Volume 060: Akka 1297 A.H. (1880), Part I (4 of 8)

BH00593: Praise be sanctified above the tongues of created things…

He is God, exalted is He in Might and Power

Praise be sanctified above the tongues of created things, befitting the most holy court of that Intended One who ordained the Primal Word to be the fountainhead of the water of life for all contingent beings. From but a single sprinkling of its outpourings, countless oceans came into being and were made manifest. Whosoever attained unto a drop thereof was adorned with a wondrous new life, while he who remained deprived thereof died a death after which no life was to be seen. How great is His bounty and how exalted His generosity, which has ever been and shall forever remain beyond the reckoning of them that reckon, the comprehension of them that comprehend, and the knowledge of them that know! He is the One Who created all contingent beings through a command from His presence, brought them forth, gave them utterance, and caused them to grow, then made them return unto Him. He is the One through Whom the horizon of utterance was illumined, the proof was made manifest, and the nightingale warbled upon the branches. Sovereignty belongeth unto God, the Single One, the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.

The Glory shining forth from the horizon of the loving-kindness of the Lord of Names rest upon His chosen ones who have cast away what the people possess when that which is with God hath appeared. These are honored servants upon whom neither fear shall come, nor shall they grieve. Through them were the standards hoisted and the banners unfurled. The Concourse on High and the dwellers of the Cities of Names send their prayers upon them. I beseech Him, exalted be He, to decree for this evanescent servant that he be numbered among them, that He gather me beneath their shade, give me to drink from their cups, and draw me nigh unto them in all conditions. Verily, He is the Lord of the beginning and the end. There is none other God but He, the Self-Sufficient, the Most Exalted.

My spirit be a sacrifice unto your praise! This evanescent servant hath been blessed to hear the shrill voice of your pen, which hath spoken in praise of God and His chosen ones, and in remembrance of God and His loved ones. When the wine of utterance had intoxicated me, I turned toward the Beloved of all creation and presented before His face your letter and what had been inscribed therein by the pen of your love and the ink of your affection. When this was completed, the countenance of the Beloved turned toward me and He spoke that which was the Kawthar of life to all contingent beings, the dayspring of knowledge to the followers of all religions, and the dawning-place of certitude to whosoever hath turned unto his Lord, the All-Merciful.

At the end of His utterance, I heard these sublime words: We beseech Him, exalted be He, to aid him to remember and praise Him, and to draw him nigh unto Him through His bounty and sovereignty, in such wise that he shall behold naught in existence save the countenance of the Adored One, that he may remind the servants of what God hath revealed in the Book, that perchance they may abandon the fancies of their souls and the imaginings of their hearts, and hold fast unto that whereby God hath distinguished between truth and falsehood. Verily, He is the Almighty, Whom nothing whatsoever can frustrate and no matter can thwart. From His Most Exalted Pen have flowed the oceans of names, and through His supreme bounty hath been manifested that whereby all things have been made to speak. There is none other God but He, the Single, the One, the Only, the Self-Subsisting, Who begetteth not, nor was begotten, and there is none comparable unto Him.

O physician! God willing, mayest thou be favored by the grace of God and speak with wisdom and eloquence amongst the people of the contingent world. For people have not yet comprehended the purpose, most of them wandering in the wilderness of idle fancies and traversing the desert of vain imaginings, occupied with a mere pond while veiled from the Most Great Ocean. Gradually, heedlessness has reached such a point that the religion of God has weakened and the path of God has been forsaken. They have abandoned the Book and Tradition, and taken up volumes of conjecture and fancy. What was the strength and might of Islam in its early days, and what has it become now? Weakness, impotence, and feebleness have reached such a degree that understanding fails to comprehend it and the pen falls short of describing it.

Glory be to God! How can it be that man, despite possessing reason and understanding, becomes so confused about a matter that he attributes injustice to the Dawning-Place of justice, and counts the essence of fairness among the oppressors? We beseech God, exalted be His glory, to rend asunder the veils through His grace and lead the people from the darkness of heedlessness to the dawning-place of light. Whenever thought turns to these matters, sorrows encompass from all directions. It behooveth us to turn to God and say:

O Thou in Whose grasp is the dominion of names and in Whose right hand is the reins of all things! I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which Thou hast subdued the world to ordain from Thy Most Exalted Pen for the people of creation that which will draw them nigh unto Thee, O Creator of the heavens! My Lord! Thou seest and hearest what hath befallen Thy servants at the hands of Thine enemies. I beseech Thee to protect them and raise them to the highest station of glory, exaltation, might, and power. Thou art He to Whose greatness, power, sovereignty, and authority both my outer and inner tongue bear witness—nay, all my limbs testify. Thou doest what Thou willest in the kingdom and ordainest what Thou desirest. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the Exalted, the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.

Regarding what you wrote about the noble person, upon him be 966 [Baha’u’llah], it was very good indeed. In any case, this matter is acceptable and praiseworthy, for both your honor is occupied with a profession and thereby the pretext of the heedless will be lessened. I beseech the Most High to ordain for your honor the good of this world and the next, and their profit. Verily, He is the Mighty, the Powerful.

Concerning what you wrote about the Afnan, upon them be the Most Glorious Glory of God, it caused great joy, delight and gladness, for praise be to God, they proceeded in perfect health, blessing and well-being to visit the stars of the Muhammadan heaven and the Imams of God’s religion, peace be upon them. If one would be somewhat fair and reflect, one would always be engaged in goodly matters and attain lofty stations. I beseech God for success in enabling this evanescent servant to be confirmed in goodly matters and to accept deeds and remembrances that are unworthy. Verily, He is the Single, the One, the Forgiving, the Generous.

Concerning what you wrote about Eliyahu requesting expenses—this matter is most strange from him, for referring such matters outwardly to this Seat has never been and is not now favored. Every matter in the world has had and has its proper reference point. Today everyone who has drunk from the ocean of knowledge has known and knows that this Station is sanctified and holy above such talk, conditions and mentions. If they are in that land, convey greetings to them on behalf of this evanescent servant and make mention that I beseech God, exalted be His glory, not to deprive you from the outpourings of the cloud of bounty and to make you successful in that which is good. Verily He is the Powerful, the Mighty.

His Holiness the Most Great Branch—may my spirit, my being and my essence be a sacrifice for the dust of His blessed footsteps—has gone to Beirut some time ago, therefore the letter sent remains until He returns, and what His Holiness had commanded in reply was exactly right and the matter unanswered.

Concerning what was mentioned about being commissioned to Iran—that beloved one knows that no one here is given such a commission. Out of pure grace they said return to your own land and if you can, remind some of the servants of praiseworthy conduct and pleasing deeds which are the cause of the appearance and manifestation of the essence of humanity. This is what has been and is said to all. This servant beseeches God to engage them in that which He loves and with which He is pleased. And on behalf of this evanescent servant convey greetings to Mirza Sulayman from the people of Ha. They were observed with intelligence and acumen and God willing my petitions will not be forgotten by them. Their mention has been and is here. Verily He loves faithfulness and has commanded His servants to faithfulness. Glory be to God, the Lord of Names and Creator of heaven, Who created existence and all things through the First Word, and verily He is the Single, the One, the Wise.

Concerning what you wrote about the letter of Hadba, it is known that all are commanded to wisdom and love. Certainly if they conduct themselves in such a way that the consul is pleased with them, it would be most fitting and excellent. God willing may all be engaged in the remembrance of God with the utmost joy and fragrance. Some time ago a letter arrived from His Holiness Zayn—upon him be the Glory of God—and this servant has not been successful in replying. God willing perhaps in these days he will be enabled, and hope for pardon from them in all conditions.

And concerning what you wrote that his honor Muhammad Surur Effendi—upon him be the Glory of God—has proceeded to the land of Ha, and someone gave a petition in the name of His Holiness the Most Great Branch—may the spirits of all worlds be sacrificed for Him—it was previously submitted that He is not present. God willing after His return whatever is required will be submitted. At this time they gained admittance to the Most Holy and Most Exalted Presence. Write:

O physician! We make mention in this station of My loved ones in that place and counsel them with the supreme wisdom, even as We have counseled My loved ones in other cities. We beseech Him, exalted be He, to enable them to manifest love, affection and unity. Verily He is the Powerful, the Mighty. And We make mention of thy two sons—give them the glad-tidings of the remembrance of the Wronged One and remind them of that which will draw them nigh unto God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. The Glory be upon them and upon thee and upon them both and upon thy wife who hath borne tribulations for the sake of God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

BH05027: Day and night the servants of God were awaiting…

In the name of the Ever-Living, the Everlasting

Day and night the servants of God were awaiting the dawning of the Divine Revelation. Yet when the Sun of Truth shone forth from the Dayspring of “God was, and there was nothing besides Him,” all arose in rejection and protest, nay rather, they arose to extinguish that Most Great Light. Such is the station of the servants.

How many are the divines who today are honored by His name and Word, yet remain heedless of Him. Consider the Wolf of the Land of Sad, who deemed himself the promoter of the Law of the Messenger, yet martyred the sons of the Virgin with utmost tyranny and oppression. And the Snake who considered himself a descendant of the Prophet’s lineage killed the Lord of Lords without recognizing Him. Would that people knew and understood!

From time immemorial unto this day, there has befallen the loved ones of God at the hands of the manifestations of oppression and tyranny that which the pen is powerless to recount. Praise be to God that that leaf attained unto that which the sincere men and women and the devoted men and women attained in former times.

Verily He was with you in all conditions, witnessing and beholding what befell you in His path. He is, verily, the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. The Glory be upon you and upon those women who have believed in the One, the All-Informed.

BH05683: God willing, thou hast ever drunk and wilt ever…

In the name of the one true Friend!

God willing, thou hast ever drunk and wilt ever drink from the Kawthar of the knowledge of the Beloved of all possibilities, and dwelt beneath the shade of the Tree of His Cause.

O handmaiden of God! How many divines and mystics, through their selfish desires and pride in outward knowledge, remained deprived of the court of His oneness, while thou didst attain to the recognition of the Divine Lote-Tree which calleth today betwixt earth and heaven. Thou didst drink from the ocean of knowledge and taste the choice wine of the love of the All-Merciful. Give thanks unto thy Lord for this supreme bounty.

I swear by the Sun of Truth that thy mention hath been inscribed in God’s Book by the Most Glorious Pen, and thou art remembered before the Concourse on High and the dwellers of the Most Exalted Paradise, for thou didst witness and hear in His path what the devoted women of former ages witnessed and heard.

Soon shall the names of the oppressors be erased from the world, and your names shall be seen shining like the morning star from the horizons of the heaven of utterance. Glory be upon thee and upon those women whom circumstances did not prevent from the Abode of Verses, who forsook all they possessed and took what they were commanded by God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH07858: How excellent is the state of that soul who…

In the name of the All-Knowing Speaker

How excellent is the state of that soul who today has not been prevented by the veils of the people of the world from the Most Great Ocean and the recognition of the Pre-existent Lord, and whom transient means have not deprived of everlasting bounties. With perfect certitude and assurance they have turned toward the Beloved of all creation and become vocal in His praise.

O handmaiden of God! The Truth remembers thee from the Most Great Prison. Strive thou to attain, through His aid, the sweetness of this bounty. I swear by the Ancient Beauty, if thou attainest to that which was mentioned, thou shalt behold thyself in the most exalted station with perfect joy and ecstasy. This is the bounty of the Beloved that He hath bestowed before any request.

Then praise ye and give thanks and be devoted, then prostrate yourselves before God, your Lord and the Lord of all who are in the kingdoms of the heavens and earth and the realms of command and creation, the Lord of all the worlds.

BH08642: Praise be to God that the effulgences…

In the name of the one beloved Friend!

Praise be to God that the effulgences of the lights of the divine countenance have cast their rays upon the Sinais of the hearts of those men and women who have turned towards Him. How exalted is the station of the soul who in this day has become illumined by the lights of His countenance and has attained unto the most great steadfastness.

O handmaid of God! The station of steadfastness is very great in the sight of God. All men and women servants must fix their gaze upon it and supplicate God that He may strengthen them all and give them to drink from the cup of steadfastness. How many a man has stumbled and how many a woman has stumbled!

We beseech God to assist thee and the handmaids who are there, and to ordain for thee and for them the best of this world and of the world to come. Verily He is the Ruler over whatsoever He willeth. There is no God but Him, the Giving, the Most High, the Mighty, the Generous.

BH09231: The Supreme Pen makes mention of a leaf…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Glorious

The Supreme Pen makes mention of a leaf from among the leaves who did not break the Covenant when darkness spread over all horizons.

O My handmaiden! Rejoice in that the Wronged One makes mention of thee, through Whom the horizon of existence was illumined and the leaves were adorned. Blessed is the strong man who arose and blessed is the strong woman who arose when the croaking was raised. Soon will the croaking be heard throughout the lands. Happy is the one who drank the Kawthar of steadfastness from the hand of bounty on the day of separation.

We have sent down in the Book aforetime that which shall appear hereafter. He, verily, is the Mighty, the All-Knowing. Reflect upon the verses of God and His sovereignty which has encompassed all lands.

O My handmaiden! Hold fast to the cord of the loving-kindness of thy Lord, then remember Him at all times.

BH02209: Lawh-i-Ard-i-Ba

He is God—exalted be His station, the Glory and the Power!

