Volume 092: Akka 1306 A.H. (1888–1889), Part V (3 of 4)

BH03509: On the morning of the blessed Friday We proceeded…

He is God, Glorified be He, Grandeur and Might are His!

On the morning of the blessed Friday We proceeded from the mansion and entered the garden. Every tree uttered a word, and every leaf sang a melody. The trees proclaimed: “Behold the evidences of God’s Mercy”, and the twin streams recited in the eloquent tongue the sacred verse “From us all things were made alive”. Glorified be God! Mysteries were voiced by them, which provoked wonderment. Methought: in which school were they educated, and from whose presence had they acquired their learning? Yea! This Wronged One knoweth and He saith: “From God, the All-Encompassing, the Self-Subsistent”.

Upon Our being seated, Radiyih, upon her be My glory, attained Our presence on thy behalf, laid the table of God’s bounty and in thy name extended hospitality to all present. In truth, all that which stimulateth the appetite and pleaseth the eye was offered, and indeed that which delighteth the ear could also be heard as the leaves were stirred by the Will of God, and from this movement a refreshing voice was raised, as if uttering a blissful call inviting the absent to this Feast. God’s power and the perfection of His handiwork could enjoyably be seen in the blossoms, the fruits, the trees, the leaves and the streams. Praised be God Who hath thus confirmed thee and her.

In brief, all in the garden were recipients of the choicest bounties and in the end expressed their thanksgiving unto their Lord. O that all God’s beloved had been present on this day!

We beseech God, exalted be He, to cause to descend upon thee at every moment, a blessing and a mercy and a measure of divine grace from His presence. He is the Forgiving, the All-Glorious.

We send greetings to His loved ones, and supplicate for each one of them that which is worthy of mention and is acceptable in His presence. Peace be upon thee, and upon God’s sincere servants. Praise be to Him, the Lord of all mankind.

BH11756: The Day Star of glad-tidings has dawned, inasmuch…

In the Name of Him Who speaks in the Kingdom of Utterance!

The Day Star of glad-tidings has dawned, inasmuch as the branches have been joined with the Blessed Tree, and in the mention of the Tree and its branches are signs for those who possess understanding. Those whom God has related to Him have attained His presence, and then he whom He named Trustworthy among His servants—upon them be the glory of God, the Lord of all worlds.

O My loved ones in ʿIshqabad! Rejoice within yourselves that the countenance of the Ancient One hath turned toward you from this Most Great Prison. Know ye that the world, in its inmost essence, hath been set ablaze by the fire of the love of God. Blessed are they that have attained! Ye have been mentioned by the Pen of Revelation before, and are mentioned now as a mercy from God, the Lord of the Mighty Throne. This is a Day wherein the Fire calleth out in the trees of existence:

“God, there is none other God but He, the Single, the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise!”

In the Persian tongue He says: O My loved ones! Your dwelling and abode is now in ʿIshqabad. This name itself is aflame. God willing, the people of Baha in that most exalted place shall be set ablaze with the fire of God and shall set the world aflame. The ocean of grace is surging and the Day Star of utterance is shining and manifest from the horizon of the heaven of proof. Hold fast unto wisdom and turn your attention to the refinement of the souls of men. Let not the events and that which appeareth from the heedless grieve you. By the life of God! All that is seen today on earth of its bounties and its colors shall perish, while ye shall witness throughout all eternity that which God, the Lord of creation, hath ordained for you.

We beseech Him, exalted be He, to manifest through you that which shall endure throughout the eternity of His Kingdom. He is verily the All-Bountiful, the Mighty, the Bestower. Strive that ye may become enabled to perform deeds that shall be adorned with the glory of acceptance. Verily your Lord is the All-Giving, the All-Forgiving. Through the arrival and presence of these honored ones, your mention was renewed in the prison. The glory be upon you from God, the Manifestation of clear proofs. He is verily with you, witnessing and seeing, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.

BH03767: O Mihdi! Upon thee be My glory! Hearken unto…

He is the Herald between earth and heaven!

O Mihdi! Upon thee be My glory! Hearken unto the Call from the precincts of ʿAkka. Verily, He maketh mention of thee as He mentioned thee before, and relateth unto thee what hath befallen His loved ones in the land of Ya through that which the hands of the oppressors have wrought. The wolves have encompassed the beloved ones. By reason of this hath the Spirit lamented in His exalted station. The fire of tyranny hath been kindled to such degree that the tongues of all pens are powerless to recount it. The Tongue of Grandeur beareth witness to this in this trusted station. The door of reunion hath been opened before the faces of the lovers throughout all regions—blessed are they that are endued with true understanding.

Blood hath been shed, through one drop of which God will raise up servants whose number none can reckon save God, the Lord of all worlds. There hath come before the Wronged One a letter from those who have not broken God’s Covenant. We have answered them with that wherewith all things have cried out. By God! The door of utterance hath been opened with the Key of the Most Great Name of God, whereby the limbs of the oppressors have quaked. God shall soon seize them with a justice from His presence. Verily, He is the Almighty, doing whatsoever He willeth. There is no God but Him, the All-Compelling, the Almighty, the Powerful. The heedless ones desired to extinguish the light of God through oppression, but God prevented them through His sovereignty which hath encompassed all in the heavens and earth. The glory from Us be upon thee and upon those whom neither the hosts of the earth have frightened nor the might of them that have denied the Day of Judgment hath deterred.

Today is the day of assisting the Cause. You and the friends must, with wisdom and utterance, make the people aware and guide them to the Dawning-Place of divine verses. Take thou the Book of God with a strength from His presence, then recite it amongst His servants, that haply it may attract them to the supreme horizon and the ultimate goal, and draw them nigh unto God, the One, the All-Informed. Convey My greetings to the faces of My loved ones and give them the glad-tidings of this mighty Tablet, from whose horizon hath shone the Sun of bounty and from which hath wafted the fragrance of the Garment on this blessed, mighty and wondrous Day.

BH03695: Say: O people! This Day hath its own melody…

He is the All-Bountiful, the Lord of Surpassing Grace!

Say: O people! This Day hath its own melody and mysteries. None except God hath ever reckoned or can reckon its excellences. At times it warbleth as the doves of inner meanings; at other times it speaketh as the Perfect Man. Glory be to God! At times it appeareth as a heaven adorned with the sun of utterance, the moon of certitude, and the stars of sciences and arts. In truth, the tongues of the world fall short of mentioning it, for in this Day the One Who conversed on Sinai is seated upon the throne of Revelation. The world is stirred by His utterance. One ray of His light struck the sea, and it became possessed of the pearls of wisdom and utterance; it struck the mountains, and they became possessed of mines.

Say: O ye who are endowed with insight! The Tree is laden with fruit before your faces, and the palm tree of bounty with its ripe dates is manifest before your eyes. Seek not after vain imaginings, but hold fast unto that which is manifest and visible. Glory be to God! The Tree of the Furthermost Boundary with the fruits of inner meanings and utterance and the produce of proof and evidence is manifest before all heads, yet the deluded ones have abandoned it and occupy themselves with mention of a tree whose fruits are vain imaginings and whose leaves are idle fancies.

Say: O ye who are endowed with insight! Hold fast unto justice and speak with fairness. Glory be to God! This Day hath another atmosphere, and this sea hath other waves. By the life of God! The ear and eye were created for witnessing and hearing, yet most are deprived and forbidden. They have followed their own desires, turning away from God, the All-Possessing, the Self-Subsisting.

Say: My God, my God! I beseech Thee by the ocean of Thy bounty and by the waves of the sea of Thy mercy and grace to aid Thy servants to turn unto Thee and to turn away from all else save Thee. O my Lord! Thou art the All-Bountiful, possessed of great grace. There is no God but Thee, the Forgiving, the Merciful.

BH03638: Praise be to the Intended One Who, through His…

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

Praise be to the Intended One Who, through His sacred will, has bestowed perfect fellowship between the hearts and souls of all people, and from this fellowship complete unity is achieved, and this unity is the most mighty door for the tranquility of nations, and through this unity gathering is made manifest, and gathering is the cause and reason for the rectification of all affairs through consultation, whose decree has been sent down with utmost clarity in the [Divine] Book. Blessed is he who has attained unto that which God, the Lord of the Mighty Throne, has desired.

O Mihdi! Upon thee be My peace! The loved ones of God, exalted be His glory, have ever been and are those who “speak not until He hath spoken, and who do His bidding.” In the books of the past and future mention hath been made of these men. They are the dawning-places of divine attributes and the manifestations of heavenly characteristics. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to protect thee and to give thee to drink, in all conditions, from the hands of His bounty, the choice wine of His utterance. By My life! It will attract thee to a station wherein thou shalt behold in all creation naught save the effulgences of the light of His Noble Name.

This Wronged One hath ever mentioned and will continue to mention the loved ones, especially in these days when His Honor M. and H., upon him be God’s remembrance and peace and praise, hath made mention of the friends of that land and hath requested for each one of them Tablets from which the fragrances of bounty are wafted. We beseech God to assist him and thee in that which He desireth. Verily He is the Lord of creation and the Ruler in the beginning and in the end. Convey My greetings to the loved ones. We beseech God [to assist them] in that which He loveth and is pleased with, and to open before their faces the doors of grace and bounty with the key of His Most Exalted Name. Peace be upon thee and upon God’s righteous servants.

BH03753: O Rustam! Upon thee be the Glory of God…

He is the Hearer, the Answerer

O Rustam! Upon thee be the Glory of God, the Lord of Eternity! Thy mention flowed from the Most Exalted Pen in former years. That blessed Tablet is adorned with the ornament of proof. Obliteration shall not seize it, nor shall the oppression of enemies alter it. From each of its words wafts the fragrance of utterance and the mercy of the Goal of all worlds. We beseech God to aid thee in all conditions and keep thee steadfast in His Cause. In these days the signs of oppression are manifest from every direction. Soon will the effulgences of the Orb of Justice encompass and illumine the horizons. This is among the irrevocable decrees of God, exalted be His glory. Blessed are they who are assured. We beseech God to assist His loved ones in that which will draw them nigh unto Him and to give them to drink of the Kawthar of His utterance from the hands of His bounty. Verily He is powerful over all things.

O Muhammad! Upon thee be the Glory of God and His favors! Praise be to God that thy intention from the beginning until now hath been and is pure, and thou hast been and art serving the Cause and exalting the Word to the extent possible. God willing, divine assistance will reach thee in all conditions. What taketh precedence over all else today is unity, harmony and rendering unto each his due right. The intent of these words is that there should be no negligence in paying debts. Be thou not sorrowful—after these hardships and constraints will surely come ease. If, God willing, the brethren and you unite to remove that which causeth grief, when this matter is resolved a good reputation will be raised up, and that reputation is itself the key to the doors of goodly things. Hold fast in all conditions to the strong and mighty cord of God. The Glory from Us be upon thee and upon those with thee among God’s steadfast and sincere loved ones.

BH03731: This is the Day whereon Carmel hath, in very…

He is the Speaker in the Kingdom of Utterance!

This is the Day whereon Carmel hath, in very truth, drawn nigh unto Him Who is the Lord of all strength and might, and raised its voice to proclaim from every direction: “O Carmel! Prostrate thyself, for the Ancient Beauty hath turned His countenance toward thee from His Most Exalted and Glorious Station. Give thanks unto thy Lord, for He hath made thee His Seat of Throne.” Thereupon did Zion cry aloud and say: “O peoples of the earth! Rejoice, for the Hidden One hath appeared—He Who was concealed in the treasuries of God’s protection, the Lord of all worlds.” Lo, the Sea proclaimeth, saying: “O Ocean! Blessed art thou, for upon thee hath sailed the Ark of God, the Lord of the Most Great Throne,” and the dwellers of the Concourse on High were so transported by the rapture of that Call that they arose from their most exalted seats and turned toward the Kaaba of God, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

This is the Day wherein the Light hath shone forth and the Mount declareth: “I have attained unto Him Who created me aforetime for this Blessed and Wondrous Day.” Blessed is he who hath heard and attained, who hath taken the cup of severance in the name of the Creator of all things, and drunk therefrom in the name of the Beloved, the Mighty.

Grieve not over anything, for thy name hath been mentioned before the Wronged One, and that hath been revealed for thee which hath caused the breezes of the Dawn of Revelation to waft over all who are in the heavens and on earth. Having drunk the choice wine of grace from the cup of bounty, say:

“Praise be to Thee, O Lord of Names, for having enabled me to turn toward Thee and guided me to Thy straight path. I beseech Thee by the lights of Thy throne, by the penetrating power of Thy Most Sweet Call and the shrill voice of Thy Most Exalted Pen, to make me so steadfast in Thy Cause that the machinations of those who have disbelieved in Thee and Thy signs shall not hinder me. O Lord! Thou seest how Thy Call hath so enraptured me that the reins of choice have been taken from my hands by Thy command and will. I beseech Thee by the pearls of the ocean of Thy utterance and Thy Command, whereby the necks of Thy creation have been subdued, to make me in all conditions one who extols Thy praise among Thy servants and who holdeth fast to Thy firm cord. Verily Thou art the Almighty, the Forgiving, the Bountiful.”

BH03818: Praise befitteth the King of the kingdoms of justice…

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

Praise befitteth the King of the kingdoms of justice and grace, Who through His Most Great Word brought forth from nothingness the manifestations of these twin attributes, and made the preservation, tranquility, prosperity and glory of the world dependent upon these two. Glorified be His greatness and exalted be His dominion. There is no God but Him. And blessings and peace be upon the Lord of both worlds, the Mercy unto all beings, the Light of both East and West, the Bearer of the Two Seas, through whom appeared the pearls of the ocean of divine knowledge before the faces of all religions, and through whom shone forth the luminary of unity from the horizon of possibility, and upon His family and companions, through whom were erased the traces of misbelief and hypocrisy, and was raised the standard of wisdom amidst all possibility. Verily He is the Powerful, the Mighty, the Bestower.

O Abdullah! The peace of God be upon thee. In these days sorrow hath come from every direction. Surely you have heard of the deeds of those who claim to love Us in the great city. They have kindled the fire of greed and covetousness and denied the property of a group. In such days grievous news arrived from that land which added to Our sorrows. Ibn Farid says:

“My grief—Jacob did not reveal the least of it, and all of Job’s afflictions were but a portion of my tribulation.”

In any case, you must arise to remedy that matter and adorn the temple of the censurable with the robe of the praiseworthy. Strange and wondrous reports have spread from that land to all regions. God willing, you will arise with firm resolve and steadfast purpose to bring about reform. Convey greetings from this Wronged One to the friends in that land. We counsel all to perform good deeds and display praiseworthy conduct. Peace be upon you and upon those who act according to what they were commanded in the Book of God, the Lord of all worlds.

BH03953: O servant of God! Glad tidings, glad tidings…

He is God, exalted be His glory, the Most Merciful, the Most Bountiful!

