Volume 067: Akka 1299 A.H. (1881–1882), Part II (1 of 7)

BH00590: Immeasurable praise and glory befit the Lord of Names…

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

Immeasurable praise and glory befit the Lord of Names, Who hath quickened all created things with the waters of utterance. This indeed is that Water mentioned in all previous Books. Its source is the Supreme Pen, and its streams are the hearts and souls of them that are pure in spirit. The life of all being dependeth upon it. It is the wellspring of the life of the world and the cause of its continuance, and it is that Living Water which the chosen ones and loved ones of God strove to attain. In most excellent language hath it been mentioned by the All-Merciful in the Qur’an, where He saith, exalted be His utterance: “By means of water have We given life to everything.” It sustaineth and nourisheth all the waters of the world. Were its sustenance to be withheld for less than a moment, all things would return to nothingness. Glory be unto Him Who hath adorned it, exalted it and made it manifest!

Whoso hath on this day attained unto this Water through the divine chalice of His words is accounted among the living, and whoso hath failed to attain unto it is reckoned among the dead. Should the true followers of the Bayan, from the beginning that hath no beginning unto the end that hath no end, seek to praise and glorify this most holy, most exalted, most resplendent, most pure, and most sanctified Water, they would surely find themselves powerless to do so. If the end of existence cannot be known, how then can the end of that which encompasseth all things be reckoned? Glorified be the Creator and glorified be He Who hath manifested and revealed His purpose. He, verily, is the One Who ruleth in truth and judgeth with justice in both the beginning and the end.

I offer salutations, peace, and glorification upon His loved ones and chosen ones, the Manifestations of His utterance, the Daysprings of His laws, the Sources of His Cause, and the Rising-places of the suns of His knowledge—they who have cast away the world in their haste to reach the Most Great Ocean, that station wherein the Tongue of Grandeur proclaimeth:

“The Kingdom belongeth unto God, the One, the Peerless, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed!”

Glorified art Thou, O Thou before Whose remembrance and praise the very essence of knowledge standeth abashed, and the kingdom of utterance findeth itself ashamed to describe Thy station! For all besides Thee hath been created by Thy Will and through the movement of Thy Most Exalted Pen. How then can that which was created by a movement from Thee comprehend Thy manifestations, Thy attributes, and the pearls of the ocean of Thy knowledge and wisdom?

Glorified art Thou, O Lord of Kings and the Merciful One to all who are possessed! I beseech Thee by the leaves of the Divine Lote-Tree and the Manifestations of Thy bounty in the Most Exalted Paradise to ordain for him who hath turned unto Thee that which beseemeth the heaven of Thy grace and the ocean of Thy generosity. Thou, verily, art the Almighty to do as Thou pleasest, and in Thy grasp are the kingdoms of all names. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Forgiving, the Most Generous.

O Lord! Illumine all faces with the lights of Thy countenance and all hearts with the effulgences of the Sun of Thy knowledge. Thou art He at Whose most sweet call the Concourse on High hastened to Thy Most Glorious Horizon, and through Whose Most Great Name the world was set ablaze. I beseech Thee by Thy Command, Thy pervading influence, and Thy sovereignty, to draw nigh unto those who have desired Thy nearness and Thy presence. Then write down for them the reward of those who have attained unto Thy presence and have hearkened unto Thy verses.

O Lord! Thou art He Whose power and might every tongue hath testified to, and Whose sovereignty and authority every possessor of utterance hath acknowledged. There is none other God but Thee, the Expositor, the All-Wise.

To continue: Several of thy letters, arriving one after another, were received. Praise be to God! Each of them was as a garden adorned with the flowers of remembrance and praise, and was perfumed with the fragrance of love for the one Beloved. After they had been read and their purport apprehended, they attained unto the Most Holy, the Most Inaccessible Presence, and each, according to the requirements of the time, was laid before the Countenance. At every moment the Sun of loving-kindness shineth forth from the horizon of bounty; and on this day—which is reckoned among the latter part of the month of Rabi’u’th-Thani—these exalted words and these clear utterances have appeared from the horizon of the Will. Exalted be His glory:

In My Name which is sanctified above all words and mention

O Musafir! The Wronged One remembers thee and calls to mind the days when thou didst stand at the gate and sit in the presence of His countenance, hearkening unto that which the Speaker of Sinai uttered in the Land of Manifestation and beholding the face of thy Lord, the Most High, the Most Great. Blessed be thine eye for what it hath beheld, thine ear for what it hath heard, and thy tongue for having uttered the praise of God, the Lord of the worlds. We bear witness, even as We bore witness before, that thou didst leave thy homeland, turning unto God, until thou didst arrive at the Prison and attain that which was recorded in the Books of the Messengers.

Thou didst attain My presence and drink the Kawthar of reunion from the hands of My bounty. Thou didst enter the Prison by leave of Him Who is the Source thereof and departed therefrom by His command. Verily, He recordeth the deeds of every steadfast believer. The servant in attendance hath presented thy letter before the Wronged One. He hath heard and answereth thee through this Tablet, the mighty, the wondrous. We have inhaled the fragrance of thy love, heard thy call, and witnessed thy devotion. We turn unto thee from the precincts of the Prison. Verily thy Lord is He Who ruleth as He pleaseth and ordaineth what He willeth.

From this spot We make mention of My loved ones in that place who have taken hold of the Book of God with the power granted by Him and have clung to His luminous hem. Convey My greetings unto them and remind them of My days, My verses and My clear proofs which have encompassed all who are in the heavens and on earth. We also make mention of the children of the Friend and the heirs of Him Who conversed with God, whom the affairs of men have not prevented from the Most Great Vision. They heard, responded, and hastened with their hearts unto the Truth, the Knower of the unseen. These have testified to that which God testified before the creation of earth and heaven: that there is none other God but Him, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. The world hath been illumined by the Most Great Light, yet the people do not comprehend. Blessed are ye, O children of the Friend, in that the Glorified One maketh mention of you, appearing resplendent in this hour while seated upon the Throne of Grandeur in this exalted Station. Beware lest the signs of the people prevent you from the Lord of this Day. Leave behind what is with the people, turning unto God, the Possessor of the visible and invisible.

O Nabil, O My Musafir! Give them the glad tidings of My mercy, My loving-kindness and My favor which have encompassed all created things. The Glory shining forth and dawning from the horizon of the Forehead be upon thee, upon those with thee, upon them, and upon those who have attained the recognition of God, the Mighty, the Loving.

Praise be to God that you have attained unto that which was recorded and inscribed in the divine Books of former and latter times. God willing, may the friends of God in that land who are adorned with the ornament of steadfastness engage in the mention and praise of the Beloved of the worlds with utmost joy and fragrance, with wisdom and utterance. Wisdom hath been beloved in all conditions. Blessed is he who holdeth fast unto it and acteth in accordance with what hath been ordained in the Book of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

This evanescent servant conveyeth his utter nothingness and greetings to each one, and declareth: Praise be to God that ye have attained unto the most great bounty and the supreme gift, and have recognized this mighty Day whose greatness hath been revealed by the Supreme Pen in former and latter scrolls. Now preserve this most great station in the name of the Lord of Eternity. I swear by the Sun of the horizon of inner meanings that all the treasures and riches and wealth and bounties of the world cannot equal the station of a single one of the friends of God. This evanescent servant hath heard such utterances from the Tongue of Grandeur concerning these stations that were they to be revealed, some might perish from joy and gladness. God willing, may all be aided to do what God loveth and be enabled to achieve the good-pleasure of the Peerless Friend.

Concerning what you wrote about His Holiness Ismu’llah Jamal, upon him be all the most glorious Glory of God, it was submitted to the Most Holy and Exalted Presence. He said:

“For God’s sake hath he chosen to travel. God willing, may he be successful in serving the Cause of God, that is, in teaching His Cause. We have mentioned him before and at this time, as a token of Our grace, for verily I am the All-Bountiful, the Generous.”

And likewise concerning the son of Ismu’llah Asdaq, upon both of them be the Glory of God, and regarding Aqa Mirza Haydar-ʿAli, upon him be the Glory of God, you wrote. In these days their letters have reached this evanescent one and I am engaged in preparing replies. Mention of them was also made in the Most Holy and Exalted Presence. His exalted Word:

“They have moved by God’s command, traveling in His name, speaking His praise, and known for His love. They have especially chosen to travel for the purpose of teaching according to the Command. God willing, may they attain unto that which is today beloved and acceptable.”

Regarding what you wrote about Aqa Muhammad-ʿAli, upon him be the Glory of God, one Most Holy and Exalted Tablet was specifically revealed for him and sent. God willing, may he attain unto it and receive his portion from the sweetness of the utterance of the All-Merciful. The blessed fragment is also available and will be sent when appropriate.

Concerning your mention of meeting with Nabil, upon him be the Glory of God, in the land of Ta [Tehran], and likewise the mention of the honored beloved Mirza Varqa, upon him be the Glory of God and His light—all were submitted before the Divine Throne of Grandeur and were blessed with the rays of the Sun of Providence. This evanescent servant in all conditions beseecheth God, exalted be His glory, for their confirmation, that all may drink successively from the ocean of divine bounty in this most mighty, most holy, most exalted Day. Verily our Lord, the All-Merciful, is the Forgiving, the Generous. Praise be unto Him for He is the Goal of all the worlds. Glory be upon you and upon those with you and upon your family and upon those whom God hath related unto you and upon the friends of God, the steadfast, the firm, the well-assured, the unshakeable.

BH00546: Praise is befitting and worthy of my Beloved Who…

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

Praise is befitting and worthy of my Beloved Who hath unlocked the gate of union and meeting through the key of His Most Great Name, and with the most exalted call hath given glad-tidings unto all of the advent of the Most Great Distinction. All good belongeth unto the soul that hath hearkened unto His call and hath arisen to serve Him. I beseech Him, exalted be He, to aid whosoever hath turned towards Him and placed his trust in Him, and to ordain for him that which the world and all that is therein cannot equal. Verily, He is the Omnipotent, the Almighty.

This evanescent one maketh mention that after completing the response to your earlier letters, another letter dated the fourteenth of Rabi’u’l-Avval was received which brought to mind the days of attainment to His presence. After its perusal and review, it was presented in the Most Holy Court before His countenance. He said:

“Praise be to God, again and again they have attained their goal. God willing, may they ever be adorned with the ornament of love for the Beloved of the worlds, be vocal in His praise, soar in His atmosphere, and arise to serve Him. The tongue of My favor calleth him, the glance of My loving-kindness beholdeth him, and My white hand hath written for him that which no earthly things can equal. He must rejoice in My bounty and make mention of Me by night and by day. The glory that hath shone forth from the kingdom of My mercy be upon him and upon his sons and upon My loved ones who have inhaled the fragrance of My luminous garment.”

