Volume 062: Akka 1298 A.H. (1880–1881), Part I (2 of 7)

BH00094: Praise be to God Who hath subdued all who…

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

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

Praise be to God Who hath subdued all who are in creation through the strains of His Most Exalted Pen, whereby the trumpet was sounded and all who are in earth and heaven were thunderstruck, save whom God, the Lord of Names, did will. He is the One through Whom the hidden secret was revealed, and the mystic symbol unveiled, and the concealed Name made manifest, whereby the great terror appeared amongst mankind and a hidden Cause emerged swifter than the twinkling of an eye. Blessed is he who hath cast away what the people possess and taken what he was bidden by the Ordainer of Destiny, through Whom the Greatest Scene was adorned and supreme joy was manifested among the nations. I pray and send salutations upon those who have attained unto the most great steadfastness in this Cause, whereby the hearts of the possessors of understanding were perturbed. These are servants whom vain desires have not kept back from the Lord of Names. They have arisen in such wise as to astound all hearts and minds.

Glorified art Thou, O Thou through Whose Name all necks have bowed throughout the horizons! I beseech Thee by the imprint of Thy feet in Thy domains, and by the fragrance of Thy raiment in Thy lands, and by the sweetness of Thy utterance amongst Thy creation, to aid Thy loved ones to champion Thy Cause and to protect them from the evil of Thine enemies. Verily Thou art the Almighty Whom the powers of the world cannot frustrate, nor can the influences of the nations weaken. Thou hast ever been powerful through Thy might and sovereign through Thy will. Thou doest what Thou pleasest and ordainest what Thou desirest. Thou art the Generous Bestower.

Furthermore, the servant heard the sound of the wings of the bird of Thy utterance upon the branches of the tree of Thy words, and it was warbling in praise of God, my Beloved and thy Beloved, my Purpose and thy Purpose, and the Purpose of all who are in the heavens and the earth. When I heard and found and knew, I was present and submitted at a station wherein my mention and my allusion were cut off. The Point of the Bayan had testified to this before in His exalted words when He wrote this essence in His remembrance:

“He cannot be indicated by My indication, nor by what was revealed in the Bayan. How can He Who was sanctified beyond the indication of the Point and what was sent down in the Bayan be described by My description, or be characterized by My attributes, or be known by My utterances which speak of the limitations of My being and My station?”

Glorified art Thou, O my God and my Purpose and the Ultimate End of my desire! I beseech Thee by Thy Preserved Tablet and Thy Hidden Knowledge to forgive me and have mercy upon me and remit my transgressions. O Lord! I am the sinner and Thou art the Forgiving One; I am the transgressor and Thou art the Kind, the Generous.

When what was in your letter was presented, the Countenance of the Ancient Beauty turned toward me and spoke that which caused the fragrance of utterance to waft throughout the world. He said, exalted be His grandeur:

“O Varqa! Rejoice in that We have caused thee to hear the rustling of the Lote-Tree of knowledge, the flowing of the waters of utterance, the shrill voice of the Pen of the All-Merciful, and the warbling of the Bird of inner meanings from this sacred, pure, subtle, gentle, mighty and impregnable atmosphere. We have mentioned thee before, and before that before, and We mention thee at this time. Then those whose names thou didst mention—thy Lord is verily the Answerer, the Counter, the All-Knowing. We have observed, and We are the All-Seeing. We have known, and We are the All-Informed. We have detailed the remembrance for thee, and We are the All-Bountiful. We have set forth the verses, and We are the All-Powerful. We have manifested the evidences, and We are the Strong, the Trustworthy. The roaring of men cannot frustrate Us, nor the mewing of cats. Verily thy Lord calleth and speaketh and saith, though the wolf howleth and attacketh with manifest tyranny. Convey My greetings to My loved ones who have cast aside all else save Me, who have arisen to serve My Cause and have spoken My praise. These are servants upon whom the Concourse on High and the dwellers of the Most Exalted Paradise pray, and behind them is the Tongue of Grandeur in this noble station. By the life of God! That which hath been ordained for them is such that pens are powerless to describe it. To this testifieth the Preserved Tablet which is with Him. Blessed is the house wherein My remembrance is raised and which is honored by My loved ones who have turned to the ocean of My knowledge and the heaven of My mercy and the sun of My loving-kindness that hath preceded all worlds.”

You had written that you were gathered in the house of Haji Aqa Muhammad and Aqa Mirza ʿAli-Naqi with a group of the friends of God, and Haji Aqa Muhammad requested that a petition be submitted to the Most Holy, Most Exalted, Most Glorious Threshold on behalf of those present at the gathering. This detail was presented at the Holy Threshold, and that beloved one’s supplication was also presented before His face. This is what the Desired One spoke in reply. He said, exalted be His grandeur:

“O Varqa! We have heard thy call time after time, and We have known that wherewith thou didst supplicate God, the Lord of the mighty Throne, and We have answered thee again and again, and We mention those whose names were in thy letter as a bounty from Us. Verily He loveth to remember him who remembereth Him, and desireth him who desireth Him. Verily thy Lord is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Remind My loved ones on My behalf and glorify their faces with My Name, the Gladdening, the Mighty, the Wondrous. Today all must be adorned with the ornament of steadfastness, for the devils lie in wait and have been lying in wait, and the croaking hath been raised and shall be raised. Before this these tidings were revealed and sent down from the Pen of the Unconstrained. Well is it with them that understand. Say: O loved ones of the All-Merciful! Hearken unto the call of God. Verily He calleth you and counseleth you to observe the most great steadfastness and that whereby His firm and mighty Cause may be uplifted. Should anyone bring you the book of Hell or the leaves of Zaqqum, cast them behind you, remaining steadfast in this Cause whereby the hearts of the learned were disturbed and the feet of all on earth have slipped save those whom God hath willed, the Mighty, the Powerful.”

