Volume 076: Akka 1302 A.H. (1884–1885), Part II (4 of 6)
BH00317: The essence of praise and glorification and the quintessence…
Section 1: “In the Name of our Lord, the Most…”
In the Name of our Lord, the Most Holy, the Most Great, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious
The essence of praise and glorification and the quintessence of commendation befitting those of understanding is due to the people of God, whom neither the tempests of objections from the people of the Bayan nor the storms of intimations from the people of the Furqan could deter from steadfastness, recognition, certitude, and turning toward and drawing nigh unto God. Exalted, exalted be their station, their rank, their loftiness, their elevation, and their steadfastness in a Cause at which hearts have trembled and feet have slipped, save those whom God, the Lord of Names and Creator of Heaven, has willed. The servant bears witness that they are such servants whose stations in the sight of God the pen and tongue are powerless to comprehend. These are the dawning-places of steadfastness, the daysprings of dignity, the manifestations of certitude, and the sources of power, majesty and might.
Glorified art Thou, O Thou through Whose Name the horizon of the heaven of recognition was illumined and the ocean of knowledge surged in contingent being! I beseech Thee by the influences of Thy power and the manifestations of Thy grandeur to protect them from Thine enemies. Then send down upon them from the heaven of Thy favors that which befits Thy gifts, and grant them that which will strengthen them in all conditions. Verily, Thou art the Lord of the servants in the beginning and in the end.
And further: it is submitted that your letter was received and all was presented before His presence. He said: O My loved one! God willing, may you be preserved through the grace of God, exalted be His glory, and remain firm and steadfast in His Cause. Today you must fix your gaze upon that which is of God and befitting His Cause. The endeavors of the people of Baha must reach such a stage that they occupy themselves with the reformation of the world and the education of its peoples. Convey My greetings to the people of Kirmanshah on behalf of the Wronged One. The petitions of each one were presented, and answers have descended from the heaven of God’s will. We beseech God to aid all to remain so steadfast that they will not be moved by the tempestuous winds or the intimations of the malicious, but rather stand firm and immovable as mountains in the Cause of God.
O loved one! The clamor of the baying ones has risen from the land of Kaf and Ra, and is rising in other lands as well. This is the promise which the Most Exalted Pen gave to all in Zawra and the Land of Mystery and in the early days of the Most Great Prison. Some helpless souls, having no understanding of the fundamental truth of the Cause, have been misled by the deception of the baying ones and have strayed from the straight path. Glory be to God! How thoroughly do fabricated falsehoods affect the hearts of some! The source of oppression and corruption issued a verdict against the Most Great Branch and others like him, and martyred him, and afterward they would speak of their own oppression in various regions—while God is witness that not even to the extent of a needle’s point were those souls harmed. Every fair-minded person testifies that this Wronged One has, from the inception of the Cause, stood before the faces of the world and accepted all tribulations for the sake of God, to manifest His Cause and exalt His Word. Blessed are the fair-minded!
Consider the Shi’ih sect. For years they considered themselves the best of creation, yet with the slightest test it became evident they were the basest of servants, as evidenced by their martyrdom of the Bab. Now too the deniers among the Bayan cling to the same vain imaginings. Whatever fruit the Shi’ih sect reaped from the tree of their deeds, these souls shall reap as well. You must, with the utmost joy and fragrance, remind the people and guide them to the highest horizon.
The extent of deceit and trickery among the people of the Bayan exceeds all reckoning. By the life of our Lord and the Lord of earth and heaven, they intended to shed holy blood, and after revealing what was in their hearts, the greatest separation occurred. To this every discerning and fair-minded one bears witness. Nearly a hundred souls became aware of this matter, yet with complete power, God did not permit any action against those souls. The servants are like sheep, possessing neither understanding nor discernment, save those whom God wills. We beseech God, exalted be His glory, to guide all and show them the way. He is the All-Powerful and the Mighty over all things.
Mention was made of one named Shaykh Muhammad. He and his like have no understanding whatsoever. Whatever the followers of Siyyid Muhammad-i-Isfahani—who is the root of this mischief—have said, he has accepted, and thus he has risen in opposition. Those helpless ones are heedless and deprived of awareness. We beseech God to grant them fairness, that they may not accept merely through hearing, but see with their own eyes and hear with their own ears. However, their rebellious deeds have barred and deprived them from this most exalted station. Let us see what the power of God’s gracious aid, exalted be His glory, will accomplish.
Verily, that honored one must return to that land, that perchance some may become aware of the truth of the Cause and turn unto the straight path. In truth his letter brought wondrous joy, for it spoke in praise of God and bore glad tidings of his well-being. For this bounty we offered praise and rendered thanks, and we beseech Him to assist that honored one. He is verily the All-Powerful, the Helper. If they obtain a copy of the letter of His Holiness Ismu’llah Zaynu’l-Muqarrabin, upon him be the Most Glorious Beauty of God, it would be most beloved, for it contains the utterances of God, exalted be His glory, that perchance every heedless one may be reminded thereby, every ignorant one may gain knowledge thereby, and every distant one may draw nigh thereby. The Command is in His grasp—He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth. He is the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.
As to what was mentioned regarding Kermanshah, it was presented at the Most Holy, Most Exalted Court. This is what the Tongue of Grandeur spoke in reply, blessed and exalted be His Word:
The barking one of Kermanshah had and hath no knowledge of the essence of the Cause. That wretched, helpless one hath accepted whatever they have said. The dawning-places of idle fancies first attribute tyranny to God, exalted be His glory, saying that they killed so-and-so, heedless that they themselves committed that which caused the atoms of creation to lament and the denizens of the highest Paradise to wail and cry out. The entire world—all the Tablets, Scriptures and Books sent down from the heaven of the Divine Will in this Revelation have strictly forbidden conflict, contention, killing and the like. We beseech and implore God to sanctify the people of Baha in all conditions from such matters and to withhold them from all that diminisheth human dignity. This is the true religion of God among the people today. Well is it with them that attain thereunto.
As for the one whom the Exalted One—may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for Him—designated as Dayyan, and who according to the explicit sacred texts was a repository of divine mysteries and the seat of trust and wisdom—they passed judgment against him and martyred him, and likewise others similar to him, and still others. This servant pauseth in elaborating these matters, for they are the cause of grief and sorrow. By the life of God! They committed that which would set ablaze the heart of any fair-minded person. Surely they have heard of the violation of chastity and what disgrace it brought about. Nevertheless, wherever they found one as heedless as themselves, they imparted whatever was in their hearts.
Today is the Day when secrets shall be disclosed. They have revealed what was hidden and concealed in their hearts. They are not even aware enough to know that objection to God is not permitted. “He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth”—what meaneth this? If they deny this word they have denied God, and if they acknowledge it, what meaning have these objections? By the life of our Purpose and the Purpose of all who are in earth and heaven! They committed that which the Pen is powerless to describe. In any case, we hope that that honored one will arise as befitteth and will observe wisdom.
Section 2: “As to the mention of Abu’l-Qasim, upon him…”
As to the mention of Abu’l-Qasim, upon him be the Glory of God, that he was present and sought to be remembered, this was granted audience before the presence. His Word, exalted be His glory:
O Abu’l-Qasim! We beseech God that He may aid thee to act in accordance with that which hath flowed from the Most Exalted Pen in the Book. Be thou observant of that whereby the Cause of God is exalted. We have commanded all to cast away that which remoteth them and to take hold of that which draweth them nigh unto the Truth, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. O Abu’l-Qasim! Take hold of the Book of God with the power that proceedeth from Him. This is what beseemeth this praiseworthy station. We convey greetings to all and give them the glad-tidings of God’s grace, exalted be His glory.
As to what was written concerning Jinab-i-Aqa Shaykh Sadiq, upon him be the Glory of God, and likewise two others, Jinab-i-Karbila’i ʿAli and Ustad Naqi, upon them be the Glory of God, that they desire to journey to the Most Holy Court—this matter was presented before His presence. This is what was revealed in response, blessed and exalted be His words: If it be accomplished with joy and fragrance, and be in accord with wisdom, there is no objection to their coming. And if they be engaged in service in that land, this is acceptable before God. We beseech God to record for them, by the Most Exalted Pen, the reward of attaining His presence. Verily, He is powerful over all things.
The beloved of God in that land—mention of them hath flowed from the tongue and pen. Praise be to God, all have attained unto the Word of God and have been sustained by the heavenly feast. We beseech God to aid them that they may, at every moment, drink the water of steadfastness from the chalice of certitude, for the barking ones and the transgressors have been and are lying in wait. O My loved ones in that land! Hearken unto My call from the direction of My prison. Verily, it draweth you to My horizon, bringeth you near unto My Self, and giveth you to drink of the choice wine of My wondrous utterance. Your names have been mentioned before the Wronged One, and We have revealed for each one of you that which shall not change so long as the names of God, the Lord of all worlds, shall endure.
Beware lest the doubts of every remote barking one cause you to slip. By the life of God! They have followed vain imaginings and perceive not, and have acted upon mere conjectures and understand not. We counsel you to manifest goodly character and that whereby the Cause of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed, may be exalted. Be ye as mountains in the Cause of God, your Lord. Verily, He is with you, hearing and seeing, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. Object ye not to anyone. In all matters, place your trust in the All-Powerful, the Almighty.
Under all conditions, ye should manifest the utmost composure and dignity. Should a heedless soul arise in opposition, oppose ye him not, lest the clamor of the heedless be raised. Blessed are My loved ones in Khadra. They are reckoned among the patient ones in God’s Book. The ignorant divines in that land have manifested the utmost rebelliousness. Nevertheless, the friends of God, exalted be His glory, out of their love for God and their adherence to His command, never opposed the oppressive souls. Finally, the government authorities were enabled to execute justice, judged with truth, and restrained the hands of the oppressors from their taking. Follow ye, O My loved ones, that which hath been revealed in the Book, then be patient in His love. Verily, He is the All-Patient, the Commander, the All-Wise.
Likewise, mention of the friends of those regions hath flowed from the Most Exalted Pen. This is what was revealed for the friends of God in Al-Alif and Al-Sin (Asadabad). These are His blessed and exalted words:
O My loved ones in that land! We counsel you to manifest supreme steadfastness, such that the godless and the deniers shall be rendered powerless to speak. Today belongeth to the Truth—naught shall be mentioned save Him alone. Reflect upon the deeds of the people of the Furqan (Muslims). They considered themselves supreme over all the world. For twelve hundred years they enthroned an imaginary being that had no external existence upon the seat of Jabulqa and Jabulsa which they had constructed with the hands of idle fancies. Then they strove to lead the helpless masses astray. The ultimate fruit of their deeds, beliefs and words was that they martyred the Lord of the world with the most grievous torture. All the divines, together with the tyrannical masses, pronounced death sentences in their gatherings and assemblies, and engaged in cursing and vilification, God forbid! Not a single divine showed acceptance in the early days of the Cause, for they were nourished at the breast of fancy and vain imaginings. Now the deniers of the Bayan are playing the same tune behind a veil. With turbans and robes they have arisen to harm the Truth. The ultimate fruit of these souls’ deeds shall be the same as those who came before.
O concourse of loved ones! God willing, may you remain firm and steadfast through the power of the Truth, exalted be His glory, and through His favors, in such wise that the tongues of all created things shall testify to your steadfastness. By God’s life! The deniers were not and are not aware of the root of the Cause. They soar with the wings of self in the atmosphere of heedlessness and rejection. Praise be to God that you have attained to the mention of the Truth and have been beneath the glances of His favor. Know the value of this station and preserve it as the apple of your eye. Today the hosts of Truth and His helpers have been and are goodly deeds and pure, holy, pleasing character. It is not and was never permissible to oppose anyone. Hold fast unto righteousness and cleave unto that which God hath ordained. Soon shall you attain unto the fruits of your deeds if you succeed in acting for God’s sake.
And as to certain individuals in particular–whose names, or whose petitions, have attained unto the Most Holy Presence—separate answers shall be revealed and sent unto them.
The end belongs to the God-fearing, and praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.