Concerning what you wrote about meeting with the friends one day of the week to recite the divine verses, God willing, may you ever be confirmed and assisted. However, by His command, in no matter should you depart from wisdom. In all conditions you must hold fast unto wisdom, for the manifestations of tyranny have ever been, and continue to be, in search of a pretext, whether out of sheer wickedness or specifically to gain advantage. By manifestations of tyranny is meant, in the first instance, those divines who are honored in the name of truth yet have turned away from it. The cawing of heedless divines hath been the cause of opposition against the people of truth in all ages and centuries. Thus hath it ever been.

Concerning what you wrote about Shaykh Muhammad, upon him be the Glory of God, and his journey to Kermanshah—this was presented before His Presence. He said: Teaching the Cause is and has ever been beloved before God. God willing, may the entire world attain the bounties of the All-Bountiful Lord and drink from the ocean of His knowledge. The presence of teachers is necessary in that land and its surroundings, but the teachers must conduct themselves with perfect wisdom, lest the fire of corruption be ignited and cause the extinguishing of the warmth in weak souls.

This evanescent one begs God, exalted be His glory, to raise up servants specifically for this service and adorn them with wisdom and utterance, that they may guide the diverse peoples of the world to the single point and give them to drink of the water of life. The command is in His hands, and He is the Powerful, the Mighty.

This evanescent servant conveys greetings to Shaykh [Muhammad], upon him be 966 [Baha’u’llah], and gives him the glad tidings of God’s grace and bounty. At this moment, while engaged in writing this letter, being blessed with His presence, the tongue of grace spoke these blessed and decisive words—exalted be His glory:

“We, from this station, send greetings to him who is named Muhammad, that he may rejoice and be of the thankful ones. We have mentioned him before and after, and We counsel him to wisdom in the Cause of God, the Lord of the worlds. He is among those who have attained the presence of the Wronged One and heard what the Tongue of Utterance spoke in His mighty prison. The Glory be upon him and upon God’s sincere servants.”

God willing, may the earth be sanctified and purified through the endeavors of God’s friends from the conditions of self and passion, from conflict and contention, from corruption and the doubts of the divines. And since Shaykh Muhammad has spent his days teaching God’s Cause, we beseech God that he may be assisted in that which befits this divine Day. Today, the purification of souls through the water of wisdom and utterance is beloved, that all on earth may be cleansed by this holy water from unworthy deeds and displeasing character. Blessed are those souls who have recognized this water and been enabled to achieve the purification that comes from God. This is that water with which the son of Zacharias baptized, and which the Son commanded. This is that water which has ever been and shall ever be mentioned with God, and which has been recorded by the Supreme Pen in books, psalms, scrolls and tablets.

Whoever is enabled to teach today must be adorned with wisdom and blessed with patience, tranquility, submission and contentment, so that gradually the fragrance of recognition and acceptance may be diffused among the people.

Know that concerning the children of Khalil and the heirs of Kalim, upon whom be the glory of God, and their enkindlement in divine love and their steadfastness in the Cause, what you wrote was presented before the Most Holy, Most Exalted Presence, and the Sun of favor shone upon all. They stated:

“This is the Day of which David gave tidings and Isaiah bore witness. All that hath been manifested concerning the prison, the seat of authority, the lands and dwellings of previous Prophets—of these they gave news and glad-tidings. Blessed is he who hath seen and recognized, who seeth and knoweth.”

The Supreme Pen conveyeth greetings and counseleth that which today is the cause of the exaltation of God’s Cause. Know, O loved ones of God, then hearken unto what the Speaker of Sinai uttereth: Know ye, then be assured that weakness appeareth from discord and strength emergeth from unity. There is no human excellence save through fairness, and no power except through unity. God willing, be ye as lamps lit from a single flame—though the forms and vessels may differ, they are united in the diffusion of light. The Cause is in the grasp of God, the Single, the One. God willing, they must be united in word and find rest and repose beneath the Lote-Tree. From this station We send Our greetings to their faces and counsel them to unity and harmony and to that whereby God’s Cause is exalted amongst His servants.

The favor of God, exalted be His glory, hath encompassed them. God willing, may they be aided to attain recognition and to that which hath streamed forth and been revealed from the Supreme Pen. This lowly one conveyeth greetings to them.

As to your mention of the friends in that land, their degrees of devotion, humility, submissiveness, unity and concord, and likewise your request for favor on their behalf—these matters attained the honor of being heard by the Lord of Names. This is what the Tongue of the Intended One uttered, exalted be His glory:

He is the Rememberer and the Remembered

O My loved ones in that place! Hearken unto My call from the direction of My prison. Verily We have remembered you once in My Kingdom, and again in My Dominion, and at another time in this exalted Station, and yet again in a station sanctified above names and remembrances. Verily your Lord, the All-Merciful, is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed Rememberer. Rejoice in that We have caused you to hear, at one time the rustling of the Lote-Tree of My utterance, and at another the cooing of the Dove of My remembrance, and I am the Compassionate, the Generous. We have sent down to you from the heaven of Our Will that which the tongues of My servants are powerless to mention. Be thankful for this manifest grace. We counsel you to preserve your stations and that whereon ye stand in the love of God, your Lord and the Lord of your fathers of old. Thus crowed the Cock, and cooed the Dove of the Cause, and the Tongue of Grandeur spoke, as a favor from Him, and He is the All-Bountiful, the Ancient of Days. Glory be upon you and upon those who have quaffed the choice wine from the hands of the bounty of their Lord, the Generous, the Mighty, the Great.

This servant conveyeth greetings to all the friends. God is witness and testifier that he always presents mention of them at the Holy Court and seeks their success that the horizons of hearts may be illumined by the light of unity in such wise that its radiance may illumine the world of being.

And as to the mention made of the noble sons, upon them be the glory of God, all are recipients of God’s favors and mention of them hath flowed from the Tongue of Grandeur. Special expressions of favor have appeared from the Dayspring of Grace for each one, and this evanescent servant also conveyeth greetings to each one and beseecheth God to keep them beneath the shadow of His favor and that, God willing, they may attain to service to the Divine Cause in their early youth.

As you wrote indicating your intention to send his honor Aqa Muhammad-Rida, upon him be Baha’u’llah’s glory, to Daru’s-Salam after the festival—this matter was presented before His presence. He said that he should proceed with the utmost wisdom, and stated that whatever was said during the days of his presence should be acted upon. God willing, may they be assisted and confirmed in all conditions and be mindful of wisdom. His honor should conduct himself in that land in such a way as to cause the heedless souls to become calm and quiet. God willing, they have been and are successful in this matter, for the enemies are observed to be awaiting tumult and clamor. As the poet of old has said: “They drink wine in secret while denouncing others,” meaning that the wine of divine knowledge must be drunk in secret until the capacity and receptivity of the people of the earth becomes manifest for the recognition of this Most Holy, Most Exalted Station.

And regarding what you wrote about his honor your brother and nephews, may God assist them—kindness and expression of love is most fitting. They know not what news there is. The turbaned ones have deprived the people of the supreme bounty, for truly whoever becomes aware of the station would place his eye upon the path and turn to the greatest vista. Beseech God that He not deprive his honor your brother and nephews from the ocean of knowledge, nor prevent them from the highest horizon, and that He may assist them in such wise that the ornaments of the world and its various colors may not make them heedless of and veiled from the Truth, exalted be His glory. The glory shining forth from the horizon of eternity be upon you and those with you and upon the loved ones of God in those parts, and praise be to God, my Lord and your Lord.

BH00298: Praise be unto God Who hath appeared and manifested…

Section 1: “Praise be unto God Who hath appeared…”

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

Praise be unto God Who hath appeared and manifested His sovereignty and enforced His command in such wise as to subdue the world and cause all peoples to speak that there is none other God but Him. He hath ever been and will ever be. He is the Single One, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting.

Glorified art Thou, O Thou at Whose Name the Cockerel of the Throne crowed, and through Whose love they that are in the heavens and on earth were drawn! I beseech Thee by Thy Name which Thou hast made the Sun of the heaven of Thy utterance and the Lote-Tree of the paradise of Thy knowledge, and the Most Great Word in Thy Hidden Book and the Mystery of the Command in Thy Treasured Tablet, to protect Thy near servants from the oppression of those who have been heedless of Thy Cause, who have turned away from Thy sovereignty, who have disputed Thy signs and denied Thy proof. O Lord! Thou seest Thy chosen ones in the hands of Thine enemies.

I beseech Thee to ordain for them that which befitteth Thy power and might. Thou knowest, O my God, that this servant hath attained unto the letter of one of Thy friends and hath been seized by the wine of His love in such wise as to raise his hands in supplication to the heaven of Thy grace, seeking from the wonders of Thy bounty that which would assist him in Thy service with such confirmation as would cause the tongues of Thy creation to testify. Verily, Thou art the Powerful over whatsoever Thou willest, and within Thy grasp are the reins of all things. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

May my spirit be a sacrifice for your exile! Its duration has passed, and this servant was not successful in expressing his longing and yearning in the presence of Your Holiness, as the whereabouts of that Beloved One was unknown, until praise be to God, the spiritual herald brought the glad tidings of your well-being and settlement in the land of Hadba. After offering praise and thanksgiving to the Lord of the Seen and Unseen, and learning of that which was revealed from the treasure of divine knowledge, I approached the station and presented myself before His presence.

Then He spoke, and His sweetest utterance was: “O My Name, O Jamal! At the time when the gaze of God’s favor was directed toward thee, the servant in attendance arrived and mentioned thy letter in its entirety before the Face. God willing, mayest thou ever be illumined by the Sun of divine favor, gazing toward its horizon, speaking His praise, and arising in His service. The people of the world have been overtaken by the slumber of heedlessness to such extent that they have not been awakened by the cry, the call, and the trumpet blast. This is in consequence of the deeds they have previously committed. Should the True One, exalted be His glory, act according to the requirements of justice, all would return to the most wretched of abodes, save whom God willeth. Verily thy Lord is the Forgiving, the Bountiful.

The fire of corruption hath encompassed the world, yet none is aware of it and all are utterly heedless of its cause and reason. God willing, may that honored one drink at all times from the Kawthar of joy and hold fast in that land to silence and quietude, for the light of the All-Merciful is not visible on the foreheads of those people, and they seek to lay hold of some matter and rise up in rejection and opposition. The divine religion and community, namely the religion of Islam, has become exceedingly weak. The enemy, like unto a serpent, hath begun to move from every direction. Implore the Exalted True One to aid His religion through the hosts of the unseen. Verily He is the Powerful, the Mighty.

