Volume 086: Akka 1305 A.H. (1887–1888), Part III (1 of 4)
BH02425: O Kazim! Upon thee be the Glory of God!…
He is the Hearer, the Answerer
O Kazim! Upon thee be the Glory of God! Despite the call of the Divine Lote-Tree and the raising of the cry between earth and heaven and the shining forth of the rays of the Sun of Manifestation from all directions, the people of the earth remain heedless and unaware. Eyes are veiled, ears deprived, for most are observed to be worshippers of names, cleaving to them while remaining bereft of God, glorified be His majesty. The former people for years were worshippers of names and idols, unknowingly. The people of the Bayan are also afflicted with this malady, save whom God willeth. Although the people of the Bayan have heard and continue to hear the cursing, rejection and condemnation of the former people openly declared from pulpits without any concealment or veil, yet they are occupied in establishing such a people themselves. By God’s life! Were the station of true unity to be mentioned, all would be struck unconscious, save a few. Verily thy Lord is the Concealer, the All-Patient, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.
O Kazim! Some time ago the Most Holy, Most Exalted Tablet was revealed and sent especially for thee. We beseech God in all conditions that He may aid thee in that which will cause the exaltation of His Word, that perchance the dead may attain unto new life through the breezes of the revelation of the Desired One of all worlds, may emerge from the graves of heedlessness and become aware. Each of the souls mentioned in thy letter attained to that which hath no equal. Convey to the friends the greetings of the Wronged One and give them glad-tidings. We beseech God that He may aid all to that which is conducive to the remembrance of the peoples and the reformation of the world. Verily He is powerful over all things.
Say: My God, my God! Have mercy upon Thy servants through Thy mercy which hath preceded existence both seen and unseen, and deliver them through Thy might and power. Then preserve them through the hosts of revelation and inspiration. O Lord! Illumine their hearts with the light of Thy knowledge, then make them of those whom Thou hast mentioned in Thy Scriptures, Books and Tablets, that there may be impressed upon their hearts the sign “Verily we are God’s, the One, the Single, the Powerful, the Mighty.”
O Kazim! Upon thee be My glory! Beseech God that He may free hearts from all else save Him, in such wise that names may not veil them nor ancient tales deprive them. Glory be to God! Throughout ages and centuries they clung to names—consider what was and what became its fruit. We beseech God to make known to them what is intended in His days and to ordain for them the good of the hereafter and of the former time. Verily He is the All-Bountiful, the Generous.
The Glory shining and manifest from the horizon of the heaven of My mercy be upon thee and upon those who are with thee and who hearken to thy word concerning this firm, this manifest Cause.
BH03133: Unto Him belongs the sovereignty of earth and heaven!
Unto Him belongs the sovereignty of earth and heaven!
This is a Book sent down by the Lord of Might while He was seated upon the throne of utterance in days wherein the Herald proclaimed: “The Kingdom belongs to God, the Almighty, the Self-Subsisting!” The Balance has been set up and the Path calls out: “The Truth has come, the Knower of things unseen!” Blessed is the soul that has shattered the idols of desire and believed in God, the Lord of this praiseworthy station.
O Muhammad! Hear the call from the direction of grandeur—verily He remembers you with that which draws you near and calls you to that which uplifts you. He is the One with power over whatsoever He willeth through His word “Be!” and it is. The door of grace has been opened to all who are on earth and in heaven, as testified by Him Who possesses the secrets of what was and what shall be. We bear witness that you departed from your homeland, turning toward the Most Exalted Homeland, the station wherein speaks the Supreme Pen, until you arrived and attained His presence and heard the call of the Wronged One. Give thanks to your Lord, for He has aided you to turn toward Him, to attain His presence, and to hearken to His sweetest call by which the people of the graves have arisen. Remind My servants on My behalf and give them the glad tidings of My loving-kindness. We counsel all to uprightness, religiosity and that whereby the Cause of God, the Lord of the seen and unseen, may be exalted.
O Karim! We have remembered your father and mother before, and adorned them with the ornament of forgiveness. Verily your Lord is the Mighty, the Kind, the Forgiving. And We remember those in your household and give them the glad tidings of My mercy which has preceded existence itself. Say: O people of God! Beware lest names keep you back from their Creator. Cast them behind you, turning with your hearts to God, the Mighty, the Loving. The croaking of hypocrisy has risen in all directions—this is what We foretold you before and in this inscribed Tablet.
O Karim! Hear the call of your Lord, the Merciful. He left one place and shone forth from the horizon of another place, and drank tea. Then He revealed for you that from which the sincere perceive the fragrance of loving-kindness and favors, and those near to God inhale the fragrance of the garment of their Lord, the Almighty, the Self-Subsisting.
The glory from Us be upon you and upon those who have cast behind them the idle fancies of men, turning to God, the Mighty, the Great. And praise be to God, the Lord of all worlds.
BH05599: O ʿAli! The names of the servants have been…
In the Name of the one God!
O ʿAli! The names of the servants have been prevented from their Owner and Creator. In the pool of names they have drowned. Glory be to God! The Most Great Ocean surges before all faces, and the Purpose of the world is manifest and evident from the horizon of the Most Great Name. Nevertheless, they remain deprived and forbidden.
In past ages and centuries they prided themselves before all parties and peoples in the name of successorship and guardianship and the like. Yet on the Day of Retribution, they martyred the Truth through Whose word a thousand guardians and successors could be created. And now some among the people of the Bayan cling to those same names and hold fast to those same things.
By the life of God! Had the Supreme Pen turned to the peoples of the world as it did to the people of Iran, most assuredly the majority would have entered the Most Great Ocean. Even as in this land some entered before any teaching, while upon Iran the verses rained down and were sent forth like the rain. Nevertheless, they are seen as dead, save whom God wills, the Lord of all worlds.
We beseech God to make thee possessor of a sanctified heart, that thou mayest be a treasury for the brilliant pearl of unity. The Command is in God’s hand—He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth.
BH05654: The Mother Book in the Kingdom of Utterance maketh…
He is the One Who gazeth from His Most Exalted Horizon.
The Mother Book in the Kingdom of Utterance maketh mention of the friends of God, that the mention and the utterance may draw them to the Heaven of Knowledge. O Buzurg! From the beginning of days until now We have made mention of the loved ones of every land with such mention as the ears of the world have never heard the like thereof. The purpose was that the rancor and hatred of the people of the world might be transformed into love and fellowship. Most rejected it, cast the counsel of God behind their backs, clinging to the idle fancies and vain imaginings they possessed. That which befell thee hath been mentioned before the Face, and thy deed hath been adorned with the ornament of acceptance. Say:
Praise be unto Thee, O Thou Who art the Goal of the world and the Lord of the nations, for having made known unto me Thy straight path and enabled me to acknowledge Thee on a day when most of the servants denied Thee, and made me turn toward Thee when the people of the lands turned away. I beseech Thee, O Thou King of existence and Lord of the seen and the unseen, to assist me to serve Thy Cause amidst Thy creatures and to make me ever gaze toward Thee in all conditions. Thou art, verily, the All-Powerful, the Mighty, the Most Generous. O my Lord! Thou seest the poor one turning toward the horizon of Thy riches. I beseech Thee not to disappoint him of that which Thou hast ordained for Thy near servants. Thou art, verily, the All-Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
BH05887: This is a Book sent down in truth…
He is the One Warbling upon the Branches
This is a Book sent down in truth and it speaketh before all faces: Verily I am the Wronged One, the Stranger. I have stood before the faces of the world and summoned all unto the All-Knowing Single One. Among them were those who denied, those who turned away, those who pronounced sentence to shed My radiant blood, and those who uttered that which caused the Concourse on High and the denizens of this exalted station to lament.
O Muhammad, justice is lost and equity non-existent. This Wronged One, without veil or covering, summoned all parties to the truth in days when hearts and limbs trembled and quaked from fear of pharaohs and tyrants. When the Cause became somewhat manifest, the deniers of the Bayan emerged from behind the veil and rose up against the Lord of all beings, perpetrating that which no party among all parties had ever perpetrated. Ask thou of God that He may preserve thine own party, that perchance they may remain protected from the vain imaginings and idle fancies of the former party, namely the Shi’ih, and may attain unto the lights of true unity. The glory from Us be upon thee and upon whosoever hath heard the Call and responded—verily such a one is among the people of Baha in God’s Book, the Lord of all worlds.
BH08617: O my leaf! Thou hast attained unto My mention…
He is manifest from His most exalted horizon
O my leaf! Thou hast attained unto My mention and My traces, both before and after. Give thanks unto thy Lord for this most great favor, this supreme providence, and this mighty gift, and say:
“All praise be unto Thee for having guided me in Thy days and given me to drink of the cup of Thy knowledge. I beseech Thee by the station wherein Thy call was raised and which Thou didst make Thy Most Sublime Vision, and by the mountains whereon the tabernacle of Thy glory was upraised and which were honored by Thy footsteps, to make this Thy handmaiden steadfast in Thy Cause and turning her gaze toward Thy horizon, in such wise that neither the incidents of the days nor the hatred of those who have denied Thee, O Lord of all beings, may prevent her. O my Lord! Ordain for me through Thy bounty that which will draw me nigh unto Thee and strengthen me to act according to what Thou hast revealed in Thy Book. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.”
BH10662: This is a Book from Us to those who…
He is God, exalted be His station, the All-Wise, the All-Eloquent
This is a Book from Us to those who are on earth, that it may draw them unto God, the All-Protecting, the Self-Subsisting. Say: O people of the earth, hearken unto the divine call on this luminous Day, and meditate upon His Cause, and with the ear of your innate nature hear that which hath been sent down from the heaven of His Will, that haply ye may attain unto your goal and be blessed with His presence. These are the pearls of utterance which have been sent down from the treasury of the Pen of the All-Merciful. Blessed are they that attain thereunto.
BH10801: Say: O oppressed servants throughout all regions!…
He is God, exalted be His glory. Wisdom and utterance.
Say: O oppressed servants throughout all regions! On the Day of Reckoning He summons all unto the Lord of Creation. The purpose is that those possessed of sight and hearing may with justice and fairness hearken unto the divine verses and reflect upon that which hath been made manifest. This is the divine counsel. Blessed are they who hold fast unto it and act according to that which hath been sent down in the Book.
BH11856: We beseech God to assist His people that they…
…We beseech God to assist His people that they may observe the most great and exalted Fast, which is to protect one’s eye from beholding whatever is forbidden and to withhold one’s self from food, drink and whatever is not of Him. We pray God to confirm His loved ones that they may succeed in accomplishing that which they have been commanded in this Day….
BH01119: O ʿAli-Qabli-Akbar! Upon thee be My glory! This Day…
He is the One Who gazeth from His Most Exalted Horizon
O ʿAli-Qabli-Akbar! Upon thee be My glory! This Day is the Day of God, and all the perceptions of the world and its peoples, and the wisdom and schemes of the people of knowledge and insight must needs be referred back to His Truth and His Cause. That is, all must observe that which leadeth to the exaltation of the Word and the upliftment of souls. From certain lands, lamentations and moaning have been raised, for some souls attribute themselves to the Truth yet commit that which causeth the Supreme Pen to wail.
