Volume 087: Akka 1305 A.H. (1887–1888), Part IV (1 of 4)

BH00204: O Abdullah! The Most Exalted Pen calleth aloud…

Section 1: “O Abdullah! The Most Exalted Pen calleth aloud…”

O Abdullah! The Most Exalted Pen calleth aloud from the highest summit, saying: “O Abdullah! Rejoice in God’s loving-kindness and grace. Verily He hath turned unto thee and hath sent down from the heaven of bounty that which is milk for infants and a feast for men, a treasure for the poor and rain for the verdant hamlet, glory for the trusted ones and a standard for the learned, a remembrance for the righteous and an admonition for the chosen ones. Thy Lord is, verily, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.

We have enjoined upon Our loved ones wisdom and utterance, the reformation of the world and the refinement of the souls of nations. Blessed is he who hath heard My call, and woe betide every froward denier. Thus have We lit the lamp of utterance in the niche of knowledge. Blessed is he who hath attained, and woe betide every heedless doubter.

Take thou the chalice of utterance in My name. Verily it shall guide thee to the straight path. The ocean of My loving-kindness hath surged and the fragrance of My grace hath wafted, while the people are in wondrous stupor. Beware lest the affairs of the world withhold thee from the Lord of all mankind. That which thou beholdest today shall perish, but that which hath been revealed from My Most Exalted Pen in the most sublime station shall endure.

Say: O concourse of the earth! Behold, then remember when Muhammad, the Apostle of God, came with the signs of God, the Lord of Lords. The learned ones of the earth and its rulers turned away from Him until they desired to shed His blood. We delivered Him through Our grace, for verily We are the Mighty, the Bountiful. Blessed is the servant who hath attained unto the lights of the Revelation and the handmaiden who hath turned unto God, the Lord of all beings. We beseech God to forgive thy father and to send down mercy upon him from His presence. Verily He is the Mighty, the All-Giving.

O Arslan! Thy letter hath come before the Wronged One and was presented by him who is named Majdu’d-Din. We have mentioned thee in such wise as to delight all eyes. Take thou the cup of utterance and drink therefrom in the name of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Bestower. We counsel those who have believed to unity and concord. By the life of God! Through these twin pillars the horizons are illumined. Blessed is he who hath heard, and woe betide him who hath denied and broken the Covenant.

Say: O friends of God in the lands! Cast away that which ye have been forbidden and take hold of that which ye have been commanded in the Book. Blessed is he who hath remained silent concerning that which is unworthy of mention. Thus hath the Tongue of Grandeur spoken as a command from His presence, and He is the Mighty, the Unconstrained.

We have endured that which hath befallen Us at the hands of the oppressors and pharaohs of the earth, and have commanded all to be patient through God, the Lord of all men. Blessed is the strong one whom the might of the world hath not withheld from the Most Great Name, and the seeing one whom the veils of glory have not hindered. We have mentioned the friends of God and His loved ones and have commanded them with that which shall exalt their stations among the parties.

O ʿAli-Akbar! Thy letter came before the Wronged One aforetime, and We held back the reins of the Pen for a time until the appointed hour was fulfilled. We have mentioned thee with verses that all the books of the world cannot equal, and with a command before which necks have bowed. Verily, the ocean is before your faces; take thereof by My leave, then drink in My Name through which God hath subdued the kingdoms of justice and equity. Grieve not over the world and its vicissitudes. Hold fast unto that which hath been sent down unto thee from God, the Cleaver of the Dawn. How many a learned one hath been prevented by pride, and how many an ignorant one hath heard and hastened to the Dawning-Place of verses! How many a servant hath turned away from the Truth, and how many a handmaiden hath heard and responded, saying:

“Thine be the praise, O Thou Who art the Desire of the world, and Thine be the glory, O Thou in Whose grasp are the reins of the earth and the heavens!”

When thou beholdest the waves of the ocean of My utterance and findest the fragrances of My words, say:

O my God, my God! I beseech Thee by the Point through which Thou didst separate the books of the world, and by Thy Most Great Name whereby Thou didst subdue the nations, and by the pearls of the ocean of Thy knowledge and the hidden mysteries in Thy Book, to aid me and Thy servants to act in accordance with what Thou hast sent down to us from the heaven of Thy Cause. O my Lord! I am Thy servant and the son of Thy servant, acknowledging Thy oneness and Thy singleness, and confessing Thy grandeur and Thy sovereignty. I beseech Thee not to disappoint me of that which Thou hast ordained for such of Thy servants as are detached and such of Thy creatures as are sincere. Then ordain, O my God, for Thy loved ones that which shall profit them and preserve them and draw them nigh unto Thee. Verily Thou art the One Who hath power over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Single, the One, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

O My Most Exalted Pen! Make mention of him who hath been named Aqa Quli, that the remembrance may draw him to a station wherein he shall behold none save God, the Lord of the Day of Return. Hearken unto the call from the direction of Akka: Verily there is none other God but Him. His are the most excellent names and the most exalted attributes. He doeth what He willeth through His command, and He is the Mighty, the All-Knowing. He ordaineth what He willeth for whomsoever He pleaseth. Nothing whatsoever escapeth His knowledge, and He is the All-Powerful, the Almighty. He sendeth down from the heaven of proof the rains of knowledge, and causeth to appear from the ocean of utterance the pearls of wisdom and exposition. Blessed is the seeker who hath arisen to serve the Object of his search, and the learned one who hath attained unto the Dawning-Place of remembrance. We counsel thee and those who have believed to observe the trust which God hath made the first ornament of the temple of man. They have lost who cast it behind their backs and committed that which hath caused the Proof and the Evidence to lament. When thou hast attained unto the hosts of utterance and witnessed the proof of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, say:

O my God, my God! Praise be to Thee for having mentioned me and guided me to Thy Most Great Announcement whereby the hearts of the servants were stirred. O my Lord! I beseech Thee by Thy standing firm in Thy Cause and by the movement of Thy Most Exalted Pen whereby Thou didst subdue the cities and lands, to make me steadfast in Thy Cause, firm in Thy love, and eloquent in Thy praise amidst the righteous.

Your book has reached Our presence and has been honored with the attention of the Wronged One while He was imprisoned at the hands of those who denied the Cause and turned away from Him at Whose appearance the tribes lamented and the eyes of the righteous were consoled. O Rahim! The All-Knowing remembers you and bids you to observe justice and equity and that whereby the Cause of God, the Manifester of clear evidences, may be exalted. Beware lest anything deter you from the Creator of heaven. Cast aside what the people possess, holding fast to that which has been sent down from God, the Knower of the secret and the manifest. We have stood before all faces and revealed the Cause with power and authority. Among the people are those who have perceived the fragrance of the All-Merciful and hastened unto Him, and among them are those who have denied God’s proof and His evidence by following the manifestations of idle fancies, and among them are those who have ordered My imprisonment—he who is base yet was named exalted. Thus did his soul prompt him, and he is assuredly among the wrongdoers in the Book of Justice inscribed by the Supreme Pen from God, the Cleaver of the dawn.

We have endured in God’s path what no eye hath beheld, to this bear witness the Concourse on High and the dwellers of Paradise, then He Who is established upon the throne of Revelation with a power that the hosts of the wicked cannot weaken. Your book hath reached the presence of the Wronged One. We heard your call and have answered you with verses that cry out before all faces:

“The appointed time is come, and He Whom God’s Messengers have promised, the Lord of the Day of Return, hath appeared.”

We have heard that which you called out to God. We beseech Him, exalted be He, to ordain for you that which shall profit you. Verily, He is the Mighty, the All-Bountiful. Let nothing grieve you. By God! The Day is come, while the people are in doubt and error. This is the Day wherein the greatest joy hath appeared through this Revelation, whereby the limbs of the transgressors who broke God’s covenant and committed that which they were forbidden in the Mother Book have trembled.

Say: My God, my God! Thou seest me turning toward Thee and turning away from all else. Thou knowest what I have wrought in my vain life. I beseech Thee by Thy Cause through which the ocean of forgiveness surged in creation and the fragrance of generosity wafted throughout the world, to make me detached from all save Thee, content with Thy good-pleasure, speaking Thy praise, and steadfast in serving Thy loved ones. Thou art verily the One with power over what Thou willest. There is no God but Thee, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. O Ancient Beauty! Turn Thy face from the Most Great Prison toward him who hath remembered Thee, that he may thank his Lord, the Powerful, the Protector, the Mighty, the Loving.

He who is named Abdul-Ghafur desired to drink from the Kawthar of inner meanings from the hand of his Lord’s bounty, the All-Forgiving. We heard thy call and have answered thee with this sealed Book which hath descended from the heaven of thy Lord’s will, the Lord of existence. He verily commands all to righteousness and piety and forbids wickedness and indecency. Blessed is he who hath heard and acted, and woe unto every heedless one who is rejected. The breezes of Revelation have wafted and the horizons are illumined, yet the people do not understand. They worship idols and perceive it not; they do what they are forbidden yet know it not. Blessed is the strong one who hath rent asunder the veils, and the powerful one who hath shattered the idols of vain imaginings.

Beware lest the glory of the people prevent thee from My Name, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. Cast aside what they possess and take the Book of God with a might that the hosts cannot prevent. Thus hath the gate of utterance been opened unto all who are in creation, as a grace from God, the Lord of what was and what shall be. Grieve not over any matter. Trust in God in all things. He verily aids whoever turns to Him and assists him with the hosts of the seen and the unseen. He is the Powerful, the Mighty, the Beloved.

O Lord of the world! Remember Hasan whose letter reached Thy prison, and give him the glad-tidings of that which moved Thy Most Exalted Pen to his mention—the Pen through which the trumpet was sounded and all who are in the heavens and earth were thunderstruck, except such as God, the Single, the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise, willed. We counsel thee and those who have believed in that which will exalt your stations and the Cause of God, the Mighty, the Powerful. Hold fast unto goodly character. He enjoineth upon you that which profiteth you in all His worlds. He is the Forgiving, the Merciful. Be silent in the station of silence, and speaking in the station of utterance, and expounding in times of exposition. Thus doth He Who possesseth the knowledge of all things command you in a perspicuous Book. He loveth silence and enjoineth it upon all. Verily your Lord, the All-Merciful, is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

The first word is the recognition of God, the Lord of all worlds, and the second is steadfastness in His Cause. Thus hath it been sent down from the Pen of Revelation, when He Who conversed on Sinai was seated upon the throne of Manifestation, speaking that which enraptured the hearts of the sincere ones. O men of earth! Hearken unto the call of the Wronged One. By God! He desireth naught for Himself. He hath sacrificed His joy, His delight, His glory, His felicity and His comfort for the refinement of your souls and your entry into the Most Exalted Paradise—the station wherein whoso entereth shall neither perish, nor be grieved, nor shall his soul be troubled. Thus hath the Tongue of Faithfulness spoken in the kingdom of creation, that He might acquaint you with the stations which have been ordained for you by God, the Forgiving, the Generous.

Beware lest ye deprive yourselves of the breezes of these days, and beware lest the might of sovereigns frighten you. Leave the world and whatsoever is therein unto the kings, then occupy yourselves with the conquest of hearts through the hosts of wisdom and utterance, and through the character We have enjoined upon you aforetime and will continue to do so. I am the All-Knowing Rememberer, and I am the Kind Counselor, the Mighty, the Wondrous.

Section 2: “Choose what is praiseworthy under all conditions. This…”

Choose what is praiseworthy under all conditions. This is what ye have been commanded in the Scriptures and Tablets. To this testifieth every truthful and trustworthy one. Blessed is he who loveth the world for the sake of God, the Lord of the ancient days. He hath created creation as a token of His grace, that His Self might be known, and as the Dawning-Place of His signs and the Dayspring of His firm Command. Well is it with him who hath cast away vain imaginings and taken that which he was bidden by an ancient Commander.

O servant of God! Abdullah, known as Ansari, died in yearning for My call, not having heard from the Kingdom of My utterance. O My servant! Thou hearest at this time, through the grace of God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. O My servant! Hear My call from the direction of My prison. There is no God but He, the Single, the One, the Strong, the Mighty, the Powerful. It behooveth thee, in recognition of this bounty, to be ever mindful of My verses throughout thy days, detached from all else but Me, thankful for the wonders of My grace, submissive to My command, and abstaining from that which I have forbidden in My Great Book. The Wronged One remembereth him who remembereth Him, and asketh God to assist His servants in that which He loveth and is pleased with, and to enable them to perform deeds which shall be a treasured possession with Him.

He is the Protector of the sincere ones. Blessed is the heart that hath been purified from rancor and hatred, illumined with the light of unity, and hath not turned towards those who disbelieved in God and denied His mighty and impregnable proof. O people of Baha and Dal! Know your stations. By God’s life! Ye have attained unto that which none of God’s servants in previous centuries and ages have attained. We beseech God to assist you in preserving this most exalted station and supreme rank, and to make you among the triumphant.

We make mention of him who hath been named Vahhab, that he may inhale the sweet fragrances of God’s loving-kindness and be of them that are steadfast. O Vahhab! This is a Day wherein the Mother Book hath spoken forth amidst the factions, yet the people are in strange drunkenness—their vain desires have debarred them from God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. He Who was hidden hath appeared through His Name, the Self-Subsisting, and hath desired to give the servants to drink of His choice sealed wine on this Day when the shrill voice of My Most Exalted Pen is raised, while the people are in manifest error. They have turned away from their God, clinging to their idle fancies—these are indeed the abased ones. They have risen to harm the Wronged One and have committed that which hath caused the hearts of the sincere to be consumed. Thus have their souls enticed them—they are verily among the slumberers. They have neither heard the Call nor the Cry that was raised in truth. We testify that they are among the dead.

We counsel thee to observe pure justice and that which befitteth the station of man. Thy Lord doth command His servants with that which profiteth and exalteth them. He is indeed the Protector of the believers. We beseech Him, exalted be He, to assist thee in that which He loveth and is pleased with, and to draw thee nigh unto Him. He is verily the Hearing, the Answering.

O My Most Exalted Pen! Make mention in the Book of him who hath turned to the Most Great Ocean while the nations were in manifest rejection, that the remembrance may draw him to the Kingdom of Utterance and bring him nigh unto God, the Lord of this wondrous Day. O Baqir! Upon thee be My glory. Hear My call from the precincts of My prison. Verily, there is no God but Me, the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous. He remembereth him who remembereth Him, and aideth him who turneth unto Him. He is verily the All-Giving, the Forgiving, the Merciful. Not a thing escapeth His knowledge. He heareth every call and seeth every deed. He is indeed the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Take hold of the Book of God with such might as the thorns of the oppressors cannot prevent thee—they who enter the mosques in My Name, yet when I manifested Myself, turned away from Me, following every heedless doubter.

