Volume 090: Akka 1306 A.H. (1888–1889), Part III (5 of 5)

BH00919: Praise befitteth the most holy court of the Desired…

He is God, exalted be His station, the Glory and the Power!

Praise befitteth the most holy court of the Desired One, Who hath transformed the Most Great Prison for His loved ones—though it beareth this name—and hath thrown open the gate of attainment unto His presence. As a manifestation of His power, He hath also unlocked the outer gate in such wise that it remaineth continuously open day and night, that whosoever willeth may enter and whosoever wisheth may depart—this, in spite of those who, upon our first arrival, had barred the gate of the barracks which was the abode of prisoners. Therefore did the Tongue of Utterance proclaim in one instance these words:

“Grieve not, for God shall soon open before your faces the gate of the city. Then shall enter and leave through it whomsoever He willeth. He, verily, is the Mighty, the Desired One.”

Yet now, for some time, expressions of sadness have been emanating from this land. The knowledge thereof is with God, the Lord of the mighty throne.

Glory be unto Thee, O my God! Thou seest the hearts of Thy Afnan turning toward the horizon of Thy Cause, gazing upon the lights of Thy countenance, awaiting the wonders of Thy grace, set ablaze with the fire of Thy love, and attracted by Thy verses. I beseech Thee, O Lord of the world and the Possessor of power over all nations, by the call of the Daysprings of Thy Cause and the Fountainheads of Thy wisdom amongst Thy servants, and by Thy Book whereby Thou didst separate truth from error and didst guide all unto Thy path, to adorn them with the crown of Thy Name amidst Thy creation and with the ornament of Thy Revelation throughout Thy lands. Then send down upon them from the heaven of Thy bounty blessings and mercy from Thy presence. Verily, Thou art the Powerful over whatsoever Thou willest, and within Thy grasp are the reins of all names. There is none other God but Thee, the Strong, the Dominant, the Almighty.

My soul be a sacrifice for your arising, your remembrance and your utterance! The letter from your eminence, which shone with love and favor, arrived, illuminating the court of the heart and bestowing eternal fragrance and joy upon the carpet of the soul. Praise be to God, each of its letters and words was a messenger arriving from the city of recognition, and a herald from the realm of utterance bearing endless glad tidings, for from each letter wafted the fragrance of the love of the Beloved of the worlds. We praise God for confirming His Afnan in His remembrance and praise, in circumambulating His House, and in arising to serve His Cause. Verily, He is the All-Powerful, the Almighty.

After its reading, recognition and perusal, it was taken to the Holy Presence and achieved the honor of being heard. The Lord, may our souls be a sacrifice for Him, said:

“O servant present! Behold the grace of God and His sovereignty. He hath confirmed the Afnan in turning towards Him, in acceptance, in steadfastness and certitude, and hath made them guides to His remembrance among His servants. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to strengthen His Cause through them among His creation and to aid them in exalting His Word throughout all regions. Verily, He is the Mighty, the Unconstrained. And We send Our greetings to Our loved ones there and ask for them divine confirmation and success in all conditions. Verily, He is the Self-Sufficient, the Most High.”

Praise be to God, there hath flowed from the Source of grace that of which a single drop causeth the sprouting of the world with the herbs of wisdom and utterance, and the flowers of remembrance and knowledge. Exalted is God’s grace and magnificent His bounty, and resplendent the Sun of His mercy which hath preceded all created things. The loved ones and friends in that land are each blessed with His grace and are specially mentioned in that Presence, particularly the honored servant Haji Muhammad-Rida and the beloved of the heart Muhammad-Mustafa, upon them be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious. This servant beseecheth his Lord to protect His loved ones through the angels of His victory, to ordain for them what He hath revealed in His Book, and to grant them the Kawthar of nearness and attainment in the Day which all have been promised—the Day whose advent He announced to the ungodly and whose coming He heralded to the believers. Verily, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful, and He is the All-Bountiful, the Generous.

It is submitted that the petition of Bahram, upon him be the Glory of God, which he presented to your honor, was entirely presented. Grace and bounty were shown towards him, and then these blessed words were uttered:

“O Bahram! The dawn of the Day of Justice hath broken. The rays of the all-encompassing Sun have illumined the world and bestowed freshness upon the withered age. How excellent is the eye that seeth and recognizeth! Ask thou the Self-Sufficient One to reveal unto thee the mystery of His Day and grant thee new life upon new life. He is the Mighty, He is the All-Knowing.”

Praise be to God! The beloved of the heart, his honor Mirza Abu’l-Fadl, upon him be the Glory of God and His favors and bounties, has been with them and has mentioned each one. The noble scribes are present everywhere—this is from God’s command, the Mighty, the Loving. Hidden particles are revealed and concealed mysteries are made manifest. This is the Day when secrets are tried. How clearly the secrets of hearts and the betrayal of eyes were revealed at the Threshold! This is a promise that cannot be denied. Praise be to God, we witnessed it, yet in all conditions we beseech Him to make the heedless aware and grant the sinners the grace to return. Verily, He is the Forgiver, the Generous.

The letter arrived late and there was no opportunity to present the response to the beloved of the heart, Jinab-i-Amin, upon him be the Glory of God, the True, the Manifest King. God willing, I shall present it later. I convey greetings and praise, and beseech the True One, exalted be His glory, for confirmation and success on his behalf. Praise be to God, he is successful and what was sent has arrived. It is known that his honor is steadfast in service in all conditions and mindful of the interests of the Cause. This is a confirmation from God, our Lord and your Lord and the Lord of our forefathers.

The Branches of the Blessed Tree and the maidens of the pavilion of chastity each mention his honor and that honored Afnan, and beseech God for confirmation and success. The honored one, the beloved spiritual one concealed in this evanescent heart, his honor Afnan Haji Siyyid Ali, may my spirit be sacrificed for him and upon him be the Most Glorious Beauty, has always been and continues to be remembered, mentioned and present. The servant beseeches his Lord to unite you time after time and again and again. Verily, He is the Hearer, the Answerer.

Praise, remembrance and glory be upon your honor and upon those who are with you and who love you for the sake of God, the Lord of the worlds and the Goal of all who are in the heavens and earth.

The servant 19 Dhi’l-Qa’dih 1306

The matter of the earth-moving equipment may be presented later.

BH01032: Praise and glory be to the one true God…

He is God, exalted be His station in majesty and power!

Praise and glory be to the one true God Who adorned non-existence with the ornament of being, made manifest the non-existent through causes He created for His own bestowal, and ordained means for the expression of bounty in the world. Every matter appears through causes. He created man and placed within him the sign of love, and the strengthening of this love has been through meeting and union by means of causes, and in separation and remoteness through the means of pen and ink, which preserve the stations of nearness in distance. Wondrous arts have been manifested by the Creator through pure grace.

In any case, praise be to God, the glad tidings of health and well-being have arrived through the aforementioned means, and its effects are truly more firm and steadfast than those of a messenger, for a messenger may forget something, but this messenger has no forgetfulness. If man would reflect upon any single thing among the things of the world, he would observe in it the sign of divine education and merciful compassion. His grace has encompassed all and His mercy has embraced all. However, we servants hope that henceforth we may arise to compensate for what has passed, praising Him detached from the world and all that is therein, and becoming occupied with His remembrance and glorification.

