Volume 074: Akka 1301 A.H. (1883–1884), Part II (2 of 5)
BH05215: In My Name, Who speaks from the Supreme Horizon!
In My Name, Who speaks from the Supreme Horizon!
O Rasul! The people awaited the divine Day in such wise that at all times they implored and beseeched with utmost humility and supplication the presence of the immortal King, seeking His meeting. Yet when the Sun of Revelation dawned from the horizon of Will, all remained veiled, bewildered and heedless, save whom God willed. Consider the saved sect, namely the Shi’ih, who counted themselves the best of all the world’s peoples. They afflicted a few helpless souls with such vain imaginings that finally they martyred the Lord of the world with hands of hatred. Now souls who have no knowledge whatsoever of the essence of this Cause have arisen with the same vain imaginings. Their purpose is to establish a region like before, and designate an illusory Jabulqa and an unknown Jabulsa.
This Wronged One has spoken and speaks for God’s sake. All the servants—that is, those souls who have drunk from the cup of certitude—must arise to protect and preserve the House of the Cause, and behold the Truth with their own eyes and hear His call with their own ears. Whoso desires to know Him through other than Him shall never know Him. This is specific to this most mighty, most holy Revelation. Glory be upon the people of Baha who have cast away idle fancy and clung to the hem of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
BH05709: The Sun of Truth hath risen from the horizon…
He is the True One; there is no God but Him.
The Sun of Truth hath risen from the horizon of the Will of God, exalted be His glory, and the Supreme Horizon is illumined and adorned with the Name of the Lord of Names. Blessed is he whom the veils of the people and their vain imaginings have not withheld from the True Sovereign.
This is the Day of God, and no mention save the mention of God, exalted be His glory, is acceptable. Yet the people are heedless of the station of the Day and speak according to their former vain imaginings, clinging to the suppositions of ancient times. Say: O ye who have gone astray! What was the outcome of all that the former people said and did, and what fruit did they reap? Say: Fear God, O people, and be not of the distracted ones.
This is the day of steadfastness and the day of deeds, for the Sun of Revelation is risen and the Ocean of bounty is surging. Occupy not yourselves with the suppositions and vain imaginings of the ignorant ones of the earth. The Wronged One counseleth you with that which shall profit you in all the worlds of your Lord. He is, verily, the All-Merciful, the Generous.
The Glory shining forth from the horizon of My mercy be upon thee and upon those who have attained unto this mighty Cause.
BH07043: In many of the Tablets mention hath been made…
He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise!
In many of the Tablets mention hath been made by the Most Exalted Pen of the cawing of the crows. Some were bewildered as to its meaning, while others waited to see what would come to pass. The Most High, the Most Great God hath spoken the truth: that which was foretold in all the Tablets hath come to pass, and the cawing hath been raised from the abode of the sinful one. Glory be to God! Despite having no knowledge of the Divine Cause, they have arisen in opposition in a manner the like of which hath never been heard.
O Muhammad-Rida! Upon thee be the Glory of God, the Lord of Names, and upon thy father who attained unto the remembrance of God and the service of His firm and mighty Cause. We have remembered him in such wise that all that is on earth cannot equal it, as every discerning and knowing one doth testify. The Glory shining from the horizon of the heaven of My loving-kindness be upon thee and upon him and upon those whose names were mentioned in the Most Great Scene before God, the Lord of Destiny, Who hath come with manifest sovereignty.
BH07550: O friends of the True One! Certain souls…
In the Name of the All-Knowing Speaker!
O friends of the True One! Certain souls in the past, while outwardly in accord yet inwardly in discord, closed the door of divine mercy and opened the gates of idle fancies and vain imaginings to the faces of helpless servants. They adorned themselves with the garment of knowledge yet were accounted among the ignorant in the sight of God. Praise be to God that this Wronged One hath not associated with that group, and hath appeared with such proof and testimony that no fair-minded one can deny it. Today the very essence of proof crieth out amidst all creation, and the reality of testimony calleth, with most exalted utterance, all who dwell on earth to the shores of the sea of oneness. Yet the people remain heedless. This Wronged One counseleth thee to patience, calm and steadfastness in the Cause of God, exalted be His glory. Take what We have counselled thee and leave what the people possess. Thus doth the Mother Book command thee in this glorious and wondrous station.
BH07993: The Wronged One makes mention of him who has…
He is the All-Seeing, the All-Informed!
The Wronged One makes mention of him who has turned to God, the Single One, the All-Knowing, Who has come with the truth and revealed that which lay hidden in God’s knowledge, the Lord of all worlds. Earthquakes have appeared and the tribes have lamented, and the people are in manifest agitation. Say: Fear ye God and follow not every distant barking dog. Break the idols with the arm of certitude—this is better for you, if ye be of those who know. Verily the Truth hath come with authority from His presence while the people inquire about prophethood and the like. Say: Perdition betide you and those who follow the vain imaginings of the heedless ones. Say: Cast aside every barking dog and hearken unto that which the Divine Lote-Tree uttereth amidst the Concourse of Creation: Verily there is none other God but Me, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. This is the Day of God, were ye of those who know. None is mentioned therein save Him—to this testifieth he who hath with him a perspicuous Book. The glory be upon thee and upon those who have held fast to My firm cord.
BH03310: Praise be to God Who sent down the Book…
He is God—exalted be His station, the Glory and the Power!
Praise be to God Who sent down the Book and manifested through it that which guided people to the straight path. Verily He is the Single One Whom praise does not benefit nor blame harm, and He is the One Who praised Himself through oneness and singleness, and through power and might and grandeur and glory. And blessings and peace be upon the best of His creation and the Seal of His Prophets, through whom appeared the pearl of utterance from the ocean of knowledge and the lights of the Countenance shone forth from the horizon of possibility, and upon his family and companions, an abiding, abundant, eternal peace. My spirit be a sacrifice for your remembrance!
The servant has attained your letter and was gladdened by your words. We beseech God—our Lord and your Lord and the Lord of all the worlds—to draw us near to Him and ordain for us entry into His paradise whose breadth is as the breadth of His heaven and earth. As for what you mentioned regarding the matter of marriage, it was presented before the Countenance. The Intended One said: “This depends on the consent of both parties and the parents. We beseech Him, exalted be He, to bless them both and through them, and to send down His blessings upon them, and to ordain for them the good of the hereafter and of this world. Verily He is the Possessor of the throne and the dust.” At the end He said—may our spirits be a sacrifice for Him: “It behooveth whosoever desireth to enter into any matter to first hold fast to consultation and to act according to what appears therefrom, placing his trust in God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting.”
This evanescent one beseeches God his Lord to assist those who desire goodness and virtue and connection between His servants. Verily He is the Lord of all created things and the Protector of all possibilities, and He is the Powerful, the Munificent, the Bestower, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. And peace be upon your honor and upon your children and your family and those with you. And I beseech God to assist His loved ones in wisdom and to manifest through them that which will calm the fire of discord in all regions. Verily He is powerful over all things.
The servant, 12th of the blessed month of Ramadan 1301
BH01028: Praise, sanctified from the limitations of creation, befits…
He is God, exalted be His glory, the majesty and the power!
Praise, sanctified from the limitations of creation, befits and is worthy of that exalted Truth Who, through the wonders of His bounty and generosity, illumined the world with the lights of justice and guided it to the straight path which is the cause and means of preserving the peoples. He is the Omnipotent One Whom the armies of the world cannot weaken and the opposition of the idolaters cannot frighten. His will is supreme and His decree penetrating. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth. He is the Strong, the Dominant, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. And the prayer shining from the horizon of the grace of the Lord of eternity be upon the Lord of Nations and Master of the World, through Whom the Book was sealed and God’s promise of judgment’s return was fulfilled, and upon His family and companions whom God made the stars of the heaven of His knowledge and the moons of the horizons of His proof.
Glory be unto Thee, O Thou Who with the finger of Thy power didst rend the veils! I beseech Thee by Thy sovereignty, Thy might and Thy power to aid Thy resplendent Law and protect it from the idolaters among Thy servants and the deniers among Thy creatures. O Lord! Weakness hath seized the limbs of Thy party, and the vitals of Thy religion tremble at the onslaught of Thine enemies. I beseech Thee, O King of Kings and Merciful to the downtrodden, to send down from the heaven of Thy grace that which will exalt Thy Cause among Thy servants and raise the standards of Thy mention in Thy lands. O Lord! I implore Thee by the Manifestations of Thy Cause, the Daysprings of Thy revelation, and by the Seal of Thy Prophets and chosen ones, to protect him who hath clung to Thee and to the cord of obedience to Thee, who hath spoken Thy praise and glorification, and arisen to serve Thy Cause.
O Lord! Thou seest him clinging to Thee, hoping in Thy grace, and yearning for Thy nearness and meeting. O Lord! Deprive him not of the revelations of the light of Thy knowledge, and render him not deprived of the effulgences of the dawn of Thy favors. Make all his deeds and devotions as one devotion in Thy presence. This is what the sovereign of Thy chosen ones uttered in a prayer taught by the Lord of Thy Messengers:
“that all my deeds and devotions may become as one devotion, and in eternal service to Thee.”
O Lord! Protect him who hath entered the fortress of Thy security, then aid him who hath sought shelter beneath the shadow of Thy banner. Grant him pilgrimage to Thy Sacred House once again, and ordain for him that which shall profit him in the hereafter and in this world. There is no God but Thee, the Forgiving, the Generous.
O beloved of my heart! Verily my heart yearns to converse with thee, and my spirit loves to turn to thy face, though faces are indicated by thee and me. Yet the love of God with which we have been blessed cannot be indicated by the signs of the world. It speaks of true spiritual oneness—whoso attains unto this has attained unto the mysteries of the Books and the signs of the Scriptures. Blessed is the seeker who has found his Goal, and the searcher who has been honored with the presence of his Beloved. The longing and yearning of this servant is evident and clear. The One God is witness that at all times he wishes to make mention of that spiritual beloved, but due to the multitude of occupations and other matters, there is sometimes delay.
Yet heart-to-heart communications have, praise be to God, existed and continue to exist, [and nothing] has or will affect them. Thy letter was presented before His Countenance. He said that thou art adorned with a pleasing ornament and art confirmed and mentioned in all conditions. Whoso attains unto this has attained unto the Most Great Joy. Whoso is for God, God is for him. Praise be to God, thou art known and mentioned for pure deeds in God’s path. No harm comes to thee from incidental matters and unpleasing signs. What has been and is being said is an expression of love outwardly and inwardly in a station that changes not.
We counsel Nabil, upon him be My peace, to deal with kindness and affection toward the few souls who are in that land. They should in no wise take notice of words or deeds wherein opposition may be perceived, for they must become the reference point for all matters. However they deal with those few souls will be the cause of their own exaltation—no harm will ever return to them. I am among those who bear witness. Let them act in such a way that those few souls remain at peace. Man is ever prone to error, save him whom God protects. Forgiveness and overlooking are ever beloved before God. The purpose is that they should not engage in conflict with anyone in that land, so that gradually their love too may dawn and the foundation of thy business may be made firm.
Although in the outward world separation, parting and division have prevailed, yet by God’s grace the light of true nearness is not prevented by leagues and miles. This is of God’s bounty—He bestoweth it upon whomsoever He willeth. I beseech and implore Him to strengthen the light of nearness and to ordain outward meeting and reunion. He is powerful and mighty over all things. Indeed this time of separation from that beloved has had a great effect, a mighty effect. The servant asks his Lord to grant reunion after it. Verily He has power over all things.
The tools and implements sent for the garden arrived. Indeed much trouble has been taken. It is hoped that, God willing, through these implements success will be achieved for the garden and from that success an enduring fragrance will be diffused. In this case, this deed of that beloved will remain with him—that is, mention of it will, God willing, remain fixed and established in the book of the world.
I send greetings to the honored brother, Aqa Ghulam-Husayn, from whom every possessor of smell has found the fragrance of the garment, and I congratulate him and beseech the Exalted Truth to confirm him in attaining all that he hopes and seeks. May the manifest, evident and radiant peace shining from the horizon of divine favor be upon you and upon him and upon God’s righteous servants. Praise be to God, the Lord of the Worlds.
The servant 14 Ramadan 1301
BH00116: In the Name of our Lord, the Most Holy…
Section 1: “In the Name of our Lord, the Most…”
In the Name of our Lord, the Most Holy, the Most Great, the Most Ancient, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious
Praise, sanctified beyond word and meaning, is befitting and worthy of the most holy and most sacred threshold of the Lord of creation, Who, in these days when the darkness of oppression hath encompassed the world, guideth all to the straight path and the great announcement through the light of justice. He is the Omnipotent One Whom the ranks of misbelief cannot diminish His oneness, nor can the hosts of nations prevent Him from His Cause. He is able to cause the light of justice to shine forth from the darkness of oppression, and from a drop of corruption make manifest an ocean of reformation. Who can stand against Him and who can claim to know Him or draw nigh unto Him? Glory be unto Him! Glory be unto Him! We are all powerless.
Glorified art Thou, O Thou in Whose grasp are the reins of oppression and justice, and in Whose right hand are the reins of punishment and grace. I beseech Thee by the wafting of the breezes of Thy bounty and the flowing of the river of Thy mercy to aid Thy loved ones through Thy generosity and grace, and deliver them from the prison of those who have denied Thy truth and disputed Thy signs. O Lord! Thou seest and knowest that this servant desired to make mention of him who hath arisen to serve Thy Cause and circulated Thy laws throughout Thy lands. I beseech Thee, O Lord of the worlds, Who hath appeared through the Most Great Name, to assist him with true assistance and aid him with the hosts of Thy Cause. Then make him, O my God, to be honored through Thy glory and enkindled with the fire of Thy love in such wise that neither the howling of the people in Thy Day nor the clamor of Thy servants shall quench that which Thou hast willed through Thy power and might. There is none other God but Thee, the Omnipotent, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
O beloved of my heart! My delay hath been prolonged, and my patience and composure have exceeded moderation in a place where patience and composure are not befitting save by the command of God, the Manifest, the Evident, the Omnipotent, the Hidden. Great regret hath been occasioned, for this evanescent one hath not been able for some time to respond to the letters of that beloved of the heart. The cause and reason for this hath been the enkindling of the fire of oppression and corruption, and the lack of capacity among the servants. In truth, were one to reflect a little, utter amazement would result, for every soul hath been and is the recipient of manifold bounties and countless favors, such as hearing, sight, heart, understanding, and both outward and inward senses.