O My Name! As yet no ear hath been found into which a word might be cast. We beseech Him, exalted be He, to assist His servants to turn unto Him and to make known unto them that which profiteth them. Verily He is the All-Merciful, the Most Compassionate. The light shining forth from the horizon of the Will be upon thee and upon those who are with thee, from God, the Lord of the worlds.” Thus ended His words. Praise be to God that the Sun of favor hath ever been and will continue to be shining and manifest in relation to Your Holiness.Retry

Two Most Holy Tablets were previously revealed and sent specifically for the Imprisoned Leaf, upon her be the Glory of God, and likewise specifically for his honor Buzurg, upon him be the Glory of God. They commanded: Write in My name to Jamal that they should be mindful of wisdom in all circumstances, for the ears of the mischief-makers are alert at their posts, appearing with a hundred thousand tricks and deceptions that perchance they may, in their imagination, find cause for corruption. Silence is best, and the Lord of creation, the Beloved of the world, hath said: “The most excellent of deeds is silence.” By God, silence is beloved in all circumstances, that is, in that land and its surroundings, and in this land and its surroundings. Regard the world as a child in need of education, both now and in the past, but the Educator is forbidden. In these days the secret movement of this land has somewhat come to light, therefore one must act according to the requirements of wisdom and hold fast to that which is befitting. Verily He is the Counselor, the Commander, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Given these manifest, evident and luminous bestowals, there remains and shall remain no station for the utterances of this evanescent servant. The silence that hath ever been and shall ever be beloved is the silence of this servant in this station. God willing, may they drink in all conditions from the ocean of grace and be blessed with the bounty of remembrance and praise. I convey greetings and glory to the friends of God who dwell in that land. God willing, may all drink from the Kawthar of wisdom and be occupied with the mention of the Peerless Friend.

As for your mention of his honor Aqa ʿAbdu’s-Samad, upon him be the Glory of God, from the people of Mim, it was presented before His presence. This is what the tongue of the Beloved spoke in reply:

In the Name of the One God

The whole world hath been created for the recognition of this blessed Day, and hath been brought from nothingness into being. This is the Day that cannot be compared to a single moment of past ages and centuries. How excellent is the state of the one who hath attained unto its recognition and been illumined by its lights. Today is the day of service and assistance, and assistance hath been and shall be through teaching His Cause. O ʿAbdu’s-Samad! By My life! If thou attainest unto this most exalted station, thou shalt have attained unto all good. Strive that perchance thou mayest guide one who is lost by the fragrance of utterance to the horizon of the All-Merciful. This is among the greatest of deeds in the sight of the Self-Sufficient, the Most High. All affairs have been and are in the grasp of God’s power. With a single word He transformeth remoteness into nearness, separation into union, and the poison of absence into the honey of presence. He is the Supreme, He is the Powerful. If thou observest with the eye of truth, thou wouldst testify that nothing that is witnessed on earth can compare with this Tablet. Be thou grateful to thy Lord for this mighty grace. Say: Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

God willing, may they attain unto this Most Holy, Most Great Tablet and drink from its oceans of inner meanings. Today is the day of mention and utterance. They and the friends in that land must be aflame with the fire of God’s love and, with perfect wisdom, be occupied with teaching the Cause of the All-Merciful. God willing, may they not be deprived of this greatest bounty. This is the most mighty deed that hath ever been acceptable in His presence. Blessed is he who achieveth it, and woe unto the heedless. If their journey towards pilgrimage is necessary, let them proceed as commanded, otherwise God shall record for them the reward of attaining His presence, the Mighty, the Beloved. This lowly one also conveyeth greetings and glory to them, and beseecheth God, exalted be His glory, for their success and confirmation.

Regarding what was written about whether it would be advisable to send a letter to His Majesty the Sultan or to the Viceroy—to His Majesty the Sultan it is not necessary, but if to His Excellency the Viceroy a letter were written indicating and demonstrating the absence of corruption and conflict—that is, drawing evidence from divine verses that in numerous Tablets all have been forbidden from reprehensible and displeasing acts—and if some relevant verses in Arabic and Persian were quoted exactly, there would be and is no harm. And it should be written that given these clear verses, how could those who have accepted the Faith transgress the aforementioned bounds. And they should write: I swear by the lights of His countenance that shall endure after all things have perished, this community has never been, even to the extent of a needle’s point, willing to harm anyone.

This servant dwelt for years in the land of Ta [Tehran]. If its people speak with fairness, all would testify to the truthfulness, honesty and religiosity of this ephemeral one. I seek testimony from His Excellency himself—did those who suddenly entered this ephemeral one’s house and other houses during this period observe any trace of corruption, conflict or contention? No, by God! Through God’s grace, the hearts of these servants are sanctified and purified from all that is unworthy of human station. The fruits of the divine tree of humanity have been kindness, grace and forbearance, and its root truthfulness, trustworthiness and religion. This blessed word is counted among the essence of books:

“The heaven of understanding is illumined with two luminaries: tolerance and righteousness.”

Section 2: “Praise be to God that despite the clamor…”

Praise be to God that despite the clamor of the calumniators, His Excellency has not turned a blind eye to the care of these poor ones. I swear by the Source of existence and the Educator of the seen and unseen, among all parties, this party has been and is the one showing perfect trustworthiness and truthfulness toward government and nation. God, exalted be His glory, is witness and testament that these words were submitted with perfect sincerity. God willing, the rays of His Excellency’s sun of justice will encompass and surround all the inhabitants of the earth.

In any case, if something with such contents were written and sent directly through the post office, there would be and is no harm. These souls have been and are a hundred thousand times more distinguished, ancient and exalted than the ignorant ones of the earth who are known by the name of learned. If the rulers of the earth had acted according to the judgments of the divines, assuredly not one person of truth would remain on earth. The wickedness of those people has reached such a degree that pen and tongue are powerless to mention it.

One day this supreme utterance was heard from the Dayspring of utterance, the Lord of Names. He said:

“The dog of princes is better than the knowledge of these ignorant ones, and their oppression is better than the justice of those calumnious, heedless and veiled souls.”

In their own estimation, the death sentences they have issued against the gems of existence have been from justice. Nay! The curse of God be upon the wrongdoing people! Ask God, exalted be His glory, to free the sun of justice from the clouds of oppression. Verily He is the Almighty, the All-Powerful.

And regarding what you had written about the honorable and just lady, upon her be the glory of God, it was submitted before His presence. These exalted words appeared from the Dayspring of grace:

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

All the peoples of the earth, both men and women, were expectant and yearning for this glorious and wondrous Day. Yet when the effulgent rays of the Sun of Truth shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of revelation, all were found lifeless and veiled, save whom God willed. The affairs of the world have made the people of creation heedless of the Lord of Names. The most heedless among the servants have been and are the divines of the age, for the false utterances of those heedless souls have prevented the servants from the Dawning-Place of the Light of Oneness. Consider the lack of understanding of these souls—they themselves say that when the Qa’im appears, He will speak a word that will cause the nobles of the earth to flee. Yet they have not reflected in the least what that word might be that would transform acceptance into rejection. Fie upon them and upon what their hands have wrought!

Praise be to the Beloved of the worlds Who has enabled thee to recognize the Cause whereof most upon earth remain heedless and veiled. Were thou to know the station of this Most Exalted, Most Holy Tablet which hath been revealed in thy name, thou wouldst be detached from the world and all who dwell therein, and wouldst be occupied with the remembrance of the Beloved of all creation in the night season and in the hours of day. Be not saddened by worldly affairs. Verily, He giveth and withholdeth, and He is the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous. Say:

“Glory be to Thee, O Thou Who art the Object of worship of the worlds and the Desire of the nations! I beseech Thee by the Most Great Name, through which the ocean of Thy bounty surged and the fragrance of Thy garment was wafted, to ordain for me through Thy Most Exalted Pen that which shall profit me in the next world and in this one, and shall draw me nigh unto Thee, O Thou Who art the Lord of all beings and the King of the throne above and the dust beneath. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.”

As to what was written concerning being at the house of Aqa Muhammad-Taqi at the time of writing, and that Aqa Mirza Habibu’llah and Haji Muhammad, as well as Haji Muhammad, upon them be the Glory of God, were present and requested that mention of them be made in the Most Holy, Most Exalted Presence—these matters were presented, and the Sun of favor dawned upon each one:

O Muhammad-Qabli-Taqi! Blessed is the place that hath been honored with the mention of My Name, and the assembly wherein the call of My loved ones hath been raised, and the house wherein My verses have been recited. God willing, thou shalt be so enkindled with the fire of the love of the All-Merciful that the ungodly shall be powerless to quench it. Every word that proceedeth from the mouth of thy Lord’s Will is verily a precious, mighty, and priceless jewel whose value no reckoner can reckon, no accountant compute, and no learned one eloquently express. Be thankful unto God for My remembrance of thee and My attention to thee from this exalted station.

O Habibu’llah! My Name “The Beauty” hath mentioned thee that thou mayest attain unto the remembrance of the Wronged One. However, at this time this lofty and most mighty station is hidden from all eyes. By the Essence of Being! The entire world cannot equal one blessed word that floweth from the Divine mouth. Rejoice thou in this bounty and be of the thankful ones.

O Muhammad! My Name hath mentioned thee. We make mention of thee in the Prison that thou mayest be mindful of God’s favor and mercy which have preceded existence itself. Bear thou witness to that which God Himself hath testified: that there is none other God but He, the Supreme, the Self-Subsisting. He hath created all things by His command and brought the existences into being as a grace from His presence. He is powerful over what was and what will be. Glory be upon those who have cast away what the people possess and have taken what they were commanded by God, the Lord of the seen and the unseen.

O Muhammad! The Wronged One makes mention of thee. Verily He hath made mention of all who have believed in God, the Lord of all worlds. He beseecheth God to confirm His loved ones in steadfastness in His Cause, the Unassailable, the All-Wise. Be thou vocal in the remembrance of thy Lord and grateful to thy Lord, the All-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful. The Glory and Peace be upon thee and upon God’s chosen ones and His loved ones who have shown patience in adversities, holding fast to the cord of their Lord’s grace, the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful.

This lowly one offers praise that, by God’s grace, the friends of God have been and continue to be the recipients of divine favors. I convey greetings and salutations to all. God willing, may all be assisted to achieve that which leads to the exaltation of the Cause and the betterment of the world.