In any case, the events of pen and ink have exceeded bounds—I fear the point may be lost. In brief, the letter of that spiritual brother arrived. It was one letter, yet within it were glad tidings concealed: first, the tidings of your health, and second, the acknowledgment of the Lord’s generosity. Health takes precedence for the manifestation of bounty, and after bounty, thanksgiving becomes obligatory and praise becomes necessary. This is the station of servitude, and in the station of Truth, even if these thanks and praises were to appear from the beginning that has no beginning to the end that has no end, they would not be worthy of His threshold. However, the assurance of existence and the joy of hearts come from the acceptance of the All-Loving Lord. In this station He has permitted both thanksgiving and remembrance. After the joy, delight, gladness and exultation from the letter of that beloved of the heart, intention was made to approach the station and it was presented. Thus spoke the Master, may our souls be sacrificed for Him.

O Rida! This Wronged One has ever remembered His loved ones and counselled all to that which brings them nearer to God. Such nearness cannot be attained except through goodly deeds and praiseworthy conduct. Deeds and their acceptance are, in the first instance and highest station, dependent upon the divine unity. Praise be to God that the favored community is adorned with the crown of recognition and the ornament of unity, and at all times utters and remembers the blessed words “There is none other God but God.” Blessed are they! This blessed Word is both an ocean of mercy for the believers and a fire of retribution for the ungodly. We beseech God to remove discord from among this people and adorn all with the ornament of unity and concord, that perchance this weakness may be transformed into strength and the former power be made manifest.

However, as the party in Iran is tainted with the calumnies of self and desire, they accept not the counsel of the trustworthy counsellor. They cling to suppositions and hold fast to vain imaginings. We beseech the True One to transform their eye affliction into light that they may see and find. But unseemly deeds and words prevent and hinder this, and this has been and is required by divine justice. Give praise unto the Goal of the world Who adorned thee with that which is the foremost ornament for the peoples of the world. The Wronged One beseeches God, blessed and exalted be He, to protect thee and aid thee to act according to what He hath revealed in His Book. Verily He is the All-Hearing, the All-Generous, and He is the All-Seeing, the All-Knowing.

Praise be to God that at all times thou hast been mentioned. The bounty of remembrance and praise is considered by those who have attained as among the greatest bounties, and in one station it is the heavenly food. Praise be to God that thou hast attained and art attaining unto it. Whatever was sent, in any form, is acceptable and praiseworthy, for it was acquired through love and sent through love, and that which proceeds from love is praiseworthy in the sight of the fair-minded and the knowing ones. Well done to thy effort, attention, diligence and striving. This time it arrived well and arrived intact and was quickly composed. What has been from this servant and thee is what has been accomplished; the rest depends on divine grace, and whatsoever comes from Him has been and is beloved. We thank Him in all conditions.

As to what thou didst write regarding the excellent fruits to be found in that region—alas that this servant knoweth not their locations, and moreover, no one knoweth me such that were I to inquire, they would give a proper answer. Indeed what thou didst write is correct, but in the presence of the Beloved of the Near Ones, His Honor Muhammad-ʿAli Effendi, may God the Exalted strengthen him, you are independent of being known, and above that, praise be to God, you possess virtuous character and excel in love and faithfulness. Ever is the mention of his qualities and stations present in the gatherings of true friends. The servant beseeches his Lord to grant him success and aid him in what He loves and is pleased with, and to bestow upon him and enable him to attain the highest positions and most exalted station.

Verily He is powerful over all things. The friends of this land, one and all, send their greetings and beseech God, exalted be His glory, for your presence and meeting. Especially does the apple of the eye, His Honor Aqa Mirza Mustafa, upon him be [Baha], mention you in every instance and continues to do so. Indeed, all express love, kindness, mercy and compassion, according to their degrees and stations, towards your honor. Peace, mercy and bounty be upon you and upon God’s righteous servants.

BH00111: Kalimat-i-Firdawsiyyih (Words of Paradise)

Section 1: “He is the One Who speaketh through…”

He is the One Who speaketh through the power of Truth in the Kingdom of Utterance

O ye the embodiments of justice and equity and the manifestations of uprightness and of heavenly bounties! In tears and lamenting, this Wronged One calleth aloud and saith: O God, my God! Adorn the heads of Thy loved ones with the crown of detachment and attire their temples with the raiment of righteousness.

It behoveth the people of Baha to render the Lord victorious through the power of their utterance and to admonish the people by their goodly deeds and character, inasmuch as deeds exert greater influence than words.

O Haydar-Ali! Upon thee be the praise of God and His glory. Say: Honesty, virtue, wisdom and a saintly character redound to the exaltation of man, while dishonesty, imposture, ignorance and hypocrisy lead to his abasement. By My life! Man’s distinction lieth not in ornaments or wealth, but rather in virtuous behaviour and true understanding. Most of the people in Persia are steeped in deception and idle fancy. How great the difference between the condition of these people and the station of such valiant souls as have passed beyond the sea of names and pitched their tents upon the shores of the ocean of detachment. Indeed none but a few of the existing generation hath yet earned the merit of hearkening unto the warblings of the doves of the all-highest Paradise.

Few of My servants are truly thankful.’ People for the most part delight in superstitions. They regard a single drop of the sea of delusion as preferable to an ocean of certitude. By holding fast unto names they deprive themselves of the inner reality and by clinging to vain imaginings they are kept back from the Dayspring of heavenly signs. God grant you may be graciously aided under all conditions to shatter the idols of superstition and to tear away the veils of the imaginations of men. Authority lieth in the grasp of God, the Fountainhead of revelation and inspiration and the Lord of the Day of Resurrection.

We heard that which the person in question hath mentioned regarding certain teachers of the Faith. Indeed he hath spoken truly. Some heedless souls roam the lands in the name of God, actively engaged in ruining His Cause, and call it promoting and teaching the Word of God; and this notwithstanding that the qualifications of the teachers of the Faith, like unto stars, shine resplendent throughout the heavens of the divine Tablets. Every fair-minded person testifieth and every man of insight is well aware that the One true God—exalted be His glory—hath unceasingly set forth and expounded that which will elevate the station and will exalt the rank of the children of men.

The people of Baha burn brightly amidst the gatherings even as a candle and hold fast unto that which God hath purposed. This station standeth supreme above all stations. Well is it with him who hath cast away the things that the people of the world possess, yearning for that which pertaineth unto God, the Sovereign Lord of eternity.

Say: O God, my God! Thou beholdest me circling round Thy Will with mine eyes turned towards the horizon of Thy bounty, eagerly awaiting the revelation of the effulgent splendours of the sun of Thy favours. I beg of Thee, O Beloved of every understanding heart and the Desire of such as have near access unto Thee, to grant that Thy loved ones may become wholly detached from their own inclinations, holding fast unto that which pleaseth Thee. Attire them, O Lord, with the robe of righteousness and illumine them with the splendours of the light of detachment. Summon then to their assistance the hosts of wisdom and utterance that they may exalt Thy Word amongst Thy creatures and proclaim Thy Cause amidst Thy servants. Verily, potent art Thou to do what Thou willest, and within Thy grasp lie the reins of all affairs. No God is there but Thee, the Mighty, the Ever-Forgiving.

