Volume 068: Akka 1299 A.H. (1881–1882), Part III (4 of 4)

BH05945: O My handmaiden, turn thy gaze unto the compassion…

In the Name of the All-Bountiful, the All-Knowing

O My handmaiden, turn thy gaze unto the compassion and favour of God. He aided thee to recognize His sanctified Essence and led thee to the Highest Horizon until thou arrived here and attained the Presence, drank from the Kawthar of the reunion of the imperishable Desire, and became aware of His holy and sanctified Person. Make mention of this station in the assemblage of the handmaidens that they may all follow, with complete holiness, that which hath been revealed in the Book.

How many nights and days didst thou dwell in His presence and rest in His house! By the life of God, this station is most great—preserve it. Praise be to God that during the known months when thou wert circling round, no act appeared from thee that would cause grief to the Ancient Beauty. This matter is of great import. Be thou thankful unto thy Lord, the Remembering, the Speaking, the All-Knowing. God willing, mayest thou remain firm and steadfast in divine love and be attracted to that which He loveth and is pleased with. We made mention of Jinab-i-Qasim, and We at this moment send Our greetings upon him and upon My loved ones in that place and upon My handmaidens who have heard and turned unto God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH06453: We promised thee a Tablet and have revealed…

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

We promised thee a Tablet and have revealed for thee that which brings joy to the eyes of the people of the Most Exalted Paradise. Give thanks and praise to thy Lord for this great bounty. Arise to serve the Cause with spirit and joy. By the life of the All-Merciful! He will assist thee, and He is the Mighty, the Powerful.

Say: O people of the Bayan! Aid your Lord through the hosts of deeds. Thus have We commanded you before and in this wondrous Tablet. Beware lest the conditions of creation veil you. Cast aside what the people possess and take what hath been given you from God, the Kind, the Generous. Say: We have sent down for you from the heaven of grace that which every learned one hath failed to reckon. Arise with wisdom to serve the Cause of your Lord Who hath come for the betterment of the world and the unity of nations. He is, verily, the True One, the Faithful. Convey My greetings unto them and give them the glad-tidings of My grace and favor which have preceded all existence. The Glory be upon thee and upon them and upon whosoever hath taken the Book of God with strength from Him and readeth what is therein at eventide and at dawn.

BH07033: God, glorified be His majesty, hath ever kept…

In the name of the Goal of all the worlds!

God, glorified be His majesty, hath ever kept and will continue to keep His gaze of loving-kindness fixed upon His male and female servants. I swear by the lights of God’s countenance that whosoever today hath drunk from the ocean of His grace, their mention shall endure and persist in the Book.

O leaf! I counsel thee and all handmaidens to show forth the Most Great Steadfastness, for false souls have appeared and will continue to appear. Beseech ye God that He may enable you to act according to that which He hath commanded and which hath been inscribed in the Book by the Most Exalted Pen.

The thief lies in wait, the liar lurks in ambush, and the treacherous one follows behind. At all times implore the All-Merciful Lord that He may protect you and grant you a dwelling place in His presence. Verily, He hath power over all things.

The glory be upon thee and upon My handmaidens who are there, who have won victory through the Most Great Steadfastness in the Cause of God, the Lord of the Throne and of the dust, and the Lord of the Last and the First.

BH07908: O My handmaiden! By the life of God, thy…

He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing

O My handmaiden! By the life of God, thy mention hath been made in the Most Holy Court, and time and again thou hast been blessed with the bounties of God, exalted be His glory. How many were the servants and handmaidens who, when faced with divine tests, were seen to be agitated, nay utterly perished. Thou art among those handmaidens whom neither the allusions and doubts prevalent amongst the people, nor their prejudices and zealotry, could debar from God, exalted be His glory. I swear by the Kingdom of the utterance of the All-Merciful that this station is most glorious in the sight of God. Strive thou to preserve him through His name. He is as a brilliant lamp unto thee and will be with thee in the divine worlds. Blessed art thou, and blessed is Javad, and blessed is Ahmad who attained unto My presence, heard My call, and drank the choice wine of reunion with Me, the Mighty, the Best-Beloved. The glory of God be upon you all from God, the Protecting, the Self-Subsisting.

BH07686: Glorified art Thou, O Thou at Whose might…

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

Glorified art Thou, O Thou at Whose might the limbs of the world trembled and at Whose fear the hearts of the nations were troubled! I beseech Thee by the Most Great Name, through which the Kingdom of Names appeared and all things came into being, to assist Thy loved ones to achieve the most great steadfastness, and to ordain for them, through Thy bounty and grace, that which will bring joy to their eyes, tranquility to their souls, and gladness to their hearts. O Lord! Thou seest them turning toward Thee, and directing themselves to the Dayspring of Thy Revelation, the Dawning-Place of Thy proof, and the Manifestation of Thy Cause. I beseech Thee not to deprive them of the ocean of Thy generosity and the heaven of Thy grace. O Lord! This is a Day which Thou hast related unto Thyself and made, through Thy power and sovereignty, the sovereign over all ages and centuries. I beseech Thee to protect Thy chosen ones from the evil of the oppressors among Thy creation. Thou art He Whom the defenses of the world cannot frustrate, nor can the might of the nations weaken. Thou doest what Thou willest and ordainest what Thou pleasest. Thou art, verily, the Almighty, the All-Powerful.

BH08268: In the Name of our Lord, the All-Powerful…

In the Name of our Lord, the All-Powerful, the Overseer of all who are in the heavens and on earth! Glory be to Thee, O Thou through Whose Name the gates of hearts were opened and by Whose Finger of might the veils of souls were rent asunder!

I beseech Thee by Thy most sweet Call whereby the Kingdom of creation and the realities of names were attracted, to send down from Thy Most Exalted Pen upon the people of Baha that which will preserve them from the promptings of self and passion and draw them nigh unto the Most Glorious Horizon.

O Lord! Thou seest Thy loved ones turning unto Thee and clinging to the hem of Thy mercy. Ordain for them what Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen ones who have cast away what is with the world in Thy days and soared on the wings of detachment in the atmosphere of Thy love and nearness. Verily, Thou art the Almighty over what Thou willest. There is no God but Thee, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

The sum of fifteen tumans was received by this servant through His Holiness Afnan, upon him be all the most glorious Glory of God, in the month of Dhi’l-Qa’dih 1299.

BH09145: O Fayd! Thou hast attained unto My recognition, inasmuch…

He is the All-Bountiful

O Fayd! Thou hast attained unto My recognition, inasmuch as We guided thee to Mine horizon, acquainted thee with My path, caused thee to hear Mine verses, and showed thee the manifestations of My love and the dawning-places of My affection, and cast upon thee My wondrous remembrance. We have heard thy call and whatsoever thou didst desire of the word that speaketh of the good-pleasure of thy Lord, the Forgiving, the Generous. We have answered thee and sent down for thee what thou didst ask from the heaven of thy Lord’s grace, the Kind, the Merciful. Rejoice thou in this most great favor, then preserve it through His Name, the Preserver, the Powerful, the Mighty. Thus hath the Tongue of the Wronged One spoken, whilst sorrows surrounded Him from all sides, that thou mayest rejoice and be of those who render thanks. Hold thou fast unto the hem of grace and say: O my God! I beseech Thee by Thy bounty to preserve for me what Thou hast given me. Verily, Thou art the Powerful, the All-Bountiful, the Mighty, the All-Wise.

BH10117: O Nabil! My Most Exalted Pen makes mention…

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

O Nabil! My Most Exalted Pen makes mention of thee and commands thee to that which will attract the hearts of the world. Read thou My verses in the watches of the night and at the break of day. By My life! They speak forth among the nations that which will kindle in all things the fire of the love of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Powerful.

