Volume 073: Akka 1301 A.H. (1883–1884), Part I (1 of 6)
BH02090: His honor Ahmad has attained and his deed…
In the name of the one God!
His honor Ahmad has attained and his deed is accepted before God. The entire world cannot equal the testimony that has flowed from the Most Exalted Pen in this Tablet. God willing, may he be assisted to accomplish that which befits the Days of God and preserve this most exalted station through the Name of the Lord of humanity.
O Ali-Akbar! Divine grace and favor have been with you, and whatsoever befell you in His path has been recorded and established by the Pen of Command in the Book of Names. That which the Tongue of Grandeur hath mentioned befell you in the path of Truth. Be not grieved, but engage in the remembrance of God with the utmost joy and fragrance, for whatsoever befell you was for God and in the path of God. What station is greater than this and what matter more glorious and excellent? Nay, by His very Self, the True One! For souls that are turned to Him and are steadfast there are stations that pen, tongue and utterance are powerless to describe.
Two letters from you have returned to the Book, two birds have winged their flight to the most exalted nest, and two souls have turned toward the Most Glorious Homeland. By the life of God! They both gaze from the Supreme Horizon and hear what the Tongue of Bounty hath spoken at this moment. Were anyone to behold their station, they would swoon away. Rejoice thou in this mighty favor.
We make mention in this station of thy brother who was named Muhammad-ʿAli and who ascended unto God. We testify that he turned toward the Supreme Horizon and answered his Lord, the Lord of Names, when He called out from the Kingdom of Utterance: “There is none other God but Me, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting.” We were with him at the time of his ascension, and a company of near-angelic beings received him. Glory be upon him and upon those who make mention of him through what My Pen hath spoken in this exalted station.
Grieve not over anything. Verily thy Lord is with thee. He hath assisted thee to turn unto Him and taught thee what had escaped the champions among men. Thy Lord is indeed gracious to His loved ones, but most of the people are heedless. Praise be to God! Thou hast attained unto a mighty favor, for God’s mercy and His grace have encompassed thee, and the evidences thereof shine forth like suns from the horizons of His Tablets.
Grieve not for the two letters—they were two letters from the Book of Divine Love and have returned to the Mother Book. Reflect upon this bounty, that while the divines of the age, despite having awaited the appearance of Truth throughout centuries and ages, remained deprived behind the veils of idle fancies and were shut out from the ocean of generosity when the dawn of the Day of God appeared and the world was illumined by the lights of the Sun of Truth, your children attained to a station mentioned by the Most Exalted Pen, despite them and despite those who disbelieved in what they were promised in every Book, every Scripture, every Psalm and every mighty Tablet. We have mentioned thee before and at this time, and those who are with thee, and those who have heard and answered their wronged, estranged Lord.
BH02268: O children of the Friend! He Who speaks…
O children of the Friend! He Who speaks from this manifest horizon says: O My Most Exalted Pen! Make mention of the children of My Friend and the heirs of My Interlocutor, with whom God conversed openly and resplendently without veil or barrier. He desired to attain the presence and vision of the Most High, but was prevented therefrom by a wisdom from Him which none knows save God, the Lord of lords. And among them were those who attained this most exalted station and drank from the hands of bounty the wine of nearness and reunion.
Rejoice in that We have caused you to hear Our sweetest call, acquainted you with Our most exalted horizon, and guided you to the straight path. You have been mentioned with a mention that cannot be equaled by anything possessed by creation—to this testifies the Mother Book which is with Him. How many a wealthy one has been debarred from the Dayspring of grace, and how many a poor one has hastened with humility and contrition to the ocean of riches! Those who have been debarred from the Most Great Sea—these are regarded as the most abject of beings in the Books and Tablets. Give thanks unto God that the Most Exalted Pen has been moved to make mention of you. He is, verily, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.
Arise to aid the Cause of the All-Merciful through wisdom and utterance and say: O peoples of the earth! By God! The days have come wherein the Lord of Names speaks that wherewith the Rock has cried out and the Divine Lote-Tree has raised its call from the most exalted station. Beware lest the tyrants of the earth and the pharaohs of the lands prevent you from the Cause of God, the Lord of all men. The divines of the earth who cast behind them the command of God and followed vain imaginings and idle fancies have wronged Me. The Messengers of God aforetime lamented their oppression—to this they who are possessed of insight bear witness.
Say: O people! By what proof did you believe in Muhammad, the Apostle of God, aforetime, and by what reason do you turn away from Him Who, when He came, all things proclaimed: “The Kingdom is God’s, the One, the All-Forgiving”? By God! He bore witness to Me before My appearance, and before Him did the Books of God—O ye who are endowed with understanding! The books of the world have submitted to My Most Great Book, and the tongues of nations throughout the ages and centuries have testified. Yet when He appeared in truth and the standards of the Revelation were made manifest, they turned away therefrom except those whom God delivered through His power and authority. They lamented My separation, spent their wealth for My Name, and entered the temples for My remembrance; yet when I manifested My Self, they disbelieved in Me and disputed My signs which have encompassed the horizons.
My servant named Abu’l-Hasan has come into Our presence and mentioned your condition in relation to the Cause of God. We have remembered you through a Tablet that speaks before the faces of the world—there is no God but Him, the Mighty, the All-Bestowing. You have attained unto My Book before and after, and to My remembrance before which all remembrances bow down. Be assured of God’s grace and mercy, and trust in Him under all conditions. He will assist you and aid you through a word from His presence—He is the Powerful, the Unconstrained. The glory shining forth from the horizon of the heaven of My grace be upon you and upon those whom the censure of any wicked deceiver does not deter in the path of God.
BH03303: O Muhammad before Ibrahim! God willing, mayest thou be…
He is the Answerer in all conditions.
O Muhammad before Ibrahim! God willing, mayest thou be blessed with divine grace. The entire world is thunderstruck by this most exalted Word and its like. The Unseen, clothed in the garment of manifestation, speaketh and saith: The Promise hath come and He Who was promised hath appeared with such sovereignty as the hosts of tyrants and the clamor of Pharaohs have failed to deter. He calleth out with the most exalted call between earth and heaven, summoning all who dwell in the realm of creation to the supreme horizon. Blessed is he who hath ears to hear, who hath a heart and hath turned toward it, and who hath a face and hath turned it toward God, the Lord of all worlds.
Blessed are they whom the oppression of the oppressors and the might of the heedless have not kept back from God, exalted be His glory. In the sight of the All-Seeing, the entire world and all that is therein cannot equal a single one of God’s names, for the former is transient while the latter endureth. Although all people themselves testify to its transience, they cling to it in such wise that it hath become the cause of their heedlessness, error and waywardness.
One must stand firm in the Cause of the Lord of eternity with such steadfastness that no wavering can affect it. In all conditions speak with wisdom, for verily We have enjoined this upon all in My perspicuous Book. His honor Abu’l-Hasan—My glory be upon him—hath made mention of thee, and this clear tablet hath been sent down from the heaven of the mercy of the Lord of the worlds that thou mayest attain supreme joy. Praise and thanksgiving in all conditions! All souls, whether women or men, who have turned to the Truth have been mentioned, and each hath been honored with the remembrance of the Wronged One. Convey My greetings to all of them and gladden them with God’s grace. Time and again hath thy mention flowed from the Most Exalted Pen. Give thanks to God for this great bounty. Thou art he who purposed, turned toward God, migrated and returned by His command, and the reward of attaining His presence hath been ordained for thee. Thy Lord is verily the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous. Glory be upon thee and upon them, men and women alike, from God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.
BH04094: O loved ones of God, O captives…
He is the All-Seeing, the All-Informed
O loved ones of God, O captives in the earth! There hath befallen you that which hath caused the Concourse on High to grieve. O ʿAli-Asghar! I swear by the Lord of Power Who, from the Most Great Scene, summoneth mankind unto the Most Exalted Horizon—were men, now heedless, to become aware of even less than a needle’s eye of the truth, they would all offer themselves up as a sacrifice for but one of those who have turned towards God.
Strange it is that even such souls remain unaware of their stations, for such is the bounty vouchsafed unto them that were but a glimmer thereof to become manifest, the earth would be transformed into another earth. Thy name was mentioned in the presence of the Wronged One, and We have revealed for thee that whereby thy remembrance shall endure. Be thou grateful, therefore, and be of them that render thanks. Arise to serve the Cause with such steadfastness as would cause every agitated soul to become tranquil and every restless being to find repose. Say: O people of Baha! Let not the tyranny of rulers prevent you from drawing nigh unto the Lord of Names. By My life! The oppressor desired to extinguish the light, but God, in truth, caused it to burn brighter; he wished to quench it, but the hand of Power made it blaze more fiercely; he sought to destroy God’s Cause, but through his very acts did God’s Cause gain ascendancy.
The oppressor dwelleth in delusion, while thy Lord standeth on manifest truth. Convey My greetings to the loved ones in that land. Soon shall the recompense of His chosen ones and His friends become manifest, and each shall behold his name inscribed in God’s Book. He, verily, is the Forgiving, the Merciful. The glory be upon thee and upon them that are with thee, who have turned towards the Most Sublime Horizon in this wondrous Day.
BH04757: The Wronged One hath borne witness unto that whereunto…
He is the Most Holy, the Most Great.
The Wronged One hath borne witness unto that whereunto God Himself bore witness ere the creation of the heavens and the earth: that there is no God but Him. From everlasting He hath been sanctified above the mention of all beings, and exalted beyond all that was and shall be. Glorified be He Who hath sent down the verses and despatched them unto His chosen ones—those who, with radiant faces, have turned unto the Most Exalted Horizon, and have heard and answered their Lord, the All-Subduing, the Self-Subsisting.
O Nabil! Remember that hour when thou wert in the presence of the Throne and didst hearken unto that which the Tongue of Grandeur uttered in His praiseworthy station. Abu’l-Hasan came into the presence of the Lord of the seen and the unseen, made mention of thee, and We, in turn, have made mention of thee in this sealed Tablet.
We testify that thou hast attained unto the meeting (with the Beloved) and hast quaffed the wine of reunion from the hand of bounty of thy Lord, the Lord of the Promised Day. Magnify, then, the praise of thy Lord, and thereafter act in accordance with that which thou hast been commanded from His presence. Verily, thy Lord is the True One, the Knower of things unseen.
Beware lest aught debar thee from the Lord of creation. Leave behind thee what is with the people, and lay fast hold on that which is with thy Lord, the Mighty, the All-Loving.
Glory rest upon thee, upon them that are with thee, and upon all who have attained unto the verses of God, the Lord of all being.
BH04764: The servant was present before the Wronged One…
In the Name of the Beloved of the Worlds!
The servant was present before the Wronged One with a letter in his hand, adorned with the mention and praise of God, exalted be His glory. Blessed is the one who has attained to the Divine Day and has recognized the Manifestation of the Hidden Mystery and the Treasured Secret. Such a one is regarded before God as more exalted and nearer than all who dwell on earth.
We have heard the call of Nabil, upon him be My glory. Praise be to God, he is successful in serving the Cause and is speaking in remembrance of the Wronged One. We, from this spot, send Our greetings to him and to the loved ones of God in that place, and to every steadfast and firm servant. Likewise, thy call has reached the ears of the Lord of Names. God willing, thou shalt be assisted to achieve that which is acceptable in the sight of God today.
Ye have been among those whose mention hath been made in the Most Holy and Most Exalted Court. Know ye the value of this lofty and most exalted station, and preserve it in the name of God, exalted be His glory, lest the hints and veils of the heedless and the opposers cause you to slip from and be barred from the straight path of God.
And We make mention of the people of Saysan who have turned to the Most Exalted Horizon. These have attained unto the Word of God, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting. All are mentioned before the Throne and are recorded by the Most Exalted Pen in the Crimson Book. Glory be upon him who wrote thy letter, and upon thee, and upon them, and upon all who have grasped the hem of God, the Mighty, the All-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful.
BH05238: O Nazar! The Wronged One hath turned toward thee…
He is the Expounder, the All-Knowing
O Nazar! The Wronged One hath turned toward thee from the prison precincts and hath remembered thee with a remembrance from which light hath shone forth. Verily He turneth to whomsoever hath turned unto Him, and remembereth whoso hath remembered Him amongst the peoples.
This is the Day wherein that which was hidden hath been revealed, and He Who was promised in the Books and Tablets hath come. Among the people are those who turned away from Him, those who opposed Him, and those who issued unjust decrees against Him—decrees that caused all things to lament, and behind them the denizens of Paradise wept at eventide and at dawn. They denied God’s bounty after its revelation and perpetrated that which caused the very rocks to cry out and hearts and minds to melt.
Most of our enemies are the divines of the earth, as testifieth the Mother Book which is with Him. They have clung to idle fancies and imagined themselves to be manifestations of knowledge in the world. Say: Shame upon you, O company of ignorant ones! By God, knowledge itself disavoweth you at all times. Open your eyes, then raise up your heads—verily the Sun shineth at its zenith!
Blessed is the learned one who cast away what he possessed and took up that which was prescribed by God, the Lord of lords. Thus hath the horizon of proof been illumined by the Luminary of utterance. Blessed is he who hath seen, and woe unto every heedless imposter. The glory that proceedeth from Us be upon those who have held fast to the cord of their Lord’s loving providence, the Lord of creation.
BH05602: O ʿAli, My glory be upon thee! Thou art…
He is the Hearing and the Answering
O ʿAli, My glory be upon thee! Thou art among those who, in the earliest days, turned to God and drank from the cup of recognition. Later, the world’s vicissitudes and the veils of the peoples intervened. Hearken thou to the Voice of the Wronged One and ponder the Name of God, the Self-Subsisting. He is the One Who standeth, the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Conquering.