Say: My God, my God! Praise be to Thee for having guided me through Thy signs and caused me to hear Thy call. I beseech Thee by the pearls of the shells of the ocean of Thy bounty and by the lights of the orb of Thy manifestation, to strengthen me in such service as will exalt my station before the Concourse on High and honor me with the mention of acceptance in the court of Thy glory. Verily, Thou art the Almighty to do what Thou willest. There is no God but Thee, the Single, the One, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. O Lord! Thou seest me turning unto Thee and holding fast to the cord of Thy loving-kindness. Ordain for me that which Thou hast ordained for Thy trusted ones, then write down for me from Thy Most Exalted Pen the good of the hereafter and of this world. Verily, Thou art the All-Bountiful, the All-Giving, the Compassionate, the Most Generous.

And We make mention at this time of My loved ones whose names have not been presented before the Wronged One, that the breezes of revelation may draw them to the most exalted station. O My loved ones! Hear My call, then help Me through wisdom and utterance. This is what the All-Merciful hath decreed as He established Himself upon the throne with power and sovereignty. This is the Day of joy and gladness. Beware lest the happenings of the world or the affairs of the nations grieve you. Turn ye and drink the choice wine of utterance which hath flowed from the Pen of your Lord, the All-Merciful. Verily, He is with you at all times.

And We make mention of My handmaidens there who have heard the call and turned towards it. We ask God to aid them to be steadfast in His Cause and to ordain for them that which He hath ordained for the beauteous ones of the Most Exalted Paradise. He is verily the Mighty, the All-Bestowing. The glory from Us be upon My servants and My handmaidens who have held fast to My covenant and My testament, and have acted according to that which they were commanded in My Book that speaketh before the faces of the world. The Sovereign hath come—the Kingdom is God’s, the Lord of Lords.

O Tongue of Proof in the Kingdom of Utterance! Make mention of him who was named Muhammad-ʿAli, that the breezes of revelation may stir him and draw him nigh unto God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. The Kingdom hath appeared and the Sovereign of the celestial realm speaketh therein with His most exalted call, yet the people comprehend not. They have denied God’s favor after its descent and rejected His proof and His evidence, yet they perceive not. The ocean of utterance hath surged in the realm of possibility before the faces of all religions, and the power of God, the Lord of existence, hath encompassed all. Among the people are those who heard and turned away, those who accepted, and those who pronounced judgment against the Truth, the Knower of things unseen. This is a Day wherein the mountains have been scattered and the tree-trunks uprooted, yet most of the people understand not.

O party of God! Abandon what the people possess and take what ye have been commanded by God, the Lord of what was and what shall be. Blessed is he who hath soared in My atmosphere, clung to the cord of My love, and uttered My praise among My servants. He is indeed among those who are brought nigh in the preserved tablet.

Behold, then remember when We stood in the Land of Ta until the fire of hatred was kindled in their breasts. The wolves of the earth gathered against Us and imprisoned Us without any proof from God, the Lord of the Kingdom. We were in prison for numbered months until the hand of power delivered Us, despite those who denied God’s might, the Lord of the Promised Day. Thus did the Sun shine forth from the horizon of the prison with verses which none know save those who are brought nigh.

O Manifestation! The Lord of Destiny hath, from the direction of the prison, turned toward thee and made mention of thee with that which the treasures cannot equal. Hear the call from the Divine Lote-Tree: Verily, there is none other God but Him, the Single, the One, the Mighty, the Beloved. The rivers have flowed, the fruits have appeared, and the seas have surged, yet most of the people know not. Their desires have prevented them and their imaginings have veiled them, yet they know not. They have abandoned that which they were commanded and committed that which caused the sincere ones to lament.

We have heard thy call and answered thee before, and in this irrevocable Tablet which calleth out among the parties through this Hidden and Manifest Name. We beseech the Exalted One to assist thee in the triumph of His Cause through wisdom and utterance, and to confirm thee such that thou movest not save by His leave. He is verily the Commander, the Mighty, the All-Loving. Blessed art thou for having turned to the Dayspring of Certitude while people were veiled by doubts and imaginings. Joy be to the One Who, with the finger of power, rent asunder the veils of those who prevented the servants from drawing nigh unto God, the Lord of the Kingdom. Verily, these veils are their divines who cast the Covenant of God behind their backs and who deny His signs.

Sing upon the branch of utterance the praise of thy Lord. He verily heareth and seeth. He is indeed the Single, the One, the Powerful, the Protector, the Mighty, the All-Witnessed. He hath appeared and made manifest His straight path, and hath sent down for every seeker that whereby hearts and minds are attracted. Remind My loved ones on My behalf and proclaim unto their faces greetings from the Wronged One.

O Abbas-Ali! Hearken unto the everlasting call of God. Verily He maketh mention of thee and remindeth thee of verses which have descended from the clouds of grace and the heaven of justice like unto rain—God forgive the simile. We beseech God, exalted be He, to make known unto His servants that which He hath manifested and revealed. He, verily, is the Sustainer, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. We counsel you to fear God and to associate with all peoples in a spirit of fragrance and delight, and to act in accordance with that which will strengthen unity and harmony. He, verily, is the Commander, the Mighty, the Great. God beareth witness that there is none other God but Him, and He Who hath come with the truth—through Him were hoisted the standards of divine unity and the banners of detachment, through Him were the earth seized with trembling and the tribes raised their laments, and through His appearance all things proclaimed: “The Kingdom belongeth unto God, the One, the Mighty, the Beautiful.” We counsel you in all matters to observe justice and fairness, and that whereby the stations of existence shall be made manifest—existence which hath appeared from the ocean of the bounty of its Lord, the Clement, the Forgiving, the Merciful.

Say: O people of creation! Hearken unto the call of the Lord of invention and cast off the nature of beasts. Adorn your temples with the ornament of love and fellowship, and be not of the heedless. Beware lest ye backbite one another, and beware lest ye commit that which would grieve the hearts of the servants of God, the Lord of all worlds. We have created you and manifested you and commanded you to that which causeth the lips of existence to smile and giveth assurance to the hearts of them that know.

O brother! Behold and then call to mind that which the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Qur’an: the Day when men shall be as scattered moths, and the mountains shall be as carded wool. This is the Day which Muhammad, the Apostle of God, mentioned aforetime, and before Him the Spirit, and before Him He Who conversed with God. We counsel you to that which beseemeth the mercy of your Lord, which hath preceded the heavens and the earth, and whereby your stations shall be exalted. Say: Hearken unto the counsel of Him Who is wronged, and be not of the oppressors. Behold the power of My Most Exalted Pen and My Most Great Word—these two guide the servants to the Most Glorious Horizon, if ye be of the fair-minded. We have brought forth the pearls of wisdom and utterance from the shells of the ocean of the knowledge of God, the Lord of all worlds. Blessed is he who hath vision, who hath witnessed and seen, and blessed is he who hath turned toward Him; and woe unto every froward sinner. Thus have We illumined the horizon of the heaven of utterance with the light of divine proof. Blessed is he who hath turned, recognized and acknowledged; and woe unto them that deny!

BH00863: This is the Epistle of God, the Help…

Section 1: “This is the Epistle of God, the Help…”

This is the Epistle of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting

He is the One Who speaks in the Kingdom of Utterance!

Praise, sanctified from worldly conditions, the intimations of the peoples, the doubts of the antagonists, and the clamor of the deniers, beseemeth the Most Holy and Exalted Court of Him Who is the Desired One, Who in every moment hath, like unto a copious rain from the heaven of His bounty, sent down verses. No one who remembered Him was deprived of His grace, and no seeker was denied from the ocean of His verses. His bounty hath encompassed all and His mercy hath preceded all. Throughout the nights and days He hath perfumed those who have drawn nigh with the fragrances of revelation. Exalted, exalted be His bounty, and exalted be His mercy! Great is His glory and mighty His proof!

O thou who hast turned unto God, who hast drunk the cup of His presence, and who speaketh in His praise! Hearken unto His sweetest call from His most exalted horizon. Verily, He remembereth thee with verses that call out to the world and summon all to the Mighty, the Bestower. We have remembered thee time and again that thou mayest give thanks unto thy Lord, the Master of all men.

Thy letter hath come before the Wronged One, and the servant in attendance hath read it. We have answered thee with a Tablet which God hath made the Mother of Tablets. Grieve not over anything, but put thy trust in God, the Lord of Lords. He hath aided thee to make mention of Him and to praise Him, and hath made thee a cup-bearer of this choice wine which, when its seal was broken, perfumed all regions. Blessed is he who hath sought the Desired One and attained unto that which most of the servants have failed to reach. Say: The verses are subdued by His command and all affairs are in the grasp of His power, and He is the Mighty, the All-Knowing. Thou hast attained unto that which the divines and scholars of the earth have failed to attain. The Mother of the Book beareth witness to this in the Final Return.

The names that were mentioned in thy letter were presented before the Wronged One, and We have revealed for them that which attracteth the hearts and solaceth the eyes, and He is the Mighty, the Unconstrained.

O Muhammad-ʿAli! Take what is approved and leave what is denounced. This is what thou wast commanded in the Qayyumu’l-Asma and in this perspicuous Tablet, before which all other Tablets bow down. Thy Lord is verily the All-Explaining, the All-Knowing.

O ʿAbdu’l-Ahad! Take justice and abandon tyranny. Thus hath the Command flowed from the Pen of God, the Lord of all worlds. He hath remembered thee with that which no remembrance in the world can equal. Thy Lord is verily the Compassionate, the Generous.

O Muhammad-Qabli! When thou hast drunk the choice wine of reunion and attained unto that which was treasured in God’s knowledge and inscribed by the Most Exalted Pen in His Books, His Scriptures, and His Tablets, render thanks unto thy Lord for this great bounty.

O Muhammad! Hear the call of the Wronged One. Say: O people of the earth! Embrace justice and abandon oppression. Thus hath come the irrevocable decree from God, the Lord of eternity and Master of nations. He is the Single, the One, the All-Compelling, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

O Ahmad! The Prisoner hath turned toward thee from the precincts of the prison and saith: Leave the dead, and take the cup from the Kawthar of life in the name of thy Lord, the Most Merciful. He verily draweth thee nigh unto Him and guideth thee unto His straight path.

O ʿAli! The Desired One of the world hath appeared with the banners of grace and bounty, and the standards of glory and guidance, yet the people have cast the Command of God behind their backs and have committed that which they were bidden by the Daysprings of oppression. Thy Lord is verily the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

O Pasha! The Lord of Names and Creator of the heavens remembereth thee. Say: O people of the earth! Hearken unto the shrill voice of the Most Exalted Pen. Take hold of the Book of God with such might and power as cannot be hindered by the power of the world nor the authority of nations. Verily, thy Lord is the Commander, the Ancient of Days.

O Ismail! Blessed art thou and blessed is the servant who, having cast away vain imaginings, hath turned his face toward the horizon whence the Sun of Certitude hath shone forth on a Day whereon the Straight Path hath proclaimed: “By God! The appointed time hath come,” and the Balance hath declared: “The veil hath been lifted,” and there hath descended from the heaven of might a perspicuous Book.

O Muhammad! Remember when Muhammad, the Apostle of God, came, all who dwelt on earth turned away from Him. Some declared that He had disbelieved in God, others pronounced Him a lying impostor, while yet others called Him a sorcerer who spoke from selfish desire. Thus did the people speak concerning His Cause—the firm, the sacred, the mighty, the wondrous.

O Pasha! The Lord of all beings remembereth thee on this darksome night, and remindeth thee of that which will draw thee nigh unto a station honored by the mention of God and adorned by the presence of His loved ones. He speaketh at all times, saying:

“O people of creation! Lift up your heads and behold that which hath dawned and shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of knowledge from the presence of One mighty and powerful.”

O Faraj! The gate of heaven hath been opened and relief hath come with such sovereignty that before it can stand neither the hosts of creation, nor the ranks of the mighty, nor the vain imaginings of the learned. He proclaimeth in the most exalted voice between earth and heaven:

“O people of creation! He hath come at Whose advent the limbs of all names have trembled, and He Who was mentioned in the hearts of them that are nigh unto God hath appeared.”

O Mulla Baba! We have accepted the tribulations and hardships of the world for the salvation of the servants, yet they have risen in opposition. They have denied God’s proof and His evidence, disputed His signs, turned away from the lights of His countenance, and disbelieved in His Self. Thus have their souls enticed them, and today they are among the most lost in the Book of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Great.

O Samad! Hearken unto the call of the Eternal, the Single, the One, the Unique. He commandeth thee that which will exalt thee, and counseleth thee to observe God’s covenant and His testament, and that which hath been revealed in His Book. He is with those who have held fast unto His commandments and acted according to what they were bidden by the Tongue of Revelation in this blessed, holy and manifest Day.

O My Most Exalted Pen! Make mention of him who hath been named Aqa Mulla, that Thy remembrance may draw him to the most sublime summit and bring him nigh unto Thee, and strengthen him in that which shall endure as long as the kingdom and the realm endure, and aid him to remain steadfast in this Cause whereby feet have slipped, faces have been darkened, and the idols of the deluded have fallen.

O Qanbar! Take hold of trustworthiness in My name and set aside whatsoever is contrary to it. God hath made it the primary adornment for the temples of all religions. Blessed is he who hath clung to it, recognized its station, been illumined by its light, and grasped its hem. Thus hath the Tongue of Grandeur spoken while seated upon the throne of utterance. He is the Single, the One, the Mighty, the Beautiful.

O Abdul-Ahad! Remember the days wherein thou didst attain My presence, hear My call, behold My horizon, and drink the choice wine of meeting from the hand of My bounty. Beware lest the affairs of the world prevent thee from My remembrance and praise, and from that which thou didst hear from My tongue in this My prison. This We commanded thee before, and at this time We command thee again, by the leave of One mighty, powerful and praiseworthy.

O Mashhadi Hussein! Take hold of faithfulness as a command from the Creator of heaven. Blessed is the temple adorned therewith, the hand that graspeth it, and the servant who recognizeth its station, by the command of God, the Mighty, the Supreme, the Self-Subsisting.

Verily We have desired to make mention of him who hath been named Mulla Islam, to remind him of My verses, to bring him the glad-tidings of My favors, and acquaint him with My Kingdom and My Dominion, and with the dwellers of the cities of My power and grandeur, that he may rejoice and render thanks unto Him Who hath come with the truth with a sovereignty that hath encompassed earth and heaven. Blessed is he who hath recognized and borne witness and hath said:

“Praise be unto Thee, O Lord of the seen and the unseen!”