O Muhammad! The Wronged One counsels thee with that which He counseled thee before, and sends His greetings unto thee from this glorious and wondrous station. Rejoice thou at My remembrance of thee and My turning unto thee. Verily thy Lord is with thee under all conditions—He witnesseth and seeth, and He is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

BH10212: O divine maidservant! Your call was received and you…

He is the All-Knowing Witness!

O divine maidservant! Your call was received and you too received the response. This is the station of thanksgiving and the time of praise. We counsel all handmaidens to the Most Great Purity and the Supreme Chastity, and to arise in matters that cause the exaltation of God’s Cause among women. God willing, with purified eyes and detached hearts and attentive ears and truthful tongues, speak ye and see ye and hear ye. This is the counsel of the Wronged One to His loved ones. The Glory be upon thee.

BH10502: He is the Witnessing, the All-Hearing! The Lord…

He is the Witnessing, the All-Hearing! The Lord of the worlds remembers thee from the Most Great Prison. Be thankful unto God for this supreme favor. Blessed is he who hath drunk from the Kawthar of My love and tasted the sweetness of My utterance whereby the ocean of knowledge hath surged amongst the peoples. However, most of the people are among the heedless. They have cast the principles of God behind their backs and taken their own limitations. Verily they are among those who wander distracted. Be steadfast in the Cause and firm in the love of thy Lord in such wise that neither the allusions of the people nor the doubts of those who have denied God, the Lord of the worlds, shall cause thee to slip.

BH10704: O Samandar! The Wronged One makes mention of thee…

He is the Most Holy, the Most Exalted

O Samandar! The Wronged One makes mention of thee from His Most Great Prison, and enjoins thee to that which will cause the trees to be set ablaze and the rivers to flow. Verily thy Lord is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Speak forth the verses of thy Lord whereby hearts are melted and the breasts of them that have advanced towards God are set aflame. Leave the cold to him who cannot distinguish his right hand from his left. The glory rest upon thee and upon those that are with thee from the presence of One mighty, all-wise.

BH10678: O Ahmad! The Dawning-Place of praise and the Dayspring…

He is the One Who calls between earth and heaven!

O Ahmad! The Dawning-Place of praise and the Dayspring of Revelation remembers you with verses that none in the world can enumerate. To this bears witness the Lord of Eternity in this station which has been named by all names in the Crimson Tablet which none has comprehended save the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Shouldst thou find the sweetness of My utterance and the delicacy of My call, thou wouldst lament for what hath befallen Me at the hands of the heedless ones. Hold fast unto wisdom and place thy trust in God, the Mighty, the All-Wise.

BH11097: The Supreme Pen hath testified in the days…

The Supreme Pen hath testified in the days of God, the Lord of all beings, that thou didst hearken unto the proof and didst turn thereby unto the All-Merciful, and didst drink the choice wine sealed with His Name, the Self-Subsisting. We counsel thee to preserve this most exalted station and this supreme rank.

BH11194: O Himmat! Thy portrait hath come before Him Who…

He is the Most Glorious, the All-Glorious!

O Himmat! Thy portrait hath come before Him Who hath no likeness, and hath attained unto the presence of thy Lord in this station which hath been named with the Most Beautiful Names. The Glory be upon thee and upon thy son and upon those who are with you both, from God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH08635: I testify unto Thy singleness and Thy oneness, O…

He is the Compassionate, the All-Bountiful.

I testify unto Thy singleness and Thy oneness, O Thou Who art my God, my Master, my Support, my highest Hope and Aspiration. Nothing whatsoever can be likened unto Thee, nor any partner ascribed to Thee, nor assistance rendered unto Thee, nor is there any who could ever supplant Thee. Thou hast created the creation in order to reveal Thy grace and manifest Thy munificence and bounty. Thou hast made known to Thy creatures the path of Thy good-pleasure, hast enabled them to recognize Thy guidance, and hast led them unto Thy straight path and glorious proclamation.

I beseech Thee by Thy Prophets and Holy Ones, Who have rendered aid unto Thy Cause by Their substance and by Their own persons, and I entreat Thee by the ocean of Thy knowledge and the heaven of Thy grandeur, to ordain for Thy handmaiden that she observe what Thou hast sent down in Thy book. Illumine her heart with the light of Thy knowledge, O my God, and write down for her such as Thou hast ordained for the maidens of Thy highest paradise.

Thou art, in truth, the Lord of all men and the King of the throne above and of earth below. None other god is there but Thee, the Forgiving, the Merciful, and the Omnipotent, the Omniscient, the All-Wise.

BH00263: Praise be to God that through divine bounty…

Section 1: “Praise be to God that through divine bounty…”

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

Praise be to God that through divine bounty and the generosity and grace of the Lord, the fire of sedition has been quelled and the light of His Cause is resplendent. Yet after the deluge and the destruction of lofty edifices and the uprooting of towering trees, praise be to God that the thunder of cannons has ceased and the earthquake of the land has been transformed to stillness. The condition of Alexandria is known to your honor, but Cairo, that is to say Egypt, remained protected. The will of God, exalted be His glory, preserved it from the evil of tyrants and the fire of rebellious souls. Exalted be His grandeur!

O beloved of my heart! At every moment a fresh calamity seizes the world. In successive years, at times conflagration appears, at times war, at times corruption, at times earthquake, at times subsidence and the like. There has been and is no doubt that all these are for the awakening of humanity. Yet the people remain heedless and veiled, and until now have not reflected upon what has been and is the cause of these events and tribulations. Their eyes have been blinded and their tongues have been silenced, and today they neither understand nor perceive.

It is incumbent upon all to beseech the All-Possessing One with utmost humility and supplication to protect His special party from other parties. The dust of heedlessness has so seized the servants that they distinguish not good from evil, nor right from wrong. The hand of the oppressor is raised high; they have shown and show no mercy to the weak. At all times they seek to increase their power, even though they witness that every power is followed by weakness and every might by impotence. The Expounder of the world hath spoken in such wise that its reckoning would be most difficult; nevertheless they remain deprived and forbidden therefrom. We beseech God to grant the eye of discernment and bestow the gift of justice. Verily, He hath power over all things.

May my spirit be sacrificed for your honor! Your letter dated the 27th of the blessed month of Ramadan was like the morning breeze that refreshed both heart and weary body. How fitting it is to recall these blessed words:

“O God! For Thee have I fasted, upon Thy sustenance have I broken my fast, and in Thee have I trusted.”

It is evident how joyous and delighted a poor one becomes when blessed with the feast of truth and divine knowledge during the blessed Ramadan. Praise be to God! Glory be to God! Thanks be to God!

After perusing and reading your letter, it was presented before the Divine Presence, and this is what the Tongue of Utterance spoke in the Kingdom of Knowledge: “God willing, may you be blessed with divine favors and the outpourings of the True Bestower. O My Name! The heedlessness of people has reached such a state that they have clung to a drop while passing by the river of divine grace. They are deprived of a single line from the Mother Book and barred from a particle of the radiance of the Sun of Truth. What has become of people’s understanding and where has justice gone? If they were to deny all things, it would not be so consequential, but when they cling to a handful while objecting to the Most Great Ocean—this is cause for lamentation and grief.

“God willing, may you be assisted in all conditions to aid the Cause and be successful in reforming the people, that all may be adorned with spiritual qualities and goodly deeds. The fragrance of praiseworthy deeds is a mighty host. O My Name! The Cause of God appears weak due to the prevalence of tyranny, and now lies under the claws of enemies. Beseech God to grant deliverance, preserve His Faith, and cause the light of the Sun of Justice to overcome the darkness of oppression and illuminate the horizons.