Those who have risen in opposition are like children occupied with play. God will soon seize them through a command from His presence and will verify His verses and manifest His Cause and establish His proof, despite them and those who dispute the signs of God, the Lord of all worlds. Arise to serve the Cause. Divine confirmation and assistance have ever been and shall ever be within the grasp of God’s power, exalted be His glory. Say: Glory be unto Thee, O Thou through Whose Name earthquakes have seized all the tribes of the earth! I beseech Thee to aid me to serve Thy Cause in Thy days and to strengthen me in that whereby my mention shall endure in Thy Book. I ask Thee, O Forgiver of the world and Helper of the nations, Who hath appeared through the Most Great Name, to forgive me and those who have turned to Thy most exalted horizon and held fast to the cord of Thy loving-kindness, O Creator of heaven! Then ordain for me the good of this world and the next. Verily Thou art the Lord of the throne on high and of the dust beneath. There is none other God but Thee, the Ever-Forgiving, the All-Merciful.
BH05355: Haji Ahmad, upon whom be the Glory of God…
In the name of the Speaker, the Discoverer!
Haji Ahmad, upon whom be the Glory of God, has traversed the paths of land and sea through divine assistance, exalted be His glory, and reached the Most Holy and Most Exalted Court, attaining his purpose. Happy is he and blessed is he! He sent a letter to the Most Holy Court, and in that letter your name was observed. Therefore, this Most Holy and Most Exalted Tablet has been revealed that you might find from it the fragrance of God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting.
O Muhammad-Qabil-Kazim! Repeatedly have you been blessed with the mention of God, the favor of God, and the grace of God. Blessed art thou and blessed is the mother who nursed thee! Give thanks unto thy Lord in all conditions, then make mention of Him with wisdom and utterance.
The children of the earth have desired to extinguish the divine light. Say: By God! The hands of the Caesars of the earth have failed to accomplish this—how much less these who play with the clay of idle fancies! They are assuredly among the lost.
We have made mention in the Crimson Book of him who was there. Blessed is he and blessed are they who are with him in this perspicuous News.
Convey to all the friends in that land greetings from the Wronged One, that perchance they may be quickened by the divine greeting and arise to that which behooveth them. The Glory be upon you and upon those who are with you and upon those whom the clamor of every distant world hath not deterred.
BH05608: O Muhammad-Qablil-Husayn! There hath appeared before the Wronged One…
He is the Hearing and the Answering
O Muhammad-Qablil-Husayn! There hath appeared before the Wronged One he who hath turned to My horizon and set his face toward My countenance—he who was named Ahmad in My Book—and in remembrance of thee We make mention of thee, as a token of Our grace, for I am the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous. Verily He maketh mention of whosoever hath made mention of Him, and remembereth whosoever hath desired Him, and answereth whosoever hath called upon Him, and He is the Mighty, the All-Wise.
This is a Book from Us unto thee, and We beseech God to make it a treasure for thee and a radiant lamp that shall accompany thee in every world among the worlds of thy Lord. He, verily, is the Almighty, the All-Powerful.
The idolaters desired to extinguish the light of God through their vain imaginings. God drove them away through His command and made them to be among the lost. How many a learned one hath been debarred from My days, and hath neither inhaled the fragrance of My raiment nor heard My sweet call which hath been raised betwixt earth and heaven, while thou didst turn unto Me and didst recognize and win this mighty and wondrous Cause, whereby feet have slipped and idols have lamented and the pillars of every ignorant one remote from God have been shaken.
Know thou the station of turning unto God, then preserve it through the name of thy Lord, the All-Subduing, the Almighty. The glory rest upon thee and upon them that have aided God through deeds and goodly character—these are they that are numbered among the triumphant in the Book of God, the Lord of all worlds.
BH05423: God hath testified in His Books and Scriptures unto…
In His Name, the Most Holy, the Peerless
God hath testified in His Books and Scriptures unto Him Who hath come with the Truth, with a Name through which the world was illumined and the faces of the nations were darkened, save those who held fast to the Sure Handle and turned toward the All-Highest Horizon—the Station wherein the Divine Lote-Tree doth speak: “There is none other God but Him, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting.”
O Muhammad-Rida! We have heard thy mention, whereupon We made mention of thee, and having perceived the fragrance of thy love, We have sent unto thee this Tablet that thou mayest inhale therefrom the sweet-scented breeze of thy Lord’s loving-kindness, the Lord of all existence. Blessed is thy father who set out for the Ultimate Goal and the Most Exalted Summit, traversing land and sea until he arrived at the Most Great Prison wherein the Ancient Beauty was established upon the Most Great Throne.
Thy Lord is, verily, the Helper, the Mighty, the All-Loving. He entered therein, attained unto His presence, and heard the Voice of God, the Lord of what was and what shall be. Blessed art thou for having turned toward God at a time when all people turned away from Him, save those whom God did will, the Lord of the seen and the unseen. Blessed is the pen that writeth My verses, and the tongue that uttereth My praise, and the face that turneth toward My glorious station. The glory be upon thee and upon thy father and thine uncle and thy mother and thy two brothers and upon those who have cast aside vain imaginings and idle fancies, holding fast to the loving-kindness of the True One, the Knower of things unseen.
BH05926: In My Name, the All-Seeing, the All-Knowing!
In My Name, the All-Seeing, the All-Knowing!
This is a Day wherein is heard from the rustling of the Divine Lote-Tree: “The Promise hath come to pass, and He Who is the Lord of Names hath appeared!” And from the dwellers of the Most Exalted Paradise: “The veil hath been rent asunder, and the horizon of Revelation hath been illumined with the lights of the Countenance!” And the Speaker of the Mount proclaimeth: “There is none other God but Him, the Mighty, the Bestower!”
O thou who art mentioned before the Wronged One! Hearken unto the Call from the direction of the blessed white spot:
“There is none other God but Him, the Peerless, the Chosen One!”
He hath appeared and revealed whatsoever He desired through the sovereignty of might and power. Rejoice thou in this Most Great Remembrance, then read thou the Tablet. Verily, it shall profit thee under all conditions. Thou hast been beneath the glances of My loving-kindness, and We mentioned thee aforetime. Verily thy Lord, the All-Merciful, is the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.
Arise to serve the Cause with wisdom and utterance, then make mention of thy Lord in such wise as to attract the souls. That which thou beholdest today shall perish, but there shall endure for thee that which hath been sent down from the presence of the Wronged One in the most exalted station. Thus have We opened before thy face the door of bounty with the key of wisdom. Verily thy Lord is the Mighty, the All-Knowing. The glory that hath shone forth from the horizon of the Will of God be upon thee and upon those who have cast away idle fancies, clinging to the cord of certitude in the days of their Lord, the Lord of all mankind.
BH05943: In the Name of the one incomparable, all-knowing Lord!…
In the Name of the one incomparable, all-knowing Lord! O my handmaiden! Today God, exalted be His glory, beareth witness and testifieth for those souls who have turned to the most exalted horizon and have attained recognition of the Lord of Names and Creator of heaven. Each of the leaves and handmaidens who hath today turned towards the Truth is recorded and inscribed among the near ones in the Book of God.
I swear by the Sun of the horizon of inner meanings that these handmaidens are and have been greater and more exalted than the queens of the earth. How many a queen besought her Lord and desired from Him the encounter with His Manifestation in His days, yet when He appeared she was found among the heedless. Thus did the days pass and the matter was accomplished, but most of the people remain among the heedless.
The title of queen is true for those handmaidens who have attained recognition of the Truth, and they are in truth the queens of the kingdoms of the celestial realm and will ever be so. Were this station to be explained in detail, most would be struck down as if thunderstruck.
O my handmaiden! Give thanks for God’s grace and bounty. The daughter of Muhammad, upon her be My glory, hath circled round the Throne and will continue to do so. Glory be upon thee and upon him and upon every servant who hath believed and every handmaiden who hath believed in God, the Single, the All-Informed.
BH05901: Repeatedly hath thy mention flowed from the Most Exalted…
He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing
Repeatedly hath thy mention flowed from the Most Exalted Pen. God willing, thou shalt be illumined by the lights of the Sun of divine knowledge and be detached and free from all else save God. The remembrance of God, like the waters of mercy, floweth from the source of grace, yet few are they that seek it. By the life of God! If in truth a soul should attain unto a single drop thereof, he hath attained unto all good. Strive ye, that perchance ye may be enabled to preserve the pearls of divine knowledge. From all directions the signs of the treacherous and the thieves have appeared and become manifest. Great is the Cause, and mighty must be the endeavor.
Say: O my God! I have turned with my whole being unto Thee. I beseech Thee by Thy grace to shelter me beneath the pavilions of Thy bounty and the tabernacle of Thy glory. Verily Thou art the Almighty, the All-Powerful, the All-Compelling. We, from this spot, send Our greetings upon thee and upon thy son who attained the presence of God and turned unto Him on a day whereon the servants turned away, save whom God did will, the Lord of all worlds. We beseech Him, exalted be He, to give him to drink from the Kawthar of steadfastness in this Most Great Announcement, concerning which the peoples have differed, and every proud one, deceived by vanities, hath turned away until he disbelieved in God, the Lord of all worlds. Glory be upon those who have heard and responded, and were among the firm ones.
BH06264: This is a Book which the All-Merciful hath sent…
In the Name of Him Who is seated upon the throne of the Bayan.
This is a Book which the All-Merciful hath sent down as guidance and mercy unto such as are on earth. Blessed are the people of insight, for at all times He speaketh, even as He spoke in the beginning that hath no beginning: “Verily, there is no God but Me, the All-Subduing, the Self-Subsisting.”
We have, as a bounty from Our presence, sent down the Books and despatched the Messengers; and I, verily, am powerful to accomplish whatsoever I will by but My word of command, “Be,” and it is.
O thou youth! Rejoice that the Wronged One maketh mention of thee at a time when the divines of the earth have passed against Him a judgment so unjust that the dwellers of the Supreme Paradise, the inmates of the sanctified Folds, and they that circle round this praiseworthy station have raised their lament.
Give thanks unto God for this supreme bounty, and celebrate His praise at eventide and at dawn.
Glory be upon thee and upon thine other sister, from the presence of God, the Lord of the unseen and the seen. We have heard thy call and have answered thee with this mighty, well-beloved Tablet. Verily, He heareth the call and respondeth unto whomsoever He willeth. He, in truth, is powerful to do what He pleaseth. There is none other God but He, the Mighty, the All-Loving.
BH06177: I am in the Most Exalted Horizon
I am in the Most Exalted Horizon
Glorified be He Who hath sent down the verses and dispatched them to His servants who have quaffed the sealed wine in His Name, the Self-Subsisting, despite those daysprings of knowledge and dawning-places of learning who arose in opposition when God came with manifest sovereignty.
Blessed is he who hath attained unto My days, spoken My praise, drunk the choice wine of My love, and arisen to promote My mighty Cause. We make mention of the servants in this mansion which was built for the establishment of the Throne at a time when its builder was heedless. Thus hath the decree flowed from God’s judgment, the Lord of all worlds. We give glad-tidings to Our loved ones in the Land of Ta who were not held back by the veils of sorrows from the Lord of Return. These are servants who have won the call of God on a Day wherein the Bridge was set up and the Balance proclaimed: “I am, verily, the All-Knowing Distinguisher.” Blessed is he who hath turned with his heart to the Ultimate Goal and the Most Exalted Summit, and hath testified to that which the Most Exalted Pen hath testified. He is among the most exalted of creatures in this clear Tablet. Arise to serve thy Lord through remembrance and utterance, and adorn thyself with virtues through which the station of man becometh manifest in the contingent world. Blessed be the All-Merciful, the Elucidator of every wise command.
BH06372: O ʿAli! Blessed is this hour, and beloved…
In the name of the One True Friend!
O ʿAli! Blessed is this hour, and beloved is this day, and precious is this moment when the True One, exalted be His glory, is established upon His throne and uttereth His verses and maketh mention of thee. How many souls there were who waited expectantly for this Day and who, with utmost supplication and ardent desire, besought the All-Bountiful for His presence, and yet were deprived and forbidden therefrom. But thou hast attained unto His verses, a single letter of which is more precious than all the world. Hold fast unto Him in all conditions and place thy trust in Him. Verily, He is with thee, beholding and witnessing all things, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. We send Our greetings from this Spot unto thee, unto thy mother and thy brother, and unto them that have believed in God, the Mighty, the All-Praised. Thy father and thy brother came into the presence of the Countenance on a certain night, and heard the call of God, the Lord of the worlds, and arrived at an hour when the Tongue of Grandeur was speaking forth perspicuous verses and when all atoms were proclaiming: The dominion belongeth unto God, the Goal of all mystic knowers.
BH06377: He is the All-Witnessing, the All-Hearing! O Muhammad! Rejoice…
He is the All-Witnessing, the All-Hearing! O Muhammad! Rejoice in that the Wronged One remembers thee from the prison’s direction in days wherein the lamentation of the pure ones hath been raised from the Prison of Ta and other lands, through that which the hands of the oppressors have wrought.
Verily the oppressor hath arisen in opposition and committed that which hath caused the dwellers of Paradise to wail and all things to cry out. He Who hath come from the Dayspring of proof with the standards of divine knowledge doth testify to this. Blessed is he who hath seen and heard, and woe unto the heedless!
Let not the affairs of men grieve thee. Rejoice thou in the appearance of Truth and in His favors which have encompassed all who are in the heavens and on earth. God shall soon erase the traces of them who have disbelieved and shall manifest the station of every servant who hath turned unto God and been of the assured ones.
Be thou speaking in My praise and standing firm in the service of My Cause and acting according to that which thou hast been commanded in My wondrous Book. Make mention of My loved ones on My behalf. Say: Ye are beneath My glance, and there hath been ordained for you from the Most Exalted Pen through My will that which hath brought joy to the eyes of the sincere ones. Preserve ye this most exalted station through My Name. Thus have We adorned the book of your names with the luminary of My remembrance, the Mighty, the Inaccessible.
The glory be upon thee and upon them from God, the Lord of the worlds.
BH06707: This is a Book We have sent down…
He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing!
This is a Book We have sent down in truth. Verily, at all times it calls out to all who dwell in the realm of possibility, summoning them to the Straight Path of God. This is the Day wherein the Mother Book hath appeared and there hath been sent down from the Kingdom of Utterance that before which all previous Books have bowed down in submission. To this doth testify this Book that speaketh with truth: verily there is no God but He, the Single, the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Arise with supreme steadfastness in such wise that the affairs of men sadden thee not, nor doth the oppression of the oppressors frighten thee—they who have cast the Book of God behind their backs, having followed every remote pretender. Be thou thankful unto God for this Most Great Remembrance. By My life! That which the nations possess cannot compare with it. Verily thy Lord is the Compassionate, the All-Bountiful.