Nevertheless, they are seen as though dead. Most strange of all is that man observeth the changes and variations in the world, yet clingeth to that which is destined to perish, remaining heedless and deprived of the eternal and everlasting bounty. He hath not and cannot have assurance of life for even an hour, yet he maketh provision for generations and ages to come. I beseech God to grant true vision to the eyes, for these sights have yielded and yield no fruit. How many a blind one hath heard and turned unto God, attaining the lights of the Countenance after the passing away of all things, and how many a seeing one hath been deprived and forbidden from beholding with his eyes.
Glory be unto Him! Glory be unto Him! Verily, the Cause is in His hand, and success is in His grasp, and assistance is in His right hand. There is none other God but He, the Single, the One, the Ordainer, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
After observing and perusing the last letter of that spiritual beloved, which was adorned with the date of the twenty-ninth of Jamadiyu’th-Thani, I ascended to the heaven of inner meanings and presented it before His face. This is what the Tongue of Grandeur uttered, exalted be His utterance and magnified be His majesty:
In My Name, the All-Encompassing over all who are in earth and heaven
That which was mentioned and recorded in the Books of the past and since hath been made manifest, and the divine promises shine forth like unto light. Verily, He hath fulfilled what He promised in His Books, His Scriptures and His Tablets. And that which the Most Exalted Pen foretold in the Land of Mystery, the Land of Secret, and the Most Great Prison hath come to pass. The croaking from the land of Kaf and Ra hath been raised, and the clamor of the idolaters is heard like the buzzing of flies behind a veil. Glory be to God! Despite the clear text of the Primal Point stating that all is limited and known by My bidding and what was revealed in the Bayan—that the entire Bayan is but a leaf among the leaves of His Paradise, and that “I am the foremost of worshippers”—yet they have objected to the Truth Himself through the words of the Bayan, like unto the people of the Furqan. They fail to perceive that the knowledge of the Bayan is today with the Truth Himself, from Whom they should seek answers. Woe unto them and unto those who heard vain imaginings on this Day wherein God hath established His firm and mighty Cause.
They have abandoned the Mother Book and clung to their own desires through the book of perdition. Today the Mother Book calleth out before the faces of all people: O ye that slumber, arise! O ye that are heedless, become aware! Today the world is perfumed by the breezes of the dawn of revelation and illumined by the light of His countenance. Abandon the dawning-places of vain imaginings and break the idols of idle fancies with the arm of certitude. With pure hearts, sanctified breasts, penetrating vision and radiant faces, turn ye toward the shore of the ocean of knowledge.
Some among the people of the Bayan utter words that no ignorant one hath ever spoken. Say: O manifestations of doubts and idle fancies, fix your gaze upon this exalted Word, which is as the spirit of inner meanings unto the world of mystic knowledge. By God’s life, it sufficeth you, were ye to know. Let your movements and your stillness, your silence and your speech be by the will of your Lord, the Commander, the All-Wise. Say: O people of the Bayan, observe this blessed Word and act according to it. Today is God’s Day; the mention of aught else is not permissible. If ye seek verses, He is the Kingdom of verses, and if ye seek proofs, He is the Dawning-Place thereof. By God’s life! The Mother Book and the Mother Bayan appeared through Him, speak through Him, and circle round Him. Today all mention and deeds are dependent upon His acceptance and good-pleasure.
O thou who hast dawned from the horizon of certitude! Make the heedless aware and remind them of that which hath flowed from the Most Exalted Pen, that they may adorn themselves with the greatest steadfastness and be preserved from the craft of the deceitful ones. Some among the opposers appear in the guise of friendship, concealing lethal poison in sweet and delicate words. They appear with utmost craftiness and deceit, deprived of the fragrances of divine days and forbidden from hearing His Word. In truth, they have not comprehended a single word of His utterances nor fathomed the ocean of His meanings. On God’s Day they ask about general and specific prophethood—such words testify to the baseness and heedlessness of those souls.
A speaker and witness indeed! Convey greetings from this Wronged One to the friends of God who have quaffed the choice wine from the cup of the Self-Subsisting. Say: Today is the day for the manifestation of the essence of humanity. Strive that ye may succeed in performing deeds or uttering words worthy of God’s days. Ye have ever been and continue to be beneath the glances of loving-kindness. Know ye the value of this most exalted station and with the utmost joy and fragrance, give utterance to the praise of the Goal of all worlds—utterance that is a consuming fire unto the opposers among the people of the Bayan and a shining light unto the people of Baha. The glory shining from the horizon of the heaven of My mercy be upon thee and upon those with thee and upon those whom We have guided to My straight path.
The world hath been encompassed by the smoke of tyranny and oppression. It is observed that each day giveth birth to a fresh evil. Goodness is like unto the phoenix, and faithfulness hath been and shall continue to be the rarest of all things. O beloved of My heart! Diverse and conflicting patterns are witnessed. One who for fifty years, more or less, hath manifested the utmost friendship and love, suddenly without cause or reason riseth up in opposition, to such an extent that no enemy or oppressor hath ever shown such enmity. Another soul who hath dwelt for years beneath the shadow of favor and repeatedly been granted permission to return to his homeland, hath disobeyed, claiming this to be from exceeding love, while outwardly possessing wealth, honor and comfort; nevertheless he hath manifested such poison and exhibited such opposition that the pen is powerless to describe it. I beseech God, exalted be His glory, to illumine the world with the light of justice and deprive it not of the splendors of the sun of faithfulness. Indeed, thus must it be—both the people of the highest heaven circling round and the people of the lowest hell arising. The Cause is in God’s hands, our Goal and the Goal of all who are in the heavens and on earth.
Concerning what you wrote about the beloved of the heart, His Holiness H.—upon him be all the most glorious Glory—it brought great joy. Praise be to God, the magnet of grace caused gathering in the station of truthfulness and security, and in that blessed spot ye sat and spoke and listened, for God and in God and purely for His sake. Some time ago his letter arrived and specifically a detailed and extensive Tablet was revealed from the heaven of grace and sent. God willing, he will attain unto it and be illumined by the effulgent rays of the Sun of utterance.
Regarding what you wrote about his being forbidden to proceed to the lands of T. and M. and Kh., this is unquestionably true, for in those days the fire of hatred was aflame in those regions. However, should entry and arrival occur with wisdom, there is and hath been no harm. Even as was revealed by the Supreme Pen in the previous Tablet, according to the command that beloved one must also in all circumstances give precedence to wisdom and keep it in view, lest the clamor of those who have denied God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting, be raised.
Concerning what you had written about teaching and directing attention to certain regions, this is exactly right and an issue that cannot be left unanswered, for some time ago this matter was repeatedly heard from the Tongue of Grandeur, and this servant, according to His command, wrote to some of the friends that steadfast and well-established souls should direct their attention to certain regions. The outlying areas of Fars are necessary, for in some of the cities and villages there are receptive souls, and likewise in the Land of Ya and its dependencies. However, they must proceed with the utmost wisdom, for if they become known by this name at first, the people will avoid them and the purpose will not be achieved. The same applies to the regions of Kaf and Ra. But the souls who are sent must be adorned with spiritual qualities, goodly deeds, and complete detachment. After this matter was presented, He said:
“Well spoken is he who sought Me and attained My presence and My favor and My mercy.”
In all cases they should consult and act accordingly.
The honored and beloved Amin, upon him be the Glory of God and His favors, has mentioned your honor in several letters, as have friends from the land of Kha and other regions. In truth they have shown and continue to show complete sincerity and kindness toward the chosen ones of God. At this time he has turned toward the Seat of the Goal of all worlds, and after his presence, this is what the Tongue of Grandeur spoke:
O servant in attendance! Write to him who bears the name of the Most Truthful, upon them both be My loving-kindness, My mercy and My grace. Tell the friends not to be saddened by the oppression of oppressors and the heedlessness of the heedless. By the life of God! The entire world before the presence of the Ancient Beauty is and has been as a handful of dust, and the clamor of all is like the buzzing of a fly compared to the Call of God. Today the fire of the Divine Lote-Tree is ablaze and the lights of His countenance are manifest and radiant. With perfect unity and harmony, they must arise to educate the peoples of the world. Death is decreed for all, and the passing and transformation of the world is evident and visible. Those souls who have attained eternal life through the breezes of the divine days and the dawning lights of the morn of inner meanings must arise in the name of God, glorified be His majesty, to quicken the people of the world and offer them the choice sealed wine that flows from the source of the Self-Subsisting Name.
The Supreme Pen bears witness to those upright souls who, in the days of the greatest turmoil, summoned the people to the highest horizon. The clamor of the divines and the croaking of the jurists did not prevent them nor deprive them of the fragrances of the Cause. We beseech God to inflame all through His grace and favor and guide them to the straight path.
O thou who hast turned to My horizon and who standeth in service to My Cause! Hearken unto My call from the direction of My prison. By My life! I have accepted the oppression of the world, its tyranny and tribulations that God’s Cause might be exalted among His servants and the fragrance of His raiment might be diffused throughout His lands. Blessed is the seeing one who hath attained to witnessing, and the hearing one who hath been honored to hearken to the call of God, the Lord of creation, before Whom the Spirit doth cry out, while the Beloved is above His head, and the Friend is at His right, and at His left are the tribes of the Supreme Concourse, speaking and bringing glad tidings of that which hath appeared, gleamed forth, shone and brightened—that which was hidden in knowledge and concealed in the Books of God, the Lord of the seen and the unseen, and the Lord of all worlds.
O friends of God! Beware lest the affairs of men sadden you or prevent you from the Truth. Set aside what they possess, holding fast to that which hath been sent down from God, the Mighty, the Great. Aid your Lord through the hosts of wisdom and utterance. This is what ye were commanded before and in this exalted station. The glory shining from the horizon of the heaven of My dominion be upon you and upon them and upon those whom the hosts of the world did not weaken nor the clamor of the nations frighten in this Cause, before which all things prostrated themselves when it appeared, and the Tongue of Grandeur spoke forth in the most exalted Paradise: “The promise hath come and the Promised One hath appeared,” and the One Who conversed upon Sinai, Who was mentioned in the tablets of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise, doth speak.
God, exalted be His glory, is witness and aware that this servant has not forgotten and will not forget the days of association and presence, and beseeches God to ordain that which is the cause of the expansion of the breast, the brightening of the eyes, and the illumination of the heart—and that is the gathering of the friends beneath the blessed Lote-Tree. With the generous, nothing is difficult. It is hoped that the horizon of hope will be illumined and the prayer will be answered. Verily our Lord, the All-Merciful, is the Powerful, the Supreme, the Self-Subsisting.
As to what was written regarding meeting with the beloved spiritual one, his honor Asad, upon him be the Most Glorious Glory of God, and likewise the honored beloved, his honor Amin, upon him be the Glory of God, Lord of the worlds, for consultation—this matter was submitted and this most exalted word shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of will, His exalted Word: “Excellent is what he intended,” for from such meetings the fragrances of love are diffused and the effulgences of the lights of oneness become manifest, “and in gathering together are signs for those who seek the face of their Lord, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.” The essence of what was stated is that the attention of assured souls who are focused on wisdom to cities and villages has been and is acceptable. I beseech God to assist all to that which has been and is the cause of exalting the sovereign Word.
Section 2: “Regarding what was written about his honor Fa’iz…”
Regarding what was written about his honor Fa’iz, upon him be the Glory of God and His favors—this was submitted. Thus did the Tongue of Grandeur speak:
“We have ordained for him a great good in the Book and commanded him to that whereby his mention shall endure throughout the kingdom of earth and heaven.”
The world has had and has no worth, and its people no faithfulness, whether children or others, as has been and is witnessed, save whom God willeth. A deed that appears today by God’s leave and is adorned with the ornament of acceptance is better and more acceptable than a hundred thousand effects and children. The Command is in God’s hand—He doeth and decreeth as He pleaseth, and He is the Commander, the All-Wise. Praise be to God, he has been and is successful, as testified by what was revealed for him in the Scriptures and Tablets. As commanded, a brief note was written separately—it would be beloved if sent to him, as the fragrance of divine favor, kindness and bounties emanates therefrom, that his heart may rejoice through the grace of God, Lord of the worlds.
Regarding what you wrote about the Huquq amount of 44 tumans which was given to that beloved one to deliver and which that beloved one spent—this matter was submitted to the Most Holy and Most Exalted Court and was honored with acceptance and approval. Well done to you!
And regarding what was previously written about nearly 100 tumans of Huquq being with some of the friends who await instruction about its receipt and remittance—this matter too was submitted. As commanded, what that beloved one has spent is agreeable and acceptable, and the remainder should either be delivered to his honor K.Z., upon him be the Glory of God, in the Green Land, or to his honor S.M., upon him be the Glory of God, in the land of Q. And if sent elsewhere it is also acceptable. Blessed are those souls who have paid the Huququ’llah and acted according to what is in the Book.
And regarding what was written about his honor Aqa Mirza Mas’ud, upon him be the Glory of God, and his offering (saffron)—they had written from the land of Ha. This evanescent servant beseeches and hopes that God may grant success to him and the other friends that all may arise to serve the Cause as befits it and them. The payment of Huquq is firmly established in God’s Book. For certain years its collection was forbidden, then later, in view of certain benefits and the arrangement of certain necessary matters, its collection was commanded. Verily He is the Commander, the Compassionate, the Forgiving, the Generous.
