are veiled. They hear not the Call of God after it hath been raised aloft in such wise as to fill earth and heaven. Thus hath the matter been ordained and the decree issued from the presence of One mighty and powerful.

Say: O people! That which ye possess of idle fancies shall profit you not. Hold fast unto that which hath been sent down from the heaven of divine Revelation, then read ye this perspicuous Tablet. Therein is mentioned none save God and His sovereignty. Ponder ye, that ye may be of them that comprehend.

How many a servant awaited My days, yet when I manifested My Self he turned away and was numbered with the idolaters. Blessed the eye that hath been solaced in the days of God by gazing toward His court, and the hand that hath taken His resolute and wise Book.

Thou shalt not forget God’s covenant and favor; rather remember it amongst the servants, that haply they may become aware. Thus doth My Most Exalted Pen move while in the grasp of the oppressors, and mention thee with grace that thou mayest thank Him and say: “Praise be unto Thee, O Lord of the sincere ones!”

BH04950: Praise be to God that the sealed wine has…

In the name of the one Friend

Praise be to God that the sealed wine has been opened by the hands of divine favors, and the breezes of grace have wafted from the right hand of oneness upon all. Blessed is the soul that has attained unto it, and blessed is the heart that has drunk of that wine.

O handmaiden of God! Reflect upon the Cause of the Lord of Names, that thou mayest recognize Him with the eye of certainty and receive thy portion of His bounty. It is clear and evident that there hath never been, nor shall there ever be, any interruption in the outpouring of the All-Bountiful. Those souls who have remained deprived of this exalted bounty have done so because they have followed vain imaginings and remained devoted to the idols of self and desire.

The Truth hath ever been, and shall forever remain, manifest in the sublimity of Its inaccessibility and the exaltation of Its transcendence, sanctified above all things. Whosoever hath beheld with His eye hath known Him, and whosoever hath remained heedless of this station hath failed to find Him.

Beseech thou God that thou mayest not be debarred from the wondrous outpourings of the Most Great Ocean of His bounty, nor be deprived of the fragrances of His days. He is the One Bestower, Who giveth whatsoever He willeth. None in the heavens or on earth can withhold His grace. Verily He is the Almighty, the Powerful. There is none other God but Him, the Omnipotent, the All-Compelling.

BH05176: This is the Day wherein the veils have been…

In His Name Who abideth after the passing of all things!

This is the Day wherein the veils have been rent asunder, the verses sent down, and every destined matter made distinct. Therein hath the Tongue of Grandeur proclaimed betwixt earth and heaven:

“Verily, there is none other God but Me, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting.”

He who hath been drawn by hearing the utterance of his Lord, the All-Merciful—he is of the people of Baha, inscribed in a preserved Tablet. And whoso turneth away, no mention hath he with his Lord. Thus hath the matter been decreed from the presence of God, the Mighty, the Beloved.

Say: O people! We have lit, by the hand of grace, the lamp of guidance for all in creation. Beware lest ye extinguish it through the gusts of the winds of denial. Seize ye the Day and follow not every rejected idolater. Turn with illumined hearts toward the court of your Lord, the Lord of Names. This is the foundation of all good, would ye but know it.

Verily, he who preventeth you this Day from the path of God—he is indeed Satan. Thus doth He instruct you, in Whose grasp is the reins of all knowledge. When the clamor of the wicked and the croaking of the impious are raised, pay no heed, but hold fast unto God, your Lord, the Mighty, the All-Loving.

Verily in the surging of the Most Great Sea in the Most Great Prison, and the wafting of the fragrance of the Robe amongst the people of creation, are signs from God—yet most of the people know not. Thus hath spoken He Who hath caused all things to speak His praise and glorification. He, verily, is the All-Powerful over what He willeth. There is none other God but Him, the Truth, the Knower of things unseen.

BH05287: The Object of remembrance saith: O concourse of creation!…

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

The Object of remembrance saith: O concourse of creation! Ye have been created for My remembrance, did ye but know it. Arise to mention your Lord, the All-Merciful—this will profit you, if ye but understood. Follow Him Who hath come to you with the truth from God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. This is better for you than all that hath been created on earth. Blessed are they who understand.

