Volume 082: Akka 1304 A.H. (1886–1887), Part III (4 of 5)

BH00453: This is a Book sent down by the Wronged…

Section 1: “This is a Book sent down…”

He is God, exalted is His glory in wisdom and utterance!

This is a Book sent down by the Wronged One to him who hath attained unto the days of God and hath quaffed the choice wine of utterance from the hands of the mercy of his Lord, the All-Merciful, that the Call may draw him to the Supreme Horizon and bring him nigh unto a station wherein he shall witness and behold the mighty signs of his Lord. And I am, verily, the True Counsellor.

The ears have been prevented from hearkening and the eyes from beholding the horizon of the Manifestation of the Lord of Names by reason of that which the hands of the oppressors have wrought—they who claim knowledge yet oppose Him through Whom the ocean of divine knowledge hath surged within creation. Thus hath the Pen of the All-Merciful spoken in this station which hath been named with the Most Beautiful Names in the Book of God, the Lord of all worlds.

We have heard thy mention and have remembered thee, and have seen thy turning unto Us and have turned unto thee out of Our grace, that thou mayest give thanks unto thy Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

We make mention of Muhammad-i-Baqir and counsel him with that whereby the Cause of God, the Almighty, the All-Powerful, may be exalted. Blessed is the soul that hath today attained unto My knowledge and the propagation of My Cause—such a one is assuredly among the dwellers of the Most Exalted Paradise, as every discerning one doth testify. O people of God! Remember My loved ones and remind them of My verses which have been sent down from the heaven of My Will, for I am the Ancient Sender.

O Ghulam-Husayn! Hearken unto the call of the Wronged One and say:

“My God, my God! I beseech Thee by the oceans of Thy mercy and the showers of Thy bounty and the effulgences of the lights of the Orb of Thy grace, to make me so detached from all else save Thee that I may move only through the breezes of Thy will and speak only through Thy bidding. Verily, Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the Great.”

We make mention of him who is named Muhammad that he may rejoice and be of them that render thanks. We have manifested from the treasuries of utterance that which none can reckon save God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. Among the people are those who have turned towards Us and those who have turned away, those who have pronounced sentence upon the shedding of My blood and those who have soared in My atmosphere and acknowledged that which My tongue hath spoken—such a one is of the people of Baha in My perspicuous Book. Arise to serve the Cause. He, verily, will aid whomsoever He willeth, and He is the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous.

O ʿAli! Hear the Call from the precincts of the Prison. It will draw thee nigh unto God, the Lord of the Day of Judgement. The appointed time hath come, and the Revealer of verses hath appeared with the standards of wisdom and utterance, yet most of the people are among the heedless. They have cast behind them that which they were bidden and have taken up that which they were forbidden in the Book of God, the Almighty, the All-Powerful. When thou dost inhale the fragrance of My utterance and hear the creaking of My Pen, arise and say:

“Praise be unto Thee for having remembered me while I was in the hands of the oppressors.”

And We make mention of him who is named Ali-Akbar that he may inhale the sweet fragrances of his Lord, the All-Merciful, and be of them that have attained. Cast aside what the people possess. The Self-Subsisting hath appeared with a sovereignty before which all who are in the heavens and on earth shall bow down. Beware lest the might of the wicked deter thee from turning toward the Supreme Horizon, or the veils of them that have turned away prevent thee. O Ali-Akbar! When thou hearest the Call from the precincts of My Most Great Prison, say:

“He hath come Who was recorded by the Supreme Pen and was hidden in the hearts of the Messengers.”

And We make mention of him who is named ʿAli-Asghar and counsel him to manifest the Greater Steadfastness in this Cause whereby the feet of the mystics have slipped save those whom the hand of divine power hath preserved, from God, the Strong, the Mighty. Hearken unto the Call from the precincts of My Prison and say:

Praise be unto Thee, O Thou Wronged One of the world, for having aided me to turn towards Thee! I beseech Thee to assist me in that which befitteth Thy days and Thy Revelation. Verily, Thou art the Omnipotent over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Forgiving, the Merciful.

O Lutf-ʿAli! The Wronged One desireth to make mention of thee from the precincts of the Prison. Knowest thou Who maketh mention of thee? Say: Yea, by my Lord! He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. We have desired to make mention of those who have sought to draw nigh unto God, the Lord of the worlds, that the rapture of their Lord’s verses may seize them in such wise that neither the hosts of the world nor the might of the deniers—they who have denied God’s testimony and His signs and have led His servants to a miserable destination—shall deter them. Thus hath the Pen spoken, as the Lord of Eternity occupied this exalted station.

We make mention of him who is named Muhammad-Husayn, that he may discover the fragrance of utterance and, turning away from that which the people possess, may turn unto Him Who created him and provided for him, and be of the thankful. Blessed is the servant who hath turned and attained, and woe unto the idolators! Say: In the name of God and by God! Take the chalice of success from the hands of the loving-kindness of the Cleaver of Dawn, then drink in remembrance of the All-Wise. Thus hath the decree come from God, the Commander, the All-Informed.

We make mention of him who is named Husayn with verses that have enraptured the hearts of the Concourse on High and those who circle round the mighty Throne. We counsel all with that whereby this Cause may be exalted among the servants. Blessed is every knowing one, and woe unto every heedless and remote one. We have mentioned everyone who hath turned unto God and counseled him with that whereby his station may be elevated. He Who speaketh in every condition beareth witness to this, that there is none other God but I, the Most Merciful, the Compassionate. Whoso hath attained unto the mention of My Most Exalted Pen hath attained unto all good. Thus have We sent down the verses and manifested the Cause as a grace from Our presence, and I am verily the Bountiful, the Mighty, the Wondrous.

O Habibullah! Hear the call of Him Who hath been imprisoned in God’s path, that it may draw thee to a station that is sublime. He mentioneth him who hath mentioned Him, and His mercy hath preceded all who are in earth and heaven. Verily, He encompasseth all things. The doubts of creation do not hinder Him, nor do the allusions of those who have disbelieved in the All-Merciful when He came with an authority that was mighty indeed. Hold fast unto the cord of the Cause and cling to the hem of thy Lord’s grace. Verily, He aideth whom He willeth with an authority that hath been mighty in truth from all eternity.

Section 2: “We make mention of him who is named…”

We make mention of him who is named Muhammad-Hashim, that mention may draw him nigh unto a station illumined with the lights of the Cause. O Hashim! Remember thy Lord in the night season and in the days. Verily, He heareth and seeth, and He is God, the All-Wise over all things. O people of God! Take hold of trustworthiness by Our command. We enjoin upon you that which shall profit you in all the worlds of your Lord, and God sufficeth as a witness.

O Muhammad-Qabl-Ja’far! Say: My God, my God! Aid me to be steadfast in Thy Cause and to arise to serve Thy loved ones. Thou art He Whom nothing whatsoever can frustrate, nor can the tyranny of rulers hinder Thee. Thou doest what Thou willest by Thy power. Verily, Thou hast ever been mighty over the Cause. Blessed is he who hath clung to God’s loving-kindness and His remembrance. He is assuredly among those who are nigh, as hath been recorded in the Book.

O Ali-Murad! The Desired One hath come, yet they who desired to meet Him throughout the nights and days recognized Him not. Thus doth the Mother Book recount unto thee that which hath befallen Him, that thou mayest be endowed with insight concerning the Cause.

We make mention of him who has been named Muhammad-Baqir and remind him of the verses of God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. Verily, We have remembered those whose names were present before the Throne and have revealed for each one that which will draw him nigh unto God, the Mighty, the Loving. Say: The Word of God will benefit you before your ascension and after it. Of this beareth witness this preserved Tablet through which the sealed wine hath flowed from the Pen of God, the Lord of what hath been and what shall be. Blessed is he who hath turned and partaken thereof, and woe unto every heedless and forbidden one.

O Muhammad-Kazim! Thou art in thy home while the Wronged One remembereth thee from the prison. Be thankful and say: My God, my God! I beseech Thee by the lights of Thy Throne, and the manifestations of Thy sovereignty and power, to aid me to serve Thy loved ones who have hastened to the place of sacrifice. Verily, Thou art the Omnipotent over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Protector of what hath been and what shall be.

In this moment We make mention of My handmaidens there, that they may give thanks to their Lord in the evening and at dawn, at sunset and in the morning. O handmaidens of God! We speak in the Persian tongue that all may comprehend, in the hope that the fragrance of the All-Merciful’s utterance may enable all to attain to the Kawthar of steadfastness. The clamorous ones lie in wait, and the treacherous watch from their ambush. I beseech God to protect all and to guard them beneath the shadow of His power from the evil of heedless and oppressive souls. He is the Powerful, He is the Mighty. For twelve hundred years and more, the Shi’ih sect were slaves to vain imaginings. Without understanding, they deemed themselves the most excellent of all peoples, yet on the Day of Reckoning they were found to be the most lost among the nations. The people of God, both men and women, must be so firm in the Cause that the deniers of the Bayan and the infidels of the Qur’an will be rendered speechless.

Reflect upon the events of the past. Whosoever gains understanding will be preserved from the doubts and vain imaginings of the people of the Bayan—those souls who have turned away from God and set about reviving former delusions. ʿAli-Akbar appeared in the Most Great Presence before the Face and made mention of the loved ones, and there was revealed for each one that which no earthly thing can equal. Were you to reflect even briefly and discover a ray from the Day-Star of God’s grace—exalted be His glory—you would attain to such joy as no sorrow could overtake and no change diminish. For the men have been designated as the people of God and the women as the handmaidens of God.

O people of God! Justice is spent, the Sun of equity lies hidden behind clouds due to the oppression of the transgressors. The Truth hath not complained of the oppressors, but rather of those who claimed friendship yet acted in such wise as caused the Supreme Pen to lament. We counsel all to that which befitteth the Day of God. Know ye the worth and station of the divine verses. They have been and will ever be with you, living or dead, and at the time of their revelation all are present before the Face and attain unto them. None knoweth this save God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. We beseech God to aid all to preserve that which hath been bestowed, for the fire of denial will consume the tree of what is known.

O people of God! From the beginning of the Cause until now, We have stood, without veil or covering, before the faces of all people—kings and subjects, princes and divines—and have invited all to that which was the source of preservation and the cause of eternal life. But when the Day-Star of the Cause shed its radiance, a faction from among the people of the Bayan emerged from behind the veil and rose up against the Wronged One of the horizons. Thus did their souls entice them, and today they are among the most lost in the Book of God, the Lord of all worlds.

O Ali! We made mention of thee at the beginning and now mention thee at the end, that thou mayest gather together the party of God in that land beneath the shadow of the Word of God, that they may engage in unity and harmony in the remembrance of the Beloved of all worlds. The saplings that are planted must needs be nurtured until they become balanced and reach maturity. The skilled physician is like the clouds of spring and like the sun: the former bestoweth in measure, and the latter shineth according to its degree. We beseech God to assist thee in serving His Cause, that thou mayest cause all to remember that which hath been sent down in the Tablets. Make mention, on behalf of this Wronged One, of all the loved ones in that region. Some are mentioned by name and others are well-known before His countenance. The purpose is that all have been blessed with the bounty of the utterance of the Beloved of the worlds. Let them know the worth of this supreme bounty and this most great gift. Mirza Baqir—mention of him hath been revealed from the Most Exalted Pen. God willing, may they attain unto the outpourings of the True Outpourer and arise to serve the Cause.

The glory shining from the horizon of the heaven of My loving-kindness be upon thee and upon those whom neither veils nor clouds have hindered from God, the Revealer of verses and the Manifestor of clear proofs.

BH00491: Immeasurable praise befitteth that Peerless Being Who caused…

He is the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting, exalted be His glorious station!

Immeasurable praise befitteth that Peerless Being Who caused the Sun of divine unity to dawn from the horizon of detachment and dispelled the darkness of limitation through the manifestation of His light. His is the power and the might, the grandeur and the dominion. His command is effective, His decree is operative, His light is radiant, and His manifestation is evident. Exalted is His station above comparison with fancy and imagination, and transcendent is His Cause above description in words. His signs are so manifest that they defy description, and His tokens are so evident that they surpass explanation. The books of the world and the scrolls of nations are powerless to contain them, and the pens of creation fall short in recording them.

Despite these brilliant signs and manifest evidences, it is observed that a few have clung to a mirage, considering themselves to be followers of truth, and have contented themselves with the croaking of ravens, remaining deprived of the wondrous melodies of the nightingales of eternity, which sing upon the twigs of the supernal Paradise. Woe unto them and perdition be their lot! They have taken their idle fancies for their god. Soon shall they find themselves in manifest loss. On that day they shall find no helper nor protector.

O people of Baha! Pay no heed to their worthless utterances and vain imaginings. Fix your gaze upon the Most Exalted Horizon, the seat of the throne of your Lord, the Master of all mankind. Arise with strength of heart, eloquence of tongue, and steadfastness of spirit to exalt the Cause of your Lord, the All-Merciful. Verily, he who remains veiled from this Most Great Cause is not mentioned among the people of truth, even should he possess the kingdom of the world and rule over all nations. Glory be to God the Great! He hath raised up servants to His Cause who, though weak, fear not the swords of the oppressors, and who, though poor, turn not unto the riches of the world. This is a perfect power and an all-embracing, comprehensive mercy. Were the wise to ponder this manifest Cause, they would surely acknowledge that the steadfastness shown by the people of Baha in times of tribulation and hardship is itself a proof to all creation. Indeed, were they to content themselves with this alone as evidence for establishing the truth, they would be right, by the Lord of earth and heaven!

