Volume 071: Akka 1300 A.H. (1882–1883), Part II (8 of 8)

BH00146: Praise be to God, the Sovereign of the kingdom…

Section 1: “In the Name of God, Exalted is His…”

In the Name of God, Exalted is His Station, to Him belongs all Grandeur and Power

Praise be to God, the Sovereign of the kingdom of earth and heaven, and the Lord of might and glory, Who hath made His throne the world of humanity and ruleth therein as He pleaseth over all who possess and all who are possessed, and over all the kings. And peace and blessings be upon Him Whom He hath sent to sanctify the world and to purify it from all that withholdeth it from the Ancient King—the Essence Who hath appeared from the Mine of God, the All-Possessing, the Self-Subsisting. And upon His family and companions who conquered the lands and guided the people to the straight path.

And further: my spirit be a sacrifice for your remembrance! Your blessed letter dated the 19th of Dhi’l-Qa’dah was received on the 16th of Dhi’l-Hijjah. In truth it was an ornament adorning the temple of love. God willing, may the world not be deprived and forbidden from this ornament. It was presented before His face and answers to each matter dawned from the horizon of grace.

Regarding the book of Shahverdi, may the Glory of God rest upon him, He said: “Excellent is what he hath done.” The Most Glorious Name hath given it to a trustworthy person to deliver it. And likewise regarding the book of Haji Ahmad, may the Glory of God rest upon him, and concerning sending the book to the Land of Ta for binding, patience is preferable and most fitting these days. After news of ease following hardship, they will send it.

Concerning Darvish Mihdi, He made mention and these words were revealed from the Kingdom of Utterance:

In the Name of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise!

O Zayn! We have heard mention of him who is named Mihdi and have answered thee, and We have beseeched God, blessed and exalted be He, to ordain for him the good of the hereafter and of this world, and to make him among those on whom shall come no fear, neither shall they grieve. O Mihdi, say:

Glorified art Thou, O Thou in Whose grasp are the reins of existence! I beseech Thee by Thy Hidden Name and Thy Treasured Symbol which was concealed in Thy knowledge and inscribed in Thy Books, to assist me in all conditions to remain steadfast in Thy Cause, the irrevocable Decree whereby the foundations of the world were shaken and the pillars of the nations were made to tremble. O my Lord! I have turned to Thee and faced toward Thy horizon, whereupon the hand of Thy decree prevented me. Verily Thou didst say, and Thy word is the truth:

“Whoso seeketh to attain unto My prison without My leave is not of Me.”

When I heard Thy command, I turned to another land, awaiting the wonders of Thy bounty and the manifestations of Thy loving-kindness. I beseech Thee by the Mother Book which none hath known save Thyself, and by the Day of Return which the heedless among Thy servants have denied, to ordain for this servant of Thine that which will draw him nigh unto Thee, O Lord of all names! Thou art He Whom nothing can frustrate and no affair can hinder. Strengthen me in that which Thou hast commanded me in Thy Book, then cause to appear from me that which will spread the fragrance of eternity throughout the kingdom of Thy creation. There is none other God but Thee, the Forgiving, the Bountiful.

O Zayn! We have made mention of him and have prayed for him. Give him the glad-tidings from the Wronged One that he may rejoice and be of the thankful ones.

Concerning what was written about Shir-ʿAli Khan, it was presented and this is what the Kingdom of Utterance pronounced:

In the Name of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise!

O Shir-ʿAli! Hearken unto the call of thy Lord, the Most Exalted. He remembereth thee from the precincts of His Most Great Prison and summoneth thee unto God, the All-Possessing, the Self-Subsisting. The oppressors have imprisoned My loved ones without any proof from God. They are indeed worshippers of idle fancies and vain imaginings. Say:

Glorified art Thou, O my God and the God of all created things, my Sovereign and the Sovereign of all existence! I beseech Thee by the kingdom of Thy signs, by the ocean of Thy knowledge, and by the lights of the Sun of Thy countenance, to aid me and Thy servants in Thy love, Thy remembrance, and Thy praise. O Lord! I am he who was attracted by Thy verses, and the sweetness of Thy utterance seized me in such wise that I became detached from all else but Thee in my longing to meet Thee. I left my home, turning my face toward Thy presence, but when I entered the city of Thy loved ones, Thy decree and ordinance prevented me, and when I heard Thy command I returned, trusting in Thee and committing my affairs unto Thee.

I beseech Thee, O Ultimate Goal of them that are near unto Thee, and Ultimate Hope of them that are sincere, to inscribe me among those who have attained the living waters of Thy presence and have discovered the fragrance of Thy robe. O Lord! I implore Thee by Thy greatness not to keep me distant from the seat of Thy nearness, nor to disappoint me of that which is with Thee. Verily, Thou art the All-Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

O Shir-ʿAli! God willing, mayest thou be the recipient of divine favors. Blessed be thy father and those with him and with thee who have not violated God’s Covenant and Testament, and who have acted according to that which was enjoined upon them in His Manifest Book. Praise be to God, the Lord of the Worlds.

And likewise, regarding Mirza Habib, after being mentioned in the Most Holy Presence, these exalted words were revealed from the Kingdom of Utterance:

He is the Everlasting, the Eternal!

O Zayn! Some of the friends have borne trials, tribulations and hardships in the path of God. Whatsoever is endured in the path of God has assuredly been and will be recompensed. One deed performed today is equivalent to numerous deeds in any other day. Blessed is the beloved one upon whom there hath descended in the Path that which hath grieved hearts. God willing, may they be gladdened through the favors of the Lord and be occupied with the mention of the Best-Beloved of the worlds. His is the right to say:

O my God, my Lord, and my Master! I beseech Thee by the repositories of Thy Cause, the dawning-places of Thy revelation, and by Thy Name through which the pearls of the ocean of Thy knowledge appeared among Thy creation, to accept from me what I have wrought in Thy path and to ordain for me what Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen ones. Verily, Thou art the Almighty Whom the conditions of creation cannot weaken, nor can the intimations of Thy servants prevent Thee. Thou doest what Thou willest and decreest what Thou pleasest, and Thou art the Commander, the All-Wise. Furthermore, I beseech Thee, O my God, to forgive me, my father, and those who have believed in Thee and in Thy signs. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the All-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful.