O thou who hast turned thy gaze towards My face! In these days there occurred that which hath plunged Me into dire sadness. Certain wrong-doers who profess allegiance to the Cause of God committed such deeds as have caused the limbs of sincerity, of honesty, of justice, of equity to quake. One known individual to whom the utmost kindness and favour had been extended perpetrated such acts as have brought tears to the eye of God. Formerly We uttered words of warning and premonition, then for a number of years We kept the matter secret that haply he might take heed and repent. But all to no purpose. In the end he bent his energies upon vilifying the Cause of God before the eyes of all men. He tore the veil of fairness asunder and felt sympathy neither for himself nor for the Cause of God. Now, however, the deeds of certain individuals have brought sorrows far more grievous than those which the deeds of the former had caused. Beseech thou God, the True One, that He may graciously enable the heedless to retract and repent. Verily He is the Forgiving, the Bountiful, the Most Generous.

In these days it is incumbent upon everyone to adhere tenaciously unto unity and concord and to labour diligently in promoting the Cause of God, that perchance the wayward souls may attain that which will lead unto abiding prosperity.

In brief, dissensions among various sects have opened the way to weakness. Each sect hath picked out a way for itself and is clinging to a certain cord. Despite manifest blindness and ignorance they pride themselves on their insight and knowledge. Among them are mystics who bear allegiance to the Faith of Islam, some of whom indulge in that which leadeth to idleness and seclusion. I swear by God! It lowereth man’s station and maketh him swell with pride. Man must bring forth fruit. One who yieldeth no fruit is, in the words of the Spirit, like unto a fruitless tree, and a fruitless tree is fit but for the fire.

That which the aforesaid persons have mentioned concerning the stations of Divine Unity will conduce in no small measure to idleness and vain imaginings. These mortal men have evidently set aside the differences of station and have come to regard themselves as God, while God is immeasurably exalted above all things. Every created being however revealeth His signs which are but emanations from Him and not His Own Self. All these signs are reflected and can be seen in the book of existence, and the scrolls that depict the shape and pattern of the universe are indeed a most great book. Therein every man of insight can perceive that which would lead to the Straight Path and would enable him to attain the Great Announcement. Consider the rays of the sun whose light hath encompassed the world. The rays emanate from the sun and reveal its nature, but are not the sun itself. Whatsoever can be discerned on earth amply demonstrateth the power of God, His knowledge and the outpourings of His bounty, while He Himself is immeasurably exalted above all creatures.

Christ saith: Thou hast granted to children that whereof the learned and the wise are deprived.’ The sage of Sabzivar hath said: Alas! Attentive ears are lacking, otherwise the whisperings of the Sinaic Bush could be heard from every tree.’ In a Tablet to a man of wisdom who had made enquiry as to the meaning of Elementary Reality, We addressed this famous sage in these words: ʿIf this saying is truly thine, how is it that thou hast failed to hearken unto the Call which the Tree of Man hath raised from the loftiest heights of the world? If thou didst hear the Call yet fear and the desire to preserve thy life prompted thee to remain heedless to it, thou art such a person as hath never been nor is worthy of mention; if thou hast not heard it, then thou art bereft of the sense of hearing.’ In brief, such men are they whose words are the pride of the world, and whose deeds are the shame of the nations.

Verily We have sounded the Trumpet which is none other than My Pen of Glory, and lo, mankind hath swooned away before it, save them whom God pleaseth to deliver as a token of His grace. He is the Lord of bounty, the Ancient of Days.

Say: O concourse of divines! Pronounce ye censure against this Pen unto which, as soon as it raised its shrill voice, the kingdom of utterance prepared itself to hearken, and before whose mighty and glorious theme every other theme hath paled into insignificance? Fear ye God and follow not your idle fancies and corrupt imaginings, but rather follow Him Who is come unto you invested with undeniable knowledge and unshakeable certitude.

Glorified be God! Man’s treasure is his utterance, yet this Wronged One hath withheld His Tongue, for the disbelievers are lying in ambush; however, protection is afforded by God, the Lord of all worlds. Verily, in Him have We placed Our trust and unto Him have We committed all affairs. All-Sufficient is He for Us and for all created things. He is the One by Whose leave, and through the potency of Whose command, the Day-Star of sovereign might hath shone resplendent above the horizon of the world. Well is it with him who perceiveth and recognizeth the Truth and woe betide the froward and the faithless.

This Wronged One hath invariably treated the wise with affection. By the wise is meant men whose knowledge is not confined to mere words and whose lives have been fruitful and have produced enduring results. It is incumbent upon everyone to honour these blessed souls. Happy are they that observe God’s precepts; happy are they that have recognized the Truth; happy are they that judge with fairness in all matters and hold fast to the Cord of My inviolable Justice.

The people of Persia have turned away from Him Who is the Protector and the Helper. They are clinging to and have enmeshed themselves in the vain imaginings of the foolish. So firmly do they adhere to superstitions that naught can sever them therefrom save the potent arm of God—exalted is His glory. Beseech thou the Almighty that He may remove with the fingers of divine power the veils which have shut out the divers peoples and kindreds, that they may attain the things that are conducive to security, progress and advancement and may hasten forth towards the incomparable Friend.

The word of God which the Abha Pen hath revealed and inscribed on the first leaf of the Most Exalted Paradise is this: Verily I say: The fear of God hath ever been a sure defence and a safe stronghold for all the peoples of the world. It is the chief cause of the protection of mankind, and the supreme instrument for its preservation. Indeed, there existeth in man a faculty which deterreth him from, and guardeth him against, whatever is unworthy and unseemly, and which is known as his sense of shame. This, however, is confined to but a few; all have not possessed and do not possess it.

The word of God which the Supreme Pen hath recorded on the second leaf of the Most Exalted Paradise is the following: The Pen of the Most High exhorteth, at this moment, the manifestations of authority and the sources of power, namely the kings, the sovereigns, the presidents, the rulers, the divines and the wise, and enjoineth them to uphold the cause of religion, and to cleave unto it. Religion is verily the chief instrument for the establishment of order in the world and of tranquillity amongst its peoples. The weakening of the pillars of religion hath strengthened the foolish and emboldened them and made them more arrogant. Verily I say: The greater the decline of religion, the more grievous the waywardness of the ungodly. This cannot but lead in the end to chaos and confusion. Hear Me, O men of insight, and be warned, ye who are endued with discernment!

The word of God which the Supreme Pen hath recorded on the third leaf of the Most Exalted Paradise is this: O son of man! If thine eyes be turned towards mercy, forsake the things that profit thee and cleave unto that which will profit mankind. And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself. Humility exalteth man to the heaven of glory and power, whilst pride abaseth him to the depths of wretchedness and degradation.

O people of God! Great is the Day and mighty the Call! In one of Our Tablets We have revealed these exalted words: ʿWere the world of the spirit to be wholly converted into the sense of hearing, it could then claim to be worthy to hearken unto the Voice that calleth from the Supreme Horizon; for otherwise, these ears that are defiled with lying tales have never been, nor are they now, fit to hear it.’ Well is it with them that hearken; and woe betide the wayward.

Section 2: “The word of God which the Supreme Pen…”

The word of God which the Supreme Pen hath recorded on the fourth leaf of the Most Exalted Paradise is the following: O people of God! Beseech ye the True One—glorified be His Name—that He may graciously shield the manifestations of dominion and power from the suggestions of self and desire and shed the radiance of justice and guidance upon them.

His Majesty Muhammad Shah, despite the excellence of his rank, committed two heinous deeds. One was the order to banish the Lord of the Realms of Grace and Bounty, the Primal Point; and the other, the murder of the Prince of the City of Statesmanship and Literary Accomplishment.