“Illumine the friends in every land with the light of the Most Great Name and convey to them the greetings from the Wronged One. Say: Strive to deposit precious jewels in the treasury of the Trusted One, the All-Wise. Today this is possible, but afterward impossible. The Command belongs to God, the Lord of the Beginning and the End. The fire of the Divine Lote Tree burns with such intensity and the light of His countenance shines with such brilliance, yet all remain extinguished save whom thy Lord willeth. But to the blind, darkness and light appear the same. Where are the penetrating eyes and the attentive ears?

“We beseech the All-Merciful to fulfill what He has promised in the Qur’an and make the earth a place for the manifestation of the blessed verse ʿWherein thou seest neither crookedness nor unevenness.’ The glory from Us be upon you and upon those who have cast away the darkness of idle fancies, clinging to the light of certitude. Praise be to God, the Lord of the Worlds.”

The Suns of Utterance of the Beloved of all creation, despite these manifestations, effulgences, and dawnings, continue to educate the mines of love and wisdom, preparing them for the appearance of precious, wondrous, and exalted pearls. If today they do not appear due to the people’s lack of capacity, ultimately the victory belongs to Truth—He will manifest what He has willed. In His grasp are the reins of all affairs. He doeth what He pleaseth and ordaineth what He willeth. He is the Single One, the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

God knoweth that separation from your honor has become complete and has had a profound effect. Now that you have settled at the seat of the throne in the Castle of ʿUdi, O servant present, for many days we would walk and your honor, upon him be My glory, would appear from afar, and a certain state and sign would be observed, but now due to circumstances you are absent. Such words were heard repeatedly.

That you wrote of meeting the aforementioned person in the great city was necessary, and until now he has moved with wisdom, such that from the Land of Ha [Haifa] satisfaction has been expressed. God willing, affairs will be fulfilled according to God’s will. After your presence, three letters arrived from the Land of Ha addressed to that beloved one, mentioning the transactions of Beirut. After viewing and presenting them to the beloved Haji Siyyid Javad—upon him be Baha’u’llah—they were given to him to write a response. There was no new story except they had written details about sending funds to the Land of Ha. It is hoped the person in Beirut will act trustworthily and deliver it. The mentioned beloved one will present the details of affairs.

Mention was made of the movement of the Afnans—upon them be the Most Glorious Glory from all Glory—and their proceeding to the House of God. God willing, may they be blessed with health and reach their goal. This servant also begs for prayers, that perchance in those places perfumed with the fragrance of God they might remember and mention this evanescent one. God willing, may they attain the outpourings of the True Bestower, for it has often been observed that a soul may be amidst bounty yet deprived of it, and may be in his homeland yet a stranger. I seek God’s forgiveness for my mention, my thought, my proof and my evidence, for they are among those souls who have heard the word of acceptance and good-pleasure regarding themselves from the Divine Lote-Tree, and have attained the greatest honor of kinship. Truly, a favor has been ordained for them the like of which has not been witnessed. Soon will the signs of grace and favor become manifest and evident.

Concerning your mention of the departed and exalted Afnan, His Honor Aqa Siyyid Ja’far, upon him be all the most glorious Glory of God, and your mention of the friendship, unity and love that existed between you and him previously, and what you had written in this regard—all was presented before His presence. This is what the Kingdom of Utterance spoke:

“O My Name! We make mention of one of My Afnans who was named Ja’far. We testify that he turned to the Most Great Scene and believed in God, the Controller of destiny, in days wherein every swift one hesitated, every near one became remote, every learned one denied, and every mystic retreated. The Supreme Pen hath testified that he attained the Kawthar of life when the horizon of utterance was illumined by the Sun of proof, and he testified to that which the All-Merciful testified before the mention of contingent beings—that there is none other God but Him, the Single, the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

“O thou who hast turned to My face, soared in My atmosphere, and spoken My praise! I testify that thou didst attain the ornament of acceptance before thy ascension, and at the time of ascension the Concourse on High and those in the Kingdom of Names received thee, and the mercy and favor of God were with thee. Thou art he at whose calamity the near ones lamented and grief overtook those servants who circled round the Throne. The Glory be upon thee, and peace be upon thee, and the mercy that descendeth from the heaven of thy Lord’s favor be upon thee, O thou who didst hold fast to the cord of God and cling to the hem of His generosity. Thou art he who recognized the Path and the Balance when most of the servants were heedless of both. By My life! Were I to make mention of what thou didst manifest in thy love for God, the people would be thunderstruck. He Who possesseth the Mother Book beareth witness to this. Blessed is he who loved thee, mentioned thee, spoke thy praise, and visited thee as the Wronged One visited thee from His mighty prison. Praise be to God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.”

Praise be to God, Your Honor became the cause of the greatest bounty. The right of friendship and unity was fully discharged, nay, beyond that and far beyond that. Verily your reward is with God, the Lord of the worlds. God willing, they shall attain to other stations, that which that Beloved One has beseeched from the Truth.

Section 2: “And concerning your renewed mention of the meeting…”

And concerning your renewed mention of the meeting with His Honor Nabil-Ibn-i-Nabil, upon him be the Glory of God, and his namesake and two other believers, upon them be the Most Glorious Glory of God, and likewise the mention of the meeting on the Day of Vision at the request of the aforementioned one—this was presented. He said:

“Excellent was what he did, excellent what he spoke, and excellent his meeting with them. O My Name! Thou wert created for mention and praise and association and meeting. God willing, may the dry lands be adorned with vegetation through the rains of thy utterance. In the utterance itself is concealed a mighty power and hidden are diverse manifestations. In one station it is water and in another fire, for it both gives drink and attracts excessive cold until true moderation appears. We have mentioned every name that was in thy letter with a mention by which all mentions were surrounded and by which all traces revolved. Blessed art thou and they, and he who spoke as a bounty from His presence, and he before whose face thou wert.”

And on Friday the sixteenth of the month of Dhi’l-Qa’dih al-Haram, three hours and twenty minutes after noon, this servant turned towards the Most Exalted Destination and, on your behalf, attained the honor of visiting the Desired One. Happy art thou and the servant.

And as to that which ye have again mentioned concerning the meeting on the night of farewell, and the gathering and fellowship with the friends of God: in truth that night was blessed, inasmuch as the thirsty ones of the vale of divine knowledge attained unto the waters of utterance from that Beloved One. The remembrance of that night, and likewise the remembrance of the day, and the meeting with the honored Haji Muhammad-Baqir and Aqa Muhammad (upon them be glory and honor) of the people of Milan, and of the other friends (upon them be glory and honor), were laid before the Presence; and for each and every one, from the heaven of loving-kindness, exalted words were revealed.

He is the Dawning-Place from the Horizon of Eternity!

O Muhammad-Baqi, the Wronged One makes mention of thee, as thy name was presented before His name, unto Him be My Glory—he who was named Mihdi by the Supreme Pen in the Book of Names. Rejoice thou in this, then give thanks unto thy Lord, the Generous. Whoso hath attained unto mention from His presence hath attained unto all good—to this testifieth every discerning mystic. Beware lest the veils of men withhold thee from the Supreme Horizon. Cast aside what the people possess and take what thou art commanded by God, the Lord of all worlds. This is a day wherein swords have been drawn and the rumbling of cannons hath been raised through what the hands of the heedless have wrought. It behooveth thee and every believer to turn to the Most Exalted Horizon and to beseech God, the Lord of Names, to protect His party from the parties. Verily He is the Mighty, the Powerful. The Glory be upon thee and upon those who have recognized God and His oneness, and upon those who have turned unto His Straight Path.