O Shaykh-i-Kazim! We counsel thee with wisdom and utterance, and with that whereby thy remembrance shall endure in the Book of thy Lord, the All-Merciful. Let not the might of the world dismay thee; place it beneath thy feet and say:

“My God, my God! I render Thee thanks inasmuch as I have inhaled the fragrance of Thy verses, beheld the tokens of Thy Pen, and acknowledged that which Thy tongue hath spoken. I beseech Thee, O Thou Who art wronged throughout all regions, by Thy Name through which necks have been subdued, to assist me to remember Thee and to stand firm in my love for Thee. O Lord! Deny me not the ocean of Thy bounty, nor the heaven of Thy generosity. There is none other God but Thee, the Ever-Forgiving, the All-Loving.”

Verily the Wronged One desireth to make mention of him who hath been named Mulla Nur-Muhammad, that the breezes of Revelation may draw him to the Most Sublime Horizon, and that he may hold fast unto that which hath been ordained by Him Who is the Creator of heaven and the Lord of the Kingdom of Names. The world shall pass away, but that which hath been sent down from the heaven of bounty and generosity shall endure for those who have turned unto Him. To this testify honored servants upon whom neither fear shall come, nor shall they grieve.

O Ali! This is the Day of remembrance and utterance, the Day of bounty and bestowal, the Day of majesty and glory. Blessed is the servant who hath turned unto Him, attained, and acted according to that which hath been ordained by God, the Lord of existence.

O Abdul-Hussein! Blessed art thou and blessed is thy name. Hear with the ear of the heart that which hath been sent down from the Kingdom of the favors of the Lord of creation, Who hath come with the standard of unity and commanded all to be united. Happy is he who hath held fast unto that which hath been ordained by God, the Lord of what was and what shall be.

O Hasan! Say:

“My God, my God! I beseech Thee by Thy sealed wine, and by Thy Name, the Self-Subsisting, and by the Kawthar of Thy utterance, the Salsabil of Thy knowledge, the milk of Thy bounty and the wine of Thy mercy, to make me, in all conditions, well-pleased with Thy good-pleasure, turning unto Thy horizon, speaking of Thy verses, and holding fast unto Thy extended cord.”

O My Pen! Make mention of him who hath been named Ali-i-Akbar, whom the veils of glory prevented not from the All-Glorious. He heard the call from the Most Sublime Horizon and turned unto Him on a day wherein all who dwell in the kingdom of creation turned away, save those whom the hand of power had seized and whom the tongue of grandeur had mentioned in his praiseworthy station.

O Ali! We counsel thee and them that have believed to fear God and to observe truthfulness and sincerity. Thy Lord desireth for no one save that which will raise him to the All-Highest Paradise and the Most Exalted Heaven—the station wherein naught is seen save the manifestations of His names and attributes. He is the All-Bountiful One Whose bounty is not withheld by the opposition of the peoples nor by the happenings of the world. His mercy hath preceded all things and His favors have encompassed all, but the people, they understand not.

O people of Shishan! Hearken unto the call of your Lord, the All-Merciful. He remembereth you while He was in the hands of those who turned away from godliness and followed wickedness and corruption, and committed that which caused the countenances of the Most Exalted Paradise and the All-Highest Heaven to lament, and caused the Tree of Blessedness and the Divine Lote-Tree to wail. Beware lest the tyranny of the transgressors and the harm of the ungodly dismay you. Lay hold on wisdom in the days of God; verily it will draw you nigh unto Him, did ye but know.

O Haji Aqa! Hear the call from the precincts of the Prison. It summons thee to truth and bids thee observe justice and equity. He hath appeared and manifested that which He desired before the faces of all men on a day whereon the clouds of destiny rained down the arrows of tribulation. To this testifieth the Preserved Tablet that is with Him.

O Mulla Sadiq! From My Most Exalted Pen hath flowed the river of wisdom and utterance on a day when every seeker turned away, every confessor denied, every believer disbelieved, and every silent one reviled. Thus did We receive treatment from those who showed no justice in the Cause of God and His sovereignty, and cast equity behind their backs, cleaving unto that which caused the Spirit to lament in His holy, glorious, and beloved station.

O Muhammad-Qabli-Husayn! Behold and remember when the All-Merciful came with power and sovereignty, and there befell Him at the hands of the people of tyranny that which caused the rocks to cry out, the earth and heaven to weep, the hearts of the chosen ones to tremble, the great cry to be raised, and every lofty and towering mountain to be scattered.

O Ja’far! Thy name was mentioned before Our face, and there hath been revealed for thee that which cannot be equalled by the treasures of the earth, nor the riches of creation, nor that in which the wealthy pride themselves in the material world, nor that which princes and kings have amassed. Be thankful unto thy Lord for this most great favor and say:

“My God, my God! Deprive me not of that which Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen ones, and render me not destitute of that which draweth me nigh unto Thy horizon. Verily, Thou art the All-Powerful, the Mighty, the Loving!”

O Aqa Bala! Upon thee be the Glory of God, the Lord of all names and Creator of the heavens. Blessed be thy face for having turned, thy heart for having advanced, thine ear for having heard, and thy hand for having manifested the power and might of God, which the whole world cannot equal. To this doth this Wronged One testify in this exalted station. Rejoice in this Most Great Remembrance which hath flowed from the Pen of God, thy Lord, the Possessor of the seen and unseen.

O Ibrahim! The Friend hath come from the presence of the Glorious One, yet the people denied Him and turned away from Him, disputed that which appeared from Him, and disbelieved in Him Who sent Him with the truth, until the fire of hatred was kindled in the breasts of the people of tyranny and wickedness, and they committed that which caused every loving one to lament and every friend to cry out. Thus was the matter decreed, while most of the people mention but do not perceive.

O Pen! Make mention of him who is named Mashhadi Ibrahim, that he may rejoice in the remembrance of God, Who is established upon the throne of utterance in the final return. We counsel thee with that which will elevate the station of man and with that which the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Book. Grieve not at anything, but trust in God in all matters. Verily, He will assist those who have turned unto Him on the day when the Herald proclaimed: The Kingdom belongeth to God, the Lord of Lords!

Section 2: “O Taymur! The All-Forgiving maketh mention of thee…”

O Taymur! The All-Forgiving maketh mention of thee through His remembrance and remindeth thee of His signs, and counseleth thee to show forth love and affection, unity and concord. Blessed art thou for having heard and turned towards Him, and woe unto every denier who hath disbelieved in God and His signs, turning instead to the dawning-place of vain imaginings.

O Mansur! Victory hath come, and it is My manifestation; triumph hath come, and it is My call; sovereignty hath come, and it is My command; and the mysteries have appeared, and they are My Book. Thus have We brought forth the pearls of proof from the shells of the ocean of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Bestower.

O Fayyadh! The All-Bountiful has come with the hosts of wisdom and utterance. The Herald has called out from every direction, the mountains have been moved, and the Balance has been set up, yet most people are in a strange sleep. Their desires have prevented them from God; they have cast the Book behind their backs and have committed that from which the dwellers of the pavilion of grandeur and majesty have disassociated themselves. The glory rest upon you, upon your family, and upon My handmaidens who have believed in God, the One, the Chosen One.

O Muhammad-ʿAli! Hear the call of the Wronged One. The Cause of God has come, which was a fortress for those who arrived and an armor for the temple of whosoever turned to the Most Sublime Horizon and answered the Lord of all beings when the Call was raised between earth and heaven. Say: O people! Recognize the station of God’s Cause and His wisdom, and be not of the ignorant. Thus has the light shone forth from the kingdom of thy Lord’s utterance, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. The glory rest upon thee and thy wife from the Forgiving, the Merciful.

O Book! Make mention of him who is named Darvish Rahim, that the verses of his Lord may attract him and draw him nigh unto Him, and strengthen him to make mention of Him and to praise Him among His servants and to serve His Cause in His days. Verily, He is the Ruler over whatsoever He willeth, and in His grasp are the reins of all who are in the heavens and on earth. The glory from Us be upon him and upon his wife, whose name was presented before the Wronged One in His mighty prison.

O Darvish Khalil! The Cause of God hath come, yet the people have turned away from it and opposed it, having broken His Covenant and His Testament, and followed those who denied God and His signs. With thy Lord is the knowledge of all things in a clear Book. We make mention of thy wife who turned towards Him on a day when most of the handmaidens of the earth turned away. Verily, thy Lord is the All-Encompassing, the All-Knowing.

O Mirza Aqa! We have desired to make mention of thee from this direction and to remind thee of God’s verses which were sent down from the kingdom of His utterance, that thine eyes may be consoled thereby and thy heart may rejoice, and that thou mayest arise with spirit and fragrance to serve the Cause on this Day wherein the appointed time hath come, the verses have been sent down, the clear proofs have appeared, and the earth and heavens have spoken. Thus have We sent down that which shall endure as long as My most beautiful names endure. Verily, thy Lord is the Mighty, the Generous.In the name of the One All-Knowing God!

O Sulayman! Hearken in the Persian tongue to the utterance of thy Creator. Today the mystery of the Self-Sufficient is manifestly revealed without veil. Blessed is the state of the one who hath drunk the sealed wine in the Most Great Name and hath remembered Him in the Most Great Prison. The dust of divine chastisement hath encompassed the world and smoke hath overtaken it. Beseech ye Him that perchance His forgiveness may encompass all and make them aware of that which is the purpose of creation. Make mention of the kinsmen on behalf of the Wronged One and give them the glad-tidings of the verses of the One Peerless Friend.

O Zaynu’l-ʿAbidin! That which was hidden hath become manifest. The primal light hath appeared therefrom. Blessed is the state of the one who hath heard His call, turned towards Him with his heart, and faced the lights of His countenance.

O Rasul! Various colors have prevented the world from turning to and drawing nigh unto the horizon of God’s Cause and have deprived it from the ocean of the utterance of the Creator. Beseech God that He may aid His servants in that which beseemeth His Day. He is the Powerful, He is the Mighty.

O Siyyid Qabli-Muhammad! The Pen hath turned toward thee and maketh mention of thee that thou mayest hold fast unto that which is befitting and attain unto the station of “Say: God; then leave them to their vain discourses.”

O Abraham! The fire of hatred that was kindled in those days hath been rekindled with greater force and intensity in the days of this Wronged One. The extinction of every fire is easy, but the fire of malice and envy cannot be quenched by the waters of the entire world. The outward fire is extinguished in but an hour, while this fire endureth through centuries and ages. We beseech God to protect His loved ones from this fire and to illumine them with the light of His knowledge. He, verily, is powerful over all things.

O Mihdi! The beginning of all things hath been and shall ever be the knowledge of God, and the end thereof steadfastness, for the clamorous are lying in wait and are occupied with leading men astray. Blessed is the soul that beholdeth all else save God as non-existent and as naught. Such a one is assuredly among the people of this luminous station and this mighty and impregnable seat.

O Pen! Make mention of the Merciful One, that perchance the attraction of the divine mention may so grip him that he may remain firm and steadfast in the Cause. In all conditions, fix thy gaze upon the greatness of the Cause and this Day. Blessed is he who hath recognized and inhaled the fragrance of the utterance of his All-Knowing, All-Informed Lord.

O Abdullah! The Day hath come and the hour hath struck, yet the servants have failed to recognize the Lord of all worlds in this garment. All are deprived and forbidden from His recognition, save whom thy Lord willeth. Blessed is the servant who hath attained unto the knowledge of his Lord, who hath detached himself from the world and all that is therein, and hath cleaved unto Him. This is the station wherein shineth the light of true reliance and spiritual resignation.

O Husayn! This Wronged One desireth to make mention of thee—in what station? In the Most Great Prison—in what condition? In the midst of sorrows. Yet the tribulations of the nations and the tyranny of the world have not withheld Him from remembrance. The atoms of all created things bear witness to what hath been mentioned. Beseech God to aid thee in that which beseemeth His station.

O Ali! Hearken with the ear of the spirit and observe with the eye of truth, that perchance thou mayest hear the call of the Friend and behold His traces. How many are the servants who have eyes and ears, yet in the divine ledger are recorded as blind, deaf and dumb.

O Muhammad! The Book hath been sent down and its mysteries recorded by the Most Exalted Pen, yet the servants remain heedless and veiled, save those souls who with the hands of power have rent asunder the veils and shrouds and have sought the most exalted station, which is the station of recognizing the one true Friend.

O Javad! The ocean of utterance is surging, the Sun of Truth is shining above all heads, and the light of bounty is radiating from the horizon of grace. We beseech God not to withhold His servants from these bounties nor deprive them thereof. His grace hath encompassed all, and the All-Bountiful is seated upon the throne of mercy. Blessed are they who possess true knowledge.

O Sattar! The Day of Resurrection hath come, and the Concealer is seated upon the throne of the All-Forgiving. He hath concealed, shown grace, and opened the gate of bounty with the finger of power, yet the heedless servants have risen in tyranny. They have committed that which hath rent asunder the breasts and set aflame the livers. All these things have come to pass through the wickedness of the divines of Persia. They have wrought that which hath never been heard of since the beginning of the world. They are indeed among the most lost in My perspicuous Book.

O beloved friend! The wolves of the earth have surrounded the Beloved of the world, and the Wronged One of the horizons has been imprisoned by the people of sedition. At every moment a new injustice appears and at every instant a new hardship descends. It is not known to what they turned in the past and to what cord they held fast, and now for what reason they have turned away. By the life of God, they neither perceive, nor recognize, nor know.

O Husayn! Hear the call of Husayn which hath turned toward thee from the prison quarter. He speaketh for God’s sake and uttereth in God’s path. Are there any attentive ears to be found or any penetrating eyes present? By the Sun of Truth, the proof is manifest and evident, the bounty is descending and the mercy is showering. Blessed are they who possess sight and hearing, and woe unto the heedless.

O Pen! Make mention of Allah-Quli on behalf of the Most Great Name, that perchance thy mention may assist him like wings to soar in this refined and luminous atmosphere. Thou hast heard the call and seen the signs. Ask of God that He may aid thee to remain steadfast in the greater steadfastness. He is the Most Great Sign and the Ultimate Goal. Take what thou art commanded and lay aside what thou art forbidden, as a command from the presence of One powerful and mighty.