This evanescent one conveys greetings to each of the loved ones in that land and its surroundings, and begs confirmation from God, exalted be His glory, for each one. And he submits to the service of each that the deniers among the people of the Bayan have turned away from the Truth. All know that from the beginning of the Cause this servant has been in every place and station and is informed of every matter. Nevertheless, not one of the deniers has inquired of this servant to become informed and aware. They have clung to the words of Siyyid Muhammad-i-Isfahani and his like, who had no knowledge whatsoever, and have turned away from the Truth. By the life of our Object of desire and the Object of desire of all who are in the heavens and earth! The tyranny of these oppressive souls is more severe, greater and graver than the tyranny of the people of the Furqan.
In brief, this servant has submitted for God’s sake and submits for God’s sake, and has not refrained and will not refrain from speaking the truth, even should the whole world advance with sword and spear. I beseech God, exalted be His glory, to purify the loved ones of that land from the doubts and conditions of the deniers and transgressors among the people of the Bayan. Verily He is powerful over all things. Glory and remembrance and praise be upon you and your family and those with you and upon every one firm, steadfast and unwavering. And praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.
The servant, 18 Dhi’l-Qa’dih 1302
BH01088: The servant testifies that there is no God but…
He is God—exalted be His glory, majesty and power!
The servant testifies that there is no God but Him, acknowledging His oneness and confessing His singleness, and with certitude in what He has revealed in His Book. Verily He is the Sovereign before Whose hosts the world cannot stand. He does as He wills by His command and decrees what He desires. He is indeed the Single, the One, the Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
Glory be unto Thee, O Thou through Whose manifestation mysteries were revealed and that which was hidden in the hearts of the chosen ones who Thou madest the repositories of Thy revelation, the dawning-places of Thy inspiration, the fountainheads of Thy Cause, and the daysprings of Thy laws. I beseech Thee by the lights of Thy countenance and by the Word through which all created things were moved and all existing things were ordained, to assist Thy chosen ones, Thy loved ones and Thy trustees to celebrate Thy praise and glorification and to serve Thy Cause, that there might appear from them that which would cause those near unto Thee to inhale the fragrance of immortality through Thy Most Exalted Name. There is no God but Thee, the Mighty, the All-Conquering, the Powerful.
O my Lord! Withhold them not from Thy outpourings which none has comprehended save Thy knowledge and none has recognized save Him Whom Thou hast made the Manifestation of Thy names, attributes, signs and tokens. Protect them from the evil of those who have encompassed the people of Thy oneness in Thy realm, and through whom there has come to pass that which has caused the dwellers of the Most Exalted Paradise and the Verdant Isle to lament. Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having enabled those who have acknowledged Thy oneness to remain patient in adversity and tribulation. There is no God but Thee, the Lord of earth and heaven, and the Sovereign over all names. Thou art indeed the Mighty, the Great.
And further: O beloved of my heart, the words composed of the letters of the Book of love for the Lord of the worlds and the Goal of all nations have left their effect upon all limbs, members and pillars—an effect of which it is said that it enters with milk and departs with the soul. How wondrous is this most great mystery of love! Though a thousand volumes be written about it, it would still appear deficient. It is the first adornment and the cause and reason for the continuation of existence. In one station it bestows life and grants spirit, in another it makes one utterly evanescent, and in yet another it confers an enduring, eternal power. I have no name for this mystery and this reality. Whatever is said of it is other than it and beneath it, for by God’s will it has become the cause and reason for creation. After gaining awareness and knowledge, approach was made to the presence of His countenance and He said: “Praise be to God! A carpet has been spread that the hands of the morning breeze are powerless to fold. Blessed are its people! None but the people of determination and joy have access to this carpet.
The world is seen to be in turmoil through the tyranny of the nations. Each day it is afflicted with a new ordeal and from every corner a tribulation arises. O people of unity! Through your existence the world exists. Strive that perchance the world may be adorned with the ornament of justice and equity and attain unto that which God has willed. Blessed art thou and blessed is he who has turned towards Egypt and blessed are God’s loved ones there. We make mention of the two Most Great Names as We have mentioned them before and will mention them hereafter, and those whom the doubts of the people of misbelief have not prevented from recognizing the unity of God, the Single, the One, the Powerful, the Supreme, the Mighty, the Wise. Peace be upon you and upon God’s sincere servants.”
The station of loving-kindness and compassion is evident, both outwardly and inwardly, through utterance. Every word speaks, nay every letter testifies and bears witness to the Most Great Bounty. We beseech God, exalted be His glory, to preserve these stations and increase them with each moment. He is the Powerful, the Able One.
That which that beloved one observed and mentioned in the dream indicates the exaltation of the religion of God and His Cause among the servants. As for the weeping, it is joy—this is what the servant heard from the tongue of his Lord. They stated that whatsoever came to pass and was revealed, all was and is evidence of loftiness, elevation, exaltation and steadfastness. We beseech Him, exalted be He, to make your honor one who aids, stands firm, and speaks forth in His Name with wisdom and utterance. Although mentioning this matter is to achieve what is already achieved, as that beloved one has been and is, praise be to God, already successful.
And regarding what was written about ʿAmmar, these details that were submitted are clear and evident. Your honor has fulfilled and continues to fulfill the Covenant and Testament, and there has been no doubt or uncertainty. Whatever is with them will return to this Spot, but it has not yet emerged from the unseen. After its emergence, whatever is wise and befitting to the time will be made manifest. End.
To the beloved of the heart, that is, the direction of the two Most Exalted Names, his honor Aqa Siyyid ʿAli, upon him be the Glory of God, I convey countless salutations and greetings. Surely by now he has returned from Egypt. This servant is ashamed before him, for whatever he might express, there still remains more to say. Perhaps God will bestow His grace and enable its expression, for it is not and has never been within the power of ones like this servant. I convey greetings to each of the loved ones in that land, and I beseech God, glorified be His Majesty, for health, well-being, blessing, bounty, confirmation and success in all that He loves and is pleased with. May they ever dwell beneath the shade of the Tree of loving-kindness, standing in His service, mentioning His remembrance, and gazing toward His horizon. Peace, praise, glory and splendor be upon your honor and upon the near-servants of God.
BH01916: A wondrous mention and a new adornment…
He is God, exalted be His station of grandeur and power!
A wondrous mention and a new adornment and a fresh thought and boundless knowledge is He Whom our praise cannot reach and our glorification is not worthy of. Description and characterization, whether above or below that, belongs to the world of creation and should be mentioned within creation’s bounds. However, praise befits the people of fidelity who hold fast to the cord of unity and cling to true love and harmony. The clamor of the ignorant does not prevent them from the highest horizon, nor does the uproar of enemies veil them. These are the hands of the Cause in the world of creation and the servants of the Lord of existence among His creatures. Their praise flows from the Supreme Pen and is recorded in every Book. Blessed are they and theirs is a goodly return.
And further: the letter of that honored brother arrived like water reaching the thirsty. Praise be to God, the fragrance of the love of Truth wafted from it and divine mention and praise were evident therein. In these days the pens have attained their lofty stations. All things have received the breezes of the grace of the Beloved of possibility according to their measure. Pens are racing in the field of mention and praise, and likewise the tongue of remembrance. These two are outwardly heard and perceived by the external ear, but by the life of our Beloved and your Beloved, the true ears hear the praise of all things and are gladdened thereby. We beseech God, exalted be His glory, to cause these servants to ever attain these two most exalted stations. He is the Powerful, the Mighty.
After perusing the letter of that honored brother, it was presented before the Countenance and fully submitted. He said: “O Ali-Akbar! Praise be to God that thou hast attained unto true unity and hast heard from the rustling of the leaves of the garden of inner meanings the words Verily there is no God but Him.’ Darkness hath encompassed the world. The friends must shine forth like light that perchance the darkness may be dispelled and return to nothingness. Regarding what thou didst write about affairs, in all conditions they should fix their gaze upon the highest horizon, and if they are in debt to anyone they must certainly pay it, whether through compensation or otherwise. That honored one should rest assured in God’s grace and hold fast unto Him.
And what thou didst mention regarding partnership with the two Most Exalted Names was accepted before the Countenance. The welfare of the friends hath ever been mentioned. In all matters they should consult with the two Names and act according to what becomes apparent. This is a bounty from God, for consultation removes obscuring veils from the face of understanding and reveals that which is befitting. We have mentioned and continue to mention all the friends of that land, and We beseech God to increase the light of certitude in each one at every moment. Verily, He hath power over all things.”
This evanescent servant also conveys greetings to each one and beseeches God, exalted be His glory, for the success of all. He is the Bestower, the Kind. In closing, peace and mercy be upon you and upon God’s righteous servants. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.
BH01909: Praise befits the people of faithfulness who are holding…
He is God, exalted be His glory, the Greatness and the Power
Praise befits the people of faithfulness who are holding fast to the Covenant and clinging to the Pledge. Blessed is the soul that has attained unto God’s Covenant and His Testament—such a one is mentioned as the most exalted of creation before the Truth and is recorded in God’s Book. Glory be unto Thee, O my God! I beseech Thee by the fragrances of the hearts of them that know Thee and by the burning of the livers of the sincere ones in their separation and remoteness from Thee, to assist Thy Afnan in that which Thou lovest and approvest. Then raise them at all times through Thy grace, Thy power and Thy loving-kindness. Verily Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. There is no God but Thee, the Forgiving, the Generous.
May my spirit be a sacrifice for you. Your esteemed letter arrived and brought the utmost joy and delight—a joy before which all the joys of the world fade into nothingness. After it was presented before the Blessed Beauty, He said:
“God willing, may they ever drink from the inexhaustible stream of God’s loving-kindness and remain seated firmly established upon the throne of certitude and assurance.”
Although outwardly there is distance between this land and that land, yet God knows they are present before Us and are mentioned in the Most Holy Court. I beseech God, exalted be His glory, again and again that they may attain the honor of His presence and drink from the ocean of reunion.
Regarding what was written about Aqa Mirza Muhammad Ibrahim, the receipt was sent—let them send it. And the reply to some petitions from those parts is being sent—they should forward them with utmost haste. The reply to the letter of the honored Afnan, his eminence A. and H., upon him be the Glory of God the Most Glorious, has been submitted and is being sent. I convey to him greetings, praise and glory, and I beseech God, exalted be His station, for the loftiness and elevation of his rank. Verily He is the Generous, the Benevolent, and He is the Giver, the Kind, the Merciful.
To his eminence the honored Afnan-i-Kabir, upon him be all the most glorious Glory of God, I convey my utter servitude and nothingness. And likewise to the shining star, his eminence the Afnan whom God has blessed, I send greetings. To the holy, blessed Leaf, may my spirit be a sacrifice for her steps, and to the honored consort, upon her be all God’s most glorious Glory, and to the honored ladies, the Leaves of the Divine Lote-Tree, upon them be the Glory of God and His loving-kindness, I convey glory and greetings. God willing, may all attain unto that which God loves and approves, and drink again and again from the cup of reunion and meeting.
To the apple of our eyes, his eminence Aqa Mirza Mustafa, upon him be the Glory of God, I send greetings. God willing, may he be in perfect health and wellness and remain steadfast in service. To the beloved of the heart, his eminence Aqa Muhammad Mustafa, and the honored beloved, his eminence Haji Muhammad Rida, upon them both be the Glory of God, I send greetings. Praise be to God, they are firm in the Cause and speaking in remembrance and praise. In all conditions I seek confirmation and success for them. To the spiritual friend, his eminence Haji Husayn and all the friends in that land, I send greetings. Peace, mercy and glory be upon the good, pure and blessed Leaf, and upon you and those with you and those who love you and those who hear your words concerning God’s Cause, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. And praise be to God, the Lord of what was and what will be.
BH06199: Glorified art Thou, O Thou through Whose Name Thou…
In the Name of our Lord, the Most Holy, the Most Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious
Glorified art Thou, O Thou through Whose Name Thou hast illumined the world and subdued the nations. I beseech Thee by the Most Great Name, through which the limbs of the idolaters trembled and the hearts of the deceivers were agitated—they who turned away from Thee and violated Thy Covenant and Testament, and followed their own desires in Thy days. Thou seest them, O my God and my Purpose, clinging to vain imaginings and devoted to them without any clear proof from Thee. I beseech Thee, O Mystery of existence and Controller of both the unseen and the visible, to protect Thy loved ones and chosen ones from the evil of those who have turned away from Thy horizon and disputed Thy signs.