O servant of God! Glad tidings, glad tidings, that the lovers and they that yearn have sacrificed their most cherished possessions in the path of God, the Lord of all worlds. The gazelles in the vast wilderness of justice are stalked by the wolves of malice. Glory be to God! The beasts of the world pride themselves on bloodthirstiness and the persecution of men. Praise be to God! The sun of steadfastness hath shone forth with such brilliance that none hath any excuse for denial. God, exalted be His glory, hath shown forbearance, and His purpose hath been and is naught but the elimination of weapons for the sake of reform. Yet they denied this everlasting blessing. Now it behooveth God, exalted be His glory, to manifest that which shall serve as a lesson to the peoples of the world and awaken the nations. We testify that He is the Omnipotent over whatsoever He willeth through His firm and mighty command.

O servant of God! Upon thee be My remembrance and My glory. Though thou art not present, thou art mentioned by the tongue of the Wronged One. Thou hast ever been and art with Us. We beseech God to protect thee, to guard thee, and to give thee to drink of the Kawthar of His utterance from the chalice of His bounty. Verily, He is the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous.

Thy letter arrived. That same day his holiness the Branch presented it. We heard and saw it, and on this day the answer hath been sent down from the Kingdom of utterance, that thou mayest give thanks and be of those who rejoice. All the loved ones of that place are mentioned, especially the travelers. We beseech God to ordain for them the Kawthar of meeting time and again, and the cup of reunion repeatedly. Verily, He is the Omnipotent, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.

That which thou didst mention caused boundless joy, for thou art prepared to sacrifice thy spirit and carry out the decree. Well is it with thee! This truly is the station of lovers on the Day of the Covenant. We beseech God to record for thee the reward of this Most Exalted Station and to honor thee therewith. Verily, He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise, and He is the Forgiving, the Merciful….

BH03821: Praise and glorification befit the Dawning-Place of the Light…

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

Praise and glorification befit the Dawning-Place of the Light of Oneness Who bestowed the power of utterance and with it adorned the realms of remembrance and praise. The Wronged One makes mention of Him and glorifies Him, that He is the First and the Last, the Manifest and the Hidden, and He is the All-Powerful, the Unconstrained. And blessings and peace be upon His Beloved and Chosen One through Whom were revealed the mysteries of His Book and what lay hidden in His knowledge, and upon His family and companions through whom were manifested God’s might and power, His grandeur and dominion. We testify that there is none other God but Him. His is the kingdom of earth and heaven, and the glory and the dominion, and He is the Protector, the Most Exalted, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.

O Ali-Qabli-Akbar, upon thee be the peace of God, Lord of Power. Thou hast ever been and still art remembered. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to strengthen thee through the forces of the heavens and earth, to rain down upon thee from the clouds of generosity the showers of His grace and favors, and to ordain for thee every good thing that He hath sent down in His perspicuous Book. In these days Haji Ali, upon him be the peace of God and His loving-kindness, hath come and made repeated mention of thee. We beseech God to ordain for you both that which will bring solace to your eyes and to the eyes of those who love you. Verily He is the Generous, the All-Bountiful.

Convey greetings from the Wronged One to the loved ones in that land. Some time ago a Tablet was sent especially for Ghulam-Qabli-Husayn, upon him be the peace of God and His grace. God willing, he hath attained unto it. We conclude this epistle with the remembrance of God, the Lord of the mighty Throne and the Master of the exalted Seat. Praise be to God, for He is the Goal of them that know.

BH03848: Glory be to God! The signs of grandeur…

In the name of the one incomparable Lord!

Glory be to God! The signs of grandeur and the brilliant, wondrous verses are witnessed. Today is the day of the manifestation of the kingdom of hearing and sight, for from all trees and seas the fire is witnessed and proclaims: “O people! The Day is come!” And Mount Sinai dances, saying “The Day of Manifestation is come! Glad tidings to you, O people of Baha, and blessed are you, O companions of faithfulness! The Promised Day is come, that Hidden Treasure, that Concealed Mystery is come! Joy be unto you, O people of the Crimson Ark and Dawning-places of the Names!”

Today the breathings of revelation have perfumed the unseen and visible realms—deprive not yourselves thereof. Blessed is the ear sanctified from the tales of the people of creation, for it heareth the call of all things in celebration of this Most Exalted Station and drinketh from the choice wine of reunion and meeting. Such a one is of the people of this Most Great Manifestation. By the life of God, Mount Sinai circleth round him by the command of God, the Lord of the Mighty Throne!

Say: O people of God! The Day is the day of love and affection and joy and unity. Arise in the name of the Peerless Friend to teach the people of the human realm and purify the defiled ears and eyes through the blessed name of the Beloved, that perchance ye may hear that which is the cause of the perpetuity of existence and find that which is the source of awareness of the unseen and visible realms.

The glory shining from the horizon of the heaven of My loving-kindness be upon thee and upon those whom the veils of names have not prevented from turning unto God, the Lord of all mankind. These are the people of My ark and the companions of the pavilions of My grandeur. Upon them be My mercy and My loving-kindness and the light of My Cause whereby the heavens and earth were illumined. Praise be to God, the Self-Subsisting, the Eternal!

BH03869: In My Name, the One Who shineth upon…

In My Name, the One Who shineth upon the world!

The Promise hath come, and the Promised One hath appeared from the horizon of might with manifest sovereignty. That which was recorded by the Most Exalted Pen in the Books of God, the Lord of the worlds, hath been made manifest.

While We were swimming in the ocean of divine knowledge, Our Most Great Branch entered with thy letter. We heard thy call and have answered thee with this mighty Tablet. We found the fragrance of thy love from thy letter and have mentioned thee with that whereby thy remembrance shall endure throughout the kingdom of God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

This is a Day wherein the Mount is illumined with the lights of Revelation and the Divine Lote-Tree calleth out, saying:

“Blessed am I that I have attained unto Him Who converseth with me! The hand of bounty hath given me to drink the Kawthar of reunion after I was consumed with the fire of separation and remoteness.”

I testify that He hath fulfilled His promise and manifested His proof, and He is the One with power over whatsoever He willeth. There is no God but Him, the Single, the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

O Aziz! Hear the call from the direction of Akka: “Verily, there is no God but Him, the Mighty, the Great.” We have turned toward thee from the precincts of the Prison and have revealed unto thee from the hidden treasures deposited within Our Most Exalted Pen the pearls of loving-kindness and favor. Verily thy Lord is the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous.

Thank God for having caused thee to hear what Moses heard on the Mount of Utterance and for having guided thee to His straight path. When the Call attracteth thee from the Most Exalted Horizon, say:

“O Lord of the Kingdom of Names and Creator of Heaven! I beseech Thee by the ocean of Thy verses, and the pearls hidden in the shells of Thy knowledge, and the mysteries deposited in Thy Book, to make me steadfast in Thy love, firm in Thy Cause, and standing in Thy service. O my Lord! Thou seest me turning toward Thee. Ordain for me that which will draw me nigh unto Thee and will open before my heart the doors of Thy knowledge, that I may assist Thee in Thy land through wisdom and utterance. Verily, Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty, the Bestower.”

BH03788: Today is the day of the blessed word “We…

He is the All-Seeing, the All-Informed.

Today is the day of the blessed word “We have recorded all things in a Book.” O Isma’il! It is hoped that you will manifest the detachment of Khalil (Abraham) and hold fast to the Mother Book. When he was suspended in the air, Gabriel the Trusted One came and said: “Have you any need?” He replied: “Not of you.” Through these words, the fragrance of detachment has encompassed the world. May the spirit of the world be a sacrifice to his detachment!

Today the Supreme Pen speaks in wondrous and sublime melodies. In the first station and primary rank it has been expressed as the trumpet blast:

“And We breathed into it by Our command; thereupon all who are in earth and heaven swooned away, save those whom We preserved through Our Name, the Savior, and through Our Name, the Gracious.”

Be not grieved by the tyranny of oppressors and the injustice of aggressors. The world has been set in motion by the Word of God and all directions have been perfumed by its fragrances. Say: O people of the schools, deprive not yourselves! O people of the churches, withhold not yourselves! Turn with radiant faces and illumined hearts, that you may attain to the good-pleasure of God and be freed and detached from the world and all that is therein.

This Wronged One, while swimming in the ocean of sorrows, made mention of His loved ones. In the letter to His Majesty the King of Iran, these words were revealed:

“I walk, advancing toward the Mighty, the Bestower, while behind Me flow the oceans. Should anyone ask thee about Baha, say: He is in the hands of the wicked ones.”

When thou dost catch the fragrance of God’s utterance, arise from thy place, turn toward the Kaaba of existence and say:

“Praise be to Thee, O Lord of the seen and unseen! I beseech Thee by the breezes of Thy verses and the pearls hidden in the ocean of Thy bounty to make me detached from all else but Thee, speaking in Thy praise and standing firm in Thy service. Verily Thou art the Mighty, Thou art the All-Bountiful, there is no God but Thee, the Mighty, the All-Generous.”

BH04111: O Ramadan! Upon thee be the Glory…

He is the All-Seeing, the All-Informed.

O Ramadan! Upon thee be the Glory of the All-Merciful! In this blessed month the friends in this land have attained to the honor of true fasting, inasmuch as they have, for the sake of God, performed that which was enjoined upon them. They fast during the day and arise for prayer during the night. Blessed are they, for theirs is a goodly beginning and end. We counsel the people of God to perform such deeds as will cause the turning of the servants unto God and draw nigh those who dwell in all lands. This is the purpose of the wisdom that hath been sent down from the heaven of the Will of the Lord of all beings in the Sacred Scriptures and Tablets.

Most of the people of the earth are heedless. They imagine that this party hath turned away from God and His loved ones and hath clung to the dictates of self and passion. Glory be to God! The vain imaginings of men have debarred them and kept them back from the shore of the sea of oneness. This party is occupied day and night with the remembrance of God and is engaged in the reformation of the world. Blessed is the tongue that speaketh the truth, and the hand that hath taken hold of His Book, and the eye that hath beheld His signs, and the ear that hath heard His wondrous and new call.

O Ramadan! Previously ʿAli traversed the ways and attained the Most Holy Court. He made mention of thee and the friends of that land. Therefore hath this Most Holy, Most Exalted Tablet been revealed in thy name. Say: Praise be unto Thee, O God of the worlds and Desire of the nations, for having remembered me and revealed unto me that which shall endure as long as Thy heavenly kingdom shall endure. O my Lord! I am Thy servant and the son of Thy servant. I beseech Thee to make me so strong through Thy power that the onslaught of Thine enemies may not frighten me, nor the might of the oppressors among Thy creatures weaken me. Verily Thou art the Almighty, the Powerful, the All-Bountiful.

BH04093: O Ibrahim! Upon thee be the Glory of God…

He is the Hearing and the Answering

O Ibrahim! Upon thee be the Glory of God, the True King, the Just, the All-Knowing! The servant in attendance here hath presented thy letter and read before Our face that which thy tongue hath uttered in remembrance of God, His praise, His loving-kindness and His bounty. Blessed art thou and blessed is he who hath guided thee to My path, caused thee to hear My call, and shown thee My signs. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to assist thee among My servants to take the cup of My loving-kindness from the hand of My grace and to drink therefrom once in My Name and again in remembrance of Me, the Mighty, the Beloved.

His honor Muhammad (Darbaghi), upon him be the grace of God, His mercy, His loving-kindness and His generosity, hath attained unto that which hath no likeness or equal. Night and day he speaketh in remembrance of the Lord of all mankind and holdeth fast to the promotion of His Cause. Blessed be his tongue, his hand, his heart, his hearing and his sight. He is among those who have entrusted their affairs unto their Lord and have placed their reliance in Him under all conditions, who have caused their will to be extinguished in His will and have chosen for themselves what God hath chosen for them. We beseech Him to ordain for him that which will draw him nigh unto Him, cause him to remember Him, and profit him in all the worlds of God. Verily He is the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

Thus have We manifested grace from before God, the Powerful, the Mighty. And We counsel thee, O Ibrahim, at the end of Our utterance, with that which will exalt the Cause of God and thy station among His servants. Give thanks unto thy Lord and say:

“Praise be unto Thee for having made me to speak of Thy remembrance, to soar in the atmosphere of Thy love, and to gaze toward the horizon of Thy justice. I beseech Thee not to disappoint me of that which Thou hast ordained for Thy sincere servants and Thy near ones. Verily Thou art the Most Merciful of the merciful and the God of all who are in the heavens and on earth.”

BH04113: O ʿAbdu’l-Mihdi! Upon thee be the peace of God…

He is the Preserver, the Helper, the Forgiving, the Merciful!

O ʿAbdu’l-Mihdi! Upon thee be the peace of God. Thy letter hath come before the Wronged One. We have read it and respond to thee with this wondrous Tablet. Say: Glory be unto Thee, O my God, my Lord and my Support! Thou seest Thy loved ones clinging to the cord of Thy loving-kindness and holding fast to the hem of the robe of Thy pardon, grace and forgiveness. I beseech Thee by the Dawning-Places of Thy Revelation and the Manifestations of Thy inspiration, and by Him through Whom the light of unity hath shone forth amongst Thy servants and through Whose advent the heavens of Thy power and grandeur have been honored, to preserve them from every affliction and illness and to guard them from the evil of fate and whatsoever might trouble their hearts.

O Lord! Thou knowest that they have chosen no protector other than Thee, no lord besides Thee, and no preserver except Thee. Aid them, then, with the hosts of Thy invisible realm and stay from them the hands of tyranny through Thy power and sovereignty. O Lord! I beseech Thee by the waves of the ocean of Thy generosity and the effulgences of the luminary of Thy bounty and bestowal to ordain for them that which will bring joy to their eyes, expand their breasts, and gladden their hearts.

O Lord! They are Thy servants and in Thy grasp. They have acknowledged Thy oneness and singleness and what Thou hast revealed in Thy Book. Ordain for them, O my God, that which will draw them nigh unto Thee, then have mercy upon them through Thy grace and generosity. Verily, Thou art the One Who hath power over whatsoever He willeth. The might of the world and the power of the nations cannot weaken Thee. There is no God but Thee, the Forgiving, the All-Conquering, the Omnipotent, the Merciful. O my God! Send down Thy blessings upon the Hands of Thy Cause, whose heads Thou hast adorned with the crowns of detachment and whose temples Thou hast arrayed with the robes of righteousness and fear of God, and whom Thou hast preserved from transgression and immorality. Verily, Thou art the One Who hath power over whatsoever He willeth. There is no God but Thee, the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

BH04124: In My Name, the All-Loving, the All-Forgiving

In My Name, the All-Loving, the All-Forgiving

O My leaf! Upon thee be the glory of the Kingdom of My favor. Hearken unto My call whereby We guided Moses on the Mount of Knowledge and caused him to hear that which delighted his eyes, ignited his heart, expanded his breast, and illumined his countenance. We sent him forth with the rod of My power and strengthened him with My might which hath conquered all who are on My earth, even unto him who denied My grace and My sovereignty. Verily thy Lord is the One Who hath power over whatsoever He willeth, and He is the Commander, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Rejoice in that the Ancient Beauty hath turned toward thee from the direction of His Most Great Prison. By My life! My turning toward thee cannot be equaled by the treasures of the world nor by what hath been witnessed and mentioned among the nations. Verily thy Lord is the Single, the One, the Dominant over all who are in the heavens and the earth.

