Volume 088: Akka 1306 A.H. (1888–1889), Part I (1 of 5)

BH01241: To be typed

To be typed.

BH00528: Lawh-i-Bismillih

In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate

This Wronged One intends, for the sake of God, to impart unto you that which is the source of everlasting life and eternal remembrance. There can be no doubt that the purpose of creation hath ever been the knowledge of God, exalted be His glory. Now must man, purely for the sake of the Intended One, ponder what hath been the cause of souls turning towards the Dawning-Places of Revelation and the Daysprings of Inspiration throughout the ages and centuries, and what hath been the reason for their rejection. Shouldst thou attain to the recognition of this station, thou wilt have attained unto all good, and wilt not be deprived of the surging waves of the ocean of the knowledge of God, exalted be His glory. Thou shalt behold all else besides God as non-existent and as naught.

When man attaineth the age of maturity, he must investigate and, putting his trust in God and sanctified from love and hate, reflect upon that whereunto the people adhere. He must hear with his own ears and see with his own eyes, for if he looketh through the eyes of another, he will be deprived of beholding the effulgent rays of the Sun of Divine Knowledge. Various parties exist in the world, and each hath regarded itself as being in the right, as He, exalted be He, hath said: “Each party rejoiceth in what it possesseth.”

Consider the Seal of the Prophets—may the life of all else be a sacrifice unto Him. When that true Luminary dawned above the horizon of Hijaz by God’s leave, the various parties turned away and arose to shed His most pure blood. That which caused the eyes of the Concourse on High to weep and the hearts of the sincere ones and those near unto God to burn was visited upon Him. One must reflect upon the cause and reason for such opposition. God, exalted be His glory, saith: “No Messenger cometh unto them but they mock at him.” There can be no doubt that had the Manifestations of God’s commandments and the Sources of His laws appeared in accordance with that which the people possessed of signs, tidings, and texts concerning His appearance, none would have turned away. Rather, all would have attained to that for which they were created from nothingness and adorned with the ornament of existence from utter non-existence.

Therefore, it is incumbent upon everyone to observe the Cause of God with justice and fairness and to reflect upon it. The Imami divines believe that when the promised Qa’im appeareth, He will utter a word in the House of God which will cause the chiefs to turn away and take flight. This is the word which that party acknowledges and confesseth. Now reflect upon the heedlessness of some who accept and confirm the turning away of the chiefs—who, according to their own belief, are the most distinguished of men after the Imams—yet do not suspect that this turning away might be without right. In any case, hear with the ear of fairness the call of this Wronged One and that which He hath mentioned. The truth and His straight path shall be made manifest unto thee. They do not reflect for a moment that perchance that which hath appeared is the truth and that this rejection and these objections have proceeded from heedlessness and ignorance. We beseech God to aid you to behold with the eye of justice and fairness and to discern. Verily, He speaketh the truth and guideth to the path, and He is the Mighty, the Beautiful.

Jesus, Son of Mary—the peace of God and His loving-kindness be upon Him—appeared with clear signs and brilliant evidences, and His purpose was the salvation of mankind. Every fair-minded one beareth witness and every informed one testifieth that He sought naught for Himself and desired nothing save to guide the wayward unto the straight path of God. Yet there befell that Most Holy Beauty that which caused the dwellers of Paradise to lament, and matters became so grievous for Him that God, exalted be His glory, by His supreme Will caused Him to ascend unto the fourth heaven. What was the cause of what transpired? By God’s life, it was the opposition of the divines! For Annas and Caiaphas, who were of the Pharisees—that is, the scholars of the Torah—together with the priests of idols denied Him and occupied themselves with cursing and reviling Him.

Consider likewise Moses and all the other Prophets. Perchance what hath been mentioned in this leaf may enable thee to attain true understanding and arise to serve the Cause with such determination as will neither be shaken by the onslaught of the oppressors nor altered by the opposition of the divines. Hearken unto the call of this Wronged One, and turn from the left hand of fancy to the right hand of certainty, and from the west of doubt and misgiving to the orient of assurance.

From the earliest days this Wronged One hath been in the hands of His enemies. Surely ye have heard of some of the tribulations that have befallen Him. Through God’s grace, exalted be His glory, We imparted before all people, both divines and princes, without any veil or concealment, that which would lead to the salvation and tranquility of all. No matter or thing prevented or hindered Us. And now too, in the Most Great Prison, We have mentioned for the sake of God that which is a clear book for the fair-minded.

Observe, then remember what the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Qur’an through His words, exalted be He: “Leave them to plunge in vain discourse and play.” We hope that through divine grace thou wilt attain unto this word and act upon it—that thou wilt pass beyond all else save God, namely those things that cause hindrance and lead to veiling, and hold fast to that which leadeth to attainment and arrival. Great is the Cause and mighty the matter!

This is the Day concerning which He saith:

“O my son! If there be (the weight of) a mustard-seed and it were (hidden) in a rock, or (anywhere) in the heavens or in the earth, God will bring it forth: for God is Subtle and Aware.”

This is the Day whereon whatsoever lieth hidden in the hearts and souls shall be made manifest. Reflect upon those souls who freely sacrificed their lives and property in the path of love for the Self-Sufficient Lord. He verily will guide thee to His straight path and His mighty announcement.

Consider Noah and Hud and Salih—the blessings of God be upon them. What was the purpose of those Dawning-Places of the Cause, and what befell them? This servant hath not been of the learned, nor did He attend school. According to outward appearance, He was born in the house of one of the government officials and was related to him. The Cause is in God’s hands, thy Lord, the Lord of the Throne and the dust, and the Lord of the world to come and the world that was. None can stay His command or thwart His decree. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth. He is the All-Powerful, the Almighty.

Hearken unto the voice of Him Who hath been wronged. Cleanse thy heart with the waters of detachment, and adorn thy head with the crown of justice and thy temple with the robe of godliness, and say: My God, my God! I bear witness to Thy unity and Thy oneness, and acknowledge that which the tongues of Thy Prophets and Messengers have spoken, and that which Thou hast sent down in Thy Books and Tablets and Scriptures and Holy Writings.

O my Lord! I am Thy servant and the son of Thy servant. I bear witness with my outer and inner tongue that Thou art God; there is none other God but Thee, the One, the Single, the All-Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Alas, alas, O my God, for my grievous transgressions and my grave misdeeds, and for my heedlessness which hath prevented me from turning toward the Dayspring of Thy signs and the Dawning-Place of Thy clear tokens, and from beholding the effulgent lights of the morn of Thy Revelation and witnessing the traces of Thy Pen.

Alas, alas, O my Goal and my Adored One! I know not for which of my calamities I should weep and lament. Shall I bewail that which hath passed me by in the days wherein the Day-Star of Thy Revelation shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of Thy will, or shall I weep and wail for my remoteness from the court of Thy nearness when the pavilion of Thy glory was raised upon the most exalted standard through Thy power and sovereignty?

O my God! The more Thy tenderness toward me increaseth and Thy forbearance in chastising me prolongeth, the more do my heedlessness and waywardness increase. Thou didst remember me when I was silent in Thy remembrance, and Thou didst turn toward me through the Manifestation of Thyself when I had turned away from directing myself to the lights of Thy countenance, and Thou didst call me when I was heedless of hearkening to Thy call from the Dawning-Place of Thy Cause.