We make mention in this station of the master of the house wherein was raised the remembrance of God, the Supreme, the Self-Subsisting. O Muhammad! The Countenance of the Ancient Beauty hath turned toward thee from this Most Exalted Horizon, the station wherein was established the throne of the Lord of Names, and He mentioneth thee with that which attracteth minds. Rejoice thou in My mention of thee and say: Praise be unto Thee, O Lord of Names, and glory be unto Thee, O Creator of Heaven, for having remembered me in the Most Great Prison and revealed unto me that which was hidden from the nations. I bear witness that Thou art the Omnipotent over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Truth, the Knower of things unseen.

We make mention of Nabil who traversed the lands and journeyed through countries for My Name and chose exile for love of Me. He was named Muhammad in the Book of God, the Mighty, the Loving. I testify that he cast away all that the people possessed and took what was commanded by God, the Lord of existence. He endured in the path of God what no one on earth hath known. Thus doth the Wronged One remember him that it may be a treasure for him throughout the kingdom of earth and heaven. Blessed art thou and joy be unto thee for thy patience. We beseech God to assist thee in a manner befitting this Day which hath been adorned by its mention in the Torah, the Gospel and the Psalms.

O Nabil-i-A’zam! Hearken unto the Call from beyond the sea of grandeur: “Verily there is none other God but Me, the Mighty, the Bestower.” This is a day wherein the Throne was established upon the water and the heaven of knowledge was adorned with the luminary of My Name, the Mighty, the All-Knowing. Blessed is the strong one who hath held fast to the cord of the grace of his Lord, and the speaker who hath uttered the praise of God, the Lord of all mankind. Thus hath the Tongue of Grandeur spoken: Rejoice and say: “Praise be unto Thee, O Revealer of the verses, and glory be unto Thee, O Thou in Whose grasp is the kingdom of earth and heaven.” Glory from Us be upon those whom the hosts could not frighten and whom the veils could not hinder.

O Ali-Qabl-i-Naqi! We have heard thy mention and have remembered thee with this mighty remembrance. Verily, He Who remembereth thee was named Jehovah in the Torah, the Spirit of Truth in the Gospel, and the Great News in the Qur’an. By My life! He desired from the Books naught but My Book, and from the Bayan naught but My manifestation and My wise remembrance. Blessed is he who hath found the fragrance of God in His days, and blessed is he who hath clung to His luminous hem. Doth anyone hear the verses of his Lord, and is there any soul who findeth the sweetness in the utterance of his Lord, the Speaker, the All-Seeing? Thus have We adorned the sea of knowledge with the ark of utterance and the heaven of certitude with the luminary of My mighty Name.

O Muhammad-Qabl-i-Yusuf! The Most Exalted Pen hath turned unto thee from this Most Holy, Most Great, Most Mighty, Most Sublime Station. Thou hast attained that which none would attain even were they to expend all the treasures of the earth in the path of God, the King, the Most High, the Most Great. Preserve thou the pearls of knowledge in the vessels of thy heart through My Name, the Mighty, the Powerful. Blessed art thou for having turned and advanced and heard the Call of God, the Lord of the worlds. Be thou steadfast in the love of thy Lord in such wise that the allusions of the opposers shall not cause thee to slip.

O youth! Remember when thou wert present before the Throne and didst hear that which the Tongue of Grandeur uttered in His glorious station. Give thanks unto God for having aided thee and enabled thee to recognize this Cause whereby all things proclaimed:

“The kingdom belongeth unto God, the Lord of the seen and the unseen.”

Blessed is the soul that hath cast away what it possessed and was moved by the Will of God, the Lord of Kings. We summon all unto the Most Sublime Horizon and counsel them to observe that which hath been revealed in My Preserved Tablet. Glory be upon thee and upon thy father and upon those who have drunk from the Most Great Sea through My Name, the Mighty, the Well-Beloved.

O Mihdi! Hearken unto My call which hath been raised from My prison abode that the call may attract thee unto a station wherein the conditions of the world shall not sadden thee nor shall the veils of the heedless shut thee out. Blessed art thou and thy father. The Most Exalted Pen hath testified to his recognition and submission when most of the servants turned away from the Countenance. Thus have We remembered thee as a bounty from Us that thou mayest be of the thankful ones.

O Ali-Qabl-Askar! Bear thou witness unto that whereunto God did Himself bear witness ere the creation of all things: that there is none other God but Me, the Ever-Forgiving, the All-Merciful. By God’s life! Soon shall the world and whatsoever it containeth of kings and subjects, of rich and poor, pass away, and there shall endure for thee that which hath been revealed by My Most Exalted Pen in this glorious station. Rejoice thou in My remembrance of thee, then render thanks unto thy Lord for having sent down unto thee that which cheereth the hearts of them that are nigh unto Him. Hold thou fast unto the cord of grace and cleave unto the hem of thy Lord’s mercy, and say: I beseech Thee, O Sovereign of the world and Manifestation of the Most Great Name, to ordain for me that which Thou hast ordained for Thy trusted ones, whom the vanities of the world have not kept back from turning towards Thy horizon. O my Lord! Thou art the All-Bountiful, and I stand before the door of Thy bounty. I beseech Thee not to deny me that which is with Thee. Verily, Thou art God, the Lord of the mighty throne.

