Volume 064: Akka 1298 A.H. (1880–1881), Part III (4 of 6)

BH00123: Praise sanctified above tongue and utterance beseemeth the most…

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

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

Praise sanctified above tongue and utterance beseemeth the most holy court of that One Who begetteth not nor is begotten, Who through the outpourings of the ocean of His will hath in every age and cycle manifested a Cause as required, and made all things dependent upon and connected with the Most Great Manifestation. Every Book is an expression of the dawning rays of the Sun of Truth, and every Scripture a mention of the outpourings of the ocean of grace. All books herald this most mighty, most holy, most exalted Day, and all Messengers speak in praise of this most glorious, most ancient, most resplendent Revelation. Though all the Manifestations of the Cause were indeed related unto God and their days are in one sense mentioned as the Days of God, yet the seeing eye perceiveth that this wondrous Day is specially reserved for the appearance of the Hidden Mystery and the Treasured Secret. All books bear witness to this most glorious, most mighty, most holy, most exalted station.

The purpose of these words is that the sanctified, assured souls who today have quaffed the wine of mystical knowledge and are known throughout the contingent world by the name of the All-Merciful—their station and rank may become evident and manifest to all peoples. I swear by the Beloved of the world that in this Day the steadfast and upright souls are mentioned before God as pearls of the ocean of names and are recorded by the Most Exalted Pen as letters of the Book.

Glory be unto Thee, O Thou through the sweetness of Whose utterance the people of Thy kingdom were drawn unto Thee, and through the lights of the Sun of Whose countenance the earth and all who dwell therein were illumined. I beseech Thee, O Lord of eternity, by the Most Great Name, to give Thy loved ones to drink from the Kawthar of Thy bounty in such wise that neither the conditions of those who have turned away from Thy Beauty, nor the doubts of the chiefs among Thy servants who lay claim to knowledge without clear proof from Thee or testimony from Thy presence, shall keep them back. They have placed mountains of ignorance upon their heads and pride themselves therein, turning away from the Dayspring of Thy knowledge, the Dawning-Place of Thy wisdom, the Manifestation of Thy signs, and the Source of Thy clear tokens.

Thou knowest, O my God, that they have made their turbans as snares for the weak among Thy creatures. O Lord! Thou seest Thy chosen ones arising to serve Thee on this Day wherein the Sun of Thy justice is hidden behind clouds of oppression raised by those who frequent the mosques for Thy remembrance and praise, yet deny Him through Whose name the mosques, temples and sanctuaries were raised up, and through Whose advent every land and lofty station was honored. O Lord! Make known unto Thy servants that which Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen ones, and illumine their eyes with the lights of their recognition in Thy days. O Lord! Thou art the Mighty, the Possessor of great strength. Write down for them from Thy Most Exalted Pen that which will aid them in Thy remembrance and praise every morn and eve. There is no God but Thee, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

And I pray and send greetings upon those who heard the Call and hastened unto Thee, O Lord of Names! These are servants who cast aside their own wishes and desires, taking hold of that which Thou didst command them in Thy Book. O Lord! Make their conditions manifest unto Thy creatures and the people of Thy kingdom, then make them hands of Thy Cause amongst Thy creation. There is no God but Thee, the Almighty, the All-Powerful.

And furthermore, this servant submits that your letter dated the night of the 9th of Jamadiyu’th-Thani was received, causing fresh joy and boundless delight. Praise be to God that the fragrance of “all deeds have become as one flower in the Day of God” wafts from it, for every word of yours indicates the unity, harmony and steadfastness of God’s loved ones. Blessed are they, and theirs is the station of security in both beginning and end. God willing, may all attain this lofty, most exalted station and remain firm in it. The pearls of inner meanings must be guarded against thieves; assured souls must exert mighty efforts to preserve and protect them. After observing your letter and reading and comprehending its contents, I turned toward the Holy Place that transcends mention and utterance, and after gaining presence and permission, presented it before His face. Then the Countenance of the Beloved turned toward me with cheerfulness and smiled, as though the lights of divine good-pleasure were shining from the face of our Goal and the Goal of all who are in the heavens and earth. He said, exalted be His glory:

“Praise be to God that thou hast been illumined by the lights of the divine Dayspring and hast attained unto the hearing of the Most Sweet Call. Thou didst hear and turn unto Him. It is as though God’s breeze in His days hath caused thee to arise in His remembrance and praise amongst His creatures. This is a Day which the Most Great Spirit heralded, calling out His name in the wilderness of longing. They who drink the choice wine must observe wisdom and engage in teaching the Cause, holding fast in all matters to the cord of consultation and clinging to the hem of kindliness, that the children of the age may, through the loving-kindness and affection of God’s wise ones, attain unto maturity and be granted perfect health.

This blessed word hath been revealed and sent down by the Supreme Pen in the Crimson Book: The heaven of divine wisdom is illumined with the two luminaries of consultation and compassion. Consultation increaseth awareness and transformeth conjecture into certitude. It is a shining light in the dark world—it guideth and directeth. For everything there hath been and shall be a state of maturity and perfection. The maturity and manifestation of understanding becometh evident through consultation.’ And this blessed word hath also been inscribed by the Supreme Pen in the Crimson Book: Understanding is like heaven, and forbearance and godliness are its sun and moon. By the Sun of Truth! For understanding there hath not been nor shall be a mightier host than these two.’

“O Khudadad! We have made mention of thee in the beginning and the return, that thou mayest give thanks unto thy Lord and be filled with manifest joy. Thou hast attained unto God’s traces and His days—this is naught but a mighty favor. Convey My greetings to My loved ones, then mention to them that which My Pen hath uttered. Verily, thy Lord is the All-Merciful, the Bountiful. We have created them, manifested them, taught them and caused them to know this favor which every trusted Messenger heralded. We command them to show forth the supreme steadfastness in this Day before which centuries and ages have bowed down. To this testifieth he who hath acknowledged that which God hath acknowledged in His perspicuous Book.

Say: O friends! Today ye must all arise to that which will cause unity and harmony. Every decayed bone is moved by the motion of the Supreme Pen and is enabled to speak through the choice wine of the utterance of the Beloved of all creation. God willing, may each one be as a spirit for the bodies of the servants and as a light for the lands. The Glory be upon thee and upon My loved ones in thy region and upon thy wife and upon those women who have believed in God, the Single One, the All-Informed.” End.

In truth this evanescent servant has been and continues to be immeasurably gladdened by mention of your unity and the fellowship and concord of God’s loved ones. Praise be to God that He has confirmed you. Indeed, your letters are bearers of glad tidings, for that which today causes the exaltation of God’s Word is the unity and concord of His loved ones and chosen ones, and in every letter these glad tidings arrive from you. We beseech Him, exalted be His glory, both you and this evanescent one, that He may illumine all lands with this most glorious and most holy light. Verily He is the Powerful, verily He is the Mighty, the All-Wise.

Concerning what you wrote about the Holy Tablets, that they reached their recipients with utmost honor—the recompense for these deeds rests with Him, exalted be His glory. God willing, may He cause you to succeed day by day in serving His Cause. We beseech Him, exalted be His glory, to assist His loved ones in comprehending the sweetness of His verses. Verily He is the Helper, the All-Bountiful.

Regarding what you wrote about Ridvan and the gathering of God’s loved ones in various meetings, and mention of their attraction and enthusiasm and longing and yearning and their unity and concord—while these passages were being presented, the Ancient Beauty smiled and said:

“O servant in attendance! He is indeed among those who have arisen to serve the Cause. Therefore, beseech God to send down upon him that which lay hidden in the treasuries of His grace and favor and kindness. By My life! He hath mentioned that which hath brought Me joy. This sufficeth him, by My Name, the All-Encompassing over all names.”

And concerning your mention that the honored Azizu’llah, upon him be the glory of God, after receiving the Blessed Tablet, hosted two units of the divine friends in the home of Mulla ʿAli, upon him be the glory of God—these sacred deeds have truly been and continue to be the cause of the propagation of God’s Cause. Do not consider the outward appearance, for one day while engaged in recording the verses being revealed in the presence of His Glory, the Tongue of Grandeur spoke these words: “O servant in attendance! Even while the door is closed, the divine verses nevertheless encompass and pervade the world with their fragrance, for the Word has been and remains penetrating. The winds are most penetrating and permeate the veins of the earth, adorning all things according to their needs with the ornament of colors by His firm command.

The appearance of colors depends upon His wisdom and the True Director’s arrangement, yet its penetration is manifested through the Word, and before its penetrating power the Word itself becomes as nothing. Exalted, exalted be its sovereignty! Exalted, exalted be its penetrating power! Exalted, exalted be its might and authority!” And likewise, at another time this blessed word was heard from the Dawning-Place of the Light of Oneness. He said: “If a breath is released by anyone for the sake of God, that breath has been and will be influential in the world.” May you and the other friends be assisted and confirmed in that which God loves.

In any case, the details of the feast of the honored Azizu’llah, upon him be the glory of God, and the tribulation that befell him in the path, all these matters were presented before His countenance. These manifest verses were revealed from the Dawning-Place of the Will of the Lord of Names and Attributes. His mighty utterance declares:

“O Aziz! All the sages, scholars, mystics, divines and princes were awaiting this blessed Day, and some monarchs even arranged treasuries in the name of the Qa’im, and in these days in India they are specifically collecting wealth in His name. Nevertheless, on the day when the Sun of Manifestation rose from that horizon and the Water of Life flowed from the right hand of the Throne of the All-Merciful, all were found heedless, veiled and deprived. But thou, through divine grace, hast attained unto it. By the life of God! Ye have attained to such a station that were its rank and station to be revealed in the world, all would exclaim: ʿBlessed be God, the Revealer of this glorious scene!’

“Reflect upon divine power, and likewise upon His grace. They counted you among the lowliest of servants, yet now through God’s favor ye are mentioned as the most exalted, most honored, most knowledgeable and most enlightened of servants in God’s presence. Previously it was announced: ʿWe wish to show favor unto those who were brought low in the land, and to make them leaders among men, and to make them our heirs.’ This utterance has repeatedly flowed from the tongue of the All-Merciful as a favor to you and those with you. Preserve this most mighty, most holy and most exalted station through the name of your Lord, the Lord of all beings. We have [mentioned] all the friends of that land at this time; all are adorned with the ornament of His favor. Verily, We give them the glad-tidings of this wondrous bounty.”

“We make mention of ʿAli and Kazim, that they may rejoice in this Most Great Remembrance. We have mentioned them before, and We make mention of those who have taken hold of the Book of God with the power that is from Him and acted in accordance with that which they were commanded by the Mighty, the Wise. The praise of God and His bounty and favor are at such a station that this servant hath not, nor ever had, the capacity to make mention thereof. With utmost clarity and explicitness have they manifested their favor. With a hundred thousand tongues must we give thanks to the Beloved of all existence that He hath, from the Supreme Pen, named that honored one and the others as the sons of the Friend and the heirs of Him Who conversed with God. The tribulation that hath befallen the dear one, upon him be the Glory of God, is a sign of acceptance. Blessed is he! God willing, may ye all be seen to be outwardly and inwardly in harmony and unity. All the friends, whether they be of the branches, the leaves, or the fruits, are mentioned in one station. This is naught but a great bounty.

“As to what was mentioned regarding the matter of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar being conducted in two places—one in the home of Aqa Mirza Muhammad-Kazim, upon him be the Glory of God, and one in the home of the dear one, upon him be the Glory of God—these matters were also presented. This is what the Tongue of the Intended One hath spoken in reply to them both: Let them praise their Lord, for He hath caused them to hear, and hath acquainted them with His Cause, and hath made them speak, and hath aided them to make mention of His mighty and wondrous Name. We make mention of Kazim and his father who spent what he possessed in the path of God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting.

He attained unto the presence of God and arose to serve the Cause of his Lord with such steadfastness as caused the tongues of those near unto God to speak forth in praise. Blessed is He Who aided him and caused him to arise for the triumph of His Cause and enabled him to speak that which the Tongue of Grandeur had spoken. Verily, there is none other God but Him, the Truth, the Knower of the unseen. O Kazim! Know thou the station of thy father and walk in his footsteps, as bidden by God, the Lord of what was and what shall be. We have loved him and made mention of him in diverse places with such mention as its fragrance will not cease to perfume the realm of earth and heaven.

And We make mention of the dear one once again and counsel him with that which its fragrance will diffuse between earth and heaven. Thus hath the Pen spoken while the Wronged One was in an inaccessible prison.” End.

As to what ye wrote concerning Aqa Mulla ʿAli, upon him be all My most glorious Glory, that he hath intended to conduct it in these days—this matter is most beloved. Praise be to God that he hath been assisted to serve and teach the Cause of God and hath been and continues to be under the glances of God’s favor, exalted be His glory. In all matters, they who drink the choice wine of inner meanings must observe wisdom. For instance, regarding the matter of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar which was revealed in the Most Holy Book and whose ordinance hath been put into effect in that land and hath been accepted—if it should cause commotion and excitement among the evil-doers, its prevention and suspension are permissible. This matter hath been mentioned that all may know that wisdom, in the presence of the Throne, taketh precedence over all things. The request of this evanescent one to those souls who are turned towards that blessed and sublime station is that they forget not this nothing-worthy servant and remember him with such remembrance that perchance I may be counted among the partners and be recorded among those who make mention in the Perspicuous Book.

