Volume 093: Akka 1307 A.H. (1889–1890), Part I (2 of 3)
BH00609: Praise be to God Who hath revealed Himself through…
He is the One Who hath appeared in the Kingdom of Proof in the midst of creation!
Praise be to God Who hath revealed Himself through His Most Great Name unto the world, whereupon the Books were made manifest, the Scrolls were expounded, the Psalms came forth, the Tablets were revealed, and the Mother Book spoke forth at the final goal above the heads of the factions. By God the Truth! The Dawning-Place of God’s Cause, your Lord, the Mighty, the Bestower, hath come. Light and revelation and glory be upon the faithful ones whom neither the former tales nor the latter have prevented, who have turned with radiant faces unto the divine traces and have heard with their own ears the verses of God, the Supreme, the Chosen One.
O friends of God in Kaf and Ra! Hearken unto the call of God from the precincts of the Prison. He verily guideth you unto His Most Straight Path and His Most Great Announcement, whereby the limbs of the nations have quaked—those who changed God’s bounty into disbelief and led their people to the abode of perdition. Leave the opposers behind you, then turn towards the horizon whence hath shone the Sun of Utterance from God, the Powerful, the Mighty, the Bountiful.
Say: O concourse of the opposers! Come with your ropes and your staves. By the life of God! Ye have no escape nor any place of refuge. Fear ye God and follow not every sinful denier who hath taken vain imaginings as lords besides God and hath committed that which hath caused the Supreme Paradise, the Most Exalted Garden, and this Pen whereby God hath subdued the hearts of His servants to lament. Hear ye the call of the Wronged One, then judge with fairness in this Cause which, when it dawned from the horizon of utterance, caused the Proof to cry out, “Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having manifested me through Thy Most Exalted Pen,” and the Evidence to say, “Thanks be unto Thee, O Lord of Names, for having granted me victory in Thy days.” Woe unto him who hath denied Thy Cause and hath not attained unto the glory of Thy acceptance when the standards of Thy manifestation were unfurled. I beseech Thee to aid Thy servants to hold fast unto Thy cord and to be detached from all else besides Thee. Verily Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.
O Ali-Qabl-i-Askar! The supplication hath attained the presence of the All-Bountiful, through Whom the banner of Reality was raised and the standard of metaphor was lowered on this Day wherein they that are nigh unto God have soared in the atmosphere of the love of their Lord, the Lord of the Final End. We have mentioned thee and have revealed for thee that which attracteth the hearts and brighteneth the eyes. Soon shall that which thou seest today be changed, and there shall remain for thee what hath been inscribed by My Pen in this Tablet, before which all other tablets have bowed down in submission when it appeared. Beware lest the doubts of the suspicious ones or the oppression of the wrongdoers prevent thee from turning unto the Dawning-Place of verses. Cast aside what the people possess, by My Self-Subsisting Name, and take hold of this Book through which the fragrance of grace and favors hath been wafted.
In the Persian tongue, hearken unto the call of the Wronged One. Today the Sun of Truth is manifest, visible, dawning and shining before all faces, yet the people are heedless thereof and are attracted, oriented and clinging to vain imaginings and idle fancies. By the life of God! That which had never appeared in creation hath been made manifest, and at its appearance the Dawning-Places of knowledge and wisdom have bowed down in submission. To this testifieth every tongue that doubts have not held back from mention and utterance. Say: O people! Fear God, then return unto His traces. They verily guide you unto His path and make you independent of all else besides Him. He verily needeth not the mention of any other to prove His Cause. To this bear witness the Concourse on High and the dwellers of the Most Exalted Paradise, were ye of them that hear.
Today the people of Baha are souls whom tales have not debarred from the holy Kingdom of God. They behold His signs with their own eyes and hearken with their own ears unto His verses. Strive ye, that perchance ye may achieve some deed and be adorned with the ornament of acceptance and the light of His good-pleasure. His honor Niyaz, upon him be My glory and loving-kindness, hath verily chosen for himself a station beneath the shade of My mercy, and at all times hath been blessed with remembrance, praise and attainment unto His presence. We beseech God that through him His verses may be spread among His servants there. Verily, He is powerful over all things.
