Volume 089: Akka 1306 A.H. (1888–1889), Part II (4 of 4)

BH10820: Praise, glory, mention and splendor befit the most holy…

In the name of God, transcendent is His glory, His greatness and power!

Praise, glory, mention and splendor befit the most holy and exalted Court of the Desired One, Who caused two fountains of life-giving water to flow forth from the source of two letters. From the Kaf of Being, generosity was made manifest, which became the cause of existence. And from the Nun appeared the realm of preservation and encompassment. Such power lies concealed within these two that should all created things appear with countless tongues and praise them until the endless end, they would never fathom their essence and would find themselves utterly impotent and wanting.

Glory be to God! Though the mysteries of creation have been inscribed by the Pen of Power upon every leaf, every stone, and upon every countenance among the temples of existence, yet all remain heedless and veiled. Especially in this age and dispensation when the blessed words “The Kingdom is Mine” have been written in most prominent script upon all things. The sorrow of this evanescent servant is that eyes are rare that might see, and ears scarce that might hear.

The world-illumining Sun is the greatest witness to His bestowal and His nurturing grace, and the ocean is the most perfect manifestation of His bounty and education. The existence and continuance of all things outwardly depend on these two by the command of the Desired One—exalted be His dominion and glorified be His giving. There is no God but Him.

And blessings and peace be upon the Manifestation of God’s knowledge, the Dawning-place of His inspiration, and the Dayspring of His revelation, through Whose appearance the idols fell and the conditions of vain imaginings were erased, and the Herald called out from the most exalted station:

“He hath come through Whom the Corner and the Station were adorned.”

And upon His family and companions, whom God made the roses in the gardens of His knowledge, flowing springs for His servants, and rising suns for His earth and heaven—they through whom the foundation of wisdom and utterance was strengthened, and the mysteries of the Book were revealed amongst all religions.

The letter of that honored brother, which brought glad tidings of health and well-being, and bespoke his turning, steadfastness, and nearness unto the Mighty, the All-Bestowing, hath been received. At its arrival I rendered thanks and offered praise unto God, glorified be His majesty, for it was adorned with the remembrance of His loved ones. Then, after being seized with attraction, joy, and gladness, I turned toward the sacred Presence and presented before His face all that was contained in the letter. It was admitted unto the grace of His beholding and hearing. He said:

“O Abdullah! Upon thee be the peace of God. Thy remembrance hath ever been and continueth to be before the Wronged One. Praise be to God that thou art confirmed in remembrance, praise, recognition and turning unto God, exalted be His glory. Convey the greetings of the Wronged One to the loved ones in that land. We beseech God to aid them all and protect them from the vain imaginings of the Shi’ih sect. By the life of the True One! Most of what that people possess consisteth of calumnies. They have departed from the law of Muhammad and are bereft of the light of Ahmad. They have taken their idle fancies as lords beside God. By what knowledge and by what excellence did that sect consider themselves the most learned and most excellent of all? The Wronged One, however, testifieth that they are ignorant ones possessing neither justice, nor wisdom, nor fairness. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to preserve every party among the parties of the earth who shall come after from the vain imaginings, beliefs and calumnies of these people. Verily He is the Protector, the Mighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

“O Abdullah! The people of unity have grown weak, and this weakness hath resulted from discord. The weakness of every party, both in the past and future, hath all been due to discord. Say: O friends! Ye are drops of one ocean and leaves of one tree. Turn from what ye possess unto what God possesseth. By the blessed Word of God which set hearts ablaze and sent them to the place of sacrifice—for each of you who hath drunk from the cup of steadfastness there is a station which, were it to be revealed, all the world and its treasures would appear as worthless clay. Transform depression and withering through the fire of divine love and walk in the footsteps of the Wronged One. Man without deeds and worship is like a tree without fruit, and deed without effect. Whoso hath found the sweetness of worship would not exchange a single deed or remembrance for all that existeth. Fasting and prayer are two wings for existence. Blessed is he who soareth with them in the atmosphere of the love of God, the Lord of the worlds.