We make mention in this station of him who hath been named Yusuf, who turned his face toward Mine own and believed in My signs, and attained unto My recognition when most of My creatures turned away from Me. Thus doth God remember him who seeketh Him on a day wherein every proud and stubborn one hath turned aside from Him. Thy name hath been mentioned; therefore have We remembered thee in this Tablet, than which nothing on earth can compare, as thy Lord, the All-Informed, doth testify. Let not the gestures of the people grieve you, nor the denial of those who have turned away from My straight path. God shall soon seize them with His justice, and shall exalt the names of those who have believed in Him when He came with manifest sovereignty.

Section 2: “We counsel you to manifest supreme steadfastness…”

We counsel you to manifest supreme steadfastness and to observe that which God hath revealed in His mighty Book. Soon shall the earth and all that are upon it be rolled up, and sovereignty shall remain with God, the Lord of all worlds.

O thou bird that soareth in Mine atmosphere! Convey the verses of thy Lord. Verily they draw them nigh unto the One, the All-Informed, and strengthen them in that whereunto they were called, and give them to drink from the Kawthar of utterance in My wondrous Name. Thus have the rains descended and the seas surged by the command of thy Lord, the Almighty.

We make mention of Our servants and Our loved ones whose names were not mentioned in thy letter, and We give them glad tidings of God’s grace and mercy, and We send Our greetings upon their faces from this mighty Prison. Ask thou God to assist them and strengthen them in that which He loveth and which pleaseth Him, and to make them among those who are firmly established. And We remember My handmaidens who have believed in God and His signs, and who have drunk the choice wine of revelation from the hands of His bounty. Verily thy Lord is the Ever-Forgiving, the All-Merciful.

Praise be to God that the loved ones of God in that land have attained unto the wondrous and exalted divine verses. Let them know the value of this supreme bounty. Were the veil to be lifted and the station revealed, all would fall prostrate and everyone on earth would enter beneath the shade of a single word. O beloved of my heart! Most of the people of the earth are heedless and unaware, and even those souls who have attained some measure of recognition and have drunk from the ocean of knowledge have not arisen as befits the Day of God, save whom God, thy Lord, willeth.

Consider the people of the Bayan—though they count themselves among the most exalted of creation, they are seen to be several degrees lower than other religions. Some have made arguments about “Him Whom God shall make manifest” yet remained deprived of His presence. They have clung to the Bayan while being barred from the One Who revealed it, even though the Point of the Bayan—may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for His sake—hath said in the fifteenth chapter of the third Vahid, these exalted words: “None knoweth the time of the Revelation except God. Whenever it appears, all must acknowledge the Point of Truth and render thanks unto God.” He also said: “The whole of the Bayan is only like a ring upon His blessed finger”, and in another place He said: “The entire Bayan is but a leaf amongst the leaves of His Paradise.” Nevertheless these ignorant people have contented themselves with mere fancy and remained veiled from the Dawning-Place of certitude.

The humility, submissiveness, and self-effacement of the Point of the Bayan is clear and evident throughout the Bayan. He saith that He is sanctified from being known through any recognition of His own or through what is revealed in the Bayan. Reflect upon these blessed words which have issued from the Dawning-Place of the Bayan, the Point of the Bayan—may the spirit of all beings be sacrificed for His sake. This is the same word which this evanescent one mentioned at the beginning of this discourse, and this blessed word is the essence of the entire Bayan, as attested by the Point Himself. His exalted words are: “I have written the essence concerning His remembrance: He shall not be known through My allusions, nor through what hath been revealed in the Bayan.

Nay, by His glory, this word is greater in God’s estimation than the worship of all who are on earth, for the essence of all worship leadeth to this. Therefore, as thou hast recognized God, recognize Him Whom God shall make manifest, for He is too glorious and exalted to be known through any but Himself or to be described by the allusions of His creatures. Verily, I am the first to believe in Him and in His signs, and I have taken from the virgin gardens of the paradise of His knowledge the gardens of His words. Yea, by His glory, He is the Truth, there is no God but Him, all are upheld by His command.” He further saith, exalted be His words: “Know thou that on that Day none shall be recognized save God, none shall be worshipped but Him, none shall be described except Him, none shall be loved but Him, and none shall be sought except Him.”

This blessed passage correspondeth with what was revealed in previous Books concerning this most great Revelation. Nevertheless, these confused masses who attribute themselves to the Bayan have sought to extinguish the divine Light with the foul winds of their falsehoods. Fie upon them and their loyalty! Glory be to God! These heedless people argue based on vain imaginings of the past and resorted to a hundred thousand schemes and deceptions that perchance they might prevent a soul from the straight path. Would that they were truthful in what they claim! Among them is Mirza Ahmad-i-Kirmani. Several petitions from him reached the Most Holy Court, and later when he began speaking nonsense, as it was not accepted, he arose in opposition.