Praise be to God! In the days of the Blessed Tree thou hast attained unto that which the divines and princes of the earth have not attained, save whom God willeth. Today the Divine Lote-Tree calleth out to its leaves from the direction of the Most Exalted Paradise and relateth the Most Great News. The attraction of its utterance hath seized the realms of dominion and the Kingdom, and this bounty without likeness and grace without end is specially reserved for those men and women who have turned toward God. Take thou the Tablet of God and its traces with the hand of submission and contentment, and say:

“Praise be to Thee, O Lord of the Kingdom of Names and Creator of Heaven, for having given me to drink of the Kawthar of Thy utterance and for having acquainted me with the ocean of Thy verses. O my Lord! I beseech Thee by Thy standing before all faces and by Thy power over the seen and unseen, to ordain for me that which will make me steadfast in Thy Cause and holding fast to the cord of Thy loving care. Verily Thou art the Almighty, the Dominant, the Glorious, the All-Praised.”

BH04090: This is the Day whereon the Ancient Beauty hath…

He is the Manifest Book!

This is the Day whereon the Ancient Beauty hath been established upon the throne of His Most Great Name, and hath called all unto the most exalted Horizon—the Station wherein the atoms proclaim: “Dominion belongeth unto God, the Lord of all worlds!” This is a Book that speaketh the truth and guideth all unto a path that proclaimeth before all faces: “The Kingdom is God’s, the Almighty, the All-Praised!”

Blessed is he whose ear hath heard the call of God, and whose eye hath beheld the Most Glorious Vision, and whose face hath turned toward the Crimson Handle, through whose movement were moved the heavens and the earth. Blessed is he who hath recognized and attained unto the mysteries of God in this blessed, mighty and wondrous Day.

O peoples of the earth! Fear ye God, and follow not every remote clamourer who hath cast away righteousness and taken up passion in following the imaginings of the heedless. This is the Day wherein the gate of utterance hath been opened before the faces of all religions, and wherein the ocean of knowledge hath surged and the fragrance of God, the Lord of this mighty station, hath been wafted.

Say: O people of the Furqan! Fear ye the All-Merciful, and be not of the wrongdoers. Thus hath the Most Exalted Pen spoken, and the Dove of Utterance warbled upon the branch of knowledge that there is none other God but Him, the One Who, through His word, hath power over all things, the Mighty, the All-Wise. Blessed is he who hath cast away passion and taken up guidance, and hath acknowledged that which the Tongue of Grandeur hath spoken.

O people! This is the Day of God—recognize ye its station and be not of the ignorant. This is the Day wherein the lips of existence have smiled at the surging of the ocean of bounty by the command of God, the Almighty, the All-Powerful. Thus hath My Pen moved after My Tongue, and My Will appeared before My Purpose, and I am, verily, powerful over what I will. There is none other God but I, the Manifest, the All-Wise.

BH04098: O My Name! Upon thee be My glory…

He is the Remembering, the All-Knowing

O My Name! Upon thee be My glory and loving-kindness. The son of Attar, upon him be My glory and loving-kindness, hath attained unto mention. Some time ago, manifest verses from the horizon of the Supreme Pen’s heaven dawned forth specifically for them. We made mention of him with such remembrance as illumined the horizons of wisdom and utterance. He is among those who have attained unto that which was revealed in the Books of God, the Lord of the Mighty Throne. And We desire at this time to make mention of him who hath ascended unto God, the True Sovereign, the Manifest Justice—he who was named Mihdi in the Kingdom of Names and believed in God, the Single One, the All-Informed. He is among those who witnessed, saw and heard from the Tongue of Grandeur His greatest signs, and who drank the choice wine of mystical knowledge from the hands of bounty and bestowal. He departed from his dwelling, advancing toward the supreme heights, and the attraction of the Call seized him in such wise that he cast aside the tales of old, turning toward Baghdad, until he arrived and attained unto that which brought solace to the eyes of those near unto God and the sincere ones.

Blessed art thou, O Mihdi, and joy be unto thee, O Mihdi! The Pen hath borne witness unto thee from the presence of the Ancient King and hath made mention of thee in such wise as caused the breezes of grace and generosity to waft over the world. I testify that the veils hindered thee not, nor did the clamor raised from every direction frighten thee, and thou didst turn unto the Intended One when the people were in manifest rejection. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to give thee to drink, at all times, from the Kawthar of mercy and the Salsabil of utterance, and to send down upon thee the fragrances of His loving-kindness and mercy from His presence and grace from before Him, and to make thee associate with His chosen ones in the Most Exalted Paradise and the Supreme Heaven. Verily He is the All-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful, the Kind, the Merciful, and He is the Compassionate, the Generous.

BH04115: O Ali, upon thee be My glory! Thy petition…

In the Name of the One God

O Ali, upon thee be My glory! Thy petition was mentioned before the Wronged One, and from it wafted the sweet savors of certitude, knowledge and love. Thou hast ever been remembered on this plane. We have mentioned thee aforetime with verses that neither the tyranny of Pharaohs nor the oppression of tyrants can alter, and whose fragrance will endure as long as Our Most Beautiful Names endure. Give thanks and say: Praise be to Thee, O Lord of the world, and glory be to Thee, O Thou in Whose grasp is the reins of all who are in the heavens and on earth. Convey greetings from the Wronged One to the loved ones, and illumine all with the light of the utterance of the Goal of all worlds. Whatsoever appeareth on earth that conduceth to the exaltation of the Word and the advancement of the Cause hath been revealed in the Most Holy Book—that which will inspire the detached and the insightful to serve the Cause.

Say: O people of God! This is the Day for assisting the Cause. Hold fast unto wisdom and occupy yourselves with that which is befitting. Beware lest the clamor of the heedless or the doubts of the suspicious prevent you. In all conditions We beseech the Self-Sufficing, the Most High, for that which will cause the appearance of glory, bounty and wealth for His loved ones. I say in truth: whatsoever hath flowed from the Most Exalted Pen shall assuredly come to pass, and if it be delayed due to the requirements of consummate wisdom, there is no harm. God will soon manifest what He hath promised in His Tablets. He, verily, is the True One, the Trustworthy. The glory which proceedeth from Us rest upon thee and upon those who have cast away all else, turning toward the Supreme Horizon, and upon every steadfast, firm one and every trustworthy, resolute one.

BH04071: The Kingdom of utterance, in the midst of sorrows…

He is God, exalted be His glory in wisdom and utterance

The Kingdom of utterance, in the midst of sorrows, is occupied with the remembrance of the friends, that perchance the calumnies of the calumniators and the clamor of the croakers may not withhold the servants from the Lord of the Day of Judgment. This is the Day wherein the dawn of inner meanings hath broken above the horizon of utterance, and that which was concealed from eyes and hidden in the knowledge of God, Lord of all worlds, hath been made manifest. By the life of God! The Wronged One is in evident wrong. We have created the servants and sent down the verses and manifested the clear proofs as a grace from God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. Blessed is he who hath turned towards God, whom neither the doubts of the doubtful nor the signs of those who have disbelieved in God, the Lord of this wondrous Day, have deterred. Take thou the chalice of utterance from the hand of the bounty of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, then drink therefrom in the name of thy Lord and say:

Praise be unto Thee, O Lord of all beings, and glory be unto Thee, O Creator of earth and heaven! I beseech Thee by Thy arising to promote the Cause and Thy exalting the word of justice, and by Thy most great signs at whose descent all things proclaimed sovereignty and dominion, might and power unto Thy most exalted Self and Thy most glorious Name, to make me one who speaketh of Thy remembrance, who gazeth toward Thy horizon, and who acteth according to that which Thou hast commanded me in Thy Book. O my Lord! Thou seest me detached from all save Thee, hoping for the wonders of Thy bounty and that which lieth treasured with Thee. I beseech Thee by the light of Thy countenance and the lights of Thy loved ones who offered up their spirits and their hopes and their possessions and all they possessed in Thy path in the Land of Ya, to open before my face that which will aid me in serving Thee and serving Thy Cause. Then ordain for me the reward of those who circled round Thee in all conditions. Verily Thou art the Powerful, the Self-Sufficient, the Most Exalted.

BH04217: This is a mention from Baha to the one…

He is the One Who speaks with truth and remembers with justice

This is a mention from Baha to the one who attained the presence and drank, in My Name the Self-Subsisting, My sealed wine, and who left the earthly homeland seeking the true homeland, and was surrounded by the manifestations of gifts and favors until he presented himself before the gate that was opened to all who are on earth and in heaven, and heard My sweetest call and beheld My most glorious horizon. Thus did the Pen speak when the Lord of Eternity was in His mighty prison.

O Sad! Upon thee be the Glory of God, Lord of creation. This is the day of steadfastness and service. We beseech God to confirm thee in that which will cause the exaltation of the Word of God amongst the people.

O Dal! The All-Sufficient, the Most High, hath remembered thee with verses that neither centuries and ages can change, nor can the might of those who denied God’s proof and evidence and disbelieved in His signs which encompassed the heavens and earths alter them.

O Qaf! Arise to serve My Cause with a steadfastness that the hosts of the oppressors cannot prevent. Convey to all the family the greetings of the Wronged One. All are mentioned before the Countenance and have attained special favors. Convey to the kindred of Mishkin the greetings and salutations of the Wronged One. Your attention to their affairs is necessary. We have commanded Mishkin, upon him be the Glory of God, Lord of the worlds, to present himself before the Countenance through you and to visit Him Who hath spoken and speaketh:

“Verily there is no God but Him, the Mighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.”

The glory shining from the horizon of the heaven of My mercy be upon thee and upon thy mother and thy two brothers and thy sister who turned to God, the Lord, the Most Merciful, the Compassionate.

BH04343: O Ali, upon thee be the peace of God…

He is God, exalted be His station, the Most Great, the Most Powerful

O Ali, upon thee be the peace of God and His grace! Each of thy letters hath been seen and heard. Praise be to God, thou art illumined with the light of divine unity and adorned with the ornament of heavenly knowledge. The whole world hath been brought from nothingness into being for the recognition of the Ancient King, yet the pomp and vanities of the world have occupied all and prevented them from turning to the Most Exalted Horizon. However, thou art among those serene and well-pleasing souls who have attained to that which is the cause of eternal salvation and everlasting bounty. No sin hath been or shall be attributed to thee in writing letters. This blessed Tablet beareth witness to this Wronged One’s favor towards thee. Say:

My God, my God, my Lord and my Support! Praise be unto Thee for having guided me unto Thy straight path and illumined my heart with the light of certitude. I beseech Thee by Thy Prophets and Thy chosen ones, and by Him through Whom Thou didst open the door of Thy mercy unto the faces of Thy servants and through Whom the Sun of Unity shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of Thy Cause, to aid me to remain steadfast in Thy love. Then open, O my God, before my face the door of Thy bounty and bestowal. Verily, Thou art the One Who hath power over whatsoever He willeth, and in Thy grasp are the reins of all who are in the heavens and on earth. Thou art, in truth, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.

All the loved ones in that land are remembered before the Wronged One, and for each we seek and beseech that which will cause the exaltation of God’s Cause, glorified be His majesty. Peace be upon thee and upon God’s sincere servants.

BH04196: O Jinab-i-Aqa Kazim, upon him be the Glory…

In the Name of Him Who is manifest before the faces of the world

O Jinab-i-Aqa Kazim, upon him be the Glory of God! Praise be to the King of the Kingdom of utterance, Who in every moment causeth the pearls of proof to rain down and pour forth from the clouds of His grace like unto rain. O Kazim! Hearken unto the call of the Wronged One and sanctify thyself through the grace of the Most Great Name from the idle fancies and vain imaginings of the world, that thou mayest perceive with the ear of thine heart the rustling of the Divine Lote-Tree and behold thyself detached from the world and all who dwell therein. Say: O servants! The Day is His Day and the Cause is His Cause, and this is that News wherewith the Prophets and Chosen Ones gave glad tidings unto the servants.

Today grace hath encompassed the world and the ocean of proof surgeth before all faces and the voice of Him Who conversed on Sinai is raised. Deprive not yourselves and withhold not yourselves from this matchless and peerless bounty. With the power of certitude and the light of proof, aim ye for the ultimate goal and loftiest summit, in such wise that the people of the world shall be powerless to hinder you. Today the matter which, in the sight of God, is foremost and most preeminent above all matters is steadfastness, inasmuch as the world and its peoples are seen to be scattered and at variance. The loved ones must hold fast unto patience and long-suffering, and must shun whatsoever giveth off the odor of mischief.

Thus hath God commanded at the beginning of the Revelation. Verily He is the Ordainer, the All-Wise. The glory shining from the horizon of the heaven of My mercy be upon thee and upon them that have believed in God in this mighty Revelation and this great Announcement.

BH04334: O Ja’far, upon thee be My Glory! O Sign…

In the Name of God, the One, the Bountiful!

O Ja’far, upon thee be My Glory! O Sign of Life, upon thee be the Glory of God, the Revealer of Verses! In this hour when the Wronged One is seated and established upon the Throne of Silence, the blessed leaf appeared and mention was made of you. At the moment when the Tongue of Grandeur spoke in remembrance of thee, the ocean of divine forgiveness appeared with its wondrous and sublime waves from the right, while from the left flowed the Euphrates of mercy. Praise be to God! In this moment thou hast attained unto lights which no veil can conceal and no clouds of the world can obscure. These lights have ever shone and will continue to shine from the horizon of the heaven of bounty of the Lord of existence. This is a time for joy and gladness, not for sorrow and grief. Verily, We give thee the glad-tidings of this mercy which hath flowed from My Most Exalted Pen for thy purification, thy sanctification and thy holiness. Give thanks unto God for this most great favor and be of those who are thankful.

Say: Praise be unto Thee, O God of Bounty, Sovereign of existence, and Lord of the seen and unseen, for having sent down unto me that which hath caused me to attain unto Thy great mercy, Thy mighty favors, and Thy gifts which have encompassed all things. I beseech Thee by Thy Most Great Signs and by that which lay hidden in the treasury of Thy grace, O Lord of the Kingdom of Names, to cause me to circle round Thee in every world of Thy worlds, and to hold fast unto Thy most beautiful names and Thy most exalted attributes. O my Lord! Thou seest me detached from all else but Thee and turning unto that Spot whereon the Throne of Thy majesty is established. I beseech Thee not to disappoint me of Thy bounty and Thy gifts. Verily, Thou art the All-Powerful, the Most Generous, the All-Bountiful, the Most Kind. There is no God but Thee, the Ordainer, the Ancient of Days.

BH04133: Praise be to God Who has manifested His Cause…

He is God, exalted be His glory, greatness and power!