Concerning what was written about the steadfast leaf, upon her be the Glory of God, it was presented before the Most Holy Court. He said:

“Blessed is she. We were with her and witnessed her deeds and heard what she uttered, and We have revealed for her that which every letter thereof testifieth to My loving-kindness, My mercy and My tenderness towards her. O My Name! She must in all conditions praise the Beloved of the worlds, for He hath enabled her to attain unto that which shall never be overtaken by extinction nor comprehended by annihilation. Convey to her My glad-tidings and greet her from thy Lord, the All-Informed. Every bounty in the world shall change, every glory shall be transformed, every wealth shall return to nothingness, and every existence shall be seized by non-existence. However, that which she heard and witnessed in the path of Truth, and that which hath been recorded concerning her in the Tablets, hath been and shall ever remain steadfast, mighty and everlasting. By the life of God! O My Name! She hath attained unto that which is mentioned with God and is adorned with the ornament of His acceptance.”

This servant also conveys greetings to that leaf, upon her be the Glory of God, and offers true congratulations, for she hath attained the ornament of the grace and acceptance of God, exalted be His Glory. Well is it with her and may she rejoice. This evanescent servant beseecheth the Exalted Truth to confirm that leaf, in all conditions, in that which is beloved before His Presence.

BH00807: Praise be unto Him Who is sanctified above thought…

Praise be unto Him Who is sanctified above thought and utterance, the Beloved of the worlds, Who through one Word bestowed existence, through another Word caused return unto nothingness…

Glory be to Thee, O Thou through Whose Name the gates of mercy and success were opened! I beseech Thee by this morning wherein the hands of hope were raised toward the heaven of Thy grace, that Thou send down upon me and upon Thy servants that which will draw them nigh unto Thee and cause them to recognize what Thou hast willed for them through Thy bounty and sovereignty. O my Lord! I beseech Thee by the rustling of the Lote-Trees of Paradise to inscribe for me by Thy Most Exalted Pen that which shall profit me in the Hereafter and in this world. Thou knowest what is with me, and I know not what is with Thee. Verily, Thou art the All-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed….

Glory be to Thee, O Sovereign of existence, Who art manifest in Thy praised station! I beseech Thee by the Dawning-Place of Thy signs, the Dayspring of Thy clear tokens, the ocean of Thy knowledge and the river of Thy wisdom, and by the yearning of the lovers in their separation from Thee, to strengthen me to remain steadfast in Thy Cause and to ordain for me that which will gladden mine eyes, rejoice my heart and dilate my breast. Thou art, verily, powerful over whatsoever Thou willest, and in Thy grasp are the reins of all things. There is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the Forgiving. O my Lord! Thou seest me turning toward Thy most exalted horizon and clinging to the cord of Thy most sublime Word. I beseech Thee by the pearls of the ocean of Thy knowledge to send down upon me from the heaven of Thy mercy that which will draw me nigh unto Thee and purify me from all that Thy good-pleasure abhorreth. Then protect me and my family and those who are with me from every affliction and hardship and from every grief and sorrow. Thou art verily the Powerful, the Protector, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise….

O Zayn! On this day the Wronged One is observed to be sorrowful, for one of the steadfast, assured, content and well-pleasing souls has, on the previous day, ascended to the Supreme Companion. In truth, he was counted among the pillars of faith and certitude. He bore countless hardships in the path of divine love. He left his homeland and sought shelter in exile beneath the shade of the Divine Lote-Tree. The mention of grief was only to show My favor unto him. Praise be to God, all the friends and the four Branches were present at the funeral procession, and the Wronged One was occupied with his remembrance. At that very moment, the Pen was engaged for some time in praise and remembrance and in recording what he had manifested in the path of God. Blessed is he and joy be unto him! Blessed is the one who has ascended unto God, detached from all else save Him. Convey greetings once again from the Wronged One to all the friends in that land. Likewise, We repeatedly bid them to preserve their stations and ranks. The Glory be upon you and upon those with you and upon them.

It is submitted that Jinab-i-Mulla Muhammad-Ali-i-Qa’ini, upon him be the Glory of God, His mercy, His favor and His grace, ascended to the Supreme Companion at dawn on the twentieth of Rabi’u’l-Avval, attaining to that which was the hope of those near and sincere. At all times they are blessed with new mercy and fresh bounty. The Glory be upon him, and the Mercy be upon him, and the Light be upon him….

After completing this petition, another missive from that Beloved One dated the 17th of Rabi’ul-Avval illumined the horizon of longing. The servant drank therefrom the cups of union and meeting. When I read it, I presented it before His countenance, whereupon the Tongue of Utterance spoke that which all the pens and tongues in creation are powerless to recount. Your honor is well aware of the signs of the bounties of the All-Bountiful Lord.

“You yourself know what that pure water speaks to the flowers and saplings”….

I beseech Thee, O Thou through Whom the winds have been set in motion and the gates have been opened, I beseech Thee by the light of Thy countenance which shall endure after all things have passed away, to strengthen me in steadfastness in Thy love and in acting according to what Thou hast sent down from the Supreme Pen in Thy Book. O my Lord! Thou art He to Whose might and power and greatness and all-encompassing sovereignty the tongues of all created things have testified. I beseech Thee not to disappoint me of that which Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen ones. All things testify to my poverty and need, and to Thy loftiness and riches. There is no God but Thee, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise….

Most strange it is, nay stranger than strange, nay stranger beyond all measure, for this evanescent one observeth that while all the peoples of the world await some pretext and long for some matter to appear from them, the people of Iran who are in truth possessed of consciousness and understanding remain heedless and veiled from this Most Great Cause, the like of which hath never been witnessed in the world. Wonder upon wonder ariseth from this tale! In any case, we implore God, exalted be His glory, to open their eyes and grant them new and attentive ears. He is the Powerful, the Mighty….

If thou hast attained unto the fragrances of the divine Tablet, arise and say:

O my God, my Lord, and my Hope! I beseech Thee by the pearls of the ocean of Thy knowledge not to deprive this evanescent one from the wine of immortality. O my Lord and the Desire of my heart! By Thy power, protect this weak one from the cawing of the crows. Illumine him with the light of recognition and keep him ablaze with the fire of Thy love, that all peoples may testify to this light and bear witness to this fire. Thou art the Mighty, the Powerful, the Able, the All-Knowing….

BH01081: Praise be worthy of the Lord of the unseen…

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

Praise be worthy of the Lord of the unseen and the visible, Who through His complete power created man and made him the manifestation of His names and attributes. Exalted is He Who made him the dawning-place of His signs, the manifestation of His evidences, the dayspring of His revelation and the source of His command. He is the Most Great Talisman in the world. The “man” who is here mentioned refers, in its primary degree, to the Seal of the Prophets—may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for His sake. He is the manifestation of the words “He is the First and the Last, the Manifest and the Hidden.” He is the Primal Point from which all the books of the world have been derived and elaborated.

He is the true Most Great Sign and the spiritual Farthest Mosque. He is the Kaaba of God among creation and the Frequented Fane amidst His servants. Whosoever acknowledges His mission and grandeur and greatness—may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for His sake—his acknowledgment of all God’s Messengers is confirmed and established. Blessed are the people who turned to Him, who drank from the ocean of His bounty, and who acted according to His bidding. The claim of every pretender in this regard has not been and will not be accepted. The servant beseecheth His Lord to open the eyes of those who have turned away from His straight path and cast the Cause of God behind their backs, taking that which every ignorant doubter hath uttered. And prayers and peace be upon Him and His family and companions throughout the duration of the earthly and heavenly kingdoms.

Glory be to Thee, O Thou the Goal of the world and the Beloved of the nations! I beseech Thee by the treasuries of Thy knowledge and the repositories of Thy wisdom and that which was hidden in Thy Name, to acquaint Thy servants with that which they have neglected and draw them nigh unto a station wherein they will behold Thy manifestation, Thy power, Thy might and Thy sovereignty. O my Lord! Vain imaginings have kept them away from the ocean of Thy nearness, and idle fancies have withheld them from the heaven of Thy knowledge. I beseech Thee by the steadfastness of Thy chosen ones and Thy pure ones, and by the tears of them that are in love with Thee and yearn for Thee, to assist all to achieve what Thou hast willed through Thy sovereignty. Verily Thou art the Powerful over what Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful.

Thereafter, it is submitted that your letter, time and again, brought joy and recalled the days of reunion. It is a messenger sanctified from provisions and supplies and free from toil and hardship. In truth it is a spiritual courier and a luminous herald, especially when it proceeds from one who is adorned with the ornament of the love of God, glorified be His majesty, and whose heart is sanctified from the dust of the world. In any case, after being presented before His presence, He said:

“God willing, may they be successful and assisted in all conditions in that which is loved by God.”

Today is the day when all must hold fast to the cord of wisdom, for the false one appears in the guise of the truthful, and the treacherous in the name of the trustworthy. Beseech ye God to protect all from the evil of malicious, atheistic, false, and treacherous souls. Verily He is the Protector of those who place their hopes in Him. And praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds. Peace, mercy and glory be upon thee and thy family and My loved ones in that place and upon every assured and steadfast believer.

Regarding what was mentioned about Abdullah Ansari, upon whom be God’s mercy, and his words—this matter was presented at the Most Holy and Most Exalted Court, and He said:

“O Abdullah! From the mention of that word, it became evident that you perceived the sweetness of the Divine Call. Now reflect upon the stations of those souls who hear this word from the tongue of the Manifestation Himself, and beseech God that all may attain to the recognition of this Most Exalted and Most Glorious Station. Verily, He speaks that which guides the people to His mighty and impregnable Kingdom.”

After delay and postponement, this evanescent servant was enabled to present this response and send it forth. This is naught but the result of the attention and prayers of the friends of God, exalted be His glory. This servant submits that mention has been and continues to be made of you and the friends of God in the Most Holy Court. God willing, may all succeed in preserving their stations. In truth, this response was greatly delayed, but this matter was due to wisdom.

Today, this evanescent servant and all friends are commanded to observe wisdom, lest the clamor of every heedless and remote one be raised. God willing, may you eternally partake of the choice wine of divine love and the Kawthar of the All-Merciful’s utterance, and with utmost joy and fragrance remain occupied with the mention and praise of God, exalted be His glory. Verily, He is the Protector of those who remember Him, the Guardian of those who are steadfast, the Friend of those who are firm, the Helper of those who are patient, and the Supporter of those who act. Praise be to Him, for He is the Lord of all worlds. I request that you convey greetings and salutations on behalf of this ephemeral one to the friends in that land who have drunk of the sealed wine and who are gazing toward the Supreme Horizon. Praise be to God, mention of the friends of that land has been and continues to be made among the Concourse on High and the denizens of Paradise. Blessed is the soul who does not lose this station due to vain imaginings and the affairs of this transient world, and who, through the Name of God, exalted be His glory, succeeds in preserving it. Their call is continuously raised without interruption.