O Asadu’llah! Reflect upon the power of the Wronged One: single and alone He arose before the faces of the world, and at all times His verses were revealed and His evidences were manifest without any veil or covering. He rent asunder the veils of glory and the clouds of grandeur with the finger of power, and guided all with the most exalted call to the straight path and the mighty news. He is the One Who is powerful, Whom the malice and hatred of princes and divines prevented not from the mention of God and His purpose. Reflect and say: Thine is the greatness and the glory, and Thine is the power and the grace.

O Soldier! O beloved! It is hoped that in this wondrous divine Day, through the effulgences of the lights of the Most Great Name, thou wilt bestow crowns instead of being a soldier. Abu Dharr was but a shepherd, yet through one word “I believe,” he became the guardian of Islam’s sanctuary and a guide to mankind. This is not difficult for thy Lord God.

O Hasan! Speech belongeth unto the tongue, yet now the ocean speaketh and heat cometh from the fire, and at this time the sun giveth and bestoweth. Strive that perchance through God’s might and power thou mayest attain thy station and become worthy of honor from God, the Lord of all mankind.

O Muhammad-Baqir! The veils of names of the people of the mortal realm have prevented creation from the highest horizon. For one thousand two hundred years the odious Shi’ihs were occupied with claims of succession, deputyship and nobility, and when the Sun of Manifestation dawned from the horizon of will, bright and manifest, they arose to harm Him and issued the verdict for His blood to be shed. Fix thy gaze upon God alone, that thou mayest be recorded among the true believers in God’s Book and be inscribed by the Most Exalted Pen.

O Ali-Asghar! The Lord of Power maketh mention of thee from the Most Great Scene. The friends of the earth hastened to the Supreme Companion in their longing to hear this mention. That which floweth today from the Pen of generosity hath had and hath no likeness or parallel. Recognize its station and preserve it as the eye preserveth itself.

O Ali Siraj! He says: O people of the earth! By the Luminary of utterance, I swear that the divine lamp is shining and manifest before all faces. Deprive not yourselves of its light, and through its rays and radiance, enter into the tabernacle of divine glory. Today the ocean of the utterance of the All-Merciful is surging and the heaven of grace is upraised. Deprive not yourselves. Pass beyond all else and hold fast unto the Friend. He is the All-Bountiful, He is the All-Merciful.

O Pen! Make mention of Qasim, that haply he may drink from the ocean of utterance and be illumined by the Sun of divine knowledge, and attain unto that which is the cause of steadfastness. Today the cry is raised, the mountain is crushed, and the servants are thunderstruck. Blessed is the soul that hath attained unto hearing it, recognized the Purpose, and became cognizant of Him. Beseech God to protect His servants and aid them to exalt His Word.

O Asad! God grant that thou mayest prove thyself a lion of the field of wisdom and utterance, wielding thy sway over hearts and souls. Let thy might be true might, and thy power a power spiritual. Harm and injury beseem the beasts of prey; the mark of human reason is love and compassion and mercy. Hold thou fast unto this at My bidding. Thy Lord, verily, is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

O Karbila’i Ahmad! Muhammad—upon Whom be the sacrifice of all beside Him—appeared, yet they denied Him and decreed His death. The authors of that decree were the divines of the age. Through the wretchedness of those souls the fire of malice and hatred was kindled within men’s breasts, and the matter waxed so grievous that the verse of migration was revealed, and the Lord of the kingdom of names set forth from Hijaz for Yathrib. Thereupon tears were shed, hearts were consumed away, all things lamented, while the people, for the most part, remained of the heedless.

O Ghaffar! The Chosen One hath come bearing the banner of “I am God”; He hath come with the ensign of “The Kingdom is Mine.” From His right hand floweth the Euphrates of mercy; from His Pen are made manifest the mysteries of wisdom; before His face the ocean of utterance surgeth and swelleth. Yet the men of knowledge and insight are few indeed—nay, utterly wanting. All are seen spiritless—rather, dead. Verily we are God’s, and unto Him shall we return.

O Hasan, O uncle! If thou attainest unto My verses and hearest My call, say:

“My God, my God! I am Thy servant, the son of Thy servant and the son of Thy handmaid. I have heard Thy call and hastened unto the ocean of Thy knowledge. I beseech Thee, by Thy power which hath subdued all things, and by the lights of Thy countenance whereby all horizons have been illumined, to make me steadfast in Thy Cause, diligent in Thy service, firmly grounded in Thy love, and eloquent in Thy praise. Thou art, verily, the Mighty, the Invincible, the Almighty.”

O Haydar-ʿAli! Turn thou thy face toward the House and say:

“My God, my God! Praise be unto Thee for having given me to drink of the Kawthar of Thy knowledge in Thy days, and for having aided me to turn unto Thee when most of Thy creatures turned away from Thee. I beseech Thee by the hidden mysteries treasured in Thy knowledge, and by the pearls stored within the repositories of Thine immaculacy, to ordain for me that which shall draw me nigh unto Thee and exalt me amidst Thy servants. Thou art powerful to do whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Truth, the Knower of things unseen.”

Section 3: “O Kazim! If thou inhalest the fragrances…”

O Kazim! If thou inhalest the fragrances of My utterance and hearest My call from the direction of My prison, turn with all thy heart unto the Most Exalted Spot and the loftiest summit, and say:

“My God, my God! Sorrows have seized me in Thy days—where is Thy deliverance, O Deliverer of the worlds? Separation from Thee hath consumed me—where is the Kawthar of nearness unto Thee, O Desire of them that know? My liver hath melted in Thy absence—where is Thy grace, O Lord of the world and Worshipped of the nations? I beseech Thee by the scratching of Thy Pen, and by the mystery Thou hast hidden from the eyes of Thy creatures, to strengthen me to act according to that which Thou hast sent down in Thy Book. There is none other God but Thee, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.”

O Pen! Make mention of him who was named Muhammad, son of Ja’far, that he may rejoice in the remembrance of God, the Lord of destiny. And let him say:

“My God, my God! Praise be unto Thee for having guided me by Thy most great verses unto Thy straight path, and for having illumined my heart with the light of the mention of Thy mighty Announcement. I beseech Thee by Thy Cause, whereby Thou hast subdued the world, and by the Word whereby the hearts of the peoples were drawn, so that they hastened unto the seat of sacrifice in longing for Thy good-pleasure and Thy presence—O Lord! Thou seest the poor one clinging to the cord of Thy bounty, and the sinner grasping the hem of the robe of Thy Name, the Forgiving, the Merciful. Ordain for him that which beseemeth Thy loving-kindness, O God of all worlds.”

O Muhammad, son of ʿAli! Hearken unto My call from the direction of My prison. Verily it shall draw thee unto the horizon of My grace and bring thee nigh unto the court of My majesty. Say:

“My God, my God! With my face have I turned unto the lights of Thy countenance, and with my heart unto the horizon of Thy bounty. Illumine, O my God, my outer being with the lights of Thy favor and my inner being with the light of Thy knowledge. Thou art He from Whose knowledge not a thing escapeth, and Whom no affair can frustrate. In Thy grasp is held the reins of the world. Thou doest whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the One Who ruleth over whatsoever hath been and whatsoever shall be.”

O Siyyid Muhammad! Say:

“My God, my God! I bear witness that Thou hast manifested Thyself, sent down Thy verses, and disclosed Thy clear testimonies for the guidance of Thy creatures and the exaltation of their stations in Thy days. I beseech Thee, O Cleaver of the morn and Subduer of the winds with the finger of Thy power—whereby the veils of Thy creatures were rent asunder—to make me a helper of Thy Cause and steadfast in Thy love. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Powerful, the Almighty.”

O Aba’l-Qasim! Say:

“My God, my God! Thou seest me turning unto Thee, directing myself toward the lights of Thy countenance, and awaiting the wondrous tokens of Thy bounty. I beseech Thee by the Lamp Thou hast preserved through Thy power and sovereignty, and by Thy Most Great Name whereby the limbs of the heedless among Thy servants and the faithless among Thy creatures have trembled, to ordain for this servant of Thine, from Thy Most Exalted Pen, the good of this world and of the world to come. Thou art God; there is none other God but Thee, the Peerless, the One, the Forgiving, the Most Generous.”

O Mir ʿAli-Akbar! Consider My Cause and that which hath befallen Me after I came from the Most Exalted Horizon for the reformation of the world and the education of the nations. Say: Alas, alas! This servant knoweth not which of Thy tribulations to mention before Thy face. The Pen is struck dumb at the mention of Thy tribulations and what hath befallen Thee at the hands of the oppressors among Thy creatures and the rebellious amongst Thy servants. I testify that Thou hast manifested Thyself for the life of the world and the reformation of the nations, and hast borne hardships to reveal Thy grace and demonstrate Thy bounty. My soul be a sacrifice for Thy grace, O Thou Desire of them that know Thee, and my spirit be a ransom for Thy Self, O Thou Who art imprisoned in the hands of the heedless ones!

O Ali, O Attar! When thou hearest the rustling of My Most Exalted Pen, turn thy face toward God, the Lord of all mankind, and say: […]O my God, my God! I know not in what mountain hath Thy call been raised, nor in what spot the throne of Thy grandeur hath been established. I beseech Thee, O King of Kings and Protector of the oppressed, by Thy Name through which Thou hast subdued the cities of hearts, and by the power of Thy Will, the potency of Thy Purpose, the ocean of Thy signs and the heaven of Thy wisdom, to ordain for me that which shall make me content with Thy good-pleasure, moved by Thy will, and holding fast to the wisdom Thou hast commanded in Thy perspicuous Book. Verily, Thou art the One, the Single, the Mighty, the Great.

O Pen! Make mention of him who hath been named Abbas, that he may rejoice and be of them that are grateful. Say: O my God, my God! Praise be to Thee for having created me and manifested me and made me know Thy path. I know with the knowledge of certitude that Thou hast created me to hearken unto Thy call and witness the lights of Thy horizon. I know not, O my God, what Thou hast ordained for me of Thy decree and destiny, and what Thou hast willed in Thy days. Should that which preventeth me from drawing nigh unto the seat of Thy throne hinder me, then neither my life, nor my existence, nor my rising up, nor my sitting down would profit me.

Ah! Ah! Should Thy decree prevent me from standing before the gate of Thy grandeur and hearkening to Thy call, then by Thy might, O Desire of the world and Beloved of the nations, my thirst can only be quenched by drawing nigh unto the court of Thy holiness, and my heart can only find rest by turning toward the direction of Thy throne, and my being can only find repose through the Kawthar of Thy presence and the Salsabil of Thy reunion. Thou seest, O my God, my perturbation and agitation, my sorrow, my grief and anguish in Thy days. Where is Thy relief, O Reliever of the world, and where is Thy succour, O Helper of the nations? By Thy might, my condition hath transcended mention and utterance. O my Lord, the All-Merciful! Have mercy upon me through Thy grace, then ordain for me that which shall solace mine eyes and the eyes of Thy servants. Verily, Thou art the All-Bountiful, the Generous, and verily, Thou art the Most Merciful of the merciful.

O My Most Exalted Pen! Make mention of My loved ones who have ascended unto the Most Glorious Companion and have soared on the wings of certitude to the Most Exalted Horizon. Thy mercy hath preceded all created things and Thy grace hath encompassed all beings. I beseech Thee by the ocean of Thy bounty and the heaven of Thy generosity to send down upon them at all times from the heaven of Thy gifts that which shall gladden the eyes of Thy loved ones and chosen ones. Verily, Thou art the One Who hath power over whatsoever He willeth. All created things bear witness to Thy generosity. There is none other God but Thee, the Almighty, the Dominant over the seen and the unseen.Then make mention of Husayn who hath ascended unto his Lord. Ordain for him in the most exalted Paradise at all times that which beseemeth the ocean of Thy generosity and the heaven of Thy grace. Verily, Thou art the Ever-Forgiving, the Merciful.

We make mention of him who hath been named Allahverdi, who turned toward My horizon and traversed land and sea in his love for meeting Me until he attained My presence and heard My call. Blessed art thou for having attained unto My traces aforetime and in this perspicuous moment. Give thanks unto thy Lord for this great bounty. The glory be upon thee and upon thy sister and her daughter, and upon those women who have believed in God, the Lord of all worlds.

We make mention of My handmaidens at the end of the Tablet and give them the glad-tidings of the Day-Star of My providence which hath dawned and shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of My mercy in My Most Great Prison.

O Mulla Baji, O My handmaiden! Give thanks unto thy Lord, for He hath made mention of thee in such wise as to perpetuate thy remembrance in the Book of God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. Rejoice in the bounty of thy Lord and glorify His Name, the Mighty, the Wondrous. Verily, We have made mention of the servants of God and His handmaidens, and have sent down for them that which the world and its ornaments and embellishments and all that hath appeared therein and is treasured therein cannot equal. Verily, thy Lord is the All-Bountiful, the Generous.

We make mention at this hour of the loved ones of the All-Merciful in Milan, that the sweet savors of remembrance and utterance may draw them to a station before which all regions of the earth have bowed down in submission. He, verily, is the Mighty, the Powerful, the All-Bestowing.

Ye have heard the Call time and again; now hearken unto that which the Supreme Pen hath voiced. There is none other God but Him, the Single, the One, the Chosen. Blessed are ye, inasmuch as ye have turned unto Him when most of mankind hath turned away, and have spoken in praise when the idolaters uttered that which caused the denizens of the highest Paradise to lament in their most exalted station.

O people of Milan! By the life of God, within you are treasured the pearls of love and faithfulness, whereunto the Mother Book doth testify. We beseech God to aid and assist all, that each may arise to serve His Cause, illumine receptive hearts with the lights of the Most Great Name, and occupy themselves with the refinement of heedless souls and the reformation of the world. May they quench, with the waters of wisdom and of utterance, the fire of hatred and enmity, which for centuries and ages hath been ablaze within the hearts of the nations, that all may, with one accord, strive with utmost endeavor for the betterment of the world.

The mention of each one of them is, in the sight of God, remembered, and from the Pen of the Most High inscribed. In accordance with the dictates of wisdom We veiled the matter, and from the Pen of the Most High We caused to flow that which is the cause of everlasting life. Hold fast unto deeds that are pure and stainless, and cling to virtues that are pleasing, after the recognition of the Lord of Glory, exalted be His glory. Constancy, trustworthiness, and piety are the sacred trusts of God among His creatures; unto the keeping thereof We counsel all men. Blessed is the soul whom neither the vicissitudes nor vanities of the world have deterred from righteousness and the fear of God, and who hath attained unto that which hath been recorded and established by the Pen of Grace in God’s Book, enduring throughout the dominion of earth and heaven. Know ye the value of these days and, in complete unity, occupy yourselves with the remembrance and praise of the Goal of all creation. Whatsoever giveth rise to clamor and is the cause of corruption and strife hath been forbidden in God’s Book. His is the grace and bounty, and He is the Compassionate, the Generous.