He is the Compassionate, the Generous!

O Muhammad, thou hast been mentioned in the presence of the Wronged One, and this is yet another time, as a grace from His presence. Verily He maketh mention of all who have believed in God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. Say: O Thou through Whose love the hearts of the sincere have been set ablaze, and through Whose light the faces of those near unto Thee have been illumined! I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which the seas have surged, the fruits have appeared, the trees have spoken, and the mysteries have been revealed, to protect Thy servants from the evil of Thine enemies, through whom the fire of tyranny hath been kindled in Thy land. O my Lord! Ordain for the sincere ones that which befitteth Thy generosity and grace, then preserve them through the hosts of Thy invisible realm. Thou art He Whom the conditions of creation cannot frustrate, nor can the intimations of those who have denied Thy Self, disputed Thy signs, and turned away from Thy proof prevent Thee. Verily Thou art God, there is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the Powerful.

To Haji Shaykh ʿAbdu’l-Husayn-i-Lari:

In His Name, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed!

O ʿAbdu’l-Husayn! God willing, thou shalt drink from the ocean of utterance and gaze toward the horizon of the All-Merciful. Today is the day of helplessness and supplication, for the oppressors of the earth have surrounded from all directions the party that is associated with the Truth. This fire of oppression will not be extinguished save through the power of God, exalted be His glory. The people of truth must beseech Him at all times that the restraining veils may be rent asunder through divine power and the sun of justice and righteousness may illumine the world. Praise thou the Beloved of the worlds Who hath enabled thee and adorned thee with the ornament of His mention.

To Haji Mulla Husayn-i-Lari:

He is the Forgiving, the Merciful!

O Husayn! The Wronged One hath heard thy call and hath answered thee with that which He possesseth. He maketh mention of him who hath turned unto God, believed in His proof, and submitted to His binding and wise command. This is a day wherein the hearts of the sincere have been sorely troubled by reason of the ranks being arrayed of those who have denied God’s right and His sovereignty, and who have risen up in manifest oppression. Blessed is the eye that hath attained unto the Most Great Vision, and the ear that hath heard the warbling of the Nightingale of Eternity on this wondrous and glorious Day. Leave the various peoples to their vain imaginings and place thy trust in all things in the One, the All-Informed. Thus hath the Wronged One spoken, when sorrows had encompassed Him from every side, inasmuch as He summoned the people unto the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Jinab-i-Haji Ali-Askar-i-Milani

He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing

O Ali-Askar! Give praise unto the Goal of all that dwell on earth, in that He hath aided thee in a Cause whereof most of them that are on earth remain heedless. This station is most great; know thou its worth and preserve it through the Name of God, exalted be His glory. Heedlessness hath encompassed the world, and the people of tyranny have appeared with utmost rebellion. Beseech ye God that He may protect His loved ones from the evil of the enemies and enable them to achieve that which He loveth and pleaseth. Verily, He hath power over all things and is worthy to answer prayers.

He is the One Who hath dominion over all names

O servant, Ghulam-Husayn! Blessed art thou and thy father, whom neither the signs of oppression nor the doubts of ignorance have withheld from God, the Lord of all worlds. We have made mention of him time and again, whereat the fragrances of the All-Merciful were wafted throughout all possibility. Blessed is he who hath found, and woe unto the heedless. We bear witness that he hath held fast unto the Book of God and believed in Him when every remote scholar turned away from Him. He who hath recognized God is reckoned among the learned in the perspicuous Book, and he who remaineth heedless is accounted among the ignorant, as every discerning and well-informed one doth testify. We counsel thee to be trustworthy and truthful, and to that whereby the station of man is uplifted. We beseech God to grant thee success and to ordain for thee that which shall profit thee in all His worlds. Verily, He is the Almighty over whatsoever He willeth, and in His right hand are the reins of all affairs. There is none other God but Him, the Powerful, the Almighty, the All-Compelling.

Praise be to God, inasmuch as the souls already mentioned were once again brought to remembrance, one by one; and for each was revealed that which sufficeth the world. And in particular, for Nabil, son of Nabil, and his namesake, and the namesake of His Holiness the Maqsud, and for the honored Aqa Muhammad-‘Ali (upon them be the glory of God), there was revealed that which is the cause of the joy of the world. Yet the sending thereof was delayed, for it was deemed contrary to wisdom. Likewise, the Tablets referred to should not be dispatched to that land; send them to the land of Mim and Ya. Whenever the aforementioned souls journey thither, deliver them unto them. Place them in trust with the honored Aqa Alif and Ha (upon him be glory and honor), and convey them at their appointed time. And though at present it was not to be given, yet purely out of loving-kindness to that honored one it appeared from the horizon of bounty and was sent forth.

Aqa Siyyid Ali and Aqa Muhammad (upon them be the Glory of God) graced this land with their presence and stayed for a while, then returned to Alexandria, as news had arrived that those whose property was taken must be present for determination. Therefore, they are now in that land, and according to what they have written, business transactions are currently delayed. All reports have been of plundering, looting, burning, destruction and ruin, and British forces have taken control of all those regions. Urabi Pasha accomplished nothing and was ultimately humiliated and defeated. At first he did not consider the end, and paid no attention to the consequences. With utter recklessness he laid waste to a country. Strange that he even opposed the Sultan of Islam. Islam is very weak. God willing, through the efforts of His loved ones it shall be granted strength, and the horizons shall be illumined with the light of unity. The Glory that shineth manifest from the heaven of grace be upon you and upon those with you and upon those who love you and heed your counsel and follow in your footsteps.

BH00766: The essence of praise and glorification befitteth Him Who…

He is God, exalted be His glory, His grandeur and His power!

The essence of praise and glorification befitteth Him Who is the eternal Purpose, Who hath given ascendancy to a small band over numerous hosts. Though appearing last, it was mentioned and reckoned first in God’s Book. Exalted, exalted be He Who made the Seal the Lord of the beginning, and the Last the Sovereign of the first, at Whose advent the heaven and all that is therein and all that is above it were filled with joy. He it is through Whose Name the gates were opened, the Path appeared, the Balance was set forth, and the horizon of justice and peace shone forth—manifest and resplendent from the horizon of God’s loving-kindness. Upon Him and upon His family and companions who aided the Cause of God and His Command be peace. These are servants who strived in the path of God in such wise that neither the scorn of the idolaters nor the censure of the critics frightened them. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds!

To continue: the letter of that beloved one, which was adorned with the ornament of love and sincerity, affection and faithfulness, brought joy and delight. God willing, may you ever be blessed by the bounty of the eternal Purpose and dwell peacefully under the shade of the tree of security and protection. After perusing and reviewing its contents, we turned toward His Holiness the Master—may our souls be a sacrifice for Him—and all of it was presented. He said:

“O Ali! The fragrance of love wafteth from thy letter. Blessed art thou, O Ali, for thou hast entrusted all matters to God and made them contingent upon His good-pleasure. Thy letter beareth witness to this station and its contents testify to these words. Thou hast not been forgotten and, God willing, never shalt be. From beginning to end, naught was observed in the letter save expressions of submission and contentment, supplication and entreaty, love and attachment. God willing, mayest thou remain steadfast in this lofty station. We beseech God to assist thee to serve His Cause and to ordain for thee that which shall profit thee in this world and the next.”