After some time, multiple petitions filled with repentance and contrition arrived from him, and some also interceded. Nevertheless, in these days he has again arisen in hypocrisy and joined the source of clamor. He was in the great city, and according to reports, due to his reprehensible deeds and contradictory statements, he was expelled from that place as well. In any case, since such as he and his like are found, therefore these words were mentioned so that you may inform the friends that perchance they may attain unto the wine of steadfastness and not be deprived by the likes of such vain souls. Verily, He guideth whom He willeth unto His straight path.

In the Kitab-i-Aqdas this blessed verse was revealed, His words, exalted be His grandeur:

“O Land of Kaf and Ra! We, verily, behold thee in a state which God doth not approve. We perceive that which none perceiveth save God, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. And we discover that which passeth in thy innermost heart. With Us is the knowledge of all things recorded in a lucid Tablet.”

This blessed verse in the Kitab-i-Aqdas was revealed at a time when even the name of Ahmad was not outwardly mentioned. The servant beseecheth his Lord to protect His weak servants from these ones. Verily, He is the Almighty, the Powerful.

This far-removed soul is seen to be exceedingly changeful: at one time repentant and craving forgiveness, at another perfidious and godless; yet in these days he hath assumed another hue—leagued with the hypocrite, and, in the presence of the faithful, professing loyalty. The curse of God be upon the lying people!

O Beloved of my heart! Have such as these not been made aware of the changes, the divergences, the upheavals, of this world? Or do they not behold how it is that man—though at every moment he hearkeneth unto the cry of extinction rising from all things, and witnesseth with his own eyes the tokens of separation—can yet remain heedless, occupy himself with that which beseemeth him not, and commit deeds whose harm shall abide and endure for ever?

Know that the summons is of many kinds. All created things, though they be outwardly seen in utter silence and stillness, are yet, by them that possess true hearing, apprehended as raising their cry—ceaselessly reminding man, through their own transformation and change, and counselling him. The morn hath its dawning, its rising, its radiance; the eve its setting, its decline. From every side the call is lifted up; yet attentive ears are nowhere to be found. In every place and station the signs of God are present; yet vision is lacking.

From God, with ten thousand tongues, I beseech and humbly supplicate that He may strengthen His servants in that which is for their good. By the Most Great Luminary! could they but, even in some small measure, empty themselves and reflect, they would deliver their whole being from the seas of idle surmise and vain imaginings, and would be drawn into the pavilion of the one true Friend. Much could be said; and these are days for utterance; yet opportunity is rare. God willing, I hope that thou mayest find occasion, and speak that which should be spoken. I will present this matter to the presence of the illustrious Nabil—upon him be the Most Glorious Splendour of Baha’u’llah—that, while time remaineth, and opportunity remaineth, and the temple remaineth, and the tongue remaineth, thou mayest, God willing, utter that which shall guide, and lead others to guidance.

The exalted letter which was addressed to this evanescent servant came as the bestower of meaning to the temples of words and the joy-giver to the world of sorrows, and after it was read it was presented in the Most Holy and Most Exalted Court. This is what the Tongue of Grandeur spoke in reply, His words, exalted be His grandeur:

“They speak truly in what they have mentioned, for if reports of their movements had not come repeatedly, surely that which is suspended in the Kingdom of Divine Will would have been revealed in their name. God willing, may they be confirmed in all conditions to the remembrance and praise of Truth and may they speak that which is befitting and worthy of this victorious Day. The Glory be upon him from the presence of the Mighty, the Wise.”

Another matter is to announce that another letter from that beloved one arrived, and you had written that in the house of Jinab-i-Aqa Mirza ʿA.B.N. upon him be 96 69 [Baha’u’llah], a group of divine friends were present in that gathering and were speaking in praise of the Most Great Countenance. These matters were presented to the Most Holy, Most Exalted, Most Glorious Threshold, and these exalted words descended from the heaven of will—exalted be His grandeur:

“God testifies that there is no God but Him, and He Who sits upon the throne of imprisonment, He is indeed the One to Whom the books of the world have testified and toward Whose direction the Messengers of nations have turned, and He is indeed the One through Whom every hidden mystery and every wise command has been made manifest. He makes mention of the ʿAyn and the Ba, and gives him glad tidings of God’s grace and mercy that he may rejoice and be among the thankful ones. We have remembered him and make mention of his house wherein the remembrance of God, the Exalted, the Great, was raised. O Varqa! That which shall endure for him throughout the duration of God’s earthly and heavenly kingdoms is the expression of favor that has flowed from the Most Exalted Pen concerning him and has been recorded in the Crimson Book.

God willing, may he be enabled to preserve it. The disturbing conditions of the world have darkened it and prevented its freshness, purity and delicacy. God willing, may they attain to His grace and hold fast to the cord of steadfastness. Give him My glad tidings and remind him of that which befitteth the days of thy Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. The Glory be upon him and his family from the Forgiving, the Generous.

“We make mention in this station of him who is named with Alif and Ha, who hath believed in God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. He is among those who have turned to the Supreme Horizon and responded to their Lord when the Call was raised from His noble station. We have adorned his head with the crown of faith and his heart with the ornament of recognition. Verily his Lord, the Most Merciful, is the Mighty, the Compassionate. We counsel thee to remain steadfast in this Cause whereby the feet of the people have slipped who cast the Covenant of God behind their backs and followed what they were commanded by every foolish learned one. Act according to what We have commanded thee in the Book and say: ʿPraise be unto Thee, O Thou Who hast caused me to know the Dawning-Place of Thy verses and the Treasury of Thy mysteries. I beseech Thee to enable me to do that which befitteth Thy mighty and wondrous Day.’