The faults of kings, like their favours, can be great. A king who is not deterred by the vainglory of power and authority from observing justice, nor is deprived of the splendours of the day-star of equity by luxury, riches, glory or the marshalling of hosts and legions shall occupy a high rank and a sublime station amongst the Concourse on high. It is incumbent upon everyone to extend aid and to manifest kindness to so noble a soul. Well is it with the king who keepeth a tight hold on the reins of his passion, restraineth his anger and preferreth justice and fairness to injustice and tyranny.

The word of God which the Supreme Pen hath recorded on the fifth leaf of the Most Exalted Paradise is this: Above all else, the greatest gift and the most wondrous blessing hath ever been and will continue to be Wisdom. It is man’s unfailing Protector. It aideth him and strengtheneth him. Wisdom is God’s Emissary and the Revealer of His Name the Omniscient. Through it the loftiness of man’s station is made manifest and evident. It is all-knowing and the foremost Teacher in the school of existence. It is the Guide and is invested with high distinction. Thanks to its educating influence earthly beings have become imbued with a gem-like spirit which outshineth the heavens. In the city of justice it is the unrivalled Speaker Who, in the year nine, illumined the world with the joyful tidings of this Revelation.

And it was this peerless Source of wisdom that at the beginning of the foundation of the world ascended the stair of inner meaning and when enthroned upon the pulpit of utterance, through the operation of the divine Will, proclaimed two words. The first heralded the promise of reward, while the second voiced the ominous warning of punishment. The promise gave rise to hope and the warning begat fear. Thus the basis of world order hath been firmly established upon these twin principles. Exalted is the Lord of Wisdom, the Possessor of Great Bounty.

The word of God which the Supreme Pen hath recorded on the sixth leaf of the Most Exalted Paradise is the following: The light of men is Justice. Quench it not with the contrary winds of oppression and tyranny. The purpose of justice is the appearance of unity among men. The ocean of divine wisdom surgeth within this exalted word, while the books of the world cannot contain its inner significance. Were mankind to be adorned with this raiment, they would behold the day-star of the utterance, ʿOn that day God will satisfy everyone out of His abundance,’ shining resplendent above the horizon of the world. Appreciate ye the value of this utterance; it is a noble fruit that the Tree of the Pen of Glory hath yielded. Happy is the man that giveth ear unto it and observeth its precepts. Verily I say, whatever is sent down from the heaven of the Will of God is the means for the establishment of order in the world and the instrument for promoting unity and fellowship among its peoples. Thus hath the Tongue of this Wronged One spoken from His Most Great Prison.

The word of God which the Supreme Pen hath recorded on the seventh leaf of the Most Exalted Paradise is this: O ye men of wisdom among nations! Shut your eyes to estrangement, then fix your gaze upon unity. Cleave tenaciously unto that which will lead to the well-being and tranquillity of all mankind. This span of earth is but one homeland and one habitation. It behoveth you to abandon vainglory which causeth alienation and to set your hearts on whatever will ensure harmony. In the estimation of the people of Baha man’s glory lieth in his knowledge, his upright conduct, his praiseworthy character, his wisdom, and not in his nationality or rank. O people of the earth! Appreciate the value of this heavenly word.

Indeed it may be likened unto a ship for the ocean of knowledge and a shining luminary for the realm of perception. The word of God which the Supreme Pen hath recorded on the eighth leaf of the Most Exalted Paradise is the following: Schools must first train the children in the principles of religion, so that the Promise and the Threat recorded in the Books of God may prevent them from the things forbidden and adorn them with the mantle of the commandments; but this in such a measure that it may not injure the children by resulting in ignorant fanaticism and bigotry.

It is incumbent upon the Trustees of the House of Justice to take counsel together regarding those things which have not outwardly been revealed in the Book, and to enforce that which is agreeable to them. God will verily inspire them with whatsoever He willeth, and He, verily, is the Provider, the Omniscient.

We have formerly ordained that people should converse in two languages, yet efforts must be made to reduce them to one, likewise the scripts of the world, that men’s lives may not be dissipated and wasted in learning divers languages. Thus the whole earth would come to be regarded as one city and one land.

The word of God which the Supreme Pen hath recorded on the ninth leaf of the Most Exalted Paradise is this: In all matters moderation is desirable. If a thing is carried to excess, it will prove a source of evil. Consider the civilization of the West, how it hath agitated and alarmed the peoples of the world. An infernal engine hath been devised, and hath proved so cruel a weapon of destruction that its like none hath ever witnessed or heard. The purging of such deeply-rooted and overwhelming corruptions cannot be effected unless the peoples of the world unite in pursuit of one common aim and embrace one universal faith. Incline your ears unto the Call of this Wronged One and adhere firmly to the Lesser Peace.

Strange and astonishing things exist in the earth but they are hidden from the minds and the understanding of men. These things are capable of changing the whole atmosphere of the earth and their contamination would prove lethal. Great God! We have observed an amazing thing. Lightning or a force similar to it is controlled by an operator and moveth at his command. Immeasurably exalted is the Lord of Power Who hath laid bare that which He purposed through the potency of His weighty and invincible command.

O people of Baha! Each one of the ordinances We have revealed is a mighty stronghold for the preservation of the world of being. Verily, this Wronged One desireth naught but your security and elevation.

We exhort the men of the House of Justice and command them to ensure the protection and safeguarding of men, women and children. It is incumbent upon them to have the utmost regard for the interests of the people at all times and under all conditions. Blessed is the ruler who succoureth the captive, and the rich one who careth for the poor, and the just one who secureth from the wrong doer the rights of the downtrodden, and happy the trustee who observeth that which the Ordainer, the Ancient of Days hath prescribed unto him.

O Haydar-ʿAli! Upon thee be My glory and My praise. My counsels and admonitions have compassed the world. Yet, instead of imparting joy and gladness they have caused grief, because some of those who claim to love Me have waxed haughty and have inflicted upon Me such tribulations as neither the followers of former religions nor the divines of Persia did ever inflict.

We have said: ʿMy imprisonment doeth Me no harm, nor do the things that have befallen Me at the hands of My enemies. That which harmeth Me is the conduct of my loved ones who, though they bear My name, yet commit that which maketh My heart and My pen to lament.’ Such utterances as these have again and again been revealed, yet the heedless have failed to profit thereby, since they are captive to their own evil passions and corrupt desires. Beseech thou the One true God that He may enable everyone to repent and return unto Him. So long as one’s nature yieldeth unto evil passions, crime and transgression will prevail. We cherish the hope that the hand of divine power and the outpouring of heavenly blessings may sustain all men, may attire them with the vesture of forgiveness and bounty and guard them against that which would harm His Cause among His servants. He is, in truth, the Potent, the All-Powerful, and He is the Ever-Forgiving, the Merciful.

The word of God which the Supreme Pen hath recorded on the tenth leaf of the Most Exalted Paradise is the following: O people of the earth! Living in seclusion or practising asceticism is not acceptable in the presence of God. It behoveth them that are endued with insight and understanding to observe that which will cause joy and radiance. Such practices as are sprung from the loins of idle fancy or are begotten of the womb of superstition ill beseem men of knowledge. In former times and more recently some people have been taking up their abodes in the caves of the mountains while others have repaired to graveyards at night. Say, give ear unto the counsels of this Wronged One. Abandon the things current amongst you and adopt that which the faithful Counsellor biddeth you. Deprive not yourselves of the bounties which have been created for your sake.