Section 2: “And as to what thou didst write concerning…”

And as to what thou didst write concerning the honoured Aqa Muhammad Baqir—upon him rest the glory of Baha’u’llah—one of the people of Ya, it was submitted in the Most Holy, Most Mighty, and Exalted Presence. This is what the Tongue of Grandeur hath uttered:

“O Baqir! Hear, hear this, My most sweet call, raised from the prison of ʿAkka. By My life, by it the heart of every Prophet took wing and the countenance of every trusted Messenger was illumined. O Baqir! Behold, behold this, My face, which I have manifested to My servants. Verily it hath turned toward thee from this exalted station. O Baqir! By My life, this is the Day of hearkening, this is the Day of witnessing and meeting, and this is the Day of utterance. Blessed is he who hath spoken My most exalted Word, and heard My most great verses, and witnessed My most high horizon. Thus have We illumined the horizon of the heaven of knowledge with the luminary of utterance. Happy is he who hath recognized and witnessed and seen, and woe unto the heedless.” End.

Indeed, these wondrous and transcendent verses are as a spirit for the body of the world—but what body is worthy to receive this spirit and deserving of this cherished mention from the eternal sovereign! We ever beseech Him not to deprive any from the ocean of His grace. Verily He is the Forgiving, the Generous. And praise be to God, the Lord of all worlds.

As for what you wrote regarding asking on behalf of yourself and other friends when in the presence of the Countenance of the Adored One, and attaining on their behalf—this matter, after being presented, was honored with acceptance and adorned with permission. At that very moment, this servant attained to visitation and circumambulation on your behalf of the Goal of all worlds. Happy are you and blessed am I.

And as to what thou didst mention concerning the honoured Haji Muhammad, of the people of Ta—upon him rest the glory of Baha’u’llah—this lowly one hath repeatedly heard his name spoken by the Tongue of the Ancient of Days; and the Sun of favour, from the horizon of the Will of God—glorified be His majesty—hath risen and shone forth in his behalf. Well is it with him, and joyous his portion, in that he hath attained unto turning wholly unto God, and to the proclamation of His Cause with wisdom and utterance throughout the realms of being. And now, at this hour, these weighty and unerring words, from the heaven of loving-kindness, have descended; verses were revealed concerning him. He—exalted be His glory—saith:

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

O Muhammad! We have remembered thee before, and before that before, and in this hour when the Tongue of the Wronged One speaketh in the Most Great Prison amidst the peoples—the Kingdom is God’s, the Lord of Lords. The Most Exalted Pen hath testified that thou didst turn to God, the Lord of all beings, when He appeared and manifested what He desired. By God’s life! Neither the treasures of the world nor all that the peoples possess can equal this testimony. To this doth testify the Most Great Book, which proclaimeth: There is no God but Me, the Mighty, the Bestower. Blessed art thou for having drunk the choice wine of life in the days of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, and for having attained that which most of the servants have not attained. Be thou thankful unto thy Lord for having remembered thee and caused thee to know and to speak and guided thee to the straight path. Say:

Glorified art Thou, O Thou through Whose Name the mountains were moved and the Day of Reckoning appeared! I beseech Thee by the Name through which the Trump was sounded, the Bugle was blown, and they that lay in their graves arose, to aid me in serving Thy Cause, to enable me to do that which befitteth Thy days, and to teach me that which lay hidden in the treasuries of Thy knowledge. O my Lord! Thou seest me turning toward Thy most exalted horizon and gazing toward Thy direction, O Thou Who art the Lord of Names and the Creator of heaven! I beseech Thee by Thy Manifestation, Thy appearance, Thy uprising and Thy establishment, to ordain for me that which Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen ones who cast away the cups of the world and took the cup of steadfastness through Thy Name and Thy Command. O my Lord! I am the poor and needy one, and Thou art the Self-Sufficient, the Bountiful. I have hastened from the multitudes unto Thee, have placed my trust in Thee, and have held fast unto Thy cord. Deal with me as beseemeth the heaven of Thy bounty, the ocean of Thy grace and the sun of Thy generosity. There is no God but Thee, the Forgiving, the Kind. End.

Some time ago Ibn-i-Ismu’llah’ul-Asdaq, Jinab-i-Aqa Mirza Ali-Muhammad, upon him be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious, sent a letter to this servant mentioning Haji Muhammad, upon him be 966 [Baha’u’llah], and had beseeched God, exalted be His glory, that some token of favor be shown regarding him. Therefore wondrous and sublime verses were revealed and sent that his eyes and the eyes of all who are in the heavens and earth might be consoled thereby. And before this, this evanescent one had heard mention of him, as was submitted, from the Tongue of Grandeur time and again. God willing, may he abide secure and at rest beneath the canopies of grace. This evanescent one also offers him greetings that transcend any mention from this evanescent one.

And concerning what was written about Ibn-i-Shahid, upon them both be the Glory of God, that he had requested his mention be submitted at the Most Holy Court, and likewise had asked that he not be left to himself in any circumstance—truly this mention is most beloved, for the fragrance of humility, submissiveness, resignation, contentment, lowliness and supplication wafts from it. And this is a station wherein whosoever attains unto it and remains steadfast therein is recorded in the Crimson Book by the Supreme Concourse. In any case, these matters were also submitted at the Most Holy, Most Exalted Court. This is what the Tongue of Grandeur uttered in the Kingdom of Utterance—exalted be His glory: God willing, may they assist the transcendent Truth through wisdom, utterance, deeds and character. They have ever been and continue to be mentioned at the Most Holy Court. It behooveth him to praise God, his Lord, and to thank Him by night and day. Verily We have mentioned him and his father in a Book sent down in truth from God, the Lord of the worlds, and We send Our greetings unto him from this Most Holy, Most Mighty, Most Great, Most Wondrous Station. End.

And concerning the mention you made of Mirza Abu’l-Hasan, upon him be the Glory of God, a Most Holy, Most Exalted Tablet was revealed and sent especially for him. God willing, may he attain thereunto.

And as to what thou didst write concerning the honoured Mulla ʿAli—upon him rest the glory of Baha’u’llah—and his devotion, and thy supplication unto God—glorified be His majesty—that He may confirm him in that which He loveth and approveth: this matter was laid before the Throne. Thereupon was revealed this reply:

O Ali! Praise be to God that thou hast succeeded in serving the Cause, and on a day when all were veiled by the doubts and fancies of their imaginations, thou didst find thy way to the straight path, attain unto the highest horizon, and reach that which hath been the ultimate purpose of the divine Books of the past and of the future. Preserve this most exalted station through the name of the Best-Beloved of the world. This is a day wherein man can take possession of that which neither decline shall seize nor annihilation pursue, and which shall know neither change nor alteration. Rejoice thou in My remembrance of thee, then render thanks unto God for this great bounty. Hold thou fast, under all conditions, to the teaching of thy Lord’s Cause with the wisdom that hath been sent down in a perspicuous Tablet. End.

And as to what thou didst mention concerning the honoured Ishaq—upon him rest the glory of Baha’u’llah—the Lord of the Covenant: I submitted, before the countenance of the Ancient of Days, that which thou didst write. He said—and His Word is the truth:

O Ishaq! We made mention of thee before, and at this hour when the Tongue of Grandeur proclaimeth that there is none other God but Me, the Self-Subsisting, the All-Compelling. Say: O my God and the God of all names, my Creator and the Creator of the heavens, my Best-Beloved and the Best-Beloved of all who dwell in the kingdoms of creation! I beseech Thee by the fire of Thy Cause, the light of Thy countenance, the rain from the clouds of Thy mercy, and the suns in the heaven of Thy manifestation, to ordain for me that which shall profit me in all the worlds of Thy worlds. Then decree for me that which shall aid me in the service of Thy Cause.

Verily, Thou knowest what draweth me near and what holdeth me back, what harmeth and what benefiteth me. I am unaware and ignorant of that which lieth within Thy knowledge. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Thou seest me, O my Best-Beloved, turning unto Thee and clinging to Thee. Write down for me, therefore, that which befitteth my poverty and beseemeth Thy wealth, that which my powerlessness deserveth and is worthy of Thy might, Thy power and Thy sovereignty. O Lord! I have turned my face unto Thy face and have cast my self, my spirit, my heart and all that Thou hast given me before Thy Cause. Do as Thou willest through Thy sovereignty. Verily, Thou art the Giver, the Bountiful, the Almighty, the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful. End.

And this is what hath been revealed for thy namesake, the son of Musa—upon him be 66 [the glory of God].

O son of Musa! Thy name hath attained unto the Most Great Horizon and the Lord of Destiny hath turned toward thee and made mention of thee in such wise that thy remembrance shall endure throughout the eternity of My Most Beauteous Names. Give thanks unto thy Lord for this and say:

“Praise be unto Thee, O Thou Who didst call me while I was in prison amidst the heedless ones!”

O son of Musa! I swear by the Sun of the heaven of divine wisdom, wert thou to taste the sweetness of tribulation in the path of God, thou wouldst forsake all the pleasures of the world and cleave unto it. The taunts of the idolaters and the turning away of the opposers themselves bear witness that thou hast detached thyself from creation and clung unto the Truth. These two are heralds that at every moment bring thee tidings that thou hast, from time immemorial, been associated with the chosen ones of God.

O Khudadad, O son of Musa! I swear by the Lord of Names that no Prophet or Messenger hath appeared in the world except that He hearkened unto the taunts of His people and witnessed the turning away of the opposers. God willing, thou shalt associate with the people of the world with the utmost joy and radiance in the path of the Best-Beloved of the worlds. These fleeting days were not and are not worthy. Soon shall appear in the earth that which hath been sent down in the Book, as a command from the presence of the Mighty, the All-Knowing. End.

And this is what hath been revealed for him who beareth the name Muhammad, surnamed Taqi, after I had laid the matter before the Throne. He—exalted be His glory—saith:

O Muhammad-Taqi! Thou hast attained unto that which, hadst thou expended all the treasures of the world, thou wouldst not have attained unto its like. Reflect upon the people of the earth: they build mosques, temples, churches, and bridges for the perpetuation of name and remembrance, and likewise they desire children for the perpetuation of remembrance and the reward they have in mind, if it be righteous. And these means are known to every person of understanding to be subject to perishing. But the word which hath been revealed for thee from the Supreme Pen shall endure throughout the eternity of the kingdom and the dominion, and shall shine even as the sun from the horizon of the heaven of the Book.

By the life of God! It hath been and shall ever be more exalted than a hundred thousand children and than the treasures of the earth. It behooveth every soul who hath attained unto the Word of God to know its station and to preserve it through the name of his Lord, the Almighty, the Powerful. We make mention of thy wife in this station and send greetings upon her. Blessed is she inasmuch as she hath heard and responded to her Lord, the Mighty, the Wondrous. We give her the glad-tidings that My Most Exalted Pen hath moved to make mention of her. Verily, thy Lord is the Compassionate, the Generous. End.

As to what thou didst write concerning Muhammad-Sadiq, upon him be the Glory of God, it was presented before the Throne. Thus hath the Tongue of Grandeur spoken: God willing, may he be blessed with divine favor and be detached and free from creation. As he seeketh with the utmost endeavor to exalt the Word and to teach the Cause, God willing, he shall attain unto the reward thereof. O Khudadad! Make mention of him on My behalf and give him the glad-tidings of My favor, My mercy, and My tender care which have preceded existence.

When mention was made of Jinab-i-Shahvirdi and Jinab-i-Asadu’llah and Rahmatu’llah and others, upon them be Baha’u’llah, who were mentioned in your letter and who partook of the choice wine of the All-Merciful’s mercy in these most excellent days, all were presented at the Most Holy, Most Exalted Court. The Sun of loving-kindness shone upon each one particularly. Blessed are they, inasmuch as their names have attained to the honor of being heard by Him Who is our Goal and their Goal, our Object of worship and their Object of worship, and the Object of worship of all who are in the heavens and the earth. All have attained to the wondrous favors of His utterance and have received their portion and share from the ocean of His mercy. How blessed and wholesome it is for them!

As to your request for forgiveness from the Dayspring of the Light of Oneness, it was presented, and this is what the Tongue of the Desired One spoke:

“Thou art he who hath attained to God’s grace and mercy. Verily He hath aided thee, and guided thee, and drawn thee nigh, and caused thee to speak, and awakened thee, and raised thee up to serve His mighty Cause. Praise be to God! The mercy, compassion and loving-kindness of God have encompassed thee and continue to encompass thee. Rejoice thou in this wondrous favor. Praise be unto Him Who hath spoken the truth from His mighty and lofty station.”

End.

Furthermore, all the letters that were sent to Jinab-i-Aqa Mirza Muhammad-Ali-i-Qa’ini, upon him be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious, were presented before the Throne, and repeatedly were those names honored with divine mention, loving-kindness and compassion. Likewise, the letter which Jinab-i-Azizu’llah wrote to Jinab-i-Aqa Mirza Muhammad, upon him be all His most glorious Glory, was presented at the Most Holy Court and was honored to be heard. This evanescent servant beseecheth God, exalted be His glory, that He may aid all who are in the world to perceive the fragrances of His verses and to catch the sweet scent of His raiment, for if they were to attain unto even less than a hair’s breadth thereof, all would turn towards the Dayspring of Light and the Dawning-Place of the Manifestation. In truth, this couplet which was formerly uttered pertaineth to these days:

“If but a whiff of its sweet scents were wafted in the East, Even one in the West with a cold would regain his sense of smell.”