As mentioned has been made of souls who are adorned with the ornament of steadfastness, this matter was presented before the countenance of the Ancient King. For each name, a verse was revealed from the heaven of God’s will, that they might be blessed with the special favors of God, exalted be His glory, and be immersed in the ocean of joy. This is what God hath sent down from the kingdom of His utterance, as a token of His grace unto His servants. He, verily, is the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous. His blessed and exalted Word:
O ʿAli! We have witnessed and do witness that thou hast turned toward the Most Sublime Horizon and hast quaffed the Choice Wine that was sealed, whose seal was broken by My Most Self-Subsisting Name, and hast hastened unto the Dawning-Places of remembrance out of love for God, the One, the Chosen One.
O Muhammad! The Wronged One remembereth thee in this month which hath been named Ramadan by the All-Merciful, with a remembrance through which the ocean of utterance hath surged, the sun of knowledge hath shone forth, and the dove of certitude hath warbled upon the branches. There is none other God but He, the Mighty, the All-Bestowing.
And We make mention of him who was named Mirza Muhammad, that joy and gladness might seize him from the direction of My Most Glorious Name, in such wise that he may soar with the wings of knowledge in this atmosphere from whose rushing winds the sincere ones hear that there is none other God but He, the One, the Single, the Protector of all who are in the earth and the heavens.
O Muhammad-Husayn! The Wronged One hath turned toward thee when the opposers rose against Him with swords of tyranny and oppression, and when the divines of the earth and its jurists turned away from Him—they who violated the Covenant of God, the Lord of lords.
O Kazim! We have remembered thee with that which shall never lose its fragrance. To this testify the Concourse on High and the dwellers of the Cities of Names, and beyond them all things, and beyond them the Tongue of God in the most exalted station.
The Wronged One maketh mention of him who was named Muhammad: O Shaykh! Hearken unto the Call from the Divine Lote-Tree beyond the Ocean of Grandeur. By God’s life! Through it every believer hath hastened unto God, the Creator of heaven, and every one who hath turned toward the Most Sublime Horizon, and every thirsty one unto the Kawthar of eternity, and every poor one unto the Dawning-Place of riches, and every ailing one unto the Ocean of healing, and every silent one unto the Kingdom of God’s utterance, the Lord of all men.
O Muhammad-Taqi! That which We foretold the servants in the Kaf and Ra hath come to pass. It behooveth every one who hath turned toward God to read what We have revealed in Our Most Holy Book which hath been named “The Most Holy” by God’s will, the Revealer of verses.
O ʿAziz! Blessed art thou for God hath aided thee to recognize the ocean of His knowledge, the heaven of His wisdom, the sun of His Cause, and His Wine whose seal was broken by the finger of power.
And We make mention of ʿAbdu’l-Husayn and counsel him and those who have believed to be steadfast and to observe that which they have been commanded by God, the Lord of the Beginning and the End. And We seal these verses with thy mention. Blessed art thou and blessed is My Most Truthful Name who soared on wings of longing until he entered the Most Great Prison and visited the House and stood before the Door and heard what the Speaker of Sinai uttered and beheld what most of the servants were debarred from. We have made mention of him in the Tablets with that which the treasures of the earth cannot equal. To this testifieth He Who speaketh at this moment that there is none other God but Me, the One, the Chosen One.
At the end of that beloved one’s letter was seen the handwriting of His Holiness the beloved Mirza H-Y, upon him be the Most Glorious Beauty of God. Praise be to God, the letter was sealed with two seals. After reading and learning of its contents, it was presented in the Most Holy, Most Exalted Presence, and after permission was granted, it attained the honor of being heard, and a most mighty and wondrous Tablet was revealed from the heaven of Will. By command of His Holiness the Most Great Branch—may my spirit, my being, and my essence be sacrificed for the dust of His footsteps—it was written and sent. God willing, may the people of the world perceive its fragrance and not remain deprived of this greatest bounty. Some time ago, this evanescent one sent a letter to their presence; God willing, it has arrived by now.
Mention was made of certain steadfast women, upon them be the Glory of God. One by one they were mentioned in the Most Holy, Most Exalted Presence and attained the favors of God, exalted be His glory. Blessed are they, joy be unto them, and glad tidings be unto them, for they have attained that which pure essences and sanctified hearts have sought and yearned for.
Some time ago His Holiness the honored and revered brother, the Hakim (R), upon him be the Glory of God and His favors, set out for that direction. Specifically for some of the aforementioned steadfast women, wondrous and exalted Tablets were revealed and sent. I beseech God that they may attain unto them and engage as befits them in the mention and praise of the Peerless Friend.
And regarding what was written about turning towards this direction with family, it was presented before the Face. This is what the Tongue of Grandeur spoke:
“O thou who gazest toward My horizon and standeth in service to Me! The incident in the land of Ta has somewhat affected this land as well, and certain discussions have arisen. Glory be to God! All atoms testify to the tranquility, steadfastness, justice and fairness of God’s loved ones, but the corrupt ones observe their own reflection in things. They are debarred and deprived of the ocean of divine favor and the effulgences of the Sun of Truth. And apparently the authorities of that land have written to the authorities of the great city concerning this Prisoner that which was born of suspicion and fancy. Verily thy Lord knoweth that they know not. Therefore the pause of those in authority is in God’s hand, the Lord of all mankind.”
End quote.
This evanescent one’s submission is that to those divine friends who have drunk from the Kawthar of faithfulness and are gazing toward the Most Exalted Horizon, I offer greetings and glorification to each one. Whenever that honored one meets with them, as proxy for this evanescent servant, remind them all of this supreme utterance which flowed from the blessed Pen of the Primal Point—may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for Him. His blessed and exalted Word is:
“And I have written a gem concerning His remembrance, and it is that He shall not be indicated by My indication, nor by what was mentioned in the Bayan. By the life of my Beloved and your Beloved!”
If a soul were to drink a drop from the ocean of meanings of this utterance which has appeared from the Dayspring of the Will of the All-Merciful, all of the Bayan and its people would be powerless to prevent him, and he would testify with absolute certainty that the purpose of the First Call was a glad tiding from God, that those near and sincere ones might become aware and purify the path from thorns and weeds. If the divine loved ones were to preserve this all-encompassing Word upon the mirror of the heart, all the people of the Bayan would be unable to speak in their presence, let alone beyond that. It is hoped that the friends will receive blessings from your breaths and be illumined by the lamp of your utterance.
In further submission, let any of the kindred, both male and female, be mentioned through this servant’s representation according to what they deem worthy. Peace and glory and splendor, then spirit and majesty and praise be upon you and upon those who love you for the sake of God, the Lord of all worlds, and praise be to our Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.
The servant 15th Ramadan 1301
Glory be to God! After concluding, it was observed that the initial decree was not completed. Among the wondrous and exalted Tablets that were specifically revealed from the heaven of grace for his honor Ibn-i-Fa’iz and some of the noble khans—upon him and them be the glory of God—were not presented. Likewise, the mention of that beloved one’s entreaty on behalf of some of the divine loved ones was not made. In any case, this servant again ascended to the supreme height, and after attaining the presence, mention was made of the aforementioned souls who were honored to attain the grace of listening, and all were blessed through divine favor with that which diffuses the fragrance of eternity. His blessed and exalted Word:
In My Name, the Mighty, the Generous
O Husayn! Today this blessed word was heard from the rustling of the Divine Lote-Tree:
“The Possessor has come and the kingdom belongs to God, the Supreme, the Self-Subsisting.”
Praise be to God, thou hast attained to the hearing of the divine call on a day when those who waited were found to be turning away, and those who hoped were heedless and veiled. The grievous and major misdeeds of the people of the world have deprived them from the most great bounty, save whom thy Lord willeth. Verily thou hast attained on this day to another Tablet and to these verses sent down from the heaven of thy Ancient Lord’s favor.
O My Most Exalted Pen! Make mention of him who is named Kazim and give him the glad-tidings of My remembrance of him from this station which hath been named the heaven of this heaven in My Most Great Tablet.
We make mention of him who is named Mihdi and give him the glad-tidings of what We have sent down for him in another Tablet from the verses of his Lord, and We remember him at this time with a remembrance that would move every mouldering bone.
O Rajab! Praise be to God, the blessed Ramadan has come to an end and Shawwal has come, calling:
“O people! Seize the opportunity in the days of God and be not of the heedless ones!”
O Ishaq! The Lord of all horizons makes mention of thee—He through Whom appeared the decree of the Covenant on the Day of Separation—and gives thee glad-tidings through this remembrance by which God created the world and guided the peoples to His straight path.
O Pen! Turn thy face toward him who was moved with rapture when the spheres of utterance were stirred by the breezes of thy Lord the All-Merciful’s revelation, and say: Blessed is the stranger who recognized his homeland, and the existent one who knew his Dawning-Place, and he of spirit who attained unto the Word of God, the Lord of all worlds.
O Shahvirdi! The Wronged One makes mention of thee while seated upon the Throne and calls all unto God, the Peerless, the All-Informed.
O son of My Name! Upon thee be My glory and My loving-kindness. We have mentioned every name thou didst mention with that which cannot be equaled by all the trees of the world and their fruits, nor the wealth of the rich, nor the treasuries of kings and rulers. Give thanks unto God for this bounty and counsel My servants with wisdom and utterance, lest the cawing of those who have denied the All-Merciful be raised. Verily thy Lord is the Expositor, the All-Knowing. The glory shining forth from the horizon of the heaven of My loving-kindness be upon thee and upon those whom thou didst mention and who have attained unto the bounty of God, the Mighty, the Great.
O beloved of my heart! It was mentioned that the letter had been sealed with two musk seals. Praise be to God that it was blessed with a third, despite the enemies and as a bounty to the loved ones. One must reflect upon the grace and bounty of the True One, exalted be His glory. Upon the mere presence and presentation of the wondrous and exalted verses, once again they were revealed. By the life of our Lord! None can reckon His bounty. To this testifieth every fair-minded and discerning soul. Glory and praise, peace and the spirit of mercy be upon you and upon those who love you for the sake of God, our Lord and your Lord, our Goal and your Goal, and the Goal of all who are in the heavens and on earth. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.
The servant 19th of the honored month of Shawwal, 1301
In these days and before, petitions arrived from the Land of Kha. Until now no reply had been sent, and in these days some exalted and holy Tablets were revealed in response to various petitions that had reached the Most Holy Court, and replies to some of the letters sent were dispatched. The purpose is to inform your honor. This evanescent one beseeches the True One to give all to drink from the ocean of His utterance and to bestow upon them a complete portion, for whosoever attaineth unto this, neither the opposition of the people of the world nor the might of nations shall prevent them from the True One, exalted be His glory. Again, glory be upon you and upon them.
BH11703: Praise be to God Who hath sent down water…
In the Name of our Most Holy, Most Great, Most Exalted, Most Glorious Lord.
Praise be to God Who hath sent down water from the heaven of utterance and hath quickened thereby His servants, and Who hath sent unto them the Messengers and revealed unto them the Books that they might recognize the straight Path of God and His firm and mighty Command. But when the Call was raised among them they denied it and turned away therefrom, save those who held fast to the Sure Handle and clung to the hem of the robe of grace and bounty. And blessings and peace and mercy and glory and praise and salutations be upon the loved ones of God and His chosen ones who have arisen to serve Him in His lands and to exalt His Word among His servants.
And now, to be brief—for God is my witness that time has become as narrow as the eye of a needle—I shall write what is necessary. Your second letter has arrived, though previously an extensive Tablet had already been sent down from the heaven of the favor of the Desired One of the worlds, specifically addressed to you, along with the Tablets you had requested. Surely these must have reached you by now. I beseech God, exalted be His glory, and implore Him to protect His loved ones and preserve them from the croaking of the croakers, the clamor of the heedless, and the schemes of the plotters. Verily He is powerful over all things and worthy to answer prayers.
The Cause is most great, and whatsoever shall come to pass in these days shall likewise be great. I beseech and implore God to give all to drink of the Kawthar of steadfastness, in such wise that should the whole world become the embodiment of utterance or the essence of knowledge, it would not prevent them from the Truth. The croaking is raised up in all regions and may well appear from the Land of the Desired One also. This is what I heard with mine own ears from the Tongue of Grandeur and Power. But the knights in the field of steadfastness cannot be deterred by the hosts of the world, nor can what they possess constitute a barrier.
A letter arrived from the Green Land from our honored master, His Honor Aqa Muhammad-Kazim, upon him be the glory of God and His favors, wherein he made mention of that spiritual friend. Likewise our honored master, His Honor Amin, upon him be the glory of God, the Lord of the worlds, repeatedly mentioned you during the days he attained the presence, especially one day when he spoke of you in the presence. Praise be to God that you are the recipient of the favors of the Desired One of the worlds. This evanescent servant beseeches and implores God, exalted and glorified be He, to ever assist and confirm you and keep you safe beneath the shade of the Tree of Grace.
Furthermore, I convey greetings and salutations to the friends in that land. Your deed is acceptable before God, exalted be His glory. One day these supreme words were heard from the Mouth of the Will of the Lord of all beings, exalted and mighty be His utterance:
“O servant present! His Honor ʿAli-Akbar has long been occupied with serving the Cause. We have heard what he hath spoken, and We do hear and see, for We are the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. This time too he hath set out at the behest of the Afnan of the Blessed Tree. Blessed is he and blessed are those with him and his brothers. Give him these glad tidings from Me that he may rejoice and be of the thankful ones. Verily his reward is with his Lord, the All-Bountiful, the All-Generous.”
Praise be to God! Time and again they have been blessed with mention of the Beloved of the worlds, and permission has already been granted. If wisdom requireth it, they may turn thereto—there hath been and is no harm in this. This is yet another glad-tiding. Should they write to the Land or anything else, this servant should convey special greetings from me to the friends of God, particularly to His Holiness the Trustee, upon him be the glory of God. The intention is that this servant hath made mention of them and continueth to do so, and beseecheth God, exalted be His glory, to grant them success.