Praise be to God Who has manifested His Cause, fulfilled His promise, and sent down the Criterion for the guidance of all in creation, whereby He has distinguished between those who have turned towards Him and those who have turned away, between the people of misbelief and the people of divine unity. He is the Single, the One, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

And then, your petition was received and its contents noted. The answer is what is now set forth: First, occupation with such matters and attention to development and gardens and roses and nightingales and hyacinths keeps one from building spiritual houses and true mansions. Although the cultivation and development of the earth has been and continues to be ordained by God, yet since the location is distant, great trouble and hardship would need to be endured. In any case, if you can obtain anything from Haji ʿAli—whether cattle or other things—for developing what you intend, that would be good. And if anyone wishes to create a new garden, they should adhere to whatever is customary and known among the people in such matters. And if the return journey is delayed beyond measure, that would be best and most fitting. We beseech God to assist you in that which will leave lasting traces and effects throughout the duration of the earthly and heavenly kingdoms.

Convey greetings from this Wronged One to Haji Ali, upon him be God’s peace, and to the Shaykh, that is Haji Rida. We likewise make mention of Haji Khavar and Aqa Ali. Praise be to God, all are remembered before the Face and have attained mention.

BH04326: O thou who gazest upon the Countenance and art…

He is the One Who speaks in the Kingdom of Utterance

O thou who gazest upon the Countenance and art present before the Throne! Hearken unto the Call from this most exalted, most holy and most glorious Quarter. God, there is no God but Him, the Single, the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. My Most Exalted Pen hath moved to make mention of thee time and again, for thy Lord is verily the True, the Faithful Speaker. We give thee glad tidings at this hour of God’s loving-kindness, the Lord of all worlds, and We beseech Him to ordain for thee that which shall bring solace to thine eyes and the eyes of thy loved ones, and to send down upon thee from the heaven of bounty a mercy from His presence and a blessing from His side. He is verily the Hearer, the Answerer. By the life of God! That which none save the All-Knowing, the All-Informed hath knowledge of hath been ordained for thee. When thou attainest unto the Tablet of God and its trace, say:

Praise be unto Thee, O Thou the Desire of the world, for having guided me unto Thy path and the court of Thy chosen ones and the Dawning-Place of Thy revelation and the Dayspring of Thine inspiration, and for having given me to drink of the choice wine of Thy utterance from the cup of Thy bounty. I beseech Thee, O my God, by Thy Most Bountiful Name, and by Thy Most Generous Name, and by Thy Name through which Thou hast illumined the world and guided the peoples, and by the rustling of the Tree of Thy utterance on the Mount, and by the manifestations of the lights of the Lord of Revelation, to open before my face the door of Thy munificence and Thy generosity.

O my Lord! Thou seest me in all conditions clinging fast unto Thee, turning unto Thee, and turning away from all else besides Thee. Thou hast verily strengthened me to shatter the idols through Thy power and might and to rend asunder the veils through the finger of power by Thy command and Thy will. Ordain for me that which will exalt me amongst Thy servants and make me mighty through Thy Name and willing through Thy Will. Verily Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. There is no God but Thee, the Forgiving, the Bountiful.

BH04517: In My Name, the Most Glorious, the Most Splendid!

In My Name, the Most Glorious, the Most Splendid!

This is a Book which the Lord of all beings hath caused to speak in the other world, that it may testify before the faces of the world to the Manifestation of God, His sovereignty, His glory and His power, and that He is the First and the Last, the Manifest and the Hidden, and He is the Mighty, the Powerful, the All-Bountiful.

Thy letter attained unto Our presence and audience, and from each of its letters wafted the fragrance of God’s love. We beseech Him, exalted be He, to ordain for thee that which will exalt thee through His Name, and make thee a helper of His Cause and one who standeth at the gate through His glory and bounty. Verily, He is powerful over whatsoever He willeth through His firm and mighty command.

When thou hast drunk the choice wine of My utterance which hath flowed from My Pen in My Name, say: Glory be unto Thee, O my God! I beseech Thee by the hidden mysteries in the Mother Book, and by Thy settlement upon the throne of manifestation in the return, and by Thy manifest and hidden mystery, and by Thy Name that holdeth sway over what hath been and what shall be, to aid me in that which beseemeth Thy days. O my Lord! Thou beholdest the Wronged One hastening unto the throne of Thy justice and the tabernacle of Thy glory. I beseech Thee to ordain for him, through Thy bounty which hath encompassed all existence and through the light of Thy Name, the Forgiving, that which Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen ones and Thy loved ones. O my Lord! Aid me to discharge the rights of Thy servants and Thy creation. By Thy glory, O God of all beings! I love naught except what Thou lovest and desire naught except what Thou desirest. Ordain for me that whereby the sanctity of Thy Cause may be uplifted amongst Thy creation and the holiness of Thy Self may be manifested amongst Thy servants. Verily, Thou art the Mighty, the Powerful, the All-Bountiful.

BH04590: Lawh-i-Ahbab-i-Isfahan

He is God, exalted is He!

O Muhammad, upon you be the peace of God and His favors! Several days ago, permission to return was granted to the travelers and emigrants. We beseech God that He may enable all to reach their homes and destinations with the utmost joy and fragrance. It behooveth each one of them to say:

O God of all names and Ruler of earth and heaven! Aid me to be steadfast in Thy love and to act according to what Thou hast revealed in Thy Book. I beseech Thee, O my Lord, by Him through Whom Thy sovereignty was manifested and Thy verses were sent down and Thy clear proofs were revealed, and through Whom the pavilion of Thy glory was raised amongst Thy servants and the banners of Thy might and triumph were planted in Thy lands, to ordain for me the good of this world and the next. Verily, Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. O my Lord! Make all my deeds a remembrance from Thee and a single melody, then number me among those whose deeds Thou hast accepted through Thy bounty and generosity and whose hearts Thou hast illumined with the lights of Thy knowledge. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Let Ibrahim Effendi, upon him be God’s peace, proceed if funds are found to ease their difficulties—this would be most fitting and appropriate. There would be no harm if Muhammad were to tarry for a few days after them, but a lengthy delay would be unwise. We shall summon ʿAli-Akbar later. For now, in view of the gathering, his departure has been postponed. And obtain sugar and tea from Aqa Faraj. We end these words with Thy remembrance and the remembrance of the friends of God, the Lord of all worlds. Peace be upon you and upon God’s righteous servants.

BH04600: O Nabil, son of Nabil, upon you be…

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

O Nabil, son of Nabil, upon you be the peace of God, the Glorious King! Your name hath been mentioned before the face of the Wronged One and you are remembered. The growth of the world of the Bayan and its adornment lie in this blessed and exalted word: “Whoso is Mine, I shall be his.” Divine confirmation took hold, power was bestowed, insight was granted, the way was shown and guidance was vouchsafed. From the earliest days until now thou hast been illumined by the light of unity and engaged in mention and praise. We beseech God by Him through Whom the breezes of grace wafted, the fragrances of revelation were diffused, the Hijaz was illumined by His light, and the parties were humbled by His power, that He may aid thee and assist thee in all conditions, and manifest through thee that which will gladden hearts and console eyes. Grieve not over anything, but in all matters place thy trust in God, the Lord of Lords. Whoso trusteth in Him, nothing shall harm him—to this do bear witness the learned and mystics of the earth.

The letter of S.M., upon whom be My peace, arrived in the name of bounty. He mentioned the friends of that land. Jinab-i-Darbaghi and Khalil and Yahya and other friends were gathered in a feast and were engaged in the mention and praise of the Goal of the world. This Wronged One beseecheth from God, exalted be His glory, confirmation and success for all. Verily He is the Generous, the Bountiful, and He is the All-Bestowing, the Forgiving, the Merciful. We make mention of ʿAbdu’l-Husayn and counsel him to act with goodness. We make mention of Jinab-i-Ahmad and entrust him to God. Verily He is the Protector of those who do good and the Answerer of the prayers of the sincere ones.

BH04626: My God, my God! I know not what Thou…

He is the Witness, the All-Seeing, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

My God, my God! I know not what Thou hast wrought within me. The intoxication of the wine of Thy utterance hath so seized me that it hath stripped me of all that I possessed, and hath made me to hasten toward Thee, heedless of whatsoever is in Thy earth and in Thy heaven. O Lord! Withhold me not from the ocean of Thy bounty, and from that which Thou hast ordained for Thine elect. I am he who hath prostrated himself upon every speck of dust, as an outward token of my lowliness before Thy loved ones.

I beseech Thee, O Possessor of the Kingdom and Sovereign of the Realm of Might, by Thy Name wherewith Thou hast unlocked the doors of hearts, to confirm Thy company in steadfastness in Thy Cause, and in turning their gaze toward Thine exalted Horizon. O Thou Lord of all mankind, and Possessor of the throne and the dust! O Lord, this is but a temple among the temples of Thy servants. I ask Thee to decree for him the best of all that is in Thy Book. Thou art He Whom no hosts can hinder from doing what Thou pleasest, and from ordaining what Thou desirest. Thou, verily, art the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

And bless, O God, the Hands of Thy Cause who have attained unto this mighty tidings. Praise be to Thee, inasmuch as Thou art, in truth, the God of the worlds and the Desire of them that truly know.

BH04752: God beareth witness that there is none other God…

He is established upon the throne of utterance.

God beareth witness that there is none other God but Him, and He Who hath come from the horizon of power is verily the Hidden Secret and the Treasured Symbol. Through Him the ocean of knowledge hath surged in the world and the luminary of proof hath shone forth amidst the peoples. He, verily, is God’s balance among His servants and His path amongst His creation. Blessed is he who hath turned unto Him and held fast, and woe betide him who hath turned away and denied.

O thou who gazeth upon the countenance! We have observed thy turning unto Us, and We have turned unto thee, and have answered thy call with this perspicuous Tablet, each letter of which proclaimeth sovereignty and dominion, grandeur and might unto God, the Lord of the worlds.

Say: Glory be unto Thee, O my God! I beseech Thee by the revelations of the Sun of Bounty from the heaven of Thy bestowals, and Glory be unto Thee, O my God! I beseech Thee by the light of Thy Cause whereby Thou hast illumined Thy earth and Thy heaven, and by Thy hand which when raised up did raise up the hands of all created things toward the heaven of Thy gifts and favors, to make me one of those who have not hesitated in Thy Cause and who answered Thy call when it was raised up in Thy days. O Lord! I beseech Thee by Thy power which hath encompassed all existence, both seen and unseen, to ordain for me all the good Thou hast sent down in Thy Book and destined for Thy chosen ones. Verily Thou art the Almighty, the All-Compelling over what was and what shall be. There is none other God but Thee, the Single, the One, the Mighty, the All-Loving.

BH04925: O Muhammad-Quli! Ismi Mihdi, upon whom be My glory…

He is the Hearer, the Witness, the All-Informed.

O Muhammad-Quli! Ismi Mihdi, upon whom be My glory and loving-kindness, forwarded thy letter to the Most Holy Court. Verily he attained the presence, and the reading and the hearing. From every word We perceived the fragrance of thy love and thy steadfastness in the Cause of God, the Lord of the Mighty Throne. Praise be to God, thou didst aim for the ultimate goal and didst attain it, and from the hands of bounty thou didst drink that which hath had and hath no likeness or parallel.

Last year, on one of the days, as a token of grace We donned the cloak that was sent, and a Tablet was revealed in the Most Glorious Handwriting and dispatched.

Say: Praise be to Thee, O my God, for having guided me to the court of Thy might and caused me to enter the spot round which circle they who are near unto Thee and they who are sincere in Thy Cause, and for having given me to drink, from the cup of Thy bounty, the wine of Thy utterance, and for having made me to hear Thy call. I beseech Thee, O my Lord, by the Lamp of Thy Cause which findeth itself amidst tempestuous winds, to make me steadfast in Thy service and in Thy remembrance and praise, in such wise that neither princes nor divines may hinder me from drawing nigh unto Thee, O Lord of all men and Master of the throne above and the earth below. O my Lord! I am Thy servant and the son of Thy servant. I have placed my trust in Thee and have committed my affairs unto Thee. I beseech Thee not to disappoint me of that which Thou hast ordained for them that are near unto Thee from among Thy servants. Then forgive me and those with me, through Thy grace and bounty. Verily Thou art the Almighty, the Powerful, the All-Bountiful.

BH04911: In My Name, the Compassionate, the All-Bountiful

In My Name, the Compassionate, the All-Bountiful

O Andalib! Praise be to God that thou hast attained unto service, assistance, mention and praise. Thou hast been mentioned by the Supreme Pen in such wise as cannot be equaled by all the praises of the world nor by what hath been uttered by the tongues of nations. Give thanks unto God, thy Lord, for this manifest bounty. O Andalib! We have heard thy melodies in succession. Well is it with thee and with that which thy tongue hath uttered in praise of God, the Lord of all worlds. We have heard what thou hast composed and have found therein the fragrance of thy turning, thy sincerity and thy orientation towards God, the Lord of the heavens and earths. That which thou didst send hath attained Our presence and been adorned with the ornament of acceptance. We beseech God to aid thee with the hosts of the seen and the unseen, and to ordain for thee every good thing which He hath sent down in His perspicuous Book. Convey My greetings to My loved ones and illumine their hearts with the lights of My guidance, and say:

My God, my God! Accept from us that which our tongues utter in prayer before Thy face and in communion with Thee. O Lord! Aid us to hold fast unto Thee and unto that which hath been sent down from Thee, and assist this Thy servant to guide Thy creatures and direct them to Thy path. Verily Thou art the All-Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. O Lord! Thou seest me standing before the door of Thy bounty, hoping for the wonders of Thy grace for Thy loved ones. I beseech Thee not to disappoint them of that which Thou hast sent down in Thy Book. Verily Thou art the All-Powerful, He through one word from Whom the seas surge, the winds blow, and the lights shine forth. There is no God but Thee, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.

BH04699: In My Name, the Manifest, Who speaketh before…

In My Name, the Manifest, Who speaketh before the faces of all!

Praise be to the Ancient Beauty Who hath illumined the worlds of remembrance and utterance with the lights of His Most Great Name, and through His Most Exalted Word hath guided the people of the realm of creation to the supreme horizon. Glorified be His grace that hath encompassed all who are in the heavens and on earth, and exalted be His mercy that hath preceded existence itself, from the first to the last.

O Abu’l-Qasim! Thy mention hath been heard, and the Lord of all being, with supreme benevolence, hath remembered thee in this Most Holy, Most Exalted Tablet. This is a day wherein the veils have been rent asunder and the All-Bountiful hath come with manifest sovereignty.

Look not upon the people and their veils, for their vain desires have withheld them—verily they are in grievous error. They have cast guidance behind their backs—verily they are among the most lost in the Book of God, the Lord of all worlds. Beware lest the doubts of the people hold thee back from My Self-Subsisting Name, or the might of the oppressors frighten thee.