The servant in attendance before My face hath made mention of you on your behalf, and this Most Holy, Most Exalted Tablet hath been revealed from the heaven of Will especially for you, that you may give thanks unto your Lord, the Compassionate, the All-Bountiful. Convey My greetings to the loved ones in that land and say: This is the Day which He had aforetime announced and foretold, and His Cause hath been recorded by the Pen of Grace in the divine Books. This is the Day of this blessed verse wherein He hath said: “Say: God; then leave them to entertain themselves with their cavilings.” And it is the Day of another verse wherein all must arise before God’s Kaaba and utter these words: “I have abandoned a people who believe not in God and who are disbelievers in the Hereafter.”
Apart from what hath been mentioned, none hath attained or shall attain unto true knowledge. Had the Shiite faction turned even slightly toward the Dayspring of Revelation with their sight and hearing, they would surely have attained unto that for which they were created to know. Glory be to God! Him Whose presence they sought by night and day and Whose remembrance they uttered, they now curse and revile from their pulpits. Such is the recompense of their deeds, manifested from the true, overwhelming Justice.
A certain person in those regions from among the Sunnis claimed to be the Qa’im, and now nearly a hundred thousand souls have accepted him, while the people of Iran attained unto the true Qa’im and martyred Him. Thus hath God made the lowest among the servants highest, and the highest lowest. Verily, He is the Almighty, the Powerful. At this moment a book from someone is present before My face wherein he hath mentioned the Afnan in unseemly terms. Say: God hath made his seclusion in this place his glory, and he would not exchange this glory for the glory of all the worlds. Say: Know with certain knowledge that their pride is not in commerce and amassing of wealth and that wherewith people occupy themselves, but rather in propagating this Most Great Announcement and this Manifest Cause. We beseech God to guide the speaker to recant. Verily, He is the Ever-Forgiving, the Merciful.
O Ali-Qabl-i-Askar! Say: O my God, my God, my Lord, my Support, my Goal and my Beloved! Praise and thanksgiving be unto Thee, and glory and radiance be upon Thee, inasmuch as Thou hast made Thyself known unto me, revealed unto me Thy path, and shown me from among Thy signs the waves of the ocean of Thy utterance, and from Thy remembrance the effulgences of the sun of Thy knowledge. I beseech Thee, O Quickener of moldering bones, by Thy Most Great Name through which the dwellers of the graves arose when the One Who conversed on Sinai spoke forth, to make me steadfast in Thy love and firm in wisdom and utterance in the promotion of Thy Cause. O my Lord! Aid me to fulfill what Thou hast commanded me in Thy Book concerning righteousness and piety, and what Thou hast forbidden me regarding corruption, contention, tyranny and wickedness.
O my Lord! I am Thy servant and the son of Thy servant, standing at the door of Thy bounty and beseeching the wonders of Thy generosity and grace. Would the All-Bountiful withhold the suppliant from His door which He hath opened to all who are in His heaven and His earth? Nay, by Thy Self! This is not what the people of Baha expect of Thee, O Thou Lord of all men, Lord of the Throne on high and of the earth below, and Ruler of the Hereafter and of the world of old. Ordain for me through Thy grace that which shall make me independent of all else save Thee, and occupied with Thy remembrance. Verily Thou art the All-Powerful, the All-Bountiful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
O My Pen! Make mention of him who was martyred in the path of God in the early days, who was named Sultan-ʿAli and who attained the choice wine of revelation from the hand of the bounty of his Lord, the All-Bountiful. I testify that he believed in God and acknowledged His Manifestation on a day wherein every remote scholar denied Him. Blessed art thou, O Sultan, inasmuch as the All-Merciful hath made mention of thee from His glorious station. Glory be upon thee, radiance be upon thee, and exaltation be upon thee, O thou who didst hold fast to the cord of God, the Firm! The ocean of bounty surgeth in thy remembrance, the fragrance of mercy is wafted, and the verses of God, the Lord of all worlds, are sent down. We beseech Him, exalted be He, to send thee at all times a noble Book through the hands of them that are nigh unto Him, to shower upon thee mercy from His presence, and to provide thee with His wondrous eternal bounties and His everlasting paradisial feast. Verily He is the Forgiving, the Bountiful.
My God, my God! Thou hearest the cry of the sincere ones, the lament of them that are nigh unto Thee, and the sighing of them that know Thee, when Thine enemies have encompassed them from every direction and there hath befallen them that which hath caused the dwellers of the cities of names to wail. I beseech Thee, O my God, by them and by those who have offered up their lives in Thy path and have expended all they possessed in their longing to meet Thee, to assist Thy loved ones with the hosts of the unseen and of the visible realm. Then protect them from the evil of every oppressive enemy and every wicked transgressor.