Glory be to God! Heedlessness hath so encompassed some that they occupy themselves at all times with the desires of self. Some have gone from this land to Kurdistan and have uttered that from which the Book of God is sanctified and remote, and have committed that which causeth the very eye of justice to weep. Likewise in the lands of Ha and Mim. Warn the people of God not to place their trust in every soul, nor to believe every speaker. If one beareth a Book but acteth contrary to the divine commandments, they should shun him. The loved ones of the Lord of all creation are distinguished from the worshippers of self and passion. We beseech God to enable all to attain unto that which beseemeth His Day.
Today all must hold fast unto the fear of God and act with righteousness. Thou art witness, and God doth testify, that in the divine Tablets all are commanded to sanctification, detachment, goodly deeds, and praiseworthy character. Nevertheless, some have shown no mercy to themselves or to the Cause of God, and are consumed by the fire of self and passion. The Wronged One uttereth speech at a time when His heart, His Pen, and His limbs lament, and at His weeping do weep the company of them that are nigh, the sincere ones, and the dwellers of the Most Exalted Paradise and the Supreme Heaven.
These are words I uttered aforetime: My affliction is not My imprisonment and what hath befallen Me at the hands of Mine enemies, but rather those who claim relationship with Me yet perpetrate what causeth Satan himself to flee, let alone man. Such utterances have repeatedly been revealed from the Pen of the Most Merciful.
O ʿAli-Qabli-Akbar! The servant who is present hath arrived and presented before the face of the Wronged One the letter thou didst write to him, and this Most Holy, Most Exalted Tablet hath been sent down from the heaven of Will that thy heart might rejoice thereby. Praise be to God, thou dost speak in remembrance and praise and art confirmed in service. This is a great bounty. We beseech God to aid thee every day, nay every hour, nay every moment. Verily He is the Almighty, the Powerful. Convey greetings to all the loved ones in that land on behalf of the Wronged One, and counsel them to trustworthiness, faithfulness, chastity, and that whereby the Cause of God is exalted. The petitions of some have attained the Most Holy Court and answers have been revealed. Let them convey them that hearts and minds may be attracted by the utterance of God, the Lord of the seen and unseen.
Thou didst mention Lutfu’llah, upon him be the Glory of God. We made mention of him before, and at this time with a mention whereby the hearts of them that are nigh have been attracted. Today the Sun calleth out saying:
“Blessed is he that sitteth, yet hath arisen to serve the Cause, and he that is silent, yet hath spoken in praise of God, and he that is still, yet hath been stirred by the breezes of revelation, and the heart that hath turned unto God, the Lord of the worlds.”
At every moment all things speak My praise and utter My glorification. Today the Mount is transported with joy, for it hath attained the presence of its Interlocutor. Blessed are they who, for the sake of God, occupy themselves with wisdom and utterance in the reformation of heedless souls. O ʿAli-Akbar! Behold, then call to mind when thou wert present before My face and didst hear My call. This is that call which the Daysprings of His Cause and the Fountainheads of His decree in ages and centuries past besought from the Self-Subsisting Lord to hear. Thou hast attained thereunto and wert present before His countenance. Rejoice thou and be of those who render thanks.
Thou didst make mention of His Honour ʿAli-Asghar, upon him be My glory. Give him the glad-tidings from Me and remind him of My verses, then send unto him that which was sent unto thee from the presence of One Who is the All-Knowing Expositor. O Asghar! Thy name was present at the Most Great Scene and thy mention descended from the Supreme Pen. Say: Praise be unto Thee, O Thou in Whose grasp is the dominion of all things, and glory be unto Thee, O Thou through the movement of Whose Pen all created things were set in motion. I beseech Thee by the pearls of the ocean of Thy wisdom and utterance, and by the mysteries of Thy Book, to make me adorned with righteousness and piety, and crowned with supreme steadfastness. Verily, Thou art the Omnipotent over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Almighty, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting.
O Rida! He who loved Me made mention of thee. We have remembered thee with a beauteous remembrance. Hearken unto the Call from the Divine Lote-Tree: Verily, there is none other God but Him, the Peerless, the All-Informed. He heareth the call and remembereth whom He willeth. He is verily the Omnipotent, the Almighty. Say: Praise be unto Thee for having remembered me and sent down unto me that which the treasuries of the seen and unseen cannot equal.
O Isma’il! That station for which pure spirits and holy souls sacrificed themselves with utmost detachment hath been sullied by some with the clay of idle fancies. Beseech thou the True One that He may aid His people to purification, sanctification and truthfulness. The confections of heedlessness and pride have captivated their desires. We beseech God that He may not withhold from them the waves of the ocean of His mercy and forgiveness, that they may perchance become aware and act as beseemeth them. Convey My greetings to all the loved ones in that land and set them ablaze with the fire of the Word. Verily thy Lord is the Commander, the Almighty.
BH02065: O thou who gazest upon the Countenance! The pen…
He is the One Who standeth forth through grace, and speaketh through justice.
O thou who gazest upon the Countenance! The pen is bewildered what to record. Vain imaginings and idle fancies have so taken hold of the hearts and minds of the heedless that their elimination has become most difficult. The Qaim appeared, yet those who awaited Him and who considered themselves the most God-fearing and learned among all peoples committed that which caused the Eye of Grandeur to weep. And the people of the Bayan, who witnessed with their own eyes and heard with their own ears the deeds of the former people, now walk in the footsteps of that oppressive group and cling to the same names.
Hadi Dawlatabadi is occupied with leading the poor people astray. He is among those who have contrived a Holy Land and a Jabulqa and Jabulsa. A whole world of idle fancies and a realm of vain imaginings hath newly appeared. Pray that God, exalted be His glory, may protect His servants.
They say the Bayan has been corrupted. The Book of Certitude, which was revealed in the presence of the maternal uncle in answer to his questions and which mentions the exile of this Wronged One, they have nevertheless attributed to the dayspring of idle fancies. In such circumstances, what can the pen write and what can the tongue utter?
That which hath been sent down from the Dayspring of God’s Will is as manifest as the sun and is distinct from all else. No person of insight hath been nor will be confused by it. Beseech God to assist His loved ones to preserve souls, that they may not be afflicted with idle fancies as were the former people.
By God’s life! The pen and paper are bewildered. That honored one beareth witness that from the beginning of the Cause until now, this Wronged One hath caused verses to rain down like copious rain from the heaven of grace, and hath acted beyond the power and might of all the peoples of the world. No barrier prevented it, no thing became an obstacle. We summoned all with the most exalted call to the highest horizon. Most rejected the counsel of the trusted Counselor. They cast the advice of God behind their backs, clinging to their vain imaginings and idle fancies. The people have turned away, the government is heedless, and the ignorant ones of the earth have found opportunity and committed that which no group had ever committed.
Some time ago, sublime and wondrous Tablets and sacred and prevailing verses were sent in the name of Varqa, upon him be My glory and loving-kindness. By God’s life! Every letter thereof proclaimeth:
“The gate of heaven hath been opened, and He Who was hidden in knowledge and concealed from sight hath come.”
Convey My greetings to each and every one of the loved ones in that land. Give them all glad tidings and make them joyous through God’s grace. Say: O people of God! Occupy yourselves with the remembrance and praise of God and the victory of His Cause. Whatever befalleth Us, We are content and thankful. We beseech God to assist His loved ones to achieve the Greater Steadfastness and to accomplish that which He loveth and desireth. Verily He is the Almighty, the All-Compelling, the Mighty, the All-Wise.
The glory from Us be upon you and upon those who have hearkened and have said: “Praise be unto Thee, O Thou the Goal of the mystics!”
BH02547: The Book has been revealed, verses are witnessed…
He is the One manifest from His Most Glorious Horizon!
The Book has been revealed, verses are witnessed, and divine commandments and laws are present before all faces. At all times the Pen of the Most Merciful declares:
“Fear God, O peoples of the earth! Be not of the wrongdoers, and deny not Him Whose sovereignty, power, grandeur and authority ye acknowledged throughout the ages and centuries. Turn ye unto God, your Lord, and be not of those who turn away.”
Your letter arrived and was honored to be heard in the presence of the Wronged One. Verily he was one who recognized God and His verses, and acknowledged the oneness of His Essence and attributes. Blessed art thou and blessed is he who made thee recognize the Straight Path of God and His Great Announcement.
In these days the Sun of Justice is veiled behind clouds of oppression, while the Wronged One calls out from the horizon of tribulation and commands all to that which is befitting. Convey My greetings to the people of God. We beseech God to assist them with the hosts of wisdom and utterance, to aid them in that which He loves and is pleased with, and to enable them to draw nigh unto Him. Verily He is the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.
Regarding what thou didst mention about His Honor the Nazir, upon him be My Glory, and Muhammad-Aqa—what occurred was without consent. In truth they acted without the knowledge of His Honor the Nazir in a manner contrary to the divine Books, Scriptures and Tablets. Today relationships are cut off and the relationship with God is beloved and present. Praise be to God that His Honor the Nazir, upon him be My Glory, has attained unto this, and whatever occurred without his permission—its harm returns to the heedless souls who committed it.
The effulgences of the Sun of Divine Laws shall encompass the world. The day is bright, adorned with the lights of the Sun of Truth. Neither beautiful nor ugly deeds remain concealed. We beseech God to assist His loved ones to acquire eternal ranks in this transient realm. Verily He is the Hearer, the Answerer.
In all cases the mercy of God has encompassed and preceded all. Should He wish, He will forgive them both, for He is the Forgiving, the Merciful. In these days the covenant of the Kurds has returned and a new governor has come. The Command is in God’s hands, the Lord of all worlds. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth. He is the Mighty, the Praised One.
We make mention of the loved ones in that land and counsel them to purity and holiness. The Glory from Us be upon thee and upon them, and the mercy of God and His grace and bounty. Verily He is the All-Bountiful, the Mighty, the Great.
BH03237: God beareth witness that there is none other God…
He is the Hearer and the Answerer.
God beareth witness that there is none other God but Him, and He Who hath come with the truth verily standeth in His place in every world of His worlds. Whoso acknowledgeth Him hath acknowledged God and His signs, and whoso turneth away is accounted among the idolaters in God’s Book, the Lord of all worlds.
O Ruhani! There hath come before the Wronged One that which God cast upon thy heart concerning the proving of His Cause, the exaltation of His remembrance, and the revealing of that which was hidden from the Supreme Pen in His Books and Scriptures and His Manifest Tablet. Rejoice in that God hath testified for thee that He aided thee in the early days and made thee know His straight path, and hath sent down for thee that which cannot be equalled by all the remembrances of the world nor by whatsoever the kings and rulers possess.
Blessed be thy tongue for having spoken the truth and thy pen for having flowed with that which, in this Cause, hath brought joy to the hearts of them that are nigh unto God. The servant in attendance before Us hath offered it up, and We have found from it the fragrance of thy praise and recognition of this Great Announcement, whereby the limbs of all names have trembled and the backs of the idolaters have been broken. We have sent thee in these days that which testifieth before the faces of the world that there is no God but Me, the Single, the All-Informed.