Take hold of the Tablet with the power bestowed by Us, then recite it among the myriads of the people of Paradise. Verily thy Lord is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. Thus have We adorned the horizon of the Tablet with the Sun of thy Lord’s remembrance, the Almighty, the All-Powerful. Strive thou in the days of thy Lord that there may be manifested through thee that whereby the sincere ones shall inhale the fragrance of the love of God, the Lord of all worlds. The Glory be upon thee and upon those who have attained unto this Wise Remembrance.
BH06867: O Muhammad, who was before Hasan! The Supreme Pen…
He is the Truth, the Knower of the Unseen!
O Muhammad, who was before Hasan! The Supreme Pen hath at all times been occupied with the mention of the friends.
Praise be to God! The Light hath dawned, the Hidden hath become manifest, the Treasured hath appeared resplendent, the verses have been sent down, the river is flowing, and the heavenly table is visible. Nevertheless, few indeed are those perceptive souls who can comprehend the stations of God’s favors. The abundance of bounty and blessing hath become the cause of heedlessness.
We beseech God to set all ablaze with the fire of His love and to bestow upon all a portion from the ocean of awareness, that they may attain to the station of grace, mercy and loving-kindness of the One intended by all the worlds, and may become engaged in His mention and praise. Verily, He heareth and answereth, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.
The honored Amin hath mentioned the friends of God who dwell in that land, and divine favors have been specially manifested for each one. We beseech the Almighty to assist you and aid you and grant you the good of this world and the next. Verily, He is the Munificent, the Generous.
Praise be to God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
BH06891: In My Name, Most Mighty, Most Wise
In My Name, Most Mighty, Most Wise
O Yusif! Say: Glorified be Thou, O Lord of the world and Goal of the nations, Who hast manifested Thyself through Thy Most Great Name! I beseech Thee by the outpourings of Thy grace, the emanations of Thy loving-kindness, and the evidences of Thy power and might, to make me in all conditions steadfast in Thy Cause and firm in Thy love. O my Lord! I see Thy servants turning away from Thee, arising to extinguish Thy light and to quench the fire of Thy divine Tree.
I beseech Thee by the power that hath encompassed all things, and by Thy command which dominateth all who are in earth and heaven, to send down from the heaven of Thy bounty upon Thy loved ones that which shall preserve them from the evil of Thine enemies. Then aid them to remain steadfast in Thy Cause in such wise that their feet shall not slip through the onslaught of the tyrannical among Thy servants nor through the oppression of those who have denied Thy proof, disbelieved in Thy sovereignty and disputed Thy signs. Then I beseech Thee, O God of Names and Creator of heaven, to ordain for me from Thy Most Exalted Pen that which shall profit me in all the worlds of Thy worlds. Verily Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest, and Thou art the All-Encompassing, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.
BH07137: God testifieth that there is none other God but…
He is the Most Ancient, the Most Great.
God testifieth that there is none other God but Him. His are grandeur and power. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth, and He is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. We make mention of him who was named Muhammad before Baqir and give him the glad-tidings of God’s loving-kindness and grace, that he may be of them that render thanks. We counsel him to remain steadfast in this Cause whereby the feet of the peoples have slipped save whom God, the Lord of all worlds, hath willed. Be thou thankful for that which hath been mentioned of thee from the Most Exalted Pen and that which hath been sent down for thee that beareth witness unto thee in all the worlds of thy Lord. He, verily, is the Almighty, the Powerful. The glory shining forth from the horizon of My loving-kindness be upon thee and upon them that have hearkened unto the call of God and have responded thereunto on a Day whereon every learned one turned aside, every knower objected, and every judge pronounced a remote judgment. Thus hath the Pen spoken before the face of the Ancient King through Whom all things have spoken. Dominion belongeth unto God, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.
BH07948: O Zahra, praise be to the Lord of Names…
He is the Ever Forgiving, the Most Compassionate
O Zahra, praise be to the Lord of Names Who enabled thee to recognize Him and gave thee to one of His believers. Know thou His station and be among the thankful ones in My Mighty Tablet. The entire world cannot be compared to a single divine word. How many kings and subjects, sovereigns and queens awaited the Days of God, yet after the appearance of the Divine Day all were occupied with their own desires and veiled from Him. But thou hast attained the effulgences of the Sun of Truth and drunk from the ocean of His knowledge. Blessed art thou and blessed is every maidservant who hath attained this exalted station. O my handmaiden, grieve not over anything. Trust in all matters in God, the Lord of the worlds. The Glory be upon thee and upon My handmaidens in that place who heard and answered their Ancient Lord.
BH07888: In My Name, the Guardian over all names!
In My Name, the Guardian over all names!
O Abu’l-Hasan! By My life! The gate of joy hath been opened through the key of My Name, the All-Forgiving, in days wherein the idolaters desired to extinguish the light of God, the Lord of all worlds. Say: No affair distracteth Him from another affair, nor do the veils of the world prevent Him from that which He desireth, nor do the doubts of the suspicious ones.
We have opened unto thy face and the face of thy father the gate of meeting. Blessed be God, the Lord of Names and Creator of heaven, Who aided you both until ye arrived at the luminous Spot wherein the Lord of all beings proclaimed:
“The Kingdom belongeth unto God, the One, the Single, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.”
Convey My greetings unto My loved ones and give them the glad-tidings of My grace and mercy, for I am verily the All-Bountiful, the All-Generous. We have sent down for you from the Kingdom of utterance that which cannot be equaled by all that ye behold today. He in Whose possession is a perspicuous Book beareth witness unto this.
The glory be upon thee and upon them and upon those who have aided the religion of God, the Lord of this wondrous Day.
BH08216: I am the All-Knowing Speaker
I am the All-Knowing Speaker.
Your mention hath been made before the Countenance and We have made mention of thee in this Tablet, which is the Dawning-Place of God’s remembrance amongst His creation, that it may be a treasure for thee with God, the Lord of the worlds. Whosoever hath been adorned with the ornament of steadfastness and hath been honored by God’s Word beholdeth that Word in all the worlds like unto a lamp shining and radiant before his face. Exalted is this most high station, which the pens are powerless to describe. We send greetings to sanctified and steadfast souls, and We bid them to that which beseemeth the days of God. All must hold fast to the cord of patience and resignation, though the heedless be in manifest error. God will assist His Cause and seize upon them even as He seized before. Verily He is the Strong, the Triumphant, the Almighty.
BH08578: O Ghulam-i-Rida! Let not that which hath appeared…
He is the All-Conquering, the Almighty
O Ghulam-i-Rida! Let not that which hath appeared from the dayspring of tyranny frighten thee, and let not the clamor of every remote ignorant one sadden thee. God hath seized the liar who was named Sadiq, and after him He seized the other one. Verily, He is the Seizer, the Mighty. And soon will He seize him who led the people astray and barred them from the straight path of God. Convey My greetings to the faces of My loved ones and remind them of My Cause and what hath appeared in My days, lest the conditions of the powerful ones who have turned away from God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy, weaken them. Hold fast unto the cord of wisdom in all circumstances, lest there appear that which would sadden the hearts of those who have turned towards God. The glory shining forth from the horizon of My will be upon thee and upon those who have attained unto that which they were promised in the sure Books of God, the Truth.
BH08078: We have remembered thee and do remember thee at…
He is the Protector over all names!
We have remembered thee and do remember thee at a time when sorrows have encompassed Us through that which the hands of the heedless have wrought. This is a day wherein the dwellers of Paradise lament because of the tyranny that hath appeared from the divines of the earth. They are indeed among the most lost in the Book of God, the Lord of the worlds. They have imprisoned and plundered and taken captive the friends of God with an injustice at which the rock hath cried out, the Divine Lote-Tree hath called aloud, and the Faithful Spirit hath struck his face in grief. Soon shall the evidences of wrath seize them from every direction, as testified by this mighty Book.
Say: O people of Baha! Ye have attained unto tribulation in the path of God, the Lord of all names. We counsel you to patience and steadfastness. Verily your Lord, the All-Merciful, is the All-Wise Counsellor. Thus have the rains of My loving-kindness poured forth from the heaven of My bounty. Blessed are they that have attained, and joy be to them that have understood.
BH08566: O ʿAli! The Wronged One desires to make mention…
He is the All-Witnessing, the All-Hearing!
O ʿAli! The Wronged One desires to make mention of thee with that which will attract thee to the Most Exalted Horizon and […] the Lord of all worlds. Say: My God, my God, my Lord, my Support, and the Desire of my heart! I beseech Thee by the waves of the ocean of Thy utterance and the lights of the sun of Thy grace to aid me in rending asunder the veils that have come between me and Thee and have prevented me from turning to the light of Thy countenance and from arriving at the shore of the ocean of Thy bounty. O Lord! Thou seest me turning toward Thee and hoping for that which lieth with Thee. I beseech Thee not to disappoint me of that which hath been ordained by the Most Exalted Pen for Thy chosen servants who have, through Thy power and might, shattered the idols of vain imaginings and idle fancies. Verily Thou art the One Who hath power over whatsoever He pleaseth, and in Thy grasp is the kingdom of creation. There is none other God but Thee, the Almighty, the All-Powerful.
BH08760: He is the Expositor, the All-Knowing! Blessed be…
He is the Expositor, the All-Knowing! Blessed be the Day wherein all things speak forth: “The Kingdom is God’s, the Lord of all names!” Yet the people remain in evident obscurity. The Word of God hath attracted all created things, and from the horizon of immortality hath shone forth the Sun of My Most Glorious Name. Blessed is he who hath recognized and attained, and woe unto them that deny! The world hath been adorned with the ornament of the Most Great Name, yet most of the people remain heedless. We have commanded all to that whereby the Cause of God, the Lord of all worlds, may be exalted. How many a servant hath held fast to justice and acted according to that which was commanded by One mighty and faithful! And how many a servant hath acted in such wise as caused the Concourse on High to lament! For each is a portion ordained in the Book. He, verily, is the Reckoner, the All-Knowing. Blessed art thou for having fulfilled God’s covenant and His testament. Be thou grateful unto thy Lord, the Bestower, the Bountiful.
BH09520: In the name of the all-knowing God. The Supreme…
In the name of the all-knowing God. The Supreme Pen hath at all times been occupied with the praise and glorification of the Beloved of the worlds, yet the people remain engrossed in self and heedless of Him. Have they not heard the divine Call, or have they not perceived its sweetness? O servants! The dawn of the Day of Revelation hath broken and the Call of God hath been raised. Strive that ye may not be deprived of the outpourings of the All-Bountiful Lord nor be shut out from the ocean of wisdom. Hold fast unto truth and be detached from aught else. This is the straight path that hath been mentioned and recorded in all the Books. Blessed is he who hath heard the Call and hath attained unto the most great steadfastness in the Cause of God, the Lord of the throne on high and of earth below.
BH09233: God is Most Glorious!
God is Most Glorious!
Verily the idolaters desired to extinguish the light of God with their hosts and arose to put out the fire of My Lote-Tree. Say: Perdition betide you, O heedless ones! How many afflictions through which God hath aided His Cause—verily He is the Powerful, the Mighty! Say: Away with thee, O oppressor! What hast thou to do with this Most Great Announcement? It behooveth thee to play with clay. Thus hath My Most Exalted Pen spoken unto thee that thou mayest rejoice and be of the thankful ones. We have ordained for thee a station unto which faces shall turn. Verily thy Lord is the Bearer of Glad-Tidings, the All-Wise. Rejoice in that We have related thee unto it. By the life of God! Nothing on earth can equal it, and I am the All-Knowing Witness.
BH11903: This is a Book sent down in truth…
He is the One speaking from the horizon of utterance
This is a Book sent down in truth from God, the Mighty, the All-Knowing. It reminds the people of what was revealed from His presence and gives them glad tidings of this Manifestation, even as He gave them glad tidings before in His mighty Book. Blessed is the handmaiden who has attained to the lights of the Kingdom, and woe to every remote scholar. Verily she who has believed in her Lord is better than men in the Tablet of God, the Lord of the worlds. Give thanks to your Lord, then remember Him at all times. Verily He is the Hearing, the Seeing One. The glory shining from the horizon of grace be upon you and upon those women who have turned to and believed in this luminous horizon.
BH09749: In the Name of Him Who is mentioned…
In the Name of Him Who is mentioned in the Tablets! Verily the clouds pour down rain, and the verses descend, and the light hastens before the Face, yet the people perceive not. Every day doth the Self-Subsisting call out, yet the people turn away from Him. Woe unto him who hath deprived himself of the presence of God in this Revelation! Say: By God! Ye were created for this blessed, promised Day, and were commanded to serve the Cause in the Revelation of God and His sovereignty which overshadoweth every witness and witnessed thing. We make mention of him who hath turned unto God, and give him to drink of My choice sealed wine. Well is it with him who hath drunk and attained. He is of them who have perceived the fragrance of God and turned unto the Intended One.
BH10227: Thou hast been blessed by God’s grace—praised…
He is the One dawning from the horizon of certitude.
Thou hast been blessed by God’s grace—praised be God!—and become aware of His path—the bounty be God’s! Thy mention hath been made and the glance of loving-kindness is turned toward thee. God willing, thou shalt preserve this most exalted station through the Name of the Lord of Names, and shalt not be saddened or prevented by the clamor of the oppressors and the heedless. God shall soon seize them with justice from His presence and shall show thee what He hath ordained for thee in His perspicuous Book. The glory be upon thee and upon every steadfast, upright one.
BH10378: In the Name of the All-Knowing! This…
In the Name of the All-Knowing! This is a Book sent down in truth from the presence of the Truth, the Knower of the Unseen. It summons all in the Most Great Prison unto God, the All-Possessing, the Self-Subsisting. Say: By God! That which was hidden behind the veils of the Unseen hath appeared, and the Tongue hath spoken in the Kingdom of Utterance: “There is none other God but I, the Manifest, the Self-Evident.” How many a Prophet hath lamented My separation, and how many a Messenger hath yearned for My days. To this do the denizens of the realm of the Kingdom and of dominion bear witness. Blessed is he who hath turned his face unto My countenance, who hath spoken My praise, and who hath acted according to that which was enjoined in My Preserved Tablet.