“At all times have We forbidden the loved ones from contention and corruption, but hearing ears are lacking. In the great city that was kindled which burned the liver of justice and melted the body of fairness. Greed and avarice have prevailed over contentment and detachment. Now those two helpless ones dwell concealed in dark corners. Beseech God to guide His servants and adorn them with the ornament of fairness. Verily He is powerful over all things. Peace be upon thee from Us and upon those who have acted according to what they were commanded in the Book of God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.”

This blessed age has received a full portion of praise and thanksgiving, and has attained to that which is acceptable in the sight of God. Today is the day for the manifestation of virtues and noble qualities. If words have no witness, they shall not attain to the station of acceptance, and the witness of words has ever been and shall ever be deeds. We beseech God, exalted be His glory, to assist all and grant success as befitteth. This evanescent servant conveyeth greetings to each of the friends and seeketh for all that which is everlasting and eternal.

As to the mention of the esteemed friend, Jinab-i-Aqa Mirza Habibullah, upon him be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious, and likewise the mention of his petition, after its presentation, they stated at the Supreme Spot:

“Praise be to God Who assisted him to turn towards Him and enabled him to achieve that which was revealed in His perspicuous Book. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to ordain for him every good that He hath revealed in His Book and to decree for him a bountiful reward. Verily, He is the Omnipotent, the Almighty.”

And as to his intention to journey to this direction, permission is granted. God willing, may he proceed to this Spot with joy and radiance and attain to that which is intended. This servant also conveyeth greetings to him and beseecheth God, exalted be His glory, to assist His loved ones in that which will lead to the reformation of the world and the refinement of the souls of all peoples.

Regarding the Huquq, according to the command, twenty-five tumans should be given to Jinab-i-Amin Effendi, upon him be God’s peace, as this was promised to him previously but until now its payment was not possible. Now that honored one should pay it on behalf of the Master. And to Jinab-i-Aqa Mirza Zaynu’l-ʿAbidin from the land of Kaf, due to his illness, the sum of ten tumans should be delivered, and the remainder should be given to Jinab-i-Aqa Siyyid Murtada and two of the friends from Dawlat-Abad whom he himself has mentioned. If this deed be done for the sake of God, it is nearer to piety than if done in the name of religion. The servant beseecheth his Lord to assist him in that which He loveth and is pleased with, to give him to drink from the cup of divine knowledge at all times—verily He is the Mighty, the Bestower—and to open before his face the gates of blessing and wealth. Verily, He doeth what He willeth and He is the Forgiving, the Generous.

And concerning what was written about the sons of Khalil and the heirs of Kalim, upon them be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious, in the land of Kermanshah, He said:

“Excellent is what they have intended. God willing, may they be assisted to accept the religion of Islam. Verily, it is the truth from God, and we beseech Him, exalted be He, to assist them in that whereby their names shall endure among names and their remembrance among remembrances. Verily, He is the Omnipotent, the All-Choosing.”

End.

And as to the beloved of my heart, Jinab-i-Aqa ʿAbdu’l-Mahdi, upon him be the peace of God, and regarding the mention of his intention to pay the Huquq, these matters were submitted, whereupon He said: “We have forgiven him the Huquq.” We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to accept what he intended of goodly deeds and to transform this intention into the rain of mercy, and to water the fields of hopes in His path, that there may grow therefrom that which shall testify to the permanence of the earthly and heavenly kingdoms. As to attaining His presence, praise be to God they have attained, but in these days attendance is not permitted, as it would be contrary to wisdom.

We beseech God to grant the deniers of the meeting with Him a sense of justice, for were they to attain unto justice, they would know with manifest certainty that this Wronged One has never desired nor desires aught save the reformation of the world and the refinement of nations. This year how many souls, by command and permission, have turned toward the Ka’bih of mankind. The command is in His hand and success lies in His grasp. He aids whom He willeth as a bounty from His presence, and He is the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous. We beseech God to aid all to perform goodly deeds and to observe what He hath revealed in His Book. Verily, He is the All-Powerful, the Almighty….

How great the indolence and injustice for man to forsake this ascension [of prayer] and attach himself to Qarun!…