We beseech God, exalted be He, to open the eyes of His servants and to make known to them that from which they are veiled in His days. Verily, He has power over whatsoever He willeth, and He is the All-Subtle, the All-Seeing.

O spiritual friend! Your letter, adorned with the pen of love and the ink of unity and concord, was received, and boundless joy was obtained from the perusal of its manifest words. We beseech Him—exalted be His glory and magnificent His bounty—that you may ever abide beneath the shade of His grace, be sustained by the blessings of His nearness and reunion, remain steadfast in service to His Cause, and be occupied with guiding heedless souls. After perusing your letter, it was presented at the Most Exalted, Most Holy Court, and mention was made of you. These radiant words dawned from the horizon of the utterance of the King of Names and Attributes. His word, exalted be His bounty and mighty His proof:

He is God

O Haydar-ʿAli! Upon thee be the Glory of God, His grace and His loving-kindness. The Most Great Branch was present at this moment and made mention of you, and read your letter before Our face. Praise be to God, it all bore witness to your recognition, love, steadfastness and service, and likewise mentioned your journeys to various regions for the sake of God, the Lord of Lords. We beseech God to assist thee and to manifest whatsoever shall lead to the salvation of His servants. Verily, He is the Mighty, the Powerful.

As to what the heedless one mentioned about why Azal was rejected, say: O heedless one! We have never turned to anyone. We have fixed Our gaze upon that proof whereby all the Prophets and Messengers have proven the truth. Today, the station whose verses have encompassed the world and whose manifestation hath shone forth like the sun from the beginning before the faces of all mankind—this thou hast denied, while making mention of Azal who was ever hidden behind a veil. Thou knowest not who bestowed this name upon him. He called the honorable Dayyan “the Father of Evil” and the Friend of God “the Father of Calamities”. About these matters of which thou art certain, thou sayest nothing.

Yet concerning a name of whose bearer thou knowest neither his identity nor nature, thou hast uttered and continueth to utter meaningless words, becoming a cause of misguidance while remaining unaware. Would that thou hadst clung to thine own kind! Say: Thou went and saw, but love of leadership became a barrier and prevented thee from mentioning the truth of what thou witnessed. We speak these blessed words for the sake of God and in His path—create not confusion for thyself and others. Hearken unto the words of Him Who counseleth thee for the sake of God. Speak the truth, then present thyself before the Wronged One, that thou mayest witness what thou hast not seen in thy lifetime and hear what no ear in the world hath heard. Thus hath the Ancient Beauty spoken in His Most Great Prison, purely for the sake of God, the Lord of the mighty throne.

O heedless one! Listen not to certain statements. Observe with thine own eyes and hear with thine own ears. Prevent not people from the straight path and deprive them not of the momentous news. Previously, because of the word of a lying woman, the imaginary Qa’im went to Jabulqa, and all those vain imaginings arose which later appeared in the form of the sword against the Primal Point. Return unto thy Lord and repent before Him. Verily, He is the Ever-Forgiving, the Merciful.

We have heard that a heedless one hath said that what is revealed from that direction is taken from the verses of the Primal Point. Say: Present thyself before the Wronged One that thou mayest hear what hath been sent down from the heaven of God’s will, the Lord of all worlds. Then ask Him whatsoever thou desirest, that thou mayest be assured that the ocean waveth by itself through itself, and the sun shineth by its own light through its own light. He needeth not others to prove His Cause; rather, every cause dependeth upon His confirmation. By God’s life! The Bayan, by His exalted Word, is but a leaf from the garden of My utterance, and what was revealed before beareth witness to My Self. Were the Primal Point alive in this time, He would transcribe what hath been revealed by the Intended One. And thou, O heedless one, art playing with thy deeds. Soon thou shalt witness what servants before thee witnessed in ages and centuries past. To this beareth witness My Most Exalted Pen, from God, the Knower of the secret and the manifest.

O Haydar-Ali! You made mention of Jinab-i-Amin, upon him be the glory of God and His grace, and Jinab-i-Ali-Haydar, upon him be the glory of God and His loving-kindness, and the other friends who were present at the gathering. Each one attained the mention of the Wronged One and the verses of the Supreme Pen. Convey to all of them greetings from the Wronged One. Should God will and desire, He will mention their names once again. The glory from Us be upon thee and upon those who love thee and hearken to thy words concerning the Cause of God, the Lord of creation.

Again these manifest verses have been revealed from the Source of utterance, the King of names and attributes. His word, exalted be His beneficence: O Haydar-Qabli-ʿAli! Thou didst write concerning travelling to various regions for the Cause of God, and likewise concerning meeting with the Prisoner. Praise be to God that thou art adorned with the ornament of virtuous conduct, kindness and compassion. We beseech God to guide His servants through thee, to give them to drink of the Kawthar of His recognition, and to assist them with the hosts of revelation and inspiration, such that the doubts of the world, its events and ornaments may not prevent them. Convey greetings from the Wronged One to the friends in every land and give them the glad-tidings of the waves of God’s ocean of mercy.

In these days, three letters were sent to this servant from Shiraz from Jinab-i-Hakim, who is named Rafi’, and Jinab-i-Mirza ʿAbdu’l-Hamid, and another friend. A reply was revealed but there was delay in sending it. We beseech God to assist them with the hosts of wisdom and utterance and to aid them in the victory of His Cause, for this is not the day of question and answer. They should speak that which the trees speak: “The kingdom belongeth to God, the Omnipotent, the Unconstrained.” God willing, may they be assisted to set aflame hearts and souls with the fire of the Divine Lote-Tree and illuminate them with the light of His Cause. This is what is befitting today.

We have commanded this servant present to make mention of verses from the Tablet of Wisdom. They attract the hearts of those who are near and the sincere ones, and transform the world. And regarding travel to any place, that which is decided through consultation is acceptable before God, and there is no harm in meeting with the Prisoner; perchance he may be reminded and fear. Should he attain to that which hath been mentioned for him, he will attain the good of this world and the next. Otherwise, verily God is independent of all worlds.

And if an ignorant, heedless soul should again request a meeting, this response is beloved: Say: “Verily, the Truth giveth and doth not receive.” This word was uttered in Baghdad by the Lord of all being in the days when association with Shaykh ʿAbdu’l-Husayn was intended. Follow thy Lord’s command from His presence, and He is the All-Commanding, the All-Knowing. God willing, may the friends in various regions, through thy arrival at the supreme height, turn their faces toward and attain the most exalted station, which is the station of the most great steadfastness. Blessed are they that attain thereunto.

Praise be to God that that beloved one is, in most times, honored with the utterances of the Lord of names and attributes, and is the recipient of His favors and specially blessed by His grace. Blessed art thou and joy be unto thee! We beseech God to aid thee in that which will cause thy name to be exalted throughout the lands and thy mention to be elevated among the servants, and to be for thee an honor and a treasure with thy Lord, and a station and elevation in thy beginning and end—and that is to raise the word of thy Lord, the Most Merciful, through wisdom and utterance among all possibilities. O what joy unto him who hath attained unto this most exalted station and supreme rank! By thy life, there is no bounty in all existence more delightful than this, nor any sovereignty more mighty than this. Joy to those who attain and blessed are those who arrive!

Glorified art Thou, O my God, O Lord of existence and Sovereign over the seen and unseen! I beseech Thee by Thy Word through which the suns of Thy commandments have shone forth throughout all ages, and Thy power hath encompassed all cycles and periods, to aid those who have arisen to guide Thy servants to the kingdom of Thy knowledge, O Lord of creation, in such wise that their words may influence hearts and minds and all Thy servants may turn toward Thy direction on the Day of Return. O Lord! Even as Thou hast commanded them to call out between earth and heaven, assist the hearers to rend asunder the veils and draw nigh unto Thee, O Lord of earth and heaven.

If Thou forsakest them, who would draw them nigh unto Thee, and if Thou aidest them not, who would guide them to Thee? Thou art He Whose mercy hath preceded all things and Whose loving-kindness hath encompassed all. Look not upon their heedlessness and their veiling, but rather upon Thy widespread mercy and Thy perfect power. Ordain for every seeker that which shall cause him to enter the kingdom of Thy knowledge and partake of the Kawthar of Thy utterance. Verily, Thou art the Omnipotent over what Thou willest and the Ruler over what Thou desirest. There is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the Peerless.

Remember the friends of God who are adorned with the ornament of steadfastness and are turned toward the direction of His Cause with sublime and exalted remembrances from this servant. Spirit and glory be upon thee and upon those who love thee for the sake of God, the Lord of the Throne on high and of the dust beneath, the Lord of the Hereafter and of this world.

BH01768: Praise be unto the Desired One of all worlds…

In the Name of Him Who shineth forth from the Horizon of the Most Glorious!

Praise be unto the Desired One of all worlds, Who, despite the opposition of the divines, the disregard of the jurists, the might of princes, and the clamor of the men of learning, hath caused the Supreme Pen to move and, through that essential motion which hath proceeded from His prevailing and compelling Will, hath never ceased to summon all the peoples of the earth unto the court of the Lord of eternity, throughout the days and nights. He is the Omnipotent One Whom neither intimations nor doubts, neither tribulations nor hardships, have ever constrained. Before the faces of all the world He hath uttered that which hath been and will be the cause of universal salvation, and whatsoever hath befallen His loved ones hath been and shall remain the cause of the exaltation of God’s Word, despite every dubious disbeliever and every remote ignorant one.

Glory be to God! Although naught hath proceeded from the Most Holy and Exalted Court save the mention of God, the spreading of His verses, the manifestation of His proofs, compassionate counsels and goodly exhortations, yet such accusations have been made. The ignorant ones of the earth have each day clung to a cord and held fast to the hem of a vain imagination, uttering that which the idolaters of old had never spoken, and perpetrating that which hath caused the Tablet and the Pen, nay the Lord of eternity Himself, to weep. Through these two ephemeral and impermanent days, they have deprived themselves of the kingdom of divine favor and the heaven of divine compassion. By God! They and all they possess are less than the wing of a gnat in the sight of God, were they but to comprehend.

The Shi’ih sect doth each day reveal its unbelief and hypocrisy before all the peoples of the earth, that the loss of those new souls who have lately arisen to revive this sect might become evident unto all the world. All the sects of the world have sought refuge and continue to seek refuge with God from this party. Were they to reflect but briefly upon the deeds and words of the idolaters of old, they would recognize themselves; however, the recompense of their deeds and the wrath of God, exalted be His glory, have deprived this group of every good thing. Say: O manifestations of vain imaginations! Those souls who are enkindled with the fire of divine love and have partaken of the living waters of immortality are detached from all else but Him. In all conditions and circumstances they behold themselves dwelling in the most exalted Paradise. These are they who have attained unto the hearing of the Call; neither did the clamor of the people of hypocrisy become a barrier nor an obstacle. With the finger of certitude they have rent asunder the veils of idle fancies.

It is clear and evident to every discerning and informed one that the company of the ignorant—meaning the divines of Persia—have each opened a shop, and love for this shop hath deprived them of both worlds. Soon shall they reach the recompense of their deeds. Among other things, their own children shall, after their fathers, curse them and seek to dissociate themselves from them. Were mention to be made of what hath been ordained as the recompense of their deeds in the presence of God, all would be overwhelmed with trepidation. Verily, He is the Concealer, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

The letter from him who is denoted by H and S, son of S, upon him be the glory of God, which he wrote to thee was read before the Wronged One. Praise be to God that from him wafted the fragrance of love for the Desired One of all worlds, and from the horizon of his heart radiated the light of love. Blessed is he and joy be unto him! Whatsoever matter appeareth from God, exalted be His glory, hath been and shall forever be enduring, and the tongues of the idolaters themselves strive to exalt its mention, though they perceive it not. Consider, for instance, the robe that was bestowed—though but a short time hath elapsed, its mention hath spread abroad. And this mention is a gateway to the enduring and everlasting mention, despite every idolater who hath denied God, the Lord of all worlds, disputed His verses and rejected His proof. Say: O ignorant ones! If Pharaoh was powerless to extinguish the divine light, ye too shall be powerless. Do ye imagine that ye can prevent the rustling of the Divine Lote-Tree or extinguish the flame with your breath? By God! This flame shall never be extinguished, nor shall this light ever be concealed.

O My Name! Although H and S have been afflicted with trials and the taunts of enemies in the path of the Lord of Names, yet praise be to the Beloved of all worlds that He enabled them to pen two lines of prayer whose sweetness in the estimation of the lovers and the people of the cities of rapture and longing cannot be equaled by the pleasures and riches of the world. All things testify to the transience of what they possess and the permanence of that which hath been ordained for it by the Supreme Pen.

O H before S! That which befell you in God’s path hath been mentioned before the Divine Presence. Verily, He was with thee in all conditions, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. The cause and reason for the contention, disputation, denial and idolatry of the party known by the first of names was names itself, and from names was kindled the fire of hatred. Glory be to God! The most loss-laden parties in the world considered themselves the most profitable, superior and exalted of all peoples. The fruits of their deeds have become manifest, yet they understand not, and their own loss, yet they perceive not. Strange that now some of the atheists and deniers are busy forming a party similar to that party.

At all times God, exalted be His glory, makes manifest the loss and hardheartedness of that party so that all may observe and discover that which befitteth true unity. Convey greetings from the Wronged One to the friends in that land. We beseech God to aid them all in that which will cause the exaltation of the Word of God. Through one pure deed the world is transformed. The story of Hanzala, upon him be My glory, is well-known. The servants and handmaidens in that land must be aflame with the love of God, illumined with the light of His Cause, manifest in His sanctity, and detached from all that is unworthy.

