Volume 066: Akka 1299 A.H. (1881–1882), Part I (3 of 6)

BH00147: Magnified is the All-Merciful Who hath, through His Most…

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

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

Magnified is the All-Merciful Who hath, through His Most Exalted Word, attracted all who are in earth and heaven, and guided all through it on a Day wherein the foundations of the cities of names were shaken. He it is Who hath subdued all things through His Most Exalted Pen, and through it hath opened the door of reunion unto all who dwell in the kingdom of creation, and the Dove of the Cause hath warbled upon the branches of the Tree of Eternity. Exalted, exalted is He through Whose Name the world was illumined, and through Whom the feet of the peoples did slip—they who cast the path of God behind their backs and followed their vain desires. These are servants who went astray and led others astray until they pronounced judgment against Him Who created and fashioned them. Thus did their souls entice them. The servant and God’s loved ones on earth bear witness that they failed in their duty towards God when the standard “He is the Truth” was hoisted in the most exalted station.

Exalted is He Who caused to flow from the tongue of His chosen ones the waters of knowledge and utterance. They are the lamps of guidance amongst mankind—servants whose praise every book hath voiced and every tongue hath mentioned. They are the standards of divine knowledge in the realm of possibility and the banners of utterance from the All-Merciful. Exalted, exalted is He Who created them, caused them to be known, gave them utterance, brought them nigh, and chose them to serve His Cause among His servants, enabled them to make mention of Him among His creation, and made them the hands of His Cause in His kingdom. Through them the cock crowed and the clouds proclaimed: “The Kingdom is God’s, the Almighty, the Glorious, the All-Bountiful!”

Glory be to Thee, O Thou through Whose Name the pearls of divine knowledge appeared from the ocean of Thy mercy and the fragrance of the garment was diffused through Thy command and will! I beseech Thee by Thy Will which transformeth darkness into light and sorrow into joy, to send down from the heaven of Thy grace upon Thy chosen ones and Thy loved ones that which will draw them nigh unto Thee in all conditions and protect them from those who have denied the Beginning and the End. There is no God but Thee, the Self-Sufficient, the Most Exalted.

My spirit be a sacrifice unto your steadfastness! The birds of your knowledge have caused Me to hear, from the atmosphere of your certitude, that whereby I perceived the fragrance of your sincerity and your steadfastness in the Cause of our Beloved and your Beloved. When the shrill voice of your pen attracted Me and your words delighted Me, I soared on the wings of longing until I attained the station of nearness and holiness and beauty. And when I was present, that which was in your letter was presented, whereupon the Tongue of Grandeur spoke that whereby the Balance was set up and the mountains were moved. His word, exalted be His glory:

In My Name that shineth forth from the horizon of utterance

O thou who drinkest the choice wine of My utterance and soarest in My atmosphere! Hearken unto My call, for verily it draweth thee to My Kingdom and My dominion. By My life! The Word through whose breezes We quickened the kingdom of creation now lamenteth My sorrow and that which hath befallen Me at the hands of them that have violated My Covenant and Testament, and have chosen for themselves a loved one other than Me. Thus hath My tongue spoken that thou mayest know what hath befallen the Wronged One from the hosts of the oppressors. From every word of thy Lord hath flowed the living waters of proof and evidence, yet the people are in manifest doubt. The ocean of wisdom hath surged before all faces, yet most of the people remain heedless. Consider and remember when thou wert with Me and didst witness the waves of the ocean of thy Lord’s utterance, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

Behold the people of the Bayan! They claim faith for themselves, yet deny Him Who revealed the Bayan from His inaccessible and glorious Kingdom. The world hath been illumined by the Sun of My most exalted Word, yet the people remain behind a thick veil. Verily the Word at times singeth and at times lamenteth—the former for what it containeth and the latter for what hath befallen it from them that have disbelieved in God, the Lord of all worlds. This is the Day whereof Adam gave tidings, and after him Noah, and after him Hud, until Muhammad, the Apostle of God, came with a perspicuous Book. We revealed unto Him the Furqan wherein mention was made of this All-Wise Remembrance, and We gave tidings unto all therein of this Day which is the Lord of all ages and centuries, from God, the Almighty, the All-Powerful. He gave tidings unto all of the Days of God and spoke in praise of this Revelation, whereat, when it appeareth, all mankind shall stand before the Lord of the worlds.

O thou who gazest upon My countenance! Do ears hear? Nay, by the life of thy Lord, the Speaking, the All-Seeing! Do eyes behold? Nay, by My sanctified and luminous Beauty! By God! Were anyone to hear the call of thy Most Glorious Lord from the Supreme Horizon and taste the sweetness of His utterance, he would soar on the wings of detachment in this atmosphere wherefrom the near ones hear:

“There is no God but Me, the Most Exalted, the Most Great.”

Remind the people of thy Lord’s most great signs, that perchance they may cast away what they possess, turning unto God, the Lord of the Day of Judgment. Blessed is he who hath spoken forth this Most Great Remembrance, and blessed the ear that hath heard the Call, and blessed the heart that hath turned unto God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. It behooveth thee to speak that whereby the birds of certitude may soar throughout all regions and cities. Thus doth He Who hath given thee to drink the choice wine of inner meanings command thee, in His Name, the Forgiving, the Bountiful. Convey My greetings unto My loved ones who have turned away from all else save Me and have held fast unto My Strong Cord. Glory be upon thee and upon them that have attained unto this glorious and wondrous station.

The Sun of Grace shineth with such brilliance that none need establish Its reality through proofs and evidences. Praise be to God! That Beloved One hath ever been and remains remembered in the Most Holy Presence and Supreme Horizon. The principal cause for the delay in writing this letter was thy movement and travels, as successive letters from thee and other friends gave news of movement and intention to travel. This evanescent servant beseecheth God, exalted be His glory, that He may enable him to occupy himself with His remembrance in his remaining days and to make up for what hath passed.

And concerning what thou didst write in thy last letter about the gathering of those who drink the choice wine of inner meanings in the house of Karbila’i ʿAbdu’l-Baqi, upon him be the Glory of God, occupied in the remembrance of the Beloved of the worlds—blessed art thou and they, and those who have attained unto the knowledge of God, the Lord of what was and what shall be. This matter too was presented in the Most Holy and Exalted Presence. This is what the Tongue of the All-Merciful hath spoken in the Kingdom of Utterance. His word, exalted be His majesty:

In My Most Ancient and Most Great Name

When the Sun of inner meanings dawned forth in the mirror of knowledge, the blessed word “I am the One manifest above all things” became manifest, and in every instance an utterance appeared and a word was witnessed. The Divine Cause has been and shall forever be all-encompassing, and ere long its effects shall be witnessed in the world. The degrees of that honored one’s love, devotion and steadfastness are known and evident before the Wronged One. God willing, you shall bring to life the dead in the valley of heedlessness and ignorance with the Kawthar of the All-Merciful’s utterance, that all may drink from the Euphrates of divine mercy and turn to the supreme horizon.

This is a Day the like of which hath never been. God willing, may those near and sincere ones succeed in deeds that are likewise without peer or likeness. Under all conditions, keep the friends fresh and verdant through the fragrances of the All-Merciful’s raiment. I swear by the Life of the Beloved of creation that all the pens of the world and tongues of the nations fall short and are powerless to praise and extol this wondrous Day. That which was in the former Books hath now become manifest and evident. Say: By God, He hath appeared Who made the dawn as darkness and walked upon the borders of the earth. Be thou a cup-bearer among My servants, then give them to drink of the Kawthar of My loving-kindness and the choice wine of My bounty—at times in My Name, at others through My remembrance, and at times through My love, the Mighty, the Inaccessible. Ere long these days shall be rolled up, and most people shall find themselves in manifest loss. Strive that a handful of dust may attain everlasting life through the Salsabil of utterance. Today every soul is able to possess that which shall endure throughout the sovereignty of earth and heaven. Blessed are they who have attained unto this Day and recognized its Lord.

Say: Where are the hosts and the parties, and where is he who turned away from the Lord of Lords? Where are the ranks and the banners, and where are the crowns and the thrones? Say: Where is the joy of Chosroes and the lamentation of the bereaved? Ask thou God to aid all to that which beseemeth His appearance and His days, and to assist them in His remembrance, His praise and the service of His Cause, the Mighty, the Great. Thou shouldst, through God’s grace, speak that which will set the world ablaze and bestow the water of steadfastness at all times, that those on earth may be purified from the defilement of idle fancies and vain imaginings, and be adorned with the ornament of knowledge and certitude. He commandeth thee that which profiteth the servants. Thy Lord is verily the Ordainer, the All-Wise.

And likewise these exalted words were revealed from the Source of verses regarding Aqa ʿAbdu’l-Baqi, upon him be the glory of God, whose house became a gathering place for the friends of God. His glory be exalted:

In the Name of the Peerless Lord

O Abdu’l-Baqi! Thou hast attained the presence of the All-Merciful, heard the divine call, and beheld the supreme horizon. I swear by the Sun of the heaven of God’s Cause that this station is sanctified and exalted above the mention of all on earth. However, thou must preserve it in the name of the Friend and keep it hidden from the thieves and treacherous ones. O Abdu’l-Baqi! Forget not the counsels of the Wronged One. He counseleth all in that which profiteth them in this world and the next. Thy Lord is verily the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. He is with thee, hearing and seeing, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. Blessed is the soul that today standeth firm in serving the Cause with wisdom, and blessed is the house from which the mention of God is raised. We make mention of those who gathered there and give them the glad-tidings of My loving-kindness and My mercy, which have preceded existence in both the seen and unseen realms. Blessed are their tongues for having uttered the praise of God, the Lord of all worlds, and their ears for having heard the mention of God, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

O Nabil, O Muhammad! Upon thee be the Glory of God, the Single, the One! Glorify on My behalf the countenances of My loved ones whom thou hast mentioned in thy letter, convey to them My remembrance and praise, and remind them of My verses and that which hath been revealed from My Pen. Say: By God! This is He by Whose will the Mother Book was sent down, by the movement of Whose Pen the Supreme Pen was moved, and by Whose call the Call was raised from the Dawning-Place of Grandeur. Sovereignty belongeth unto Him Who speaketh the truth. Blessed is he who hath drunk from the cup of His utterance, and woe unto the heedless. Thus have We opened the gate of the Kingdom of utterance with My finger, and I am, verily, the Powerful, the Mighty.

By the life of God! If all who dwell on earth were to truly perceive the fragrance of but a single verse from the divine verses, all would turn to the Manifestation of the Cause, become detached from what they possess and turn unto what is with God.

O thou beloved of My heart! The Kingdom of utterance is stirred by the divine utterance, yet the people are heedless, nay withered, nay dead. They have not partaken of nor received their portion from the Kawthar of immortality which floweth before all faces from the Supreme Pen. At one time this blessed word dawned from the horizon of utterance of the King of Oneness, addressing one of His names. Though the original divine utterance is not at hand, its purport is this: Beseech the exalted Truth that such fragrances may be diffused as would draw hearts and spirits to stations and bring to mind such realms that the mentions and conditions of this world would become to them a thing forgotten.

The friends of God must attain to such a station that neither the might of the oppressors nor the signs of the Pharaohs—who in one instance are called the denying divines and in another the objectors among the people of the Bayan—should prevent them from the divine Kawthar. The greater the Cause, the greater its trials and tribulations. Yet today trials and tribulations are not visible, for the heaven of grace is raised high and the ocean of bounty is manifest. If from one direction the cups of trials and tribulations are witnessed, from another the Most Glorious Beauty with the white hand bestoweth the Kawthar of immortality. If croaking is raised, the pure wine is also flowing and circulating.

In one of the Tablets these words were revealed from the source of verses—His word, exalted be His majesty and might: Say: O friends of Truth! Be not saddened by the derision of the deniers and the denial of the objectors, for these matters have ever been and will ever be proof of the truth of the Truth, exalted be His glory. If ye should hear unseemly words from some ignorant, heedless, unknowing one, it mattereth not, for he and all that is with him shall soon return to nothingness, while ye today drink from the Kawthar of the utterance of the All-Merciful and hear the words “Ye are of Me.” At this moment, one of the near angels circling round made supplication: “O my God, my Lord, my Goal, my Beloved, and Beloved of all in the heavens and earth! I beseech the ocean of Thy generosity and the sun of Thy grace that I may hear a hundred thousand curses, revilings and denunciations in Thy love, if but once this ear might be blessed with hearing the most sweet words ʿVerily thou art of the people of Baha.”’

The generality of mankind dwelling upon the earth in this day have turned away from the Truth and remained bereft of their portion from the ocean of divine knowledge. They utter and continue to utter that which causeth the denizens of the Most Sublime Paradise, the Prophets and Messengers of God, to lament and bewail. This is not the first matter to have appeared in the realm of existence. The friends of God must, under all conditions, with utmost endeavor and steadfastness, occupy themselves in service to the Cause. His Holiness Rumi—upon him be mercy—hath said: ʿThe moon sheddeth forth its light while the dog howleth.’ It behooveth all to direct their gaze toward the betterment of the world and toward that which befitteth the station of man. Verily, whoso remaineth opposed to the command of God, He seizeth him and rendereth him manifest as one who hath never been, nor is, cognizant of consummate wisdom.

Section 2: “During this time, whilst the servant was engaged…”

During this time, whilst the servant was engaged in penning this epistle, a command issued forth from the Supreme Source of the Cause, and after entering into the Most Holy and Inaccessible Sanctuary, the Tongue of Grandeur gave utterance to this blessed Word—exalted be His majesty—saying:

Write to Nabil, upon him be My glory and loving-kindness: Arise to serve the Cause of Truth through the power of Truth, the grace of Truth, and the might of Truth—arise with such steadfastness that the very essence of constancy shall be made to tremble thereby. With the fire of love set ablaze the hearts and souls of men, and with the light of knowledge illumine their countenances, that the hearts and souls of the sincere may be sanctified from all doubts, conditions and allusions, and that they may, detached and free, occupy themselves with His mention, His praise and the teaching of His Cause throughout His realms and domains.

Say: O ye who thirst for the stream of flowing mercy, O ye who yearn for the surging ocean of attainment, O ye who await the presence of your Lord—for what day have ye reserved your eyes? For what hour have ye kept your hearts? And for what moment have ye preserved your tongues and ears? Today the eye proclaimeth at the highest pitch, “The Day is mine!” for the Goal of all existence hath spoken the words “Look, thou shalt behold Me.” The ear declareth, “By God, the time is my time!” for the Most Sweet Call hath been raised from the realm of grandeur. And the tongue in the kingdom of utterance proclaimeth “Verily, this Day is my Day!” A hundred thousand blessings rest upon him whom the conditions of the world and its changing hues have not withheld from the Essence of all essences, and whom perishable things have not debarred from the everlasting kingdom.