Peace be upon thee and upon those who have recognized that which the Supreme Pen hath uttered ere the creation of earth and heaven. Verily, there is none other God but Him, the Single, the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

By the truth of Truth, this servant was so delighted by your letter that words fail to express it, for you referred all matters to God and made them contingent upon His good-pleasure. Similarly, your mention of the Two Most Exalted Names (upon them be 96 [Baha’u’llah]) and your expression of gratitude and satisfaction with those two beloved ones—truly the matter is exactly as you wrote. This servant testifies to the truth of these words. They were souls who were originally appointed to that land. Through what God manifested, they became the means whereby that land became a gathering place for the friends. However, afterwards some failed to observe this station and due to certain idle fancies a slight taint appeared, though in reality it was both existent and non-existent. If hearts had remained adorned with their original luminosity, this ephemeral one believes no harm would ever have occurred and no division or dispersion would have ensued. Given their precedence, in every matter their counsel should be followed.

How many cities to which some turned but found fruitless! Yet that land, due to purity and sincerity of intention, became such that some from outlying regions turned toward it and attained therein what they had not attained elsewhere. It is most evident that all this was through God’s favor. How many foreigners dwelt in that land for years but did not become centers of the Cause. All this is from God’s grace, His command and His favor. God willing, if gatherings occur henceforth, may they act as they ought, be content and satisfied with what has been ordained for them, and in every matter—whether commerce, partnership or other affairs—consult with them and act upon whatever emerges from consultation. This evanescent servant has submitted these words purely for the sake of God. I beseech God to assist all to that which contains the good of each one. Verily He is the Protector of the sincere ones, the Lord of the content, and the Educator of the worlds.

As for your stay in Izmir or Alexandria, they said to consult with the Two Names and act according to what is deemed advisable. Wherever you may be, God willing, profit and good will be with you. Some of the melons you took the trouble to send from Izmir arrived and were very good. I hope God, exalted be His glory, will grant you the reward for this. Verily He does not suffer to be lost the reward of the doers of good.

Concerning your mention of Jinab-i-Aqa Muhammad-Baqir, upon him be the Glory of God, when this was submitted He said:

“God willing, may he not be deprived of the Euphrates of the mercy of the All-Merciful, and may he not be saddened by the obvious upheavals in the world. The world, to one who truly knows, is like a mirage. Surely the wise one will not attach his heart to it. Soon, all that is observed upon the earth will dwell in its depths. This station, lacking stability and permanence, was not and is not worthy of attention. We beseech God to assist him in that which is good for him in all worlds. We have previously mentioned him with words whose fragrance will not fade. Convey My greetings to him on behalf of the Wronged One and gladden him with His mention.”

This evanescent servant conveys greetings to him and states that today is the day of deeds, and pure deeds in all worlds are like a lamp that moves before one’s face. God willing, may they remain with perfect steadfastness, firmness and constancy, speaking in remembrance of God. Tyranny has encompassed the world, the enemies of the Faith lie in wait from every direction. May God, exalted be His glory, protect and strengthen this people. Verily, He is powerful over all things.

Convey greetings on my behalf to the two Most Exalted Names [the two brothers], upon them be 96 [Baha’u’llah]. God willing, may they be occupied with perfect joy, delight and wisdom.

Regarding the new blessing, namely the daughter you mentioned, she has been named Jamilih. God willing, may her steps be blessed and auspicious. The Command is in the hands of God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. Peace and praise be upon you and upon those who have not broken God’s Covenant and His Testament, and who have acted according to what they were commanded in His perspicuous Book.

As for the account of the departed and elevated mother, upon her be the Glory of God, at the very moment when news arrived of the ascension of that distinguished emigrant lady, this servant was engaged in writing in His presence. At that very moment, mention of her appeared from the horizon of the Pen. God knows that she attained. She was among the handmaidens who attained to His good-pleasure. Night and day she had no occupation except the mention of God. Blessed and welcome tidings to her. And Jinab-i-Aqa ʿAli-Muhammad is engaged in service. In these days, as commanded, he is being sent to the Prussian master so that he may perfect his craft. In any case, you are bound to a great station. Blessed are you. Regarding your request for permission, He said:

“God willing, We shall summon you according to the requirements of the time. The Command is in the hands of God, the Lord of the seen and unseen, and the Lord of all who are in the heavens and the earth.”

BH00671: This is the Day wherein that which the All-Merciful…

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

This is the Day wherein that which the All-Merciful revealed in the Furqan hath come to pass. The sky hath brought forth manifest smoke, and darkness hath enveloped most lands by reason of the thunder of the cannons of the heedless. Lo, the speckled serpent doth advance and hiss, while the snake of darkness hath sunk to the depths of hell. This is the Day wherein the hearts of men are sorely troubled and the foundations of all lands are shaken by the might of those who have denied God’s truth and His proof.

O beloved of My heart! The shrill voice of thy pen hath gladdened Me, and the fragrance of thine utterance, which I perceived from thy letter, hath stirred Me. When I read and understood it, I made for the highest summit and the supreme horizon until I attained the presence of the Lord of Names. He, glorified be His majesty, said: “What is in thy hand, O thou who art present?” I presented the letter of one who hath turned to Thee, placed his trust in Thee, and held fast unto Thee. Thereupon He commanded me to present it, and I laid it before His countenance. When it was completed, the Tongue of the Lord of all beings spoke that which would melt the hardest rock. He spoke, and His word is the truth:

O Ali! I have found the fragrance of thy love from the garment of thy words, and witnessed thy turning toward thy Lord’s horizon, and heard thy call in praise of thy Lord. Blessed be thy face for having turned, thy heart for having drawn nigh, and thy tongue for having uttered praise of the Wronged One, from Whom most of the servants have turned away, save those whom God, the Helper, the All-Knowing, hath willed.

O Pure One! Rejoice in My remembrance. We have heard thy yearning in the love of God and have turned toward thee from the precincts of the Prison in days wherein sorrows have encompassed Us from every side through that which the hands of those who have turned away from the Face have wrought, and who have cast behind their backs the straight Path of God. This is a Day wherein the religion of God lamenteth and every wise command crieth out. The heedless have cast the Cause of God behind their backs, clinging to their vain desires. They are indeed among the most lost in God’s Book, the Lord of all worlds.

Today the Ancient Beauty proceeded from the mansion of Udi to the garden, and after partaking of tea, this servant presented himself with your letter, and after permission was granted, read it. He was blessed both with His attention and honored with His reply. In other places too, mention of you hath been revealed from the Supreme Pen in such wise that nothing on earth can compare with it. Rejoice thou and be of the thankful ones. Verily He saw thy devotion and thy turning unto Him, and was with thee when thou didst leave thy house, turning toward God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

Whoso hath attained My presence hath attained unto all good. The Books of God, both past and future, have testified to this. Blessed is he who hath recognized and is among those who have attained. No Book there is but hath taken My Covenant, no Scripture but hath spoken My praise, and no Tablet but hath heralded unto the people My wondrous and glorious Revelation. Thou art he who hath been blessed with the mention of God time and again, and hast heard My sweetest call when thou wert present at the Supreme Horizon. Thy Lord is, verily, the All-Witnessing, the All-Informed.

Convey My Great Glory unto the faces of My loved ones who have acted according to that which they were commanded in the Book of God, the Mighty, the Beautiful. We make mention of him who hath been named Jalal, that it may be a treasure for him and an honor from God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting.

O Jalal! Hearken to the Call of the Wronged One. He maketh mention of thee from this Spot which He hath related unto Himself and adorned with the ornament of acceptance and illumined with the lights of His Countenance. Thy Lord is verily the All-Bountiful, the Munificent. The glory that proceedeth from Us rest upon thy father and thy mother and upon thee and upon those whom the affairs of the world have not kept back from the Lord of all creation. Summon ye the world through this Name, the Mighty, the Inaccessible.