Charity is pleasing and praiseworthy in the sight of God and is regarded as a prince among goodly deeds. Consider ye and call to mind that which the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Qur’an: ʿThey prefer them before themselves, though poverty be their own lot. And with such as are preserved from their own covetousness shall it be well.’ Viewed in this light, the blessed utterance above is, in truth, the day-star of utterances. Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself. Verily, such a man is reckoned, by virtue of the Will of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise, with the people of Baha who dwell in the Crimson Ark.

The word of God which the Supreme Pen hath recorded on the eleventh leaf of the Most Exalted Paradise is this: We enjoin upon them that are the emblems of His names and attributes to firmly adhere henceforth unto that which hath been set forth in this Most Great Revelation, not to allow themselves to become the cause of strife, and, until the end that knoweth no end, to keep their eyes directed towards the dayspring of these resplendent words which have been recorded in this Tablet. Strife leads to bloodshed and provokes commotion amongst people. Hearken ye unto the Voice of this Wronged One and deviate not therefrom.

Were anyone to ponder in his heart that which hath, in this Revelation, streamed forth from the Pen of Glory, he would be assured that whatever this Wronged One hath affirmed He hath had no intention of establishing any position or distinction for Himself. The purpose hath rather been to attract the souls, through the sublimity of His words, unto the summit of transcendent glory and to endow them with the capacity of perceiving that which will purge and purify the peoples of the world from the strife and dissension which religious differences provoke. Unto this bear witness My heart, My Pen, My inner and My outer Being. God grant that all men may turn unto the treasuries latent within their own beings.

O people of Baha! The source of crafts, sciences and arts is the power of reflection. Make ye every effort that out of this ideal mine there may gleam forth such pearls of wisdom and utterance as will promote the well-being and harmony of all the kindreds of the earth.

Under all conditions, whether in adversity or at ease, whether honoured or afflicted, this Wronged One hath directed all men to show forth love, affection, compassion and harmony. And yet whenever there was any slight evidence of progress and advancement, those concealed behind the veils would sally forth and utter calumnies more wounding than the sword. They cling unto misleading and reprehensible words and suffer themselves to be deprived of the ocean of verses revealed by God.

Section 3: “If these obstructing veils had not intervened Persia…”

If these obstructing veils had not intervened Persia would, in some two years, have been subdued through the power of utterance, the position of both the government and the people would have been raised and the Supreme Goal, unveiled and unconcealed, would have appeared in the plenitude of glory. In short, sometimes in explicit language, at other times by allusion, We said whatever had to be said. Thus, once Persia had been rehabilitated, the sweet savours of the Word of God would have wafted over all countries, inasmuch as that which hath streamed forth from the Most Exalted Pen is conducive to the glory, the advancement and education of all the peoples and kindreds of the earth. Indeed it is the sovereign remedy for every disease, could they but comprehend and perceive it.

Recently the Afnans and Amin—upon them be My glory and loving-kindness—attained Our presence and beheld Our countenance; likewise Nabil, the son of Nabil and the son of Samandar—upon them rest the glory of God and His loving-kindness—are present and have drunk the cup of reunion. We entreat God that He may graciously ordain for them the good of this world and of the next and that the outpouring of His blessings and grace may descend upon them from the heaven of His generosity and the clouds of His tender compassion. Verily of those who show mercy He is the Most Merciful, and He is the Gracious, the Beneficent.

O Haydar-ʿAli! Thine other letter which thou hadst forwarded through him who beareth the title of Jud (Bounty) hath reached Our holy court. Praised be God! It was adorned with the light of divine unity and of detachment and was ablaze with the fire of love and affection. Pray thou unto God that He may grant keenness to the eyes and illumine them with a new light, perchance they may perceive that which hath no parallel nor peer.

In this day the verses of the Mother Book are resplendent and unmistakable even as the sun. They can in no wise be mistaken for any of the past or more recent utterances. Truly this Wronged One desireth not to demonstrate His Own Cause with proofs produced by others. He is the One Who embraceth all things, while all else besides Him is circumscribed. Say, O people, peruse that which is current amongst you and We will peruse what pertaineth unto Us. I swear by God! Neither the praise of the peoples of the world, nor the things that the kindreds of the earth possess are worthy of mention before the remembrance of His Name. Unto this beareth witness He Who under all conditions proclaimeth, ʿVerily He is God, the sovereign Ruler of the Day of Reckoning and the Lord of the mighty Throne.’

Glorified be God! One wondereth by what proof or reason the disbelievers among the people of the Bayan have turned away from the Lord of being. In truth the station of this Revelation transcendeth the station of whatever hath been manifested in the past or will be made manifest in the future.

Were the Point of the Bayan present in this day and should He, God forbid, hesitate to acknowledge this Cause, then the very blessed words which have streamed forth from the wellspring of His Own Bayan would apply to Him. He saith, and His word is the truth, Lawful is it for Him Whom God will make manifest to reject him who is the greatest on earth.’ Say, O ye that are bereft of understanding! Today that Most Exalted Being is proclaiming: Verily, verily, I am the first to adore Him.’ How shallow is the fund of men’s knowledge and how feeble their power of perception. Our Pen of Glory beareth witness to their abject poverty and to the wealth of God, the Lord of all worlds.

Lauded and glorified is He Who hath called the creation into being. He is the sovereign Truth, the Knower of things unseen. The Mother Book is revealed and the Lord of Bounty is established upon the most blessed seat of glory. The Dawn hath broken, yet the people understand not. The signs have been ushered in, while He Who hath revealed them is overwhelmed with manifest sorrow. Indeed I have endured that which hath caused the world of existence to lament.

Say: O Yahya (Azal), produce a single verse, if thou dost possess divinely-inspired knowledge. These words were formerly spoken by My Herald Who at this hour proclaimeth: ʿVerily, verily, I am the first to adore Him.’ Be fair, O My brother. Art thou able to express thyself when brought face to face with the billowing ocean of Mine utterance? Canst thou unloose thy tongue when confronted with the shrill voice of My Pen? Hast thou any power before the revelations of Mine omnipotence? Judge thou fairly, I adjure thee by God, and call to mind when thou didst stand in the presence of this Wronged One and We dictated to thee the verses of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. Beware lest the source of falsehood withhold thee from the manifest Truth.

O thou who hast fixed thy gaze upon My countenance! Say: O ye heedless ones! By reason of a droplet ye have deprived yourselves of the ocean of heavenly verses and for the sake of an insignificant atom ye have shut yourselves out from the splendours of the Day-Star of Truth. Who else but Baha hath the power to speak forth before the face of mankind? Judge ye fairly and be not of the unjust. Through Him the oceans have surged, the mysteries have been divulged and the trees have lifted up their voices exclaiming: The kingdoms of earth and heaven are God’s, the Revealer of signs, the Fountainhead of clear tokens. Peruse ye the Persian Bayan revealed by Him Who heralded this Revelation and look at it with the eye of fairness. Verily He will guide you aright to His Path. At this moment He proclaimeth that which His tongue had formerly uttered when He was seated upon the throne of His most exalted Name.