Be ye lamps of guidance among the people—thus have ye been commanded by God, the Mighty, the Beloved. Verily, he who is silent today in remembrance of his Lord is cast into the wilderness of error and is accounted among the dead. Grief hath seized the All-Merciful while the people are in joy and delight. Blessed is he who hath been given piercing sight and hath turned with his heart to this glorious horizon.

O thou who hast turned to God! Arise to mention thy Lord. Say: O concourse of creation! This is the Day of Bounty when the Creator of the heavens hath come with the kingdom of names. Beware lest your desires withhold you from this grace that hath encompassed the seen and the unseen. Hasten with your hearts to the court of the Beloved and cling not to that which the transgressors cling. Aid the Cause of your Lord with such steadfastness as will cause spirits and minds to be amazed. Thus have We adorned the Tablet with the ornament of inspiration. Blessed are they who read.

BH05503: A Tablet from Us to him who desireth…

He is the Ever-Abiding, the All-Sufficient, the Eternal

A Tablet from Us to him who desireth to turn his face toward his Lord and to know his Ancient Master. We testify that thy hesitation was better in the sight of God than those who claimed acceptance but from whom appeared that which appeared not from those of old. We perceive from thee the fragrance of love, wherefore We have sent down Tablets unto thee before, and this glorious Tablet. Thy Lord knoweth what no one else knoweth. He is, verily, the All-Encompassing over the worlds.

Hearken unto that wherewith the Prisoner counseleth thee, while wronged in the hands of the oppressors. Attach not thy acceptance to any hopes. Reflect upon the greatness of God’s Cause and His sovereignty, then enter into it, detached from all who are on earth. This is better for thee, if thou be of them that know. He hath desired naught for Himself—My imprisonment and tribulation bear witness to this, blessed are the fair-minded. For him who turneth unto Him, He ordaineth what is best for him. He is, verily, the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous.

Deprive not thyself of the outpourings of the days of God, which equal not the kingdom of the heavens and earth. Hold fast to the cord of thy Lord’s bounty and cling to the hem of His Name, the All-Forgiving, the Most Generous. He hath appeared in such wise that none denieth it save every heedless and remote one. We beseech God to assist thee to be steadfast in His Cause and to make thee among the triumphant ones.

BH05921: In the Name of Him Who is exalted above…

In the Name of Him Who is exalted above all things and sanctified from all names! This is a Book We have sent down in truth unto people who know. There is nothing that doth not attest the Book of God and His sovereignty, yet most among mankind believe not. The people have veiled themselves by their own vain imaginings, and thereby have they been debarred from this outstretched Path.

Say: O people! By what cord do ye hold fast, and through what cause do ye turn away from Him Who created you for the recognition of His Self, the One Who dominateth every witness and witnessed thing? That which was promised in the Books of God and treasured up in His knowledge hath appeared. Open your eyes, for verily He hath appeared in truth with manifest sovereignty. Those who are heedless this Day are wandering in the wilderness of error, while those who have hastened after turning unto Him are drinking from the choice wine of revelation.

Be thou steadfast then in thy love for thy Lord, and make mention of Him amongst the servants with the wisdom wherewith We have commanded all in a preserved Tablet. Be thou in such wise that neither the allusions of them that have turned away, nor the words of them that have disbelieved in God, the Almighty, the All-Compelling, the Best-Beloved, shall affect thee.

Thus have We sent down unto thee that which the Dove hath warbled upon the twigs of the Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing, whereby all things are drawn, that thou mayest render thanks unto thy Lord and say, turning unto the Desired One: Praise be unto Thee, O Lord of existence!

BH05886: In the name of God, the Most Holy…

In the name of God, the Most Holy, the Most Exalted. This is a Book sent down in truth from the kingdom of God’s will, the Most High, the Most Great. Indeed it is the ornament of the Tablets of creation and the exposition of what was sent down aforetime from the presence of the Mighty, the Generous.

Say: Every word that proceeds from the mouth of God contains a treasury of meanings that none has ever discovered save the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Blessed are they who have taken the gems of what We have revealed and have cast aside interpretation in this mighty Revelation. Say: None knows the interpretation of the Book save God. It is not for anyone to speak of it or ponder it. Thus has the matter been decreed by One Who is mighty and powerful.

Say: Take what We intend and the outward meanings of what We have revealed in the Book. This is better for you, if you be of those who understand. Behold the people of the Furqan—they interpreted but did not attain save those whom God aided with the truth. Thus does the All-Knowing teach you.