When thou hast attained unto My remembrance and drunk the choice wine of utterance from the hand of My bounty, turn thy face toward God and say:

“Praise be unto Thee, O Lord of all humanity, and thanksgiving be unto Thee, O Sovereign of the kingdom of names, for having made known unto me the Dawning-Place of Thy Revelation and the Dayspring of Thy signs. I beseech Thee by this Promised One, through Whom Thou hast fulfilled Thy promise, manifested Thy sovereignty, and revealed that which lay hidden in Thy knowledge, to aid me to serve Thy Cause and to arise in service to Thy loved ones. Verily, Thou art powerful to do as Thou willest through Thy mighty and wondrous Word.”

BH04696: Noah came and with lamentation, helplessness and supplication called…

He is the All-Knowing Expositor.

Noah came and with lamentation, helplessness and supplication called the servants to the Self-Sufficient, the Exalted. They rejected Him and brought about that which caused the eyes of understanding to weep and the temple of justice to cry out. Then Hud came and called the people of the earth to the Lord of existence and the Sovereign of the unseen and seen. They denied Him and arose in opposition, although that Holy One gave the people glad tidings of the name of the Self-Subsisting and promised them the days of God. Then Salih came and with perfect joy and fragrance guided the people of earth to the horizon of the favor of the Desired One of the worlds. They deemed the pure waters of divine counsel to be error. Finally they hamstrung the she-camel and went unto the infernal fire.

O Baqir, the sight and hearing of the servants are prevented from witnessing and hearkening. The veils of idle fancies have intervened and deprived creation from the Truth. Blessed is the soul who with clear certitude held fast to the mighty cord and freed itself from the world and all therein. We beseech God that He may confirm thee and guide thee to the clear and straight path, in such wise that the cawing of the crows, the clamor of the transgressors and the might of the ungodly may not prevent or deprive thee from the effulgences of the lights of the Sun of true divine unity. Verily thy Lord is powerful over all things and ready to answer.

BH04898: He dawns from the horizon of eternity!

He dawns from the horizon of eternity!

O Radi! The Seal of the Prophets—may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for Him—came with divine proof and heavenly evidence from the Dayspring of power with boundless favors, having no purpose save to exalt the blessed Word of Divine Unity and guide the servants to that which would benefit and preserve them. Yet the ungodly denied Him and called Him a sorcerer, even though He was the Bearer of Glad Tidings from God—glorified be His majesty—and gave all people the glad tidings of the Days of God. All turned away and issued verdicts for the shedding of His most pure blood. The Primal Point appeared from the Dawning Place of God’s Will with divine majesty from the unseen realm into the visible world, and gave tidings of this blessed and wondrous Day. Yet they denied Him and arose in opposition, and finally martyred Him through the verdict of the abominable Shi’ih divines. By the life of God! The deniers among the people of the Bayan are seen to be even more debased and rebellious.

Convey My greetings to the people of Baha and say: O people of God! Hold fast to that which befits the Day of God and deprive not yourselves of the Kawthar of utterance that flows from the Pen of the Most Merciful. Every party is afflicted with vain imaginings and every people is deprived by their suspicions. You must thank God your Lord that He remembered you while you were among the heedless. Glory be upon the people of Baha, male and female, young and old.

BH04932: He is the Expositor, the All-Knowing, and He…

He is the Expositor, the All-Knowing, and He is the Bearer of Glad-Tidings, the Helper, the Mighty, the Great

O Niyaz! Upon thee be the glory of the Luminary of Hijaz, through Whom the Truth was made manifest and the traces of metaphor were erased. We were walking in the house and hearing the tale of the earth when suddenly a call was raised from the Most Exalted Paradise: “O people of Baha who are settled upon the Crimson Ark! Rejoice and be glad at the arrival of His Honor, the Trusted One, at a manifest station and mighty prison in the path of God, the Lord of the worlds.” Today in the city of love there is a melody for the lovers. Then another call was raised from the direction of the Supreme Paradise: “O concourse of lovers!

Rejoice that ʿAli-Qabli-Akbar has arrived at the spot which God has made the Most Luminous Scene, where before him the Wronged One was imprisoned in the land of Ta, and attained to reunion and meeting. For We dwelt in cities with chains and shackles in that place and places like it. In truth, the homeland of those near to God has been and is the prison of the oppressors. Glory be to God! The wolves of the earth pride themselves on bloodthirstiness and have defiled the seat of judgment. We beseech God to purify it for the establishment of the throne of justice upon it. Verily He is the All-Bountiful, the Generous. By My life! This seizing and torment in the path of the Peerless Friend is sweeter than the Kawthar in the taste of the lovers.

To this beareth witness the Lord of the Day of the Covenant. The glory from Us be upon thee and upon those who have drunk the wine of steadfastness from the hands of grace and bounty, as a favor from God, the Compassionate, the Generous.

BH04609: That ignorant one objected to the presence of Jamal…

…That ignorant one objected to the presence of Jamal on account of His having been seated upon two couches, with fruits placed on one side and drinks arranged on the other, while at the entrance a samovar and other implements were set. Glory be to God! Until now the hearts remain defiled with the corruptions of deeds and remembrances of the past, and the cause of ascendancy and exaltation remaineth unknown to that party. Say: O heedless one! The Beauty of God was in that place by invitation, and the place belonged not to Him. Whatsoever the host had prepared was out of his love for God, and every soul and every party prepareth for their friends whatsoever their means and capacity permit. Moreover, the Herald—may our spirits be a sacrifice for all else but Him—hath decreed in the Kitab-i-Jaza that it is permissible to prepare for the believers varied delicacies and diverse bounties to the number of Mustagath. He hath likewise enjoined the wearing of silk and whatsoever is close to nature, refined and desirable, whether in attire or household furnishings. This is what the Herald hath pronounced in His perspicuous Book….

BH04878: O My handmaiden! This Wronged One, while encompassed…

In the Name of Him Who is the Manifest One before the Kingdom of Utterance

O My handmaiden! This Wronged One, while encompassed by sorrows from all directions, is occupied with the remembrance of the loved ones and the leaves of the Divine Lote-Tree. Nothing whatsoever escapeth His knowledge. He witnesseth and seeth, and He is the Single, the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. O My leaf! Hearken unto My call from the direction of My prison. Verily it will raise thee up and draw thee nigh unto God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. Take heed lest the happenings of the world sadden thee, or the power of those who have denied the Day of Judgment weaken thee. Gladden My leaves on My behalf with that which hath been sent down for them from the heaven of My bounty, the kingdom of My utterance, and the dominion of My will, which hath encompassed all who are in the heavens and on earth. Thy name was mentioned in the presence of the Wronged One, Who hath remembered thee with that which hath attracted the hearts of them who are nigh unto God.

Today the leaves of the Divine Lote-Tree must be engaged in the mention and praise of the Lord of Oneness. The life of this world and its duration are not worthy of mention. It is hoped that they who have turned towards God, both men and women, may in all conditions fix their gaze upon the horizon of the manifestation of the Lord of Names and Attributes, and be detached from all else besides Him.

My God, my God! Thou seest me turning toward the horizon of Thy grace and clinging to the cord of Thy bounty. I beseech Thee, O Lord of existence, by the mysteries hidden in Thy knowledge and by the blood that hath been shed in Thy path, to assist this handmaiden of Thine in that which will draw her nigh unto Thee. O Lord! I am Thy handmaiden and the daughter of Thy handmaiden. I beseech Thee by the lamp of Thy Cause and the ark of Thy power to aid me in that which will exalt me through Thy name. Then ordain for me, O my God, the good of this world and the world to come. Verily Thou art the One Who hath power over whatsoever He willeth through Thy pervading and irresistible command.

BH04887: O thou who gazest upon the Countenance and who…

He is God, exalted be His station in remembrance and utterance!

O thou who gazest upon the Countenance and who hast held fast to the cord of grace! Hearken unto the call of the Wronged One, Who hath remembered thee in His Most Great Prison with that which no thing among all things, nor any treasure among all treasures, can equal. Verily thy Lord is the All-Bountiful. He hath ordained for thee from His Most Exalted Pen that which no eye of creation hath ever beheld the like thereof. To this beareth witness the Mother Book which is with Him. Say:

Glory be unto Thee, O my God! I beseech Thee by Him Who conversed upon Sinai, Who hath seated Himself upon the throne of Revelation, and by the Call that hath been raised from the Blessed Tree, to open before my face the door of Thy mercy, then to rain down upon me from the clouds of Thy generosity the showers of Thy bounty. Verily Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest, and within Thy grasp are the reins of all who are in the heavens and on earth.

O Ali-Akbar! We have remembered thee before, and at this hour, that thou mayest inhale the fragrance of thy Lord’s loving-kindness and be amongst those who have attained in His perspicuous Book. And We make mention of thy son who hath attained unto My days and whom thou didst mention in thy letter. We beseech God, exalted be He, to ordain for him what He hath ordained for His chosen ones and trusted ones, and to illumine his heart at all times with the lights of His knowledge. Verily He is the Powerful over what He willeth and the Ruler over what He desireth, and He is the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

O Qaysar! Rejoice in that the Lord of Destiny hath turned toward thee from the direction of His Most Great Prison and hath remembered thee with that from which the near ones inhale the fragrance of their Lord’s utterance, the Mighty, the Wise. We have adorned the heavens of existence with the lights of My utterance, the suns of My wisdom and the moons of My knowledge, and I am the Powerful over what I will, and I am the Ordainer, the Ancient of Days. The glory shining forth from the horizon of the heaven of My mercy be upon you and upon those who have heeded the Call and answered their Lord, the Gracious Summoner.

BH05242: O leaf Aqa Shahzadih, upon thee be the Glory…

In the Name of the One True God

O leaf Aqa Shahzadih, upon thee be the Glory of God! Praise be to God, in these divine days thou hast been sprinkled by the infinite rain of mercy, thou hast drunk from the cup of recognition and turned thy face to the highest horizon. Mention of this station is eternal and everlasting in the Book of God. Soon all worldly conditions and whatsoever exists therein shall return to nothingness, for they were not and are not worthy of permanence. Through the grace of God—exalted be His glory—thou hast attained unto a station which is the pride and glory of the queens of the world. The Queen of London goes daily to church in the name of God and, in her own imagination, is occupied with the remembrance of God, yet God hath testified and doth testify to her heedlessness, for she is deprived of His recognition and is clinging merely to His name.

And likewise are the other empresses of the world. Say: Glory be unto Thee, O my God! Praise be to Thee for having illumined my heart with the light of Thy knowledge and enabled me to recognize the Dayspring of Thy verses and the Dawning-Place of Thy clear tokens. I beseech Thee to make me steadfast in Thy love and Thy Cause. O my Lord! Thou seest Thy handmaiden clinging to the cord of Thy bounty and holding fast to the hem of the robe of Thy mercy. I beseech Thee not to disappoint her of that which Thou hast ordained for Thy leaves and Thy handmaidens who circle round Thy most exalted Throne and Thy high and glorious station. Praise be unto Thee under all conditions, O God of the worlds, Goal of the nations, and Beloved of the hearts of them that know Thee!

BH04946: Praise be to God Who hath, through His sovereignty…

He is the Expositor, the Compassionate, the All-Bountiful!

Praise be to God Who hath, through His sovereignty, revealed that which is hidden in the breasts and the treachery of the eyes, even as He revealed in the Qur’an to the son of Luqman:

“O my son! verily, if there be but the weight of a mustard-seed, and it be in a rock, or in the heavens, or in the earth, God will bring it forth.”

Wondrous is this Day! Both the hidden treasures of truth and mystical knowledge are made manifest, and that which lay concealed in the breasts of the ungodly hath become clear and evident. From the rocks of hearts hath appeared that which causeth the dwellers of the highest Paradise and the most exalted Heaven to weep and lament.

O Muhammad-Quli! Upon thee be the everlasting glory of God! A few days ago, a Most Sublime Tablet was revealed from the Most Exalted Pen in thy name and that of the loved ones, and its bearer was Jinab-i-Dahaji. God willing, they will drink from the hidden oceans within the revealed verses and hold fast unto the peerless Friend, unlike the former people who each day took a different god, carved an idol, and worshipped it. True unity is to fix one’s gaze upon the horizon of the One Manifestation and to be detached and free from all else. In this most exalted station, thou and the other friends must beseech God for that which preserveth the people of God from diverse paths and ways devoid of light and guidance.

Husayn, upon whom be My glory and loving-kindness, forwarded thy letter through His Holiness the Most Great Branch to the Most Holy and Most Exalted Court, and after it was heard, there was revealed from the heaven of the Will of the Lord of Lords that which exalteth the Word of God and elevateth the stations of His loved ones. Especially for the loved ones of those regions have holy and prevailing verses been sent down from the heaven of the Divine Will, that all may attain to that which beseemeth the Days of God, exalted be His glory.

BH05006: This Day is most great, yet the people are…

In the name of the one true God

This Day is most great, yet the people are deprived of it. Glory be to God! The Luminous Beauty has turned toward the Mount of knowledge, and upon reaching its highest station spoke these words:

“O concourse of humanity! Fear God, the Lord of destiny. He Who was hidden from all eyes and concealed in all hearts has appeared. This is the Day wherein all things and the Concourse on High rejoice at the appearance of Him Who was recorded in the Books and inscribed in the Scriptures and Tablets. O My handmaiden! He Who loved Me has mentioned you, and We make mention of you. Give thanks to your Lord for this most great favor and glorify with praise your Lord, the Manifest, the Speaking, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Verily He sends down His verses and inspires whomsoever He wishes among His servants. He is the All-Bountiful, the All-Generous.”

Praise the Goal of all worlds Who enabled you to turn to Him in days when most women of the earth are veiled and forbidden from Him. Say:

“Praise be to Thee, O Ocean of faithfulness, and glory be to Thee, O Light of earth and heaven! I beseech Thee by the Crimson Scroll and what was revealed therein by Thy Most Exalted Pen to assist Thy handmaiden to remember Thee and praise Thee and to stand firm in Thy Cause. And ordain for her, O Lord of all beings, the best in this world and the next. Verily Thou art the Almighty, the Powerful, and within Thy grasp is the destiny of all who are in the heavens and on earth.”

BH05197: O My handmaiden and My leaf! We have desired…

He is the Hearer, the Answerer

O My handmaiden and My leaf! We have desired to remember thee and console thee regarding what hath befallen thee through the irrevocable decree and ordained destiny from God, the All-Possessing, the Self-Subsisting. Grieve not over what hath befallen thee. Recite what the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Qur’an:

“Every soul shall taste of death. We are God’s and to Him shall we return.”

In the Persian tongue We make mention, that thou mayest comprehend the purpose and attain unto it. Life itself giveth tidings of death, and likewise cultivation announceth ruin. Death, for those who are assured and nigh unto God, is the gate of mercy, for they advance from the limitations of the world to a station which is the dawning-place of joy and sanctified above the comprehension of those who comprehend.