Thou didst mention Master Hasan, upon him be the glory of God. We beseech God to aid him. Verily, We mentioned him before and mention him at this time, and We counsel him with that which beseemeth this Day and the Announcement of God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. O Hasan! Give thanks unto God for having aided thee and mentioned thee in the Most Great Prison when He was in the hands of the heedless.

O Khadijih! Convey My greetings to the handmaidens of that land. We beseech God to adorn all with the ornament of the Most Great Chastity and Supreme Virtue, that the fragrance of sanctity and purity may be inhaled by the people of the cities of the earth from the handmaidens of God, and that they may cleave unto it. God, exalted be His glory, hath counseled all with perfect kindliness, mercy and compassion, and hath commanded that which beseemeth existence. Every person of insight is aware and every hearing ear doth testify. O Khadijih! Diligent effort is required for the education of women. This Wronged One commandeth that which will draw them nigh unto God. Verily, He desireth for His servants and handmaidens the good of this world and the next. He is the Lord of the Throne on high and of earth below, the Lord of the seen and the unseen. The Glory rest upon thee and upon those who are with thee and My handmaidens who have turned towards the Supreme Horizon and believed in God, the Lord of the worlds.

O believer! Thy mention hath come before the Wronged One. He maketh mention of thee with this manifest remembrance. We beseech God to aid all to that which promoteth His Cause amongst His servants. Praise be to the Ancient Lord that thou hast attained unto that whereof the divines of that land remain heedless and veiled. However, preserve this most exalted station. Man must at all times reflect upon things, their agitation and stillness, their change and transformation, and their evanescence. This reflection is the cause of remembrance and preserveth him. Were the station of the souls that are steadfast, accepted and assured to be revealed unto the people of the earth, all would turn from what they possess unto what God possesseth. Perfect wisdom hath concealed it that there might be revealed that which is hidden and treasured. We make mention of thy wife. Verily she hath attained, heard and responded. We beseech God to protect her and adorn her with that which will draw her nigh unto Him, and to ordain for her that which will comfort her eyes. Verily, He is powerful over all things.

O Muhammad-Qabli! Thy name was present in the prison, therefore thou hast been honored with the mention of God. Strive that there may appear from thee and the friends of God that which shall endure throughout the kingdoms of earth and heaven. The barkers are many. Guard yourselves in the name of God, exalted be His glory. He is the All-Knowing, the All-Informing, the Omniscient, the Teacher. We beseech God to assist thee with means which will draw thee nigh unto Him. Verily, He is the Hearer, the Answerer.

O H and S! Upon thee be My Glory! Say to those who desire to attain My presence and to enter the precincts of My might and to stand before the gate of My grandeur and to turn towards My horizon: Verily, We desired the presence of every soul who hath turned towards God, but the heedless ones prevent people from My straight and manifest path. All the mentioned souls have been honored with the favors of the Most Exalted Pen. Beseech God that He may enable all to that wherein lieth His good-pleasure. The Glory shining from the horizon of the heaven of My loving-kindness rest upon thee and upon those who have beheld the waves of the ocean of My utterance and the effulgences of the lights of the Sun of My wisdom, and who have attained My presence, the Mighty, the Wondrous.

O thou who hast drawn nigh! We desire to conclude the Book with mention of His Majesty the Sultan. We beseech God, exalted be He, to aid him, strengthen him, and protect him from the evil of the ignorant divines who act according to their own desires and judge among people by that which God hath not ordained. Observe what the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Qur’an:

“Whoso judgeth not by what God hath revealed—such are the infidels.”

Mention was made of His Majesty the Sultan, that he hath judged with justice and hath decreed the banishment of certain evil-doers. Would that his command had been carried out! Now consider the heart of His Majesty the Sultan and the hearts of the heedless divines. The former manifesteth the utmost compassion, while these souls show forth the height of wretchedness. Were but one of those wretched ones to be seated upon the throne of judgment, what would he not do? God protect us and you from their evil, their heedlessness, their error and their wretchedness. They judge by other than what God hath revealed and perceive it not; they speak according to their desires and know it not; they utter that which causeth the denizens of earth and heaven to curse them, and yet they understand not.

In any case, it is incumbent upon all to pray for His Majesty the Sultan, even though great disrespect hath been shown him by certain ignorant ones. At times perfect kindness and compassion have been manifested by him. In truth, His Majesty protected the people of Kaf from the wickedness of malicious souls. All this was ordained by One Who is All-Knowing, All-Wise. The heart hath ever been between two fingers of the Lord. We beseech Him to manifest through His Majesty that which shall endure throughout the kingdoms of earth and heaven. The Command is in God’s hands. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth. And He is the Mighty, the All-Praised.

BH00517: This is a mention from Us to one who…

In the Name of God, the Most High!

This is a mention from Us to one who hath turned unto God, the Lord of all worlds, and who arose to serve the Cause when the Wronged One was confined in the Most Great Prison through that which the hands of the oppressors had wrought.

O Husayn! Hearken unto the call raised between earth and heaven from God, the Lord of Names. Verily, He is God; there is none other God but Him, the Single, the All-Informed. Blessed are My loved ones there; verily We perceive from them the fragrance of My love. We beseech God to strengthen them, to aid them with the hosts of wisdom and utterance, and to ordain for them the good of this world and the world to come. Verily, He is the Lord of humanity and the Possessor of this exalted station.

Convey that which My Most Exalted Pen hath uttered and remind them of that which hath been sent down unto them from the heaven of the bounty of their Lord, the All-Bountiful, the Generous. We have heard thy call and have answered thee through this Clear Book, and We had previously sent down unto thee that which hath diffused the fragrance of the Merciful throughout all creation, and We sent it unto thee that thine eyes and the eyes of them who are nigh might be solaced thereby.

Say: O people of God! This is the Day of Utterance, were ye of them that know, and this is the Day of God, were ye of them that are assured. By God! The Promise hath come, and the Promised One calleth aloud through His name, the Mighty, the Wondrous. Say: Beware lest the doings of the transgressors, who have turned away from God when He came from the horizon of heaven with manifest sovereignty, fill you with fear.

Blessed are ye, O people of God, for having turned unto Him on a day wherein most of the servants have turned away. Soon shall ye behold the reward of your deeds, and they shall behold their position in the fire. Rejoice in the grace and mercy of God. By My life! The Concourse on High remembereth you this day, and the denizens of Paradise bear witness thereunto—thus doth testify He Who hath arisen to the Cause before the faces of all who are in the heavens and the earth.

We counsel you with that which shall exalt your stations and perpetuate your remembrance, and We are the Forgiving, the Merciful. Ye have witnessed in the path of God that which no eyes have seen and have heard that which no ears have heard—your Lord, the Merciful, beareth witness to this, as He sitteth upon His throne with clear authority.

O people of God! Ye are they whom neither commerce nor trade nor the world and its ornaments have withheld from the remembrance of God, your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers. Verily, they who are prevented are among the most lost in My Clear Book. Blessed is the servant whom the veils of glory have not withheld from the Dayspring of the Cause, who hath heard the Call and turned to the Supreme Horizon, and heard what the Messengers heard.

Say: O peoples of the earth! Fear God and follow not your desires. Cast away vain imaginings and idle fancies. The Lord of all beings hath come with manifest light. That which is with the people shall profit you not this day—to this beareth witness this Most Great Book and this Mighty Announcement, at whose mention the limbs of all people have quaked, and kings and rulers have been struck with trembling.

Say: O concourse of kings! By God, We have not come except for the reformation of the world and the edification of the nations. Fear ye the All-Merciful, and deny not yourselves that which hath been ordained for you in the Most Exalted Paradise by God, the Mighty, the Beauteous. Cast away what ye possess and take hold of that which ye have been bidden by Him Who is the Powerful, the Almighty. This shall profit you in all the worlds of His worlds and shall exalt you to a station wherein ye shall behold yourselves in a noble state. We beseech God to aid you and assist you in that which He loveth and is well-pleasing unto Him, and to inscribe for you from His Most Exalted Pen that which shall elevate your stations in both the kingdom of earth and heaven. Verily, your Lord, the All-Merciful, is the All-Bountiful, the Ancient of Days. Turn ye unto Him with radiant faces, then hearken unto that which the Tongue of Grandeur hath uttered when He came from the horizon of power with manifest glory. Thus hath the Tree brought forth Its fruits and the heaven Its stars. Blessed is he who hath found and recognized, and woe unto the heedless.

O people of God! We have caused you to hear Our most great verses in the eloquent tongue, and We wish to mention you in a wondrous Persian tongue.

In the name of the Lord of the Tablet and the Pen!

This day is attributed to the Truth and known as the Day of God. The divine Books bear witness and testify. Blessed are they who have not changed the ocean into a pond, nor light into darkness, who have heard the divine Call with the ear of the soul and have turned toward the Most Exalted Horizon. These are the true trees and the divine Lote-Trees. They must, through this spiritual breeze which is wafting from the right hand of the Throne of the All-Merciful, bring forth wondrous and exalted fruits and delicate leaves. The fruits of the human tree are praiseworthy deeds and character, which are the cause of the elevation of the station of being. Today the gate of grace is opened, the rain of mercy is descending, and the ocean of bounty is surging. Strive that ye may attain unto that which is the cause of eternal life and the reason for everlasting existence. Beware lest ye deprive yourselves of this most great bounty and this manifest Cause.

The divines of the age have forbidden the servants of God from entering the Egypt of divine knowledge. Through false utterances and through deceit and guile, they have deprived the people of the earth from the Euphrates of divine mercy. Each day they manifest a new opposition and each hour they appear with a fresh deception. In truth, they are the poisonous wind, for through the breath of these people the fruits of the trees of existence and their leaves have changed and fallen. May God destroy them! They have not perceived the fragrance of fairness and have not taken a drop from the ocean of justice. They curse the tyrants and Pharaohs of old from their pulpits while, by God, they themselves are seen to be far more tyrannical than those souls.

O people of God! Ye are those who have turned toward the Sun of Truth and have taken shelter in the shade of the divine Lote-Tree. Soon will your stations become manifest and evident to all the world like unto the sun. Beseech ye the Truth that He may quicken the servants through the water of His bounty and deprive them not from the splendors of the lights of the Sun of Manifestation. He is, verily, the Powerful, the Mighty. Greed and pride have deprived them from the Dawning-Place of Manifestation and the Speaker of Sinai. Soon shall these limited, numbered hours be seized by extinction. Then shall they behold themselves in manifest loss.

O Husayn! The Divine Lote Tree brings forth new fruit in every season, and the Supreme Pen gives utterance to fresh verses in every moment. Were all the peoples of the world to hearken or witness even to the extent of a needle’s eye, all would turn to and return unto the Truth. Today the ornaments and colors of the world have held them back from the path of the All-Merciful. They are occupied with mutilating their own limbs, yet remain unaware. They proceed toward the fire, yet remain heedless. Glory be to God! The conditions of the world have so estranged the nations from the Lord of Eternity that even were they to move with the speed of lightning, they would not attain nearness. Hearken unto that which the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Qur’an: “Leave them to plunge in vain discourse, and sport until they meet their day which they are promised.” From all things riseth the cry “The Truth is come!” By God’s life! Even the pebbles of the earth cry out and summon all to the Most Exalted Horizon.

O Husayn! In this hour the Bird of Faithfulness hath come from the City of Eternity and warbleth this most blessed and exalted word:

“O people! By God, the Day is come, and this is the Most Great News, Who hath been established upon the throne of His Great Name!”

The tongue was created for hearing, yet now hearing is lost. O friends! Move about in these days of God with joy and fragrance. How blessed is your state, for in days when the trembling of tribes hath seized the earth and the tempests have thrown the world into turmoil, ye have succeeded in hearing the divine call and have turned toward His direction. Well is it with you, and again well is it with you, and blessed are ye! In every moment, drink from the cup of God’s favor and from the chalice of utterance, despite the people of creation.

The Day is your Day, and joy is especially yours. This is the day of greatest joy, for the Greatest Scene hath appeared; it is the day of mercy, for the Lord of Bounty is present; it is the day of gladness, for the Beloved is manifest and visible. Take up the chalice of inner meanings in His Name and drink in His remembrance.

One page of names was sent by his honor Ash with expressions of kindness. Wondrous and exalted Tablets had previously been revealed for some. If God willeth, fresh ones shall again be sent for other souls as well. The loved ones of God in this Revelation have attained to the ocean of knowledge. Verses continue to be revealed, words appear, evidences are clear, the path is visible, and the balance is established. Blessed are they that see, and blessed are they that hear. The Command is in God’s hands, the Lord of all worlds.

The glory shining from the horizon of My celestial kingdom be upon you, O My loved ones and My friends, ye who have not been deterred by the world’s veils nor frightened by the might of nations. Ye heard the call and responded “Yea, yea, O Lord of Names and Creator of Heaven!” We bear witness that Thou hast appeared and manifested what Thou didst will through Thy bounty and favor, and enabled us to hearken to Thy call and turn toward Thy horizon. Were it not for the wonders of Thy grace, who would guide us to the ways of Thy good-pleasure and acquaint us with what Thou hast revealed in Thy Book? Praise be to Thee, O Lord of the world and Sovereign of nations, for having made known to us Thy path, sent down to us Thy proof, and drawn us nigh unto Thee when most of Thy servants and creatures turned away from Thee. We beseech Thee to ordain for us the good of this world and the next. There is no God but Thee, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Generous.