From this evanescent one to those who drink the choice wine of inner meanings, the conveying of wondrous greetings dependeth upon your honor’s kindness. The Glory be upon you and upon those who have cast away all else and taken hold of that which beseemeth the Day of God, the Lord of all worlds.

BH00526: Praise be to God Who hath revealed Himself unto…

Praise be to God Who hath revealed Himself unto all created things through His Name, the Self-Subsisting. Thereupon appeared upheaval between earth and heaven. Among the people, some turned away while others turned towards Him. Blessed is he who hath fulfilled God’s Covenant and His Testament, and woe unto him who hath violated it through his own injustice. He is assuredly among the transgressors in God’s Book, the Lord of all worlds.

Furthermore, this servant hath been blessed by that which hath appeared and shone forth from the heaven of your love, your sincerity, and your steadfastness in the Cause of God, our Lord and your Lord, our Beloved and your Beloved, and the Beloved of all who are in the heavens and the earth. When I read your letter and understood its contents, I approached the Intended One and presented it before His presence. Thereupon the tongue of the All-Merciful spoke that which all the treasures of creation cannot equal. He, exalted be His glory, said:

“O My handmaiden! O My leaf! O thou who art attracted by My verses! Blessed art thou and blessed is every handmaiden who hath attained unto this most exalted station. She is indeed of the people of Baha in God’s Book, the Most High, the Most Great. We have heard thy mention, have answered thee before, and have revealed for thee that which will draw thee nigh unto the Mighty, the All-Knowing. Glorify from Me the faces of My handmaidens and give them the glad-tidings of My gracious remembrance. We counsel the men and women servants to show forth the greatest steadfastness in this Cause whereby the feet of the chosen ones have slipped save those who were taken by the breezes of their Lord’s mercy, the Generous One. This is a Day wherein the Self-Subsisting hath arisen and mankind hath stood before the face of their Lord, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. Blessed is he who hath recognized and attained, and woe unto the deniers.”

God willing, may all in these matchless days arise to accomplish that which the Beloved desireth, in such wise that the cawing of the world shall not withhold them from the choice wine of the Most Great Name. The cawing hath been raised, and shall continue to be raised—this is what We have informed you of before. He is verily the Forgiving, the Merciful. All must hold fast unto wisdom and occupy themselves with teaching the Cause. That which today causeth the clamor of the ungodly and deniers is outside the bounds of wisdom. O My loved ones! Shun ye that which ye have been forbidden in God’s Book, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

Concerning what you wrote about the fire of God’s love in pure hearts and souls—blessed are they and joy be unto them. God willing, may they be so enkindled by a fire that its effects become manifest in the world. However, in all conditions they must not let go of wisdom. In these days, in one of the lands, a person proclaimed the Word from pulpits without discretion. This action was not acceptable in the Holy Presence. They stated that this matter would cause clamor and perturbation among weak souls. The people of Baha must at all times partake of the water of life with perfect wisdom and offer it to others. Teaching God’s Cause through wisdom is beloved. The soil of hearts and souls must first be prepared for the casting of the seed, and then one may proceed with what is intended.

As to those souls who have arisen to serve the Cause, concerning whom you wrote, their names were one by one presented at the Most Holy Court. Regarding each one, the Sun of loving-kindness dawned from the horizon of God’s will. His words, exalted be His glory:

“Blessed are ye, O people of Baha, for ye have cast aside the cup of extinction and taken, in His Name, the cup of everlasting life, drinking therefrom in remembrance of the Beloved. Happy are ye, and joy be unto you, for ye have heard, turned unto Him, and recognized that which most of mankind hath rejected. Verily your Lord, the All-Knowing, is the Almighty, the Glorious, the All-Loving. Beware lest ye be frightened by the authority of rulers, saddened by the intimations of the divines, or the doubts of those who have denied God, the Lord of existence. Hold fast to the cord of service to your Lord, the All-Merciful. Verily, He heareth and seeth, and He is the Truth, the Knower of the unseen. We were with you when ye arose to serve the Cause, and We heard your call when ye entered the designated place. By the life of God! Ye have attained to that which none before you hath attained, as testified by Him Who, at His bidding, moveth the Supreme Pen upon a preserved tablet.”

The call of each one hath been heard, their names are recorded in God’s Book, and their deeds are witnessed in His presence. God willing, may they arise to that which befitteth this glorious and wondrous Day, and act with perfect steadfastness and sincerity as is befitting. Every deed that causeth commotion is this day forbidden at the Divine Threshold, and shall continue to be so.

His honor Asad, upon him be My glory and My loving-kindness, and likewise his honor ʿAli, upon him be My glory, have presented detailed accounts of each land at the Most Holy Court. Through his honor Asad, the petitions from the land of Kha were presented to the Most Great Vision and their answers were previously sent. God willing, may they receive them.

O ye wise ones of the earth and assayers of the realm! The discernment of pearls is beloved in the sight of the All-Seeing. He who is deprived of sight knoweth not its worth and attaineth not to its recognition. The ear capable of hearing is rare indeed. God willing, may they open it in the name of Truth and utter the Word.

Concerning what you wrote about making the house wherein dwelt the Most Great Bab—may the spirit of all who dwell in the Kingdom of Names be sacrificed for Him—a Mashriqu’l-Adhkar, this was most acceptable in the Divine Presence, and He said, exalted be His glory:

“It is considered in God’s sight as the most exalted of houses, and it is more worthy than other houses for this most glorious and impregnable station. However, all must act in such a way as not to cause disturbance to devoted souls. O Leaf of Paradise! We have accepted thy house and adorned it with the ornament of acceptance, as a bounty from Us, and We are verily the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous. Blessed art thou, and blessed is thy house, and those who have attained unto that which they were commanded by God, the Lord of the worlds.”

And concerning what you wrote about Baha’u’llah, they have been and are under the glance of favor. This matter was presented at the Most Holy Court. This is what the All-Giving revealed in reply, His grandeur be exalted:

“The favor of God has been with him. Praise be to God, he has attained to the recognition of Truth, love of the friends of Truth, and service to the Cause of Truth. This is among those matters that have not been and will never be lost in the sight of God. This land is inwardly turbulent though outwardly calm, and this matter has previously flowed from the Most Exalted Pen; therefore, attention to and pause in this land is outside of wisdom. We have accepted his attention, his presence, his arising, his mention and his praise. Let him thank God for this great bounty and praise Him for this favor that has preceded all things. Glory be upon him and upon his father who attained the trace of My Most Exalted Pen on this blessed and wondrous Day.”

And concerning what you wrote about the spiritual lady, upon her be the Glory of God, requesting that mention be made of her and Muhammad-Rida and their mother, upon her be the Glory of God, in the Most Holy and Exalted Court—as requested, it was presented. This is what the Tongue of Grandeur spoke:

“O Ruhani! You have been mentioned before the Throne in successive years and have attained what has appeared from My Most Exalted Pen in the Scriptures and Tablets. We have mentioned you and mention you in such wise that the events of the world cannot change it nor can the conditions of nations prevent it. Verily your Lord is the Powerful, the Unconstrained. And We mention him who was named Muhammad before Rida as a mercy from Us that he might rejoice in what was sent down to him from God, the Lord of Lords. Give him My glad tidings and glorify upon his face. Verily your Lord does what He wishes and decrees what He desires. Blessed is he and you and your mother who has attained this mention through which the breeze of the All-Merciful has wafted over the servants.”

And concerning what you wrote about the son of the emigrant who emigrated and attained, it was presented before the Throne. Then the Tongue of the All-Merciful spoke in the Kingdom of Utterance, and He said, exalted be His grandeur:

“God willing, he has been and is favored by divine grace. Today all relationships are firmly established with the Truth. Today is a great Day, mentioned in all scriptures and books as the Day of God. One word revealed in this victorious Day concerning a soul is and will be superior to a hundred thousand children and descendants. The divine word is like unto spirit, and the spirit has drunk from the Kawthar of life and attained eternal life. Whatever is observed on earth will certainly return to extinction, but the divine word remains fresh and verdant in the gardens of the books and will endure as long as the kingdom and the realm of God endure. Muhammad-ʿAli attained the presence time after time and reached this lofty station which was adorned with the ornament of permission. Blessed is he.”

And likewise concerning his two brothers, wondrous verses were revealed from the heaven of will. Praise be to God, their emigration after the ascension was adorned with the ornament of acceptance and they attained to God’s infinite mercy.

And concerning what you wrote about inheritance, it was presented. This firm decree has issued and been revealed from the Source of God’s Command. Let that leaf take possession of one unit thereof, and the remainder God has bestowed upon themselves to divide among themselves. Verily He is the Giving, the Generous. The Glory from Us be upon you and upon her and upon whoever has turned to God, the Single, the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

The supplication of this evanescent servant is that at no time may he be effaced from the benevolent gaze of the friends of God who have quaffed from the true wine and are turned towards the lights of His Countenance. He is engaged in serving all through the new proclamation. God willing, may all arise with perfect wisdom and unity in the Cause of the Lord of creation, in such wise that its effect may become manifest from all directions. This is not difficult for our Mighty Lord. The confirmations of the Revealer of verses are manifest. God willing, may they take hold of all souls and guide them to the straight path and the firm balance. This has been and ever shall be dependent upon the endeavor and steadfastness of the loved ones of Truth. It is hoped they may be assisted to achieve that which befitteth this most exalted, most holy Day. May the glory shining from the horizon of the loving-kindness of our Lord, the Most Merciful, be upon you and upon those with you and upon them that have attained unto this Day wherein the Path hath been laid and the Balance set up. Praise be to God, the Mighty, the Powerful, the Bestower.

The servant 12 Shawwal 1298

BH01724: All praise and glory, sanctified beyond description and understanding…

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

All praise and glory, sanctified beyond description and understanding, befitteth Him Who is the Desire of the worlds, Who hath illumined the world through the dawning-places of His Prophets and His chosen ones. These are the divine lamps amidst His servants and the manifestations of the lights of the Throne unto all who dwell in His lands. To cling unto them is to cling unto God, the All-Glorious, and to hold fast unto them is to hold fast unto Him. These are the suns in the heavens of knowledge and understanding, and these are the guides to the path and the dawning-places of proof and evidence. Whoso hath known them hath known God, and whoso hath obeyed them hath obeyed God, and whoso hath turned away from them hath turned away from God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.

Glory be unto Thee, O Thou through Whom every straight path hath appeared and every mighty Book hath been sent down! I beseech Thee by Thy all-encompassing grace which hath embraced Thy creation and Thy creatures, to aid those on earth to turn towards the lights of the Sun of Thy Oneness and the manifestations of the glory of Thy Singleness. Thou art He, O my God, before Whose fear the limbs of all names have trembled, and before Whose might all who are in earth and heaven have been shaken. I beseech Thee, O Cleaver of the Dawn and Sender of the Winds, by Thy Most Exalted Self and by Him through Whom Thou didst seal Thy Messengers and Prophets, to enable Thy servants to act in accordance with what Thou hast commanded them in Thy Book. I testify that Thou hast desired for them naught save that which draweth them nigh unto Thee and acquainteth them with what shall profit them in every world of Thy worlds. Thou art, verily, the Almighty over what Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Thereafter, your letter was the cause of renewed joy. Praise be to God that, through the wonders of God’s infinite mercy, you are enabled to remember and praise God, blessed be His glory, and are successful in that which is befitting. This hath been and shall ever remain one of the great bounties of God, exalted be His glory. Haji Mirza Abu’l-Hasan, upon him be the Glory of God, hath also written to this servant. This servant had previously sent two detailed letters to him. Thus far, outwardly, no word of their receipt hath been received. I trouble you to convey my greetings to him in your letter and to mention the details of those two letters.

The letter from Aqa Mirza Muhammad-Husayn, upon him be the Glory of God, was also received. Praise be to God, the fragrance of the love of the Beloved of the worlds was wafted therefrom. God willing, may he ever be assisted and confirmed in that which God loveth and is pleased with.

As to what was written concerning Aqa Muhammad-Javad, upon him be the Glory of God, his petition was previously received and an answer was graciously given. Regarding his turning towards this direction, they stated that although this land appears outwardly tranquil, it is inwardly turbulent. The people of this region have been and continue to be utterly perfidious. In the holy Books of the past, the inhabitants of these lands were likened unto the offspring of vipers. This hath been and remaineth the reason for withholding permission; otherwise, this Wronged One hath ever loved not to deprive His loved ones of His presence. Let them now proceed, placing their trust in God. Verily, He guideth whom He willeth unto His straight path. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

You should convey these glad tidings in the same detail as mentioned to Haji Mirza Abu’l-Hasan and Aqa Mirza Muhammad-Husayn, upon them both be the Glory of God. God willing, this servant shall later send a reply to the letter of Aqa Mirza Muhammad-Husayn. This time there was no opportunity, and thus his reply was delayed. The glory of God be upon you and upon them and upon those who follow that which they have been commanded in the Book of God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH01799: Praise be to God Who was when naught else…

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

Praise be to God Who was when naught else was, and Who will be as He has been. He has sent down the laws and ordinances and dispatched the Messengers for the education of all peoples. He, verily, is the Single, the One, the Most High, the Compassionate, the All-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful.

