Volume 057: Akka 1295 A.H. (1878) (3 of 3)

BH00282: Praise be to God Who hath manifested through His…

Section 1: “Praise be to God Who hath manifested through…”

He is the Dawning-Place from the horizon of utterance, through remembrance and clear exposition.

Praise be to God Who hath manifested through His all-prevailing power that which was concealed, and brought forth through His Most Exalted Pen that which was recorded in the scrolls of creation—He through Whose Name the Tablets have been adorned and all things have been stirred, through Whom necks have been freed and the All-Bountiful hath come in the clouds of heaven. He is the One through Whose manifestation the fragrances of the All-Merciful have wafted throughout all possibility, and when He was established upon the throne with majesty and sovereignty, thereupon did the Dove of the Cause warble upon the twig of eternity, and the Bird of Faithfulness coo upon the branches of the Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing, and the Nightingale of Utterance sing upon the leaves of the Tree of Blessedness, and behind it all the Tongue of Grandeur between earth and heaven.

By My life! That which was hidden hath appeared, and that which was treasured hath shone forth from the horizon of creation. Come ye and draw near, O Concourse of Names! Then hasten and approach, O Denizens of the highest paradise! Raise your voices and come quickly, O people of creation! Hearken, O people of earth, unto My sweetest call once again, and deprive not yourselves of that which hath been ordained for you in My most exalted Kingdom. Behold and observe: in My right hand is My crimson scroll, and in My left is My purest wine, whose seal hath been broken through My Most Glorious Name. By God! Through it the Most Great Ocean hath surged, and the mountains have moved, and earthquakes have seized the tribes of the earth in all regions, and through it the heaven of idle fancies hath been cleft asunder and the ground of the hearts of those who denied the beginning and the end hath been split.

And praise be to God Who hath caused His loved ones to hear the rustling of His branches upon the Tree that hath overshadowed all regions with its shade. Blessed and exalted is He Who hath caused them to hear His call and summoned them by Himself unto Himself, and made known to them His beauty, and caused them to soar in His atmosphere, and taught them His path, and inspired them with His remembrance and praise, and expanded their breasts for His utterance and their hearts for His establishment, and nourished them with the wine of His revelation and the fountain of His inspiration, and caused them to speak His words. He is indeed the Single One Whom the calumnies of the ungodly cannot harm, and the One Whom the ascription of partners by satans cannot prevent. Verily, He is the Ruler over whatsoever He willeth. There is none other God but Him, the Inspirer, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

The servant has attained unto the dewdrops from your pen, which have sprinkled forth from the ocean of your love—our Beloved and your Beloved, our Goal and the Goal of all the worlds. When the wine of your affection’s Kawthar overwhelmed me and the fragrances of your mention stirred me, and while I was repeatedly reading your letter, I was summoned to ascend unto the seat of the Desired One. When I attained His presence and presented it, thereupon the Kingdom of Utterance was stirred and the Tongue of Grandeur spoke that which the people of creation cannot bear, save those whom His prevailing Will and His all-encompassing Purpose have chosen. By God’s life! I have drunk from the ocean of bounty that which I cannot mention, nor can pens describe, nor tongues express. And I gave thanks unto God that I beheld the countenance of the Beloved turned towards His Afnan who have attained the Most Great Bounty in His days. He, verily, is the All-Compelling, the All-Seeing, the All-Hearing. My very being and all I possess be a sacrifice for your love!

The exalted letter which was inscribed with this evanescent one’s name dispelled sorrows and extinguished the fire of grief. Praise be to God, it bestowed the Salsabil of joy and granted the Kawthar of delight. His be the praise in all conditions. Three letters were received from your honor, but since outwardly the passages requiring response were not clear, therefore there was delay. Otherwise, how could this servant, according to his capacity, postpone or be negligent? In all conditions I beseech and hope from the True One that He may assist this servant to manifest that which brings joy to the luminous heart.

At this moment when this servant was occupied with this petition, he again observed your honor’s letters to present answers to the passages written therein. After visiting the first letter and reading the prayer mentioned therein, I took it once again and proceeded with it to the Ultimate Goal and the Most Exalted Horizon, and presented it before His countenance time and again. Thereupon the Tongue of God, the Lord of the first and the last, spoke. He said, exalted be His glory and universal be His bounty:

“O My Afnan! We have heard thy rustling and thy call, and witnessed thy clinging and thy steadfastness and thy turning unto Us, and We know the state thou art in regarding the love of thy Lord, Who was banished time after time and imprisoned again and again in the path of God, the Lord of the worlds. We take pride in what hath befallen Us at the hands of the enemies, and through it the Cause of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed, hath been exalted. We have named this prison the Most Great Prison. It behooveth everyone to reflect upon it and upon that wherewith it hath been named by the Mighty, the Wise. We have mentioned thee before from My Most Exalted Pen, and We have turned unto thee at this time from this noble station.

Thou hast been beneath the glances of thy Lord’s loving-kindness, and the Wronged One greeteth thee from this glorious spot. Blessed art thou for having drunk the choice wine of utterance from the hand of the bounty of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, and for having attained unto that which most of mankind hath been deprived of. The Tongue of Grandeur beareth witness to this in this Clear Book. We have heard thy call which was raised in the days of thy Lord, and We know that wherewith thou didst commune with God, the True Sovereign, the Manifest. We beseech Him to strengthen thee in all conditions and to send down upon thee from the heaven of grace that which beseemeth His mercy that hath preceded the world and His generosity that hath encompassed the heavens and the earth.” End.

Praise be to God! The ocean of bounty is surging, the sun of grace is shining, and the heaven of mercy is elevated. From the verses sent down from the heaven of God’s Will, His infinite favor is made manifest. Blessed is the nose that perceiveth its perfume, blessed the mouth that tasteth its sweetness, blessed the heart that discerneth its station, and blessed the body that is stirred by its breezes. In truth, for every member of the body a portion is ordained. O how excellent is the blessing that hath been destined for the souls of the sincere ones, which is the verses of God and His words, and the utterance of God and His proof. I beseech Him, exalted be His glory, not to deprive the people of the world from the fragrances of the Most Great Name. Verily, He is the Hearer, the Answerer.

In a Tablet revealed from the horizon of God’s will during the days when the military barracks served as the seat of the throne, those who circle the divine throne were mentioned to be of three kinds. Some gaze toward the Most Exalted Horizon and are nourished by the Most Glorious Nectar—these are souls who truly “speak not before He speaks and act by His command.” Blessed are they and theirs is a goodly beginning and end. Another kind are below this station, while others rise at times and fall at others. Thus was it sent down in truth from God, the All-Knowing Revealer. Now, praise be to God, all are blessed with the eternal, everlasting bounty of attaining the presence of the Beloved of the worlds. We beseech God to assist all who circle and dwell in this land to achieve what befits this Day. All the loved ones lived in perfect comfort and bounty for several years until the horizon of trustworthiness darkened. The details of this matter cannot be revealed. Verses were revealed to one of the loved ones dwelling in Ottoman lands. Some of these verses are presented here, revealing what befell the Beloved of the world.

Thus spoke the tongue of the Beloved:

“O My Physician, My Physician! Your call has risen until it reached the ear of your All-Knowing Lord. The Present Servant appeared and presented before the Face what you called unto God, Lord of the worlds. Blessed is the tongue that speaks truth and the eye that beholds My luminous horizon. Blessed is the eye that weeps for My tribulations and the hearts that yearn in My great affliction. By My life! Were the veil to be lifted, wailing would rise between the heavens and earth. How many deeds melted My heart, yet I concealed them through My Name, the Concealer, the Gracious. How many acts caused My heart and pen to lament, yet I preserved them such that none in the world learned of them. How many afflictions seized Me and how many calamities surrounded Me in this mighty prison, yet My Name the Forgiving prevented Me from mentioning them, and My Name the Merciful took hold of My hem saying: ʿVerily, Thou art the Most Merciful of the merciful ones.’ Thus did My tongue speak that you might learn what befell the Wronged One in this remote spot.”

Section 2: “All matters that occurred in this land were…”

All matters that occurred in this land were previously mentioned in divine Tablets. Thus at first arrival this prison was named the Most Great Prison, and it was said its mystery would later be revealed. By the Sun of the horizon of inner meanings, the Cause of God was so exalted in this land that none could adequately describe it. The prison door was opened, although the original decree issued by Sultan Abdul-Aziz had stipulated that none should be allowed near, not even a barber for shaving without a guard present. Nevertheless, the prison door was opened such that companions could freely travel to any land they wished without question. This supreme power and mighty sovereignty appeared without material means, for it was never expected that such severity and harshness would be removed. We testify that He is truly powerful over whatsoever He willeth. There is no God but Him, the Able, the Ruler, the Mighty, the Wise.