Praise be to Him through Whom the land of Ba was honored by the arrival of Him around Whom all names revolve. Through this all atoms gave glad tidings to all created things, as the Sun of Beauty of the Most Great Branch of God, the All-Glorious, and the Mystery of God, the Most Ancient, the Most Straight, emerged and shone forth from the gate of the prison, heading toward another place. Through this the prison land was saddened while another rejoiced. Exalted, exalted be our Lord, the Creator of the heavens and the Maker of all things, Who by His sovereignty opened the prison gate to manifest what He had revealed in the Tablets aforetime. He is, verily, the One with power over what He willeth, and in His grasp is the kingdom of creation. He is the All-Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Blessed, then blessed is the land honored by His footsteps, the eye that was solaced by His beauty, the ear that was honored by hearkening to His call, the heart that tasted the sweetness of His love, the breast that was gladdened by His remembrance, the pen that moved to His praise, and the tablet that bore His traces. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to honor us with meeting Him soon. He is, verily, the Hearer, the Powerful, the Answerer.

May my spirit be a sacrifice for your mention and utterance and your arising to serve God and His Cause. The bird of my heart has taken flight at the warbling of the dove of your remembrance and the shrill voice of your pen. This has so transported and enraptured me in such wise as none can reckon save God, the Lord of the beginning and the end. When I learned and discovered what was therein, I approached the gate and entered and arose and, after seeking permission, presented what the nightingale of love for you had warbled in remembrance of God, our Creator and your Creator. Then the countenance of the Beloved turned toward this evanescent one and said:

“Remember him on My behalf and give him the glad-tidings of My loving-kindness, My grace and My mercy, that the joy of remembrance may so possess him that the sorrows of the world cannot sadden him nor the troubles of the nations affect him. He is among those who have been mentioned before the Face on most days. Glory be upon him and upon those with him who have attained My good-pleasure and acted according to that which has diffused the fragrance of My character.”

Thus ended His words.

As for what you wrote in the letter you sent, it has arrived, and likewise another letter. Soon, God willing and by His power, an answer will be sent to you regarding the land of Kaf.

As for the letter of his honor Aqa Mirza Asadu’llah, upon him be the Glory of God, there is no harm if it is delayed, for in recent days sublime words were issued for him and others and were sent to him by sea. I ask your honor to turn, after seeking permission, and visit the feet of my Lord and your Lord and the Lord of those near unto God, His Holiness the Branch of God—may my spirit and my being and my essence and all that my Lord has given me be a sacrifice for the atoms of the dust of His glorious footsteps—on behalf of this evanescent servant. This is a great bounty from your presence upon me.

All glory, all glory be upon you and upon whoever has held fast to the Sure Handle, and upon the loved ones there. I send my feeble greetings to them and seek their pardon for my transgressions which occurred due to my heedlessness in remembering them. I seek forgiveness in all conditions. Verily our Lord, the All-Merciful, is the All-Forgiving, the All-Generous. And I send greetings and salutations to the two Ha’s before the Sin’s who have attained to serving their Lord and who became strangers in His shadow to draw near unto Him. Blessed are they and joy be unto them, and for them is a goodly return.

1 Rajab 1297

BH01312: Ziyarat-i-Jinab-i-Aba Badi’

He is the All-Knowing Expounder!

The days of joy and delight have passed, and days of sorrow have come since the Star of Certitude has vanished from the heaven of mystic knowledge. Therefore have the pebbles cried out, the hearts of the Concourse on High melted, all things wept, the pillars of existence trembled, the foundations of the House were shaken, and those brought nigh lamented in their lofty station. Verily, Hasan sacrificed his spirit and Husayn all he possessed in the path of God, the Sovereign of the Kingdom and the Realms, the Lord of all existence and might. And before them, My Name, the All-Forbearing, who was martyred in this Cause, at whose tragedy the Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing and the dwellers of Paradise lamented at eventide and at dawn.

O Most Exalted Pen! Turn thy face from Sad to Kha and visit My martyrs. By God! Shouldst thou observe any land, thou wouldst find therein a limb of My limbs, severed in My path and for love of My Beauty. Therefore did My Pen cry out, the Temple of My grandeur lament, the eyes of My loving-kindness weep, My sighs ascend, My tears fall, the hearts of My chosen ones burn, and the hearts of My loved ones yearn.

O My Pen! This is a day whereon thy shrill voice and thy plaintive cry should be raised by reason of what hath befallen the Wronged One and His loved ones at the hands of the manifestations of tyranny and oppression and the dawning-places of heedlessness who attained not unto the choice wine of justice on this Day wherein the horizons were illumined by this effulgence. Lament, O My Pen, My loneliness and tribulation, and cry out for My wrong and the wrong of My loved ones.

When thou approachest the land of Kha, drawest nigh unto it and perceivest its fragrance, arise before the tomb of the Glorious One and visit it with that which the Mighty, the All-Praised hath mentioned, and say:

The essence of fragrance that hath been diffused from the garment of the mercy of our Lord, the Most High, the All-Glorious, be upon thee, O thou who hast turned unto the Most Exalted Horizon and who hast spoken in praise of the Lord of Names in the kingdom of creation! I testify that thou didst rend asunder the veil, didst take hold of the Book, and didst believe in the Mighty, the All-Bountiful, on a Day wherein every pregnant one laid down her burden and the people stood before the Lord of the Throne and of the dust. Thou art he whom the veils hindered not from the Seat of Signs, nor did idle fancies prevent thee from this Cause before which the clear proofs have bowed down. Thou art he whom no censure of any censurer deterred for the sake of God, nor the gloating of any malicious one. Thou didst cast away the world and take what the Lord of Eternity and Sovereign of nations had revealed.

I testify that thou didst soar on the wings of certitude to the horizon of the All-Merciful until thou didst enter the prison of the Wronged One and visit thy Lord, the Guardian, the Self-Subsisting, and didst behold what was veiled from Moses, and didst hear what the Friend had heard, and didst drink the choice wine of reunion, and didst attain unto the station of sanctity, nearness, and beauty. Thou art he who found the sweetness of the Call and heard the murmuring of the River of Everlasting Life and the rustling of the Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing, when thou wert standing before the face of thy Lord, the Lord of Names and Creator of Heaven. Blessed art thou, O Abu-Badi’, and blessed is thy son through whom the pillars of the idol were made to quake and the back of the idols was broken—they who walk in the garments of the learned ones among the people of creation.

The Sublime Truth hath testified for thee, O thou who art wondrous, to thy recognition, thy steadfastness, thy support, thy firmness, thy certitude, and thy assurance. Thou art he whom thousands frightened not, whom the clashing of swords deterred not on a Day wherein ranks were drawn up to extinguish the light of Revelation, the tribes of the earth lamented, and the great terror appeared amongst men.

Blessed art thou and thy son! How excellent is your attainment of God’s testimony in this Tablet from whose heaven’s horizon hath shone the Sun of the Word “Verily, I am God, the Lord of the worlds.”

O Ancient Beauty! The Pen hath been bidden to make mention of thy noble one who was with Thee in the pavilion of Thy abasement and the canopy of Thy glory, who was present before Thy countenance morn and eve, prostrating himself before Thy beauty, submissive to Thy sovereignty, swayed by Thy will and moved by Thy purpose. He it was who heard Thy call and beheld Thy countenance, who dwelt in the precincts of Thy mercy, who drank from the Kawthar of Thy revelation, who was honored by the manifestations of Thy grace and the expressions of Thy mercy, and to whom Thou didst entrust the custodianship of Thy Sacred House among the people. Blessed is he who hath turned toward Thee, and the pilgrim who hath sought Thy resting-place and visited Thee through what the Most Merciful hath revealed concerning Thee. Thou art the one who surrendered thy spirit for the sake of thy Lord’s Face, who wast with Him aforetime in the Land of Mystery, who chose exile for love of His Self, and who didst migrate with Him until thou didst enter this Prison—this noble station which hath been illumined by the lights of the mighty Throne.

Glorified art Thou, O Lord of Names and Creator of the heavens! I beseech Thee by the ocean of Thy knowledge and the heaven of Thy wisdom to ordain for them that visit Thy loved ones the reward of those who have attained unto Thy service. Purify them from whatsoever is unseemly for Thy Cause, then forgive them through Thy bounty and favor, and ordain for them, by Thy Most Exalted Pen, the good of the hereafter and of this world. Verily, Thou art the Lord of the Throne on high and of the dust below, and verily, Thou art the Omnipotent, the All-Powerful.

BH02444: We make mention of the city which hath been…

He is the Witness, the Hearer, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

We make mention of the city which hath been illumined by the lamp of divine knowledge, having been honored by the breaths of those who believed in the All-Merciful on a day wherein the pillars were shaken through fear of God, the Almighty, the Glorious, the Bestower. Blessed art thou in that thou hast been named Faran by the All-Merciful, and the breezes of thy Lord’s loving-kindness, the Lord of all religions, have wafted over thee. Rejoice thou in My remembrance, then take pride in that the Wronged One maketh mention of thee from the precincts of His Most Great Prison, by the leave of God, the Lord of all men. Blessed are they whom vain desires have not kept back from the Lord of the throne and of earth, and who, when they heard the Call, turned to the Most Exalted Horizon and testified to that whereunto the Creator of heaven did testify: “Verily there is no God but Me, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.”

Blessed is the servant who hath quaffed the wine of revelation from the hand of the bounty of his Lord, the Lord of the Final End. O children of the Friend! Hearken unto the Call of the Glorious One. Verily it hath been raised from the most exalted Station which hath been named by the Most Beautiful Names in the Book of Names, and by the Most Great Truth from the Pen of God, the Revealer of verses. By God! He hath been imprisoned in the fortified city for the sake of God, the Lord of creation. Thus was the decree sent down in the Books of old, yet the people remain heedless and veiled. Grieve not at anything, for He hath mentioned you by the Pen of Command with a mention whereby the dead have arisen. Blessed is your father who ascended unto My Kingdom and circled round My throne in a station whereof the pens are powerless to make mention.

We make mention of all who have turned to God in that place and give them glad tidings of that which hath been ordained for them in the Scriptures and Tablets. Joy be unto you for having turned to God and believed in Him through Whom the horizon of revelation was illumined and the mountains were moved. We beseech God to assist you to remain steadfast in the Greater Steadfastness and to confirm you in that which He hath revealed in the Book. Beware lest the affairs of the people of allusions sadden you. Rejoice in God, the Illuminator of the horizons. We have mentioned you before, and before that before, and We mention you as a grace from Our presence. Verily He is the Almighty over whatsoever He willeth. He doeth through His sovereignty what He desireth. Ye are they who have rent asunder the veils on a day wherein minds were bewildered and eyes were fixed in fear.

Glory be upon you, O loved ones of the All-Merciful, and upon those women who have believed in God, the Lord of Lords. Blessed is the handmaiden who hath attained unto My days, heard My call, turned with her heart to My horizon, soared in My atmosphere, drunk the choice wine of My utterance from the hand of My bounty, and spoken My praise at eventide and at dawn.

We counsel all to patience and forbearance, and give them glad tidings of the favors which have been ordained for them by God, the Cleaver of daybreak. Light be upon you, O My male and female servants, and upon those who have turned to you that they might hear from you the mention of God, the Subjugator of winds.

BH02837: We make mention of the land which God has…

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

We make mention of the land which God has made the footstool of My loved ones who, when they heard the Call, turned to the Most Exalted Horizon and shattered [the idols of] vain desire in the name of the Lord of all humanity. Thus does God make mention of whomsoever He pleaseth among His creation. He, verily, is the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

O loved ones of the All-Merciful in Jadhba’! Hearken unto the Call of the Lord of Names. At one time He spoke from the Divine Lote-Tree, at another in the Night Journey, and yet again from this Station, whereof every atom of its atoms beareth witness that there is none other God beside Him, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. How many a servant heard and slumbered, and how many a slumberer, when he heard, arose and said: “Here am I, O Thou Desire of the worlds!” Give thanks unto God for this most great favor through whose light the world hath been illumined and the Most Great Name hath spoken: “The Kingdom is God’s, the Single One, the Peerless, the Mighty, the Great!”

Hold fast, O My loved ones, unto wisdom and utterance, and convey unto all who dwell within the realm of possibility that which God hath sent down in His perspicuous Book. The sovereign of minds is bewildered at those who have cast behind their backs the Water of Life and hastened unto the foulest of waters. These, verily, are among those of whose heedlessness and remoteness the atoms have borne witness, and beyond them is preserved a protected Tablet.

Hold fast unto the Sure Handle and say:

“O Lord of the Throne on high and of earth below, Lord of the world to come and of the world that now is! We beseech Thee by Thy Most Beautiful Names and by the lights of Thy countenance from the Most Exalted Horizon that Thou assist us to remain steadfast in Thy Cause and in Thy love and enable us to act according to what Thou hast sent down in Thy Book. O my Lord! Thou art He Who hath manifested Thyself unto us and hast acquainted us with what lay hidden in Thy knowledge and was recorded in Thy Tablets, and hast taught us Thy path in Thy days. O my Lord! We beseech Thee by Thy grace which hath encompassed us and by the mercy which hath preceded us that Thou ordain for us what Thou hast ordained for those who have detached themselves from all else save Thee and have attained unto the Most Great Martyrdom in Thy path. Verily, Thou art the Almighty over whatsoever Thou willest, and within Thy grasp are the reins of all things. There is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the All-Praised.”