Give thou the glad-tidings from Me to My handmaidens and the leaves of the Tree of My loving-kindness, and remind them of My verses, and illumine their hearts with the Light of utterance which hath shone forth from the horizon of the Tablet through the bounty of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, the Compassionate.
When the breezes of My verses stir thee, say: My God, my God! Thy presence is my hope and meeting with Thee my desire, and serving Thee the yearning of my heart, and laboring in Thy path my wish and my joy and my delight. I beseech Thee by the Word wherewith Thou hast adorned Thy Books and Scriptures to ordain for me the reward of those who have soared in the atmosphere of Thy nearness and given up their spirits in Thy path. Then ordain for me, O my God, what Thou hast ordained for Thy handmaidens who circle round Thy Most Great Throne and Thy Exalted Seat. The glory from Us be upon thee and upon those with thee and upon those who believed when the Desired One came with a wondrous command.
BH03701: In My Name, that standeth before all men
In My Name, that standeth before all men
A Book which the Wronged One hath sent down to him who hath turned towards God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting, that the Call might draw him to the supreme heights and the hand of bounty might give him to drink of the Kawthar of eternity. He, verily, is the Single, the One, the Mighty, the Loving. He giveth what He pleaseth to whom He pleaseth and withholdeth from whom He willeth. He, verily, is God, the Possessor of the Promised Day.
Thy letter was presented and the servant who was present before the Countenance laid it before Us. We have answered thee with this irrevocable Tablet which speaketh amongst the world that there is none other God but He, the Possessor of the Unseen and the Seen. Grieve not over anything. Place thy trust in God in all matters. Beware lest the events of the world sadden thee. Hold fast to the cord of thy Lord’s loving-kindness, the Possessor of existence. Soon will the world and all that thou seest today pass away, and there shall remain for thee what hath been ordained in the Tablet of God, thy Lord, Who speaketh from His praiseworthy station. Despair not of the Spirit of God and His mercy. He hath ordained for every one who turneth unto Him that which shall profit him in every world of His worlds. He, verily, is the Truth, the Knower of the unseen.
When thou hast attained unto My Tablet and heard the yearning of My heart, say: My God, my God! Praise be unto Thee for having enabled me to attain unto the traces of Thy Most Exalted Pen and for having remembered me when I was in the hands of the enemies. O my Lord! I beseech Thee by the sighs of them that are nigh unto Thee and the tears of them that yearn for Thee and by the pearls of the shells of Thy utterance in the ocean of Thy knowledge and wisdom, to aid me to be steadfast in Thy Cause and to enable me to make mention of Thee and to praise Thee amongst Thy servants with the wisdom which Thou hast commanded all to observe in Thy Books and Thy Tablets. O my Lord! Thou seest the sorrowful one seeking the ocean of Thy joy and the grief-stricken one the Kawthar of Thy gladness. I beseech Thee by Thy power which hath encompassed all created things and by the Word through which all things have appeared, to ordain for me the good of this world and of the world to come. Verily, Thou art the Lord of all men and the Lord of the throne on high and of the dust below.
BH04282: From time immemorial the religious leaders have deprived…
In the name of the one incomparable God.
From time immemorial the religious leaders have deprived the people of the world from the purpose of creation. The greatest veil hath been and continues to be the divines at the time of Divine Manifestation. Their leadership hath prevented and continueth to prevent them from turning to the supreme horizon. Consider the Shi’ih divines throughout the ages and centuries—they were vocal in remembering God, exalted be His glory, and from their pulpits would recite “Would that I were with Him”—that is, with the Qa’im. Yet when the Most Great Gate was opened and the Ancient Luminary appeared, they occupied themselves with cursing and reviling Him, and finally pronounced and carried out the death sentence against Him—such that the Bridge trembled and the Balance wept.
Now Hadi of Dawlat-Abad from among the people of Sad clingeth to those same vain imaginings and hath trained and continueth to train the helpless people in the manner of the Shi’ih sect, although on the Day of Judgment he witnessed that former sect to be the most lost among all peoples. The faculty of hearing and sight hath been taken from him, and this is his recompense.
We beseech God that He may guide thee to remain steadfast in such wise that the doubts of the transgressors and hints of the opposers may not deprive thee of the Lord of the Day of Judgment. Give thanks unto thy Lord for this Most Great Remembrance and say:
Praise be unto Thee, O Lord of the worlds, Who hath appeared among the nations, in that Thou hast turned toward me from the direction of Thy prison and remembered me in such wise that the remembrances of all others cannot equal it. There is no God but Thee, the Protector, the All-Bountiful, the Generous. I beseech Thee to ordain for me through the Pen of Thy Command that which will draw me nigh unto Thee. Verily Thou art the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
BH04347: O My Supreme Pen, hearken to My Call! Wherefore…
He is the Ruler over all names
O My Supreme Pen, hearken to My Call! Wherefore do I hear Thy lamentation and cries? At one time I behold Thee bewildered in the remembrance and utterance of God, and at another time I observe Thee as one perplexed and pale because of that which hath been perpetuated against Thy Lord by every foolish contumacious oppressor. Abandon that which the populace posses and what Thou seest today. Proclaim unto the people the glad tidings that arose and shone forth from the horizon of God, the Lord of all creation. Say: By God! The gate of heaven hath opened, and He Who hath been promised in the books of God, the Gracious, the All-Praised, hath appeared. Nothing of that which ye posses shall profit you, To this beareth witness He who hath God’s perspicuous Book.
O ye who have ears! Hearken to the call of God, the Lord of all names and the Creator of heavens. He verily summoneth you unto that which bringeth you nigh unto Him. To this beareth witness the Tongue of Glory from this exalted station. We have desired naught but the salvation of nations and the betterment of the world, yet the people turned away from Us and committed that which caused the pillars of the Primal Word to be dispersed. Thus have their souls prompted them. Verily, they are accounted in the Book of God, the Lord of the Day of Reckoning, to be of those who are in grievous loss.
Say: O peoples of the earth! Lay aside the books of the populace and take hold of the Book of God, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Nothing In this day shall profit you save through this perspicuous Book. The proof of your Lord hath filled the whole world and yet the people are in a state of strange stupor. They have raised the idols of their desires and set aside their Lord. Verily they are in grievous loss. The glory of God be upon thee and upon whomsoever turneth unto Him and says:
“All praise be to Thee O Lord of the World; O Thou who art the Desire of every understanding heart.”
BH04169: O people of the world! The Light…
In the Name of God, the All-Powerful!
O people of the world! The Light of the Ancient One is shining from the horizon of the heaven of the Most Great Name, and the Fire of the Tree is blazing and speaking forth on the Mount of Knowledge. Strive that ye may attain to that which hath had and hath no likeness or equal. Today the Hand of Bounty bestoweth the Water of Everlasting Life.
Blessed are they who have rent asunder the veils and shattered the idols of vain imaginings with the power of certitude. These are the hands of God’s Cause amongst His servants and the dawning-places of the suns of knowledge in His lands. The might of the heedless hindereth them not, nor doth the clamor of the aggressive turn them aside from their purpose. Their concern hath been and is the betterment of the world and the salvation of nations. Every seeing one beareth witness and every knowing one testifieth.
From the beginning of days until now We have been afflicted with the derision and wrath of enemies. No barrier hath prevented Us and no veil hath intervened. With supreme steadfastness We have arisen to promote the Cause of the Lord of all being. But the heedless and ignorant servants regarded bounty as vengeance and light as darkness, and each day they wrought that which caused the Pen to be thunderstruck and the Tablet to tremble.
We beseech God not to deprive His servants of the splendors of the Sun of Justice, that all may consider with fairness that which hath appeared and been revealed. Verily He is the Compassionate, the Generous, the Helper, the Forgiving, the Merciful.
The Glory from Us be upon thee and upon those who have drunk the choice wine of utterance from the cup of the bounty of their Lord, the All-Merciful, and have said:
“Praise be unto Thee, O Possessor of all that is, and glory be unto Thee, O Thou the Goal of the Messengers!”
BH05111: That which thou didst send hath come before…
He is the All-Seeing, the All-Informed
That which thou didst send hath come before the Wronged One, and from it We discovered the fragrance of thy love. We have answered thee with this epistle. We beseech God, exalted be He, to aid thee to serve Him and His loved ones, and to ordain for thee that which will exalt thee and draw thee nigh unto Him in all conditions. Verily, He is the Self-Sufficient, the Most High. We had previously revealed unto thee a Tablet and sent it to thee, that thou mightest discover therefrom the fragrance of the loving-kindness of thy Lord, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful. Beware lest the utterances of the transgressors, who have violated every covenant and every pledge, and who have spoken that which no faction among all factions hath ever spoken, debar thee. Say:
Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having caused me to turn toward Thee and to recognize Thy path, and for having revealed unto me that which the treasuries of earth and heaven cannot equal. I beseech Thee to assist me to serve Thy Cause and to ordain for me the good of the latter end and of the former time. Verily, Thou art the Mighty, the All-Bestowing. Blessed art thou, and blessed is he who hath given thee to drink of the Kawthar of My love and cast unto thee My Word. He is assuredly among those who are brought near in the Books and Tablets. The Glory from Us be upon thee and upon those whom neither the prevention of any preventer, nor the derision of any derider, nor the might of any oppressor, nor the doubts of any ignorant one have hindered. They have turned toward the Supreme Horizon and have taken the Cup of Eternity in My Most Glorious Name, despite those who have denied the Beginning and the Return.
BH11885: O Ghulam! Upon thee be the Glory of God…
He is the One Who commandeth righteously
O Ghulam! Upon thee be the Glory of God, the Lord of all beings. Render praise unto the Desired One of the world and the Educator of the peoples, Who hath confirmed thee in such wise that thy name hath flowed from the Most Exalted Pen in the Most Great Prison and been recorded in the Book of God. All the peoples of the world were expectant, and at all times made mention of the days of His manifestation. Yet when the arena of existence was illumined with the lights of the Luminary of His Cause, instead of submission, hatred appeared, and in place of acceptance, denial became manifest, and at the time of turning towards Him, aversion was witnessed. Such is the state and station of those souls who have followed their own selves and desires, and remained heedless of the ultimate goal and the most exalted horizon. Fie upon them for what their hands have wrought in the days of God, the Lord of the worlds!
We beseech God to grant thee success, that thou mayest arise to aid the Cause of the All-Merciful through wisdom and utterance. Verily He aideth His loved ones and assisteth them through the hosts of revelation and inspiration. He is, in truth, the Almighty, the Mighty, the All-Knowing. I counsel thee and the loved ones in that land to that which will increase the fire of love and the light of knowledge. Verily, He is powerful over all things. The Wronged One calleth upon God and beseecheth Him to ordain for thee from His Most Exalted Pen the good of the hereafter and of this world. He is, in truth, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.
BH05794: The servant in attendance was present before His countenance…
In the name of the Desire of the world
The servant in attendance was present before His countenance and recited your letter in full, and it attained the honor of being heard. Praise be to God that you turned towards Him in days when the Shi’ih divines and jurists turned away from the Truth and issued the decree for shedding His blood. All the peoples of the world were awaiting the promised days mentioned in the divine Books, yet when the blessed Tree appeared, adorned with the choice fruits of wisdom and utterance, all drew their swords intending to cut it down, save whom God willed. Blessed is the soul whom the doubts of the deniers did not hinder and the might of the aggressors did not prevent from turning towards Him, who took the cup of utterance in the name of the Beloved of all creation from the hands of bounty and drank it in His name. By the life of God, he is assuredly among the people of Glory in God’s Book, the Lord of all beings.