Praise be to God, through the light of faith and the glory of certitude, which are each a wing of moist crimson ruby, he hath ascended unto the Supreme Companion. Well is it with him and with whosoever remembereth him through what hath been revealed for him from My Most Exalted Pen. In truth, this world is the supreme prison for souls that are confident, content and well-pleasing. Say: O my God, my God! Aid this handmaiden of Thine unto that which Thou lovest and art pleased with, then pour forth upon her patience. Verily, Thou art the All-Powerful, the Almighty. Convey greetings from the Wronged One to the handmaidens of that land. Verily, We have mentioned them before and at this time, as a grace from Me, and He is the All-Bountiful, the Generous.

BH05329: O my handmaiden and daughter of my handmaiden!…

In the name of the One God!

O my handmaiden and daughter of my handmaiden! The ocean of divine knowledge has appeared before the faces of religions, and from its waves the blessed word “The All-Merciful has come with power and sovereignty” has been and continues to be heard. The company of men are deprived of the Most Sublime Vision and have turned away from the Lord of Destiny. The vain imaginings of the servants prevented them from the Sovereign [of mankind], and their suppositions deprived them of the sealed wine.

Give praise to the Purpose of the world Who, in this darksome night in the Most Great Prison, made mention of you and caused you to attain that which has been and ever shall be the ultimate desire of devoted women.

If you have attained unto the wine of knowledge that is concealed within this Tablet and have drunk from the Kawthar of recognition of the Beloved of all worlds, then say: O my God, my Adored One, my Worshipped One! Thou art that Sovereign Who with a single command adorned sheer nothingness with the ornament of existence, and with one word assigned the poor ones of the earth to thrones of wealth. O Generous One! Drive not Thy supplicant from the court of Thy glory. Verily the thirsty one seeks the Kawthar of Thy presence, and the dead one the river of life through Thy bounty and favor. O One God! Drive not Thy handmaiden from the Kingdom of nearness. Thou art the Lord of bounty and the Sovereign of the Kingdom of names. There is no God but Thee, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

BH05419: God testifieth that there is none other God but…

He is the All-Witnessing, the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing!

God testifieth that there is none other God but Him, and that He Who hath come from the horizon of power is indeed the Hidden Secret and the Treasured Mystery. Whoso turneth unto Him hath turned unto God, and whoso turneth away is accounted among the transgressors in the Book of God, the Lord of all worlds.

O Husayn-ʿAli! This is the Day whereon the gate of divine generosity hath been opened before all peoples, and the Most Great Name hath spoken before the faces of rulers and divines. To this testifieth every seeing soul. Hearken unto the Call from the Most Glorious Horizon, set aside what the people possess, and take hold of that which hath been sent down in this Revelation from God, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Beware lest the doubts of the nations hinder thee or the oppression of the tyrants frighten thee.

When thou hast attained unto My Tablet and quaffed the choice wine of My revelation from the chalice of My utterance, say: My God, my God! Praise be unto Thee for having guided me unto the Dawning-Place of Thy signs, and glory be unto Thee for having caused me to hear Thy call. I beseech Thee by the lights of Thy Kingdom and the mysteries hidden in Thy knowledge, to aid us to remain steadfast in Thy Cause, the Most Great, the Most Holy […] the Most Exalted. Then open before my face, O my God, the door of [Thy grace], and protect me from the evil of those who have denied Thee and Thy signs, and have rejected that which hath been sent down from the heaven of Thy bounty upon Thy servants. Verily, Thou art powerful to do what Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.

BH05263: Praise be to God Who hath sent down His…

In the Name of Him Who calleth betwixt earth and heaven!

Praise be to God Who hath sent down His verses and manifested His evidences and caused all things to speak forth that there is none other God but Him, the Single, the One, the Powerful, the Almighty. This is the Day wherein the Banner of Revelation hath been raised upon the highest standards, and the Ensign of Guidance hath been hoisted in the most exalted station. Blessed is he who hath cast away vain desire and taken hold of guidance, and woe unto them that turn away.

O thou who gazeth toward the horizon of Revelation! Hear what the Speaker of the Mount uttereth, through Whom the mysteries were revealed and the rivers flowed and the trees gave utterance: The Kingdom and the Dominion belong unto God, the One, the Chosen. We have observed thy turning unto Us and have made mention of thee with that which attracteth the hearts of the righteous. Blessed art thou and blessed is he who hath believed in God, the Lord of all beings. When thou hast attained unto My Tablet and quaffed the choice wine of utterance from the chalice of My words, say:

My God, my God! I beseech Thee by Thy Great Announcement and Thy Manifest Book and by the revelations of the lights of Thy Mighty Name, to make me steadfast in Thy love and speaking forth Thy praise. Thou art verily the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful. O my Lord! Thou seest me turning toward Thy Most Exalted Horizon and turning away from those who have denied the Dawning-Place of Thy Most Beautiful Names. Open before my face the door of Thy mercy. Thou art verily the Powerful, the Mighty, the Chosen One.

BH05262: Praise be to God Who hath sent down…

In His Name, exalted be His glory, the Bestower of gifts and favors!

Praise be to God Who hath sent down the verses and subdued the clear proofs and caused all who are in earth and heaven to speak forth that there is none other God but Him, the Almighty, the Self-Subsisting. This is the Day wherein the Herald hath called out:

“O concourse of the parties! Draw nigh unto the Most Sublime Horizon, clinging to the cord of God, the Mighty, the Extended.”

O ʿAli-Muhammad! We have mentioned thee before and We mention thee at this time with that which will draw thee nigh unto Paradise and attract thee to God, the Goal of them that have recognized Him. Grieve thou not over anything. In all matters place thy trust in God, the Lord of the mighty Throne. We desire for thee that which We have desired for whosoever hath clung to righteousness and hath done that which he was bidden in a perspicuous Book. We desire thy unity with Ha and Sin, and We beseech God that He may thereby open before your faces the gate of His loving-kindness and cause to descend from the clouds of His generosity the rains of His bounty. He, verily, is the Most Generous of the generous ones, and the Most Merciful of the merciful.

We had written thee permission before, but today therein behooveth restraint and stillness until such time as God shall purify the earth and air through His power which hath encompassed all who are in the heavens and on earth. Thy letter hath come before Us. We found from it the fragrance of thy love and thy turning unto God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. The Most Great Branch hath appeared and mentioned thee. We have mentioned thee. This is a bounty whereunto no other bounty can compare, as attesteth He Who speaketh in every state that He is God, there is none other God but Him, the Single, the One, the Mighty, the Great. The glory be upon thee and upon God’s sincere servants.

BH05397: In My Name, the All-Subduing over what was…

In My Name, the All-Subduing over what was and what shall be!

Glorified be God! The Day is the Day of God, and the lights of the Manifestation of Him Who conversed on Sinai have illumined the realm of inner meanings and utterance. Nevertheless, the servants are seen to be heedless, veiled and debarred, for they have turned away from the Truth and circle round falsehood.

Say: O people! The One Goal calleth you from the most exalted horizon, that while time remaineth ye may not deprive and withhold yourselves. Turn with radiant faces toward the horizon from which hath dawned the Day-Star of the favors of the Lord of all beings, and say: My God, my God! Praise be to Thee for having given us to drink, from the hands of Thy bounty, the Kawthar of Thy knowledge, and for having rained down upon us from the clouds of Thy mercy the showers of Thy favors and Thy verses.

I beseech Thee, O Beloved of the world, by Thy Most Great Name, to assist me in Thy remembrance and praise amongst Thy servants. O my Lord! Thou seest me turning toward the lights of Thy countenance and holding fast to the cord of Thy bounty. I beseech Thee not to disappoint me of that which Thou hast ordained for those near unto Thee in Thy most exalted Paradise and Thy most sublime Garden. Verily, Thou art the Omnipotent over what Thou willest.

Then I beseech Thee by Thy generosity which hath encompassed all existence to ordain for me by Thy Most Exalted Pen the good of the hereafter and of this world. Verily Thou art the Almighty, the Glorious, the All-Bountiful.

BH05270: My God, my God! All praise be to Thee…

He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise

My God, my God! All praise be to Thee for having caused me to acknowledge Thy oneness and confess Thy singleness, and to submit to that which Thou hast sent down in Thy Book, whereby Thou didst distinguish between truth and falsehood through Thy command and Thy power. And all thanksgiving be unto Thee, O my Desired One and my Worshipped One, my Hope and my Quest and my Desire, for having given me to drink from the Kawthar of faith from the hand of Thy bounty, and guided me to Thy straight path through Thy grace and generosity. I beseech Thee, O Cleaver of the Dawn and Subduer of the Winds, by Thy Prophets and Thy Messengers and Thy chosen ones and Thy loved ones, whom Thou hast made the emblems of Thy guidance amidst Thy creation and the banners of Thy triumph throughout Thy lands, and by the light that shone forth from the horizon of Hijaz, and whose radiance illuminated both Yathrib and Batha, and all that dwell in the world of creation, to assist Thy servants to remember and praise Thee and to act according to what Thou hast revealed in Thy Book.

My God, my God! Thou seest the weak one seeking the dawning-place of Thy strength and the dayspring of Thy power, the sick one the Kawthar of Thy healing, the weary one the kingdom of Thy utterance, and the poor one the heaven of Thy wealth and bounty. Ordain for him through Thy grace and generosity that which will draw him nigh unto Thee in all conditions, strengthen him to do what is right, and protect him from those who have denied the beginning and the end. Verily Thou art the All-Possessing, the Most High. There is no God but Thee, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.

BH05470: Say: O company of the heedless ones, be fair…

In the Name of the All-Knowing, the All-Wise

Say: O company of the heedless ones, be fair in the Cause of God and His Manifestation. He hath come with verses that no fair-minded person nor any just and discerning one can deny. The ocean of utterance hath been made to surge throughout creation, yet most of the people remain heedless. The Bayan was revealed for My remembrance and praise, yet the wrongdoers persist in obvious delusion. Say: Were it not for the Glory (Baha), who would make manifest the Cause before the faces of all peoples? Fear ye God, and be not among the deniers. All things bear witness to His Manifestation, His sovereignty, His grandeur and His power, were ye of those who deny. Say: Open your eyes—He standeth before your faces and summoneth you unto the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

The heedless one hath said that He hath stolen the verses of the Bayan. By God! At this the verses themselves have wept, yet they hear not. Come ye, come ye before the Face with your thoughts and whatever ye possess, that ye may witness the signs of God, the Lord of what was and what shall be. He hath come with the truth, supported by the hosts of divine revelation and inspiration. Be fair, O people, in the Cause of God, your Lord, the Lord of the unseen and the seen. Can that which was revealed aforetime be compared with His verses? Nay, by God’s very Self, if ye would but perceive it. Thus have We sprinkled from the vessels of proof the sprinklings of utterance, that thou mayest give thanks unto thy Lord, the Wronged One, the Stranger. The Glory from Our presence be upon thee and upon those whom nothing whatsoever hath kept back from the Truth, the Knower of all secrets.

BH05574: In My Name, the One Manifest in the Kingdom…

In My Name, the One Manifest in the Kingdom of Names!

O My handmaiden! We have repeatedly heard thy call. He is the Hearer of every mention by every mentioner and the call of every caller, and likewise He heareth the breath of every soul. He is the All-Seeing—He beholdeth the deeds of all. Bear thou witness to God’s hearing and sight, and that He is the All-Subduing, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. We beseech God that He may aid thee to be sanctified and detached to such a degree that the handmaidens of the earth may turn to the Most Great Ocean through thy goodly deeds and praiseworthy character. Blessed is the soul that hath become lowly before God’s Cause and content and active in carrying out His decree. O My handmaiden!

Lowliness is the cause of elevation and justice is the source of power. Consider the lowliness of dust—from it pure jewels appear, and from the earth the Manifestations of the names of the Lord of Lords become manifest and evident. Out of pure bounty and grace have We turned toward thee on this night and make mention of thee, and We ask for thee that which is befitting. God willing, thou shalt be illumined by the light of the utterance of the Desired One of the worlds to such extent that the tongues of the people of Baha will speak thy praise and bear witness to thy sanctity. We make mention of the handmaidens of that land and ask for each one that which is everlasting and eternal.

BH05964: O daughter of Asdaq, upon thee be the Most…

In the name of God, the Almighty.

O daughter of Asdaq, upon thee be the Most Holy Glory of God. In these days We have made mention of the handmaidens of God in that city and have sought for all that which leadeth to the exaltation of the Cause and the upliftment of the blessed Word. Today the leaves of the Divine Lote-Tree must fix their gaze upon those matters which win divine acceptance. In these days this Wronged One hath been afflicted between the fangs of the serpent and the fire of greed and avarice of those who claim to love. In the great city there occurred that which caused the Pen to lament. Say:

O my God, my God! Thou didst desire for Thy servants that which would exalt them in Thy lands, yet they have wrought that which hath rent asunder the veil of Thy sanctity. I beseech Thee by the lights of Thy countenance and the effulgences of the Orb of Thy Revelation to aid them to return unto Thee. Verily Thou art the Mighty, the Powerful, the All-Bountiful. Convey the greetings of the Wronged One to the handmaidens of that land and gladden and illumine them with the splendors of the light of thy Lord’s loving-kindness. God willing, may all attain everlasting mention and eternal name. The glory shining forth from the horizon of the heaven of thy Lord’s favor be upon thee and upon those with thee and upon My leaves and handmaidens who have believed in the One, the All-Informed.

BH05758: Praise be to Him Who hath sent down…

He is the Speaker before all faces

Praise be to Him Who hath sent down the verses and manifested the clear proofs and caused all things to speak that there is no God but Him, the Truth, the Knower of the unseen.

By Thy might, O Lord of all beings, and by Thy Name through which Thou hast subdued all names and heaven—grievous to me is my remoteness after my nearness to Thee, and my separation after meeting Thee, and my thirst after Thou didst give me to drink from the Kawthar of reunion with Thee. I was attracted and set ablaze by Thy verses before hearing them in Thy presence—how then is my state after meeting Thee! By Thy might, things cannot comprehend my secret and my heart and my essence and what hath befallen me in separation and parting from Thee, else they would wail and weep. I know not, O my God, by what name I should hold fast that it might benefit me, and to what hem I should cling that it might calm the burning of my heart and the thirst of my soul.

Would that my mother had not given birth to me and had not nurtured me! How can separation and parting be easy for this poor one, and how can he be patient in exile after drinking the pure wine of reunion? My God, my God! Thou seest the poor one at the gate of Thy riches, and the remote one before the gate of Thy grace. I beseech Thee by Thy Most Great Name, through which the feet of the nations have slipped, to ordain for me that which will draw me nigh unto Thee in all conditions. Verily Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty, the Unconstrained.

BH05851: Say: O people of the Bayan! Fear ye…

In the name of the All-Knowing, the All-Wise!