Jinab-i-Asad, upon whom be the glory of Baha and My loving-kindness: Your letter was forwarded to the Most Holy Court and attained unto hearing, and an answer hath been sent down from the heaven of utterance. We beseech God to strengthen thee and grant thee success, that thou mayest arise to render such service in the days of God as shall not be seized by extinction, nor altered by the changes of the world and the events of nations. Jalal and Diya were mentioned, and they have attained unto God’s loving-kindness. We beseech God to ordain for them what He hath ordained for His loved ones who have not broken His Covenant and Testament, who have arisen and said:

“God is our Lord, the Lord of earth and heaven, and the Lord of all the worlds.”

We have made mention of them and given them glad tidings of that which hath been ordained for them from the presence of One mighty and powerful.

O Husayn! His honor Haydar-ʿAli hath repeatedly made mention of thee, and likewise hath the Trustee. Another glad tiding is that We have removed “Mashhadi” from thy name and replaced it with “Da’i-Ba’i”. This is through thy Lord’s bounty. Give thanks and say: Praise be unto Thee, O Thou the Goal of the worlds! Praise be unto Thee, O Thou the Beloved of those who are in the heavens and on earth! Praise be unto Thee, O Thou Who art the Object of desire in the hearts of the sincere ones! Praise be unto Thee, O Thou Who art remembered in the hearts of them that are nigh unto God! Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds!

BH00554: O Haydar-ʿAli! Say: O people of the earth! Purify…

He is God, exalted be He!

O Haydar-ʿAli! Say: O people of the earth! Purify your ears for this blessed Word from all that ye have heard, that ye may attain unto that for which ye were created. Today from the blessed Lote-Tree which hath been planted by the hand of divine will in the highest Paradise, this most exalted Word was heard:

“By God! That which never appeared since the beginning that hath no beginning hath now been made manifest. Be fair, O concourse of the earth, and be not of the heedless. Arise to attain that which hath passed you by. Soon shall the days pass away and ye shall behold yourselves in manifest loss.”

O Haydar-ʿAli! Upon thee be My glory! Thou art he who hath united hearts through the Word of thy Lord and hath spoken that which draweth people nigh unto God, the One, the All-Informed.

O Husayn! We have remembered thee time and again, and have revealed for thee that which consoleth the eyes of them that are nigh. God willing, thou shalt be enkindled with the fire of the love of God and stand firm in service to His Cause. By the lights of the Sun of inner meanings which hath shone forth from the horizon of the prison, in these days man is able to attain an everlasting station, eternal bounty, and perpetual sustenance. The days are passing, and He Who conversed on Sinai is established upon the throne of Revelation. Blessed art thou for having recognized His days, turned to His horizon, and arisen to serve His mighty and glorious Cause.

O Uncle! Fix thy gaze upon the Sun of this most exalted Word which hath shone forth from the horizon of the Supreme Pen:

“Whoso is Mine, I shall be with him. There is no doubt in this. The Tongue of Grandeur hath testified to this in this mighty Prison.”

Thy mention hath repeatedly flowed from the Tongue. Know thou the station of this most exalted station and preserve it in the name of the Lord of Names. Soon shall that which hath come from nothingness return to nothingness, and those who are nigh shall behold what God, the Lord of all worlds, hath ordained for them. No matter hath ever been or shall ever be hidden from the Most Sublime Vision. Verily your Lord is with you—He heareth and seeth, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. The reward of every deed is preserved with God. He, verily, is the Preserver, the Strong, the Almighty, the Powerful.

O Ata! Upon thee be the Glory of God, the Lord of Names and Creator of the heavens. Some time ago We sent forth from the Treasury of the Supreme Pen precious and sublime pearls that thou mightest rejoice and give thanks unto thy Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. O Ata! The Truth, without helper or assistant, is occupied with the remembrance of His loved ones in the Most Great Prison. The hosts which today assist and aid the Cause are goodly deeds and praiseworthy conduct, and the commander of these hosts is the fear of God. Say: O servants! Today is the day of mention and praise and the day of service. The ocean of inner meanings is surging, the Sun of Truth is shining—deprive not yourselves.

In the name of Truth, shatter the idols of vain imaginings. Strive that perchance ye may attain unto that for which ye were brought from nothingness into being. O ʿAta! Upon thee be My glory! Time and again have We commanded thee to serve the Cause. Arise and say: O people! The Self-Subsisting appeareth before your faces, calling you to the Most Exalted Horizon. Beware lest ye deprive yourselves of the Most Great Ocean, and beware lest ye deprive yourselves of the Great Announcement. This is the Announcement which the Messenger of God foretold and which He Who conversed with God gave glad-tidings of. Hear My call, then do what thou hast been bidden by the Strong, the Powerful. Thus hath the Tongue spoken, whilst the Wronged One was in evident sorrow.

O Ali! The call of the Wronged One is raised at every hour and the Most Exalted Pen is in constant motion. Beseech the True One to make ears worthy of this hearing and eyes deserving of beholding these lights. Today, whosoever hath attained unto acceptance is recorded and inscribed in the Crimson Book as one of the people of Baha. The true feast descendeth from the heaven of meanings at every moment, and the everlasting, eternal bounty is manifest before all faces, yet the heedless servants remain veiled and deprived, save whom thy Lord willeth. Give praise unto the Goal of all worlds Who enabled thee to recognize the Hidden and Treasured Name, and beseech Him to assist thee to remain steadfast in this Cause which causeth the limbs of the ungodly to quake and the hearts of the hypocrites to be disturbed. Blessed is the servant whom neither the affairs of the world nor the doubts of the nations have debarred or veiled from the Most Great Name.

O Muhammad-Ali! The whole world awaited the Days of God, and all divine Books bear witness unto this truth. Yet when the effulgences of the lights of the Sun of Revelation shone forth from the horizon of the world, all arose in opposition save a few. Even this did not suffice; they pronounced the death sentence upon His most pure blood and uttered from the pulpits of mosques that which caused the eye of justice to weep and the Most Exalted Pen to lament. Reflect upon the words of the former people. They counted themselves the best among all peoples, yet on the Day of Resurrection they were seen as the most debased of all parties. Thus did the Most Exalted Pen raise its shrill voice when the Wronged One was in the evident prison. Blessed art thou for having turned unto the Day of God, heard His call, and believed in Him when all on earth turned away, save those whom God protected as a token of His grace—He is indeed the All-Bountiful, the Generous.

O My Most Exalted Pen! Make mention of him who is named Muhammad, who hath quaffed the wine of inner meanings from the hands of bounty and turned unto God when every doubting soul turned away. Verily the fire speaketh in the Lote-Tree and the light speaketh from its horizon, and the Herald calleth betwixt earth and heaven, yet the people are in a strange sleep. The hosts of self and passion have destroyed them, and they perceive it not. Say: O people! Fear the All-Merciful and follow not the imaginings of those who have denied the Day of Judgment. We have sent down the verses and manifested the evidences, yet most of the people remain heedless. Give thanks unto God for this most great favor, that He hath mentioned thee and guided thee unto His straight path. Say: Praise be unto Thee, O Lord of the worlds, and glory be unto Thee, O Thou the Goal of them that know.

O Rida! Beseech God to make thee attain unto true contentment. By the Seat of the Most Great Throne! Whosoever attaineth unto that hath attained unto all good. Say:

O my God, O Gracious One, O Merciful One! Thou art that Sovereign by Whose single word existence came into being, and Thou art that Generous One Whom the deeds of Thy servants have not prevented from bestowing, nor held back the manifestations of Thy bounty. I beseech Thee to enable this servant to attain unto that which is the cause of salvation in all worlds. Thou art verily the Powerful, the Mighty, and Thou art indeed the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

O Hashim! The Most Exalted Pen counseleth and commandeth Its loved ones to that which is the cause of tranquility and peace in the world. Day and night the pearls of wisdom and utterance appear from the treasuries of the Most Exalted Pen. We beseech God not to deprive His servants of this supreme bounty. He is indeed the Bestower, the All-Merciful.

O Hasan! Beseech thou the True One to enable thee to build an edifice, whose foundation shall be piety, whose walls shall be divine confirmations, and whose roof shall be fidelity and truthfulness. Every soul who turneth thereunto is remembered in the presence of God and inscribed by the Pen of the Wronged One. Know ye the value of these days and arise to serve His Cause. The grace of God hath seized you and guided you to His right hand. He is the All-Bountiful, Whose generosity hath encompassed the world and Whose munificence hath embraced all who dwell therein.

O Mihdi! The countenance of the Wronged One hath at this hour turned toward thee. Knowest thou Who hath turned unto thee—the Face of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting? And knowest thou Who remembereth thee—He Who was hidden and treasured from time immemorial? The Preserved Tablet of God beareth witness to this. Render thanks unto the Desired One of all worlds, that thou hast attained unto that which no thing past or future can equal. We send greetings unto the loved ones in that land and remind them of the divine verses, that all may attain unto steadfastness and become detached from all else but God.

O Haydar qabl […] upon thee be the Glory of God and His loving-kindness. In these days the fire of hatred hath been kindled in certain of the people of this city. Whenever the Sun of Divine leave dawneth from the Dayspring of God’s loving-kindness, Ha and Sin […] We grant them leave to proceed together toward the Dayspring of the horizons.

O Ism-i-Jud! Upon thee be My glory. The letter of ʿAndalib—upon him be My glory—which he sent unto thee was presented before the Wronged One and was read by the Most Great Branch, thus attaining the honor of being heard. We beseech God, exalted be He, to aid him, to assist him, and to enable him to celebrate His praise and mention, and all that beseemeth His days. Verily, He is the Generous, the Bountiful.

We make mention of him who was named Ghulam-ʿAli and remember him with Our verses and give him the glad-tidings of Our loving-kindness. We beseech God to aid him in that which He loveth and is pleased with, and to open before his face the door of grace and bounty. Verily, He is the Lord of Names and the Ruler of the throne on high and of the dust below. We make mention of his sister and his mother and give them the glad-tidings of God’s grace, the Lord of all worlds.

O ʿAndalib! We have heard thy call and have answered thee through My perspicuous Book. Blessed art thou for having turned unto the Most Sublime Horizon and acknowledged that which the Tongue of Grandeur acknowledged before the creation of the heavens and the earth. Be thou vocal in My Name, soaring in My atmosphere, holding fast unto My cord, and clinging to the hem of My mercy. Thus doth command thee He with Whom is a mighty Book. Beware lest anything whatsoever prevent thee from that which thou hast been bidden by God, the Cleaver of the dawn. Thus hath the ocean revealed the pearls of wisdom and the sun its effulgence and its lights, that thou mayest rejoice and be of them that are thankful.

O Ism-i-Jud! We have sent down from the heaven of grace and bounty unto every name that was in the books of the righteous ones, as a token of Our favor. Verily thy Lord is the Compassionate, the Bountiful. Say:

Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having turned from the direction of Thy prison toward Thy servants and remembered them with that which nothing whatsoever can equal. I testify that Thou art the All-Bountiful, the Forgiving, the Generous. Thy mercy hath preceded all things and Thy grace hath encompassed all. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. The glory shining forth from Our presence be upon thee and upon those whom We have mentioned in this wondrous Tablet.

BH00551: The Preserved Tablet declares: During nights and days We…

He is God, exalted be His station in wisdom and utterance!

The Preserved Tablet declares: During nights and days We summoned the servants of the earth to the Luminary of inner meanings that has dawned from the horizon of the heaven of utterance. We […] have sent down every proof with truth and made manifest every evidence with justice. By God’s life! The proof calls out, the evidence cries aloud, and the testimony laments, for despite the greatness of these days, the greatness of this Revelation, and the greatness of the proof, all are seen to be heedless.

O Haydar-ʿAli, upon thee be My glory! The letter thou didst send to Ism-i-Jud was presented by the Most Great Branch in the Most Holy Court, and this most mighty, most holy Tablet was revealed that perchance the servants might attain, through the traces of the Supreme Pen, the fruits of the Ultimate Tree. Today the Kingdom of Bounty exists and the Sovereign of existence is established upon the throne of bestowal. The realm of the servants’ understanding is narrow and dark, neither was nor is it worthy for the Pen of utterance to move within it. The expanse of creation was and is not worthy—how much less the hearts of the ignorant ones of the earth who are stained with the clay of vain imaginings. Ask of God that He may purify all through the Kawthar of utterance and prepare them to turn toward the supreme horizon.

Concerning Anis, upon him be My glory, thou didst write—his mention hath been and is before the Most Holy, Most Exalted Court. We beseech God to deliver the sun of knowledge from the dark clouds of the vain imaginings of the ignorant, that He may gather His loved ones beneath the shade of His favor and assign them dwelling places beneath the pavilions of grandeur. Thou didst mention ʿAli-Asghar—We preceded in mentioning him, and precedence in mercy hath been from God, and the blessed word “My mercy precedeth all things” encompasseth all. Convey greetings from the Wronged One to him and give him the glad tidings of the effulgences of the Sun of grace.

As to what thou didst mention regarding Aqa Siyyid Mustafa, upon him be My glory and loving-kindness, and his enthusiasm and steadfastness in the Cause of God—all attained the honor of being heard. We beseech God, exalted be He, to make them crushers of the might of the aggressors and promulgators of His Cause, His remembrance, and His sovereignty. Give him My glad tidings and remind him of My verses, that he may soar on the wings of detachment in this atmosphere and be of the thankful ones. Thus hath spoken the Supreme Pen while the Wronged One was in His exalted station.