All must associate with those souls who have taken precedence in turning unto God, in faith and in recognition, with the utmost love. This matter hath been mentioned in the divine Books of the past and future, and in the Qur’an:

“And the foremost to embrace the Faith shall be the foremost. These are they who shall be brought nigh unto God.”

Glory and praise and magnification be upon the servants of God who are nigh unto Him, and upon His sincere chosen ones who have not broken God’s Covenant and His Testament, and who have acted according to that which they were bidden in His perspicuous Book.

At this moment the Tongue of Utterance in the Kingdom of knowledge turns toward the people of Saysan, and for the sake of God We make mention of them. Divine mention in one station is as the spirit for the bodies of the people of the world, and in another station is as the eternal Kawthar for the mortal temple, and in one station it is a sign of the All-Merciful for the righteous and His wrath for the wicked. Blessed are they who have heard the call and risen from the graves of heedlessness.

O My loved ones in Saysan! Hearken unto the call of the Wronged One and hold fast unto that which is the cause of exaltation and the source of elevation. Ye are the saplings in the garden of divine favor and have been nurtured by the Kawthar of the All-Merciful utterance, and have attained unto the station of maturity which is the station of recognition of God, exalted be His glory. Preserve this station through the name of the Lord of Days and cherish it as your precious life. Soon shall all that is visible pass away, save what God, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed, hath ordained for you. Glory and remembrance and praise be upon you and upon My handmaidens whom neither the clamor of the people nor the howling of the wicked have prevented from God, the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

We have made mention of every maidservant who hath turned and attained. Nothing whatsoever escapeth the knowledge of your Lord. He heareth and seeth; He is the Single One, the One, the Powerful, the Mighty. As for certain souls mentioned who are in other lands, since the fragrance of steadfastness hath not been fully diffused from them, We have therefore destined their mention for another time and another day. Verily thy Lord doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth, and He is the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

O son of Dakhil! Praise be to God, all the names mentioned have each been blessed with the traces of the Most Exalted Pen. Give them My glad-tidings and illumine them with the light of My utterance. We have ordained for them in Our most exalted Kingdom that which tongues and pens are powerless to describe. To this testifieth He Who speaketh at this moment before all faces: There is none other God but He, the Single One, the One, the Dominant over all things great and small.

Convey My greetings to the loved ones and say: Today is the day of mention and praise, and the day of attraction and ecstasy. Strive ye to attract the hearts of the servants through the Word of God and draw them to the most exalted horizon. We counsel all to that which beseemeth the Days of God and to the reformation of the world and the refinement of nations. Thy Lord is, verily, the Commander from ancient times. There is none other God but He, the Master of the Day of Judgment, and this is the true and manifest Cause.

The splendor shining from the horizon of the heaven of My utterance be upon thee and upon them who have cast away all else save Me and taken hold of that which they were commanded in My perspicuous Book.

BH00342: O peoples of the earth! Hear ye the call…

Section 1: “O peoples of the earth! Hear ye…”

He is the Herald between Earth and Heaven!

O peoples of the earth! Hear ye the call of the Wronged One from the precincts of the Prison. Verily, He draweth you nigh unto God, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting. By God! The Day hath come, yet the people perceive it not. The Banner of the Revelation hath been raised upon the highest summit of the Mount, yet most of the people comprehend it not. Lo, the Divine Lote-Tree calleth out in the midmost heart of Paradise, and the nightingales of mystic knowledge warble upon the highest branches, yet the people hear not. They have cast the Self-Subsisting One behind their backs, clinging to the manifestations of idle fancies and vain imaginings. They have broken God’s Covenant and His Testament, yet they know it not. They have taken vain imaginings as their lord instead of God. Thus have their souls beguiled them. To this beareth witness He with Whom is the Preserved Tablet.

O Haydar-ʿAli! Upon thee be My glory, My loving-kindness and My mercy which has preceded all existence. The account of tribulation has returned, and the Lord of Names from His horizon calls out and says:

“The gate of heaven has been opened and the Promised One has come with a Book which none has comprehended save God, the Supreme, the Self-Subsisting. Remind My loved ones of My presence and give them the glad-tidings of My grace, and illumine them with the lights of My utterance. Verily thy Lord is the Mighty, the Glorious, the All-Loving.”

Say: “By God! The Fire speaks forth—the Chosen One has come with manifest sovereignty.” Verily the All-Hearing hears from all things among all things. The Hidden has been revealed through a Cause against which neither hosts nor ranks can stand. He calls out before the faces of princes with that which the True One, the Knower of the unseen, has commanded.

Today the Call is raised high, the Sun of Truth has dawned, the waves of the ocean of the Most Merciful’s utterance are manifest before all religions, yet the servants remain veiled and deprived. We complain unto Thee of those who attribute themselves to Us yet have committed that which has caused My heart and My Pen to lament until now. From various directions complaints have reached the Most Holy Court. In the land of Ha and Mim, a certain soul has acted in such way that the veil of sanctity was rent. We do not wish to mention the names of the heedless. Verily thy Lord is the Concealer, the All-Patient, the Kind, the Generous.

In brief, unworthy deeds have caused the fire of divine love to grow cold. Complaints have come from Kurdistan and other places. Glory be to God! They attribute themselves to the Lord of existence and the praiseworthy station, yet their deeds are rejected deeds. The people of Baha, concerning whom He says that a one-year-old child of that Day is mightier than all who are in the Bayan—now it is observed that through the abhorrent deeds of those nurtured by self and passion, they turn away from the Truth Itself. The previous party is now seen to be stronger, for despite wine-drinking, idol-worship, and the deceit and trickery of some companions, they did not slip from the path.

In brief, from some the known station has become unknown and the flourishing station has been laid waste. Acceptance has turned to rejection—we seek refuge in God from their words and deeds. Your honor has long dwelled beneath the pavilions of grandeur and reposed in the vicinity of mercy. You are aware of the sanctity and purity of the Cause. Wonder upon wonder! Beseech God to erase such letters by His mighty hand. God effaces what He wills and confirms what He wills, and with Him is the Mother Book.

Your honor knows how many tribulations this Wronged One has endured, how many times imprisoned, and from the earliest days until now has been in the hands of enemies. Nevertheless, night and day We have been occupied with assisting the Cause of God and voicing the exaltation of His Word, such that no fair-minded one can deny. The Cause of this Wronged One has been and is as clear as the sun. Grief has encompassed Us to such degree that its reckoning is beyond the world and its causes. Their deeds have saddened Me, their actions have weakened Me, and their words have bewildered Me. We beseech God to make His servants aware, that all may gaze toward the highest horizon and what appears from His presence, not toward those who cling to self and soar on wings of passion.

Your letter arrived and was honored to be heard before the Face. Ibn-i-Abhar, upon him be My glory, has presented a detailed account of his affairs to the Most Holy Court, therefore he is not permitted to proceed to the land of Sad. If your honor yourself, after staying some time in the land of Shin, should proceed to that land, it would be loved. Ask God to raise up such servants as are worthy of this supreme honor and mighty gift, who will summon the people of the contingent world to the horizon of the All-Merciful through wisdom and utterance.

In these days petitions from Ismi-Jamal and Ali-Qabil-Akbar, as well as a letter from Ali-Haydar, upon them be the Glory of God, have arrived addressed to Jud. Praise be to God, they are adorned with the ornament of steadfastness and are holding fast to the cord of His Cause. We beseech God to make them the banners of His remembrance among His creation and the standards of His signs amongst His servants. Verily, He is powerful over all things.

Thou didst make mention of the friends of God. Each one is favored with the waves of the ocean of divine mercy and infinite bounties. Convey to all of them the greetings of the Wronged One and say: Today is the day of mention and utterance and service to the Cause. Strive ye, that perchance in this blessed Day ye may attain unto that which shall cause your names to be mentioned in God’s Book throughout the kingdom of earth and heaven.

O Haydar! By the life of the Lord of Destiny, were the faithful to become aware of what hath been ordained for each one of them, they would see themselves above the world and would arise with complete dedication to serve the Cause. Verily thy Lord is the All-Knowing, the Expounding One. Permission was granted for thee to proceed to the land of Shin. Time and again thy mention hath been made at the Most Holy Court. Two days ago the Most Holy, Most Exalted Tablet was revealed from the heaven of God’s Will. When thou attainest unto it and findest the fragrance of thy Lord’s utterance, say:

Praise be unto Thee, O Thou Who art wronged by the world, for having illumined the hearts and minds with the lights of Thy knowledge and for having revealed unto Thy servants that which was hidden in Thy knowledge. I beseech Thee by the fire of the Tree of Thy Cause and by the lights of Thy countenance to assist Thy loved ones to perform such deeds as are befitting of Thy days. Do Thou raise up, O my God, through Thy power and sovereignty, such servants as will remember Thee, praise Thee and promote Thy Cause. Verily Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Almighty, the All-Powerful.

O Haydar-Qabil-Ali! Upon thee be My Glory and loving-kindness. The matters mentioned in the letter of Ismi-Jud were submitted to the Most Holy Court. They were seen, and at this moment the response hath been revealed from the Supreme Pen. Ibn-i-Abhar, upon him be My Glory, is occupied, as permitted, with his necessary affairs, and later, God willing, he will undertake that which will cause the Word of God to be exalted. In any case, it is essential that someone in the land of Sad should, for the sake of God, engage with perfect wisdom in reforming and educating souls. However, at present no one capable of this task can be found. We beseech God to raise up in that place and other lands one who will arise therein and give the glad-tidings of God’s Manifestation and His Cause.

His honor Aqa Siyyid Mustafa is, praise be to God, engaged in service. We beseech God to strengthen him and aid him to achieve what He loves and is pleased with, and to exalt His Cause through him. Verily, He is powerful over all things. Permission for your journey to the land of Shin was sent via telegraph through His honor Ali, upon him be My Glory. Behold the signs of God’s mercy and grace, then give thanks to thy Lord, the All-Bountiful, the Generous.

Section 2: “Thou didst make mention of the imprisoned one…”

Thou didst make mention of the imprisoned one. Previously, words were revealed from the Supreme Pen concerning him which are the cause of his salvation in this world and the next, and they are these:

My God, my God! I have turned unto Thee, holding fast to Thy cord and clinging to the hem of the robe of Thy mercy, detached from all else save Thee. Ordain for me that which will draw me nigh unto Thee and make me a helper of Thy Cause through the wisdom Thou hast revealed in Thy Book. Verily, Thou art the All-Powerful, the Almighty.

Ask thou of God that they may be assisted to achieve that which hath shone forth from the horizon of the utterance of the All-Merciful.

Thou didst mention Jinab-i-Ghulam-Qabli-Husayn, upon him be the Glory of God, who hastened, attained, heard and achieved victory. Praise be to God, they are ever remembered and are recipients of His grace. Verily, all that hath been revealed by the Supreme Pen shall, in due time, become manifest as the sun. Thy Lord is indeed the All-Knowing, the All-Informed, the Almighty, the Omnipotent. He changeth the Command as He pleaseth and will change it as He willeth. Verily, He hath come from the horizon of power, and on His right is the banner of ʿHe doeth what He willeth.’

Mention was made of the friends in Dawlatabad. Blessed are they and joy be unto them. The Wronged One hath turned His face toward them from the horizon of the prison and hath remembered them in such wise as shall endure throughout the dominion of earth and heaven. The Herald, namely the Primal Point, hath declared that a one-year-old seed of His Day is mightier than all who are in the Bayan. The few souls in Dawlatabad have, God willing, attained unto this station, for neither the doubts of the dubious nor the misgivings of the ungodly affected these souls. They are firm in the Truth and detached from aught else. Happy are they, blessed are they. Remember them on My behalf and give them the glad-tidings of My grace and mercy.

Hadi of Dawlatabad is truly observed to be one of the turbaned folk of the Shi’ih party. Say: O hapless one! Thou who wert a Shi’ih, why didst thou abandon it only to cleave to it again? The fruit of this will be that, like that same party, thou wilt engage in cursing and reviling the Truth, and ultimately pronounce the verdict for His martyrdom. Dost thou recall what issued from thy tongue at the beginning of the Revelation? We were not present with thee, yet We heard thine unseemly words. In any case, that heedless one is occupied with arranging Jabulqa and Jabulsa and the realm of falsehood. Say:

O my God, my God! Purify the hearts of Thy servants from the mention of aught else but Thee, and illumine them with the lights of Thy knowledge. Then assist them to turn unto Thee and to behold Thy signs and to hearken unto the rustling of Thy Pen. Verily Thou art the One Who hath power over whatsoever He willeth, and Thou art the Protector, the Self-Subsisting.

Thou didst mention His Honor the Secretary, upon him be the Glory of God. He hath been and is beneath the glance of grace. We beseech God to assist His loved ones in that which will cause the exaltation of His Word and lead to eternal and abiding remembrance. At the end of the utterance, this most exalted word is revealed in response to the request of His Honor Ali, upon him be the Glory of God: Should you tarry for a while in the Land of Shin with wisdom, it would be acceptable in the presence of the Wronged One, and should you meet with certain ones for a few days with complete wisdom, it would not be without fruit, for We have accepted the petition of His Honor Ali. Verily thy Lord is the Ordainer, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Your servant’s other letter dated the second of Sha’ban arrived at this moment when the Most Exalted Pen is in motion. We saw and heard that you again mentioned the friends of Dawlatabad. Blessed are they! Praise be to God, they have attained eternal prosperity. We beseech God to strengthen them at all times to dispel vain imaginings and to establish that which hath been sent down from the heaven of God’s will, the Lord of the worlds. O Haydar-ʿAli! Upon thee be My glory. This station that was mentioned is most great—this is the station wherein “God doth blot out or confirm what He pleaseth, and with Him is the Mother Book.”

The mention of the people of that land hath repeatedly flowed from the Most Exalted Pen, and each one hath attained that before which the world is as naught and non-existent. Give them once again the glad-tidings of My loving-kindness and remind them of that which hath been sent down for them from the heaven of My Pen. In the days when all the rulers of the earth arose to extinguish the fire and put out the light, the deluded souls remained veiled behind the clouds of fancy, and when the light of the Cause shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of will and the fire of wrath and might somewhat subsided, they ran forth like wolves from the jungles of self and passion and purposed that which caused the highest Paradise and the exalted Garden to tremble. We beseech God to grant His servants a portion from the ocean of wisdom, that perchance they may act with justice and not conceal the Truth, exalted be His glory, and His signs behind the veils of rejection and denial. He is the Powerful, the Mighty.