And further: A question was previously submitted to the Most Holy Court regarding those who pass away in their youth and early age—whether, if they were to consult physicians, their treatment would prevent death or not, and so forth. The decisive command of God is that the sick must consult a skilled physician and act upon whatever he prescribes. Regarding what is determined and what is conditional, in the days when the Sun of Revelation was dawning from the horizon of Iraq, this exalted Word was revealed from the Supreme Pen. His words, exalted be His grandeur:

“Consider the candle and its light. If you protect it from outward elements through means such as a lantern or otherwise, then as long as the wax and wick remain, it is possible to preserve it from temporal vicissitudes. However, if it reaches its end—that is, if the wax and wick are exhausted—in this case the continuation of light is impossible. This latter state is determined, while the former state is conditional. Know ye what hath been sent down in truth from the presence of One Who is All-Knowing, All-Wise.”

Furthermore, two most mighty, most holy Tablets have been revealed and sent down from the heaven of the Divine Will specifically for you and for his eminence Aqa Mirza Abu’l-Hasan, may the glory of God be upon him. God willing, they will attain unto them and become detached from all else but God. This evanescent servant conveys greetings to all the gentlemen and friends of God, and seeks their remembrance during times of communion and turning to God, that perchance he may not be deprived in these most glorious days and may at all times attain unto infinite bounties. I seek forgiveness from God, the Almighty, for my mention and utterance, for the call of the evanescent reaches not the realm of the everlasting and is not worthy of that Court which is sanctified from mention and utterance. However, as His grace has no end, there has been and is hope from every direction.

Regarding what you mentioned about the leaf who turned toward the Divine Lote-Tree from your presence, after this matter was submitted, these manifest verses were revealed from the heaven of God’s Will. His words, exalted be His grandeur:

“O thou who gazest upon the Countenance! We found from her the fragrance of My love at the time of her ascension to the Supreme Companion. Thy Lord is, verily, the Witness, the All-Hearing. We have remembered her with this remembrance that God’s mention may be a treasure for her in every world of the worlds of her Lord. It behooveth thee to thank thy Lord, the All-Bountiful. Grieve not at her ascension, her return, and her turning to God. By My life! She hath attained unto that which the hearts of the mystics cannot comprehend. The glory shining forth from the horizon of eternity be upon her and upon those who have won victory in the days of God, the Lord of the worlds.”

Praise be to God that this leaf, may the glory of God be upon her, has been honored with the mention of the Beloved of the worlds. Blessed is she! Happy is she! Welcome to her! Congratulations to her! If all the world were to recognize the station of but one word of the divine utterances, all would surely sacrifice their lives to attain it. However, due to lack of capacity, they are today veiled and deprived. Glory be upon you and upon those who have drunk the wine of steadfastness, despite every heedless, veiled one and hateful denier. Praise be to God, the Mighty, the Loving.

The servant 12 Shawwal 1298

BH04583: In the Name of the one true God! O…

In the Name of the one true God! O ʿAbdu’s-Sattar! May you be enkindled, God willing, with the fire of divine love and illumined with the light of His countenance.

How many were the divines, mystics and princes who yearned and longed for the Day of His Manifestation, and who beseeched God night and day for the privilege of attaining His presence. Yet when the dawn of that Day broke forth from the horizon of the Will of the King of Oneness, all turned away and remained veiled. Would that they had been content with merely this! Nay, by God! Rather, they pronounced sentence of death upon that Essence of being. Such is the condition of the servants.

Yet God has been and ever shall be the All-Encompassing, the All-Pervading. That which He has willed, He shall assuredly bring to pass. The rejection and turning away of all the peoples of the world cannot prevent Him from that which He has purposed. He is established upon the throne of “He doeth what He willeth” and speaketh the word “He ordaineth what He pleaseth.” His sovereignty hath no need of hosts. He giveth and taketh away as He pleaseth, and He is the Almighty, the All-Powerful.

May you drink, God willing, of that most pure wine which lieth concealed within the words of the Lord of destiny, and share it with those who are seeking and turning unto Him.

Convey the greetings of this Wronged One to all the friends in that land and say: Fix your gaze upon this blessed, mighty and conclusive word: “God summoneth to the abode of peace.” How excellent is the state of that soul who hath turned with his heart to the abode of peace and been freed from dwellings more frail than the web of the spider.

The glory be upon thee and upon those who have believed in God, the Single, the All-Informed.

BH05391: Glorified be He Who hath appeared, and hath caused…

In His Name, seated upon the throne of utterance

Glorified be He Who hath appeared, and hath caused to be made manifest that which draweth His servants nigh unto the Most Great Ocean–an Ocean that, on this wondrous Day, hath surged and heaved. O Muhammad! Harken to the call from the luminous spot—verily there is no God but Him, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. We have heard your call and answered you with justice, and witnessed your turning and have turned to you from this Station which hath been named by all names by the Most Exalted Pen and as the Most Great Prison, if thou be of them that know.

Rejoice in that thou hast been mentioned before the Wronged One, and He hath revealed for thee that whereby thy name shall endure throughout the duration of His most excellent names. He Who possesseth the perspicuous Book beareth witness to this.

Beware lest the affairs of the world sadden thee and turn thee away from the Lord of all mankind. Arise with supreme steadfastness in this mighty Cause and remind the people with wisdom and utterance, that perchance they may abandon what they possess, yearning for that which is with God, the Lord of all worlds.

How many a prince hath turned away from the Truth, and how many a poor one hath hastened and drunk in His name, the Generous. Say: By God! The ocean of knowledge hath surged in the contingent world and the nightingale of utterance hath warbled upon the branches—verily there is no God but Him, the Mighty, the Beautiful.

Thus have We lit the lamp of knowledge amongst mankind. Blessed is he who hath attained unto it, and woe unto them that turn away.

BH05422: God testifieth that there is none other God but…

He is the One Who calleth betwixt earth and heaven.

God testifieth that there is none other God but Him, and that He Who speaketh is the Manifestation of His Cause, the Dayspring of His signs, and the Source of every wise command. Blessed is he who hath hearkened unto His most sweet call and acted according to that which was enjoined upon him in His perspicuous Book.

This is the Day which the Lord of all beings foretold in former ages. Blessed is the strong one whom the doubts of the opposers have not kept back from this magnificent bounty. We have heard thy call and have answered thee, and have beheld thy mention and have mentioned thee in this Tablet through which the fragrances of the All-Merciful have been wafted throughout all possibilities. Joy be unto him who hath found, and woe betide every doubting denier.

Blessed art thou inasmuch as thou hast turned toward the Most Sublime Horizon at a time when most of mankind have turned away therefrom, and joy be unto thee inasmuch as thou hast quaffed the Kawthar of immortality from the hands of the bounty of thy Lord, the Munificent, the All-Bountiful. Beware lest the affairs of the world hold thee back from Him Who is the Lord of the former and latter generations. That which thou beholdest today shall perish, but this luminous Tablet shall endure unto thee. Hold fast unto the cord of bounty and cleave unto the hem of the generosity of thy Lord, the All-Merciful.

Thus hath spoken the Tongue of the Wronged One, whilst imprisoned through that which the hands of the heedless have wrought. We make mention of thy two sons and beseech God to ordain for them the good of this world and of the world to come. Verily He is the Almighty, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious, the All-Wise.

BH05979: My tongue, my heart, my pen, my limbs…

He is the One, the Single, the Self-Subsisting, the All-Knowing!

My tongue, my heart, my pen, my limbs and my very hairs bear witness to the oneness of God, His singleness, His grandeur and His sovereignty. He was from all eternity established upon the throne of power, might and majesty, and unto all eternity He shall remain as He hath been from everlasting time. Every learned one hath acknowledged his powerlessness to soar in the atmosphere of His knowledge, and every mystic hath confessed his failure to attain unto the knowledge of His Essence. We beseech Him, exalted be He, to assist all to acknowledge that which the Tongue of Grandeur hath uttered before the creation of earth and heaven—that there is none other God but Him, the Single, the One, the Unique, the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.

Thy name hath been mentioned in the presence of the Wronged One. We have remembered thee in this mighty Tablet. Beware lest anything prevent thee from this News which hath been mentioned in the Books of God, the Lord of all worlds. Forsake that which perisheth and hold fast unto that which endureth. Thus doth command thee He from Whom is a perspicuous Book.

Remind on My behalf My loved ones who have believed in God, the Single, the All-Informed, and who have acted according to that which hath been revealed in the Book, as bidden by One All-Knowing, All-Wise. Thus have We brought forth the pearls of inner meanings from the oceans of My utterance, the Mighty, the Wondrous.

BH05878: A letter from the Wronged One to him who…

He is the Speaker, the Rememberer, the All-Knowing.

A letter from the Wronged One to him who hath cast away vain imaginings and taken what hath been sent down in these days from God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting.

Blessed is thine ear, for it hath heard the call of the Prisoner; and thy tongue, for it hath spoken His praise; and thine eye, for it hath turned toward the praiseworthy Station.

Say: O peoples of the earth! By God, He hath appeared Who summoneth all unto God, the Lord of existence, and He hath come Who guideth all to the outstretched path of God. O people, abandon what ye possess and take what ye are commanded by the Truth, the Knower of things unseen.

Say: O concourse of divines! Put down your pens, then hearken to the shrill voice of the Most Exalted Pen which hath been raised between earth and heaven. Fear ye God, and be not of them who have violated God’s Covenant and His Testament, and who have disputed His verses when they were sent down in truth in this promised Day. Beware lest ye hinder the servants from the Lord of creation.

Cast behind you idle fancies, turning unto God, the Lord of the seen and unseen. Thus have We illumined the horizon of the heaven of knowledge with the luminary of utterance. Blessed is he who hath advanced and recognized, and woe unto every remote and veiled denier.

BH06165: A remembrance from the Prisoner unto him who hath…

In His Name Who shineth forth from the horizon of the Kingdom!

A remembrance from the Prisoner unto him who hath turned towards the Countenance, that this remembrance may draw him nigh unto a station wherein the Tree uttereth: There is none other God but He, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Thy remembrance was mentioned, wherefore have We remembered thee in this Book which beareth witness unto God, the Almighty, the Powerful, the Help in Peril.

The tongue hath confessed its Lord, the All-Merciful, yet most of the people remain silent. All things are engaged in glorifying and sanctifying the Purpose of the world, yet most of the servants remain veiled and deprived from beholding the lights. The horizon of the world hath been illumined by the Most Great Name, yet most of the peoples remain heedless.

Blessed is the strong one who hath shattered the idols of vain imaginings through the name of his Lord, the Possessor of Names, and hath turned towards the horizon of certitude. All who are on earth have claimed knowledge and love, both in the past and present, but when the divine touchstone and balance appeared, the station of all was made clear, manifest and evident.

God willing, thou shalt partake of the sealed wine and receive thy portion from the ocean of knowledge. This is a Day the mention of which hath been recorded in former Books, and the outpouring of grace descendeth like torrential rain. Blessed is he who hath turned towards it, and woe unto the heedless.

Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH07417: O Muhammad-Qasim! Shatter the idols of vain imaginings through…

He is the All-Seeing, the All-Informed.

O Muhammad-Qasim! Shatter the idols of vain imaginings through the name of thy Lord, the Master of all beings, and remind the people through this Remembrance, before which all remembrances bow down when it appeareth.

Say: This is the Day wherein verses have been sent down and clear proofs have been made manifest. Turn ye unto Him and follow not every doubtful ignorant one.

Take ye the chalice of divine knowledge in the name of the Lord of all religions, then drink thereof in His Name, the One Who holdeth dominion over all who are in earth and heaven.

Say: He hath appeared with the truth and hath revealed that which He willeth in such wise that neither the hosts of the world nor the clamor of the nations could hold Him back. To this testify such servants as have spoken with justice and fairness.

Say: O peoples of the earth! Fear ye God and follow not your desires when the horizon of the heaven of mystical knowledge hath been illumined with the Luminary of certitude. Cast away what ye possess and take hold of that which ye have been bidden by God, the Lord of all men. Thus hath crowed the Cock of the Throne and thus hath warbled the Nightingale upon the branches.

BH07196: The Throne hath appeared and there hath sat upon…

In the Name of Him Who is the Manifest, the Evident

The Throne hath appeared and there hath sat upon it the Temple of God, Lord of the unseen and the seen. And at the first moment of His sitting, He shed His effulgence upon all things through all names. Exalted be the Creator of heaven, Who hath appeared and made manifest His straight Path.

Say: O people, recognize ye the worth of these days and follow not those who have followed every ignorant remote one. Be ye the page of remembrance and utterance unto all who dwell within the realm of contingent being, and the ark of certitude unto the followers of all religions. Thus doth command you He in Whose possession is a glorious Book.

Blessed is he who associateth with all peoples in a spirit of utmost kindliness and good-fellowship, and telleth them of this announcement with which every mighty book and every perspicuous tablet hath been adorned.

Take what thou hast been commanded by God and leave the people to what they possess. Verily thy Lord is the All-Wise Counsellor. Beware lest anything prevent thee from the Most Great Steadfastness, which We have enjoined upon all. Verily thy Lord is the Ordainer, the All-Wise.

The glory rest upon thee and upon those who have acted according to what they were commanded by One All-Knowing, All-Informed.

BH07822: A letter from the Wronged One to him who…

In His Name, the Manifest above the world.

A letter from the Wronged One to him who has turned to the Most Exalted Horizon and desires to drink the Kawthar of utterance from the hands of the bounty of his Lord, the Possessor of Names, that he may rejoice and be among the thankful ones.