By Thy glory! Heedlessness hath encompassed me from all directions as I followed the dictates of self and passion. Alas, alas, my will hath held me back from Thy will, and my desire hath veiled me from Thy desire, such that I clung to my path, forsaking Thy straight path and Thy mighty announcement.

Thou seest and hearest, O my God, my sighing and my weeping, my crying and my lowliness and my tribulation. O Lord! The temple of disobedience seeketh the waves of the ocean of Thy forgiveness and pardon, and the essence of heedlessness seeketh the wonders of Thy gifts and favors.

Alas, alas, the clamor of the people hath prevented me from hearkening to Thy utterance, and the croaking of Thy creatures hath veiled me from gazing toward the horizon of Thy Cause. By Thy glory! I desire to weep throughout the duration of Thy kingdom and dominion. How can I not weep when mine eyes have been prevented from beholding the lights of the Sun of Thy Revelation and mine ears from hearkening to Thy mention and Thy praise?

By Thy glory, O God of the world and Sovereign of nations! I desire to hide my face beneath the layers of earth and its dust out of shame for what my hands of heedlessness have wrought. Alas, alas! Thou wert with me and didst hear from me that which was unworthy of Thee, yet through Thy grace Thou didst conceal it and didst not expose my wretched state and deeds and words.

Alas, alas! I know not what Thou hast ordained for me from Thy Most Exalted Pen, nor what Thy will hath decreed, O Lord of all names and Creator of heaven! Alas, alas! That Thy irrevocable decree should debar me from Thy sealed Wine! I entreat Thee by the breaths of Thy Revelation, by the lights of Thy Throne, by Him through Whose advent the fragrance of Thy raiment was diffused in Hijaz, and by the light of Thy Command through which the earth and the heaven were illumined, to make me in all conditions turn toward Thee, detached from all else save Thee, holding fast unto Thy cord and clinging to the hem of the robe of Thy bounty and generosity, and to choose for myself what Thou hast chosen for me through Thy great favor and Thy most great gifts. O Thou in Whose grasp are the reins of all things! There is none other God but Thee, the Lord of the throne on high and of earth below, the Ruler of this world and of the world to come.

BH03290: O My sister and My leaf! This wronged one’s…

In the Name of the One God

O My sister and My leaf! This wronged one’s sister was not with Us in this Cause and never saw Yahya during the days of this Wronged One’s manifestation. Nevertheless, she has clung to such calumnies as no ear has ever heard. According to reports, she claims that in previous years this Wronged One was expecting that Aqa Hasan, upon him be the glory of God, and obtained those Tablets and gave them to be written either in his own name or Yahya’s name, and gives them to people. She has likewise attempted to obtain the Kitab-i-Iqan, and her purpose is unknown. With God it is known and witnessed. Nothing escapes His knowledge and He is the Truth, the Knower of the unseen. She has in her possession Yahya’s writings in Arabic and Persian, and every person of insight testifies to the loftiness of the utterance of the All-Merciful and its transcendence. Verily He has sent down that which the world is powerless to produce the like thereof. To this testifies every fair-minded and informed person. That which has shone forth from the horizon of My knowledge is more manifest than the sun and cannot be mistaken by anyone. Blessed is he who has attained unto it, and woe unto every deceitful denier.

The sister opened the door of enmity with her own hand, and when her wrongdoing became apparent she turned away from the Truth, cut off relations with the Wronged One and attached herself to the Grand Vizier. That helpless daughter who for years bore the title of Branch, she took her, made her up, and sent her to the Vizier’s house. Now observe this lack of honor and zeal—she abandoned the Truth when she saw Him wronged, and clung to one possessed of wealth. And now she claims leadership. Glory be to God! To what point has God’s Cause come! O My leaf, reflect on what has befallen the Wronged One in the path of God, the Lord of all worlds. Give thanks to the Desired One of the world Who has mentioned thee in verses that will endure as long as the kingdom of earth and heaven endure. We beseech God to protect thee and ordain for thee the good of this world and the next. Verily He is the Hearer, the Answerer.

BH03682: The Promise has come, and the Promised One speaks…

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

The Promise has come, and the Promised One speaks before all faces, yet the people deny. The All-Merciful has come from the horizon of power, yet the people do not know. The focal point of the Concourse on High has appeared, yet the people do not perceive. The Self-Subsisting has come, and the Qa’im gave glad tidings of His appearance and sacrificed his spirit in His path, yet most of the people do not understand. They have cast aside the Self-Subsisting and followed delusion—nay, they know not.

O Ghulam-Husayn! Hear the call from the precincts of the Prison. He has testified to that which God testified before the creation of earth and heaven—that there is none other God but Him, the Single, the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. There has come before the Wronged One thy letter which thou didst send to him who circled round Me on the day when the seekers circumambulated the House of God, the Lord of all worlds. The Wronged One has heard thy call and answers thee with this clear Book. We make mention of thee and those who have believed in God, the Single, the All-Informed. Say: O people of God! Ye have attained to My mention and the traces of My Pen. Give thanks unto God for this great favor. Blessed is he who has held fast to His cord and uttered His praise and arisen to serve His Cause, the Mighty, the Inaccessible. How many a king was prevented from turning to Him, and how many a servant turned and attained to the recognition of God, the Lord of the exalted Throne.

The names mentioned in the letter have each attained, through God’s grace, exalted be His glory, to the lights of the Sun of divine remembrance. We beseech the Lord of existence to make each one firm and steadfast as a mountain in His Cause, and to aid them in that which leads to the exaltation of the Word of God and the advancement of His servants. We make mention of My handmaidens there and give them glad tidings of My beautiful remembrance. The Glory be upon you from Us, O My loved ones, and upon them and upon all who are steadfast and firm. Praise be to God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

BH03952: O ʿAbdu’l-Husayn! We bear witness that thou hast attained…

He is the Witness from the horizon of heaven

O ʿAbdu’l-Husayn! We bear witness that thou hast attained the presence of the Wronged One twice. He it is Who aided thee, caused thee to know Him, and brought thee before His face, and cast upon thee that which, were it to be cast upon the mountains, they would take flight by God’s leave, the Self-Sufficient, the Most High; and were it cast upon the earth, it would transform it instantly into heaven; and were it cast upon a star, it would make it a sun shining from the horizon of this Tablet, from which the fragrance of the loving-kindness of the All-Merciful hath been wafted throughout all creation. I bear witness that thou hast attained to that which hath been the hope of them that are nigh unto God from all eternity. Thou didst seek the divine court and attain the presence of the Wronged One in a place named the Most Great Prison through that which the hands of the nations who were heedless of the Cause and cast the Covenant behind their backs had wrought. When the wine of My utterance from the direction of My prison did intoxicate thee, say:

“My God, my God! Would that I had a thousand souls to spend in Thy path, and a thousand lives to sacrifice in Thy love! I beseech Thee, O Thou Who art remembered in hearts, to assist me to serve Thy Cause, to make mention of Thee, and to praise Thee amongst Thy creatures. Alas, alas! I know not what Thou hast written for Thy servant who hath clung to the cord of Thy bounty and held fast to the hem of the robe of Thy mercy. I know not, O my Best-Beloved, what Thou hast ordained for me from Thy Most Exalted Pen. If Thou hast ordained faithfulness for me, then shall I render thanks with my self, my soul, my essence and my temple; and if Thou hast deprived me of this bounty, then woe unto me, and again woe unto me! By Thy glory, at this moment weeping preventeth me from making mention of Thee, O Lord of all being! I beseech Thee by the mysteries of Thy utterance and the lights of Thy countenance to make me one of them who choose not for themselves aught save what Thou hast ordained for them through Thy command. Verily Thou art powerful over what Thou willest, and in Thy grasp are the reins of all things. Verily Thou art the Forgiving, the Kind.”