The laws of wisdom and utterance have been scattered through the disagreements of the followers of religions—they are indeed among the distracted ones. Hold fast to the cord of unity, then hearken with a single ear to that which the Tongue of Grandeur speaks. Thus does the Lord of creation command you in this radiant dawn.

When thou hast attained to the mention of the Remembered One, say: Praise be to Thee, O Thou Who art the Beloved of those who remember Thee!

BH11656: Glorified be He Who sendeth down the verses…

Glorified be He Who sendeth down the verses as He willeth! He, verily, is the Mighty, the Powerful, the All-Wise. Not a thing escapeth His knowledge; His knowledge encompasseth all who are in the heavens and on earth. How many a servant hath been debarred from the choice wine of revelation, and how many a handmaiden hath turned unto it, partaken thereof, and said: “Praise be unto Thee, O God of all worlds!” Verily, grace is in the hand of God; He bestoweth what He willeth upon whom He willeth, and withholdeth from whom He willeth what He desireth. He, verily, is the Almighty, the All-Powerful.

O My handmaiden! Rejoice thou in that thou hast been mentioned before the Throne and that this wondrous Tablet hath been revealed for thee. By God! Nothing that hath been created on earth can compare with it. Blessed is the one who hath attained unto this mighty bounty. Remember thou thy Lord at all times. Thus doth thy Ancient Master command thee.

Reflect upon the favors of thy Lord. He remembereth His servants and His handmaidens even while imprisoned in the Most Great Prison through that which the hands of the idolaters have wrought. Thus have We adorned thee with the ornament of remembrance from this wise Remembrance. Say: Praise be unto Thee, O Lord of the mystics and Goal of all worlds!

BH07622: In the Name of Him Who prevaileth over all…

In the Name of Him Who prevaileth over all names! This is a remembrance from Us unto him who was stirred by the breezes of the mercy of his Lord, the All-Merciful, and turned towards the Countenance through which the cities of names and all who dwell on earth and in heaven were illumined. We have, verily, been ever-knowing.

We found thee turning unto God, wherefore We have sent down unto thee this Tablet, from which the fragrance of reunion in the future hath been wafted. Know thou its worth and be of the thankful. We have heard thy call and have answered thee in truth. Thy Lord is, verily, the All-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful.

Thou hast attained unto that which most of the servants have failed to attain, and hast discovered the fragrance of the days of thy Lord, the Supreme Ruler of all worlds. Beware lest the affairs of creation sadden thee. Soar upon the wings of longing in this expansive and subtle atmosphere.

We have accepted thee through grace—this is a bounty that nothing in the heavens and earth can equal. Give thanks unto God for this manifest favor. Then preserve this Tablet and recite it in thy days with such devotion as to cause the hearts of the sincere ones to be attracted.

BH09091: O My handmaidens! Follow not the promptings of self…

He is the Most Ancient, the Most Mighty

O My handmaidens! Follow not the promptings of self, but follow that which hath come by a clear command. Ye are the leaves of My divine Tree—know ye this glorious and exalted station. Stand firm in the Cause of God and His sovereignty, and follow not every ignorant one far removed from truth. Blessed is the handmaiden who hath attained unto My days, heard My call and turned unto the horizon of My loving-kindness. Woe unto the handmaiden who hath turned away from the Face and was among the idolatresses in the Tablets of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

O My handmaidens! Know ye the value of these days and give thanks unto God in this wondrous Revelation. Be ye circling around the Cause of God and steadfast in that which ye have been commanded by the One Who is the Powerful, the Ancient.

BH09540: A Book from Us to her who hath submitted…

In His Name, the Most Holy, the Most Exalted

A Book from Us to her who hath submitted to her Lord when He appeared with this Name whereby necks were brought low, that the verses of God might attract her and strengthen her in her love for God, her Lord, the Mighty, the Bestower. O My handmaiden! Rejoice thou in this remembrance, then prostrate thyself before God, the Lord of Lords. Beware lest the veils of them that have glory in attributes prevent thee, or the accusations of the wicked grieve thee. Know thou that We have accepted what thou didst send aforetime. Verily He accepteth what He willeth from whom He willeth and writeth for whom He desireth. He is, in truth, the Mighty, the Bountiful. Thus hath the Bird of Sorrow warbled upon the twigs of the Prison. Blessed is he who hath attained thereunto, and woe betide every heedless denier.