BH10912: O thou who lookest toward the horizon of grace!…
He is the Most Great.
O thou who lookest toward the horizon of grace! The very sinews of knowledge and understanding tremble at that which the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Furqan in His words—exalted be He—“They ask thee concerning the Great Announcement.”
The Wronged One beseecheth the Lord of the seen and the unseen to make known unto the servants what it is, for verily He is the Lord of creation and the Judge on the Day of Resurrection. And we entreat Him, exalted be He, to preserve thee and those who are with thee, and His sincere servants.
BH11099: Thou hast attained unto the presence and heard…
He is the One Who calleth from the Divine Lote-Tree.
Thou hast attained unto the presence and heard the Call and drunk the choice wine of utterance from the hands of grace and bounty. Give thanks unto God, thy Lord. The Wronged One beseecheth Him to honor thee and grant thee the heavenly table under all conditions. Verily, He is the All-Hearing, the Self-Sufficient, the Almighty, the Exalted, the Most High.
BH11100: Thou hast attained unto the presence and hast drunk…
He is the All-Seeing, the All-Informed!
Thou hast attained unto the presence and hast drunk the choice wine of reunion from the hand of bounty and bestowal. The Wronged One beseecheth God, his Lord, to ordain for you that which will draw you nigh unto Him and to decree for you the good of the world to come and of the first. Verily, He is the Lord of humanity and the Lord of the throne on high and of the dust below.
BH11134: O Ahmad! Praise God for having created thee…
He is the Near One, the Watchful.
O Ahmad! Praise God for having created thee and nourished thee and reared thee and given thee to drink from the Kawthar of divine knowledge. We give thanks to God for this most great favor and beseech Him to assist thee in that which He loveth and is pleased with. There is no God but Him, the Lord of the throne and of the dust.
BH11281: God is Most Glorious!
God is Most Glorious!
We have sent unto thee a celestial sphere from this surging ocean, and it is My binding Word. Be thou grateful to God for this supreme bounty. Verily, His is whatsoever He willeth. Glorified be thy Lord, the Most Exalted!
BH11285: God is Most Glorious!
God is Most Glorious!
We have heard your call and witnessed your turning towards Us. We have turned towards you from this Most Exalted Horizon that you may thank your Lord for this bounty which the kingdom of creation cannot equal. Say: Glory be to my Most Glorious Lord!
BH11418: Allah-u-Abha! We have sent unto thee a spirit…
Allah-u-Abha! We have sent unto thee a spirit from Our presence, and it is My Most Exalted Word, whereby the Bell hath pealed and the Peacock hath cried out and the mountains have passed away. The Command is in the hands of God, the Most High, the Most Exalted.
BH11425: God is Most Glorious
God is Most Glorious
Say: By God! The Most Great Gate hath been opened [before the face of the nations in the name of the Lord of eternity]. Enter ye therein in the name of your Lord, the Lord of all beings and the Sovereign of the hereafter and of the first worlds.
BH00628: In our Name, the Most Holy, the Most Great…
In our Name, the Most Holy, the Most Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious
At this hour, which is one hour and twenty minutes into the night of Thursday, the 22nd of Dhu’l-Hijjih, a call was raised from the Supreme Concourse, and this evanescent servant was summoned to His presence. After ascending and arriving and standing, these words were heard, blessed and exalted be His utterance:
“O servant in attendance! At this hour as We were walking, Ali Haydar came to mind. Out of love for him and as a token of Our grace, We wished to make mention of him, that through the attraction of divine utterance and the fragrance of heavenly words he might arise to promote the Cause and set the horizons ablaze with the fire of love. Verily, whosoever in this day arises to render assistance for the sake of God and in His path will assuredly be aided by the confirmations of God, exalted be His glory. And the victory is in teaching God’s Cause and naught else.
O Ali-Qabl-Haydar! Hearken unto the call of the Lord of Destiny, and like unto the artery in the body of creation, be thou in constant motion that all may be moved. Marvel not at this word which hath shone forth from the Dayspring of divine revelation. Through the grace of the Spirit, he who was but a fisher of men transcended the kingdom of earth and reached the most exalted heights. How many souls have drunk from the cup of life through his breath and been refreshed by the waters of his utterance.
Today the buzzing of flies and the cawing of ravens are raised high. Thou must arise with complete steadfastness to promote the Cause of the Lord of all beings. This day is attributed to God and is mentioned and recorded in the Books of old and of later times as the Day of God. All must fix their gaze solely upon the Supreme Horizon. Whosoever attaineth unto this station shall find himself firmly established, steadfast and detached. Preserve this blessed word as thou wouldst thine eye, for within it are concealed oceans of meaning. This is the station of true unity. How blessed is the one who is illumined by its lights! Such a one is of the people of Baha, upon whom the Concourse on High and they who circle round the Throne in the morning and the evening do send their blessings.
The infidels and traitors, like the former people, have spread the nets of their vain imaginings. By the life of God! They have no share of this surging, billowing ocean, nor any portion of this chalice before which the seas have bowed down in adoration. Say: Cast away what the people possess and take what ye have been given by God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. Say: Be not like those who throughout ages and centuries stood in their mosques and upon their pulpits, believing themselves to be mentioning and praising God, exalted be His glory, beseeching and imploring His presence; yet when the morning breeze of His Revelation wafted and the blessed Tree grew forth, all the divines of that age arose to cut down that holy divine Tree. Both learned and ignorant engaged in cursing and execration. Ye have all heard with your own ears and seen with your own eyes. By the life of God! The eye of grandeur wept, and the denizens of the highest Paradise and the most exalted Garden were overcome with lamentation and wailing.
Such was the condition of those divines. Now again the people of the Bayan are engaged in the same vain imaginings. They have added to their turbans, and some have even mounted pulpits. God protect us and you from the evil of such people! Would that they had understood the foundation of the Cause! Verily, they are in grievous error and great delusion. In those days when all were veiled and in the time of oppression, when hearts were troubled and pillars trembled, this Wronged One arose alone before the faces of the world and raised His call. And when the fragrance of the garment of His Revelation was diffused and had appeared in certain lands, they emerged from behind the veil with swords of rancor and hatred, and said that which no oppressor had ever said before, and perpetrated that which no bloodthirsty one had ever wrought.
Say: Die in your wrath! That which was due unto the Truth, exalted be His glory, He revealed. The equivalent of all the heavenly Books that were sent down before and after descended from the heaven of His Will, and now exists. Praise be to God! That which had to be said was said with supreme steadfastness, in such wise that neither the power of the world nor the commotion of nations could hinder it. All would bear witness to this, were they to be enabled to speak with truthfulness and fairness. They have not inhaled a breath of the Day of God, nor have they attained unto the hearing of a single word, even as the Shi’ih sect who for a thousand and two hundred years recited the Book of God, yet comprehended not a letter thereof. Take heed, O ye who are endued with discernment! Take heed, O ye who are endued with insight!
Is there anyone in the world who possesses eyes to behold the rays of the Sun of the All-Merciful’s utterance, and is there anyone endowed with ears who can hear with their own ears the Call of God? Nay, by God! All are submerged in the ocean of vain imaginings and wandering in the wilderness of idle fancies, save those souls who see with their own eyes and hear with their own ears. These are they of whom He saith: “They are endowed with insight from God.” In the days when the Sun of Truth was shining from the horizon of Iraq, He foretold the raising of the cawing of the ravens in divers lands, as well as in the Land of Mystery, and at the first arrival in this Most Great Prison, as it occurred some time ago in the Land of Ta, when the cawing was raised.
The knowledge of this is with our Lord and the Lord of all who are in the heavens and on earth. He burneth with the fire of hatred while imagining he is rendering service to the Truth—exactly like the Shi’ih divines who, from all pulpits, have cursed and continue to curse the Truth. In the early years, not a single one of the divines of the age turned to the Truth. From the pulpits, they would first lament over the letters of the Qur’an, and at the end would revile and curse the Lord of the Letters. And you yourself are witness to this. The people who considered themselves the most exalted of all mankind and the most distinguished of all nations were ultimately observed to be lower than all others.
This servant conveyeth greetings and praise to all the friends, and declareth that this is the Day of steadfastness. By the life of our Lord and your Lord and the Lord of the heavens and earth, these cawing ones have never had, nor do they now have, any understanding of the root of the Cause. We beseech God, exalted be He, to grant them success in returning. Verily, He is the Ever-Forgiving, and verily, He is the All-Bountiful. There is no God but Him, the Forgiving, the Merciful.
Moreover, I submit to them that all must manifest perfect unity and harmony. Should any differences arise, those trusted ones of God should arise to remove them. Souls are diverse: some drink from the pure water of certitude while being detached and independent of all other waters of the earth, while others drink from different springs, and these springs too are various. Consider the Companions of the Apostle of God—may the spirit of all else but Him be sacrificed for His sake. Some were at the highest pinnacle of faith and assurance, while others would at times ascend and at times descend. There are also souls who secretly cling to vain imaginings while outwardly professing certitude. One’s gaze must be fixed upon the Truth itself, as hath been repeatedly stated in this Most Great Revelation that the gaze of all must be directed solely to the Most Exalted Horizon. Without this, it will surely lead to stumbling and heedlessness. Verily, He guideth the way and He is the Mighty, the Beautiful.
It is hoped that you will arise with the utmost resolve to assist the Cause, dealing with the strong with love and fellowship, and with the weak with kindness and forbearance. Two Most Holy, Most Exalted Tablets were revealed and sent, specifically for the two individuals who had requested them. I beseech God that they may attain unto the Tablet and drink from the ocean of His utterance—a draught that the veils and clouds of the people shall not prevent. Glory and remembrance and praise be upon you and upon those who have cast the world behind their backs, clinging to the cord of God’s loving-kindness, the Lord of all nations. They are indeed the companions of this mighty, this glorious station. And praise be to God, the Lord of the mighty throne and the Lord of the exalted seat.
I beseech the True One to confirm them in His remembrance through wisdom and utterance, and to ignite them with such a fire that its traces may become manifest and evident throughout the world, and its heat may endure and persist throughout the dominion of earth and heaven. This lowly one conveyeth greetings and salutations to them, and beseecheth assistance from the True One, exalted be His glory, on their behalf. They must at all times be mindful of wisdom, for this binding commandment hath repeatedly been revealed and sent down from the Supreme Pen. This lowly one offereth greetings, salutations and praise to each of the branches of the divine Tree, and seeketh for each that which is peerless. The command is in His grasp; He ordaineth for whomsoever He willeth whatsoever He willeth, and He, verily, is the Almighty, the Powerful. Glory and praise and peace be upon you, and upon those who are with you and who love you for the sake of God, the Lord of the worlds.
BH00042: Praise be to God Who hath sent down…
Section 1: “Praise be to God Who hath sent down…”
In the Name of our Most Holy, Most Great, Most Exalted, Most High Lord!
Praise be to God Who hath sent down that which was hidden in the heaven of His Will, revealed that which was treasured in His knowledge, and sent Him Who was heralded in His Books, by His Messengers, His Chosen Ones and His Prophets—through Whom the ocean of knowledge surged in the world of being and the gates of Paradise were opened unto the people of faith. Exalted is the All-Merciful Who hath manifested Himself to guide creation to the straight path. Praise be to God Who hath established His Cause in such wise that neither tribulations can defeat it nor calamities weaken it. He hath, with the hands of power, planted the Tree of His Cause and watered it with the blood of the chosen ones and the righteous. Neither the clamor of the servants nor the hatred of those in the lands can frustrate Him. He doeth what He willeth through His sovereignty. He is, verily, the Almighty, the Glorious, the Unconstrained.
Glory be unto Thee, O Thou by Whose Face’s light the horizons were illumined and in separation from Whom the lovers lamented! I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which the hearts of the sincere ones and the minds of the mystics were attracted, to assist the people of Thy realm to champion Thy Cause and enable them, O my God, to achieve what Thou hast willed through Thy decree. O Lord! Thou seest Thy loved ones in prison. The oppressors have seized them, bound them, and imprisoned them because they believed in Thee and Thy verses and turned to Thy most exalted horizon in Thy days. They are those who, O my God, aided Thy Cause and clung to the hem of the robe of Thy grace, and broke not Thy Covenant and Testament.
The utterance of Him Who conversed on Sinai so moved them that they spoke forth before all faces in days wherein the clouds of oppression had obscured the horizon of justice. O Lord! Thou hearest their sighing from the land of Ta and the cry of the oppressed ones in other lands. I beseech Thee, O Sovereign of existence and Educator of the seen and unseen, to protect Thy loved ones from the evil of Thine enemies. Then assist them through the manifestations of Thy power and might, and the dawning-places of Thy strength and will. Thou art He Whom nothing whatsoever can frustrate, nor can the tyranny of the divines or the oppression of princes prevent Thee. Gladden, O my God, the eyes of Thy chosen ones through the wonders of Thy grace. Thou art, verily, the Lord of the world and the Guardian of the nations.
I moreover beseech Thee, O my God, to enable me to make mention of those whom Thou hast related unto Thyself and made to be of the branches of the Tree of Thy Cause amidst Thy creatures, and of him whom Thou hast mentioned with Thy tongue on land and sea, in the valleys and mountains. O Lord! He is among those who have attained unto Thy grace and whom Thou hast given to drink the water of life of Thy love through the hands of Thy bounty. I beseech Thee to send down upon him that which will gladden his heart and solace his eyes in such wise that the sorrows of the world and whatsoever is with the nations touch him not. Thou art, verily, powerful over whatsoever Thou willest, and in Thy grasp are the reins of all things. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
My spirit be a sacrifice for your steadfastness! Such is the lowliness of this evanescent one that both pen and ink fail to recount it, and the tongue falleth silent—a lowliness which, were it to emerge from the realm of the hidden into the world of manifestation, would cause the very eye of loving-kindness to weep, and would move to tumult the hearts and souls of all sincere ones. Yet God, exalted be His glory, beareth witness and is My testimony that at all times thy remembrance hath been present in My heart and manifest before My face in the Most Great Scene, while the Tongue of Grandeur hath spoken words from which the fragrance of loving-kindness and bounty hath been wafted. Well is it with thee, and blessed art thou!