O Hasan after Muhammad, praise the Goal of all worlds Who mentioned you and caused you to attain the verses of the Most Exalted Pen. We beseech God to assist you and him who is named Ali in that which He loves and is pleased with, and to ordain for you both that whereby your mention shall endure. Verily He is powerful over all things and worthy to answer prayer.
BH06407: Praise be to God Who hath manifested His Cause…
He is God, exalted be His station, the Most Great, the All-Powerful
Praise be to God Who hath manifested His Cause, fulfilled His Promise, rendered victorious His hosts, sent down His Books and dispatched His Messengers, making them the gates of guidance amongst His servants, the manifestations of His names amidst His creation, and the mirrors of His attributes throughout the cities and regions. He, verily, is the Almighty, the Unconstrained.
O ʿAbdu’l-Husayn! Thou hast been mentioned by one who hath loved Me, soared in the atmosphere of My love, and arisen to serve My Cause. We make mention of thee in this Tablet which hath shone forth from the horizon of thy Lord’s will, the Mighty, the All-Bestowing. By the life of God! Nothing in all creation can equal it, as doth testify the Lord of all beings. He, verily, is the Mighty, the All-Knowing.
Say: Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having remembered me when I was silent, and for having turned toward me when I was still. I beseech Thee by the Word which Thou hast made the Quickener of Thy servants and the Sovereign over all names through Thy power and might, to make me steadfast in Thy love and vocal in Thy praise. Verily, Thou art the Almighty over whatsoever Thou willest, and within Thy grasp lie the reins of all in the heavens and on earth.
BH07181: Thy letter hath come before the Wronged One…
In the Name of Him through Whom the fragrance of the All-Merciful was diffused throughout all lands.
Thy letter hath come before the Wronged One and the servant in attendance hath laid it before Him. We have answered thee with a Tablet from whose horizon shineth the light of thy Lord’s loving-kindness, the Mighty, the Bestower. Say: My God, my God! Thy remembrance hath attracted me, Thy call hath stirred me, the breathings of Thy revelation have quickened me, and the manifestations of Thy bounty have encompassed me. I am Thy servant and the son of Thy servant, taking refuge at Thy threshold and clinging to the hem of Thy mercy. I beseech Thee by the Most Great Word through which Thou didst create earth and heaven, and by Thy Prophets and Messengers, and by the lights of the dawn of Thy Manifestation, to aid me to act according to what Thou hast commanded me in Thy Book and to keep me from what Thou hast forbidden through Thy wisdom and Thy will. Then write down for me, O my God, that which will gladden my heart, expand my breast, and bring joy to mine eyes. Verily Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest and in Thy grasp are the reins of all things. There is no God but Thee, the Single, the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
BH07834: The Kawthar of utterance is the Desire…
In the Name of the One True Friend!
The Kawthar of utterance is the Desire of the world. Through it He hath quickened and continueth to quicken all beings. The corrupted ones have debarred the servants from the path of divine unity. The corrupted ones are they who have usurped the station of Truth in the name of Truth. Glory be to God! The rain-clouds of the All-Glorious pour forth their bounties at every moment, and the fruits of the divine Lote-Tree appear manifest before all faces. Blessed is the soul that hath attained to behold them and hath received its portion of these fruits and signs. And woe unto those souls that are deprived and forbidden from the outpourings of the All-Bountiful Lord. Praise thou the Purpose of the world Who hath confirmed thee in turning unto Him and hath turned toward thee from the precincts of the Prison and hath revealed unto thee these verses. We beseech God that He may aid thee to quaff from every verse the choice wine of utterance and from every word the Kawthar of exposition. He verily is the Compassionate, the All-Bountiful.
BH08170: God, exalted be His glory, has bestowed the world…
In the name of the Everlasting Speaker!
God, exalted be His glory, has bestowed the world upon kings who are the manifestations of His power. Through visible armies they have protected and continue to protect the visible cities. But the hosts that are specially reserved unto the Ancient Being, exalted be His utterance and His remembrance, have ever been and still are goodly deeds and praiseworthy character. The friends of God must, through the fear of God, conquer hearts and keep breasts purified from whatsoever is unseemly. Blessed is he who, through wisdom and utterance, through spirit and fragrance, remindeth the servants and draweth them unto the horizon of awareness. We have heard thy call and have remembered thee with these sublime words. This remembrance is the king of remembrances and this call is sovereign over earth and heaven. Blessed are they that advance and woe unto those that turn away.
BH06517: All praise and thanksgiving befitteth the pure hearts at…
All praise and thanksgiving befitteth the pure hearts at the threshold of His mighty Oneness, Who hath bestowed upon the world the Most Great Order through the light of justice, Who hath adorned the realm of existence with righteousness, and through equity hath dispelled the darkness of oppression. Exalted be His greatness, sublime be His loftiness, glorified be His dominion, and mighty be His proof. There is none other God but Him….
O My handmaiden, O My leaf! Praise be to the Goal of all creation, Who confirmed thee and, on the Promised Day, purified thee from the idle fancies of the people. He granted thee thy portion of the sealed wine through the Name of the Self-Subsisting. Thou didst hear His call and behold His horizon. O My handmaiden! Great is this Day and mighty is this Cause. The Speaker on the Mount is seated upon the throne of Revelation. This is that Manifestation Whose mention and Whose Cause have been recorded and inscribed in the divine Books of the past and future. Blessed is the soul who, with the arms of certitude, hath shattered the idols of vain imaginings and hath made for the ocean of divine knowledge.
By the life of God! Of no profit to the servants is that which they possess, nor shall their might, their riches, their glory and their power benefit them. Today, from the highest station in the world, “The Kingdom is God’s” hath been raised up, and the banner of “He doeth whatsoever He willeth” hath been unfurled. How excellent is the heart that hath been purified and sanctified from the smoke and dust and idle fancies of the world, and hath turned with complete devotion to the horizon of Revelation.
That leaf and the world bear witness that this Wronged One hath, from the earliest days until now, been in the hands of His enemies—at times beneath chains and fetters, at times captive in the hands of the adversaries. None but God, exalted be His glory, is adequately aware of that which hath befallen Him. By the life of God! The denizens of the highest Paradise and the inhabitants of the most exalted Heaven have lamented My tribulations. What We ask of the servants is justice and fairness. Let them not be content with mere words, but examine the evidences with penetrating vision and hearken with attentive ears.
The Cause is more manifest than the sun, yet the veils of the parties have prevented them, and the evident smoke hath kept all from beholding, save whom thy Lord hath willed. Blessed is the soul whom vain imaginings have not kept from beholding the lights of certitude. We hope that the radiance of the dawnings of justice and fairness may encompass the world, and that the hidden hand of power may assist and make manifest such souls as will speak with truth and conceal not what they have witnessed, and will guide people from the vanishing stream to the immortal Kawthar. Today the tongue of the inner mystery speaketh these exalted words in the detached heart:
O my God, my God! I am Thy servant and the son of Thy servant. I have held fast to Thy most great signs and clung to the hem of Thy mercy, O Thou Who art the Lord of all being and the Sovereign of the throne on high and of earth below. O Lord! The fire of separation from Thee hath consumed me. Where is the heavenly spring of Thy nearness and the celestial stream of Thy presence? The thirst of estrangement from Thee hath destroyed me. Where is the river of Thy mercy? By Thy glory, O Thou the Beloved of the worlds and the Desire of the nations, I long to lay my face upon every spot of the earth, that perchance it might be honored by touching the dust that hath been ennobled by the footsteps of Thy loved ones and chosen ones.
Is there any ear, O my God, to hear the sighing of my heart and to see that which hath appeared from me? I beseech Thee by the tears of them that are nigh unto Thee in their sorrow for Thee, and by the sighs of them that are sincere in their separation from Thee, that Thou mayest aid Thy servants to draw nigh unto the precincts of Thy court, and adorn them with the ornament of justice in Thy days. Thou art He Who, O my God, hath opened the doors of hope unto the faces of Thy servants, and the doors of bounty and grace unto Thy creation. Have mercy upon them through Thy mercy, then assist them through Thy bounty, then uncover for them through Thy power and might that from which they have been debarred. Verily, Thou art the Almighty over whatsoever Thou willest. The happenings of days and the doubts of men shall not withhold Thee. Thou doest what Thou willest and ordainest what Thou pleasest. Verily, Thou art the Mighty, the All-Praised….
The Sovereign of the Bayan, in the Bayan and in its essence and substance, maketh mention of Him Whom God shall make manifest—may the spirit of all in the kingdom of command and creation be sacrificed for His sake. He lamenteth, He imploreth, He counseleth that ye be not deprived through the Bayan of its Revealer and Sender. In most eloquent language He saith: “In the year Nine ye shall attain unto all good,” and He saith: “In the year Nine ye shall attain unto the presence of God.” Likewise they have mentioned in several passages this verse from the Quran: “In time shall they surely know its truth,” and “in time” refers to the year Nine. Were ye to count His mentions—may my spirit be sacrificed for His sake—in this connection, ye could not reckon them….
BH11875: Praise be fitting and worthy of the Desired One…
In the Name of our Lord, the Most Holy, the Most Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious
Praise be fitting and worthy of the Desired One Who created through utterance, attracted through speech, and adorned assured hearts with the ornament of a wondrous new life through His blessed Word. Glory, remembrance and praise be upon His loved ones who held fast to the cord of service, achieved steadfastness, spoke with wisdom, and acted according to what was commanded by God, the Lord of the mighty throne. These are servants whom God has described, before and after, in His perspicuous Book. They are those who drank the choice wine of utterance from the cup of our Lord the Merciful’s bounty and succeeded in guiding humanity to the straight path.
And now, O beloved of my heart, at this hour, being ten o’clock on the twenty-first day of the blessed month of Ramadan, the letter of the spiritual beloved Aqa Rasul, upon him be the glory of God, which he had written to that beloved one and sent, was presented before the Desired One of all worlds. After its presentation, these exalted words were revealed—may my spirit be a sacrifice for His bounty:
O servant in attendance! The words of Rasul have proven effective. From his acknowledgment and confession, the stars of favors have risen and the suns of grace have dawned. Praise be to God, he has mentioned that which has been and will be the cause of awakening for all souls, before and after. It is hoped that, having been purified and enkindled by the water of the utterance of the Desired One of all worlds and by the fire of the Sacred Tree, they will arise with their whole being to serve the Cause of the Lord of existence. O Rasul, upon thee be My glory! Thou hast spoken the truth that it is the twenty-first of Ramadan. The people of Iran, male and female, learned and ignorant, are occupied in mosques, temples and gatherings with praising the Successor and cursing Muradi, save whom God willeth.