As for the five Blessed Tablets, as commanded they should remain in your safekeeping. The letter of the honored beloved, Nabil the traveler, upon him be the Glory of God and His favors, was received. God willing, may they be confirmed through the confirmations of the True Sovereign in that which God loves and with which He is well-pleased.

Regarding the mention that was made of the son of Aqa Mirza Abdu’llah, upon them both be the Glory of God and His favors, it was presented, and this is what the Tongue of Utterance spoke: O Zayn, upon thee be My glory! The mention of Abdu’l-Mihdi was made before the Wronged One. God willing, may they be occupied with the mention of God, exalted be His glory, and with His praise. The true divine bounty has been and is His mention and praise, and in one station His Cause, and in another His knowledge, and in yet another certitude, unto whatsoever God willeth. We beseech God to aid all to accomplish that which hath been revealed in the Book and is acceptable before the Throne. We send Our greetings to him from this distant spot and counsel him with that which will draw him nearer unto God in all conditions. Verily thy Lord is the Self-Sufficient, the Most Exalted, and with Him is the decree of the beginning and the end.

To the presence of His name 66 [Allah], upon him be all 9 [Baha], I convey this servant’s greetings and remembrance, and they too remember that presence in all conditions. May God grant us both bliss in the Hereafter and in this world.

Regarding the question about the Huquq threshold, due to haste there is no opportunity to present the answer now. God willing, it will be sent later.

Your previous letter dated the 15th of the blessed month of Ramadan gave life to the soul and attained the hearing of the Intended One, may our spirits be sacrificed for His sake.

Concerning what you wrote about the trusts of Haji Khavar, upon him be 66 9 [Baha’u’llah], they all arrived through Haji Muhammad Baqir, upon him be 66 9 [Baha’u’llah], and likewise the petitions sent in the company of Aqa Nuru’llah were received.

Regarding what you wrote about Akbar, son of Aqa ʿAbdu’l from Kirmanshah, it was presented before His presence, and this utterance emerged from the horizon of proof:

He is God!

O Akbar! God willing, may you attain unto the divine bounties, both outward and inward, exalted be His glory. The world is encompassed by the smoke of oppression. We beseech God that He may illumine the people of Baha in these dark times with the light of justice and sanctify the horizon of equity from the clouds of tyranny. Verily, He is powerful over all things. Say: Glory be unto Thee, O my God! Thou knowest and seest that this servant hath desired to turn unto the lights of Thy countenance and to visit Thy Sacred House which Thou hast ordained for all people. I beseech Thee to ordain for me the reward of its visitation and to decree for me what Thou hast decreed for Thy loved ones. Verily, Thou art the All-Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

And this is what was revealed for Ja’far from N.J.:

He is God, exalted is He!

O Ja’far! It behooveth thee to make up for what hath passed thee by. We counsel thee with what God hath revealed in the Book and We pray for thee and beseech Him to send down upon thee from the heaven of His grace that which will profit thee and draw thee nigh unto Him. Verily, He knoweth thee better than thou knowest thyself, as attested by that which was revealed unto the Prophets and Messengers. Adorn thyself with the ornament of submission and say:

O my Merciful Lord! I beseech Thee by the lights of Thy countenance to send down upon me from the heaven of Thy bounty that which will make me content with what Thou hast chosen for me by Thy mighty and great command. Verily, Thou art God, the All-Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

And regarding what you wrote about ʿAli-Akbar, whom God honored through his relationship to your presence, it was presented in the Most Holy, Most Exalted Court, and He said: He is the Witness, the All-Hearing.

O Ali-Qabil-Akbar! Mention hath been made of thee before the Wronged One, Who remembereth thee from the prison, while sorrows encompass Him on all sides by reason of that which hath befallen His loved ones at the hands of the armies of the oppressors. Verily, he who knoweth not his right hand from his left is established upon the throne of tyranny and uttereth that which Pharaoh uttered when he said:

“Is not mine the kingdom of Egypt and these rivers flowing beneath me? Do ye not then see?”

Thus was it decreed aforetime and in these days. Thy Lord, verily, is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. We counsel thee and My loved ones in that land to be patient and forbearing, and to manifest that whereby the signs of justice may be revealed amongst the servants. Verily, thy Lord is the All-Patient, the All-Forbearing. Say: O concourse of the beloved! It behooveth you to commit all affairs unto God and to hold fast unto His strong cord. We beseech God to draw thee nigh unto Him and to give thee to drink of the Kawthar of immortality from the hands of bounty, and to ordain for thee from the Pen the recompense of that which thou didst desire in His straight Path. Be thou content with that which He hath willed, and glorify on behalf of the Wronged One the faces of the loved ones whom the clamour of the heedless hath failed to deter. Say: Seize ye the value of these days and cleave unto that whereby your names shall be established by the Pen of God, the Lord of all worlds. Glory be upon thee and upon them, and upon My handmaidens who have believed and hearkened and responded and believed in God, the Peerless, the All-Informed.

And as to what was written concerning Mulla Ahmad, brother of him who was martyred in the path of God, it hath been presented to His sublime attention. He saith, and His sweet utterance is:

He is the All-Seeing, the All-Informed

O Ahmad! Mention hath been made of thee by him who hath arisen to serve My Cause, who hath voiced My remembrance and praise, who hath soared in the atmosphere of My will and hath acted according to that which was commanded by Me. By My life! He hath tasted the sweetness of My love and hath testified to that which My tongue hath testified, and hath acknowledged that which the kingdom of Mine utterance hath acknowledged, and hath drunk the choice wine of My presence and the Kawthar of My reunion. We make mention of thee through this remembrance whereby the fragrance of proof hath been wafted throughout all possibilities. Exalted be the All-Merciful Who hath caused all things to speak His praise and remembrance while the people were wrapped in a manifest veil.