Thou didst mention ʿAli-Akbar—upon him be My glory and loving-kindness. This word of thine is accounted among the most sublime words, for from it wafteth the fragrance of love and harmony and unity, which have ever been well-pleasing before the Throne. Well is it with thee and well is it with him, blessed art thou and blessed is he. And by this word thou hast again become the possessor of the word of divine good-pleasure. Give thanks unto thy Lord for a bounty the like and similitude of which none can find were it to remain suspended in the heaven of thy Lord’s will. Say: Thine is the praise, O Lord of all names, and Thine is the glory, O Thou in Whose grasp is the dominion of earth and heaven, and Thine is the grace, O Thou Who art the Lord of justice, and Thine is the bounty, O Thou Who art the Sovereign of creation. I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which earthquakes seized all the tribes, to aid Thy loved ones, Thy chosen ones, Thy envoys and Thy trustees to perform such deeds and make such mention as will tranquilize souls and illumine hearts. Verily Thou art God, the Mighty, the Beloved.

O Haydar-ʿAli! Repeatedly have answers to thy questions been sent down. Verily, thy Lord is the Bestower, the Mighty, the All-Knowing. Concerning the Shadow, all must remain silent. The loved ones must not utter a word without God’s leave. Once again, make mention of the friends on behalf of the Wronged One. They have ever been and shall ever remain remembered. We beseech God to unite all and illumine them with the light of harmony, that they may arise to serve and be detached and free from all else but God. Praise be to God, thou hast been successful and hast associated with the servants in a spirit of joy and fragrance.

The names mentioned, both past and present, have each attained unto the Most Holy, Most Exalted Tablet. Blessed is he who hath attained unto the pearls of divine knowledge from the ocean of his Lord’s utterance, the Mighty, the Bestower. God willing, may they discover the fragrances of the Tablets. These fragrances enhance sight, hearing, speech and utterance. O My loved ones! Strive that perchance ye may purify the world from the dust and smoke of greed and hatred. By the life of God! Should they who have turned to Him arise as they ought, ere long they shall witness all regions as one region and all the sections of the earth as a single section. To this beareth witness the Mother Book in this exalted station.

The glory shining from the horizon of the heaven of My Kingdom be upon thee and upon them that love thee and serve thee and hearken to thy word in this mighty and wondrous Cause.

BH04772: The Promise hath come, and He Who is Promised…

Section 1: “The Promise hath come, and He Who…”

In the Name of the All-Knowing Expositor!

The Promise hath come, and He Who is Promised declareth: O thou who art mentioned before the Throne and who standest before the Face! If today a single word were to appear from the treasuries of the love of God’s chosen ones, the ignorant ones of the earth would arise to extinguish the lights of the Manifestation of Him Who conversed on Sinai. For a time, silence must needs be observed. Mirza Baqir, who is now called Sadr’ul-ʿUlama, once attained Our presence in Iraq. Verily, We found him bereft of knowledge and wisdom. Later in the land of Taff he became an associate of Siyyid Muhammad. What he heard thereafter is evident. By God’s life, it was and is not worthy of mention. Siyyid Muhammad, Hadi and he were not with Us and are ignorant of the root of the Cause. Likewise, Ibn-i-Mas’ud met Us but once. These souls have been mentioned and counted in the Book of God by the Divine Pen as being like the narrators of Jabulqa and Jabulsa and the realm of falsehood.

Glory be to God! What were the signs of the Manifestation, and from where did the Qa’im appear? Say: O people of the Bayan, speak with justice and fairness. Do not again afflict the helpless people with vain imaginings. Today the Finger of Power hath rent asunder the veils of glory and removed the coverings. Be not occupied, like the former people, with tyranny, oppression and the shedding of blood. These have taken vain imagination as their lord instead of God. By My life, they were and are deprived of truthfulness and sincerity. The foul odor of deceitful souls hath altered and destroyed the cities of truth and purity. Praise and thanks be to God that such souls who are the dawning-places of hypocrisy in the world have not entered the luminous garden of inner meanings. In times of fear they are the first to deny, and in times of security the first to believe. The life and conduct of such souls is an eloquent witness and truthful testimony to their falsehood and hypocrisy. For were they truthful, they would have attained martyrdom. Nay, by God! They were not and are not worthy of this station and deserving of this most great favor.

He who hath been named Sadr’ul-Ulama without merit partaketh of the king’s salt, yet from head to foot manifest signs of his ingratitude are evident and visible. In the mosque and in the presence of the divines he is counted among the defenders of religion, while before the government authorities he is mentioned as being of that party. Strange it is that to this day the government authorities have not recognized such souls. Night and day they are occupied with deceit and cunning. They led Ahmad Kirmani astray through false accusations that caused the lamentation of truth and the wailing of justice to be raised up, yet His Excellency the Deputy, despite being informed, issued no judgment in accordance with justice. You and the fair-minded know that Dawlat-Abadi and Mirza Baqir Isfahani—who without merit was named Sadr’ul-Ulama—are the instigators, and each day they are occupied with digging pits for the government and these wronged ones. God will soon reveal what is in their hearts through His exalted Word in the Surih of Luqman:

“If it be the weight of a grain of mustard seed, and though it be in a rock, or in the heavens, or in the earth, God will bring it forth…”

to the end of the verse.

O thou who art remembered before the Wronged One! This is the Day wherein hidden things shall be made manifest. The treachery of the eyes and the secrets of the hearts have been and shall be revealed. Blessed are the fair-minded ones! For forty years this Wronged One hath held the reins of affairs and summoned the people of God to tranquility, dignity and love for the sovereign, taking from them a firm covenant that they would not, under any circumstances, molest anyone in the dominions of His Majesty the Sultan—may the All-Merciful assist him—even should the heedless tear them asunder, piece by piece. A clear witness and faithful testimony to this is the recent incident in the land of Yazd, where the steadfast and assured souls folded their arms while those bereft of justice and fairness cut seven souls to pieces, then stoned them, then extracted their pure and holy bodies from beneath the stones, set them aflame with oil and burned them, and then commanded the Jews to carry away their bones and cast them into pits.

Glory be to God! First they seized whatever worldly goods they possessed. Verily, such tyranny was manifested as hath had no parallel from the beginning of the world until now. Then they martyred His Eminence Khalil with the most grievous torment. They have drunk of the blood of the believers in such measure as neither the Tigris nor the Euphrates, neither the Oxus nor the Sihon can equal.

O son of Abhar! Say to the Greater Nabil and Fadil: By the life of God! The cord of divine prevention hath bound their mighty hands, and the chain of the firm decree of the Lord hath held them back from aggression. In the early dawn, the breezes of the All-Merciful’s mercy passed over what remained of those bodies, and from their rustling was heard that which caused tablet and pen to weep. Some of these wronged ones had no mother to weep and lament for them; therefore did the Mother of the Bayan lament and the Mother of the Book weep. Have the tyrannical souls not yet awakened? Say: O people! Hold fast to justice and fairness, and cling to the hem of God’s religion. Religion is a manifest light and an impregnable fortress for the protection and preservation of the people of the world. How excellent was that which was formerly spoken:

Whatever thou seest save His love—that is religion, paint it in thy heart; Whatever thou findest save God—that is an idol, break it to pieces.

O son of Abhar! Upon thee be the Glory of God, the Lord of Destiny! Today the people of Baha must cleave unto unity and concord, and through wisdom and utterance adorn the people of the world with the light of justice and fairness. Glory be to God! Until now His Majesty the King hath not become aware of the good intent of this Wronged One, though the people of God are well aware of it. This Wronged One hath, in most of His Tablets, made mention of His Majesty and hath beseeched from God—glorified be His mention—justice for him and sought fairness on his behalf. We beseech the Most High at this moment to illumine him with the light of justice which shall endure as long as the Kingdom of God, the Mighty, the Wondrous, shall endure. It is hoped that His Majesty the sovereign will consider the Covenant of this Wronged One as binding. That which hath been recorded by the Most Exalted Pen cannot be effaced, nor will it be altered by the passage of time. The Book itself beareth witness to this in this glorious and resplendent station.

O son of Abhar! We beseech God in these days to sanctify and purify the gatherings of His loved ones from the hypocrites, and to illumine and adorn them with the light of power and certitude, that perchance the world may be illumined by this brilliant and radiant light. This is the Day of steadfastness and the Day of utterance. The pearls of wisdom and utterance and the gems of knowledge and understanding have appeared and continue to appear from the mine of man. Blessed is he who hath forsaken all else, holding fast unto My Strong Cord. With thy Lord is the knowledge of all things in a Clear Book.

O son of Abhar! The ocean of divine utterance is seen to be surging, and the effulgences of the Sun of Truth are so radiantly manifest that the eyes of those near unto God fall short of beholding them. Beseech the True One that He may cause the people of Baha to appear in such wise that none shall find occasion for turning away or objecting. That which is the cause of supreme joy in the Most Holy and Most Glorious Court is that in these days, when various factions in Iran have each clung to that which is contrary to the government, the people of Baha, through God’s grace, have held fast to the cord of patience and clung to the hem of resignation. No act that would cause mischief or give rise to discord hath appeared from them, despite the fire of oppression that was kindled in the land of Ya and the smoke that encompassed the land of Ta. Would that the government were aware of the intention and commandments that have been sent forth to all regions from the heaven of the will of the Most Exalted Pen.

Section 2: “The people of Iran had no educator…”

The people of Iran had no educator and reached maturity without training. Therefore their badge and garment have been and continue to be ignorance and discourtesy. Say: O people! The first ornament for the temple of man is courtesy. Hold fast unto it and be not of the heedless ones. In the Tablet of the World, the degrees and stations of courtesy have been revealed and sent down from the heaven of knowledge. Blessed is he who hath attained thereunto. Verily it is among the pearls of the shells of this mighty ocean. Well is it with him who hath witnessed, seen and acted according to that which was commanded in the Tablets of God, the Lord of the worlds.

Should anyone ask thee about the Glory, say: He is under the claws of hatred; and should anyone ask thee about the Ark of God, say: It is amidst the waves. By God’s life! We behold the lamp amid the winds. Despite the afflictions that have befallen Us and the calamities that have descended and encompassed Us, the tongue of grandeur in the prison speaketh forth with manifest verses, and the Most Exalted Pen moveth in remembrance of the loved ones. The loved ones and leaves in that land have been and are remembered in the court of the Wronged One. In accordance with the requirements of wisdom, We have concealed their names. Say: This is the day of steadfastness, this is the day of triumph, and this is the day for the appearance of the gems of human meaning from the mine of man. We beseech and implore God that He may protect the Hands of His Cause and make them manifest with that which beseemeth His days and adorn them therewith. He is the Powerful, the Mighty. In truth I say: whosoever appeareth today with the light of supreme steadfastness is recorded and inscribed by the Most Exalted Pen in the Crimson Book as being of the company of the exalted ones.

As to those in the land of whom thou didst make mention, We have heard and hearkened. The friends in that land occupy the first rank in the Divine Book. We fervently hope that in that exalted land vain imaginings will not spread and that all may be illumined and attain unto true divine unity. We are with Our loved ones, We hear and see, and verily We are the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. All the friends of that land have been and are remembered in the Most Holy Court. Adorn thou kindred T and A with the essence of divine glorification and say: Verily, We are with thee in all conditions. The fruits of the tree of man are trust in God and steadfastness. Hold fast unto these through a command from God, the Ordainer, the All-Wise.

Each one of the friends must be as firm and steadfast as a mountain and must regard the opposers and deniers as non-existent. If someone attains unto the station of hearkening to the Most Exalted Word, they should convey it. If it is accepted, the purpose is achieved; if not, contention is vain. We beseech God to aid the people of Baha in that which conduces to unity, concord, love and fellowship. He is the Powerful, the Mighty. In these days, due to the absence of hearing faculties, silence is preferable until such time as God creates another people—a promise from Him. He is the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous. Ere long shall the pavilion of divine glory encompass the world. O people of God! These sublime words and resplendent verses were previously revealed specifically for one of the friends. It is beloved that the people of Baha should recite them in a state of detachment and devotion, that they may attain unto that which diffuses the fragrance of acceptance. Command and judgment are in the grasp of God’s will, the Lord of all worlds.

He is the One Who speaketh in the Kingdom of Utterance

The essence of praise and glorification and the reality of thanksgiving and laudation befit the Most Holy and Exalted Court of Him Who is the Possessor of all existence and the Sovereign of the unseen and the seen, Who hath caused innumerable books to bow down before the ranks of letters, and through the hosts of words hath raised the banners of verses in the precincts of hearts and minds, and hath manifested the ocean of knowledge before the faces of all religions through the waves of wisdom and utterance. Through one point from the preamble of the Book of Grace He shed light upon the world; the trees and fruits spoke with most eloquent utterance the blessed word “The All-Merciful hath come.”

Through one drop from the ocean of His mercy bestowed upon the lands of existence, the fruits of knowledge and wisdom and the mysteries of truth and recognition became manifest and evident. His is the grace and power, His the grandeur and authority. The might of the world could not weaken His strength, and the power of nations could not prevent His authority. In all conditions He spoke “The Kingdom is God’s, the Most High.” The cawing of the crows and the clamor of the transgressors could not prevent His will, nor impede the influence of His purpose. Despite the rancor of the divines and the might of rulers, the Supreme Pen moved at all times, speaking these sublime words in most eloquent language:

My God, my God! Thou hast lit the lamp of Thy Cause with the oil of wisdom; protect it from contrary winds. The lamp is Thine, the glass is Thine, all things in heaven and earth are in the grasp of Thy power. Grant justice to rulers and fairness to divines. Thou art the One Who, through the movement of the Pen, hath aided Thy conclusive Cause and guided Thy loved ones. Thou art the Possessor of power and the King of might. There is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the Self-Subsisting.

O Son of Abhar! Upon thee be My glory! Convey to his honour ʿA.T. a most holy greeting from the Wronged One, sanctified from the defilements of the world. We have once again made mention of him, that he may detach himself from all else save God and hold fast to the cord of the Most Great Steadfastness, and cling to that which God hath ordained.