Reflect upon the heedlessness of that party, unaware that each one of those souls has been and is a hundred thousand times more wretched, more rebellious, more remote and more astray than this Muradi, for the Lord of the worlds drank the cup of martyrdom by the decree of those souls, and still they occupy themselves with cursing and reviling the Truth and His companions. Mentioning the Successor and acknowledging him becomes the cause of the exaltation of rank and station, not the cause of unbelief, for if unbelief appears from lack of understanding and acknowledgment, the proof of unity would seem impossible. In any case, the ignorance of people has been and is a barrier to speech.
We beseech God to assist all in what He loves and is pleased with. Praise be to God, thou hast attained, seen and heard. Now thou must associate with the servants in that land with complete steadfastness, wisdom and utterance, that perchance thereby a matter may come to pass. That land is ready. In truth, if a patient and detached one be found, it will become the cause of the guidance and turning of heedless souls. This is not difficult for God. We mention the friends and counsel them to justice, fairness, religious devotion, trustworthiness and the fear of God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting.
In truth, the letter of your honor, after being presented, became the cause of the manifestations of bounties. Well done to you and congratulations! God willing, you will settle in that land and kindle and remind the servants with the fire of God and His light. At one time, this exalted word was revealed from the Tongue of Him Who revealed the verses:
“Ask God to assist His loved ones to hold fast unto that which will sanctify the soul and exalt His Word.”
Praise be to God, from your pen was manifest determination, and evident was your attention and devotion. God willing, you will attain to that which you have intended and that which you have desired for the sake of God. The servant beseeches God, his Lord, to assist you, grant you success, and aid you. Verily, He is powerful over all things and worthy of answering prayers. Glory, remembrance, and praise be upon you and upon those who hear and acknowledge that which hath been sent down from God, our Lord and your Lord and the Lord of the mighty throne.
BH00673: How delightful is the breeze of reunion that hath…
He is God, exalted be His majesty, grandeur and power.
How delightful is the breeze of reunion that hath wafted, and the fragrance of meeting that hath been diffused at this hour, five hours before sunset, for a distinguished letter bearing spiritual and divine glad-tidings hath arrived. It hath opened the gate of truth and renewed the covenant of presence. In truth, the pen is a great sign from the Ancient Lord, and ink is the supreme gate of love and unity. These two have ever been and shall continue to be the movers of the cord of love. Were the favors of God, exalted be His glory, and likewise the effects and fruits ordained for these two to become manifest, the world would be struck with wonderment. Glorified be their Creator, their Educator and their Originator.
On this day, the twenty-fourth of the blessed month of Ramadan, at seven o’clock, while this lowly one was sitting still and silent, the Clear Book arrived—that is, your letter. It was a true breaking of the fast, and a spiritual fulfillment of yearning and longing. The fragrance of the pen was diffused in such wise as to dispel all traces of weariness, cares and sorrows. Praise be to God, spirit and heart were adorned with the ornament of joy and gladness. After reading it with delight and joy, I approached the Shrine and attained the honor of hearing these exalted words:
He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.
O Afnan! Upon thee be the peace of God and His mercy! The servant who is present read the letter which was present before the face [of God]. From every word wafted the fragrance of sincerity, humility, submissiveness, and praise and glorification of God, the Blessed, the Exalted. Each of its words testified with most eloquent utterance to thy devotion, thy steadfastness and thy turning unto Him. Well is it with thee! Pleasant it is to thee! Thou hast taken the cup of divine knowledge from the hand of bounty and drunk therefrom in the name of God, the Mighty, the Wondrous. The Blessed Tree hath made mention of its Afnans and continueth to do so. His grace hath encompassed them in all conditions and He is with you wheresoever ye may be. Praise be to God! Ye are mindful and are remembered. The slumber of idle fancies hath prevented the world from beholding the lights of truth and perceiving the effulgences of the Day-Star of divine favor.
Glory be to God! The favored community remaineth until now heedless and veiled from the cause of afflictions, tribulations and their abject abasement. The cities and habitations of the people of divine unity are surrounded, while the ungodly encompass them. Every day a tree is uprooted by devastating winds and a lamp is extinguished. This most grievous malady hath seized the realm of the people of unity, yet despite this they neither have sought nor seek to remove this darkest of afflictions. We beseech God, exalted be His glory, that through the breezes of the spiritual morn He may grant awareness to His servants, that perchance they may arise from the sleep of heedlessness and act as behooveth them. The Law of God preserveth His servants, and the fear of God restraineth them from that which is forbidden.
Yet in this day these two are as rare as red sulfur. Blessed are they who have held fast to the Most Great Law and the mightiest ordinance. We testify that they are the knights in the arena of divine knowledge among all religions. Nothing whatsoever hath prevented them, neither the veils of the world nor the coverings of the nations. These are they whom God hath described in His mighty Book, saying: “Neither merchandise nor traffic beguile them from the remembrance of God.” Blessed art thou, O Afnan! We beseech God to open before thy face the gates of grace and blessing, and to ordain for thee that which will draw thee nigh unto Him in all conditions. Verily He is the Almighty, the Single, the One, the Mighty, the Most Generous.
O Siyyid Aqa! Upon thee be the loving-kindness of God, the Lord of all names and Creator of the heavens. Thy mention was made in the presence of the Wronged One and His grace hath encompassed thee. Praise be to God! Thou hast attained unto that which was the purpose of creation. Peace and glory be upon you, O Afnan, and the mercy of God and His blessings and His loving-kindness and His favors.
The effulgences of the Sun of true divine unity have shone upon your honor and the rain of divine mercy hath descended upon your noble being. A hundred thousand thanks to the Goal of the world’s peoples that despite the encompassing enemies and the might of the princes and divines of Iran, the way of communication and association with news and writings remaineth open and evident. Tongues cannot adequately render thanks for this peerless blessing unless His grace assist them. His gratitude hath ever outstripped those who are thankful, His praise those who praise, and His mercy the dwellers of the heavens and the earth. In these days the government hath changed. I beseech God to adorn the throne of sovereignty with the form of justice and equity. Verily, He hath power over all things. This evanescent servant beseecheth the Eternal Truth to make your honor a dawning-place for the spreading of His verses and laws and a wellspring of His outpourings[…]
Concerning the mention of Aqa Khan and his arrival with others, as well as the counsel and conversation with him which they had recorded—this was one of the fruits of His Highness’s journey. This matter is evidence of the promotion and will of God, exalted be His glory, and likewise bears witness to His true blessings and favors. After this matter was presented before Him, they were inspired to deliver the Word of Truth and imparted that which was manifestly guidance and evident counsel.
O Afnan! Upon thee be the peace of God and His favors. This Wronged One hath in all conditions proclaimed the Word of God with the most exalted call, and hath summoned all to that which preserveth them, profiteth them and strengtheneth them. In one of the holy Tablets these words were recorded: Should this Wronged One be drowned in the sea, He would arise from the mountaintops crying “The Kingdom is God’s!” And should He be buried in the earth beneath its layers, His call would be heard from the heaven, drawing the servants to the most exalted Paradise. No impediment existeth in that realm and no veil remaineth. The Command is in His hands—He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth. He is the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.
In this night thy mention was made repeatedly. Should the servants turn unto that which profiteth them, they shall have attained; and should they turn away, verily He is independent of them. His perspicuous Book beareth witness unto this. In times of tribulation, hardship and adversity, He speaketh and hath spoken without concealment that which is the cause of the supreme triumph and the guidance of the nations. Now the Wronged One and His Afnan hold fast to wisdom and utterance, and speak that which guideth the servants to the Path. Whoso wisheth, let him accept, and whoso wisheth, let him turn away. Verily He is the Single, the One, the Self-Sufficient, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
From the heaven of utterance, rains have descended in such measure that preservation and presentation have not been possible save in limited measure. Concerning what was written about that land, truly freedom, civilization and its means are daily increasing, especially now that it hath become the place and residence of His Highness. And concerning what was written about the empty shop with the sign “I have placed my trust in God”—truly this is a most perfect merchandise and great in the sight of God. After this matter was presented before Him, they said that this exalted word is like unto a magnet, nay rather greater, attracting that which is the cause of bounty, blessing and nearness unto God. This bounty hath no likeness or equal. Praise be unto Him for what He hath ordained for His Afnan. We beseech Him to aid him with the hosts of grace and favors. Verily He is the Strong, the Powerful.
They smiled much at these words and uttered that which shall have its effect hidden and concealed in the world. God shall soon make it manifest through a command from His presence. He is the All-Bountiful, the Generous.
To the beloved of the heart, Aqa Siyyid Aqa, upon him be 9 66 [Baha’u’llah] the Most Glorious, I convey greetings and make mention that God is witness and testament that the servant hath ever been and is present before Him. I beseech the Most High to make him one of the interpreters of revelation and inspiration. Verily He is the Mighty, the All-Knowing. Glory, remembrance and praise be upon your honor and upon those who are with you, who love you and who hear your word concerning the Cause of God, the Lord of the worlds.
The servant 24 Ramadan the Blessed 1305
BH01257: Praise be unto the Lord of all desires, Who…
He is God, exalted be He in might and power
Praise be unto the Lord of all desires, Who befitteth and deserveth it, Who hath given strength unto His loved ones, bestowed power upon them, and made them the cause of unity, harmony and the reformation of the world. Through them He hath united the hearts of His servants and raised the banner of His victory and the standard of His might. I pray and send salutations upon the first light that shone forth from the horizon of existence from the Educator of the seen and unseen, through Whom appeared the decree of unity among the peoples and the command of prayer at the most exalted station, and upon His family and companions whom God made the treasuries of His knowledge, the mines of His wisdom, and the repositories of His laws, and through whom were manifested God’s dominion and power, His signs and His might.
Thereafter, the letter of that beloved of the heart arrived, removing all that caused sorrow and bestowing all that brought joy upon every element of body and being, hair and sinew and vein. Glory be to God! In the Tablet of Wisdom mention is made of the penetrating power of the Word. God, our Lord and the Lord of the mighty Throne and the elevated Seat, speaketh the truth. This servant beareth witness that the word of the loved ones courseth and floweth through and penetrateth all elements—how much more so the Most Exalted Word of God! This evanescent one is incapable of describing its effect and penetrating power. After its reading and perusal, he proceeded to the Most Great Shrine where it was presented before His countenance and attained the honor of His hearing. He said:
We beseech God to aid him in nurturing, reforming, and uniting. We ask God to assist him in all that he hath purposed for the betterment of His loved ones’ affairs. Verily, He is the Mighty, the Powerful. Praise be to God! All that hath transpired hath been and is for the good, for there hath been no betrayal, waste, excess, or unseemly matters. The deed is clear and evident as the sun. We beseech God to bring about reformation. Verily, He is the Compassionate, the Generous, the Forgiving, the Merciful.
We make mention of all the loved ones in that land and convey Our greetings. We beseech God to aid them all in patience, tranquility, and that which befitteth man’s true station. In truth, the loved ones of that land are deserving of mention and favor. God willing, it hath reached and will reach them. Upon them be God’s peace, mercy, favor, and kindness.
Convey greetings from the Wronged One to ʿAli, upon him be God’s peace and favor. We beseech God the Most High to strengthen him through His grace, to make him a standard of His remembrance, and to manifest through him that which shall endure as long as His names endure. Verily, He is the Compassionate, the Generous.