Many matters are now veiled due to the weakness of the servants, but God will reveal what He wishes. Verily, He does not allow the reward of the doers of good to be lost. There has befallen you in the path of God that which has been recorded in the Books, Tablets and Scriptures. Blessed are you, O friends of God, and joy and felicity be upon you. Glory be upon you, and the Spirit be upon you, and the mercy of God and His blessings.

The servant 9 Jamadiyu’l-Avval 1299

BH01352: God willing, through the grace of the Truth–glorified be…

He is the Dayspring shining forth from the horizon of the heaven of Utterance.

In His Name, the All-Merciful.

God willing, through the grace of the Truth–glorified be His majesty—thou shalt drink of the choice Wine of divine knowledge, and shalt fix thine gaze upon the Most Exalted Horizon. Thy letter, conveyed through the present servant, was received; and whatsoever was written therein was mentioned in the presence of the Wronged One. We beseech God to bestow upon thee a new ear and a piercing sight, for

Verily I say, this is the Day in which mankind can behold the Face, and hear the Voice, of the Promised One. The Call of God hath been raised, and the light of His countenance hath been lifted up upon men. It behooveth every man to blot out the trace of every idle word from the tablet of his heart, and to gaze, with an open and unbiased mind, on the signs of His Revelation, the proofs of His Mission, and the tokens of His glory.

Great indeed is this Day! The allusions made to it in all the sacred Scriptures as the Day of God attest its greatness. The soul of every Prophet of God, of every Divine Messenger, hath thirsted for this wondrous Day. All the divers kindreds of the earth have, likewise, yearned to attain it. No sooner, however, had the Daystar of His Revelation manifested itself in the heaven of God’s Will, than all, except those whom the Almighty was pleased to guide, were found dumbfounded and heedless.

O thou that hast remembered Me! The most grievous veil hath shut out the peoples of the earth from His glory, and hindered them from hearkening to His call. God grant that the light of unity may envelop the whole earth, and that the seal “the Kingdom is God’s” may be stamped upon the brow of all its peoples.

Thou didst inquire about the essential truth of Him Who shall be made manifest. Glory be to God! This station cannot be encompassed by words, nor can all the pens in the world enumerate its praise. All the Prophets and chosen ones acknowledge their powerlessness, and all the holy ones confess their shortcomings. This is an arena wherein the horsemen of mystic knowledge, expression, comprehension and intellect cannot venture. He cannot be known except through Himself, nor described save by His own Self. None hath ever encompassed this hidden secret and treasured mystery, nor ever shall. Whatever hath been mentioned is but as a shadow before the lights of the Sun of Truth. However, in view of the supreme benevolence and boundless grace, the Most Exalted Pen hath spoken this most exalted Word which shineth as the sun from the horizon of the divine Tablet:

“Return ye to the evidences, O ye who are endowed with insight!”

Should anyone contemplate with the eye of fairness the evidences, manifestations and proofs that have appeared in this Most Holy, Most Exalted Revelation, he would surely proclaim: “I believe in Thee, O Thou the Desire of the worlds!” What hath been mentioned was but a drop from the ocean of truth. By the life of God! This ocean hath no bounds, and no expert diver hath ever reached its depths. If ye were to look to the Bayan, it declareth: “He it is Who speaketh in every condition, ʿVerily I am God, there is none other God but Me.”’ All the names that have been heard were and are created by the Word of this Most Great Revelation. Ponder thou, that thou mayest know and be numbered among them that comprehend.

Nevertheless, the people of the Bayan have denied these stations and cling to their vain imaginings, like unto the rebellious and tyrannical faction who hasten unto fancy and conjecture, turning away from the light of certitude. This Wronged One arose to promote the Cause at a time when, from the tyranny of the oppressors, none dared speak, and guided all on earth to the Most Exalted Horizon. I swear by the Sun of the divine Word! We have accepted all the tribulations of the earth for the reformation and education of the world, and there befell Us in successive years that which caused the dwellers of the all-highest Paradise to weep and lament. Yet these withered and faded people were not moved by the divine breeze and the fragrance of His garment.

Say: Glory be unto Thee, O Thou in Whose grasp is the kingdom of names and in Whose right hand is the dominion of all created things! I beseech Thee by the rushing of Thy winds in the Supreme Paradise and by the warbling of Thy Nightingale upon the branches of the Divine Lote-Tree, to make me in all conditions steadfast in Thy Cause, speaking Thy praise, soaring in the atmosphere of Thy love, and acting in accordance with what Thou hast commanded me in Thy Book. O my Lord! I am the poor and needy one, and Thou art the All-Possessing, the All-Bountiful. Thou seest me, O my God, standing before the door of Thy grace, which Thou hast opened by the finger of Thy power unto all in Thy earth and Thy heaven.

I beseech Thee not to disappoint me of what is with Thee, to make known unto me what Thou hast intended through the wonders of Thy bounty and favors, and to confirm me in steadfastness unto this Cause whereby the feet of most of Thy creatures who cast away Thy Covenant, turned away from Thy Beauty, disputed Thy verses, and denied what hath appeared from Thee have slipped. Thou art He Whom nothing whatsoever hath preceded and no command hath frustrated. Thou doest what Thou willest and ordainest what Thou pleasest. Thou art the Mighty, the Peerless, the One, the Triumphant, the Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

BH05108: Thy letter hath come before the Wronged One…

He is the All-Witnessing, the All-Hearing, the Answerer

Thy letter hath come before the Wronged One, and the attending servant hath read it. We have heard and answer thee through this perspicuous Tablet. Whosoever in this day hath attained unto the recognition of God is accounted among the most exalted of all creation in the sight of the Truth. This is that sovereignty which no decline shall overtake, and that precious pearl whose value the appraisers are powerless to estimate. By the life of God! The riches of the earth cannot equal it. Whosoever hath attained this most exalted station is recorded in the Crimson Book as one of the denizens of the Kingdom of immortality.

Say: Glory be unto Thee, O Thou through Whose Name the ocean of utterance hath surged and the horizon of knowledge hath been illumined! I beseech Thee by such of Thy servants as are nigh unto Thee and such of Thy creation as are sincere, who have spent all they possessed until they attained the waters of martyrdom in Thy days, to ordain for me through Thy Most Exalted Pen that which shall profit me in the world to come and in this world. O my Lord! Thou seest the poor one hastening to the gate of Thy bounty and the weary one turning toward the kingdom of Thy utterance. I beseech Thee not to disappoint me of that which lieth with Thee. O my God, my Lord, my Master and my Hope! I testify that I know not what profiteth me in Thy worlds. Thou knowest me better than I know myself. Deal with Thy servant as beseemeth the heaven of Thy generosity and the ocean of Thy grace. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful.

BH08279: God testifieth that there is none other God but…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Ancient, the Most Glorious

God testifieth that there is none other God but Him, and He Who hath come upon the clouds is, verily, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.

Praise be to God! Thy letter was received and through the intermediary of him who is present it attained unto the hearing of the Wronged One. A hundred thousand blessings upon the one who hath in this Day arisen with supreme steadfastness to make mention and sing the praises of the Lord of all beings, and hath remembered the Wronged One of the horizons in the Most Great Prison. All matters have been and shall be held within the claws of extinction, save that which appeareth for the sake of God and is adorned with the ornament of His acceptance. Say: O people of the earth! Strive ye that ye may attain unto this most exalted station. The Supreme Pen doth make mention of the friends at morn and eventide, and doth summon them unto that which will draw them nigh unto God. Blessed is the soul that hath heard and turned unto Him and responded. Woe unto every heedless one who doubteth.

BH00152: It is submitted that the substance of the matters…

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 All-Glorious.

It is submitted that the substance of the matters set forth by the honored Haji Muhammad-ʿAli Valiyani (upon him be the glory of God)—which the dearly-loved and honored Jinab-i-Samandar (upon him be the glory of God and His loving-kindness) hath sent unto that Beloved One—was laid before the Most Holy, the Most Inaccessible, the Most Exalted Presence.

As to that which they had written concerning Jinab-i-Ibn Khan Ílchi: after this was presented, these exalted words were sent down and made manifest from the Dawning-Place of the Utterance of the Lord of all that is seen and all that is unseen. Exalted be His glory:

We have heard that which he desired from God, the Lord of all that is seen and all that is unseen, and the Lord of the worlds; and We have answered him as a bounty from Our presence, that he may rejoice and be numbered among the thankful. Let him say:

O my Lord! Glory be to Thee, O Thou by Whose name the pearls of the seas of knowledge and understanding appeared, and the sun of wisdom shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of utterance! I beseech Thee to make me adorned with the ornament of Thy good-pleasure, which hath been the hope of Thy chosen ones and Thy trusted ones. This is a station which no station in Thy dominion can equal, and a deed which no deed in Thy lands can compare with. Then I beseech Thee, O God of the world Who hath appeared with the Most Great Name, to ordain for me by Thy Most Exalted Pen that which shall profit me in the Hereafter and in this world. Verily, Thou art the Lord of Names and Creator of Heaven. O my Lord! Grant me goodly offspring who shall inherit me in the Bayan. Verily, Thou art the One with power over what Thou willest, and in Thy grasp are the reins of all things. There is no God but Thee, the Forgiving, the Bountiful.

Though children are among God’s great bounties and among the fruits of the human tree, none save God, exalted be His glory, knoweth their goodness and the duration of their lives. We inform thee of a fruit that is ever-ripe and everlasting, and it is in these days the commanding Word of God, which is dearer and more excellent than a hundred thousand children, for it is adorned with the ornament of perpetuity. Should one attain unto a single word from Him, one would attain unto all good. Blessed is the soul that hath attained unto the fruits of the Most Exalted Pen.

Verily, this day is associated with God, exalted be His glory, and in all the Books it is designated as the Day of God. All who dwell on earth cannot equal a single mention from among His mentions and a single word from among the words that have shone forth from the horizon of the will of the Lord of Names. The exposition of this glorious and mighty station is treasured in the repository of the heart. By the life of God! Were but an intimation thereof to be revealed, all souls would be seen yearning and longing for it. God willing, may they be blessed through God’s grace and be adorned with the ornament of steadfastness. This is the most excellent of all deeds in the sight of the Self-Sufficient, the Most Exalted.