“We counsel thee and those who have believed to fear God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Thy letter hath come before the Face wherein was mention of My loved ones. We have remembered thee and them as a grace from Us and have sent it to thee by the hand of him who is named Muhammad-Qabli-Ali. When thou hast attained and visited, say: Praise be unto Thee, O Thou Wronged One, the Stranger.’ Verily the Glorious One mentioneth His servant, the Friend, who hath heard and responded to his Ancient Lord. Thou art he who hath turned to the Most Great Ocean after the turning away of the peoples and hast drunk My sealed wine in My Name, the Strong, the Trustworthy. Say: O loved ones of the All-Merciful in all lands! By the True One! The wine is My love and My words do pour it forth. Blessed is he who hath drawn nigh and drunk thereof through My beautiful remembrance. O Friend! Rejoice in this Most Great Remembrance. All the treasures of the world cannot equal it, to this doth the Lord of Eternity bear witness in this mighty station. This is a station wherein every Prophet hath rejoiced, every Messenger circled round, every Intended One aimed at, and every trusted Spirit descended. Blessed is the ear that hath heard My call and the soul that hath arisen to serve the Cause of its Lord, the Almighty, the Powerful.”

Section 3: “And in another place, you had mentioned…”

And in another place, you had mentioned that in the residence of Aqa Mirza Ghulam-Ali, son of Jinab-i-Dhabih, and Aqa Yusuf, upon them be the glory of God, a number of the friends of God were present and were engaged in the mention of the Friend. This detail was also presented before His presence. Mention was made of Jinab-i-Aqa Mirza Ghulam-Ali and Jinab-i-Aqa Yusuf and certain others among the assured souls gathered in the house of Jinab-i-Haji Aqa Muhammad, upon him and them be the glory of God, and especially for the rest, in this station, from the Kingdom of Will was revealed: Should a soul observe the bounty and loving-kindness and mercy of God, he would in truth be bewildered.

O My beloved and My love! After noon, which is the time of rest for the Ancient Beauty, may His glory be exalted, this servant presented anew, one by one, as commanded, thy letters, and the answer was revealed from the Kingdom of grace, and in relation to each of the names mentioned in thy letter, the Sun of bounty did shine forth and became manifest—may the world’s spirit be a sacrifice for His bounty. In truth one becomes bewildered. It behooveth us to bow down and say: Thine is the praise, O gracious Commander, and Thine the bounty, O ancient Bestower of favors, and Thine the mercy, O Thou Who art merciful to the heavens and the earth.

And concerning what thou didst write that in the house of the aforementioned son, Jinab-i-Aqa Sin, and others, upon them be the glory of God, were present, after this was presented, this blessed verse was revealed from the heaven of divine loving-kindness:

He is the All-Knowing Expositor

O Aqa Sin! Rejoice in that the Wronged One maketh mention of thee from this spot which God hath made the Dawning-place of His greatest signs and the Source of His mighty Command. We counsel thee to wisdom in all conditions and command thee to that which beseemeth man in this wondrous Day. We have heard thy call and have answered thee, and have seen thy turning to Us and We have turned to thee, that thou mayest thank thy Lord, the Generous Bestower. Look not upon the world and its conditions. Reflect upon the former ages and be of those who are discerning.

Say: Glory be unto Thee, O Thou Who art the Goal of the world and Who hast appeared through the Most Great Name! I beseech Thee by the Word through which the trumpet was blown and the Day of Resurrection appeared, to make me steadfast, firm and upright in Thy Cause. Verily, Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest, and within Thy grasp is the kingdom of names. There is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the Inaccessible. O my Lord! Ordain for me what Thou hast ordained for Thy loved ones, then send down from the heaven of Thy bounty that which will make me detached from all else save Thee. Verily, Thou art the Bestower, the Merciful.

We make mention of the Lion whose name was mentioned before the Presence of God, the Supreme, the Self-Subsisting, that he may rejoice and thank his Lord Who created him and aided him to recognize this inevitable Cause through which the great terror appeared among mankind and all things proclaimed: The Kingdom belongeth unto God, the Mighty, the Loving. Beware lest anything hold thee back from God. Hold fast unto the cord of bounty and cling to the hem of the mercy of thy Lord, the Forgiving. We have made mention of thee as a bounty from Us. When thou attainest unto this, say: Praise be unto Thee, O Thou Who art the Lord of existence.

O Nightingale! O thou who soarest in the atmosphere of the love of the Lord of Names! Give glad tidings unto Shir-Muhammad and remind him of the verses of his Lord, that he may rejoice in the appearance of the loving-kindness of his gracious Lord. We have mentioned all names as a bounty from Us, and We make mention of those who have arisen and have said: “Here am I, O God of the worlds!” Blessed is he who hath attained unto the fruits of the tree of My Most Exalted Pen. He is assuredly among those possessed of certitude in a perspicuous Book.

Say: Glorified art Thou, O Creator of Paradise and Fashioner of all created things! I beseech Thee by the Name through which humanity was attracted and the Spirit cried out in the wilderness, to make me among those whom circumstances have not prevented from Thy Hidden Name, which walketh at this time and summoneth all unto God, the Lord of the worlds.