Blessed be thy brother who was martyred in the path of God, the Lord of all worlds. He hath attained unto a mention from which the sincere ones perceive the fragrance of sincerity. Verily thy Lord is the Forgiving, the Merciful. Rejoice thou in that God hath forgiven thee and strengthened thee and hath sent down for you both that which nothing on earth can equal. He, verily, is the All-Bountiful, the Mighty, the All-Knowing. Blessed be ye both and those who are with you, and those whom God shall manifest from you both. He, verily, is the All-Bountiful, the Kind, the Merciful.

In remembrance of Ibn-i-ʿAli Nur, upon them both be 966 [Baha’u’llah], mention was made in the Most Holy Presence. He said: “God willing, may they be steadfast and fixed upon one purpose. Divine favor has encompassed him and the one who ascended unto Him, and, God willing, will continue to do so. We make mention of the Lion and counsel him with that which shall perpetuate his remembrance. We beseech God to assist all in such wise that they be neither saddened nor veiled by the oppression of the oppressors. They who oppress the friends of God are like unto children playing with clay. We counsel all to patience, forbearance, calm and dignity. None should object, dispute or argue with anyone. They should hold fast to the cord of forbearance and the hem of patience. The Command is God’s, the Knower of the hidden and the manifest.

Section 2: “O Zayn! We have made mention of him…”

“O Zayn! We have made mention of him who was named ʿAli, whom We adorned with light, with such remembrance as the mention of all peoples cannot equal, save whom God, the Lord of the worlds, willeth. We have mentioned his wife and counsel her at this time to trustworthiness, truthfulness, and purity, and to that which beseemeth these days. Thus doth the Compassionate, the Mighty, the Wondrous, counsel her.”

That which is necessary today is that each soul should preserve whatever of the Sacred Writings they possess in a place where no one else has knowledge thereof. This year in the Land of Ta [Tehran] many divine verses fell into the hands of the oppressors. Whomsoever they seized had Writings with them, as if the Writings were kept in a designated place by the gate. In any case, many Writings were plundered. It behooveth the people of truth to preserve them and conceal them from every treacherous one, from every thief, and from every accursed hypocrite.

As to what was written concerning Aqa Muhammad-Baqir, upon him be 966 [Baha’u’llah] and His favor, he had written the names of certain ones to be presented at the Most Holy Court. These were presented, and He said:

“O Zayn! We have made mention of Our loved ones in that place and give them the glad-tidings of God’s favor and grace. We counsel them to preserve the pearls of their Lord’s love that are in their possession, the Forgiving, the Generous. The smoke of oppression hath encompassed the dwellers of the City of Fidelity through that which the hands of the oppressors have wrought. O My loved ones! Be not grieved by that which hath befallen My Name and My loved ones. Rather, rejoice in this Most Great Remembrance which hath turned towards you from this distant place. God shall soon seize those who have oppressed without clear proof or manifest Book. Can anyone prevent that which God hath willed? Nay, by His Self, the One Who ruleth over all who are in the heavens and on earth. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth, despite those who have denied the Day of Judgment. We counsel them to patience in these days wherein the raven of oppression hath croaked and every ignorant doubter hath cawed. The glory shining from the horizon of the heaven of grace be upon them and upon those who have acted according to that which they were commanded in the Book of God, the Exalted, the Great.”

Praise be to God that all have been blessed with His favor and have been mentioned in the Most Holy Court. It behooveth them to thank God for this great bounty.

And as to what they have written: that Aqa Muhammad Baqir—upon him be Baha’u’llah—hath submitted the request that, in his regard, and in respect of his parents and his departed sister—upon them be Baha’u’llah—supplication be made for forgiveness and loving-kindness—He replied:

O Zayn! When mention was made of these souls, divine favors encompassed them and forgiveness was sought from the Goal of all the worlds. Say: O friends of God, glorified be His majesty! Out of pure grace He created all, and through the tongue of the Prophets He hath mentioned whatsoever conduceth to tranquility, glory, nearness and attainment unto His presence. Blessed is the soul that hath heard, turned to Him and attained, and woe unto them that slumber. Verily, whosoever is enabled to perform a deed in this day shall witness its recompense in all the divine worlds. We make mention of him as We mentioned him before, that he may rejoice and be among those who are steadfast. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

As to what was written regarding Mashhadi Hasan, this is what the Kingdom of Knowledge hath spoken:

He is the All-Seeing, the All-Knowing

O Zayn! We have made mention of every soul that hath turned unto Us and have deprived no one who hath set his face towards Us. Today regard hath been and is unto acceptance, turning, mention and praise, even though one may be deprived of the ornament of truth. However this matter pertaineth especially to God, exalted be His glory. The chosen ones, the pure ones and the loved ones must conduct themselves with the utmost wisdom and speak accordingly. O Zayn! Write to him: Thou wast mentioned in the presence of the Wronged One. May God willing, thou mayest be blessed with divine favors and act in accordance with that which God loveth. We counsel thee and the friends to be trustworthy, religious, chaste, truthful and to manifest that which beseemeth the station of man. Thus hath the Wronged One remembered thee and guided thee to the straight path of God. Look not unto the people and their clamor. Act in accordance with what thou hast been commanded in the Book. We beseech God to adorn the whole world with the ornament of justice and to illumine it with the light of equity. Verily He is powerful over all things and worthy to answer.

Concerning the matter of the sum for sweets and sundry expenses which had been recorded, amounting by estimate to some eighteen shillings, more or less, according to the command, the sum of nine [units] should be given to His Honor the exalted Aqa Muhammad-Rida—upon him be Baha’u’llah—and the remainder should be expended for tea and sugar to be offered unto the guests—upon them be Baha’u’llah.