O Lord! Deprive them not of the waves of the ocean of Thy bounty, nor of the effulgences of the daystar of Thy grace. Thou seest them, O my God, holding fast unto Thee and acknowledging that which hath been revealed from Thee. Verily Thou art with them, witnessing and beholding their deeds and their confession of Thy oneness, their acknowledgment of Thy unity, and that which Thou hast sent down in Thy Book. Thou art He, O my God, from Whose knowledge nothing escapeth, and the oppression of Thine enemies and the tyranny of the wrongdoers among Thy creatures cannot frustrate Thee. Thou art He through Whose name the standard of power was planted amidst all creatures and the banner of guidance was raised amongst all creation. I beseech Thee not to disappoint those who hope in Thee from the treasury of Thy bounty and the repository of Thy generosity. Then preserve them through Thy protection and Thy guardianship. Verily Thou art the All-Powerful, the Mighty, the Triumphant, the Humbler of all who are in the heavens and the earth.
BH01056: Praise, sanctified from knowledge and understanding, beseemeth and befitteth…
He is the One Who sendeth down from the heaven of utterance whatsoever He willeth
Praise, sanctified from knowledge and understanding, beseemeth and befitteth the Desired One of the worlds, Who from a single drop from the ocean of His generosity brought the world of existence into being, and adorned absolute nothingness with the ornament of being. He is the Omnipotent One Whose Word’s influence hath encompassed the world, and the effulgences of Whose Will’s Luminary have illumined the realms of earth and heaven. The clamor of the world held not back His cloud of light from its outpouring, nor did the tumult of the world prevent its effusion. His might was not weakened by all created things, nor was His Will prevented from its dominion and power by the hatred of the opposers and deniers. Glorified be His greatness, exalted His dominion, and mighty His proof!
And then, thy letter which thou didst send in the name of Jud, upon him be My glory, reached the Most Holy Court, and this response hath been sent down from the heaven of the Will of the Lord of all men: O thou who hast turned toward My horizon! Hear My call from the direction of My prison. Verily, He remembereth thee even as He remembered thee before, and hath sent down that whereby bodies have taken flight and mountains have passed away like the passing of clouds, and the Herald proclaimeth: The Kingdom and the Dominion, then the Greatness and the Might belong to God, the Single, the One, the Powerful, the Mighty, the Bestower! We have heard thy call and whatsoever was manifested from thy tongue, both outwardly and inwardly.
We have answered thee through this Book whereby the idols have been thunderstruck and the hearts of the worshippers of vain imaginings have been shaken, and every misbeliever who denied the beginning and the return hath lamented. Give glad tidings to My loved ones on My behalf and remind them of that which hath been sent down from the Kingdom of My utterance, that it may attract them to a station wherein the desires of men shall not change them, nor their might, nor shall that which is with the people prevent them from that which hath been sent down from the Supreme Pen in the Scriptures and Tablets.
In the Persian tongue, hearken unto the divine call. Some time ago thy letter arrived and attained unto presence and hearing, and this time too the letter which thou didst send in the name of Jud, upon him be My glory, was brought to the presence and presented by one of the Branches who is named Diya’, and this response hath been sent down from the Dayspring of divine revelation and the Dawning-Place of His Cause, that thou mayest rejoice and be of them that render thanks.
In these days countless sorrows have arrived from all directions. Certain treacherous souls in the great city, inflamed with the fire of greed and avarice, have committed that which hath caused the people of the cities of justice and fairness to lament, and likewise the actions of some in various regions have become the cause of great sorrow. Today the people of Baha must attract through righteous deeds and guide to the highest horizon. We have previously said:
“My affliction is not My imprisonment, nor that which hath come upon Me from Mine enemies, but rather the deeds of My loved ones who associate themselves with Me yet commit that which causeth My heart and My pen to lament.”
Verses like this have repeatedly been sent down. Glory be to God! The people of Baha should recognize every soul at their first meeting.
By the life of God! The companions of self and passion are evident and manifest from the people of righteousness and godliness. These two groups have been and are distinct from each other. O companions of the right hand! Strive that perchance the servants may be sanctified from the taint of tyranny and immorality and may purpose to attain the most exalted summit. We beseech God to grant attentive ears and penetrating vision. Convey to all the loved ones of that land greetings from the Wronged One, and gladden them with the splendors of the Sun of meanings and utterance. We make mention of the sons of Khalil and the heirs of Kalim, both male and female, and We beseech God to aid them all in that which is befitting of His days.