O Muhammad-Qabl-i-Taqi! Thy mention hath been made in the presence of the Wronged One, and He hath mentioned thee with verses wherewith nothing that hath been or shall be can vie, nor can aught created between the Kaf and the Nun equal them. Verily, He remembereth thee from His prison, and those who have believed in the Self-Subsisting, the Self-Existent. Remember thy Lord through what He hath taught thee of His path and what He hath revealed unto thee, whereby the fragrance of His garment hath been diffused throughout the realms of the invisible and the visible. Beseech God to make thee steadfast in this Cause and powerful through His Name, the Mighty, the Powerful. The splendor shining from the horizon of eternity be upon those who have attained unto the mention of God, Creator of heaven, and have acknowledged that which the Tongue of Eternity hath spoken: verily there is none other God but I, the Mighty, the Loving.

We make mention of him who was the last to visit you. Verily thy Lord is the Mighty, the Bestower. He loveth His servants and remembereth them at eventide and at dawn. Blessed is he who seeketh His presence, who speaketh in remembrance of Him, whose countenance is turned towards Him, and whose heart hath won the light of recognition. We send Our greetings from this station to those who have believed in God, the Revealer of verses. End.

Praise be to God, time and again, the friends of God who dwell in that land have been blessed with His infinite divine favors. This evanescent servant conveyeth to all greetings and salutations, and submitteth that these are the days for which all divine Prophets and Messengers have waited. Therefore, one must arise with complete dedication to His mention and praise. That beloved one should counsel all with wisdom, for this is among the firm and established divine commandments revealed in the Book. They should not trust every soul, nor display their precious pearls before every eye. They should deal with people with the utmost kindness, love and forbearance. Repeatedly have such words been heard from the tongue of Him Who revealeth the verses. He would say that today righteous deeds and praiseworthy character are the promoters of the Cause of God. It is hoped that all shall be assisted to achieve that which is acceptable in the presence of God.

Regarding what you wrote about the second ʿUbaydullah, that rebellious oppressor, and his tyranny and transgression—it caused grief and sorrow. By God’s life! As long as the sun of justice remains behind the clouds of oppression, such matters have occurred and will continue to occur in the world. Justice is like a nightingale seen caught in the talons of the owl of tyranny. Although that oppressor’s tyranny has exceeded all bounds and description, yet when closely observed, the people of this time truly deserve it, for they have perpetrated far worse against the people of truth. That Beloved One is witness that in most of the tablets and writings, all servants have been forbidden from corruption, conflict, strife and unseemly deeds.

Nevertheless, what occurred, occurred. The brother of Jinab-i-Aqa Siyyid Husayn (Letter of the Living, upon him be the Most Glorious Glory) was eleven years old when that reckless oppressor removed his head with a cannon ball. In some places they perpetrated what the pen is powerless to describe. I beseech God to bestow justice upon the people. Consider the fire of oppression that was ignited in the land of Sad—two descendants of the Prophet were martyred without cause or reason, merely for worldly ornaments and a few coins. The curse of God be upon the oppressors! If the effects of that oppression were limited to what has already appeared, it would be well enough, but it is observed that the fruits of those deeds and their sparks will later appear in certain lands. I beseech the Almighty to grant His servants success in turning to Him, for if they achieve repentance, all matters will be reformed. Verily He is the Forgiving, the Generous.

What is being conveyed has been understood from the revealed verses—God forbid! He is indeed the Perceiver, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

That which has flowed from the Supreme Pen in God’s Book has appeared and will appear, and in the Most Holy Book there are also certain allusions. Soon will appear what He has foretold in His Mighty Book. In this Most Great Revelation, future events have been explicitly stated—blessed are they who understand. Beyond this one cannot venture—the Command is in God’s hands, the Lord of all worlds.

In this recent incident, whatever befell the friends and whatever losses they sustained will certainly be compensated in the most perfect and complete manner. In any case, the profit is with God’s friends. Whoever exists is blessed with the days of God and His recognition, and whoever has drunk the cup of martyrdom is seen in the highest Paradise with utmost joy and delight. If the station of martyrdom were to be revealed to the worlds in less than can be counted, you would see all drawn to the place of sacrifice. Now people are withered, nay dead. Their movements are like those of artificial figures moved by machinery—sometimes an artificial hand is raised, sometimes an artificial foot strikes the ground, and all these movements appear without consciousness. Although at present all are heedless and the worth of God’s friends is hidden from sight and eyes, yet when the appointed time comes, that which is hidden will be revealed. How fitting is what was said before:

“Wait until you see as parts those who today are whole. Wait until you see as flowers those who are thorns today.”

The divine friends who are steadfast in the Cause should not be saddened by losses that have befallen them. Rather, they should be seen in the utmost joy and delight, and be certain that they are among the people of profit in all conditions. Would that this servant could partake of the cup from which the friends have drunk, and receive a portion of their losses. Most matters are veiled by His will—were the veil to be lifted, the earth would be seen as other than the earth. Furthermore, if there be delay in sending petitions, this is due to the many occupations of this evanescent one; there is no other reason possible. That beloved one himself is witness and testifier to this. Therefore they must accept the excuse of this evanescent one and forgive. Verily our Lord, the All-Merciful, is the All-Forgiving, the Kind.

And regarding His Honor Haji Mirza Abu’l-Hasan, upon him be the Glory of God—since this evanescent one has already conveyed something, no further submission is made. Wherever they may be, may they abide under the shadow of God’s mercy and favor. They had sought permission to come to this land; permission was granted. God willing, may they be assisted in attaining that which they desire.