And concerning that which was recorded: His Honor Aqa Muhammad-Baqir—upon him be Baha’u’llah—hath written that should a special Tablet in commemoration of the late and exalted Haji Mirza Kamal’d-Din—upon him be Baha’u’llah the Most Glorious—have appeared but not yet arrived, this servant would explain that in those very days when His Honor Kamal—upon him be Baha’u’llah—returned unto the horizon of the All-Sufficing, the Most Exalted, a Most Holy Tablet specifically addressed to the sons in the Land of Ta was dispatched. God willing, others shall in future be revealed and sent in that direction. Those affiliated with him are mentioned in the presence of the Countenance, and this evanescent servant entreateth the True One—glorified be His glory—that He may adorn all with the vesture of sanctification and exaltation and with that which God loveth. Verily, our Lord, the All-Merciful, is potent over all things.

And concerning His Honor Jawad—may our spirit be his sacrifice—from among the people of the Abode of Peace, it was recorded and submitted: This is what the Kingdom of Utterance hath spoken.

I am the Wronged One, the Stranger

O Javad! Your mention was made in the prison. We have remembered thee with this clear remembrance. Behold and then recall what the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Qur’an. Verily it is the lamp of guidance before all creatures and the Most Great Light before all nations. He spoke, and His word is the truth:

“O my son! Observe prayer, and enjoin what is just, and forbid what is wrong, and be patient under whatever befalleth thee; for this is a bounden duty.”

Should anyone act according to this blessed verse sent down from the Kingdom of his Lord’s Will, the Possessor of Oneness, it would suffice him. To this testify the tongues of all created things and beyond them the tongue of thy Lord’s will, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Blessed is he who acteth according to that which he hath been commanded by God, the Lord of the worlds. The Wronged One beseecheth God to ordain for thee from the Supreme Pen the good of the hereafter and of this world. Verily He hath power over all things. Praise be unto Him Who is the Goal of them that know and the God of all the worlds.

As to what was written concerning Hasan-ʿAli Khan, upon him be the Glory of God, it was presented to the Intended One. He speaks, and His sweetest utterance is:

He is the Hearing, the Responding One.

O Hasan-ʿAli! Hearken unto the call of the Wronged One. He hath turned toward thee, having perceived from thee the fragrance of submissiveness unto God, the Peerless, the All-Informed. We have heard thy call and answered thee, and have seen thy turning and have turned toward thee from this luminous horizon. The world hath been encompassed by the smoke of tyranny, and the fabrications of false pretenders have veiled the lights of the Sun of Truth. The highway robbers stand at their posts, waiting—these robbers are in truth the divines of the age who have forbidden and deprived the people from the straight path and the Great Announcement, which adorneth all divine Books with its mention. Do people consider these objecting souls to be among the learned and count them among the righteous?

Nay, by the Self of God Who overshadeth the world! The learned one is he who hath recognized the Truth and hath drunk from the Kawthar of utterance in the days of the All-Merciful. He is the learned one, and he is as the spirit to the body of the world and as the fruit to the Sadratu’l-Muntaha. Blessed is he and blessed is he who holdeth fast unto him. Praise the Intended One Who hath made thee aware and caused thee to attain thy goal. This station is mighty—preserve it in the name of the Peerless Friend, and strive that there may appear from thee that which will cause its fragrance to persist throughout the kingdom of earth and heaven.

Every good deed today is recorded with God as the king of deeds. Know thou this and be of the thankful ones. The Glory be upon thee and upon those who have attained unto this mighty station.

Concerning that which was recorded: Their Honors Karbala’i Aqa-Jan and Aqa Muhammad-Hasan—upon them both be Baha’u’llah—have both sought permission that they might be favored [with pilgrimage]. In these days it hath not been, nor is it, expedient, for it is beyond the requirements of wisdom. Praised be God that their mention hath been made in the Most Holy Court and they have been favored with divine bounties. Verily, the servant magnifieth them both and seeketh from them prayers.

And concerning that which was set forth: His Honor Aqa Muhammad-ʿAli—upon him be Baha’u’llah—from among the people of H.M. is occupied in service to the Cause. Likewise mention was made of His Honor Aqa Mirza-i-Kuchik, who through divine grace hath turned his attention unto the Most Great Ocean. This detail was submitted in the Most Holy and Inaccessible Court. This is what the Kingdom of Knowledge hath uttered. He said—exalted be His utterance:

He is the Herald before the faces of men

O Muhammad-Qabli-ʿAli! This Wronged One makes mention of thee at a time when sorrows have encompassed Him from every side, and gives thee the glad-tidings of the Most Great Joy. The world’s grief hath not deterred Him, nor can it deter Him, and the clamor of the nations cannot prevent Him from proclaiming His Cause. The martial array, the clashing of swords, the guns of the enemy and the weapons of the wicked have been as though non-existent. No hosts can frighten Him, no multitudes or ranks can render Him powerless. He speaks before the face of all the world, despite those who have denied God’s signs and His proof, and who desired to extinguish His light. Say: Perdition befall you! He hath appeared and manifested whatsoever He desired with power and sovereignty. Blessed art thou for having held fast to the cord of thy Lord’s loving-kindness and turned toward the horizon before which all horizons have bowed down. We send Our greetings upon thee and upon him who was named Mirza Kuchik, that he may rejoice and thank his Lord, the Possessor of all existence.

O thou who art mentioned! Thy mention hath come, We have remembered thee and turned toward thee, and We counsel thee and those who have believed to show forth the Greater Steadfastness in this Day wherein the limbs of all names have trembled for fear of God, the Lord of Lords. Behold and make mention of those who enter temples and mosques for the remembrance of God, yet when He came with the truth, they cast it behind their backs, clinging to suppositions and idle fancies. By God’s life! They are indeed worshippers of idols, as testifieth He with Whom is the Mother Book. When the attraction of thy Lord’s verses seizes thee and thou findest the sweetness of the Merciful’s utterance, arise and say:

“Praise be unto Thee, O Lord of Names and Creator of Heaven, for having given me to drink, from the hand of Thy bounty, the Kawthar of Thy knowledge, and for having awakened me when I was sleeping, taught me when I was ignorant, and raised me up when I was seated. I testify that Thou art the Omnipotent over whatsoever Thou willest, and in Thy grasp are the reins of all things. There is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the Powerful.”