O Haydar-ʿAli! Convey greetings to the friends of God who are mentioned in the Most Holy Court as the party of God. Say: By My life and My loving-kindness! If ye were to discover the fragrance of this blessed word by which ye are mentioned, ye would be detached from the world and all who dwell therein, and would hold fast to God’s firm cord. Ye have ever been and continue to be mentioned in the Most Holy Court. The mention of these gems of existence hath been recorded by the Supreme Pen in the crimson scroll. Blessed are they at whose mention the Pen of God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting, hath moved. We are God’s, and to Him shall we return.

Ja’far, whose mention is with God, was the custodian of the Holy Shrine. As for the second Ja’far, My Supreme Pen maketh mention of him at this moment in this Clear Tablet. Say: O Ja’far! Whosoever hath turned to God this day and drunk from the choice wine of recognition, he hath been and is mentioned with God, and there hath been ordained for him that which the understanding and intellects of all on earth cannot comprehend or encompass. Give thanks to the Intended One of the world Who hath turned toward thee in the Most Great Prison and made mention of thee. He is the Hearing, the Answering, and He is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

Convey My greetings unto Muhammad Mihdi. A Most Holy Tablet hath been revealed especially for him in these days. We beseech God to aid him to accomplish that which befitteth this Divine Day. The emigrants have made mention of him, and the gaze of loving-kindness is directed towards him. Make mention of him with My verses and My favours, and give him the glad-tidings of My mercy which hath preceded all who are in the heavens and on earth. Likewise was revealed specially for the family of the daughter of the Beloved of Martyrs that which testifieth to God’s supreme loving-kindness and Most Great Favour. Blessed is she and joy be unto her!

O Haydar! Make mention, on My behalf, of him who is named Muhammad-ʿAli, son of him who soared in My atmosphere and offered up his spirit in My path. Say: Thou hast ever been and wilt ever be remembered. For him too was revealed from the heaven of the All-Merciful’s will […] and sent forth, that he might drink from the cup of utterances of the Manifestation of clear proofs and the Revealer of verses, the water of immortality. Thus did the Pen speak when the Lord of Eternity was seated upon the Most Great Throne in this impregnable fortress.

Thou didst make mention of the wife of Abdu’l-Baqi. Verily We have mentioned her before and given her the glad-tidings of My favour, and I am the Compassionate, the Generous. O handmaiden of God! Thou wert remembered in the presence of the Wronged One and hast attained unto the effulgences of the Day-Star of divine favour which hath shone forth from the horizon of the Supreme Pen. This bounty is the sovereign of bounties and this grace is the king of graces. Blessed is My servant Abdu’l-Baqi who hath attained unto that which was recorded in the Books of God, the Lord of all worlds. Convey My greetings unto Maqsud. Say: Divine confirmations are with thee, and We beseech God to aid thee to preserve that which hath been bestowed, for through its preservation existeth that which is worthy of mention before God, and without it, extinction seizeth and will continue to seize it. O Maqsud! Upon thee be My glory! Thou hast ever been and wilt ever be remembered. God’s favour hath been manifested on thy behalf. Preserve it through My Name, the Protector of all who are in the heavens and on earth.

O ʿAbdu’l-Ghani! Praise be to God that thou hast attained unto the traces of the Supreme Pen in these divine days and hast been nourished by the fruits of the Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing. Know thou the value of this favour and guard it from the treacherous ones and the barking ones. Previously a Most Holy Tablet was revealed especially for thee. By the life of God! From the horizon of that Tablet hath shone forth the Day-Star of the loving-kindness of thy Lord, the Compassionate, the Generous. We beseech God to aid thee that thou mayest set His servants ablaze with the fire of utterance and become the cause of the world’s enkindlement. This is not difficult for thy Lord. He manifested Moses with but a staff, and it triumphed over all the swords of the world by His command, for He is the Powerful, the Almighty. Fix thy gaze upon My horizon, speak in praise of Me, hold fast unto My cord, and stand firm in the service of My Cause, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

As for what thou didst mention concerning the prisoner, We beseech God, exalted be He, to aid him through the means of the unseen and the visible, to relieve his distress, protect him, help him, deliver him, and enable him to serve the Cause. Verily, He is the Strong, the Triumphant, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting. O prisoner! Rejoice within thyself that the Prisoner calleth thee from His Most Great Prison unto God, the Lord of all worlds. He hath indeed come with the truth, sent down His proof, and made manifest His way, yet most of the people are heedless. Thou hast followed Our example in imprisonment. We beseech God to grant thee deliverance, and for Myself I have not desired nor do I desire aught save what He hath desired. He is the One Who is desired in the beginning and in the end, and He is the Preserver, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

O Haydar-ʿAli! I call Myself before My servants, and I am the Manifest Rememberer. Convey My greetings to the loved ones. Say: O people of God! This Day is your day; know ye its value and hold fast unto goodly deeds and praiseworthy conduct. The hosts of the True One, exalted be His glory, have ever been and shall ever be goodly deeds and conduct, and the commander of these hosts hath been the fear of God. Blessed are they that act! Blessed are they that attain!

O friends! These days pass swiftly as lightning. Strive that ye may not remain deprived of that which is immortal through that which is mortal. Say: My God, my God! I beseech Thee by the birds of Thy throne and the doves of Thy Cause that warble their melodies, and by the station which hath been honored by Thy footsteps, and by the light that hath shone forth from the horizon of Thy Revelation, and by the fire which Thou didst cause to speak through Thy power and sovereignty, to assist Thy people in that which Thou lovest and art pleased with. Then make them, O my God, the ensigns of Thy guidance amongst Thy creatures and the standards of Thy sanctification in Thy lands. Moreover, ordain for them through Thy Most Exalted Pen the good of this world and of the world to come. Verily, Thou art the Lord of all creation. There is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the All-Praised.

In conclusion, the honored Amin hath lately arrived and hath repeatedly mentioned thee in the Most Holy Court, as well as some of the friends. Blessed is he, well is it with him, and goodly shall be his end. The glory be upon thee and upon them that have believed in God, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful, and upon them that hearken unto thy words and love thee. Verily thy Lord is the Commander, the All-Munificent.

O Haydar-ʿAli! Thou art continuously mentioned by the Most Exalted Pen. No sooner is one station mentioned than another appeareth. This is from thy Lord’s favor unto thee, that thou mayest be of the contented ones. Thou didst mention the land of K and R. The honored Habib hath ascended unto God. We beseech Him, exalted be He, to forgive him through His grace and bounty and to cause him to enter the most exalted station and the highest paradise. Verily, He is the Compassionate, the Generous. It is necessary that one of the assured, holy, pure and detached souls should proceed to that land. At first, he must hold fast unto wisdom and establish ties with the notables of that land, both the learned and the rulers, for one named Muhammad from Kazimayn hath gone to that land and is of the hosts of vain imaginings.

Outwardly he hath befriended some of the notables of that land, while inwardly he is occupied with leading the people astray. In any case, one of the people of God must proceed to that land and with wisdom and utterance guide the people to the horizon of the All-Merciful. At first, he should not confirm any claimant until the truth becomes manifest from behind the veils. Blessed is he who turneth unto it to serve God, to manifest His Cause, to exalt His Word, and to proclaim that which hath been sent down in His perspicuous Book.

BH00558: O people of the Caucasus! The Sacred Vale hath…

In His Name, exalted be His glory, Wisdom and Utterance!

O people of the Caucasus! The Sacred Vale hath flowed, and the Most Exalted Horizon hath shone forth. By My life! The countenance of the Hijaz hath beamed with joy, for the Tabernacle of Glory hath been raised upon God’s holy mount, and the Luminary of Manifestation hath shone forth from the horizon of the Divine Will, after the veils of majesty were rent asunder by the Finger of Power. This is the Day wherein all contingent beings have been intoxicated by the wine of divine utterance. Rejoice and be glad, for the divine fragrance hath wafted, the Call hath been raised, and the luminous Standard hath been hoisted upon the Crimson Spot. The Temple of Knowledge hath been established upon the Throne of Utterance, summoning all unto God, the Lord of Religions.

Ye have attained unto the Day foretold by God’s Messengers and His chosen ones, and promised in the Books of God, the Lord of lords. No Messenger hath there been who hath not spoken His praise, and no Prophet who hath not mentioned Him at morn and eventide. This is the Day wherein all things have been attracted by the Call of God, the Lord of Names, and have spoken that which the Tongue of Grandeur hath spoken: “The Kingdom is God’s, the One, the Chosen!” He that hath ears is he who hath heard and responded, and he that hath eyes is he who hath beheld the Most Great Sign when the horizon of the Manifestation was illumined, and the limbs of all beings trembled with fear of God, the Lord of Creation.

O people of the Caucasus! Hearken unto the call of the Wronged One. He hath turned toward you and remembered you with verses that cause bodies to take flight. The ocean of bounty surgeth before the faces of the world and its peoples, yet they remain heedless and astray, save those whom the hands of power have rescued from God, the Lord of all men.

O concourse of divines! Fear ye God, and deny not Him Who hath come from the heaven of grace and bounty with verses that all the treasures of earth cannot equal. To this beareth witness the Mother Book from its most exalted station. Be fair in your judgment by God, and follow not idle fancies and vain imaginings. This is the Day wherein the veils of glory were rent asunder by the Finger of Power, and that which had been hidden from eternity was made manifest.

O concourse of divines! Hear ye the call of the Wronged One. He remindeth you, for the sake of God, of that which will draw you nigh unto Him. He is the Mighty, the All-Bountiful. He desireth naught from you. He proclaimeth among you with the most exalted call and remindeth you of this Day wherein mankind hath arisen for their Lord, the Lord of all beings. We have appeared and made manifest the Way, and have opened the gate of the Most Exalted Paradise. Draw nigh with radiant hearts. Thus doth He counsel you Who hath come with the truth from the kingdom of utterance with the standards of verses.

O concourse of men! The Most Great Vision hath appeared and the Lord of Destiny is established upon the throne of His Most Great Name. Fear ye God and follow not every heedless doubter. We have spent what We possessed and have borne all hardships for your ascent by the ladder of detachment unto the Lord of Creation. Such tribulations and afflictions have befallen Us as the pens are powerless to recount. The world hath been adorned with the sweet savors of revelation while the people are in a wondrous sleep. When Power displayed its standards and the Manifestation unfurled its banner, the people objected. Some said He hath fabricated a lie against God, while others arose in opposition that caused the earth to lament and the mountains to crumble. By God’s life! We have desired naught save to draw the servants nigh unto that which will profit them and adorn them with the ornament of virtuous deeds. We have, in all circumstances, held fast the reins of the Pen and have revealed from its treasures only in due measure. Sanctify your souls through that which hath flowed from My Most Exalted Pen, and adorn them with trustworthiness, chastity, justice and patience.

Say: O concourse of divines! Do ye reject Him Who hath come from the heaven of divine command with the hosts of wisdom and utterance? He desireth naught but to purify hearts and sanctify them from the fire of rancor and hatred. Thus have We been assailed by that whereat even stones have cried out. This is the Day wherein the earth and heaven were shaken by the breezes of revelation, and all things have spoken as did speak the Tongue of Grandeur in the beginning of days.

O people of the Caucasus! There hath come unto you one named ʿAbdu’l-Karim who hath informed you of this Mystery, through whose mention hearts have been attracted and through whose departure livers have melted. He had indeed held fast to the cord of My providence and clung to the hem of his Lord’s mercy, the Lord of all mankind. Beware lest the people’s doubts keep you from My Self-Subsisting Name, or the world’s might frighten you in this Cause whereby the hearts of the wicked have been agitated. Deprive not yourselves of the Most Great Ocean which surgeth before the faces of the world, and deny not Him through Whom the Spirit of God hath wafted and proclaimed: “The Kingdom belongeth unto God, the One, the All-Forgiving!”

By God! This is the Day of ears, for they were created to hearken unto My call, and the Day of eyes, for they were formed to behold My horizon wherefrom the lights have shone forth. Beware lest the clamor of the world withhold you from the Ancient Lord. Cast away what the people possess, turning unto the lights of your Lord’s countenance, the Lord of Return. By God! The Light hath shone forth from the horizon of Revelation, and He Who conversed on Sinai hath spoken, and the mountains have passed away like the passing of clouds.

O concourse of divines! Fear ye God and withhold not the servants from the Euphrates of wisdom and utterance. Judge with fairness concerning that which hath appeared through the truth, and follow not every bloodthirsty oppressor. The teeth of utterance have smiled with proof, and knowledge hath spoken: “The All-Knowing One hath come with power and sovereignty!” Cast away your learning, for the Luminary of Knowledge hath dawned from the horizons of scriptures and tablets. This is a Day wherein the Call hath been raised from all directions, for the sacred lands have been honored by the advent of Him Who hath come from the heaven of grace with wisdom and utterance. Thus have We adorned the heaven of knowledge with the stars of proof and tablets through the ornament of My Most Exalted Pen, whose cry, when raised, caused the Lote-Tree of the uttermost boundary to proclaim: “Glory be to God, the Lord of dominion over all who are in earth and heaven!”

Hear ye the call of the Lord of Names in the Persian tongue in its sweetest melody. He is the Living Waters and He is the Breath of the All-Merciful that guideth them who turn unto Him to the Most Exalted Paradise and assigneth them their station and abode beneath the pavilions of grandeur. Blessed is the ear that hath not been deprived of hearing the call, and blessed is the eye that the veils of the world have not prevented from beholding.