O Lord! Thou seest those who have turned away and what their hands have wrought and their tongues have uttered. They have denied Thee and Thy signs and desired to lead Thy servants astray. I beseech Thee by the lights of Thy countenance to inspire Thy loved ones with that which will make them independent of all else besides Thee, through Thy might and power and sovereignty. O Lord! Thou knowest that through their existence vain imaginings and idle fancies have been renewed. Verily Thou art the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. Ordain through Thy Most Exalted Pen that which will make known to them Thy path and will guide them to Thy way and will teach them what Thou hast desired for them through Thy generosity and grace. Verily Thou art the Powerful over what Thou willest. There is no God but Thee, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
BH00768: O God, O Gracious One, O Merciful One! I…
…O God, O Gracious One, O Merciful One! I have turned to Thee, and am clinging to the cord of Thy bounty, and am holding fast to the hem of Thy generosity. Thou art the Gracious One—a single drop from the ocean of Thy forgiveness would wash away the transgressions of all mankind, and one word from the mouth of Thy grace would bestow the water of life upon all contingent beings. O Peerless Bestower! Deprive not Thy servant of Thy mercy—grant him a portion from Thy ocean, and ordain for him a share from the sea of Thy generosity. The tongues of the world are unworthy to praise Thee, and the hearts of nations incapable of comprehending Thy Being. Thy Being transcends all understanding and reason, and is exalted above the knowledge of souls—such has it ever been and ever shall be. With utmost humility and supplication, I seek Thy ancient bounty and search for Thy all-encompassing grace. Thou art the All-Knowing, the All-Aware. Through Thy remembrance am I alive, and in hope of meeting Thee do I exist and endure. Do what befitteth Thy bounty, not what befitteth my praise and glorification. There is none other God but Thee, the Forgiving, the Generous. Praise be unto Thee, for Thou art the Goal of all seekers….
BH11873: In truth, today praise and glorification befit the people…
Section 1: “In truth, today praise and glorification befit…”
In the Name of our Most Holy, Most Great, Most Exalted, Most Glorious Lord
In truth, today praise and glorification befit the people of fidelity, whom neither the clamor of the heedless, nor the croaking of the croakers, nor the doubts of the ungodly, nor the insinuations of the opposers could debar from the manifest light. Although the effulgent rays of the Sun of Revelation have encompassed the world and His verses have adorned cities and lands, and in every direction the Standard of His Revelation has been raised aloft and from every quarter the voice of the One Who conversed on Sinai can be heard, yet again some of the heedless have returned to their first step. Glory be to God! The Finger of Power rent asunder the veils and tore away the shrouds, yet still the croakers seek anew to afflict the hapless people with veils thicker than those before and shrouds greater than those of old. They are worshippers of vain imaginings yet count themselves among the people of unity; they are idol-worshippers yet consider themselves among those endowed with true knowledge.
Man is bewildered, for all have witnessed with their own eyes and heard with their own ears that whatsoever the Shi’ih sect formerly uttered and occupied itself with was mere fancy and sheer delusion. Throughout ages and centuries they pronounced curses and maledictions against one another from their pulpits, to such extent that the veins of their necks stood out like spears. When the dawn of the Will of the Lord of Oneness broke and the Sun of Truth shed its radiance, all, whether learned or ignorant, arose in the first year against the Lord of all beings, in such wise that the dwellers of the highest Paradise lamented. Finally, that unjust group issued the decree and arose to shed His pure blood, until that which caused the very essence of truth to weep came to pass.
This was naught but the fruit of their unworthy deeds and false actions. Now the people of the Bayan, namely those souls who have turned away, should with fairness and justice reflect upon the end of those who considered themselves the most exalted of nations—what fruit those souls reaped, that these souls should now walk in their footsteps. God protect us and you from the evil of such people! In truth these souls are heedless, for they have not been informed of the root of the matter and do not inquire of those who are aware. It behooveth me to mention that which the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Qur’an. His exalted Word: “Leave them to plunge in their idle discourse and play.” And prayers and peace and glory and praise be upon those who have quaffed the wine of steadfastness in such wise that they have cast the world behind their backs, standing firm in the Cause of God, the Lord of all worlds. And praise be unto Him, for He is the Goal of all who know and the Beloved of the sincere ones.
Glorified art Thou, O Thou through Whose Name the mysteries have been revealed, the rivers have flowed, the banners of unity have been planted, and the standards of detachment have been raised! I beseech Thee by the Word through which Thou didst create all beings and bring forth all existences, to acquaint Thy servants with that which will profit them in every world of Thy worlds, and teach them that which they have neglected concerning Thee in Thy days. I testify, O my God, that Thou hast made clear the Path, brought forth the Evidence, sent down the Verses, and manifested the Proofs. Blessed is the soul that hath discovered the fragrance of Thy verses, turned unto Thee, hastened to Thy supreme horizon—the Station wherein naught is mentioned save Thyself, O Lord of all beings and Sovereign of the earth and heaven.
O Lord! I beseech Thee by the waves of the ocean of Thy mercy and the effulgences of the lights of the sun of Thy grace, to aid Thy heedless servants to return to the court of Thy glory and to enter the precincts of Thy grandeur. O Lord! Disappoint them not through Thy bounty and generosity, and deprive them not from the heaven of Thy bestowals. Then I beseech Thee, O my God, to assist Thy party who have not broken Thy Covenant and Thy Testament, and who have arisen to make mention of Thee and to praise Thee and to serve Thy Cause, to manifest that which Thou hast and which Thou hast sent down in Thy Book, that perchance thereby the slumberers may awaken and return unto Thee and hold fast unto the cord of Thy bounty and cling to the hem of the robe of Thy forgiveness. Verily, Thou art the Ever-Forgiving, the All-Merciful, the Generous One.
The letter from that honored one reached this evanescent servant some time ago. It was a conscious testimony and a true witness to that honored one’s orientation toward and acceptance of the Supreme Horizon. How excellent was the fragrance of the love of the Beloved of the worlds that wafted from it. This evanescent servant beseeches and hopes from God, exalted be His glory, that this fragrance may ever continue to waft and this breeze to blow. After its reading and review, it was taken to the Most Exalted Station and, following permission, was presented before His countenance and was honored to be heard. His word, exalted be His glory:
In My Name that shineth forth from the horizon of the Kingdom of proof
O thou who hast turned towards the Most Exalted Horizon! A servant presented thy letter before the Countenance and read it. Each word thereof bore witness to and indicated thy turning and devotion. We beseech God to aid thee in such wise that thou mayest safeguard the people from the delusions of the barking ones. By My life! They are engaged anew in building cities and abodes of doubts and vain imaginings. Detached from the world, arise to educate the peoples. Marvel not at this word, for this is not difficult for God. Make great thy resolve and occupy thyself with service. Today the Most Great Gate is opened, the Sea of Revelation is surging, and the Speaker is speaking.
Reflect upon the baseness of the souls of those who have turned away. God hath manifested the banners of verses and the hosts of revelation and inspiration from the horizon of the heaven of Will, clear and evident and manifest, and there hath been revealed from the Most Exalted Pen the equivalent of all the heavenly Books, nay more. Yet they are occupied with former vain imaginings and speak the words of the gathering of the Mother City. If they deny this Most Great Cause and Most Great Announcement, to what cord will they cling and to what rope will they hold fast?
This Wronged One arose to promote the Cause in days when all hearts and souls were agitated and the limbs of the people of the Bayan trembled from the might of rulers and the clamor of divines—an arising to which all bear witness—and called all, with the most loud voice, to the Most Exalted Horizon. Nevertheless, there proceeded from the wayward souls that which caused the dwellers of the cities of inner meanings and utterance to weep. Soon shall they see the recompense of their deeds. Verily thy Lord is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. In any case, beseech the Dayspring of generosity, the Treasury of bounty, and the Dawning-Place of divine mercy that He may aid the heedless servants to return, that perchance they may arise to retrieve what they have lost. Verily thy Lord is the Forgiving, the Merciful. Rejoice thou in My remembrance of thee and My turning toward thee from the direction of My distant prison. We have sent down for thee aforetime, and at this moment, that which will draw thee nigh unto God, the Lord of the worlds.
Section 2: “O people of the Bayan! Fear God…”
Say: O people of the Bayan! Fear God and utter not that which the ancients did not utter. Have mercy upon yourselves and upon the servants. By God! He Who was hidden in the eternity of eternities hath appeared and there hath been sent down that which was treasured in the knowledge of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. The banners of proof have appeared and before them have bowed down the signs of all existence. To this beareth witness He Who proclaimeth that there is none other God but Me, the Wronged One, the Stranger. Take thou the cup of mystic knowledge in the name of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, in spite of the people of the Bayan who have broken God’s Covenant and Testament and have arisen in clear opposition.
Thou hast been mentioned before the Countenance. We beseech God to aid thee to preserve this glorious and elevated station. Convey My greetings to the faces of those whom God hath related to thee and give them the glad-tidings of My remembrance of them in My Most Great Prison, and remind them of that which hath been sent down from the kingdom of My wondrous utterance. The glory shining from the horizon of the heaven of My grace be upon thee and upon those who have quaffed the wine of steadfastness from this cup before which the seas have bowed down, and who have held fast unto this cord whereby the near ones have held fast. Praise be to God, the Lord of what was and what will be.
This servant, nay all things, are bewildered and astonished, for it is observed that the very means whose corruption was evident yesterday are again today being grasped and clung to. Would that the people knew! An assembly in Manshad, like unto the assembly of the Mother of Cities, nay greater and mightier, has arisen in protest. They have written a letter, signed and sealed by four persons, and dispatched it. Glory be to God! Have these souls not seen the Tablet to Ra’is? Have they not read the Tablets to the Kings? Have they not heard of the Most Holy Book? All these matters were revealed aforetime from the Most Exalted Pen with utmost clarity. After receiving the letter, this servant remained bewildered for a time.
On the one hand, it was observed that this letter was not worthy of presentation, and on the other hand, it was considered that perhaps concealing it might constitute a dereliction. Therefore, placing complete trust in God, this servant turned toward the Most Holy Court, and after receiving full permission, presented it in its entirety. An answer descended from the heaven of divine will. It is hoped that you will be blessed to review it. A hundred thousand regrets that this party has failed to comprehend that which befits the Day of God. And concerning the mention that was made of those who are related, each one has been mentioned in the Most Holy Court and has attained the outpourings of the true Bestower of Bounty. After the presentation of this matter, these exalted words descended from the Kingdom of the All-Merciful’s utterance. He—exalted be He—saith:
In the Name of the Compassionate, the All-Bountiful
O thou who gazest toward the Most Sublime Horizon! We have heard thy remembrance and praise, and witnessed thy turning and devotion to God, the Lord of all beings. Blessed is the ear that hath attained to hearing the Call, and the eye that hath beheld the Most Sublime Horizon, and the hand that hath taken what was sent down from the heaven of the bounty of thy Lord, the Possessor of all necks. The Books of God have testified to this Book which hath spoken before the face of the world that there is none other God but Him, the Mighty, the Bestower. They who cast the Book of God behind their backs, clinging to vain imaginings and idle fancies, are indeed lost. Say: By God! The hearts of the sincere have been attracted by the verses sent down from the heaven of grace. Fear God, O people of the Bayan, and be not of those who disbelieved when the All-Merciful came with power and sovereignty. All that ye heard hath appeared from the horizon of My will, and the Sun of proof hath shone forth from this Station which God hath made the point round which circle the Concourse on High and they who circle the Throne at eventide and at dawn.
Say: Beware lest the doubts of the people debar you from the truth, or the allusions of those who were heedless of the Cause prevent you, for they followed every doubting idolator. How many a learned one hath been debarred from the Kawthar of life, and how many an ignorant one hath heard, hastened, and said: “Praise be unto Thee, O Revealer of the verses!” How many a servant hath turned away from the Countenance, and how many a handmaiden hath heard and answered her Lord, the Guardian over all who are in the heavens and the earth. Bounty is in His right hand, and justice in His grasp. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth. He is the Commander through Whose command the Sun of power hath shone forth from the horizon of might.
