Volume 060: Akka 1297 A.H. (1880), Part I (2 of 8)

BH00193: In the name of our Lord, the Most Holy…

Section 1: “In the name of our Lord, the Most…”

In the name of our Lord, the Most Holy, the Most Great, the All-Powerful, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious!

Praise be to God Who hath appeared and revealed what He hath willed. Verily, He is the One with power over whatsoever He pleaseth. The conditions of creation cannot frustrate Him, nor can the opposition of those who have disbelieved in God, the Lord of the Day of Mutual Calling, weaken Him. When He appeared and manifested Himself, He established Himself upon the Most Great Throne amidst all the world, and spoke that whereby all things were attracted and all faces were turned from every direction toward the countenance of the Lord of Names. Then He spoke another word whereby smoke enveloped all who are on earth and in heaven, and whereby He distinguished between His servants and His creation. Thereupon the doubtful turned back, the hesitant turned away, the idolaters lamented, the heedless cried out, the sincere hastened, the devoted took flight, and the near ones drew nigh. The sweetness of the call so possessed the people of Baha that they cast away the world and turned toward the Most Great Name, directing their hearts to the horizon from which the Tongue of Grandeur and Glory proclaimed that there is none other God but Him, the One, the Single, the Mighty, the Bestower.

This evanescent servant testifieth with the tongue of his heart, his being, his outward and his inward self, that He hath tried His servants through the appearance of tribulation in the kingdom of creation. Blessed is he who hath been intoxicated by the wine of divine knowledge and hath detached himself from all else, turning unto his Lord, the Mighty, the Bestower.

O God of existence and Lord of the seen and unseen! Thou beholdest the burning hearts of Thy loved ones and hearest their cry and lamentation in their separation from Thee. O Lord! The heaven hath been darkened by the sighs of the faithful, and the leaves of the Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing have turned yellow from the moaning of the hearts of Thy chosen ones who are far from meeting Thee, from Thy presence, Thy mercy, and Thy favors. O Lord! I beseech Thee by the hidden and treasured Power which none hath known save Thyself, to cause to flow from the fountain of Thy Most Exalted Pen that which shall fill them with joy and delight, such that the conditions of Thy creation shall not sadden them, nor shall the oppression of Thy enemies who have cast away Thy Book and clung to vain imaginings in Thy days cause them distress.

O Lord! This servant beholdeth the stream of life flowing from the right hand of Thy throne and the ocean of bounty before Thy face. I beseech Thee by the Name through which Thou hast subdued the world to ordain for him whom Thou hast mentioned in Thy Tablets that which shall profit him in Thy worlds. Answer his prayer through the ocean of Thy knowledge, aid him in Thy service, and give him to drink that which shall cause him to become so enraptured in Thy love that he shall make mention of Thee among Thy servants, detached from all else but Thee. Verily, Thou art the One with power over whatsoever Thou willest, and in Thy grasp is the kingdom of names. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Knowing, the All-Powerful, the Almighty.

My spirit be a sacrifice unto your remembrance and unto your steadfastness! The servant has perceived from the traces of your pen the fragrance of God’s love, the sweet scent of God’s affection, and the emanating musk of sincerity in the service of God. When my breast was gladdened by its breezes, and my eyes were consoled by its words, and my heart rejoiced in its fragrances, I was seized with power and ascended unto the heaven of utterance until I attained the presence of the throne of our Lord, the All-Merciful, and presented that which it contained. Thereupon the Ancient Countenance turned toward me and spoke, exalted be His sovereignty: “We behold Our Name ʿJamal,’ upon him be My glory, My loving-kindness and My mercy, at one time upon the highest summit of joy and at another immersed in an ocean of sorrows.

Say: O Jamal! Thou hast arrived upon the shore of the sea of divine mysteries. It behooveth thee to gather the pearls of knowledge and wisdom and to detach thyself from all who are on earth. Thus doth thy Lord, the Wronged, the Stranger, make mention of thee. Be thou vocal with My Name, arise to serve Me, and make mention of that which hath been sent down from My Kingdom. Whoso heareth, it shall be for his own sake, and whoso denieth, verily thy Lord is the Self-Sufficient, the All-Praised. Do sorrows overtake thee after the All-Merciful hath made mention of thee in the Tablets in such wise that the Trump was blown thereby and the dwellers of the graves were stirred?

Exalted, exalted be the Lord of Revelation Who hath aided thee to recognize the Dawning-Place of His Revelation and the Dayspring of His verses, and Who hath given thee to drink of the choice wine from the hand of His grace. Verily thy Lord is the All-Powerful, the All-Bountiful, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

Reflect upon what the idolaters have said regarding Me after I came unto them with verses before which every scroll, every scripture, every tablet and every mighty book hath bowed down. Among the idolaters is he who hath said that He hath fabricated lies against God, and among them is he who hath said that He hath stolen the verses and revealed them in His Name, and among them is he who hath said that He hath claimed divinity, and among them is he who hath said that He drinketh tea from crystal cups. Thus doth thy Lord make mention of thee that thou mayest be filled with manifest joy. O Jamal! Rejoice thou in the remembrance of thy Lord, then call to mind when thou didst stand before the Gate and didst hear the call of God, the Most Exalted, the All-Wise, and didst hear with thine own ears that which the Tongue of Grandeur did speak in His prison which hath been named by all names in the Crimson Tablet from the Most Exalted Pen.

Verily thy Lord is the All-Remembering, the All-Informed. Leave the creation behind thee and turn with thy whole being unto the Truth, then hearken unto that which hath been raised from this glorious station. Verily he who desired to harm Me and kill Me and decreed My imprisonment now lamenteth beneath the dust while thy Lord dwelleth in this exalted castle. Say: O God of the worlds and Beloved of the nations, Who hath appeared through the Most Great Name! I beseech Thee by the fragrance of Thy raiment and the breezes of Thy mercy and the sweet scents of Thy revelation and the ocean of Thy bounty and the sun of Thy grace that Thou make me to be among such as are not deterred by the opposition of any opposer or the censure of any critic or the gloating of any far-removed idolater.

O Jamal! The All-Sufficient, the Most High declareth: Thou art among those souls unto whom the mercy of God hath been and shall be vouchsafed. I swear by My life that thou art beneath the canopy of My mercy and the pavilions of My grace. At all times thou must summon the servants, purely for the sake of the All-Merciful, to the Kawthar of utterance. Whoso heareth, the benefit thereof shall return unto him, and for those who turn away there is and hath been no path. They speak according to their own desires, for they cling to and are entangled in vain imaginings. One petition from thee reached Us, and in truth the sweet fragrances of contentment and joy were inhaled from it.

However, the subsequent petitions breathed forth the winds of sorrow. The worthless ones of the earth are not worthy of mention—such as the deniers, the oppressors, and their clamor and uproar. They are like unto a raven that alighteth upon the branch of a tree, uttereth a croak, and flieth away. I swear by the Sun of utterance which hath shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of divine knowledge that the life of such souls is seen to be briefer than that. How then can they be worthy of mention or deserving of utterance? Whoso drinketh from the Most Great Ocean, it shall profit his own soul, and whoso denieth, it shall be to his own loss. In the path of the lovers, the fewer the rivals, the more beloved is the quest. Even as the True One, exalted be His glory and dominion, hath borne hardships and heard base and unworthy utterances, so too must that soul follow the example of his Lord.

The people are weak and appear as children. One must deal with them with kindliness. Verily thy Lord is the All-Patient, the All-Forbearing. In most Tablets We have commanded the friends of God to unity, yet discord is witnessed. O Jamal! Strive with all thy limbs, members and tongues in this matter, that perchance the sun of unity may shine forth amongst the servants. By My life, through it the Cause of God and the glory of His loved ones shall be made manifest. Thus doth thy Lord command thee, as He commanded thee before, and commandeth thee at this time. Hold fast unto wisdom, lest that which will agitate souls should appear. Convey to the loved ones in that land the cup of salutation from before the True One and gladden them with this mighty glad-tidings. Say: Today ye must all be occupied with the remembrance of the sovereign of eternity and hold fast to the cord of unity. Unity is like unto an architect, and is as a door leading to the divine commandments and laws, while discord is the destroyer thereof. Hold ye fast, O My loved ones, to the hem of unity in My Cause, the Mighty, the Inaccessible.

This Day hath no peer nor likeness. Strive ye that ye may attain unto the divine Word. For instance, should any soul today attain unto the word of contentment, his mention shall endure throughout the kingdom of earth and heaven. Look not upon that which ye abhor today, but rather unto My sweetest call and My Cause, the Mighty, the Beloved. What significance hath a transient thing, that man should be disturbed, fearful and grieved on account of it and that which appeareth therefrom? Behold all things with Mine eye; then shall ye find yourselves upon the shore of the ocean of certitude. Verily your Lord, the All-Merciful, is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

The mention of all hath been and shall ever be before His Most Holy Presence. Verily He heareth and seeth, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. The people of Baha must today strive for the unity of the peoples of the world and the reformation thereof. The Concourse on High had supposed that the people of Baha today had attained unto this station, yet now they observe them perplexed and bewildered in discord and diverse matters. Do ye not desire that there should proceed from you that which would be acceptable to the Concourse on High, the denizens of Paradise and the angels drawn nigh? Strive then, O people of Baha, in that which the Lord of Names, Who speaketh in this noble station, hath commanded you. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

Thou hadst made mention of his honor Aqa Siyyid ʿAbdu’l-Hadi, upon him be the glory of God. His petition was presented at the Most Holy Court. This is what God hath revealed in response:

He is the Most Holy, the Most Great

O My servant! God willing, thou hast ever been and wilt ever remain dwelling beneath the canopies of divine loving-kindness, and attaining unto the outpourings of the clouds of the Lord’s generosity. Thy call hath been honored by the hearing of the Lord of Names, and these resplendent pearls of utterance have emerged from the shell of the sea of divine knowledge. Thou must, with the utmost endeavor, be occupied with service to the Cause. Whosoever is today adorned with the raiment of unity and embellished with divine virtues—such a one is accounted among those who have arisen to serve the Cause. Blessed is the soul that hath fulfilled its covenant and attained unto that which was commanded by its Creator.