BH01015: The servant hath been honored by thy letter…

In the name of the Most Holy, the Most Impregnable, the Most Great, the Most Glorious!

The servant hath been honored by thy letter, from whose horizon shone forth the sun of the love of God, unobscured by any veil that might conceal its lights or barrier that might prevent its radiance—as if it were a spirit by which all created things were revived, and a fire by which all beings were set ablaze. Whoso possesseth a sense of smell will perceive from it the fragrance of the Intended One and the perfume of the Beloved. When the servant found this ladder, he ascended by it to the Dawning-Place of Names and Attributes, until he was present before the Throne and submitted what was therein with humility and supplication. Thereupon the ocean of favors surged in such wise that this evanescent one and those immersed in the depths of wisdom and utterance are powerless to describe it.

This evanescent servant submitteth that he was honored by your letter, from which wafted the sweet savors of divine love and from which emanated the fragrance of the garment of heavenly affection. Praise be to God that the glad tidings of your arrival in that land caused joy to the heart, delight to the soul, and a happiness beyond description. I beseech God, exalted be His glory, that I may ever be blessed and sustained by this spiritual fragrance.

Regarding what you wrote about not having received the Tablets revealed from the heaven of the Divine Will, and your request for copies of those exalted Tablets—a special volume hath been revealed from the divine heaven of authority specifically for you, and the answer to the questions of the Afnan [the Kitab-i-Iqan], upon them be the Most Glorious Glory of God, hath also been revealed therein. Now the copy of that treatise is being sent. Since its beginning was separately copied in the book of verses, it is now also being sent separately along with the volume. Glory be to God Who revealed it in truth! By God! It hath been revealed in such wise as to astound the minds of the mystics and the hearts of the eloquent. Blessed is he who findeth its sweetness and attaineth unto the oceans that surge in its words and letters. Were people to look upon it with the eye of fairness, they would testify that it alone sufficeth as proof for all who are in the heavens and on earth.

And as to what thou hadst written concerning the ascension of the exalted father, the departed and revered gentleman, Aqa Siyyid Ja’far—upon them both be the splendour of Baha’u’llah and His majesty—mighty Tablets were revealed and sent, addressed in particular to those he hath left behind; and for his honoured sister likewise was a Tablet revealed and dispatched.

Thou hadst further written that, after thy arrival in this land, praised be God and thanks be unto Him, all thy kindred are come to recognize the truth, and that this servant hath not been subjected to denial, as is the wont. First: this feeble body is not worthy of such watchfulness and such guarding. Second: the True One hath, in stations where outwardly fear and agitation were at their height, Himself preserved and protected. There is not a being that can dread the might of the sovereign—how much less others besides.

After these passages were submitted, the Tongue of Grandeur and Majesty, in the presence of the Throne, spake thus:

“Even so it behoveth the Khalil; yet We command him to preserve himself, that he may arise in the service of God and His Cause. And this preservation, in this lofty and unassailable station, is higher than martyrdom. O my Khalil! Concerning what you mentioned about this body not being worthy of such protection and preservation—yes, this is an undoubted truth. Those souls who are clinging and holding fast to the Truth, and through the wondrous outpourings of divine grace have reached a station wherein they see themselves lacking nothing while under the shadow of Truth—such souls, out of their love for God, surely seek martyrdom and the sacrifice of their spirit. Some of the mature and knowledgeable ones consider the sacrifice of the body a great triumph, that they may be freed from outward tribulations and attain to everlasting bounties. However, you should not fix your gaze upon these stations, nor [diligently] pursue thoughts of your own deliverance. You must exercise the utmost care in preservation—thus does the All-Knowing Truth command you. For one such as yourself must remain steadfast among the people and, with perfect wisdom and utterance, enable receptive souls to attain the bounties of the All-Merciful. This is what God has chosen for you—verily He is the Ordainer, the Unconstrained. Protection has ever been and shall ever be in God’s hands, but since its means are also from God, you must be mindful of them.”