If the wine of inner meanings has intoxicated you, say:

“Glory be to Thee, O Thou in Whose hand is the dominion of all creation and in Whose grasp are the reins of all existence! I beseech Thee by the Name through which the breezes of Thy mercy wafted over Thy kingdom and the fragrance of the garment of Thy Revelation was diffused among Thy creatures, and by the Manifestations of Thy names and the Dawning-Places of Thy attributes, and by Thy Hidden Name whereby Thou hast encompassed what was and what will be, to assist me to mention Thee and to exalt Thy Word. O my Lord! Thou seest me turning toward Thy horizon, speaking Thy praise, and awaiting the wonders of Thy grace. I beseech Thee not to disappoint me of what is with Thee. Verily Thou art the Sovereign of the world and the Beloved of the nations. There is none other God but Thee, the Forgiving, the Merciful.”

BH00378: In the name of our Lord, the Most Inaccessible…

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

In the name of our Lord, the Most Inaccessible, the Most Holy, the Most Mighty, the Most Great, the Most Glorious!

Praise befitteth the peerless Beloved Who hath been and will forever remain sanctified above the description of all created things, the attributes of all beings, the mention of all peoples and the conditions of the world. The banner of “He doeth what He willeth” is even as the sun manifest upon the highest station of the world, and the standard of “He ordaineth what He pleaseth” is resplendent above the most exalted emblems. The gems of all attributes glory in their relation to but one of His signs, and the essence of all praise is blessed and beloved in its nearness to but one of His servants. Through a single light from among the lights of His countenance He hath illumined earth and heaven, and through one word from among His words He hath made manifest all that is in the Books.

Blessed is the eye that hath attained unto His light, and blessed the ear that hath hearkened unto the cooing of the Dove of His Revelation from the branches of the Tree of Sinai. This most glorious Day hath been distinguished by the seal of His special bounty and mentioned in former Books through wondrous allusions and references. Its fragrance giveth life and its breeze bestoweth the eternal cup. Well is it with the soul that hath turned unto it and become detached from all else.

Glorified art Thou, O my God and the God of signs and the Sovereign of clear tokens! I beseech Thee by the Name through which Thou didst rend asunder the veils and didst manifest whatsoever Thou didst desire in the kingdom of names and attributes, to aid Thy servants to remember Thee and praise Thee, to serve Thee and obey Thee. O Lord! Leave them not to themselves. Take their hands through Thy bounty and grace, and ordain for them that which beseemeth Thy Revelation and Thy might. This is a Day wherein the ocean of Thy knowledge hath surged and the sun of Thy grace hath shone forth from the horizon of Thy loving-kindness. I beseech Thee by Thine own Self and by the Most Great Word through which Thy sovereignty and power were manifested, to inscribe by Thy Most Exalted Pen that which will draw them nigh unto Thee and enable them to act according to what Thou hast revealed in Thy Book. Thou art, verily, the Omnipotent over what Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting.

I offer praise and salutation upon the Manifestations of Thy unity and the Daysprings of Thy singleness, whom Thou hast made the repositories of Thy knowledge, the dawning-places of Thy revelation, the daysprings of Thy Cause and the sources of Thy laws. These are servants who have held fast unto the cord of Thy grace, detached from Thy creation, who have clung to the hem of Thy bounty, seeking refuge in Thy presence and shelter at Thy court. O Lord! Withhold not from them that which lieth with Thee, but send down upon them from the heaven of Thy mercy that which will purify them from the promptings of self and passion. Thou art, verily, the Lord of all creation and the Ruler of both this world and the next. There is none other God but Thee, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Generous.

O Lord! Thou seest Thy servants standing before Thy grace, turning toward the sun of Thy bounty, and hastening toward the ocean of Thy bestowals. I beseech Thee not to disappoint them of the wonders of Thy mercy, O Thou Who art the Goal of the world, the Beloved of them that know Thee, and the Ultimate Hope of them that are nigh unto Thee. There is none other God but Thee, the Lord of the worlds and the Object of worship of all in the heavens and on earth.

And further: the submission of this evanescent servant to your eminence is that through the shrill voice of your pen the world was filled with joy, and through the springtime dew the dust of sorrow was dispelled. Though we have differed in form, we are all journeying toward God and speaking for His sake. I beseech God, exalted be His glory, that He withhold not this wondrous, sublime and blessed bounty, and grant it forever and ever. He is the Omnipotent One—not an atom can escape His treasuries, nor can any matter render Him powerless. Thus, wheresoever we may be and whatsoever we may become, we are in His treasury, and praise be to God, we are of Him, reckoned as His and attributed to Him. Blessed art thou and this evanescent servant.

After reading and perusing your noble handwriting, I sought the Most Exalted Station, the place whose praise the Concourse on High is powerless to render. When I attained the presence and was granted permission, the Countenance of the Beloved turned toward me and uttered that which was like the mercy of spring to the earth and its trees. He spoke, and His sweetest words were:

“God willing, through divine favor they shall unlock the cities of hearts with the key of the Divine Word and water them with the vernal showers of His grace, that from good soil may spring forth the flowers of knowledge, and all may attain to their true purpose. Strive that souls may truly become detached from worldly conditions and arise to serve the Cause of God, fixing their gaze upon the eternal kingdom rather than this transient world and all that is therein. The intent is that the world and its ornaments should not prevent the servants from the everlasting kingdom. How many souls there were who, despite their abundant wealth and riches, arose to serve the Cause and attained unto that which He loves and is pleased with. The Manifestation of Truth, the utterance of truth, and the commandments and prohibitions are all for the sake of the servants, and whatsoever has been revealed from the Supreme Pen has been and shall be the cause of the world’s order, the preservation of nations, and the advancement of souls. Blessed are they who ponder on that which hath been manifested from God, that they may comprehend the purpose. Should heedless souls drink from the ocean of awareness and partake of the lights of the sun of knowledge, all would turn to the Most Glorious Horizon and occupy themselves with the remembrance and praise of God. Their desires have prevented them from God, the Lord of all worlds. Soon shall they find themselves in manifest loss.”

This evanescent servant, with utmost humility and supplication, begs that God, exalted be His glory, may aid all and grant them success in that which pleases Him. Verily, He is powerful over all things.

Regarding what you wrote about attention to the aforementioned direction, it was submitted in the Most Holy and Exalted Presence. He said:

“All matters are dependent upon wisdom and consultation. That honored one should be mindful of this blessed word which hath been revealed by the Supreme Pen in the Crimson Book. We have said, and Our Word is the truth: The heaven of divine wisdom is illumined with two luminaries: consultation and compassion.”

Consult in affairs with some friends who are in service with you, and whatever becomes apparent, act upon it, trusting in God. Blessed art thou, O thou who hast been mentioned by the Wronged One time after time, while He was imprisoned in this mighty fortress.

Section 2: “As regards what you wrote concerning Janab-i-Rafi’u’d-Din Khan…”

As regards what you wrote concerning Janab-i-Rafi’u’d-Din Khan and Muhammad Akbar Khan and Isma’il Khan, upon them be God’s favors and grace, this evanescent servant submitted their names at a most propitious time into the divine presence, and from the heaven of bounty a most holy and exalted Tablet was revealed and sent to each one. God willing, they will drink from the oceans of the All-Merciful’s mercy and divine favors that lie hidden and concealed within the revealed words. God, exalted be His glory, is witness that they will discover the fragrances of the verses and drink from the aforementioned oceans according to their capacity. Surely they will leave the knowledge of creation to creation and turn with heart and soul to the horizon of the All-Merciful.

God, exalted be His glory, informs the Seal of the Prophets—may the spirit of all in the kingdoms of command and creation be sacrificed for Him—of a word spoken by the believer of the House of Yasin, and that word is: “Would that my people knew!” If a soul were to comprehend the circumstances under which this blessed word was revealed, he would surely discover the fragrance of the true rose-garden and turn to the Source that transcends all directions. Were this evanescent servant to attempt to properly expound upon this theme, lifetimes would not suffice. God is witness to these words and His testimony has been and will ever be sufficient. This evanescent servant conveys his greetings to each of those gentlemen, the conveying of which is dependent upon your grace.

As for what was written about the book, it has not yet arrived. After its arrival it will be submitted to the Most Holy Court. This evanescent servant beseeches God, exalted be His glory, to aid you in all matters. Verily, He is the Witness, the Helper, the Succourer. Likewise, mention was made of the other souls you had written about before the Most Holy and Exalted Presence, and for each one an exalted Tablet was revealed and sent. God willing, they will attain unto them.

As for recent news, the Imam-Jum’ih of the Land of Sad, who was the cause and reason for the martyrdom of His Holiness the Name of God Ha’—upon him be all the most glorious Glory and all the most resplendent Light—within the span of a few days was stripped of that which he prided himself upon, and was banished in utter humiliation to the Land of Kha’. After much pleading and supplication, and through the intercession of a group, he was ordered to return to his place via Yazd and remain in his house. Shortly after his arrival, he was afflicted with a severe ailment. Many from within and without have written that he was howling like a dog. Finally, it reached such a point that his own family avoided him. In short, he returned to the lowest depths with the worst punishment. This rebellious tyrant, who in the Book of God is called Raqsha, was several times more wicked than the oppressor of the Land of Taff.

O beloved of my heart! Such tyranny was manifested by this heedless ignorant one that all minds and souls were bewildered by it. For His Holiness the Name of God Ha’—may my spirit be sacrificed for him—was one who, beyond his own capacity, attended to this man’s affairs and showed him the utmost consideration, and dealt with all people of every kind with perfect joy and fragrance, kindness and love. Nevertheless, this shameless and impudent one who is called Raqsha, and his companion who is mentioned in the Book of God by the name of Wolf, rose up in opposition and, purely for worldly ornaments, cut down two divine Trees from the Muhammadan Garden with the utmost tyranny. Behold, the curse of God be upon the wrongdoing people.

And concerning the mention of Aqa Siyyid Mustafa, upon him be the Glory of God, may he ever drink from the sweet water of the imperishable Beloved and abide at rest beneath the shade of the Tree of Providence. Praise be to God, he is remembered at the Most Holy Court, and God willing, he shall act as befitteth. One word that issueth today from the tongue of the Manifestation concerning any soul is more beneficial for him than all the treasures and buried wealth of the earth, for through the divine Word his mention shall endure and persist while all else hath been and shall be ephemeral.

Likewise concerning the mention of Doctor Khabiru’d-Din and his son, and Hakim Imtiyaz Husayn, upon them be the Glory of God—their mention hath been made before His Presence and the Sun of Providence hath dawned from the horizon of grace upon each one. Blessed are they for having attained unto the Most Exalted Word and turned unto the Supreme Horizon on this glorious and wondrous Day.

Furthermore, thou didst mention Haji Siyyid Mihdi, upon him be the Glory of God. After it was presented before Him, He showed favor and the blessed Tongue spoke these blessed words—exalted be His grandeur:

“Blessed are they who have on this day drunk of the sealed wine in the name of the Self-Subsisting and have received their portion from the river of mystic knowledge. We make mention of Mihdi and give him glad tidings of that which hath been revealed for him, and We counsel him with that which befitteth the days of his Lord, the Forgiving, the Generous, and to remain steadfast in this Cause whereat the feet of the learned, the rulers and the mystics have slipped, save whom God willeth, the Lord of all worlds.”

This evanescent servant conveyeth greetings to all the friends and beseecheth confirmation and divine assistance for all from the Sender of Messengers and Revealer of Books. His is the command; He doeth what He willeth and decreeth what He pleaseth, and He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. The Glory be upon you and upon those with you and upon those who have attained unto this mighty and glorious Remembrance. Praise be to God, Lord of all worlds.

Another submission: The Most Great Branch—may my spirit and all spirits be a sacrifice for the atoms of dust beneath His most pure footsteps—hath remembered that honored one with special favors and particular mention, and hath conveyed greetings too sacred for this evanescent one to mention or write. Likewise have the denizens of the pavilion of infallibility and grandeur bestowed most holy, most mighty, most exalted greetings, and the emigrants in the prison land present their pure devotion, greetings, mention and praise to that honored one.

The servant 13 Shawwal 1298

After completion of this letter, He said:

“O thou who art present! Write to the Khan, upon him be the Glory of God—let them not grow weary from the conditions of the world and its affairs. With complete steadfastness, purely for the sake of God, let them remain focused on that which is befitting and proper, that perchance the blind may see and the thirsty may drink. In this Cause both wisdom and steadfastness are necessary. God willing, in the name of Truth they shall deposit enduring seeds in good soil, and now that they have gone there and made mention of the Cause, they must remain until the trees bear fruit and the children attain to maturity.”

BH00599: Praise, sanctified above the comprehension of all created things…

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

Praise, sanctified above the comprehension of all created things, befitteth the court of the glory of that Desired One Who brought forth all the infinite worlds into the realm of existence through two words from the unseen. He is the Omnipotent One before Whose power the might of the world is weak, nay, non-existent, and ever shall be. And He is the Sovereign before the manifestation of Whose most insignificant sign the kingdoms of the earth are subdued and vanquished. All things have testified to His grandeur, His power and His sovereignty, and every possessor of might hath bowed before His glory, His manifestation and His authority.