The splendor which hath shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of […] Names be upon you, O My loved ones in Jadhba’, and upon those who have held fast to the cord of My loving-kindness and have clung to the hem of My mercy and have turned toward My horizon and have spoken in My remembrance and praise, the Mighty, the Inaccessible.

BH03347: My remembrance is unto him who hath turned his…

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

My remembrance is unto him who hath turned his face toward My countenance, drawn nigh unto Mine horizon, hearkened unto My call and answered his Lord when every heedless and remote one turned away. We have summoned all unto God, yet the people have turned aside and denied, save whom God, the Lord of the worlds, hath willed. How many a servant hath lamented in separation, yet when the Sun of reunion dawned from the horizon of manifestation, he denied God, the Single, the All-Informed.

Blessed is he who hath inhaled My fragrance, and he whose eyes have beheld Mine horizon, and he whose tongue hath spoken My praise, and he who hath hastened unto the ocean of My knowledge, the Mighty, the Ancient.

O thou who gazest upon the Face! We make mention of thee as a token of Our grace, and We make mention of those who hastened unto the choice wine of utterance in the days of the All-Merciful and were among the triumphant. Blessed is the soul that hath found the fragrance of My raiment, hath arisen to serve My Cause, and hath spoken My beauteous praise.

We counsel all to manifest supreme steadfastness, and We beseech God to aid them in that which He desireth and to ordain for them through the Pen of Destiny that which befitteth His great sovereignty.

Blessed is the rich man who hath become poor in the path of God, and the strong one whom weakness hath overtaken through what the hosts of the oppressors have wrought. Blessed is he who hath endured adversity and hardship out of love for God—My Most Exalted Pen beareth witness that he is among the sincere ones.

Sorrow not for what hath befallen you. Rather, rejoice in this wise remembrance. He maketh mention of you in such wise as to spread the fragrance of the Beloved throughout the world. To this beareth witness My Most Great Name, which proclaimeth: There is none other God but He, the Single, the All-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful. Thus hath the cock crowed and the Dove of the Cause hath warbled, yet most of the people are sunk in slumber.

The glory rest upon thee, upon thy father who hath turned unto God, and upon thy brothers who have attained unto the recognition of God on a Day wherein all who are in the heavens and on earth were terrified, save those who came unto God with manifest radiance. Gladden them with the mention I have made of them, that the greatest joy may seize them in the days of their Lord, the Mighty, the Peerless.

BH04996: O Ahmad! Your call was heard and your turning…

In the name of the Desire of the world

O Ahmad! Your call was heard and your turning to Us was mentioned before the Wronged One. That is, in the tongue of the Concourse on High: you have endured numerous afflictions and borne manifold tribulations in the path of God. Not a word issues from the mouth but that the attentive ears of divine knowledge hearken unto it, and no deed manifests in the world but that its image is beheld in the mirror of knowledge. Know then with certainty that whatsoever befell you and your brother in God’s path has been recorded by the Most Exalted Pen in the Book of Names. The visible heaven may well be cleft asunder and cease to be, yet the mention that flows from the Ancient Pen shall not be seized by extinction but shall endure and persist for as long as God’s names endure. Blessed art thou for God’s having confirmed thee in this and for thy having attained unto this Tablet wherein the All-Merciful hath testified to thy turning unto Him. God willing, thou shalt be aided in that which is beloved before the Truth. Remember thy Lord and say:

“Praise be unto Thee, O Thou Who hast strengthened me to bear what came upon me in Thy path and to be patient in Thy Cause. Thou art, verily, the Almighty over what Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.”

The glory be upon thee and upon thy brother who attained unto the days of thy Lord and believed in the One, the All-Informed.

BH05151: This is a mention from Us unto him who…

He is the One manifest above all things.

This is a mention from Us unto him who hath attained unto the lights of the Manifestation when he turned towards the Most Great Prison and stood before the gate of his Lord’s mercy, the Master of the Day of Judgment, and heard with his own ears what the Interlocutor heard on Sinai, and submitted himself before the majesty of his Lord, the Knower of the seen and unseen.

O Rida! Hearken once again unto the call from the precincts of the Prison—verily there is no God but Him, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. Ask thou God to confirm thee in that whereon thou art, in such wise that neither the hosts of the world nor the oppression of those who have denied God, the Mighty, the Loving, shall frighten thee. Be thou grateful for having entered the Prison and attained unto the presence and borne tribulations in the path of God, the Lord of existence.

Turn thou unto the Dayspring of Revelation and say: O my God and the God of all things, my Creator and the Creator of heaven! I beseech Thee by the Name through which the limbs of the wicked have trembled, to assist me in Thy remembrance and praise. Verily Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest and within Thy grasp is the kingdom of names. There is no God but Thee, the Almighty, the Most Exalted, the Mighty, the Beloved.

The glory from Us be upon thee and upon thy brethren who have borne hardships in My path and soared in the atmosphere of My mercy and turned unto the horizon of My providence and drunk from the ocean of My grace that hath encompassed all existence.

BH05924: This is a day wherein the Eye…

He is the One Who has dominion over all who are on earth and in heaven.

This is a day wherein the Eye of the world has wept by reason of what has befallen God, the Lord of the Ancient Days. He, verily, is the All-Explaining, the All-Knowing.

We have named this prison the Most Great Prison. Ponder ye upon this, and be not of the heedless. There has befallen Us in this land that which has befallen no one else. To this bears witness every fair-minded and discerning soul. Every day have We quaffed from the cup of tribulation that which none but God, the All-Informed, knows.

Be patient even as thy Lord was patient, and then thank Him for having confirmed thee in this mighty Cause, whereby the feet of the learned and the mystics have slipped, save those whom thy Lord, the Almighty, has willed. Blessed is he who has borne tribulations in the love of God. He is worthy of this exalted station.

Grieve not over anything. Say: O people of Baha, when sorrows overtake you in one land, betake yourselves to another. Verily it is spacious through God, the Mighty, the Wise.

The Glory be upon thee and upon whomever has attained unto the outpourings of this Ocean that has neither beginning nor end. Thy Lord, verily, is the True Speaker, the Trustworthy.

BH06333: O Ahmad! Hearken thou once again unto the call…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Great!

O Ahmad! Hearken thou once again unto the call of the One, the Single. Verily, He remembereth thee through His bounty in this spot which God hath made the circling-place of them that are nigh unto Him. Give thanks unto God for having turned unto thee the face of Him Who hath been wronged, from the direction of His sorrowful prison, and Who speaketh and saith: There is none other God but He, the Single, the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

He saith: O people of submission, make your submission and humility to be for God alone. Thus hath He Who possesseth the knowledge of all things commanded in a perspicuous Book.

There hath befallen you in the path of God that which hath caused honored servants to lament. Be patient, O My servants, even as servants before you were patient who cast the world behind their backs and took hold of the Book of God with hands of might and power, in spite of those who denied God, the Single, the All-Informed.

Verily thy father circleth round the Cause and beholdeth and seeth that which most of creation hath been prevented from. Thus doth My Most Exalted Pen recount unto thee as a bounty from Me, and I am verily the All-Bountiful, the All-Generous.

The Glory be upon thee and upon thy mother and thy sister from God, the Ever-Forgiving, the All-Merciful.

BH06262: In His Most Glorious Name! This is a Book…

In His Most Glorious Name! This is a Book sent down by the All-Merciful with truth, and verily it is a perspicuous Book that speaketh the truth: “There is no God but Me, the Forgiving, the Generous.”

All things have testified to the Revelation of God and His sovereignty, yet the people remain veiled by a thick veil. God hath raised up all things for the manifestation of His Cause, yet the people persist in grievous delusion. The people have turned away from all things inasmuch as they have turned away from God and opposed Him concerning Whom the Book hath spoken: “There is no God but Me, the Almighty, the Powerful.”

O people of Paradise and O Concourse on High! Hearken unto that which the Wronged One speaketh in this noble station. Verily We beheld the Hour speaking and walking before the faces of the servants in Zawra’, and it is this Youth Who hath appeared with truth from the presence of One mighty and powerful. The Wronged One hath made mention of thee that thou mayest thank thy Lord and be of them that remember.

Say: We give thanks unto God for having aided us to recognize the Dawning-Place of His Self, at Whose appearance wandering servants have fled—they who cast the Command of God behind their backs and followed what they were bidden by every ignorant and veiled one. Thus hath My tongue spoken in the kingdom of Mine utterance, and I am the Forgiving, the Generous.

Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH06220: He is the Most Holy, the Most Glorious…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Glorious. The promise hath come, and He Who was promised hath appeared, when the Trumpet was sounded and eyes were transfixed. Say: This is the Day whereon the Treasure hath been unveiled and that which lay hidden from time immemorial hath appeared.

O people! Fear ye the All-Merciful, and deny not Him Who hath come from the heaven of utterance with clear proof and testimony. Among the people are those who have rejected the signs of God and His appearance, and among them are those who have hastened unto the Dawning-Place of Revelation with spirit and sweet fragrance. Blessed is the soul that hath spoken the truth, and woe unto him who hath disbelieved in God when He came with His grandeur and sovereignty.

We have drunk the wine of revelation and have been seized in such wise that pens are powerless to describe. At times I soar, at others I walk in the house, sometimes I range the field of utterance, and at times I take up the pen and reveal verses. Is there any sight that beholdeth the All-Seeing One, and is there any hearing that heareth what the Tongue of Grandeur uttereth at morn and eventide?

Thus have We sent down and made manifest that which was hidden from the servants. When thou readest the verses of thy Lord from this Book, say: Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having remembered me when sorrows had encompassed Thee.

BH06352: O thou who journeyest through the lands, and art…

In His Name, Who dawns forth from the horizon of utterance!

O thou who journeyest through the lands, and art cast out from amongst men in the path of God, the Lord of the Day of Resurrection! Doth exile and reviling grieve thee, after thou hast been graced with the honour of sharing in that which befell thy Lord? Verily, at one time was He imprisoned, at another cast into confinement; and before that, He was cast into a dungeon, bound with chains and fetters. And in the latter days He was banished, and entered the Most Great Prison, whose renown hath flown abroad throughout the horizons.

By the life of God! I glory in what hath befallen Me and remember it in all conditions. Therefore rejoice in that God hath enabled thee to bear hardships in His path and aided thee to recognize the Dawning-Place of verses. Thus doth the Wronged One remember thee when He hath left the prison and established the seat of the Throne at this station.

Blessed art thou for having shown patience in what befell thee from the hosts of idle fancies. Remember My loved ones on My behalf and give them the glad-tidings of this remembrance through which the fragrance of the All-Merciful hath wafted over all lands.

Glory be upon thee and upon whoso hath turned to the Divine Lote-Tree and attained the bounty of his Lord, the Lord of all beings.

BH06357: O Habib! Thou didst depart from thine own abode…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Great.

O Habib! Thou didst depart from thine own abode, turning thy face unto God, the Lord of all worlds, and didst direct thyself unto Him until thou didst enter the land of the Prison and hear the call of the Wronged One while He was in the hands of the heedless.

Give thanks unto God for that He hath strengthened thee to accomplish this, and hath numbered thee among those who have quaffed the wine of reunion and attained the presence of the Throne in evident humility.

We have made mention of thee, and do make mention of thee, as a bounty from Our presence—for thy Lord is indeed the Most Bountiful, the All-Munificent.

Hold fast to the cord of steadfastness, then do that which beseemeth the days of thy Lord, and say:

“O my God and my Master! I entreat Thee by Thine own Self to make me quickened through Thy Call, voicing Thy remembrance, and aided to remain steadfast in Thy Cause—a Cause before which all who are in the heavens and on the earth are powerless to stand. Verily, Thou art the All-Powerful, the Most Exalted, the All-Wise.”

Magnify, on My behalf, My loved ones in that land, and give them the glad-tidings of My wondrous remembrance.

Say: Verily, We make mention of everyone who hath turned toward the Countenance, and We beseech God to ordain for him the good of this world and of the world to come. He, verily, is the Protector of them that remember Him.

BH06491: Divine verses have been revealed in such manner…

In the Name of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Seeing!

Divine verses have been revealed in such manner that none except His sanctified Essence is capable of numbering them, and exalted and wondrous Tablets specifically for the loved ones have been sent down from the heaven of the favor of the Lord of Lords, successively and continuously. The purpose is that His loved ones might become redolent with the fragrance of His utterance and speak and act in a manner befitting His days.

However, some hearkened to the call and attained to the recognition of the oneness of God and the Manifestation of His Cause, yet such deeds as would cause the exaltation and glorification of the Word of God did not appear from them. What regret and remorse, that in such days they should deprive themselves of the ocean of God’s good-pleasure!

Say: O friends! Know ye your worth and withhold not yourselves from that which is with God. Each one of you must be even as the morning star, radiant, that souls who have strayed in the darkness of idle fancies and selfish desires may thereby be guided and find the path of deliverance. This is the counsel of the sincere and faithful Friend to His loved ones.

BH06471: O friends! God willing, may you be blessed…

In the name of the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing!

O friends! God willing, may you be blessed with the grace of the All-Merciful and dwell with perfect assurance beneath the shade of the Divine Lote-Tree.