Haydar-Qabli-ʿAli, upon him be My glory and My loving-kindness, has ever been and continues to be favored by the Will of God, steadfast in service, speaking in remembrance, and turning with his heart in acceptance. Blessed is he who hearkens unto his word concerning this momentous Announcement.
Convey My greetings to Yehuda on behalf of the Wronged One. We make mention of him and beseech God the Exalted to kindle him with the fire of His love, to adorn him with the ornament of service to the Mighty, the Inaccessible, and to enable him to act in accordance with what hath been ordained in His perspicuous Book. God willing, thou shalt be aided in that which conduceth to the sanctification and detachment of the servants.
Abu’l-Fadl, upon him be My glory, hath done what was meet and seemly for him. He is indeed among the sincere ones in the Book of God, the Lord of the worlds.
We make mention of him who is named Muhammad-Qabli-Hasan and give him the glad-tidings of his Lord’s mercy, the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful. We make mention of him who hath turned with his eyes through a remembrance that shall endure throughout the permanence of God’s kingdom, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. We make mention of him who is named Aqa Khan and counsel him with that which shall exalt the station of man—and I am the True Counsellor. We beseech God to ordain for thee and for those who have believed the good of the hereafter and of this world. He is verily the All-Bountiful, the Mighty, the Great.
As to their intention to journey forth in these days, wisdom doth not permit it. We beseech God to ordain for them what He hath ordained for His chosen ones. He is verily the All-Hearing, the Responsive.
O Muhammad-Qabli-Baqir! Praise be to God, thou art remembered in the presence of the Wronged One, and the gaze of loving-kindness hath been directed towards thee and the steadfast souls of that land. The petitions of the distinguished traveler have repeatedly reached the Most Holy Court. We beseech God to protect him and to send down unto him that which shall abide with him in all the worlds of His worlds. He is, verily, powerful over all things. The glory from Us be upon thee and upon thy sons and upon those with thee, those whom the doubts of the barking ones have not prevented from God, the Lord of the worlds.
ʿAli-Qabli-Haydar, upon him be My glory, hath made mention of what ye sent. He hath arisen to serve My Cause and hath spoken in My beautiful praise. We beseech God to strengthen him, to aid him, and to ordain for him every good that He hath sent down in His perspicuous Book. Praise be to God Who is the Object of the mystics and the Beloved of the hearts of them who are nigh unto Him.
BH01511: In My Name, through which light shone forth before…
In My Name, through which light shone forth before the creation of earth and heaven!
How excellent are the tribulations that have befallen the Wronged One in the path of God, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting. In truth, tribulation in the path of the Peerless Beloved has been and ever will be beloved. The word of Jacob appeared after tribulation, and the Tongue of Grandeur gave it utterance. Glory be to God! Greed and avarice have reached such a state that pen and tongue are powerless and incapable of describing it. What was mentioned in Akhtar bears witness to the falsehood of its speaker, for he wrote that they had taken from me a document stating that all I possess belongs to the Afnan. This is his confession, yet afterward he says that document is now void and invalid. This second statement, being without proof or evidence, is and has ever been invalid in the eyes of the just. They have sold the Joseph of God, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting, for a few dirhams. They have strayed from the path of God, the Lord of what was and what shall be.
Your letters sent in the name of Jud, upon him be My glory, were perused. Tablets were specifically revealed and dispatched for some. Ask of God to transform the Most Great Prison. Glory be to God! The love of the friends and loved ones for Muhammad-ʿAli is evident and clear, and most are aware of it. Nevertheless, he has united with one like himself and they have fabricated calumnies for the sake of the possessions of the servants. And now they cry out that the wealth has been stolen and they have set about to subvert the Cause of God.
Say: My God, my God! Through Thy loftiness, Thy transcendence, Thy glory and Thy power, transform the harm that hath befallen Thy loved ones at the hands of Thine enemies. Thou seest and knowest, O my God, what they have done and what they have said. They have cast behind them Thy commandments and Thy laws, and have taken what was forbidden them in Thy Book, out of love for earthly ornaments, both ancient and new. O Lord! Seize them through Thy might and power that they may awaken and return unto Thee. Verily Thou art the Ever-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful.