The cause and reason for the delay is clear and evident. Let not thy honor imagine that there hath truly been any negligence, though in one respect the shortcomings of this evanescent one are established. Rather, the causes that have led to the postponement in responding to thy letters have been services to the Cause, and the King of the Cause hath reckoned thee among the branches of the Blessed Tree. Therefore, in one respect, this service returneth unto thee. Thus is it proven that I have stood in service to thy honor. In this case, thy honor will accept this valid excuse. Letters have been arriving continuously from all directions, and likewise petitions which this evanescent servant must write in His presence, and afterward make copies of the blessed Tablets and present responses to various quarters.
The rest is clear and evident. In truth, were it not for divine bounty, this service could never be accomplished by this evanescent one. Praise be unto Him for having aided His servant in that which He commanded. So long as life remaineth in this body, I shall remain steadfast in service. Not for a moment have I been, nor shall I be, absent from thy vision. Though the mention, praise and service of this servant are not worthy of mention, the main purpose is that through His grace they are remembered in the Most Holy Court and are adorned through their connection to Him. This is the essence—naught else hath any mention or existence.
Thy letter dated the seventh of Jamadiyu’th-Thani refreshed the realm of the heart with the breezes of love. I beseech God, exalted be His glory, to preserve this blessing, for verily He hath power over all things. After perusal, I proceeded to the Most Exalted Station and presented it in the Most Holy and Most Glorious Court. This is what the Tongue of Grandeur spoke in the Kingdom of Utterance—glorified be His Name and exalted be His grandeur:
In My Name, the All-Evident, the All-Informed, the All-Wise
O Afnan! Upon thee be my glory! The children of this age have risen against the All-Glorious and All-Sufficient Lord and, with utmost wretchedness, have endeavored to extinguish the light and quench the fire of the Blessed Tree. “It behooveth them to play with clay.” Reflect upon the lack of awareness among the ignorant ones of the earth who are known for their learning. The equivalent of all divine books now existing among different peoples hath been revealed, and they have known and do know that the Revealer is sanctified above all outward knowledge; yet still they have arisen in denial. By God’s life! They are greater in their denial than the deniers of the past. The Word itself beareth testimony to the loftiness and transcendence of Truth, but it increaseth not the wrongdoers save in loss.
Behold, then remember what the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Qur’an: “And the trumpet shall be blown, and whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth shall swoon, except whom God pleaseth; then it shall be blown again, and lo! they shall stand up looking on.” Today all are seen to have swooned from the Divine Word, save whom God pleaseth, for mighty is the Cause, and not every soul is worthy of understanding It, drawing nigh unto It, and standing firm in It. Today the Speaker of Sinai uttereth this word: “He” hath appeared in the garment of “I”, and the Hidden One speaketh with “I am the Manifest One.” Difficult it is for the infants of the world to attain unto this station. This blessed Word is the water of life for the people of steadfastness and truth, and a deadly poison for the heedless souls who have turned away.
The clouds of oppression have seized the horizon of justice, and the mists of tyranny have prevented the lights of equity from shining forth. Yet ere long shall the heedless souls who have turned away behold themselves in grievous loss. The tyranny of oppressors and the transgressions of the heedless have ever been and shall continue to be the cause of the exaltation of the Cause. That which causeth the lamentation of those near unto God are the deeds of souls who claim adherence to the Truth yet perpetrate that which hath been explicitly forbidden in all divine Books.
In the beginning, the government in the land of Ta (Tehran) acted with moderation, but such fear seized certain of those who had entered that they spoke words in utmost secrecy which caused the government to become convinced that they intended rebellion, although the speaker himself testifieth to the falsity of this statement. Would that the spies and investigators had been limited to those two who had departed, for they reported all that they saw and heard. Verily thy Lord is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. My Name, the Concealer, hath concealed, and He is the Concealer, the All-Knowing. Repeatedly hath the Most Exalted Pen commanded all to wisdom and counseled that which would cause the elevation of the Cause. Beseech ye God that He may aid all to act, for if those who have turned to God would conduct themselves according to His will, they would find themselves victorious and triumphant. To this doth testify this Book that speaketh in this Most Great Prison. The glory be upon thee and upon the Friend and upon the Afnans who are there.
Praised be God! That which hath been revealed is such that were all the mirrors of existence to be placed before it, the blessed words “The Truth hath appeared” would be reflected in them all. The world is intoxicated with the wine of pride, and all are occupied with their own concerns. The tongue of exhortation and counsel speaketh unceasingly without pause or delay, yet none is aware. Wonder upon wonder! To such an extent have the veils of idle fancies and vain imaginings seized the people that they neither heed nor will heed any sign, proof or evidence.
They wrote from the land of Ta that His honor ʿAli-Qabli-Akbar, upon him be the glory of God, the Lord of Power, had recited the revealed Surahs before the Prince-Regent in several gatherings, including the blessed Surah of Ra’is and Paris which were replete with mention of events to come. Thereafter the Regent said:
“How do we know these Surahs were not revealed after the events?”
Indeed, even if God should bring every sign, they would not believe nor acknowledge. Ever have miracles been lost upon the heedless, and in every age and century when they appeared, they bore no fruit but rather increased animosity.
Consider now that in those same days when Siyyid Sadiq, who was the instigator, was seized by God, yet they remained heedless and arose to perpetrate tyranny greater than before, until another person who spoke with utmost pride and rebellion and devised plans to extinguish the light was suddenly seized, yet no benefit resulted. The aforementioned Siyyid asked for respite, saying he would emerge after three days to personally undertake the martyrdom of the faithful souls. After three days his vile corpse was brought out, yet still no effect was manifest. Yes, they wrote that on the day the second one was seized, some awakening was evident, but after a day or two they returned to their former state. However, this much I say: all are giving their lives; soon will the lights of the Cause encompass the world. Consider how they who had no purpose save the reformation of the world, the unity of nations and the comfort of all have been subjected to such tyranny. Fie upon those who cling to falsehood, turn away from truth, and grasp the transient while heedless of the everlasting.
Regarding the mention of the dream that was made, it was presented at the Most Holy and Most Exalted Court. He said: “This dream is evidence of divine exaltation, sublimity and favor, both outward and inward, concerning them. Verily, He is the All-Bountiful, the Generous.” And concerning what they observed of bread and meat being present—these two are among God’s greatest bounties, as the Messenger of God, may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for Him, said aforetime: “Upon you be the two red ones,” meaning bread and meat. And in one instance it refers to “blessing” where He says “And they ask thee concerning the blessing.” And that a portion of the meat was cleansed and bestowed upon them—this indicates their sincerity, by God’s truth, and likewise manifests the bounty and generosity of God, glorified be His majesty.
And in one station it is the true heavenly table sent down, which in its primary rank has been and is divine love. Whatever is said in this regard is pure truth. This dream indicates grace, mercy, favor, kindness and bounty, both outward and inward, from God. He should rejoice and thank God, his Lord, the Most High, the Most Great. And in the end of what We showed him and caused him to hear are signs for those who are discerning. The End.
His vision accords with outward reality and requires no interpretation or commentary. That which befits it hath flowed from the Supreme Pen. He is verily the Helper, the All-Knowing.
Section 2: “As for the mention of wisdom…”
As for the mention of wisdom and the statement that “we have not yet understood what is meant by wisdom,” this evanescent servant submits what was manifested in Iraq and elsewhere, that perchance the matter may become clear. Although there were and are explanations about wisdom from before and after, the time does not permit their mention. However, I shall submit what I witnessed myself:
When the Sun was shining from the horizon of Zawra, all people—whether scholars, mystics, or others—in Baghdad and its surroundings, even unto Basra, showed utmost love, humility and submissiveness. One day, Siyyid Davud, who was the Mufti of Basra, came to attain the presence along with a group, including the renowned Ibn-i-Alusi. They sat outside awaiting permission to enter. The aforementioned Siyyid mentioned to that group that His fame in those regions was tremendous, saying “I believe He Himself is unaware of it.” The Cause had reached such a station that whenever He would leave His house in any direction, the Arabs would utter words they would not say even about their own saints.
For instance, one Friday as He was walking alone to the mosque near His house, someone about two hundred paces away, also heading to the mosque, said to his companion: “By God, the Cause of this Man is wondrous and mighty,” pointing to the Ancient Beauty. That day, as it happened, He sat opposite the pulpit. After prayers, the preacher, who was one of Iraq’s divines, told one of the believers: “His Holiness came today and sat opposite the pulpit. I could not deliver the sermon and felt great embarrassment.” That divine is now secretly a believer.
During the days of departure and migration from Iraq, all witnessed what they had never seen before. By the Truth itself, those Arabs wept like spring clouds and lamented. On the day of transfer to the Ridvan Garden, throngs of townspeople, both learned and common, came saying:
“Because we were assured of Your constant presence here, we were deprived of attaining Your presence. Now suddenly You are departing!”
And on the day of departure from Ridvan they brought a horse, whereupon such lamentation and wailing, such outcry and tumult, arose that the very steed was set in motion, in such wise that it could not be stilled, as though it were moving upon the heads of the people. At length He arrived and mounted; and after He had taken His seat, the multitude cast themselves upon the horse’s fore-feet and stirrups. Were I to set forth the full account, a whole volume would needs be written. Most have heard these things with their own ears, and some were themselves present and beheld them; for during His sojourn in ʿIraq He held intercourse with divines and mystics, with the common people, and with men of diverse sects, and whatsoever was asked of Him He would answer.
Thereupon, in Muharram, the loved ones of that land, on the first day of the month—which was the birthday of the Primal Point (may our souls, and all else beside, be a sacrifice unto Him)—celebrated a festival, and, seated in boats upon the Tigris, occupied themselves with chanting and song. This became the cause wherefore Sunni and Shi’ah alike rose up to shun them; and assuredly thou hast heard what befell in that land. Yet the heedless knew not what this festival signified, nor what it was; but no sooner did they behold, outwardly, that which appeared to them contrary, than they committed those deeds whereof all have heard. Friends! This want of wisdom brought about a grievous harm. For, both before that time and after the Migration, the governor and his officials, and likewise the people of the city—whether divines or others—showed the utmost consideration unto the loved ones of God; so much so that Namiq Pasha, who was the governor, displayed the greatest kindness towards each one, and it was he who conveyed to the friends the tidings of the departure for Islambul and Adrianople.
Consider what happened in the Land of Ta. His Holiness Ismu’llah, upon him be all the most glorious Glory of God, set out for those parts with permission and authorization, and was instructed to acquire land there and deposit the Trust of God in that land. From the presence of the Truth, this was the main purpose of this great and momentous matter. After arrival, the friends associated and held feasts. His Holiness Ismu’llah himself wrote a letter to this servant, wherein he mentioned: “This servant is perplexed, for after arrival the friends of God have associated and continue to associate, and thus far they have held thirty-eight feasts, and at each gathering it has been observed that sixty or fifty persons are present.”
I said: “Have you not heard the decree of wisdom which states that gatherings should not exceed five to nine persons?” They said: “Yes, we have heard,” and likewise they mentioned the instructions they had in mind and acknowledged them. Nevertheless, the next evening an even larger gathering was observed. And he wrote that “I am perplexed—if I do not go, there is fear they might think it is from fear, and this was not and is not befitting the Cause of God; and if I go, I see it is contrary to wisdom. In any case, I remain bewildered and perplexed. Nevertheless, most of the friends are mentioned, as I have not found opportunity to meet them all.”
Now if they had acted according to the counsels of the Most Exalted Pen and the wisdom revealed in the Book, this sedition would not have outwardly ignited and arisen. I swear by the Sun of the heaven of utterance, had they acted according to that which God had revealed, now the lights of justice would have encompassed most. First, in these matters He had said that gatherings should not exceed five to nine persons, and even these should not be successive and continuous. And likewise He had said: “Believe not every speaker and trust not every newcomer.” And likewise at first when meeting any soul they should regard him as a child and not give him heavy and thick foods. They should deal gently until the veils are rent asunder with the passing of hours and days and the lights of the Sun of knowledge illuminate existence. In the Tablet of Wisdom this most exalted Word was revealed from the Most Exalted Pen. His word, exalted be His majesty: “Say: The essence of utterance seeketh penetration and moderation. As for penetration, it dependeth upon refinement, and refinement is conditioned upon hearts which are detached and pure.”
In all the grades and stages of Revelation there hath been sent down that which, if men but act thereon, hath been and will ever remain the means of their exaltation and ascension, of their drawing nigh unto God, and of their turning towards the horizon of the Cause. Wisdom is that which suffereth not the peoples to be debarred from approach, nor casteth man into the abyss of perdition. Yea, the matter resteth with God, glorified be His majesty, and destiny and decree are the ordained and commanding power.
One of the friends of God visited a place to teach the Cause. The people of that town knew of his connection to this Most Great Announcement and this mighty Cause, and they associated with him that they might understand something. However, they secretly investigated to discover his deeds. As it happened, it was during the blessed month of Ramadan, and they were watching from a place until they saw him break the fast. Thereafter, they would not come near to ask anything or hear any response. This is the time for deeds, not words, for the deed made the distinction.
Likewise, concerning the conditions of teachers, utterances have been sent down from the heaven of the All-Merciful’s will such that any fair-minded person who hearkens would soar on wings of longing in the atmosphere of divine love. Yet praise be to God, despite the lack of means and of what is befitting, and despite the turning away and objection of those on earth, that which became the cause of gathering, dispersion and resurrection appeared in every land. This transient world, its ephemeral means and its temporal conditions have occupied all and prevented them from serving the Cause, save whom God wills. In truth, the Truth alone stands and is engaged in the victory of the Cause.
His honor expressed amazement at the wisdom, but this servant is immersed in the ocean of wonderment, for it is observed that never has such sweetness been raised up, and the rustling of the Divine Lote-Tree is manifest at every moment, and the melodies of the Supreme Pen have in truth encompassed the realms of dominion and kingdom. Nevertheless, the people are observed to be asleep, nay, thunderstruck, nay, dead. The first trumpet is established and all are thunderstruck, but if God should will it, from this latter trumpet “behold, they stand up and look around.” The Euphrates flows and streams, but thirst is nowhere to be found. This evanescent one beseeches and hopes from the peerless Lord that He may awaken the people and not deprive them of this most great bounty. Verily, He has power over all things.