Reflect upon the chosen ones of God and what they have endured at the hands of enemies in times past and times more distant still. God, exalted be His glory, has ever summoned creation to that which profits them, yet the unjust people have arisen in utmost oppression, inflicting whatever tyranny and aggression lay within their power.

They who are endowed with vision and gaze upon the Most Great Horizon behold the entire world and all that transpires therein as non-existence. That which is attributed to God, glorified and exalted be He, has been and ever shall be enduring and eternal.

Rejoice then in what has befallen thee in the path of God and say:

“Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having enabled me to bear tribulations in Thy love and good-pleasure. Verily Thou art the Almighty over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful.”

BH06835: He it is Who calleth out between earth…

He it is Who calleth out between earth and heaven

O Rafi’, hearken unto the Call raised from the Crimson Spot behind the Ocean of Grandeur from the Uttermost Tree: He is, verily, no God but Me, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. There hath come before the Throne a leaf sent by him who circleth round the Throne, wherein was thy mention, and We have mentioned thee with sublime words whereby the Spirit hath spoken, the Cock hath crowed, and the Dove hath warbled. There is no God but He, the Manifest, the Speaker, the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.

Rejoice thou in that thou hast attained unto this Tablet through which hath shone forth the Sun of loving-kindness as a bounty from God, the Bestower, the Generous. We have, of a truth, mentioned thee and do mention thee through Our Will. Thy Lord, verily, is the Ruler over whatsoever He willeth. Take thou the chalice of utterance in My Name, then drink therefrom through My remembrance, despite those who have disbelieved in God, the Lord of Religion. Say: Die in your wrath, O people of hatred! By God, the Dayspring of Revelation hath illumined and there hath shone forth therefrom the Sun of the Beauty of your Lord, the Mighty, the Most Praised.

Thus hath moved the Pen when the Tongue of Eternity spoke in this noble station.

BH07422: O Muhammad! The One, the Single, the Unique makes…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Great

O Muhammad! The One, the Single, the Unique makes mention of thee from His praiseworthy station and bears witness as He has witnessed before that there is no God but Me, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting.

Counsel My servants to be steadfast in My Cause. By My life, this is indeed the greatest of ordinances in My recorded Book. Arise to serve the Cause of God and give glad tidings to My loved ones and proclaim My glorification upon their faces. Verily thy Lord is the Mighty, the Loving.

The ocean of generosity has surged and the Pen makes mention of thee from thy Lord, the Lord of existence. Say: O people of the earth! Deprive not yourselves of the lights of the Countenance, nor your ears from the Call which has been raised from this blessed station. Will your wealth profit you and will your children protect you? No, by My Self, but the people perceive not.

The splendor shining from the horizon of My loving-kindness be upon thee and upon every strong one whom the clamor of the idolaters has not weakened—they who have violated God’s Covenant and His Testament and have denied the bounty through which the kingdom of existence has revolved.

BH07237: A Book which the All-Merciful has sent down…

He is the One Who has dominion over what was and what shall be.

A Book which the All-Merciful has sent down to all who dwell in the realm of possibility. Whoso turns to it has attained what was promised in the Book, and whoso turns away has lost in this world and the next. To this testifies the Lord of Names in this station.

O My loved ones! We counsel you to fear God and to act according to what has been revealed in the Tablets. Be dawning-places of trustworthiness, truthfulness and faithfulness, and manifestations of mercy, loving-kindness and purity. Thus does He Who remembers you night and day command you. Aid your Creator through pure deeds and goodly conduct, that your remembrance and traces may endure in the earth among all peoples.

Whoso drinks from the cup of My love, the circumstances of creation grieve him not, nor do the deeds of any doubting misbeliever. We are with you under all conditions, and hear your call, and ordain for you that which will gladden your eyes. Thus has the Pen spoken from the presence of the Ancient King, that you may thank your Lord, the Mighty, the All-Bestowing.

BH07252: A Tablet from the Wronged One to him who…

He is the All-Knowing Remembrancer

A Tablet from the Wronged One to him who hath believed in God, the All-Protecting, the Self-Subsisting, that the Most Great Joy may seize him through the remembrance of the Lord of Eternity, and that he may thank his Lord, the Mighty, the Loving.

Thou art he who hath migrated from thy homeland in the path of God, the Lord of all being, and hast shown patience in hardship and adversity. Thus doth the Lord of Names bear witness unto thee from this exalted Prison. Blessed art thou and thy father who circled round the Throne at dawn and sunset. Ye are they who became wanderers for the sake of God and achieved that which most of mankind failed to attain. God will soon make it manifest in the earth. Verily thy Lord is the Truth, the Knower of the unseen.

They that showed patience after being wronged—these are the dwellers of Paradise preserved in the Guarded Tablet. God shall soon roll up the carpet of tyranny and spread out the carpet of justice. He, verily, is powerful over whatsoever He willeth through His word “Be” and it is.

Glory be upon thy father and upon thee and upon those who have attained unto the praiseworthy station.

BH07770: There hath befallen Us in the path of God…

In His name, the All-Wise!

There hath befallen Us in the path of God that which hath befallen no one before, inasmuch as one who was not worthy to tend even animals in this world hath passed judgment upon Us. Reflect upon the world and its affairs. By God’s life! Had it possessed worth and station even to the extent of a needle’s point, We would not have chosen what ye witness today of the transgressions of the nations.

Those who have perpetrated injustice shall soon be seized with chastisement from every direction. To this beareth witness the Tablet, and behind it the Pen. The world hath so deluded them that they have turned away from God, the Lord of all mankind, and have slain him for whom knowledge and learning have lamented. They have cast the Command of God behind their backs and seized upon that which they were bidden by every ignorant one who hath turned away and committed wrong.

Well is it with thee for having attained unto the recognition of God and for having quaffed the choice wine of everlasting life from the hand of thy Lord, the Ancient of Days.

BH07766: In His Name, the All-Attractive! The verses have been…

In His Name, the All-Attractive! The verses have been sent down, and there hath appeared in the realm what all created things were powerless to comprehend. The horizon of inner meanings hath been illumined by this Light which hath shone forth from God, the Lord of all men. The Qa’im hath come and hath informed the people of the Qayyum, before Whom all necks have bowed down and all eyes have been fixed.

Say: When He came, all people turned away from Him save those whom the hand of divine power did rescue. He, verily, is the All-Powerful, the All-Knowing. We counselled the servants to behold Him with His own eyes. Thus hath the matter been decreed from God, the Mighty, the Bestower.

The people have cast the counsel of God behind their backs and followed every envious opponent. Say: O people! Abandon what ye possess and hold fast unto that which God hath revealed in the Book. By God’s life! Their vain desires shall profit them not, nor what they possess. To this testifieth He to Whom the atoms have borne witness.

Thus have We mentioned thee and sent down for thee that which rejoiceth thy heart and causeth thee to thank thy Lord, the Revealer of verses.

BH07732: In My Name, the All-Knowing! We have sent down…

In My Name, the All-Knowing! We have sent down the Book of Names and commanded those named therein to believe in God, the All-Knowing. We counseled them that nothing should prevent them from God, the Lord of the worlds, and We informed them of what had been ordained aforetime that they might take heed and be among the discerning ones.

Yet when the veil was rent asunder and the All-Bestowing came, they turned away from Him through Whom the heavens and earth were illumined. Thus doth the All-Informed apprise thee.

We created the names for this Most Great Day—were it not for Him, neither the names nor what they possess of forms and images would have been created. Through My Name were their realities created, as attesteth he who hath been acquainted with what hath been sent down from God, the Exalted, the Great.

Take thou My Book in My Name and recite it unto them who have believed in God, the Mighty, the Peerless. We make mention of him who hath turned to the Countenance and We give him glad tidings of what hath been ordained for him from the presence of a Mighty, Generous Lord.

Ask thou God to assist thee and those who have turned steadfastly to this wondrous Cause.

BH07974: He hath been illumined from the horizon…

He hath been illumined from the horizon of the world by the Most Great Name

O Muhammad qabl-i-Rahim! Hearken unto the call of the All-Bountiful Who maketh mention of thee in the Garden wherein was established the throne of thy Lord, the All-Merciful. Be thou thankful and say: Praise be unto Thee, O God of the worlds!

Thou art He Who didst hasten unto God until thou didst enter the prison and attain the presence of the Countenance and didst hear the call of the Wronged One when He was speaking: Verily, there is none other God but Him, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Thou didst drink the choice wine of reunion from the hands of the bounty of thy Lord, the Self-Sufficient, the Most Exalted. Then thou didst return by His leave unto thy dwelling place. Thus doth the All-Knowing, the All-Informed, make mention of thee.

Ask thou God, thy Lord, to assist thee to remain steadfast in His Cause and to aid thee in that which He loveth and is pleased with. Verily, He is the Lord of humanity and the Sovereign of the throne on high and of the dust below. There is none other God but Him, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

Remember thou My loved ones on My behalf and give them the joyful tidings of My gracious remembrance.

BH08190: A remembrance from Our presence for him who hath…

He is the Most High, the All-Glorious.

A remembrance from Our presence for him who hath turned unto the horizon of the Manifestation and been illumined by the light of God, the Lord of all worlds.

Say: This is the Day whereon God hath come in His sovereign might. Fear God, and be not of the ignorant. Cast away that which ye possess, and lay hold on that which ye have been commanded from the presence of One mighty, omnipotent.

How many a servant hath heard the Call of God and turned aside, and how many a servant hath been attracted and directed unto the Peerless, the All-Informed.

Be thou not grieved by aught. Put thy whole trust in God in all thine affairs; verily, He is with His servants who rely upon Him.

Let not the tyranny of any oppressor weaken thee, nor the clamour of the company of idolaters affright thee. Hold fast to the cord of the loving providence of thy Lord, and say:

O my Lord, I beseech Thee by Thy Name, the manifest yet hidden, to aid me to remain steadfast in Thy Cause and to arise in Thy service. Verily, Thou art the All-Powerful, the Most Exalted, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

BH08321: In the Most Glorious Name!

In the Most Glorious Name!

We sent down the Revealer of the Bayan to give glad tidings to all contingent beings of this Day wherein the Rock hath cried out: “The Kingdom belongeth unto God, the Almighty, the Self-Subsisting!”

Yet when the horizon of the world was illumined and the Self-Subsisting appeared with My Most Great Name, they denied Him save those whom the hand of divine power rescued and numbered among such as have believed in God, the Lord of what was and what shall be.

Say: O people of Baha! Rejoice in My manifestation, My dawning, and My sovereignty that hath encompassed all in the seen and unseen realms.

Say: This is a Tablet that at times soars and at times circles round, moved by the attraction of the call of its Lord, the Mighty, the All-Forgiving.

When thou dost witness and hear God’s call, arise and say:

“Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having enabled me to gaze upon the horizon of Thy manifestation. I beseech Thee to make me steadfast in this Cause which hath caused hearts to lament.”

BH09141: O ʿAli! Time and again hast thou been blessed…

In the Name of the All-Knowing, the All-Seeing!

O ʿAli! Time and again hast thou been blessed to hearken unto the Call of God, and Tablets have been sent down particularly for thee from the heaven of mercy. No greater bounty exists than that the Most Exalted Pen hath turned toward thee and doth make mention of thee in these sublime and wondrous words. Give thanks therefore unto God, the Lord of all the worlds. Beseech the True One that at the time of thy ascension thou mayest be adorned with the Most Great Steadfastness. Regard most of the men of the world as Antichrist, save those souls whom God hath preserved through His loving providence and adorned with the ornament of humanity and justice. Convey My greetings unto the friends and give them to drink of the choice wine of remembrance and utterance which floweth from the fountainhead of the brief words of this Tablet. Thus hath the Best-Beloved made mention of thee and doth make mention of him who hath believed in the Truth, the Speaker, the Manifest, the Witnessed One.

BH09014: This is a Book which speaks with truth…

In the Name of the Most Exalted

This is a Book which speaks with truth and makes mention of those who have quaffed the cup of tribulation in the path of God, the Lord of all names, and have borne such hardships as none among all created things have borne. They have heard from the enemies that which none in the world have heard, as doth testify to this He Who is the Ancient of Days in His Scriptures and Tablets. O loved ones of the All-Merciful! Well is it with you, and joy be unto you, for ye have attained unto the choice wine of revelation which hath flowed from the Pen of God, the Lord of creation, and it hath so intoxicated you that ye have turned unto Him, shunning every malicious infidel. Verily, they who are heedless this day are among those who have gone astray. We give glad tidings unto him who hath borne tribulations of God’s good-pleasure and His grace, and We make mention of him with such remembrance as doth perfume the horizons. The glory of God rest upon thee and upon them, from God, the Self-Sufficient, the Most Exalted.

BH09689: O Pen! Give glad tidings to him who hath…

In His Name, the One Who rules over the Kingdom of Names!

O Pen! Give glad tidings to him who hath borne afflictions in My path and whom calamities have befallen, for having acknowledged that which the Tongue of Grandeur hath uttered from His glorious and wondrous station.

O My Pen! Hearken unto My call from My Most Great Prison and give him the glad tidings of My Kingdom, My favor and My gifts which have encompassed the worlds.

By the life of God! He who hath drunk from the cup of tribulation hath attained unto the mention of the Lord of Names. He shall soon behold that which cannot be equaled by the treasuries of the heavens and the earth.