This evanescent servant also begs to be remembered and greeted by him. Furthermore, let that beloved of the heart convey this evanescent one’s greetings, praise, and mention in whatever manner is befitting. I beseech God to remove whatsoever hath caused separation and distance, and to waft the fragrance of meeting and reunion. Verily, He hath power over all things.
The letter of that beloved of the heart was a perfect example and comprehensive explanation. It is hoped that through God’s grace—exalted be His glory—that which causeth joy and gladness to hearts and souls shall be made manifest. This evanescent servant is assured of the favors, but that beloved of the heart must, as commanded, carry out whatever he deemeth advisable. God willing, victory and triumph accompany that beloved one. Praise be to God, his steps are blessed and love and sincerity are present. In such case, divine assistance shall surely arrive and that which causeth reformation shall appear.
At this moment He spoke regarding the affairs of the Afnan, upon him be God’s peace and favor. The command was given to consult, that Haji Mirza Hasan and Haji Muhammad, upon them be God’s peace and favor, should be present and consult, and whatever resulteth from the consultation should be followed. Now too, that honored one should consider and consult whether that place or another place would be advisable according to the time, and act accordingly. In all cases, all must do that which is beloved and acceptable in God’s presence. Upon their return, they should go there and convey greetings from the Wronged One. I ask that He may grant thee success, strengthen thee, draw thee nigh, and cause thee to return unto Us. Verily, He is the Mighty, the Unconstrained. End.
Indeed, since His Holiness the Afnan, upon him be the Most Glorious Beauty of God, hath newly arrived in these parts, his satisfaction must be considered. This matter is essential. This evanescent servant beseecheth and imploreth God to aid all in that which He loveth and is pleased with. This evanescent one’s request is that whatever that honored one deemeth advisable and conducive to joy and gladness, he should convey to the loved ones of that land on behalf of this servant. The glory, mention, and praise be upon your honor and upon God’s sincere servants.
BH02204: Praise be to the Intended One whose Cause has…
He is God, exalted be His glory, the Grandeur and the Power
Praise be to the Intended One whose Cause has been healing and whose decree has been and is unity. He commanded His loved ones to fellowship and unity, and through that unity illumined the horizons. The Salsabil mentioned in one place is the spring of love—blessed is he who has drunk and attained, and woe unto him who has denied this manifest grace. A hundred thousand thanks and praise unto the Ancient Lord who has purified His loved ones from treachery and all that is unseemly. Praise be to God, they are adorned and embellished with the ornament of truthfulness, sincerity, trustworthiness and fidelity. And I pray and send peace upon the Ocean of Oneness through whom were raised the banners of detachment and established the decree of God and His Command and the will of God and His sovereignty, and upon His family and companions through whom the Herald called out from all directions:
“The gates of cities and lands have been opened in the name of God, the Powerful, the Mighty.”
And then, by the life of our Beloved and your Beloved, your letter was an ocean of joy and a heaven of delight, for the luminary of truthfulness was dawning from its horizon and the sun of trustworthiness rising from its direction. After the joy obtained and the manifest delight observed, it was brought before His presence. He said:
“Blessed is he and those with him and whosoever holdeth fast to justice and fairness in all matters. Praise be to God, they are adorned with the ornament of sanctity and holiness. The Wronged One beareth witness to their trustworthiness and their love and affection and their turning to God. We beseech God, exalted be He, to open before their faces the gates of His blessings and favors and bounty and generosity and grace.”
End quote.
To Him be praise and glory. His favor encompasseth, His grace sustaineth, His mercy assisteth, His bounty existeth. Assuredly that which is expedient and conformeth to consummate wisdom shall be made manifest. The servant testifieth to His favors and kindnesses and grace and mercy which have preceded the existence of His servants. We beseech God to assist His loved ones through the means of the heavens and earth and to confirm them through His bounty and generosity. Verily He is the Munificent, the Generous. And praise be to Him, for He is our Goal and the Goal of all who are in the heavens and earths. I send greetings and praise to all the loved ones of that land. Each one, praise be to God, hath been and is mentioned and is feasting at the table of favor and the banquet of grace.
On their behalf, this servant hath placed his face of powerlessness upon the dust of humility and uttereth the words “Thine is the praise and Thine is the thanks.” Powerlessness is from us and might is from Him; turning is from us and bestowal is from Him. Verily He is the Forgiver and He is the Chosen One in the beginning and in the end. Peace and remembrance and praise be upon you and upon the sincere servants of God.
BH02662: Praise be to God Who hath attracted the lands…
He is God, exalted be His glory, the Greatness and the Power!
Praise be to God Who hath attracted the lands and those within them through the fragrance that hath been wafted from the direction of the Hijaz, whereby the light of reality hath shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of His Name, the All-Bountiful. And blessings and peace be upon the sovereign of the Messengers and the Guide of all paths, and upon His family and companions, through whom the standards of misbelief were reversed and the banners of divine unity were raised to their loftiest heights.
And now, at this time when three and a half hours have passed from the twenty-sixth night of the blessed month of Ramadan, He appeared and commanded these exalted words to be written, specifically for that honored one and the spiritual friend Aqa Muhammad-Tahir:
Write to Nuru’llah and Muhammad, upon them both be greetings, that which is the cause of joy and the source of gladness. O Nuru’llah! His honor Zein, upon him be the peace of God and His mercy, hath made mention of thee and hath sought for thee that which betokeneth the favor of God, exalted be His glory. We beseech God to preserve thee and guard thee from the wicked and evil ones, and make thee one who speaketh His praise and serveth His loved ones, and to ordain for thee the good of this world and the next. O Muhammad! Hearken unto the call of the Wronged One. Verily, He maketh mention of thee and counseleth thee with that which will elevate thy station among the servants. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to ordain for thee what He hath ordained for His near servants. He, verily, is the Most Merciful of the merciful.
And I counsel you to show love towards the Afnan. You must in all conditions be mindful and seek their good-pleasure. Verily, God is with His patient and sincere servants.
His honor the Name of God, Zein, upon him be the peace of God and His mercy, hath remembered and continueth to remember you, and likewise his honor Ustad ʿAbdu’l-Karim, upon him be the peace of God. Praise and thanks be to God that in your early youth you have been blessed with that which the divines, princes and elders of Iran are veiled from, save whom God willeth. This is a mighty favor—every person of insight beareth witness to its greatness and every informed one testifieth thereto. This servant seeketh for you that which is the cause of prosperity and salvation in the divine worlds. Verily, He is the Hearer, the Answerer. And peace and remembrance be upon you both and upon those who act according to what they have been commanded in His perspicuous Book.
BH09556: Praise be unto Thee, O our God, for having…
In the name of our Lord, the Most Holy, the Most Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious!
Praise be unto Thee, O our God, for having given us to drink the choice wine of Thy knowledge from the chalice of Thy bounty, and for having ordained for us to attain unto Thy presence and to stand before the gate of Thy grace.
We beseech Thee by the Mystery that lay hidden within Thy knowledge, and by the Pearl that remained concealed within the shell of Thy decree and destiny, to ordain for those who have heard Thy call and responded to that which Thou hast prescribed for the sincere ones among Thy creatures—those whom neither the might of the world could dismay nor the power of the nations enfeeble, who hastened with their hearts to the horizon of Thy Revelation and attained unto that which the Tongue of Thy grandeur had uttered on the Mount—that which Thou hast ordained for them.
Thou art He to Whose generosity the entire creation hath testified, and to Whose munificence both the seen and the unseen have borne witness. There is none other God but Thee, the Almighty, the Glorious, the All-Loving.
BH10294: Glorified art Thou, O Lord of Names and Creator…
In the Name of our Lord, the Most Holy, the Most Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious!
Glorified art Thou, O Lord of Names and Creator of Heaven! Thou seest one of Thy servants who hath turned unto Thee, attained unto Thy days, responded to Thy call, and held fast unto Thy cord, and who, despite his lack of means, hath accomplished what every possessor of wealth was prevented from doing. O Lord! Aid him with the hosts of the seen and the unseen, draw him nigh unto Thee, and ordain for him through Thy grace and bounty that which shall endure in Thy Books and Thy Tablets. Verily, Thou art the One Who hath power over whatsoever He willeth. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
BH10151: My God, my God! Thou seest me in all…
In the Name of our Lord, the Most Holy, the Most Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious
My God, my God! Thou seest me in all conditions moved by Thy command and enjoying Thy favors and bounties, both outward and inward. I beseech Thee by this grace which Thou hast ordained for me without any merit on my part, to assist Thy loved ones to arise to that which will cause Thy Cause to be exalted amongst Thy servants. I beseech Thee, O Sender of verses and Revealer of clear signs, by Thy Most Great Name whereby the hearts of the peoples of the world were stirred, to ordain for him from whom the fragrance of Thy love hath been diffused that which befitteth Thy generosity and bounty. There is no God but Thee, the Single, the One, the Mighty, the All-Praised.
BH10153: My God, my God! Thou seest those who have…
In the Name of our Lord, the Most Holy, the Most Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious!
My God, my God! Thou seest those who have turned towards Thee in the midst of those who have turned away, and the manifestations of justice among the oppressors. I beseech Thee by Thy manifest light and by the fire of Thy love which blazeth forth on the Day of Judgment, to ordain for Thy loved ones all the good Thou hast sent down in Thy Book. Then adorn them, O my God, with the ornament of glory and power. Verily, Thou art the Mighty, the Unconstrained. Then write down for whosoever hath desired the stream of Thy presence and service to Thy Cause that which will draw him nigh unto Thee, and make him content with whatsoever Thou hast ordained for him through Thy firm command and irrevocable decree. There is no God but Thee, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting.
BH10156: My God, my God! The light of Thy countenance…
In the Name of our Most Holy, Most Great, Most Exalted, Most Glorious Lord!
My God, my God! The light of Thy countenance hath guided me, and the fire of Thy Sacred Tree hath attracted me, and Thy most exalted Word hath taken hold of me, and Thy most sweet call hath awakened me. I beseech Thee by Thy Name, the Self-Subsisting, and by Thy Cause which hath been made manifest on this Day, to assist Thy chosen ones to serve Thy Cause with wisdom and utterance. Then assist him whom Thou seest turning unto the lights of Thy countenance and desiring the wonders of Thy mercy and bounty. O my Lord! Send down upon him from the heaven of Thy generosity that which will make him firm and steadfast, clinging and holding fast to Thy luminous hem and to Thy firm and mighty Cause.
BH10144: I beseech Thee by Thy Name the All-Bountiful…
In the Name of our Lord, the Most Holy, the Most Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious
I beseech Thee by Thy Name the All-Bountiful, and by Thy Name the All-Merciful, and by Thy Name the All-Knowing, and by Thy Name the All-Wise, and by Thy Name the Self-Subsisting, and by Thy Name the All-Loving, and by Thy Name the All-Munificent, and by Thy Name the All-Forgiving, and by Thy Name the All-Bestowing, that Thou forgive Thy loved ones and purify them from the defilement of the world and its suspicions and its idle fancies, and adorn them with the lights of certitude through Thy mercy and Thy bounty. O my Lord! Thou seest the one who hath desired to enter the precincts of Thy generosity—ordain for him the good of both this world and the next. There is none other God but Thee, the Lord of all creation and the Lord of the throne on high and of the dust beneath.