The people are heedless and do not reflect upon the power of God. At all times manifest signs and clear evidences appear, yet they remain unaware and have not raised their heads from the slumber of heedlessness. If the blessed Surih of Ra’is has reached your presence, you will have become aware of the degree of the heedlessness of the servants. The All-Glorious, Most Great God has spoken the truth. All that has occurred in these two years was mentioned and recorded in that Most Holy, Most Exalted Tablet. That which was promised in the Book has appeared, and that which no one among the servants can today comprehend shall appear. In truth, the overwhelming attraction and rapturous yearning of this servant in your presence has caused this petition to become lengthy, yet in all cases pardon is hoped for.

And regarding what you had written about the Holy Land, this matter has been forbidden, and the decree concerning it was revealed from the Supreme Pen and sent beforehand. In this regard, this evanescent servant has deemed it necessary to submit a brief account of these matters so that you may be informed. For two years in this land, the price of things has been rising day by day, and likewise some of the pilgrims have taken large sums of money from the people and have not repaid them, claiming that the money was entirely lost. And the small amount of money that the government was giving to some of the prisoners has decreased due to the wars occurring between the two states, as they now give promissory notes worth one-third of what they used to give.

Some of the friends wrote about these hardships and difficulties that had befallen them by way of information to his honor, the Name of God (66), may all glory most glorious be upon him, and he, due to his being enkindled with the fire of divine love, thought it advisable to inform the friends. God knows that he intended nothing by this except to manifest that which he possessed in his love for God and His Cause. And afterward, he wrote the details to this servant.

After presenting it to the Most Holy Court, He instructed: Write to the Name of Ha that no one should proceed to the land of Kha, and they should not mention the details of this land in that region. Therefore, this servant submitted a letter to him, and in that letter mighty, impregnable verses were revealed from the heaven of the Divine Will. A copy of that letter is being submitted to your presence, that you may be informed of that which has shone forth from the horizon of the will of our Lord, the Powerful, the Mighty:

He is the One Who has power over whatsoever He willeth through His word “Be” and it is!

Verily the evanescent servant calleth out before the face of the world and maketh mention of that which hath reached his ears through hearkening unto that which the Tongue of Grandeur and Glory hath spoken. He hath spoken, and His word is the truth:

“By God! The horizon of trustworthiness hath been darkened, the countenance of faithfulness hath been altered, and the hem of fidelity between earth and heaven hath been sullied. There hath appeared that which beseemeth not the Cause of God, His days, His majesty and His glory in this land which hath been named the Crimson Spot among the Concourse of Names and in the heaven of this heaven from My Most Exalted Pen.”

We beseech Him, exalted be He, to set right what we have neglected in regard to Him, to forgive us for what we have wrought in His presence, and to ordain for us justice and that whereby His Cause and sovereignty may be uplifted among His servants.

O beloved of my heart! Although sorrows have taken their toll and the hearts of the pure ones in God’s lands and realms have been troubled by what hath occurred in the Prison Land, yet we thank the Beloved that the world hath been honored with the Most Great Joy, and verily He is seated upon the throne before the face of the nations. There is none other God but He, the Mighty, the Bestower.

This is a petition from the evanescent one to him who hath dawned from the horizon of Sad for the love of God, our Lord and the Lord of the sincere ones, and I inform him of what the Ancient Beauty hath commanded me in this station. He hath spoken, and His most sweet utterance is:

“O My Name Ha! No one should proceed to the land of Kha and inform its people of matters that have newly arisen in this White Land, whose very atoms proclaim that there is none other God but He, the Mighty, the Loving.”

As commanded, inform His Excellency that no one should specifically proceed to the land of Kha regarding recent events, and if anyone has gone or taken anything, let him return it to the direction of the Intended One and surely restore it to its owner. Likewise, that person himself should abandon his intention and return. This is what the Beloved of the Worlds hath decreed.

And regarding what was given in the lands of Ta and Kaf, if it has been sent, the matter is concluded; if not, let it remain with His Excellency and let him send the names of those souls to the Most Holy Court. Verily, He is the Ruler over what He willeth. There is none other God but He, the Mighty, the Wise.

In view of this firm decree issued from the Source of Command, if what was taken has been returned, they have acted according to what God commanded them. If it still remains, according to the decree it must be given to the poor of the land of Kha. Verily, He does not allow to be lost the reward of one who spendeth in His path. He is the Giver, the Bestower, the Ordainer, the Generous.

The copy of those names to whom that sum should be given will be sent by Nabil-i-Qa’ini as commanded, and God is the guardian of the beneficent ones.

That which was issued from the Source of Command this year was that if anyone wishes to pay the Huququ’llah with complete willingness and satisfaction, the Trustees of the lands should receive it and present it. Until this year, although the law of Huquq was revealed in the Book of God with explicit text, not a word was heard from the blessed tongue regarding this matter. However, this year what was decreed was decreed. Verily, He is the Decreer, the All-Knowing.

This servant further begs of your honour that to each one of them that drink of the wine of divine love who attain your presence, and as you deem fit, mention this servant’s utter effacement and nothingness. And another entreaty to be conveyed to the Afnan of the Sacred Tree—may my soul be a sacrifice for them—is an expression of pure devotion and absolute nothingness, contingent upon your honour’s grace and favours, especially to his honour M and H—upon him be all the Most Glorious Glory—who was mentioned in your honour’s letter. The essence of glory and remembrance be upon your honour and upon them and upon those who cling to the hem of God’s sacred, pure, mighty and luminous robe. And praise be to God, the Powerful, the Mighty, the Wise.

Additionally, it is submitted regarding the sum about which news arrived from the land of Kha, and which your honour directed payment for before its arrival and inquiry—when this was submitted in the Most Holy Presence, He smiled and said:

“They have even added benefit to it for him. We have accepted all that was done in God’s path. He has indeed done what was befitting of him and We have accepted double what he did for the love of God.”

However, that sum must be handled according to the mentioned command, meaning it should be distributed in the land of Kha according to the list sent by Nabil-i-Akbar.

The servant, 9 Dhi’l-Hajjih 1295

BH02057: Unto God belongs the work of those who have…

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

Unto God belongs the work of those who have detached themselves from all else save Him and have attained unto that which was commanded them in the Book inscribed by His Most Exalted Pen. And unto God belongs the pearl of those who have hearkened to His sweetest call, have turned toward His most exalted horizon, and have testified to that which God Himself hath testified—they are the ones through whom the horizon of utterance hath shone forth and through whom the fragrance of the garment of the All-Merciful hath been wafted throughout all possibility. And upon God rests the recompense of those who have recognized His days, whereby the Books, the Scriptures and the Tablets have been adorned.

Thereafter, there hath reached the servant thy letter which was perfumed with the mention of the Beloved and adorned with the praise of God, the Lord of the seen and the unseen. I read it and beseeched God, our Lord and your Lord, that He might aid you to celebrate the praise of the Dawning-Place of His verses, the Dayspring of His knowledge and the Source of His wisdom which hath encompassed the world. Verily, He is the Near One, the Responding One.

It is submitted that mention was made of your honor in the Most Holy Presence, and after presenting what you had written and sent, He said:

“God willing, they must engage with the utmost diligence and effort in the mention of God, that perchance sleeping souls may attain the grace of awareness, may hearken to the call of the Wronged One, and may arise to serve the Cause. A hundred thousand regrets and reproaches be upon those souls who have not attained to the recognition of the Promised Day and who wander and journey in the gloomy wilderness of their own desires. Thinkest thou that they understand or hear? God testifieth that they are among the dead and perceive it not.”

O servant of God! That which thou hast accomplished in the path of the Intended One hath not been and shall never be forgotten. Give thanks unto God for having enabled thee to serve His Cause. This, verily, is a supreme station. Convey My greetings unto those who are with thee. Thus doth command thee the Wronged One, the Stranger.