O ʿAttar! Upon thee be My glory! Convey greetings and salutations to all the members of that household. All are illumined by the fragrances of divine revelation and the sweet-scented breezes of inspiration. Of the Tablets thou didst request, some have been sent, and others will be forwarded later. In these days, the matter of mention and writing hath reached such a pass that time hath become like the philosopher’s stone for the scribes present. The remembered and the non-existent are alike. Make mention of the other friends who are scattered abroad. Verily thy Lord is the All-Bountiful, the Ever-Flowing, the Mighty, the All-Giving. The glory shining forth from the horizon of the heaven of My loving-kindness and the light radiating from the direction of My grace be upon thee and upon those whom doubt hath not prevented from drawing nigh unto God, the Lord of the Mighty Throne.

BH00351: This is the Epistle of God, the Help-in-Peril…

Section 1: “This is the Epistle of God, the Help-in-Peril…”

This is the Epistle of God, the Help-in-Peril, the Self-Subsisting

He is God, exalted is He in wisdom and utterance

O Ghulam-Qabli-ʿAli! Repeatedly has thy mention been made in the presence of the Wronged One, and likewise the letters thou hast sent to the friends of God have each been presented and heard. From the heaven of especial bounty, replies have repeatedly been sent down for thee and for Mihdi. Blessed art thou for having confined thy affairs to the remembrance and praise of God and the promotion of His Cause. We beseech God to aid thee and thy son in that which befitteth His Most Great Cause and His Mighty Call.

His Honor Ismu’llah, upon him be My Glory, forwarded thy letter to the Most Holy Court several days ago. It was perused and heard. Well is it with thee and with those who have drunk the choice wine of utterance from the hand of the bounty of their Lord, the All-Merciful. By choice wine is meant at times the divine verses themselves, and at times His love—whoso drinketh thereof shall never thirst. This choice wine bestoweth life and conferreth eternal existence. In another sense, what is meant by it are the hidden pearls within the utterance of the Goal of all worlds, and its chalices are the writings revealed by the Supreme Pen. This choice wine shall never perish but hath been and ever shall be preserved by divine will, sealed with the seal of infallibility. When by God’s leave We removed its seal in this Most Great Revelation by the hand of power, the sincere ones, those near to God, and those who were ready perceived its fragrance and hastened toward it.

In one station, choice wine refers to the means that lead man to his Source and spread the carpet of detachment before him. In another station, choice wine is the blessed word of unity itself—whoso attaineth unto it hath attained unto the knowledge of God, the Lord of all worlds. And in yet another station, it hath been and is His Hands of the Cause—they are the cupbearers of the choice wine of recognition. Blessed is the soul that hath attained thereunto. Within this choice wine lieth concealed true investigation. Every ear that hath been blessed to hear it is numbered with the dwellers of the City of Immortality in the sight of God. This is the water that bestoweth eternal life and is the cause of everlasting existence. Today the Hand of God giveth and bestoweth. We beseech Him to enable all to attain unto this spiritual, true choice wine and to deprive no one. He is the Bountiful, the Powerful.

O Ghulam! Were ye to count its meanings, ye could not reckon them. Praise the Goal of the world Who hath turned toward thee on this night of the blessed month of Ramadan and maketh mention of thee. His Honor Amin hath set out for those parts several days ago. We beseech God to make him like rain clouds for the soil of His knowledge, that ears of recognition may spring forth therefrom for the followers of all religions. Verily He is the Powerful, the Mighty, the Bestower.

Thou didst mention those who have turned toward God. Each hath been blessed with His grace and adorned with the ornament of His greatest mention. However, O Ghulam, upon thee be My Glory, each day petitions arrive at the Most Holy Court, and likewise letters to the friends, each bearing numerous names. Therefore time hath become like the rarest elixir—scarce, nay, unobtainable. Hence if replies are delayed, there is and hath been no harm in this. Praise be to God, whosoever turneth toward Him is blessed in that moment, before it and after it, with God’s mention and the attention of His merciful grace. Verily thy Lord is the Master of existence and the Knower of things unseen. There is no God but He, the Single, the One, the Mighty, the Beloved.

O Ghulam-Husayn-i-Harami-baf! Upon thee be the Glory of God

O Ghulam-i-Qabli-Husayn! The Lord of the worlds hath made mention of thee from His Most Great Prison. We testify that thou hast attained unto His remembrance, hast turned toward His horizon, and hast drunk the choice wine of His love from the hand of the bounty of His loved ones who have cast aside the world and taken hold of that which they were bidden by God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

O ʿAli-i-Qabli-Akbar! The hidden mystery hath been made manifest and the Most Great Countenance illumined with the light of the Countenance. By God! The Cause hath appeared quicker than the twinkling of an eye. It behooveth him who hath believed in destiny to cast aside what the people possess and to turn with his heart unto God, the Lord of the Mighty Throne. Thou hast at this hour attained unto My mention, My acceptance and My turning toward thee. Well is it with thee and with him who hath attained unto this manifest Cause.

O Isma’il! Art thou still or in motion, art thou attracted or holding fast? Cast aside the paths of the ascetics who have broken God’s covenant and His testament in this most wondrous, most mighty, most great and glorious Manifestation.

O Mir Abu’l-Qasim! Thy name was present before the Wronged One, and He hath made mention of thee in such wise as hath caused the fragrance of the Merciful’s garment to waft throughout all creation. When thou findest and knowest, say:

“Praise be unto Thee, O Lord of the worlds, for having adorned me with the ornament of Thy utterance while I was among the heedless among Thy servants. I beseech Thee to make me so strong through Thy power that neither the doubts of the wayward among the people of the Bayan nor the might of the divines of Iran may hold me back. Verily Thou art the One Who hath power over whatsoever He willeth, and in Thy grasp are the reins of all who are in the heavens and on earth.”

O Mir Muhammad-ʿAli! Hast thou turned toward the Most High Horizon or art thou among those who hesitate? Say:

“By Thy glory, O Thou the Desire of the world! I have turned unto Thee and have turned away from all else beside Thee. Verily Thou hearest and seest, and Thou art the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.”

O Mahmud! Upon thee be My glory. Hearken unto My call which hath been raised from My station and draweth all nigh unto the Dayspring of God’s revelation, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. Take hold of thy Lord’s verses with strength from Him. Say:

“Praise be unto Thee, O Thou Who hast illumined my heart with the light of Thy knowledge and hast sent down unto me that which hath attracted the hearts of those who are endowed with understanding.”

O Muhammad-i-Qabli-Baqir! Thou hast attained unto My mention, My verses and My tablets. Blessed art thou for having turned unto the Desired One in the earliest days and for having drunk the sealed wine when most of mankind were debarred therefrom. Glory be upon thee and upon thy father and upon those who have turned unto the Countenance and have acknowledged that which hath been sent down from the heaven of God’s will, the Mighty, the Powerful.

O Muhammad-Aqa! We have indeed found the fragrance of thy love and have witnessed thy turning toward Us. We have turned toward thee and made mention of thee in such wise as to illuminate the horizon of love amongst the servants. We beseech God to assist thee in His remembrance and to adorn thee with the Most Great Steadfastness. Verily He is the Mighty, the All-Knowing, the Wise.

We make mention of Aqa Baba and give him the glad-tidings of God’s remembrance of him, and We counsel him with that whereby the stations of man are elevated in the contingent world. Verily He hath power over whatsoever He willeth. There is none other God but He, the Single, the One, the Mighty, the Great. O son of my heart! The servant hath made mention of thee, and We have sent down from the heaven of Our mercy that which causeth the flowers of knowledge and wisdom to spring forth from the soil of hearts. Be thankful and say:

“Praise be unto Thee, O Thou the Goal of the world! And glory be unto Thee, O Thou the Beloved of those who are in the heavens and on earth!”

Section 2: “His honor Arbab ʿAli, upon him be…”

His honor Arbab ʿAli, upon him be the Glory of God!

O Arbab ʿAli! Praise thy Lord, for He hath turned unto thee and heard thy call. He hath answered thee with words through which the rain of bounty hath descended from the clouds of God’s mercy. Blessed is the servant who hath attained thereunto and recognized its station, and woe unto the heedless.

His honor Ghulam-Husayn, upon him be the Glory of God!

O Ghulam-Husayn! Who enabled thee to turn unto Him? Say: God, the Mighty, the Powerful! And who made thee know His Cause? Say: He Who created me, through His grace, for He is the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous! And who mentioned thee on this darksome night? Say: My Lord, the Forgiving, the Merciful! Blessed is the ear that hath been honored to hear the Call, and the eye that hath beheld the signs of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

His honor Aqa Siyyid Muhammad, upon him be the Glory of God!

O Tongue of Grandeur! One of thy branches, who is named Diya, is commanded to make mention of him who is named Muhammad after Siyyid, that he may inhale the fragrance of God, the Self-Subsisting. He hath turned unto him and remembered him with verses from which the light of God, the Mighty, the Loving, hath shone forth. O Muhammad! We have made mention of him who hath turned toward Our horizon, and have sent down for him that whereby the heaven of bounty hath rained upon all who dwell in the kingdom of creation. Verily thy Lord is the Powerful over what He willeth, and He is the Truth, the Knower of things unseen.

His honor Aqa Husayn-i-Shikari, upon him be the glory of God

O Husayn! The Wronged One maketh mention of thee from this His Station that hath been named with the Most Beautiful Names of God, that thou mayest render thanks unto thy Lord, the Sovereign of all existence. He hath willed to make mention of His loved ones in this exalted Station. Beware lest the veils of the people hold thee back, or the tyranny of those who have denied the Promised One deter thee.

His honor Ustad Husayn, upon him be the glory of God

O Husayn! Hearken unto the Call from this Most Glorious Horizon. Verily, it hath been raised up in truth by the Lord of the seen and the unseen. Blessed is the servant who hath been privileged to witness the Days of God and hath inhaled the fragrances of the Bayan from His preserved Tablet. Cast away that which the people possess and take hold of that which thou hast been commanded by the Lord, the Sovereign of the hosts. Render praise unto Thee, O Light of the world, for having made mention of us in Thy Most Great Prison. I bear witness that Thou hast manifested that which was treasured in knowledge and hidden from all eyes.

His honor Aqa Ismail, upon him be the glory of God

O Ismail! The discourse of sacrifice hath returned, and the Most Great Sacrifice hath appeared, yet most of the people understand not that the Promised One hath been made manifest through divine favor, hath ascended the throne of glory, while most men recognize Him not. They have cast the command of God behind their backs, clinging to their vain imaginings. Behold the Revelation of thy Lord, His power and His sovereignty—verily, He hath appeared and manifested whatsoever He desired through His word “Be, and it is.” How many a sacrifice did We send forth with the spirit and divine fragrance, who offered up his life upon this extended Path! Thus hath the matter been decreed by God, the Lord of this frequented House.

His honor Mirza Faraj’u’llah, upon him be the glory of God

O Faraj’u’llah! We have made mention of thee and of those who have believed, with a mention that hath encompassed the world, yet the people comprehend not. They have denied the Proof of God and His testimony, and have committed that which hath caused the near ones to lament. They have cast aside the Book of God and seized upon their desires, though they perceive it not.

His honor Aqa Muhammad-Rida, upon him be the glory of God

O Muhammad-Qabli-Rida! Blessed is the servant who hath drunk the choice wine of utterance from the chalice of My bounty and hath attained unto the traces of My Pen—that Pen which, when It moveth upon the Tablet, causeth all existence, both seen and unseen, to move. Blessed art thou, inasmuch as the Ancient Beauty hath turned toward thee from this forbidden quarter.

Jinab-i-Aqa Shukru’llah, upon him be the Glory of God

O Shukru’llah! Give thanks unto thy Lord, for the ocean of God’s loving-kindness, the Lord of all worlds, hath turned toward thee. Say: I thank Thee, O my God, and I praise Thee, O my Lord, and I remember Thee, O Thou Master of them that know. I beseech Thee, by the breathings of Thy Revelation, to assist me in that which beseemeth Thy glorious Day.

Jinab-i-Aqa Siyyid Kazim, upon him be the Glory of God

O Kazim, after Siyyid! The Countenance of the Ancient One hath turned toward thee from this exalted station, and remembereth thee with that which draweth thee nigh unto God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. Blessed is he who hath heard the shrill voice of My Pen, hath attained unto My days, and hath witnessed that which the tongue of My grandeur hath witnessed. He is indeed of the people of Baha in the crimson Tablet, as attested by Him with Whom is the perspicuous Book.

Jinab-i-Mirza Ghulam-Husayn, upon him be the Glory of God

O Ghulam-Qabl-ʿAli! Thy letter hath been sent unto My Namesake, he that is named Mihdi, upon whom be My glory, after this perspicuous Tablet had been revealed for thee. Verily, He remembered thee before, and remembereth thee again hereafter. Thy Lord, in truth, remembereth whoso hath turned unto Him. He, verily, is the Compassionate, the All-Knowing, the Wise. The glory of God rest upon thee, and upon such as are with thee in this manifest Cause. And as to what thou didst mention concerning the mount, We, verily, bestowed it upon whomsoever desired to send it. We beseech God to ordain for him the recompense of that which he purposed. He, in truth, is the Lord of His servants in the beginning and in the end.

O Ghulam-Qabl-ʿAli! We repeatedly make mention of the friends in that land. Of Ibrahim, upon whom be My glory, mention is made at one time as Nazir, and at another as Mulla Ahmad. For years hath he been occupied, by night and by day, in service. For a time the office of supplying water to the Sacred House of God was his, and at another time he was engaged, as was meet and proper, in the bathhouse. Unto all his kindred, one and all, convey, on behalf of this Wronged One, the greeting of grandeur.

Repeatedly hath he made mention of his two brothers, and in every instance hath he attained unto the remembrance of the Dayspring of the light of Divine Unity. We beseech God to enable Ibrahim in his service, and to make him steadfast in His love and in His Cause. He, verily, is the All-Powerful, the Mighty, the Subduer, the Almighty.

BH00353: In this day the Sun declares “The All-Bestowing One…

Section 1: “In this day the Sun declares “The All-Bestowing…”

In His Name, the Dawning-Place from the Horizon of Utterance!

In this day the Sun declares “The All-Bestowing One has come!” and all things proclaim “The Creator of the heavens has come!” The Divine Lote-Tree gives glad tidings to all trees, leaves and fruits, announcing the appearance of the Hidden Treasure and the Concealed Mystery, and congratulates the mountains of the world upon Mount Sinai, for in these days it drinks from the cup of reunion and partakes of the Kawthar of meeting after despair, finding intimacy with its Interlocutor. From the Supreme Pen upon every leaf of leaves is inscribed this exalted word: “Pass beyond the winds and move by the will of God.”