In brief, the meaning of wisdom is that complete severance should not occur, for if severance reaches its ultimate degree, none would seek to draw near to hear the Word of God. His Holiness the Spirit (may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for Him), although He abrogated certain laws of the Torah such as divorce and the Sabbath, nevertheless continued to observe some Torah ordinances. Thus in His final days when His ascension drew near, He commanded Peter and John saying “Go and prepare the Passover,” and afterward He observed the Passover, even though it was specific to the Jews. The way of the Prophets is different from that of the servants. Out of grace and favor They showed forbearance lest people be suddenly destroyed. At times They would impart the melodies of the Dove of Paradise, and at times the cry of the Peacock of the Throne. Sometimes They would speak from the realm of limitations and other times beyond it. This was due to Their grace, kindness and favor, for if the Torah had been openly and manifestly abrogated at first, what occurred at the end would have happened at the beginning before the seed was sown. The Command is in God’s hand. He is the All-Wise, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.
O beloved of My heart! By God, the Cause is mighty, mighty indeed. Although today those souls who have turned to God and are steadfast and firm are striving with utmost effort to carry out God’s commandments, nevertheless one must seek confirmation and assistance from the Self-Sufficient One for their steadfastness, let alone for other people. I beseech God, exalted be His glory, to raise up men who will arise to serve the Cause with perfect power, might and steadfastness.
Another matter: The petition from the honored lady, the Mother (upon her be My Most Glorious Glory), was received. Previously an exalted Tablet was revealed and sent especially for her. And when My beloved, Aqa Mirza ʿAli and his honored mother (upon them both be the Most Glorious Glory of God) were departing for the land of Sh, He graciously bestowed with His own blessed hand a ring engraved with the Greatest Name and a woolen veil especially for the Mother. Likewise, through Shaykh Salman (upon him be the Glory of God), multiple Tablets were revealed and sent especially for the honored sons. And again on this day, which is the third day of the month of Muharram, the petition of the son Aqa Mirza (upon him be the Glory of God and His favor) was presented in the Most Holy and Exalted Court, and an exalted Tablet was revealed from the heaven of merciful grace. God willing they will attain to it and be gladdened through God’s favor, exalted be His glory. This is what was revealed from the Kingdom of might and power. His blessed and exalted Word:
He is the Expositor, the All-Wise
In the name of God, the Most Merciful. The Tongue of Mercy proclaims: O My friend and offspring of My Afnan! The robe of glory hath been fashioned and made ready to the measure of your temples, for that which hath been revealed from the Most Exalted Pen cannot be equaled by any thing among all things. Praise be to God! From early youth thou art associated with the Truth and art mentioned by His Name. The abasement of these days is the dawning-place of glory and the dayspring of favor. Soon will God manifest, in truth, a matter from His presence, the Lord of all worlds. Were the people to know, they would circle round about you. Soon will they know what hath escaped them on the day when mankind stood before the Lord of the worlds.
Fleeting earthly conditions have prevented people from hearing and seeing; neither are their ears worthy to hear nor their eyes capable of beholding. By God’s life! They are in manifest loss. The Perspicuous Book speaketh and the Mother Book is manifest, yet all are deprived and forbidden save whom God willeth. Blessed art thou, and joy be unto thee and unto thy brothers and unto those who are with you and who love you for the sake of God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. The glory shining from the horizon of My loving-kindness be upon thee and upon them and upon My Afnan who have quaffed the choice wine of utterance from the hands of My bounty. They are, verily, among the triumphant in a mighty Book.
Section 3: “In every age and century, people have, through…”
In every age and century, people have, through their vain imaginings, visited upon the friends of God that which is recorded in the books and mentioned by tongues. Yet whatsoever they have done, God hath made it a cause for the exaltation of His Most Exalted Word, despite themselves. He, verily, is the Strong, the Powerful. This Most Great Revelation and that which hath been ordained by the Pen of God through His prevailing Will need no mention or explanation. Soon will the sincere ones behold that which was hidden from them today, and the standards of the signs will be unfurled throughout all regions and districts, and every soul will testify that the Cause is God’s, the Powerful, the Mighty, the Unconstrained.
Concerning what was written about the spiritual beloved, Jinab-i-Aqa Mirza Ashraf, upon him be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious, his petition was presented upon arrival, and at that very moment a Most Holy, Most Exalted Tablet was revealed specifically for him from the heaven of divine Will, though its dispatch was delayed. Likewise, another exalted Tablet—according to what was written, they have in these days directed their attention to those parts. God willing, may they be confirmed in service to the Cause. They have also sent correspondences to this servant from every direction, all of which have arrived, but this evanescent servant was not successful in responding, thinking that whenever the revealed Tablets would be sent, this servant would also send replies according to his capacity and station. Now suddenly the command has issued from the Dayspring of the Cause to send the Tablets and this letter, thus this servant found no opportunity. However, I submit this much: God willing, whatever has been missed shall be attended to. I beseech God for assistance and confirmation in all conditions. If they have arrived in that land, greetings and salutations from this evanescent servant are entrusted to your grace.
And concerning what was written about Jinab-i-Lutf’ali Khan, his petition was presented and attained the honor of being heard. One Most Holy, Most Exalted Tablet was revealed specifically for him and sent. His word, exalted be His majesty and greatness:
In the name of the One Incomparable, All-Powerful God
The whole world was created for this blessed Day, and all scriptures, books, psalms and tablets gave the servants glad tidings of this Revelation. Whatever has been created in the world of bounties and favors was, without doubt, created for the sake of Truth and brought from nothingness into being. Nevertheless, they have consigned Him to the most desolate of lands. Though at first the seat of the Wronged One was in the most exalted place, yet He dwelt in a house from whose ceiling earth continuously fell, and likewise its floor was covered with dust. The heedless had severely restricted Him from all directions, to such extent that sorrow encompassed those in the Kingdom. Nevertheless, We were patient. Verily thy Lord is the All-Patient, the Concealer, the Forgiving, the Generous.
Therefore you should not be saddened by the world’s conflicts and its unpleasing conditions. By the life of God, had any worth been perceived in it, surely the Prophets, the chosen ones, and the saints of God would not have given themselves up to the oppressors. Commit all affairs to God and trust in Him, and ask Him to manifest whatever is best for you. Say: Glory be to Thee, O Thou by Whose Name the ocean of knowledge surged in creation and by Whose love the fire was kindled in hearts! I beseech Thee by the splendor of Thy Identity, the eternity of Thy Being, the ocean of Thy Will, and the sun of Thy Purpose, and by the cry of the sincere ones in Thy days and the lamentation of those near unto Thee in the prison of Thine enemies, to make me content with what Thy Most Exalted Pen hath ordained for me in the kingdom of creation.
Then send down upon me from the heaven of Thy mercy that which will profit me, through Thy bounty and generosity. O my Lord! I have committed my affairs unto Thee and placed my trust in Thee. I beseech Thee to make firm my steps and grant me that which will draw me near unto Thee in all conditions. Verily Thou art the Self-Sufficient, the Most High. O my Lord! I beseech Thee by the lights of Thy countenance and the manifestations of Thy grandeur to aid me in Thy remembrance, Thy praise and the service of Thy Cause. Thou art He Who knoweth what is within me while I know not what is with Thee. Verily Thou art the Mighty, the Forgiving, the Generous. Praise be to Thee, O Thou in Whose grasp is the dominion of all who are in the heavens and on earth.
His bounty is such that whoever makes a supplication in whatever tongue will receive an answer, especially if the Afnan be the intermediary. God willing, the Khan will be blessed with a divine tablet and be confirmed in that which is the cause and reason for the manifestations of the bounties of God, exalted be His glory. Verily our Lord, the All-Merciful, heareth and answereth, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.
Concerning what you wrote about Aqa Shukru’llah, upon him be the glory of God, and what the beloved Aqa Shaykh-ʿAli Mirza, upon him be the Most Glorious Glory of God, sent from the land of Sh, and what you dispatched from that land—they and the aforementioned branches arrived in Port Said, but then the diverse winds of the world and newly arising matters prevented them from attaining the presence until now, the third of Muharram al-Haram, they remain in the aforementioned land. However, their news and letters have arrived and continue to arrive. God willing, they shall attain their goal and receive what God has willed. In truth, this small piece has caused trouble. We beseech God, exalted be His glory, to grant abundant reward. Verily He is the Generous Giver.
The second letter from Your Honor, dated the third of the month of Rajab, bestowed the joy of union and illumined the realm of love and unity. Praise be to God that Your Honor is blessed with good health and divine love. What can I say? God the One is witness that whenever a message has arrived from the Afnan of the Sacred Tree, it has been like water to the tree of humanity. It is abundantly clear what pure water does. After reading and perusing it, I turned toward the Most Exalted Horizon, and this supreme word flowed from the tongue of the Lord of Creation, exalted be His grandeur:
“O My Afnan! Upon thee be My glory. The Book speaks, and that which is intended and written is manifest, yet souls remain heedless. God, exalted be His glory, has desired for His servants supreme joy, greatest comfort, and magnificent bounty, yet the servants have sought endless degradation and even aimed to shed holy blood, both before and after. Woe unto them for this grievous error.”
Your Honor and the loved ones of God should beseech that perhaps the doors of knowledge might be opened by the finger of power upon the faces of the heedless, that they may not remain deprived of the peerless station.
Regarding the mention made of the honored gentleman the teacher and the esteemed Afnan of the Blessed Tree, this lowly one presents his utter nothingness to each one and seeks their benevolent prayers. In Your Honor’s envelope there was a letter from Mulla Muhammad Shafi’ (upon him be the Glory of God), which he had written to this lowly one, and the contents of that petition were presented to the Most Holy and Most Exalted Presence. It was presented, and wondrous and sublime verses were revealed from the Kingdom of the All-Merciful’s utterance and sent forth. God willing, they will attain unto them. Thus has spoken He, exalted be His glory and supreme be His grandeur. He is the All-Seeing, the All-Informed.
O Shafi’! The fragrances of the Kingdom have encompassed the realms, and the dove hath warbled upon the branch of divine might. The Book hath come, to which all the Books of God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting, have testified. The servant who is present hath come before the Countenance and laid before the Wronged One that which the tongue of thy heart uttered on a day whereon the faces of those who disbelieved in God, the Lord of existence, were darkened. We have heard thy call and have answered thee through this Hidden Tablet, which was concealed in God’s knowledge and inscribed in His Preserved Tablet. Glorify My loved ones on My behalf and give them the glad tidings of My remembrance of them from this praiseworthy station. We counsel them with that whereby God’s Cause will be exalted amongst His servants. Blessed is he who acteth in accordance with what he hath been commanded in God’s Book, the Lord of what was and what shall be.
O My loved ones in that land! We counsel you to observe justice and fairness, trustworthiness and religiousness, chastity and fidelity. Your Lord, the Most Merciful, is verily the All-Knowing, the Mighty, the Loving. He hath created you, sustained you, aided you in His Cause, and made known unto you that which was hidden from most of the learned ones. He counseleth you with that which shall profit you in each world of His worlds. To this testifieth My Most Exalted Pen, and beyond it, He Who speaketh in every condition that there is none other God but Me, the Truth, the Knower of the unseen.
O Shafi’! Rejoice in that We made mention of thee before, whence the fragrance of My loving-kindness was wafted, and in this irrevocable Tablet. We make mention of ʿAbdu’l-Husayn who was mentioned in thy letter and give him the glad tidings of Our remembrance of him, that he may rejoice in the days of his Lord, the Lord of the seen and unseen. And thy other son, who was named Muhammad-Husayn, We beseech God to aid them both to turn towards His most exalted horizon and to remain steadfast in this Cause whereby the feet of men have slipped save those whom God hath willed, the Lord of the elevated Throne. The glory be upon thee and upon them and upon thy wife and her mother, from God, the Powerful, the Kind, the Forgiving.
We make mention of him who was named Jalal, who attained in the days of God and heard His sweetest call when most of the servants turned away. O Jalal! Dost thou know Who calleth thee and maketh mention of thee? Dost thou know Who is established upon the throne? Doth anyone hear His lamentation in His Most Great Prison? Hast thou recognized Him Who hath appeared at the final return? Say: By God! Through His appearance the kingdom of names was shaken, through His sovereignty the pillars of the learned were made to tremble. He hath spoken that whereby all things were attracted and the manifestations of idle fancies and vain imaginings were thunderstruck.
We make mention from this station of him who was named Muhammad-Rahim and counsel him with that which shall be as a lamp unto him in the darkness of the earth and in every world of the worlds of his Lord, the Mighty, the Bestower. O Muhammad-Rahim! The Wronged One maketh mention of thee and commandeth thee with that which He commanded in His presence and with that which We commanded all in the Book. Say: O loved ones of God! Be not grieved by what hath befallen My name and My loved ones through that which the hands of every heedless doubter have wrought. God shall soon seize him who hath oppressed even as He seized the oppressors of old. Verily thy Lord is the Almighty, the All-Compelling. Nothing can frustrate Him and no affair can thwart Him. He doeth as He willeth and with Him is the Mother of the Book.
We make mention of Ahmad-ʿAli on this day wherein the cry hath been raised in truth and the raven hath croaked. Be thou vocal in the remembrance of thy Lord, turn thy face toward the light of His countenance, and be steadfast in serving His loved ones at eventide and at dawn. We found thy turning unto Us, We turned unto thee from this most exalted station and made mention of thee with this remembrance before which all remembrances bow down. We glorify from this station the faces of My loved ones and handmaidens in that land and give them the glad tidings of My mercy which hath preceded all who are in earth and heaven.
Praise be to the Goal of all the worlds, Who through His grace bestowed favor upon all and deprived none save those who deprived themselves. The world hath deluded them and kept them back from the Lord of all beings in the hereafter.