Thou hast made mention of the loved ones in those regions. Praised be God, each one of them attained the honour of being remembered by the True One—exalted is His glory—and the names of them, one and all, flowed from the Tongue of Grandeur in the kingdom of utterance. Great indeed is their blessedness and happiness, inasmuch as they have drunk the choice wine of revelation and inspiration from the hand of their Lord, the Compassionate, the Merciful. We beseech God to strengthen them to manifest inflexible constancy and to summon to their aid the hosts of wisdom and utterance. He is in truth the Mighty, the Omnipotent. Convey my greetings to them and give them the joyful tidings that the Day-Star of remembrance hath dawned and shed its radiance from above the horizon of the bountiful favours of their Lord, the Ever-Forgiving, the All-Merciful.

Thou hast mentioned Husayn. We have attired his temple with the robe of forgiveness and adorned his head with the crown of pardon. It beseemeth him to pride himself among all men upon this resplendent, this radiant and manifest bounty. Say: Be not despondent. After the revelation of this blessed verse it is as though thou hast been born anew from thy mother’s womb. Say: Thou art free from sin and error. Truly God hath purged thee with the living waters of His utterance in His Most Great Prison. We entreat Him—blessed and exalted is He—to graciously confirm thee in extolling Him and in magnifying His glory and to strengthen thee through the power of His invisible hosts. Verily, He is the Almighty, the Omnipotent.

Thou hast made mention of the people of Tar. We have set Our face toward the servants of God therein and advise them first to consider that which the Point of the Bayan hath revealed concerning this Revelation whereby all names and titles have been shaken, the idols of vain imaginings have crumbled and the Tongue of Grandeur hath, from the realm of glory, proclaimed: By the righteousness of God! The Hidden Treasure, the Impenetrable Mystery, hath been uncovered to men’s eyes, causing all things, whether of the past or of the future, to rejoice. He hath said, and His word is the truth: ʿOf all the tributes I have paid to Him Who is to come after Me, the greatest is this, My written confession, that no words of Mine can adequately describe Him, nor can any reference to Him in My Book, the Bayan, do justice to His Cause.’

Moreover We counsel them to observe justice, equity, honesty, piety and that whereby both the Word of God and their own station will be exalted amongst men. Verily I am the One Who exhorteth with justice. Unto this beareth witness He from Whose Pen rivers of mercy have flowed and from Whose utterance fountains of living waters have streamed forth unto all created things. Immeasurably exalted is this boundless grace; immensely blessed is this resplendent favour.

O people of Tar! Give ear unto the Call of Him Who doeth whatsoever He willeth. In truth He remindeth you of that which will draw you nigh unto God, the Lord of the worlds. He hath turned His face towards you from the Prison of Akka and hath revealed for your sakes what will immortalize your memory and your names in the Book which cannot be effaced and remaineth unaffected by the doubts of the froward. Cast away the things current amongst men and take fast hold on that whereunto ye are bidden by virtue of the Will of the Ordainer, the Ancient of Days. This is the Day wherein the divine Lote-Tree calleth aloud, saying: O people! Behold ye My fruits and My leaves, incline then your ears unto My rustling. Beware lest the doubts of men debar you from the light of certitude. The Ocean of utterance exclaimeth and saith: ʿO ye dwellers on the earth! Behold My billowing waters and the pearls of wisdom and utterance which I have poured forth. Fear ye God and be not of the heedless.’

In this Day a great festival is taking place in the Realm above; for whatsoever was promised in the sacred Scriptures hath been fulfilled. This is the Day of great rejoicing. It behoveth everyone to hasten towards the court of His nearness with exceeding joy, gladness, exultation and delight and to deliver himself from the fire of remoteness.

O people of Tar! Through the strengthening power of My Name seize ye the chalice of knowledge, drink then your fill in defiance of the people of the world who have broken the Covenant of God and His Testament, rejected His proofs and clear tokens, and cavilled at His signs which have pervaded all that are in heaven and on earth.

The disbelievers among the people of the Bayan are like the followers of the Shi’ih sect and walk in their footsteps. Leave them to their idle fancies and vain imaginings. They are in truth accounted with the lost in the Book of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. The Shi’ih divines, one and all, are now engaged in reviling and denouncing the True One from their pulpits. Gracious God! Dawlat-Abadi too hath followed suit. He ascended the pulpit and gave voice to that which hath caused the Tablet to cry out in anguish and the Pen to wail. Meditate upon his conduct and the conduct of Ashraf—upon him be My glory and My tender mercy—and likewise consider those loved ones who hastened to the place of martyrdom in My Name, and offered up their lives in the path of Him Who is the Desire of the world.

The Cause is manifest, it shineth resplendent as the sun, but the people have become veils unto themselves. We entreat God that He may graciously assist them to return unto Him. He is, in truth, the Forgiving, the Merciful.

O people of Tar! We send you greetings from this Spot and beseech God—blessed and exalted is He—to give you to drink the choice wine of constancy from the hand of His favour. Verily, He is the Lord of Bounty, the Gracious, the All-Praised. Leave ye unto themselves the immature ones of the world—they that are moved by selfish desire and cling to the exponents of idle fancy. Verily He is your Helper and Succourer. He is, in truth, potent to do whatsoever He willeth. No God is there but Him, the One, the Peerless, the Mighty, the Most Great.

May glory from Our presence rest upon those who have set their faces toward the Dayspring of His Revelation and have acknowledged and recognized that which the Tongue of utterance hath spoken in the kingdom of knowledge in this blessed, this glorious and incomparable Day.

BH01031: Glory be to Thee, O God of Names…

He is God, exalted is He in might and power

Glory be to Thee, O God of Names and Creator of earth and heaven! I beseech Thee by Thy greatest signs and by Thy light that shineth from the horizon of the heaven of Thy will, O Lord of all beings, to assist Thy loved ones in that which will cause Thy Cause to be exalted amongst Thy servants and Thy decree to prevail throughout Thy lands. O Lord! Thou seest them in the hands of the oppressors among Thy creatures who have violated Thy Covenant and Testament and have reached such a state of wickedness that they have pronounced judgment against them with such tyranny as hath caused the people of the cities of Thy justice and bounty to lament. I beseech Thee to protect them from the oppression of every oppressor and from the Pharaohs and tyrants of the earth, by whom the hearts of those near unto Thee among Thy creatures have been melted and the hearts of the sincere ones among Thy servants have been set ablaze.

O my Lord! Thou seest the weakness of Thy loved ones and the power of Thine enemies, and their dispersion in Thy days. I beseech Thee, by the Most Great Ocean which surgeth through Thy Name, and by the fragrance of the garment of Thy mercy which hath been diffused by Thy command, to enable them to assist Thy Cause through wisdom and utterance and through that which Thou hast revealed in Thy Scriptures, Thy Books and Thy Tablets.

O Lord! Thou seest them acknowledging the unity of Thy Being and the sanctity of Thy Essence, and Thou hearest their voices raised in remembrance and praise of Thee and in the recitation of that which hath been sent down from Thy Most Exalted Pen, both morn and eve. I beseech Thee, O Lord of all existence and Sovereign of the seen and unseen, by the power of Thy Will and Purpose, and by Thy might wherewith Thou hast subdued the peoples of Thy realm, to make them of those whom neither the swords of the enemies nor the weapons of the wicked have deterred. They have heard Thy sweetest call and have said: “Here am I, O Lord of all beings!”