Thus hath the water of life flowed from the Pen of the All-Merciful. Blessed is he who hath taken and drunk thereof, and woe unto every irreligious deceiver—they who have broken God’s covenant and His testament, and denied Him in Whom they believed. These are indeed of those who have gone astray. The Names whom God hath associated with thee have appeared before the Wronged One, and We have sent down for each one of them that whereby those near unto God shall perceive the fragrance of the bounty of thy Lord, the Lord of creation. Remember them on My behalf and give them glad tidings of that which hath been revealed for them—that which shall never perish, as long as My Most Beautiful Names endure. He Who possesseth knowledge of the Book beareth witness to this. We counsel them to manifest supreme steadfastness and to observe that which beseemeth the days of their Lord, the Lord of Return. Glory be upon thee and upon them and upon those who have shattered the idols of idle fancy through the power bestowed by God, the Manifester of clear tokens.
His is the praise and the favor, and His is the bounty and providence. His bounty is more manifest than the sun in mid-heaven; His grace is evident and His providence is radiant, such that this evanescent one needeth not make mention thereof. Would that heedless servants would observe with the eye of fairness and the ear of justice that which hath been revealed and made manifest, and would ponder thereon. This is that state of meditation of which they have said: “One hour’s reflection is preferable to seventy years of pious worship.”
BH01712: O Tahir! Your letter reached the Most Holy…
He is God, exalted be His glory, the Most Great, the Most Powerful
O Tahir! Your letter reached the Most Holy and Most Exalted Court some time ago and was granted audience with the Wronged One.
O Tahir! The people are ignorant, deprived of the divine verses and their hearing, and forbidden from His evidences. The Sun of meanings has risen and shines from the horizon of the heaven of utterance, and the ocean of knowledge surges, yet they cling to their own vain imaginings. The divine proof has encompassed the world and the heavenly evidence has surrounded all creation—where is the hearing, where is the sight?
Say: By God’s life! Today the books of the world and all that the peoples possess have not been and are not sufficient. Fix your gaze upon this exalted Word which is as the spirit for the temple of utterance: Say: God sufficeth all things above all things, but nothing in the heavens or earth or what lies between them sufficeth instead of God, thy Lord. He is indeed the All-Knowing, the All-Sufficing, the Almighty. All must hold fast to Him and not be heedless of Him.
Today is the day of this blessed verse, yet the people are deprived of the bounty of this day. Today is the Day of God—nothing is seen except the Truth, glorified be His majesty, and His signs. Whoever remains deprived will not be enabled to make up for it. Say: Fear God and make not the drop the measure for the Most Great Ocean, nor the atom the balance for the Sun.
A few deluded ones have clung to their vain imaginings and with the utmost cunning and deceit have intended to lead people astray. At times they cling to the Qur’an and at times to the Bayan, desiring to spread the carpet of past imaginings. Today nothing besides God will profit. How many souls claimed steadfastness but then at a single cry entered the precincts of delusion and with complete deceit and hypocrisy busied themselves with harming people.
Convey My greetings to the friends in that land. Say: It behooveth you to be steadfast as mountains and brilliant and radiant as light, and to be so enkindled with the fire of God’s love that the ungodly would not dare to speak, much less to prevail. The people of Baha are as shooting stars that prevent the demons from ascending to the heaven of hearts. They are the people of the Crimson Ark, and in the Book of Names this Ark is specifically for the people of Baha.
As for your mention of questions from certain ones—today is not the day for questions. This blessed verse was revealed in answer to someone: “This is not the day for questions. It behooveth every soul, when he heareth the Call, to arise and say: ʿHere am I, here am I, O God of the worlds! Here am I, here am I, O Desire of them that have recognized Thee!”’ Today is another day and another time. Whoever fails to perceive this—the recompense of the deeds of the servants has prevented and deprived them.
Those who have said that “He Whom God shall make manifest” is the Primal Point Himself have spoken unjustly. Regarding this Revelation He says “I am the first to worship Him.” The Truth, glorified be His majesty, cannot today be known through the Bayan and what was revealed therein. The Point of the Bayan has said: “I have written a gem concerning His mention: He cannot be indicated by My indication, nor by what was revealed in the Bayan.” Observe how lofty is the station of the Revelation, while the people are as beasts in what base station. Justice is as rare as the phoenix, for were it found, by a single verse of this Revelation one would find oneself independent of all previous books.
As for what you wrote concerning the Afnan, upon him be all My most glorious Baha—he has previously been favored with permission and grace. Multiple Tablets were revealed and sent specifically for him. It is hoped he will drink from the ocean of the utterance of the Most Merciful and be illumined by the lights of the Sun of meanings.
The glory be upon you and upon those with you.
BH01790: O My Afnan! We make mention of the sorrows…
He is the Consoler, the Comforter.
O My Afnan! We make mention of the sorrows that have befallen you in the days of the All-Merciful, and We console you with the verses of God, the Lord of all worlds. By the life of God! We have seen him who has ascended, detached from this world and sanctified from its dust and smoke, and We found him in a state of joy and delight, such that were it to be manifested to those on earth, they would assuredly detach themselves from all that is with them, turning unto God, the Mighty, the Praised. Blessed art thou, for We have heard from thy tongue the word of gratitude and submission, and found in thy heart the sweet savors of contentment. Thy Lord, verily, is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.
Behold and remember when We sent My Herald with My verses and gave him a son whom We named Ahmad, and raised him to a station known only to God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. And before him We sent Muhammad, My Messenger, and gave him a son named Qasim, and after him Abdullah, and after him Ibrahim, and We raised them up through Our wisdom, for We are the Almighty, the Powerful. The idolaters called him ʿabtar’ (childless), and We revealed unto him a verse from Our presence, for We are the Ancient Revealer:
“Wealth and children are the adornment of this world’s life, but the good deeds which endure are better in thy Lord’s sight, as rewards, and better as the foundation for hopes.”
And We seized the idolaters with Our might and authority. Thus did the fragrances of revelation waft, that thou mightest thank thy Lord, the Remembering, the All-Knowing.
O My Afnan! We wish to impart to thee that which We have not imparted to any of My loved ones, that thou mayest find within thyself the light of patience from thy Lord, the Mighty, the Peerless. God hath magnified thy reward for thy son who hath ascended unto Him, even as My son Mihdi ascended at the beginning of Our imprisonment.
O My Afnan! The world is troubled and dust-laden. Its tribulation precedeth its comfort, and its punishment precedeth its blessing, and its toil exceedeth its pleasure. It is the beloved of the heedless and the abhorred of the knowing ones. Comfort and fidelity in it are like the philosopher’s stone, and its afflictions are beyond reckoning. Man seeth therein what he would rather not see, and consorteth with those whose company he would not desire. Were it to have any station, thou wouldst see Me seated upon its thrones, and were it to have any worth, its Creator and its Sovereign would not have turned away from it. Beware lest its grief sadden thee or its adornments gladden thee. Its glory is humiliation, its wealth is poverty, and its permanence is extinction. Where is the splendor of Parviz and his pure gold? Where is the might of the Pharaohs and their lofty palaces? Where is the wealth of the tyrants and their ordered armies? If thou wert to look today at the palace of Khosrow, thou wouldst find it a spider’s web and echo. Take heed, O ye who are endowed with understanding!
Grieve not for what hath befallen thee. We console thee and comfort thee, and counsel thee to be patient and forbearing. Thy Lord is the Commander, the Unconstrained. We desired naught from the world save its people, for it, in itself, is but the footstool of My feet and the pasture of My sheep and the vista of My loved ones and the dawning-place of the manifestations of My power and the dayspring of My most beautiful names and most exalted attributes. Thy Lord is the Expositor, the All-Knowing.
We make mention of My leaf whom sorrows have encompassed through what hath been ordained for her by the irrevocable decree of God, the Lord of the ancient. We beseech Him, exalted be He, to change her sorrow into His remembrance and praise, His verses and evidences, His nearness and presence. Grieve not, O My leaf! He is with thee in all conditions. He heareth and seeth, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. He will suffice thee in truth, and He is powerful over what He willeth. There is none other God but Him, the Single, the One, the Mighty, the Praised.
The glory shining forth from the horizon of the heaven of My mercy be upon you, O My Afnan and My leaves, and upon those who love you for My sake and hear your words concerning this momentous News.
BH04255: The Wronged One hath heard thy communion with God…
He is God—exalted be His glory, His grandeur and His majesty!
The Wronged One hath heard thy communion with God, the Lord of the worlds. Holy and sanctified is He Whose knowledge transcendeth the understanding and comprehension of all created things. Nevertheless, the hand of His bounty hath taken hold of the hands of His creation, and He hath ordained that the acknowledgment of powerlessness to comprehend His Essence, exalted and glorified be He, constituteth the true knowledge granted unto creation. There hath never been, nor shall there ever be, any path from the assembly of knowledge and learning to the sanctuary of the unseen. Exalted, exalted be His grace, exalted be His sovereignty, His grandeur, His tender mercy, His favors and His bounties! Blessed is the tongue that is occupied with His remembrance, and blessed is the eye that is turned toward the Most Exalted Horizon.
Today all must ponder upon the deeds and words of the people of the Furqan, that is, the Shi’ih sect, and become aware of their vain imaginings. In this way, the doubts and idle fancies of the heedless and the transgressors shall not prevent man from drawing nigh unto the All-Merciful. O people of God! This is the Day of steadfastness and deeds.
Say: Glory be unto Thee, O Thou in Whose grasp are the reins of all created things and in Whose right hand are the reins of all possibilities! I beseech Thee by the breathings of Thy Revelation and the manifestations of Thy sovereignty in Thy lands to send down upon me from the heaven of Thy bounty and generosity that which will make me steadfast in Thy love, firm in Thy service, and vocal in Thy praise. I moreover beseech Thee by Thy Self and by the mysteries of Thy Book to ordain for me that which will profit me in the world to come and in this world. Verily, Thou art the One Who hath power over whatsoever He willeth, and in Thy grasp are the reins of all names. There is none other God but Thee, the Lord of the Throne on high and of earth below.
BH08495: O My Afnan, upon thee be my glory! Today…
O My Afnan, upon thee be my glory! Today is the day of true unity, and the blessed words “There is no God but Him” are established upon the throne of all books. Say: O people, this is the Day of God, wherein none is mentioned save Him. All must gaze toward the Most Exalted Horizon. Blessed is the soul that hath transformed doubts into certitude. Say: Today the Sun of Certitude hath risen, the Straight Path is manifest, the banners of verses are unfurled, and the standards of guidance are visible. Cleanse your eyes from the ophthalmia of turning away, that ye may witness the lights of the Manifestation, and purify your ears from unseemly words, that ye may hearken to the divine call at all times. Say: O people of the Bayan! By the life of God, if anyone in this Revelation should miss a single matter, he shall never be able to make amends for it, now or ever….
BH00072: Praise be to God Who uttered a Word…
Section 1: “Praise be to God Who uttered a Word…”
In His Name, exalted be His glory, His majesty and His power
Praise be to God Who uttered a Word in the world concerning which the factions differed in its meaning: some understood from it concealment, some supposed from it the decree of revelation, some recognized in it steadfastness, some found in it the fragrance of oneness, some perceived in it the scent of union, and others the path of error. Glorified be our Lord Who is sanctified above all that they have understood, for all words return to their like and are bounded by their limitations and referred back to themselves. Meanings are only known through words which God has made as their garment, yet they befit not their Creator and their Sovereign. The servant testifies that there is none other God but Him, and this is a word which God has made the mightiest pillar for the people of faith. Whoso acknowledges it has acknowledged what the All-Merciful has revealed in the Book and confessed what the Tongue of Grandeur has spoken in the return.
Prayers and peace be upon the Guide of ways and the Sovereign of Messengers, Who was a bearer of glad-tidings to the righteous and virtuous and a warner to the wicked and the infidels, through Whose appearance the decree of the sword was manifested and paradise was ordained beneath His shade. I beseech Him, exalted be He, to have mercy upon His servants and to lift the decree of the sword from among His creation, and to aid them in that which will unite their hearts and souls, and to grant them that which will profit them and make them independent of all else. Verily, He is powerful over all things.