As to what was written concerning Aqa Mirza Ahmad—today is the day of pure servitude, all must hold fast unto it. Blessed is the soul who truly attaineth thereunto. It behooveth us, and him, and those who have believed in God to hold fast unto this most exalted station and to think on ways to promote the Cause. Verily the servant beseecheth his Lord to protect him and His loved ones lest there appear from them that which beseemeth not His days, His Revelation, His glory and His sovereignty. These passages should be sent by your honor along with the Tablet, and conveying greetings and praise to them is left to your honor’s discretion.
Section 4: “Concerning what was written about the attention…”
Concerning what was written about the attention of the spiritual friend Aqa Mirza Ashraf, upon him be the Most Glorious Beauty of God, and Khan, upon him be [the Glory of God]—this was presented at the Most Holy and Most Exalted Court. Thus did the Tongue of Grandeur speak forth in the Kingdom of Utterance, glorified be His majesty:
We beseech God to aid them to serve the Cause and teach that which the All-Bestowing hath revealed in the Book, in such wise that neither what is witnessed nor what is seen may become a veil or hindrance. God willing, may they be adorned with the robe of piety, the mantle of detachment, and the crown of severance. All that was mentioned is as a weapon for teachers, nay rather more piercing, more decisive and more penetrating.
Establish in that land a consultative assembly, for this is blessed. The purpose of this is that they may hold fast unto what hath been commanded and act upon whatsoever emergeth from consultation.
In this servant’s view, it would appear that if our spiritual friend, his honor Aqa Mirza Ashraf, upon him be 966 [Baha’u’llah], were to direct his attention elsewhere—that is, after their inner agreement, if he were to engage in divine work in one location while Sarkar Khan did likewise in another—fruits would be achieved more quickly. If Sarkar Khan, upon him be Baha’u’llah, has proceeded in the manner of the Sunnis, then he should turn his attention to the Shi’ih and their clergy. There is no harm in initially mentioning the way of the dervishes, but the purpose should be mentioned according to the capacity of the people and the requirements of the time, that the fragrances of the Cause may be diffused.
By the life of our Beloved and the Beloved of all who dwell in earth and heaven, from him who is detached unto God and who acts for God is diffused that which any soul possessed of the slightest insight and heart will discover and perceive, becoming suddenly enkindled by the fire of the Word. In any case, if they first meet with Sarkar Khan and consult together, and arise with wisdom and utterance to aid the divine Cause, it would be most excellent. But in whatever land each may be present, let the people perceive the fragrance of unity—let them be united in mention, utterance and word. This does not conflict with the first statement, for the path is one, and whichever of the two groups they may enter, the veil will be lifted and they will behold themselves in one mirror and see themselves dwelling in one house. The Command is in God’s hands—our Lord and your Lord, our Purpose and your Purpose. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth, and He is the Strong, the Mighty, the Powerful.
This Day is unlike all days, this age unlike all ages, and this Cause unlike all causes. Consider what the All-Merciful hath foretold in the Qur’an—blessed and exalted be His words:
“The Day when men shall be as scattered moths, and the mountains shall be as carded wool.”
The learned and mystics of the earth, who are deprived of true knowledge and far from the straight path, are observed in just this state, while the rest are seen as moths. Concerning the greatness of this Day, such utterances have been heard from the Kingdom of divine knowledge as cause the limbs of the world to tremble. Were the souls who have accepted and stood firm to behold their stations, they would surely be struck with wonder and amazement at first. Just as this Day is great and this Cause is great, so too are those who are assured and have accepted it great in the sight of God.
Another matter: your other letter dated the sixth of Sha’ban brought exceeding joy, for it spoke of the mention of God, exalted be His glory, and told of your excellent health. Praise be to God for making this servant happy on a day when the ocean of sorrows was in motion. One day the Tongue of God spoke this exalted word—exalted be His utterance:
O servant in attendance! Although the ocean of sorrow is in motion and the causes of grief and anguish are manifest from every direction, yet these things do not prevent God nor hold Him back from what He hath willed. The friends of God who have drunk from the Kawthar of certitude and are turned toward the horizon of the All-Merciful—they too are not held back from God by the affairs of creation. His is the creation and the command. He taketh and He giveth, and He is the Ever-Living, the Manifest, the Resplendent, the Speaking, the Truthful, the Trustworthy.
After reading the letter, I turned toward the Most Exalted Height and presented it before His countenance. These are His blessed and exalted words:
“Verily We have mentioned thee once in the fortress, and again in a noble station, and yet again in the prison, and now in this exalted spot.”
May you be seen in the utmost joy and fragrance, with yearning and attraction and rapture. Be not grieved by any of the incidents that have occurred or by ephemeral conditions. I swear by the Sun of Utterance, which hath risen and shone forth from the horizon of the prison, that perpetual mention, enduring glory and lofty stations have been inscribed for you by the Most Exalted Pen in the Crimson Book, and these shall be manifested according to the requirements of times and seasons. Blessed are the branches of the Divine Lote-Tree, and joy be unto them, for they have attained from God that which most of the earth’s inhabitants have failed to attain. To this beareth witness He with Whom is the Mother Book.
By the life of our Beloved and your Beloved! The Kingdom of Utterance is stirred by the words of the True One, exalted be His glory, and the ocean of meanings surgeth, encompassing the world. We beseech Him to manifest its effects in such wise that even the blind women may see, let alone men of insight. Wonder upon wonder at these coarse, dull, heedless, slumbering souls! In all conditions one must beseech bounty, grace and generosity from the Self-Sufficient, the Exalted. He is verily the Powerful, the Mighty over all things. May the glory that is manifest, resplendent and shining from the horizon of the heaven of our Lord’s favor be upon you and upon those with you and upon those who love you for the sake of God, the Protecting, the Self-Subsisting.
Be it known that the dispatch of the petition was so delayed that another letter from your honor, dated the twenty-ninth of Muharram al-Haram, bestowed the water of reunion upon the thirsty one in the desert of separation. Indeed, the forces of joy gained such strength from its presence that the hosts of sorrows were put to flight. Praise be to God in all conditions! Glory be to God! Through one word the world’s troubles are transformed to joy, and through another word its prosperity is afflicted with ruin. In any case, after experiencing joy and delight, I approached the Most Exalted Station and presented the entire letter, and likewise your honor’s supplication was granted audience in the Most Holy Court. These are His words, exalted be His glory and universal be His bounty:
O thou who art present! Through divine confirmations, may they ever be occupied with the remembrance of the True One and hold fast to His cord. We have adorned him with the ornament of Our favor and the crown of Our mention, the Mighty, the Inaccessible. We make mention of him in this station and at this hour with My wondrous mention. We give him and those with him the glad tidings of My mercy, which hath preceded My servants, and My favor, which none have attained save those who have believed in God and His signs, who have detached themselves in His path and have arisen to serve His Cause, the Mighty.
Such bounty was witnessed from the Dawning-Place of grace that this servant is incapable and powerless to mention it, especially after the presentation of your honor’s supplications. This evanescent servant beseecheth the True One, exalted be His glory, to grant your honor the blessing of attainment unto His presence and to ordain for you the good of the hereafter and of the former life—though the good of both worlds is already assured. The purpose of this petition is that He may bestow whatever He deemeth advisable, both outwardly and inwardly. Verily, He is powerful over all things.
Regarding what was written about the spiritual friend, Jinab-i-Aqa Mirza Ashraf, upon him be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious, and his arrival—God willing, it is blessed and auspicious. The honored Afnan, Jinab-i-Haji Siyyid Muhammad, upon him be all the most glorious Glory of God, had also written about his arrival and his mention of the tribulation of the Prince of Martyrs, may my spirit and all within the kingdom be sacrificed for him. This matter is most beloved and is coupled with perfect wisdom. After submission, He says, exalted be His glory:
“Excellent is what he has done. Blessed is he! By My life, were all in the world to recite the mention of his tribulations from pulpits and hills and every lofty mountain, I would love to hear it with Mine own ears. He has spent in the path of God what he has spent and has witnessed in His love what no eye in all creation hath witnessed. The Tongue of the Wronged One testifieth to this in His exalted station.”
This evanescent servant presents greetings and praise to him. I beseech the Most High to make him assisted in exalting His Word and successful in manifesting His Cause with wisdom and utterance. Verily, He is the Lord of all who are in the realm of possibility, and He is the Mighty, the Bestower. The details of his affairs were previously submitted. As commanded, they must consult and hold fast to whatever serves the divine Cause, for repeatedly this exalted word was heard from the blessed Tongue, saying that He inspires the hearts of those who gather for consultation for the sake of God and speak about what benefits His servants. Verily, He is the Guardian of the doers of good.
Praise and glorification are in truth specifically for the friends of God, glorified be His majesty—those souls who remain unchanged by worldly events and are not prevented from the truth by the oppression of the divines, princes and nobles. They are the monarchs of existence and the stars in the heaven of the power of the Lord of the seen and unseen. Upon them be God’s mercy, His glory, His light, His peace, His praise, His blessing, His remembrance and His glorification.
His honor Mirza Haydar-ʿAli, upon him be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious, is in truth a mighty pillar for the most great structure, namely the fortress of teaching God’s Cause. With the utmost effort and striving, he has contributed to this matter what is evident and manifest to all the world. In these days he sent a letter requesting that certain petitions be submitted to the Most Holy, Most Exalted Presence, and they were submitted. Praise, bounty, grace and favor be unto Him, for all were granted acceptance. Among these was the request that the custodianship of the blessed shrine of the Most Exalted Leaf, upon her be all the most glorious Glory of God, as well as the resting place of the Great Afnan, that is, the honored Uncle, upon him be all the most glorious Glory of God, be entrusted to Jinab-i-Haji Mirza Fadlu’llah, upon him be the Glory of God, in partnership with several other friends of God who have made the same request. After the matter was presented, this blessed, holy, exalted word was revealed from the tongue of the Lord of creation. He says, mighty be His utterance and great His station:
The affairs of the Greatest Holy Leaf are referred, by God, to his honor the Afnan, that is, Mirza Aqa. The Tablet that was sent down in this regard from the heaven of divine favor should be forwarded to your honor. You should review it, and if it accords with wisdom and the requirements of the time, send it forth. A copy of that blessed Tablet was written in Haji Mirza Haydar-ʿAli’s letter. According to the command, your honor should review the entire letter and then forward it to his honor the Afnan, Aqa Siyyid Ahmad—upon him be all the most glorious Glory—so that he may deliver it.
May the Glory shining from the horizon of the heaven of our Lord’s mercy be renewed upon your honor and upon those who hold fast to His mighty cord. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.
BH00221: Glorified art Thou, O Thou Who hearest the lamentations…
Section 1: “In the name of our Lord, the Most…”
In the name of our Lord, the Most Invincible, the Most Holy, the Most Exalted, the Most High
Glorified art Thou, O Thou Who hearest the lamentations of them that are nigh unto Thee because of what hath befallen Thy loved ones and chosen ones, and Who beholdeth what hath come upon them at the hands of the oppressors among Thy creatures who have committed that from which the atoms have dissociated themselves and from which all created things have sought refuge. O Lord! There hath befallen Thy sincere loved ones that which hath transformed the joy of the Concourse on High into a sorrow none knoweth save Thy knowledge, O Fashioner of the heavens. Thou seest, O my God, how the ocean of tyranny hath surged through the winds of malice and hatred, and how the smoke of transgression hath seized all who dwell in the realm of creation.
Thereby have ascended the sighs of the most exalted Paradise and descended the tears of the most sublime Heaven. Verily, those whom Thou didst manifest and send forth to reform the world have been seized by the idolaters with chains and fetters, who have done unto them that which hath caused the rocks to cry out and the mountains to wail. He Who beseeched Thee night and day for the reformation of Thy servants and the tranquility of the inhabitants of the earth—Thou beholdest Him, O God of the worlds, in manifest tribulation.
Thou seest, O my God, how sorrows have encompassed all possibility to such extent that hearts have melted thereby and the pillars of the word of unity have been shaken. Those who have denied Thee, turned away from Thy beauty, disputed Thy signs, and broken Thy Covenant have risen against Thy people in such wise that the heaven of justice hath been cleft asunder and the skin of Thy servants hath quivered. Can the pen enumerate the afflictions of Thy loved ones? Can knowledge encompass what hath befallen them in Thy days?
I know not, O my God, my Lord, and my Hope, which tribulation I should mention that hath come upon Thy chosen ones and them that are nigh unto Thee in Thy love. Shall I mention him whom the idolaters tore limb from limb in the land of Sad because he turned to Thy most exalted horizon and clung to the hem of Thy knowledge, O Lord of all names? Or him who heard Thy call and beheld Thy beauty and whom Thou didst single out among Thy servants to exalt Thy word and manifest Thy Cause, and whom Thou didst name the King of Martyrs in the kingdom of Thy utterance? Or shall I mention him who was named the Beloved in the Crimson Tablet by Thy Most Exalted Pen?
Or shall I recall the Wondrous One (Badi) who appeared from the horizon of Thy power and drank the cup of steadfastness in such wise that the pillars of Thine enemies were shaken? Or shall I mention those who were seized by the river of Thy knowledge in the land of Ta (Tehran) in such wise that they sacrificed their spirits, their bodies and all they possessed in their longing for the kingdom of Thy meeting and the heaven of Thy reunion? Or shall I mention, O my Beloved, what hath befallen Thy loved ones in the land of Za at the hands of those who transgressed against them with an oppression that hath caused hearts to lament and eyes to weep?
Or shall I mention, O my God, what hath befallen Thy loved ones in Kha—every land, every pebble, dust, stone and clod beareth witness to the testimony of Thy loved ones and the oppression of Thine enemies.
Glorified art Thou, O King of Kings and the Merciful to the servant! Were I to mention Thy most great calamity and Thy most high tribulation which appeared in the land of Ta through that which the hands of the wretched ones acquired regarding the Glory (Baha), verily the Pen crieth out and saith: “Leave me, O Thou Who holdeth and seizeth me! I beseech Thee by Thy Lord to leave me [in my state]. Sufficient unto me is the sorrow of my heart, the lamentation of my soul, the sighing of my inner being and the screeching of my tongue.” And the paper calleth out and saith: “I adjure thee by the One, the All-Informed, to leave me and let me be in my wretched state and the sorrow of my heart and my cry and my sighing. Dost thou wish to mention the calamity whereby the hem of the robe of grandeur was soiled amongst all creatures? Or dost thou wish me to explain what hath befallen the kingdom of the Spirit whom the hands of power, might and grace had reared to be sacrificed in this Day which cannot be compared with centuries and ages?”