Furthermore, after the revelation of verses, this servant, as proxy for that beloved one, attained the honor of pilgrimage and circumambulation, and it was accepted at the Divine Throne. I praise Him and thank Him for His grace, His mercy, His favor, His generosity, His bounty and His gift.

Furthermore, His Holiness the Most Mighty Branch and His Holiness the Greater Branch—may my spirit, my being and my essence be sacrificed for the dust beneath their feet—remember that beloved one with wondrous mention and magnify him with the most exalted, most holy and most glorious greeting. Glory be upon your honor and upon those with you and upon the loved ones of God who have heard and responded.

The servant 11 Safar 1298

BH00515: Praise be befitting unto our Beloved, Who hath been…

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

Praise be befitting unto our Beloved, Who hath been from everlasting and will continue unto everlasting. Every bearer of a name taketh pride in His Name, and every possessor of glory becometh renowned through His mention. Through His all-encompassing mercy and His pre-existent grace, He hath manifested Himself and shone forth upon all the worlds with the light of His countenance, and hath spoken forth the blessed word:

“The Kingdom belongeth unto God, the One, the Single, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.”

He is the One All-Knowing, the Sovereign Who doeth what He willeth. He is the Goal of all worlds and the Beloved of all mankind.

Blessed are they who have attained unto the hearing of His call and have turned toward His horizon. These are the servants whose stations and attributes have been recorded by the Most Exalted Pen in the Qur’an and in all former Books. These are they whom fear seizeth not in the path of God, nor are they touched by grief. These are they whom neither the denunciations of the enemy nor the mockery of the ignorant could hold back from the Most Exalted Horizon, and whom neither the hints of the peoples nor worldly conditions could debar from steadfastness in the Cause of the Lord of Names. These are the pearls of the ocean of steadfastness and the gems of existence. Upon them be the glory of God and the glory of all who are in the kingdom of creation. I beseech God to ever adorn these souls with the ornament of steadfastness, for none save God Himself possesseth the Most Great Infallibility. I ask of and implore God to preserve these servants beneath the canopy of His grace and to strengthen them to be steadfast in all conditions. He is the Powerful One Whom nothing whatsoever can frustrate. Verily, He is the Single, the Most Exalted, the Mighty, the Powerful.

And furthermore, the servant hath been blessed with hearkening to the melody of thy pen which was raised up in the remembrance of God, our Beloved and your Beloved and the Beloved of all who are in the heavens and the earth. Praise be to God, time and again, repeatedly! This servant hath been favored with the correspondence of that spiritual friend, and after perusal it was laid before the Most Holy, Most Exalted Presence. This is what the Tongue of Revelation hath sent down as a token of His grace upon thee. His words, exalted be His grandeur:

“O Kamal! The Kingdom of utterance is at all times shining forth and manifesting itself in such wise that no likeness or parallel hath been or shall ever be seen for it. The melody of the Supreme Pen hath ever been raised, and the Speaker of Sinai is speaking. Blessed is the state of the one who hath hearkened and who hath arisen with complete steadfastness to serve the Cause of the Lord of all beings.

“We have illumined the darkened world with the lamp of divine favor, yet treacherous souls have shunned this light that their unseemly deeds might remain concealed. We have caused the lights of the Countenance to shine forth from the horizon of will, yet the blind remained deprived thereof. We have made manifest the Ocean of Life at the pole of contingent being and guided all unto it, such that the Lord of Eternity and the Most Great Name did with His blessed tongue utter the words ʿHasten! Hasten!’ Yet souls weighed down with heavy burdens were prevented from drawing nigh unto it.

“O Kamal! The Wronged One of the horizons hath borne all tribulations and exalted the Cause of God with such strength and power that every fair-minded one hath been amazed thereby and hath exclaimed ʿThis is naught but a mighty grace!’ Nevertheless, the people of the Bayan, clinging to that which profiteth them not, have remained deprived of the Countenance of Divine Unity and barred from God’s all-embracing Word. They have contented themselves with croaking and have turned away from the melody of the Supreme Pen.

“Reflect upon the essence of the Bayan which hath flowed from the Pen of the Herald. He saith: ʿI have written an essence concerning His remembrance, which is that He shall not be known through My allusions nor through what hath been revealed in the Bayan.’ In truth, this blessed word is the essence and spirit of the Bayan, by the testimony of the Primal Point. Nevertheless, the people of the Bayan have remained deprived of the Source and the Manifestation, while seeking to establish their own faith through the utterances of the Primal Point. We bear witness that He testifieth to their unbelief, their hypocrisy, their turning away, and their heedlessness. Say: O ye unbelievers! I worship not that which ye worship.

“Him Whom the Point of the Bayan hath described as being sanctified above His allusions and what was revealed in the Bayan—from Him have they turned away, while still counting themselves among the people of the Bayan. O Kamal! The Day is the Day of God. Blessed is the soul that hath become detached and free from all else but Him. Such a one is of the people of Baha and the companions of the Crimson Ark. To this beareth witness the Lord of Names in this luminous station.

“We have revealed unto thee that which will gladden thy heart, and We have sent it to thee that thou mayest read and be of the thankful ones. And from this station We send Our greetings upon the faces of My loved ones who have soared in the atmosphere of My love, who have arisen to serve My Cause, and who have spoken forth My beauteous remembrance.”

God willing, may all be blessed by divine favor. All assured and sanctified souls have been mentioned by the Divine Pen and recorded in the Book. Blessed are they, then blessed are they! Give unto all the glad-tidings of God’s special favors and make them joyous. Today is the Day of the manifestation of human stations. Strive ye that there may be made manifest through you that which is meet and seemly.