In that moment such verses were revealed from the Dayspring of Divine Revelation that, by God besides Whom there is none other God, this servant was struck with wonderment and amazement, and in truth found himself utterly powerless to utter a single word thereof. Unless the confirmations of God, exalted be His glory, shall assist, how can this servant be capable of writing, or worthy of setting forth the truth? I beseech you and all the friends to supplicate God, exalted be His glory, to aid this servant in this most great and mighty service. Verily, He is the Helper of the world, and within His grasp lie the reins of all nations. There is none other God but Him, the Almighty, the All-Powerful.

A beloved and honored missive from his honor Samandar, upon him be the Glory of God, was sent to his honor Ism-i-Jud, upon him be the Glory of God, and he forwarded it to the Most Holy Court. All of it was presented, and answers to some passages descended from the heaven of grace, but will be sent at a later time. The Command is in His hands—He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He desireth, and He is the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. In truth, they have not fallen short in serving the Cause. God willing, may they be confirmed in all conditions. Their mention has been and continues to be made in the Most Holy Court. God willing, they shall attain the answer to the aforementioned missive. Blessed be he and his honor Nabil Ibn Nabil. This servant has always wished to be occupied with the praise and glorification of the friends of God, but finds no time and opportunity is lacking.

In every post, observe how correspondence and missives arrive from most directions. Many times this servant has felt utterly embarrassed due to lack of time. On one hand, occupied with writing divine verses in His presence, on another hand engaged in making copies thereof, and beyond that answering correspondence and letters which the friends write to this servant himself, and beyond these stages, by command some tablets are also sent in this evanescent one’s handwriting. In all conditions I beseech confirmation from God, exalted be His glory, and seek enablement that whatever days remain may be spent in commanded services. Verily He is the Lord of enablement, there is no God but He, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

His honor, the esteemed Sarvar, his honor K.D., upon him be 966 [Baha’u’llah], has written a letter to this evanescent one and likewise sent a petition to the Most Holy Court. It was presented before the Throne. The Sun of favor rose and shone from the horizon of grace and the Tongue of Grandeur spoke this blessed word, His word exalted be His majesty:

In My Name, the Dawning from the Horizon of the World

O thou who art mentioned before the Wronged One! Thy call hath attained the hearing of the Lord of Names. God willing, through divine grace thou shalt in all nights and days be engaged in the remembrance of God and arise to serve the Cause. This wondrous Day is attributed to Him. Behold what the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Qur’an: “The Kingdom on that day shall be God’s.” Verily the Balance walketh and saith: “I am the All-Knowing Discerner,” and the Path proclaimeth: “His Straight Path hath appeared,” and the Self-Subsisting calleth out with the most exalted call: “The Promised One hath come and people have arisen for the Lord of the worlds.” Blessed is he who hath recognized and heard and turned and found the fragrance of the All-Merciful’s utterance when He came with manifest sovereignty.

Remember My loved ones on My behalf and give them the glad tidings of My mention and My mercy and My favor and convey to them My glorious and wondrous greetings. Say: In all books before and after, this Day hath been named the Day of God, yet the manifestations of idle fancies and daysprings of vain imaginings are heedless and veiled therefrom, and like earthworms are cast down and occupied in the clay of ignorance. God willing, may the people of Baha appear with such an adorning as befitteth this mighty Cause. Thus have We mentioned thee before and at this time and We shall mention thee hereafter with a tablet from which shineth the sun of thy Lord’s tender mercy, the Kind, the Generous. End.

This evanescent servant too shall, God willing, submit an answer to their letter.

And this is what was revealed from the Dawning Place of verses for him who was named Muhammad-Javad on the Day of the Call, His word exalted be His grandeur:

He is the Most Ancient, the Most Great

This is the Day whereon all atoms cry out: “The Kingdom belongeth to the Revealer of verses,” while the Spirit proclaimeth from the Divine Throne: “Greatness belongeth to God, the Lord of lords.” Blessed art thou and those whose heads are adorned with the crowns of their Lord’s favor, the Lord of Return. Days and nights shall pass away, but there shall endure for thee that which hath been sent down from this Pen, before which all pens bow down when it moveth. Rejoice thou in My remembrance of thee, for it cannot be equaled by the treasuries of kings nor by the wealth of merchants. We counsel thee and them that have believed in that whereby the Cause of God, the Cleaver of Dawn, may be exalted. We make mention of My handmaidens who have circled round the will of their Lord, the Lord of Necks. And We make mention of thy wife, from whom We have inhaled the fragrance of steadfastness in this Cause—the Cause at whose appearance covenants were breached and standards reversed. Blessed is she, and again blessed is she. We testify that she hath attained unto that which most of the servants have been debarred from.

O Ahmad! The One, the Single, remembereth thee as He walketh upon the most exalted station. Say: O concourse of the dead! Arise, then hearken unto that which the Speaker of the Mount uttereth on the Sinai of Revelation through this Name, at which the Evil One hath lamented and the mountains have crumbled. Let not the affairs of the world grieve thee. Turn thy face toward the All-Bountiful and say: Ordain for me that which profiteth me, O Thou in Whose grasp are the reins of all created things. Thou art He Who directeth the world with the finger of Thy will, and Who holdeth the bridle of governance with Thy other finger. Verily Thou art the Almighty, the Powerful, the All-Giving. The glory be upon thee and upon thy father and mother, and upon those who are with you among the loved ones of God, the Lord of creation.

Wondrous and sublime verses have been revealed from the Divine Tongue for all the friends in that land. The river of mercy floweth. This drop is not capable of enumerating. Would that the people of the world might know! Would that they might hear! Would that they might be fair!

And at the end of the utterances of the King of Names and Attributes, these exalted words were revealed especially for Jinab-i-Fayd’u’llah, upon him be the Glory of God. His word, exalted be His grandeur:

In My Name, the Manifest, the All-Knowing

O Fayd’u’llah! The Tongue of Grace declareth: The cloud of mercy is raised up and the rains of generosity pour forth from the clouds of bounty. Blessed is the state of one who is not deprived today of the outpouring of the True Bestower of Grace. God willing, may hearts become connected to the divine ocean of joy so that they may be freed and liberated from the troubles and sorrows of the world. Thou hast drunk from the cup of the All-Merciful’s utterance time and again. God willing, mayest thou be aided to preserve this most exalted station. That which is incumbent upon all today is that they expend the utmost effort and endeavor in attaining the good-pleasure of God, that they may achieve this greatest bounty and mighty gift. And this station cannot be attained except through complete effacement in the will and desire of God. God willing, may all be successful in submission and contentment, and be thankful for what God hath commanded. Convey greetings from the Wronged One to the friends of that land. How excellent is the state of one who hath attained to His mention and hath arisen to serve Him. The command is in His hand—He giveth and withholdeth, and He is the Almighty, the Powerful.

Concerning your mention that you had sent detailed missives containing exhortations and counsels to the friends of God in the land of Kha—this was submitted to the Most Holy Court. Thus did the tongue of the All-Merciful speak forth in the Kingdom of Utterance—exalted be His majesty:

“Well is it that he has acted. God willing, they should at all times be bearers of glad tidings from the presence of the Truth. The people of the earth need educators and likewise expounders, that all may, in this spiritual morn, partake of the wine of divine love and attain unto that which God has desired for them. Blessed are the people of Kha, who have cast away vain desire and held fast unto the Lord of all mankind. We give them the glad tidings of God’s grace and mercy, and draw them nigh unto a station that hath been recorded by the Pen of God. Convey My greetings unto their faces and remind them of My days that were promised in the Tablets. Their mention hath flowed from My Most Exalted Pen—to this testifies the Mother Book, which speaketh in the Most Great Prison amidst the nations that which shall assist them in a Cause that hath been inscribed in the Book. God willing, may all attain to divine bounties.”

And concerning what you wrote about that known person, it was submitted, whereupon He said:

“We have protected him and his brother on numerous occasions. Thy Lord is verily the All-Bountiful, the Protector, the Generous. We have ordained for them the good of this world and the next. He is verily the Almighty, the Powerful. God willing, may they attain on this divine Day to that which shall deliver them from the troubles of the world. Beseech God—glorified be His majesty—that they may be aided to preserve that which hath been bestowed upon them. Verily thy Lord speaketh the truth, and He is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. There shall appear from them that whereby their mention shall endure throughout the kingdom of earth and heaven. This beseemeth today those who have turned unto the One, the All-Wise. The glory be upon him and upon those with him who have turned unto My luminous horizon.”

This evanescent servant beseecheth God—glorified be His majesty—to aid His loved ones in that which befitteth His divine Day.

Another submission: Concerning what you wrote specifically about those souls gathered in the house of Karbala’i ʿAbdu’l-Baqi—upon him be the glory of God—wondrous and exalted verses have been revealed from the heaven of divine Will. God willing, may all attain unto them.

However, at the end of the letter you had mentioned Aqa Muhammad-ʿAli—upon him be the glory of God—from the land of Sh. After submission to the Most Holy Court, the Sun of Utterance shone forth in the form of these sublime words—exalted and glorified be His utterance

He is the Mafest and the Hidden

Verily We make mention of him who hath desired to make mention of his Lord, and We bid him to that which beseemeth the days of God, the Self-Subsisting, the All-Compelling. In the night seasons the scratching of My Most Exalted Pen is raised up, and in the daytime the tongue of My grandeur doth speak:

“There is none other God but Me, the Truth, the Knower of things unseen.”

Every hour beareth witness to My remembrance, and every moment declareth that the Call hath not ceased from the direction of the Lord of Names. At times He maketh mention through His Pen, at times through His tongue, and at times through His heart, sanctified from all that was and shall be. Rejoice, O Muhammad-Qabli-ʿAli, in My remembrance of thee, My loving-kindness towards thee, and My turning unto thee from My praiseworthy station. From this station We send Our greetings unto the faces of My loved ones in thy land, that they may rejoice in these greetings through which the fragrance of God’s loving-kindness hath been wafted in the seen and unseen realms. The glory shining forth from the horizon of eternity be upon them from God, the Lord of existence.

This servant’s humble petition at the end of this letter is that you convey the greetings of this lowly and submissive servant to all the friends of that land and to those masters who have drunk from the Kawthar of the utterance of the All-Merciful and who are gazing toward the Most Exalted Horizon. God willing, may all be blessed with the outpourings of His Grace, the All-Bountiful, and remain steadfast in His service. The Glory be upon you and upon them and upon those who have testified to that which God, the Lord of the worlds, hath testified.

The servant 22 Muharram 1299

BH00186: In the month of Muharram of the year 99

Section 1: “In the month of Muharram of the year…”

In the month of Muharram of the year 99

O Muhammad-Hasan-i-ʿAttar, may the Glory of God rest upon him. Consider thou this.

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

All praise, sanctified beyond mention, allusion, word and meaning, befitteth the most holy and most exalted court of the Beloved One Who, through a single effulgence shed from the Sun of His firm utterance, illumined the horizons and caused every faltering tongue to speak with surpassing eloquence. He it is through Whose will the education of the world hath ever been sustained, and by Whose decree the quickening of nations hath been and shall forever be accomplished. All the atoms of the universe are moved to exultation and joy by the fragrance of His manifestation. Blessed is the servant whom neither the doubts of the veiled ones prevented from his goal, nor the intimations of the followers of the Bayan kept back from the Beloved of the worlds.

A handful of dust, unworthy of mention, have laid claim to existence, and souls who know neither beginning nor end have, through their pretensions to knowledge, become the cause of misguidance. We beseech God, exalted be His glory, to sanctify and detach the people of Baha from all else but Him, that the Pharaohs of the world and the tyrants among the nations may find themselves agitated and unsettled before their steadfastness. The Pharaohs and tyrants referred to here signify, in one sense, the people of the Bayan, who through their vain imaginings have deprived themselves of the manifest Sovereign and the Lord, the Self-Subsisting. I swear by the Sun of the horizon of divine favor that such wickedness and heedlessness as shown by these souls hath never been witnessed.

We pray God to confirm all in turning unto Him and in steadfastness in His Cause. Verily, He is the Protector of all who are in the heavens and on earth. Praise be to God, the Lord of all worlds.

Glory be unto Thee, O my God! Thou seest Thy loved ones beneath the talons of Thy enemies, and Thy chosen ones in the grasp of the transgressors among Thy creatures. O Lord! Do Thou protect them through the hosts of the unseen, whereby Thou didst protect Thy Prophets, Thy Messengers and Thy Chosen Ones. O Lord! Illumine their faces with the light of Thy countenance and their hearts with the effulgences of the suns of Thy knowledge. O Lord! They are Thy servants and Thy creation who have turned unto Thee and have voiced Thy praise on a Day whereon all have turned away from Thy beauty. O Lord! Aid them to be steadfast in Thy Cause and draw them ever closer unto Thee in all conditions. This servant knoweth with certain and perfect certitude that there is no blessing in the kingdom more excellent than nearness unto Thee, and no gift greater than Thy good-pleasure. I beseech Thee to illumine our faces from the Sun of Thy grace and to ordain for us through Thy Pen of Decree that which beseemeth Thy glory and majesty. There is none other God but Thee, the Almighty, the All-Knowing.

And further: thy letter was received, and from it wafted the sweet savors of certitude. Praise be to God that they are speaking His praise and are the recipients of His grace, for were it not for His prevenient grace, who would be capable of turning unto Him and recognizing Him? His is the praise that transcendeth the praise of the sincere ones and the pens of all that was and shall be. After perusal, it ascended and attained the presence of the Lord of the seen and the unseen. Then, after permission was granted, thy letter was presented, and this is what the Tongue of Grandeur spoke in reply, exalted be His glory:

He is the All-Mentioning, the All-Knowing

O Hasan! Thou hast witnessed the effulgence of the light of My countenance and attained unto the outpourings of the ocean of Mine utterance. Give thanks unto thy Lord for this manifest favor. We have remembered thee and revealed for thee that which solaceth the eyes of them that are nigh. Say: Glory be unto Thee, O Thou in Whose grasp are the reins of all who are in the heavens and the earth! I beseech Thee by the light of Thy countenance, whereby the horizon of the heaven of meanings and utterance was illumined, and by the fire of Thy Tree, whereby all in creation were set aflame, to aid me in serving Thee in this Day which hath been mentioned in Thy Books and whereof Thou didst give glad-tidings unto all through the tongue of Thy Messengers.