As to what they wrote regarding the known sum that was lost, the loss thereof falleth upon His Holiness the Afnan, upon him be all the most glorious glory. After this word was presented before the Throne, the Supreme Pen stated:
“In this Most Great Revelation, the Supreme Pen hath made mention of them as being among the Afnan in the Crimson Book and other Tablets. In this case no loss shall fall upon them; nay, rather, there is gain upon gain, and wealth upon wealth. Soon shall they witness the effulgences of the lights of the Sun of bounty.”
End quote.
This evanescent servant beseecheth God to assist them in that which is befitting, in such wise that they may be observed to be ever more enkindled in the Cause of God and in service unto it. Yet, by the life of our Beloved! from the beginning until now they have stood firm and remain firm. The Supreme Pen hath testified to what I have submitted; therefore the testimony of this mere nonentity is and was pure nothingness. Once again I convey greetings and glorification to all the friends in that land. Glory and praise and glorification be upon you and upon those who are with you among the loved ones of God, and upon those who have quaffed the sealed wine from the hand of the bounty of our Lord, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. And praise be to God, the Possessor of what was and what shall be.
BH02372: Praise be to Him Who is unique in grandeur…
He is God, exalted be His glory, the Grandeur and Power
Praise be to Him Who is unique in grandeur and singular in mercy and compassion. And blessings and peace be upon the best of creation and possessor of the praiseworthy station in the hereafter, through whom prophethood was sealed, and upon his family and companions, through whom the standard was planted and the banners were raised, and the dove sang upon the branch of eloquence and rhetoric. Verily there is no God but Him, the Single, the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
May my spirit be a sacrifice for your steadfastness, your love and your service. Your esteemed letter has opened one of the gates of inner meanings, for from it wafts the fragrance of the love of the Beloved of the worlds, and from it appear the pearls of the ocean of affection. The pearls of this ocean know no diminution. Every day and every moment, the mysteries hidden within the shell of utterance become manifest through the command of the All-Merciful. Glorified be the Creator Who has aided the Afnan and adorned them with the most glorious raiment. The servant indeed praises Him, thanks Him and extols Him for this bounty that has no equal in all creation. Exalted be the All-Merciful, the Ordainer of every bounty and Bestower of every good thing, Who honors that which cannot be weighed in the balance of the world or of nations. Verily He is the Lord of eternity, there is no God but Him, the Forgiving, the Merciful.
Regarding what was written in your esteemed letter that one of the two stars, upon them be 966 [Baha’u’llah], the Most Glorious, has requested to accompany your honor: It was presented before His presence and according to His command, nine pieces of paper of equal size and two other pieces different from those nine were prepared. They were instructed to write the name of each one and mix them together, then place a cloth over them and draw out the papers one by one. He said that whoever’s name comes out first may accompany you, and whoever is delayed must hold fast to patience, for God is with those who are patient.
O my Afnan! We send greetings upon the Greater Afnan and upon you and upon the other Afnan and the leaves of the Divine Lote-Tree. Upon you and upon them be the peace of God, the Lord of the worlds.
This evanescent servant presents his utter nothingness and evanescence to the honored gentlemen. To the beloved and honored presence of his excellency Jud I convey greetings and glorification. This lowly one had intended to submit something to his presence but due to pressure of work was not successful this time. God willing, at the next opportunity this servant will arise to make up for what was missed, for God aids His servants and He is the Powerful, the Mighty. Similarly, greetings are conveyed to the beloved of the heart, his excellency Muhammad Mustafa. Praise and peace be upon you.
BH01187: How befitting and worthy of praise is the Glorious…
He is God, exalted is He in might and power
How befitting and worthy of praise is the Glorious One, who created the world through a word and adorned it through a word. He is the Mirror that reflects the Most Beautiful Names and Supreme Attributes. Blessed is the one who recognizes and clings to them, and woe unto him who remains heedless of them. Prayers and peace be upon the First Point from which all Books were differentiated, the First Mention to which all Messengers held fast, the First Light by which the world was illumined, and the Last Command which was adorned with the mention of the Seal, and upon His family and companions through whom the chalice of unity was passed round and the decree of detachment was made manifest, through whom laws and traditions were spread abroad and the Cause became evident in secret and in public.
I present that the letter of that beloved one which was previously sent brought joy to the heart and delight to the spirit. Praise be to God! The river of love flows in His name among the friends, and the rains of kindness pour from the cloud of grace. How can this tongue adequately make mention of this, or be worthy of praise? The world is powerless to describe Him, for He, exalted be His glory, is known through naught else but Himself and is not described by the mention of aught besides Him. Exalted be His station, His sovereignty, and His remembrance!
And after the reading thereof and becoming apprised, attention was turned toward that lofty station and the details were submitted. The Sun of favor shone forth, and the billows of the sea of grace appeared. My tongue is wholly incapable of recounting this station, and my pen powerless to set down what hath been revealed through His decisive and irrevocable utterance. I beseech and hope of the True One—glorified be His glory—that He may gather together the scattered word, and adorn its letters with the vesture of unity. He is, verily, the Able, the Omnipotent.
As to the mention you made of the spiritual beloved, Aqa Mirza Mustafa—upon him be the Glory of God—I implore of the Munificent, the Generous, that He may adorn him with perfect health and grant him success in serving the Cause. In very truth, the fruit of his existence hath been, and still is, this.
In all circumstances we seek divine confirmation and make supplication. Verily He is the All-Bountiful, the All-Generous. I convey greetings to His Eminence, the honored one, and the other gentlemen. Likewise to the beloved of heart and soul, Aqa Muhammad Mustafa, upon him be the peace of God, and the other friends who are illumined by the light of piety and engaged in the remembrance of the Lord of all beings. And likewise to the leaf of the family, upon her be the glory of God, and to the delight of eyes Badi’ Effendi and the Ridvaniyyih leaf, upon them both be the glory of God. I remember them with goodly remembrance and beseech God, exalted be His glory, for their well-being, might and exaltation. Peace be upon you and upon the sincere servants of God, and praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.
Again praise be to God, again praise be to God, again praise be to God for the wondrous bounty and the table sent down from the heaven of kindness and unity, upon which was inscribed the royal signature of the name of the All-Bountiful, upon him be the glory of God, the Lord of creation. When it was opened, another fragrance was found indicating the first. We praised God for this and thanked Him for its arrival and advent, and its glad tidings of your health, your acceptance, your mention and your thoughts, your humility and your submissiveness, and all your deeds for God, the Lord of the worlds.
The letters of that true loved one have truly been and continue to be a source of physical exhilaration and spiritual joy. Yesterday I troubled you with some worthless words, and now I venture this brief note. Indeed, brevity is most fitting and appropriate in all circumstances. I have beseeched and continue to beseech the Self-Sufficient Lord for confirmation and success for that beloved one, for verily He is the Answerer.
Regarding what you wrote about the Friend, this is most clear and evident. Whatever this servant submits, that beloved one accepts with utmost grace, especially if it pertains to the station that has no station. At present, expediency requires it here, and in delay there is no harm, rather in delay there is prosperity and clear signs. As commanded, it was delayed. I beseech God to make that beloved one the center of all services, and in truth they have been and are.
At this moment, as this letter was nearing completion, the letter of his honor Muhammad Mustafa (upon him be the peace of God, the Lord of Names), which had been written previously by the beloved of the heart, his honor Qasim (upon him be the peace of God), arrived bearing news of their health and well-being. This is glad tidings that gives the cup of joy to the friends and the chalice of tribulation to the enemies. I beseech God, exalted be His glory, to replenish these two cups, for verily He has power over all things.
I convey greetings to them—greetings which God, exalted be His glory, renders free from tests. Likewise to his honor Jasim. God willing, may they remain under the shade of the divine Lote-Tree, safe, at rest, with gladdened eyes, refreshed in body, and light in spirit. I convey greetings to his honor Husayn Effendi and to all those of insight, and I beseech God, exalted be His glory, for protection. Peace be upon you, and the mercy of God, and His blessings.
BH01769: Praise be to the One Who is worthy…
He is God, exalted be His station, the Greatness and the Power!
Praise be to the One Who is worthy and deserving, Who has sanctified the world through the word “No” and guided it to the city of “Except,” Who has adorned the foreheads of the believers with the seal of the blessed words “There is no God but God.” This seal is inscribed in the Mother Book yet hidden from all eyes and sight. The Manifestation of this divine treasure and heavenly secret was the King of Prophets and Goal of the saints—He through whom the idols of desire were shattered and traces of misbelief and transgression were erased, and through whom the light of unity shone forth among all peoples. Upon Him be the blessings of God, the Lord of Names and Creator of Heaven, and upon His family and companions through whom the gate of piety was opened to all created things, through whom the throne of manifestation was established and the Dove of Utterance warbled upon the Mount: “Verily there is no God but Him, the Kind, the Forgiving.”
Thereafter, the letter of that honored friend arrived. Praise be to God, the fragrance of love for the Beloved of the worlds emanated from it and the light of recognition shone from its horizon. Praise be to God that you are adorned with the ornament of health and occupied with the remembrance of God, exalted be His glory. This evanescent servant beseeches God that He may assist and enable you to serve Him. Verily He is the Hearing, the Responding One.
After being presented before Him, the Tongue of Utterance spoke thus:
“Praise be to God, you have attained to that which was mentioned and recorded in the divine Books. We beseech God to assist you in preserving it. You have been and are remembered before the Wronged One. Your call was heard and your letter was seen. God willing, you will ever be assisted in that which is acceptable unto God. We have mentioned you before with a mention through which the fragrance of My loving-kindness was diffused. Give thanks unto God, your Lord and the Lord of the worlds. We beseech Him to send down upon you a blessing from His presence and to protect and guard you. Verily He is the Powerful, the Mighty.”
The bounty of His grace is present and the table of His loving-kindness is visible. His glances of mercy and grace have ever been and continue to be directed towards His friends and those who circle round His Cause.
The honored Afnans—upon them be God’s peace—have arrived and attained His presence. They mentioned what they deemed advisable regarding your affairs, and the beloved and honored Haji—upon him be God’s peace—submitted a detailed account which was approved. Consultation in matters is most beloved, and acting upon it after a decision emerges has ever been and continues to be the cause of blessing and good. That spiritual friend has also been and continues to be mentioned in the presence of the Afnans—upon them be God’s peace. Praise be to God, the horizons are illumined with the light of love and adorned with the light of unity and harmony, and all are resting and dwelling beneath the Lote-Tree of grace. These manifest bounties surely attract all the good things and blessings of the world.
Today, being Saturday, they sent the letter that was sent to his honor Afnan—upon him be God’s peace. It was presented and He said to act according to what was deemed advisable. We beseech God to grant them good and blessing. Verily He is the Bountiful, the Generous. However, in all matters they must observe wisdom and not accept claims from any soul merely on the basis of assertion. With perfect joy and fragrance, trusting in God and committing all to Him, they should proceed.
This lowly one also beseeches blessing and bounty for you. Verily our Lord, the Most Merciful, is the Giver, the Bestower, the Forgiving, the Compassionate. Peace be upon you and God’s mercy and blessings.
The servant 1 Shawwal 1301
BH02249: Praise be to God Who assisted us to fast…
He is God, exalted be His glory, the Greatness and the Power
Praise be to God Who assisted us to fast in the month of standing, wherein people arose to worship God, glorified be His majesty. We have fasted by His command and broken our fast by His leave, and He has completed for us the two flowing bounties—the bounty of fasting and the table of breaking fast. And prayers and peace be upon him through whom Yathrib was honored and the Hijaz smiled—verily he is the Lord through whom God’s power was manifested throughout the lands and among the servants—and upon his family and companions who aided the Faith, holding fast to God’s mighty cord, and through them the text of the world was adorned with the beauty of commandments and laws, and the faces of nations with the light of His knowledge in the beginning and the end.
And thereafter, the handwriting of that spiritual beloved brought joy to the heart and increased the vision’s insight. This heavenly table strengthens the spirit and expands the breast. I beseech and hope from God that this bounty may ever be bestowed and draw the friends to the ocean of joy. In truth, that beloved has been and is troubled by hardship—would that it were from common hardships, but rather they have been necessary, complex, weighty and difficult hardships. However that beloved does not acknowledge or admit to the hardship, for every burden has been and is made light through love. It is love that has opened paths and unlocked doors. In an instant it traverses the East and West of the world. It is the sign of the Ancient among nations. I beseech God, exalted be His glory, not to deprive any from the ocean of His love and to enable all to attain the highest station, which is the station of recognizing His sacred Essence. He is the Powerful, the Mighty. There is no God but Him, the Commander, the All-Informed.
Furthermore, in all conditions I beseech and hope that that beloved and those with him will proceed to the ultimate destination in perfect health and well-being, so that we may attain to meeting, which is the greatest of God’s bounties, glorified be His majesty, and under the shade of His blessed Tree offer thanks and praise. Surely he will soon grant this request. He is the Powerful and Mighty. As for what was written about the health of the spiritual beloved, Aqa Mirza Mustafa, upon him be God’s peace—complete joy was attained. I beseech God to restore him to permanent health and complete well-being. Verily He has power over all things. To his eminence the great Afnan and those circling round His presence I convey my nothingness and beseech God to transform the days of separation into reunion. And likewise I send greetings to the beloved of the heart, Aqa Muhammad Mustafa, upon him be God’s peace. The peace shining forth from the horizon of God’s loving-kindness be upon you and those with you.
BH00699: The verses have been sent down and the clear…
In the name of our Lord, the Most Holy, the Most Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious!
The verses have been sent down and the clear proofs have appeared, and the gate of the prison was opened after a numbered span of years, even as was foretold by the Lord of Eternity when the Seat of the Throne was established in the prison of ʿAkka. Every learned one, every seeing one, and every fair-minded one beareth witness to the appearance of that which was uttered in the Book of God and His Tablets that were revealed aforetime. Blessed is he who hath read and recognized and testified, and woe unto every heedless one who hath denied that which hath appeared from God, the Lord of all worlds.