As to what thou didst write concerning Jinab-i-Safi and the guest, upon them be the glory of God—praise be to God, they have ever been the recipients of divine favors. Jinab-i-Safi is among those souls whom the Truth Himself hath taught, and for whom He hath opened the door of His great mercy with the key of His blessed Name. Well is it with him and with her. Convey on behalf of this servant wondrous and glorious greetings unto them, and likewise unto all the friends in that land who have been nourished by the wine of divine love and who have been adorned with His endless bounties—convey on behalf of this evanescent one greetings, mention and peace. I beseech God to aid and assist them all and to adorn them with the ornament of steadfastness. The glory be upon thee and upon them and upon those who have walked His straight path. And praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

It is further submitted that regarding what thou didst mention about the son of the servant, it was presented in the Most Holy Presence. He said:

“God willing, may they be illumined by the Sun of divine favor and may they be occupied with His mention, which is the first gift of the Beloved. The glance of grace hath been and God willing shall be upon them. And their Lord, the All-Merciful, He is verily the Bestower, the Generous.”

BH02929: Praise be to God Who hath decreed through His…

Praise be to God Who hath decreed through His command and revealed affliction through His behest, and through Him His Cause was raised up in the kingdom of creation….

As to what thou hadst written concerning Muhammad-Baqir of N and J, that he had written to thee that in former times he was engaged in commerce and had been somewhat negligent in the payment of the rights of God, such as being imprecise in his weighing, sometimes giving more or less, and now that he has learned that the Blessed Will requires the payment of dues, trustworthiness, and refraining from disposing of others’ property without permission, he finds himself in difficulty since he knows neither the rightful owners nor the amounts. He has beseeched pardon for his past deeds. All these details were presented at the Most Holy Court, and this is what shone forth from the horizon of justice:

O Zayn, mayest thou, God willing, be ever engaged in service to the Cause and attain unto the fragrances of the days of the Beloved. Write to Muhammad-Baqir: Thy call was heard and thy petition accepted. Blessed art thou for having made acknowledgment in the days of the Wronged One and for having sought the good pleasure of thy imprisoned Lord. Beseech God to raise up souls who, through their trustworthiness and rectitude, may free and liberate the horizon of trustworthiness from these dark and obscuring clouds. O Zayn, injury hath reached such a point that mention of it is not permissible. The loved ones of this Revelation must walk among men with utmost sanctity and detachment, and must hold fast to trustworthiness and rectitude in such wise that their light may shine forth like the morning star unto all the world.

Write unto him what the Tongue of Grandeur uttereth in this exalted station: Say: That which thou didst write unto My Name hath come before the Wronged One and hath been honored to be heard by thy Lord in this station which God hath sanctified beyond mention and utterance. We have answered thee with these verses which have shone forth and gleamed from the horizon of thy Lord’s will, the All-Subduing. Blessed art thou for having turned, acknowledged, and sought the grace of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Bestower. We have forgiven thee and pardoned what is past. Verily thy Lord is the Mighty, the All-Forgiving. Trust in God in all matters and hold fast unto what the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Book. God willing, mayest thou be engaged in the mention of God with the utmost joy and fragrance, walking in the path of His good-pleasure and remaining steadfast in His love. Never let steadfastness in His Cause depart from thy sight, for this Cause is most mighty. Beseech God to aid His loved ones to act according to His will. Whatever He hath ordained and ordaineth hath been and shall be for the good of His servants themselves. To this beareth witness My tongue, My pen, and the kingdom of My utterance, the Mighty, the Impregnable….

O Lord of all names and Creator of the heavens! I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which all things have been encompassed to cause me to be among them who have soared in the atmosphere of Thy love, who have quaffed the choice wine of Thy favors, who have turned toward the horizon of Thy Cause, and who have detached themselves from all else but Thee out of love for Thy beauty. O my Lord! Thou seest the needy one standing before the gate of Thy grace, and the ailing one turning toward the ocean of Thy healing. I implore Thee not to drive me from the courts of Thy holiness, nor to keep me distant from the seat of Thy nearness. Thou art He in Whose grasp is the kingdom of the heavens and of the earth. Thou doest what Thou willest through Thy sovereignty and ordainest what Thou pleasest through Thy command. Verily, Thou art the All-Protecting over what hath been and what shall be….

Concerning what thou didst mention about Ismu’llah al-Asdaq, upon him be the Most Glorious Beauty of God, according to the Covenant, this was presented, and this is what was revealed for him from God, the Mighty, the Loving:

“O Zayn! We make mention of him who hath drunk the wine of My utterance, heard My call, turned to the horizon of My Cause, soared in the atmosphere of My nearness, entered My prison by My leave, circumambulated around Me through My grace, and heard My sweetest call in the White Spot. Upon him be My glory and the glory of the Concourse on High, and the light whereby Zawra was illumined when God made it the seat of His mighty throne. Thus did We make mention of him aforetime, and before that was revealed for him in My Preserved Tablet that which caused the world to quiver with longing for God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Blessed is he and blessed is he who maketh mention of him and greeteth him. Thus doth God teach His servants, for verily He is the Teacher, the All-Wise.”

BH02310: Praise be to God Who hath sent down…

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

Praise be to God Who hath sent down the verses and revealed the clear proofs and spoken that wherewith all created things have spoken, that there is none other God but Him. He it is by Whose most sweet call all things cried out, and springs gushed forth from solid rock. Blessed be our Lord, the Most Holy, the Most Glorious, through Whom the horizon of utterance hath shone forth and the ocean of bounty hath surged amongst the peoples of possibility and the Beauty of the All-Merciful was established upon the throne. He it is through Whom every motionless thing was set in motion, every seated one arose, every silent one spoke, every still one hastened, every extinguished one was ignited, every stone melted, and through Whom were opened the gates of wisdom and exposition. He, verily, is the Mighty, the Bestower.

Glory be unto Him! How great is His handiwork and how mighty that which appeareth from His presence! At one time He withholdeth and at another He giveth. He, verily, is the Witholder, the Giver, the Mighty, the Generous.

Through His sovereignty He hath manifested servants possessed of love and understanding, and made them the hands of His Cause amongst His creation and the lamps of His guidance amongst His creatures. The servant beareth witness, and every discerning one who knoweth and every learned one who is informed beareth witness that He is God, there is none other God but Him. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth. He, verily, is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Furthermore, I have read what flowed from the ocean of your love and the words that shone forth from the horizon of your turning unto God, our Lord and your Lord. I beseech Him at all times to make us among those who circle round Him in all His worlds which none hath comprehended save God, the Numberer, the Informed. May my spirit and my soul be offered up for your love and your steadfastness and your remembrance.

After I became acquainted with what was in your letter, I ascended and approached the Beloved of the world and presented it before His face. He spoke, and His word is the truth:

“He is among those whom God hath aided to love Him and show affection for Him and serve Him and remember Him among His servants. His Lord, the All-Merciful, is verily the All-Bountiful, the Generous.”

As for what thou didst mention regarding Sasun, let him act according to what flowed from thy pen. By the life of God, this is more beneficial for him than traveling in the winter season. We beseech God, exalted be He, to assist him and aid him in that which He loveth and is pleased with.

The servant conveyeth greetings and salutations to the faces of the brethren who are there, and I give them glad tidings of God’s bounty and mercy and remembrance and favors, and I counsel them with that whereby the Cause of God may be exalted in all else. The servant hath heard that his honor Nasir, upon him be the glory of God, remained without employment. Let him work as he worked before. Thus hath commanded my Lord and the Lord of the worlds.

Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds. Glory be upon you and upon your household and upon every steadfast and upright believer.

The servant 19 Dhi’l-Qa’dih 1295

BH00567: The Pen calleth out amidst the world and giveth…

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

The Pen calleth out amidst the world and giveth glad-tidings unto the peoples through the Most Great Name, whereby hath flowed the Kawthar of life throughout all contingent being, and whereby there hath gushed forth from the impenetrable rock the sweet-flowing waters of the All-Merciful’s love. By the life of God! This Day is His Day, wherein He turneth at one time to the right, calling out to the companions of the right hand and summoning them unto God, the True Sovereign, the Manifest; and at another time He walketh before the faces of the servants, giving them glad-tidings of that which hath dawned forth and shone from the horizon of the will of the Lord of creation; and at yet another time He speaketh from the highest branches of the Tree of existence, warbling and singing with the most melodious of tunes, whereby the wine of recognition hath intoxicated the servants of the All-Merciful.

Of them are they who hastened unto the Dayspring of sacrifice between earth and heaven, and of them are they who sacrificed themselves by their own hands in the path of God, the Almighty, the Glorious, the All-Bountiful. By the life of God! Were it not for the decree of wisdom sent down from the heaven of the will of our Lord, the All-Merciful, the sincere ones would surely hasten to attain that which the martyrs have attained. The command is God’s, inasmuch as He hath forbidden all from this and enjoined upon them composure and dignity, and the preservation of their souls in private and in public. Verily, He is the Unconstrained, there is no God but Him, the Mighty, the Bestower.