My spirit be a sacrifice unto your remembrance! There has reached the servant that which he found like unto an ocean whereon sailed the ships of meanings and utterance with the banners of letters and words, wherein were treasured the pearls of wisdom and explanation. When I attained, witnessed, read, found and knew, I soared on wings of certitude to the station and presented it before the Countenance, and the Lord—may our spirits be sacrificed for Him—said: O Zayn! Ever has the mention of your turning to the Most Holy Court been present. We beseech God to grant you success in visiting the Sacred House of God. O Zayn! One House was built by the Friend, and the other was built by the Glorious One. The first, He entered not therein, and from the second, He departed not. This is what We uttered last year to the messenger who was named Khalil. Should God will, He will draw you nigh unto Him and ordain for you the good of the hereafter and of the first life. If wisdom permits and the loved ones of that land become not divided, and the journey takes place with joy and fragrance, then set forth, placing thy trust in God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting.
Verily, We make mention in this station of Muhammad who has ascended unto God, the Lord of the worlds. We beseech Him, exalted be He, to forgive him and absolve from him that which befitteth him not, and He is the Forgiving, the Merciful. We testify for him that he turned to the Supreme Horizon and witnessed the unity of God and His singleness, and believed in Him on a day wherein the ungodly had surrounded the cities of the believers. O Zayn! Verily, We make mention of everyone who has turned unto God, and this mention benefits him as the lamp benefits in the night and the sun in the day.
O God of Names! I beseech Thee by Thy Name, the All-Encompassing over all things, and by the breezes of Thy Revelation and the fragrances of Thy inspiration, and by the splendors of the lights of the daybreak of Thy bounty, that Thou forgive those who have ascended unto Thee, both men and women, until they reached Thy presence. Verily, Thou art He by Whose Name the ocean of forgiveness surged and the fragrance of grace wafted among all possibilities. There is none other God but Thee, the Forgiving, the Kind.
Praise be to God that the dawn of union hath broken and the veil of separation and estrangement hath been rent asunder. Separation hath been transformed into meeting. In the midst of sorrow, the star of joy hath risen and the moon of gladness hath become manifest. As the Arabs say, “Congratulations to you! Come! Come!” A hundred thousand thanks to God, exalted be His glory, that this word “Come,” which had long remained concealed, hath today been made manifest. However, order must be maintained in that land. The friends must act with wisdom, even as is done in this land. The world of humanity dwelleth in peace and tranquility through harmony and forbearance; otherwise, each day witnesseth fresh strife and conflict. This evanescent one beseecheth and imploreth the Most High to remove rancor and hatred from the world and to transform discord into concord and estrangement into unity. He, verily, is the Powerful, the Mighty over all things.
As to what was written concerning a certain person who hath shown love and desired to come: say unto him that the idolaters of the world would not approve of such a visit, and those that affirm God’s unity—that is, the divines of Persia—after having proclaimed for years that there is no God but God, ultimately pronounced their verdict against the Manifestation of Divine Unity. With their tongues they say “He doeth what He willeth,” yet at every moment they voice some objection or opposition. Until now, the fragrance of true unity hath not in truth been inhaled. “We are God’s and to Him shall we return.” Under these circumstances, that person’s visit and attention to these matters might cause him harm. If he is still living, convey to him, as bidden, Our greetings and make Our excuses. They were told: We have appeared for the purpose of meeting and We are the Guide, but the heedless have become as barriers. Verily, God loveth the patient ones.
O Muhammad, upon him be the peace of God, this servant sends greetings to him in the land of Sin-Lam and beseeches God, exalted be His glory, to grant him steadfastness. O beloved of my heart! The cawers have gone forth cawing in the land of Sad, and they will surely go to Ardakan and Najafabad as well. Mulla Ja’far of Kirman and his sons have appeared with unprecedented deceit, exactly like the abominable Shi’ihs, repeating the same old arguments. They have not caught the slightest fragrance of this Day. You should write in detail to the land of N-J-A-R and write: O friends of Truth! Reflect upon the deeds, actions and beliefs of the Shi’ihs—what was their fruit and what was their outcome? The result of their beliefs and deeds was that they pronounced judgment against the Primal Point, may our souls be sacrificed for His sake, and martyred Him with such tyranny that all things wept. “The curse of God be upon the wrongdoers!”
Write to Zayn to write to the land of Nun and Jim and its surroundings: O people! Fear God and follow not the sources of conjecture and idle fancy. Today all must be set ablaze with the fire of divine love—a blaze that will ignite all the peoples of the world. Be ye strong in the Cause of God and His love. The corruption of the world hath appeared from the turbaned ones of those parts. Reflect upon Jabulqa and Jabulsa. They prided themselves on being Shi’ihs while in God’s estimation they were lower than dogs, for each day they would add to their turbans, say one qirat, while engaging in lies, a whole chest full, and cursing each other from the pulpits, heedless that all were in the fire and unmentioned before God. The Primal Point, may our souls be sacrificed for His sake, hath said that not a single one of the Shi’ihs became aware—may God silence them! Each day they occupied the people with lies and idle fancies, moved by their own base desires.
The people of the Bayan are observed to be like those souls. Though they had no knowledge from the beginning of the Cause, they have claimed awareness. At times they speak of the successor, at times of the mirror, and at times of the guardian, occupied with the same old utterances. Whatever fruit the misguided Shi’ih sect tasted, these souls shall taste as well. They have followed vain imaginings and perceive not; they have turned away from the truth and know not; they have violated God’s Covenant and Testament and understand not. Had that blessed Cause appeared in these lands, all would now be seen as they ought to be. Their beginning is conjecture and their end is idle fancy. The Cause is in the hands of God, the Lord of all beings.
O people of God! When a cawer comes to you, leave him to himself. Draw not near unto him. This is My counsel unto you, both before and after. And if you do meet them, every cawer should behold from your faces such steadfastness that he would be powerless to turn away or object.
Glory be to God! They desire to measure by the standard of their own idle fancies the King of existence Who hath brought that which equals all divine books, nay rather exceeds them. At times they cling to the Bayan and at times to vain imaginings, although the Primal Point, may our souls be sacrificed for His sake, hath said:
“He shall not be asked about My signs nor about what was revealed in the Bayan.”
Observe how exalted is the Cause!
Consider the loftiness of the Cause and the baseness of the manifestations of idle fancies and vain imaginings. In accordance with the command, apprise the friends of the deceit and trickery of the croakers, and counsel them on behalf of the Truth to ponder the deeds, actions and beliefs of the misguided Shi’ih sect, and likewise their fruits. Should any soul reflect upon these, he would find himself steadfast in the Cause of God. The fruits of those souls were that, by the unanimous verdict of the leaders, they martyred the Lord of the world, and in every land they shed the blood of the friends of Truth. Say: O party of God! This is the day of true unity. Fix your gaze upon the horizon of God alone, and keep your hem pure from the thorns and thistles of the past and future.
The honored friend Aqa Mirza Habibu’llah, upon him be 9 66 [Baha’u’llah], God willing, will return to Kirmanshah. The heedless souls of that land have no knowledge of the Cause, for at first the idolaters cast their calumnies—some regarding the oppression of the Point, some regarding his being a mirror and vicegerent, and some regarding his knowledge and understanding. Yet any fair-minded person would testify that he was ever in a state of security and perfect comfort, and always had multiple wives with him. His oppression that they mention—the martyrdom of the Dayyan, upon him be 9 66 [Baha’u’llah] the Most Glorious, calling him the father of evil, and likewise calling one whom the Primal Point—may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for Him—addressed “O My friend” in the Tablets until the end of His words, the father of calamities, passing verdicts against him and his like, usurping the authority of the Point, martyring one of the cousins and his like—all these matters and fleeing from land to land merely upon hearing a word, all were counted as oppression by the oppressors.
And the arising of the Desired One before the faces of the world, and His endurance of afflictions and trials and imprisonment, were regarded by those souls as tyranny, although whatsoever He ordains is truth and whatsoever appears from Him is truth. Glory be to God! They have not yet understood the station of “He doeth whatsoever He willeth and ordaineth whatsoever He pleaseth.” I beseech God to grant success that all may be freed from the conditions of self and passion and soar with the wings of freedom in this vast divine atmosphere.
Mention was made of Aqa Muhammad, upon him be God’s peace, and his petition was noted. It was presented before His countenance and He said: O Zayn! Convey greetings to him on behalf of the Wronged One and say: O Muhammad! This is the day of steadfastness and the day of service. The very foundation of the believers is shaken by the onslaughts of the idolaters and hearts are perturbed. Today consider the believers as a body—each day a portion of it is taken, yet none has yet discovered the cause and reason thereof. By God’s life! The cause has been deeds and conduct. We beseech God to aid all to cleanse their outward members through ablutions and their hearts through the water of return, and to cling with pure and mighty hands to the hem of the Most Merciful’s bounty, that perchance they may remain preserved from these trials. Glory be to God! They witness calamity yet strive not to remove it, and know not by what cause it came and by what means it may be lifted. The command is in God’s hand—He unveils and He covers, and He is the Concealer, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.
And likewise mention was made of Jinab-i-Aqa Muhammad Isma’il and his supplication was presented before the Presence. This is what was revealed in reply:
“O Isma’il! Jinab-i-Zayn conveyed thy petition. We beseech God to aid thee to that which is pleasing unto Him and to ordain for thee that which is best for thee.”
Section 2: “And mention was made of Jinab-i-Aqa Husayn…”
And mention was made of Jinab-i-Aqa Husayn from the people of Sh. It was presented and He said:
“O Husayn! This Wronged One counseleth thee to steadfastness. The atheists are many and without number. Forget not the divines of the past who, despite their claims to knowledge and complete piety, pronounced the death sentence upon the most excellent of creation. We beseech God to make thee steadfast in such wise that the intimations of the people shall not debar thee from the Truth. He is the Powerful, the Mighty.”
And He said:
“Whosoever requesteth mention from you, make mention of him on behalf of the Wronged One and show kindness unto him, that all may rejoice and occupy themselves with the praise of God.”
The second missive from His Holiness, dated the 3rd of Rajab, delighted the ears with the warbling of the doves of inner meaning and brought to the heart the joy of the people of the Most Glorious Paradise. For the eyes it was true antimony, fashioned from the jewels of love and affection. After its reading and perusal, and after drawing from the living waters of love flowing through its letters and words, it was brought to the Sacred Presence and presented before His countenance. He said:
O Zayn, upon thee be the peace of God and His grace! Remove not the believers from thy sight. Pray for them, that the True One, exalted be His glory, may protect them and their cities from the evil of the fire and the hosts of the ungodly. O Zayn! Had the believers truly clung to the hem of the resplendent Law, the kindled lamp would not have been extinguished nor accepted extinction—a lamp by whose light the entire world was illumined, yet which was extinguished by the winds of self and desire. How many streams have the thieves carried away from that Most Great Ocean—some claiming truth, some in the name of the Path, some in the name of the esoteric, and some in the name of the essence of the esoteric. In any case, the mighty party was seen to be weakened by division, such that cities and lands were laid waste.
In Kaf and Ra, which was mentioned in the Most Holy Book in the early days of imprisonment, the opposers have raised the standard of discord through calumnies the like of which have never been heard since the beginning of the world, and through deceptions never before witnessed, exerting their utmost effort to lead the people astray.
O Zayn! Praise be to God that in days when day could not be distinguished from night, We summoned with utmost power and might before the faces of the world with the most exalted call, until in every city and land, nay in every village, the mention of the True One, exalted be His glory, was raised. Now that some light has appeared, they have emerged from behind their veils. We have no complaint; the purpose is to proclaim the Cause of God. By My life! If there were one worthy of mention, this Wronged One would choose silence. The station of which He said ʿIf He should appear at this time, I would be the first to worship Him,’ and before whom all the Bayan was considered but as a leaf—from Him they have turned away, clinging to their own desires.
O Zayn! Through nights and days the Supreme Pen alone rendered assistance. All bear witness to this, and not for a moment did it turn to self-preservation. Tribulations rained down like torrential rain and afflictions flew like the arrows of the ungodly. Nevertheless, the call was not cut short and the Pen did not choose silence. The Point of the Bayan has said that in the year nineteen, all who are in the Bayan should write books to each other proving He Whom God shall make manifest. His purpose was that all should be occupied with this Most Great Remembrance through tongue, hand, pen and heart, lest the people of the Bayan should act like the Shi’ih sect. However, His counsels produced the opposite effect in most of the hearts of the opposers of the Bayan. We leave them in their idle play.