In truth, neither pen is capable of recording nor tongue of expressing that which hath come to pass. With utmost clarity hath it been revealed in God’s Book, and yet all remain heedless save those whom God hath aided. In the early days, the meaning of this blessed verse which He had previously revealed became manifest: “Everything is perishable save His Face.” This finite one existeth while all else is perishing and non-existent, as attested by His exalted Word: “All that is thereon is perishable, and there remaineth but the face of thy Lord, the All-Glorious, the Most-Bountiful.”
Glory be unto Thee, O God of existence and Lord of the seen and unseen! Thou seest and knowest what hath befallen Thy loved ones at the hands of those who have denied all that hath appeared from Thee, and whose riches have so occupied them that they have cast behind their backs Thy Book, violated Thy Covenant, and disputed Thy verses. O Lord! Aid those who have entered prison for Thy Name’s sake to be steadfast and patient, then ordain for them through Thy Most Exalted Pen the good of the world to come and of this world, and that which will draw them nigh unto Thee in every world of Thy worlds. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the Omnipotent. There is none other God but Thee, the Supreme, the Self-Subsisting.
O Ali! The servant in attendance here brought thy letter and presented it before the Wronged One. We heard and have answered, and verily We are the Hearer, the Answerer.
O Ali! The children of the earth are occupied with doubts and vain imaginings. The intoxication of heedlessness hath so seized them that they consider the world everlasting and themselves immortal. By the life of God! Soon will the hand of divine power purify the earth from the wicked. The fire of tyranny shall be quenched, and its kindler shall return to his abode. Thus doth the All-Informed apprise thee. Verily, He is the Truth, the Knower of things unseen.
Thy letter testified to thy love, affection, devotion, humility and lowliness before God. Divine confirmations have reached thee and will continue to reach thee. Gird up the loins of service and counsel the friends of God as behooveth them on behalf of the Wronged One. Say: Look not upon the transgressors and what they possess, but rather fix your gaze upon the Most Sublime Horizon and what hath been ordained for you by the Pen of Command from the presence of the Ancient Ordainer. Let all hold fast to patience and forbearance, and seek from God, exalted be His glory. He hath granted victory and will continue to do so.
Where are they who drew their swords and arose in tyranny in such wise as caused the dwellers of the cities of justice and equity to lament? Throughout ages and centuries, the transgressors and oppressors have perpetrated that which caused every person of insight to weep and every possessor of a heart to wail. Nevertheless, exaltation, ascendancy and profit have been for the people of truth, while abasement, torment and loss have been for the enemies. Had they acted upon divine counsels, they would now behold the world as a tract of light. Although the darkness of oppression hath prevented some of the rays of the Sun of Justice, yet the Hand of Power shall manifest that which He hath willed. None hath the power to change or prevent it.
Rejoice thou in My remembrance of thee and be of the thankful ones. The glory shining forth from the horizon of the heaven of My Kingdom be upon thee and upon those who have held fast to My firm cord.
Praise be to God! The Sun of loving-kindness is shining and the Moon of grace is radiant. He chooseth whomsoever He willeth for whatsoever He pleaseth. None can prevent Him and none can resist Him. He bestoweth upon whomsoever He willeth and withholdeth from whomsoever He desireth. He shall not be asked of His doings. He is, in truth, the Almighty, the All-Compelling, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
Concerning what was written about the prisoners, this is what was uttered by the Tongue of Grandeur—exalted be His glory:
“O Abdu’l-Hadir! Make mention of Ali on Our behalf and gladden him with the favors of God. From his mention wafts the fragrance of love, and from his words his arising to serve the Cause is evident. I beseech God to protect him, to strengthen him, and to ordain for him that which shall profit him in this world and the next. Verily, He is the Lord of all created things, the Sovereign of the throne on high and of the earth below.”
One should not be assured by the words of some. In the Land of Ta (Tehran), some took whatever they desired in this name, specifically for the release of prisoners, and afterwards no effect was manifest. God is the Concealer, He conceals from some. If they arrange to seize them after their release, there is and was no harm in this. Otherwise their affair rests with God, exalted be His glory. At one time this supreme utterance issued forth from the Dawning-Place of Names—blessed and exalted be His Word:
“O Abdu’l-Hadir! They have been imprisoned for the sake of God and have entered prison through their love for Him. This is a most great bounty, for God hath accepted this deed and attributed it to Himself. All the treasures of the world and the riches of the nations cannot equal it. If He willeth, He will release them as He hath released them time and again. O Abdu’l-Hadir! This imprisonment is beloved, for it is adorned with God’s acceptance. This station is most exalted. By My life! If the manifestations of tyranny were to become aware of the station and loftiness of this prison, all would yearn for it. But alas! alas! These people are deprived of the spirit of inner meanings and barred from divine mysteries. Blessed is ʿAli, for he is steadfast in service and hath intended to serve. God willing, may all attain to that which befitteth this blessed Day. The friends in that land are all remembered in His presence, especially those souls who have arisen for God’s sake and have been enabled to spend in His exalted path.”
They smiled at the letter of that loved one and repeatedly accepted his intention with the adornment of acceptance. That which they forbade its execution—verily our Lord, the Most Merciful, is the All-Bountiful. Not an atom of good deeds and goodly words has been or will be lost. When these words of that loved one were presented, which stated “With longing and hope, in complete humility and lowliness it was submitted that whatever is ordained in this matter, we are ready with utmost gratitude,” They said: “For God is his essence, for God is his deed, for God is his word, for God is his humility and submission and his turning unto Him.”
A hundred thousand praises be unto the Beloved of the worlds that His loved ones and friends are steadfast in service, blessed with His remembrance, adorned with His love, and embellished with His favors. Furthermore, this station has become evident and manifest like the greatest luminary, requiring no mention from this servant. In truth, this noble tradition “The intention of the believer is better than his deed” was and is for this station. It behooveth the tongue of the inmost heart and the head to say: “Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having enabled Thy loved ones to perform that which hath been adorned with the ornament of Thine acceptance. Verily, Thou art the One Who hath power over whatsoever He willeth, and in Thy grasp are the reins of all things. Thou givest and Thou withholdest, and Thou art indeed the Almighty, the Powerful.”
I send greetings and salutations to all the loved ones of that land, and I beseech them all that in their moments of leisure they forget not this evanescent one and pray on his behalf for divine confirmations and success. Similarly, this servant too, in the nighttime and during the day, before the throne of the Lord of all beings, has prayed and continues to pray for their confirmation and success. Verily our Lord, the All-Hearing, is the Answerer of prayers. Glory and remembrance and praise be upon you and upon the steadfast loved ones of God.
The servant 14 Shavval 1301
BH00137: Praise be sanctified above the mention of all created…
Section 1: “In the name of our Lord, the Most…”
In the name of our Lord, the Most Holy, the Most Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious
Praise be sanctified above the mention of all created things and exalted beyond the attributes of contingent beings—praise that befits and is worthy of the Sovereign of the Throne of Grandeur, Who, in the darkness of these days, caused the light of His Most Exalted Word to shine forth and appear manifest from the horizon of His Will. Neither the might of the powerful, nor the armies of monarchs, nor the doubts of the divines, jurists and scholars could deter Him from His purpose. He hath spoken before the faces of all the world that which hath caused the seas to surge, the mountains to take flight, and the Dove of Paradise to warble at the dawning light of the splendors of Beauty. By God! The Desired One hath come, and through Him hath appeared that which was hidden in the Presence of Knowledge and inscribed in the Books of God, the Self-Sufficient, the Most High. Radiant light be upon those who have arisen to serve the Cause and have spoken in praise of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. These are servants whom neither the might of tyrants nor the hosts of pharaohs could deter. They arose and spoke that which the Tongue of Grandeur had uttered before the creation of the heavens and the earth.
Glory be unto Thee, O Thou through Whose Name the gate of reunion was opened to all who are in earth and heaven, and the nightingales of divine knowledge warbled upon the branches. Verily Thou art God; there is none other God but Thee. I beseech Thee, O God of Names and Creator of Heaven, by the Crimson Scroll and by Thy Most Exalted Pen, to assist Thy chosen ones to celebrate Thy praise and glorify Thee. Then raise them up, O my God, amongst Thy servants and Thy creation. Thou beholdest them, O my God, turning unto Thee and setting their faces toward Thy countenance. I beseech Thee not to leave them at the mercy of the oppressors among Thy creatures and the transgressors among Thy servants. I implore Thee, O God of the Kingdom and the Realm, and Sovereign of the Celestial Dominion, by Thy Name through Whose manifestation all names bowed down in prostration and all things submitted themselves in humility before Thy Face and in lowliness at Thy Revelation, to aid Thy loved ones with Thy hosts and protect them from the enemies of Thy Self—they who have violated Thy Covenant, disputed Thy signs, and disbelieved in Thy clear evidences. Verily Thou art the All-Powerful, the Supreme, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
O beloved of my heart and one remembered in my heart! The servant has been honored with your letters time and again, and from each has found the fragrance of your love for God, your arising to serve Him among His servants, and your mention and praise of Him among His creation. The servant beseeches his Lord to assist you in all conditions and to make you as a banner upon the hills. Verily He is the One with power over whatsoever He willeth. There is no God but Him, the Single, the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.
In truth, this servant is remiss in one respect, yet has always hoped for forgiveness, as one must act according to the requirements of wisdom. For a long time, due to the conflicts between the parties of the earth and the kindling of the fires of war in all regions, there was delay in sending whatever was written in response to the letters of the friends, especially after the upheaval in the land of Ta. Glorified art Thou, O God of Names! Thou seest Thy chosen servants in the prison of the enemies. Blessed are they and joy be unto them! They have attained in Thy days through their turning and devotion, and have testified to that which Thy Tongue testified before all things, and have done what Thou commanded them in the realm of creation, until they were seized for Thy love and entered prison in Thy Name.
I beseech Thee, O Lord of existence and Controller of the seen and unseen, to pour forth upon them patience from Thy presence, then aid them against the transgressing people through Thy power, Thy might, and Thy sovereignty. The servant bears witness that they have attained unto a bounty that shall never perish and a mention that ages and centuries shall not alter. They are those from whom every possessor of smell has found the fragrance of submission and contentment, and every possessor of sight has beheld the countenance of patience and faithfulness.
O my Lord! I beseech Thee by the Most Great Name, through which the horizon of the world was illumined, to assist them to be steadfast in Thy Cause, then transform the poison of tribulation into honey through Thy grace and bounty, and severe decree into ease through Thy mercy. Verily Thou art the Forgiving, the Merciful. There is no God but Thee, the Mighty, the Great.
By the life of our Beloved and your Beloved, our Goal and your Goal! Were the servant to remember them throughout the duration of the kingdom and the heavenly realm, it would not quench his thirst of love for them in the path of God, the King of this wondrous and exalted Day. When I read your letter and became aware of what was in it of your traces, I approached the Station that cannot be described by names nor characterized by what is mentioned by the people of creation. When I reached the Gate, I bowed down and prostrated myself in humility before the face of God, then entered and stood, and after permission, presented what was in your letter. After this was completed, the Ancient Countenance turned toward me and spoke that which diffused the fragrance of revelation throughout the world. He said, exalted be His utterance, sublime His proof, complete His argument, and perfect His remembrance and praise:
In My Name, the Remembering, the All-Knowing
O Ali! The waves of tribulation have encompassed Us from every side, and the evidences of Divine decree have taken hold of Us from all directions. The Revealer of verses and the Manifestor of clear proofs speaks at all times even as He spoke before the creation of earth and heaven, saying: “There is none other God but Me, the Almighty, the All-Powerful.” By My Life! The machinations of nations cannot frustrate Me, nor can the might of the world. I have arisen through My power and strength before all faces, and My tongue hath spoken that which hath caused the limbs of them that have disbelieved in the Day of Judgment to quake. Say: O concourse of earth! Your Goal and your Beloved, Whom ye have mentioned night and day, hath come.
Fear God and deny not Him in Whom ye have believed before. Cast away what ye possess and take hold of that which ye are commanded in that which hath been sent down in a perspicuous Book. This is the Day wherein the Mother Book speaketh, did ye but know, and wherein the Most Great Name calleth aloud among the nations, did ye but hear. The Hidden One hath appeared, did ye but perceive. Beware lest the affairs of creation hinder you from the Truth. Arise in My Name, then aid Him through remembrance and utterance. Thus hath the matter been decreed from the presence of an Ordainer, All-Wise.
O Ali! The clamor of which We had informed thee beforehand hath been raised, and that which had been inscribed by My Most Exalted Pen in various Tablets hath come to pass. To this every discerning one beareth witness. We have sent down for thee that from which the fragrance of My loving-kindness hath been wafted. To this My tongue in My exalted station beareth witness. And We have sent down for every name that was in thy book that whereby those who are nigh unto God perceive the fragrance of the garment of thy Lord, the Gracious. Convey My glory to the faces of My loved ones who were not hindered by the promptings of any deceiver, nor were they frightened by the tyranny of any remote oppressor. Say: Hold fast unto the Book of God and His Cause. By My life! That which the people possess shall perish, and that which hath been ordained for you by an All-Knowing, All-Wise Protector shall endure.
From whatsoever hath been sent down from the Kingdom of Divine favor, every soul doth inhale the fragrance of grace and bounty. What else can this evanescent servant mention or submit? At all times he beseecheth God, exalted be His glory, to protect His loved ones and preserve them from the evil of the cawing ones. The oppression of the divines and that which hath befallen the friends at the hands of rulers hath been and continueth to be the cause of the exaltation of the Word, as hath been witnessed in the past and present. If God, exalted be His glory, were to unveil for them what He hath unveiled for His loved ones, all would be seen turning toward the supreme horizon.