O my Lord! Thou art He at Whose call all things have called out, and by Whose Word all in the kingdom of creation were attracted. I beseech Thee by the sovereignty of Thy names and by the treasuries of Thy knowledge, O Creator of the heaven, to assist Thy servants in celebrating Thy remembrance and praise, and in standing firm in this Cause whereby the hearts of those who denied Thee and Thy signs were thrown into turmoil. O my Lord! Every tongue hath testified to Thy grace and mercy, and every voice to Thy generosity and favors. There is none other God but Thee, the Bestower, the Bountiful.

Praise be to God! That honored one hath, through the grace of God, exalted be His glory, attained. He hath drunk from the Kawthar of reunion and partaken of the ocean of meeting. We beseech the Source of bounty and the Dawning-Place of generosity to ordain from the Most Exalted Pen, for all the friends, the reward of attainment and meeting. Verily, He is the One with power over whatsoever He willeth, and He is the Kind, the Bountiful.

And concerning what was written about Aqa Abu’l-Qasim, upon him be the Glory of God, it was presented before the Most Holy and Most Exalted Presence. A wondrous and sublime Tablet was specifically revealed for him and sent in the handwriting of this servant. God willing, may he drink from the oceans of inner meanings concealed within the divine words and hear with delight and satisfaction from the true Holy Spirit. For He hath said that among the distinctive features of this Most Great Revelation is that whenever any soul attaineth unto a word of the divine words, or a tablet from the tablets, or any of the bounties, the Holy Spirit proclaimeth in the highest voice in the Kingdom of the Unseen “May it be pleasant and wholesome!” Blessed is the soul that hath attained, the eye that hath seen, and the ear that hath heard. His word, exalted be His grandeur:

In My Name, the One Who Warbleth upon the Branches

This is a Day wherein everyone who has advanced has attained the Most Exalted Horizon, and every person of insight has proclaimed: “The Kingdom belongs to God, the Lord of Lords!” The Supreme Pen makes mention of the friends of the Lord of Names, saying: Today the attraction of the verses has seized all atoms. Today Mount Sinai circles round the Manifestation, and Batha proclaims “The Truth has appeared!” The House is enraptured and joyous at the appearance of its Lord. Blessed is the soul whom the cawing of the crows has not prevented from the true elixir. I swear by the Sovereign of the Word that if all the world were to catch a fragrance from this Garment, all would turn their faces toward the Friend. Say: O friends of Truth, be not saddened by the taunts of the wayward and the denials of the deniers, for these matters have ever been and will continue to be proofs of the truth of the Truth, exalted be His glory. If you hear an unseemly word from some ignorant, heedless person, it matters not, for he and all that pertains to him will soon return to nothingness, while you today drink from the Kawthar of the utterance of the All-Merciful and hear the words “you are of Me.”

At this moment, one of the near-stationed angels who was circling round made supplication: “O my God, my Lord, my Goal, my Beloved, and the Beloved of all who are in the heavens and the earth! I beseech the ocean of Thy generosity and the sun of Thy grace that I might hear a hundred thousand curses and reproaches and imprecations in Thy love, and that this ear might but once be blessed with hearing the most sweet words ʿVerily thou art of the people of Baha.”’ At this moment, upon hearing these wondrous and sublime words, the servant who was present before His face engaged in writing down the verses was observed to become ignited like a globe of fire. Blessed are they who are set ablaze by the Word of God, and woe to the heedless!

Ask of God, exalted be His glory, to make thee steadfast and grant thee a portion of the sweetness of His utterance. How many powerful souls were seen to be weak at the time of the revelation of the Word, and how many learned ones were counted among the ignorant at the time of His manifestation. Today, every light thing soars in spiritual atmospheres through the name of God and His favor, while every heavy thing lies fallen and cast out upon the earth of self and desire. Beseech ye God to save all through His mighty arm and draw them to the Most Exalted Horizon. Verily, He is the Helper, the Succourer. Praise be unto Him Who praises and speaks in this moment.

At the end of this Tablet, this Wronged One conveys greetings to the friends of that land and says: Verses, remembrances and words are being sent down like copious rain without cessation from the heaven of the All-Merciful’s loving-kindness. Has such a bounty ever appeared in any age? Has any pen or tongue ever announced such a matter? Nay, by My life! Therefore, those who drink the choice wine of utterance must manifest themselves with such spirit and joy that all contingent beings may perceive their fragrance. In this Revelation, matters have appeared such that no fair-minded person has any cause for hesitation. But God guides whom He willeth to His straight path. Verily, He is the Almighty, the All-Powerful.

But, O My loved one, where is to be found an ear that is meet to hearken unto the utterance of Truth? By the life of the Beloved of existence! Were the servants to discover but this single Tablet, revealed from the heaven of the All-Merciful’s utterance in the name of the honored Abu’l-Qasim, and were they to attain unto its meanings, they would all be guided unto the supreme purpose, and would reach the ultimate end for which they were created. Yet the causes of heedlessness have brought about heedlessness, and have sealed the eyes of true vision.

This servant is lost in a sea of wonder, pondering what hath befallen, that some among men should remain deprived of the breaths of Revelation which, in this day, encompass the world, and should be shut out from the splendors of the Sun of proof and evidence. They have beheld the operation of God, and they behold His power. They have witnessed, plain and manifest, that which the Book, by explicit and clear text, hath proclaimed unto all; and yet, notwithstanding this, they have dedicated their ears unto the croaking cry, and have deprived themselves of hearkening unto the divine utterance.

Stranger than all is this: that these self-same people of the world who ascribe themselves to the Bayan have remained bereft of its Sovereign, its Revealer, and its Beloved. They are seen, in very truth, even as those souls who call themselves Shi’ih. These Shi’ih—God preserve us from their guile, their heedlessness, and their error!—through successive and continuous ages, fashioned out of their own fancies and vain imaginings certain traditions, and bowed down before them in worship and devotion, until the Hand of divine power rent the veil asunder and made manifest that which lay hidden in their hearts. Whereupon, as hath been witnessed, they hanged that Essence of existence, and, with bullets of hatred, martyred Him by the decree of divines who were among the pillars and chief ones of the Shi’ih. Upon the oppressors be the curse of God! These deluded souls tread this same path, and lead the poor people unto an idol.

I beseech Thee, O my God and the God of all who are in earth and heaven, to protect Thy servants from the defilement of those who have turned away from Thy sweetest call, denied Thy most great signs, and cast behind them Thy Covenant and Testament in the kingdom of creation. O Lord! Aid Thy servants to be fair-minded and to acknowledge that which their eyes have seen and their ears have heard in Thy days, O Thou in Whose grasp is the dominion of all peoples! Thou art, verily, the All-Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

And as for what you wrote concerning Aqa Shaykh Muhammad of the people of Manshad, upon him be the Glory of God, mention of him was made in the Most Holy and Most Exalted Presence. This blessed Tablet was revealed especially for him. He speaks, exalted be His grandeur:

In My Name, the Most Ancient, the Most Great

Verily We make mention from Our Most Exalted Pen of him who hath been named Muhammad in the kingdom of creation, and We have mentioned him before as a token of Our grace, for verily We are the All-Knowing Rememberer. Blessed is he who hath attained unto My days, turned towards My countenance, and uttered My beautiful praise. Today, every possessor of vision hath won this most great bounty, and every possessor of hearing hath won the hearkening unto his Lord’s call, the Expositor, the All-Wise. Happy the lands from which the fragrance of the Robe hath been wafted, and the city o’er which have passed the breezes of the dawn of My glorious and wondrous Day. Happy the soul that hath taken the chalice of immortality in My Most Glorious Name and drunk therefrom through My mention, the Mighty, the Gracious.

Section 2: “We have aforetime enjoined upon the friends…”

We have aforetime enjoined upon the friends of God and His servants that wisdom whereby We have taken the covenant from those who have turned unto God, the One, the All-Informed. Blessed art thou, O Muhammad, inasmuch as thou hast shattered the idols of vain imaginings through the name of thy Lord, the Possessor of mankind, and drunk from the ocean of certitude. We have made mention of thee in such wise as nothing on earth can equal. He Who speaketh these words beareth witness: There is none other God but Me, the Numberer, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

We counsel thee to observe wisdom lest there occur that which God abhorreth and the clamor of them that have denied the Day of Judgment be raised. Hold thou fast unto the cord of wisdom in all circumstances. Verily He witnesseth and seeth, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. Beware lest the affairs of men grieve thee. Behold and then call to mind what befell God’s Messengers and His chosen ones when He sent them with manifest sovereignty. Among the people were those who turned away from them and opposed them, and those who pronounced sentence for the shedding of their blood. Thus did their desires command them without any clear proof from God, the Lord of all worlds. We summoned them to the supreme horizon, yet they confined Us in this mighty fortress. We desired for them the good of the hereafter and of this world, yet they abandoned Us in this remote prison. We opened unto them the gates of blessings, yet they prevented Us from the bounty which God created through My Name, the Bestower, the Invincible.

And We make mention of My loved ones in that place, and We send Our greetings unto them, and We counsel them to manifest supreme steadfastness and that which beseemeth this Day whereof God gave glad-tidings through the tongues of the Messengers. The glory be upon thee and upon those who have laid hold on the hem of wisdom and upon those who have turned unto the Most Great Ocean on this momentous Day.

Praise be to God! The Sun of bounty hath dawned from the horizon of the heaven of divine favor. Blessed are they who have on this day attained unto but a single letter, how much more a word and a tablet. The entirety of the world cannot equal a single word. How excellent is the state of the soul who hath today attained unto this most great bounty and this most exalted and noble station. However, according to divine command, all must hold fast to the cord of wisdom. Therefore, if outwardly the friends of God were to openly engage in teaching, this would surely cause uproar and clamor among the heedless divines, and likewise cause disturbance in the hearts of certain friends who are mentioned before God. Before the martyrdom of Badi’, these matters were in effect, and afterward the decree of wisdom was revealed with utmost clarity from the heaven of God’s command. Blessed are they who raise its standards and preserve its reins. Repeatedly was this blessed word heard from the Tongue of Unity, exalted be His grandeur:

“O friends! Today drink ye the living waters in the name of the Beloved of all creation, in defiance of the followers of all religions—a draught whereof the ungodly, the wayward, the deniers and the heedless shall not find a trace upon their lips. In receptive, fertile, and capable lands, deposit and cast the Word of God. From barren earth nothing groweth and nothing springeth forth.”

In all conditions, they must act according to that which God hath willed. In truth, service to the Cause hath been and shall ever be teaching, but with wisdom. All good is for those souls who have today arisen to serve the Cause. It is hoped that the true friends will not deprive themselves and will receive from the Dayspring of abundant grace that which shall endure throughout the kingdom of earth and heaven.

As to what was written concerning Aqa Siyyid Muhammad, upon him be the glory of God, who was the writer of the letter—praise be to God, he hath been and is remembered in the mention of God, exalted be His glory, both before and after. This servant conveyeth infinite greetings to him. Mention of him and Aqa Muhammad-Husayn, and the plea for their forgiveness, was submitted at the Most Holy Court. By the life of the Beloved! Thereupon did the ocean of forgiveness surge, and they attained unto that which they desired from the depths of the bounty of their Lord, the Mighty, the Generous.

As to what you wrote concerning Mulla Ali-Akbar, upon him be the Glory of God, a most sublime and holy Tablet hath been revealed for him from the heaven of divine knowledge and hath been dispatched. God willing, may he drink from its oceans of inner meanings and attain unto that which God hath willed. Though he is already aflame with the fire of love and attracted by the light of His countenance—blessed and happy is he! This servant conveyeth his greetings to him and beseecheth God, exalted be His glory, to aid him in serving His Cause. Verily He is the All-Powerful, the Almighty.

Likewise, specifically for Mulla Hasan, upon him be the Glory of God, a wondrous Tablet hath been revealed from the heaven of bounty. By the life of the Beloved! Every letter of these Tablets is, in the sight of God, superior to all that is visible and invisible. God willing, may those possessed of insight who gaze toward the Most Great Horizon drink from the chalices of divine utterances the living waters and occupy themselves in the gathering of contingent beings with wisdom and utterance in remembrance of the peerless Friend. Convey on behalf of this evanescent servant greetings unto him. God willing, may he shine forth like a brilliant star from the horizon of the heaven of meanings. His petition was presented at the Most Holy Court at the appointed time.

The Sun of favor hath dawned and shone forth from the horizon of grace, and the Tongue of Grandeur hath spoken that which the tongues of all on earth are powerless to recount. From the most sublime and holy Tablet the degrees of favor are evident and clear. Blessed is he! The servant beareth witness that he hath attained unto a Tablet before which all previous tablets have bowed down. Within His grasp is the Kingdom of grace—He giveth and withholdeth, and He is the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous.

And as to what thou didst mention concerning Ali, upon him be the Glory of God—after it was presented before the Most Exalted Horizon, this most sublime and holy Tablet was revealed from the presence of the all-pervading Will. God willing, may he attain unto it and drink from the Kawthar of steadfastness. His words, exalted be His glory:

In My Name, the Witness, the All-Hearing

O Ali! We have desired to make mention of thee and those who have believed, on a day which was recorded in the Books of God, the Lord of the worlds. This is a day wherein the atoms cry out:

“The Revealer of verses hath come, and sovereignty belongeth unto God, the Goal of them that know!”

God had taken the covenant of this Day from all who are in the heavens and on earth, yet when He appeared with the truth, the people turned away save those who shattered the idols of vain desire through the Name of the Lord of all being and turned with radiant faces toward the Most Exalted Horizon. How many a learned one hath lamented in separation, yet when the ocean of reunion surged, turned away and showed pride before God, the Beloved of the sincere ones. Say: By God! The Hidden One hath appeared and hath spoken that whereby the Concourse on High and the dwellers of the Most Exalted Paradise have been attracted. Blessed is he who hath recognized and found the fragrance of God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

O Ali! The river of thy Lord’s mercy hath flowed from My Most Exalted Pen. Take thou, in My Name, and drink therefrom through My binding and wise command. We give thee glad tidings, and to those who have believed in that place, of a bounty from Our presence and a favor from Our court. Verily thy Lord is the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous. We counsel you with that which hath been sent down in the Book from the presence of One mighty and powerful. Beware lest the conditions of the Pharaohs frighten you, or the doubts of the tyrants sadden you—they who have adorned their heads with turbans yet have disbelieved in God, the Lord of the Day of Judgment. They attained the heights of glory in this vain life through My Name, but when I manifested My Self, they pronounced judgment against it with evident tyranny. O loved ones of the All-Merciful in all lands! The Wronged One counseleth you from the precincts of the prison to be steadfast in this Cause, whose greatness hath been attested by the tongues of the dwellers of the Most Exalted Paradise, and whose sovereignty hath been witnessed by every truthful, just and discerning one. Hold fast unto it in the name of your Lord, the Possessor of Names, and say:

“Praise be unto Thee, O Creator of the heavens, for having made known unto us the Dawning-Place of Thy Cause, the Source of Thy Revelation, and the Dayspring of Thy Most Exalted Word, at whose appearance the dove cooed upon the branches.”