O Zayn! Repeatedly has this most sublime word flowed from the Supreme Pen: ʿI was asleep when the breezes of the mercy of my Lord, the All-Merciful, awakened Me and commanded Me to raise the call between earth and heaven. This is not from Me but from Him,’ and through verses and clear proofs it is evident that if any fair-minded person were to compare the Kitab-i-Aqdas, which was revealed at the beginning of imprisonment, with the books possessed by the deniers, the radiance of the Word would shine forth like the sun and be proven. Should this word “I was asleep” until its end, along with the verses and clear proofs that have filled the world, be rejected or accepted?
And this word was mentioned only in consideration of the weakness of the servants. Countless sovereign verses were revealed concerning the Kitab-i-Aqdas, most of which were not recorded. In any case, beseech the True One to grant fairness and confirm all, that perchance they may attain the fragrance of the garment and recognize its Source. Now they have risen up with schemes and plots against the friends of Truth. Have such deeds ever been among the attributes of the people of truth? No, by My life! We beseech Him, exalted be He, to grant them what He possesses and not to make them among those who have corrupted and led others to corruption, who have gone astray and led others astray. Verily, He is powerful over all things and worthy to answer prayers.
One is bewildered as to what to mention and what to submit. This servant never imagined that the people of the Bayan would so quickly and severely rise up in rejection and objection. The Shi’ihs never committed what this group has perpetrated, nor did they say what this party has said and continues to say. Where has justice gone? This ephemeral one is perishing, for he observes that the deniers have turned away from the Truth and are unaware, or they recognize God’s favor yet deny it. In one respect, it is seen that the effulgences of the Sun of Truth have encompassed the world—how then have some remained veiled? However, in light of the blessed verse of the Furqan which states, exalted be His Word: “And it increaseth nothing for the wrong-doers save destruction,” one becomes silent and at rest, and commits all affairs to the Truth, glorified be His majesty. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He desireth, and He is the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.
Regarding what was written about the spiritual beloved, Ibn-i-Abhar, upon him be the peace of God, the Lord of Power—through boundless grace and favor, and the confirmation and success granted by the Truth, glorified be His majesty, he crossed land and sea until he arrived at the shore of the Most Great Sea. The favors and kindnesses shown to him were evident and manifest. He arrived and his sight attained its purpose of creation, and likewise his hearing and heart—he saw and heard and was occupied with the mention of God. Now he dwells at rest beneath the glances of grace. We beseech the Truth, glorified be His majesty, to confirm him and make him the source of great services. After this matter was submitted before the Lord, He said:
“O Zayn! We ask God to confirm him, grant him success, and enable him to arise in service to the Cause—an arising that no sitting down can overtake, and that the authority of ignorant divines cannot prevent. Now that he has, praise be to God, been successful and adorned with the ornament of acceptance, it is hoped that he will hold fast to wisdom, speak for God’s sake, and remain turned toward God. Peace be upon him and glory be upon him.”
And what was with him has arrived, of seeds and other things.
As to what was written concerning Zare’ and those authorized souls, I beseech God to grant them all the blessing of pilgrimage to the House, and perchance this servant too may be gladdened and cheered by attaining their presence. In truth, those souls who move for the sake of God and hold fast to the commandments of His Book are accounted as stars in the heaven of grace. All atoms beseech God to grant success to such souls. The hardships of the way and the trials of the path do not deter them. These are the servants concerning whom He saith: “No fear shall be upon them, neither shall they grieve.”
And petitions were received from Jinab-i-Aqa Siyyid Isma’il, Jinab-i-Aqa Mirza Asadu’llah and Jinab-i-Aqa Muhammad, upon them be God’s peace. After being presented before the Most Holy and Exalted Presence, He said:
“O Zayn, Jinab-i-Aqa Siyyid Isma’il has, praise be to God, repeatedly attained and succeeded in visiting the House. Write to him on behalf of the Wronged One: O Isma’il! Upon thee be My loving-kindness. Thy mention hath been made in the presence of the Wronged One and thy name hath been uttered from His tongue. It is as though We behold thee standing at the door. Thy petition and letter—all that thou didst send—was seen and renewed thy mention. We beseech God to grant thee success in that which will cause the exaltation of His Cause. The friends of God who have drunk from the cup of love and soar in the atmosphere of longing and yearning must hold fast unto wisdom and cleave unto that which will bring glory to the Cause. We have mentioned thee before and after, and We shall mention thee if God should will and desire.’ And He said to write to Jinab-i-Asad, upon him be My loving-kindness: We give thanks unto God for having bestowed upon thee the privilege of visiting His House and making thee among those who circle round it and hold fast unto what is in His Book. He forgets not those who have turned to Him and acted according to His command. His is the praise and the bounty that He hath enabled thee to attain that which hath been the hope of those near unto Him from before and after. Praise be to God, thou hast been and art mentioned. Hold fast unto the cord of thy Lord’s loving-kindness and cleave unto His luminous hem. Thou hast ever been and art under His watchful gaze. If thou shouldst find a friend, convey the greetings of the Wronged One and counsel him to act with propriety.’ Jinab-i-Siyyid, upon him be My glory, and you must counsel everyone you meet to conduct themselves with calm, dignity, trustworthiness, religiosity, chastity, submission, contentment and reconciliation, that perchance the dust and smoke of hatred and animosity may be dispelled and the light of unity may illumine all lands.”
And He said:
“We have made mention of Jinab-i-Aqa Muhammad. God willing, may he be confirmed and assisted in that which is befitting.”
This servant conveys greetings and praise to my honored master Jinab-i-Aqa Siyyid Isma’il, upon him be 966 [Baha’u’llah]. God is witness that in most times I make mention of them, and likewise occasionally mention is made of them in the Most Holy Presence. The days of nearness and attainment to His presence shall never be forgotten. For some time this servant has not been able to reply to their letter, and this is due to the abundance of writing, of which they are aware, and responding to souls newly planted in the garden of inner meanings, that perchance they may attain to the lights of the Luminary of certitude and drink from the rivers of assurance. And to my honored beloved Jinab-i-Aqa Mirza Asadu’llah, upon him be God’s peace and favors, I send greetings. How blessed were those days when seekers gathered in the presence of their Heart’s Desire and nightingales assembled upon the branches of the Tree of nearness and reunion, warbling and singing. Whenever remembered, the heart attains renewed joy. I beseech God, exalted be His glory, to ever confirm that honored friend through the grace of the Most Great Name. This is not difficult for God.
The beloved of the heart, Jinab-i-Ibn-i-Abhar, upon him be the glory of God, the Lord of destiny, arrived with petitions, but until now there has been no opportunity to present them. Tonight or tomorrow, God willing, they will attain the honor of being heard, and afterward the command is in God’s hand—He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He desireth.
As regarding what you wrote about Jinab-i-Aqa Muhammad Husayn Ibn’us-Sad, upon them both be God’s peace, that he is engaged in shoemaking and that God, exalted be His glory, has blessed him with prosperity, and that the equivalent of two nineteen mithqals of gold has accumulated with him, and he now desires to pay the Huququ’llah therefrom—these matters were submitted to His presence. He said:
“O Zayn! Those souls who act according to the ordinances of the Book are accounted as the most exalted of creatures in the sight of God. There has never been any doubt that whatsoever shines forth from the horizon of the heaven of God’s command is purely for the wisdom and benefit of His servants. These small amounts are not worthy of mention, yet since he acts for the sake of God, it is beloved—even if it be but a single grain, it is the crown of all the harvests of the world. Give him glad tidings of My mention, My favor, and My acceptance, that he may rejoice and be amongst the thankful.”
Section 3: “According to His command, three tumans…”
According to His command, three tumans of the mentioned Huquq were received from Jinab-i-Ustad ʿAbdu’l-Karim, upon him be God’s peace. Half of the remainder He bestowed upon him, and the other half upon that honored one. Blessed are those souls who hold fast to the fear of God and are engaged in service. This ephemeral one beseeches God to assist His party, one and all, in serving His Cause. Verily, He has power over all things.
And as for what was asked about shop equipment that is necessary for work and trade—whether Huququ’llah must be paid on these or whether they fall under the rule of household furnishings—after submission before His presence, He said that the rule of household furnishings applies to them.
As for the mention of the son of Jinab-i-Aqa ʿAli Nur, upon them both be Baha’u’llah’s peace, it was submitted and attained the honor of His hearing. His mention and that of the souls mentioned have flowed from the Pen of Glory. God willing, may they attain unto it and be set ablaze with such a fire that the barking ones shall not prevent them, nay, shall not even be able to make mention of them. Thus has spoken the Lord:
He is God, there is no God but Him
O Zayn! Give glad tidings to My loved ones of My remembrance of them, My attention to them, and My turning toward them. The Pen has ever been occupied with mention of the friends of God. Today all atoms lament the oppression of this Wronged One, for there has befallen Him that which has befallen no one else. As if the people of the world were not enough, now the people of the Bayan have arisen in opposition. Instead of acceptance they show rejection, in place of turning toward they turn away, and at the time of submission they show denial. Well have they heeded the counsels of the Point! He says that the Tree of Affirmation becomes negation through turning away from Him.
Observe what mention the Herald made in such greatness, and what the people of the Bayan have done. The rocks cry out, the clouds lament, and the eyes of the near ones weep. Convey greetings from the Wronged One to each of the souls mentioned and make mention of them. Some time ago We mentioned the Deputy and sent a brief Tablet. Now again mention has been made of the one bearing the name of God (66) M.H. and of the friends. We beseech God not to deprive any of them of the Most Exalted Word, for all that is witnessed shall return to nothingness, but the Word of God has been and shall ever be enduring. Blessed is he who has attained unto it, recognized its station, and held fast to the cord of love for it. Woe unto the heedless!
And as for the mention of Jinab-i-Aqa Rajab-ʿAli, upon him be God’s peace, this is what the tongue of the Lord has spoken:
He is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed
O Rajab-ʿAli! The world has been encompassed by the smoke of heedlessness—that smoke which was mentioned in the Tablets and about which people would inquire has appeared. These are souls who have arisen to oppose without any cause, and with the utmost deceit and cunning strive to lead poor souls astray. The dust of ignorance, like a disease of the eyes, has prevented them from beholding the effulgent rays of the Sun of Revelation. They have forgotten the counsels of the Most Exalted Pen and have erased the words inscribed in the Crimson Book. Beseech the True One, exalted be His glory, to have mercy upon His servants. O Rajab, ask God that never again in the world may the likes of the Shi’ih arise—that is, that such unfairness and cruelty may not appear. They perpetrated injustices unprecedented and unparalleled. Now certain followers of the Bayan walk in the path of those souls and cling to their ways. Say: O my Lord! Protect us from the evil of every deceiver and schemer. Verily, Thou art the Most Merciful of the merciful. Rejoice in My remembrance of thee and be of the thankful ones.
By the life of our Lord! If a soul were to comprehend, as it ought to be comprehended, the shrill voice of the Most Exalted Pen, he would become aware of the oppression inflicted upon the Blessed Being. At least if he cannot act as he ought, he should not engage in that which would kindle the fire. The servants must have mercy upon themselves and not make themselves the objects of divine wrath and anger. Most are unaware and cling to vain imaginings, and have neither sight nor hearing of their own. We are God’s and unto Him shall we return.
According to His command, it would be desirable if copies of the Tablet to Aqa Rajab-ʿAli, together with the blessed utterances revealed in response to his second letter specifically for him, were sent to various regions, that perchance the people may take heed and recognize. It would also be desirable if Jinab-i-Aqa Mirza Habibu’llah, upon him be God’s peace, were to make copies.
Regarding the several bound volumes that someone from Dawlatabad sent to your honor and which volumes have remained until now—what you wrote about this matter was presented. According to His command: let them remain for now. The Shaykh has not come and no news has been received from him.
Regarding what you wrote about the envelope addressed to the honored and beloved Haji Nabil-i-Musafir, upon him be the glory of God—if possible send it and write that it arrived some time ago but due to the disturbances its dispatch was delayed.