O My loved ones! Rejoice in My Name and hold fast to My firm cord. All praise be unto God, the Lord of all worlds! From this utterance of the True One, exalted be His glory, the stations of grace and favor bestowed upon that beloved one and the friends of God become evident. Every fair-minded person stands amazed at what they witness of the greatness of divine bounty, generosity, grace and favor.

All the names that were in your letter were presented before the Throne, and for each one a Most Holy, Most Exalted Tablet was revealed and sent. God willing, they will attain unto them, and the friends will become so enkindled with the heat of divine love that its effects will become manifest. However, in all matters wisdom must be observed, lest anything arise from which the odor of corruption might be detected. The people are weak, and God, exalted be His grandeur, is generous. The sword of forbearance and patience is sharper than the sword of violence and wrath. Blessed is he who holds fast to that which is befitting, for he is accounted among the helpers of God, our Lord and the Lord of all who are in the heavens and on earth. Praise be to God, Tablets wondrous and sublime were revealed specifically for Nabil-i-Qa’ini and he of the name Javad, upon them be the glory of God, and likewise for those souls who were mentioned in their letters. Out of wisdom, one package was sent to the Land of Qaf for delivery, and one to Hadba. God willing, they will arrive and they will attain unto them.

Further to this, after your letters addressed to this servant were presented in the Most Holy Court, three names were mentioned on the back of one letter. After these were presented, these verses were revealed from the Kingdom of God’s grace—exalted be His grandeur:

He is the Witness, the All-Hearing

O Muhammad! The Wronged One makes mention of thee with that which will draw thee near unto God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. Forsake the world and hold fast unto the Most Great Name, which hath come from the heaven of utterance with manifest sovereignty. None should grieve over the world and what appeareth therein. Thus doth mention flow from His presence in a preserved Book. O My loved ones! Rejoice in My Name, then help your Lord, the All-Merciful, through wisdom and utterance. Thus hath the matter been decreed, but the people do not understand. Glory be upon the people of Baha who have remained faithful to God’s Covenant, the Lord of the seen and unseen.

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

A mention from the presence of the Glory unto him who hath turned towards the Most Exalted Horizon, that the breaths of remembrance may attract him to a station wherein he shall behold naught in creation save the effulgences of the light of his Lord’s countenance, the All-Bountiful. This is a day wherein that which the All-Merciful revealed in the Qur’an hath been made manifest through His words: “All things shall perish save His luminous Face.” O Muhammad-i-Taqi! The Wronged One maketh mention of thee from this spot round which circle all great names. Hold fast unto the Sure Handle and cleave unto the hem of thy Lord, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful. We have made mention of those who have turned unto God and We mention them as a grace from Our presence. Verily thy Lord is the All-Bounteous, the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful.

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

O Muhammad-Qabel-Rida! The world shall pass away, and sovereignty will remain with God, the Lord of all men. Where is the clashing of the swords of enemies? Where is the neighing of the steeds of the mighty? Where are the gardens of princes? Where are the pavilions of the great? Where are their ranks and their armies? Where are their palaces and their affairs? By God’s life, they now dwell in their graves, yet people remain heedless of what appeared in former ages. Thus have they been prevented from what hath been revealed by God, the Lord of Lords. Blessed is he who pondereth the evidences of God’s power and holdeth fast to what hath been sent down in the Book. Glory be unto the people of Baha who have held fast to the cord of certitude and cast behind them all idle fancies and vain imaginings.

Such is the grace of this station that for each name that was mentioned in the presence of His countenance, whether living or dead, there hath been revealed from the heaven of God’s Will a Most Holy, Most Exalted Tablet. Who can with tongue or pen give due thanks for His blessings?

May the spirit of the world be a sacrifice for His grace! God willing, may the friends of Truth at all times reflect and arise with perfect steadfastness to serve His Cause. At this time numerous exalted Tablets have been revealed specifically for your honor, including one Most Holy, Most Exalted Tablet specifically for Jinab-i-Nur, upon him be the Glory of God, and likewise specifically for Varaqih-Ahl, upon her be the Glory of God, and mention was also made from the Blessed Tongue of the two sister leaves, upon them be the Glory of God. May they, God willing, attain divine favors and drink cup after cup from the ocean of love. Verily, she who attained His presence—We have mentioned her in the Scriptures and Tablets. God willing, may they dwell at rest beneath the shade of the divine Tree of Providence. O Kamal! Convey My greetings to them both and give them glad tidings of My mercy that hath preceded all created things.

Another matter: It would be most beloved if you would make copies of whatever reacheth those parts and review them with utmost care, sending them to certain souls scattered throughout the villages, that the sweet fragrances of the utterance of the Most Merciful may at all times be diffused among the loved ones.

Furthermore, to each of the friends of God who have drunk of the sealed wine and who gaze toward the Most Exalted Horizon, this evanescent servant offers mention of evanescence and nothingness. May they, God willing, be sustained at all times by the fruits of the divine Tree of Providence. Likewise, this evanescent servant conveyeth most wondrous, most exalted, most glorious greetings to each and every one of those related to that beloved one. Glory be upon you and upon those with you, and upon those who have attained unto the Most Great Steadfastness in this Most Great, Most Mighty Cause.

The servant 27 Safar 1298