May my spirit and my soul be offered up for that which belongeth to Him and to it in the path of your love, O thou who hast arisen with thy whole being to serve God and to aid His Cause. Several days ago, as commanded, a brief petition was submitted to your presence. God willing, it will have arrived. In your previous letter you had made mention of Manekji Sahib. The answer to his petitions had been revealed through God’s bounty and favor some time ago, but due to certain matters and divine wisdom it was not sent, and likewise the answer to Mulla ʿAli-Akbar, upon him be the Glory of God, and several others whose petitions were brought by Mirza Muhammad-Husayn, the physician, upon him be the Glory of God, was not sent, until in these days from the Dayspring of favors the Sun of permission arose and the answer to the aforementioned gentleman’s petition was sent.

The original Tablet in the handwriting of the Greater Branch—may my spirit and being be offered up for the dust of His most mighty footsteps—was sent and should reach that person, and a copy in this servant’s hand was sent so that any of the honored ones and friends of God who wish to make a copy may do so from this servant’s handwriting, that the original Tablet may reach its owner safe and unblemished. Although that which hath been revealed from the heaven of divine Will in answer to them hath been revealed according to the requirements of the time and in consideration of the condition of the seeker, yet I swear by the beauty of the Beloved that were all who are on earth to be fair-minded and attain unto the perusal of that Tablet, all would enter the goodly City and behold the heavenly bounty with their outward and inner eyes, and be delighted thereby. My soul and the souls of all else be a sacrifice for His utterance and for His mention.

O beloved of my heart! This servant is at all times bewildered and thoughtful, for he sees heedlessness encompassing most of the people of the world to such an extent that pen and tongue are powerless to describe it. Observe how the ocean of inner meanings is surging, the Sun of grace is shining, and the heaven of utterance is raised high; yet the people remain heedless and veiled to such a degree that they are counted among the dead. Soon, however, will the Divine Word encompass all and all shall turn toward the supreme horizon, save those souls who are utterly devoid of spirit—their judgment is as ashes. Blessed are the loved ones of God and His chosen ones—may my soul be a sacrifice for them—who have directed their hearts to the ultimate goal and turned their radiant faces to the supreme horizon, and have drunk the choice wine of life from the hands of bounty on this Day when the vibration of the Manifestation has seized all things.

Blessed is the ear that hath heard its call and the eye that hath witnessed its ways. All souls observe with their outward eyes the passing of one another and the changes of circumstances and days, yet they are seen to be far from the gathering-place of nearness and heedless of the Sun of knowledge which shineth at the zenith. They have neither ears nor eyes—they are like cattle, nay more astray.

From His blessed letters it was understood that after learning of the conditions in the Land of Purpose [Ard-i-Maqsud] and its constraints and the events occurring therein, they have become distressed and saddened. This servant submits that although the events occurring in this land are just as some of the friends have reported to them, yet God willing the hand of divine destiny shall protect. Yes, since God has ordained means for every matter, they look to the means and all are commanded to this station, but after the prevention of the appearance of outward means, assuredly the conquering power and the prevailing sovereignty will be made manifest and will effect the transformation of all that is visible. He is, verily, the Omnipotent, the Almighty. I swear by the Sun of wisdom that shineth from the horizon of the heaven of utterance that were this servant to describe this station as it truly is, all on earth would be bewildered, nay, thunderstruck by the greatness of the Cause.

May my soul be a sacrifice for thy detachment and may my life be offered up for thy service. In truth, tongue and pen fall short of mentioning thy struggles, efforts and endeavors in service to the Cause, and to this every person of insight bears witness and every hearing ear testifies. Praise be to God, then praise be to God, that thou hast attained to this exalted, supreme station which is today visible among the people of the earth. However, according to the blessed command, thou must conduct thyself with perfect wisdom and protect thyself as much as possible for the sake of serving the Truth. The Truth, the Inaccessible, has thus far preserved Himself for the salvation of the people, the freedom of the people, and the maturity of the people. But in these days, due to the ingratitude of the people, We are somewhat hesitant as to what We should will and what command We should manifest.

O My Name Ha! By thy life, We have desired the survival and salvation of creation, yet at every moment they strive for My extinction. Say: By the life of God! He shall never perish, but rather He loveth to veil His countenance from your eyes, O heedless ones. His are worlds beyond worlds, and realms which none hath known save He Who speaketh the truth and converseth with thee from this remote station.

O My Name Sin! Hearken unto My most sweet call. He remembereth thee, and giveth thee glad tidings, and confirmeth thee in thy love for God, the Lord of all worlds. My Most Exalted Pen beareth witness to thy sincerity, thy service, thy steadfastness and thy gracious mention. The Wronged One restraineth Himself from mentioning that which hath befallen Him in this manifest spot. We have named it the Most Great Prison. Thy Lord is, verily, the All-Informed. That which hath appeared therein befitteth to be concealed in a preserved tablet. Thy Lord is, verily, the All-Wise. Grieve not at this, but put thy trust in God. He, verily, is the Almighty, the All-Powerful.

God willing, may you ever be blessed through the mercy of the All-Merciful. Your mention hath been made in the Most Holy Court, thy call hath been heard, and thy love witnessed. The servant in attendance at this moment, when the meal was served, requested that a portion of this food be bestowed upon the Name of Ha, and at this moment he arose and engaged in visitation on thy behalf. We gave him leave for this, that he might be numbered among them that visit. Thus doth the Most Exalted Pen make mention of thee and give thee glad tidings of that which hath appeared at this moment.

As for what thou didst write concerning the Most Great Leaf, the honored sister—upon her be the Most Glorious of all Glory and the Most Excellent of all Praise—yea, this servant once heard from the blessed tongue that He said if one succeeds in paying the Huququ’llah to the extent of paying debts and expenses allocated to them, this is beloved before the Throne. Until this year, this servant always heard these words from the tongue of Grandeur regarding the Huququ’llah, saying that no one should demand Huququ’llah from anyone, as this depends on the success and pleasure of the servants themselves to pay with complete contentment and submission. However, this year, in view of current affairs and apparent conditions, He said that each of the loved ones of God upon whom Huququ’llah has become binding must pay it. We beseech God that all may be enabled to do this, as this matter is truly the cause of preservation and purity of wealth and of blessing, and has ever been so. And they said that were it not for these outward circumstances, never would such words have been uttered from the tongue of Grandeur, but the matter is decreed, and perhaps good will come of it.

I beseech God, exalted be His glory, to give His loved ones to drink, at all times, from the wine of steadfastness and to confirm them in the wisdom that hath been sent down. He, verily, is the Generous Giver. I request of thee to convey expressions of sincerity from this evanescent one to the brethren and to those whom God hath related to thee, one and all, and likewise to the friends. I beseech God to enable them, to assist them, and to draw them near unto Him in all conditions, and to make them aware of this world and its transience and its passing, that none may grieve at its loss nor rejoice in its existence. By the life of the Beloved! It shall perish, and naught shall endure save what hath been ordained for every soul by God, the Lord of all names. The glory of God be upon thee and upon them that are with thee and love thee and upon the assured ones among the loved ones of God. Praise be to God, the Lord of all worlds.

BH00847: Praise, sanctified beyond mention and utterance, befitteth the Most…

In the Name of the One True Loving God!

Praise, sanctified beyond mention and utterance, befitteth the Most Beloved Lord Who hath adorned creation with the ornament of knowledge and, after the dawning of the luminous morn, caused the sun of insight to appear from the horizon of the world. He is the Omnipotent One Who, from a single point, hath detailed all that was and shall be, bringing it forth to the realm of manifestation. The signs of His power are visible and evident in all things, and the tokens of His grandeur are manifest and apparent throughout all creation.

Through His consummate might He hath caused the Promised Day, which was inscribed and recorded in the Books and Scriptures, to be made manifest through the blessedness of His Most Great Name, and with but a single word hath breathed new life into the ancient world. How excellent is the state of the soul who, in this blessed Day, hath drunk from the fountain of awareness and reposed beneath the celestial Tree!

This is the Day which, among all ages, centuries and epochs, hath been specifically designated by and attributed to Truth – exalted be His glory. How many souls who counted themselves among the foremost, yet whose names are not mentioned in the Holy Court; and how many who were unknown, yet today are remembered with utmost elevation and nobility in the Court of the True One! Glorified, glorified is He Who maketh ocean waves to appear from a drop, and the effulgences of the Sun from an atom!