Praise be to God that thou hast drunk from the ocean of meeting and witnessed the effulgences of the Sun of utterance. Some time ago a Tablet was revealed by the Supreme Pen and sent especially to thee. The grace of the True One hath been and shall ever be with thee. The station of assured souls is ordained with God. Verily He is the Single One, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. The glory of God be upon thee and upon thy wife who hath turned unto God, hearkened, responded, and attained unto that which was hidden in the Books of God, the Lord of all worlds.

And likewise there was a letter in the envelope from his honor Mirza Ibrahim and his honor Mirza [name], upon them be the glory of God, which was presented at the Most Holy Court. This is what the All-Merciful hath revealed from the Kingdom of Utterance:

He is the Expositor, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed

O Ibrahim! Hearken unto the call of the Wronged One. He maketh mention of thee from the precincts of His Most Great Prison and giveth thee glad tidings of that which moved the Supreme Pen when it turned towards thee. Verily thy Lord is the Mighty, the All-Bountiful. By God’s life! A word from the words of thy Lord is not to be equated with the earth and all that is thereon. Hearken and say: Praise be unto Thee, O Revealer of verses! I testify that by Thy light the horizon of Revelation shone forth, and the fire of Thy love seized hearts, veins and limbs. Thou art He by Whose call all things were attracted, and at Whose grief the Concourse on High lamented, though Thou wert, through Thy sovereignty, powerful over all who are in earth and heaven. Say:

Section 2: “Glory be unto Thee, O Thou through Whom…”

Glory be unto Thee, O Thou through Whom the fragrance of divine utterance was diffused and the ocean of true knowledge surged! I beseech Thee to inscribe for me, with Thy Most Exalted Pen, that which shall perpetuate my remembrance in Thy Kingdom and in the Book which hath been touched by the Pen of Thy decree. O Lord! I am the supplicant who hath hastened unto the ocean of Thy bounty, and I am the seeker who hath turned toward the horizon of Thy favors. I implore Thee to make me, in all conditions, steadfast in Thy love, vocal in Thy praise, and firm in this Cause whereby the feet of most of Thy servants have slipped and the tribes of Thy earth have lamented.

O Lord! Thou art the Generous One, possessed of great bounty. I beseech Thee, by the drops from the rain clouds of Thy mercy and forgiveness, O Lord, to accept from me, through Thy grace, that which I have not performed in Thy days. Then write down for me what I have done in Thy love, and ordain for me and for my rib what beseemeth the heaven of Thy grace and the ocean of Thy generosity. Verily, Thou art the Omnipotent One Whom neither the conditions of the world nor the clamor of nations can hinder. Thou doest what Thou willest through Thy sovereignty and ordainest what Thou desirest through Thy power. Thou art, in truth, the Peerless, the Most Exalted, the Most High, the Most Great.

Blessed is he who hath attained unto the verses of his Lord. We beseech the True One that they may drink the sealed wine from the words of their Sovereign Lord and remain so firm in the Cause that neither the winds of the world nor its conditions shall hold them back, and that in all circumstances they may be mindful of that which He loveth and is pleased with, detached and free from all else.

Likewise did the Ancient Beauty and the Lord of all nations turn toward the realm of generosity and reveal these decisive verses in mention of His Honor Aqa Mirza Ismail:

He is the Most Ancient, the Most Great, the Most Glorious

This is a mention from Us to him whose letter was presented before the Wronged One in this mighty prison. Behold the power and sovereignty of God! He who ordered My imprisonment now lamenteth in the fire, while the Wronged One speaketh from this noble station and testifieth to that which God did testify before the creation of the heavens and earth: that there is no God but Him, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. He is the One Who ruleth over the kingdom as He pleaseth. Neither hosts can weaken Him nor kings prevent Him. He hath come for the reformation of the world as a grace from Him, and He is the Generous, the Bountiful.

O Ismail! Rejoice in that the Lord of Glory mentioneth thee and commandeth thee that whereby the musk of divine knowledge is diffused throughout all possibility. Exalted is thy Lord, the Most Merciful, the Possessor of this mighty grace. We have heard thy call and read thy letter, and We have answered thee with these verses whereby all things have proclaimed: “The Kingdom belongeth unto God, the Peerless, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.” Say: O God of the worlds! I beseech Thee by the Name which Thou hast made the Sovereign of all names to assist me in that which beseemeth Thy days, then write down for me, with the Pen of Thy grace, that which shall profit me in every world of Thy worlds. Verily, Thou art the Omnipotent, the Most Exalted, the Mighty, the Beauteous.

Likewise was mention made of His Honor Mirza Muhammad Husayn Kh., upon him be the Glory of God, at the Most Holy and Most Exalted Court, and these sublime words shone forth from the horizon of the Will of the Lord of Names and Attributes. He, exalted be His dominion, saith:

In the Name of the All-Knowing, the Peerless One

Fix your gaze upon this blessed word which is like the sun in the horizon of the heaven of understanding and like the celestial sphere for the ocean of utterance:

“Make mention of Me amongst My servants with wisdom, that I may make mention of thee in My Kingdom with glory.”

God willing, may ye attain unto this most exalted and most glorious station and be turned towards the Friend. For ages, the embodiments of vain imaginings lamented and wailed in separation from the Manifestation of the Lord of all beings. Yet when the horizon of the world was illumined by the splendorous rays of the Ancient Sun, all were seen to be deprived and excluded, save whom thy Lord willed. Yea, the Day of Grace appeared and the Divine Word made distinction. The pearl became distinguished from the pebble. He, verily, is the One Who distinguisheth, Who differentiates, the Mighty, the All-Knowing. We beseech God—glorified and exalted be He—to aid you in His remembrance and praise in such wise that the lights of the remembrance of the Most Great Name may encompass your entire being and its fragrance be diffused amongst the servants. Today, owing to the lack of capacity in the earth and its peoples, the station of steadfast souls is not known. Yet I swear by the Sun of Truth that shineth from the horizon of the Prison that ere long their stations shall become manifest and evident to all the peoples of the world. Thy Lord, verily, is the Powerful, the Mighty, and He, verily, is the Expositor, the All-Informed.

In your previous letter dated the 4th of Ramadan, you made mention of Jinab-i-Khudadad and Aqa Azizu’llah, upon them be the Glory of God. This was presented at the Most Holy Court, and this is what the All-Knowing hath revealed in reply:

“O My Name! The servant in attendance hath made mention of what thou didst write concerning My loved ones who have cast aside all else but Me and have turned to My countenance. Through them will God raise up a people. Verily, thy Lord is the Informed, the All-Knowing.” O Jamal! God willing, mayest thou be blessed with divine favors and be content and thankful with His will. Concerning the friends who have quaffed from the Kawthar of inner meanings and are turned towards the Most Exalted Horizon, of whom thou made mention—this was presented at the Most Holy Court. No good deed of any doer hath been or shall ever be lost. I swear by the Sun of Utterance that shineth from the heaven of knowledge that should anyone heave a single breath for the sake of God, that breath shall attain unto the Most Holy Court and shall be recorded by the Most Exalted Pen in the Greatest Scroll.

Blessed is the soul that hath attained unto the remembrance of God and His service, and hath offered the choice wine of revelation with the hand of grace, detached from all who are in the heavens and the earth and all who are in the kingdom of command and creation. Thus doth thy Lord desire to behold His servants. By the life of God! They are indeed the triumphant ones.

Many are the matters that are today hidden from all eyes, for the means of their manifestation exist not, due to the lack of capacity among the people. Soon shall they be made manifest and evident through God’s all-encompassing power. Convey greetings from God unto those souls and mention that which hath flowed from the Most Exalted Pen in their praise, that they may attain unto the breezes of God’s verses with such joy as shall not be clouded by the dust of the world nor seized by the gloom of sorrows. Give them the glad-tidings of the signs that have appeared from the Finger of the Will of the All-Merciful. Whatsoever hath been manifested from any soul in the path of God hath been accepted at the Divine Threshold.

Today is the day when the Sun of the Most Great Name is rising from the horizon of the world, mentioned in every Book by a different name. In the Torah It appeared and was recorded by the name of Jehovah—a name which, before the advent of Moses, was concealed in God’s treasury of knowledge. Thus in the Torah He says: “I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob as God Almighty, but by My name Jehovah I was not known to them.” And He says: “And God spoke further unto Moses: Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, ʿJehovah, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is My name forever, and this is My memorial unto all generations.”’ Say: By the True God!

He has come Who turns the dawn into darkness and Who walks upon the high places of the earth. Rejoice in My remembrance, O My loved ones, and be of such character that the fragrance of God’s love may be wafted from you. This behooveth him who hath turned unto My holy and luminous horizon. We have mentioned you before with that which hath diffused the fragrance of the garment, and We mention you as a favor from Us. Verily your Lord, the All-Merciful, is the Protecting, the Mighty.