This is the Day which God foretold aforetime—the Day whereon mankind shall stand before the Lord of the worlds. Thus hath the gate of inner meanings been unlocked by the key of utterance, when the All-Merciful was walking in the most exalted station and calling all to His straight path.

God willing, may all the friends in those regions drink from the Kawthar of divine favor, fix their gaze with utmost steadfastness upon the Most Exalted Horizon, and attain unto that which is pleasing unto God, glorified be His majesty. This hath been and shall ever be among the most mighty matters in the sight of God. Today is the day of mention, praise, steadfastness and service. Blessed are they who have attained unto that which is befitting.

His honor Aqa Muhammad Isma’il of the people of Ya presented a petition to the Most Holy Court, which arrived through his honor Haji ʿAbdu’r-Rahim, upon him be the glory of God, His mercy and His favor. Several names were mentioned therein. A Most Holy, Most Exalted Tablet was revealed for each one, and as commanded, this servant wrote and sent them—deliver them unto them. As for what you wrote concerning the blessed location, this matter is, according to His command, with his honor Afnan, upon him be all the most glorious glory. Let whatever he deemeth advisable be carried out. Each of the persons whose names were in your letter have attained unto their purpose and all have been honored with a divine Tablet. God willing, may they attain unto the presence of the Tablets and discover therefrom the heavenly blessing, and through the Name of the One True Intended One, may they be blessed with this most great bounty. The glory of God be upon his honor, the Afnan of the Divine Lote-Tree, and upon thee, and upon those who have hastened with their hearts unto the Most Great Ocean and have drunk therefrom in the name of our Lord, our Beloved, our Goal and the Goal of all who are in the heavens and the earth.

Again it is mentioned that at the end of your letter was mention of the scribe, upon him be the glory of God. The extent of his mention and sincerity was presented in the Most Holy, Most Exalted, Most Glorious, Most High Court, and these pearls have appeared from the ocean of divine knowledge. Blessed is he and those who have attained unto the mention of our Most Holy, Most Great, Most Glorious Lord. His word, exalted be His majesty: He is the All-Witnessing, the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.

This is a Book which the All-Bestowing hath sent down from the heaven of grace unto him who hath turned unto Him and voiced His praise on a day whereon every heedless doubter turned away. Thou didst desire a drop from the clouds of the heaven of thy Lord’s bountiful mercy; thereby did the ocean of bounty surge, and the Countenance of the Ancient of Days turned toward thee from this glorious horizon. Give thanks unto God for this Most Great Remembrance. Verily He draweth thee nigh and guideth thee unto a station that shall gladden the eyes of them that are brought near. The clouds of munificence have rained down their bounties, and the Sun of generosity speaketh before all peoples: “The Truth is come, and sovereignty belongeth unto God, the One, the All-Knowing.” Grieve thou not over anything. Rather, rejoice thou in My remembrance of thee, and say: “Praise be unto Thee, O Thou Who hast remembered me in the Most Great Prison, and glory be unto Thee, O Thou in Whose grasp is held the reins of all who are in the heavens and on earth.”

These blessed verses, which are in truth greater than the heavens and the earth, were revealed specially for his honor Javanmard, upon him be the glory of God. God willing, may he attain unto them and drink from the ocean of His bounty.

BH00404: Praise be to God Who hath adorned the leaves…

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

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

Praise be to God Who hath adorned the leaves of the Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing with mysteries known to none save His exalted Self. When the Hidden Mystery desired to reveal Himself in the kingdom of creation, He shone forth through one of the Names, whereupon the denizens of the highest Paradise and those who dwell in the most exalted Garden were drawn unto Him. Glorified be the Creator of the heavens and the Originator of all things, Who hath caused to proceed from the Pen that which hath illumined the world. Blessed is he who hath sought the One Who is sought, and the seeker who hath sought the Desired One, and the learned who hath desired the Known One, and the mystic who hath turned toward the Recognized One. Woe unto every learned one whom knowledge hath withheld from the Sovereign, the Self-Subsisting, and every mystic whom vain imaginings have veiled from the Hidden Name. By the life of God! Those who pride themselves on their knowledge in the days of God and occupy themselves therewith without His leave are indeed among the worshippers of names, as recorded in the Crimson Book. To this beareth witness the Mother Book, which speaketh in the Prison that there is none other God but He.

Glory be to Thee, O Beloved of all creation! I beseech Thee by the leaves of the Tree of Thy knowledge, and the fruits of the Tree of Thine utterance, and the cooing of the doves of Thy remembrance in Thy lands, and the warbling of the nightingales of Thy love in Thy dominion, to assist Thy loved ones to stand firm in Thy Cause, to hold fast to the cord of Thy bounty, and to cling to the hem of Thy grace in such wise that the oppression of the aggressive ones in Thy days shall not deter them, nor shall the doings of the wrongdoers prevent them from turning toward Thy horizon. O Lord! Illumine their hearts with the lights of Thy knowledge, then give them to drink from the Kawthar of Thy love that they may recognize what Thou hast ordained for them from the Pen of Thy decree.

O Lord! Unveil unto them what hath been hidden from them through Thy grace and favor, for verily, O my God, my Lord and my Support, were they to become aware of what Thou hast ordained for those of Thy servants who are nigh unto Thee, they would cast away the world and all that is therein, turning with their faces, their eyes and their hearts unto Thee. O Lord! Make known unto them their stations and aid them to preserve them through Thy Name, Thy sovereignty, Thy might and Thy power. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed, the Bestower, the Forgiving, the Merciful.

To continue: as thy letter was enkindled with the fire of divine love, it added to its flame. God willing, may thy heart and the hearts of the loved ones of God ever be aflame with this fire which precedeth light itself and hath precedence over it. Were the pens of all who possess the power of composition to be engaged from the beginning that hath no beginning unto the end that hath no end in elaborating this theme, they would assuredly fail to pay befitting tribute to its praise. A single gleam of that fire shone forth upon the Mount, whereupon was witnessed what was witnessed and was heard what was heard. Exalted be He Who created it and caused it to appear and to speak. After this servant had perceived its heat and hearkened unto its sighing, I turned toward the Most Exalted Horizon and presented myself before His Face. Then did the Tongue of Grandeur speak that which the denizens of the kingdom of creation are powerless to mention or comprehend. At the end of the revealed verses, these exalted words were sent down from the heaven of divine Will—exalted be His grandeur:

In the name of the Wronged One, the Prisoner

O Abu’l-Hasan! Fix thy gaze upon this hallowed, exalted, blessed and perfect Word, which is as a pearl from the ocean of knowledge of the Best-Beloved of all creation:

“Aid ye your Lord, the All-Possessing, the Most High, through goodly character and deeds.”

O Abu’l-Hasan! Convey the Word of the Friend to His friends, that perchance they may drink of the life-giving waters concealed therein. The Supreme Pen hath, throughout the nights and days, counselled the loved ones of God to manifest goodly utterances and praiseworthy, well-pleasing deeds. If those who claim relationship with God, exalted be His glory, were to act in accordance with that which hath been enjoined, assuredly would its influence and fragrance encompass the world and illumine the embodiments of idle fancies and vain imaginings with the lights of certitude. Say: The intoxication of selfish desire hath withheld men from the Lord of all being and the Supreme Horizon. All were created for this Most Great Day, yet they remain veiled from it. Say: Strive ye, and let not this time slip from your grasp. I swear by the Divine Ocean of knowledge that these days have neither peer nor likeness.

In all things hold fast unto wisdom and take firm hold of consultation. God hath manifested Himself in such wise that no fair-minded soul hath any cause to hesitate. Should anyone observe with an eye of fairness that which hath streamed forth in this Revelation from the Supreme Pen in Adrianople, Baghdad and the Most Great Prison, and ponder thereon, he would proclaim the blessed words “The Truth hath appeared!” All previous Books bear witness to this Most Holy, Most Exalted Day, and all the Prophets and Messengers have testified to the greatness of this Most Great Day. Nevertheless, all remain heedless save whom God willeth. Reflect upon the followers of the Bayan. By Him Who hath set all things in motion through the movement of His Most Exalted Pen, they have no knowledge of the source of their vain imaginings and idle fancies to which they cling. Say: O ye that are bereft of vision! Consider with fairness and insight the divine verses and heavenly manifestations, and ponder upon them. Should anyone, detached from all else, gaze upon that which hath been revealed, he would surely perceive the fragrance of divine revelation and distinguish it from aught else.

O Abu’l-Hasan! We make mention at this moment of God’s loved ones and His friends in that land who have quaffed the choice wine, turning away from the cawing that hath been raised from the direction of vain imaginings, without any clear proof or evidence. We give them the glad-tidings of Our manifestation, Our remembrance and Our utterance, even as We gave them glad-tidings aforetime in the Scriptures and Tablets. Say: The Wronged One calleth you to the Dayspring of certitude and giveth you to drink of the sealed wine from the hands of His grace and favors. O My loved ones! Turn not your gaze toward the world and all that is therein. Ask ye God, the Lord of all being and the Sovereign of the throne on high and of earth below, to aid you to act in accordance with that which will cause your mention to endure throughout the eternity of His most excellent names.

There is none other God but Him, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful. We counsel you with that which We counselled you before, and We command you to do that which will draw you nigh unto God, the Lord of all mankind. Glory be upon you and upon My handmaidens whom the Most Great Veil hath not kept back from the Lord of Destiny Who speaketh from the Most Great Prison. The Kingdom is God’s, the Lord of all Lords.

Section 2: “Blessed art thou, nay, a hundred thousand times…”

Blessed art thou, nay, a hundred thousand times blessed art thou and the friends of God, for ye are drinking the choice wine from the chalices of the utterance of the All-Merciful. One drop thereof is more precious in the estimation of the Concourse on High than the blessings of both worlds. How far are these minds and souls from comprehending a station the praise of which hath been uttered by the tongue of the Lord of all names! The likes of us weak ones are unable to traverse this field save through the special assistance of God, exalted be His glory. Verily, He aideth whomsoever He willeth, and He is the All-Powerful, the Almighty.

Concerning what you wrote about the friends of the land of Za, it was presented at the Most Holy, Most Exalted Presence. This is what the Tongue of Grandeur spoke forth from His Most Glorious Horizon—glorified be His majesty:

“Our gaze of loving-kindness hath been directed towards the servants and handmaidens of that land. Blessed are they who, for the sake of God, show love unto those who are related to Abu-Basir—he who proclaimed this Most Great Name and offered up his spirit in the path of God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting—and likewise unto those who are related to Jinab-i-Ashraf, upon him be the glory of God, who drank what they drank from the choice wine of steadfastness and certitude in the Cause of the All-Merciful. These are My loved ones who dwell beneath the canopies of My grace. Upon them be My glory and the glory of all who are in the heavens and the earth.”

God willing, may the friends of that land attain unto that which God loveth.

As for what you wrote concerning the garden, it hath been accepted. However, according to His command, it must remain in their possession and they should use its proceeds until such time as the Command is revealed from the presence of the Wise Ordainer. And if you wish to know about earthly matters, the Tongue of Grandeur uttereth decisive verses night and day, and this evanescent servant is occupied with recording them. I beseech God—exalted be His glory and great be His bounty—to grant success and aid in this momentous task. Verily, He is the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous.

Some time ago, Jinab-i-Aqa Muhammad-Sadiq, upon him be the glory of God, arrived in the Holy Land. He saw, heard, drank, and attained. He came with the utmost joy and departed with the utmost joy after receiving permission. His letter arrived from the great city, from whence he intended to return to his home. I beseech God—exalted be His glory—to illumine that community and the people of that region with the lights of the Countenance of the Beloved of all creation, that all may gaze toward the Supreme Horizon and act according to that which God hath revealed in the Book.

This Persian verse was revealed from the Most Exalted Pen in previous years. He spoke, and His sweetest utterance is:

O Baha’u’llah, when Thy fire blazed forth It consumed the very existence of Thy lovers With but one spark cast upon hearts Thou didst raise a thousand Sinais in breasts

The Kawthar of love is concealed in these resplendent words. Outwardly, the word “fire” is mentioned, but inwardly it is light upon light. The flame of love is manifest and evident in the Sadratu’l-Bayan. God willing, hearts and souls shall be ignited by that fire and illumined by that light. In these days, and previously, several letters and missives arrived from Aqa Muhammad Hasan, upon him be the Glory of God, wherein were mentioned the names of certain devoted, assured and enkindled souls. For each one, a Most Glorious Tablet was revealed from the Supreme Horizon—some in the blessed handwriting of the Greater Branch (may my spirit, my being, and my essence be a sacrifice for the dust of His footsteps), and some written by this servant were sent.

In all conditions, all the friends who have truly partaken of the Most Pure Wine and are focused on the Greatest Scene must observe wisdom. The matter of wisdom is mentioned and accepted before God to such a degree that this year the Most Great Festival of the Birth was not celebrated. He said:

“We have prohibited this festival to exalt the station of wisdom and to elevate its rank.”

From this comprehensive, decisive and blessed word, the significance of wisdom becomes clear and evident. And these holy, sublime, blessed and revealed Tablets that were specifically revealed and sent for the friends of that land—if wisdom does not permit, let them remain with His Holiness Afnan (upon him be all the Most Glorious Glory). Great effort must be made to preserve the Tablets and Divine verses. It seems some have been negligent in this matter, as evidenced by the fact that when some friends were arrested in certain lands, their writings were discovered before they themselves were apprehended. In any case, mention of the Land of the Prison, as well as the Tablets, must remain concealed. Complete concealment is what behooveth us, and He is the Preserver, the Helper, the Mighty, the Great.