O Lord! Thou beholdest Thy loved ones in Alif and Sin and hearest their sighing and their cry. I beseech Thee, O Thou in Whose grasp are the reins of glory and power, and by Whose Name the manifestations of grandeur and authority have been moved, to aid them in that which Thou lovest and art pleased with, to preserve them from the evil of Thine enemies and from the manifestations of tyranny in Thy land. Then ordain for them that which will draw them closer, in all conditions, to the court of Thy holiness and the carpet of Thy nearness, and cause them to speak of Thy remembrance and praise. Verily, Thou art the All-Powerful, unto Whose greatness all things have testified, and to Whose sovereignty every matter hath borne witness. There is none other God but Thee, the Single, the One, the Self-Subsisting, the All-Compelling over all who are in the heavens and on the earth.

The letters of that spiritual beloved arrived, and each was a door for the manifestation of divine love and the emergence of humility and submissiveness before His Eternal Presence. However, due to the abundance of correspondence, there was a delay in response. That honored one is witness and knows that this servant has never, insofar as possible, delayed in responding and will not do so. In these days, correspondences from all directions arrive like pouring rain. This evanescent servant beseeches from the Truth support in mentioning and praising the loved ones and trustees. Verily our Lord is the Hearer, the Responder.

After observing the final letter and intending to attain the presence, it was presented before His countenance. He said:

“Blessed art thou, O Abdul-Baha, in that thou hast turned, attained presence, heard, circumambulated the Sacred House of God, and acted according to what thou wert commanded in the Book of God, the Lord of all days. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to make thee a helper of His Cause through wisdom and utterance, and one who speaks His praise amongst all religions, and to ordain for thee through His grace and generosity that which shall endure throughout the duration of His Kingdom and His Dominion. Verily, He is the Self-Sufficient, the Most High.”

The matters which his honor Sadiq, glory be upon him and my loving-kindness, wrote to that honored one were mentioned before the Wronged One and were granted response. We beseech God to send down upon them mercy from His presence and blessing from His side. Verily, He is the Most Generous of the generous ones and the Most Merciful of the merciful. He ordains what He willeth by His command, and He is the All-Bountiful, the Mighty, the Wise. We send greetings to Our loved ones there and beseech God for them all good that He hath sent down in His Book. Verily, He is the All-Bountiful, and He is the Helper, the Powerful, the Mighty.

Praise be to God! That which his honor, the beloved of the heart, Mirza S., upon him be the Most Glorious Glory, intended has been blessed and confirmed by the will of the Lord. The atoms testify that God is the Hearer, the Responder. He is the One Who has chosen for us what benefits us, and He is the All-Bountiful. There is no God but He, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

To the presence of the honored ones and loved ones of that land, I extend greetings and praise, and I beseech from the Powerful, the Wise, on their behalf, that which is the cause of loftiness of station and exaltation of rank. Verily our Lord is the Generous One, possessed of great bounty. There is no God but He, the Forgiving, the Merciful.

And regarding the mention of the beloved of the soul, his honor Aqa Mirza Abdul-Hussein, upon him be the Glory of God and His loving-kindness, they wrote that when thy letter attained the honor of being heard, permission was granted, but they made it contingent upon the consent of the household of the honored Mother, upon her be the peace of God and His loving-kindness. The servant asks his Lord to ordain for him blessing, might, exaltation, wealth, bounty, and every matter He has made a source of glory for the believers among His servants and the sincere ones among His creation. Verily our Lord is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing, and worthy of responding.

They mentioned the spiritual beloved, his honor Aqa Abdul-Ali, upon him be the peace of God. After presentation, they said:

“This Wronged One beseeches from God, exalted be His glory, success for him. We beseech Him, exalted be He, to ordain for him that which will gladden his heart and bring rest to his outward and inward being. Verily, He is the All-Bountiful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.”

And as for the affairs, they are contingent upon consultation. Whatever emerges from consultation is confirmed.

This servant also extends greetings and praise to them, and beseeches for them that which is the cause of glory and comfort. Peace, remembrance, and glory be upon your honor and upon those who are with you, who love you, and who hear your word concerning the Cause of God, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

The servant 26 Dhi’l-Qa’dih 1306

BH01456: Praise be to God Who sent down the Criterion…

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

Praise be to God Who sent down the Criterion from the heaven of grace and bounty, and through it distinguished between religions and made it an enduring proof for all who dwell in the realm of possibility. Exalted is the All-Merciful Who, in sending forth His Messengers and revealing His Books, intended naught except to manifest His grace and exalt His bounty upon His servants. He is, verily, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful. And blessings and peace be upon the Lord of mankind, through whom every hidden mystery was revealed, through whom the Sun of divine knowledge shone forth and the Light blazed forth among all peoples, and upon His family and companions, through whom God revealed the pearls of His wisdom and His commandments among His creation. He is, verily, the Mighty, the Bestower.

And then, the letter from that beloved of the heart arrived. A thousand thanks to the Lord of creation that news of the health of the honored Afnans and your honor reached us and caused boundless joy and delight. In truth, news of the loved ones is the cause of joy and the source of happiness and gladness. To give thanks for this bounty would require ages and centuries. I beseech Him, blessed and exalted be He, to keep this door open through His might, His grandeur and His sovereignty. He is, verily, the Powerful, the Unconstrained.

After viewing, reading and becoming informed, He proceeded to the Most Holy Shrine. After making supplication, He said:

“We beseech God to assist him with the hosts of His verses and His evidences, to grant him that which befits His generosity and bounty, to aid him in serving His loved ones, and to make him a helper unto them, a supporter of them, and a witness for them. He is, verily, the Powerful, the All-Bounteous.”

Praise be to God, you have repeatedly visited the Shrine and have attained to that which is conducive to the reformation of the world and the refinement of the souls of nations. The honored Afnans have ever been and continue to be remembered. We beseech for them divine assistance and confirmation, and that which shall endure as long as God’s sovereignty, His Kingdom and His Dominion endure.

Praise be to God, through the grace of the True One and His favors, you have attained unto the good of both this world and the next. Praise be unto Him, again praise be unto Him! Thanks be unto Him, again thanks be unto Him! Now the matters must be mentioned, for time is like an elixir, that is to say, rare. The letter of receipt for the honored Iskooi, upon him be the Glory of God, and the reply to the letter of Ibn-i-Jinab-i-Alif and Ha, upon them be the Glory of God, were sent to them. What was sent with the honored beloved, the esteemed Haji Siyyid Ali-Akbar, upon him be the Glory of God and His favor, has arrived, and whatever they wrote will, God willing, all be sent to the honored Ali-Haydar, upon him be the Glory of God. Regarding the souls in Ishqabad, their trusts will be sent. The honored beloved, the esteemed Nazir, upon him be the Glory of God, wrote a letter to that beloved one which was sent. I beseech the True One to prepare means for them that they may engage in their work with joy and fragrance, with delight and assurance, and find rest.

The letter of receipt for the honored Ali-Haydar, upon him be the Glory of God and His favor, was sent for them to forward. In truth, they know valor. The servant beseeches his Lord to make him a standard of piety among the people and a banner of His Name among all names. Praise be to God, they are mentioned at the threshold of grace and are recipients of His favor. Whatever was besought for them, they have truly attained unto it. This is such a station that however much it increases, it is still insufficient, for the bounty of the All-Bountiful is unlimited and the mercy of the All-Merciful is boundless.