As to what was written before concerning the rosary and the other rosary: if found in the city, a crier should announce it once. If the owner is found, it should be given to him; otherwise, one should wait for one year. If the owner is found, he should pay what was spent on the crier and receive his property. If one year passes and the owner is not found, one may dispose of it as he wishes, for this is lawful according to God’s Book.

Regarding what was written about him who is mentioned by name having become a bearer of books and tablets, may God confirm him and protect him so that the trusts may reach their owners.

Concerning what thou didst write about Aqa Mirza Muhammad, upon him be the Glory of God, and his daughter, upon her be the Glory of God, it was presented before the Most Holy and Exalted Presence. He said:

“Blessed is Muhammad, for he hath spoken the truth and that which is befitting, and blessed is his daughter for what she hath uttered. She hath spoken what beseemeth her in the days of her Lord. We send Our greetings upon them both and make mention of them and give them glad-tidings of that which the Kingdom of Utterance hath spoken in this clear station.”

The Glory shining from the horizon of eternity be upon thee, O Zayn, and upon those who have attained unto God’s favors, the Goal of the mystics. God willing, may she be successful and confirmed in serving her father.

We make mention in this station of My most truthful servant who hath attained unto pure servitude unto God, the One, the Single, the Unique, the All-Informed. He is among the Hands of the Cause. God hath honored him with attaining His presence and established him at His exalted gate.

It is requested that thou convey greetings and salutations from this evanescent one to all the friends in that land. May God willing, they all be confirmed and illumined by the lights of His countenance.

Another submission: this servant addressed a brief letter to Your Presence, and it was arranged that Shaykh Salman would come and take it and deliver it to Your Presence. Later it became known that they had forgotten. Now it is being sent to your august presence, and the petition of Ustad Abdul-Karim has been submitted and sent. May the Glory that is manifest and evident from the horizon of the heaven of our Lord’s grace be upon Your Presence and upon those who love you and who hear your word concerning God, the Lord of all worlds. And praise be to God, the Master of the Day of Judgment.

The servant. On the 18th of the month of Dhi’l-Hijjih al-Haram, year 1300

BH02294: Every unbiased observer will readily admit that, ever since…

In the Name of the Almighty Ordainer

Every unbiased observer will readily admit that, ever since the dawn of His Revelation, this wronged One hath invited all mankind to turn their faces towards the Dayspring of Glory, and hath forbidden corruption, hatred, oppression, and wickedness. And yet, behold what the hand of the oppressor hath wrought! No pen dare describe his tyranny. Though the purpose of Him Who is the Eternal Truth hath been to confer everlasting life upon all men, and ensure their security and peace, yet witness how they have arisen to shed the blood of His loved ones, and have pronounced on Him the sentence of death.

The instigators of this oppression are those very persons who, though so foolish, are reputed the wisest of the wise. Such is their blindness that, with unfeigned severity, they have cast into this fortified and afflictive Prison Him, for the servants of Whose Threshold the world hath been created. The Almighty, however, in spite of them and those that have repudiated the truth of this “Great Announcement,” hath transformed this Prison House into the Most Exalted Paradise, the Heaven of Heavens.

We did not refuse such material benefits as could relieve Us from Our afflictions. Every one of Our companions, however, will bear Us witness that Our holy court is sanctified from, and far above, such material benefits. We have nevertheless accepted, while confined in this Prison, those things of which the infidels have striven to deprive Us. If a man be found willing to rear, in Our name, an edifice of pure gold or silver, or a house begemmed with stones of inestimable value, such a wish will no doubt be granted. He, verily, doeth what He willeth, and ordaineth that which He pleaseth. Leave hath, moreover, been given to whosoever may desire to raise, throughout the length and breadth of this land, noble and imposing structures, and dedicate the rich and sacred territories adjoining the Jordan and its vicinity to the worship and service of the one true God, magnified be His glory, that the prophecies recorded by the Pen of the Most High in the sacred Scriptures may be fulfilled, and that which God, the Lord of all worlds, hath purposed in this most exalted, this most holy, this mighty, and wondrous Revelation may be made manifest.

We have, of old, uttered these words: Spread thy skirt, O Jerusalem! Ponder this in your hearts, O people of Bahá, and render thanks unto your Lord, the Expounder, the Most Manifest.

Were the mysteries, that are known to none except God, to be unraveled, the whole of mankind would witness the evidences of perfect and consummate justice. With a certitude that none can question, all men would cleave to His commandments, and would scrupulously observe them. We, verily, have decreed in Our Book a goodly and bountiful reward to whosoever will turn away from wickedness and lead a chaste and godly life. He, in truth, is the Great Giver, the All-Bountiful.

When thou receivest My Book and findest from it the fragrance of My utterance, arise and say:

“O peoples of the earth! Fear God and be not of the heedless. Beware lest ye deprive yourselves of the pearls of the ocean of the knowledge of your Lord, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. Cast aside the world and whatsoever is therein, holding fast to the cord of the loving-kindness of your Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. He hath come from the Orient of might and power with the banners of knowledge and wisdom. Fear the All-Merciful and be not of them that turn aside.”

Thus hath the Tongue of Revelation spoken forth in this mighty Prison. Glory be upon thee and upon those who have believed from God, the Lord of this wondrous Day.

BH03377: This is a Book which the All-Merciful hath sent…

He is the Most Ancient, the Most Great, the Most Bountiful

This is a Book which the All-Merciful hath sent down at a time when griefs encompassed Him by reason of one who was deceitful and treacherous—one at whose deeds the heart of the most exalted Paradise and every fair-minded soul that hath judged justly in the Cause of God, the Lord of all worlds, hath been consumed.

Say: O deceiver, by what proof didst thou believe in God and in Muhammad the Apostle of God? Was it by mere words or by what thou findest in the Book of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise? By God! This indeed is the Most Great Book which speaketh amidst the world and guideth the peoples to His straight path. Say: By God, O heedless one, when the verses were sent down in this Revelation, all verses bowed down before them, while thou remainest in manifest delusion.