This servant’s request is that you convey greetings to all the friends of that land on behalf of this evanescent servant, and remind them of what has been mentioned, so that all may hold fast to the firm and strong cord and become detached from all else but God. These days and nights, these months and years, these hours and minutes—all have passed and are passing. God willing, may vision be fixed upon the Greatest Scene and may all our pillars attain to that which was ordained in the Book. Glory be upon you and upon those who have found and recognized the breeze that wafted in the dawn of God’s Day—our Beloved and your Beloved, our Goal and your Goal, and the Goal of all who are in the heavens and the earth. And praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

The servant 22 Muharram 1299

Another matter: A letter was received mentioning that a mule belonging to His Holiness Afnan (upon him be all Glory) was sold by Jinab-i-Amin (upon him be the Glory of God, His light and His favors) to Muhammad Bey (upon him be the Glory of God). A letter from the servant arrived requesting that the payment be sent. What kind of situation is this? This payment had no connection to the Holy Threshold that it should be requested. The property belongs to His Holiness Afnan and the payment should reach him. Now, since Jinab-i-Bey does not have the funds available, as commanded, do not request it and pay it from the Huququ’llah. As commanded, convey wonderful greetings to your relatives on behalf of God, exalted be His Glory, and give each the glad tidings of His special favors. This is from God’s grace upon you and upon those with you—know this and be among the thankful ones.

BH01453: Praise be to God Who sent forth the Messengers…

He is God, exalted be His glory, the Grandeur and the Power!

Praise be to God Who sent forth the Messengers, revealed the Books, made manifest the proof and evidence, and sealed Messengership and Prophethood with Him Who was named Muhammad in the Kingdom of Creation, Ahmad in the Concourse on High, and the All-Praised One in the tabernacle of grandeur and glory. He is the One through Whom truth was distinguished from falsehood. There is none other God but Him, the One, the Single, the Mighty, the Help in Peril.

Glorified art Thou, O my God! I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which the ships of Thy wisdom sailed upon the ocean of Thy knowledge, and the spheres of the heaven of Thy decree revolved by the Pen of Thy ordainment, to assist Thy loved ones and Thy friends even as Thou didst assist those who are nigh unto Thee among Thy creation and the sincere ones among Thy creatures. Then inscribe for them that which shall profit them in every world of Thy worlds. O my Lord! Thou beholdest them soaring in the atmosphere of Thy nearness and sailing upon the sea of Thy bounty. I beseech Thee not to disappoint them at the door of Thy mercy. Verily, Thou art the Ordainer, the Giver, the Mighty, the Generous.

To continue: the melodies of the birds of your knowledge upon the branches of the tree of your certitude in the Cause of God—our Beloved and your Beloved, our God and your God, our Goal and your Goal, and the Goal of all who are on earth—attracted me. When I read and presented it, and after my supplications were complete, the Tongue of Grace spoke, God willing, that which God loveth and is pleased with. May they attain! Praise be to God, they have drunk from the cup of bounty and have been and are circumambulating around the will of the Lord of Names. In these days, the tyranny of oppressors is evident from all directions. The standard of Islam lieth prostrate upon the earth due to the transgressions of the transgressors, and its throne is shattered. All the friends must, at all times, beseech the Exalted Truth, glorified be His majesty, for the exaltation of the Cause, that perchance all may attain to the Cause of God and His religion.

That which you had written was heard. God willing, the waters of the world shall not prevent you from the Kawthar of God, and gold shall not make you heedless of the divine path. We beseech God, the Lord of the Throne and earth, the Master of the hereafter and the former times, to assist His loved ones, His friends, and His chosen ones in that whereby the standards of guidance may be raised among all creation and the banners of proof and evidence upon the hills of contingent being. Verily, He is the Omnipotent over whatsoever He willeth. All things are captive in His grasp, and this is indeed easy for Him. There is none other God but Him, the Omnipotent, the Powerful.

Regarding what was written about Haji Muhammad Husayn and Aqa Mirza Mihdi, upon them be the Glory of God, it was presented. He said that if they wish to remain in the land of A and S, there is and was no objection. Let them occupy themselves, trusting in God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. Verily, He sendeth down from the heaven of grace whatsoever He willeth, and He is the Commander, the All-Wise. God willing, may they walk and conduct themselves with perfect joy and fragrance and with complete wisdom.

The envelopes which were sent have arrived. God willing, may the Truth, exalted be His glory, assist this evanescent one to present the response. And regarding what you had written about Haji Abdu’llah and the land of Kha, that was and is the expedient course, conforming to and associated with wisdom. Furthermore, the honored beloved Aqa Siyyid Abdu’l-Baha, upon him be the Glory of God, has written a letter to this evanescent one and sent supplications. From some conditions, I present glorification and greetings to his service, and afterward his response, along with the response to the supplications, God, the All-Merciful willing, will be sent. At present there is no more opportunity than this.

To the spiritual beloved, Aqa Muhammad, upon him be the Glory of God, and other friends and gentlemen, mention of evanescence and nothingness is presented. God willing, as long as the horizon of the world is illumined by the Most Great Luminary, may they pass their days in perfect joy and gladness and spirit and fragrance, and be occupied with the mention of the Peerless Friend. I testify that you have profited in your trade and attained the fruits of your existence. The servant beseeches his Lord to protect you and grant you the good of this world and the next. There is none other God but Him, the Omnipotent, the Exalted, the Mighty, the Beautiful. The Glory, perfumed with the fragrance of the Beloved, be upon you and upon those with you and upon those who love you in God, the Lord of the worlds. And praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH01981: O Abu’l-Fadl! Hearken unto what the Wronged One mentions…

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

O Abu’l-Fadl! Hearken unto what the Wronged One mentions to thee from the direction of the Prison, and calls thee to God, the Single, the All-Informed. This is a Day wherein none is mentioned save God alone, as testified by the Tongue of Grandeur in His Mighty Book. Blessed is the soul that hath not been veiled by the doubts of the divines nor been prevented by the intimations of those who have disbelieved in God, the Lord of the worlds. Verily those who have violated the Covenant of God and His testament have no portion of this Sea, from whose waves is heard: “There is no God but Him, the Single, the All-Informed.” Bear thou witness to that which God hath witnessed, detached from all who are on earth. Thus doth He Who speaketh at all times teach thee that there is no God but Him, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

Hearken in the Persian tongue: This Day is the Day whose mention hath been recorded and inscribed in all the divine Books, and that which is specially reserved for this Most Great Revelation hath been repeatedly revealed from the Most Exalted Pen in the Crimson Book. Every soul must behold with his own eyes and none hath any excuse today regarding that which proceedeth from the Ancient Tongue. The Point of the Bayan—may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for His sake—declareth:

“I have taken an essence in His mention, which is that He cannot be indicated by any indication, nor by what hath been revealed in the Bayan.”

Were anyone to meditate on this decisive utterance, he would attain unto a drop from the ocean of knowledge. By the life of God! All the seas of the earth together cannot equal that drop, yet most of the people are heedless.

Say: O people of the earth! He Who was promised in the Books of God hath come. Cast aside what ye possess and take hold of what ye have been commanded by an All-Knowing Ordainer. Say: He hath no need of mention of the past or future to prove His Cause, and when He citeth certain expressions of the past and utterances of the chosen ones in certain instances, this is a grace from Him, for He is verily the All-Bountiful, the Generous. None hath ever been acquainted with the root of this Cause. By the life of God! Whosoever hath claimed such knowledge is recorded among the liars in the Clear Tablet. Thou thyself art aware that every matter hath appeared from this Dawning-Place and unto it doth return. Beseech ye God—exalted be His glory—to grant the servants sight and bestow upon them a portion from the ocean of fairness, that all the peoples of the earth may become aware and bear witness unto that which God hath ordained. God willing, thou shouldst summon the people of the contingent world to the horizon of the All-Merciful with the utmost joy and fragrance, wisdom and utterance.

Say: Beware, O people of the earth, lest the veils of names prevent you from the Creator of the heavens. Cast behind you your vain imaginings, then approach with radiant faces the Most Exalted Horizon, and be not of the heedless ones.

Say: Know ye the value of this wondrous Day. This is a Day wherein man is able to acquire that which shall endure throughout the kingdoms of earth and heaven. We counsel all to steadfastness supreme, for the hateful ones and the treacherous lie in wait. Therefore ask thou God to protect His servants from the evil of those who have turned away from God, the Almighty, the Self-Subsisting, the All-Compelling. Praise be to God, the Lord of what was and what shall be.

BH02718: O Hasan! Give thanks for Our having shown thee…

He is the Guardian over all names!

O Hasan! Give thanks for Our having shown thee the fire of Our Lote-Tree, and for Our having witnessed thy burning in the love of God, the Lord of all worlds. The Dawning-Place of Utterance hath turned toward thee from the horizon of the All-Merciful and speaketh that which He spoke before the creation of contingent things. Verily, there is none other God but Him, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. We have heard thy call and have answered thee with an utterance whereby the Concourse on High and the dwellers of the Most Exalted Paradise have been enraptured. Thy Lord, verily, is the Expositor, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

Render thanks unto God for having aided thee to recognize the Dayspring of His Cause and the Source of His greatest signs, and for having given thee to drink of the Water of Life from the hands of His mercy which hath preceded all who are in the heavens and on earth. Be thou steadfast in the Cause in such wise that neither the tempests of the divines nor the storms of rulers shall move thee. Thus doth He command thee Who is attested by the Books of God, the Most High, the Most Great.

Be thou firm in the Cause and vocal in praise of thy Lord Who created thee, caused thee to know Him, raised thee up and gave thee utterance through this Remembrance, before which, when it appeared, all remembrances from every direction bowed down in submission. Verily thy Lord is the All-Remembering, the Most Generous.

Blessed art thou for having turned to the Most Sublime Horizon and directed thyself toward the countenance of thy Lord, the Lord of Names, and hastened to the ocean of certitude, detached from idle fancies and holding fast to My strong cord. O Hasan! We bear witness that thou hast done well, even as God did well unto thee. This is a word that cannot be equaled by all the treasures of the earth. Rejoice and say: “Praise be unto Thee, O God of all worlds!”

Hold fast under all conditions to wisdom, lest there appear that which would disturb the hearts of them that have turned to God. Make wisdom the standard before thy face. Thus hath it been sent down from the Pen of Command in the tablets of thy Lord, the Almighty, the All-Powerful. Should a crier appear in your land, leave him to himself and put your trust in God, the Lord of this wondrous Day.

Convey My greetings to the faces of My loved ones and remind them of that which hath streamed forth from the vessel of Mine utterance, the Mighty, the Impregnable. Say: This is the Day of arising, did ye but know it, and this is the Day of goodly character—cleave ye unto it and be not of them that comprehend not. Aid your Lord through goodly deeds and through that which befitteth this Day, whose mention hath adorned the Books of the Messengers. Verily, thy Lord is the Counselor, the Compassionate, the Forgiving, the Merciful.

At the end of this Book We make mention of thy wife and give her the glad-tidings of My mercy and My loving-kindness, that she may be among the thankful ones preserved in a guarded Tablet. The Glory be upon thee and upon her and upon whosoever hath remembered thee out of love for God, the Lord of the Exalted Throne.

BH02838: We make mention from My Most Exalted Pen…

In His Name, the Most Ancient, the Most Great

We make mention from My Most Exalted Pen of him who was named Muhammad in the Kingdom of Creation, whom We mentioned before as a favor from Us, and verily I am the All-Knowing Rememberer. Blessed is he who has attained unto My days, turned his face toward My countenance, and uttered My beautiful praise. Today every possessor of insight has attained this Most Great Bounty, and every possessor of hearing has attained the hearing of his Lord’s call, the Expositor, the All-Wise. Happy the lands from which the fragrance of the Garment has been wafted, and the city over which have blown the breezes of the dawn of My wondrous Day. Happy the soul that has taken the chalice of immortality in My Most Glorious Name and drunk therefrom through My mention, the Mighty, the Bountiful.

We have previously counseled the friends of God and His servants with the wisdom whereby We took the covenant from those who have turned to God, the Peerless, the All-Informed. Blessed art thou, O Muhammad, in that thou hast shattered the idols of vain imaginings through the name of thy Lord, the Lord of all mankind, and drunk from the ocean of certitude. We have made mention of thee in such wise as nothing on earth can equal. He Who speaks bears witness to this, that there is none other God but Me, the Reckoner, the Mighty, the All-Praised. We counsel thee with wisdom lest there occur that which God abhors and the clamor of those who have denied the Day of Judgment be raised. Hold fast to the cord of wisdom in all circumstances. Verily He witnesses and sees, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.

Beware lest the affairs of men grieve thee. Behold and then remember what befell God’s Messengers and His chosen ones when He sent them with a manifest sovereignty. Among the people were those who turned away from them and opposed them, and those who pronounced sentence of death upon them. Thus did their desires command them, without any clear proof from God, the Lord of all worlds. We summoned them to the Supreme Horizon while they imprisoned Us in this mighty fortress. We desired for them the good of this world and the next while they left Us in this remote prison. We opened unto them the gates of blessings while they prevented Us from the bounty which God created through My Name, the Bestower, the Invincible.

We make mention of My loved ones in that place and send Our greetings upon them, and counsel them to manifest supreme steadfastness and that which befits this Day which God proclaimed through the tongues of the Messengers. Glory be upon thee and upon those who have clung to the hem of wisdom and turned to the Most Great Ocean on this momentous Day.

BH03164: In My Name, the Witness, the All-Hearing!

In My Name, the Witness, the All-Hearing!

O Ali! We have desired to make mention of thee and those who have believed, on a Day which was inscribed in the Books of God, the Lord of the worlds. This is a Day whereon the atoms cry out:

“The Revealer of verses hath come, and sovereignty belongeth unto God, the Goal of them that know!”

God took the covenant of this Day from all who are in the heavens and on earth, yet when He appeared in truth the people turned away, save those who shattered the idols of vain desire through the power of the Name of the Lord of all mankind and turned with radiant countenance toward the Supreme Horizon.

How many learned ones lamented in separation, yet when the ocean of union surged they turned away and waxed proud before God, the Beloved of the sincere ones. Say: By God! The Hidden One hath appeared and hath spoken that which caused the Concourse on High and the dwellers of the Most Exalted Paradise to be attracted. Blessed is he who hath recognized and found the fragrance of God, the Mighty, the Praised One.

O Ali! The Euphrates of thy Lord’s mercy hath flowed from My Most Exalted Pen—take thou, in My Name, and drink therefrom through My firm and wise command. We give thee and those who have believed there glad tidings of a favor from Us and a bounty from Our presence. Verily thy Lord is the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous.