The mention of the spiritual friend Aqa Muhammad Hasan, upon him be God’s peace, was presented in the Most Holy and Most Exalted Presence. He said: We have not forgotten him and will not forget him. He has always been and continues to be remembered. This servant also sends greetings to him and beseeches the True One, exalted be His glory, that He may grant him his hopes and ordain for him from the Most Exalted Pen that which is the cause of joy and gladness. He said: We have mentioned Our Most Truthful Name as befits Him and beyond.
Your third letter, which was adorned with the date of the 22nd of the month of Sha’ban, gave new life to the spirit and bestowed fresh joy. Praise and thanksgiving be unto the peerless Lord that blessings arrive continuously.
Concerning the mention of the ascension of the honored Aqa Mirza Muhammad, upon him be the Glory of God and His forgiveness, which was written—this was presented at the Most Exalted Place, and this is what the Lord uttered: “O Zayn! We bear witness to his acceptance and his faith, and his confession of the blessed word ʿThere is no God but God,’ and his recognition of that which was revealed from the Supreme Pen in the Divine Book. We beseech the True One, exalted be His glory, to cleanse him of all imperfections with the water of His grace and to immerse him in the ocean of forgiveness.
“O my God! I beseech Thee by the ocean of Thy generosity and the heaven of Thy bounty to forgive Thy servant who hath ascended unto Thee, and to remit his sins and transgressions. Verily, Thou art the All-Forgiving, the All-Generous.”
Praise be to God, they were repeatedly mentioned. This servant also beseeches the True One, exalted be His glory, not to withhold from him the wonders of His grace nor deprive him from the ocean of His mercy.
Mention was made of Aqa Muhammad Husayn, son of the known one, upon them both be the Glory of God. After this was presented, He said:
“O Muhammad-Qabli-Husayn! We beseech God to ordain for thee what thou hast desired and to forgive thee through His grace, His generosity and His favors. Verily, He is the One Who hath power over what He willeth, and He is the All-Forgiving, the All-Kind.”
Concerning what you wrote about the middle son of Aqa ʿAli-Nur, upon them be the peace of God—this was presented and He said:
“O Zayn! Nur and his relatives have never been forgotten in the presence of the Wronged One. God willing, may they be assisted to that which will cause their eternal and enduring mention and preserve them from the evil of the barking ones. Today all must pray for one another and seek protection from the True One. Coming to this place at this time would be unwise, as many have come this year. The opposers are intervening and are heedless of what God hath willed. Each day they cling to a cord and grasp the hem of vain imaginings. May God grant justice and adorn the horizon of the world with the light of equity.”
Mention was made of His Holiness the Name of God Jamal, upon him be all His Most Glorious Glory. He hath endured many hardships in the path of God and, praise be to God, hath attained unto the word of contentment. Continually from the blessed Tongue is heard concerning him that which is the greatest testimony to his humility, submissiveness, self-effacement and his arising to serve the Cause of God. If possible, your honor should convey this glad tiding to him.
The stockings of the Leaf, upon her be the Glory of God, which were sent through the beloved heart, the honored Ibn-i-Abhar, upon him be the praise of God, the Lord of Power, arrived at the Household. All showed the utmost appreciation, and each of the members of the pavilion of grandeur and glory sends special greetings. His Holiness the Name of God Asdaq, upon him be all His Most Glorious Glory, is adorned with wondrous mention upon the arrival of each letter from your honor. In truth, this time is the springtime of death, for its mention flows from the Supreme Pen. This evanescent servant conveys greetings, praise and glory to all the friends of that land, and beseeches from the True One, exalted be His glory, confirmation and success for each one. Verily, He is worthy of response and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. Praise, remembrance and glory be upon your honor, upon those who are with you, and upon the sincere servants of God. And praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.
The servant On the 9th of the honored month of Shawwal 1302:
He is God
Praise be to God! God’s grace has honored us with the fourth letter of Book Four. Each of the four elements and the four fundamentals received their full portion of its fragrances. Although in the view of later thinkers the elements have exceeded the number given by the ancients, knowledge is with God and the command is in His hand—He gives and withholds, He inspires and restrains, and He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
After reading and becoming informed, and after submitting this response, there appeared from the Kingdom of Utterance these words—exalted be His glory:
“O Zayn! The dust and smoke of idle fancies and vain imaginings have encompassed all. The heedless and ignorant have clung to what they possess and remain deprived of what is with God. Four persons from the people of Manshad have sent a letter in opposition to God and in rejection of Him, and that letter bore witness to sheer ignorance and absolute tyranny. What was befitting as an answer has appeared from the Most Great Sea. If God should will it, your eyes shall be gladdened by beholding it. Glory be to God! How many heedless servants are to be seen! Thou shalt read and know the stations of those who have disbelieved in God, the Lord of the worlds.”
Four persons from the people of Manshad sent a letter to the Most Holy Court and arranged according to their own desires that which befitted those heedless souls. Strange that the letter of those people was incomplete, meaning that due to the intensity of their hatred and animosity, they omitted the divine mention at its beginning. What was hidden in their hearts was revealed, for this is the Day when secrets are unveiled. Everyone is occupied with their own vain imaginings, save those whom God has willed otherwise.
The letter which this servant wrote in reply, containing divine utterances, is being sent so that your honor may observe it and become aware of the degrees of faith and certitude of some. The reply was sent to the Land of Ya to be delivered to Manshad. If your honor should make copies and send them to certain places, this would be acceptable in the sight of God. Perhaps the ignorant people will not again fall prey to the well of idle fancies and vain imaginings. The Command is in God’s hand, and He has power over all things.
Another submission: The response to your honor’s letters was written some time ago, but there was delay in sending them as other matters arose and other affairs occurred. Therefore, I hope for forgiveness. The travelers, upon them be God’s peace, arrived and what was with them was received. I beseech and hope from God, exalted be His glory, that He may grant each one a complete reward. Verily, He has power over all things. The Glory be upon you and upon your family.
The servant, 15th of the sacred month of Dhi’l-Hajjih 1302
BH00432: In the Name of Our Lord, the Most Invincible…
In the Name of Our Lord, the Most Invincible, the Most Holy, the Most Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious!
The essence of praise and glorification befitteth the Lord of Names, Who hath conquered the cities of the hearts of them that are endued with understanding through the hosts of utterance and expression. From time immemorial, out of pure bounty and grace, He hath summoned the peoples of the world to the most exalted horizon. His mercy hath ever preceded all else, and His grace hath outstripped all things. Every tongue proclaimeth His greatness and every face is turned toward His horizon. The oceans of the world bear witness to His grandeur and the heavens testify to His exaltation. The transgressions of the peoples of the world have not withheld His favors, nor have the errors of nations stayed His Will. He eraseth whatsoever He willeth and confirmeth whatsoever He pleaseth. The pavilion of power hath been raised through His Name and the tabernacle of world order hath been pitched by His Will. Exalted be His station, exalted be His might, exalted be His grandeur and power, and exalted be His glory and majesty!
Alas, alas! Souls that are defiled with fancy and vain imaginings are incapable of drawing nigh unto Him. Pure sanctification and complete detachment are required for one to attain unto the lights of the Kingdom and taste the sweetness of the utterance of the All-Merciful. Now the peoples of the world are observed to be veiled and deprived of the supreme blessing, for the flesh and blood of most are commingled with tales and sayings and the conditions of names and the differences of things. Glory be to God! How can such souls be worthy of this Court and befitting of this station, unless the True One, exalted be His glory, should through His power create servants who are capable of hearkening unto the call and worthy of beholding the Most Exalted Horizon? Verily our Lord, the All-Merciful, is the One Who hath power over whatsoever He willeth through His Word “Be” and it is!
Glory be unto Thee, O God of Names and Sovereign over all things! The servant testifieth that Thou wert alone and single; no one was seen to champion Thy Cause or arise to serve Thee. Thou didst stand alone before the faces of the world in days wherein the hearts of Thy servants were agitated, and Thou didst call all to the ultimate goal, the most exalted station, and the highest summit. When the horizon of proof was illumined and that which was treasured in the storehouse of knowledge was manifested, Thine enemies who claim adherence to the Bayan emerged from behind the veils and perpetrated that which caused the dwellers of the cities of certitude to lament. I beseech Thee, O Thou Desire of the world and Lord of the nations, by Thy Most Great Name, to assist Thy Cause through Thyself and Thy Will and Thy Purpose. Verily Thou art the Omnipotent over what Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Almighty, the All-Powerful.
Thereafter, thy letter was received. Praise be to God, the fragrance of love wafted therefrom and the light of faith shone from its horizon. After it was read and perused, it was presented before the countenance of the Lord of all mankind. This is what the Tongue of Grandeur hath spoken in reply, blessed and exalted be His Word:
In My Name, the Wronged One, the Prisoner:
O Ahmad! The divine Bird hath been imprisoned in the talons of the enemy. The Sun at the horizon of inner meaning hath been veiled by dark clouds from the light, and the Euphrates of the All-Merciful’s mercy hath been held back from flowing by the wickedness of souls. At a time when that which hath been revealed from the heaven of His Will is equivalent to all the books of the past and future, some among the people of the Bayan have risen against Him. It seemeth they are not content with shedding His most pure blood. Those who are heedless and unaware of the root of the Cause claim knowledge and have arisen to mislead receptive souls. Like unto the Shi’ihs they have aimed at the station of the Divine Unity. Throughout ages and centuries they occupied themselves with mention of the Truth from pulpits and praised their own beliefs, yet after the appearance of the Sun of Truth, all engaged in cursing and execration from pulpits in mosques, gatherings and assemblies. Finally both the learned and the ignorant pronounced Him an infidel and issued the death warrant for His most pure blood.
Now too the people of the Bayan cling to such vain imaginings and hold fast to such idle fancies. O people of God! With penetrating vision, attentive ears, pure tongues and illumined faces, behold and hearken and speak. Today the people of Baha are those who see none as existing save God and His loved ones. Say: Pass beyond the realm of names that ye may attain the Most Exalted Paradise which is the station of true unity. Today none but God is worthy of mention, for this is His Day and His Manifestation. The books of the world suffice not, and that which is with the peoples availeth not. With clear certitude and upright stance, arise for the Cause of God—such an arising that neither the doubts of the people of the Bayan nor the might of all in creation shall prevent or deprive you from the goal of all existence.
Reflect upon the deeds and actions of the former people, and likewise upon their results and fruits, that perchance ye may not be deprived of the Lord of the Day of Judgment through the croaking of the crows and the deception of the deceivers. We convey greetings to the friends in that land and those round about, and We counsel them to that which hath been revealed from the Supreme Pen in the Tablets. O people of God! Whatsoever hath come to pass or shall come to pass was revealed aforetime in God’s Book—with Him is the knowledge of all things in a clear Book.
Likewise We convey greetings to the handmaidens of God in that land and give them the glad-tidings of God’s grace and favor—exalted be His glory. All must engage in the remembrance of the Lord of all beings with utmost sanctity and detachment throughout the nights and days. By God’s life! He hath ordained for His loved ones and handmaidens that which shall bring joy to the eyes and gladness to the hearts and souls.
O Ahmad! Give praise to the Goal of the world that He granted thee the grace to witness, meet, hearken and stand before His presence. By God’s life! Each of these mentioned stations cannot be equaled by the world and all that is therein. The nature of this world is that its Owner hath abandoned it and left it to others. In such case what value can be attached to it that one should be saddened or gladdened by it? Its existence is affliction and its absence is trial. Blessed are the people of Baha, meaning those souls who soar on the wings of love and detachment and behold themselves free and independent of the world and all its peoples in this day.
On this Sunday, the eighteenth of the month of Hajj, this Wronged One was seated upon the carpet sent by that honored one, which had been forwarded previously, in the Mansion of Mazra’ih, engaged in these remembrances:
“Blessed art thou, and blessed is thy son, and blessed are they that are with thee. By the life of God! Verily he who hath ascended is in a glorious station and a radiant spot.”
This ephemeral servant submits that the world is once again encompassed by the vain imaginings of false souls. The party of God must protect itself through His Name. The enemy appears in the guise of friendship to steal away the pearl of the love of Truth. Were Satan to appear in his own garment, no soul would be attracted to him, but he comes in the garment of the people of truth and engages in praise and glorification for the purpose of leading astray. This servant has ever beseeched and hoped from the true Omnipotent One that He may protect His loved ones from the evil of Satan. Verily, He has power over all things.