The ocean of knowledge hath appeared, yet the servants remain heedless of it; the sun of wisdom hath risen, yet people remain deprived and portionless thereof, save whom God willeth. Upon every leaf of the leaves of the world, the Supreme Pen hath inscribed and recorded the mysteries of evanescence, and on every page of the pages of existence, the symbols of impermanence are evident and written. Nevertheless, they have set their hearts upon it, occupied themselves with it, and rejoice in it.

They have lost indeed who have turned away from the Countenance and followed the dictates of their desires. These have not found the sweetness of the verses, nor recognized the fragrance of the days of God, nor attained to that which was the purpose of the creation of the world. I testify that they have strayed from the straight path.

My spirit be a sacrifice for your service, and a sacrifice for your steadfastness, O thou who art immersed in the ocean of the love of God, and O thou who art engaged in the service of the Cause of God, and O thou who art steadfast in His remembrance and praise amidst the concourse of creation! Thou art the one who hath sacrificed thy self, thy wealth, and all that is attributed unto thee in the path of God.

All things bear witness to your sincerity, your turning to God, your steadfastness, your praise, your remembrance, your testimony, and your service unto God, the Lord of the visible and invisible, and the Lord of the Mighty Throne. It behooveth every lover to praise God for this and to thank Him for having confirmed you in that whereunto ye have attained, and for having adorned you with the ornament of His Name, the Mighty, the Inaccessible.

And moreover, the Star rising from the horizon of the heaven of the love of God arrived in the form of a letter, illumining the heart and soul, nay all limbs, with the light of joy and gladness. That which you had expressed, and your questioning of the reports concerning events in the Land of the Prison – nay, by Him Who illumined the horizon of the world with the Most Great Light! All atoms bear witness that your honor has ever been occupied with service to the Cause, and in expressing what has transpired had and has no purpose save the good-pleasure of God.

The Truth, exalted be His glory, His bounty and His grandeur, hath spoken with His blessed tongue, saying that “My Name Ha (upon him be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious), due to his being set ablaze with the fire of divine love, informed the servants of God of events that had occurred in the Most Great Prison. Verily he hath acted in accordance with what befitteth his sincerity, his love and his turning unto God, the Peerless, the All-Informed.”

These words having ended, this servant and all things testify that whatsoever existeth in the heavens and earth cannot equal these few words sent down from the heaven of divine favor. That petition of this servant which was dispatched to your presence, and that which was revealed therein from His Most Exalted Pen, testifieth that your honor hath spoken for God’s sake, informed for God’s sake, and arose for God’s sake.

For a long time, extreme hardship and difficulty were daily manifest in this land, until new events also transpired […] However, so that grief and sorrow might not seize the heart of your honor and those who drink the choice wine of divine knowledge, these matters were concealed. Indeed, what they had reported was greater than this, but was not revealed. Verily He is the Concealer, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

Another matter: your honor’s letter and that of Shaykh S (upon him be the Glory of God) were in the Prison Land while this servant submits this reply from the farm. Therefore, if it does not accord exactly with reality, forgiveness is hoped for, as it is necessary to have the original letter at hand when submitting a reply. However, at present this servant is here while your esteemed letter and that of the Shaykh are in Akka. Thus was the matter decreed. Verily our Lord, the Most Merciful, is the Decreer, the All-Knowing.

Concerning what was written about the threshold for Huququ’llah, it is as was written to Zaynu’l-Muqarrabin (upon him be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious). The basic threshold upon which Huquq becomes applicable is nineteen, and this accords with the Most Holy Book, for in that verse the intention was to explain the amount, not the threshold. Verily He is the Expositor in the beginning and the end.

Until this year, mention of Huququ’llah had not been made – that is, this servant had not heard a word from the Most Holy Tongue indicating the collection of Huquq. However, in this year the firm decree was issued and appeared manifest from the horizon of the Cause. They stated that should anyone wish to pay Huququ’llah willingly and gladly, it would be accepted and the trustees should receive it and, as commanded, inform the Most Holy Court.

Although the Most Holy Book was revealed from the heaven of the Cause several years ago and the law of Huquq was established therein, nevertheless until this year They did not command its collection. Verily He is the Ruler, the Powerful, the Mighty, the Inaccessible.

Another submission is that I convey expressions of sincere devotion to his honor Shaykh S, upon him be the Glory of God. He is among those who have been touched by harm and hardship in the path of God, the Lord of Names. These blessed words I once heard from the tongue of the Beloved of the worlds concerning him: “Blessed be he, then joy be unto him.” I beseech the Most High to assist him in His remembrance and praise in all conditions. Verily, He is the Answerer, the Generous.

The Glory be upon you and upon those with you and upon those who are related to you, from God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

In Dhi’l-Hajjih

BH01201: In the name of God, the Most Holy…

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

Praise be to God Who hath manifested Him Who was manifested, at the time He was manifested, through that which was manifested, in that which was manifested. He hath ever been sanctified beyond the ascent to His holy court of the mention of the most sagacious, or the rising unto Him from nonexistence and nothingness of that which hath been uttered by the adherents of the two parties. When He desired to give glad-tidings unto the world of the Most Great Mystery, He manifested Him Who was established upon the throne of the Trinity, that He might convey unto mankind the Hidden Secret and the Treasured Mystery, Who appeared in the form of the Quaternary. Verily, by His sanctifying sovereignty, He hath been sanctified above the mention of all created things.

He is indeed the Quaternary Who deriveth not, whether outwardly or inwardly, from aught except His Own Self, the One Who dominateth the world. And were He to be mentioned as the Great One, no names would be mentioned with Him in the first degree. Through Him was manifested the Alif standing between the two letters, and that which appeared through the first letter was fulfilled, and the second letter was realized. Thereupon another heaven was spread forth after the rolling up of the first heaven. Blessed be God Who speaketh at the heart of creation and calleth unto all created things at all times that there is none other God but Him, the Omnipotent, the Exalted, the Most High, the Most Great.

I pray and I send greetings upon the first ocean from which appeared the pearls of wisdom and utterance and the gems of knowledge and exposition, and upon the first light that shone from a horizon that was sanctified above all horizons, and whom none hath known save him who hath detached himself from all else and remained faithful to the Covenant on the Day of Separation.

To continue: this evanescent servant was honored by receiving your letter, adorned with the praise and remembrance of God, from which I detected the sweet fragrance of your love and the redolence of your affection. I read it until I reached the passage wherein you communed with God, our Lord, the Master of all beings. Through it I ascended to the ultimate goal, the seat of the throne of our Most Glorious Lord, and presented its contents before the Throne. Thereupon the Beloved smiled and spoke that which all existence, both seen and unseen, cannot enumerate, and He bestowed upon you some of what I retained so that you might rejoice in the favors of our Lord, the Most Exalted, the All-Wise.

It is respectfully submitted that those verses which, after the presentation of thy supplication, were sent down from the heaven of the Will of the Lord of Names and Attributes—and which this servant was enabled to set down—were recorded on a separate sheet and dispatched.

From these firm and wondrously new-revealed verses the subtleties of the divine favours, and the manifestation of heavenly bounties vouchsafed unto thee, are as the sun clear and fully established—nay, clearer still. This much may be stated: thou hast ever been remembered before the Throne; and the suns of grace and loving-kindness have so shone forth that this servant is, and hath ever been, powerless to record or recount them. Of this, Jinab Amin—upon him be the Glory of God—and others of the people of that land, upon them be the Glory of God, are witnesses and can testify; for they would, in particular, enquire concerning thee, and would evince solicitude for thy welfare. Throughout all the years, a mighty Tablet hath been revealed and sent especially for thee; whatsoever hath not reached thee, the messengers have failed to deliver.

All things bear witness to thy service and thy steadfastness in the Cause of God. We beseech God to grant thee success, and to confirm thee even as He hath confirmed thee, and to bestow upon thee the good of this world and of the world to come. Verily He is the Protector of them that have voiced His praise amongst all peoples.

What more can this servant mention that would be worthy of you? God the Exalted is my witness that upon beholding your letter, such joy and delight overtook me that I was and am unable to properly describe it. God willing, may we ever be blessed and gladdened by the trace of your pen. The remembrance of loved ones is auspicious to the Beloved.