This servant submits that now that you have arrived in that land, if matters gain prominence beyond the bounds of moderation, most people will withdraw themselves, thereby causing the work of teaching to fall into delay. However, if one proceeds with perfect wisdom, perhaps through association with people, some receptive souls may be awakened from the sleep of heedlessness and turn to the Truth. The supplication that was submitted to the Most Holy, Most Exalted Presence was presented before the Face on one of the nights, and a Tablet was revealed from the heaven of divine favors and sent forth. I beseech you to convey countless greetings from this evanescent servant to the loved ones of God in that land.

Furthermore, write to the Afnan—upon him and them be the Glory of God and His sweetest remembrance—who reside in the land of China, that everything they sent to the Most Holy Court has been received in full, for the sons of Jinab-i-Z had requested in their letters to the land of S that a receipt for the items be written and sent. Therefore, your honor should write expressions of utter servitude and the Most Wondrous, Most Exalted, Most Glorious greetings on my behalf to them, and mention the receipt of the items. Perhaps later a Tablet of God will be specifically revealed and sent to them. I submit again that besides the two Most Exalted Tablets sent, another Tablet has been revealed specifically for your honor and is immersed in the ocean of verses, but due to the press of occupations, there is no opportunity to search through the books and send it. I hope for forgiveness. May the Most Glorious Glory and the Most Splendid Light rest upon your honor and upon those who are honored to serve you there from among the loved ones of God, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

The servant 66 [of God], 22 Rabi’u’th-Thani 1290

BH00564: How many a loved one have We found…

He is the Most Great, the Most Bountiful!

How many a loved one have We found to be but froth on the water, and how many a friend has turned apostate, having followed his passions, heedless of his Ancient Lord! Say: O people, follow not your idle fancies, but follow true guidance. Verily, He hath appeared with a light that hath illumined the heavens and the earth. Be steadfast in the Cause, then summon the people to this Most Great Name.

Say: O concourse of princes! Take from the mighty the rights of the weak, and let not the rich exercise dominion over the poor. Thus doth command you the Lord of Names. He, verily, is the Knower of all things. Blessed is the rich one whom riches have not kept back from the Creator of earth and heaven, and whom the world hath not hindered from submitting unto them that are the people of Baha. By My life! He is of the people of the Crimson Ark. The denizens of the Concourse on High glory in him. How excellent is this most exalted station! Honour him, O people of truth, for he is among the choicest of creation. Thus hath it been decreed in justice by the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Say: O concourse of divines! Judge with justice amongst My servants. Beware lest anything prevent you from turning toward the poor. Look not to the right, but to the manifest truth. We are with you in all conditions. We hear what issueth from your mouths and behold what ye do. He, verily, is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Turn away your eyes from the left; be ye of them on the right hand who judge with pure justice for the sake of God. These, verily, are of the sincere ones. Blessed is the divine who judgeth with truth. He is of the people of this noble station. From him We perceive the fragrance of the All-Glorious, and We bless him with this Tongue that hath spoken that there is none other God but He, the Forgiving, the Merciful. Follow those divines from whose faces ye perceive the radiance of the All-Glorious. They are as eyes unto bodies. Thus hath decreed the Most Merciful Who created all possibility by His binding command, the All-Wise.

Say: O concourse of men of letters! By God, your cryptic verses and intricate riddles, your enigmas and palindromes, will profit you nothing this Day. Cast them aside in My Name, then take what your Lord of all worlds commandeth you. Hold back the reins of your pens, for the Pen of God moveth in the arena of the Tablets with wisdom and utterance. This is the source of prosperity, did ye but know. Adorn your speech with the mention of the All-Merciful and with verses for the Revealer of verses. Thus doth command you the Lord of attributes, Who hath come from the kingdom of proof with manifest sovereignty.

Restrain your tongues from satire, for ye were created for praise. This is His Day, were ye but endowed with insight. Can mention of tresses and locks profit you? Nay, by the Lord of Power! Turn ye unto the Most Sublime Vision, this radiant station. Say: The eloquent one is he who hath conveyed My Cause, and the articulate one is he who hath spoken forth when questioned about this momentous News. Blessed is the poet who hath perceived in the days of God and from whose words hath wafted the fragrance of his Lord’s love throughout all creation—he is indeed of the triumphant. Woe unto the poet who hath brandished the spear of satire amidst the concourse of creation and hath remained heedless of this wondrous Remembrance. Remember the favour of God in having made your tongues the keys of treasures and the means to wisdom and mysteries. Fear God and be not of the heedless ones. This is the Day of praise wherein the Creator of the heavens hath come with the kingdom of your Lord, the Mighty, the Most Praised.