O Zayn! Upon thee be My glory and My loving-kindness. The Most Sublime Vision hath appeared and the Lord of Destiny speaketh with the mysteries of wisdom and utterance. Yet heedless souls cling to means whose transience is more evident than the sun, while remaining veiled and oblivious to the Most Great Ocean of God, each drop of which giveth life to the world. It is not known what Dawlat-Abadi, in his heedlessness, hath understood, by what proof he accepted the Primal Point, and by what evidence he turned away from the Truth Itself, exalted be His glory. O Zayn! Beseech God that He may, through the ocean of His bounty and grace, awaken the heedless ones and adorn them with justice and fairness, that all may attain to that which is the cause of eternal salvation. By the life of God! The Supreme Pen speaketh these words purely through grace, that perchance the helpless servants may not again be afflicted by the vain imaginings of the party, and be not deprived of the Kawthar of the All-Merciful’s utterance.

O Zayn! Upon thee be My glory and My mercy. The letter of Mulla Baqir which he sent to thee was presented at the Most Holy Court and attained unto Our hearing. Well is it with him! We have indeed found the fragrance of his love. We mentioned him before with verses that testified to his acceptance on a day wherein most of the servants turned away from God, the Lord of the worlds. We desired to mention those whose mention he sought, as a mercy and grace from Us, and verily I am the All-Bountiful, the All-Generous.

O Husayn (the master craftsman)! Hearken unto the call of God, the King, the Truth, the Manifest Justice, Who speaketh before the faces of the world and summoneth all unto the One, the All-Informed. The tempests of the oppressors deterred Him not, nor did the hurricanes of the idolaters. The veils of those who denied the Day of Judgment hindered Him not. When thou hast drunk the choice wine of My utterance and found the fragrance of My loving-kindness, say:

“My God, my God! Thou seest Thy servant standing before the door of Thy grace, asking of Thee that which will draw him nigh unto Thee in all conditions. O my Lord! I beseech Thee by the pearls of the ocean of Thy wisdom and the mysteries hidden in Thy knowledge, to make me steadfast in Thy Cause in such wise that the doubts of them that have disbelieved in Thee and in Thy signs will not shake me. Verily, Thou art the All-Powerful, the Almighty.”

O Muhammad-Taqi! Hear the call of the Wronged One from the horizon of tribulation. Verily, there is no God but Me, the Mighty, the All-Praised. Tribulation hath not prevented Me from the Lord of Names. I have manifested the Cause before the faces of the rulers with evident sovereignty. Blessed is the servant whom neither the tyrants of the earth nor its Pharaohs have prevented from drawing nigh unto God, the Powerful, the Strong, the Dominant, the Mighty. When the attraction of the Call from the Supreme Horizon taketh hold of thee, say:

“I beseech Thee, O Creator of the heavens and Lord of Names, by the places that were honored by the glances of Thy loving-kindness and were ennobled by Thy footsteps, and wherein arose Thy sighs for what befell Thee from Thine enemies, to make me so steadfast in Thy love that through my steadfastness Thy servants and creatures may become steadfast. Verily, Thou art God, the One, the Single, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.”

O Abraham! Can sorrows prevent Me, or tribulations frighten Me, or power weaken Me, or names veil Me? Nay, by My Most Great Throne and My Mighty Message! I have proclaimed the Cause before the faces of kings and subjects alike, and summoned all through wisdom and utterance to the horizon of the All-Merciful. Among them are those who heard and turned away, those who pronounced judgment against Me, and those who imprisoned Me in this remote place. When the breezes of the morn of My Revelation stir thee and the wine of My utterance intoxicates thee, say:

My God, my God! By Thy might and Thy majesty, Thy greatness and Thy power! Separation from Thee hath destroyed me and Thy remoteness hath consumed me. Thou seest me, O my God, in the fire of separation and remoteness. Where is the river of Thy presence, O Thou Desire of the world? By Thy might! My heart findeth no rest save in the remembrance of reunion with Thee, and mine eye is not solaced except by the collyrium of Thy grace. For what purpose didst Thou create it and reveal it, if Thou deniest it the vision of Thy horizon? O Lord! Deny not existence the signs of Thy bounty and generosity, nor human temples the ornament of Thy mercy and forgiveness. O Lord! The livers of the lovers are melted in their separation from the precincts of Thy nearness. I beseech Thee by the ocean of Thy verses and the heaven of Thy mercy to make me steadfast in Thy Cause and firm in Thy love, such that I may see all else as non-existent before the manifestations of Thy grandeur and as nothing before the revelations of the lights of Thy countenance. Thou art verily the Mighty, the Powerful, the Great.

We beseech God to forgive thy father and to send down upon him at all times a blessing from His presence and a mercy from His side, and to make him hear His verses and behold the mysteries of His dominion and kingdom. He is verily the Mighty, the Unconstrained.

O Muhammad, son of Hasan! The Wronged One remembereth thee through verses which God hath made to be the Kawthar of everlasting life unto His loved ones, that thou mayest render thanks unto thy Lord, the Forgiving, the Merciful. Blessed art thou, inasmuch as thou didst drink the cup of tribulation in the Cause of God, the Fashioner of the heavens, and didst hear the mockery of the adversaries in the path of God, the Lord of the sincere—when once again the breezes of My loving-kindness shall quicken thee. Say:

“Praise be unto Thee, O Lord of mankind, and Sovereign of the Throne and of the dust, for that Thou didst remember me whilst I was amidst the hands of the oppressors among Thy servants. Would that I had been lost and my ear had never heard that which befell Thee in Thy days! I beseech Thee, O Desire of the world and Beloved of the nations, by Thy Most Great Name, to make me moved by Thy will, attracted by Thy verses, and clinging fast unto the cord of steadfastness in Thy Cause. Thou art verily potent to do whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful, O Lord of the seen and the unseen.”

Make mention of him who was named Hasan, son of Barat, and give him glad tidings of the heaven of Thy grace and the ocean of Thy bounty, that he may soar on the wings of detachment in this holy, exalted, and gracious air. O Hasan! If thou takest flight upon the wings of trust and detachment, and drinkest the choice wine of utterance from the cup of thy Lord’s favor, then say:

“My God, my God! Praise be unto Thee, inasmuch as Thou hast fulfilled Thy promise, manifested Thy Cause, sent down Thy verses, and united the hearts of Thy loved ones. I beseech Thee by the lamentation of them that have drawn nigh unto Thee in their separation from Thee, and by the cry of the sincere in Thy days, to grant that mine ear may be honored by hearkening unto Thy call, and mine eye may glory in beholding Thy signs. O Lord! This is a Day wherein the ocean of Thy bounty hath surged and the fragrance of Thy grace hath been wafted abroad. I beseech Thee not to deprive me of that which Thou hast ordained for Thy faithful servants, through whom the day-star of justice hath shone forth amidst Thy creatures. There is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the Bestower.”

O Baqir, son of ʿAli! Sanctify thine ear from that which it heard aforetime, and purify thine eye from that which it witnessed and beheld, that the former may hear My sweetest call and the latter may gaze upon My most great signs. Say:

“Praise be unto Thee, O my God, my Lord, my Stay, and my Hope, for that Thou hast made known unto me Thy path, taught me Thy tidings, and given me utterance through Thy remembrance. I beseech Thee by Thy Cause, whereby Thou hast subdued hearts and souls, to aid me to celebrate Thy praise and extol Thy glory with that wisdom whereunto Thou hast commanded me in Thy Book. Thou art verily the Almighty, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.”

Section 2: “The Wronged One wishes to mention him who…”

The Wronged One wishes to mention him who was named Muhammad-ʿAli, whose name was present in a place where was raised the call of God, the Lord of the worlds. Remember him who hath remembered thee, then give thanks for the bounty of God, the Almighty, the Powerful. He hath turned from the direction of the Prison unto His loved ones who have taken the cup of certitude from the hands of the bounty of their Lord, the All-Merciful, and have drunk therefrom in His Name, the Mighty, the Powerful, the Most Great. Beware lest the oppression of those who have denied the Day of Judgment prevent thee. Cast aside what the people possess and take the Book of God with clear certitude. He, verily, will aid those who have heard the Call and will assist those who have turned unto Him with radiant countenance. Thus hath sung the Nightingale of Utterance upon the highest branches, as a token of grace from the presence of One All-Knowing, All-Wise.

We make mention of him who was named ʿAli-Akbar that the Utterance may draw him nigh unto God, the Lord of all religions, and confirm him in steadfastness in this mighty Cause. Thou hast attained unto My remembrance in My prison. We beseech God, exalted be He, to aid thee and those who have believed to act in accordance with what hath been revealed in His mighty, wondrous Book. Say: Praise be unto Thee for having given me to drink from the cup of Thy knowledge, guided me to Thy path, and sent down unto me the table of Thy utterance. I beseech Thee, O Thou the Goal of the world and the Beloved of nations, by Thy Cause that hath encompassed earth and heaven, and by Thy Name whereby Thou hast subdued the cities of names, to make me attracted to Thy verses and steadfast in the service of Thy Cause amongst Thy servants. Thou art, verily, the Almighty, the All-Compelling, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

O Muhammad-Qabli-Husayn! Hear thou with the ear of reality the call of the Wronged One. On the twenty-second night of the blessed month of Ramadan, when the people of Iran are occupied with praising the chosen ones and cursing the wicked ones, We have turned toward thee and make mention of thee. Reflect upon what hath come to pass. Ibn-i-Muradi martyred one of the chosen ones, but the people of Iran martyred the Lord of the world and are unaware—they are a hundred thousand times more wicked and oppressive than Muradi. This is what the Tongue of Grandeur hath spoken in this exalted station. Say: Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having delivered me from the vain imaginings of my peers, drawn me nigh unto Thee, caused me to know the Dayspring of Thy signs and the Dawning-Place of Thy clear tokens, given me to drink of the Kawthar of Thy bounty, and guided me to Thy straight and manifest path. I beseech Thee to aid me in Thy remembrance and to ordain for me what Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen ones. Thou art, verily, the Forgiving, the Bountiful.

O Abu’l-Qasim! The Lord of the Kingdom of Utterance maketh mention of thee from the prison, remindeth thee of His verses, showeth thee His signs, and giveth thee glad tidings of His bounty. Thy Lord is, verily, the All-Merciful, the Bountiful. Say: My God, my God! Thou art He Who created me by Thy command and Thy will, caused me to hear Thy call, made me to know Thy way, and gave me to drink of the Kawthar of Thy utterance. I beseech Thee by Thy Cause whereby Thou didst change the earth into another earth, spread abroad Thy signs, subdued the hearts of Thy loved ones, and by the showers of Thy mercy in the springtime of Thy grace, and by the pearls of the ocean of Thy bounty, to make me in all conditions to hold fast unto the cord of Thy obedience and to be directed toward Thy horizon. O my Lord! Thou seest the ignorant one seeking after the ocean of Thy knowledge, and the lowly one yearning for the sea of Thy glory. Ordain for him what beseemeth Thy glory and power, Thy grandeur and might. Thou art, verily, the Almighty, the Powerful.

O Wronged One! Remember the one named Turab, that the verses may draw him nigh unto the most exalted station. Hear My call from this Station which hath been named by all names in the Book of God, the Lord of Lords. He verily guideth thee to His path and giveth thee to drink from the Kawthar of His bounty and draweth thee nigh unto Him in all conditions. When thou hearest the shrill voice of My Pen and findest the fragrance of Mine utterance, say: My God, my God! Thine is the bounty and the giving, and Thine the grace and the glory! I testify that Thou hast created the world to hearken unto Thy sweetest call and to know the Dawning-Place of Thy Cause, O Lord of Names and Creator of the heavens!

O Lord! Thou seest this servant of Thine acknowledging that which the Pen hath spoken from the most exalted station, and confessing that which the Tongue of Thy grandeur hath commanded when it was in the prison of Akka. I beseech Thee by the breasts that were pierced by the arrows of Thine enemies, and by the hearts that were melted in separation from Thee, and by the tears of them that are near unto Thee among Thy creation and their submission at the dawning of the Day-Star of Thy power, to ordain for me what Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen ones and Thy trusted ones. Verily Thou art the Almighty Whom neither the tyranny of the world nor the clamor of the nations can hinder. There is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the Great.

O Muhammad-Qabl-i-Karim! We counsel thee and those who have believed to be trustworthy and religious and to act in ways that bring assurance to hearts and souls. The companions of the Crimson Ark must distinguish themselves among the people of the world in such wise that all may testify to their detachment and holiness. The people of Iran have throughout ages and centuries been occupied with the remembrance and praise of the Truth, yet on the Day of His Manifestation they did what no other people have done. From their pulpits they curse and revile the Truth, exalted be His glory, while speaking in praise of His servants. Were one to ponder the deeds and actions of these souls, one would find oneself bewildered. They have done that which hath caused the Tablet and the Pen to lament, and the Ancient Beauty to cry out from the most exalted horizon of the world. Ask thou of God that He may guide the misguided and show them the way. Verily He is the Strong, the Mighty, the Powerful. We have remembered and continue to remember His loved ones by night and by day, and for each we seek divine confirmation. Verily He is the Most Powerful of the powerful and the Most Merciful of the merciful.

O My Most Exalted Pen! Make mention of him who is named Muhammad-Qabl-i-ʿAli, then send down upon him from the heaven of Thy bounty that which will draw him nigh unto Thee, that he may arise to celebrate Thy praise and glorification among Thy creatures and guide them to a station wherein all things proclaim: The Kingdom belongeth unto God, the Lord of the worlds. Say: O concourse of divines! Behold, then remember what the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Qur’an: “When the Event befalleth, there is no denying its befalling.” Say: Today the Event mentioned hath come to pass and its hour and signs are manifest. This is the Day whereon the secrets shall be tried, this is the Day whereon the mountains shall pass away. The Cry hath been raised, the earth is in motion and trembling, the light hath shone forth from the horizon of the Speaker on Sinai and is manifest, and the scratching of the Pen can be heard from the most exalted horizon of the world. Fear ye God! He is the true Avenger.

This is the Most Great News and the mighty Matter. Understand ye its station and judge with fairness concerning that which hath appeared. The earth hath been illumined with the light of its Lord, and the lands have been brightened by the light of their Creator. Strive ye while there is yet time and while the Cause is manifest. Deprive not yourselves. O Muhammad-Qabl-i-ʿAli! Thy name was mentioned before the Wronged One, whereupon the fragrance of forgiveness was stirred and the ocean of pardon surged. He hath forgiven thee and those who have believed in Him and His verses, as a grace from His presence upon thee and upon them. He is verily the Ordainer, the Ancient of Days.