Furthermore, in these days a letter arrived from his honor Makhdum-Zadih, upon him be the Glory of God, wherein he had inscribed several names. These were presented to the Most Holy Court, and wondrous, exalted Tablets were revealed and sent from the heaven of divine favor specifically for him and all the other names. Blessed is he for having attained unto a goodly end.

Regarding the query about the expression of his honor the Siyyid, upon him be the Most Glorious Glory of God, it was presented at the Most Holy Court. He said:

“O Mihdi! Verily, My Most Exalted Pen does not wish to move upon what was written before. If thou ponderest, thou wilt understand his intent, what allusions and metaphors it contains. He intended naught but the mention of this Most Great Revelation, whose effulgence hath encompassed the worlds.”

God willing, may you be ever occupied with the remembrance of God and be blessed by His grace. The dispersion of outward means will, God willing, be transformed into unity through divine grace. Verily, He is the Giver, the Munificent, the Generous. The Glory be upon you and upon all who are with you, young and old.

The servant [of God] 66

One more submission: The mention, praise, and expression of servitude that you had offered to the Branches of the Divine Lote-Tree were presented, and all conveyed exalted greetings to you.

BH01254: Exalted is He Who hath spoken and caused all…

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

Exalted is He Who hath spoken and caused all things to speak in His remembrance and praise! Exalted is He Who hath revealed that which lay hidden within the pavilion of His Command and the tabernacle of His glory! Exalted is He Who hath taken the chalice of everlasting life and, with the fingers of bounty, hath offered it unto the peoples of creation! Blessed is he who hath drawn nigh and taken hold of His Most Glorious Name, and hath drunk deep in remembrance of Him Who is sanctified above all mention! Exalted is He Who hath stood among His servants, at times speaking through His Most Beautiful Names, and at times through His Most Exalted Word! Exalted is he who hath hearkened unto His most sweet call and turned toward His Most Holy and Most Exalted Horizon, and hath heard from Him that which caused both Moses to tremble in the heights of Sinai and the Beloved to be transported on the night of His ascension when the lights of the Lord of Names were unveiled!

We beseech God to aid the peoples of the earth to attain unto that which hath appeared and been made manifest through His sovereignty that overshadoweth both earth and heaven.

Thereafter, this evanescent one received thy letter, which was traced by the pen of love and affection and adorned with the mention of God, the Lord of creation. When I opened and read it, I turned toward the Dayspring of the Throne and laid before Him all that was written therein. Thereupon did the Ancient Beauty smile and speak that which would be as spirit unto the bodies of the world and as light unto regions which none save God, the Lord of all nations, hath discovered. He spoke, and His Word is the truth:

“We have heard his call and turned toward him, and have answered him through this perspicuous Book which itself beareth witness that there is none other God but Him, and which proclaimeth that He is indeed the Most Great Name.”

Thus hath the Pen of Revelation spoken, yet most of the people are heedless.

O servant! Rejoice and be glad that the gaze of thy Lord hath been directed toward thee, and that He hath sent down for thee that which shall cause thy remembrance to endure throughout the kingdom of earth and heaven. When thou attainest unto this bounty, arise and say:

“Praise be unto Thee, O God of the worlds, and light be unto Thee, O Light of the worlds!”

And concerning him who was named Aziz, blessed is he in that he hath been mentioned from before the Throne, and that the tongue of grandeur and glory hath been moved to make mention of him in this spot which hath been designated by the Most Beautiful Names and at times as the Most Great Prison. Thy Lord is, verily, the Truth, the Knower of the unseen. Convey My glorification unto him and say: Hold fast unto the cord of the Cause and say:“O Lord of all men! I beseech Thee by Thy Name, the All-Bountiful, not to deprive me of that which lieth with Thee. Ordain for me that which Thou hast ordained for Thy righteous servants who have cast away the world and turned toward Thy most exalted horizon. O my Lord! I am he who hath turned with his whole being toward Thy countenance and hath clung to the hem of Thy bounty. Forgive me and have mercy upon me, for Thou art the best of them that show mercy and the best of them that give. And shouldst Thou chastise me, then every limb of my body would testify to Thy justice and to Thy favor. There is none other God but Thee, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.”

God willing, may you be blessed with the infinite favors of God, and adorned with the effulgence of the light of His countenance. Beseech ye the Almighty and Most High that He may render all successful in attaining this most great bounty and may guide them to the supreme horizon. O my brother! Although the horizon of the Manifestation is resplendent and illumined with the Sun of Divine Beauty, yet most men are seen to be bewildered and perplexed, nay, dead and lost. Most strange it is that they have not yet found the sweetness of the most pure wine, and have not attained to that exalted station of nearness which is the recognition of God. We beseech God that He may awaken those who slumber through the breezes of the dawn of God’s Day, and bestow eternal life upon the dead through the outpourings of the ocean of His grace. Verily, He is the Bestower, the Giver, the Generous One.

In every land a clamor hath been raised and will continue to be raised, for the Supreme Pen hath announced this in the Most Great Tablets and verses. Therefore must all take refuge in God, the Almighty and Most High, and hold fast to none but Him. This is the greatest bounty and the divine counsel recorded in all the Books. Today all friends must, in complete humility, submissiveness and utter servitude, summon the people to God without observing in themselves the slightest trace of life. By the Sun of the horizon of utterance! There is no station higher today than pure servitude, nor hath there ever been. We beseech God that all may attain thereunto and that the friends may fix their gaze upon this station. God guideth whom He willeth unto the straight path.

God willing, may you be occupied at all times with the mention of the All-Merciful in the utmost joy and delight, and remember with highest praise all the masters, friends, and well-wishers on behalf of this evanescent one. God is witness and testifier that this evanescent one hath been and is at all times occupied with the remembrance of the friends of God, and it is hoped that they may manifest, with the utmost love and ardor, in this Day for which there hath not been nor shall be any likeness or equal, and be engaged in the praise and glorification of God. The Glory be upon you.

BH01423: Praise be to God, Who is sanctified above all…

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

Praise be to God, Who is sanctified above all names and exalted above whatsoever is mentioned in creation, Who when He speaketh, all things speak, and when He is silent, the Concourse on High falls silent. He is indeed the One Who when He moveth, all created things become still, and when He is still, all contingent things move. He is indeed the Meaning that no names can contain, and the Root that hath no branch in creation. In one station neither name nor meaning is mentioned in His presence, and all that the steed of the Pen may gallop through in the arena of utterance reacheth only to the station of the Word that appeareth from His Most Exalted Pen. Exalted, exalted is the station of this Word, whereby tongues are rendered mute and eyes are intoxicated, except as thy Lord, the Mighty, the Unconstrained, may will.

This evanescent servant hath been transported by your melodies and stirred by your warbling. God knoweth that it was as though I heard all the birds upon the branches, and as though from every word of your letter I discovered the fragrance of the love of God, and from every letter thereof that which gladdeneth hearts and moveth bodies. I beseech Him, exalted be He, to make me in all conditions among those who are occupied with the remembrance and praise of the loved ones of God, whom no hindrance can hinder, no blame of the blamer can deter, and no scorn of the scorner can dismay—those who act according to His command and bid people to observe that which He hath revealed in His wondrous Book.

My soul be a sacrifice for your remembrance. After perusing your letter and becoming acquainted with its contents, I truly submit that it was as though this servant at that moment drank from the springs of joy and gladness, and was seized with such delight that he immediately proceeded to the Most Great Goal. From beginning to end it was presented in the Most Holy Court.

This is what the Beloved uttered: “O My physician, O My physician! Thy call was raised until it was honored to reach the ear of thy Lord, the All-Knowing. The servant in attendance appeared and laid before the Countenance that wherewith thou didst call upon God, the Lord of the worlds. Blessed be thy tongue for having spoken the truth, and thine eye for having beheld My luminous horizon. Blessed art thou for having been seized with grief when thou didst learn what hath befallen the Wronged One in this manifest prison. Blessed is the eye that weepeth for My tribulations and the hearts that are touched by My supreme affliction.

“O My physician! By My life, were I to lift the veil, the lamentation of weeping would be raised between the heavens and the earth. How many deeds have melted My heart, yet I concealed them through My name, the Concealer, the All-Bountiful. How many acts have caused My heart and My Pen to lament, yet I preserved them in such wise that none among the peoples of the world gained knowledge thereof. How many afflictions have seized Me and how many tribulations have encompassed Me in this mighty prison, yet My name, the All-Forgiving, prevented Me from mentioning them, and My name, the All-Merciful, seized My hem and said: ʿVerily, Thou art the Most Merciful of the merciful ones.’ Thus did My tongue speak that thou mightest know what hath befallen the Wronged One in this remote station.