O Most Exalted Pen! Make mention of him who was named ʿAta in the Most Exalted Horizon, that he may hear thy most sweet call and say:

“Here am I, here am I, O Lord of all mankind! I thank Thee, O Lord of existence, for having remembered me in the prison and for having turned toward me with a face that hath illumined the horizons. I beseech Thee by Thy Most Great Name, through which Thou hast subdued the world, to assist me in this Cause whereby necks have been humbled. Then write down for me from Thy Most Exalted Pen that which shall profit me in all the worlds of Thy worlds. Verily, Thou art the Omnipotent over whatsoever Thou willest, and in Thy grasp are the reins of all commands and ordinances.”

Hold thou fast unto the cord of My bounty and cling to the hem of My mercy. Thy Lord doth witness and behold, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.

And We make mention of him who hath ascended unto God, who was named Jamal, that this remembrance may be a provision for him in all habitations and journeys. He journeyed unto God until he attained unto the Most Exalted Companion—a station whereof were the light of but a needle’s eye to be revealed unto the world, all its peoples would be thunderstruck. The Mother Book beareth witness unto this.

We have made mention of all who, whether young or old, have adorned themselves with the ornament of knowledge and have been illumined by the lights of existence in the days of the All-Merciful. Thus hath the Most Exalted Pen spoken when the Tongue of Grandeur spoke from the most exalted station.

The servant testifieth that the world hath been illumined by the lights of the utterance of the All-Merciful which shone forth from the heaven of knowledge in this place that hath been named Ridvan and at times the Garden, and which relateth that which the All-Merciful revealed aforetime when His throne was upon the waters. In truth, how can this feeble servant be worthy of this noble station except through God’s grace and the aid of the friends’ attention and prayers? The Command is in His hand—He doeth and judgeth as He pleaseth, and He is the All-Powerful, the All-Wise.

Regarding what was written about Aqa Mirza Abdul-Husayn, upon him be 966 [Baha’u’llah], it was submitted and He said: “God willing, may the fragrance of the King of Martyrs be diffused from him. By the life of God, were the station of the Twin Shining Lights to be revealed to the people of the world, all would exclaim, ʿThine is the greatness, O Lord of the worlds!’

All souls who are related to the Twin Shining Lights are mentioned in the presence of the Countenance, and what is meant by this relationship is the true relationship, for if they remain deprived of it, the outward relationship will not compensate nor yield fruit. Today all relationships are severed save the relationship with God. Blessed is he who hath clung thereunto, and woe unto those who stray. We send Our greetings upon his face and counsel him with that wherewith We have counseled Our servants aforetime, and We beseech Him, exalted be He, to aid him to stand firm in this mighty Cause.”

And as for your mention of Jinab-i-Aqa Mirza Husayn, upon him be Baha’u’llah’s glory, his mention had previously been revealed from the Most Exalted Pen. God willing, he has and will continue to attain the honor of its perusal. Convey on behalf of this ephemeral one greetings to the friends of God. The Truth that knoweth and witnesseth all things is aware that they have not been absent from sight for a moment, and all have the station of a single word, standing before His eyes—meaning those souls whom worldly concerns did not prevent from the Most Exalted Horizon, and whom the thundering of the cannons of oppression did not hold back from the light of justice.

This ephemeral one wrote a letter to the beloved of the heart, Jinab-i-Asad, upon him be Baha’u’llah’s glory, the King, the Single, the One, which was sent. God willing it will reach him. Another letter was also sent several months ago which apparently has not yet arrived, and a copy of it has been sent again. It is hoped that it will arrive. And as for the letter of Ibn-i-Ismu’llah-i-Asdaq, upon him be all the Most Glorious Glory, and all the Most Excellent Grace, and all the Most Luminous Light, etc. of the well-known prayer—it arrived and a detailed response was written containing divine verses. However, due to the turmoil and disturbances in these parts, it was not sent. A brief response addressing some of his questions was written and sent. God willing it will be dispatched in these few days, as the route has now opened and some measure of assurance has been obtained.

And regarding what was written about expansion, it was submitted and He said:

“Grieve not, for He will send down upon thee from the heaven of His bounty that which shall profit thee in His worlds. He is the Single, the One, the Self-Sufficient, the Mighty, the Powerful, the Omnipotent.”

End.

Praise be to God that this ephemeral one was assisted in presenting this response, and it has reached this point.

And the Leaf desires to conclude with the Name of God, the Mighty, the Beautiful, that its ending may be musk and joy and delight. May the Glory that shineth, appeareth and blazeth forth from the lights of the Countenance be upon you and upon those whose names you mentioned in your letter, and upon those who hold fast to righteousness out of love for God, Creator of the heavens and Originator of all things.

21 Dhi’l-Qa’dih 1299

BH08633: I beseech Thee, O Thou through Whose most sweet…

He is the All-Knowing of what has been and what will be!…

I beseech Thee, O Thou through Whose most sweet call the earth and heaven were enraptured, by Thy Name through which Thou didst subdue the kingdom of names, to ordain for me that which Thou hast ordained for Thy near servants who have cast away all else save Thee and have turned toward the horizon of Thy Cause and the Dayspring of Thy Revelation. O my Lord! I am he who hath sought the ocean of Thy riches and the heaven of Thy grace. I beseech Thee not to disappoint me of that which lieth with Thee and to send down upon me from the clouds of Thy mercy and the heaven of Thy bounty that which shall render me rich through Thy riches, steadfast in Thy service, eloquent in Thy praise, and acting according to that which Thou hast commanded me in Thy Book. O my Lord! Illumine my heart with the light of Thy knowledge, then decree for me, through the wonders of Thy bounty and favors, that which I have desired from the clouds of Thy bestowal and the heaven of Thy mercy. Verily, Thou art the All-Powerful, the Most Exalted, the Hearer, the Answerer.

BH04363: I bear witness that there is none other God…

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

I bear witness that there is none other God but Him, in acknowledgment of His oneness and in recognition of His grandeur and His uniqueness. And prayers and peace be upon His Prophets and His Messengers who arose to serve His Cause and aid His Faith, until the paths culminated in the Most Great Path and the Messengers were sealed with the Most Noble Prophet, through whom the countenance of the world became radiant and that which was hidden in God’s knowledge, the Lord of Eternity, was made manifest. And upon His family and His companions who aided the Faith of God with their wealth and their souls and strove until the Faith was made manifest, though the infidels detest it.

To continue: the letter of that honored master arrived. Praise be to God, the fragrance of love was inhaled therefrom. God willing, may you ever drink from the choice wine of knowledge and receive your portion from the fountain of wisdom. In all circumstances one must be mindful of wisdom. This evanescent servant beseeches and implores God, exalted be His glory, to aid and grant that honored one whatsoever befits His bounty. Verily the servant asks and He is the Hearer, the Answerer.

Should the means for return to your homeland become available and should you honor it with your presence, there is and has been no objection. Your attention and devotion are evident and clear. God, exalted be His glory, will grant the reward. Verily He has power over all things and is worthy to answer. Peace and glory be upon you and upon God’s righteous servants, and praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH06266: In My Name, the One Who dominates all names

In My Name, the One Who dominates all names.

This is a Book which the Wronged One hath sent down unto him who hath turned towards God, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting, on a day whereon the pillars of the world were shaken […] by the clamor of the peoples who broke the Covenant of God, the Lord of the Kingdom.