Thus do We make mention of Our loved ones who have desired My luminous countenance. They are among those who have attained unto My remembrance and My praise and what We have ordained for them in My Preserved Tablet.

The glory be upon thee and upon those who have cast away vain imaginings and hastened unto the ocean of certitude.

BH09882: The Supreme Pen testifieth that thou hast turned unto…

He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise

The Supreme Pen testifieth that thou hast turned unto the Kingdom and hast heard the call of God, the Lord of all worlds, and hast drunk the choice wine of reunion from the hand of the bounty of thy Lord, the All-Bountiful. Convey My good pleasure unto My loved ones and give them the glad-tidings of My gracious remembrance. We counsel them to show forth the most great steadfastness in this Cause whereby all who are in creation were dismayed, save those whom the Almighty did choose. Say: Whosoever hath transgressed the bounds of servitude, is not of the people of Baha. To this doth My Supreme Pen bear witness in this mighty Book. Say: Through servitude the Cause of God and His dominion are made manifest amongst mankind. Well is it with them that understand. The glory of God rest upon thee and upon them that are steadfast.

BH00283: Praise be to God Who is unique in His…

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

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

Praise be to God Who is unique in His grandeur and peerless in that Name which He hath made the Sovereign of all names. He hath created all things through the Most Exalted Word and caused them to voice His praise throughout the kingdom of creation. He hath manifested the Word at one time in the form of the Balance, and at another in the likeness of an Ocean casting forth the pearls of divine knowledge, and yet again He hath revealed it in the image of the Path, and at times in the temple of the Trumpet whereinto He blew, causing all who are in the heavens and on earth to swoon away, save whom He willed and desired. He, verily, is the One Who hath power over His servants, Who is manifest in the beginning and in the end. There is no God but Him, the Possessor of all existence.

And I pray, offer salutations and glorification upon the first One Whom God made as a Sun in the heaven of His knowledge, an Orbit for the ocean of His will, and a Light from among the lights of His countenance, and upon those who drew nigh unto Him with illumined hearts and radiant faces, who were so transported by the rapture of His Manifestation that they circled round tribulation and set their faces toward hardship and adversity in His path. These are they whom neither the howling of the oppressors, nor the roaring of the infidels, nor the croaking of the heedless could deter. They aided the Cause of God with their hearts, their eyes, their ears, their tongues, their hands and their feet. Upon them the Concourse on High and the denizens of Paradise send their blessings morning and evening, and upon those who dwell beyond the crimson sea of grandeur. Exalted is their Creator, exalted is their Maker, exalted is their Strengthener, and exalted is their Provider, Who created them through His Will. He, verily, is the Single One, the Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

O beloved of my heart! I was asleep when the Messenger of my Lord awakened me. When I arose, He said:

“The Desired One of the world and the Ancient King commands thy presence.”

Thereupon I turned and made my way to that place until I attained the presence of the Lord of all beings. The Tongue of Grandeur then spoke as He desired. Then the sun of permission to return arose, and I returned to my dwelling. Upon entering, I found a letter. When I opened it—God knoweth—I detected the fragrance of your sincerity to God, our Lord and your Lord. When I read it, the attraction of your love seized me in such wise that I am powerless to describe it. It was as though from each word of your words and each letter of your letter, I read a book about your love for the Desired One of the world, your detachment from all else save Him, your steadfastness in His remembrance and praise, and your dedication to teaching His Cause.

Blessed are ye, and joy be unto you, and glory be unto you, and delight be unto you! Were this servant to repeat these words throughout the duration of the kingdom and the heavenly realm, it would be fitting, inasmuch as He found your hearts to be vessels of the love of God, your tongues the dawning-places of His sweetest praise, and your ears attuned to hearken unto His most exalted call. I beseech Him, exalted be He, to set you ablaze at every moment with a flame that will increase thereby the heat of the love of God in all else. Verily, He is the Hearer, the Near, the Answerer.

In truth, this evanescent servant was so delighted by the mention and praise of that spiritual beloved that it is impossible to describe or enumerate it. One night it was all presented before His presence. Thereupon the ocean of bounty surged, and the Tongue of Grandeur spoke that which none can reckon save Himself. At the end of the utterance, His mighty glory proclaimed:

“O thou who art present! Verily, he hath been set ablaze with the fire of the love of God and hath spoken His praise amongst His servants. He giveth to drink the wine of His bounty and the Kawthar of His grace to those who desire to draw nigh and turn unto God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. We shall aid him through Our grace and shall write for him that which will gladden his heart. Verily his Lord, the All-Merciful, is powerful over whatsoever He willeth through a word from His presence, and He is indeed the Protector over what hath been and what shall be.”

O thou who hast turned thy face toward My horizon and soarest in Mine atmosphere! Hearken unto My call at times from My mansion, at others from My prison, and yet again from thy Lord’s garden, the Lord of all existence. The servant who is present hath come with thy letter and hath presented before the Throne that which hath diffused the fragrance of My Beloved’s love. Blessed art thou and blessed is thy father who dwelt in the vicinity of My mercy. Verily, grace is in the hand of God—He singles out whom He willeth through a command from His presence. He is indeed the Truth, the Knower of the unseen.

Convey My greetings to the faces of My loved ones who were not held back by adversity or prosperity from the remembrance of My praiseworthy station. Say: Beware lest the world withhold you from the Lord of Names. Look, then remember the generations of old. Where are the great ones and the princes and the learned? And where are the tyrants and the Pharaohs and the Caesars and the Chosroes? Where are their visible traces and their lofty palaces? Where are their adorned houses and their trellised gardens? Where are their outspread carpets and their elevated thrones? Where are their assembled armies? Where are their adorned maidens? Where are their embroidered garments? Where are their precious things? Where are their bejeweled crowns?

Where are their fortified refuges? Where are elevated strongholds? Where are their visible treasures? Where are their hidden hoards? Where are their valiant tribes? Where are their marshalled armies? And where are the horsemen and the footmen? And where are the heroes and the champions? And where is he who was a vessel on the sea of oppression and a ship upon the air of vain imaginings? And where is he who, were he to be given all the treasures and riches and ornaments and bounties of earth, would say “Is there yet more?” All have returned to dust with such regret and remorse as none save God, the Lord of all worlds, is aware.

Say: O My loved ones! Arise to make mention of Me and to praise Me, and hold fast unto the wisdom that hath been sent down in My Book that hath appeared from the kingdom of Mine utterance. Soon shall extinction overtake all that can be seen, and sovereignty shall remain with the Lord of the throne and of the dust, the Lord of the world to come and of the world that has been. Thus hath spoken My Most Exalted Pen in this station which God hath made a throne for the heaven, adorned with the light of the manifestations of My Most Great and Most Glorious Name.

Say: O friends! This Day hath no peer or likeness. On this blessed Day, any pure deed that appeareth is accounted as the sovereign of deeds, and any mention that proceedeth from the lips is and shall be the king of all remembrance. I swear by the pearls of the divine ocean of knowledge that the greatness of these days hath not been and shall never be limited. Strive ye that ye may attain unto a station that shall endure, and that no possessor of power shall be able to seize. Meditate upon and act according to those divine qualities and attributes with which the Tablets are adorned and honored to make mention. God willing, ye shall attain unto a glory that is exalted in the presence of God.

Those souls who have truly partaken of the Kawthar of the utterance of the All-Merciful and have drunk of the choice wine of recognition on this divine Day are seen to be more enkindled in times of hardship and tribulation. Well is it with the soul that hath on this Day attained unto that which God hath desired. Assuredly the diverse colors of the world and the varying conditions of the peoples shall not withhold him from the Ancient Lord. The ocean of joy surgeth in his heart and the sun of gladness shineth from the horizon of his breast. Thus doth God exhort you and counsel you and explain to His loved ones that which shall exalt them unto His holy, mighty and inaccessible kingdom. End.

From the wondrous and impregnable verses that have been revealed, the Divine favor and bounty are manifest and evident. This servant, nay all the world, is powerless and unable to describe them. His is the grace and the glory, His the grandeur and the praise, His the bounty and the blessings. He bestoweth whatsoever He willeth by a command from His presence. Verily, He is the One, the Incomparable, the Bountiful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

As to that which you had written concerning those souls who have newly turned unto the Most Great Ocean and have drunk from the chalice of eternity in the name of God—blessed are they and blissful their portion! The mention of all hath been submitted to the Most Sacred Threshold, and for each one the Sun of Divine bounty hath shone forth. This evanescent servant entreateth and hopeth from the True One that He may adorn them all with the ornament of knowledge and recognition. And since that honored one speaketh and maketh mention for the sake of God’s countenance, in the path of God, and for the love of God, it shall assuredly prove effective. God willing, may the darkness of the world be dispelled by the light of the Word of the Ancient King, and may the standards of victory be upraised in every city. Verily, He is the Powerful, the Mighty.

And as to that which you had written concerning the people of Sistan, their mention had aforetime been submitted to the Most Sacred Threshold, and wondrous and impregnable verses were revealed in their regard. Since their condition was recorded in the book of that spiritual beloved, it was presented to the Most Sacred Threshold, and these pearl-like words dawned forth from the Orient of the Will of Him Who is the Revealer of verses—exalted be His might and magnified His majesty!

Section 2: “A remembrance from Us unto those who have…”

He is the All-Seeing, the All-Knowing, the Manifest, the Holy, the Mighty, the Wise!

A remembrance from Us unto those who have been stirred by the fragrances of My verses, drawn by the perfume of My robe, and brought near through the manifestations of My Will and Purpose, that joy may seize them in such wise that the doings of them that have denied God, the Lord of all worlds, may never sadden them.

O My loved ones in Saysan! We have mentioned you before, and now once again, as a token of Our grace—and verily, I am the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous. How many a learned one hath been withheld by his learning from the Sovereign of all knowledge, and how many a mystic, when the Object of all mystic knowledge appeared, turned aside from Him and opposed God, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Blessed are ye, inasmuch as ye have rent asunder the most great veil and shattered the idols of vain imaginings through the name of your Lord, the Almighty, the Powerful.

Say: O concourse of divines! By God, the ocean of knowledge hath appeared. And O company of mystics! By God, He Who is known hath come with manifest sovereignty. Cast away what ye possess of idle fancies and vain imaginings, then hasten to the horizon wherefrom the Tongue of Grandeur proclaimeth:

“The Kingdom is God’s, the One, the Single, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy!”

Do your suppositions profit you? Nay, by My Name, the Self-Subsisting! Do your imaginings enrich you? Nay, by My sovereignty that overshadoweth all who are in the heavens and on earth!

O concourse of divines! Turn ye unto the Most Sublime Horizon, then rend asunder, through the Name of the Lord of Names, the veils and glorifications that have prevented you from beholding My luminous horizon. O My loved ones! Give praise unto your Lord, the All-Merciful, then thank Him for having aided you to recognize the Dawning-Place of His signs and the Treasury of His mysteries, when most of His servants remained heedless thereof. Thus doth God make mention of you and inform you of that which shall profit you. He, verily, is the Forgiving, the Generous.

Hold ye fast unto the cord of the Cause in such wise that neither the clamor of the world nor the allusions of the misguided ones who have cast the Book of God behind their backs and followed the biddings of every ignorant suspicious one shall debar you. We, verily, send Our greetings from this spot unto you, that ye may rejoice in God’s glorification and remembrance. He, verily, guideth whom He willeth unto His straight path.

Take ye hold of the Book of God with might, then observe that which hath been sent down therein from the presence of a wise and knowing Ruler. Say: Thine be the praise, O Lord of Names, and Thine be the glory, O Sovereign of earth and heaven! We beseech Thee by the Name which Thou hast made the Dayspring of all names to number us among such as have stood firm in Thy love and have quaffed the wine of certitude from the hands of Thy bounty in such wise that neither riches have withheld them from turning unto Thee, nor tribulations from gazing toward Thy horizon. O Lord! We are poor at Thy gate. We implore Thee by Thy Most Exalted Pen to ordain for us that which beseemeth Thy generosity, Thy grace and Thy favors. Thou, verily, art the Powerful, the Most Exalted, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.

All that was written in that loved one’s letter was presented at the Most Holy Court, and an answer was graciously vouchsafed—may the spirits of all who dwell in the world be a sacrifice for His favor, and may the spirits of all who dwell in the Kingdom be a sacrifice for His grace. The circular design of the Temple that was requested was presented, and the Sun of permission hath risen from the horizon of the All-Merciful’s mercy. God willing, this servant shall send the writing whenever opportunity permits, and other designs shall also be sent thereafter, God willing.

Regarding the souls that were mentioned, from the heaven of the favor of the Goal of all the world’s peoples, a most holy and most exalted Tablet was revealed and sent specifically for each one. However, some are in the handwriting of this evanescent servant, copied from the original revelation, as in these days His Holiness the Most Great Branch—may my spirit, my being, and my essence be sacrificed for the dust of His footsteps—is not present here.