To the honored Afnans, his honor Alif and Ha, and his honor Haji Siyyid A, upon them both be every remembrance and glory, I convey my utter servitude and nothingness. To the honored beloved, his honor Haji, and the beloved of the heart, his honor Muhammad Mustafa, upon them both be the Glory of God, I send greetings and praise. I mention each of the loved ones with the utmost humility and beseech God, exalted be His glory, for that which shall never pass away nor change. The servant asks and the Lord answers. Verily, He is the Lord of all beings and the Lord of the throne on high and of earth below. Peace and mercy be upon you and upon God’s righteous servants. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

The servant 26th of Dhi’l-Qa’dih al-Haram 1306

BH03532: This is a Book sent down by the All-Merciful…

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

This is a Book sent down by the All-Merciful to him who has believed in God, the Lord of Days, that the fragrances of remembrance might attract him and draw him nigh unto the most exalted station. Hearken unto the Call from the Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing, from the direction of ʿAkka: Verily, there is none other God but Him, the Almighty, the Glorious, the All-Bountiful.

Say: By God! The Day hath come, yet the people are in doubt and schism. The Light hath shone forth from the horizon of Manifestation, whereby earth and heaven were illumined, yet the people remain in heedlessness and error. They have cast the Covenant of God behind their backs, having followed every ignorant infidel—those who have adorned their heads with turbans yet denied God’s proof and evidence when it was sent down from the heaven of bounty with power and sovereignty.

Say: O people of the earth! Fear God, then follow Him Who counseleth you for His sake. Verily, He is the Mighty, the All-Bounteous. Say: Blessed is he who hath purified himself with the Kawthar of utterance which hath flowed from the Pen of his Lord, the All-Merciful, and who hath arisen, through the power of the Most Great Name, before the faces of the world, declaring:

“O concourse of the sects! The All-Bountiful hath come in His retreat, even as was inscribed by the Supreme Pen in the Mother Book.”

O people! Deprive not yourselves of the outpourings of this Day. Leave behind what the servants possess and take what hath been given you from God, the Lord of creation. When thou hast drunk the choice wine of immortality from the hand of bounty, say:

“Praise be unto Thee, O Lord of the Kingdom of Names and Creator of Heaven, for having aided me to turn toward Thy horizon, to witness the traces of Thy Pen, and to hearken unto Thy most exalted Call which hath been raised betwixt earth and heaven. My Lord! I am Thy servant, and the son of Thy servant, and the son of Thy handmaiden. I beseech Thee by Thy mysteries which lie hidden within Thy knowledge, that Thou make me steadfast in Thy remembrance and praise amongst Thy servants. Verily, Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the All-Bounteous.”

BH05191: O God of the world and Goal…

He is the Most Mighty, the Most Glorious

O God of the world and Goal of the nations! Thou seest my state and hearest my sighing and lamentation and the groanings of my heart, by reason of what hath befallen Thy Cause after I had taken the covenant of my soul before those in the kingdom of Thy Cause and the heaven of Thy names. O Lord! Thou art He Who called me to the horizon of Thy glory and commanded me to arise among Thy creatures and to manifest that which Thou didst will through Thy sovereignty, and to reveal that which Thou hadst made hidden in the treasuries of Thy power and the repositories of Thy protection and preservation. When I arose in Thy name to fulfill Thy Cause and called all to Thine all-highest horizon through Thy power and sovereignty, and made manifest the ocean of Thy grace and the heaven of Thy bounty and the sun of Thy loving-kindness, then did the ungodly among Thy creatures rise up against me and clamored and arose to harm me and to subvert Thy Cause.

O Lord! Thou knowest that in most of my days I was alone and solitary among Thy creatures, and I revealed all that Thou didst command me through Thy sovereignty and Thy will, such that neither the might of armies nor the greatness of hosts deterred me, until the horizons were filled with the signs of the glory of Thy oneness and the lands were encompassed by the manifestations of the lights of Thy countenance. I beseech Thee, O my God, by Thy Name through which Thou didst adorn the kingdom of names and didst open the door of Thy grace to all who are in earth and heaven, that Thou change agitation to tranquility, and weakness to strength, and despair to hope. Verily, Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. There is no God but Thee, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting.

BH05951: O my handmaiden and my leaf! Today “blessed, perfect…

He is the Compassionate, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise

O my handmaiden and my leaf! Today “blessed, perfect, righteous son” are words that appear from the Mother Book. Death shall not seize these children, nor shall the dominion of the Angel of Death find a way to him. Throughout the duration of the kingdom and the realm above, he shall dwell in the chambers of peace and security with utmost joy and delight. Through the grace of the All-Bountiful, that honored lady has been blessed with a son who has had and has no likeness or equal. The world has been and is a house of trials and tribulations, yet for sanctified, assured souls it is an expansive carpet and an abode of joy and gladness. Be not grieved, for thou hast attained unto the Dawning-Place of joy.

Today is the day of greatest gladness; sorrow is not permitted. Take the cup of joy in the name of the Lord of Power, then drink from it in His name, the Mighty, the Wondrous. Convey greetings from the Wronged One to the handmaidens of that land. We beseech God to remove from among them the odors of discord and illumine their hearts with the light of unity. Verily He is the Lord of the servants and the One Who speaks at the beginning and the return. The splendor shining from the horizon of My loving-kindness be upon thee and upon every maidservant who hath believed in God, the Mighty, the Wise.

BH06251: Say: O my God, my God! I beseech Thee…

He is the Hearer, He is the Answerer

Say: O my God, my God! I beseech Thee by the ocean of Thy generosity, and the sun of Thy bounty, and the heaven of Thy munificence, to ordain for Thy servants that which will draw them to the Most Exalted Horizon and give them to drink, from the hands of grace and bounty, the Kawthar of steadfastness.

O Lord! Thou seest the ignorant one seeking the ocean of Thy knowledge and the treasury of Thy wisdom, the weak one turning to the horizon of Thy power and might, and the disturbed one yearning for the cord of Thy tranquility and assurance. I beseech Thee, by the hearts which Thou hast made as oceans of Thy knowledge and recognition, to ordain for this servant of Thine that which will deliver him from all else save Thee and adorn him with the ornament of Thy most great favor. O Thou in Whose grasp is the reins of all things!

O Lord! Disappoint not the one who hath turned unto Thee in Thy days and who desireth from Thee naught save that which will draw him nigh unto Thee and strengthen him to serve Thy Cause and to make mention of Thee and to praise Thee amongst Thy servants. Verily Thou art the Almighty Whom neither the whisperings of the ungodly can frustrate nor the swords of the oppressors prevent. Thy Cause hath appeared, despite their opposition, through Thy power and might and greatness and sovereignty. There is none other God but Thee, the Single, the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

BH07262: This Wronged One hath ever counseled the servants concerning…

…This Wronged One hath ever counseled the servants concerning that which befitteth their stations and preserveth their ranks. Our purpose hath been naught but to quench the fire of hatred burning in the hearts of the peoples of the world, for reformation is impossible before the extinguishing of the kindled fire. During nights and days We have mentioned that which would bring about reformation, unity and concord among souls. However, most of the people of the world have not accepted the counsel of this Wronged One and have committed that which hath reached the ears of the world. We beseech God to grant all the grace to adorn themselves with goodly deeds and praiseworthy character, and to hold fast unto that which He loveth and is pleased with.

Be not saddened by hardship and adversity. After every hardship ease is ordained, and likewise after severity cometh relief. These conditions encompass the world, and this is due to the differences among the Manifestations of Power and the Dawning-Places of might. Should they attain unto the Most Great Peace, the world would be illumined with the light of unity….