We, verily, gave the glad-tidings of this Revelation unto all, but when the horizon of the world was illumined and the One Who converseth on Sinai came, they turned away from Him save him whom the hand of thy Lord’s power did rescue, the Mighty, the Loving. Every soul hath been drowned in the ocean of fancy and idle imaginings except him who hath clung to the cord of God’s loving-kindness and held fast to the hem of His blessed and mighty robe. When thou art blessed with God’s Tablet and His traces, and findest from it the fragrance of His loving-kindness, arise, turning unto Him, and say: Praise be unto Thee, O God of the seen and unseen! Thou art He Who made me know the Dawning-Place of Thy Revelation, caused me to hear Thy Call, and gave me to drink from the Kawthar of Thy love on a day wherein all things proclaimed:

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

We counsel thee to be steadfast and to do that whereby the Cause may be exalted. Verily thy Lord is the Counselor, the Compassionate, the All-Bountiful.

BH08349: In the Name of the Mighty, the All-Bestowing!…

In the Name of the Mighty, the All-Bestowing! The decree of God which was inscribed by the Finger of Power in His hidden Book hath been revealed. This is the Day whereon the Mother Book speaketh, yet the people understand not. They have cast behind their backs the Ocean of Knowledge, hastening unto every rejected ignorant one. They behold the Kawthar of Revelation before their faces, yet turn away therefrom. Blessed is he who hath rent asunder the veils in the name of his Lord, the Lord of all kings, and woe unto him who hath cast the Book of God behind his back, clinging to the desires of those who have turned away from God on His promised Day. Thy mention hath been made before the Wronged One, and these verses have been revealed for thee which speak forth in the world: “The Creator of the heavens hath come with manifest sovereignty.” Take thou the Tablet with the power bestowed by Us, then recite it in the presence of those who have drawn nigh, who have arisen and declared: “God is our Lord and the Lord of all who have been adorned with the garment of existence.”

BH08816: In My Name which shineth forth from the horizon…

In My Name which shineth forth from the horizon of the Kingdom!

Glorified is He Who hath appeared and revealed that which caused every feeble one to speak, every distant one to draw nigh, every blind one to see, every heedless one to turn, every seated one to arise, and every fearful and doubtful one to attain unto the Most Great Steadfastness. I testify to that which God hath testified: that there is none other God but Me, the Single, the All-Informed.

We have mentioned thee time and again. Give thanks unto thy Lord, the All-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful. Be thou in such wise that the sincere ones may inhale from thee the fragrance of My luminous garment. Beware lest allusions prevent thee from the abode of verses, or doubts from My straight path. Cast aside all else, holding fast unto the mountain of My loving-kindness. Thus doth counsel thee He with Whom is the Preserved Tablet. The Glory be upon thee and upon every steadfast, firm and upright one.

BH00338: Praise be to the Lord of creation…

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

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

Praise be to the Lord of creation and the King of existence, Who is worthy and deserving, for through the rays of the Sun of Revelation He hath illumined the world of utterance and through His perfect power hath raised aloft the banner proclaiming “Verily He is the Truth” to the highest station of possibility. He is the Omnipotent One Whom neither armies, ranks, rifles nor cannons can prevent from that which He desireth, and through His all-pervading might and conquering power He taketh whatsoever He willeth and bestoweth whatsoever He desireth. The hand of God is above all hands and His command prevaileth over the highest and the lowest. Exalted, exalted is He Who hath announced what hath appeared and shall appear, and hath revealed every hidden secret. Verily He is the Lord of destiny Who hath called all to His Most Great Horizon.

Today the straight path is manifest, the true balance is set up, the verses are revealed, the evidences are clear, the sun of bounty is shining and the ocean of generosity is surging. Nevertheless the people of the earth remain deprived and portionless, save whom God willeth. All are occupied with that which is with the creation and are deprived of that which is with the Truth. Wondrous talismans have appeared, and there hath been sent down from the divine Kingdom of Will that which no previous Books or Scriptures can equal. Glory be to God! What hath happened that despite this Cause which hath encompassed both past and future, the people remain heedless and deprived of this supreme bounty? Every group clinging to some book or scroll or pages, yet heedless of the Kingdom of verses. In one instance the Tongue of Grandeur uttereth this most exalted Word—blessed and exalted be His saying:

“Do ye object to Him Who hath come unto you with all the proofs and evidences of God?”

to the end of His blessed utterance. Similar statements have repeatedly been heard from the Tongue of Grandeur and revealed by the Most Exalted Pen, yet the unjust people have risen in tyranny and cling to that which harmeth rather than benefiteth them. Shame upon them and perdition! Soon shall they find themselves in manifest loss and in a barren station.

My life be sacrificed for your service and for your steadfastness. The blessed handwriting of that honored one—adorned with the name of His Holiness Ismu’llah Mihdi (upon him be, from every glory, the glory of the Most Glorious)—and dated the nineteenth day of the month of Rajab, reached this servant on the twenty-fourth of Dhi’l-Qa’dih. The cause of the delay was the upheavals that occurred in Alexandria; for the friends of God who were in that land, in the days of plunder and arson, of pillage and devastation, turned, according to the command, unto the Most Holy Court. And though all that they possessed was taken from them, they were seen in the utmost joy and gladness. Verily He bestoweth even as He bestowed at the first.

In the days when these upheavals appeared from the Dawning-Place of the Cause of God, this exalted word was uttered: Let the loved ones of Egypt remain at ease in their place, and let the loved ones of Alexandria depart. They, too, acted in accordance with that which they were commanded. And in these days, since some measure of safety hath been obtained, two souls were, by command, appointed to attend to correspondence and were dispatched to those regions. The Cause is in His hand: He doeth and commandeth as He willeth, and He is the Mighty, the All-Powerful.

And since His Holiness Ismu’llah was not present, this servant, in obedience to the command, opened the blessed letter and read it; and after becoming informed, I turned toward the Most Exalted Kingdom and, in the presence of the Countenance, after permission, laid it before Him. This is what the Tongue of Grandeur hath spoken in His praised station. Exalted be His glory:

In My Name, the Hearer, the Answerer.

O My Afnan! The darkness of oppression and the gloom of people’s deeds have veiled the radiance of the Sun of Justice, and the smoke has encompassed the world. Yet tribulations and hardships have not awakened souls, for their hearts have been deprived of acceptance and awareness through the punishment of their abhorrent deeds. O Afnan! How many are those who have witnessed the waves of the ocean of utterance of the All-Merciful, yet remain halted and heedless. Beseech God that He may not deprive His servants of the lights of the dawn of inner meanings, and that He may adorn His loved ones with the ornament of love and unity. Say: The most beloved of all things in the sight of God is agreement in His Cause. Indeed it is exalted in rank and station. Hold fast unto it, O people of Baha, then give thanks unto your Lord, the All-Bountiful.

O Afnan! Be vigilant, watchful and mindful in the service of God, your Beloved, your Goal and the Goal of all worlds. You have indeed shown great diligence in serving the Cause, which merits beautiful mention from God. Praise be to God that through His grace you have attained and are adorned with a remembrance whose fragrance shall never be cut off from the world. He has verily exalted you and related you to Him, and He is the All-Merciful, the Bountiful. Your attention, humility and supplication are mentioned before God. Rejoice in My grace, My bounty and My mercy which have preceded both worlds. Convey My greetings to the friends of God, if wisdom permits, and say: Know the station of this time and arise to redeem what has passed.

By God’s life! You are the stars of the heaven of manifestation. Know your worth and lose not this mighty station. Act in accordance with what befits the Day of God. Thus have We revealed the pearls of utterance from the ocean of My bounty which has encompassed all who are in the heavens and on earth. There are souls who stand before Our eyes, but mention of their names is and has been concealed due to wisdom. By My life! Were they to know their station, they would soar on wings of longing in this atmosphere wherein is heard what Moses heard on Sinai. He Who spoke therein beareth witness to this, but most of the people are heedless.