O my Master, O Ali! Can any who would remember recount what befell thee in the path of God? Nay, by thy most exalted Self and thy Most Great Name! Though by thy tribulation the foundations of rest and tranquility were shaken, and the pillars of all that was and will be were made to tremble. Yet doth this servant give thanks unto God, the Lord of the Kingdom of immortality and Sovereign of earth and heaven, that He hath not caused thy blood and the blood of His loved ones to be spilt in vain, but hath expended it in His love and yearning and desire.
This is a word spoken by my Lord, my Master, and my Protector. When it descended from the kingdom of His will, the veil was rent asunder and the covering was removed, and the faces of the exalted ones prostrated themselves before the light of His manifest countenance, saying:
“Praise be unto Thee, O God of the worlds and Goal of them that know!”
My spirit be a sacrifice for your exile, a ransom for your tribulation, your imprisonment, and your chains! By the life of the Desired One, the liver of every knowing one hath melted from grief for you, the spirit of every learned one hath been struck with thunder at your imprisonment, the springs of sorrow have burst forth at your exile, the sea of grief hath surged at your tribulations, and the Most Exalted Pen hath lamented what befell you in His path. Blessed are ye, and blessed the father who raised you, the mother who suckled you, the earth that was your resting place, every servant who hath wept for your tribulation, and every dwelling wherein your afflictions are remembered.
This servant hath been blessed to visit the trace of your pen. When I saw and read and understood and knew, I approached the Most Great Shrine and presented myself before His presence, and verily the tongue of grandeur spoke that which caused all things to lament and grief to encompass all regions. I present unto your presence, with the knowledge of certainty, that all atoms cried out and were agitated by what was sent down from the Kingdom of the Divine Will and the Heaven of Purpose. And I, in that place, was like one bewildered and astounded, with blood flowing from mine eyes and sorrow ascending beyond my control.
In Persian I submit that this servant, after countless sorrows and griefs that were in truth bone-crushing, let alone to bodies, approached the Most Exalted Goal. Verses were revealed, all indicating and proclaiming victory and steadfastness and the call to teach God’s Cause, and adorned with the good-pleasure of God, exalted be His glory, and His acceptance. And on another night He said: “O servant in attendance, this Wronged One beareth witness that they have aided God, exalted be His glory, with true aid, and this was the aid that was promised in the divine Books. Every person of insight beareth witness to that which the Truth hath witnessed, and every fair-minded one testifieth to that which hath flowed from the Most Exalted Pen and been recorded. But the oppressor hath transgressed and rebelled even as his predecessor rebelled when he proclaimed among his people saying: ʿO my people! Does not the kingdom of Egypt belong to me, and these rivers flowing beneath me? Do you not see? Or am I not better than this one who is contemptible and can scarcely make himself clear?’
By God’s life, the second one is more unjust and more astray and more rebellious than the one who came before. Heedlessness and pride have seized him to such extent that he spoke, unaware of his deed for which is prepared for him a punishment that cannot be described in words. By God’s life, the Almighty doth witness and see, and He is ever watchful.”
In these days there hath appeared from the Kingdom of Utterance that which hath verily set aflame the hearts of the world. That Beloved One hath Himself witnessed the waves of the Ocean of Utterance, and heard the rustling of the Sacred Tree. O what an utterance! Were it to be cast upon fire, it would transform it into light; and were it to fall upon rock, it would melt it, through the Word of God, the Lord of the visible and invisible. How well it hath been said:
Thou knowest how the sun in Aries Doth speak to flowers, both true and false; Thou knowest how the crystal stream Doth speak to flowers and saplings all.
By Thy life, O Beloved of my heart! Had I as many tongues as there are atoms, I would have proclaimed:
“Would that I had been with you and found myself beneath chains and fetters!”
I swear by the Orb of divine utterance that whatsoever hath befallen shall not be effaced, nor shall it vanish from the book of possibility. Its traces shall endure as long as the kingdom of earth and heaven endure, and its fruits are infinite.
The first word heard from His blessed tongue was this blessed utterance. He said: “O servant present! They have drunk from the cup of divine love to such degree that the entire Concourse on High exclaim ʿHappy and welcome!”’ The matter endeth here. A momentous cause hath appeared, and tyranny without reason or purpose hath come to pass in the world. Of a certainty shall the flames of this supreme oppression return upon its perpetrators. Although the investigators who were appointed and who, through deceit and artifice, showed submission, became the cause of this great sedition, yet certain ones who claimed adherence to the Truth uttered words that became the cause of the government’s perturbation and fear, and they became convinced of intentions of rebellion. The curse of God be upon the liars and calumniators! Verily our Lord, the All-Merciful, is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. And since they spoke out of fear for their lives and excess of terror, may God strengthen them to return and forgive them. Verily He is the Ever-Forgiving, the Merciful.
O Beloved of my heart and soul! The Cause is mighty, mighty indeed! From the Tongue of Grandeur we have ever heard, both this servant and that honoured one and other friends, these blessed words. Once these sublime words were heard from the Lord of the Kingdom of Names. He said: “O servant in attendance! This Cause hath no likeness to previous causes in its grandeur, neither had it nor hath it. A hundred thousand blessings upon the soul that hath attained unto steadfastness! Such a one is accounted before God among the jewels of existence.” Peter, who was the focal point of the saints and source of the righteous, in the time of Jesus (may my soul be a sacrifice for Him), thrice denied Him on the night He was delivered up. And the Lord Himself had told him the night before that “thou shalt deny Me thrice before the cock crow.” And after the denial and the crowing of the cock, the words of the Lord came to his mind, whereupon he immediately cried out and lamented until God forgave him and made him one of those near unto Him.
Section 2: “But O my master! How far is this…”
But O my master! How far is this station from the stations of those souls who regarded not the whole world as equal to the wing of a gnat! They arose and uttered that which was a sword and arrows to the enemies and a mercy and light to the friends. By God’s life! The very breath of such souls is more delicate than the morning breeze and sweeter than the Water of Life! Glory be to God! How is it that whatsoever is spoken in truth and sincerity and reality is not accepted, while calumnies and lies and that which springeth from suspicion and fancy are accepted and heard? Have they not perceived from the divine verses, signs and tablets that conflict, contention and corruption are forbidden, and that the purpose is the reformation of the world through wisdom and utterance? The Book itself speaketh with these exalted words:
“The appointed time hath come, and He Who revealeth the verses hath appeared for the reformation of the servants and the prosperity of the lands.”
I swear by the Sun of Truth that the sighs of the oppressed are more potent in their effect than cannons and sharper than swords! Though consummate wisdom may require that some fruits of deeds be delayed for a limited time, such delay will not prevent the inevitable decree. Assuredly the oppressors have been and will be requited. What have they seen of justice and righteousness that they have clung to the cord of tyranny and held fast to the hem of oppression? This servant hath ever wished to submit numerous petitions, but delayed doing so out of wisdom, lest some ignorant one become aware and cause harm. That honoured one should keep this writing concealed, save from trustworthy and steadfast souls capable of preserving confidences, for if some become aware they will inform others and cause grief.
Although, praise be to God, there hath been and is no deceit, cunning, artifice or ill intent. The sun beareth witness to the purity of the page and the morning breeze testifieth to the delicacy of the leaf. The treacherous one is fearful; the trustworthy one hath not been and is not afraid. Would that ears were cleansed of defilement that they might attain to hearing the Word of Truth and reach true tranquility, and hearts were sanctified from veils that the imprint of the seal “Verily I am in manifest humility” might be impressed upon them. The first line of that honoured one’s letter contained this verse:
“How can I raise my head in shame before the Friend, When no worthy service hath come from my hand?”
After offering these words, this utterance hath appeared from the Kingdom of utterance: Praise be to God, thy turning unto Him is evident, thy love is radiant, thy words are eloquent, thy steps are firm, and thy deeds are acceptable and praiseworthy. Shame, regret and remorse are for those souls who attained not the light of justice and distinguished not between light and darkness, who bestowed upon the wolf the office of shepherd and gave the treacherous one the position of guardian, who took the ignorant for the learned. Where are the eyes to see and where are the ears to hear? I beseech God, exalted be His glory, to illumine all with the light of fairness and adorn them with the ornament of justice.
In truth, this person hath been the cause of great tenderness in this servant and many others. One word that is fitly spoken is dearer in the sight of God than a hundred thousand merciless words. May the soul perish that harboureth evil thoughts about that honored one. What more can I say regarding that which hath befallen the chosen ones and pure ones of God? The knowledge of God, exalted be His glory, hath ever encompassed all things. This servant, and a hundred thousand like him, are powerless and incapable of reckoning it. The True Knower beareth witness that those holy, blessed and steadfast souls who are present in that spot have ever been and continue to be remembered by tongue, heart and pen.
Their remembrances have soared, their traces have encompassed all, their steadfastness hath become manifest, and that which lay hidden in the treasuries of their souls and the repositories of their love hath become evident. God will soon adorn the world with their mention, their praise, and their deeds in the path of God, their Creator, their Fashioner and their Originator. God is witness that this servant considereth himself unworthy to move in this field and unfit to draw breath. I am unable to mention what I have known and recognized. I beseech God, exalted be He, to ordain for His chosen ones and His loved ones that which lay treasured with Him. Verily He knoweth, and He is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.
Another submission is that yesterday the delight of the eyes of the sincere ones, Husayn Effendi and the Leaf of Paradise, upon them both be the glory of God, were in the blessed presence, and a group was also present. Mention was made of your honor who, like a true spiritual cupbearer, was engaged in giving drink. Praise be to God, they are blessed with perfect health and well-being, and are honored and at rest beneath the shade of the unlimited, all-encompassing mercy. Whenever this servant thinks of the masters and what befell them in that prison in such detail, he dies a hundred thousand regrets. How blessed is the dust they walk upon and the air they breathe! Would that I were with the friends of God and His chosen ones!
What is being submitted is mostly involuntary, for at every moment the heart is aflame: verily the heart is gladdened by your mention, the heart is enkindled with your praise, the eye weeps at separation from you, and the spirit laments what has befallen you. May God grant patience beautiful to all the friends and bestow bountiful reward. And according to the Arabs regarding fine handwriting, on the day your honor’s letter arrived, at that very moment an extended, detailed visitation took place which in truth until that time had not been performed, and it was carried out. Praise be to God, and thanks and glory be unto Him in the watches of the night and the ends of the day.
My spirit be a sacrifice for your remembrance! This petition was submitted the same day your letter arrived, but since it was written in the letter that details would be sent in a few days, in view of this statement there was a delay in sending until the night of the 24th of Dhi’l-Hajja when another letter from your honor dated the 11th of Dhi’l-Qa’da brought light to the eyes and excitement to the soul. Oceans upon oceans of joy were attained and heavens upon heavens of delight were manifest, for it brought glad tidings of health and bestowed the good news of favor. And it was submitted before the Presence at a time when the night before, a Tablet had been revealed in mention of your honor to one of the companions in outlying regions. Copy that exactly, and here it is:
He is the Unique Herald
Verily the lamp before the Face laments like the bereaved for My loved ones and says: O Name of God! I know not at what time they seized you, in what place they bound you, and at what hour they imprisoned you. Do we hear your cry from the dark pit, or do we see you under chains and shackles through what the hands of the enemies have wrought? Would that I knew who is with you, who consoles you, and who befriends you in your tribulation. We have heard all that he has uttered and We have been patient, for verily We are the All-Patient, the All-Forbearing. We have detailed for you what has befallen the friends of God in the land who hastened with their hearts to a station which God has made the Dawning-Place of His signs and the Dayspring of His mighty Cause.
By God! The attentive ear hears from all things their lamentation and their cry at what has befallen the Manifestation of the All-Merciful through sorrows, but most of the people are heedless. Counsel the servants to patience and fortitude lest there appear from them what they have been forbidden in the Book of God, the Lord of the worlds. The glory shining from the horizon of My Kingdom be upon you and upon those whom nothing whatsoever has prevented from God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
From the revealed passages in the Tablet, the kindness, compassion, mercy, and the grief, anguish and sorrows of the Intended One, may our spirits be sacrificed for Him, are evident and clear. And praise be to God, your honor’s last letter became the cause of joy and delight for those who circle round.
As to mentioning the beloved of heart and soul, His Holiness Ali-Qabli-Akbar, upon him be the glory of God, the Lord of Power—it is clear and evident that he is mentioned in the most exalted station with words that “his sun shall never set from the highest horizon.” Furthermore, considering that the honored mother of His Honor A.T., upon them both be the glory of God, has borne the hardships of His Holiness and is engaged in service, one day from the blessed tongue she was named “Mother of the Near Ones.” He said that since they are engaged in service to the Cause, they were therefore given this blessed name. A hundred thousand praises upon them and upon their children. His Honor ʿA.T., upon him be the grace of God, has borne so many hardships. He said: “Verily He hath pardoned them and forgiven them through His bounty and generosity and sovereignty.” And He said: “My all-encompassing grace and My pre-existent mercy shall aid them both.”
If it be deemed advisable, mention should be made that would bring about their joy and gladness. Otherwise, the greatest concealment must be very firm. And after consideration, if there be a secure place outside the prison where it may be deposited, this would seem better and most appropriate. I have no other petition save to beseech from God, exalted be His glory, for protection, wellbeing, and the meeting and presence of His Holiness. May God through His boundless grace grant the day when eyes shall be brightened, hearts gladdened and breasts expanded. This is not difficult for God. This time too, praise be to God, the letter arrived at the beginning of night. It was read in its proper place, and then ascended and was present before His countenance. After permission was granted, it was visited and adorned with the ornament of acceptance. The glory that is manifest, evident, brilliant and gleaming from the horizon of the heaven of the generosity of our Lord, the Possessor of all existence, be upon you and upon those who have not broken the covenant of God, the Forgiving, the Generous.
The servant 14th of Muharram al-Haram, 1301