O Muhammad! God willing, may you be blessed with divine grace. The whole world has been created for this Day, and in the heavenly Books all are promised the meeting with God and His manifestation. All tongues and pens fall short of describing this blessed Day. This is that Day of which He says: “Lead forth the people from darkness into light and announce to them the Days of God.” Likewise He says: “The Kingdom on that Day shall be God’s.” Nevertheless, when the Sun of Revelation shone forth from the horizon of God’s Will and the lights of His countenance illumined the world, all were found heedless and veiled save whom God willed. Those who turned away have utterly denied this most great bounty and this supreme grace, and God, exalted be His glory, has spoken of such souls in His words: “They are in doubt concerning the meeting with their Lord.”

The references revealed in the divine Books in praise and glorification of this luminous blessed Day are clear and evident, yet all are so intoxicated with the wine of pride that they have not attained to a single drop from the ocean of inner meanings. Woe unto them for having cast fairness behind their backs and chosen oppression on a Day wherein the Interlocutor of Sinai spoke forth, the lights of Revelation encompassed all things, and all things proclaimed: “The Kingdom belongeth unto God, the Sovereign of the throne and of the dust, the Lord of the Hereafter and of this world.”

O Muhammad! The chosen ones seek, and He Who is imprisoned also seeks, but the hypocrites have become as veils. The lights of the Sun of Justice are hidden behind clouds of oppression. He has come for the reformation of the world and appeared specifically for the meeting, yet the veiled and heedless have become obstacles.

Say: Glory be unto Thee, O Thou through Whose manifestation the ocean of reunion surged and the decree of meeting was fulfilled and that which was recorded in the scriptures and tablets was revealed! I beseech Thee by the lights of Thy countenance, whereby earth and heaven were illumined, to make me steadfast in Thy love and to aid me in that which Thou lovest and approvest, O Thou in Whose grasp is the kingdom of names. O my Lord! I am he who has turned to the horizon of Thy grace and clung to the hem of Thy bounty. I beseech Thee not to deny me that which is with Thee. O my Lord! Thou seest me alone, and Thou art the Best of inheritors.

Ordain for me through Thy generosity and grace that which Thou hast willed and that which will profit me in every world of Thy worlds. Verily Thou art the All-Compelling Whom the affairs of Thy creation cannot frustrate, and the All-Powerful Whom the might of Thy servants cannot weaken. There is no God but Thee, the Giving, the Bountiful, the Forgiving, the Merciful. O my Lord! I beseech Thee to ordain for me the reward of one who sought the prison by Thy leave and turned toward Thy face until he attained Thy presence and stood before Thy gate and heard Thy verses. O my Lord! I am the needy and Thou art the All-Sufficient, the All-Conquering, the Almighty, the Powerful. There is no God but Thee, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

Praised be God! The effulgent rays of the Sun of bounty are not confined to limits requiring mention by this evanescent servant. At midday they shine forth and are manifest, and all the realities of things turn toward them, chanting the wondrous praise thereof. This servant’s regret is that not one ear, but rather a hundred thousand ears formed of the essence of understanding, would be needed to attain what is befitting. O friends! By the life of the Beloved, this is the Day of hearing and sight! This evanescent servant begs of God to bestow attentive ears, that none may be deprived of the sweetness of this call, and to grant penetrating vision, that none may be excluded from beholding the lights of His countenance. All things are within His grasp, and all bounty revolves around Him. I beseech Him, exalted be He, to make us among those who see, who hear, who are steadfast, who are firm, who are upright. This is the Day of mention and praise. God willing, may we not be disappointed nor remain deprived.

Likewise mention was made of Aqa Mirza Isma’il from the villages of Savijbulagh. This matter also attained the honor of being heard by the Lord of Names, and the Tongue of Grandeur spoke these firm words, exalted be His glory:

In My Name, the Manifest, the Concealed

O Isma’il! The world is illumined by the lights of His countenance, but very few eyes have there been and are. The call of the All-Merciful is raised at all times, yet all are heedless of it. The ancient centuries cannot equal a single moment of these days, for this precious Day is truly attributed in all the Books and is mentioned as the Day of God. Blessed are they who today have drunk from the Living Waters and have not been deprived of the outpourings of the true Bestower of bounty. Every deed that appeareth today for God’s sake is the lord of deeds. He with Whom is the Mother Book beareth witness to this. Strive that perchance thou mayest attain to that which beseemeth this Most Great Cause. The servants of the heaven of this Cause have been and shall be as suns. Reflect upon His greatness and His sovereignty, and be of the thankful ones.

And likewise mention was made of Mashhadi Muhammad-Taqi Ishtihardi, who had recently become illumined with the lights of certitude. After this was presented, this Most Holy, Most Exalted Tablet was revealed especially for him. Exalted be His grandeur:

He is the Present, the All-Seeing

God beareth witness that there is no God but Him, and He Who hath appeared with the truth, He verily is the Most Great Ocean, the heaven of grace, the Dayspring of the lights of justice, the Source of revelation and the Dawning-Place of inspiration unto all in the world. Blessed is he who hath heard and hastened and held fast unto His strong cord and clung to His luminous hem.

O Muhammad-Taqi! We have heard thy call and have answered thee that thou mayest find in thy Lord the All-Merciful’s utterance that which will make thee steadfast in this Most Great, Most Mighty Cause. Blessed is the face that hath turned, and the heart that hath sought the Most Exalted Goal, and the hand that hath clung to the Most Firm Handle—He Who speaketh between earth and heaven and giveth all the glad-tidings of this Revelation, whereupon, when it appeared, the Tree of Sinai proclaimed:

“He Who is the Lord of Resurrection is come, through Whom the Trump was blown and all who are in earth and heaven were thunderstruck, save whom God pleased, the Almighty, the Powerful.”

When thou hearest My call and attainest unto My utterance, say:

O Thou Who holdest my destiny! I beseech Thee by Thy Most Exalted Self to protect me from the arrows of the enemies who have broken Thy Covenant and Testament and have denied Thy signs. O Lord! I was heedless; the hand of Thy bounty stirred me. I was asleep; the breezes of Thy grace awakened me. I beseech Thee to make me steadfast in Thy love. Thou art God. There is no God but Thee, the Forgiving, the Mighty, the Inaccessible.

And likewise, the name of the honored Aqa Mirza ʿAbdu’r-Rahim, of Kahrizak, was included in the list; and after it was submitted in the Most Holy, the Most Inaccessible, the Most Exalted Presence, the Sun of Utterance shone forth from the horizon of the divine Kingdom in the form of these exalted words:

His word—glorified be His majesty—is this:

He is the Sustainer, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise!

O ʿAbdu’r-Rahim! The All-Merciful remembers thee from the prison, and summons thee to God, the Peerless, the All-Informed. Beware lest the affairs of the world prevent thee from this mighty grace. Leave behind what the people possess and take hold of the Book of God with the strength that proceedeth from Him, and say:

Praise be to Thee, O God of all worlds! I was drowning in the ocean of heedlessness and desire when the hand of Thy grace rescued me, O Lord of all names! I beseech Thee by the suns of Thy verses and the oceans of Thy utterance, and by those meanings which none but Thy knowledge hath comprehended, to make me in all conditions one who gazeth upon Thee, who turneth toward Thy countenance, who speaketh Thy praise, who prostrateth at the manifestation of Thy grandeur, and who boweth before the revelation of Thy sovereignty. O my Lord! I am he who hath sought the highest goal, the ultimate end, and the loftiest summit at the dawning of the lights of the Sun of Thy Will.

I beseech Thee to draw me nigh unto Thee and enable me to remember Thee, to praise Thee, and to act according to what Thou hast revealed in Thy Book. O my Lord! I have come before Thee with a mountain of disobedience, which by its very essence beseecheth Thy forgiveness. O Thou by Whose Name, the All-Merciful, all creation hath been adorned! I beseech Thee not to disappoint the servant who hath hastened to the ocean of Thy grace and turned toward the horizon of Thy bounty. I call upon Thee, O Lord of the world, Who hath appeared through the Most Great Name, to make my end in all conditions a goodly one, through Thy generosity and favor. Verily, Thou art the Omnipotent over whatsoever Thou willest. Thou doest and decreest as Thou pleasest. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous.

Praise be to God that the aforementioned person hath been honored with the remembrance of God, exalted be His glory. God willing, may he be occupied with His remembrance in all conditions and speak His praise. Today the water of life hath appeared and the true spirit existeth. Strive that ye may receive your portion from this infinite bounty and attain unto the grace of the Lord of Names. This blessed Day hath had no peer or likeness, nor shall it ever have one. That which is lost cannot be regained. This evanescent servant beseeches night and day that God, exalted be His glory, may strengthen all. Verily, He is the Generous, the Bountiful. There is none other God but Him, the Single, the One, the Mighty, the Wise.

In the Name of the Forgiving, the All-Generous!

This is a Book which the All-Merciful hath sent down for all who dwell in the realm of possibility, that He may draw them nigh unto Him. Verily, He is the Truth, the Knower of the unseen. O Muhammad-ʿAli! Bear thou witness unto that whereunto God Himself hath testified: that there is none other God but Him, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. Blessed is the stranger who hath sought the highest homeland, and the poor one who hath turned toward the ocean of wealth, and the seeker who hath been illumined by the lights of the Desired One. Cast away the world through My Most Great Name and take hold of My Book which hath been sent down from the heaven of the will of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Loving.

We have manifested the Cause and revealed the verses, yet the people do not understand. They have taken their own principles and cast the principles of God behind their backs. Verily, they are unaware. Take thou the chalice of mystical knowledge in the name of thy Lord, the All-Merciful. Beware lest the allusions of the divines prevent thee from this forbidden cup. Drink thou therefrom despite those who have disbelieved in God, the Lord of existence. Beseech thou God to strengthen thee in this Cause and draw thee nigh unto Him. Verily, [thy Lord] is the Single, the One, the Mighty, the Beloved. Thus hath the cock crowed and the tongue of revelation spoken. Blessed is he who hath heard, and woe unto every heedless one who is rejected.