BH06389: O thou My leaf, upon thee be My glory…

He is the Most Compassionate, the Most Generous.

O thou My leaf, upon thee be My glory and My favours! O thou the fruit of My Tree, upon thee be My mercy and My bounty! Thou art oft remembered in the Holy and Exalted Court. Praised be God that thou hast perceived the fragrant breezes of divine Revelation and inhaled the sweet savours of the garment of Utterance. Thou hast been and art remembered among the Concourse on High. Render thanks to thy Lord. Verily, He hath remembered thee with that for which all mentions are sacrificed. We beseech God to protect thee and those who are with thee from the one who hath falsely accused Us and stolen Our Tablets and that which We have revealed. We beseech God to assist her to return and adorn her with the ornament of justice and fairness.

O Thamarih! Thou knowest that she is unable to read even one of the Tablets, that she was not with Us in the Land of Ta, and that she hath not seen Yahya after the Primal Point declared His Mission. Nonetheless, she hath uttered calumnies the like of which hath not been heard. We beseech God to enable all to do what is loved and praiseworthy.

Glory from Us be upon thee, upon those who are with thee, and upon every firm and steadfast believer.

BH06353: In My Name, the One Who holds dominion over…

In My Name, the One Who holds dominion over all names.

O thou who art mentioned before the Wronged One! Thy letter which thou hadst written to this servant was presented before the Most Holy Court and was honored to be heard. Praise be to God, thou hast drunk from the sealed wine and attained to the recognition of God, exalted be His glory. We beseech God to protect thee and enable thee to achieve the most great steadfastness.

A number of barking ones have prevented and continue to prevent the servants from the shore of the ocean of inner meanings through meaningless names. The people of the Bayan are more lost than the parties of the past, meaning those souls who turned away from the station of acceptance and denied the place of affirmation. It is not known by what proof they believe in the previous Manifestations and by what evidence they turn away.

When the attraction of the Call taketh hold of thee from the supreme horizon, say: O Lord of the Kingdom of Names and Creator of Heaven! I beseech Thee by Thy Most Great Bounty and by Thy Most Great Most Glorious Name, through which the limbs of the deluded ones trembled and the hearts of the aggressive ones were disturbed, to ordain for me from Thy Most Exalted Pen the good of the hereafter and of this world. Verily Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Forgiving, the Merciful.

O my Lord! Disappoint not this servant of that which Thou hast ordained for Thy loved ones. Verily Thou art the Forgiving, the Merciful.

BH07955: O Abdul-Baqi! The people of the earth are slaves…

He is the Commander, the All-Wise.

O Abdul-Baqi! The people of the earth are slaves to vain imaginings, having preferred and still preferring conjecture to certitude. They have turned away from Him Who, from the first day until now, has called all humanity to the straight path and the mighty announcement, and instead they have clung to the manifestations of idle fancies. They have not attained even a drop from the ocean of fairness. Calumnies and idle fancies have prevailed and continue to prevail. Glory be to God! The sea of inner meanings surges before their faces, yet they cling to a mere pond. Ask God to protect His loved ones. Say: My God, my God! Praise be to Thee for having remembered me, and thanks be to Thee for having guided me. I beseech Thee by the lights of Thy throne, and by the ocean of Thy verses, and by the heaven of Thy bounty, to assist me to remember Thee and praise Thee and serve Thy Cause. Verily, Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest.

BH08511: O My handmaiden, O My leaf! We have heard…

He is the All-Speaking, the All-Knowing

O My handmaiden, O My leaf! We have heard your call. God is witness and He is the One Who testifies that your mention has ever been and continues to be in the presence of the Wronged One. Your petition was received and in response this reply has been bestowed from the heaven of the loving-kindness of the Goal of all the worlds, as a token of His grace, for He is the All-Bountiful, the All-Generous. We convey Our greetings to the handmaidens and leaves in that land and counsel them to that which befits the days of God. Give glad-tidings to all the kindred of the grace and loving-kindness of God, exalted be His glory, and make mention of them on behalf of the Wronged One. The Glory from Us be upon you and upon My handmaidens who have believed in God, the Single, the All-Informed. We make mention of Muhammad-ʿAli, upon him be My Glory, and give him the glad-tidings of God’s loving-kindness, exalted be His glory.

BH11151: O friends of God in His earth and His…

He is the Witness from His luminous horizon!

O friends of God in His earth and His chosen ones in His lands! Hear the call of the Wronged One. He makes mention of you with that which shall endure throughout the kingdom’s duration and gives you glad tidings of that which hath been ordained for you from God, the Mighty, the Powerful. Be not grieved by the events of the world and what hath befallen you in the path of God, the Glorious, the Great….

BH06573: Glorified art Thou, O my God, O Lord…

He is God, exalted be His station, the Grandeur and the Power

Glorified art Thou, O my God, O Lord of existence and Knower of the mysteries of the unseen and the seen! I beseech Thee by Thy most great signs and by the breezes of Thy bounty at the dawning of the lights of the Sun of Thy Manifestation in the kingdom of creation, to assist Thy loved ones in serving Thy Cause in such wise that neither the opposition of the servants nor the objections of any in the land shall hinder them. Strengthen their frames, O my God, through Thy power, and illumine their hearts with the light of Thy knowledge. Then inscribe their names in Thy Book and ordain for them that which shall endure as long as Thy celestial and heavenly dominion shall endure. O Lord! Thou seest the one who hath turned toward Thee. I beseech Thee by Thy Prophets and Thy Messengers to forgive him and those who have believed in Thee and in Thy signs, and to accept from him what he hath wrought in Thy path. Verily Thou art the Almighty, the Most Exalted, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. There is no God but Thee, the Single One, the All-Wise.

He is the Supporter

The remittance from his honor Ustad Muhammad, upon him be the Glory of God, in the amount of nineteen (19) tumans, was received by this servant through the honored Mr. Afnan, upon him be the Most Glorious Glory of God, on the 2nd of the sacred month of Muharram in the year 1306.

BH08854: Glorified art Thou, O my God and the God…

He is God, exalted be His station of grandeur and power!

Glorified art Thou, O my God and the God of all names, and the Speaker in the kingdom of creation! I beseech Thee by the Dawning-Places of Thy Revelation, and the Daysprings of Thy Command, and the Manifestations of Thy Self, to aid Thy loved ones in that which Thou lovest and art pleased with. O Lord! Withhold them not from the Salsabil of Thy utterance nor from the Kawthar of Thy praise. Draw them nigh unto the shore of the ocean of Thy mercy, then send down upon them through Thy bounty that which will strengthen them to act according to what Thou hast revealed in Thy Book. O Lord! Thou seest him who hath turned toward Thee—make him then to arise to serve Thy Cause, to speak Thy praise, and to open the hearts of Thy servants through Thy Name. Then forgive him through Thy grace and generosity. Verily Thou art the Forgiver of sins and the Merciful unto both kings and servants. There is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the Beloved.

BH01304: Praise be to the Desired One of the world…

He is God, exalted be His glory, the Majesty and the Power!