To most people today the Cause hath become obscure; they have imagined that the party of God, exalted be His glory, are workers of corruption rather than of reformation. The cawing ones who have turned away from the Most Great Ocean and set their faces toward the fetid spring have manifested the utmost enmity and the most grievous cruelty. Each day they are occupied with a new deceit. They plagiarize from the divine verses and utter calumnies such as the Pharaohs and tyrants of old never uttered. The Sun is shining, the Moon is gleaming, and the Full Moon is manifest, yet all are heedless. We beseech God, exalted be His glory, and implore Him to protect His loved ones from the like of such souls. He is, verily, powerful and mighty over all things.
The offering of greetings and salutations to the friends of that land is entrusted to that beloved one, and for all I seek steadfastness. In the divine Tablets this word hath repeatedly been revealed—His word, exalted and mighty is He:
“The beginning of all things is the knowledge of God, and the end thereof is steadfastness in His Cause.”
We must, with the utmost lowliness and supplication, beseech the Goal of all creation that He may adorn all with the ornament of steadfastness. Some souls, despite their claims of steadfastness, certitude and assurance, were veiled by a single cawing from the flow of the Most Exalted Pen. Verily, they are among the wrongdoers in the perspicuous Book. For each one of the names, a most holy and exalted Tablet hath been sent down from the heaven of the Divine Will. I beseech God, exalted be His glory, to cause all to attain, and to grant them sustenance from the ocean of inner meanings that lie concealed and treasured within the words. How often it happens that one’s hand is immersed in the ocean, yet one fails to drink therefrom. However, this is the Day of Grace. The hope of the world is in motion and ecstasy, even though its people perceive it not.
This is what was revealed for him who was named Karbala’i Isma’il. His words, blessed and exalted is He:
He is the Counselor, the All-Knowing
Today from the rustling of the Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing, this most exalted Word is heard: Blessed is every hearer and blessed is every one who turneth unto it. O peoples of the earth! He Who was treasured in knowledge and recorded in the Books of God, the Lord of the worlds, hath come. O Isma’il! Hold fast unto the Word of God. Shouldst thou discover its fragrance, thou wouldst find thyself in a paradise whose breadth is as the breadth of the heavens and of the earth. To this beareth witness He Who speaketh in the prison—there is no God but Me, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Know thou, moreover, that should He speak a word, all the books of the world and whatsoever the peoples possess could not equal it. To this testifieth He with Whom is the perspicuous Book. God hath created the world through a word from Him for this Day wherein the Speaker on Sinai hath been established upon the throne with manifest sovereignty. Blessed be thine ear if it heareth what the Tongue of Grandeur hath uttered in this wondrous and incomparable Tablet. The glory shining from the horizon of My Kingdom be upon thee and upon those who have turned toward the Countenance when every heedless sinner turned away therefrom.
And this is what was revealed for His Honor Mulla ʿAli, upon him be the glory of God. His word—exalted be His utterance and mighty His proof:
In the Name of Him Who gazeth from Mine All-Glorious Horizon
This is a Book sent down by the All-Knowing from the Kingdom of Utterance unto him who hath turned unto the All-Informed, that it may draw him to a station wherein he beholdeth naught in existence save the signs of his Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. A letter hath come before the Wronged One wherein thou art mentioned. We make mention of thee with that which the ornaments of the world cannot equal. Be thankful unto thy Lord, the Compassionate, the All-Bountiful. Take hold of the Book with the strength that cometh from Him and say:
“Praise be unto Thee for having remembered me whilst Thou wert in prison, and glory be unto Thee, O Thou the Goal of them that know!”
Thus hath the Most Great Ocean sprinkled upon thee that thou mayest rejoice and be of them that are assured. The remembrance shining from the horizon of the heaven of Mine utterance be upon thee and upon them who have attained unto tranquility when earthquakes seized all the tribes of the earth save whom God, the Lord of all worlds, did will.
This was revealed for Muhammad Husayn, upon him be the Glory of God. His word—exalted be His utterance and complete His proof:
He is the Hearing, the Answering
O Husayn! The Wronged One maketh mention of thee when the servants rose against Him with such enmity as the eye of time hath never beheld its like, and He, in the midst of tribulation, calleth the people unto the Supreme Horizon—the station wherein the Kingdom of Utterance proclaimeth: “There is none other God but I, the Almighty, the Powerful.” Take heed lest the affairs of the world sadden thee or the veils of the heedless ones prevent thee—they who sit in positions of authority and claim knowledge without any clear proof from God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Blessed is the one who, being strong, casteth away what they possess, turning unto God, the Lord of all worlds. Whoso hath today attained unto My recognition hath attained unto all good—to this have God’s Books, both past and future, borne witness.
Blessed is he who hath heard and attained, and woe unto the heedless ones. Hold fast unto the Sure Handle and cling to the hem of thy Lord, the All-Bountiful. Thus doth the Dawning-Place of thy Lord’s revelation teach thee. Remember and say: “Praise be unto Thee, O God of all worlds!” The glory shining from the horizon of the heaven of My mercy be upon thee and upon them who have cast away idle fancies and acted according to that which they were bidden in the Book of Certitude from the presence of the Mighty, the Powerful.
This was revealed for Haji Mulla Ibrahim, upon him be the Glory of God. His word—blessed and exalted is He:
In My Name, the Forgiving, the All-Bountiful
Today from the rustling of the winds of the All-Merciful’s utterance this word is heard: Whoso hath attained unto recognition of that which the Tongue of Revelation hath spoken hath attained unto that which none before him hath attained. Blessed is he who hath hearkened unto the Divine Call and turned unto His horizon. The world was created for this Day. All them that drew nigh unto God and were sincere did for years lament and bewail their separation from this Day. Blessed are they whom the veils of the learned have not hindered and whom the might of rulers hath not kept back from the recognition of God. Arise to guide the wayward unto the straight path through the name of Truth and with wisdom and utterance, and draw the heedless unto the quarter of awareness. Remember what the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Qur’an:
“Whoso quickeneth a soul is as though he had quickened all mankind.”
In this Revelation this word hath been multiplied a hundredfold. Is there any hearing ear to be found in the land or any penetrating vision to be witnessed? In all conditions beseech ye the Self-Sufficing Lord that He deprive not His creatures of the breezes of His days. He is the Almighty to Whose power every possessor of knowledge hath testified. The glory manifest and resplendent from the horizon of My will be upon thee and upon every steadfast and firm one.
This was revealed for Mulla Karim, upon him be the Glory of God. His word—exalted be His grandeur:
Section 2: “In My Name, through which they that lay…”
In My Name, through which they that lay in their graves arose
Say: O concourse of the heedless! He Who conversed on Sinai hath come, Whose advent was foretold in the Books of God, the Lord of Lords. Say: By God! The Fire hath appeared from the Divine Lote-Tree and the Tongue of Grandeur speaketh openly. Beware lest ye deprive yourselves of this bounty, the like of which hath never appeared in creation. By God! The world hath rejoiced at the appearance of the Ancient King, yet the peoples are in a wondrous slumber. O Karim! The All-Bountiful mentioneth thee in truth and calleth thee to God, the Lord of all men. We summoned the divines to the supreme horizon, yet they call Us to the dust. The call of the infidels is naught but error.
Arise thou to serve the Cause and remind the servants of what hath been sent down from My Most Exalted Pen at morn and eventide. Say: O concourse of divines! Fear ye the Lord of Names. Leave behind what ye possess and turn with illumined hearts to the station which God hath made most exalted. The Mount hath been illumined by the lights of the Manifestation, and the Lote-Tree calleth out with its loudest voice: “The Kingdom belongeth to God, the One, the Almighty, the Unconstrained!” Is there any hearing ear that will hearken to My sweetest call? Is there any one with the sense of smell who will inhale the fragrance of My utterance whereby the kingdom of mystic knowledge was attracted?
Thus doth My Most Exalted Pen move in the arena of utterance, by the command of God, the Lord of Religions. The Light shining from the horizon of the heaven of My mercy be upon those whom the affairs of the world have not withheld from the Lord of all beings—they who have arisen and said: “God is our Lord and the Lord of all who are in the earth and the heavens.”
And this was revealed for his honor Ahmad, upon him be the Glory of God. He, exalted and mighty, saith:
In the Name of the All-Knowing, the All-Seeing
O Ahmad! Reflect upon the words “may God hasten his relief.” I swear by the Sun of the horizon of inner meanings, were anyone to reflect purely for the sake of God, the Hand of His bounty would lead him to the ocean of knowledge, such that neither the whisperings of the ungodly nor the insinuations of the deniers would keep him from God, exalted be His glory. Those who arose mentioning His blessed name and uttering “may God hasten,” attacked with sword and spear and rose up to battle against the Manifestation of God’s Cause. O Ahmad! The recompense of the reprehensible deeds of the heedless souls prevented them from the Most Great Ocean and deprived them of the lights of the Sun of Truth. Whosoever today hath broken the chains of vain imaginings and rent asunder the veils of the ascetics, he is mentioned as the most exalted of creation before the Truth and is recorded by the Most Exalted Pen as being among the people of the Crimson Ark. Blessed are they who advance and woe unto those who turn away.
And this was revealed for his honor Muhammad-Baqir, upon him be the Glory of God. He, exalted and mighty, saith:
He is the Expositor, the All-Knowing
This Wronged One has, during the nights and days, summoned the peoples of the earth to the horizon of the heaven of true knowledge, and all atoms bear witness that not for a moment has the Pen ceased to move. Though the outward Pen may at times have paused, the Pen of the Divine Command has remained in constant motion—a motion that no stillness can overtake. Yet the faithless people, in place of praise, have chosen cruelty, and instead of gratitude have begun to complain. Would that they had attained unto the hearing of but one word of the divine utterances! Would that they had perceived its fragrance! The intoxication of vain desires has seized them all, such that they remain deprived and veiled from the Lord of all beings.
Reflect upon the deeds of humanity, and likewise upon what thou hast heard of the traces of this Revelation. Today the Concourse on High is astounded and the denizens of the Kingdom of Names are bewildered, for the One Whose beauty all eyes had yearned to behold and Whose praise was upon every tongue—after His appearance and manifestation, all arose in hypocrisy against Him. Blessed are the strong ones whom neither the might of princes weakened nor the power of enemies deprived of the Lord of Names. Forsake the world and all that is therein, and hold fast unto the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Behold negation as non-existent and cleave unto the hem of affirmation. This is the counsel of the Wronged One of the horizons to the loved ones of God, glorified be His majesty.
Blessed be they that are nigh unto God, and they that are endued with true understanding, and they that act in accordance with His teachings, and woe unto the idolaters, and the heedless, and they that raise the call of ignorance.
This is what was revealed for Karbala’i Husayn, upon him be the glory of God. His word, exalted be His grandeur and mighty His proof:
I am the Rememberer and I am the Remembered One
Say: Glory be unto Thee, O my God, my Lord, my Beloved, my Purpose, my Hope, and my Desire! I beseech Thee by the Ocean whereupon Thy people were carried, and by the Ark that sailed upon the sea of recognition through Thy Name and Thy favor, to send down upon all who exist that which befitteth Thy generosity and bounty. O Lord! Thou seest the enemies of Thy Self turning away from Thy Cause and striving to extinguish Thy light and quench the fire of Thy divine Unity. I beseech Thee by the power that hath encompassed all created things, and by the might that hath subdued all contingent beings, to send down from the heaven of Thy mercy upon them that are nigh unto Thee that which shall gladden their eyes and rejoice their hearts, in such wise that the sorrows of the world and the oppression of the nations shall not prevent them.
O Lord! Aid them, then, with the hosts of the unseen and the visible realm, and ordain for them, by Thy Most Exalted Pen, that which Thou hast destined for Thy chosen ones who have expended all they possessed in Thy path and soared in the atmosphere of Thy love. Verily, Thou art the Almighty over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Strong, the Powerful.
We make mention of Muhammad-i-Qabli-Rida and counsel him with that wherewith We have counseled Our loved ones. He is, in truth, the Counselor, the Trustworthy. Hold fast unto the Book of God—verily, it will protect thee and draw thee nigh unto Him. Of this doth this Speaking Book, the Mighty, the Wondrous, bear witness. The glory of God rest upon thy son and his family, and upon thee, from God, the Lord of all worlds.
This is what was revealed for Haji Husayn, upon him be the glory of God. His word, exalted be His majesty and all-encompassing His grace:
I am the Compassionate, the All-Bountiful
A remembrance from Our presence to one who has turned to the Truth on a day wherein all mankind hath turned away save those who have cast aside vain imaginings and clung to the hem of the robe of their Lord’s loving-kindness, the Lord of all creation. This is the Day whereon all that lay hidden in hearts and veiled from eyes hath been made manifest. To this beareth witness the Pen of God, the Most High, the Most Exalted. Take hold of the Book of God with the power that proceedeth from Him, then make mention of Him amidst the denizens of Paradise. Beware lest the veils of the corrupt deter thee, or the might of those who have disbelieved in God, the Lord of the Throne and of the dust, frighten thee. We have revealed the pearls of the ocean of utterance unto all who dwell within the realm of possibility, yet the people have denied them, having followed their own desires and idle fancies. The Promised One hath come, and all things have cried out:
“The Kingdom is God’s, the Lord of the Hereafter and of the former days!”
Among the people are those who heard, arose, turned and responded, and among them are those who denied, turned away, and committed that which caused the dwellers of the most exalted Paradise to lament. O people of Baha! Cast aside what the people possess and take hold of that which ye have been commanded by God, the Most High, the Most Glorious. Thus hath the Tongue of Grandeur spoken, while seated upon the throne. Blessed is he who hath turned, heard and seen, and woe unto him who hath turned away and gone astray. The glory shining forth from the horizon of the heaven of My grace be upon My loved ones who have answered their Lord when the Call was raised amongst all peoples.