Say: O concourse of the followers of Moses! The discourse of the Fire hath returned by the command of your Lord, the Chosen One, and from its roaring ye hear: “There is no God but Me, the Mighty, the Gracious.” O followers of the Son! The Kingdom hath been adorned with My Name and the Realm of Power with My sovereignty, and the Spirit lamenteth by reason of that which hath befallen Me at the hands of the oppressors. Verily, the Temple beareth witness unto the Lord of all causes, yet most of the peoples are among the silent ones. It was built through piety, not through idle fancy, were ye of those who perceive. It was raised by the hand of the Divine Will, and none knoweth it save every discerning one possessed of insight. This is He through Whom the Spirit hath spoken, and through Whose mention both the Torah and the Gospel have been adorned. Every mouldering bone hath been quickened by the breeze of Revelation, yet the people, for the most part, are among the dead. Arise from the graves of heedlessness and desire, in the name of the Creator of heaven, then turn ye toward the horizon of the Cause through this glorious Name.

This is the Righteous One Who was in heaven and of Whom Christ gave you tidings. He hath come with His mighty glory. The Most Great Law hath appeared—that which was mentioned in the scriptures of the Messengers. Fear God and follow not your desires. Follow ye the Truth to which the Most Exalted Word hath testified and wherewith the Kingdom of Names hath been adorned. Turn ye unto Him with illumined hearts and be not of them that turn aside. Say: O people of the Qur’an! By God, the All-Merciful Spirit lamenteth because of your deeds, when He came from the heaven of utterance with clear sovereignty. Ye have denied Him by Whose leave all things were created, and turned away from Him unto Whom every radiant countenance hath turned. Say: He hath appeared in such wise that none can deny Him save those who are veiled by the clouds of hatred and wrapped in the shrouds of desire, and are among the most lost. Have mercy upon yourselves and break not God’s Covenant and His Testament, and be of the equitable ones. Your turning away harmeth Me not, even as your turning toward Me profiteth Me not. Verily, He is independent of all the worlds.

Say: O concourse of the Bayan! This is the Best-Beloved of all possible worlds, Who hath come with the Kingdom of verses, yet ye remain heedless. Was this Revelation made conditional upon any conditions, and doth the Cause rest in your hands or in the hand of God? Consider well, and be not of the ignorant. If the Cause be in God’s hand, then He hath raised me up and sent me forth, and caused me to speak by His will. He, verily, is the Ordainer of whatsoever He pleaseth. He hath manifested me with a proof round which circle the proofs of all the Messengers. By my Self have I raised the standards of power, which none denieth save every malicious sinner. Were the Cause in my hands, I would not have uttered a word amongst you. I kept the Cause hidden until His irrevocable and firm decree came. His will hath prevailed over my will, and He hath manifested me despite the arrows of the ungodly that have pierced me.

And if the Cause be in your hands, why do ye denounce as unbelievers the people of the Gospel and the Torah, and the followers of the Friend? They say what ye say. They have clung to their vain imaginings and idle fancies, and have turned away from the Dayspring of certitude and my most luminous horizon. Ye are in the greatest of veils, and these are but tales of the ancients that persist among you. He knoweth what is in your breasts and what hath prevented you from this noble horizon. Ye are deaf, by the Lord of the mighty Throne! And ye are blind, by the Lord of the exalted Seat! The earth and heaven have been illumined by the light of the countenance of your most glorious Lord, yet ye see not. Clear proofs have appeared, yet ye know them not. Verses have been sent down, yet ye comprehend them not. All things have testified to the Lord of Names, yet ye hear not. The Pen is ashamed to recount what ye have uttered concerning me, though ye were commanded not to allude to this holy, exalted, inaccessible and forbidden station.

Ye have embraced him whom We cast into the sea, and have clung to his vain imaginings. Do ye know by what authority ye turned to him and turned away from Him by Whom the horizon of your Lord’s power, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting, was illumined? And did ye recognize Him? Nay, by the Self of the Beloved! We testify that ye worship idle fancies and are unaware. Thus have We recounted unto thee the tale of the people who today shall find no helpers. O thou who hast turned to God! Leave them and what they possess, then stand firm in this irrevocable Cause.