Praise be to the Desired One of the world Who, through a hundred thousand means, hath manifested and nurtured His servants and guided them to His straight and evident path. He hath gathered the wanderers in the desert of love and affection beneath the shade of His blessed Word, and through the outpourings of His mercy and the effulgences of the Sun of His grace hath bestowed bounty and repose. Glorified be His majesty and all-pervading be His favor! There is none other God but Him. And peace and blessings be upon His Prophets and His chosen ones who have drunk the choice wine of utterance and manifested His Cause to all who dwell within the realm of possibility.

And now, may my spirit be a sacrifice for your honor! Your esteemed letter arrived and was presented in its entirety. He said:

“O My Name! Upon thee be the peace of God, His mercy, His grace and His favors.”

Thy letter was presented before the Wronged One and was heard. From every letter thereof wafted the fragrance of love, sincerity, devotion, recognition and steadfastness. Praise be to God, thou hast drunk the choice wine of certitude and utterance from the cup of the bounty of God, the Lord of the worlds. Well is it with thee! And the servant in attendance acted in accordance with thy request. I beseech God, exalted be His glory, to cause thee to attain, at all times, unto new bounties, heavenly sustenance, everlasting mention and eternal gifts. He is verily the Bestower, the Compassionate, the All-Bountiful.

The letter of Siyyid Hashim, upon him be the Glory of God, attained unto His presence. Praise be to God that he hath attained unto that which was recorded and inscribed in the divine Books. We beseech God to aid him to serve His Cause with wisdom and utterance. They have attained unto His presence. Now is the time of service, that is, the teaching of God’s Cause, exalted be His glory, that perchance a thirsty one may drink from the ocean of grace, or one who hath turned away may attain unto the honor of acceptance, or one immersed in idle fancies may be adorned with the effulgences of the lights of the Daystar of Revelation. Blessed is he who, through mention and utterance, causeth the people of the world to be adorned with the ornament of knowledge.

O My Name! The deniers of the Bayan have clung to calumnies the like of which have never been heard from time immemorial until now. It is not known by what proof they accept the Point of the Bayan while turning away from Him Who sent it. Thou knowest how lofty is the station of the Cause and how base are the calumnies of the people. It behooveth tears of justice to flow and the cry of cities and regions to be raised. Mention hath been made of Siyyid Mihdi, and his name hath been recorded by the Pen, and likewise Siyyid Husayn and Siyyid Muhammad and the believing handmaidens. All have, at this hour, received their portion from the ocean of the utterance of the All-Merciful, and the rain of mercy hath descended upon them from the heaven of grace.

Convey to all of them the greetings of the Wronged One and give them the glad-tidings of that which hath been mentioned. We beseech God to ordain for them the good of this world and of the next. Verily, He hath power over all things. The letter of Muhammad Mustafa, upon him be the peace and bounties of God, was reviewed, and likewise we have heard and seen what was mentioned concerning Amin, upon him be the glory of God. We beseech the True One for that which is the cause of glory, exaltation, prosperity and comfort of His loved ones. In these days the affairs of this land are also in upheaval, and most are passing their days in hardship.

We beseech God to aid the Trustee with the hosts of grace and bounty, and to open before his face the door of wealth and affluence. Verily He is the Lord of creation. There is none other God but He, the Single, the One, the Mighty, the Powerful. Should He wish, He transmutes hardship into ease and sorrow into joy, and He is the One who has power over all things through His command “Be! and it is.”

O my God, my God! Take the hands of Thy loved ones who are encompassed by tribulations due to their connection to Thee and their arising to serve Thee, to mention Thee and to praise Thee. O Lord! Withhold them not from the ocean of Thy bounty, nor from the effulgent rays of the Sun of Thy generosity. O Lord! I beseech Thee by Thy Cause through which Thou hast transformed darkness into light, tyranny into justice, and oppression into equity, to send down from the heaven of Thy bestowal a blessing upon Thy chosen ones and loved ones. O Lord! Thou seest their weakness before the waves of the ocean of Thy power and might, and their poverty before the manifestations of the lights of the Sun of Thy Revelation and riches. Ordain for them that which befitteth Thy generosity and grace. Verily, Thou art the Mighty, the Exalted, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Praise be to God! The bounty is manifest and the grace is resplendent to such a degree that it is itself its own proof and evidence of itself, having no need of mention by this evanescent one. At every moment I beseech the True One, exalted be His glory, on behalf of His loved ones, for that from which the fragrance of His good-pleasure wafteth. Verily, He is the Generous, the Bountiful. Peace, remembrance and glory be upon you and upon those who are with you and who love you for the sake of God, our Lord and your Lord and the Lord of the mighty throne.

The servant 3 Muharram 1306

BH01302: Praise be to the Desired One, Who hath befittingly…

He is God, exalted be His glory, the Most Great, the All-Powerful

Praise be to the Desired One, Who hath befittingly adorned His loved ones with the ornament of supreme steadfastness, and bestowed and conferred upon them the food of certitude from the chalice of proof. The Supreme Cause of this most great bounty hath been the King of existence and Lord of the praiseworthy station, through Whom the river of divine knowledge hath flowed throughout all possibility, and the Dove of Utterance hath warbled upon the highest branches. Sovereignty belongeth unto God, the Lord of Lords. Upon Him rest the blessings of God, His grace, His peace and His mercy, and upon His family and companions, and upon those who attained unto His days and acted according to that which they were bidden in His Book.

Thereafter, the letter of that beloved of the heart arrived, and that which was written concerning the heedless ones and deniers became known. In this connection, after presenting the matter, they stated that association with such souls, if it leadeth to their awakening and remembrance, is praiseworthy; otherwise they merely report to their like that so-and-so came, delegated and accepted, and such calumnies as Jinab-i-Nazir himself knoweth. We have spoken what We have spoken for the sake of God. We have no concern with the deeds of such souls. The condition of those who have accepted is evident, and likewise the turning away of those who have turned away is clear and manifest. We have desired good for all the peoples of the world. Our purpose is that the causes of discord be eliminated from all horizons, and that the light of unity illuminate all hearts and minds.

God is Our witness, and all atoms bear testimony to what We have endured in the path of His Cause, what We have seen and what We have heard. In the days when, by reason of the intensity of tyranny, day could not be distinguished from night, this Wronged One stood forth before all faces and, with loudest voice, proclaimed the Most Great Word, His purpose being to cleanse and sanctify the servants through the living waters of divine counsel from vain imaginings, rancor and hatred. When the Cause became somewhat manifest, they rushed forth and assailed the Wronged One, and said that which ye have heard, and did that which ye have witnessed. I have placed My trust in God and have committed My affairs unto Him. My success is from Him alone, and I seek victory from none but Him. Verily He is the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

In truth, the lamp of justice hath been extinguished and the sun of equity concealed. That beloved one himself hath heard that whose putrid odor of falsehood hath corrupted the world and deprived it of the fragrance of truthfulness. As to what was written concerning the sum that was stolen, in a previous letter a word was mentioned from the blessed tongue regarding this matter. Subsequently they said that mention of the theft should not be made to those who had given it, as this would cause them sorrow. We accepted this, and if a receipt is required, it shall be sent. They said: Write to the Observer that in truth the ornaments of this world befit its people. By the life of God! Were it not for this community, not a penny would have been accepted, and yet this matter is the supreme bounty and mercy for those souls who have given and continue to give. In these days, due to religious considerations, some amounts were transferred to be given to others, the details of which were mentioned before.