BH10528: My God, my Master, my Support, my Beloved…
In the Name of our Most Holy, Most Great, Most Exalted, Most Glorious Lord!
My God, my Master, my Support, my Beloved, and my Desire! I beseech Thee by the Mother Book which speaketh before the faces of the parties in the final return, such that no veil hindereth it and no cloud obscureth its light, to ordain for him who hath drunk the choice wine of Thy love that which shall make him steadfast in Thy Cause and firm in Thy service. Then write for him that which shall solace his eyes and bring peace to his heart. Verily, Thou art the Strong, the Triumphant, the Powerful, and worthy to answer prayer.
BH10593: Glorified art Thou, O Lord of the Kingdom…
In the Name of our Lord, the Most Holy, the Most Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious!
Glorified art Thou, O Lord of the Kingdom and Ruler of the Realm of Might! I testify to Thy oneness and Thy singleness, and to Thy glory and Thy majesty and Thy sovereignty. I beseech Thee by the Most Great Word whereby the hearts of all humanity were attracted, and by the Fire which Thou didst kindle in the Tree of Knowledge and in the hearts of Thy loved ones, to ordain for Thy chosen ones the presence before Thy face, and to decree for whoever hath turned unto Thee the good of this world and the next. Verily Thou art the Creator of heaven and within Thy grasp are the reins of the Kingdom of Names.
BH03267: The esteemed letter of that spiritual friend arrived repeatedly…
In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate
The esteemed letter of that spiritual friend arrived repeatedly. Praise be to God, its words had drunk from the water of divine love in the garden of meanings. This garden is the heart of the believer, and that word is a sapling which appeared and was planted through love of the Divine Lote Tree. In all conditions, I have asked and continue to ask from the Self-Sufficient, the Exalted, for health, honor and bounty for that spiritual friend. I beseech Him, exalted be He, by His Prophets and Messengers and by Him through Whom the breezes of revelation were cut off, to open before the faces of His loved ones the gates of grace and mercy. Verily, He is powerful over all things.
As for the matter of the apple of my eye, Aqa ʿInayatu’llah, upon him be the peace of God—it was presented before His presence and He said:
“The True One, exalted be His glory, has loved and continues to love the craftsman. He should surely engage in a craft—this is beloved and acceptable.”
O Rida, be not grieved by the vicissitudes of the world. God willing, the door of joy and relief and bounty and grace will be opened through the key of trust and resignation. Verily, He is God, the Forgiving, the Merciful, and He is the Gracious, the Generous. Be not grieved. We send greetings to the friends and likewise to the family, and we counsel all to act according to what the All-Merciful has revealed in the Furqan. Verily, He is the Hearer, the Answerer.
Indeed, the news of the occupation of the apple of my eye, ʿInayatu’llah, was a cause of joy and gladness. Praise and thanks be to God. However, you must be informed of his movements, for he is a child and requires education.
To the spiritual beloved ones and true friends—his honor Ustad Abdu’l-Karim and his honor Aqa Ghulam-Ali and the joy of heart and inner being, his honor Aqa ʿAbdu’s-Samad, upon them be the peace of God and His grace—I send greetings and ask for each one health and bounty and honor. Verily, God is the Kind, the Affectionate.
To the apple of my eye ʿInayatu’llah and likewise his honored mother I send greetings. God willing, he will strive earnestly to learn and acquire crafts. This is a work through which a person becomes beloved and regarded both with God and with people. Peace be upon you and upon the righteous servants of God. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.
The servant, on the 2nd of the month of Shawwal 1305
BH00630: Praise be to God! His divine confirmations have reached…
In the Name of our Lord, the Most Holy, the Most Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious
Praise be to God! His divine confirmations have reached us and His aid is more manifest than light at all times. The luminary of His grace is ever-shining; His bounty cannot be reckoned by the pen, nor can ink suffice to recount His generosity. Every person of insight acknowledges His grandeur and every hearing ear confesses His sovereignty. His is the praise and the bestowal, His the remembrance and the glorification. In one instance He made the tongues of His loved ones the champions of His Cause, and through them He revealed that which caused decayed bones to stir. The decree of the Most Great Tongue is mightier than the sword, and utterance more powerful than the hosts and legions of creation.
Today the loved ones of God, exalted be His glory, are skilled in treating ailments and steadfast in educating His servants. They nourish and apportion sustenance to the children of the world according to their measure and capacity. The Word, in its primary essence, is the water of life for the dead of the world and the hand of power for the salvation of nations. Through a single exalted word, it draws man from the darkness of idle fancies to the light of certitude, and from the deep pit to the lofty palace. I beseech Him, exalted be He, to protect His loved ones through the hosts of might and power and to aid them with the swords of wisdom and utterance. Verily, He is the Powerful, the Mighty, the Bestower.
Glorified art Thou, O Thou in Whose grasp are the reins of all created things and the bridles of all contingent beings! I beseech Thee by Thy Most Great Signs and by the pearls hidden in the treasuries of Thy Most Glorious Pen to make him who seeketh Thee a bird soaring in the atmosphere of Thy nearness, gazing toward Thy horizon, and speaking with wisdom and utterance amongst Thy creatures. Then reveal unto him, O my God, the oceans that lie concealed within Thy verses and hidden within Thy words, that the wine of mystic knowledge may so intoxicate him that he will speak that whereby the hearts of the followers of all religions will be attracted. Verily, Thou art the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.
The servant was seated during the days of fasting, contemplating the mysteries of his Lord’s Cause, the Mighty, the All-Knowing, when one of the loved ones arrived with your letter. I took it and opened it, whereupon the house and all around it became perfumed, for it was adorned with the mention of our and your Beloved. I drank from the cups of your utterance the sweet waters of your sincerity, submission and orientation toward God. After being immersed in the ocean of my Lord’s grace, I approached the Dawning-Place of mysteries and the Day-Spring of divine tokens, until I attained His presence and presented what had flowed from your pen in remembrance of your Lord. The Tongue of Grandeur spoke that whereby the realities of all things were attracted. He spoke, and His word is the truth:
He is the All-Seeing, the All-Informed
O thou who art mentioned before the Divine Countenance! Hear the call from the Most Exalted Horizon. He giveth thee to drink of the Kawthar of bounty from the hand of thy Lord’s loving-kindness, the Lord of all men. Verily, He witnesseth and seeth, and He is the Mighty, the All-Seeing. Nothing escapeth His knowledge. He knoweth what is hidden in hearts and minds, and seeth what is concealed in the treasuries of the breasts of the righteous. I was walking in the House and speaking the verses of thy Lord when the servant in attendance entered and presented before the Countenance that which the tongue of thy heart had spoken concerning the Cause of God, the Lord of all mankind. We heard it and have answered thee through this Tablet, which God hath made an ocean of generosity for the world and a fountain of life for the dead. By My life! Were it to be cast upon stones, rivers would gush forth from them. Having drunk the sweet waters of mystic knowledge from the cup of utterance, say:
Praise be to Thee, O Thou in Whose grasp are the reins of all existence, for having honored me with Thy mention and adorned me with the ornament of Thy Most Exalted Pen, from which the mysteries have been revealed in the beginning and the end. O my Lord! Thou seest me walking in Thy dominion to exalt Thy Word, and speaking among Thy servants what Thou hast commanded me in Thy Book. I beseech Thee by the waves of the ocean of Thy grace, and by the Lamp which Thou hast protected from tempestuous winds through the glass of Thy strength and power, to ordain for me that which will make me strong through Thy strength and powerful through Thy will, that I may cast upon Thy servants, with wisdom and utterance, that which will draw them nigh unto Thee and sanctify them from the doubts of the people of Thy earth and the insinuations of those who have denied Thy favor. Then assist me, O my Beloved, in that which will attract the hearts of Thy creation. Verily, Thou art powerful over what Thou willest, and in Thy grasp are the reins of earth and heaven.
O my Lord! Withhold not this servant from the outpourings of Thy days, and deprive him not of the breezes of Thy revelation and Thy inspiration. O my Lord! Strengthen me through Thy bounty and fortify my limbs that I may cast aside my will, taking hold of Thy will, and move not except by Thy desire. Then write down for me, through Thy mercy which hath preceded all created things, that which will comfort mine eyes and the eyes of Thy servants, and assure my soul and the souls of those in Thy lands. Verily, Thou art powerful over what Thou willest. There is no God but Thee, the Mighty, the Wise.
Hear in the Persian tongue: I beseech God to assist thee in that which will cause the exaltation of His Word. O thou who gazest upon the Countenance! The Sun of God’s favor hath dawned from the horizon of grace, and the Ocean of divine knowledge surgeth before thy face. Beseech God not to deprive His servants of the lights of the Day-Star of justice and fairness, for whosoever attaineth unto these will become detached from all else save God and will turn with heart and soul to the horizon of the All-Merciful. Make mention of Siyyid Mustafa, upon him be My glory, and Haji Siyyid Mihdi, upon him be My glory, and the other friends on behalf of the Wronged One, and remind them of the verses and favors of God. God willing, may they be assisted and acquire, in this transient abode and station, everlasting stations. Convey on behalf of the Wronged One greetings and salutations to Faraj, upon him be My glory. We beseech God to assist him in that which He loveth and is pleased with, and to adorn him with that which beseemeth these days. Verily, He is the Hearing, the Answering, the Forgiving, the Merciful. End.
His is the grace and the giving, His the favor and the glory. At every moment the Day-Star of His favor appeareth with manifest radiance. It hath been proven by argument and demonstrated by clear evidence that He cannot be described by any description save His own, nor known through any knowledge but His own. However, He hath appointed for His loved ones a spacious pavilion, and that is the confession of powerlessness and humility before the manifestations of His grandeur, His might and His sovereignty. This powerlessness He hath, through His grace, accepted and approved. His is the praise and the thanks for His favors and bounties.
Time and again that honored one has been and is mentioned in the assemblage of the friends, and likewise in His presence I beseech and implore God, exalted be His glory, to bestow great profit upon the merchants of His knowledge. The people of the earth have not yet become aware and are heedless of the fruits of the Tree of reformation, concord and unity. They know not whence they came and for what purpose they have come.
By the life of our Beloved and your Beloved, were they to become aware to the extent of a needle’s eye, all would detach themselves and lay hold—detach themselves, that is, from all else but God, and lay hold of service to Him and His good-pleasure. The Euphrates of mercy gives glad-tidings to the thirsty, the Point of knowledge summons the ignorant, and His loving-kindness bestows awareness upon the heedless. This is the day of the most great bounty, for the most great horizon is illumined with the lights of the Lord of destiny. Blessed is the soul whom the vicissitudes of the world render not sorrowful and whom the clamor of the nations prevents not from his purpose. This Day is the Day whose mention hath flowed from the Pen and been recorded in the Books of the past and of the future. Blessed is he who hath turned unto it, and drunk, and attained, and woe to the heedless, and woe to the deniers. The friends of God, wherever and in whatever place they may be, are remembered in the Most Holy Court. This lowly one hath mentioned and doth mention each of them with wondrous, sublime and exalted words of praise, and beseecheth God, exalted be His glory, to adorn all with the raiment of distinction.