The seal of the Wine of Mysteries hath been broken by the fingers of might. Blessed are they who are free, who have drunk in the name of their Chosen Lord on this Promised Day. We have sent down from the heaven of bounty that which shall gladden faithful servants. When thou hast attained unto the Tablet of God and found from it the fragrance of verses, say: Praise be unto Thee, O Source of clear evidences. I testify that Thou art the Omnipotent over what was and what shall be. Blessed is he who has remained steadfast in the Cause and was not hindered by the intimations of those who disbelieved in God when He came with His name, the Self-Subsisting. Remember those on whose faces thou findest the radiance of Baha. Say: Rejoice in that ye have been mentioned by the Pen of Revelation. By My life! Ye are the triumphant ones. Let not what hath escaped you grieve you, for He is the Mighty, the Forgiving.

Let not the affairs of creation disturb you. Verily, the Truth is with you; this sufficeth you, did ye but know. Say: Read ye the verses of God, then ponder upon them that ye may know what hath befallen Us. Within them is revealed every hidden matter. Afflictions have encompassed Me which none can reckon save God, Knower of the unseen and the seen. the ungodly have gathered against Me from every direction with tyranny, to this bear witness honored servants. Every harm hath been ordained for My person and every affliction for My beauty, yet the people understand not. We, in all conditions, summon the servants unto the Mighty, the Loving. What befalleth Us deterreth Us not, even as what befell Us in the past deterred Us not, and thy Lord is witness to what I say. Be thou as steadfast as thy Lord, that the words of those who have disbelieved in God and believed in falsehood may not deter thee. Thus doth the Pen of Knowledge teach thee from the presence of the Truth, the All-Knowing. Take what thou hast been given by the power of thy Lord, then remember Him in thy days. This is better for thee than what was and what shall be.

Glorified art Thou, O my God! I know not by what fire Thou didst kindle the lamp of Thy sovereignty in the midst of Thy lands, nor by what light Thou didst manifest Thy countenance in Thy realms. The more the waters of opposition were poured upon the former, the more its radiance increased; and the more the veils of the heedless obscured the latter, the more its gleaming and effulgence grew. Thus dost Thou see, O my God, the lamp of Thy Revelation among the people of darkness and rebellion, and Thy abiding Face among the people of loss. I beseech Thee by Thy name, the All-Merciful, through which the breaths of life were wafted over all who are in the heavens and on earth, to raise up from among those possessed of power one who shall arise to aid Thy Cause, exalt Thy Word, and establish Thy laws among Thy servants. Then strengthen through him, O my God, Thy loved ones who have turned unto Thee and sought the sanctuary of Thy presence. Though Thou hast strengthened them in Thy kingdom, yet I desire their exaltation in the realm of creation, by Thy glory, O Creator of the heavens and Lord of all names! There is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the Glorious, the All-Bountiful.

BH00968: A remembrance from Us unto him who hath been…

In the Name of Him Who hath dominion over all who are in the kingdom of names!

A remembrance from Us unto him who hath been remembered by the Mention and turned unto the Countenance when it appeared in truth, and was among them that turned, and hath been inscribed by the Pen of Command upon the Tablet. Know thou the measure of this station, then act in accordance with that which beseemeth this Day which was promised in the Tablets.

Immerse thyself at all times in the seas of wisdom and utterance. Thus doth the All-Merciful command thee as a token of His grace, for verily He hath knowledge of all things. Be thou in such wise that what the people possess entereth not thy heart, nor is that which is falsely spoken among men mentioned before thy face.

Among the people are those whom the winds of idle fancies have stirred and held back from the shore of My Name, the Manifest, the Hidden. Thus hath the matter been decreed. And among them are those whom the attraction of the Call hath so seized that they have cast aside all created things and turned toward the horizon which shineth with the lights of revelation.

Say: The mountains have been moved by the fragrances of the Day of Return, and the Mount hath borne witness to this Manifestation which hath been known by its own Self. Say: The people’s possessions alter Him not, nor doth the might of those who have been deprived of justice restrain Him. He speaketh at all times that which He is bidden by the Lord of all religions. To this testifieth he who hath witnessed Beauty from the horizon of glory.

Among the people are those who have cast aside what was commanded in the Tablets and have taken their own desires for a path. And among them are those who have been veiled by knowledge from the Sovereign of all knowledge and have followed every vain imagination, having halted upon the path.