Let the honored friend, Aqa Muhammad-ʿAli, upon him be God’s peace, not be saddened by what hath occurred. There have ever been traitors in the world. I beseech God to grant unto him and unto this servant that which the hand of the traitor and thief cannot reach the holy hem thereof. I likewise beseech God to kindle him with such fire of His love as shall cause the heedless to become enkindled. Verily God hath power over all things.

I convey greetings to the loved ones. I present remembrance and salutations to the beloved of the heart, the honored Shaykh and those with him, upon them be Baha’u’llah. I hope that a meeting shall also take place, as the honored master, his eminence AF, upon him be the Most Glorious Baha’u’llah, God willing, intendeth to proceed to those parts. The servant beseecheth his Lord in all conditions to make us among those whom neither the profit of the world nor its ornaments and colors have prevented from His straight path and His mighty and great Cause.

The true light of the eye, the honored Aqa Mirza Habibu’llah, upon him be God’s peace, praise be to God, is present and hath taken shelter beneath the blessed Divine Lote-Tree with utmost joy, delight and health. Peace, remembrance and praise be upon you and upon those with you, and upon those who have acted according to that which they were commanded in the Book of God, the Lord of the mighty throne.

The servant 12 Muharram 1306

BH02395: Praise sanctified beyond mention and utterance befitteth the Purpose…

He is God, exalted be His station, the Greatness and the Power.

Praise sanctified beyond mention and utterance befitteth the Purpose of all creation, Who from the beginning of the sending forth of the Prophets and the Chosen Ones until the Seal of the Prophets—may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for Him—counseled all to unity and harmony. In truth, this was the purpose of their sending forth, for those united are seen as the manifestation of divine oneness, and from that light of detachment do they shine forth. The cause of the order of the world and the tranquility of nations hath been and ever shall be unity and harmony, as well as the observance of stations among the servants. Blessed is he who hath attained and acted according to what was commanded in the Book.

And then, may my spirit be a sacrifice for your honor, your esteemed letter arrived and the prayer was read before God. This is what the Tongue of Utterance hath spoken:

“O My Name! Upon thee be My peace! God beareth witness, and that honored one testifieth, that this Wronged One hath spent His entire life counseling and advising the servants. From every word of the revealed words, those possessed of true hearing perceive the blessed word ʿVictory through unity.’ We chose separation so that it might lead to connection and harmony—that is, separation from the world. God willing, may the faithful attain to what God hath willed. In all the heavenly Books, the command to love and unity hath been given, and in truth it is the cause of the world’s order and the nations’ tranquility. Blessed is he who hath chosen for himself what God hath chosen in the Book, and hath arisen to unite hearts and souls and to exalt the Word before which necks have bowed.

We beseech God, exalted be His glory, to set matters aright and to gather what hath been scattered. Verily He is powerful over what He willeth through His word ʿBe’ and it is.

As for thy turning toward Haifa, it is acceptable to the Wronged One. The renewal of place and renewal of air and water and those effects which none knoweth save God, the Lord of the worlds. We ask God to make it blessed for thee. Verily He is the Protector of the sincere ones. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds. Peace be upon thee and upon those with thee and upon those who have acknowledged what the Tongue of Grandeur spoke before the creation of the heavens and earths.” End.

In truth, in most Tablets mention hath been made of that which is the cause of the exaltation of those who believe in divine unity and the sincere ones. Now that honored one and this servant and the friends of God must beseech from the ocean of His generosity that He may cause all to attain unto what is befitting and aid all to that which is the cause of the exaltation of His Word. Verily He is the Powerful, the Mighty.

Peace and remembrance and glory be upon your honor and upon those with you and upon those who love you for the sake of God, our Lord and your Lord, the Lord of the mighty throne.

The servant 23 Muharram 1306

Some dry ink was sent. If you wish, prepared ink can also be sent.

BH01059: The Tablet of God, the Supreme, the Self-Subsisting

He is the All-Knowing Speaker

This is a Book sent down by the All-Wise to him who hath believed in God, the Single, the All-Informed, that it may draw him to a station where neither the happenings of the world nor the denial of nations who have violated the Covenant of God, the Lord of all worlds, can grieve him. Thy letter hath come before the Wronged One, and that which thou didst send to My Name. We have answered thee through this Book, by which the limbs of the ignorant have trembled and every remote learned one was thunderstruck.

O servant of God! Thou art he who hath won My call, My Tablets, the traces of My Pen, and that which hath flowed from the right hand of My Throne. Thy Lord is, verily, the All-Remembering, the All-Knowing. Rejoice thou in My remembrance of thee and say: “Praise be unto Thee, O Thou the Goal of the worlds!”

We make mention of him who was named Ahmad. We have remembered him before and do so at this time. O Ahmad! The Wronged One is between the fangs of wolves, and the idolaters have perpetrated that which hath caused every truthful, faithful soul to lament. They have cast truth behind their backs and taken up their own idle fancies. They are indeed among the abject ones.

O Muhammad! The Wronged One remembereth thee and announceth unto thee the grace of God, the Mighty, the All-Praised. No mention can equal His mention, as attesteth He with Whom is the clear Book. Blessed is he who hath attained in this Day unto the traces of My Pen and hath clung to My Strong Cord. We beseech God to aid thee in that which He loveth and is pleased with, and to ordain for thee what He hath ordained for His near servants.

O ʿAli-Akbar! The scene of God, the Supreme, the Self-Subsisting, hath been adorned through His being established upon a mighty throne and His call before the faces of His servants. He is the Powerful, the Almighty. Neither My imprisonment hath prevented Me from the remembrance of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed, nor hath the oppression of those who have disbelieved in the Day of Judgment frightened Me. Behold, behold: this is the Finger of Power whereby the heaven of idle fancies hath been cleft. Hear, hear: this is the shrill voice of My Pen which hath been raised before the faces of the mystics, then the learned ones, then the kings and the sovereigns. Say:

“O Lord of Power! I beseech Thee by Thy Most Great Scene, whereby the hearts of men were disturbed, to make me steadfast in Thy love and firm in Thy Cause. Verily, Thou art the Powerful over what Thou willest. There is no God but Thee, the Mighty, the Powerful.”

O Muhammad-Ibrahim! Sorrows have encompassed Me from those who have disbelieved in the All-Merciful. They are assuredly among the wrongdoers. Verily, he who stood before My face and wrote down that which proceeded from the mouth of My Will hath been taken by the oppressors as a lord for themselves apart from God. They are indeed among the most lost ones in My Great Book.

O Ibrahim! Behold and remember those who soared on the wings of detachment until they reached the place of sacrifice and gave up their spirits in My path and all they possessed for My mighty, wondrous Cause. Verily, Hasan hastened by God’s power and might to the place of sacrifice in such wise that neither his worldly wealth, nor the clamor of the nations, nor the ranks of kings, nor the hosts of the oppressors could hold him back. He gave up his spirit in My path with such joy as to amaze the Concourse on High. Yet most of the people are among the deniers. They make mention of Abraham yet deny what hath appeared in the days of the Glorious One. They are indeed among the heedless in the Book of God, the Mighty, the Powerful, the All-Wise.