Have thy ranks deceived thee, or thy thousands, or the clash of thy swords, or the neighing of thy steeds? Turn thee to the graves that thou mayest learn what befell thy like, O remote oppressor! Will thy riches profit thee, or thy might, or the host that marcheth before thee, or the banners that flutter behind thee? By the life of God! Nothing of all things shall profit thee, nor what thou hast amassed of the vanities of the world. Cast away what thou hast and turn thy face unto the Countenance. We counsel thee for the sake of God, the Lord of the mighty Throne.

Hearts have melted by reason of thy tyranny, and the hands of the loved ones have been raised because of thy deeds. Know thou of a certainty that they shall not return except through the fulfillment of what they desire from the heaven of the bounty of their Lord, the Gracious. Take hold of the reins of passion, O thou who hast turned away from God, the Lord of all men, and turn unto Him that He may forgive thee what thou hast wrought in His days. Thus doth command thee He Who witnesseth at all times unto the Self-Sufficient, the Most High. There is no God but Him, the One, the Mighty, the Great.

O thou who art saddened by My sorrow and hast borne hardships for My sake, hearken unto My call. We give glad-tidings unto Our loved ones of what God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy, hath ordained for them. Soon shall He seize them that have wronged, even as He seized the peoples before them. He, verily, is the Strong, the Triumphant, the All-Encompassing. Blessed are they that have shown patience in God, placing their trust in Him. Upon them shall pray the Concourse on High and the denizens of this glorious station. Praise be to God, the Lord of all worlds.

BH04051: The verses have been sent down and the signs…

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

The verses have been sent down and the signs have appeared, yet the people do not understand. The appointed time has come and the Cause has been made manifest and the Herald has called out, yet most of the people do not hear. They have denied God’s favor after its revelation and turned away from the Truth, the Knower of the unseen realms. We heard thy call and drew nigh unto Thee from the frequented House. The heedless ones cast Us into prison, but God hath made it the Most Exalted Paradise, despite every hateful misbeliever. The Temple of the Cause hath been established upon the throne in this Most Great Prison, calling at one time from its right, at another from its left, and at times from before its face, summoning all unto God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting.

We have accepted all tribulations in this path, as beareth witness He Who speaketh that there is no God but Him, the Mighty, the Loving. O people of the earth! By God, the Lord of heaven hath come with manifest sovereignty. The earth hath been honored by His advent, would ye but understand. Turn ye with radiant faces toward the Supreme Horizon, then turn away from the dawning-places of idle fancies and the daysprings of vain imaginings. The Sun of Baha hath shone forth from the horizon of eternity in this Prison which God hath illumined with His presence. Blessed is he who hath attained, and woe unto every heedless one who remaineth veiled. Thus have the heavens of utterance revolved through a breath that hath wafted from the right hand of the Will of God, the Lord of existence.

Hold thou fast unto the Most Great Cord and cling to the hem of the robe of thy Lord’s loving-kindness, the All-Forgiving. We have sent down for thee the verses and dispatched them unto thee that thou mayest inhale the fragrance of thy Lord’s utterance, the All-Merciful, Who hath come with a Cause before which armies cannot stand. The glory shining forth from the horizon of My grace be upon thee and upon him who hath drunk My choice wine sealed with My Name, the Self-Subsisting.

BH04300: In the Name of Him Who shineth forth…

In the Name of Him Who shineth forth from the horizon of proof! This is a Book which lamenteth for what hath befallen the people of God at the hands of such as have denied the right of God and His Cause, and followed every heedless and remote one.

O company of the heedless! Fear ye God, and oppose not those who have spoken the truth and testified to that whereunto God testified before the creation of the heavens and earth. Behold ye and call to mind what befell ʿAd and Thamud who turned away and opposed those whom God had sent unto them to guide them to His straight path. Then remember when Muhammad, the Apostle of God, came, and how every heedless and doubtful one rose up against Him.

Days and nights passed until there came the Day that had been promised in the Books of God and concealed in His all-encompassing knowledge. Then did the divines of the earth rise up in opposition and perpetrate that which caused the near ones to lament, and behind them the Concourse on High at eventide and at dawn. The earth with all its vastness became too strait for them, but soon shall He expand it despite them. He, verily, is the Mighty, the Powerful.

Give thou glad tidings unto the people of the bounty of thy Lord, and remind them through this perspicuous Book. Say: O people of Baha! Hearken unto the call of the Lord of Names. He hath mentioned you as a token of His grace and hath sent down for you that which cannot be equalled by the treasuries of the heavens and earth.

Say: Let not the clamor of the ignorant frighten you. All shall perish in less than the twinkling of an eye, and sovereignty and dominion shall remain with God, the Mighty, the Great. Hold fast unto wisdom in all conditions. We have enjoined this upon you both aforetime and hereafter. He, verily, is the All-Informed, the All-Wise.

The glory shining forth from the horizon of Paradise be upon thee and upon them that have held fast unto the Book of God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

BH05425: The Lord of the world beareth witness unto His…

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

The Lord of the world beareth witness unto His Own Self manifest through the Most Great Name that verily He is I and I am He, and He is the Ruler over whatsoever He willeth and the Omnipotent over whatsoever He desireth. Whoso denieth Him is accounted among the ungodly in His perspicuous Book. By God! The Most Great Book hath appeared and it is verily the Mother Book in the kingdom of utterance and the Preserved Tablet in this glorious station. Say: O concourse of humanity! The Most Great Scene hath appeared and hath been adorned with the lights of the countenance of the Lord of Destiny, Who was concealed behind the veils of the Unseen and hidden within His inaccessible knowledge.