This was revealed for Muhammad Kazim, upon him be the glory of God. He saith, exalted be His dominion and mighty be His proof:
He is the One manifest from the highest horizon
The signs have encompassed the world and the evidences have appeared. The Kawthar of utterance floweth before all faces and the rustling of the Divine Lote-Tree is raised high. He Who conversed on Sinai calleth out with the most exalted call, and the Concourse on High circle round, yet the people are heedless to such a degree that they are observed to be unaware and deprived of the effulgences of the Sun of Truth and the waves of the ocean of knowledge. The grace of God is more manifest than the sun, yet these faithless people are for the most part veiled. Would that they had been content with denial and rejection! They have committed that which hath caused the denizens of the most exalted Paradise to cry out and lament.
Throughout ages and centuries they awaited this Day, yet when it appeared they did that which the Pen is powerless to describe. O people of Baha! Beseech God, glorified and exalted be He, to guide the wayward ones of the earth and show them the path. He is the Powerful, He is the Mighty. There is none other God but He, the Most High, the Most Glorious. We counsel the people of God, at the end of Our utterance, to fear God and to act in such wise as would exalt His Cause among His servants. Blessed is he who hath held fast unto the Truth, turning away from those who have disbelieved in God, the Lord of the worlds.
This was revealed for Mulla Akbar. He saith, mighty be His utterance, sweet be His call, and mighty be His proof:
He is the All-Knowing Witness
O Akbar! The Lord of humanity has come, every hidden matter has been revealed, and the call has been raised from the Most Great Scene, yet most of the people do not understand. Say: By God! That which was concealed has been manifested, that which was hidden has emerged, and He Who was promised has come. Hasten, O people, and be not of those who denied God’s grace and His Cause, who rejected His bounty and disputed His signs that have encompassed both earth and heaven. This is the Day when existence itself smiled at His mention, yet the people have turned away from Him. Say: Fear the All-Merciful, O people of the realm of possibility! Be fair in what has been revealed in truth. Come, that I may show you the Supreme Horizon; come, that I may cause you to hear the Call of God, the Protecting, the Self-Subsisting. Beware lest riches occupy you in these days of your Lord, the Self-Sufficient, the Most High. Leave behind you the ornaments of the world, hastening to His station, the Mighty, the Inaccessible.
O Akbar! Gather what the Most Great Ocean has cast upon thee of the pearls of knowledge and wisdom, then give thanks to thy Lord, the Possessor of the visible and invisible. This is the Day wherein one can hear from the waves of the sea: “The Sovereign has come”; from the rustling of the trees: “The Chosen One has appeared”; and from the murmuring of the waters: “The Kingdom belongs to the Lord of Names”—yet the people hear not. Thus has the rustling of the Lote-Tree of the Far Boundary been raised. Blessed is he who has heard, and woe unto every heedless and veiled one. The glory that has shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of My utterance be upon thee and upon those who have cast away idle fancies and vain imaginings.
Praise be to God! The fishes of love have attained unto the ocean of the All-Merciful’s utterance, and the moons of the horizons of knowledge have derived the lights of inner meaning from the Sun of Truth. This servant beseecheth God to assist them to remain steadfast and to grant them a complete portion from His wondrous and exalted Tablets.
Know ye that concerning the treatise on proofs which ye wrote, it was presented before the Most Holy and Most Exalted Presence. Thus spoke the All-Merciful, exalted be His utterance: In these matters it would be more fitting and appropriate to present the Kitab-i-Iqan and the Tablet to the Shah. O Ali, be not grieved by the clamor of the heedless and the outcries of the ungodly. Ere long will the standards of justice and fairness be raised throughout all regions in the name of Truth. Today all monarchs consider this people to be mischief-makers, for in truth at the beginning certain deeds were manifested by some of this community that caused the very pillars of faith to tremble. They took possession of people’s property without permission, and counted murder, bloodshed, plunder and pillage among praiseworthy deeds.
They observed not the rights of any faction among the factions. And those souls imagined these acts to be acceptable, even though they were adorned with the ornament of divine love and crowned with the diadem of detachment. Due to their utter simplicity and lack of knowledge they committed such deeds and considered them all to be from God. These acts became the cause of people’s aversion and the clamor and turning away of mankind from the Truth. Now, for more than thirty years the fire of corruption, warfare, strife and contention has been quenched and extinguished in all regions and countries, yet still they remain in doubt and uncertainty.
Glory be to God! In the divine Tablets all that causes grief was forbidden, let alone deeds that cause terror and alarm among people. Beseech ye God that He may make His servants aware and grant them sustenance from the ocean of knowledge. For if they were to become somewhat aware and understand the purpose of God, exalted be His glory, both ruler and subject, both wayfarer and pauper would all turn toward the court of God’s favor and cling to the hem of His grace. Blessed art thou, O Ali! We bear witness that thou hast heard in the path of God and witnessed that which grieved the hearts of the Concourse on High. Rejoice thou in this testimony which the Tongue of Grandeur hath spoken in His mighty prison. Upon thee be My glory and upon those who have held fast to the cord of God when He came with manifest sovereignty.
In all conditions the gain hath been and is with the friends of Truth. These injuries and harms shall become the source and dayspring of triumph, success and good. Every person of insight and hearing hath testified and doth testify that whatsoever hath flowed and doth flow from the Most Exalted Pen hath been and is being fulfilled word for word.
O thou beloved one, if the treatise on proofs that was written is sent to this servant it would be appreciated.
God willing, through divine grace, ease shall follow hardship and comfort shall follow distress. Consider ye the companions of the Seal of the Prophets, may the spirit of all else but Him be sacrificed for His sake—what they were at first and what they became at last. At first some would satisfy their hunger with a date-stone, while at the end they would give away heaps and stacks in charity. The servant beseecheth his Lord to send down from the heaven of His bounty upon His loved ones a blessing from His presence. Verily He is the Powerful, the Mighty.
I convey greetings to the family members and relatives, upon them be the glory of God, and I beseech for each one that which befitteth the generosity of the Ocean of Bounty. Verily He is the Generous One to Whose grace, generosity, bounty and benevolence all created things have testified. Glory and remembrance and praise be upon you and upon them from God, the Kind, the Forgiving.
BH00225: Praise, sanctified beyond the mention of all created things…
Section 1: “In the Name of our Lord, the Most…”
In the Name of our Lord, the Most Holy, the Most Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious
Praise, sanctified beyond the mention of all created things, befitteth the most holy and most glorious court of the Desired One, Who hath, through the key of His Most Great Name, opened wide the portals of reunion before the countenance of all peoples and nations, Who hath called out with the most exalted call between earth and heaven, and hath summoned all to the most sublime horizon, the Seat of the revelation and manifestation of the Lord of Names. He hath opened wide the gate of reunion and guided all to the straight path. Yet the people remain deprived and veiled from this Day and from its recognition. Blessed are they who have perceived the breezes of the morn of revelation and who have risen from the graves of heedlessness at the breath of divine revelation. These are the servants mentioned in the books of old and those yet to come, whom God, exalted be His glory, hath given glad tidings and numbered among the people of the Crimson Ark. Exalted be His grace and great is His dominion!
Glory be unto Thee, O Lord of creation and Sovereign over all servants! I beseech Thee by the breathings of Thy utterance and the lights of Thy manifestation in Thy days to ordain for Thy loved ones that which Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen ones, whom Thou didst aid with the hosts of the unseen and the visible, and whom Thou didst protect from those who denied Thee and Thy mighty signs and turned away from Thee, O Creator of the heavens! Thou art He Whom the veils of Thy creation cannot hide, nor can that which Thou hast created in Thy realm by Thy will prevent Thee. Thou art He Who hath ever been the Sovereign of the kingdom of power and its Ruler, and the King of the realm of might and the Manifestation of its effects. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Witnessing, the All-Hearing, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.
And further: that spiritual loved one’s letter was received repeatedly, and in truth each letter thereof spoke in praise of Him Who is our Goal, your Goal, and the Goal of all who are in the world. The ear was delighted by its melodies and the eye was illumined and brightened by beholding it. After its perusal, reading and examination, the Most Sublime Summit was sought and the details were presented before the countenance of the Lord of Names. This is what the Tongue of Grandeur spoke in reply, exalted be His utterance and mighty be His sovereignty:
In My Name, the All-Witnessing, and in My Name, the All-Hearing
O Amin! The Lord of all worlds maketh mention of thee from this most exalted Station which hath been named with the Most Beautiful Names. By the life of God! He draweth thee unto the station of sanctity and nearness and attainment unto His presence, even as He drew thee nigh aforetime. Verily thy Lord is the Mighty, the All-Bountiful. We have made mention of thee before and after, and in thy presence and absence. Verily thy Lord is the Mighty, the All-Bestowing. The servant here present hath come with thy letter time and again. He hath attained unto the hearing thereof, and there hath been sent down from the Kingdom of eternity that which is beyond compare with all the treasures of earth or with that wherein the parties take pride.
Counsel the servants with that which We commanded thee when thou wert present, standing before the gate. Blessed is the servant who hath held fast unto that whereby the Cause of God hath been exalted among His servants, and woe unto those who have turned away from the Truth in that they followed them who denied God’s grace and violated the Covenant in their final end. Say: O people of Baha! Hearken unto the call of Him Who is the Lord of Names. Take ye the chalice of steadfastness and drink therefrom in the name of God, the Lord of Lords. O Amin! We have sent down verses unto thee before and after, and have expounded them as a grace from Our presence. Within the grasp of My power lie the reins of all who are in earth and heaven.
O thou who gazest upon the Countenance! That whereof We forewarned the servants hath come to pass, and the clamor hath been raised throughout all regions through that which the hands of every sinful doubter have wrought. The buzzing of flies hath risen from behind the veil. Say: Fear God and follow not thine own self, O thou lying idolater! Be fair in thy judgment—if thou deniest that whereby the eye of the world hath been solaced, by what proof canst thou establish that which thou holdest? Bring it forth then, and be not of them who turned away from God when He came with power and sovereignty. The clamorer raised his cry, and those who cast the Ocean behind their backs followed him, turning unto brackish pools. Remind My loved ones on My behalf and give them the glad-tidings of My loving-kindness and [mercy] and of My remembrance which, when sent down from the heaven of My will, was circled round by all remembrances.
Say: Beware, O people of Baha, lest the strong ones of the earth rob you of your strength, or they who rule the world fill you with fear. Put your trust in God, and commit your affairs to His keeping. He, verily, will, through the power of truth, render you victorious, and He, verily, is powerful to do what He willeth, and in His grasp are the reins of omnipotent might.
Say: Beware lest human conditions grieve you or prevent you from beholding the Most Sublime Vision. Cast away vain imaginings, taking hold of that which ye have been commanded by God, the Lord of the Day of Resurrection. Thus have We illumined the horizon of the heaven of utterance with the sun of clear proof. Blessed is he who hath turned thereunto, and woe unto every heedless infidel.
Praise be to God! The lights of the Sun of Divine favor have encompassed the world and illumined all the atoms of creation. How strange, how utterly strange, that most of the servants are seen to be deprived. Some are held back by the intoxication of pride, others by the intoxication of wealth, some by the conditions of self and desire, and yet others by the doubts and intimations of the divines, together with the turning away, objections and denial of the people of the earth. The Lord of Names—exalted be His grandeur and His might—hath at all times called the people of the contingent world to that which would draw them nigh unto Him and guided them to the straight path. But the hardness of hearts and the wretchedness of souls have been manifested to such a degree that they denied the outpourings of the True One and veiled the effulgences of the Sun of the heaven of inner meanings behind the veils of self and passion. Not content with this, they pronounced judgment upon that which caused the dwellers of the most exalted Paradise and the inhabitants of the supreme Heaven to be seized with terror and dismay.
Glorified art Thou, O God of the world, Who hath appeared through the Most Great Name! I beseech Thee by the ocean of Thy mercy, the heaven of Thy grace, the sun of Thy generosity, and the celestial spheres of Thy bounty, to send down upon Thy servants that which will draw them nigh unto Thee and cause them to recognize what Thou hast manifested in Thy days and what Thou hast ordained in Thy Book for such of Thy servants as are nigh unto Thee. O Lord! Deprive them not of what lieth with Thee, nor withhold from them what Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen ones. Thou art He Whose mercy hath preceded all things, Whose grace hath preceded all, and Whose loving providence hath encompassed the kingdom of earth and heaven.
In truth, for a long while hath this servant been immersed in the ocean of wonderment, for if man were to reflect, were there a Revelation greater than what hath been manifested, or affairs more momentous than what hath transpired, tranquility might prevail. Yet from the beginning of creation until now, as God knoweth, no such matter hath appeared. All divine Books bear witness to what hath been and is being mentioned. Were true ears to be found, they would hear today the call of all Books, summoning with their loudest voice those who turn unto them toward the supreme horizon. Verses have encompassed the horizons, evidences have filled the world, and the effulgences of the Sun of meaning and utterance have seized all things. Nevertheless, that which causeth man to be ashamed to mention is witnessed, and that which the tongue is powerless to describe is heard. The Cause is in His grasp—He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth. He is the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.
Regarding the fifty tumans which were ordered to be given to the prisoners, they have written that they were given (in the land of Q) and the receipt was sent. We beseech God to aid him who hath held fast unto that which is right and hath done that which gladdeneth the hearts of the sincere ones.
As to their having appointed this servant as a representative to attain the presence of that beloved one on their behalf—praise be to God, this intention hath been realized and hath been graced with acceptance before His countenance. Well is it with you and with whosoever hath attained the grace of God, the Lord of the worlds.
Concerning what was repeatedly written about the beloved of hearts, His Holiness Varqa, upon him be the glory of God, the Lord of Names—verily he standeth firm in service and uttereth the mention of the Peerless Friend. Exalted, exalted is this most high station and this supreme rank! All that that beloved one wrote was in accordance with reality. Well is it with him, pleasant unto him, and glad tidings unto his presence.