We further counsel you regarding that which hath been sent down in the Book from the presence of One mighty and powerful. Beware lest the conditions of the Pharaohs frighten you or the doubts of the oppressors who have adorned their heads with turbans and disbelieved in God, the Lord of the Day of Judgment, sadden you. They reached the heights of glory in this vain life through My Name, yet when I manifested My Self they pronounced judgment against it with evident tyranny.

O loved ones of the All-Merciful in all lands! The Wronged One counseleth you from the precincts of the Prison to remain steadfast in this Cause, whose greatness hath been testified to by the tongues of the dwellers of the most exalted Paradise and whose sovereignty hath been witnessed by every truthful and discerning one. Hold fast unto it in the name of your Lord, the Lord of Names, and say:

“Praise be unto Thee, O Creator of the heavens, for having made known unto us the Dayspring of Thy Cause, the Source of Thy Revelation, and the Dawning-Place of Thy exalted Word, at Whose appearance the Dove cooed upon the branches.”

This is a Day whereof God gave glad tidings aforetime—the Day whereon all people shall stand before the Lord of the worlds. Thus hath the gate of inner meanings been unlocked by the Key of utterance, as the All-Merciful walked in the most exalted station and called all to His straight path.

BH03300: In the Name of the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing! O…

In the Name of the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing! O ʿAli-Akbar! The Lord of Destiny makes mention of thee at this hour when sorrows have encompassed Him from those who have disbelieved in God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. We have manifested Our Self and summoned all unto the Dayspring of Revelation Who speaks forth at all times that there is none other God but Me, the Truth, the Knower of things unseen.

My Revelation had been mentioned by the Most Exalted Pen in the Scriptures and Tablets, yet when He appeared in truth, those who followed the dawning-places of idle fancies turned away. Blessed is he who hath hearkened to the call of his Lord and drunk the living waters from the cup of his Lord’s utterance, the Most Merciful, Who hath come with the standards of verses and summoned all unto His outstretched path. How many a learned one awaited My days and how many a mystic bowed before My Name, yet when I manifested My Self they turned away until they pronounced their verdict against the Mighty, the All-Loving. Thus have We opened before thy face the gate of utterance with the key of His Name, the Mighty, the Beloved.

O ʿAli! The shrill voice of the Most Exalted Pen is raised to such a degree that the tongues of the world and the pens of nations are powerless to make mention of it. Blessed is the ear that hath gained the honor of hearing His call and blessed is the tongue that hath been moved to make mention of Him. The whole world speaketh His Name yet is veiled from Him, turneth toward His countenance yet is debarred from Him, maketh mention of His Name yet is heedless of His Command. This is the Most Great Talisman.

God willing, thou shouldst, with the utmost wisdom and utterance, guide those who thirst in the wilderness of heedlessness to the heavenly springs of divine revelation and summon them. Upon thee be wisdom, upon thee be wisdom. People are observed to be as infants—they need an educator and one who will remind them. Blessed is the soul that ariseth for the sake of God to serve the Cause, that perchance those who slumber may be awakened by this sweet spiritual breeze that wafteth at the dawn of this divine Day, and become aware.

We convey Our greetings to all who have turned towards Us and enjoin upon them that which is befitting and meet. Blessed is he who hath heard and acted, and woe unto the heedless. The glory be upon you from God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH05424: He Who is the Desired One beareth witness…

In His name, the All-Seeing, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed!

He Who is the Desired One beareth witness from the Most Great Prison to that which the Tongue of Grandeur hath witnessed in the eternity of eternities. O Husayn! The Wronged One remembereth thee on the Day whereof the All-Merciful hath made mention in the Qur’an: “The Day when all mankind shall stand before the Lord of the worlds.” By God, the True One! The Qur’an crieth out amidst all created things: “He Who was promised in the Books of God, the Lord of the worlds, hath come!” And the Gospel proclaimeth: “The Glorious One hath come! The Kingdom is God’s, the Mighty, the Beauteous!” Verily, the Bayan circleth round the Throne, while they that claim to be its followers have violated God’s Covenant and Testament, save those whom the hand of thy Lord’s loving-kindness hath preserved, the Powerful, the Mighty.

Say: O people of the Bayan! By what proof did ye believe in the All-Merciful, and by what evidence did ye turn away from Him Who, when He appeared, caused the Spirit to proclaim before His face: “The Hidden One hath appeared with manifest sovereignty!” We, verily, send Our greetings from this spot unto the loved ones of the All-Merciful in that land, and We remind them of that which beseemeth the days wherein the Tongue of Grandeur hath spoken: “There is none other God but Me, the Manifest, the Speaking One, the All-Knowing.” We counsel them to remain steadfast in this Cause, through which the feet of all peoples have slipped save such as have clung to the hem of My luminous robe. The glory of God be upon thee and upon those who are with thee and upon those who have attained unto this wondrous Remembrance.

BH05871: This is a Book which the Lord of Names…

In the Name of Him Who shineth from the horizon of eternity!

This is a Book which the Lord of Names hath sent down unto him who hath hearkened unto the Call and turned unto the Most Exalted Horizon and witnessed what God, the Lord of creation, hath witnessed. Say: O peoples of the earth! Do ye deny Him Who hath come with that wherewith every Prophet and every Messenger came from God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting?

Say: Verily the proof, by its very essence, proclaimeth between earth and heaven, and the evidence crieth out through this Name whereby the mountains were scattered, the seas were made to boil, and the trees did speak: “The Kingdom belongeth unto God, the Lord of what hath been and what shall be!” Rejoice thou at My remembrance of thee. By God! The treasures of the earth and whatsoever the kings possess of hoards and riches cannot equal it. Take hold of the Book with the power of thy Lord and say: “I testify that there is none other God but Him, and that He Who speaketh hath appeared in truth and is encompassed by the evidence from God, the Mighty, the Loving.” Say: He needeth not, for the proof of His Cause, any mention from among all mentions, nor any tablet from among all tablets. He Who possesseth the Hidden Book doth testify to this. The splendor from Us be upon those who have turned unto the Path and have cast behind them the vain imaginings and idle fancies of men.

BH07893: O Isma’il! This Wronged One raises His call…

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

O Isma’il! This Wronged One raises His call and laments for Himself. In the days when all the people of the Bayan were veiled behind a barrier due to the might of princes and the opposition of divines, this Wronged One arose to promote the Cause—an arising that caused the limbs of all names to tremble. And in the midst of trials and tribulations, He summoned all beings, from kings to subjects, from those below to those above, to the highest horizon. But when the Cause became manifest and the Sun of Revelation dawned from the horizon of power, the buzzing of flies appeared and each of the ungodly, clinging to murmuring and croaking and buzzing, said that which they said. Verily, He has recorded all things in a clear Book. Beseech and implore God, exalted be His glory, that He may preserve thee from the doubts of the people of the Bayan who clung to it while turning away from its Revealer, its Messenger and its Creator. Verily, He is the Almighty, the Powerful.

BH08870: God beareth witness that there is none other God…

He is the One Who has power over all who are in the heavens and on earth.

God beareth witness that there is none other God but Him, and He Who hath come with the truth is indeed the Hidden Mystery and the Treasured Secret. Whoso turneth unto Him hath turned unto God from time immemorial, and whoso turneth away is accounted among the idolaters in the perspicuous Book. Most strange it is that some, on the Day of Return, pass by the life-giving Kawthar and set their faces toward the mirage. They have lost indeed who denied the signs of God and clung to the cords of fancy and vain imaginings. Say: O people of the earth! The Sun of certitude hath risen, and the Ocean of knowledge surgeth, and the heaven of grace is uplifted. Cast away what ye possess, then turn toward the Most Sublime Horizon—the Station wherein the Lord of Names proclaimeth: “There is none other God but Me, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.”

BH09697: O Muhammad-Qabli-Karim! We have heard thy call. God willing…

He is the Expounder, the All-Knowing!

O Muhammad-Qabli-Karim! We have heard thy call. God willing, thou shalt be watchful of the truth at all times, and act according to that which exalteth the Cause. We have enjoined wisdom upon all the friends, yet some have not hearkened with accepting ears unto the divine counsel. That which is acceptable in the sight of God this day hath been and shall ever be obedience to God, exalted be His glory. Nevertheless, some have turned away from His good-pleasure and clung to their own desires. It behooveth them to repent and return unto God, the Forgiving, the Generous. Any deed that causeth tumult and perturbation among heedless souls is not acceptable before the Wronged One. Say: Hold fast unto that which ye have been commanded in My Mighty Book.

BH09254: We have seen thy turning unto Us and have…

He is the One mentioned in the heart of Ha by his faithfulness!

We have seen thy turning unto Us and have made mention of thee from My Most Exalted Pen, and We have heard thy call and have called unto thee from this luminous Spot, from the Divine Lote-Tree:

“Verily, there is none other God but Me, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.”

I created all peoples for this Most Great Day, but when He appeared they turned away and denied God, the Lord of Lords. Blessed is he whom the doubts of the divines have not withheld, and blessed is he whom the might of those who disbelieved in the Beginning and the Return hath not caused to slip. Hold thou fast unto the cord of steadfastness and take hold of the hem of God, the Lord of all men. Blessed art thou, inasmuch as the Pen of the Wronged One hath moved at the mention of thy name, while imprisoned in the Most Great Prison in the hands of those who were heedless of God, the Lord of the Day of Return.

BH09676: O Ali! Hearken unto My call from the precincts…

He is the Rememberer and the Remembered

O Ali! Hearken unto My call from the precincts of My prison, and I am the Wronged One, the Stranger. We have summoned all people unto God—among them are those who have turned away and those who have turned towards His straight path. Blessed is the soul that hath cast the world behind it and acted according to that which was commanded by the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. We have heard thy call and make mention of thee in this wondrous and glorious Tablet. Preserve it as thou wouldst preserve thine eyes. Verily it shall be with thee in all the worlds of thy Lord. Thy Lord is, in truth, the Witness, the Supporter, the Almighty, the Powerful. Glory be upon him who hath drunk the choice wine of supreme steadfastness from the hand of the bounty of his Lord, the Lord of all mankind. Woe unto the heedless ones. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH09907: How wonderful, how wonderful that thou hast passed beyond…

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

How wonderful, how wonderful that thou hast passed beyond vain imaginings and turned with devotion to the ocean of certitude! How wonderful, how wonderful that thou hast broken the idols with the arm of assurance and set thy face toward the Best-Beloved of the worlds! How wonderful, how wonderful that thou hast lifted thy gaze from the stagnant pool and attained unto the living waters of Kawthar! All these blessings have been and shall ever be from the bounties of the Self-Sufficing, the Most High. However, this Wronged One counseleth thee with a word which is, in the sight of God, more precious than all the treasures of earth, and it is this: Hold thou fast, with complete detachment from all else save Him, unto the Most Great Steadfastness. Thus doth the Lord of Names command thee, and those who have believed in God, the Peerless, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

BH01421: In the Name of God, the One, and blessings…

In the Name of God, the One, and blessings and peace be upon Him after Whom there shall be no Prophet.

Praise be to God Who sent down the Book and guided all thereby to the straight path, and made the Kaaba the circling-place of the world that His remembrance might endure among the nations, and that all might know who follows God’s command and who follows his own desires without clear proof or Book. And blessings and peace be upon Him from Whose garment every believer in creation found the fragrance of the All-Merciful, and through Whom was raised the standard of unity among religions—He Who was named with the Most Beautiful Names in the Kingdom of Names and as Muhammad in the realm of creation—and upon those who followed Him in what God, the Revealer of verses, commanded them.

My spirit be a sacrifice for your steadfastness! I detected the fragrance of your expression from letters you sent to the loved ones. When I found them, I reflected within myself and became aware of my negligence, for days and nights had passed without my outwardly mentioning what would bring me to your remembrance. Yet God knows that this servant lost opportunities and times, as though they had become like patience in the hearts of lovers or like the phoenix in distant lands. Therefore my excuse is acceptable to the noble ones. This servant asks his Lord to prescribe for your honor what befits His loftiness, greatness and glory.

I presented what you sent regarding Abdullah, upon him be the glory of his Lord, before my Master’s face. He mentioned you and spoke concerning you that from which I found the fragrances of grace and favors, and commanded me to write to your honor what I heard. He said—and His words are the sweetest—“Praise be to God Who made him steadfast in goodness and sanctified from the people of hesitation by whom the standard of Islam was reversed and through whom covenants were broken. We beseech Him, exalted be He, to assist us and him in His remembrance and praise, and in steadfastness in His Cause and in arising to what He has commanded us in His perspicuous Book.” Thus did it end.

As for what you mentioned regarding Jasim, upon him be the glory of God, this servant gives him glad tidings of his Lord and Master’s grace. When I presented it, He said—and His words are the beloved ones—“O Jasim! We make mention of you and remember your days and your presence with Us, and We beseech Him, exalted be He, to strengthen you and assist you and send down upon you from the heaven of His bounty a blessing from His presence. Verily He ordains and answers, and He is the Forgiving, the Generous. Be assured of God’s grace and care, for nothing escapes His knowledge. He does what He wishes and ordains what He desires, and He is the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. And We remember Nasir and Abbas and pray for their success and support from the presence of the Helper, the Wise. We send greetings upon him and upon Abdul-Karim and upon those with you. Upon you be the peace of God and His mercy and His care.” Thus did it end.

This servant sends greetings to them and shows them his humility and submissiveness for the sake of God, Lord of the worlds. Remember the beloved Jasim and remember when he turned toward your presence and wept—God knows he is before my eyes. I ask God to unite his gathering and to open before his face the gates of blessings and goodness. Verily He is the Guardian of the doers of good. Praise be to God, Lord of the worlds.

This servant hopes that you will convey to my heart’s beloved, the Observer, upon him be the glory of God, the degrees of my sincerity and humility, and present to him what he sent. And this servant sends greetings to Mihdi, upon him be the glory of God, who is in His service. I ask God, exalted be He, to open the gates of joy and delight upon the faces of His friends, chosen ones and loved ones who left their homes to circumambulate His House and to traverse between Safa and Marwa. Verily He is the Lord of creation and the Maker of light and darkness. There is no God but He, the Single, the One, the Exalted, the Mighty, the Wise.

Peace and praise be upon your honor and upon those with you and upon those who held fast to goodness and upon every steadfast, upright believer. And praise be to God, Lord of the worlds.

The servant, on the 23rd of Muharram the Sacred, year 1299

Then I present to your honor that Mirza Maqsud, upon him be success and support, has mentioned your honor during his presence and showed to you his love, affection and sincerity, and wrote to you on the day of his return what indicates his state regarding love and affection. The servant at that time sent to your honor that you might witness it and remember him and pray for him and for me and for all what is best for us in the beginning and the end.