Arise ye from the slumber of heedlessness and passion, turning towards the Most Exalted Horizon. By God! It hath been illumined by the radiant countenance of your Lord, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. Blessed is every one who hath turned towards Him and every mighty one who hath taken hold of the Book of God, the Lord of the worlds. We have heard thy call and witnessed thy turning towards Us. We have turned to thee from this remote quarter and have mentioned thee in such wise as to diffuse the fragrance of the garment throughout all lands. Thy Lord is verily the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful. Be thou grateful to God for this supreme bounty and mighty gift, and arise from thy place, turning towards the Most Exalted Station, saying:

“Praise be unto Thee, O Thou Who art wronged, and glory be unto Thee, O Glory of the worlds!”

Glory from Us be upon thee and upon whosoever hath attained unto this wondrous Cause.

BH06204: God testifies that He has come with the Manifestation…

He is the Witness and the Witnessed!

God testifies that He has come with the Manifestation of His Self, the Dawning Place of His signs and the Dayspring of His utterance, Who speaks the truth and calls all to this Straight Path which has truly appeared from God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. O people of Baha! You are they who have attained to that which none among creation has attained. To this testifies He Who has spoken and speaks: “Verily there is no God but Me, the Witness, the All-Hearing.” How many a great one has cast the Book of God behind him, and how many a lowly one has taken hold of it with manifest certitude. This is a Day whereon all things proclaim: “The kingdom belongs to God, the One, the Peerless, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.”

Leave behind the allusions of the people and take what has been given thee from the presence of One mighty and powerful. Give thanks unto God for that His Most Exalted Pen hath turned toward thee and mentioned thee in this Luminous Tablet, from whose horizon shineth the sun of the loving-kindness of thy Lord, the Merciful. We have seen thee standing in service to the Cause and have made mention of thee as a bounty from Our presence. Verily thy Lord is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. Be as thou wert before—thus doth thy Lord, the Generous, counsel thee. Preserve thy station through the Name of thy Lord and place thy trust in Him under all conditions. Soon shalt thou find that which hath been ordained for thee in My Mighty Book.

BH06227: The world hath been overturned through the dissension…

In His Name through Whom the signs have appeared

The world hath been overturned through the dissension of the peoples. Thus hath the banner of a thousand been raised and the ranks have appeared. Fear ye God, O peoples of the earth, and be not of the heedless ones. We have enjoined upon mankind the Most Great Peace that the world and its people might find rest, but they cast the command of God behind their backs and followed the ways of the corrupt ones. O concourse of kings! By God, We desire for you naught save what profiteth you in this world and the next. Fear ye the Lord of all being, then act according to what ye have been commanded in the Books of God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

Hold fast unto that which ye have been counseled from the Tongue of Grandeur in a perspicuous Book. Beware lest your power delude you. Cast away what ye possess and take hold of what ye have been commanded by One Who is All-Knowing, All-Informed. Behold and call to mind the generations of old. Where are your fathers and your fathers’ fathers? And where are the kings and sovereigns who sat upon the thrones of authority and led astray and oppressed until they returned to their place by command of One Who ordaineth, the All-Wise? We beseech God to assist you and aid you in that which shall profit you. He, verily, is the Almighty, the All-Powerful. Thus have We sent down and dispatched this unto thee that thine eyes might be solaced thereby and that thou mightest be of the thankful ones.

BH06673: In My Name, the Outward, the Inward

In My Name, the Outward, the Inward

The Spirit of the Bayan was revealed, yet those within the Bayan and the various sects denied it, except those whom God preserved through His grace—verily He is the Mighty, the Protector. O people of the Furqan (Qur’an), fear God and follow not your vain desires. He guides you to the Dawning-Place of lights. Cast aside what you possess and take what is with God, the Lord of all men. O people of the Gospel, We see you wrapped in heedlessness. Fear the All-Merciful and follow not every ignorant doubter. O people of the Torah, the signs of God have filled the horizons while you remain in doubt and discord. How long will you play with your vain imaginings? Turn to the station wherein the verses of God, the Lord of lords, are sent down at every moment. Thus has My tongue spoken and My pen moved by My command, and I am the Mighty, the Bestower. We have found from you the fragrance of love; We have therefore revealed unto you this Tablet. Say: Soon shall the mysteries of the verses be made manifest and the Dove of Justice shall warble upon the branches. Verily there is none other God but Me, the One, the Chosen One.

BH07545: Give ear, O people of Baha, to the counsel…

He is resplendent above His Most Exalted Horizon!

Give ear, O people of Baha, to the counsel of the Most Exalted Pen: Renounce the promptings of your own will and fix your gaze upon the will of God, inasmuch as none is aware of that which can harm or profit him; whereas the one true God, magnified be His glory, knoweth and embraceth all things, and will of a certainty ordain that which is best. Occupy not the days of your lives with the betterment of your own affairs; arise, rather, for the betterment of the world. Such indeed is the station of the people of Baha as recorded in the Crimson Book by the Pen of the Most High. Show forth the utmost love to all the peoples of the world and the diverse kindreds of the earth. The One True God, exalted be His glory, beareth Me witness! Whoso observeth this commandment is accounted among those who tread the path of Truth: In God doth he dwell and to God doth he turn.

BH07980: O peoples of the world! The Day…

He is the Rightful Sovereign

O peoples of the world! The Day of the Covenant has come, and He Who was hidden in the eternity of eternities has appeared. He has come with the truth and gives you glad tidings of that which was ordained for you by the Most Exalted Pen in the Crimson Book. Rejoice in this most great favor, then give thanks to God, the Lord of lords. The Path calls out and the Balance proclaims: “The Revealer of verses has come!” This is the Day wherein the ears of those near to God hear from all things the remembrance of God, Creator of heaven. Blessed is he who has heard and hastened, and woe to the most lost ones who follow vain imaginings and idle fancies. We have heard in this hour from all things that which no ears have ever attained. O concourse of humanity! The Most Great Vision has appeared and the Lord of Destiny calls out in the loudest voice at eventide and at dawn. By God! You were created for this Day—be fair-minded and follow not every doubting ignoramus.

BH08392: This is a Book sent down by the All-Merciful…

In His Name, Who is sanctified above mention and utterance!