Convey My greetings to the loved ones in all lands. Say: The Day of deeds hath come, the Day of victory, the Day of steadfastness. Beware lest the utterances of the idolaters or the words of the misguided grieve you. Every year a certain person from Kaf has written a book repudiating the Blessed and Goodly Tree, and likewise other heedless souls from every quarter have produced books of rejection and pages of repudiation, clear and evident. However, in the eyes of those endowed with insight, these matters have been and continue to be the cause of the spread of the Cause of God. Do the calumnies of the people hinder it? Nay, by His very Self! Do the threats of today frighten it? Nay, by His light through which earth and heaven were illumined!
It is hoped that they may be like the surging ocean and the radiant sun. Let them ponder the blessed verse revealed aforetime and hold fast unto it: Say: God; then leave them to their vain disputations. A most mighty and holy Tablet specifically for Mirza Hasan, in the handwriting of the Most Great Branch, which thou didst request, was sent. If, after perusing it, it remains with ʿAli, upon him be My glory and loving-kindness, this is most beloved.
Before the faces of princes and divines, We have, with the pen of justice and utterance, struck at the swords of tyranny and rebellion, and We have been and continue to be like a brilliant and manifest light. Should the entire world unite and rise up to harm the Truth, it would be and is absolute nothingness. Verily, We fear no one. We proclaim with the most exalted call: The appointed time hath come, and the Lord of Names and Attributes hath come from the heaven of the Command with the banners of signs.
Today they must drink, with perfect certitude and assurance, from the choice wine of the utterance of the Goal of all the worlds. This hallowed wine has been and ever will be free from intoxication, and bestows eternal joy and everlasting delight. Take it in My name and for love of Me, despite My enemies who denied God’s proof and evidence after their confession, and whom earthly ornaments so deluded as to prevent them from turning to the splendors of the Countenance, from holding fast to the Most Great Announcement, and from turning toward the Straight Path of God.
The glory that shineth resplendent from the horizon of God’s Tablet be upon thee and upon those who love thee and hearken to thy words concerning this mighty Cause. Praise be to God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
BH01741: O Sad! Upon thee be the Glory of God…
He is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed
O Sad! Upon thee be the Glory of God, the Lord of creation. Thy letter which thou didst send to Ism-i-Jud after Asad—upon both of them be the Glory of God, the One, the Self-Subsisting—hath been received, and one of My Branches who was named the Light in My perspicuous Book presented it. We have answered thee with a Tablet from whose horizon hath shone the Sun of bounty from God, the Lord of all beings, that thou mayest read it and thank thy Lord, the Mighty, the All-Powerful. Grieve not over anything, for He is with thee and will aid thee through His grace, and He is the All-Bountiful, the All-Generous.
We have previously sent down that which diffused the fragrance of the All-Merciful throughout creation, and at this time that which hath spread abroad the sweet scent of thy Lord’s garment, the One Who dominates over all, whether small or great. Behold, then remember those days when thou wert present before the Wronged One and didst hear His call with thine own ears, and didst drink the choice wine of revelation and attainment from the cup of God’s bounty, the Lord of those near unto Him. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to assist thee in that which befitteth His days and to exalt thee among His servants. He is the Guardian of those who turn unto Him.Hear thou the divine call in the Persian tongue.
Convey My greetings to all the family members from the Wronged One and give them the glad-tidings of God’s favors. They have always been and continue to be in My sight. By the life of God, that hath been ordained for them which no hearts have comprehended and no eyes have witnessed the like thereof.
Concerning what thou didst mention about his honor Muzaffar, upon him be My glory, a most mighty and holy Tablet hath been revealed and sent specifically for him. Should he read it, the doors of grace and favor shall be opened before his face. Verily thy Lord is the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.
His honor Nasr hath been and continues to be remembered before the Face. We have previously revealed for him that whereby his name and mention shall endure as long as God’s kingdom endureth. He verily witnesseth and seeth, and He is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Convey My greetings to him from the Wronged One and give him the glad-tidings of God’s grace and favor. Say: Hold fast unto wisdom, then guide the people through utterance to the horizon of the All-Merciful. This is what My Most Exalted Pen hath pronounced in this lofty station.