Regarding the mention made of Aqa Mirza Muhammad-ʿAli and Aqa Khalil, upon them be the glory of God, and the mention of their contribution that appeared in the path of God, specifically for the oppressed ones of the land of Ta—these matters were honored to be heard in the Holy Presence. This is what the Tongue of Grace hath spoken in the Kingdom of might and power. His word, exalted be His majesty:
O Amin! Blessed are they who have in these days arisen to serve the Cause. Every deed that appeareth today from any soul in the path of God is recorded as the sovereign of deeds in the presence of the Self-Sufficient, the Most High. Blessed is Muhammad-ʿAli, whom thou hast mentioned, and he who is named Khalil. We make mention of them both and give them the glad tidings of the acceptance of what they have wrought in My straight Path. Convey My greetings unto them both. We beseech God to send down upon them that which will draw them nigh unto Him and protect them from the evil of His enemies. Verily, He hath power over all things.
Concerning your mention of the land of M-R, and the intention to turn toward that direction; and your mention of Aqa Mirza Haji Aqa, the son of Ibn Dakhil—upon them be the Glory of God; and likewise your mention of Mulla Haji Aqa in Shishvan; and Aqa Muhammad-‘Ali Mamaghani in Bunab; and Aqa Siyyid Muhammad—upon them be the Glory of God: the remembrance of these souls, and of the believers of that region, was all laid before the Countenance of the Lord of the Footsteps. This is what hath been sent down from the Kingdom of Omnipotence for the loved ones of our Lord, the Chosen One. He—blessed and exalted be He—saith:
He is the Caller between earth and heaven!
O friends of God in M and R! Hearken unto the call of the Lord of all beings, through Whose advent the fragrance of the Divine Manifestation hath been wafted throughout the world and the Nightingale of Faithfulness hath warbled upon the Branch of Eternity that there is none other God but Him, the Single, the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. We have made mention of you before and after, and given you glad tidings of the favors of your Lord, the All-Bountiful, and informed you of the appearance of the clamorous ones in the domains of God, the Lord of all worlds. Beware lest their clamor debar you from the Day-Star of the horizons. Cast aside all else and hold fast unto that which ye have been commanded by God, the Almighty, the All-Powerful.
Section 2: “O people of M and R! The Wronged…”
O people of M and R! The Wronged One maketh mention of you in this Prison which God hath made the most exalted of stations. Hearken unto the call of the Lord of Names which hath been raised in truth as a token of His grace. He is, verily, the Mighty, the Chosen One. We make mention of A and H and those who have believed therein with such remembrance as causeth hearts and souls to take wing. Blessed is he who hath held fast unto that which is praiseworthy and acted in accordance with what hath been commanded in the Book of God, the Lord of all men. By the life of God! This is the Day of remembrance and utterance, the Day whereon the stations of the servants are made manifest in this Cause at which the heaven of idle fancies hath been cleft asunder. The carpet of vain imaginings hath been rolled up by the hand of power, and the temple of certitude hath been established upon the throne, despite every ignorant doubter.
O people of Shishvan! Hearken unto the call of the All-Merciful. He made mention of you before and maketh mention of you at this time wherein the Ancient Beauty uttereth that which attracteth the hearts of them that are endued with understanding. Beware lest the affairs of men withhold you from the Truth. Shatter the idols of vain desire through the name of the Lord of all creation, and take the chalice of steadfastness in the name of the Dawning-Place of the Light of Oneness, then drink therefrom with power and authority. Ye are the gems in the mines of the earth and the pearls in the shell of the sea. God hath manifested you on a Day which was heralded in His Books of old, as attesteth the Mother Book which is with Him. We counsel you to show forth love and affection, and such unity as would cause the horizons to shine forth. Beware lest the might of them that have denied God, the Lord of the Final End, veil you. Soon shall the earth and all that is therein and thereon perish, and sovereignty over the kingdom and the realm shall remain with God, the Cleaver of the Dawn.
We make mention of one of Our loved ones in Shishvan who was named Haji Qabla Aqa and We counsel him with that wherewith We have counseled Our servants before, when the Most Exalted Pen raised its cry between earth and heaven: Rejoice in My remembrance of thee, then make mention of My loved ones on My behalf and give them glad tidings of that which hath been ordained for them in the Crimson Book by the Pen of God, the Almighty, the All-Bountiful.
O people of Baha! By God, the gate of reunion hath been opened and the horizon of Revelation hath been illumined by the lights of the countenance of your Lord, the Self-Sufficient, the Most High. Blessed is he who hath cast away vain desires and held fast unto that which is commanded in the Book of God, the Lord of all mankind. We counsel you to observe justice and equity and that whereby the Cause of God, the Lord of religions, may be exalted. And We counsel you to wisdom as We have counseled you before. Fear God and be not like those who arose and said “God is our Lord,” but when the breezes of trial blew, they turned back on their heels. O people of the world! Fear the Lord of eternity, then leave the abodes of idle fancies and vain imaginings in the name of the Lord of all mankind. By God! The Sun is at its meridian, and from the horizon of majesty the Beauty of Glory proclaimeth: “There is none other God besides Me, the Self-Sufficient, the Most High.”
We make mention of other lands which have been blessed by the breaths of those whom God hath made His friends in His earth and for whom He hath sent down that which delighteth the eyes. Arise to serve the Cause and make up for what hath escaped you in the days of God, the Lord of creation. Beware lest ye be saddened by the doings of those servants who have cast the Book of God behind their backs and violated the Covenant on the Day of Meeting. Thus surgeth the ocean of utterance when the tongue of the All-Merciful speaketh. Blessed is he who hath heard and recognized, and woe unto every stubborn infidel.
O beloved of my heart! You and this servant and the friends of God, glorified be His majesty, must seek and supplicate night and day that He may not deprive His servants of hearing, sight and heart, and likewise withhold not from them the adornment of fairness. For if all the world were to attain, even less than a mustard seed, to hearing and sight, surely all would, upon hearing but one verse of the divine verses, turn toward the ocean of inner meanings. O spiritual friend! What can the servant say and what can the people hear? At every moment a thousand perplexities have arisen and continue to arise, for they have desired to veil the Sun of Truth with the clay of vain imaginings.
Far, far be it! The hands of the world have ever been and shall remain powerless to achieve this. I beseech God, glorified be His majesty, to deal with them through His grace, bounty and generosity, and to not deprive His servants from the ocean of His favors. He is the Powerful, the Mighty. In brief, each one of the friends whom that beloved one hath mentioned hath been blessed with the special favors of the Desired One of the worlds. His is the praise and the glory, His is the thanksgiving and the bounty.
Concerning what you wrote about the Green Land and the honored Mr. Afnan, His Holiness A. and H.—upon him be all the most glorious glory—they had written to the beloved Ibn-i-Nabil—upon him be the glory of God and His favors—and he has acted according to what was written. And concerning what was written about the sum that should reach Mosul, the amount of fifty which they mentioned during their presence was, according to instructions, sent to Mosul. And this amount of twenty-seven (27) tumans which that beloved one wrote about should be sent to His Holiness Ismu’llah Zayn—upon him be all the most glorious glory. And concerning what was written about the affairs of this land and collecting funds from some, nothing has been collected so far. Whatever has been or will be necessary will be collected through religion. They said this is most proper and fitting, and God willing, rights will be fulfilled. And since that beloved one’s intention in affairs is for God’s sake, all matters will be adorned with the ornament of improvement, even though outwardly means are cut off. But the Truth, exalted be His glory, has been and is the Causer, the Powerful, and the Manifester. Verily He has power over all things.
Concerning their appointing this servant again as representative in their second letter to attain the presence, praise be to God, at the end of the blessed month of Ramadan, on behalf of that beloved one, it was accepted and adorned with the ornament of acceptance. Likewise in the third letter, mention was made of deputized visitation and mention of His Holiness, the beloved of the heart, Varqa—upon him be the Most Glorious Glory of God. It was presented at the Most Holy Court. This is what the Tongue of Grandeur spoke, exalted be His glory:
“O servant in attendance, be determined in the representation of the Trustee. We have accepted what thou hast done on his behalf as a favor from Us. Verily He is the Bestower, the Generous. And We mention in this station once again he who has arisen to serve My Cause and to make mention of Me and praise Me among My servants and My creation. If thou seest him, convey My greetings to him and give him the glad tidings of My mercy which has preceded all created things. The glory, shining, manifest and resplendent from the horizon of the kingdom of My utterance be upon him and upon him who has attained unto what God has revealed in the Book.”
This ephemeral one offers greetings and salutations to them. Praise be to God, they have been and are successful. It is hoped that the souls in those regions will be set ablaze by their fire—a blazing that will not be extinguished. However, in all conditions the servants in those regions must observe wisdom, for the ungodly and deniers lie in wait. The servant asks his Lord to protect His party from the rancor of the divines and the hatred of the clergy. Verily He has power over all things.
Concerning what was mentioned about the spiritual beloved, Mirza A.B.—upon him be the glory of God and His favors—truly they are engaged in service and are successful in good deeds. I beseech the True One, exalted be His glory, to grant from the heaven of favor that which befits the ocean of His generosity and the heaven of His bounty. Verily He is the Near One, the Hearer, the Answerer.
Another matter: His Holiness the Afnan, upon him be all the most glorious splendor of God, attained presence for the first time, and again in these days renewed his request for presence. The Sun of Permission dawned and he was favored with this bounty. In truth, divine confirmation and assistance have been with him, for he attained presence repeatedly in such days. This is the effect of divine verses that were revealed in Tablets specifically for him. Every day a fruit appears and will appear from the Divine Lote Tree of utterance, and assuredly the fruits of the Supreme Pen have not and will never come to an end. Blessed are they and joyous tidings be unto them.
On the 14th day of the honored month of Shawwal, His Holiness the Afnan Aqa Siyyid M, upon him be all the most glorious splendor of God, by command departed from the Land of Purpose to the land of Ha, accompanied by the beloved of hearts Aqa Haji Mirza Muhammad, upon him be the Most Glorious Beauty of God. And the honored one, His Holiness the Great Afnan, upon him be all the most glorious splendor of God, will also attain presence in these days, as special permission has been granted to him. And his honor the Afnan Aqa Siyyid Muhsin, upon him be the Most Glorious Beauty of God, is now present.
I beseech and hope from God, exalted be His glory, that He may assist all to that from which the fragrance of eternity wafts. In truth, this servant is abashed to make this prayer, for whatever has been revealed from the Supreme Pen specifically for them, extinction reaches it not, annihilation seizes it not, and obliteration has no path to it. However, prayer is beloved in every condition. How excellent is what was said: “O prayer from Thee, and acceptance also from Thee.” With divine generosity and grace, every matter becomes easy and simple. It is hoped that He will not deprive His servants from any good. His is the praise in all conditions. There is no God but He, the Forgiving, the Generous.
The glory, the remembrance, and the praise from God, the Lord of all beings, be upon you and upon those with you and upon God’s loved ones in all cities and regions.
The servant 15th of the honored month of Shawwal 1301
BH03314: Praise be to the Lord of creation, and peace…
He is God, exalted be His station, the Greatness and the Power
Praise be to the Lord of creation, and peace and blessings be upon Him after whom there shall be no Prophet, and upon His family and companions through whom shone forth the light of divine unity and through whom was established the law of oneness among creation, and upon those who sacrificed their spirits, children, descendants and wealth in the path of God, the Lord of the visible and invisible, and the Lord of all who are in the heavens and earths. My spirit be a sacrifice for your remembrance! The servant has attained to that which the pen of your love warbled upon the branch of divine knowledge and the tongue of your love in the gardens of utterance. When I learned and heard of this, I turned to the Divine Countenance and presented it. He spoke, and His sweetest words were:
“We beseech God to assist him in what he desires and enable him to achieve what He loves and is pleased with. Verily He is the Lord of humanity and the Sovereign of the throne and earth.”
Greetings from the Wronged One be upon him and upon his son Husayn and upon those with him, female and male, young and old.
As for what your honor mentioned regarding the matter of trade with the spiritual friend Ahmad, upon him be Baha’u’llah, his mother, upon her be Baha’u’llah, does not wish him to travel there as she became grieved when she heard the climate does not agree with him. Today when your honor’s letter was read, it was sent to his honored father, upon him be Baha’u’llah, the Ancient Lord, that he might read it and inform your honor of their opinion. And regarding what you mentioned about Jasim, upon him be God’s peace, his eminence the honored Afnan, upon him be the Most Glorious Baha, mentioned the details. The servant asks his Lord to make known to all what is best for them and guide them to what benefits them. Verily His path is the straight path and His way is the clear and upright way. Glory and praise be upon your honor and those who bring joy to the eyes and those with you.
The servant, on the 21st of the honored month of Shawwal, 1301
BH04900: O Shafi’! We beseech God that He may enable…
…O Shafi’! We beseech God that He may enable thee to accomplish that which shall endure throughout the kingdom of earth and heaven. Convey Our greetings to the friends in that land, that perchance through the power of the mention of the Most Great Name they may soar with spiritual wings in the atmosphere of inner meanings. Blessed is the soul whose wings of endeavor were not prevented from soaring by the clay of idle fancies, and who, with the wings of certitude, aimed for the ultimate goal, the most exalted summit, the furthermost end, and the highest horizon.
O friends! Hearken unto the call of the Prisoner and hold fast unto that which beseemeth the days of God—namely, to sanctify your beings and purify them from things that veil man’s station and incline him toward that which is unworthy….
We beseech God to aid all to manifest goodly deeds, virtuous character, and words that are pure, well-pleasing and acceptable. The conquest of the citadels of hearts hath been ordained to be achieved through the hosts of praiseworthy deeds and character. Contention, conflict, strife and corruption have all been forbidden in God’s Book. Beseech ye God not to deprive your towns and lands of the effulgences of the sun of trustworthiness, the light of truthfulness, and the radiance of justice and equity. Trustworthiness and godliness are as two luminaries shining forth from the horizon of the heaven of the divine Tablet of Laws. Blessed is he who hath recognized this, and woe unto the heedless. We counsel all to unity and harmony. Blessed is he who acteth in accordance with that which hath been commanded, and woe unto those who turn aside. Praise be to God, the Lord of all worlds….