BH00164: All praise that is sanctified beyond expression of proof…

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

In the Name of Our Lord, the Most Great, the Most Holy, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious

All praise that is sanctified beyond expression of proof befitteth the Lord of Mercy, through Whose light the world of creation is illumined, and by Whom the branches and leaves of the divine Lote-Trees are moved to song and melody. He is that Sun by Whom the hearts and minds are enlightened, through Whom truth was made manifest, through Whom He did try His servants, and through Whom He adorned the realm of doubt and perturbation with the ornament of certitude and assurance. Notwithstanding all this praise and glorification, were men possessed of true vision, the Manifestation of Truth from the horizon of the heaven of the Divine Will would itself suffice. Exalted, immeasurably exalted, is He Who hath revealed Him and made Him a proof and criterion unto all that dwell in the heavens and on earth.

All praise be to God, the Lord of all worlds, and glory and radiance rest upon those whom neither the tempests of the learned nor the hurricanes of the mystics could move, who arose amidst mankind and spoke forth with that wisdom which descended from the Lord of eternity. These are servants through whom the countenance of inner meanings smiled and the nightingale sang upon the branches. The Kingdom is God’s, the Lord of all religions. These are servants unto whose station the Books of God have testified aforetime, and whose rank and merit His servants have acknowledged—honored servants who speak not till He hath spoken, and who do as bidden.

O beloved of My heart and he who is mentioned in My soul! The melody of thy words of praise hath transported Me—thou who art Our purpose and thine own purpose. When I perceived therein that ardor which is born of naught save the love of God and His Cause, I turned toward the Most Exalted Horizon and appeared before the Divine Lote-Tree and presented that which was contained therein. Thereupon the Tongue of the All-Merciful spoke forth in the Kingdom of Utterance, saying, exalted be His glory:

In My Name, the Most Mighty, the Most Great

O Husayn! God willing, mayest thou be blessed through divine grace and act in accordance with that which befitteth the Days of God. Convey My greetings to those friends who have truly inhaled the fragrance of My robe and are illumined by the lights of the sun of steadfastness, and say: No day hath been or is greater than this Day—a truth that hath shone forth like unto the sun from the horizons of all divine Books, Tablets and Scriptures. For the True One, exalted be His glory, hath attributed this Day unto Himself, and though all things are attributed unto Him, He hath specially designated this Day and named it after His own Name, as it is known in the Books as the Day of God.

Were steadfast and upright souls to ponder this matter, by My life, they would find themselves cleansed of the dust of the world with all its sorrows and afflictions. Where is the detached heart that may taste the sweetness of divine utterance? And where are the pure ears that may truly hearken unto His Word? Though most souls are adorned with outer life, they are seen to lie in the graves of their own temples. They have taken discomfort for comfort, called conjecture knowledge, and taken every foolish one as their lord and master, occupied and rejoicing therein. Woe unto them and destruction be upon them! The decayed bones were quickened by the divine fragrances, yet the leaders of the earth, who count themselves guides, teachers and mentors, remain cast aside in perishing graves, deprived.

Beseech thou God that He may grant people a portion from the ocean of awareness, that they may gather with utmost joy and delight beneath the divine Lote-Tree and utter “Praise be unto Thee, O God of existence, in both the seen and unseen realms.”

In addition to these utterances which have descended from the heaven of loving-kindness as verses specifically revealed for your honor, a Most Holy Tablet was also revealed and sent so that the ear might attain true blessing through hearing it and the eye might be illumined by beholding the lights of His countenance. Likewise, a Most Holy Tablet was specifically revealed for his honor Akhtar, upon him be 9 66 [Baha’u’llah]. God willing, they will attain unto it and perceive the fragrance of the divine garment from the Divine Tablet—a perception that the limitations of the world and its conditions cannot prevent, and which forgetfulness has no power to affect. Although the reply to that spiritual friend was delayed, your honor is aware of the details of matters and cognizant of the binding and essential occupations of this evanescent servant.

Were I to seek forgiveness from your honor with a hundred thousand tongues, I would still consider it insufficient. However, the Beloved of the worlds bears witness that in these days this evanescent one finds no opportunity even to speak, let alone reply to the letters of the friends. The purpose in mentioning these matters is that if there be delay in this evanescent one’s reply, it is not due to negligence or, God forbid, lack of sincerity. Rather, the realm of this evanescent one’s occupations has been struck by such a famine that truly not a grain of leisure can be found therein, save through divine confirmations. On one hand, he is occupied in the presence with the writing of revealed verses, and likewise with making copies thereof a second time, for the original revelation is such that most souls are unable to read it, hence copies are made.

And likewise there are replies to letters from friends and believers which arrive from all directions like torrential rain. In any case, I beseech and hope that all the friends will pray to God, exalted be His glory, for confirmation for this evanescent one, that perchance he may be assisted in this most great and mighty cause. Verily our Lord, the All-Merciful, is the Powerful, the Mighty.

Concerning what you wrote about the envelope sent from the direction of K, it arrived and its details were submitted to the Most Holy Court, and an answer was revealed and sent to K. God willing, upon its arrival, a new and wondrous life will be attained by all. Today is a day when the breezes of life are wafting and passing from all directions. Blessed is he who has found, and woe unto the heedless and the deniers.

And concerning what was mentioned that the friends of God, exalted be His glory, in the land of [Sh] are blessed with the bounties and favors of recognition and certitude, this matter was submitted to the Most Holy, Most Exalted Court. This is what the tongue of our Lord, the All-Bestowing, spoke in reply, exalted be His glory:

O Husayn! That land is blessed and is as the sight unto the body of the earth. Soon will its station be made manifest and evident unto all the worlds. Blessed is it and blessed is he who recognizeth its station and glory. We have adorned steadfast souls with such an ornament that the mention thereof and its station shall never be erased from the book of the world. Their names and that which hath been ordained for them have been inscribed by My Most Exalted Pen in the Crimson Book. Were this station to be revealed, even to the extent of a needle’s eye, thou wouldst behold the earth transformed into another earth. By the life of God! This matter is concealed, and it behooveth not to reveal more than what is prescribed and determined.

Blessed are they who dwell in that land and who are adorned with divine love. God willing, may they all drink of the Most Glorious Wine from the white hand and arise to serve the Cause with perfect wisdom. In all matters, observe wisdom and hold fast unto it. This firm command hath been revealed and established in most Tablets, lest that should appear which would disturb the hearts of My loved ones and chosen ones. God willing, mayest thou at all times drink from the cup of glorification of the Lord of Destiny. The glory shining forth from the horizon of My loving-kindness be upon thee and upon them and upon those who have acknowledged that which My swift-moving and active Pen hath spoken.

Concerning what thou didst write about Aqa Siyyid A. and Aqa Ghulam H. and M.N., upon them be the Glory of God, being present and requesting mention from the Most Holy Court—this matter was presented before the Throne. Unique and sublime verses were revealed for each one. At the end, the Tongue of the All-Merciful spoke these exalted words: “O servant in attendance! If those souls who have today turned to the horizon of revelation and have attained unto divine mention were to become aware and conscious of this most mighty, most noble, most exalted station, they would assuredly soar on the wings of attraction and yearning in the atmosphere of the love of the Day-Star of the horizons, to such extent that they would behold all else in the lowliest station.

O servant in attendance! Write: Blessed is the soul whose name hath been mentioned before God, the Lord of Names, and blessed is the servant for whose mention the tongue of the All-Merciful hath moved in the Kingdom of utterance.” The Bab—may my soul be sacrificed for all else but Him—hath said that all exist that they might be mentioned once in His presence. The world’s lack of capacity hath veiled this greatest station from eyes. Verily thy Lord is the All-Wise, the All-Knowing. The glory be upon the people of Baha from God, the Creator of heaven.”

Furthermore, the acceptance, sincerity, mention, praise and glorification from this evanescent one for their service depends upon the grace of that Beloved.

Regarding thy question about the passage in the most holy Tablet which states “Masih in Ray,” the intention was His Holiness Haji Mirza Masih-i-Nuri, upon him be the Glory of God and His mercy. Many times have I heard mention of him from the Ancient Tongue. During the journey when the Desired One of all worlds proceeded toward Khurasan, he was in attendance. He bore hardships in the path of God, and during the nights and days he would drink from the waters of reunion and was engaged in service. Later he ascended, and he is buried between the shrine of Abdu’l-Azim and Shahzadih Hamzih. Once these words were heard from the Tongue of Grandeur: “’Azim and Hamzih, upon them be My glory, have attained the presence of the one who attained My presence.”

As to what was asked concerning the blessed passage which flowed and was revealed from the Pen of the Beloved of all creation—may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for Him—wherein He says “Verily paradise is true” up to His exalted words, just as what has outwardly appeared in the paradise of the shrine of the Eighth Imam is naught but what the Messenger of God spoke concerning him being the tenth successor.

O my beloved! The Kingdom of utterance is seen to have neither beginning nor end. That first station is where the Tongue of Eternity spoke saying “I am the Beloved of the worlds.” That Most Great, Most Exalted station possesses ranks and stations that none except the Self of Truth—glorious is His majesty and universal His bounty—has known or will know, has enumerated or will enumerate. In one station they have taken the Primal Will itself, which is the Manifestation and Source of God’s Command, glorious is His majesty, as the first, and the blessed Fatima—God’s blessings be upon her—as the third; by this reckoning the Eighth Imam becomes the tenth. He has spoken the truth, to this testifies my Beloved and your Beloved and the Beloved of all in the heavens and earths.

And in another station, the Essential Being of Eternity, which is the station of “there is no God but Him,” is mentioned as first and the Point of the Qur’an as second; by this reckoning the Eighth Imam becomes the eleventh. And in yet another station, they have mentioned the Prince of Believers—God’s blessings be upon him—as the first of the successors; thus he becomes the eighth Imam. And in one station he is the eighth, in another the tenth, and in another the eleventh. And all these three stations are adorned with the ornament of true authenticity. Likewise, that Holy Being—may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for Him—is Himself the Primal Will in the Dispensation of the Qur’an and possesses two stations and two ranks, meaning He holds both Prophethood and absolute Successorship.

In this case, He Himself is the first of the successors—He is the first successor and Imam Rida is the tenth successor. This is the intent of the statement of the Point of the Bayan—may the spirit of all in the kingdom of command and creation be sacrificed for Him.

All these statements that have been mentioned are each correct in their own station and will remain so. Now if it is said that the eighth is the eighth, or the eighth is the tenth, or the eighth is the eleventh—all are correct and there is no doubt in it. However, today is sanctified above these mentions, and in the Most Holy Court there is not and has never been any mention of successorship or the like thereof or above it or above above it. The Exalted One, in consideration of the weakness of the servants at the beginning of His Manifestation, showed forbearance in His utterances and spoke with wisdom. Thus in one place He says that if anyone attributes to this servant prophethood or successorship or anything above that or similar to it, he is of the calumniators and I am innocent of him.

Section 2: “Such themes as these are abundant…”

Such themes as these are abundant in the utterances of that Sacred Being. Even in one station He declareth: “Should any soul attribute unto Me a specific, divinely-ordained Bab-hood, he hath spoken falsely.” Yet thereafter He hath mentioned all these stations in their proper place. For instance, He saith: “This is that same Point of the Qur’an Who in this cycle hath appeared as the Point of the Bayan.” This is the station of Prophethood. And in the station of Divine Successorship He declareth: “Verily, I am He Who standeth up for the Truth, of Whose appearance ye have been given promise.” Yet in another station They have denied all these stations and have spoken of other stations, as is clear and evident to those possessed of true vision. And in one station They say that were it not for the weakness of the people, no mention would have been made of Will.

Were this evanescent servant to attempt to describe these stations in detail, time and opportunity would not suffice. There is no doubt that these utterances were made with wisdom, for had They spoken a different word at the beginning of the Revelation—that is, had They declared at first what They later proclaimed—the fire of rejection and denial would have brought about at the beginning what it later accomplished. Reflect upon the oppression of the oppressors, the rejection of the rejectors, and the denial of the deniers. To such an extent did the rejectors and deniers, who were the divines of the age, rise in opposition that that Essence of Being referred to Himself as “the servant of the Remnant of God”, yet even with this these base people were not satisfied and perpetrated that which pen, tongue, page and ink are powerless to describe.

Verily, when mention was made of the matter of vicegerency, this servant was moved to set down some of the fruits of this Tree, that the friends of God might become aware, and might bear witness unto that which hath flowed from the Most Exalted Pen. From this single word—vicegerency—strange things have appeared in the realms of earth and heaven; and until this hour no soul hath truly fathomed its reality, nor apprehended its signs and fruits. This is the word that laid Islam waste; and this is the word that caused the Primal Point to be suspended in mid-air.

At one time this exalted utterance was heard from the Tongue of the Lord of Names. Exalted be His glory:

“Through it the back of Islam was broken, its throne was cast down, its banners were reversed, and its unity was scattered.”

Ended.

Consider the party that clung unto this word, and that came to be called the Imamiyyih. They hanged that guileless Essence of being—He from whose word the successors and the saints were created—and with bullets of rancor and hatred they martyred Him. The curse of God be upon the wrongdoing people! Those who deemed themselves the best of parties were, in the end, beheld as the basest among the peoples of the world. All of that faction arose to shed the most pure blood. All the divines and leaders pronounced the decree, and the rest carried it out—save a few who were unknown, who held no authority. Yet even those few, after acknowledging and confessing the claim to Qa’imhood, rose up in utter aversion, and strove with all endeavor to sever the Blessed Lote-Tree.

Strange it is that despite all these events which all have seen with their own eyes and heard with their own ears, now again a group of the creeping things of the earth have clung to former vain imaginings and have barred and continue to bar people from God’s straight path. Reflect upon the Four Gates, what they said and what they did. They cut down the very Tree with the sword of ignorance and falsehood, yet these people lacking insight still consider them leaders. Ponder well: Where is that which they spoke of and informed the people about His station? Where is the rememberer and where is the remembered? Where are the cities and where are the dwellings? Where is the father and where are the sons?

Some time ago this Most Holy Tablet was sent down from the heaven of divine will. This servant makes mention of it so that certain matters may become clear and evident to the friends of God, and all may become somewhat informed about that which has become a veil for people and deprived them of the living waters. His word, exalted be His glory:

In the Name of the One True God

Say: O friends! The falsehood of the past hanged the Beloved of the future and martyred Him with the bullets of tyranny. Reflect upon those lying, treacherous souls who appeared among the people in the name of truthfulness, trustworthiness, asceticism and piety, that ye may be preserved from the terror of this Most Great Day. One made mention of Jabulqa, another referred to Jabulsa. Another lying one arranged an imaginary form and established for it a seat upon the throne of vain imaginings. One unjust one made mention of the Sacred Region, and another unjust one attributed words to Him. These reprehensible, false matters became the cause and reason for the sovereign of the city of oneness to be martyred with complete tyranny. Should the hand of divine power rend asunder all veils, ye would observe new matters and hear novel words.