Say: We have counseled all to act with kindness. Among the people are those who have acted upon Our counsel and those who have followed evil and taken vain imaginings as their lord without any proof. Thus have their fancies seduced them. How far is he from the announcement of God, the Mighty, the Wise! We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to attract him through His verses and to aid him with the standards of His clear proofs and to strengthen him with the hosts of His knowledge. He verily hath power over all things.
And as for what was mentioned concerning him who was named Muhammad Javad, We have previously remembered him and sent him that which hath diffused the fragrances of utterance throughout creation. We beseech God, exalted be He, to strengthen him with His hosts and to open before his face the gates of utterance and to draw near all who are in creation to His glory’s court and His holy carpet. There is no God but Him, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. We have remembered him before and this is yet another time, that the fragrance of remembrance might attract him to a station wherein he will soar on wings of longing in this atmosphere from whose rushing winds can be heard “The Promise hath come and the Promised One calleth out before the faces of kings and subjects: He Who was hidden in knowledge and inscribed by the Most Exalted Pen in God’s Books, the Lord of the Day of Resurrection, hath come!” The Glory from Us be upon him and upon those whom neither the doubts of the people in the past have caused to slip nor will they be caused to slip by what shall occur in the future. He verily is the Truth, the Knower of the unseen.
We counsel all to fear God and to that whereby their stations shall be elevated among the parties. Verily thy Lord guideth whom He willeth unto His extended path. The Glory shining from the horizon of the heaven of grace and bounty be upon thee and upon those who are with thee and who love thee for the sake of God, the Lord of what was and what shall be.
BH11751: O Haydar, upon thee be My glory! A letter…
He is the Supporter, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise
O Haydar, upon thee be My glory! A letter from the honored Sayyah hath reached this Servant wherein he hath expressed his repudiation of former statements. An answer was written and sent to him. We beseech God to purify him from the thoughts of every corrupt traitor and every tyrannical deceiver. Despite that person’s claim to assist the oppressed, when his corrupt intention was not accepted, he arose in wrath and martyred His Holiness Ashraf. By the life of God! Even if the entire world should rise up to harm this Wronged One, He hath not and will not collaborate with the corrupt.
Glory be to God! From the cruelty of that infernal tree, that honored one knew and knoweth his thoughts. Say: We have said before,
“My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor do I walk in your ways.”
From any matter or deed from which the fragrance of corruption, conflict and contention can be detected, the people of Baha are sanctified, holy and pure therefrom. One who intendeth harm against his father and brother will surely show no fidelity to others. His denial of the Wronged One caused his selfish promptings to rise in enmity, and the fire of hatred was kindled in his heart.
In the presence of Sayyah We said that such souls have not had and do not have faithfulness. Trust not in him. Purify the hem of thy heart from his evil deeds, thoughts and intentions, and place thy trust in God. Verily, He provideth for whomsoever He willeth without measure.
In any case, according to what he hath written, by God’s grace and favor he hath now freed and liberated himself from the ocean of oppression and corruption. Therefore We seek his contentment, that he be not troubled, for from the earliest days he had shown love towards Us. We have loved and continue to love faithfulness. We beseech God to assist him to serve the Cause with wisdom and utterance, to make him sincere for His sake, and to cause him to hold fast to His cord. Verily, He is the Powerful, the Mighty, the Bountiful.
BH04845: He is the One through Whom were opened…
He is the One through Whom were opened the gates of wisdom and utterance to all who are in the realm of creation.
This is a Book from Us to the peoples of the earth, wherein We counsel them with that which will elevate their stations before God, the Lord of the worlds. Hearken unto the call of the Wronged One, then look upon the evidences with the eye of fairness. Verily they will guide thee to a station from whose horizon hath shone forth the Sun of God’s loving-kindness, the Goal of them that know.
We have counseled all to be trustworthy, religious, and God-fearing, yet the people have committed that which hath caused My heart and My Pen to lament before the kingdom of God, the Mighty, the All-Praised. When thou hast attained unto My Tablet and found the fragrance of loving-kindness from My verses, say: My God, my God! Praise be to Thee for having guided me unto Thy straight path and Thy mighty announcement. I beseech Thee, O God of the seen and unseen, by Him Who conversed with Thee on Sinai, Who through Thy power and sovereignty was established upon the throne of Revelation, to aid me to be steadfast in Thy love. O my Lord! Illumine my heart with the light of Thy knowledge, then manifest unto me that which will set aright my affairs in this world and in the next. O my Lord! Thou art the All-Bountiful, possessed of great bounty. I beseech Thee not to disappoint me from what is with Thee. I testify that within Thy grasp are the reins of all who are in the heavens and on earth.