May the Glory which hath shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of My grace be upon you, O Afnan, and upon those who are with you and love you, by the command of God, the Ordainer, the All-Wise. The days are most precious, the Cause most mighty, and the grace most great. This evanescent servant beseecheth God, exalted be His glory, to grant all a portion from the ocean of His mercy in this blessed Day and to adorn them with the garment of His good-pleasure. He is indeed the Powerful, the Mighty, the Omnipotent, the All-Knowing.

That which was written concerning Jinab-i-Mulla Raj, upon him be the Glory of God and His favor, is truly a cause for wonderment, inasmuch as the Day of God does not call for such mentions, nor has it ever done so. God, exalted be His glory, says: “This is not the Day for questions. It behooveth every soul, when hearing the Call, to say: Here am I, here am I, O Lord of all names! Here am I, here am I, O Lord of the first and the last!”’ to the end of His mighty and exalted utterance. He likewise says: “I love to proclaim in every state: Verily, I am God, there is none other God but Me, the All-Subduing, the Self-Subsisting.”’

Apart from these matters, in every condition whatsoever there hath flowed from the Most Exalted Pen that which sufficeth the world and all that dwell therein. From aforetime, revelation hath been sent down concerning every branch of knowledge, but due to migration and the intense enmity and hypocrisy of the peoples of the earth and the oppression of tyrants, these writings have remained scattered and dispersed, and some have been lost. God willing, his honor will be assisted to teach the Cause of God and to turn the faces of souls unto His countenance. This is a deed that hath no peer or equal in this day. And since there are differences between philosophers and theologians concerning certain questions, with each group having expressed its own views, his honor hath desired to discover that which is true. However, the Primal Point, may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for His sake, hath forbidden all from questioning in this blessed Day.

Section 2: “Some time ago, Jinab-i-Mulla Muhammad-ʿAli, upon him be…”

Some time ago, Jinab-i-Mulla Muhammad-ʿAli, upon him be the Glory of God, posed certain questions, and there was revealed from the Most Exalted Pen, as a bounty unto him, that which increaseth the fair-minded and moveth those who hesitate. Let his honor obtain a copy thereof and deliver it to the aforementioned one. God willing, upon studying it, he will find himself independent of the questions mentioned. The servant beseecheth God, his Lord and the Lord of the heavens and earth, to make his honor a leader of the servants, their guide and their enlightener. Verily, He is powerful over all things.

And concerning what was mentioned about Aqa Mirza Haydar-ʿAli, upon him be the Glory of God and His praise—praise be to God, he is assisted in mentioning God and teaching His Cause. His letters have reached certain of the friends in this land, and the details have been presented at the Most Holy Court. In these days, God willing, a reply will be sent.

And concerning what was written about the funds, this servant, in accordance with the instruction of that Beloved One, sent a receipt of acknowledgment. God willing, may all the friends receive their portion from the divine fragrances of these days and act according to that which hath been revealed in the Book. Thus far, whenever anyone hath been mentioned at the Most Holy Court and some measure of acceptance hath been shown by him, he hath become the recipient of the dawning grace from the horizon of bounty, for were it not for divine bounty, few among the servants would be found worthy of grace. The Day is God’s Day, the Manifestation is God’s Manifestation, and the effulgences of the Sun of Bounty have encompassed the world. Thus it is that whosoever hath evinced the slightest fragrance of love hath attained unto that which, at present, is hidden from all eyes and sight. It is hoped that God, exalted be His glory, will enable all to preserve that which He hath bestowed and will assist them to do so, for many deeds efface good works and rend asunder the veils. The Command is in God’s hands—there is none other God but He, the Doer, the All-Wise.

Concerning what was written about the divine tablets, thus far all names specifically mentioned before the Most Holy Court have been the recipients of grace from the Dawning-Place of bounty. However, according to His command, that beloved one must act with wisdom as required, for in all conditions you must observe wisdom, and whatsoever contradicts it is not permissible in the Holy Court. He has said: “O Afnan! God doeth whatsoever He willeth.” For instance, in these days We do not associate with the noble ones of the city and the princes who come and go, yet in these days We summoned one of the thieves. The Manifestation of the Revelation and the Speaker of Sinai conversed with him for a time and counselled him as was befitting. Nevertheless, the Afnan must in all conditions be mindful of wisdom. This is Our command and Our decree in the Scriptures and Tablets.

The command of wisdom hath been revealed with great firmness. The honored Afnans, upon them be all His most glorious Baha, and the other friends, upon them be the Glory of God, must act in accordance with it, lest that which would disturb souls should appear.

Concerning what you wrote about Mirza Badi’u’llah, upon him be the Glory of God, after it was presented, the Tongue of God spoke these words, exalted and glorified be His utterance:

“O My Afnan! Badi’ has been and is under the glances of God’s loving-kindness, glorified be His majesty. Blessed is he and his father who sacrificed his life in My path. We have accepted him as a bounty from Our presence and have mentioned him with such mention before which all mentions bow down.”

Convey Our greetings to him and send him the glad tidings of God’s favor.

The son of his honor Muhsin, upon him be My glory, needs counsel. Should he become aware of his father’s station, he would arise as befitteth him. Verily He commandeth His loved ones with that which benefiteth them in every world of the worlds of their Lord, the Mighty, the Wise.

Regarding what you wrote about the friends of M, after it was presented in the Most Holy Court, He spoke words from which it was understood that the cause and reason were not confined to the two persons mentioned, but rather some others were also partly responsible. Beseech God that those who claim divine love may be adorned with the garment of unity. By the ocean of utterance! Had the friends of God who are in various regions attained to and acted upon that which hath flowed from the Supreme Pen, surely the light of fairness would have dispelled the darkness of oppression, and the radiance of the sun of justice would have prevailed over the gloom of tyranny.

Although this land was called the Most Great Prison, in truth the Hand of God’s power made it the Most Exalted Paradise, and all those within and without testify and bear witness to this fact. Extraordinary blessings in trade became manifest, and every elevated place became a spot for the recreation of companions, despite the heedless and the transgressors. The doors of relief and joy were opened, yet from certain ignorant ones heedlessness and pride were observed, which ultimately led to treachery. God, exalted be His glory, knows what has happened and what will happen. Knowledge is with God, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. The purpose of these submissions is that had the friends of God who are in various regions acted upon what God hath revealed, the earth would now be observed in a different state. Such utterances have repeatedly flowed from the Supreme Pen, and this servant has heard them.

A petition from Muhammad-Qablih-Hasan (the weaver)—upon him be 9 66 [Baha’u’llah]—reached the Most Holy Court and was at one time presented before the Throne, and an answer was sent down from the heaven of grace. God willing, they will drink from the fountainhead of its words the sweet waters of mercy and wisdom, and will arise to serve the Cause in such wise that neither the insinuations of the opposers, nor the conditions of the heedless, nor the might of princes, nor the power of the mighty shall hold them back. Those souls who have truly inhaled the fragrance of this Revelation—even should the entire world arise in opposition—would accord no station or dignity to such opposition, nor ever shall. These are servants whom the conditions of the pharaohs prevent not from turning unto God, our Lord and the Lord of all things, our Beloved and the Beloved of all worlds.

This evanescent servant, who is utter nothingness and absolute extinction, presents his submission to the honored Afnans—upon them be the glory of God, His mercy, His grace and His favor. It is hoped that your honor will convey this. May the Glory that is manifest, evident and shining forth from the horizon of eternity be upon you and upon those whom this fleeting life has not prevented from attaining unto everlasting stations, and upon those who have attained unto the Most Exalted Word from God, the Lord of all beings. Praise be to God, the Lord of the Last and the First.

The servant 11 Dhi’l-Hajjih 1299