This is a Book sent down by the All-Merciful unto him who hath believed in God when He came with the truth with such sovereignty that the foundations of the earth trembled thereat, and behind them every contumacious doubter. Verily He hath appeared with the truth and hath manifested that which lay hidden in the knowledge of God, the Lord of all worlds. Blessed is the servant whom the veils of the world have not withheld and who hath held fast unto the Most Great Name, through which the horizon of eternity was illumined and the Sun of bounty shone forth from the heaven of the loving-kindness of God, the Lord of this mighty Day.

Thus hath My Most Exalted Pen moved as a token of God’s grace, He the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. The glory from Us be upon thee and upon those who have heard the Call and responded unto their Lord, the Kind, the Bountiful.

BH08750: The fire of suppositions and idle fancies has encompassed…

He is the All-Knowing Speaker.

The fire of suppositions and idle fancies has encompassed the world, and supreme abasement has seized the people, yet none are aware of it. Justice, like the phoenix, naught remaineth of it save its name, and equity hath taken flight to the pavilions of glory, seeking refuge from the talons of the birds of darkness. The heedless people pass their days in hopes whose fulfillment is impossible. Beseech ye God that He may illumine the world with the light of insight and grant all a portion from the chalice of wisdom. Blessed art thou and happy art thou in that thou hast heard My call and drunk the wine of revelation from the cup of My bounty. These are words wherewith every perspicuous tablet should be adorned. The glory be upon thee and upon whosoever hath recognized this supreme Day.

BH09066: In My Name, through which hearts are attracted!

In My Name, through which hearts are attracted!

This is a day wherein the Book walketh and speaketh. Blessed are they that hear it! The standards of guidance have been raised, and the horizon of the Cause hath been illumined, and the Speaker of the Mount hath spoken forth from the Dawning-Place of Revelation: “Verily, there is none other God but Me, the Single, the All-Informed.” Take hold of the Tablet of God with the power that proceedeth from Him and place it upon thine eyes, and say: “Praise be unto Thee, O Thou through Whose Name the fragrance of bounty hath wafted between the worlds and the mystery of Sinai hath appeared amongst the nations! I beseech Thee not to disappoint me from that which Thou hast ordained in Thy days for Thy chosen ones. Then make me steadfast in this Cause whereby the feet of Thy creatures have slipped. 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 Mighty, the Powerful.”

BH09419: He hath dawned from the horizon of eternity

He hath dawned from the horizon of eternity

God beareth witness that there is none other God but Him, and that He Who hath come into the world is verily the Most Great Name, through Whom the tribes of the earth were seized with trembling, and all who are in the heavens were thunderstruck, save whom God, the Lord of the worlds, did will. Thy mention hath been made before the Wronged One, and this perspicuous Tablet hath been revealed for thee. When thou attainest unto it and quaffest the choice wine of its utterance, render thanks unto God and say: Praise be unto Thee, O Thou through Whom the Path was made manifest, and the Balance was established, and the Tree did speak, and the Rock did cry out, and the Resurrection came to pass, and the Hour did strike, and every wise matter was made evident.

BH09516: Say: O servants of the Most Merciful! The Wronged…

He is the All-Seeing, the All-Knowing

Say: O servants of the Most Merciful! The Wronged One counsels you to fear God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting, and to that whereby your station may be exalted in the world. He is, verily, the Counselor, the Mighty, the Loving. The Day of Manifestation has come, while the Wronged One lies imprisoned and forbidden. Sorrows have encompassed Him from all directions, and His name is in the hands of those who are heedless of God’s outstretched path. Ask God to grant them success and to strengthen them and to make known to them His clear and manifest way. Grieve not at anything; in all matters put thy trust in God, the Lord of existence. We have heard thy mention and have remembered thee. We have found the fragrance of thy love and have sent down for thee this well-beloved Tablet. Take it with the hand of submission, then read it in the heights of Paradise. Thus does He command thee, with Whom is the Hidden Book.

BH09701: O peoples of the earth! Fear God and follow…

In the Name of Him Who speaketh, the All-Seeing!

O peoples of the earth! Fear God and follow not those whom the world hath deluded with its vanities in such wise as to have debarred them from My straight Path. Say: He hath come with the truth, with signs from His presence, that He might guide you to His resplendent horizon. Beware lest the affairs of creation veil you from this manifest Truth. Blessed is the soul that hath held fast to the Strong Cord of God, the Lord of all worlds. Such a one is, before God, the Lord of Names, numbered among the dwellers of the Most Exalted Paradise. To this testifieth His mighty Book. Thus hath the Speaker on Sinai spoken forth in this Prison. Joy be to him who hath hearkened unto it, and woe betide the heedless ones. The glory rest upon thee and upon those who have hastened to the Most Great Ocean and drunk therefrom in the name of the Munificent, the All-Bountiful.

BH10375: In the Name of Him Who caused the Ocean…

In the Name of Him Who caused the Ocean to surge and the Fragrance to waft! This is the Book of Effulgence which beareth witness to what hath befallen the Wronged One at the hands of them that cast the Command behind their backs and followed vain imaginings—a Day whereon souls shall weep and shall bewail their lot by reason of what hath come upon Him from the hosts of idle fancies in the days of God, the Mighty, the Bestower. O peoples of the earth! Fear ye God, and follow not those who disputed the signs of God when they were sent down with power and sovereignty. Thus hath the Sun of Utterance shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of knowledge, and the Nightingale hath warbled upon the branches.

BH10515: In the Name of Him by Whom the foundations…

In the Name of Him by Whom the foundations were shaken! When the Promise came to pass and the Promised One appeared, the hearts of those who disbelieved in God, the One, the Chosen, were thrown into commotion. How many a learned one pronounced judgment against the Intended One, and how many an illiterate one turned to Him and responded to the Lord of Lords! This is the Day which was adorned with His mention in the Books of God aforetime. Blessed is he who hath understood that which God intended from the beginning to the end. We have mentioned every name that appeared before Our face, as a token of grace from Us, and verily We are the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.