O My loved ones! We have previously counseled the servants with that which would benefit them in this world and the next, but the people remain in manifest remoteness. Blessed are ye for having hearkened unto God’s call and responded to it on a day wherein souls lamented, save those whom God, the Lord of the worlds, did please. God willing, may you remain steadfast in the love of God and His Cause, for We have previously given tidings of the appearance of the barking ones in the lands. Under all conditions, hold fast to the hem of His grace and cling to the cord of His bounty.

O Jamal! We make mention of the people of distinction who have cast aside all else and turned to the Supreme Horizon, that they may rejoice in that which hath flowed from the Most Great Ocean at this noble scene. We hear those who make mention of Us and We behold the deeds of those who have arisen to serve the Cause with manifest sincerity. Upon them be the glory of God, the glory of the Concourse on High, and of the near angels. The sun of sincerity is shining and manifest from the hearts of some. Their names have been inscribed by My Most Exalted Pen in My Mighty Tablet. Beseech the True One that He may aid all to recognize this wondrous and blessed Day, lest they miss that which shall cause grief and regret to endure throughout the kingdom of earth and heaven. Praise be to God, all are mentioned before the Throne and are adorned with the ornament of the favors of the Lord of nations. God willing, all have been and shall be successful in attaining that which God has willed. Peace be upon them, glory be upon them, and splendor be upon them.

Furthermore, the wanderers in the land of Sad are mentioned in the Most Holy Court, and the glance of favor is directed towards them. God willing, may they be gladdened by this Greatest Glad-Tidings. This evanescent servant conveys greetings to each one and expresses utter lowliness and nothingness. Would that I had been with them and had received what they received in the path of God, the Exalted, the Great.

Another matter is that there is no news from his honor Aqa Mirza H-S T-F, upon him be the Glory of God. Please inquire about his condition on behalf of this servant and write the details. Although this servant has been somewhat remiss, since he sent letters and certain items in trust through his honor Mulla Muhammad-ʿAli-i-Dahji, upon him be the Glory of God, and this servant had supposed that the aforementioned gentleman would return soon and a reply to his letter would be sent. However, his return has been delayed until now, though in these days there is hope that he will obtain permission and return. We beseech God, exalted and mighty be He, to assist him in that which is befitting and worthy in this day. It would be most welcome if he would not take note of this servant’s delay and would continue as before. In any case, this servant ever hopes and expects forgiveness from the friends of God. The glory of God be upon you and upon those with you and upon those who have attained to the recognition of this mighty and exalted Day.

BH01346: Praise be to God Who hath manifested Himself…

In the Name of our Most Holy, Most Exalted, Most Glorious Lord

Praise be to God Who hath manifested Himself from the Most Exalted Horizon and hath spoken the Most Sublime Word, and when His sweetest call was raised between earth and heaven, all things were attracted and seized by the wine of reunion in such wise that they were moved and hastened and turned their faces. Then came the decisive Word and distinguished between them on the Day of Return at the appearance of the Lord of the Beginning and the End. Thereupon the doubters retreated, those who had hastened halted, the ignorant turned away, the heedless learned ones objected, while the believers hastened, the near ones drew nigh, and the sincere achieved victory. These are servants who accepted every tribulation in the path of God, the Lord of Names. Among them were those who bore their cross in their own hands, and among them were those who hastened to the place of sacrifice with a longing known to none in the kingdom of creation save those whom God, the Lord of all beings and the Sovereign of earth and heaven, hath willed.

Glorified art Thou, O Thou in Whose hands are the reins of all created things and the controls of all possible beings! How can I make mention of Thee after Thou hast made me know that my praise cannot reach Thee and the bird of my utterance cannot soar in the atmosphere of Thy knowledge? Yet, O my God, since Thou hast permitted me to make mention of Thee, I therefore cling to the cord of Thy bounty and favor, and I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which the ocean of Thy generosity surged and the fragrance of Thy bounty was wafted among Thy creatures, that Thou aid Thine Afnan to celebrate Thy praise and glorification, and ordain for them that which befitteth the heaven of Thy bounty and the ocean of Thy grace.

Praise be to Thee, O Beloved of the world and Desire of the nations, for having called him unto Thee and brought him into Thy presence and given him to drink the Kawthar of reunion by the hand of Thy giving, and caused him to hear Thy call which was the hope of those near unto Thee among Thy chosen ones and the believers among Thy loved ones, and shown him Thy beauty, and ordained for him through Thy Most Exalted Pen that which shall not be effaced throughout the eternity of Thy kingdom and dominion. Verily Thou art the Almighty, to Whose power and sovereignty all things have testified, and the Concourse on High to Thy greatness and might. There is none other God but Thee, the Most Exalted, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

O beloved of my heart! May my soul be a sacrifice for your love! This evanescent servant has been honored by the trace of your pen which moved in remembrance of our Beloved and your Beloved, our Goal and your Goal. When I read and understood it, I ascended through His Mighty Name to a station which God has made the dawning-place of the light of unity and the dayspring of the manifestation of oneness. When I attained His presence, I presented what was therein and what I had communed with God, the Lord of all worlds. When it concluded, the Tongue of Grandeur spoke that which I am unable to mention and which no pen in the world can define, until He said—exalted be His utterance and glorified His grandeur—“Take up the pen.”

When I took it up, there was sent down from the Kingdom of Utterance that which diffused its fragrance throughout all regions. We praise Him for the wonders of His favors and the manifestation of His grace. May my soul be a sacrifice for His bounty and loving-kindness! By His life, it behooveth the world to sacrifice itself in His path, and all peoples in His love and good-pleasure. This servant is amazed to see how the servants are veiled from the Sun and its effulgence, from the Sea and its waves, and from the heaven and its stars and moons. I beseech Him, exalted be He, to remove the veil from their faces, show them His most exalted horizon, attract them to the Most Great Sign and the Most Glorious Vision. Verily, He is the Single One, the Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

That which was revealed from the heaven of favor, mercy and kindness was, according to His command, given to the Greater Branch—may my spirit and being be a sacrifice for the dust of His footsteps—to write in His blessed hand, and God willing, they will attain unto it. Some time has passed since this Tablet dawned from the horizon of grace, but circumstances caused its dispatch to be delayed. God willing, His Holiness will not forget this evanescent servant during the nights and days. The glory be upon your honor and upon those who love you and hear your word concerning the Cause of God, the Exalted, the Great, and praise be to God, the Goal of the mystics. The request is that from this evanescent servant, greetings of the Most Exalted, Most Mighty, Most Wondrous, Most High be conveyed to the kinsmen—that is, to each one deemed appropriate—and express the nothingness of this ephemeral one. Further submission: what was sent of rice, tea, and vessels has arrived.

The servant. 28 Rabi’u’th-Thani 1297.

The Most Great Branch and the Greater Branch—may my spirit and being be a sacrifice for the dust of their footsteps—remember and glorify His Honor with the lights shining from the horizon of the heaven of the Most Great Throne.

BH01485: The essence of praise and glorification befitteth the Lord…

In the Name of our Lord, the Most Mighty, the Most Holy, the Most Glorious

The essence of praise and glorification befitteth the Lord of all mankind Who illumined the world through His blessed word “Verily I am God,” and though this Most Exalted Word, this Primal Pearl, and Most Great Sign stood contrary to all the opinions of the peoples of the earth, He raised it aloft through the sovereignty of His Will and planted the banner of “Verily He is I” upon the highest mountains by His mighty hand. Soon shall the sincere ones and those drawn nigh behold it above all other standards. Verily our Lord, the All-Merciful, is the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

Thereafter, I submit that your letter, which was the greatest healing medicine, transformed into joy the sorrows that are inherent to imprisonment, for it was adorned with love for the Ancient Beauty and the Goal of all peoples. Praise be to God that you have attained the outpourings of the divine days and caught the fragrance of the celestial garment. I swear by the Sun of the horizon of the Countenance that even if we were to occupy ourselves with praise, thanksgiving, remembrance and glorification of the Beloved until a day whose end cannot be reckoned, it would still be insufficient—nay, non-existent and void.

After this servant gained admittance to the Most Holy Court and presented the entire letter, two Most Great, Most Holy Tablets were revealed from the sacred heaven—one specifically for you and another specifically for Jinab-i-Aqa Mirza Hasan, upon him be the Glory of God. God willing, you will attain to their perusal. Your letter arrived in late Rabi’u’l-Avval and the response descended from the heaven of grace, though it was sent in late Rabi’u’th-Thani.

I further submit that you should convey utter evanescence and nothingness on behalf of this ephemeral one to all the friends who have drunk from the Kawthar of certitude and transcended the contingent world. Tell them not to let time slip away and to hold fast to the cord of unity and harmony. O my beloved! In these days, one day when this ephemeral one attained the Most Holy Court, he observed the Beloved of the world to be saddened, and in view of “they speak not until He hath spoken,” this servant remained silent, bewildered and thoughtful. Then the Ancient Beauty turned to me and said that the odors of discord among the divine loved ones had wafted and continue to waft.

Although the exact blessed words are not before me, their purport was thus: I submitted that I beseech God, glorified and exalted be He, to transform this discord through the endeavors of the friends into harmony, that all may turn their gaze away from aught else but God and from that which prevents them from unity, and fix their gaze upon the horizon of unity which is in truth the cause of the exaltation of the Cause. Would that some souls might be confirmed in this great service! I beseech Him, exalted be He, and I cling to the hem of His generosity and hold fast to the cords of His grace, that He may assist His loved ones in that which He loveth and is pleased with, and whereby His Cause may be exalted in the kingdom of creation. Verily He is the Omnipotent over whatsoever He willeth.