“Know thou that We at this time make mention of the loved ones of God who have adorned the land of Hadba, that they may hear My sweetest call and be of them that are thankful. From this station We send Our greetings upon their faces and upon the faces of those who have turned toward the Most Sublime Horizon and have drunk the wine of steadfastness from the hands of the bounty of their Lord, the Mighty, the Powerful. Glory be upon thee and upon them from God, the Lord of the Day of Judgment.

“We make mention in this station of thy son who was named Jalal, that he may rejoice in My gracious remembrance. We beseech God to ordain for him that which beseemeth His bounty. He, verily, is the All-Loving, the All-Merciful. Convey My greetings unto him and say: ʿBlessed art thou for having heard and turned toward God, the Peerless, the All-Informed.’ Glory be upon him, upon his mother, and upon those whom God hath related unto thee. He, verily, is the All-Seeing Witness.”

Regarding what you wrote about the remainder of the estate of Muhammad, upon him be the Glory of God, if it were to be deposited in the House of God in the name of those two children, it would be closer to righteousness, for it may be that their mother might not spend it on the children, as she has set her heart upon another husband. We beseech God not to deprive those children of the living waters of His bounty and to assign them a station beneath the canopy of His grace. Verily, He is their Guardian, their Creator, their Provider, their Helper, their Educator, and the Educator of all the worlds.

Glory be upon your honor and upon those who love you, have turned toward you, and have drunk the choice wine of your utterance in remembrance of God, the Mighty, the Inaccessible. And praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

In Dhi’l-Qa’dah

BH01424: Praise be to God Who hath adorned the world…

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

Praise be to God Who hath adorned the world through the manifestation of His Most Great Name—Who was the Dayspring of the lights of eternity amidst all peoples—Who cannot be indicated by any sign nor mentioned by any utterance, for signs and utterances are attributes of His creation and were created by His command. The essences of all mention cannot ascend to the heaven of His holiness, and the quintessence of all descriptions cannot return to the court of His glory.

If He is mentioned by the letters “Ha” and “Waw” [huwa], this is among the wondrous favors He hath bestowed upon His creation, having permitted them this as a token of His generosity and grace. Otherwise, how can mere verbal expressions compare with that station which transcendeth all meaning and utterance? Exalted is the All-Merciful above the mention of every mentioner, the description of every describer, and the praise of every praiser. He is the One Who hath manifested the Point, and from it detailed the knowledge of what was and what will be, though it was itself created by the Will that proceeded from Him and was brought into being by a stroke of His Pen.

How immeasurable the majesty of His creation–a creation before which the mystic knowers stand confounded, and whereof the pure in heart confess their impotence to comprehend! We bear witness that there is none other God but Him. He hath, from eternity, been exalted above whatsoever is rehearsed in the world of being, and He shall, unto eternity, abide … as He hath ever abode. There is none other God but Him, the Omnipotent, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

BH01601: Praise be to God Who hath sent down His…

He is God, the One with power over whatsoever He willeth

Praise be to God Who hath sent down His grace and revealed unto creation that which lay hidden in His revealed Books, wherein He gave glad tidings to His servants of the Most Great Name, through which the world was illumined and the foundations of the nations were shaken. Blessed is he who hath heard the Call and responded to his Lord. He is among those who have soared in the atmosphere of nearness and reunion, and have drunk the choice wine of meeting from the hand of the bounty of their Lord, the Self-Sufficient, the Most High.

By God’s life! He is verily the whale in the sea of utterance, the singing Tree in the midst of Paradise, the Sun shining from the horizon of exposition, the brilliant Star in the heaven of mystical knowledge, and the Moon rising from the dawning-place of certitude. God knoweth that he is the light in the lamp of the world, and that he is the one who hath turned toward the Supreme Horizon after most of the nations turned away from it.

If this evanescent servant desired to describe even one of the lovers who have detached themselves and been attracted by the Call of God—by God, the pens would be consumed, then the pages, before completing the descriptions recorded in the preserved and guarded scrolls. To this beareth witness what the Nightingale of Utterance spoke before in His words that the believer cannot be described.

O beloved of My heart! Give thanks unto God for having aided thee to turn unto Him and honored thee with attaining His presence when the Intended One was shining from the horizon of glory. I bear witness that thou didst turn, didst hear, didst advance, and didst respond to thy Lord. Blessed art thou for having remained firm when the lands were shaken, and for having turned toward Him when most of the servants turned away. We beseech Him, exalted be He, to aid thee in all conditions and assist thee in what is best for thee in the beginning and the end.

And furthermore, this evanescent one hath attained unto the letter which your honor sent in the name of his honor Jud. In truth it was a testimony speaking of your love for the Beloved of the worlds, and a manifest witness to your turning toward and steadfastness in the Cause of God, exalted be His glory. Praise be to God that your honor hath been among those who have attained unto the choice wine of meeting, the Kawthar of steadfastness, and the Salsabil of contentment. This servant giveth thee the glad tidings that he heard a hundredfold special mention of your honor from the tongue of Grandeur, mention that shall endure as long as the divine names and attributes endure. How excellent for your honor and how pleasing for your presence!

Regarding what you wrote about lack of success, this servant testifieth by God’s testimony that your honor is successful, and if outward circumstances have again prevented your presence, you should not be saddened by this, for praise be to God, you have drunk from the ocean of meeting, entered the Most Great Scene, and heard the divine utterances with your own ear. And now you are commanded to wisdom, for after the martyrdom of his honor Badi, all the servants have been commanded to wisdom, and you must indeed hold fast to wisdom in all matters and keep your gaze upon it. This is a decree that hath been sent down from the heaven of the divine will in most of the divine Tablets. In this case, if the requirements of wisdom do not accord with your turning again, you should not be saddened, for this too is obedience to God’s command. To this the Pen of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting, beareth witness.

Those who circle round the divine throne offer most wondrous salutations to your honor, and likewise this evanescent servant conveyeth greetings to his honor Aqa Muhammad. I praise the Beloved of the worlds for having aided him to love Him and blessed him with recognition of His Beauty in His days. This is the enduring wine that hath been and shall be more precious than the rarest ruby and sweeter than all honey and sugar. How pleasing for him! And glory be upon your honor and upon him and upon those who have attained unto the Most Great News. And praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH04463: O my Lord and Master! I have been honored…

He is Most Holy, Most Great, Most Exalted, Most Glorious

O my Lord and Master! I have been honored by what hath shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of your utterance in remembrance of God, our Creator and your Creator. When I read and understood and became informed thereof, I hastened and ascended until I attained the presence and presented it before the Throne of God, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting. Thereupon the Tongue of Grandeur spoke, addressing your honor:

“O My Afnan! Turn unto the Divine Lote-Tree. Verily the sun of permission hath dawned from the horizon of thy Lord’s will, the Perspicuous, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. And also unto him who is with thee. We have turned toward you from the direction of the Ridvan and have mentioned you with such mention as hath enraptured the Concourse on High and those who are present before the Throne in this noble station. Behold thou in all circumstances the horizon of wisdom, for verily it is Our Command which hath been sent down in the Tablets of thy Lord, the All-Wise Director.”

May my spirit be a sacrifice for your turning! After visiting your exalted letter, this evanescent servant immediately turned to the Most Holy Court, and after ascending and attaining the presence, presented it in its entirety. Then the Sun of Divine Permission shone forth from the Dayspring of Will, as may be understood from that which the All-Merciful hath revealed. And since this Most Great Glad-Tidings is in every respect independent of elaboration and detail, therefore in this station this servant hath deemed brevity sweeter than all mention. God willing, your honor will be successful and joyous through this spiritual glad-tidings which hath appeared from the horizon of divine favor. Blessed then be the glory unto your honor and unto him who is with you.

BH05774: In My Name, the Most Glorious

In My Name, the Most Glorious

Glorified art Thou, O Ocean of faithfulness! I beseech Thee by Thine own Self which Thou hast named the All-Glorious, to guide Thy servants to the horizon of Thy manifestation and draw them nigh unto the Dayspring of Thy knowledge and the Dawning-Place of Thy Cause.

O my Lord! The dawn of manifestation hath appeared and the Trump hath been sounded, and all who are in the heavens and on earth have swooned away save those whom the hand of Thy power hath preserved as a token of Thy grace.