O Abu’l-Qasim! Hear what hath been raised from the direction of My loving-kindness for My friends. Verily, there is no God but He, the Single, the One, the Mighty, the All-Knowing. When thou drinkest the choice wine of My utterance, say: My God, my God! All praise be unto Thee for having guided me, made me know Thee, and strengthened me to turn unto Thee. I testify that Thou hast manifested Thyself for the guidance of Thy creation and their drawing nigh unto Thee in all conditions. Verily, Thou art the Mighty, the Chosen One. O my Lord! I beseech Thee by Thy mysteries hidden in Thy knowledge and by the waves that surge from the ocean of Thy utterance to make me hold fast to Thy cord. Verily, Thou art the Strong, the Most High.

O My Most Exalted Pen! Make mention of him who is named Muhammad-before-Ismail. Say: We have made mention of the Sacrifice before, and if thou desire, We shall make mention of another and say: By God! The denizens of the Most Exalted Paradise were struck with wonder when Husayn turned toward the place of sacrifice. He hastened with his spirit and soared on wings of longing, and walked with the feet of eagerness until he appeared at that station before the face of the Lord of all beings. He said:

My God, my God! This is my spirit, my soul, my body, and my limbs. I desire to sacrifice them in Thy love and in Thy path. Alas, alas, for Thy greatness and my meager provision, for Thy loftiness and the insignificance of my deeds! I beseech Thee, O Lord of existence and Sovereign over the seen and unseen, to adorn my deed with the ornament of Thy acceptance. Verily, Thou art the Omnipotent over what Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Forgiving, the Merciful.

O Muhammad-before-Baqir! The names have ended with thy name. Blessed art thou and blessed is he who hasteneth to the horizon of My good-pleasure and acteth according to what I have revealed in My Book. Blessed is he who hath drunk the choice wine of life from the cup of the bounty of My Name, the Most Merciful. Blessed is he who hath cast away all else save Me and clung to the hem of My loving-kindness. Blessed is he who hath taken the choice wine of revelation from the hands of My grace and drunk thereof in My Name. Blessed is he who hath been set ablaze with the fire of My love and hath spoken My praise before the faces of My servants. Blessed are My friends there who were not prevented by the oppression of the oppressors from turning to My horizon, nor by the ascendancy of the aggressors from this Great Announcement.

O Abdullah! We make mention of thee once again that thou mayest find the fragrances of revelation and be of the thankful. This is a day wherein the earth hath shone with the light of God, the Goal of them that know, and the heaven with the signs of God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. Blessed is the servant who hath held fast to that which he hath been commanded, and woe unto every heedless and remote one. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to ordain for thee and My friends that which will draw you nigh unto Him, remind you of His signs, and illumine you with the lights of His Kingdom. Verily, He is the Most Merciful of the merciful. And We ask Him to write for thee that which shall profit thee in every world of His worlds. Verily, He is the Omnipotent, the All-Powerful. The glory from Us be upon thee and upon My friends there who were not prevented by the oppression of the oppressors from clinging to the hem of the robe of My mercy, nor by the ascendancy of the aggressors from this Great Announcement.

BH11709: On this day the Wronged One calleth out…

He is the All-Knowing Witness!

On this day the Wronged One calleth out from the Most Great Prison unto the peoples of the world and summoneth them unto the Most Great Ocean. His Cause is more manifest than the sun and His utterance is as the rays of light. No fair-minded one can deny this greatest bounty, nor can any just one reject this supreme gift. This is the Day of confession and acknowledgment, for the Truth, exalted be His glory, is established upon the throne of recognition and speaketh as befitteth Him. This is that Manifestation which was mentioned in the Books of old and inscribed by the Pen of God.

Convey My greetings unto the loved ones and give them the glad-tidings of the favors of God, exalted be His glory. I swear by the waves of the ocean of the Merciful’s utterance that all are mentioned in the presence of the Wronged One and have attained His grace. We beseech God to assist all to remain steadfast in His mighty Cause and not to deprive His servants of the eternal feast and everlasting bounty.

Convey greetings unto the people of Ba and Dal from the Wronged One and say: O friends! Hold fast unto the cord of wisdom and speak with moderation. One word is like unto fire that consumeth, and another word is like unto light that illumineth. Cleave ye unto gentleness and forbearance. God is merciful and His mercy precedeth all; God is generous and His generosity encompasseth all. Some are weak—they must be healed and strengthened through the remedy of mention and utterance. Moderation is necessary in all things, for if strength exceedeth its bounds it turneth into weakness.

O friends! The Most Exalted Pen counseleth you and biddeth you to that which exalteth the Word of God and uplifteth souls. Hold fast unto moderation in all conditions and speak with equity in all matters. The enemies are inflamed with the fire of ignorance—one must resort to patience that perchance it may be quenched and calmed. We beseech God, exalted be He, to assist you in that which He loveth and pleaseth, and to enable you to observe that which ye have been commanded in the Book.

O Rahim! If thou shouldst reach the verdant land say: Where are thy trees and thy fruits? Where are thy mysteries and thy flowers? O verdant land! Where is thy bounty? Grieve not over what hath befallen thee. God shall soon manifest from thee what He hath ordained for thee. Verily He is the All-Powerful, the Almighty.

We send greetings to the loved ones of that land and beseech God to assist them in that which is befitting, that they may give life to the servants through the sealed wine in the name of the Self-Subsisting. Make mention of the people of that land from the Wronged One and say: Praise be to the Goal of all creation Who enabled you and caused you to attain unto His days. Know ye the value of this station. Praise be to God that through the Most Great Word ye have attained unto the effulgent lights of the Sun of Divine Unity while the divines of the earth have fled from the Word and have strayed from the divine path.

Convey greetings unto the people of God in the land of M and Sh that perchance through the breaths of the utterance of the Goal of the worlds they may be enabled to perform such deeds as shall endure forever in God’s Book throughout the kingdom of names and attributes. Wisdom requireth the concealment of names, now and in the past. Thus hath spoken the Creator of the heavens when He was established upon the throne of His Name, the Concealer, the All-Wise.

O My loved ones! Soon shall all that is visible vanish away. Prepare yourselves and be ready for ascension. Verily He will assist you and command you to that which will draw you nigh and exalt you. He, verily, is the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous.

O My loved ones in ʿAyn and Shin! Time and again ye have been favored with the tokens of the Most Exalted Pen and adorned with the lights of the utterance of Him Who is the Desired One of the worlds. Know ye the value of this station and hold fast unto service to His Cause. Today the Euphrates of mercy is flowing and the ocean of grace is manifest.

O thou who gazest upon Me, My glory be upon thee! Thou hast ever been and art still beneath the glances of loving-kindness. We beseech God to aid thee in a service the very mention of which shall awaken them that slumber. This is not difficult for God to accomplish. The honored ʿAli-i-Akbar hath been and still is mentioned. Praise be to God, he is enabled to celebrate the praise of Him Who is the Wronged One of the horizons.

Ever in the Most Great Prison hath the tongue been speaking, the Pen moving, and the Face turned, that there might appear from the servants that which God shall make a treasure for them with Him. Verily, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful. The glory from Us be upon thee and upon whosoever hath heard the murmuring of the Kawthar of My utterance, hath drawn nigh, hath taken and drunk in the name of God, the Lord of sovereignty over all who are in the heavens and on earth.

BH09046: In My Name, the Speaking, the All-Knowing!

In My Name, the Speaking, the All-Knowing!