Say: O people of the Bayan! Fear ye the All-Merciful, and follow not the dawning-places of idle fancies who have turned away from God, the Lord of all worlds. Beware lest […] the people from God, the Mighty, the Praised. Present yourselves before the Wronged One, that ye may hear what descendeth from the heaven of the Will of God, the Powerful, the Almighty. It behooveth you to be present and to behold that which hath shone forth and appeared from the horizon of God’s Will, the Goal of them that have known Him. O people of the Bayan! This is He round Whom circled the Point of the First and with Him the Concourse on High. Fear ye the Lord of all beings, and be not of the transgressors.

Say: Come with your cords and your staves. Verily He hath appeared with the truth with such sovereignty as no hosts of the heavens and earth can withstand. Say: The ocean is before your faces—whither do ye flee? And the Goal is above your heads—whither do ye wander? Be fair in your judgment concerning that which hath appeared with the truth, and be not of them who hear and deny. Verily the ocean speaketh and the heaven proclaimeth, yet ye perceive not. Rend ye the veils in the name of your Lord, the Lord of all men, then behold what hath appeared from this visible horizon. Thus hath the Tongue of Grandeur spoken in His Most Great Prison, and hath mentioned thee with that which no treasures or riches can equal. The glory from Us be upon thee and upon whoso hath heard the call of God, the Lord of existence.

BH05954: To be typed

To be typed.

BH06036: In this day the rustling of the Divine Lote…

He is the All-Remembering, the All-Knowing.

In this day the rustling of the Divine Lote Tree is raised high, giving glad tidings to the people of earth and summoning them to the horizon of the Manifestation, the One Who conversed on Sinai. Blessed is the soul that has attained to hearing it and has become detached and free from all else.

O my Leaf! Upon thee be My glory and My loving-kindness. We beseech God to assist thee in that which is worthy of His days.

Say: Praise be to Thee, O my God, for having remembered me in Thy Most Great Prison when I was in the hands of the heedless. O my Lord! I am Thy handmaiden and the daughter of Thy handmaiden. I beseech Thee by the Mother Book and what lies hidden therein by Thy command and will, and by the Tablets stored within it by Thy decree and permission, to preserve me from the doubts of the deniers and the insinuations of the heedless. O my Lord! Open before my face the doors of Thy generosity and bounty, then send down upon me from the clouds of Thy mercy the rains of Thy utterance. Verily Thou art the One with power over whatsoever Thou willest, and in Thy grasp are the reins of the affairs of the first and the last.

The Glory from Us be upon thee and upon My handmaidens there who have believed in God, the Single, the All-Informed.

BH06151: In My Name, the Speaker in the Kingdom…

In My Name, the Speaker in the Kingdom of Utterance

A remembrance from Us unto him who hath believed in the One, the All-Informed, and hath turned towards the Heart of the world and acknowledged that which the Tongue of Grandeur hath spoken—the Kingdom is God’s, the Lord of the mighty Throne. Verily, Baha doth make mention of thee at a time when His heart hath grieved and the moaning of His innermost being hath been raised up by reason of that which the hands of the oppressors have wrought.

Verily the crier hath cried out and the oppressor hath risen in tyranny—to this doth My Most Exalted Pen bear witness. It informeth you of that which hath befallen the Ancient Beauty from the hosts of the ungodly who outwardly and inwardly circle round about Him—the knowledge whereof is with God, the Lord of the exalted Throne. By God’s life! The Book lamenteth and the Most Exalted Pen weepeth and saith: “O people! Fear ye God and deny not Him Who hath come from the heaven of bounty with a sovereignty that hath subdued all who are in the heavens and on earth.” When thou hearest the call, turn and say: “Unto Thee be glory, O Lord of all men, for having remembered me in the prison of ʿAkka when Thou wert in the hands of those who cast behind their backs Thy Covenant and Testament and denied Thy signs which have encompassed all existence, of those of old and of latter times.” Glory be upon thee and upon everyone who is steadfast and firm.

BH06355: O thou who gazest upon the Countenance! Upon thee…

O thou who gazest upon the Countenance! Upon thee be My peace and My glory! If in that land the means of livelihood become available, it would be most excellent. We beseech God that He may assist thee and cause suitable means to appear. The eye of God is watchful and the knowledge of God encompasses all. We beseech Him to deliver thee through His mighty arm and to open before thy face the door of success on this morn wherein all things proclaim: “The Kingdom belongeth to God, the Lord of all the worlds!”

Siyyid ʿAli, upon whom be My peace, arrived and mentioned the Afnan, upon whom be the loving-kindness and mercy of God. His mention brought joy and gladness. In these days of sorrow, the unseemly deeds of the servants have clouded the world of justice and fairness. In truth, the actions in that land have been and continue to be without parallel, for manifest favors were bestowed upon it and all are witnesses thereto. Nevertheless, day and night they consort and are intimate with the enemy of God, engaged in schemes and craftiness. The other degrees of wickedness of these souls are evident and manifest to that honored one. We beseech God to protect His loved ones from their evil. Verily He is the Almighty, the Powerful.

BH06856: O Ghulam-i-Qabil-Rida! Upon thee be the Glory of God…

In the name of the All-Knowing One.

O Ghulam-i-Qabil-Rida! Upon thee be the Glory of God, the Lord of Names. Thy mention hath been made in the presence of the Wronged One, and the Supreme Pen at this hour calleth out to thee from the precincts of the Prison. Thou hast borne in the path of God that which the Tongue of Grandeur hath testified to in this exalted station. We beseech God to assist thee in all conditions and draw thee nigh unto Him. Verily, He is the Self-Sufficient, the Most High. When thou dost inhale the fragrance of the Tablet and attain to what hath been revealed therein, say:

“My God, my God! Praise be unto Thee for having guided me and caused me to attain unto Thy days and enabled me to turn toward Thee when most of Thy creatures turned away from Thee. I beseech Thee by the House wherein Thy call was raised, and by the Book which Thou didst send down from the heaven of Thy Will for the protection of Thy servants and the guidance of Thy creation, to ordain for Thy loved ones that which beseemeth Thy generosity and bounty. Verily, Thou art the Hearer, the Answerer. Then write down for my son from Thy Supreme Pen the good of the hereafter and of this world. Verily, Thou art the Lord of all creation. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.”

BH06508: The reality and essence of praise and thanksgiving befit…

The reality and essence of praise and thanksgiving befit the Most Glorious and Most Holy Court of the Beloved One, Who hath not deprived His loved ones of His eternal bounties and everlasting gifts. He bestowed a heart that it might turn to His horizon, and granted a countenance that it might direct itself toward His direction. He vouchsafed a tongue that it might mention His praise, and gave the gift of hearing that it might hearken unto the Call which is raised betwixt earth and heaven in this Day. He bestowed sight that it might be adorned with the vision of His signs.

His power is visible in all things, and His grace pervadeth and existeth in all. Through a single word from His sublime utterances the kingdom of utterance appeared and was adorned, and through a single will infinite worlds were manifested. Exalted be His grandeur, elevated be His power, and all-encompassing be His dominion! Glory be unto Him! Glory be unto Him! Exalted be His majesty and universal be His bounty! He hath made each of His loved ones an ocean of life, caused it to flow from the channel of the tongue, and bestowed it upon all the peoples of the world, that they might attain unto everlasting life and eternal existence….

BH06506: O Hasan, upon thee be the peace and loving-kindness…

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

O Hasan, upon thee be the peace and loving-kindness of God. We testify that thou hast heard and turned thyself, and hast attained unto that which was hidden in knowledge and treasured in the hearts of them that are nigh unto God. Say: Glory be to Thee, O my God! I beseech Thee by Thy Name, the All-Subduing above all names. Glory be to Thee, O my God! I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which necks were humbled. Glory be to Thee, O my God! I beseech Thee by the penetrating power of Thy will and purpose, to ordain for me that which shall cause me in all conditions to cling fast unto Thee and hold to the hem of Thy bounty and generosity.

O my Lord! Thou seest me turning unto Thee, detached from all else save Thee, acknowledging Thy oneness and assured of that which Thou hast sent down in Thy Book. I beseech Thee to make me one of those whom nothing whatsoever hath deterred from turning to the light of Thy countenance and drawing nigh unto the horizon of Thy grace. O my Lord! Aid me in that which shall cause the fragrances of Thy acceptance and good-pleasure to be diffused. Then ordain for me the good of every world of Thy worlds. Verily Thou art the All-Bountiful, the Generous. There is no God but Thee, the Forgiving, the Merciful.

BH06569: O my God! I beseech Thee by Thy Name…

He is the One Who hath dawned from the horizon of the heaven of divine proof….

O my God! I beseech Thee by Thy Name, the All-Knowing, and glory be unto Thee, O my God! I beseech Thee by Thy Name, the Most Bountiful, and by Thy Most Great Name, through which Thou hast subdued the nations, to ordain for me that which Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen ones, Thy trusted ones, and Thy loved ones. O my God! Thou art He Who hath guided me through Thy bounty and aided me through Thy grace, until I departed from my home, seeking the ultimate goal and the supreme summit—the Station wherein was raised the screech of Thy Most Exalted Pen and the rustling of the Sadratu’l-Muntaha—until I attained Thy presence and heard and beheld that which was inscribed in Thy Book, recorded in Thy Scrolls, and treasured within the hearts of Thy Prophets. O my Lord! Ordain for me that which shall preserve me from all else save Thee, and strengthen me to make mention of Thee amongst Thy creation and to praise Thee amidst Thy servants. Verily, Thou art the Omnipotent Whom the affairs of the world cannot frustrate, and Thou art, in truth, the All-Bountiful, the Mighty, the Great.

BH06845: O ʿAbdu’l-Karim! Upon thee be the peace of God…

He is the Giver, the Beneficent, the Mighty, the Bestower

O ʿAbdu’l-Karim! Upon thee be the peace of God, the Lord of the mighty throne. Give thanks unto God, the Lord of all worlds and the Manifestation of His evident Cause, Who hath sent down from the heaven of His bounty His servant Fakhru’d-Din. Say: Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having illumined me with the light of unity and guided me through Thy grace and bounty to Thy straight path. O Lord! I am Thy servant and the son of Thy servant, circling round Thy will and gazing upon Thy signs which have encompassed the horizons through Thy power and sovereignty. I thank Thee, O my God, and praise Thee, O my Heart’s Desire, for this new bounty which Thou hast sent down from the heaven of Thy grace and revealed through Thy generosity and bounty, and which Thou hast named Fakhru’d-Din in Thy perspicuous Book. I beseech Thee, O Thou Who precedeth all bounties and Who showeth mercy unto all peoples, by Thy Most Great Name, to make the footsteps of this newborn blessed and a blessing from Thee. Verily, Thou art the All-Bountiful, the Effulgent, the Mighty, the Bestower.

And We make mention of My handmaiden and give her the glad-tidings of the mercy of God, the Lord of all worlds. Say: Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having guided me to Thy path and granted me a bounty through Thy grace and generosity. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the Exalted, the All-Bountiful.

BH06787: Art thou able in this Day to detach thyself…

He is the Speaker, the Hearer, the All-Knowing!

Art thou able in this Day to detach thyself from what the people possess, turning with thy face toward God, the Self-Subsisting, the Guardian? And art thou able to abandon vain imaginings, directing thyself to the horizon of certitude in this Day wherein the Caller proclaimeth: “The Kingdom and Dominion belong to God, the Possessor of all existence”?

Say: No, by Thy glory, except through Thy might and power and Thy confirmation and bounty! O my Lord! Thou seest the weak one hastening toward the horizon of Thy power. I beseech Thee by Thy strength which hath encompassed all created things, to make me steadfast in the service of Thy Cause and acting according to what Thou hast commanded me in Thy Scriptures and Tablets.

O my Lord! I am Thy servant and the son of Thy servant. Thou seest me taking refuge at Thy threshold and assured of Thy forgiveness and bounty. I beseech Thee to make me among those who have fulfilled Thy Covenant and Thy Testament, and for whom Thou hast ordained the best of all Thy worlds.

There is no God but Thee, the Possessor of existence and the Guardian over all who are in the heavens and earths. There is no God but Thee, the Mighty, the Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

BH06610: God testifieth that there is none other God but…

He is the Speaker from the Most Exalted Summit

God testifieth that there is none other God but Him. His are the Command and Creation. He giveth life and causeth death, and He is the Ever-Living Who dieth not. Within His grasp lieth the Kingdom of Command and Creation, and in His right hand the reins of all created things. Nothing moveth save by His command. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth. He is the Single One, the One, the Mighty, the All-Praised.

The ornaments of the world have occupied the peoples and kept them back from the recognition of God, exalted be His glory. By ornaments is meant at times the love of the world, and at other times its trappings and adornments, and in one station all that preventeth men from drawing nigh unto God. However, in the highest degree and the first station, it is the divines of Persia who have prevented the hapless souls from the Truth. These are the veils and barriers. Beseech God that He may adorn them with the ornament of justice and fairness, that all may attain unto that which is the cause of salvation. Say: Today the gate of grace is opened wide—strive ye that ye may not remain deprived. Verily your Lord, the All-Merciful, is the Forgiving, the Compassionate.

BH06753: What is the meaning of the Book and what…

He is the One Who ruleth over all names!

What is the meaning of the Book and what is intended thereby? In one sense, all things are Books, speaking forth the Most Great Name. Consider what the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Qur’an: “We have recorded all things in a Book.” And in each one is inscribed by the Divine Pen this most exalted Word: “The King hath come! The Kingdom is God’s, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting!” And in another sense what is meant by the Book are the Sacred Scriptures which are sent down from the heaven of the Purpose of the worlds’ Creator. Their purpose hath been and still is the guidance of mankind. Whatsoever is the cause of preservation of the servants and the exaltation of their stations is recorded in the Books. Blessed are they that understand and that act accordingly!

However, today the Most Great Book is made manifest. He is the Mother Book and the Mother of Utterance. In each of its letters an ocean of meanings lies concealed. Blessed is he who hath attained and drunk therefrom, and woe unto the heedless! Blessed art thou, inasmuch as the Mother Book hath made mention of thee while seated upon the throne of His Name, the Most Generous. Be grateful and say:

“Praise be unto Thee, O Thou Who art the Goal of all who are in the heavens and on earth!”

BH06817: O My loved ones and My friends! The Sun…

He is God, exalted be His glory in wisdom and utterance!

O My loved ones and My friends! The Sun of Justice hath dawned, inasmuch as the Praiseworthy One, aided by God, hath been established upon the throne of equity. Through his justice the fragrances of tranquility have wafted over all who dwell within the realm of possibility. We bear witness that he hath confined affairs to such means as bring rest to the people and the citizenry. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, by Him through Whom mysteries were revealed and fruits brought forth, and through Whom the light of unity shone forth amongst the servants, to preserve His Majesty the Sultan from the evil of enemies. Verily, He is the Almighty, the All-Hearing, the Answerer.

O Abbas! My Branch Diya hath at this moment come into Our presence and made mention of thee. We have therefore remembered thee in this Perspicuous Tablet. We beseech God to guard thee with His hosts and to rain down upon thee from the clouds of His mercy the showers of His bounty. Verily, He hath power over all things.