O people of the Caucasus! Hearken unto the Voice of the Wronged One. This is that Voice for the hearing of which the peoples of the world have been brought into being from nothingness. Today the rustling of the Most Exalted Pen is raised, and the Divine Lote-Tree hath appeared with its delicate, precious fruits. Deprive not yourselves of the celestial feast of God. Strive that ye may perchance attain in this transient world unto stations that are everlasting. The lamp of the world is knowledge, and its light is understanding. Beseech ye God that He may enable you to achieve that which will exalt the Word of God. Glory be to God! Some who account themselves foremost in knowledge and wisdom are found to be utterly bereft of that which is meet and proper.

The purpose of knowledge is that which leadeth to the preservation, development, reformation and benefit of the peoples of the world. Sciences, crafts and arts are the fruits of the human tree; without the tree no fruit can be found. The manifestation of these cometh after its existence. Blessed is the soul that is not content merely to hear, that doth not accept every speaker, and is not assured by every newcomer. Should anyone, concerning any party, say or write that which would cause abasement and harm, even if he were an ocean of knowledge, he would possess neither worth nor station in the eyes of them that see. A place wherein naught but goodness hath been manifested—concerning it they have uttered that which is unworthy to mention.

O people of the world! The fruit of the human tree is justice and fairness. If it be devoid of this fruit, it is worthy of the fire. Pride hath blinded their eyes and their insight. The world is in need of two things: order and justice. Verily, kingdoms have need of a system to protect them and justice to cultivate them. Thus doth the Wronged One teach you from the precincts of the prison, a command from His presence—and He is the Truth, the All-Knowing of the unseen.

O people of learning! Know your own selves and vaunt not yourselves over mankind. Be not like those who exchanged the favor of God for unbelief and led their people to the abode of perdition. Learn ye that knowledge which will preserve you from rancor and hatred, from greed and passion, and will lead you to supreme joy. The noblest, most excellent, most eminent and greatest of all things in the world is knowledge—knowledge that giveth salvation, not destruction. This knowledge is the most precious of all things in the world and the most glorious thereof. To this testifieth He Who speaketh that He hath come with the truth and guided all to the straight path of God.

The honored Abdul-Karim was a sign of this Most Great Revelation and like the morning breeze wafted from the direction of divine favor. He was, of his own accord, set ablaze with the fire of love for this Revelation, and from the ocean of knowledge a portion was bestowed upon him. This was from God’s grace upon him. However, from some of his utterances the purpose was not clear, meaning some of the friends did not gain full understanding therefrom. Thus hath spoken the Ocean of Utterance from the presence of the All-Merciful in the city of Akka, which was named aforetime the White Spot, and by the most beautiful names in the days of God, the Lord of the worlds.

O people of the Caucasus! In conclusion We counsel you to observe trustworthiness, godliness, chastity, truthfulness and fidelity. In this day, the hosts of God have ever been and are goodly deeds and praiseworthy character. By these hosts give victory to the Cause of God and conquer the citadels of hearts. The sovereign of these hosts is the fear of God. The Truth is aware and knoweth well that this Wronged One hath at all times exhorted God’s loved ones with counsels that lead to success and are the cause of prosperity. He sufficeth as Witness and as Knower. We beseech confirmation for you that ye may discover the sweetness of the warbling of the Most Exalted Pen and be sustained by the fruits of the Ultimate Lote-Tree. The glory shining from the horizon of the heaven of My bounty be upon the people of Baha, through whom the Crimson Ark did sail upon the sea of names—such servants upon whom the Concourse on High and the dwellers of Paradise shower their prayers both at eventide and at dawn.

BH00566: How many a beloved one have We found…

He is the Most Great, the Most Bountiful

How many a beloved one have We found to be but the foam of the sea, and how many a friend hath turned into a heretic, having followed his desires, heedless of his Ancient Lord. Say: O people, follow not your desires; follow instead divine guidance, for it hath appeared with a light whereby the heavens and earth were illumined. Stand firm in the Cause, then summon the people unto this Great Name.

Say: O assemblage of princes, take from the mighty the rights belonging unto the weak, and suffer not the rich to rule over the poor. Thus doth command you the Lord of Names, verily He is the All-Knowing. Blessed is the wealthy one whom riches have not kept back from the Creator of heaven, and whom the world hath not deceived from showing humility before the people of Baha. By My life! He is of the people of the crimson ark; the denizens of the Supreme Paradise glory in him. How wonderful is this noble and exalted station! Honor him, O people of truth, for he is among the choicest of creation. Thus hath justice decreed from the presence of the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Say: O assemblage of divines, judge with justice amongst My servants. Beware lest anything prevent you from turning toward the poor. Look not to the right, but to the manifest truth. We are with you in all conditions, We hear what issueth from your mouths and behold your state. Verily, He is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Turn away your eyes from the left; be of those who look to the right, who judge with pure truth for the sake of God. These, verily, are of the sincere ones. Blessed is the divine who judgeth with truth; he is of the people of this noble scene. From him We perceive the fragrance of Baha, and We bless him with this Tongue which hath spoken that there is no God but Me, the Forgiving, the Merciful. Follow those divines from whose faces ye perceive the radiance of Baha. They are as eyes to the body. Thus hath decreed the Most Merciful, Who created all possibility through His binding and wise command.

Say: O assemblage of the learned! By God, neither your intricate verses, nor your embellished words, nor your riddles and enigmas, nor your palindromes will profit you this Day. Cast them aside in My Name, then take what your Lord of the worlds commandeth you. Hold back the reins of your pens, for the Pen of God moveth in the field of Tablets with wisdom and utterance. This is the root of prosperity, were ye to know. Adorn your tongues with the mention of the All-Merciful, and your verses for the Revealer of verses. Thus commandeth you the Lord of Attributes, Who hath come from the Kingdom of proof with manifest sovereignty. Restrain your tongues from satire; ye were created for praise. This is its day, were ye of the discerning.

Will mention of tresses and locks profit you? Nay, by the Lord of Power! Turn ye unto the Most Great Vision, this radiant station. Say: The eloquent one is he who hath conveyed My Cause, and the articulate one is he who hath spoken forth when asked about this Mighty News. Blessed is the poet who hath perceived in the days of God and from whose utterance hath wafted the fragrance of his Lord’s love throughout all possibility. He is assuredly among the triumphant. Woe unto the poet who hath brandished the spear of satire amidst the concourse of creation and remained heedless of this wondrous Remembrance. Remember the favor of God in making your tongues the keys of treasures and the locks of wisdom and mysteries. Fear God and be not of the heedless ones. This is the day of praise, wherein the Creator of heaven hath come with the kingdom of your Lord, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

Say: O concourse of the followers of Moses! The discourse of the Fire hath returned by the command of your Lord, the Chosen One, and from its roaring ye hear: “There is no God but Me, the Mighty, the Gracious.” O people of the Son! The Kingdom hath been adorned with My Name, and the Dominion with My sovereignty, and the Spirit lamenteth by reason of that which hath befallen Me at the hands of the oppressors. Verily, the Temple beareth witness unto the Lord of all causes, yet most of the denominations remain silent. It was built through piety, not through fancy, could ye but perceive it. It was fashioned by the hand of the Divine Will, and none knoweth it save every discerning one possessed of insight. This is He through Whom the Spirit spoke, and by Whose mention both the Torah and the Gospel were adorned. Every moldering bone hath been quickened by the breeze of Revelation, yet most of the people are as dead. Arise from the graves of heedlessness and desire, by the Name of Him Who is the Fashioner of the heavens, then turn ye unto the horizon of the Cause through this glorious Name.

This is the Righteous One Who was in heaven and of Whom Christ gave you tidings. He hath come with His mighty glory. The Most Great Law hath appeared—that which was mentioned in the scriptures of the Messengers. Fear God and follow not your desires. Follow ye the Truth to which the Most Exalted Word hath testified and wherewith the Kingdom of Names hath been adorned. Turn ye unto Him with illumined hearts, and be not of them that turn aside.

Say: O people of the Qur’an! By God, the All-Merciful Spirit hath lamented because of your deeds when He came from the heaven of utterance with clear sovereignty. Ye have denied Him by Whose leave all things were created, and turned away from Him unto Whom every radiant countenance hath been directed. Say: He hath appeared in such wise that none can deny Him save those who are veiled by the clouds of hatred and wrapped in the shrouds of desire, and are among the most lost. Have mercy on yourselves and break not God’s Covenant and His Testament, and be of them that are just. Your turning away harmeth Me not, even as your turning towards Me profiteth Me not. Verily, He is independent of all the worlds.

Say: O concourse of the Bayan! This is the Best-Beloved of all created things, Who hath come with the kingdom of verses, while ye remain heedless. Was this Revelation made conditional upon any stipulation? Was this Cause in your hands or in God’s hand? Be discerning, and be not of the ignorant ones. If the Cause be in God’s hand, He hath raised me up and sent me forth, and caused me to speak according to His will. He, verily, is the Ordainer of whatsoever He pleaseth. He hath manifested me with a proof around which circle the proofs of all the Messengers. Through my being have the standards of power been raised up, which none deny save every malicious transgressor.

Had the Cause been in my hands, I would not have uttered a word amongst you. I held the Cause in reserve until His binding and mighty Command came. His Will hath prevailed over mine, and He hath manifested me in such wise that the arrows of the idolaters have assailed me. And if the Cause be in your hands, why do ye reject the people of the Gospel and the Torah, and the followers of Abraham? They say what ye say. They have clung to what they possess of idle fancies and vain imaginings, and have turned away from the Dawning-Place of certitude and my most luminous Countenance. Ye are wrapped in the most great veil, which is naught but the tales that were current amongst you from the imaginings of the ancients.

He knoweth what is in your breasts and that which hath prevented you from this glorious Perspective. Ye are deaf, by the Lord of the mighty Throne! And ye are blind, by the Lord of the exalted Seat! The earth and heaven have been illumined by the light of the countenance of your Lord, the All-Glorious, yet ye see not. The evidences have appeared, yet ye know them not. The verses have been sent down, yet ye understand them not. All things have testified to the Lord of Names, yet ye hear not. The Pen is ashamed to mention that which ye have uttered concerning me, after ye were commanded not to allude to this holy, exalted, inaccessible and forbidden Station.

Ye have taken him whom We cast into the sea, and have clung to what he possesseth of idle fancies. Know ye by what authority ye turned unto him and turned away from Him through Whom the horizon of the power of your Lord, the Almighty, the Self-Subsisting, was illumined? And did ye recognize him? Nay, by the Self of the Beloved! We testify that ye worship vain imaginings and perceive it not. Thus have We recounted unto thee the tale of the people who today shall not be helped. O thou who hast turned towards God! Leave them and what they possess, then stand firm in this irrevocable Cause.

The seal of the Wine of Mysteries hath been broken by the fingers of might. Blessed are they who are free, who have drunk in the name of their Chosen Lord on this promised Day. We have sent down from the heaven of bounty that which bringeth joy to sincere servants. When thou attainest unto the Tablet of God and findest from it the sweet fragrances of verses, say: Praise be unto Thee, O Source of clear evidences! I testify that Thou art the Omnipotent over what was and what shall be. Blessed is he who remaineth steadfast in the Cause and is not hindered by the signs of those who disbelieved in God when He came with His name, the Self-Subsisting.

Remember those on whose faces thou findest the radiance of Glory. Say: Rejoice in that ye have been mentioned by the Pen of Revelation. By My life! Ye are the triumphant ones. Let not what hath escaped you grieve you, for He is the Mighty, the Forgiving. Let not the affairs of creation disturb you. Verily, the Truth is with you; this sufficeth you, did ye but know. Say: Read ye the verses of God, then ponder, that ye may know what hath befallen Us. Therein hath been revealed every hidden matter. Afflictions have encompassed Me which none can reckon save God, the Knower of the unseen and the seen. the ungodly have gathered against Me from every direction with tyranny, to this do honored servants bear witness.

Every harm hath been ordained for My person and every affliction for My Beauty, yet people do not understand. In all conditions We summon the servants to the Mighty, the Loving. That which befalleth Us preventeth Us not, even as what befell Us in the past prevented Us not, and thy Lord is witness to what I say. Be thou steadfast in the path of thy Lord in such wise that the words of those who have disbelieved in God and believed in falsehood shall not deter thee. Thus doth the Pen of Knowledge teach thee from the presence of the Truth, the Knower of the unseen. Take what thou hast been given by the power of thy Lord, then make mention of Him in thy days. This is better for thee than what was and what shall be.

Glory be unto Thee, O my God! I know not by what fire Thou didst kindle the lamp of Thy sovereignty in the midst of Thy lands, and by what light Thou didst manifest Thy countenance in Thy domains. The more the waters of opposition were poured upon the former, the more did its radiance increase, and the more the veils of the heedless obscured the latter, the more did its gleaming and its rays increase. Thus dost Thou see, O my God, the lamp of Thy Revelation amidst the people of darkness and rebellion, and Thy abiding Face amidst the people of loss. I beseech Thee by Thy name, the All-Merciful, through which the breaths of life were wafted over all who are in the heavens and on earth, to raise up from among the powerful ones him who shall arise to aid Thy Cause, to exalt Thy Word, and to elevate Thy laws amongst Thy servants.