We testify that thou didst seek to attain the presence before the countenance of the Wronged One, to hearken unto His call and to stand before His gate. Thou art he who left thy home, turning thy face toward the House of God, the Most High, in the All-Glorious Horizon, and traversed land and sea until thou didst arrive at the Most Great Prison, which God hath made the point of adoration for the world. Thou didst hear what the ears of those near unto Him among His servants have heard, and didst behold what was the hope of the sincere ones among His chosen ones. I beseech Thee, O Lord of all beings and God of the throne on high and of earth below, to ordain for me that which shall cause me to be detached from all else save Thee and to hold fast unto Thy cord. Verily Thou art the Generous, the Lord of grace abounding. There is none other God but Thee, the Forgiving, the Merciful.

BH00293: Praise, sanctified beyond all mention and limitation, befitteth…

Section 1: “In the Name of our Lord, the Most…”

In the Name of our Lord, the Most Holy, the Most Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious

Praise, sanctified beyond all mention and limitation, befitteth the Possessor of the unseen and the seen, Who illumined the hearts and souls of His loved ones with the light of recognition through the bounty of His Most Great Name. The outward tongue speaketh “The Helper hath come,” while the inner tongue uttereth “The All-Merciful hath come.” His hosts are goodly deeds, His helper virtuous character, and He hath made godliness the commander of these hosts. Blessed is the soul that hath attained to witnessing and hearkening, to such extent that it beholdeth all else save God as non-existent and null. The Day is His Day, and the Cause His Cause. Today through His Name the banner of “He doeth whatsoever He willeth” hath been raised, and through His remembrance the standard of “The Sovereign hath come and the Kingdom is God’s” hath been unfurled before the faces of all parties, without veil or concealment. Every fair-minded one beareth witness, and every just and discerning one testifieth and is aware.

Glorified art Thou, O God of all beings and Goal of all creation! Thou seest Thy servant distraught upon the dust by reason of that which hath befallen Thee at the hands of those who have cast the Book behind their backs and followed what their own desires commanded them. O Lord! I beseech Thee by the blood that hath been shed in Thy path, by the hearts that have been consumed in Thy love, and by the Word whereby the hearts of them that are nigh and sincere have been attracted, to assist Thy loved ones in all conditions to remember and praise Thee and to serve Thy Cause. Thou art, verily, the One Who hath power to do as He pleaseth.

There is none other God but Thee, the Almighty, the All-Powerful. O Lord! Thou seest me turning away from all else save Thee and clinging to Thy cord. I make mention of that which will draw Thy loved ones nigh unto the sanctuary of Thy holiness and will aid them to remember and praise Thee amidst Thy creation. O Lord! I beseech Thee by the lights of Thy countenance to make Thy loved ones the emblems of Thy guidance and the banners of Thy victory. Then ordain for them the good of this world and the world to come. There is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the All-Bestowing.

And further: the letter of that beloved of the heart arrived and was honored to be heard in the Most Holy, Most Exalted Court, and this is what the Tongue of Grandeur spoke in reply—exalted be His utterance and glorified His proof:

He is the Manifest Book

O Abdu’l-Hamid! Upon thee be the Glory of God, the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Praised. The servant who is present hath appeared and read that which thou didst commune with God, thy Lord, the Lord of the mighty throne. From it We perceived the fragrance of love and affection on this Day wherein the Herald hath proclaimed: “The Kingdom belongeth to God, the Lord of creation!” The cry of all things was raised when the call of God, the Lord of the Kingdom of Names, was lifted up, and they acknowledged that which the Tongue of Grandeur hath uttered from this station which God hath made the most exalted of stations. We have sent down the verses and manifested the clear proofs and summoned all unto God, the Lord of lords.

Thou knowest, and others besides thee know, that the Wronged One hath appeared without veil or covering before the faces of all parties. Among the people are those who heard and responded, and among them are those who turned away from God, the Dawning-Place of verses, and among them are those who disbelieved and uttered that which caused the dwellers of the cities of justice and fairness to lament, and among them are those who hesitated and are in strange doubt. Neither the clamor of the people nor the doubts of those who denied God’s manifestation in the return have deterred Us. The more they increased in their rejection, the more the remembrance and utterance increased from God, the Revealer of religions. Thou art he who turned to the Countenance when the servants turned away from it in the earliest days, and answered the call when it was raised between earth and heaven. Thus doth My Most Exalted Pen bear witness, as a grace from Him, and He is the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.

When the light of certitude shone forth to a certain degree, a band of servants emerged from behind the veil and perpetrated that which none had ever perpetrated before. To this the Mother Book beareth witness in this station. We beseech God to make thee a champion of His Cause and one who speaketh His praise among His servants in such wise that neither the veils of the oppressors nor the power of the pharaohs shall hinder thee. Verily, He is the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Bestowing. We love to see thee detached from all else but Him, holding fast to His cord, and gazing toward His horizon at all times. Cast the people and what they possess behind thee, then protect the sheep of God from the wolves of the earth. He will protect thee, aid thee, assist thee, and reinforce thee with the hosts of the seen and the unseen. He hath power over whatsoever He willeth. There is none other God but Him, the Protector of all who are in the heavens and on earth.

Hear the Call of the Wronged One in the Persian tongue. Ever has the glance of loving-kindness been directed towards you, and the purpose is that you may, to the extent possible, lead souls from the defilement of the world to true tranquility. Reflect upon the previous people: for one thousand two hundred years and more they were occupied with the mention of God, uttering His praise and speaking His glorification from the pulpits. Yet when the touchstone appeared and the horizon of the world was illumined with the Light of His Manifestation, all drew sword and spear against the Goal of all the worlds. Finally, by the decree of the leaders of church and state, they suspended Him and shed His blood.

God is witness, and the atoms of creation bear testimony, that the purpose of this Wronged One has been to preserve souls from the vain imaginings of the former people, lest there be repeated what you have seen and heard. The cause of His martyrdom and the reason for the opposition of church and state were the vain imaginings that emerged from heedless souls in the early days. Glory be to God! The manifestations of justice and fairness are astonished at what the previous people professed and how they acted on the Day of Judgment. It is incumbent and necessary upon this Wronged One, upon you, and upon the upright souls to protect, to the extent possible, the people of God, lest they be afflicted with the vain imaginings and idle fancies of the former people.

For the sake of God, you must exert your utmost in what has been mentioned. Arise by thy Lord’s leave to serve His Cause, remind the people of His verses, and give them the glad tidings of His loving-kindness.

The purpose of this Wronged One is, first, that the fire of hatred and animosity blazing in hearts and souls may be quenched by the Kawthar of counsel and the Salsabil of wisdom, and that the lights of unity and concord may shine forth from the horizons of the hearts of all servants. Second, that the decree of conflict, strife, corruption, murder, and all that disturbs existence may be lifted. This has been forbidden in most Tablets. Today all must hold fast to that which conduces to the reformation of the world and the education of its peoples. Knowledge is that which preserveth man from that which is unworthy and unseemly, and teacheth him that which will benefit both himself and all mankind. This is what the Wronged One desireth. Blessed is he who aideth Him in what He desireth; he is assuredly numbered among the helpers in the Book of God, the Lord of all worlds. It is hoped that through loving counsels the world may be adorned with the ornament of justice and fairness. He is the All-Bountiful, the Generous. There is none other God but He, the Single, the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

O thou who gazest toward the horizon! That which is most harmful today is the people’s lack of understanding concerning what has transpired. By God’s life! Had there been found a soul worthy of mention and utterance, this Wronged One would surely have chosen silence and would not have accepted countless afflictions. We arose for the sake of God. You and every truthful and just one bear witness to the uprising of this Wronged One and His mention before all faces. Now that some measure of assurance hath appeared, the opponents, that is, those who have turned away from the Cause, have arisen in greater hostility than the former peoples and are occupied with the same vain imaginings. Is there any helper who will assist the Cause of God with wisdom and utterance?