O my Lord! This is the Day whereon Thou hast revealed Thyself through Thy most excellent names to all who are in Thy heaven and on Thy earth, and hast opened before the faces of Thy servants the gate of Thy presence.

O God of existence and Lord of the seen and unseen! Withhold not Thy servants from that for which Thou didst create them. Make known unto them, O my God, the path that leadeth to Thy reunion, and ordain for them that which befitteth the ocean of Thy bounty. Thou art He Who hath ever been supreme over all names and their kingdoms, and all-compelling over all things and their dominions.

O my Lord! I beseech Thee by the lamp of Thy power and the light of Thy countenance to inspire Thy servants with Thy remembrance and praise and whatsoever will draw them nigh unto the horizon of Thy grace. Thou art the Lord of the worlds, He Who is mentioned by the Most Great Name, and the Almighty over the nations. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Possessing, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise, the Mighty, the Great.

BH06202: Glorified art Thou, O Thou in Whose right hand…

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

Glorified art Thou, O Thou in Whose right hand is the dominion of all created things and in Whose grasp are the reins of all contingent beings!

I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which Thou hast sent down the verses and manifested the clear proofs, to enable Thy servants to exalt Thy Word and reveal that whereby Thy Cause may be uplifted.

O my Lord! Thou seest how darkness hath encompassed Thy creation and creatures. Illumine them, O my God, with the lights of Thy countenance and the effulgences of the Sun of Thy Revelation.

O my Lord! I beseech Thee by Thy Self to make me in all conditions focused on the horizon of Thy bounty, seeking the ocean of Thy grace, content with what lieth with Thee and what Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen ones and ambassadors.

O my Lord! I have turned my face toward the Dayspring of the lights of Thy countenance. I beseech Thee not to deprive me of Thee in any world of Thy worlds. Thou, verily, art the Omnipotent over what Thou willest, and Thou art the Self-Subsisting, the All-Compelling.

Write down, then, for me that which will set aright the affairs of the first and last. Verily, Thou art potent over whatsoever Thou willest. I testify that in Thy hand are the keys of all things—Thou givest and Thou takest away, and Thou, verily, art the Almighty, the Unconstrained.

BH07330: In My Name which is sanctified above all names!

In My Name which is sanctified above all names!

O God of the Concourse on High and the One manifest from Thy Most Glorious Horizon! I beseech Thee by the ocean of Thy knowledge and the heaven of Thy wisdom and the sun of Thy wisdom to make me among those women who have drunk the choice wine of revelation from the hand of Thy bounty and whom the intoxication of recognition hath so seized that they have detached themselves from all contingent things and turned with their whole being to the Dawning-Place of Thy verses and the Day-Spring of Thy clear signs.

O my Lord! Behold this poor one who hath risen before the gate of Thy generosity and clung to the cord of Thy riches and held fast to the hem of the robe of Thy bounty. Hard it is for Thy handmaiden to perceive Thy fragrance from the direction of Thy prison. By Thy glory, O God of the world! Hard it is for me to see Thy servants dwelling in palaces in Thy days while I behold Thee in the most desolate of Thy lands and the most distant of Thy realms.

O my Lord! I beseech Thee by Thy sovereignty which hath encompassed all created things to ordain for Thyself that which shall gladden the eyes of Thy creation and rejoice the hearts of Thy trusted ones and Thy leaves. Verily Thou art the Almighty over what Thou willest and Thou art the Ordainer, the Answerer, the All-Knowing.

BH08437: In My Name, the Most Holy

In My Name, the Most Holy

Say: O my leaf! O God of the realm of might and Sovereign of the Kingdom! I beseech Thee by Him through Whom the greatest terror seized all humanity and every hidden matter was revealed, to send down from the heaven of Thy grace that which will draw Thy handmaidens and leaves near to the ocean of Thy nearness and the Divine Lote Tree of Thy manifestation.

O Lord! I am she who hastened to the seat of Thy throne with heart and soul, answered Thy call, turned toward Thy horizon, and spoke Thy praise. O Lord! Aid Thy leaf to remember Thee amongst Thy handmaidens and ordain for her that which will bring joy to her eyes and gladden her breast. O Lord! Thou art the All-Bountiful and Thy handmaiden stands at Thy door. I beseech Thee to ordain for her that which will cause her to circle round Thy will and speak Thy name in all Thy worlds. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the Most Exalted, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

BH08780: Night and day the Pen of the Lord…

In the name of God, the All-Knowing Lord of the worlds!

Night and day the Pen of the Lord of all beings hath not been still. In all conditions it hath been moved to mention the friends and hath uttered that which leadeth to the exaltation of the Cause, the upliftment of souls, and the tranquility of people. God willing, all must act according to what they have been commanded and detach themselves from aught else. Blessed is the maidservant who hath attained in the days of God and acted according to what she was commanded in His glorious Book. In all conditions hold fast unto God and fix your gaze upon the horizon of His good-pleasure. Nothing hath been or will be sweeter to the taste of lovers than the good-pleasure of God. Blessed is the servant who hath attained, and the maidservant who hath attained unto this exalted station. Glory be upon the people of Baha from God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH08786: A mention from Us to her who, when she…

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

A mention from Us to her who, when she heard the call of God, turned with her whole being unto Thee and believed in God, the Single, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. O My handmaiden! Blessed art thou for having recognized the Beloved and turned toward the Most Great Ocean, and attained the presence of the Wronged One in His mighty prison. Praise be to the Beloved of the worlds through Whose grace thou hast attained unto the Most Great Bounty and the Most Great Favor, and didst bear the hardships of travel until thou didst attain unto the Kaaba of the world and the Qiblih of existence and the Throne of Sinai. I swear by the Sun of Revelation that the mention of this shall never be erased from the Tablet of creation, and its effects shall appear and become manifest even as the sun from the horizon of divine grace. The glory be upon thee and upon thy son and upon those women who have believed in God, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

BH09191: It was revealed aforetime from the Supreme Pen…

In the name of the Wronged One of the world

It was revealed aforetime from the Supreme Pen that the heaven of the human station hath been and shall ever be illumined by two luminaries: trustworthiness and steadfastness. Likewise the heaven of the station of the handmaidens of God hath been and shall ever be illumined by one luminary, and that is chastity.

God saith: O My handmaidens! This is the Day of mention and utterance, and this is the Day of service and recognition. Strive ye that ye may quaff from the living waters and behold yourselves abiding and enduring beneath the shade of the Divine Lote-Tree in the kingdom of earth and heaven. Verily, He is the All-Bountiful, the Generous.

BH09971: The Supreme Pen hath remembered and will continue…

In the Name of the one true God!

The Supreme Pen hath remembered and will continue to remember His handmaidens. May they all be occupied at all times with the remembrance of God and be set ablaze with the fire of His love. Today it is binding and obligatory upon every handmaiden to fix her gaze upon the Most Exalted Horizon and to act in accordance with that which hath been revealed in the Book. Such is God’s firm decree concerning His male and female servants. He, verily, is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Give thanks unto thy Lord for having aided thee to recognize the Dawning-Place of His signs and for having remembered thee in this Most Great Prison.

BH10018: The breezes of revelation have encompassed the world…

In the name of the one true God!

The breezes of revelation have encompassed the world, and the fragrance of the musk of inner meanings has perfumed the realm of existence. Nevertheless, most of the handmaidens and servants remain deprived and forbidden therefrom. Praise be to God that thou, His handmaiden, hast been adorned with the ornament of divine love, and that which hath caused the learned ones to be agitated and the mystics to tremble hath not prevented thee from the path of truth. God willing, thou shalt at all times drink from the choice wine of the love of the All-Merciful and remain focused on the supreme horizon.

Verily He is the All-Bountiful, the Generous. Verily He is the Almighty, the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful. The glory be upon thee and upon those handmaidens who have turned toward My luminous horizon.

BH10425: O my God, my Lord and my Master! Thou…

He is the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious!

O my God, my Lord and my Master! Thou seest the Wronged One amidst the heedless ones among Thy creatures who have turned away from Thy sovereignty and denied Thy signs when Thou didst send them down from the heaven of Thy Will and the atmosphere of Thy Purpose. O Lord! The sorrowful one hath clung to Thy Name, the Joy-Giving, and the grief-stricken to Thy Name, the All-Subduing over all names. Send down, then, from the heaven of Thy bounty that which will gladden the hearts of Thy servants and Thy handmaidens. Verily, Thou art the All-Subduing over all names, and the All-Powerful over earth and heaven. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.