Glory be unto Thee, O Thou through Whose Name the ocean of life surged and the fragrance of Thy Name, the Most Merciful, was diffused! I beseech Thee by Thy Great Throne and Thy Exalted Seat to assist Thy servants and Thy creation to turn towards the river of Thy mercy and to cling to the hem of Thy bounty. O Lord! Illumine the faces with the lights of Thy countenance and the hearts with the effulgences of the suns of Thy knowledge. Thou art He before Whose generosity and favors every possessor of knowledge hath confessed, and before Whose greatness and gifts every possessor of grace hath acknowledged. O Lord! Take the hands of Thy loved ones through Thy munificence and bounty, then deliver them from all that is unworthy of Thee and Thy days. There is no God but Thee, the Omnipotent, the Almighty.

Thereafter, thy letter dated the 17th of Ramadan, along with two other pages, was a source of joy and delight. Praise be to God that thou art adorned with the ornament of health and engaged in serving the Cause. By the permanence of the earthly and heavenly kingdoms, if thou were to offer thanks for this bounty bestowed upon thee, it would assuredly be insufficient and ever shall be. Praise be to God, the drops of the seas of bounty have embraced thee; throughout all days thou hast been known by His Name and hast arisen to serve Him. No possessor of insight hath denied or will deny this station. Were this lofty station to be unveiled, most of the servants would be found thunderstruck. God willing, through the Name of the Peerless Friend and the favor of the Incomparable Beloved, this most exalted and supreme station shall remain preserved. Blessed art thou, O my beloved, then joy be unto thee, by the everlasting Names and Attributes of God.

This servant sent two detailed letters to thee. Regarding one of the two, dated the 2nd of Rajab, thou hast written that it was received, but concerning the other letter, dated the 14th of Sha’ban, which was more detailed than the previous one, no news of its receipt hath come. This evanescent servant beseecheth the Exalted Truth to deliver that letter to thee as well. Verily, He hath power over all things. And regarding thy request that this ephemeral one should perform the pilgrimage on thy behalf, this was carried out according to thy wish. The servant beseecheth his Lord to make it a treasure for thee with Him. Verily, He is the Omnipotent, the Almighty.

Concerning what thou didst write about the transactions of Miyanduab and others, it was submitted. This decree hath issued from the Source of the Cause—exalted be His glory:

“Whatever hath been commanded in the presence of the Cause must be carried out. It is not permissible to demand anything from anyone. If anyone of his own accord giveth something, accept it; otherwise, thou hast no right to demand anything from anyone. Verily, thy Lord is the Bestower, the Bountiful.”

End quote.

As for what thou didst write concerning various matters, God willing, thou art assisted in performing good deeds and art confirmed in serving the Cause.

And concerning what you wrote about the Sacred Place, yes, some time ago the honored Afnan, upon him be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious, and also the esteemed Aqa Mirza Asadu’llah presented their petitions to the Most Holy Court, and these were graced with acceptance. In truth, whatever charitable deeds and good works appear in these days, their fragrance shall never cease. Blessed is he who holdeth fast to that which is good and forbiddeth others from evil. The servant beseecheth his Lord that He may aid all to accomplish that which will exalt the Word of God and perpetuate their remembrance and their names. Verily, He is the Helper of those who turn unto Him and the Answerer of those who call upon Him.

And concerning what you wrote about Mulla Husayn, upon him be the Glory of God, his petition was presented to the Most Holy Court, and an answer descended from the heaven of God’s Will, and specially revealed verses were graciously bestowed upon the souls mentioned. God willing, may they be enkindled at all times and under all conditions with the fire of divine love and be occupied with service to the Cause. Since mention was also made in your letter of Mulla Husayn and his brothers and Haji Aqa Baba, upon them be the Glory of God, it was again presented at the Most Holy, Most Exalted Court, and these sublime, impregnable and holy verses were revealed from the heaven of divine Will, that they may be a treasure and honor unto them and their families and their descendants. Verily our Lord, the All-Merciful, is the Forgiving, the Generous. This is what was revealed from the heaven of grace. His word, exalted and mighty is He:

He is the All-Seeing, the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing

The Wronged One maketh mention of His loved ones who hastened to the Water of Life when it surged forth through the Word of God, the Lord of all worlds. These are servants who have attained unto the wine of revelation and the Kawthar of utterance when the All-Merciful came with the kingdom of proof. Blessed are they that have attained. O My loved ones! Hearken unto My call from the precincts of My prison. Verily, He mentioneth you with most excellent mention and commandeth you to that which will exalt the Cause of God, the Lord of the mighty throne. Ye have attained unto the movement of the Most Exalted Pen as it courseth in the arena of wisdom and utterance from the presence of the Mighty, the Ancient. Hold ye fast unto the cord of the Cause, detached from all who are on earth. Thus doth He command you from Whose presence is a preserved tablet. Soon will there appear among you one who will prevent you from the Euphrates of the mercy of your Lord, the Forgiving, the Generous. This is the Day of steadfastness and utterance, were ye of them that know, and this is the Day of wisdom and knowledge, were ye of them that hear.

O loved ones of the All-Merciful! I speak in Persian that all may understand. Today the Truth is afflicted and captive among the most wretched of creation, yet He makes mention of you at a time when sorrows have encompassed Him from every direction. Hearken unto the call of the Peerless Friend and act according to His bidding. Today is the day of steadfastness. God willing, may all be illumined by the effulgent lights of the Sun of certitude and remain firm in His Cause through divine power and strength, for the evil ones have been and are lying in wait, misleading people in the name of truth. Blessed is the soul that arises to serve the Cause in such wise that all else besides God shall be powerless to prevent it.

O My loved ones! Rejoice in My remembrance and utterance, in the rain-showers of the clouds of My wisdom, the outpourings from the heaven of My mercy, and the sweet waters of My bounty which flow from the right hand of My mighty Throne. God willing, may all be set ablaze by the warmth of the utterance of the All-Merciful and derive pleasure from the sweetness of His mention, and may they manifest such love of God as to become the cause of attracting the hearts of His servants. Thus doth He Who possesseth the knowledge of all things teach you from His presence in a clear Book.

Praise be to God that all have once again attained to the mention of the Lord of creation. Happy indeed are they! On behalf of this evanescent servant, convey greetings to all and say in his tongue: O friends! Strive to free yourselves entirely from the idle fancies and vain imaginings of the past. This is the Day wherein man can acquire lofty stations and enduring mention for himself and his kindred. I swear by the light of the countenance of your Beloved and mine that the mention of this most great and most holy Day hath been recorded in all the divine Books. Know ye its value and arise as behooveth it.

Many are the barking dogs that have appeared and will appear, even as aforetime when the Sun of the Cause was rising from the horizon of Iraq—all were warned of the barking of dogs and the birds of night. Assuredly whatsoever hath been revealed from the Most Exalted Pen shall come to pass. Beseech ye God to protect all through His grace. Whosoever hath truly attained in this most glorious and most holy Day to the knowledge of God and hath quaffed from the choice wine of His utterance is and shall remain protected. Were all the hosts and legions of the world to arise to prevent such a one, they would find themselves utterly powerless. God willing, may all the people of Baha be adorned with these holy and luminous robes.

O My loved one! When this lowly one reached this point, he attained the Most Holy Court where it was said:

“O servant in attendance! We wish to make mention once again of Abu’l-Hasan who hath turned, hearkened, attained and arisen to serve the Cause of his Lord, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting. We also remember My handmaidens who have believed in God, the Mighty, the All-Loving. O Abu’l-Hasan! We send Our greetings upon thee and bid thee convey Our greetings to the faces of My loved ones and to thy daughters who have turned and attained to the mention of God, the Lord of what was and what shall be. We make mention of My handmaidens in that place and give them the glad-tidings of My grace and bounty which have preceded all who exist. Rejoice thou in thy Lord’s bounty and say: Praise be to Thee for having mentioned me and made known to me Thy straight path. Praise be to God, the Lord of the seen and the unseen.”

As to what you wrote regarding Mirza Asadu’llah, upon him be the glory and bounty of God, concerning the Huququ’llah of that land—let them consult on all matters and act according to what becomes apparent. The glory be upon thee and upon whosoever heareth thy word concerning the Cause of God, the Lord of [the worlds].

Servant, on the 12th of Dhi’l-Qa’dah [1298]

BH00311: In the Name of our Lord, the Most Holy…

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

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

Praise befitteth the King of existence and the Sovereign of the unseen and the seen, Whom neither the clamor of the divines, nor the objections of the theologians, nor the conditions of princes could deter from His purpose. Through His first Word He created the kingdom of names, and through His second Word He made manifest the resurrection, the gathering, and the manifestations of union and separation. He is the Omnipotent One Whom the power and might of the people of the world and their dominion cannot render helpless nor hold back from His Will. Through a single decree, the banner of “Verily He is God” was raised at the center of the world. From time immemorial He hath been sanctified in His most holy station above all created things, and unto everlasting He will remain exalted in the sanctification of His Own Essence above all contingent beings.

He hath ever been, and will ever be, sanctified and exempt from the conditions, manifestations, allusions and utterances of the world of creation. He is the First, though sanctified above all firstness, and He is the Last, though exalted above it. All mention and names that appear in the world and are attributed to that sanctified Being are in view of the loftiness and sublimity of these stations in the eyes of creation, for the servants are powerless and fall short of comprehending beyond this. All things testify to the sanctification of His Being, and all who dwell on earth and in heaven bear witness to our inability to know Him. That which beseemeth His presence is what appeareth from Him and what speaketh in the kingdom of His utterance.

I testify that there is none other God but Him, in acknowledgment of His grandeur and in confession of His oneness. He hath been, and will ever be, even as He hath been. There is none other God but Him, the Powerful, the Mighty, the Bountiful.

Glory be unto Thee, O Lord of the world and Master of the nations! I beseech Thee by Thy imprisonment which caused the denizens of the highest Paradise and the dwellers of the kingdom of names to lament, to assist Thy loved ones to celebrate Thy praise and remembrance, to arise to serve Thy Cause, and to become acquainted with the conditions of those who hastened unto the ocean of Thy grace and discovered the fragrances of the garment of Thy Revelation in Thy days—days whose remembrance and praise have been sent down from Thy Most Exalted Pen in Thy Scriptures, Thy Books, Thy Tablets, and Thy Verses. O Lord! Send down upon them from the heaven of Thy bounty that which will sanctify them from all else beside Thee and draw them nigh unto Thee in all conditions. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the Self-Sufficient, the Most Exalted.

And further: your letter arrived, bringing joy and delight, for from it was inhaled the fragrance of acceptance and sincerity. Praise be to God that you have attained to the eternal blessing and heavenly bounty which is the love of the Beloved of all worlds. God willing, may this precious pearl, through the grace of the Lord of all worlds, remain protected from the hands and eyes of the treacherous and the thieves. O friend! How many were the divines, mystics, kings, monarchs, and nobles of the earth and other servants who all sought this most exalted, most holy Day, and with utmost supplication beseeched the Lord of all destinies for its station. Yet when the Great Luminary of Revelation appeared from the horizon of the world, all were found bereft and deprived, save whom God, thy Lord, willed.

I swear by the Sun of the All-Merciful’s utterance, which shineth and riseth from the horizon of the Prison, that were even less than a needle’s eye of this Most Great, Most Glorious Station to be revealed, all would turn, detached from all else, toward the Prison, and would circle round the very atoms of dust of this blessed land. Now consider those souls who have attained to this supreme honor, this mighty gift, and this most exalted summit. God the All-Knowing beareth witness that if one who hath drunk from the living waters of immortality and the Kawthar of utterance of the Lord of Names were to comprehend his station, such joy and gladness would encompass him that the troubles of the world, its conditions, hardships and sorrows would neither hinder him nor even be perceived to exist.

Blessed is he who hath attained unto this most exalted station and ultimate goal. He is indeed among the companions of the Crimson Ark in the Book of God, the Lord of all worlds. When I read your letter and learned of its contents, I approached the Presence and presented it before the countenance of the Lord of all beings. Thereupon the Tongue of Grandeur spoke that which the pens are powerless to recount. Exalted be His bounty, exalted be His generosity, and exalted be His greatness and favor! After sufficient, healing, supreme and penetrating utterances, which this servant was and will ever be incapable of recording in their entirety, these sacred and decisive words were revealed from the horizon of the mouth of the Revealer of verses—these are His words, exalted be His grandeur:

O servant in attendance! The grace of God, exalted be His glory, has been and ever shall be all-encompassing. In all conditions He hears and sees; He hearkens to the mention of those who have turned to Him and beholds the devotion of the sincere ones. Blessed are they who, in this divine Day, have drunk from the ocean of His knowledge and turned toward the horizon of His grace. Write to Kazim: We have heard thy call and, through grace and favor, have responded to it. Give thanks unto thy Lord for this great bounty. Praise be to God that thou hast attained, from the hand of the bounty of the Lord of destiny, the most pure wine which, in one sense, is interpreted as the love of the Beloved of the world. Thou hast attained to that which most of the peoples of the world are deprived of. Even if thou shouldst endure for as long as the kingdom of earth and heaven endures, and render thanks unto the exalted Lord, it would still be as naught compared to this supreme bounty. Rejoice in what hath flowed from My Most Exalted Pen on this darkest night. Thy Lord is, verily, the All-Wise Expositor.