Then strengthen through him, O my God, Thy loved ones who have turned unto Thee and have sought the sanctuary of Thy presence. Though Thou hast strengthened them in Thy kingdom, yet I desire their strengthening in the world of creation, by Thy might, O Fashioner of the heavens and Lord of all names. There is none other God but Thee, the Omnipotent, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.

BH00589: Praise, sanctified from all mention and thought, befitteth…

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

Praise, sanctified from all mention and thought, befitteth the Lord of the world, Who brought the non-existent into being and adorned existence with the ornament of everlasting life. Great is His power, exalted His might, sublime His Will and all-encompassing His Purpose! And blessings and peace be upon the Manifestations of His most excellent names and most exalted attributes, then upon Him through Whom were opened the gates of inner meanings and utterance in the contingent world, and through Whom appeared that which draweth people nigh unto the Lord of all religions, and upon His kindred and companions, whose proof He made the sharpened swords and upraised spears, and through whom the foundations of the idolaters were shaken and the limbs of the aggressors made to tremble—they whom the All-Merciful hath described in the Qur’an as honored servants who speak not until He hath spoken, and who act by His command.

Glory be unto Thee, O my God and the God of the world! I beseech Thee by the lights of Thy utterance and the mysteries that were hidden in the hearts of Thy chosen ones to aid Thy servants to act with justice and equity and to that which guideth unto the path of righteousness. Verily, Thou art the Lord of creation and the One Who speaketh in the beginning and the end.

Thereafter, the letter from that honored beloved one arrived some time ago. Praise be to God, it bore witness to service, steadfastness, attention, receptivity and sincerity. After its reading and hearing, it was taken to the Sacred Presence and presented before His countenance. He said:

O physician, upon thee be My peace! Thou hast ever been and art still remembered. We beseech God, exalted be His glory, to confirm thee in that which shall cause the turning of souls unto Him and the unity and fellowship of hearts. God willing, rely wholly upon Him and resign thyself completely to His will, detached from all else. Strive at all times that perchance the tyranny of the world may be transformed into justice and the oppression of nations into equity. This Wronged One hath, from the earliest days until now, called upon them that are near unto Him to partake of the river of divine mercy, and the rebellious to the ocean of God’s forgiveness. The purpose was that all might be adorned with the ornament of sanctity and be aided to manifest such deeds and character as would exalt the people of divine unity. However, the matter became obscure to the rulers and divines of the earth, and they imagined otherwise. For this reason the idolaters are seen to prevail and triumph. We beseech God to aid first the people of divine unity to achieve unity and concord, and then to grant them strength that they may preserve their rights and be protected from the oppression of the aggressors and the tyranny of the idolaters.

O Physician! My greetings be upon thee! The appearance of these unseemly matters hath been and is the consequence of deeds. They attribute the ocean of knowledge to ignorance, and pure justice to tyranny. God is witness and aware that from the first days this Wronged One hath had no purpose except the exaltation of the people of unity, the glorification of the Book of God, the reformation of the world and the education of the peoples. For thirty years or more We have dwelt in the realms of the sublime State—may God preserve it from the evil of creation—and not so much as a mustard seed of any matter contrary to the Law of God hath appeared from these servants. Nevertheless, according to the people of Iran, they sent Us in utmost abasement to this land. God knoweth what befell Us upon Our first arrival. That which the people of Baha have sought and continue to seek at all times hath been and is the unity of the two governments and the concord of the two peoples, that perchance through this there may be manifested that which is now concealed.

Say: My God, my God! I testify to Thy oneness and Thy singleness, and to Thy grandeur and Thy sovereignty and Thy power and Thy might. I beseech Thee by the Most Great Ocean and the mysteries of eternity and by Thy Will through which Thou hast subdued the world, to ordain for us that which will draw us nigh unto Thee and will aid us in Thy remembrance and praise and in acting according to what Thou hast revealed in Thy Book. O Lord! Fear of Thine enemies hath encompassed us; transform it into assurance from Thee and tranquility from Thy presence. Weakness hath seized us from all directions; transform it through Thy power. Thou art He Who hath detailed from the Point sciences which none hath known save Thyself. The conditions of Thy creation and the transgressions of Thy servants have not hindered Thee. Thou doest what Thou willest and ordainest what Thou desirest. Verily, Thou art the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

Praise be to God, that beloved of the heart hath ever been favored with grace and is mentioned in the prison. If this servant sometimes delayeth in sending letters, this is due to the trust I have had and continue to have in your honor, and likewise due to the multitude of mine own occupations. That beloved one is himself witness and testimony; no testimony from any soul hath been or is needed. Praise be to God, the strong ones are steadfast and successful. The weak ones must be considered. When a child appears in the realm of existence, it continuously seeketh milk and must be given it. In these days a letter hath arrived from the people of Iraq with many complaints. After it was presented before Him, He said:

Write to the Physician that whatsoever hath been entrusted to you must spread its fragrance like unto the fragrance of roses amongst the servants. We wrote before and now say again that your honor must satisfy the heirs of the deceased and must act in such wise as to cause souls to turn towards and be enkindled by the fire of love and affection. Today what is necessary for your honor is this: to act in whatever way possible that which will strengthen the cords of love. Whosoever acteth for the sake of God will assuredly be assisted by the effulgences of the lights of divine grace and will be aided. He is the Powerful, the Mighty.

Concerning the small house located at the head of the alley where previously the friends of that land maintained a bakery, you wrote that you have purchased it and that beloved one’s intention was to present it in service to our Master His Holiness the Most Great Branch (may my spirit be a sacrifice for the dust of His holy steps), and it was requested that He accept it. After these matters were presented before His presence, He said to inform the Most Great Branch, and after informing and presenting it, He accepted it. Well done to you and congratulations.

You wrote that you have made some repairs which have preserved the rooms and then rented them out so that the expenses may be recovered. After presenting this matter, He said:

“You have acted very well, for We are embarrassed before Alif and Ha in this matter. The less burden placed upon them, the more beloved and acceptable it is before the Wronged One, and We beseech God to grant you too a reward.”

End quote.

Regarding what you wrote about the joy of Jinab-i-Amin Effendi (upon him be God’s peace), God willing it is blessed. This evanescent one beseeches God, exalted be His glory, to assist him to be steadfast, wise and of service. I convey greetings to him. The servant asks his Lord to confirm him in all conditions in that which will preserve him and ordain for him the good of the hereafter and this world. Verily He is the Powerful, the Mighty.

Another matter to present is the marriage of the elevated brother of the Imprisoned One (upon them both be God’s peace and mercy). God willing it is blessed. We beseech God to unite hearts and assist His loved ones in what He loves and is pleased with. Verily He is the Generous, the Kind.

Concerning what you wrote about the house of the late Shaykh (upon him be God’s favors), it was presented before the Intended One. He said:

“It befits Jinab-i-Tabib (upon him be My greetings) to conduct himself in such a way that all are pleased with him. The world and all within it was not and is not worthy. We have regarded and regard his station and rank, and it is hoped this station will remain preserved by God’s will.”

End quote.

O beloved of my heart! It is very clear and evident that whatever is mentioned is intended to preserve that beloved one’s station. This servant beseeches God, exalted be His glory, to assist that honored one in what causes the elevation of station, the exaltation of glory and the upliftment of rank. This blessed word was once uttered from the Tongue of Utterance:

“Since the Countenance of the Ancient One is turned toward other worlds regarding the sincere ones and near ones, therefore outward means have been delayed in fulfillment. Otherwise all the world’s good things, wealth and blessings have been and are directed toward the loved ones, and surely these stored bounties and favors will become manifest.” End quote.

The intention is that in such matters, whatever comes to pass—if it is agreeable, the purpose is achieved; otherwise that beloved one has been and is more worthy to bear hardships, for that beloved one must ever be focused on matters that cause the exaltation of the Cause and elevation of station.

I convey greetings to the loved ones of that land and offer praise. God willing, may they attain to the station of unity and harmony, and be adorned with such conduct and deeds as will cause the exaltation of souls and the advancement of humanity. This servant beseeches his Lord to assist them in that which will raise them up among the peoples. Verily He is powerful over all things and worthy of answering prayers. Peace and praise be upon you all and upon those with you and upon God’s righteous servants, and all praise belongs to God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH00606: O Ramadan! Give thanks unto God for having strengthened…

He is God, exalted be His glory in wisdom and utterance!

O Ramadan! Give thanks unto God for having strengthened thee and caused thee to recognize the Dawning-Place of His Revelation and the Dayspring of His verses, and for having manifested through thee one who hath occupied himself with My service, attained My presence, heard My call, and beheld My resplendent horizon. Blessed art thou, and blessed is he, and blessed is his mother—give her the glad-tidings from Me of My loving-kindness and My mercy which have preceded all who are in the heavens and on earth.

O Ramadan! We make mention of the son of ʿAli and his other son as a token of grace from God, the Lord of destiny. Each of them hath been illumined by the lights of the Luminary of My utterance which hath shone forth from the horizon of My Most Exalted Pen. Thy Lord is verily the All-Merciful, the Bountiful.

O Ramadan! Hearken in the Persian tongue to the utterance of the Best-Beloved of the worlds, that thou mayest be illumined by the Day-Star of inner meanings which hath shone forth from the horizon of the divine kingdom of knowledge. Thy son ʿAli hath drunk from the cup of bounty and hath attained unto service. His kinsmen are each and all remembered in the presence of God. I swear by the Lamp of Light which shineth by the command of the Lord of Manifestation and the Interlocutor of Sinai—the world hath never equaled and shall never equal a single word from the words of Truth. His eminence Zaynu’l-Muqarrabin, upon him be My glory, My loving-kindness and My mercy, hath for some time been taken by the hand of grace and assigned a station in the shade of the Blessed Tree.

Night and day he dwelleth nearby, occupied with transcribing the verses of God. We make mention of all the friends in that land and ask confirmation for each one of them. That which shall gladden the eyes of those who are nigh and sincere hath been ordained for those who have turned unto God. We enjoin wisdom upon all. They must occupy themselves with the exaltation of the Word of Him Who is the Goal of all being, in a spirit of joy and radiance, with wisdom and utterance. This is the most great station and the most exalted rank. Well is it with them that act!

O Haydar! Thy brother hath been mentioned and the Lord of might is engaged in thy remembrance. Blessed is the soul that hath today attained unto the remembrance of the Lord of Days. He is accounted in the presence of the Truth as among the most exalted of beings and is recorded by the Divine Pen. Blessed art thou, and blessed is he that is with thee, and blessed is he that hath believed in God, the Single One, the All-Informed.

O Muhammad-ʿAli! Thou hast been mentioned and the Divine Countenance hath turned toward thee from the Most Great Prison. If thou attainest unto the recognition of this station and preservest it, thou shalt, throughout thy life, be engaged in celebrating the praise of the Lord of Manifestation with utmost joy and gladness, in such wise that neither the world and its ornaments, nor its doubts and allusions, nor its gifts and bestowals shall prevent thee from holding fast unto the cord of God or deprive thee of attachment to His sanctified hem. The glory of God rest upon thee and upon thy wife and upon those that are with thee, from God, the Forgiving, the Merciful.

O Ni’matu’llah! The Wronged One hath turned toward thee from the precincts of the Prison and maketh mention of thee with a remembrance that shall not be overtaken by forgetfulness, oversight, negligence or oblivion. He is the possessor of the Most Great Infallibility and the Sovereign Who doeth what He pleaseth. Were all the peoples of the world to meditate upon this most exalted Word and to drink from the ocean of its meanings, they would find themselves seated upon the thrones of faith and certitude and would regard all else besides God as non-existent and as naught. The reward of no one hath been, nor ever shall be, lost in the presence of God. The souls in that land who have turned toward Him and who have arisen to serve Him have each attained unto that which is more precious in the sight of God than all things. We give them the glad-tidings of God’s loving-kindness, the Lord of all worlds, and We give them the glad-tidings of God’s everlasting bounty and His eternal table of divine knowledge. And verily I am the All-Bountiful, the All-Merciful, the Munificent.

O Ali Muhammad! Praise thou the Wronged One of the world Who hath made mention of thee in the Most Great Prison. Verily He remembereth those who have turned unto Him. He is the Compassionate, the Mighty, the All-Praised. Convey My salutations to thy wife and give her the glad-tidings of God’s loving-kindness. All the friends of that land, as well as the kinsmen of Aqa Ali, have on this blessed night been blessed with the verses of the Most Exalted Pen. We beseech God to assist them, to aid them, and to reinforce them with the hosts of wisdom and utterance. Verily He is the Omnipotent over whatsoever He willeth through His command, and He is the Strong, the Triumphant, the Almighty.

O Ali-Qabl-Muhammad! The Truth maketh mention of thee and counseleth thee to steadfastness. Give thanks to the Ancient Lord Who hath guided thee and enabled thee to recognize the Dawning-Place of His verses. Glory be upon thee and upon thy wife from God, the One, the Chosen One.

O Muhammad! We enjoin thee and the friends of God to perform such deeds as will lead to the exaltation of the Word of God. Blessed is he who hath heard and acted accordingly.

O Nur Muhammad! Today pure deeds and spiritual qualities are the hosts of God, exalted be His glory. All must assist the Wronged One through these hosts. Thus hath My Most Exalted Pen made mention of thee and thy wife as a token of My grace, that thou mayest be of the thankful.