Section 2: “In like manner, mention was made of Mashhadi…”

In like manner, mention was made of Mashhadi ʿAli, resident of Taliqan, who attained the honor of being heard by the Best-Beloved of the worlds. The Ancient Tongue speaks concerning him in these exalted words:

O Ali! Your mention in the Most Great Prison has attained unto the hearing of the Wronged One. Praise the Peerless Beloved Who enabled you to recognize the Hidden Treasure and the Concealed Mystery, from which sight has been prevented from beholding, tongues from mentioning, hearts from comprehending, and ears from hearing its verses. Selfish desires and transient riches have prevented all from the Dawning Place of the Light of Oneness, save whom God willeth. O Ali! Hearken unto the call of the Wronged One and shatter the idols of fancy through the Most Self-Subsisting Name—that is, transform doubts and imaginings through the lights of certitude. This Most Great Revelation hath appeared for the reformation of the world. Corruption and conflict are forbidden. The accepted souls must associate with all the peoples of the world with the utmost joy and fragrance. The Command is in God’s hands. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth. He is the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

The bounty, favor and grace of God—exalted be His Glory—hath reached such a degree that were all the peoples of the world to sacrifice themselves in His path, it would still be little, now and forever. This is attested by that which hath been sent down from the heaven of His bounty to His loved ones. Blessed is he who hath attained, and woe unto the heedless. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

These manifest verses were specifically revealed for Haji Muhammad-ʿAli-i-Valyani, upon him be the Glory of God, who had sent the names of the aforementioned souls. God willing, may they drink from the cup of recognition and attain unto that which God hath willed. His exalted Word:

He is the All-Knowing Speaker

O Muhammad-Ali! Specifically for each of the souls mentioned in the letter, wondrous and sublime verses were revealed from the heaven of divine Will and were sent. God willing, may they behold them with eyes sanctified from the dust of idle fancies and the rheum of vain imaginings, recite them with truthful, unfettered tongues, and hear them with attentive ears. If a soul truly succeeds in hearing but one verse of the divine verses, it will surely attract him and guide him to a station sanctified above the attributes of the peoples of the world. Hearken unto the call of the Wronged One and occupy thyself with His remembrance with the utmost joy and fragrance, that perchance the heedless people might become mindful and discover the ultimate purpose and cause of creation. Verily, He guideth whom He willeth unto His straight path. All parties have exerted such efforts in arranging means that man is powerless to mention them, even though at every moment the world proclaims:

“O son of Adam! Soon shall thou return to dust, and neither riches, ornaments, nor glory shall prove faithful to thee, even as they proved faithful to none before thee.”

Blessed art thou, O Muhammad-Ali, in that thou hast attained unto the verses of thy Lord, which the treasures of the world cannot equal. Be thou thankful unto thy Lord, the Forgiving, the Generous. Beseech God to ordain for thee the reward of attaining His presence, and of them who circled round Him and were present at His gate, which was opened unto all who are in the heavens and the earth. The Glory shining from the horizon of eternity be upon thee and upon those who have attained unto this Most Great Cause and have arisen to serve God, the Lord of the worlds.

At the end of the letter, mention was made of Nayib Rida from the land of Ash. After it was presented before the Most Holy Presence, these manifest verses were revealed specifically for him. God willing, may he attain unto the fragrance of the divine words and act as befitteth. His exalted Word:

He is the Caller between Earth and Heaven

O Rida! The Wronged One makes mention of thee from the prison precincts, as a token of His grace, that He may draw thee nigh unto God, the Mighty, the All-Bestowing. We have sent down verses in such wise that proofs and evidences circle round them, yet the people remain in doubt and dissension. The Promise hath come, and the Promised One hath appeared. Blessed is he who hath heard the Call and responded to his Lord, and woe betide every heedless doubter. How many a servant lamented separation from this Day, yet when the horizon of the world was illumined by the lights of the Most Great Name, he broke God’s Covenant and His Testament by following every contemptible imposter.

We have heard thy call and what thou didst seek from the ocean of grace. Thy Lord is verily the One Who hath power over whatsoever He willeth. He giveth and withholdeth, and He is the Mighty, the Bountiful. God hath forgiven thee as a token of His grace, and hath forgiven thy father. He is verily the Bestower, the Forgiving. Through His Name the ocean of forgiveness surged in the realm of existence, and every seeker hath sought the station which God hath made the most exalted of stations. Beware lest the doubts of the world withhold thee from the Lord of all beings. Leave the clay to those who fashion clay, turning unto God, the Lord of all men. We beseech Him, exalted be He, to ordain for thee from His Most Exalted Pen that which shall profit thee and solace thine eyes. He is verily the Mighty, the Powerful, the All-Knowing.

The True One, glorified be His majesty, hath ever answered and will continue to answer the hopes of those who hope and act. If at times there be delay, this hath been and shall be due to His consummate wisdom. Blessed is the soul whom no circumstance hath withheld from the Truth. He hath heard thy call and ordained for thee what He desired. He is verily the Forgiving, the Generous. Rejoice thou in this Most Great Remembrance and say: Praise be unto Thee, O Thou Who hast remembered me in Thy Great Prison.

From this station We send greetings to God’s chosen ones and His loved ones, and We give them the glad-tidings of His mercy that hath preceded all created things. This evanescent servant offereth his nothingness before all the friends of God. May they, God willing, be illumined with the light of steadfastness in such wise that they may regard the people of tyranny and wickedness as non-existent. Today in the market of wisdom, the jewel of steadfastness is of great price; the precious gems of the world cannot equal it. Blessed is the soul that hath attained unto it and hath preserved it from the treacherous and the thieves. Verily our Lord, the All-Merciful, is the Helper, the Teacher, the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.

That beloved one hath taken the trouble to send this leaf to the honored beloved, Jinab-i-Samandar, upon him be the glory of God, the Lord of destiny, that he may send it to the aforementioned Haji, that all may partake of and receive their portion from the ocean of bounty. The end belongeth to the God-fearing, and praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

Likewise, their other letter dated the 29th of Safar, number 39, which they sent to that beloved one, was as water that increased the flame of the fire of longing. What water it was that had hidden within it the power of true combustion! If it was water, it was such water as the alchemists have termed the divine water, for it brought burnt bodies to a golden state. And if it was oil, it was such oil as bestowed equilibrium upon bodies. In any case, after seeing and perusing it, it was brought to the presence of the Lord of Creation, and each portion was presented before His face. This is what the Tongue of Utterance spoke in the Kingdom of Knowledge. His word, exalted and sanctified is He: God is Most Glorious.

O Samandar! The letter thou didst send in the name of Jud was presented before the Face by this servant. Convey greetings to the friends on behalf of the Wronged One. His honor Nabil, upon him be the Glory of God, is mentioned in the presence of the Wronged One. God willing, may they act with utmost strength and steadfastness in accordance with that which they are commanded by the Truth—that is, to speak the divine word and direct their efforts toward that which exalteth the Cause of God. Likewise, his honor ʿAndalib and the other friends in Rasht and its surroundings—give them all the glad-tidings of God’s favor. The glances of His grace have been and will continue to be directed toward them.

Convey my sincere greetings to the honored Nabil the Great, upon him be the Most Glorious Glory of God. Praise be to God, they have attained the grace and favors of the Desired One of all worlds. And to the spiritual beloved, his honor ʿAndalib, upon him be the Glory of God and His grace, I offer sacred greetings beyond limit. Several letters from them have arrived and all were presented. The Sun of Grace hath risen and shineth upon them, but this servant is greatly embarrassed before them, as I have not yet been enabled to reply to what they have sent. This is because time, like the phoenix, is rare and scarce in all corners of the world. Nevertheless, through the grace and favor of the Desired One, I hope to be enabled to offer a reply.

I send greetings and salutations to them and all the friends who are present in that region and its surroundings. The petitions from that land which were with his honor Nazir, upon him be the Glory of God, arrived and the response hath been revealed from the heaven of divine will—God willing, it shall be sent. Regarding what was written about his honor Mulla Sadiq, upon him be the Glory of God, his letter arrived via Istanbul. God willing, a reply will be sent. According to the command, if a wise person who is eloquent and knows the Turkish language would proceed to Maraghih and Urmiyyih and their surroundings for the purpose of teaching, it would be most beloved. Whenever such a soul is found, they should turn to what was mentioned, for the work of teaching is most important and great. Blessed is he whom God aids in this. However, one must proceed with perfect wisdom, feed the children according to their capacity, and not be heedless of the requirements of the time and the souls. He is the Helper, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

Regarding what was written about the honored Sadat Khamsih, upon them be the Glory of God, it was presented in the Most Holy Court. According to the command, it was written to his honor Zaynu’l-Muqarrabin, upon him be all the Most Glorious Glory, that if the books are available they should be sent quickly, otherwise they should be written and sent. The details about sending the funds were also written to them, and his honor Nazir, upon him be the Glory of God, also gave some funds to this servant to send, but thus far no one has proceeded to that direction so it could be sent. Regarding the books, it was written to them and they will send them as they have been commanded. Please convey my greetings to them as well. I beseech God to enable all to achieve that which diffuseth the fragrance of eternity.

Regarding what was written that “Today we gathered in the home of his honor Mashhadi ʿAli-Akbar, upon him be the Glory of God, with a group”—blessed are they and joy be unto them. God willing, may the people of that gathering be considered among the people of the Kingdom in the presence of God.

Mention was also made of Kadkhuda, upon him be 966 [Baha’u’llah]. His remembrance was present before the Most Holy Court, especially after the ascension of Sadr of Iran, when a word was revealed concerning him—if one were to voice its praise for the duration of the kingdom and the heavenly realm, it would indeed be and forever remain insufficient. The details of the gathering in the aforementioned house were presented before the Most Holy Court. His exalted Word states:

“Blessed are they who have held fast to that which exalteth the Cause of God and His remembrance. These are numbered among the people of the Most Exalted Paradise in a perspicuous Book. We make mention of them and of those who have believed in God, the Lord of the worlds. O loved ones of God! Cleave ye unto wisdom, truthfulness, and trustworthiness, and to the fear of God, the Desire of the worlds. Give thanks unto God for this Most Great Remembrance. He hath indeed preferred you and caused you to know His straight Path. The glory from Us be upon you and upon him who hath attained unto this noble station.”

“We make mention of the Kaf before Dal who was mentioned in the Book. We glorify him from this station and counsel him with that which beseemeth the days of God, the Lord of all men. We have remembered him and revealed for him that which cooleth the eyes, and We send him a promise from Our presence, and We are the Mighty, the All-Knowing.”

O friends! Through divine bounty ye have attained unto a mighty Cause. Know ye its worth and recognize your stations. I counsel you to preserve your stations. Verily your Lord, the All-Merciful, is the Counsellor, the All-Informed. The glance of favor is directed towards you, the stream of mercy floweth, and the verses of grace are being sent down. With perfect unity and harmony, be ye engaged in offering praise and thanksgiving to the Peerless Friend. The glory be upon you, and the mercy be upon you, and the bounty be unto you.

With this Most Great Remembrance, before which all other remembrances are as nothing, what can this evanescent non-entity say? In truth, none hath the capacity to make mention, were they to judge fairly in the Cause of God, the Lord of the heavens and the earth. Glory be upon your honor, and upon him who sent the letter, and upon him who was named with your name, and upon Nabil son of Nabil, and upon those who have attained unto the recognition of God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH01396: God is He, exalted be His station in grandeur…

God is He, exalted be His station in grandeur and power!