Furthermore, I submit that a petition was sent from the direction of the Land of Qaf in response to the letter of Jinab-i-J.M., upon him be all His most glorious Glory. God willing, it will reach them. If there has been any negligence, this servant begs to be excused and hopes for their pardon, now and always. The Glory be upon you and upon those who have drunk the wine of steadfastness and the Kawthar of servitude in this mighty and wondrous Day.

Some time ago, this servant sent a detailed letter in response to your numerous letters, together with the blessed Most Holy Tablet of Proof which was sent according to the command of the Lord of all creation. God willing, you have attained and will attain to its perusal and reading. Likewise, mention was made of Jinab-i-Aqa Siyyid Abu-Turab, upon him be the Glory of God, in the Most Holy Court, and a Tablet was revealed from the heaven of grace and bounty and was sent. God willing, he will attain to it.

Furthermore, I submit that the responses to some of the gentlemen will also be sent later, God willing. This servant presents his pure devotion and most glorious, most mighty, most splendid greetings to each one. May God, glorified and mighty be He, assist all in that which is for the good and welfare of all.

The servant, 28 Rabi’u’th-Thani 1297

BH02646: In the Name of God, the Speaking, the All-Seeing!…

In the Name of God, the Speaking, the All-Seeing! O My Name, the All-Bountiful! All the loved ones of God must at all times fix their gaze upon this utterance of the All-Merciful which, like unto the sun, hath shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of God’s Holy Tablet: “We have made unity the support for the pavilions of My Cause and the cord for the tabernacle of My glory. Hold fast unto it, O My servants, then act according to that which God hath revealed in His wondrous Tablet.” If those souls who have turned to the Most Exalted Horizon and who are known throughout all regions by the name of God had acted according to this exalted and divine word, assuredly the banner of “Verily He is God” would have been seen raised and planted upon the hills and mountains of the earth.

Say: O people of Baha! Observe the world as though it were a book, wherein are inscribed in clear characters change and extinction, discord and revolution. In truth, every leaf of its leaves, every spot of its spots, and every tree of its trees crieth out and saith:

“Observe my transformations and take warning thereby, reflect upon the passing of my manifestations and become aware, that perchance ye may not exchange the enduring divine bounties for these transient things.”

O My Name! A hundred thousand regrets that most of the people are heedless of what they see and hear. The Most Great Bell hath been adorned by the fingers of the mercy of the All-Merciful in the midmost heart and the divine call hath been raised. Yet the people are seen to be withered, nay rather dead, save whom thy Lord willeth. Do they not inhale the fragrance of the utterance and remain heedless, or are they deprived by what their hands have wrought?

O My Name! Thou knowest that at all times the tongue of the All-Merciful is engaged in utterance and at every moment the Most Exalted Pen is in motion. Not for an instant hath there been any pause in the manifestation of the Cause, yet the blind are deprived of the mirror and the deaf are forbidden from hearing. Ask thou of God that He may purify the eyes from the ophthalmia of desire and free the hearts from the veils that hinder.

Hearken unto the call of this Wronged One and arise with utmost resolve to serve. By the life of God! This is what will profit thee and make manifest thy station and preserve thy remembrance, that perchance through the effulgences of the Sun of divine bounty the servants may become illumined and sense such a station that the splendor and worth of these outward, ephemeral stations may be erased from the heart. Verily thy Lord is the Expositor, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. The glory be upon thee and upon him who hearkeneth unto thy counsel in this mighty Cause.

BH02649: To be typed

To be typed.

BH04236: The Supreme Pen testifieth that thou hast recognized My…

He is the All-Knowing, the Expositor, the All-Wise

The Supreme Pen testifieth that thou hast recognized My sovereignty and drawn from the ocean of My knowledge, and hast attained unto the presence of My throne and heard My call time and again, and hast attained that which is the purpose in the Books of God, the Lord of the worlds. Thy letter hath been presented and hath been honored to be heard by the Wronged One in this Most Exalted Station, which hath been named by all names in the Book of Names and as the heaven of heavens in My Preserved Tablet. From every word thereof We perceived the fragrance of thy love for God and thy turning unto Him and thy arising to perform that which beseemeth thee in the days of thy Lord, the Manifest, the Speaking, the All-Informed.

Soon that which is hidden from the eyes of men shall be unveiled, and those nigh unto God shall behold through their Lord’s bounty that which the pens of the world and every discerning scholar are powerless to describe.

Glory be unto Thee, O God of Names and Creator of the heavens! I beseech Thee by the Name through which the tribes have lamented and earthquakes have seized the dwellers of Thy earth, to ordain for him who hath turned unto Thee from among Thy Afnan that which beseemeth Thy greatness and Thy sovereignty. Then remember him as Thou hast remembered him in Thy days. Verily, Thou art the Almighty over what Thou willest, and verily, Thou art the Self-Subsisting, the Ever-Abiding.

The glory be upon thee and upon those who are with thee and upon her who hath attained unto the knowledge of God and whose letter hath been presented before the Throne in this noble station. Convey Our greetings unto him who hath attained unto the presence and who hath been named ʿAbdu’l-Hamid in the Kingdom of Names. Say: Blessed art thou for having gone forth and journeyed until thou didst attain unto the presence of the Wronged One in His mighty prison.

BH05199: O My handmaiden, O My leaf! We have heard…

In the Name of the All-Knowing, the All-Wise

O My handmaiden, O My leaf! We have heard thy cry and thy call and thy lamentation. But today in all conditions thou must be joyous and adorned with the Most Great Gladness, for the ocean of divine mercy is surging and the sun of providence is shining and the heaven of revelation is manifest. I swear by the pearls of the sea of inner meanings that whosoever today has attained unto the recognition of God and has drunk the wine of steadfastness from the hands of God’s Cause has attained and shall attain unto all good. Be thou assured, O My leaf, and say:

O my God, my Lord, my Master and my King! I testify that Thou hast manifested Thyself and sent down Thy verses and Thy proof and revealed that which was hidden in Thy Books and Thy Scriptures and displayed Thy power in such wise that necks have bowed before it. O Lord! I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which all things were attracted and the Supreme Pen was set in motion, to assist me to make mention of Thee and to praise Thee in such wise that the affairs and happenings of earth shall not prevent me.

O Lord! I am one of Thy handmaidens who hath turned unto Thy countenance and held fast to the hem of Thy bounty. Send down, therefore, from the heaven of Thy grace that which beseemeth Thy generosity, Thy munificence and Thy favor. O Lord! Thou knowest what is in the world. I beseech Thee to ordain for Thy handmaiden that which shall profit her in this world and the next and in every one of Thy worlds. Verily Thou art the Almighty, the Most Exalted, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

BH10351: In His Most Great Name!

In His Most Great Name!

The Tongue hath spoken before the faces of the world and given them glad tidings of the Most Great Name, that they might rejoice in the days of God, the Lord of the worlds. Yet they have risen in oppression and turned away from Him through Whom the horizon of revelation was illumined and God came with manifest sovereignty. They have cast aside the Lord of all beings and seized upon their desires—verily they are among the abject ones.

The days have passed and the Caller hath cried out, yet they remain asleep. The intoxication of the world hath seized them in such wise that they have turned away from My Most Great Name.

Blessed art thou for having turned and hearkened unto the call of God, the King, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

BH10239: O Hasan! A word from thy pen hath come…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Great

O Hasan! A word from thy pen hath come before the Throne, and mention hath been made of thee in this exalted station. We make mention of thee as a token of Our grace, that thou mayest be assured that He remembereth whosoever hath turned unto Him and attained unto that which God, the Lord of all worlds, hath willed. Hold thou fast unto wisdom and place thy trust in the One, the All-Informed. Thus have We made mention of thee and sent down the verses. There is no God but Him, the Most High, the Most Great. Convey My greetings unto those who are with thee and gladden them with My wondrous remembrance.

BH10517: O Mirza Asadu’llah, upon him be the Glory…

O Mirza Asadu’llah, upon him be the Glory of God, the Mighty, the All-Wise!

Your letter hath attained unto the hearing of the Lord of Names in this Most Exalted Station, and We have answered thee as a token of Our grace, that thou mayest rejoice and be of them that render thanks.

We previously sent unto thee the Tablet of the Proof, through which the fragrance of the All-Merciful was wafted throughout creation. Exalted be God, the Sovereign, the Ancient Revealer!

Convey My greetings unto My loved ones who have cast aside all else but Me and have attained unto the wine of steadfastness in My days. Verily thy Lord is the All-Remembering, the All-Knowing.

BH00509: In the name of our Lord, the Most High…

In the name of our Lord, the Most High, the Most Holy, the Most Great, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious!

All praise, sanctified above the understanding of all created things, befitteth that Pre-existent Being Who, through the dark manifestations of nothingness, made His Cause to appear, and through tribulation made His Command manifest between earth and heaven. By the hand of power He lit a lamp, and the contrary winds which are the cause of its extinction, by His all-compelling will, served but to increase its radiance. A fire that the hand of power kindleth, the seas of the world cannot extinguish. When the light of His Cause dawned from the dayspring of divine will, the idolaters sought through rejection and denial to extinguish it. Thus did they turn from the land of Ta to the land of Zawra, and this denial became a herald for the light.

And from Zawra to the land of mystery did He journey, through that which the hands of the oppressors had wrought. Thereafter, the heedless ones, fearing lest that radiance should illumine the land of mystery and its surroundings, and deliver them from the darkness of tyranny, under the pretext of protecting that realm banished its Guardian to the prison of Akka. The flame of oppression reached such heights that from the kingdom of destiny the Suriy-i-Ra’is was revealed, until the Cause attained a station unprecedented in all creation. Whatsoever was revealed in that blessed Tablet appeared letter by letter. Well is it with them that are endowed with true vision! The banishment to Akka raised aloft the word of affirmation, and the banner of “Verily there is none other God but Him” was unfurled upon the mount of the Lord’s will—exalted be His glory and His sovereignty! Glorified be He Whom neither the manifestations of the Pharaohs, nor the appearing of tyrants, nor the signs of emperors, nor the oppression of caesars can frustrate. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth. He is the Almighty, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious, the All-Praised.