Some time ago, two Most Holy, Most Exalted Tablets were revealed and sent specifically to that honored one, wherein mention was made from the Supreme Pen of the departed and forgiven one who ascended unto God. They attained to that which had been the hope of those near and sincere ones. The other Tablets which were requested in His presence were given to the honored friend, His Eminence Amin, Haji Mirza Abu’l-Hasan, upon him be the glory of God and His favor, to be delivered to that honored one, and especially in these days he was written to with emphasis to send them.
Concerning what was written about the receipt of the trust, whatever reached that honored one reached this servant. That honored one has been and is, by God’s grace, trustworthy. There is no room for doubt or uncertainty in this matter. Praise be to our Lord Who guided me and guided you to His path, made clear to us His way, manifested to us His evidence, showed us the horizon of His revelation, and made us hear His call. We beseech Him to protect us from the evil of His enemies and the wickedness of His servants. Verily, He is our Master and our Protector, our Guardian and our Provider, the One Who gives us life and causes us to die, and our Helper in recognizing His firm and mighty Cause.
From my brother, His Eminence Aqa Mulla ʿAli-Akbar, upon him be the glory of God, also whatever should have arrived has arrived. This servant conveys greetings to him and gives him the glad tidings of God’s favor, exalted be His glory, and the acceptance of what was sent. Blessed is he, happy is he.
And concerning what was written about the friends in that land, that they are engaged with utmost love and unity in the remembrance of God, exalted be His glory, and likewise all are holding fast to wisdom in such wise that the clamor of the heedless has subsided—after this matter was submitted in the Most Holy, Most Exalted Presence, these verses were revealed from the heaven of the favor of the Lord of Lords. His blessed and exalted Word:
O friends of Truth! He accepted all the tribulations of the earth and arose alone to promote the Cause. Neither the might of the people nor the clamor of men kept Him from mentioning and praising God. He revealed that which He willed. Had there been any worth or station in this world, He would surely not have accepted these tribulations. You must, with utmost joy and eagerness, ecstasy and gladness, be engaged in the mention of Truth, and despite the heedless ones, drink from the most exalted chalice and partake of the sealed wine. The adherence of God’s loved ones to wisdom has been and is acceptable in His sight. Blessed are ye for having adhered to it, recognized its station and that which appears therefrom.
The Supreme Pen counsels all to steadfastness, and likewise all must supplicate God day and night to protect His servants from the vain imaginings of the past, lest there appear again in the world the likes of the Shi’ihs and those heedless souls. The deniers of the Bayan are occupied with the same vain imaginings and with utmost deceit and hypocrisy have arisen against the loved ones, and through outward love and friendship have afflicted and continue to afflict the people with the wilderness of idle fancies. I beseech God, exalted be His glory, to assist this party in such wise that they may regard all else save God as non-existent and as nothing. This is the station of true unity. Blessed is he who has adhered to it, detached from those who have hesitated in this Most Great, this mighty Cause.
Concerning the late and forgiven His Honor Ibn, upon him be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious, what was written—the manifest and evident grace has shone forth from the horizon of divine bounty, both in the previously revealed Tablet and in other sublime and holy Tablets. Upon him be God’s mercy, His grace, His compassion and His bounty. The one God is my witness that these are the days of death, for each of the steadfast loved ones who has ascended has been mentioned by the Supreme Pen—a mention that perishes not and changes not. Exalted is the mercy of our Lord and great is His bounty upon us. We beseech Him to protect us from the evil of His enemies and to draw us near unto Him in all conditions. Glory and praise and honor be upon you and upon God’s loved ones who have drunk the wine of steadfastness from the hand of the bounty of their Lord, the Generous.
The servant 18th of Dhi’l-Hajjih-i-Haram 1302
The piece of brocade, the rifle and the cloak that were sent previously have arrived, and likewise the piece of brocade that was in Tehran has also arrived, and the brocade sent by His Honor Aqa ʿAli, upon him be the Glory of God, has also arrived. God willing, Tablets will be revealed and sent specifically for those mentioned and others, upon them be the Glory of God. I convey greetings to Ibn and the friends of that land. God willing, may each one be illumined with the light of steadfastness, arise to serve, and be engaged in divine mention. Verily, He is the Protector of the sincere ones and those possessed of certitude. And praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.
BH00665: Praise be unto the Self-Subsisting Lord Who, after…
In the Name of our Most Holy, Most Great, Most Exalted, Most Glorious Lord!
Praise be unto the Self-Subsisting Lord Who, after the Qa’im, arose with such arising as prevented all from arising, inasmuch as through the power of the Divine Word the foot of learning became unsteady and disturbed. Finding itself powerless to arise, it sat down—a sitting from which it hath not arisen to this day, as those possessed of vision among the divines and doctors of law have witnessed. When the Sun of Truth shed its radiance and the waves of the ocean of knowledge became manifest, these souls were seized with trembling and encompassed with perturbation, to such extent that the thread of their reason was severed and the bird of their faith took flight. The fire of hatred so encompassed them that it consumed their corrupt deeds.
What a blessed fire it was and what a blessed deed! Praise be to its hand and to its mighty arm!
Glorified art Thou, O God of existence, Who art established upon the Throne of the visible realm! Thou hearest the sighs of the sincere ones and beholdest the tears of them that are nigh unto Thee, by reason of what hath befallen Thee at the hands of the people of the Bayan who have turned away from Thy proof and Thy testimony, and from Thy signs in which they claimed to believe through Thy Manifestation aforetime—although they who are endowed with vision behold how all the books of the world bow down before a word that hath proceeded from the mouth of Thy will in this Revelation whereby the cities of Thy knowledge and the gardens of Thy Cause have been adorned. I beseech Thee, O Creator of the heavens and Manifestation of Names, by Thy dominion and Thy might, and by the mysteries hidden in Thy knowledge, to protect Thy loved ones from the cawing of the cawers and the turning away of them that turn aside. Then send down, O my God, upon Thy friends a blessing from Thy presence, and ordain for them in every world of Thy worlds such good as shall profit Thy servants. There is no God but Thee, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
And thereafter the letter of that honored and dearly-loved one arrived, quickening the soul and bestowing upon the spirit a new life. If I were to say it was pure and limpid wine, I should speak truly and rightly—for it spread the banquet and brought gladness. And if I were to call it the Kawthar of meaning, that would be truer still—for it was adorned with the mention of the Beloved of the worlds. Whatever it was, it was a wondrous thing: it holdeth unheard-of mysteries, and revealeth unseen matters. All these are the handiwork of love. Glorified be God! What is this, that all are bewildered at his recognition? His word is potent and his decree prevaileth; all the lovers of the world are gathered beneath this banner. I beseech God that He may, at every moment, increase his grandeur; verily He is powerful and able to do all things. After reading it, and considering it, and becoming informed of its purport, I turned toward the Most Exalted Presence, and laid the whole before the countenance of the Possessor of Manifestation. This is what the Tongue of Grandeur uttered in the Kingdom of Utterance—His glory be magnified:
O Amin, O Abu’l-Hasan! Upon thee be the Glory of God, Lord of the hidden and the manifest! Thy letter was presented, thy call was heard. Today a tongue hath appeared in all things and all utter the blessed words “Aid us then, O God of all worlds, against the people of tyranny.” O Amin! Today the verses of God are cast upon all and pass before all, yet all are heedless save whom God willeth. Beseech God not to deprive His servants of the wine of His bounty. We have spoken with the tongue, with the finger have We rent asunder the veils, and by Our will have We made manifest the mysteries of the divine Books. Nevertheless, they are deaf, dumb, blind, and they neither understand, nor know, nor perceive.
As to what thou didst write regarding attendance, it hath been some time since departure. Were thou to return to thy Source, it would be better for thee. In Arabic: “Come! Come!” In Persian: “Come! Come!” That thou mayest behold Him for Whose vision eyes were created. Come! Come! That thou mayest hear that for whose hearing ears were formed. Today the fire of the Divine Lote-Tree is ablaze and the light of the Divine Countenance is manifest and radiant. Blessed is the soul that hath been set aflame by its heat and illumined by its light.
The people have not known nor do they know the value of this Day. Ere long shall they utter the words “Oh, woe unto us!” With their own idle fancies and vain imaginings have they objected to the Truth. Such is the state of the heedless and the negligent. These souls are of those who for twelve hundred years cried out “O Lord!” and “O Vicegerent!” and “O Ali!” and “O Shaykh!”, yet when at last He appeared for Whose appearance they had waited all this time, and through Whose utterance those very names were created, they occupied themselves with cursing and reviling Him from their pulpits. Then all the divines of Persia issued the decree for the shedding of His blood, and their followers—well known is what they said and did. By God! The Eye of Grandeur weepeth and the Point of Being lamenteth. Say: O servants! Reflect a little upon the deeds of those souls and upon their result and fruit. By the life of God! They are in manifest error and are among the most lost in the mighty Book.
O thou who gazest upon the Divine Countenance! The Most Exalted Pen hath repeatedly recorded these passages that the evil deeds of the former party might become evident and manifest to all, for it is observed that the heedless barking ones prevent the people through their former delusions and deprive them from the path of God. Would that eyes and ears could be found, that the veil might be wholly lifted and the reality of the Cause might become manifest and evident to all the worlds. The people are weak, and the mercy of God, exalted be His glory, hath preceded; therefore words are spoken in measure. Praise be to God, the Lord of what was and what will be. Verily, we are God’s and to Him shall we return.
Praise be to God! The rays of the Sun of Truth have illumined the realm of the hearts of the chosen ones. At all times the waters of mercy flow, verses are revealed, and clear proofs are made manifest. This spiritual friend and this servant must implore from the Sea of Divine Generosity, exalted be His glory, to awaken the heedless people and grant them vision. He is the Protector and the Powerful, He is the All-Knowing and the Omnipotent.
The greatest glad tidings is the presence of that spiritual friend in the holy court of the Lord. I beseech and hope from God that He may soon grant the blessing of attainment unto His presence. I also beseech Him to favor the beloved of my heart, namely His Holiness the Afnan, the honored Alif and Ha, upon him be the Most Glorious Glory of God, and bestow upon him from the ocean of attainment and the fountain of reunion. Verily, He has power over all things.
God is my witness that for a long time I have made and continue to make this supplication with both my outer and inner tongue, for this bounty has no likeness and this deed no parallel. The Command is in His hands; He does what He wills and ordains what He pleases. He shall not be asked of His doings and He is knowing of all things.
Another matter: The papers that were requested have been sent, as before. Outwardly, there is no news except that some time ago the Two Shining Lights, the two most noble Branches, His Holiness Aqa Aqa Mirza Diya’u’llah and His Holiness Aqa Aqa Mirza Badi’u’llah—may my spirit be a sacrifice unto their arrival—and the people of the pavilion of chastity, virtue and greatness have proceeded to Beirut. In truth, this year the place of that spiritual friend was empty. Would that all were present and could witness with their own eyes the effulgences of the rays of the Sun of Divine Grace. Although they were not physically present, they were and are mentioned in the Most Holy and Most Exalted Court.
Convey greetings and salutations on my behalf to the friends in the cities and regions. I beseech God, exalted be His glory, to confirm them in such wise that they may regard all else save God as non-existent and evanescent, and that they may attain unto the lights of true unity. This Day is not like the days of the past; this ocean has different waters and this heaven a different sun. Repeatedly was this exalted word heard from the tongue of the Lord of Names—blessed and exalted be His utterance:
“O people of God! Until you pass beyond the gulf of names, you will not attain unto the ocean of inner meanings.”
If a soul is confirmed in hearkening unto this one word, there has not been and is not any danger for him. All atoms bear witness to his faith, certitude and steadfastness in the path of God, the Lord of the worlds. A hundred thousand blessings upon the soul who has drunk from this cup and partaken of this chalice.
Glory, praise and magnification be upon you and upon those who are with you and who hearken to your words concerning the Cause of God, the Mighty, the Great. And praise be to God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
The servant 28th of Dhi’l-Hajjih 1302