Say: Beware lest the multitude of the people’s books hold you back from Our Name, the Self-Subsisting. Consider the sinful one: he hath filled his house with books, yet not a single letter thereof profited him. Thus was the matter decreed, as witnesseth he who was endowed with true vision. Had these things profited him, he would not have rejected the Book of God behind his back, nor would he have opposed Him by Whose Name all religions have been sent down in truth from the heaven of revelation.

Among the divines are those who write what their idle fancies inspire them, turning aside from the Pen from which have flowed the springs of wisdom and utterance. Woe unto him and unto those who follow him! Soon shall they find themselves in fires kindled by the wrath of God.

O My loved ones! Be not grieved by what hath befallen you. By God, ye shall behold yourselves in a station illumined by the lights of the Throne. That which ye behold hath no permanence. All in the kingdom shall perish, and there shall endure only that which hath been ordained for you in a dominion raised up in the name of God.

Among the people is he who claimeth the inner meaning and thereby holdeth back the people from a path which hath been straight in the eternal past. Say: The inner meaning is this Outward One Who proclaimeth from the midmost heart of the world that the Lord of all nations hath come—He Who was hidden behind the veils of the unseen in glory. Whoso speaketh today what the Tongue of Grandeur hath spoken, verily he is of the people of infallibility. God hath preserved him through a sovereignty that encompasseth the worlds.

Thy letter hath come before the Face, and We found therein thy passion for God, thy yearning for the ocean of His presence, and thy burning in separation from thy Lord, the Mighty, the Wise. He beareth thee witness of attainment and hath ordained for thee the reward of one who hath gained His presence, the Inaccessible, the Most High. Blessed art thou, for thy letter hath been presented and read in a presence wherein its very dust particles proclaim that there is none other God but Him, the Lord of all worlds.

God hath thereby forgiven thy mother and thy sisters and admitted them beneath the shadow of His mercy which hath preceded all things. Glorify their countenances, then mention them from Me through this bounty which hath appeared from the horizon of thy Lord’s loving-kindness, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

We have ordained for thee what thou didst desire of God’s grace and mercy. Be thou assured and of those who are thankful. Make mention of My loved ones in that place. Say: Follow that which ye have been commanded in the Tablets. This is better for you, if ye be of those who know.

It behooveth every soul to follow that which he hath been commanded, detached from all else in creation. This is the religion of God, from before and after. Blessed is every discerning scholar. Verily, the glory be upon thee and upon thy mother and thy sisters and upon those who have held fast to this firm cord.

In the Name of the One Friend:

God willing, through the grace of the All-Merciful, you must be the cupbearer of the wine of recognition, that perchance lifeless souls may attain eternal life through this enduring wine. The divine call hath been raised in such wise that it hath encompassed all creation; nevertheless, most weak souls remain heedless and veiled in the veils of idle fancies. By the Sun of Truth! From the inception of this wondrous creation until now, no such call hath been raised, yet through desire they have been debarred from hearkening unto it. Some are occupied with interpretation, heedless of the explicit text, while others cling to the branch, veiled from the root. Were the veil to be lifted, they would bewail their own selves—but they are among the dead.

The matter which is and shall ever be obligatory and essential is the teaching of God’s Cause, as hath been revealed in most of the Tablets. Your honor must engage in this most great, most mighty cause with perfect wisdom and protect the weak from the vain imaginings of those who count themselves among the learned, that all may drink from the spring of supreme steadfastness and attain unto this station which is the most exalted summit and ultimate purpose. Should souls be found in that land who would arise to teach God’s Cause in surrounding villages, purely for the sake of God, this would be most beloved. However, such souls must be the knights of the field of detachment, in such wise that they regard all save God as utter nothingness and behold the banner of “There is no God but Him” raised over all regions. They must move for God, speak for God, and strive in God, and journey unto God.

O servant turning unto the Face! The Cause is extremely mighty, and the plotters lie in ambush with the utmost cunning and deceit. The souls must be reminded at all times, lest through the promptings of malicious souls they be debarred from the path of oneness. We beseech God to assist thee in all conditions, to make thee one who speaketh in His name, who gazeth toward His direction, and who moveth by His leave. Verily, He is the Powerful, the Mighty. And praise be to God, thy Lord and the Lord of all worlds.