This evanescent servant submitteth unto your honor that your eminent letter, after centuries and ages, illumined the horizon of the heart with the light of love. Each word thereof was as a fountain whence flowed the living waters of affection. I have beseeched and do beseech the True One—exalted be His glory and abundant be His grace—to grant your honor success in attaining unto that which hath been inscribed in the Book by the Pen of the Lord of all being. He is verily the Omnipotent, the All-Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. After perusal, it was presented at the Most Holy Court, and these words were revealed—exalted be His remembrance:

“We make mention of him even as the Concourse on High make mention of him, and the people of Baha remember him through the eternity of My most beautiful names. Verily his Lord, the All-Merciful, is the All-Giving, the Generous. We beseech God that He may cause him to behold that which will delight his eyes, and give him to drink that which will render him so attracted in the days of his Lord that neither weariness nor languor shall overtake him. He, verily, is the Almighty, the All-Powerful. And may He acquaint him with this world and its conditions, and with that which hath been ordained for him by My Most Exalted Pen, that he may abandon the former, holding fast unto that which his Lord, the All-Informed, hath willed.”

God willing, may you be blessed by divine grace and arise to serve His Cause. That which you have witnessed and heard in the path of God hath not been and shall never be lost. Though the dark clouds of oppression may prevent the rays of the Sun of Justice from shining for a day, an hour, or a moment, this is not worthy of mention, for assuredly the Sun of Justice will appear and illumine the darkened world with its light. Then shall no crookedness or inequality be seen in the earth.

O thou who gazeth upon the Countenance and drinketh the choice wine of revelation! Hearken unto the call of the Wronged One. He calleth thee from this praiseworthy station and remembereth thee with this Most Sweet Remembrance, which all the treasures of earth and heaven cannot equal. Rejoice in the grace of God, the Almighty, the Self-Subsisting. Be thou eloquent with wisdom and utterance in praise of thy Lord, the Most Merciful, and arise to serve His Cause, the Mighty, the Beloved. The covenant of the oppressors and all that pertaineth unto them shall pass away like unto passing winds, and the tongues of the world shall testify to their extinction. Blessed is the soul that hath held fast to God’s Covenant and to that which hath been ordained for it from Him.

Verily, it is among the most exalted of creation in the Preserved Tablet. Convey My greetings to all the loved ones on behalf of the Wronged One and say: God willing, may ye attain such a station that no power can deter you from the Cause of God, and no thing among all things can become a veil. In the name of the Peerless Friend, drink ye from the Kawthar of faithfulness and partake of the sealed wine. He saith: Well is it with you and pleasant be it unto you, O chosen ones of God on earth and daysprings of steadfastness throughout all lands. Thus hath the Tongue of Grandeur spoken, as a token of His grace upon thee. Verily, He is the All-Bountiful, the All-Wise. And praise be to God, the Lord of the Worlds.

As to what thou didst write concerning Jinab-i-Amin and Jinab-i-Haji Mirza Abu’l-Hasan, upon them be the glory of God, Jinab-i-Haji Mirza Abu’l-Hasan himself had written about thy loving-kindness. It is most clear and evident that whatsoever proceedeth from that beloved one in service to the Cause hath never fallen short. Praise be to God, in these divine days they have been the sources of goodly deeds and have shown the utmost love toward each of the friends. Soon shall the fruits of all become manifest. Although the essential fruit is that which findeth acceptance before God, a hundred thousand thanks that it hath been adorned with the ornament of acceptance. Ere long shall the fragrance of deeds performed in the path of God be diffused and spread abroad, and the people of the world shall perceive it.

And concerning what thou didst write about Jinab-i-ʿAyn Ba, upon him be the glory of God—yes, several years ago in one of the Tablets which descended from the heaven of loving-kindness especially for him, there was a mention, and twice did this lowly one hear from the blessed tongue saying:

“Soon shall that which was revealed for him in God’s Tablet, the Mighty, the All-Knowing, become manifest.”

Strange indeed are the heedless people who, despite all that hath appeared and shall appear having been previously revealed with utmost clarity and explicitness by the Supreme Pen, as that honored one hath seen and heard in the blessed Tablets, are yet so intoxicated with the wine of pride that they have not perceived a trace thereof nor understood a word. Leave them to their vain imaginings wherein they sport. To God do we belong and to Him shall we return. This evanescent servant beseecheth and imploreth God that He may enable his honor to achieve that which is befitting. Verily, He is the Bestower, the Generous. Should you meet him and should it be advisable, convey this lowly one’s greetings to him.

As for what thou didst write concerning the sister’s daughter, upon her be the glory of God, this matter was mentioned in the Most Holy Presence. One day these blessed words shone forth from the Dawning-Place of Divine Unity:

“Verily, she who hath ascended unto God—We have adorned her with the ornament of forgiveness and have mentioned her from My Most Exalted Pen as a bounty from Us to those who have hearkened to My call and turned to My horizon and have attained to the service of My wondrous Cause. Upon her be My glory and My remembrance and My mercy which hath preceded all the worlds.”

I swear by the Sun of Utterance, which hath risen and is resplendent from the horizon of the divine Tablet, that whosoever hath today turned unto Him and perceived the fragrance of His Revelation hath been and shall ever be reckoned among the people of eternity. Blessed be the maidservant who hath attained unto this most exalted station, and blessed be the servant who hath been honored with this wise remembrance.

At this point such utterances were revealed from the Ancient Tongue as this servant is powerless and inadequate to mention.

Concerning what you wrote about his honor A.B., upon him be the glory of God, and his ill health, we beseech our Lord and the Lord of the worlds, our Goal and the Goal of the nations, to give him to drink from the ocean of His healing, to clothe him with the robe of health, and to adorn him with the ornament of well-being. God willing, through the loving-kindness of the Beloved of the worlds, he will attain unto that which is ordained for him. In truth, he is outwardly and inwardly distinguished by his love for the Truth. This evanescent servant at all times beseeches the Truth, exalted be His glory, for his health and well-being. Verily He is the Healer, the Bestower, the Generous.

Concerning what you wrote about his honor Varqa, upon him be the glory of God, and his arising to teach the Cause, it brought boundless joy. Praise be to God that he hath arisen to render this great service and God willing he is confirmed. Whatsoever is manifested today in service to the Cause shall endure and remain through the eternity of God’s names and attributes. This servant beareth witness that when he returned from the Holy Land, by leave of the Lord of Oneness, he was aflame with the fire of divine love. God willing, may the hand of divine power daily increase that flame.

After this matter was presented in the Most Holy Court, He spoke these words, exalted be His grandeur and His sovereignty:

“Verily We summoned him, caused him to hear, showed him, and sent him back to serve My Cause and make mention of Me among My servants. I am, verily, powerful over whatsoever I will through My word ʿBe’ and it is. We shall surely aid him in that which he desireth in the Cause of his Lord, and make mention of him with such mention as will cause them that hesitate to hasten unto the Mighty, the All-Loving. Blessed is he and his father upon whom We shed the light of Our countenance, who gave up his spirit in his longing for the advent of his Lord, the Possessor of existence. There hath been sent down from the Most Exalted Pen that which shall dilate the breasts and gladden the hearts.”

Concerning what you wrote about his honor Aqa Mirza Jalil, it was presented in the Most Holy Court. Although holy verses had previously been sent down for him from the heaven of oneness, yet again, as a bounty upon you and him, a most holy and most exalted Tablet was revealed from the heaven of the divine Will and sent. God willing, may his eyes, heart and inner being attain unto it and be illumined and enlightened thereby.

His honor Aqa Mirza S., upon him be the glory of God, praise be to God, hath attained unto His special favors. I beseech Him, exalted be He, to protect and preserve him through the hosts of the seen and the unseen, to ordain for him the good of this world and the next, and to aid him in that which He loveth and is pleased with. Verily, He is the Lord of the throne and the dust. There is none other God but He, the Forgiving, the Generous.

The contents of these passages were heard from the blessed tongue concerning him: “Verily His bounty toward thee is great.” In these days a number of those who have turned to the Most Exalted Horizon arrived and after a brief stay were gradually given permission to depart and returned. Even some from among the Jewish people arrived and attained unto boundless favors.

Another submission is that at the appointed time, in accordance with your wish, this servant attained the blessing of pilgrimage and performed your proxy pilgrimage in detail, and it was also crowned with acceptance. We praise Him for this, and by His own truth, verily He is the Generous, the Bountiful. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH00315: In the Name of our Lord, the Most Wondrous…

Section 1: “In the Name of our Lord, the Most…”

In the Name of our Lord, the Most Wondrous, the Most Impregnable, the Most Mighty, the Most Holy, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious

All praise, sanctified above the understanding of all created things, befitteth the presence of Him Who is the Desired One, Who through a single glance of His favour can cause an atom to be adorned with the glory of the sun, and transform a drop into an ocean. And were He, God forbid, to withhold His special grace, the meaning of “all things shall perish save His face” would be made manifest. Sanctified and holy is His sacred court above the praise of all the eloquent ones and learned ones of the earth. Every fair-minded mystic hath confessed his powerlessness, and every truthful scholar hath acknowledged his shortcoming.