While the servant was engaged in writing, he was summoned to the Most Exalted Summit and the Supreme Horizon. When he attained the presence, He, exalted be His glory, said:

“We desire to make mention of the Letter Ayn, upon him be My Glory, that he may rejoice in the remembrance of God, the Lord of the worlds. We have mentioned him before in verses from which the fragrance of utterance was diffused throughout all possibility. He is, verily, the Mighty, the All-Knowing, the Wise. He is among those who have attained unto the Most Great Ocean and have drunk the choice wine sealed from the hand of My Hidden Name, Who calleth out in the Most Great Prison amidst the nations: There is none other God but Me, the Mighty, the Powerful.’ We have written down for him from the Most Exalted Pen that which shall profit him in every world of the worlds of his Lord, the All-Informed. By My life! Were there to be revealed unto him that which hath been concealed from him, he would soar upon the wings of longing and cry out in all regions: ʿPraise be unto Thee, O Thou Who art the Desire of the world, and glory be unto Thee, O Thou Who art the Object of adoration of them who are nigh unto Thee!’ We counsel him to be wise and give him the glad-tidings of My grace, My loving-kindness and My gracious mention. Glory be upon him and upon those who are with him and upon those who have acknowledged and witnessed that which God witnessed before the creation of the heavens and the earth. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.”

God willing, may they drink from the springs of exalted words from the fountainhead of divine favors, and may they comprehend the manifestations of the veiled meanings which are concealed in the palaces of the letters of the Lord of Names and Attributes. Indeed, grace hath reached such a station that the pen and tongue of all peoples are powerless to describe and record it. We beseech Him, exalted be He, by His power and sovereignty, to accept from us whatsoever proceedeth from us in His days. He is, verily, the Hearer, the Answerer.

This servant submits that, on behalf of this evanescent one, thou wilt convey unto the gentlemen of that land—illumined by the lights of certitude and adorned with the ornament of true knowledge—my wondrous and impregnable blessing. From the True One I beseech that He may grant unto all a portion of the fragrant breaths of His days, and not deprive them of the Most Great Ocean. Verily, He is the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

As to what was mentioned, that the revealed Tablets, destined for the persons named, were sent: on this occasion there was delay, inasmuch as the dispatch of general Tablets all at one time is contrary to wisdom. God willing, they will be forwarded hereafter.

And further: concerning the mention of “Sisan,” they have written this word with a Sad and have supplied its vowel-points; yet, inasmuch as this name is among the names of the villages of Iran, and in the ancient tongue there were not eight letters—of which Sad is one—therefore hath this servant written it with a Sin; albeit, that which is current in the usage of men should be followed, for it hath been said: “The widespread error is better than the forsaken correctness.”

And as to what thou didst write concerning Hadab: in this matter certain passages from the Source of the Cause were written, in reply to the letter of Mulla Abu’l-Hasan—may the glory of God be upon him. It is commanded that I transcribe the same and send it unto thee. This is the copy of what was written to Abu’l-Hasan—may the glory of God be upon him—Baha’u’llah.

Concerning what thou didst write about Mosul: He said that it were better that they should have given heed to the glad-tidings—“and give thou glad tidings to the steadfast”—after the blessed words “And We will surely try you,” although in this year famine hath encompassed most lands. Yet the spreading of such matters and the publishing thereof, in any case, must be done with permission. He knoweth His servants better than they know themselves. Verily, He is the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

And whosoever, with perfect eagerness and desire, wisheth to discharge Huququ’llah must deliver it unto such as thyself and the trusted ones, and receive a receipt of acknowledgement, that whatsoever is done may be done by the leave and permission of the True One. Verily, He is the Wise Instructor.

Another matter: good ink, suited for the writing of Tablets and books, is scarce in supply and much needed. If it be possible, therefore, to procure somewhat of the qualities here set forth, and to send a measure thereof, it would be greatly loved. The ink that hath thus far been sent from that land hath either been glossy and adhesive, or else black and over-dark; and these two qualities, for the writing of Tablets, have never been, nor are, desirable. Some, moreover, incline to redness—the so-called “peacock feather”—and this, too, is not favoured. The ink that is desired and approved is one that floweth well, is of the deepest black, is lustrous yet without any stickiness. And there is also a sort, like gold laid upon burnished paper, smooth and polished; that, likewise, is not preferred—what is preferred is its raised texture. It must in no wise incline in colour toward yellowness or redness.

BH00345: Praise, sanctified above mention by pen and ink, befitteth…

Section 1: “Praise, sanctified above mention by pen and ink…”

He is God, exalted be His station, the Greatness and the Power

Praise, sanctified above mention by pen and ink, befitteth and beseemeth the Lord of creation, Who through His Most Great Word renewed the kingdom of utterance and brought the Concourse on High into a state of joy and rapture. Through that blessed Word the Divine Spirit wafted and the Spirit of God pervaded all things; the dead world was adorned with the ornament of life, and withered souls were observed in a state of freshness and vitality. Glorified be His greatness, exalted be His power, and sublime be His majesty! Pure hearts, penetrating eyes, and illumined breasts behold at every moment the signs of divine power and perceive the fragrances of the garment of His Revelation. Through His will, the Most Great Prison, with all its severity and confinement, became the All-Highest Paradise and the Dawning-Place of His supreme mercy. Those who were forbidden from beholding the paths, mosques, and streets of the city are now observed in complete freedom. True indeed is the word of our Lord, the Most High, the Most Great.

His word, exalted be His majesty:

“Soon will that which was closed be opened, that which was joined be separated, that which was forbidden enter in, that which was united be divided, that which was difficult be made easy, and that which was hidden be revealed. Ponder, O ye who are endued with insight, that ye may understand what hath been inscribed of the mysteries.”

We beseech Him, exalted be He, to assist all who are on earth to turn unto Him and to act according to that which He hath revealed in His Book. Verily, He is the All-Powerful, the Most Exalted, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

To continue: there reached this servant thy letter which was adorned with the mention of our Lord and your Lord, and the praise of our Lord and your Lord, and I found from it the fragrance of your sincerity, your devotion, your humility, and your submissiveness before God, our Goal and your Goal and the Goal of all who are in the heavens and the earth. When I became acquainted with and understood its contents, I approached the presence of the Throne until I stood before the Desired One and presented what was in your letter. Thereupon the Speaker of the Mount spoke and uttered that which none can reckon save God alone. I confess my powerlessness and testify to the powerlessness of all on earth, and to this our All-Informed Lord doth testify. In truth, this evanescent servant is powerless to mention that which was heard, but some of the revealed verses that are before me shall be mentioned. He, exalted be His glory, spoke these concluding words:

“O My servant! Write for My servant Kazim what thou hast heard from My tongue, that he may rejoice in My remembrance and speak My praise in such wise that the clamor of the divines who have cast the ordinances of God behind their backs and followed their own vain imaginings may not dismay him. This is the Day wherein the Tongue of Grandeur proclaimeth from the Most Exalted Horizon: O people of creation! By God, the gate of heaven hath been opened and the Lord of Names hath come. And He is this Beauty shining forth from the horizon of the Unseen with power and sovereignty. Blessed is he and blessed is his father who gave his spirit and sacrificed himself in the path of God, the Lord of all men. We testify that he attained unto My presence and gained the honor of meeting Me, and drank the choice wine of My utterance, and discovered the fragrance of My garment, and heard that which the Interlocutor heard on the Mount of Knowledge. O Kazim! Hearken once again unto My most sweet call. By My life! If thou wert to taste the sweetness of My call, joy would take hold of thee and sorrows would flee from thee. Be thou at all times immersed in the ocean of My good-pleasure, speaking My praise amongst My servants, and acting according to that which God hath revealed in the Book. Thus hath the horizon of utterance been illumined by the Sun of thy Lord’s remembrance, the Revealer of verses. The Glory of God rest upon thee and upon thy family from God, the Lord of all men.”

From the blessed verses, divine favor is evident and clear. You must, God willing, arise with utmost endeavor to serve the Cause of God and be occupied with wisdom and forbearance. If in these days matters that cause grief are witnessed, behold them all as moths around the lamp—if they briefly intervene, in an instant they are destroyed and perish. God willing, the sound of the waves of the sea of joy shall obliterate and remove the cawing of the raven of sorrows. Verily He is the Omnipotent, Whom nothing can frustrate and no power can weaken. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth. He is the Triumphant, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

And concerning what you wrote about mentioning to Jinab-i-Ismu’llah Jamal, upon him be all the Most Glorious Beauty, that he would remember in the Most Holy Court yourself and your mother and sister and other family members—he fulfilled his promise and presented it in the Most Holy Court, and again in these days expressions of favor have been shown to each one. Give them the glad tidings of God’s grace and His mercy that hath preceded existence in both the unseen and visible realms. All have been adorned with the ornament of forgiveness and have attained unto the Kawthar of mention. This evanescent servant beseecheth God, exalted be His glory, that He may enable all to succeed in His remembrance, praise and service, and to remain steadfast in this mighty Cause. Verily He is the Hearer, the Answerer.

And concerning what was mentioned about those souls who have newly attained to the ocean of recognition, it was presented. This is what the Desired One hath revealed in response:

He is the Most Ancient, the Most Great

[Muhammad Hasan Sultan] A mention from Our presence to those on earth, that they may forsake what they possess and turn to God, Knower of the unseen and the seen. O peoples of the earth! Hasten ye to the remembrance of God and His mercy. He calleth you and mentioneth you in that which causeth breasts to expand and hearts to rejoice. O Hasan! Hearken unto the call of the Wronged One. Verily He mentioneth thee from this Prison for the sake of God, the Lord of what was and what shall be. How many a servant desired to draw nigh but vain imaginings prevented him, and how many a man aimed for the Desired One but idle fancies barred him. Give thanks to God for having enabled thee to recognize the Dawning-Place of His verses and made thee aware of this Cause, whereof the generality of the learned remained heedless, save whom God, the Lord of existence, willed. We have sent thee the pearl of the ocean of utterance. When thine eyes are solaced thereby, arise and say:

Praise be unto Thee, O Lord of the nations and the One manifest through the Most Great Name! Thanks be unto Thee, O Thou Who hast mentioned me from Thy glorious station! Glory be unto Thee, O Lord of Names! And praise be unto Thee, O Creator of the heavens, for having moved Thy Most Exalted Pen to mention me in Thy beloved Prison!

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

[Quli Khan] A Book sent down by the Bestower to him who hath turned to the Most Great Sea when the Lord of Eternity came with manifest sovereignty. O Quli! He Who is mentioned mentioneth thee from this spot round which circle the Concourse on High and the dwellers of the cities of eternity. Verily there is none other God but He, the Peerless, the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. When thou hearest the creaking of My Pen and findest the fragrance of My robe from Mine utterance, turn thy face toward God, the Protector of the worlds, and say:

O my God, God of the world, my Beloved and the Beloved of all nations! I beseech Thee by the kingdom of Thy utterance and the dominion of Thy knowledge to ordain for me that which shall profit me in every world of Thy worlds. Then grant me, by Thy bountiful hand, the waters of steadfastness. Verily, Thou art the One with power over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the Generous.

Section 2: “This is a mention from Our presence…”

He is the Dawning Place from the Horizon of Utterance

This is a mention from Our presence to him who seeketh the waters of utterance from the hand of the bounty of his Lord, the Generous. O Rida! Rejoice that the countenance of thy Lord, the Most Glorious, hath turned toward thee from this distant station. He maketh mention of thee as a bounty from His presence, that He may draw thee nigh unto the Supreme Horizon and acquaint thee with His straight path. We have manifested the Cause and set up the Balance and called all unto God, the One, the All-Informed. Among the people are those who have violated God’s Covenant and His Testament and opposed Us, and among them are those who have pronounced judgment against Us without clear proof or an enlightening Book. How many learned ones have denied the Known One, and how many mystics have disbelieved in the Recognized One when He came with the standards of signs from the presence of the Mighty, the Wise. Thus have We sent down the verses unto thee and dispatched them to thee that thou mayest be among the firmly established ones. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

The servant giveth you glad tidings that the Beloved of the world hath visited on behalf of you and your mother and your sisters and your wife and those of your household. It behooveth me and thee and all on earth to thank Him and praise Him and glorify Him by night and day. Praise be to God. This servant succeeded in fulfilling your wishes exactly as you had written, visiting on behalf of all. We beseech Him to make this blessed, doubly blessed and righteous deed a treasure for you and for us. Verily, He is the One with power over whatsoever He willeth through His command “Be!” and it is.

As to what you mentioned regarding the friends of God being engaged every Friday in the recitation of verses and the remembrance of God, by the life of God, they have a station among the stations in the Book of God, the Lord of the worlds. Convey greetings on behalf of this ephemeral servant to them and say: The Day of the Covenant hath come, and the earth hath told its tales, and the mountains have passed away by the command of their Creator, and all who are in the heavens and on earth were thunderstruck save those who have detached themselves from all on earth and turned with radiant faces toward God. God willing, you must stand with perfect steadfastness in the Cause of God.

Though the clouds of oppression may momentarily obscure the light of the Sun of Justice, the time will come when the winds of the Divine Will shall, in less than a moment, disperse them and illuminate the world with the light of justice. We beseech God that those illumined hearts may be so enkindled by the heat of Divine remembrance that its effects may become manifest in all directions. Would that the servant could be with you in that house wherein the mention of God, the Lord of all beings and the King of the throne on high and of earth below, hath been raised. O friends! Strive ye, for this is the day of endeavor and this is the day of steadfastness, that perchance ye may receive your portion from the outpourings of the cloud of divine mercy and the effulgences of the Sun of Reality. Verily, He is with you and guideth you to the right path.