Now He utters one word that perchance it may become a barrier between truth and falsehood, and that word is this: Purify your ears from that which is spoken by those who attribute themselves to the Bayan yet deny its Revealer, its Sovereign and its Sender. For these veiled souls walk exactly in the footsteps of those souls. Blessed is the eye that seeth and perceiveth—such a one is accounted before God as the mightiest and most powerful among men. Hearken unto that which My Herald spoke before. He said, and His word is the truth:

“A year-old seed on the day of His manifestation is mightier than the entirety of the Bayan.”

Out of pure kindness and mercy have these mentions flowed from the Pen of the Unconstrained One. Preserve them and say: Praise be unto Thee, O God of the worlds.

The fire of falsehood of those rejected souls consumed the world, and differences in religion became the cause of the weakening of the religion of God and His Cause. In that false region which they called sacred, no Qa’im entered or left, yet a hundred thousand intrigues, corruptions and different imaginary forms emerged from it. The fruit of that region and other vain imaginings was that which was mentioned and which ye have seen and heard.

Say: O people of the Bayan! Have mercy upon the servants. The fire of the past is not yet extinguished; ye kindle another fire. Fear God, O people, and follow not vain imaginings and idle fancies. Follow Him Who guideth you to His straight path and directeth you to the horizon of certitude. This blessed word was revealed from the tongue of the Ancient of Days, His word, exalted be His glory: Blessed are those souls who have sanctified and purified their hearts from the vain imaginings and idle fancies of the past and adorned them with the seal “The Kingdom is God’s this day.”

Once this word was heard from the tongue of the Ancient of Days: The Bab—may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for Him—expressed agreement with the people of the Furqan (Muslims) in most matters, that He might attract those heedless souls to the direction of awareness. And this agreement was manifested to such an extent that in some instances mention of the four well-known gates flowed from that blessed Pen. However, this Most Great Revelation rent asunder the veils with the finger of power, despite those who denied God and His sovereignty and turned away from the Day which was illumined by the lights of His countenance.

O spiritual friend! Beseech God to sanctify the people of Baha from these sacred mentions. Say: Today is God’s Day, wherein none is mentioned but Him. Leave these names and foundations and mentions to those who are veiled and heedless. Today, turn ye unto the rustling of the Divine Lote-Tree. The friends of God must exert their utmost effort in safeguarding the Cause, lest such vain imaginings emerge and become the cause of conflict, contention, discord, revolution and differences in the world. Say: O people of Baha! Reflect upon that which hath flowed and continueth to flow from the Most Exalted Pen, that perchance the fabrications of mendacious souls may not debar you from the Lord of Oneness and deprive you of the living waters that stream from the right hand of the throne of the All-Merciful. In former Books He saith: “The Lord alone shall be exalted in that Day.” This is the Day of which the Qur’an hath given tidings and which it hath announced in these blessed words: “The Day when mankind shall stand before the Lord of the worlds.” Since the verses of former Books and the Qur’an have repeatedly flowed from the Most Exalted Pen, this servant hath been content with brevity.

The opposers among the people of the Bayan still know not what hath come to pass. By God, besides Whom there is none other God! They have not attained unto a drop from the ocean of utterance nor become aware of a single word from the Mother Book. They speak according to their own desires and say that which the ancients never said. It is not known what they have understood from the Great Announcement, nor how they have interpreted “the heaven will bring forth evident smoke.” They have perished who followed them without clear proof or an illuminating Book. Recently they have gathered to cling to that which the rebellious and transgressing party had clung. Beseech God, exalted be His glory, to purify the world of remembrance from their mentions and to sanctify the world of existence from their presence. Were this evanescent servant to relate what he heard from the tongue of the Ancient Beauty and witnessed with his own eyes, that which is now concealed would become manifest. However, the matter is in His hands, and I may not utter a word except by His leave. What hath been presented regarding these matters is intended that perchance some of the people of the earth might become aware of that of which they are now heedless and unaware.

This evanescent servant beseecheth God, exalted be His glory, to confirm all in that which is the cause and source of humility, submissiveness, resignation and contentment. The Word of Truth was cast upon all who are on earth from God, but pride, heedlessness and vainglory deprived the people. Reflect upon that which hath been mentioned. For instance, successorship is considered one of the highest stations, yet the rebellious and transgressing party, claiming to understand this station, count themselves, in their fancy, as the most exalted among the parties of the world. And this pride and transgression caused them to martyr that Holy Being through Whose word hundreds of thousands of successors have been and continue to be created. In brief, the excellence of this word hath been concealed due to the deeds of that oppressive party, while its evil consequences are beyond count and reckoning, as some have been mentioned.

And further, if it be in accordance with wisdom, convey to the friends and loved ones and honored ones and chosen ones of God who are present in that land mention of the evanescence and nothingness and sincerity of this evanescent one. At this moment, this blessed word was heard from the rustling of the Divine Lote Tree:

“It hath been sent down aforetime that God is with those who are patient.”

I beseech Him, exalted be His glory, not to deprive the rulers of the earth from the splendors of the lights of the Sun of Justice, and to adorn the temples of all with the ornament of equity and fairness, and not to withhold from those on earth the outpourings of the True Bestower. Verily, He is powerful over all things. The glory shining forth from the horizon of the loving-kindness of our Lord, the All-Merciful, be upon you and upon those who have followed His straight path. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

The servant 6 Safar 1299

BH03903: This is a Book sent down in truth…

He is the One dawning from the horizons of the Dawning-Places of Remembrance

This is a Book sent down in truth from the Wronged One to him who hath believed in the Self-Subsisting, the Guardian. Thou hast attained unto the recognition of the Revelation on a Day whereon the Speaker on Sinai hath proclaimed:

“There is none other God but Me, the Lord of the unseen and the seen.”

Thy letter was presented and the servant who standeth before the Throne laid it before Us. We testify that it attained unto the hearing at the Most Exalted Horizon—the station wherein the Lord of all beings speaketh and around which circle the Concourse on High, at eventide and at dawn. Rejoice thou in that We have answered thee through this Tablet from which all who possess spiritual perception detect the fragrance of God, the Mighty, the Loving. Be thou steadfast in the Cause and speak forth in remembrance of thy Lord, the Possessor of all being.

We make mention of My loved ones in that land and give them the glad-tidings of My favor and My loving-kindness, and of that which hath been ordained for them in the Crimson Book by My Most Exalted Pen. Verily their Lord, the All-Merciful, is the All-Forgiving, the All-Kind. O My loved ones in that land! Hearken unto the call of the Wronged One from the precincts of the Prison. He remembereth you with that which shall never perish, so long as the kingdom of earth and heaven endureth. Be ye in such wise that neither the veils of the divines prevent you from the Lord of all names, nor the doubts of those who have denied the Truth, the Knower of things unseen.

We hear your call and behold your turning toward the Face after the passing away of all things. Verily, He heareth and seeth from His praiseworthy station. Beware lest the affairs of the world sadden you. Leave behind what the people possess of idle fancies and vain imaginings, and take hold of that which ye have been commanded in My Preserved Tablet. Thus have We illumined your hearts with the lights of verses and adorned your temples with My remembrance, the Mighty, the Inaccessible. The glory be upon you and upon those who have believed in God when He appeared in truth and who have quaffed from the hand of His bounty His choice sealed wine.

BH07485: He is the Silent Speaker! Verily the Bayan crieth…

He is the Silent Speaker! Verily the Bayan crieth out through this Name and circleth round the will of its Lord, yet the people are in manifest doubt. We have sent it down for My remembrance, that through it My Cause might be established amongst My servants and My sovereignty be made manifest amidst My creation, yet the idolaters turned away from God, the Lord of all worlds. Say: Die in your wrath! Verily it circleth in this station and saith: Woe unto him who hath turned away from the One, the All-Knowing!

By God’s life! The Lord of Names hath sent Me down for His Most Glorious Beloved—to this all things bear witness, if ye be of those who know. Were it not for Him, the Bayan would not have been revealed, nor would the All-Merciful have sent it down upon the Prophets and Messengers.

Hold fast, O servants, to the cord of guidance—and verily this is that Cord which speaketh and writeth in this secure station. He who hath an ear hath heard the call of God, and he who hath not heard is counted among the dead. This is the Day of thanksgiving and the Day of praise—give thanks unto the Lord for this supreme bounty.

BH08629: The Tongue of Grandeur hath spoken this word: “And…

He is the Most Ancient, the Most Great!

The Tongue of Grandeur hath spoken this word: “And from water We made all things living.” That water in these days floweth from the Most Exalted Pen. By the life of God! This is that Kawthar whose description was sent down aforetime in the divine Books, and this is that Choice Wine for which the divines and mystics waited. This water hath been called by all names—at times thou seest it as fire, in such wise that its roaring flame is heard; at other times thou beholdest it as light, kindled and shining. O people of Baha! God willing, through the bounty of the Lord of Names, ye shall attain unto it and drink therefrom. Whosoever attaineth unto it hath attained unto everlasting life. Blessed are they that know, and woe unto the heedless! Praise be to God, the Speaker, the Rememberer, the Mighty, the Trusted One!

BH08914: In the Name of the Most Holy, the Most…

In the Name of the Most Holy, the Most Great! We have sent down unto thee that which will gladden thy heart and the hearts of those who have turned to the most exalted Station. Verily, He, from within the Most Great Prison, summoneth the peoples unto God, the Revealer of verses. Among the people are they who have heard and responded, and they who have heard and turned away from God, the Lord of lords. This is a Day wherein the Most Great Ocean hath surged, and the atoms have cried out: The Kingdom is God’s, the Almighty, the All-Bountiful! O people! Take hold of the Book of God with His power and follow not every doubting pretender. The Cry hath been raised, the angels have descended, and the mountains have passed away. Blessed the eye that hath seen, blessed the ear that hath heard, and blessed the heart that hath turned unto the Dayspring of lights! Say: Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having made me to turn unto Thee when most of Thy servants had turned away from Thee.

BH08986: A Book which the All-Bountiful hath sent down, one…

He is the Most Ancient, the Most Great

A Book which the All-Bountiful hath sent down, one that proclaimeth unto the world the advent of the Most Great Name. Blessed is he that attaineth thereto, and woe betide the heedless!

It guideth mankind unto the straight Path of God, and draweth them nigh unto the Mighty, the All-Knowing. Verily, it is the Summoner among His servants, and the Herald crying out betwixt the heavens and the earth.

Whoso hath purified his heart, lo, in that very instant is he enraptured thereby; the melody of God taketh such hold upon him that he beholdeth himself severed from all that dwell in the realm of being.

And whoso ariseth in response to this Call, he, verily, is of the companions of the All-Compelling in a Guarded Tablet.

Say: The seal hath been broken, and the choice Wine hath flowed. Happy the share of the drinkers thereof!

We beseech God to vouchsafe unto thee and unto My loved ones a portion of that which He hath sent down of the tokens of His bounty. Verily, He is in truth the Bestower, and verily He is the Mighty, the All-Bounteous.

And praise be unto God, the Lord of all the worlds.

BH01872: May the honored and esteemed Nazir, upon him be…

May the honored and esteemed Nazir, upon him be 96 [Baha’u’llah] and His grace, take note. 152

In the Name of God alone, and blessings upon Him after Whom there shall be no Prophet.

Praise, sanctified above the mention of all created things, befitteth the Dawning-Place of verses, Who through the Pen of Destiny hath undertaken the conquest of the world and hath, willingly or unwillingly, granted all kings and subjects refuge and station beneath the shade of one of His names. He hath promised His loved ones in all times the infinite bounty which is the station of reunion and presence, and hath chastised the deniers with the supreme retribution. His is the praise and favor in all conditions, and He is the Self-Subsisting, the Most High. And blessings and peace be upon the Dawning-Places of His Revelation, the Day-Springs of His Cause, the Sources of His wisdom, and the Treasuries of His knowledge, and upon Him Whose shoulder was adorned with the Seal of Prophethood among all creatures, and upon those who arose to serve His Cause and traversed the lands to exalt His Word until the banner of Divine Unity and the standard of detachment were raised upon the hills of the world—they are honored servants whom God hath described as those who speak not until He hath spoken and who act by His command.

Thereafter, this evanescent servant submitteth that your exalted letter, adorned with the mention and praise of God, exalted be His glory, and beautified with gratitude and thanksgiving to the Beloved of the world, may His favors be universal, did water the withered spirit and bestow the rains of joy. God willing, may this bounty not be prevented from being received, and may the waters of the world not extinguish this fire of love. At all times this evanescent one uttereth “Is there any more?” After perusal and experiencing happiness and joy, expressions of gratitude and praise were submitted. They said: “God willing, may they be the manifestation of divine bounty and likewise grateful and thankful.” End quote. Many favors were shown, beyond reckoning, but this servant, in consideration of wisdom, hath sufficed with what was mentioned. I swear by the Sun of divine favor that in every word is concealed a world of meanings and an ocean of grace is hidden. How can this servant or any other be capable of expression or worthy of utterance? The Command is in His hand—He commandeth and judgeth, and He is the One, the All-Wise.

This evanescent servant conveyeth greetings and salutations to Aqa Mihdi, upon him be 96 [Baha’u’llah], and to all who serve His Holiness.

The servant, on 8 Safar 1299.

I submitted the expressions of mention, praise, gratitude and thanksgiving which that honor had shown regarding the Sanctuary. They showed infinite kindness. Aqa Mirza Shu’a’u’llah, in evening and morn, in setting and dawning, in absence and presence—nay, in all times and seasons and hours and minutes—is engaged in mentioning, crying out and calling to mind that honor. At all times a tablet is in his blessed hands; sometimes he sayeth “This letter is from the honored Nazir written for me,” and then in the sweetest melody he uttereth—that is, he readeth what is in the letter—“Nazir” with a very prolonged extension, and “Karbila’i Mihdi and Fati.” At times with tablet in hand he sayeth “I have written this letter to the honored Nazir” and in another sweet tone he singeth. The point is that most of his mention and thought is the mention and thought of that honored one. There is no further opportunity to relate in full the details of their kindness; the completion of that will be in person, God willing.