Glory be unto Him, glory be unto Him, far above that which those who are nigh, and they who profess His unity, and the sincere ones attribute unto Him! He is the Omnipotent One Who, through a single revelation from His Most Great Name, illumined the world, made manifest the Balance, and established the Straight Path before the faces of all His servants. And through that same revelation—which in one station is referred to as the Word, in another as the Will, in yet another as the Divine Purpose, and the like—the trumpet was sounded, the cry was raised, and those that lay in their graves were stirred. Exalted be His dominion! Exalted be His power! Exalted be His greatness! He hath created all things through a word from His presence. How then can anyone know His Originator, His Creator, and His Manifestation? The servant beseecheth His Lord to assist His servants to turn towards the horizon which hath been illumined by the lights of His countenance, and unto the ocean which surgeth through His firm and mighty command.

And furthermore, thy letter dated the 25th of the month of Safar was received, and since it was adorned with mention of the Purpose of all worlds, it brought the utmost joy and gladness. May thou never be deprived of the splendors of the Sun of Truth and the outpourings of the ocean of grace. Continuously drink and quaff and share with others the cup of divine love. Strange it is that people have let slip from their grasp such a blessed Day and remained deprived of recognizing it. The vision of the servants is weak, while the Sun of Truth shineth with perfect radiance and light. I beseech the True One, exalted be His glory and His sovereignty, to grant strength to weak eyes that they may not be deprived of beholding the spiritual Sun. Verily He is the Mighty, the Powerful.

Likewise, another letter dated the 10th of Rabi’u’l-Avval was received, and after perusing and becoming acquainted with its contents, it was brought to the Most Great View, and after permission and leave was granted, it was presented before the countenance of the Lord of Destiny. He, exalted be His glory, said:

“O Abu’l-Hasan! Rejoice in that thou hast been mentioned before the Throne time and again, and the face of the Wronged One hath turned toward thee from this remote prison. We have sent down for thee in the mansion that which hath diffused the fragrance of the All-Merciful throughout all creation, and in this prison that which hath stirred every frozen and weighty soul. Behold none save God and His Cause. This is a word through which the horizon of the Tablet hath shone forth and the faces of the sincere have been illumined.”

O Abu’l-Hasan! God willing, thou shalt attain unto the Kawthar of inner meanings and utterance that lieth hidden and concealed within the divine words, and shalt drink therefrom. All are speaking the Word of God, and yet one soul gave up his life upon hearing the blessed word “Say: God; then leave them to their vain disputes,” while another, after hearing divine verses which are beyond reckoning, stirred not from his place and remained deprived of the breezes of the days and bereft of the lights of His countenance. They mention by word the Kawthar and Salsabil, while both appear before their faces yet they remain utterly remote and distant from them. The Supreme Pen counseleth at all times the people of the world regarding that which is to their benefit, both outwardly and inwardly; nevertheless, they have prevented their ears from hearing and have veiled their eyes from beholding the lights with the veils of idle fancy.

O Abu’l-Hasan! Give thanks unto thy Lord for having aided thee to recognize Him and for having caused thee to appear before His face in the Most Great Prison and for having enabled thee to hear His sweet call. Thy services have been adorned with the ornament of acceptance, and this is from God’s great bounty. Know thou this and be of the thankful ones. How many are the servants who attained not unto recognition of the Truth, and how many the souls who attained unto the honor of recognition but were not successful in rendering service to the Cause, and how many the souls who arose to serve but received no mention from the Supreme Pen; yet thou, praise be to God, hast attained unto this great bounty. Should the lowliest of earth’s inhabitants diffuse from him a breath of sincerity, he would be accounted before God as one of those who circle round the Throne and as one of the people of Baha. Blessed are they whom the doubts and imaginings of men have not withheld from the ocean of certitude and whom the oppression of the people of the world hath not deprived them of the light of the Manifestation.

Convey My greetings to all the friends on behalf of the Wronged One and say: O My loved ones! Hold fast to the cord of steadfastness through My power, and cling to the hem of patience through My Name, the All-Patient, the Mighty, the Wise. Know ye the value of these days and deprive not yourselves of the infinite bounties. Arise to serve the Cause of God in complete unity—that is, be occupied with His mention, His praise and the promotion of His Cause. Any matter that today becometh the cause of someone turning away or the source of grief is not acceptable in the sight of God. Associate with the servants of the All-Merciful with the utmost joy and radiance. Thus have ye been commanded aforetime by My Most Exalted Pen. Verily, your Lord, the All-Merciful, is the Almighty, the Exalted, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

O honored brother! Praise be to God, thou hast attained His grace and art adorned with the ornament of trustworthiness. Beseech God, exalted be His glory, that He may aid all the loved ones to achieve that which is befitting and worthy in this day, lest transient affairs and their manifestations deprive them of the eternal Kingdom.

Concerning what thou didst write about trade and its profit, it is evident that since thou hast acted for the sake of God and hadst no personal motive, the blessing of His grace was bestowed. Any deed performed for God’s sake will surely manifest its effect in the material world. Blessed art thou for having attained unto the recognition of God and the choice wine of reunion, while every heedless one remained far removed. I beseech God, exalted be His glory, to make manifest the effects of thy services. O My loved one! Consider the divine bounty—although hoarding was forbidden, yet since thou wert unaware and whatsoever thou didst was for the sake of God, it was accepted and blessed with bounty. Verily, He is the All-Bountiful, the Generous. I have been and am hopeful of God’s grace, and I beseech Him to ever illumine the Trustee and thyself with the light of trustworthiness.

As for what thou didst write concerning the people of Mamqan, it was presented at the Most Holy Court. This is what the All-Merciful hath revealed from the Kingdom of Utterance:

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

O loved ones of God in Mamqan! Hearken unto the call of the All-Merciful that hath been raised from this place which the oppressors have made a prison for Him Who summoneth mankind unto the straight path. He commandeth you to righteousness and piety and to turn with illumined hearts to the supreme horizon. Thus hath the Beloved of all creation decreed. Verily, He is the One Who hath power over whatsoever He willeth. The affairs of creation cannot frustrate Him, nor can the veils of them that have disbelieved in God, the Lord of all worlds, prevent Him. This is the Day wherein the horizon of Revelation hath been illumined and all things have cried out: “The Kingdom belongeth unto God, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise!” Well is it with him who hath cast away the world and taken hold of that which God, the Lord of all nations, hath commanded. He is assuredly among the people of Baha in the Preserved Tablet.

Section 2: “God willing, may ye be blessed through…”

God willing, may ye be blessed through the grace of the All-Merciful and be detached and free from all else but Him. How many souls awaited the days of God, yet when the Most Great Light dawned above the horizon of the world, all peoples turned away save those whom God, exalted be His glory, preserved through His complete power and delivered from the darkness of self and desire. Know ye the value of this Day. Break the idols of vain imaginings through the name of the Lord of all names and fix your gaze upon the horizon of certitude. Forget not the counsels of the Truth and preserve the pearls of His words within the shell of the heart. Praise be to God that His grace hath not left you to yourselves. Be ye occupied with His remembrance and praise throughout the days and nights. Soon shall the earthly world and all that is therein perish and vanish away, while that which hath been recorded by the Divine Pen concerning His loved ones shall remain and endure. Strive ye for that which will profit you and enrich you above all else. Thus doth the Wronged One command you from this mighty prison.

O loved ones of the All-Merciful in Saysan! Rejoice in that the Most Exalted Pen maketh mention of you in the kingdom of your Lord, the Mighty, the All-Bestowing. Hold fast unto the firm handle and cling to the hem of the bounty of your Lord, the Lord of the Return. By the True One! The horizon of Revelation hath been illumined and the Speaker of Sinai speaketh forth on this Day that was promised in the Books of God, the Lord of all men. Blessed is the soul that hath cast away whatsoever preventeth it from piety and hath taken hold of that which it was commanded by God, the Revealer of verses. Blessed is the stranger who hath sought the supreme homeland, and the poor one who hath hastened to the ocean of wealth, and the one who hath turned with God’s leave to the Most Exalted Word, God, the Cleaver of the dawn.

How many a learned one hath been debarred from the ocean of knowledge, and how many a veiled one hath hastened and drunk and said: “Praise be unto Thee, O Lord of Lords!” I testify that Thou hast manifested the Manifestation of Thyself and hast sent down that which hath weakened the servants and caused feet to slip. Thus have We adorned the horizon of utterance with the sun of proof. Blessed is he who hath found the fragrance of the garment and held fast to the Command of God, the Mighty, the Bountiful.

We make mention of Our loved ones in the land of M and T that they may rejoice in the remembrance of God, the Lord of Names, and thank Him at eventide and at dawn. The lamp of God hath been lit in the world. Draw near, O people of the earth, and follow not every idolatrous impostor. Those who have debarred the servants from the Most Great Sea are wrapped in heedlessness and veils. They have cast the knowledge of God behind their backs and followed vain fancies and imaginings. Take ye what ye have been commanded and leave those who have disbelieved in the All-Merciful after the proof and evidence had come unto them. Hold fast unto the cord of steadfastness in this Cause whereby souls have been shaken and the faces of the righteous illumined.