From this station We send Our greetings to the faces of My loved ones who have cast aside all else but Me, who have held fast to the cord of My grace, who have clung to the hem of My bounty, and who have spoken My beautiful praise. We counsel them with that which We counseled them before in My Great Tablet. Blessed is he who hath heard My call, attained unto My knowledge, and acted according to that which was sent down in My wondrous Book. God willing, all must achieve, through the name of God, the grace of God, the bounty of God, and the mercy of God, such deeds as will endure forever. He, verily, is the All-Knowing Teacher. Beseech God that He may enable all to do that which befitteth this most holy and most exalted Day. We counsel all to observe the wisdom revealed in the Book. That which causeth tumult and uproar among the people hath been and will continue to be forbidden. The chosen ones and friends of God must refresh the withered ones with the name of God and guide them to the supreme horizon. If wisdom doth not allow it, speech is not permissible. Thus was it revealed before and now. Blessed are they that act accordingly.

This evanescent servant beseecheth God, exalted be His glory, to enable all creation to hearken to the melodies of the birds of inner meanings, for if they truly succeed in hearing, they will find themselves detached from the kingdom of creation and all that is therein. Verily, our Lord, the Most Merciful, is the Bestower, the Powerful, the Generous, the Bountiful.

Regarding what was written about multiple letters having been sent to this servant: all that were received were answered and sent. All were adorned with divine verses and heavenly evidences. God willing, they have arrived and will continue to arrive.

The petition of the aforementioned one, upon him be the glory of God, reached Us and was presented before the Most Holy and Most Exalted Presence. At that very moment, a most wondrous Tablet was revealed from the heaven of the Divine Will specifically for him. God willing, he will attain unto it and drink from its flowing rivers. The grace of God, exalted be His glory, is evident and manifest from the Tablet itself and hath no need of presentation by this evanescent servant. May he rejoice in it and may it be wholesome unto him.

As regards the intention to turn towards the Promised Land, this was presented, and this is what the All-Merciful hath spoken in this station. His word, exalted be His glory:

“We have inhaled from him the fragrance of Our love and have recognized his longing and yearning for God and His presence. We have written down for him, by My Most Exalted Pen, the reward of those who have attained unto My presence, who have drunk the choice wine of reunion with Me, who have presented themselves at the gate of My loving-kindness, who have heard My call whilst in My presence, and who have witnessed My imprisonment and what was visited upon Me by those who turned away from My countenance when its lights shone forth from this heaven which hath appeared and been raised up through My name, the All-Wise. We give him the glad-tidings of that which hath been sent down for him from the heaven of My mercy and the clouds of My loving-kindness, that he may render thanks unto his Lord, the Self-Subsisting, the Most High.”

Section 2: “Praise be to God, his visitation hath been…”

Praise be to God, his visitation hath been accepted in the presence of the Countenance. This is evident from the divine verses that have been revealed, and after the revelation of these decisive verses and this most mighty Tablet, the Tongue of the Beloved spoke this most exalted word, glorified be His grandeur:

“O thou who art present! Those assured souls who have drunk from the Kawthar of oneness on this spiritual morn are the recipients of God’s favors. Even as they have sought and continue to seek reunion with the Truth, so hath the Truth, exalted be His grace, desired to meet with them. However, the deniers, the malevolent ones, and the corrupters have intervened. Blessed is he whose devotion and presence have been testified to by the Tongue of Grandeur, and who hath been honored with that which was the object of God’s Books, the Lord of the seen and the unseen.”

I swear by the Sun of the horizon of utterance that nothing visible or hidden can equal this testimony. Some years ago this blessed word was revealed from the Kingdom of divine utterance: “The Prison Land is outwardly at rest, yet inwardly it is in turmoil and commotion. Soon shall its inward state become its outward condition, and its outward state its inward condition.” And He said: “Although this holy land hath been mentioned and recorded in all divine Books and Scriptures, yet its people are the most evil people in the world, and in previous Books they have been designated as the offspring of vipers, save those souls who, through divine power, have rent asunder the dark veils and turned towards the Most Glorious Horizon. These are accounted among the most exalted of beings in the sight of the Truth.” And now this Wronged One calleth out amidst vipers and summoneth the peoples of the world to the Most Exalted Horizon. Blessed are they that hear, and blessed is he who hath recognized his Lord in this Day wherein His decree was sent down aforetime—the Day wherein all men shall stand before the Lord of the worlds.

As for what thou didst write concerning the Huquq, this was presented and was accepted with favor.

Concerning what you had written about the House, it was presented at the Most Holy and Most Exalted Presence. He said:

“Excellent is what has been done in the path of God, but in all matters they must observe wisdom. The unfair people have for centuries, ages and eras lamented their separation from the Truth and sought the appearance of one of the divine names, as they arose in mentioning the Qa’im—may my glory be upon Him—and uttered the words May God hasten His appearance.’ Yet now they remain heedless and veiled from the One by Whose word all the most beautiful names were created. Moreover, they have not pondered upon the words May God hasten His relief’—what are these hardships and trials, and to what degree must they manifest, that all are beseeching and hoping for His relief? By God the Truth, they have not profited in their trading. The Tongue of Grandeur has testified to their loss, their heedlessness, their transgression and their injustice against God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. Observe how they have deprived themselves of everlasting stations for the sake of these few fleeting days and these transient, ephemeral colors. The eye of My loving-kindness and grace weeps, and the hand of My justice and power seizes, and I am the Just, the Wise.”

And concerning what you had written about Aqa Azizu’llah, upon him be the Glory of God, God willing may he be assisted in all conditions. His mention was made at the Divine Throne. May this supreme bounty, God willing, be eternal and everlasting, enduring for as long as the kingdom of earth and heaven endures. Some time ago a letter arrived from Aqa Khudadad, upon him be the Glory of God, mentioning him and some of the friends in the land of Kha. This servant wrote a reply and sent it; it is hoped it has arrived by now. God is witness and aware that this servant has always been and continues to be occupied with mentioning the friends of God. In any case, on behalf of this evanescent servant, convey sublime greetings to Aqa Azizu’llah and the other friends in the land of Kha, as well as the friends residing in that land—if present, by word of mouth, and if absent, by pen. This evanescent one beseeches God, exalted be His glory, to assist them all in that which will cause the exaltation of the Word of God.

The mention of the souls named in your letter, both male and female, was presented at the Most Holy and Most Exalted Presence, and the Sun of Grace has dawned upon them all. God willing, may they be blessed in all times with the grace of the Beloved of all creation, and be engaged in the triumph of the Cause through wisdom and utterance. Praise be to God, you have been assisted in serving the Cause and have been successful in that which was mentioned in the divine books. And praise be to God, your residence has become a place for the arrival of the friends of God, and likewise a place of mention and praise. He gives to whomsoever He wishes whatsoever He wishes, and ordains for whomsoever He wishes whatsoever He wills. Indeed, bounty is in His hand, and He is the Giver, the Forgiving, the Generous.

And concerning what you had written about a few people of occupation having turned to the Living Waters, their names were presented at the Most Holy and Most Exalted Presence. This is what was revealed for them:

He is the Expositor, the All-Knowing

O Muhammad! The One Who was immersed in the seas of sorrows mentions you and gives you glad tidings of that which has appeared and shone forth from the horizon of your Lord’s will, the Merciful. Know thou the station of this Day which the tongues of the Messengers have praised. Look, then mention that which the Tongue of Grandeur spoke in the Qur’an:

“Lead forth the people from darkness into light and remind them of the days of God.”

We testify that they have appeared, and in them speaks the One Who conversed on Sinai. Verily, there is no God but Him, the All-Knowing, the Wise.

We make mention of Haji Qabl-Muhammad, that he may rejoice in My remembrance and give thanks unto his Lord, the Almighty, the All-Powerful. We make mention of him who hath turned towards the Most Sublime Horizon and give him the glad-tidings of that which hath been ordained for him by God, the Mighty, the All-Praised. Grieve not over this world and its affairs. By My life! It shall pass away, and there shall remain for thee that which hath been sent down from God, the Supreme, the Mighty, the Great.

We make mention of him who is named Hasan and counsel him to show forth the greatest steadfastness in this Cause, at whose appearance the foundations of those who have denied God, the Lord of this wondrous Day, were shaken. O Hasan! Show forth excellence even as God hath shown excellence unto thee, then speak forth that which the Tongue of Grandeur hath spoken before the creation of the heavens and earth:

“Verily there is no God but Me, the Single, the One, the Imprisoned, the Exile.”

Blessed is he who hath testified to that which God hath testified, and woe unto the heedless.

The glory from Our presence be upon you and upon My loved ones in that place, and upon him who hath mentioned your names in his book, and upon every servant who hath arisen to serve this firm and impregnable Cause. Praise be to God that the final correspondence hath been adorned with the manifest verses of God, exalted be His glory, and thereby its conclusion hath become as musk, nay rather, sanctified above all that hath been mentioned by the pen or will be mentioned. Verily our Lord, the All-Knowing, hath ever been sanctified above what was and what will be, and praise be to God, the Supreme, the Self-Subsisting.

The servant 22 Dhi’l-Qa’dih 1298

BH03855: God beareth witness that there is none other God…

He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing, the All-Knowing.

God beareth witness that there is none other God but Him, and He Who hath come is verily the Manifestation of My Self, the Dawning-Place of My verses and the Dayspring of My Cause, the firm, the impregnable. Whoso hath turned unto Him hath in truth turned unto Me throughout all ages, and whoso hath turned away is accounted among the deniers in a mighty Book.

O My Most Exalted Pen! Make mention of him who was remembered in the prison, that thy melodies may draw him to the Supreme Paradise and bring him nigh unto God, the Lord of Names, Who hath spoken: “There is none other God but Him, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.”

We beheld thee turning unto the Countenance, whereupon We turned unto thee and revealed for thee that which God hath made a testimony unto all who are in the heavens and on earth. Take hold of the Book with strength, then recite it by night and by day, that thou mayest discover the fragrance of thy Lord, the All-Merciful. By My life! It will draw thee to a station wherein every atom of its atoms, every leaf of its leaves, every tree of its trees, and every stone of its stones proclaimeth: “There is none other God but Him, the Almighty, the Powerful.”

Beware lest the doubts of the divines hold thee back from the Lord of Names. Leave them behind thee, turning unto God, the Lord of the worlds. Be thou steadfast in the Cause in such wise that neither the books of the world nor the clamor of the nations can cause thee to slip. Arise and speak with wisdom and utterance: “The All-Merciful hath come with manifest sovereignty.” We counsel thee to be steadfast and give thee glad-tidings of that which hath been ordained by the Pen of God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

Should one who raiseth the cry of fire come unto thee with the tablet of fire and the book of the wicked ones, leave him behind thee, placing thy trust in God, the Lord of this wondrous Day. The Glory be upon thee and upon those who have not violated the Covenant of God and His Testament—these are they who are numbered among the near ones in a mighty Book.

BH05418: God testifieth that there is none other God but…

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

God testifieth that there is none other God but Him, and He Who hath come upon the clouds of divine knowledge is, in truth, the All-Merciful—thus have testified the Books of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. This is the Day whereon all men have arisen before the Lord of the worlds. This is the Day which the Qur’an had foretold from the presence of the All-Merciful. The Kingdom on that Day is God’s, though most of the people remain heedless. The Lord of Destiny hath appeared and every hidden matter hath been revealed. Verily the Hour hath come to pass, and the moon hath been cleft asunder, and the Trumpet of the Bayan hath been sounded, and all who are in the heavens and on earth have swooned away, save whom God hath willed, the All-Powerful, the Almighty.

We have witnessed thy turning unto Us and have therefore turned unto thee and remembered thee in this wondrous Tablet. Take it with the hand of power and say: By God! That which was hidden behind the veils of the Unseen hath appeared, and the Nightingale of Immortality hath warbled upon the branches. The Hidden One hath been made manifest and God hath come with a mighty Cause.

We counsel thee and those who have believed to remain steadfast with supreme steadfastness, lest your feet slip through the doubts of them that cast suspicion. Soon shall the clamorer cry out in every land and attribute himself to God—thus hath his soul enticed him, and We are among those who bear witness. God is quit of him and his like who have violated God’s Covenant and Testament and turned away from His luminous horizon.

BH06069: In the Name of the All-Knowing, the All-Seeing! Drink…

In the Name of the All-Knowing, the All-Seeing! Drink ye, please God, of the choice sealed wine whose seal hath been broken by the Name of the Self-Subsisting, and arise to serve the Cause in the name of God, the Most Glorious.

I swear by the Sun of Truth which shineth from the horizon of the Most Great Prison that this Day hath no peer or likeness. Strive ye that through the sweet-scented streams of the robe of the All-Merciful ye may quicken the dead in the valley of error unto life everlasting.

Today the voice of God, the Most Glorious, is raised up, and likewise the clamor of Satan. Blessed is the eye that hath recognized Him and become detached and free from all else besides Him, and blessed is the ear that hath known His call and found itself enriched above all else besides Him.

Stand ye firm in the Cause of God and speak, albeit with wisdom and utterance. Scatter the seeds of divine knowledge in pure soil. The people are heedless and deprived of the effulgences of the Sun of inner meanings. One must arise with forbearance to educate all who dwell on earth.

Thus hath the Lord of Eternity taught you, both before and after. Blessed is he who hath attained unto that which he hath been commanded by the All-Wise Expounder.

BH07279: Your letter reached this Wronged One in the Most…

In the Name of God, the Mighty One!

Your letter reached this Wronged One in the Most Great Prison. The fragrance of love was inhaled from it. God willing, may you ever drink from the pure Salsabil of the love of the Eternal Beloved.

This is a Day the mention of which hath been recorded in the divine Books of the past and the future. Blessed is the state of the one who hath been illumined by the effulgences of the lights of the Sun of Revelation and hath turned toward the most exalted horizon. Praise the Beloved of the world Who enabled thee and caused thee to attain to this most great and most exalted station.