O my God, my God! Deprive not the temples of Thy loved ones of this robe. The temple is from Thee, the raiment from Thee, the ocean of generosity and bounty is from Thee. Ordain that which beseemeth Thy bestowal. Verily Thou art the All-Bountiful, the Generous, the Most Merciful of the Merciful.
To the honored brother Haji Faraj’u’llah, upon him be the Glory of God, I convey greetings and praise, and I beseech God, exalted be His glory, to grant him success, that in every station, every place, every land and every region he may be engaged in service to the Cause and attain His favors. Mention was made of Bashir—praise be to God, he is well and occasionally mentions that honored one. God’s power is great—from dark earth He hath brought forth a thousand kinds of fruits and flowers of sublime and varied hues. Perchance He will cause some glad tidings to appear from Bashir also, that is, that he may attain to some service. Verily our Lord is the Powerful, the Almighty. Glory and praise and honor be upon your honor and upon those who are with you and who hearken to your words concerning the Cause of God, our Lord and your Lord and the Lord of the mighty throne and the exalted seat.
The servant 9 Shawwal 1305
BH01450: O beloved of my heart! In view…
He is God, exalted be His glory in greatness and power!
O beloved of my heart! In view of the multitude of letters requiring responses and correspondence from various quarters, there has not been, nor is there now, opportunity to mention to that beloved one all that is befitting. Therefore, I write briefly, and in this brevity, since the grace of God is concealed therein and the sweet fragrance of His bounty wafts therefrom, it is accounted as lengthy. Tonight, being the ninth night of the blessed month of Shawwal, I mention, as commanded, that which stirs the cord of love and brings to remembrance the days of attainment to His presence.
His exalted Word: All that was previously sent has arrived, and the items sent by the Afnan M.H.—upon him be all the most glorious Glory—and the Leaf of the Tree (S.)—upon her be my Glory and loving-kindness—have all arrived, and specifically for each of the Leaves of the Tree a Most Holy, Most Exalted Tablet was revealed and sent. End quote. The servant beseeches his Lord to strengthen them and aid them to achieve that which He loves and is pleased with.
The arrival of the Leaves, and likewise the Holy and Impregnable Tablets which some have specifically requested—some are being sent in this instance and the remainder will be sent in the next. Praise be to God, the bounty of the All-Bountiful is manifest and evident at all times, and specifically revealed for that beloved one is that of which every letter testifies to the loving-kindness, compassion, and mercy of the Goal of all the worlds.
Another matter you wrote about: Aqa Jalil of Rasht has stayed in Kirmanshah and is occupied with writing verses and teaching. Although he was not commanded to teach, yet according to a letter he wrote to the bearer of the Name of Generosity—upon him be the Most Glorious Glory of God—he has arisen of his own accord to serve. I beseech God, exalted be His glory, to grant him divine confirmation and success. Some time ago, a letter was also sent addressed to him, but his name is Aqa Rasul while you wrote Aqa Jalil. In the matter of mentioning names, great care and attention must be observed.
Two years ago, one of the friends besought Tablets from the heaven of divine favor and wrote several names, but four names were written incorrectly—for example, writing Muhammad instead of Hasan, and Hussein instead of Ahmad. This causes delay and confusion. Although these servants write the names at the head of the Tablets according to how the friends mention them, in any case this matter requires attention and consideration so that names are written correctly.
Regarding the two sums of money about which you wrote in these days—one from the Land of Ha and another from ʿAliyyih—news of their arrival has come; God willing, they will arrive. As commanded, the sum of one hundred tumans must reach Jinab-i-Samandar—upon him be the Most Glorious Glory of God—as it was assigned to him to give to two persons, which he has done and sent the receipt. That honored one must pay the debt of God, exalted be His glory. Likewise, deliver fifty tumans to the honored wife of him who ascended unto God (the late Mirza Ahmad Khan) and send the receipt.
And He said: We must impose a fine upon Jinab-i-Amin! We have one treasurer and he is bankrupt! Gracious God, there is one treasury belonging to God, and that is empty of funds. Indeed, by virtue of its exalted station, such a treasury ought to be freed and sanctified from earthly things and not be confused with the treasuries of the world.
Convey greetings and praise on behalf of this evanescent one to the friends of God in every place. At all times I beseech and implore from the heaven of the Lord of the Worlds’ grace that He may increase their fire of love and illumine the hearts of all with the light of knowledge and whatever is befitting. Verily, He has power over all things.
A Most Holy, Most Exalted Tablet was also revealed and sent specifically for the spiritual beloved, Jinab-i-Bayk—upon him be the Glory of God and His loving-kindness. We beseech God, exalted be He, to strengthen him, assist him, and open before his face a door of His grace. Verily, He is the Powerful, the Mighty.
Glory and remembrance and praise be upon you and upon those who love you and hear your word concerning this mighty Cause. Praise be to God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
The servant On the ninth night of the month of Shawwal, 1305
BH00883: My God, my God! Thou seest the sincere ones…
He is God, exalted be His glory, the Greatness and Power!
My God, my God! Thou seest the sincere ones and the believers among the ungodly, the lovers among the adversaries, and those who have turned toward Thee among the heedless. I beseech Thee, O Ordainer of all things and the One Who called from the Mount, I implore Thee by Thy Name through which the horizon of manifestation was illumined, to ordain for Thy loved ones that which will diffuse the fragrance of Thy riches among Thy servants. O Lord! Thou hearest the call of Thy loved ones and beholdest their humility before the revelations of Thy grandeur. I beseech Thee not to change their glory into abasement, nor their exaltation into debasement. I testify, O my God, that Thou hast raised them through Thy power and exalted them through Thy will and purpose, until their mention soared throughout Thy realms and their attributes among Thy creation.
By Thy might, O Sovereign of existence and the One manifest through Thy Name, the All-Loving, they desired naught save the exaltation of Thy Word and clung to naught save the cord of Thy grace. Ordain for them, O God of Names and Creator of heaven, that which will draw them nigh unto Thee and adorn them with such ornaments as shall illumine the earth and heaven. O Lord! Withhold them not from the ocean of Thy mercy, nor from the revelations of the Orb of Thy grandeur. O Lord! I am Thy servant, and this is Thy Day wherein the earth hath been illumined by the light of Thy bounty, the heaven by the radiance of Thy countenance, the seas by the breezes of Thy generosity, and the mountains by the flowers of Thy knowledge. Verily, Thou art the Omnipotent over what Thou willest, and Thou art the Self-Subsisting, the Almighty. There is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the Beloved.
O God, O Sovereign, O King! This scanty merchandise is known through Thy Name; exalt it through Thy power. All tongues speak by Thy might and acknowledge Thy power. From this drop, cause to flow the river of wealth, and from the ocean of Thy grace, the waves of abundance. Thou art the One with power to prefer a handful of dust above the heavens. Grant these servants dwelling in the shade of the Tree of Glory and shower upon them the rain of Thy grace and bounty. Thou art powerful and mighty. There is none other God but Thee, the Omnipotent, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
O Beloved of my heart! Thy call is the cause of exultation and the reason for enkindlement, and the hearts of lovers yearn for this exultation, for it hath been set in motion by the Sovereign of His Will and made manifest through the King of His Purpose. The letter arrived and the world arrived, for its horizon was adorned with the name of the Beloved and illumined by the light of His knowledge. After perusal, it was presented before His presence, whereupon He said: “Upon thee be the peace of God and His mercy. We beseech Him, exalted be He, to manifest through you that which shall endure through the endurance of His attributes, and to send down upon you from the heaven of His bounty a blessing from His presence, and to exalt you through His Name among His servants, and to spread your traces through His grace and generosity.
Praise be to God, ye have attained unto that which hath no likeness. This is the essence of glory, this is the treasure of wealth, this is the source of exaltation and the repository of the pearls of the knowledge of God, the Lord of the worlds. And We beseech Him to adorn all possibilities with the lights of your trustworthiness, your religiosity, and your steadfastness. Verily, He is the All-Bountiful, the Almighty, the All-Powerful. Peace be upon you and upon those who are with you and who hearken unto your words concerning the Cause of God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.”
It is hoped that the river will flow and the horizon will be illumined, and the light of trustworthiness will prevail and encompass all regions, for it is evident to all that this party hath had and hath no purpose save the reformation of the world and the edification of the souls of nations. God, exalted be His glory, is witness and testifier to this. In such case, His grace will surely encompass all and His bounty will prevail. Verily, He is the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous. There is none other God but He, the Single, the One, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.
I convey greetings to the spiritual beloved and true friend, his honor J, upon him be God’s peace and grace. I beseech the True One, exalted be His glory, that through his being complete reform may come to pass in all matters, and that which is the cause of joy and the source of gladness may be made manifest. Such grace has not been and is not far from the All-Bountiful Lord. We beseech God, our Lord and your Lord, to ordain his meeting and presence, for verily He is the Ever-Present, the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.
Likewise, I convey greetings to the spiritual beloved, one of the two Most Great Names, his honor M.H., and to all other chosen ones, upon them be 95 [Baha’u’llah]. I beseech from the ocean of divine bounty that which will illuminate the world with the light of justice and fairness. Verily He is powerful over all things and is informed of and sees what is in the heart.
Concerning what was written about the spiritual friend, Aqa Siyyid Faraj’u’llah, upon him be God’s peace, and likewise the mention of his patience, tranquility, submission, resignation, contentment and trust—these matters were presented and attained the honor of being heard. What his honor Ayn has written is correct and is confirmed. Praise be to God, the believers have been and are content with the blowing of the winds of divine will and heavenly destiny and decree. Their endeavor is service to the Cause and their purpose is the good-pleasure of the Beloved. This is the greatest adornment—blessed is the soul whose temple is adorned thereby. O Ali, upon thee be My peace. Convey greetings from the Wronged One to him and console him. We beseech God, exalted be He, to cause his father to enter the highest Paradise with the angels and the Spirit, to make him the companion of the Prophets and Messengers, and to send down upon him at all times that which indicates His grace, care, generosity and bounty. Verily He is the Generous, the Munificent.
Praise be to God, they intended the goal, arrived and attained. All the powers of the world are incapable of limiting this greatest bounty. Blessed is he and blessed is he who has ascended, and woe unto him who has denied God’s grace, mercy, care and generosity—verily he is among the most lost in His clear Book.
The Sun is rising, dawning and shining—what more can an atom say or mention? This servant beseeches the True One, exalted be His glory, to manifest a special deliverance for his deliverance and ordain that which is the cause of salvation in this world and the next, for we have not been and are not aware of what harms or benefits us. He is the Knowing, the Informed. None is aware of the requirements of His consummate wisdom. Verily He is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed, and He is the Powerful, the Mighty.
Regarding what was written about his turning towards Iran, after presentation they said to consult and act upon whatever becomes manifest. Verily He is with them and there shall appear from them what is best for them. Glory and praise and laudation be upon you and upon those with you and those who love you and hear your word concerning God’s Cause, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.
The servant 10 Shawwal 1305