O friends! God willing, may you drink, through the bounty of the All-Merciful, from the Living Waters which by God’s will have flowed forth throughout creation, and partake thereof. Today the Sun of generosity is shining and the ocean of bounty is surging—deprive not yourselves. Under all conditions, hold fast to the cord of His remembrance and occupy yourselves with the praise of God, exalted be His glory. The satans of the earth have not and will never cease in their efforts to lead the servants astray. You must preserve the pearls of His love through His Name, lest the hands of the treacherous pollute them and strip them of their freshness. Know ye the value of this call, for this Day will not always be manifest nor this call forever raised. How many were the saints and chosen ones who gave up their lives yearning for the divine call, yet attained it not. Know ye the value of these days and this remembrance which the Tongue of Grandeur hath spoken in this mighty prison. And praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

Concerning what you requested about the people of Mamqan, Saysan and Mataneh, praise be to God it was blessed with acceptance and adorned with favor. As commanded, this evanescent servant wrote and sent word. However, you must proceed with perfect wisdom and never let go of wisdom in any circumstance, lest something occur that might extinguish enkindled souls. People are weak and heedless of God’s will—for if they were to become aware of but a drop from the ocean of His will, you would find them all turned towards Him. In any case, impart the divine words to them with utmost care and counsel those souls with wisdom. Conflict and contention have never been and are not permitted.

Regarding what you wrote about his honor Afnan Aqa’i, Mr. A. and H., upon them be all the Glory of God, a firm decree was previously issued that whatever they have written should be acted upon. The earthly resources of Kh. were all distributed according to the record sent in this letter, and they have been and are delivering them to the mentioned souls as commanded. Whatever is with you should be delivered to them.

And concerning what you wrote mentioning Mr. Muhammad Sadiq and others, it was presented and the Sun of favor has risen upon each one. They were previously mentioned in the Most Holy Court and sublime, wondrous verses were specifically revealed for them. I beseech God to assist them all in what He loves and is pleased with. Similarly, you had mentioned Mr. Mirza Ghulam-ʿAli, upon him be the glory of God. He has not been forgotten and God willing never will be. He was mentioned in the Most Holy Court. This evanescent servant beseeches God, exalted be His glory, to strengthen him in matters that cause the exaltation of his station and the elevation of the Cause. Please convey greetings on behalf of this evanescent servant to him and other friends, upon them be the glory of God, who have drunk from the cup of detachment and are gazing toward the horizon of unity.

Furthermore, a few days ago a detailed reply to your letter was sent, and mention was made in the Most Holy Court of those souls whose names were inscribed in that missive. Specifically for each one, both living and departed, wondrous and exalted verses were revealed and dispatched. God willing, they will attain to their perusal. May He bestow fresh life upon the living and grant eternal remembrance to the departed. His is the grace, the generosity, the bounty and the bestowal. God willing, may you ever abide peaceful and at rest beneath the shade of the Blessed Tree. A letter reached this evanescent one from the beloved Nazim, upon him be the Glory of God, and God willing its reply shall be submitted. Your honor should consult with him on matters and act upon whatever is deemed advisable.

Furthermore, on behalf of this evanescent servant convey greetings to the honored friend Jinab-i-Varqa, upon him be the Glory of God. God willing, through divine grace may they ignite with the fire of His love those who are dispirited, and guide the thirsty to the stream of the All-Merciful’s mercy. Furthermore, it was intended to submit a petition in reply to the letter of the honored beloved Nabil-i-Qa’in, upon him be the Glory of God, but since they had written of their intention to depart, it was delayed until their place of residence becomes known. Though they wander in the path of God—would that I could share in what hath befallen him in the Cause of God, our Beloved, our Goal and the Goal of all the worlds.

Convey on behalf of this evanescent one wondrous and exalted greetings to Jinab-i-Amin, upon him be the Glory of God. God willing, may they fix their gaze upon that which God hath desired and remain firm and steadfast in His service. The Glory be upon you and upon him.

The servant 11 Jamadi’l-Avval [1297]

BH03344: A mention from Us to one who has attained…

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

A mention from Us to one who has attained the lights of the Kingdom when he turned to the supreme horizon and heard the call of his Most Glorious Lord which was raised from this most splendid station, which hath been named by all names in the Books and Tablets, that he may discover the fragrance of the All-Merciful and turn with his heart unto God, the Lord of all religions. Thy letter hath come before the Wronged One, and the servant in attendance before His face hath read it, and We have answered thee with this epistle which hath been detailed from the Mother Book. Blessed art thou for having found the sweetness of the Call and for having answered thy Lord when most of the servants turned away from Him. Be thou assured of thy Lord’s grace—verily He heareth and seeth and ordaineth for thee from His bounty whatsoever He willeth. He is, in truth, the One Who overshadoweth all who are in the earth and heaven.

God willing, thou shouldst remain steadfast in the Cause of God with such constancy that its fragrance may be diffused throughout the divine realms. I swear by the Sun of utterance which hath appeared from the horizon of God’s Tablet that a station hath been conferred upon you whose mention shall endure as long as the kingdom and the heavenly realm endure. God willing, thou shouldst walk in the footsteps of the two Luminaries. The world and all that is therein are seen to be transient and perishable. Strive thou in that which shall endure for thee through the eternity of thy Lord’s names, the All-Knowing, the Ancient of Days. In all conditions be thou occupied with the remembrance of God and be thou attentive to the horizon of His Cause. This is what profiteth thee in this world and the next and exalteth thee amongst the people. Verily thy Lord is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

Convey to all the leaves My greetings from the Wronged One and say: The Tongue of Grandeur hath testified to your oppression, and this testimony is superior to all that hath been and shall be seen. Blessed is the soul that hath drawn nigh unto you for the sake of God. We testify that ye are under the sheltering gaze of your Lord, the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. We have mentioned both your young and old, and We make mention as a bounty from Our presence. He is, in truth, the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous. And praise be to God, the Lord of all worlds.

BH04020: A mention from Us to him who has turned…

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

A mention from Us to him who has turned to the Most Great Sea and desired to drink therefrom through My Name, the Powerful, the Mighty, that he may rejoice in My remembrance and arise to serve the Cause with such steadfastness that all the hosts of the earth shall not deter him. This behooveth him who hath set his face toward My luminous countenance.

Praise be to God! Exalted is the heaven of inner meanings, and the Sun of utterance hath shone forth from its horizon—a goodly dawning-place it is. Blessed is the soul whom the darkness of vain surmises hath not withheld from the light of certitude, and whom the gloom of idle fancies hath not turned back from the radiance of the Day of God.

O Jalil Khalil! The horizons have, in most days, been afflicted at the hands of the people of hypocrisy; and in the path of God they have borne that which the Pen is powerless to set down and the tongue unable to recount. And were there perceived in this earthly world any worth or rank, assuredly He would not have accepted such tribulation, nor endured such travail. This blessed, pure, and hallowed word sufficeth thee, and all the peoples of the world—would that they might ponder it! In every word of the divine utterance a sea of knowledge and awareness lieth hidden. Implore thou the True One that, of His bounty and grace, He deprive not His servants thereof.

We bear witness that there is none other God but Him; and He Who speaketh the truth—verily He is the Most Great Path among the nations, and the Supreme Sign amidst all created things. All things have appeared by His command, and whatsoever He willeth He bringeth into being through His sovereignty, the Almighty, the All-Compelling, the Dominant over all the worlds. Render thanks unto God, thy Lord, in that the Wronged One, within this strong and guarded prison, remembereth thee.

BH04290: A light from Our presence unto those who are…

He is the One speaking between earth and heaven!

A light from Our presence unto those who are in the world, and verily it is in the form of a Book. Exalted is the All-Bestowing One Who sent it after He revealed it. He, verily, is the Unconstrained One.

O people of the earth! Hearken unto the call of God from the direction of Paradise—the spot which hath been named at one time the Most Great Prison and at another the Most Exalted Paradise, and it hath other names with God, the Possessor of all things, in the Scriptures and Tablets. Doth that which ye possess prevent you from the Most Glorious Horizon, and doth the world occupy you from turning toward God, the Creator of heaven? Make it clear and be not of them that err.

By the life of God! The world and whatsoever is therein of kings and subjects, of gold and silver, and whatsoever is above them and below them, and whatsoever attracteth the eyes—all shall pass away. Take ye from it according to your needs, then leave what exceedeth. Thus hath the Sovereign of Verses commanded you from this station.

O concourse of princes! Turn ye unto the poor. God hath created you and them from one thing. Make ye in your possessions a portion for them. This will profit you throughout ages and centuries. Spend some of what God hath bestowed upon you through His grace—thereby will that which ye possess increase. The Mother Book with Him doth testify to this.

Thus hath My tongue spoken and My verses been revealed as a grace from Me upon thee, that thou mayest be of those unto whom the Tongue of Grandeur and Glory hath borne witness. Read thou the Book of God, then read it unto those on whose faces thou findest the radiance of the All-Merciful. Glory be upon thee and upon those who have attained unto the bounty of their Lord, the Possessor of existence.

BH05859: In My Name, the Stranger

In My Name, the Stranger

The Book of God hath been sent down in truth, and the Tablet of God hath appeared from the Mother Book, and verily it proclaimeth: There is none other God but Me, the Forgiving, the Generous. That which was hidden hath been revealed, and the Tongue hath spoken: There is none other God but Him, the Mighty, the Beautiful. The sea hath testified to the Most Great Sea, and the sun to this Luminous Orb. The heaven hath borne witness to the Lord of Names, and the light to this Revelation whereby the horizon of the world hath been illumined. Thus doth the Greatest Name speak, yet the people remain behind a manifest veil.

Verily We gave glad tidings unto all in the Bayan concerning these days, and took from each and every one, whether young or old, a covenant. Yet when the Promise came to pass, they arose in opposition. He, verily, is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Among them are those who turned away from God and objected to Him, uttering that which even the Jews did not utter when the Spirit came with manifest sovereignty. And among them are those who said He speaketh from desire, after We had called them to the supreme horizon and revealed that which lay hidden in the treasuries of God’s knowledge, the Lord of all worlds.