And We make mention of the loved ones there who have cast behind them the Shi’ite faction, holding fast to that which God loveth and is pleased with. Verily, He heareth and answereth, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. Peace be upon thee and upon those whose hearts God hath illumined with the light of His unity and caused them to hold fast to the cord of His grace that hath encompassed all who are in the heavens and on earth.

BH07333: O my handmaiden! The Mother Book called all…

He is the Manifest, the Speaker, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise

O my handmaiden! The Mother Book called all with a mighty voice on the Day of Return to the divine horizon of manifestation, and the light of the Cause shone forth like the sun from the horizon of the heaven of will. Yet the tales of old and the doubts and allusions of the divines have deprived all. Blessed art thou, O my handmaiden, for having shattered the idols in My Name. Verily, He is with thee, hearing and seeing, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. That which hath appeared from the treasury of love in praise of God hath attained the ear of acceptance. Give thanks unto thy Lord for this bounty. Men and heroes were deprived, while thou didst attain. This glory sufficeth thee. Say: Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having remembered me, illumined my heart, and accepted that which flowed from the treasury of my remembrance. Verily, Thou art the Compassionate, the Generous. The glory from Us be upon thee and upon My handmaidens there who have drunk the choice wine of revelation in My Name, the Mighty, the Wondrous.

BH07427: O Nazir! Upon you be the peace of God…

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

O Nazir! Upon you be the peace of God and His favors! Your letter attained the presence and as it indicated the great divine bounty and the most great heavenly sustenance, which is the health of being, it brought joy and gladness. However, no opportunity arose to send replies to some of the petitions. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to assist His servants in what He loves and is pleased with.

And regarding what you mentioned about staying in Egypt, it is best and most fitting that you hold fast to and act according to what was previously ordained, which is to stay in Port Said. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to assist you and to open before your face the door of His grace. Verily, He is powerful over all things.

Convey greetings from the Wronged One to Mirza Habibullah, upon him be God’s peace, and likewise to the handmaiden of God. Peace be upon you and upon God’s righteous servants.

BH07418: O Muhammad-Quli! I bear witness unto…

He is the One manifest above all things!

O Muhammad-Quli! I bear witness unto that which the Wronged One hath testified: that there is none other God but Him, the Single, the All-Informed. Then I bear witness unto that which My Herald—upon Him be the kingdom of My glory—hath testified: “Verily, I am the first of them that worship.”

Then know thou that what thou didst send in these days hath attained, and We have worn it as a token of Our favor and accepted it as a mercy from Our presence. Say: Glory be unto Thee, O my God! Praise be unto Thee for having remembered me and adorned what I sent through contact with Thy mighty and luminous Temple. I beseech Thee by the waves of the ocean of Thy bounty and the mysteries of Thy Books and Tablets to assist me to perform such deeds as shall diffuse the fragrance of Thy good-pleasure. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

For several days We have worn thy cloak and gone forth, that is, from Our residence to the countryside, and have made mention of the friends with such mention as hath raised high the pavilions of glory and the tabernacle of grace, and hath caused the banner of revelation to be unfurled upon the Mount, whereupon the Tree did proclaim: “The Kingdom belongeth unto God, the Lord of all worlds!”

BH07436: O Leaf! Upon thee be the Glory of God…

He is the Answerer from the precincts of the Most Great Prison

O Leaf! Upon thee be the Glory of God and His grace and His mercy and His bounty. Thou wert mentioned before the Wronged One. Praise be to God that He confirmed thee and granted thee success. My Most Exalted Pen testifieth that thou hast attained unto the companion of the love of God, the Lord of the Mighty Throne, and hast taken from the hand of bounty the Kawthar of divine knowledge and drunk thereof in His Name, the Mighty, the Wondrous. We beseech God that He may confirm His Honor Afnan who arose to serve the Cause in the early days through the means of heaven and earth, that He may assist thee in what thou hast desired in the path of God, the Lord of the worlds. Be not grieved. His grace hath encompassed the Afnans of the Divine Lote-Tree, and its leaves have been and are beneath the glance of His favor. Say: Praise be to Thee for having adorned me with the ornament of Thy love and illumined my heart with the light of Thy knowledge. I beseech Thee to ordain for me what Thou hast ordained for Thy handmaidens and leaves who circle round Thy throne by night and day. Verily Thou art the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

BH07215: Say: My God, my God! Praise be to Thee…

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

Say: My God, my God! Praise be to Thee for having illumined my heart with the light of Thy knowledge, and thanksgiving be unto Thee for having guided me to Thy path, and glory be unto Thee for having given me to drink, from the hand of Thy bounty, from the Kawthar of Thy love. O Lord! I am Thy servant and the son of Thy servant. I have turned to Thee, detached from all else but Thee. I beseech Thee by the waves of the ocean of Thy mercy and the signs of Thy greatness, and by those who, at Thy bidding, advanced to the seat of sacrifice in Thy path, to open before the faces of Thy sincere loved ones the gates of Thy grace, Thy forgiveness and Thy bounty.

O Lord! Aid me to serve Thee and to champion Thy Cause through wisdom and utterance. Verily Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful. And blessings and peace be upon the Hands of Thy Cause, the pathways of Thy guidance, the oceans of Thy knowledge, and the suns of Thy gifts and favors. I beseech Thee to ordain for them that which will gladden their hearts and tranquilize their souls. Verily Thou art the One with power over whatsoever Thou willest. There is no God but Thee, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.

BH06998: This is a letter from this Wronged One…

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

This is a letter from this Wronged One to one of the friends of God, exalted be His glory. He beareth witness unto that which the Wronged One hath witnessed, that there is none other God but Him, the Single, the One, the Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Thy letter was received and attained the honor of being seen and heard. Praise be to God, the fragrance of confession to the word of unity was wafted therefrom. Today it behooveth all to beseech God, exalted be His glory, to protect the community of the merciful and to guard those who believe in His unity, through the hosts of the seen and the unseen, from the evil of the ungodly. He is the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Seeing, the All-Knowing. The cause of weakness among the people of unity hath been discord. Now all must hold fast to the cord of unity and concord, that perchance the hidden glory may be made manifest and weakness be transformed into strength.

O my God! O my God! Illumine the hearts of Thy servants with the light of Thy knowledge, then preserve them from the wolves of the earth through Thy command and will. Through Thy Name the banner “There is none other God but Him” hath been raised aloft. The powers of the world cannot weaken Thee, nor can the might of the nations frighten Thee. Thou doest what Thou willest and ordainest what Thou pleasest. Verily, Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty.

BH07214: Say: O my God, my God! I am Thy…

He is the Dawning from the horizon of the heaven of proof!

Say: O my God, my God! I am Thy servant and the son of Thy servant. I acknowledge Thy power and Thy might, Thy grandeur and Thy sovereignty. I testify that Thou didst create me for the recognition of the Dayspring of Thy Revelation and the Dawning-place of Thy signs and the Manifestation of Thy Self, and Thou hast revealed unto Thy servants that which draweth them nigh unto the court of Thy glory, and taught them the oneness of Thy Being and Thy sanctification from all peers and likenesses, and made them to know Thy straight path and Thy firm and mighty command.

I beseech Thee, O God of existence and King of the seen and unseen, by Thy Name which Thou hast made the sovereign of all names and ruler over all who are in earth and heaven, and by the revelations of the lights of the Sun of Thy bounty, that Thou wilt aid me in all conditions to be steadfast in Thy Cause and submissive before the manifestations of Thy sovereignty.

O Lord! Thou seest the poor one clinging to the cord of Thy generosity and the needy holding fast to the hem of the robe of Thy favor. I beseech Thee not to disappoint him from that which shall profit him in every world of Thy worlds. Thou art, verily, the All-Powerful over what Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous.

BH07232: The Most Great Book, throughout nights and days, summons…

He is the All-Witnessing, the All-Informed

The Most Great Book, throughout nights and days, summons the peoples to the supreme horizon and loftiest heights, yet none are found to hear and no seeker exists. The intoxication of worldly ornaments has seized the servants and deprived them of eternal and everlasting blessings. Blessed is the soul whom veils have not prevented from drawing nigh and have not held back from turning towards God.

O people of God! Hold fast to the sure handle and cling to the hem of the mercy of the Ancient Lord. Soon shall the manifestations, appearances, wealth and riches of the world return to nothingness. By God’s life! This Wronged One has had and has no purpose save the extinguishing of the fire of hatred and animosity. To this bear witness the Manifestations of God’s attributes and the Daysprings of His firm and evident Command. When thou receivest My Tablet, give thanks unto God thy Lord, for He hath remembered thee in His mighty prison. Glory be upon thee and upon those who have not violated God’s Covenant and Testament and who have acted according to that which they were commanded in His evident Book.

BH07408: O Pen! The irrevocable Command hath come…

In the Name of God, the Speaker, the All-Knowing

O Pen! The irrevocable Command hath come from the presence of the Ancient Lord. Write upon the Tablet that which hath been ordained by God, the Lord of the mighty Throne. Know thou with certitude that through this Tablet We have desired to make mention of one of Our Afnans who hath circumambulated the Spot round which circle the Concourse on High, and hath attained unto that which was inscribed by the Pen of Destiny upon the Crimson Scroll from God, the Lord of all men. Say:

Glory be unto Thee, O my God! I beseech Thee by Thy Most Great Name, and by the breaths of Thy Revelation amidst the nations, and by Thy hidden mysteries within Thy knowledge, and by Thy manifest signs before the faces of Thy creation, to aid me to serve Thy Cause in such wise that the doubts of the heedless and the gestures of the clamorous may not prevent me from turning toward the horizon of Thy Manifestation and drawing nigh unto the court of Thy glory. O my Lord! Assist me to detach myself from all else save Thee and to hold fast unto the cord of Thy Cause. Verily Thou art powerful to do what Thou willest. There is no God but Thee, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.

The glory shining forth from the horizon of My will be upon thee and upon those with thee and upon God’s sincere servants.

BH07923: O thou who hast attained the presence! At this…

O thou who hast attained the presence! At this moment the Greater Branch arrived and read thy letter before Us. We perceived from it the fragrances of thy love. We beseech God to exalt thee through His Name and draw thee nigh unto Him in all conditions, and to send down upon thee from the heaven of His bounty that which beseemeth His might and His grandeur. Verily, He is the Powerful, the Almighty. Thou hast ever been remembered in the Most Holy Court. Arise to serve for the sake of God, but with wisdom and utterance, that the loved ones may be adorned with the ornament of detachment and piety, and be sanctified from unseemly conduct. Convey to all the greetings of the Wronged One. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to exalt through them His Cause among His servants. And We send Our greetings to My handmaiden and My leaf, and give her the glad-tidings of God’s loving-kindness, the Lord of all worlds. The glory of God be upon thee and upon her and upon thy son, from God, the Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

BH07894: O Ismail! The All-Glorious hath turned toward thee…

He is the One by Whom all things were attracted

O Ismail! The All-Glorious hath turned toward thee from this Prison and mentioned thee in such wise as to set ablaze the hearts of them that are near unto God. The verses have been sent down and the clear tokens have appeared, yet the people remain in evident veiling. Grieve thou not over anything, but put thy trust in God, the Almighty, the All-Powerful. Verily He will assist His loved ones and aid them through hosts of angels brought nigh. The servant in attendance hath presented thy letter before the Face. We have answered thee through this clear Book. When thou attainest unto the Tablet of God and its traces, say:

“My God, my God! Praise be unto Thee for having illumined my heart with the light of Thy knowledge and for having sent down unto me that which shall cause my remembrance to endure in Thy Book. I beseech Thee by the breath whereby Thou didst quicken the hearts of them that have known Thee, to make me steadfast in Thy remembrance and praise, and to cause me to hold fast unto Thee and unto Thy verses in all conditions. Verily Thou art the All-Sufficient, the Most Exalted. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Compelling, the Mighty, the Most Bountiful.”

BH07656: Glorified art Thou, O my God! I beseech Thee…

He is the Compassionate, the All-Bountiful.

Glorified art Thou, O my God! I beseech Thee by the light of Thy knowledge whereby the hearts of Thy servants were illumined, and by Thy Call whereby the realities of meaning and utterance in all creation were attracted, and by the manifestation of Thy Most Great Name whereby the horizons of the cities of justice and fairness were illumined, to make me in all conditions to hold fast to the cord of Thy bounty and to abide beneath the shade of the pavilions of Thy grandeur. Verily Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. Thou givest and Thou withholdest. Verily Thou art the Most Great, the Most Ancient, the Most Bountiful, the Mighty, the Supreme.

Ordain for me, O my Best-Beloved, the reward of attaining Thy presence and meeting with Thee. Thou seest and knowest that I have arisen among Thy servants to serve Thy Cause and to unite the hearts of Thy creation. Assist me, O my God, and enable me, O my Best-Beloved, to mention Thee and praise Thee and to do that which Thou lovest and art pleased with. Verily Thou art the Lord of the throne on high and of earth below. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful.

BH07933: O Jalal, upon thee be the Glory of God…

He is God, exalted is He in might and power

O Jalal, upon thee be the Glory of God, the Self-Sufficient, the Most High! Praise be to God! The will of God, exalted be His glory, hath been made manifest, and the forces of heaven and earth have aided, that the path of attainment and meeting might become clear and evident. The seekers have attained to the ocean of the grace of the Desired One, have drunk from the cup of reunion, and have reached the station of nearness and meeting. His bountiful hand took hold of them and guided them, and the burning fire of separation was quenched by the Kawthar of reunion.

He is the Powerful One Whom neither the authority of princes nor the clamor of the ignorant could hold back from His purpose. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth, and He is the Mighty, the Praised One.

We beseech God to assist thee and confirm thee and to open before thy face the doors of blessings. Verily He is the Revealer of verses and the Manifester of clear proofs. There is no God but Him, the Lord of earth and heaven.

BH07472: My God, my God! The Wronged One beareth witness…

He is the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous!

My God, my God! The Wronged One beareth witness to Thy unity and oneness, and to that which Thy Most Exalted Pen hath sent down in Thy Books and Tablets. Thou seest, O my God, how Thy Afnan have turned toward Thee from all regions, desiring naught save to attain Thy presence and good-pleasure. I beseech Thee by the ocean of Thy verses and the breezes of Thy Revelation, and by the Most Great Name whereby Thou hast subdued the world, to aid them to stand firm in Thy Cause, and to open before their faces the doors of Thy grace, Thy blessing and Thy bounty. Verily, Thou art the Single, the One, the All-Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. O Lord! Ordain for Thy Leaves that which will exalt them through Thy name amongst Thy handmaidens. Then write down for them the reward of attaining Thy presence and standing before Thy face. Then write down for the Leaf whom Thou hast named Tuba in the Crimson Book that which will preserve her through Thy bounty and Thy hosts, and will guard her through Thy grace and loving-kindness, and through the hosts of the seen and the unseen. Verily, Thou art the Lord of creation. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Powerful, the All-Forgiving, the Most Generous.