Is there any servant who will arise for the sake of God to serve His Cause, to remind people of His verses, and to illumine their hearts with the light of His Command? We beseech God to aid thee in that which hath flowed from My Most Exalted Pen in this Most Glorious Station. There is none other God but He, the Lord of the Throne and the earth. The glory shining from the horizon of the heaven of My Kingdom be upon thee and upon those who have aided the Cause of God in the evening and at sunrise, at eventide and at dawn.

Section 2: “This lowly servant has ever beseeched the True…”

This lowly servant has ever beseeched the True One, exalted be His glory, for that which would cause the manifestation of infinite bounties and the exaltation of the Blessed Word. Ever has the mention of that beloved one been made in the Most Holy Court, and this servant, with utmost humility and supplication, begs and hopes from the Self-Sufficient One that He may illumine the horizons of that blessed city with the light of faith and certitude. Praise be to God that that which was the hope of this evanescent servant has dawned forth, for in these days the petition of that beloved one and the friends has arrived. His is the praise and the glory, His the gratitude and the splendor, for He has confirmed His loved ones in their recognition, turning and certitude. I have besought and continue to beseech the True One, exalted be His glory, that He may strengthen that beloved one in unifying and bringing into agreement the friends of that land—this is not difficult for Him.

Certain souls speak such calumnies that one is bewildered—exactly the same allegations as before have resurfaced. The Kitab-i-Iqan was specifically revealed in Iraq for the honored Afnan, the Great Uncle (of the Bab), may the Most Glorious Splendor rest upon him. The details are thus: When he journeyed to the Holy Shrines and after pilgrimage arrived in Baghdad, the honored Haji Siyyid Javad—may the Most Glorious Splendor of God rest upon him—attained the presence and submitted that two maternal uncles of the Exalted One—may our souls be sacrificed for His sake—had arrived in this land and intended to proceed to the Land of Shin. He asked, “Have you mentioned anything to them about this Cause?” He replied, “No.” At that moment the blessed countenance became flushed and He said, “Go to them, convey greetings from the Wronged One and say: We have never sought to meet anyone, but we do desire to meet you.”

And Hadrat-i-Javad—may God’s Most Glorious Splendor rest upon him—went forth, and later in the afternoon returned with the Great Uncle—may the Most Glorious Splendor rest upon him. When they attained the presence He said, “It would be most grievous to this Wronged One if you and the other Afnans should remain deprived of the Tree that has been planted and grown in your midst.” They submitted that there were certain matters that had prevented and continued to prevent them. He said, “Mention those matters that have prevented you from recognizing the supreme horizon and the Blessed Tree, and ask your questions.” The next day they came to the sanctuary basement where He summoned them one by one, and they submitted that which had caused their hesitation, and in their presence answers descended from the heaven of God’s will, exalted be His glory, and were bestowed. Surely that beloved one and others have heard and know these details. The following day they attained the presence and submitted: “Wretched would be the soul who should read this Book and hesitate.”

The journey of the Ancient Beauty—exalted be His glory—is mentioned therein; nevertheless, they have said what they have said and attributed it to one who, by God besides Whom there is none other God, is incapable of comprehending it. Likewise they say the Bayan has been altered—one’s heart melts at such words, for the beginning has become like the end of the Shi’ih party. And likewise do they assert that the wondrous verses have been appropriated from the revealed utterances of the Primal Point—may our spirits be offered up for His sake—and are being circulated under their own name, notwithstanding that presently two, nay three, equivalent Revelations have been vouchsafed, and the distinction between these divine expositions is as manifest and evident as the sun itself. Let them consider the Book of Iqan and that which hath been revealed in the Persian tongue with the Persian Bayan of the Primal Point—may the spirit of all else but Him be sacrificed for His sake—and the other Persian writings; likewise the wondrous verses with the verses of that Being bear no outward resemblance whatsoever—indeed the difference is great.

That beloved one and this servant must beseech God—glorified be His majesty—to guide all and enable them to achieve that which is conducive to the manifestation of justice and fairness. This matter cannot be realized except by those souls who observe with their own ears and eyes, and this is specifically true of this Most Great Revelation. I beseech God to aid that beloved one to rend asunder the veils of the people’s idle fancies with the finger of certitude and remove them.

The calumnies of the idolaters exceed all bounds. Those souls who were heedless and unaware of the Cause now claim to be the first to have believed in God. This servant knoweth not what fruit the Shi’ih sect and their words and deeds have yielded on the Day of His Manifestation, that now a group like unto them should, through the efforts of Mirza Hadi-i-Dawlat-Abadi, darken the world. We beseech protection and grace from God, our Lord and your Lord and the Lord of the mighty Throne and the exalted Seat.

At this moment the Ancient Beauty uttered this most exalted word—His word, exalted be His glory: O Abdul-Hamid! Upon thee be the glory of God and His loving-kindness. Today it is incumbent and necessary for you and others to reflect upon these events that have transpired. At first, outwardly, it was not expected that certain souls would turn away from what is with the Truth, preferring what they possessed, or that they would fail to distinguish between the effulgences of the Sun of Truth and the shadow, or that the source of vain imaginings would, unbidden and without consent, utter words. However, the corruptor seduced and cast forth that which led to error.

Now if you arise to render this service, trusting in God and committing your affair to Him—that doubts may be dispelled—it would be acceptable and beloved before God. Two or three individuals who are truly possessed of hearing and sight, and are free from love and hatred, should proceed and remain on the island for a time, truthfully relating whatever they perceive. Perhaps through this investigation that which causes certitude and assurance of souls will become manifest, and the light of certainty will be distinguished from the darkness of imagination, that all people may discover and know. This servant beseeches God to raise up several souls who will investigate for His sake, lest time pass and those possessed of vain imaginings remain in their delusions. This matter is truly necessary.

Glory be to God! It is not known what they have understood of the Day of God and what the purpose of this Revelation has been. While there is still time, effort is necessary. Those who were with Him have denied all and repudiated whatever was said, while the newly-found deluded ones say with their tongues what their hearts and very beings deny—they say with their mouths what is not in their hearts. I beseech God to assist that beloved one in all conditions. If anyone sets out and does not know how to reach the island, let them arrive in Beirut and inquire, or come to this land. The intent is that that beloved one may become the cause of manifesting that which will dispel delusions.

In any case, this servant implores God, exalted be His glory, to aid that beloved one in unveiling what is now concealed. Likewise, night and day I have besought and continue to beseech God, exalted be His station, to assist you and those souls who turned to Him in the early days to achieve what befits His Day. I convey greetings to the friends in that land and beseech for each one that which will cause the elevation of their station. The Branches of the Blessed Tree—may my spirit, being and essence be sacrificed for the dust of their most pure feet—are present and each one expresses loving-kindness. The glory, remembrance and praise be upon you and upon those with you and upon all who are steadfast and firm.

The servant 27 Muharram 1306