Blessed art thou for having turned toward Him Who is wronged, at a time when every guilty oppressor turned away. The glory rest upon thee and upon whosoever hath clung to the hem of God, the Mighty, the Most Praiseworthy.

BH06978: He counseled the servants and those in the Bayan…

He is the Most Great!

He counseled the servants and those in the Bayan to this Revelation that hath appeared from the horizon of the world, but the people of the Bayan violated God’s Covenant and turned away from the Lord of nations.

Say: The mighty one is he who hath taken hold of the Book, and the learned one is he who hath recognized and turned toward the Ancient of Days.

Say: This is the Day wherein God’s Balance hath been established among all things, inasmuch as the Desired One hath come with His Most Great Name.

Say: O people, open your eyes! By God, the Hidden One hath appeared and the banner of victory hath been raised upon the standard. Blessed is he who hath attained unto God’s days and upon whom hath flowed the ocean of utterance from the wellspring of this Pen.

Place thy trust at all times in thy Lord, the All-Merciful, and hold fast to the hem of His bounty. When thou hast attained and visited the Tablet, say: I beseech Thee, O God of the Kingdom and Sovereign over the realm of might, to make me in all conditions one who gazeth toward Thee, boweth down before Thy face, and uttereth Thy remembrance. Verily, Thou art the Powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Sovereign over the hidden and the manifest.

BH07307: In the Name of the Mighty, the All-Wise! Hath…

In the Name of the Mighty, the All-Wise! Hath anyone drunk from the living waters and remained silent, or failed to attain thereunto and remained heedless? By God’s life! Whoso drinketh thereof will be seized with such longing that he will arise and exclaim:

“By God! The Beloved hath come with His mighty and impregnable dominion!”

And he will be set ablaze with a fire that neither the waters of the world nor the opposition of the nations can quench. Thy Lord, verily, is the All-Informed.

And should anyone be kindled by this fire or be drawn by the call of the Chosen One, he must not transgress the wisdom which hath been sent down in the Tablet from the Pen of the All-Knowing. We have made all victory to consist in utterance. Fear ye the All-Merciful, and be not of them who dispute idly and commit that which they were forbidden in the perspicuous Book.

Say: Consort with all religions with joy and fragrance, and remind them of that which hath appeared in creation. Should they turn towards it, it is for their own good; and should they turn away, withdraw from them and remain steadfast in great dignity. Thus have We sent down the verses unto thee and dispatched them to thee, that thou mayest be of them that render thanks.

BH07359: O Thou Who art wronged! Make mention of him…

He is the Mighty, the Great!

O Thou Who art wronged! Make mention of him who drank the Kawthar of utterance in the days of the All-Merciful and turned toward the Kaaba of existence when every heedless doubter turned away. We give glad tidings to those who followed what God hath sent down in His mighty Tablet, who hearkened to the mention of their Lord and responded on a day when every ignorant and remote one turned away from His countenance. Verily thy Lord maketh mention of him who hath turned toward Him and ordaineth for him through His grace that whereof every reckoner and knowing one is powerless to make mention.

Beware lest the veils of humanity withhold thee from the Most Great Scene. Hold fast unto the Sure Handle and turn with thy heart to the Supreme Horizon. He will assist thee in the hereafter and in this world. Verily thy Lord is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. We showed unto all the path of God and made known who in the Bayan would come with the truth. But when He came they disbelieved and turned away, except such as God wished, the Lord of the worlds.

Blessed is the strong one who held fast unto God and the poor one who sought the ocean of his Lord’s mercy, the Self-Sufficient, the All-Wise. Glory be upon the people of Baha from God, the Mighty, the Beautiful.

BH07709: God testifieth that there is none other God but…

He is the Ever-Abiding, the Everlasting

God testifieth that there is none other God but Him, and He Who speaketh is indeed the One intended, He Whom the dwellers of Paradise and they that circle round the Throne in the morning and evening have acknowledged in His Manifestation and sovereignty. Say: If ye be fair-minded, O peoples of the earth, if ye deny Him by Whom the horizon of utterance hath been illumined, to whom will ye turn, and by what proof will your faith in God, the One, the All-Informed, be established? O peoples of the earth! By God, ye were created for this Day. Arise in My Name to remember Me and to serve My Cause, if ye be of them that know. Whoso turneth away this Day hath in truth turned away from God from time immemorial, and whoso turneth unto Him is reckoned among the sincere ones. It behooveth thee today to make mention of the Day of God unto the people, that they may recognize that from which they were debarred. Verily thy Lord is the All-Bountiful. Thus hath the tongue of Revelation spoken in this station, that thou mayest rejoice and arise to make mention of this Wronged One, the Exile.

BH08459: This is a wondrous remembrance from God, the Lord…

In the name of the Most Learned, the Most Glorious!

This is a wondrous remembrance from God, the Lord of the worlds, that through it may be drawn the hearts of such servants as have been held back from God, the Most High, the Most Great, by their desires.

Say: O people of the earth! Hearken unto the call of God, for it hath been raised graciously from its resplendent station. Turn ye unto Him with attentive ears, that haply the breaths of revelation may seize you and draw you nigh unto the Mighty, the Generous.

How many a night did Baha not sleep, calling all unto God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy, and how many a day did He speak until the sun did set—to this every discerning soul doth testify. By God! In My actions I desired naught save to draw people nigh unto God, the Peerless, the All-Knowing. We wished for them naught save what would profit them in this world and the next. Verily, My Most Exalted Pen is the Witness.

We have seen thee turning unto God, and have therefore revealed for thee this Book and sent it to thee, that thou mayest rejoice and be among those who render thanks.

BH01348: Praise be to God Who hath spoken the truth…

He is God, exalted be His station in greatness and power

Praise be to God Who hath spoken the truth and called the people to the Supreme Horizon, the station wherein the Divine Lote Tree speaketh:

“There is none other God but Him, the Single, the One, the Alone, the Self-Subsisting, Who hath taken neither partner nor counsellor unto Himself. He hath ever been in the heights of might and majesty, and will forever remain as He hath been from time immemorial. All atoms testify that there is none other God but Him, the Self-Sufficient, the Most High.”

Praise, sanctified from the understanding of all created things, beseemeth the Beloved of the Worlds, Who through the shrill voice of the Pen hath attracted the gems of the world and guided them to the Most Great Ocean. Holy and sanctified is His mention above the mentions of the people of the earth; exalted and glorified is His description above the descriptions of creation. Through a single Word He hath made manifest the mysteries of origin and return. Glorified be He Who hath revealed the beginning and the end through a Word from His presence. The servant beareth witness that there is none other God but Him, the Almighty, the Most High, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

And now, this servant submitteth that thy letter was received some time ago by this evanescent one, and as it was adorned with the praise and glorification of the Goal of all desire, the utmost joy and gladness was derived therefrom. I beseech God, exalted be His glory, to assist thee to praise and glorify Him and to achieve that which will cause the exaltation of thy station and thy ascendancy. Verily, He is powerful over all things.

And concerning thy desire to attain unto His presence in Ridvan, it was submitted, and this is what the Beloved hath spoken in reply:

In His Name, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise

Glorified be He Who hath manifested what He desired through His command. Verily, He is the One with power over whatsoever He willeth through His word “Be” and it is. O thou who hast turned thy face towards His countenance! Hearken unto the call of the Wronged One. He testifieth to that which God testified before the creation of the heavens and earth: There is none other God but Him, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. Blessed art thou for having drunk the choice wine of utterance from the hands of the favors of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Loving. Be thou thankful and say:

“O my God, my Lord, my Support and my Hope! I am Thy servant and the son of Thy servant. I have turned unto the Daysprings of Thy Revelation and the Dawning-Places of Thy inspiration, and have set my face towards Thy Face that abideth after the perishing of all things, hoping for Thy mercy that hath preceded the world and Thy grace that hath encompassed the nations. I beseech Thee, O my Lord, by Thy Most Excellent Names and Thy Most Exalted Attributes, to ordain for me from Thy Most Exalted Pen that which shall profit me in the world to come and in this world. Verily, Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous. O my Lord! Accept from me, through Thy grace and bounty, what I have desired in Thy path, and deprive me not of meeting Thee, which Thou hast mentioned in Thy Mighty Book and wherewith Thou hast gladdened Thy servants in Thy verses. I testify, and all things testify, to Thy power and Thy sovereignty. Thou dost ordain for whomsoever Thou willest the reward of that which the Embodiments of Thy Revelation and the Treasuries of Thy knowledge have uttered. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the Most Exalted, the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.”

All friends have been commanded to wisdom, and this has been and will be due to divine grace. Thus, if that honored one had given attention, it surely would have caused spread and fame, and this would have been far from the requirements of wisdom. The heedless people are very distant and are immersed in their own suspicions and vain imaginings. Without thought they speak, and without cause they rise in opposition. Soon will the true Omnipotent One purify the earth and cause the sun of justice to appear to all the world from behind the clouds of oppression. Praise be to God that your honor attained to the nobility of what you intended, for this intention was accepted in the presence of the Beloved of the world. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He desireth. Verily, He is the Single One, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

Furthermore, the honored friend Haji ?-S, upon him be the Glory of God, graced us with his presence and on your behalf, this evanescent servant was enabled to accomplish what was intended and acted accordingly. This servant praises the Beloved of the world that your request was fulfilled in the most excellent manner, for the gathering was convened and that which was the hope and aspiration of all those near and sincere ones illumined that precious assembly. The aforementioned person, upon him be the Glory of God, will relate the details. Blessed art thou, and the other partakers of the cup of divine love send their greetings. The Glory be upon you.

The servant 24 Jamadiyu’l-Avval 1297