All things testify to their impotence to mention and describe Him, and the Kingdom of Names bears witness to its inadequacy to know Him. In a station where the Kingdom of Utterance stands powerless and wanting to describe Him, how can the limping steed of this evanescent servant gallop in that vast arena? My outward and inward tongue, and the inward of the inward confess that His chosen ones cannot be described by my descriptions nor mentioned by my mentions—how much more so He Who created them, raised them up, and sent them forth! God is the Most Great! This is a station wherein every tongue of utterance falls short of His mention, and the Kingdom of Knowledge of His praise. This servant testifies that there is none other God but Him, acknowledging His oneness and confessing His sovereignty, His transcendence, His exaltation and His power—a testimony that neither the might of them that are in the world can prevent, nor the chains of those who have turned away from God, the Lord of all nations.

Glorified art Thou, O Thou through Whose Name and Will the four rivers did flow, and by Whose tongues the world hath spoken of Thy unity and oneness! I beseech Thee by the fruits of the Tree of Thy oneness and the mysteries of the Manifestations of Thy uniqueness, to aid Thy chosen ones in their love and praise of Thee. O Lord! Thou beholdest them turning to Thee, clinging to the cord of Thy favors, and holding fast to the hem of the robe of Thy bounty and grace. Send down upon them from the heaven of Thy loving-kindness that which will preserve them from the oppression of the transgressors among Thy servants and the deniers among Thy creation. There is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the Dominant, the Powerful, the All-Knowing.

And I invoke blessings and peace upon Him before Whom the necks of the nations have bowed, and through Whose might the worshipers of idols have been brought low; He through Whom the Dove of Utterance hath raised her voice upon the boughs, proclaiming: There is none other God but Him. He it is through Whom the standards of idolatry have been cast down and the banners of unity have been uplifted; through Whom the foundations of those who have turned away from proof and evidence, and have clung to the hems of phantoms and images, have been shaken. And blessings and peace be upon His kindred and His companions, through whom the Cause of the All-Merciful was spread abroad in the lands, and the ordinance of the Furqan made manifest amongst the religions; through whom the Straight Path was revealed, and every firm and unassailable matter established.

Thereafter the blessed handwriting of that dearly-loved and honored one, fresh and verdant as the springtime rain, bestowed the water of joy upon the sapling of existence. Praise be to God! It was adorned and embellished with thy remembrance and praise–fruits of the Lote-Tree of fidelity. God, the All-Knowing, beareth witness that this lowly servant hath ever held, and doth hold, that the remembrance of the loved ones of God is unto the body as the spirit. From the Inaccessible and Mighty God I supplicate and hope that He may prepare and confirm all bodies in the world to receive the spirit of the All-Merciful’s utterance, that all may be enabled to acknowledge and confess that which hath been sent down in the Book.

The world hath been encompassed by the winds of discord and oppression, and though appearing to ascend, is in constant descent. Countless trials have become manifest and evident, all stemming from the heedlessness of the people. Strange indeed that the great ones of state and nation have not arisen to discover the cause and reason thereof. What they possess hath deluded them from what is with God, the One, the Munificent, the Bountiful, and their affairs, manifestations, appearances and ornaments have occupied them—their words and deeds bear witness to this, as doth every person of insight. At all times we beseech God, exalted be His glory, to protect His Faith through the hosts of the seen and unseen, and to guard it from the oppression of the various factions. He verily hath power over all things.

In regards to what you had written about proceeding to Egypt, your attention to that direction is in accordance with the wisdom with which all are charged. God willing, you shall be divinely assisted in all matters. Concerning what you wrote about the trees and flowers and their arrangements, God willing, may their fruits be eternally remembered by the names of those beloved ones and masters, even as His Most Beautiful Names endure. Verily, He is powerful over all things. Prayer from this evanescent servant and its acceptance from the Eternal Truth is assured. The glances of His loving-kindness shall turn toward you and make manifest the fruits of the Tree of humanity. Verily, He is the All-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful, and He is the Kind, the Merciful. To the beloved of heart and soul, Aqa Siyyid ʿAli, upon him be the Glory of God—since a petition was previously submitted to his presence, this time I shall not add to the burden. His letter brought strength to heart and sight. God willing, may he ever abide beneath the shade of the favor of the Self-Sufficient, the Most High, dwelling in peace, speaking, remembering and praising.

BH01647: Praise that is sanctified above the comprehension of created…

In the Name of the Peerless Lord God

Praise that is sanctified above the comprehension of created things and the understanding of contingent beings befitteth the most luminous, most holy court of that Desired One Who created the entire world through a single word, and through its fragrance guided detached souls to the supreme horizon. He is the One with power Whom neither the opposition of the aggressive nor the objections of the heedless have prevented or will prevent from His purpose. He hath commanded all the peoples of the earth to observe what is right and forbidden what is wrong, that in all hearts the lamp of unity may be lit and all tongues may proclaim “We are God’s.” Blessed is the soul whom these fleeting two days have not deprived of eternal life, and whom transient conditions have not barred from the Dayspring of the light of oneness. This evanescent one testifieth that there is none other God but Him. He hath ever been and will forever be sanctified above any peer or likeness, and exalted above all that is subject to decline. And I bear witness that He hath ever been one in His essence and attributes, hath been and will forever be as He hath always been. There is none other God but Him, the Self-Sufficient, the Most High.

To continue: your letter dated the 28th of Safar was received, bringing glad tidings of that honored friend’s well-being. God willing, may this herald not be barred from bearing glad tidings, and may this messenger not be deprived of the ultimate goal and highest purpose, which is the place where the light of truth is made manifest. This evanescent servant beseecheth and imploreth the Desired One of the world and the Beloved of the nations to assist you in that which shall endure in both the earthly and heavenly kingdoms. We are powerless before the manifestations of His might and weak before the expressions of His power. We beseech Him, exalted be He, to aid us in serving and obeying Him and to assist us in preserving what He hath graciously bestowed through His generosity and bounty. Verily, He is the Protector of whosoever turneth unto Him, holdeth fast to His cord, and cleaveth to His robe. There is none other God but Him, the All-Forgiving, the All-Generous.

Praise be to God that you have attained to that which is acceptable in God’s sight. In truth, your letter was a cause of joy and gladness, for the fragrance of love wafted from it. Praise be to God in all conditions. Verily, He is the Desired One in both beginning and end.

As to what you wrote regarding the sum sent by Aqa Muhammad-Husayn, brother of him who circumambulated the House—upon them both be the glory of God—the aforementioned person (may God’s loving-kindness and grace be upon him) sent word from the great city and wrote that after the bill’s term expires it will be sent. Whatever reaches them, they will forward. The servant beseecheth God, exalted be He, to send down from the heaven of His bounty a blessing from His presence upon him and upon you and upon him whom He aided to discharge His rights. Verily, He is the Protector of those who act and are sincere.

Convey on behalf of this evanescent one greetings to Muhammad-Qabli-Husayn. God willing, may he ever be assisted in what is befitting and drink without pause or delay from the cup of recognition of the Beloved of all creation. You mentioned Haji Muhammad-Rahim who intended the House and attained his desire. Praise be to God, he hath been and is in our thoughts, and his mention hath not been and will not be erased.

Convey greetings on behalf of this evanescent one, and likewise to the friends—that is, those souls who with complete detachment drink of the Kawthar of the love of the All-Merciful. Deprived is the one who hath not attained the outpourings of the true Bestower of abundance and hath not arisen to make good what was lost. God willing, in this luminous dawn may all the peoples of the earth be awakened by this sweet spiritual breeze and attain to the ocean of awareness. Verily, He is the Lord of the mystics and the Desired One of all the worlds. Peace and mercy be upon you and upon God’s assured servants. Praise be to God, Lord of the worlds.

BH02030: Praise be to God Who hath sent down…

He is God, exalted be His glory—Greatness and Power

Praise be to God Who hath sent down the water of existence from the heaven of His Name, the All-Loving. Verily it is that water of which He hath ordained in His perspicuous Book, and whereby He hath distinguished between truth and falsehood until the Day of Judgment. He hath said, and His word is the truth: “And of water We have made every living thing.” Verily it is that water whose praise hath left the people of hearts and minds bewildered. In its primary station it is the knowledge of God—exalted be His glory, abundant be His favors, and mighty be His sovereignty. Whoso hath attained unto it is reckoned among the living before God, the Revealer of verses; and whoso hath been deprived thereof is accounted among the dead in a Book All-Wise. And peace and blessings be upon the First Light through which the world was illumined and the hearts of nations were enlightened—they who cast away vain imaginings and held fast to the Sure Handle—and upon His family and companions through whom the Word of God, that must be obeyed amongst all creation, was exalted, and that which lay hidden in the presence of God’s knowledge, the Mighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed, was made manifest.

Glory be unto Thee, O Thou in Whose grasp are the reins of all created things! I beseech Thee by Thy chosen ones and trusted ones who have fulfilled Thy Covenant and have arisen to serve Thee in such wise that the ornaments of earth prevented them not from drawing nigh unto Thee, and from placing their trust in Thee, and from turning toward Thy court, that Thou aid Thy servants to make mention of Thee and to praise Thee. O my Lord! Thy grace hath encompassed all, Thy mercy hath preceded all, and Thy bounty hath been perfected. I beseech Thee by Thy Self to send down from the heaven of Thy loving-kindness that which shall preserve them from the promptings of self and passion, and from whatsoever shall harm them in the kingdom of creation. There is none other God but Thee, the Almighty, the Powerful.

To continue: your letter was received. Praise be to God, it was adorned with mention of the Truth and glad tidings of your health. This servant beseecheth and imploreth God—exalted be His glory—to make you appear as a standard raised upon the hills among His servants, and to increase your knowledge, wealth and honor at all times. Verily He is the One Whom nothing can frustrate and no affair can render powerless. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth.

Some time ago this evanescent one wrote and sent a letter to you. God willing, it will have reached you by now. Likewise a letter was sent to H.S. of M.Y., and another letter to Aqa Muhammad-ʿAli of S. God willing all have been received and delivered. This evanescent one hopeth that those holy souls who have drunk of the sealed wine in the name of the Self-Subsisting will appear in such wise in the Cause that the radiance of the All-Merciful may be witnessed in their faces. I have beseeched and do beseech the True One—exalted be His glory—at most times that He may enable His loved ones to attain unto this station, that all the world may follow their example, and that the whole earth may be seen as one country and its people as one soul. This is not difficult for God. Peace and mercy and blessings be upon you and upon those who have acknowledged the unity of God—exalted be His glory—who have aided His Faith and who have acted according to that which they were commanded in His perspicuous Book.