Know thou the worth of this great bounty and arise to serve the Cause, that perchance they who are possessed of doubts and idle fancies may drink from the chalice of certitude and attain to the recognition of the Dawning-Place of revelation and the Dayspring of verses.

Today is the day of service and the day of praise and glorification. O friends! Strive that ye may attain unto everlasting life and receive your portion from the eternal kingdom. He verily commandeth you with truth, and He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

BH07397: O ʿAli-Qabl-i-Akbar! The Lord of Destiny hath come…

He is the One Who speaketh before all

O ʿAli-Qabl-i-Akbar! The Lord of Destiny hath come to give life to the world, yet the peoples remain wrapped in a thick veil.

Say: O peoples of all religions! Fear ye the All-Merciful, and oppose not Him before Whom, when He appeared, the Concourse on High and the dwellers of Paradise bowed down morning and evening. Be fair in the Cause of God and His Revelation, and follow not every remote imagining. The Calamity hath appeared and the Cry hath been raised, yet the people remain in a strange sleep.

Say: O God of Names and Creator of heaven! I beseech Thee by the Fire that spoke on Sinai and by this Revelation through which the decree of resurrection was manifested and those in the graves arose—to assist Thy servants to recognize the Dawning-Place of Thy Revelation and the Dayspring of Thy signs. Verily, Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the Wise.

We, from this station, send Our greetings upon thy countenance and upon thy mother—give her glad tidings from Me and remind her of this perspicuous Book.

BH07890: O Israfil! By the life of God, the Trumpet…

In the name of the All-Knowing, the All-Seeing

O Israfil! By the life of God, the Trumpet hath been sounded, and all who are in the heavens and on the earth have swooned away, save only certain letters of the face of thy Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

The Balance hath been set up and the Path laid down, and the Cry hath been raised in truth, and every atom hath spoken forth. The Lord hath come, and sovereignty belongeth unto God, the Lord of all the worlds.

O peoples of the earth! Take heed lest the concerns of earth hold you back from the Lord of heaven. Cast away what ye possess and take hold of that which ye are commanded by God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

All things have been renewed through the breezes of revelation, yet most of the people remain heedless. The Most Great Balance hath been established, and verily it is the Book of God, the Lord of Destiny, which hath descended from the heaven of the will of thy Lord, the Bountiful.

We counsel thee to be steadfast in the Cause of thy Lord, and We send greetings from this exalted station to those who have held fast to the cord of grace out of love for God. Indeed, they are among the people of this lofty station.

BH08540: O Hasan! Rejoice in what God hath graciously bestowed…

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

O Hasan! Rejoice in what God hath graciously bestowed upon thee, then thank Him for having sent down unto thee this perspicuous Book. We have called all men unto God, the Single, the All-Informed.

Among the people are those who have cast aside the Lord of all creation by following their desires, and among them are those who have rent asunder the veils through My Name, the Mighty, the Powerful. Blessed is he who hath spoken the truth and arisen to serve His Cause, and woe unto them that sit idle.

O concourse of the earth! By God, the Promise hath come to pass and the Promised One hath appeared with manifest sovereignty, calling out to mankind in all conditions while they turn away from the Truth and follow every heedless doubter. They hearken unto the croaking, turning aside from the Nightingale. Thus have their souls enticed them, and they are among the abased.

Beware lest the affairs of the earth withhold thee from turning toward this Heaven which hath been raised up through the command of thy Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

BH08260: Glory be unto Thee, O God of Names…

In the Name of the One True God!

…Glory be unto Thee, O God of Names and Creator of the heavens! I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which Thou hast subdued all things, and through which Thou hast called all unto the most exalted horizon, to aid me in Thy remembrance and praise, and in remaining steadfast in Thy love and affection. O Lord! Thou seest the evanescent one seeking the door of Thy mercy, and the thirsty one turning toward the ocean of Thy bounty. I beseech Thee not to withhold from him the wondrous tokens of Thy generosity, grace and favors. Accept then from him that which he hath desired in Thy path. Verily Thou art the Almighty, Whom the conditions of Thy servants cannot frustrate, nor can the power of those in Thy earth and heaven frighten. I moreover beseech Thee, O my God, to aid me in serving Thy Cause and in acknowledging that which hath been sent down in Thy Book. There is no God but Thee, the Self-Sufficient, the Giving, the Bountiful, the Forgiving, the Generous.

BH08595: In My name that overshadoweth all that are…

In My name that overshadoweth all that are on earth and in heaven

O Muhammad! He Who is single and alone makes mention of thee from the land of exile, from the spot which hath been named the Most Great Prison, through My Most Exalted Pen—yet the people do not understand.

The verses have been sent down and the signs have appeared, but most of the people do not perceive. They have cast the Book of God behind their backs, having followed the manifestations of idle fancies and vain imaginings.

Arise in My Name, take the cup of mystic knowledge by My command, and drink thereof through My wondrous remembrance. Let not the conditions of the world sadden thee, nor the doubts of the nations who have turned away from God and denied the Witness and the Witnessed prevent thee.

Say: By God! This is the Day of Rising, did ye but know it, and in it hath appeared the Purpose of all mankind, would ye but judge with fairness. Thus hath the light appeared and the fragrance of the All-Merciful hath been wafted throughout the realm of possibility, yet most of the people do not perceive.

BH09116: O Ja’far! He Who is the Lord of Destiny…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Great

O Ja’far! He Who is the Lord of Destiny, Who is imprisoned in this land for having summoned all to God, the All-Possessing, the Self-Subsisting, maketh mention of thee. We have unlocked the gate of utterance with the key of Our name, the Most Merciful, and have remembered those who have turned unto His praiseworthy station. Blessed is he who hath inhaled the fragrances of My days, discovered the perfume of My robe, soared in My atmosphere, and held fast unto My preserved Tablet. O peoples of the earth! By My life, the gate of grace hath been opened, and the Sun of Justice from behind the clouds of tyranny calleth out, saying:

“This is the Day of Union, did ye but know it, and this is the Day of Meeting, did ye but perceive it, and this is the Day of remembrance and praise, did ye but understand it.”

Thus hath the Tongue spoken in the Kingdom of utterance. Verily thy Lord is the Truth, the Knower of the unseen.

BH09012: In the name of the Beloved of all worlds…

In the name of the Beloved of all worlds, this Book hath been sent down in truth and guideth the people to the path of God, the Mighty, the All-Bestowing.

Verily it is the Most Great Proof amongst the nations and the mercy of the All-Merciful in all creation.

O peoples of the earth! Hearken unto the call from the direction of the Prison, then aid your Lord, the All-Merciful, through wisdom and utterance.

We have sent the Messengers and revealed the Books to give the glad-tidings to the people of this Day which God hath made the Lord of Days.

Grieve not over anything, but place thy trust in God, the Lord of lords. Verily He is the Helper of him who hath no helper, and He aideth His servants who have held fast to the cord of His commandments.

Say: Abandon vain imaginings—the Sun of Certitude hath dawned from the horizon of thy Lord’s will, the Dayspring of verses.

The glory rest upon thee, upon thy brother, and upon those who have attained unto this station among the people.

BH09234: The Wronged One in the land of exile remembers…

He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing!

The Wronged One in the land of exile remembers the friends of God and His chosen ones with a remembrance which God has made a light unto the people of the Kingdom, an ornament unto the people of the Realm of Might, and the Water of Life unto all creation. Exalted is the All-Merciful Who has appeared and manifested whatsoever He willed through His Name, the Protecting, the Self-Subsisting.

O thou who gazest upon the Countenance! Hearken unto the Call from the direction of ʿAkka. It summoneth thee unto God, the Mighty, the Loving. Leave the world to its people and hold fast unto the cord of wisdom and utterance. Thus doth the All-Merciful command thee as a token of His grace, and He, verily, is the Truth, the Knower of the unseen. This is a Day wherein the door of bounty hath been opened with the key of [My Name] the Self-Subsisting, and the Tongue of Grandeur speaketh that whereby hearts and minds are attracted.

BH10078: O Rahman! The All-Merciful hath come from the heaven…

He is the Manifest, the Ever-Witnessed

O Rahman! The All-Merciful hath come from the heaven of Command with majesty and sovereignty. We have heard the call of the sincere ones and have answered them through Our grace, for verily We are the Mighty, the Bestower. Blessed is he who hath cast away vain desire and taken hold of that which was enjoined upon him by God, the Lord of all mankind. And woe unto every heedless liar!

The people of the Bayan have cast aside their Lord and taken hold of that which was commanded unto them by every crafty deceiver. Thus hath My Most Exalted Pen spoken, and the Tongue of Grandeur hath testified thereunto from His Most Glorious Horizon—this station round which circle the dwellers of Paradise at all times.

BH10082: O Sattar, Concealer of mysteries manifest, through Whose revelation…

In the name of the one incomparable God!

O Sattar, Concealer of mysteries manifest, through Whose revelation the hidden secret and treasured mystery hath been made resplendent! This is the Day of vision, that one may behold, and the Day of hearing, that one may hearken, and the Day of utterance, that one may voice the praise of the Beloved of all creation. Through the blessed nature of the Most Great Name, that which was hidden hath become manifest and visible.

At times He spoke in Persian, and at times in Arabic, and at times without either. He doeth whatsoever He willeth and ordaineth whatsoever He desireth, and He is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Thus have We illumined the horizon of the heaven of proof with the luminary of utterance. Blessed is he who hath recognized, and woe unto the heedless ones.

BH09743: This is the Day wherein all that was hidden…

He is the All-Seeing, the All-Knowing

This is the Day wherein all that was hidden hath been and shall be made manifest and evident. No matter remaineth concealed in this Day, nor can it be concealed, for it is the Day of revelation and witnessing. The Distinguisher hath appeared and the Balance is set up. All matters are weighed in the divine Balance, and truth is distinguished from falsehood, the blessed from the wretched, the truthful from the false, and the trustworthy from the treacherous. Well is it with the soul that assisteth the Dayspring of Divine Unity through goodly deeds and praiseworthy character. By one’s deeds is one’s station ultimately revealed. There is no God but He, the Self-Sufficient, the Most Exalted.

BH09814: The eyes of the nations have not seen…

In the Name of the Beloved of the World!

The eyes of the nations have not seen and will never see a day better than this wondrous Day, and the ears of the world have not heard and will never hear a call like unto this.

O people of insight! The Most Great Scene hath appeared and the Lord of Power hath dawned forth in His Name of the Oppressed. Today the gates of bounty are opened wide and the rain of mercy from the heaven of providence is ceaselessly falling. Deprive not yourselves. Verily He commandeth you that which profiteth you and guideth you unto His Straight Path.

We make mention of thy son Mihdi who desired to drink from the ocean of the utterance of his Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Remember him on My behalf and give him the glad-tidings of My loving-kindness which hath preceded all created things.

BH10347: The dawn has witnessed My rising, the afternoon My…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Great!

The dawn has witnessed My rising, the afternoon My turning and calling, and the night My sorrow and imprisonment among My servants. And beyond these, One has called out with the most exalted call from the luminous Spot, saying: “There is no God but Me, the Single, the All-Informed.”

This is the Day of God, but the people are in grievous doubt. They have cast certitude behind their backs and followed vain imaginings and idle fancies.

Give thanks unto God for having remembered the Wronged One, Who hath sent down unto thee this perspicuous Tablet. Say: Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds!

BH10437: O Jalil! The Lord of the world remembers you…

In the Name of God, the Most Ancient, the Most Glorious

O Jalil! The Lord of the world remembers you from His Most Great Prison and gives you glad tidings of the Supreme Paradise, the station whereon has been established the throne of the manifestation of your Lord, the Merciful, the Compassionate. Blessed is he who has attained unto the Word of God, and the ear that has heard His sweetest call, and the eye that has beheld His most glorious countenance. This is the station exalted and sublime. Hold fast to the cord of steadfastness and cling to My luminous robe. Thus does He command you Who has built this mighty edifice which remains unchanged by the vicissitudes of time. To this testifies every fair-minded one possessed of knowledge. Praise be to God, the Most High, the Most Great.

BH10453: O Khalil! The Glorious One has come…

He is the Crier betwixt earth and heaven

O Khalil! The Glorious One has come and the Son has gone to the place of sacrifice and did not return, and gave up His spirit and all He had in the path of God, the Lord of Lords. By God’s life, He turned with a face by which earth and heaven were illumined, as the Creator of Names bears witness to this in this mighty station. By God’s life, the Concourse on High circled round Him and every trustworthy Messenger sought blessing from His dust. Be thou thankful to God that He heard thy call and answered thee through this perspicuous Book.

BH10469: O ʿAli-Asghar! The Wronged One remembereth thee…

He is the One with power over whatsoever He willeth!

O ʿAli-Asghar! The Wronged One remembereth thee from the precincts of His Most Great Prison, that He may draw thee nigh unto God, the Mighty, the All-Bestowing. Take hold of the Book of God with the power that proceedeth from Him, then make mention of Him at eventide and at dawn. He hath remembered thee with that which all the treasures of the earth cannot equal. To this beareth witness the Mother Book which is with Him. By God! The Book speaketh, yet the people are in a wondrous sleep. They hear the call, yet deny it. They are indeed of the people of the veil. Glory be upon thee and upon him who hath shattered the idols of vain imaginings through the name of his Lord, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.