As for what you wrote concerning the house, it was presented before the Throne. This is what the Desired One hath revealed in response: We have accepted the house and made it a meeting place for the loved ones of God who have forsaken the world and turned wholly unto God, the Lord of the worlds.

O Kazim! The aforementioned house has been accepted and mention thereof was made in the Most Holy Presence. God willing, may it become a gathering place for His loved ones. Remember Me therein and praise Me at eventide and at dawn. Blessed is thy father who soared in the atmosphere of the love of God in such wise that he sacrificed his spirit and his being in a land whose mention God hath revealed in His Mighty Book. We testify that he turned unto God, hearkened to His call, and hastened to the Dawning-place of sacrifice. Thus doth God mention whom He willeth as a token of His grace. Verily, He is the Forgiving, the Generous.

O Most Exalted Pen! Turn towards those who have turned to the countenance of their Lord when He appeared with the truth and came with mighty sovereignty. Say: O loved ones of God in His lands! Hearken unto the call of the Wronged One which hath been raised from the precincts of the Prison. There is no God but Him, the Mighty, the Great. Be ye united in the Cause of God and His remembrance, and be ye as the fingers of one hand. Thus doth He Who hath in His keeping the Preserved Tablet teach you. Set right that which is between you and put your trust in God. Verily, He is with His trusted servants. Thus surgeth the ocean of thy Lord’s mercy, the Most Merciful, the Compassionate. Glory be upon you, O My loved ones and chosen ones, and upon those who have attained unto My days and acted in accordance with that which they were bidden in My perspicuous Book.

As for what you wrote concerning the Leaf of Paradise, upon her be the Glory of God, it was presented before the Throne, and this evanescent servant attained to visitation on her behalf. We thank God and praise Him for this. Especially in these days her mention was made in the Most Holy Presence, and a most mighty, most glorious, most holy Tablet was specifically revealed for her from the heaven of the All-Merciful’s will and was sent. God willing, may she attain unto it. Convey greetings on behalf of this servant to her and her relatives, wherever they may be. And concerning those whom you mentioned who have detached themselves from all save God and believed in Him on a day wherein the pillars of the world were shaken and the limbs of the nations trembled—upon them be the Glory of God, His mercy, His care and His favors. This evanescent one conveys greetings to all.

And as for your mention of Aqa Khudadad, Aqa Shahvardi, Aqa ʿAzizu’llah and Aqa Muhammad-Taqi, upon them be the Glory of God, it was presented one night in the Holy Presence. The Sun of Divine favor shone forth upon each one. He, exalted be His glory, said:

“These are they who have attained unto the days of God and have drunk His most pure wine in the name of the Lord of Power, through Whom the Greatest Scene was honored—the place which was named the Most Great Prison and with the most beautiful names by My Most Exalted Pen. Upon them be My glory, My mercy and My care which have preceded all worlds.”

In these special days, wondrous and exalted verses are being revealed from the divine Kingdom of Utterance. God willing, may they attain unto them and inhale the fragrances of the Raiment of the All-Merciful therefrom. This evanescent servant has attained to their presence aforetime. I beseech the Most High to assist them in His remembrance and praise, to aid them in that which He loveth and approveth, to ordain for them the good of this world and the next, and to record for them through His Most Exalted Pen in the Book of Names that which shall cause their mention, their spirits, and their bodies to endure. Verily, He is powerful over whatsoever He willeth. There is no God but Him, the Almighty, the Powerful.

As for those souls whom you mentioned who have ascended unto God, mention of some of them hath been revealed from the Most Exalted Pen both before and after. Upon them be the glory of God and His mercy. Others were also mentioned in this instance, and all have been adorned with the ornament of forgiveness both before and after. Glory be upon you and upon those who have turned unto God and have attained unto the recognition of God, our Lord and their Lord, our Purpose and their Purpose, and the Beloved of all who are in the heavens and on earth.

The servant, Sha’ban 1297

BH00323: Glorified be He Who hath illumined the horizon…

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

In the Name of our Lord, the Most Sacred, the Most Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious

Glorified be He Who hath illumined the horizon of utterance with the Sun of His Most Great Remembrance, before Whom the sinews of the nations have trembled—they who have turned away from the Ancient King and followed their fancies and idle desires. Glorified be He Who standeth alone in might and is unique in power. He, verily, is the Sovereign Who hath accepted all tribulations in the kingdom of creation for the manifestation of His purpose and the establishment of that which shall profit all lands. He is the All-Powerful Whom the tyranny of the mighty and the strong hath not weakened, and Whom the affairs of those in creation have not prevented from appearing and manifesting, through the Most Exalted Word, the Most High Paradise, summoning all unto Him through wisdom and utterance.

Exalted is our Lord, the All-Merciful, Whose robe, when recognized, draweth the hearts of the sincere and causeth the spirits of those who are nigh to soar. Through it the lovers have directed their steps toward the Most Exalted Vision and the yearning ones toward the Supreme Summit. Through it every man of knowledge hath faced the swords of the enemies, and every soul that hath turned unto God the arrows of destiny.

Blessing and peace and glorification and praise be upon those who have drunk of the choice sealed wine from the hand of their Lord, the Self-Subsisting! These are servants who have heard what the Speaker of Sinai hath uttered and have witnessed that which the Tongue of Manifestation hath proclaimed. These are servants whom neither the mention of the Hour hath affrighted, nor have the tempests of the Day of Judgment moved them, nor were they thunderstruck when the trumpet was blown, nor did they tarry when they heard the call “Hasten ye!” from the Sovereign of Manifestation. They have acknowledged that which God hath acknowledged in His days and have confessed that which God confessed when He was established upon His throne. These are servants whom tongues and pens are powerless to describe or extol.

The evanescent servant beseecheth his Almighty, Eternal Lord to inscribe for him with His Most Exalted Pen that which He hath inscribed for them, to ordain for him what He ordained for them, and to grant him, in their shadow, a station enduring through His Most Beautiful Names and Most Exalted Attributes. Verily, He is the All-Powerful before Whom nothing is impossible and no matter can prevent Him. He acteth and commandeth, heareth and seeth, and He is the Commander, the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.

By the Beauty of the Adored One, His glory, His might and His power—were the servant to make mention of them throughout the duration of His dominion and kingdom, the cord of my love would not be severed nor would the love of my heart be exhausted. I beseech the Self-Sufficient, the Most High, to gather me with them in every world of His worlds. Among them are the Living One of God and the True One—can anyone describe them as they deserve to be described or make mention of them as befitteth their station? Nay, by the soul of the Beloved! It hath been testified beforehand that the true believer cannot be described. These have quaffed the choice wine of utterance and have expended all they possessed in the path of the All-Merciful with such yearning and rapture as hath bewildered the Concourse on High. To this beareth witness the Lord of Names, the Creator of Heaven, and beyond Him every just and discerning soul. Praise be to God, the Most High, the All-Powerful, the Mighty, the Omnipotent!

My soul be a sacrifice for your exile! Although such mention from a servant like myself is unworthy, inasmuch as the mention of that noble Being’s exile and affliction in the path of God hath flowed from the Most Exalted Pen, in comparison wherewith all other remembrances appear as the buzzing of flies or the chirping of birds in an endless wilderness that hath neither beginning nor end. Yet, despite my powerlessness and wretchedness, I make mention and submit and say: The servant hath been favored by that which hath appeared from the horizon of your hearts and hath heard that which the dove of your yearning and longing hath warbled upon the branches of the tree of your love, in remembrance of our Creator and yours, our Beloved and yours, and the Beloved of all who are in the heavens and the earth.

By thy life, O Beloved! I have found therein that which hath dilated my breast and gladdened my spirit and caused my heart to soar, for I found it to be a book in remembrance of God and His praise, and a shell for the pearls of His love and recognition. When I beheld and read and understood what was contained therein, I took flight on the wings of certitude with spirit and divine fragrance unto the Vision of the All-Merciful, and presented its contents before the Countenance. Then did He turn toward the Ancient Face and utter that which the world is powerless to comprehend.

In this station, wondrous and impregnable verses were sent down from the heaven of divine will upon thy person, whereat no opportunity remained for this servant to transcribe; and afterward, little by little, He spoke in the Persian tongue, and these sublime words appeared at the end from the mouth of the Will, the Revealer of verses—exalted be His majesty!

In the path of God, mighty afflictions have been visited upon them. In truth, they have followed the example of the Beloved of the world, inasmuch as in the early days of the Cause, during certain years, He was afflicted with countless tribulations. But since what befell them was in the path of the Friend, that which came upon them was, God willing, sweeter than the tyranny of the Beloved and more delicious than choice sealed wine, and ever shall it be so.

And He bade me: “Write thou unto Nabil—upon him be My remembrance and My glory, and the sweet savours of My vesture, and the fragrant breaths of the litanies of the gardens of My mystic knowledge. Look back, then, and call to mind the days when We were in the prison of the land of Ta—four months in that place—in a captivity the like of which no eye hath ever beheld: laden with fetters and chains. A number of the loved ones were present before Us, and those were the days when all, through fear of the Sultan’s might and the wrath of his ministers, were anxious, disquieted, and distraught; and every day, in the vain imagining that they were the helpers of the Sultan, they busied themselves with reviling, with abuse, and with harassment. O Nabil, how strange it was: for We, and the Helper of the Sultan, and all that are in the realms of being, were one; yet did they deem that Helper a tyrant, and failed to recognize the true Friend in His new attire. They took the ocean of rectitude to be the portion of the corrupt, and accounted the sun of knowledge among the ignorant.

In truth, to set forth the afflictions of those days is beyond the capacity of pen and tongue. And yet, despite these tribulations that assailed, and these calamities that descended, and these encompassing trials, We commanded the friends to chant, in a sweet and melodious strain, this blessed verse:

“God sufficeth me, and all things; and sufficient is God in reckoning!”

By the effulgent sprays of the ocean of meanings!—a joy and gladness were witnessed in that dark abode such as, thereafter, none of the loved ones ever again attained; and yearning and eagerness rose to such a pitch that whosoever was summoned unto martyrdom would, with fullest contentment, arise, would clasp hands with his companions, and with radiant countenance and assured heart would turn toward the seat of sacrifice. These things caused the people of the prison to marvel.

The Pen of the Most High, for the especial solace of that honoured soul, hath spoken in these words:

“Ponder thou His bounty, His mercy, His compassion, His providence, His loving-kindness. In this station it behoveth me to call upon mine own self in thy tongue: Praise be unto Thee, O Thou by whose Name the ark of Thy Cause hath sped over the sea of Thy will, and the hearts of the sincere have soared in the heaven of Thy love; for Thou hast aided me to bear tribulations in Thy path, and calamities in Thy love and good-pleasure. I beseech Thee, by the jewels of Thy knowledge that are with Thee and the mysteries of Thy wisdom, to write for me that which becometh Thy generosity, Thy bounties, Thy munificence, Thy gifts. O Lord! There hath befallen me in Thy path that whereunto Thy Most Exalted Pen hath borne witness in the pages of Thy utterance. Ordain, by Thy power, for me that whereby I may find repose in Thy days. Verily Thou art the Almighty, the Most Exalted, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.”

End of quotation.

Section 2: “The grace of God, in what hath been…”

The grace of God, in what hath been revealed, shineth forth and is resplendent as the rising sun: wherefore what hath His bounty left, that this fleeting servant should yet presume to lay before Him? Whensoever a letter from that Blessed Personage reached this evanescent servant, he would, with utmost longing, receive it and present it in the All-Holy Court; and he would also submit a full reply—God, the All-Knowing, is Witness unto this. Ere that Well-Beloved’s departure likewise, from whatever place a letter arrived, an answer was written and dispatched. In these days this mortal servant was summoned to the Most Holy, the Most Mighty, the Most Exalted Presence; and after I had stood before Him, He said: “Wherewith wast thou occupied?” The details were submitted. He—exalted be His majesty—spoke:

“Take thou pen and tablet, and write for him that which the One Who conversed with Moses upon Sinai speaketh in this station, which hath been named with the Most Beauteous Names in the Book of Names, and with the name of this Heaven in the Crimson Tablet, that he may rejoice in the remembrance of his Lord, the Hearing, the Seeing. We have in most Tablets called this land the Most Great Prison. When this mention was spread abroad, We adorned it with another name. Thy Lord is, in truth, the All-Powerful, the Omnipotent. Say: This is the Day whereon all things cry out that the prison belongeth unto God, the Owner of Names. Exalted is this Most Great Station, at which the world hath been bewildered. Thy Lord, verily, is the Manifest, the Fair.

“O Nabil! Joy hath taken hold of Me when I heard that there remaineth for thee no resting-place in the earth; and gladness hath seized Me when I beheld thee driven forth in My Name among My servants. By the life of God! the Tongue of Bounty remembereth thee, and remembereth what hath befallen thee in His straight path. He hath chosen for thee that which He hath chosen for His own Self. Ponder thou that which befell Him from the hosts of the unjust, and say: Praise be unto Thee, O God of the worlds and King of eternity, in that Thou hast brought me nigh, and taught me, and made me to know, and caused me to witness, and given me utterance in Thy praise, on a Day whereon every firm foundation was shaken.