O Muhammad-Qabl-Ali! Contention, conflict and corruption have been forbidden in God’s Book. All must arise to serve the Cause in perfect unity and harmony, and occupy themselves with the praise and glorification of Him Who is the Desired One. We counsel you all to act with righteousness. Cast away what the people possess and take what ye have been commanded in the laws of God and His ordinances, in the precepts of God and His decrees. Verily, He commandeth you that which shall profit you in all the worlds of His worlds. He is the Compassionate, the Mighty, the All-Wise. We have made mention of thee, thy mother and thy wife, that thou mayest become aware of My loving-kindness which hath encompassed all things, both seen and unseen.

O Ibrahim! The Wronged One remembereth thee whilst under the claws of hatred wrought by the hands of the heedless. Glory be upon thee, upon thy wife, and upon every maidservant who hath heard, responded, turned unto God and said:

“Praise be unto Thee, O God of all who are in the heavens and on earth!”

O Rahim! Mention of thee hath been made at the Most Holy Court, and thy name hath flowed from the Most Exalted Pen. We counsel thee and the friends to perform such deeds as will draw the servants nigh unto God. Take ye what ye have been commanded by God, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

O Abdul-Khaliq! These are the days of God, and the Speaker of Sinai is seated upon the throne of Revelation, manifest and evident without any veil or concealment, calling thee and all on earth to the Most Sublime Horizon. Hearken, and be not of the heedless. Blessed is the soul that hath attained unto the remembrance of God and been adorned with His attributes.

O Muhammad Ali! My Glory be upon thee and thy wife. Know ye the station of the friends in that land. In these days the honored Amin, upon him be the glory of God, hath attained the Most Holy Court and made mention of that land, and especially concerning Mulla Baqir, divine verses were revealed and sent both before and after. God willing, they shall drink from the ocean of the utterance of the All-Merciful and shall find themselves detached and free from all else but God.

O Jafar! We made mention of thee in the Most Great Prison. This day unity and concord are well-pleasing and acceptable in the sight of God. Beseech ye God that He may enable all to attain unto this station. In the right hand of unity the banner of divine succour can be seen. Well is it with them that behold it.

O My handmaiden, O Kulthum! Thy name hath been mentioned in the presence of the Wronged One, and thou hast been honoured with the mention of Him Who is the Beloved of the worlds. From the beginning of days, on the day when the Ancient Beauty left His house in Baghdad and entered the garden named Ridvan, He shed the splendour of all His names upon all created things. None hath ever reckoned, nor shall ever reckon, the effulgence of this Daystar of divine bounty, for it is sanctified above and independent of the power and might of creation. Likewise hath He ordained that every name that attaineth unto the presence of the Throne shall be honored with divine mention and with the effects of the Most Exalted Pen. Until this time, every name that hath been present before the Wronged One hath been favoured with that which hath no peer or likeness. We beseech God that He may enable all to preserve His gifts, His bounties and His bestowals. He verily hath power over all things and is the All-Powerful.

O Ghulam-ʿAli! The Wronged One maketh mention of thee from His prison and summoneth thee to the most sublime horizon. We beseech God that He may enable all to achieve unity and concord. This is the Testament of God which hath flowed and continues to flow from the Most Exalted Pen, both in the past and in the future. Blessed are they that have attained, and happy are they that act accordingly. The glory be upon thee and upon thy wife.

O My loved ones in that land! Hearken unto the call of the Wronged One from the Most Sublime Horizon. He counseleth you with that which will draw you nigh unto a station wherein naught is heard save the rustling of the Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing and the sighing of the Most Exalted Pen. He, verily, is the Ordainer of whatsoever He willeth. None hath comprehended His grace save His Own Self, the One Who dominateth all that are in earth and heaven. O My loved ones! Say: In the Name of God and by God, and take ye the chalice of utterance from the hands of the mercy of your Lord, the All-Merciful, then drink ye therefrom in despite of them that have disbelieved in God when He came with manifest sovereignty. Thus hath the Tongue of Grandeur spoken from His glorious station. Blessed is he who hath heard and acted according to that which was enjoined on him by God, the Lord of existence. The glory be upon you and upon My handmaidens who have heard and believed in God, the Lord of what was and what shall be.

BH00633: O Husayn! The Pen is nigh moved to lamentation…

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

O Husayn! The Pen is nigh moved to lamentation, for the Hand of Power moves it in the evening and at sunrise, at dawn and at dusk, and through the days and at daybreak. It finds for itself neither rest nor stillness, as the Hand of Divine Destiny turns it howsoever it wishes. Verily thy Lord is the Strong, the All-Conquering, the Almighty. Neither the might of the powerful nor the dominion of princes can hinder Him. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth. We have mentioned thee before, and before that, with verses whose fragrance, when diffused, caused the graves to quake and the people to stand before the face of thy Lord, the Lord of all worlds.

O Husayn! When the Hand of Power raised the standards of wisdom and utterance, and the Morn of Manifestation unfurled the banner of divine knowledge, the people rose in opposition. Among them were those who denied Me, those who calumniated My Person, and those who pronounced the verdict for the shedding of My blood. Thus did their souls entice them, and they are numbered this day among the transgressors in the Book of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. We beseech God to aid thee and to open before thy face the door of grace and favors. Verily, He is the One with power over whatsoever He willeth. There is none other God but Him, the Almighty, the Powerful, the Most Great. May He send down upon thee from the clouds of His mercy a blessing from His presence. Verily, He is the Hearer, the Answerer. We make mention of those whose names thou hast mentioned, and We remind them of My verses which reign supreme over all who are in the heavens and on earth. We give them glad tidings of that which hath been ordained for them, and We acquaint them with the power of My Most Exalted Pen and the influence of My Most Sublime Word. Verily, thy Lord is the Expositor, the All-Knowing.

O Husayn! We have desired to make mention of him who is named Mahmud, that this remembrance may draw him nigh unto a station wherein he shall witness what God hath witnessed and acknowledge that which the Tongue of Grandeur hath acknowledged before the creation of earth and heaven: that there is none other God but I, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Hearken unto the Call from the direction of ʿAkka. Verily it hath been raised in truth, in such wise that none can deny it save every heedless and remote soul. We have mentioned thee before and have revealed for thee that which hath attracted the hearts of them that are nigh. Give thanks unto God for having aided thee to turn towards Him when the learned ones turned away, and for having enabled thee to acknowledge Him when the divines and scholars of the earth denied Him.

Thy Lord is verily the All-Bountiful, the Almighty. By the life of God! There hath been ordained from the Most Exalted Pen for them that are nigh such as hath bewildered the hearts of those who have believed in God, the Single One, the All-Informed. We beseech God to make thee steadfast in His Cause and in the observance of what He hath revealed in His Book. He, verily, is the Confirmer, the All-Wise.

O Mawzun! The Self-Subsisting hath made mention of thee on a day whereon the Herald proclaimed: The Kingdom is God’s, the Almighty, the All-Loving. We have sent unto thee the breezes of revelation and honored thee with My Tablet, from whose horizon hath shone the luminary of thy Lord’s loving-kindness, the Lord of all existence. Once We mentioned thee with verses of grace, and again with utterance that hath enraptured hearts and souls. Can aught possessed by the people be compared with the Word of God? Nay, by His Self, the One Who dominateth all things past and future! Thus hath the Pen revealed its treasure and the Tongue its utterance, that thou mayest give thanks unto thy Lord, the True One, the Knower of things unseen.

O Elias! The King of mankind summons thee from His glorious station and remembers thee through His grace, mentioning thee in what hath been revealed in His inscribed tablet. Take what hath come to thee from the horizon of might, and follow not every heedless and veiled one. Say: O people of the earth! Open your eyes! The Sovereign hath come—dominion belongeth unto God, the Lord of the unseen and the seen. Beware lest the dawning-places of idle fancies and vain imaginings prevent you. Cast aside what the people possess, turning unto the Most Exalted Horizon, the station wherein hath been raised the Call:

“Verily, there is none other God but Me, the Sovereign of sovereignty and of the Kingdom!”

We beseech God, exalted be He, to aid thee and those who have turned unto that which He loveth and is pleased with. Verily, He is the Omnipotent over what He willeth. There is none other God but He, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting.

O Hasan! Show excellence even as God hath shown excellence unto thee. He hath aided thee to turn unto Him when those on earth turned away. To this testifieth His preserved Tablet. Say: My God, my God! I have inhaled the fragrance of the garment of Thy Manifestation, and the wine of the river of Thy knowledge in Thy days hath intoxicated me. I beseech Thee by the breezes of Thy Revelation, the evidences of Thy might, and the pearls of the ocean of Thy knowledge, to ordain for me to attain Thy presence, to stand before Thy gate, and to hearken unto Thy Call which was raised once from the Tree when Thou didst manifest Thyself unto Moses, and again during the Night Journey when Thy Friend and Chosen One ascended; or ordain for me, by the Pen of Thy Command, the reward of meeting Thee. Verily, Thou art the Omnipotent Whom the power of the world cannot frustrate. There is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the Beloved. Then write down for me the good of this world and the next. Verily, Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the All-Forgiving.

O Abraham! The tale of the sacrifice hath returned, and they who are detached have advanced to the place of sacrifice, offering up their souls in the path of God, the Lord of creation. Neither the world nor its ornaments prevented them from turning unto the Most Exalted Horizon. Blessed is the soul that hath pondered on that which hath appeared in truth in this Day wherein the standard “There is none other God but Him” hath been raised above the highest ensigns. Do the people hear and deny it? Have their hopes prevented them from God, the Lord of the beginning and the end? Say: Fear God, O people, and withhold not yourselves from drawing nigh unto God, the Lord of lords. The Promise hath come, and that which was hidden in the eternity of eternities hath appeared. Cast aside vain imaginings, holding fast unto the cord of God, the Lord of Days. Thus hath the pearl of utterance appeared from the treasury of My Most Exalted Pen. Blessed are ye, O ye who possess insight!

O Ja’far! Be content with what hath been ordained for thee. We beseech God to manifest unto thee that which shall profit thee in all His worlds. Verily, He is the Bestower, the All-Bountiful. O Fath’u’llah! The Wronged One remembereth thee while under the talons of hatred. To this testifieth the Lord of Names in this station which God hath made the Dawning-Place of lights. O Nasru’llah! The Hidden hath appeared and the Concealed hath come, yet the people are in heedlessness and behind a veil. Blessed is the strong one whom the hosts of the world have not weakened, and the steadfast one whose feet have not slipped through the clamor of the wicked. Give thanks unto God for having been mentioned by the Tongue of Grandeur while He was in the prison of the wicked ones.

O Isaac! Hearken unto the call of the Wronged One. He mentioneth thee for the sake of God, the Lord of the earth and of the heavens. Beware lest anything whatsoever prevent thee from the path of God, the Lord of all men. Take hold of the Book with the power that proceedeth from Him, and follow not every doubtful idolater. Say: O people! By God, the Desired One hath come and that which was recorded in the Mother Book hath appeared. Thus hath the Most Exalted Pen spoken while the Wronged One was walking in the prison because of what the hands of the wicked have wrought.

Verily, We make mention of him who was named Haqq-Nazar, whose name was blessed by the glance of his Lord’s favor, the Almighty, the Unconstrained. Give thanks unto God for this supreme bounty and say: Praise be unto Thee, O Lord of the world, and glorification be unto Thee, O Master of souls. O David! Hearken unto the call of thy Lord, the Loving. He maketh mention of thee from this Spot which God hath made the Dawning Place of mysteries. Say: Praise be unto Thee, O God of the world, and glory be unto Thee, O Dayspring of lights. The glory rest upon thee and upon thy wife who turned unto God while the handmaidens were wrapt in astonishing heedlessness.

Verily, when We gazed toward the horizon of bounty, We made mention of those whose names were not mentioned, as a grace from the Wronged One, that they might give thanks unto their Lord, the Cleaver of the dawn. O people of God! Rejoice that your names have flowed from the Pen of Command at a time when agitation hath so seized the dwellers of the earth that it hath been cleft asunder and the mountains have been scattered. Take the chalice of salvation through the power of your Lord, then drink therefrom in My Name through which God hath subdued all names. We have stood before all faces and spoken verses that all the treasures of the earth cannot equal. He Who caused bodies to soar beareth witness to this. Neither the hosts of the world nor the ranks of nations have hindered Us. Every fair-minded and discerning one beareth witness to this.

We make mention of My handmaidens there and give them the glad-tidings of My grace, My loving-kindness, and My mercy that have preceded all who are in the earth and heaven. We make mention of My handmaiden who was named Hajar and bid her to the patience which God hath made the nature of the chosen ones. Grieve not over anything. Verily, He heareth and seeth, and He is the All-Seeing, the All-Knowing. We beseech God to manifest for you that which will solace your eyes and gladden your hearts. Verily, He is powerful over whatsoever He willeth. There is none other God but Him, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.

At the close of the Book We make mention of the Mizban and give him the glad-tidings of his Lord’s loving-kindness, the All-Merciful, Who speaketh in the Most Great Prison before the faces of the nations: “Verily, there is none other God but Him, the Mighty, the All-Bestowing.” O Mizban! Hear the call once again. We made mention of thee before in such wise that the fragrance of utterance was wafted throughout all possibility. We beseech God to strengthen thee in steadfastness and to aid thee in that which He hath revealed in the Book. Give thanks unto God for this most great remembrance and say: “Praise be unto Thee, O Lord of all beings. I beseech Thee to write down for me from Thy Most Exalted Pen that which will draw me nigh unto Thee in all conditions.” The glory rest upon thee and upon thy wife who attained unto faith while the divines and theologians of the earth turned away. He Who possesseth the Mother Book beareth witness unto this.