“Convey from Me greetings unto the faces of My loved ones, and give them glad tidings of My remembrance and My care; and remind them of that which My Most Exalted Pen hath revealed in Tablets whose number none hath reckoned save God, the Lord of the worlds. We enjoin them to love the world and that whereby the Cause of God, the King, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy, may be exalted; and We counsel My servants to My virtues, and to that which they have been commanded in My Most Great Book.

“Say: Make not the religion of God a cause of strife and contention. By God! it hath been revealed for your unity and concord. Unto this beareth witness the Tongue of Grandeur in His noble station. Say: By God! the Mother-Book hath been purified, and it proclaimeth from the loftiest height: There is none other God but Me, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

“All souls who in this day have drunk of the sealed wine, named with the Living, the Self-Subsisting, are remembered in the presence of the Throne. Convey unto all, from the Wronged One, My greeting of ʿAllah-u-Abha’, and give them to know: most men are heedless, and are, in their due measure, deprived of the recognition of the Day of God.

“In every land wherein they enter, let them be as the Water of Life for the thirsty, and a shining lamp unto those souls who, in the darkness of conjecture, have drunk from the spring of vain imaginings. We enjoin upon all goodly character: Kindle hearts with the fire of My love; then remind them of My beauteous remembrance.

“Say: The sea of bestowal hath appeared, and the sun of knowledge hath shone forth. Make not the Divine Faith—which is the cause of the unity of the peoples of the world—a reason for difference. O Nabil! if men were to become informed of that which hath been made manifest, all would turn unto the Most Exalted Horizon, and would behold themselves freed and delivered from all save Him.

“Say: In poverty and adversity follow ye the True One, and hold fast unto the cord of patience and steadfast endurance. Observe the Names of Ha’ and Ha’—though outwardly they professed attachment to the True One, yet the inner matter, plain and evident, was that the ravening wolf strove with utmost oppression to extinguish those two lights, until they attained unto lofty and honoured martyrdom. And yet the True One—magnified be His glory, exalted be His power, and glorified be His majesty—passed by, through His hidden might. Outwardly, He had power to exact retribution; nevertheless, We commanded all unto patience and endurance; for Our regard is fixed upon the education of the world and upon another station.

“Ponder this wondrous and comely word which in several places hath flowed from the Pen of the Most High: Not he is praiseworthy who loveth his country, but he who loveth the world. Man hath not been created for strife and corruption and contention and dispute. By My life! he hath been created for a mighty purpose. Were these stations to be set down in detail, Tablets would not suffice.

“O Muhammad! Be thou, unto the beings of existence, a refreshing stream; unto the erring, a guide; unto every sorrowful one, a deliverance. Ye must, with Divine assistance, become the cause of kindling the love of God in the hearts of the peoples of the world. Ignite the fire of love in His Name, that all may be warmed thereby. Expend utmost endeavour and diligence in the unity of the friends. How grievous that souls who have borne hardships in the path of God, and have become the target of the world’s derision, should become occupied with themselves and remain veiled from the Purpose. Say: By God! the good is behind you, and grace is before your faces. Suffer not yourselves to be deprived of that which hath been ordained for you in a Clear Book. Blessed are your faces, for that ye have turned unto the Beloved; and your ears, for that ye have heard His call; and your hearts, for that they have turned unto God; and your eyes, for that they have beheld His signs; and your hands, for that they have taken His Tablets; and your feet, for that they have walked upon the straight path. O concourse of the chosen! know ye your stations, your conditions, and your ranks with God, your Creator, your Fashioner, your Sustainer, your Beloved, and your Answerer.”

We counsel you, in conclusion, with that wisdom which the All-Merciful hath revealed in most of the Tablets: “Blessed be ye and blessed be they!” from God, the Sovereign of the beginning and the return.

As to that which you had inscribed, expressing your desire to attain the honor of visiting the Sacred Threshold at the appointed time—the details were duly presented. After the rising of the Sun of Permission, this servant was graciously enabled to circumambulate the blessed Shrine and to attain the presence of the Beloved of the world. From the True One—exalted be His glory—I beseech and hope that He will ever assist this servant, that I may, as His deputy in all circumstances, be blessed with this supreme honor.

Concerning that which you had written—that during your presence you had perused but a portion of the Most Holy Persian Tablet—this servant gave assurance that the whole of it would be forwarded thereafter. At present, it escapeth this lowly one’s mind which particular Tablet it was. God willing, after its identification, it shall be dispatched.

In truth, whatsoever hath flowed from the Supreme Pen should be perused by you with utmost ardor, delight, and care, and should be proclaimed unto the souls of the earth. Praise be to God! The remembrance of that Beloved hath been and remaineth, in most circumstances, within the Most Mighty and Sacred Court, particularly through the Most Great Branch and the Greatest Branch—may my soul and my very essence be offered up for the dust beneath Their feet—Who, with wondrous remembrance and pure devotion, have celebrated and proclaimed the praise of that Beloved. Likewise have the people of the Tabernacle of Divine Infallibility conveyed His mighty glorification.

The circumambulators around the Throne, one by one, do present their expressions of faithfulness and praise in service to that Beloved.

Blessing and glorification and praise be upon you, and upon the loved ones of God and His chosen ones in His cities and lands, and upon every wayfarer who journeyeth toward the homeland of his heart’s desire with a sanctified heart! Praise be to God, the Lord of all the worlds!

The servant 2nd Sha’ban, year 97

BH00714: Praise be to God, Creator of all things…

He is God—exalted be His glory, majesty and power!

Praise be to God, Creator of all things and Fashioner of the heavens! His are the most beautiful names and the most exalted attributes. I pray, glorify and send peace upon those who rejoiced at the Most Great Ocean when it surged in the world, and who answered the Lord of Names when His sweetest call was raised between earth and heaven. These are servants whom, were all the pens of creation to describe them with the most wondrous allusions and words at their disposal, the seeing one would find them all beneath their station. Such is the station of those who have attained unto Him, who have spoken His praise and who have arisen to serve Him—how much more exalted then is the station of He who created them with a word from Him! Exalted be His dominion, exalted be His remembrance, exalted be His praise! We beseech Him, exalted be He, to gather us with them and ordain for us what He has written for them. Verily, He is the Guardian of those who act.

My spirit be a sacrifice for your remembrance! The servant has attained unto your letter and heard the sound of the quills of your utterance which soared in the atmosphere of love for our Lord and your Lord, our Master and the Master of the worlds. After perusing it, I presented it before the Face and submitted what was therein. Then there appeared from the Kingdom of Utterance that which I am powerless to mention. I beseech Him, exalted be He, to assist me in what He loves and is pleased with. Verily, He is the Generous Giver.

As for what you mentioned concerning the presence of the Afnan—upon them be all His Most Splendid Splendor—regarding their arrival in Zawra and their departure to the land of Taff and beyond it, the servant praises God for this and rejoices at their well-being and the receipt of their news. I beseech Him, exalted be He, to protect them and to ordain for them what will benefit them in this world and the next.

And as for what you mentioned concerning His Honor the Prisoner—upon him be 9 66 [Baha’u’llah]—I have presented it before the Face. Then the tongue of the Beloved spoke: “O Muhammad-i-Mustafa! The Wronged One remembers you in the prison of Akka and thanks God for what has befallen Him in His path, and praises Him should tribulation be renewed in His love and desire. Verily, He is the Hearing, the Responding One. His verses have attracted Me and the fire of His love has enkindled Me to such an extent that were anyone to turn toward it with the ear of nature, they would hear its sighing from all My limbs, and were they to regard it with the eye of the heart, they would see its flame in My veins and members. There bear witness to what My pen has uttered honored servants whom the veils of the world have not prevented from the remembrance of the Lord of Eternity. They have cast away what they possessed and taken what they were commanded by God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. We have heard the call of the Prisoner and We command him from this exalted, beloved station to say in his turning to God, the Lord of the Kingdom and the Sovereign of the Realm of Might:

“O Lord of Names and Fashioner of Heaven! I beseech Thee by the Name through which Thou didst subdue all things and through which the Most Exalted Horizon appeared, to make me in all conditions steadfast in Thy love, firm in Thy Cause, and speaking in Thy remembrance. O my Lord! Thou seest my gaze turned toward the horizon of Thy favors and my hand raised toward the heaven of Thy gifts. I beseech Thee by the Most Exalted Word to ordain for me by Thy Most Exalted Pen that which will solace mine eyes and gladden my heart. O Lord! Enable Thy servants to recognize what Thou hast revealed in Thy Book and to act according to what Thou hast commanded them in Thy Tablets. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the Exalted, the Most High, the Great. Praise be to Thee, O God of the worlds and Lord of the heavens and earths!”

As to what hath been mentioned concerning the letters Kha and Ta, We beseech God, exalted be He, to strengthen him and enable him to remember and praise Him, and to make him steadfast in his love for His chosen ones and His friends. Within His grasp lieth the Kingdom of the heavens and earth, and in His right hand the dominion of command and creation. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth. He, verily, is the Single One, the Mighty, the All-Praised.

As to what was mentioned regarding Amin Bey, let him hold fast unto the cord of righteousness, placing his trust in God, and say:

“O my God and the God of all names! Ordain for me that which is best for me in the Kingdom of creation. Every atom testifieth to Thy knowledge and power, Thy grandeur and sovereignty, and Thou knowest what profiteth and preserveth me. Thou, verily, art the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.”

O Muhammad! Counsel the loved ones of God with wisdom. We have previously counseled them not to believe every speaker, nor trust every claimant, nor reveal themselves before every deceitful traitor. Thou must urge them to safeguard that which must needs be safeguarded. Most people soar in the atmosphere of passion and follow every crier who hath turned away from God, the Lord of the Throne and of the dust. We counsel all with wisdom, trustworthiness and the fear of God, and with that whereby the station and dignity of man may be manifested in the contingent world. There is no God but Him, the One, the Single, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

When the letter reached this point, I was gladdened, nay awakened, by thy latter call in remembrance of God, the Lord of Destiny. When I was honored to read and learn of its contents, I ascended, attended, and presented before His Presence that which the Trusted One had presented and which Joseph had composed. Thereupon the Beloved spoke:

“We have made mention of the Trusted One and We beseech Him, exalted be He, to give him to drink from the Kawthar of divine knowledge by the hand of His bounty, and to acquaint him with that which every ignorant and remote one hath failed to comprehend. O Amin! Hold fast unto the Sure Handle and cling to the hem of the robe of thy Lord’s mercy, the All-Forgiving, the Most Generous. Be thou thankful unto God in all conditions, then remember Him with goodly remembrance. Peace be upon thee and upon those who follow that which hath been ordained in a perspicuous Book. We have mentioned thee before, and this is yet another time, that thou mayest rejoice and be among those who are firmly established. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.”

O Joseph! Bear thou witness unto that whereunto all things have testified: that there is none other God but Him. He maketh to live and causeth to die, then causeth to die and maketh to live. Verily He is the Ever-Living Who dieth not. Within His grasp lieth the Kingdom of the dominion of the heavens and earth, and in His right hand the sovereignty of Command and Creation. There is none other God but Him, the Omnipotent, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

The servant in attendance hath appeared before the Wronged One and recited that which thou didst compose in praise of God and His loved ones. We beseech Him, exalted be He, to ordain for thee that which He hath ordained for His chosen ones, and to grant thee the good of this world and of the world to come. He, verily, is the Protector of them that remember Him.

We have restrained the Pen lest it range in the field of utterance and thereby raise the clamor of the people of the contingent world. To this testifieth every fair-minded and perceiving soul. We have summoned all unto God and made known unto them the straight Path. They have risen against Us with such tyranny as hath weakened Islam, yet most of the people remain heedless. They have driven Us from Our homeland to preserve their dominions, but when We departed there entered therein such as desired it through oppression, whereat the hearts of them that are nigh unto God have lamented. Say: Take ye heed, O people of the earth, then judge with fairness concerning the matter of this Wronged One Who hath informed you and brought you glad tidings through the grace of God, the Lord of all worlds.

We counsel thee to observe wisdom, lest the clamor of every heedless and remote soul be raised. O My loved ones! Speak ye according to capacity, for most of the people are wrapped in heedlessness and thick veils. O My loved ones! In all circumstances it behooveth you to hold fast unto wisdom. By Him Who hath caused all things to speak forth His praise! He who hath spoken the truth had no purpose save the exaltation of the Cause and religion of God, yet the heedless have imagined that he desired to spread corruption in the land. Thus have their souls seduced them. Verily thy Lord, the All-Merciful, is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Soon shall they bewail themselves and their dominions once again, even as they lamented after Our departure, unless they repent and return unto God, the Mighty, the All-Praised.

I submit once again to your honor that your second letter hath brought me such joy as I am unable to mention or express to you. I beseech the Intended One, glorified be His majesty, to reward you with the most excellent reward and to assist you for your kindness to this servant who hath held fast to the cords of the loving-kindness of God’s chosen ones—our Lord, your Lord, and the Lord of all worlds. Moreover, the Most Glorious Splendor and the Most Luminous Light be upon your honor and your household, and upon those who are there among the loved ones of God, the Peerless, the Most Exalted, the Inaccessible.

The servant, 15 Sha’ban 1297

A packet has been sent to your presence addressed to his honor the Physician, bearing 9 66 [Baha’u’llah], that you may forward it to him in the city. And God is the Protector of the messengers and the Helper of those who are nigh unto Him.