BH04913: O Ghulam qabl-ʿAli, hear My call once again…
He is the Expositor, the All-Knowing
O Ghulam qabl-ʿAli, hear My call once again from the direction of My prison. Verily it will draw thee near to My court, give thee to drink of the Kawthar of My favor, show thee the Luminary of My bounty, and kindle thee with the fire of My love. Thy Lord, verily, is the One manifest in grace, the Ruler with justice, and He is the Mighty, the Glorious, the All-Bountiful.
My Most Exalted Pen beareth witness to thy service, thy remembrance, and thy steadfastness in this Cause whereby the limbs of idols have trembled. Neither the doubts of the deniers nor the allusions of those heedless of God, the Lord of the Final Return, have deterred thee.
Counsel My servants to cultivate goodly character and praiseworthy deeds, and that whereby their stations may be elevated among the peoples. They who have cast away righteousness and committed unseemly acts—these have no portion of this ocean which surgeth before the faces of religions.
O concourse of My loved ones! Aid your Lord through deeds from which the fragrance of divine acceptance may be wafted. They who claim to love Me must needs adorn their heads with the crowns of detachment and their temples with the raiment of righteousness. Thus hath the Tongue of Grandeur spoken in most of the Tablets.
My concern is not with My enemies, but rather with those who claim belief yet commit that from which people flee. Thus have We sent down the verses unto thee and dispatched them to thee, that thou mayest rejoice and remind the people of that which hath been revealed from the Most Exalted Pen of God in the most sublime station. The glory from Us be upon thee, upon thy father, and upon those who hearken to thy word concerning the Cause of God, the Revealer of verses.
BH05236: O Mihdi, upon thee be My glory! In this…
He is the One dawning from the horizon of the heaven of proof.
O Mihdi, upon thee be My glory! In this divine springtime and luminous day, the friends of God must, with love and kindness and mercy and wisdom and utterance, make the people of the world aware and summon them to the Most Exalted Horizon. The first cause which led to the exaltation of the Blessed Word has been the unity and harmony of the friends. That honored one must hold fast, with both outer and inner tongue, to that which was mentioned, and must cling to unity, which is the greatest cause for the reformation of the world and the refinement of the nations.
Say: Glory be unto Thee, O my God! I testify to Thy oneness and Thy singleness, and that with Thee is the knowledge of all things in a Book that none has comprehended save Thee. O my Lord! I beseech Thee by the ocean of Thy forgiveness and the heaven of Thy bounty and the sun of Thy grace to aid me in serving Thy Cause and in that which will diffuse the fragrance of Thy good-pleasure and will endure through the endurance of Thy Kingdom. Thou seest me, O my God, wholly turned toward Thee. I beseech Thee to confirm me in that which befits Thy days. Verily Thou art the Almighty, the Exalted, the All-Bountiful.
Make mention of the brethren and friends on behalf of the Wronged One. We beseech God to aid them and enable them to draw nigh unto Him. Verily He is the Hearer, the Answerer.
The Glory be upon you from God, the Almighty, the All-Powerful.
BH06818: O thou who hast turned thy face toward…
He is the Hearer and the Answerer
O thou who hast turned thy face toward the Countenance! We have desired to send thee a remembrance from the Mother Book, that it may draw thee to God, the Mighty, the Powerful, the Bestower. Hearken unto the call from the Divine Lote-Tree—verily He remembereth thee in the Most Great Prison with that whereby thy mention shall endure amongst the peoples. Thy Lord is indeed the Mighty, the All-Bountiful. Recite the verses of thy Lord by night and by day, at eventide and at dawn. He hath turned toward thee and revealed for thee that which causeth hearts to be attracted and mountains to pass away. When thou art blessed with the breezes of revelation, say:
“Glory be unto Thee, O my God! I beseech Thee by the power that hath subdued all things, and by Thy Name through which Thou hast made the names to be submissive, to aid me in serving Thy Cause amongst Thy servants. Then make me to be of those whom Thou hast adorned with the ornament of Thy loving-kindness and preferred above most of Thy creation. O my Lord! Thou seest this poor one standing at the door of Thy sanctuary, seeking from Thee that which will elevate his station among Thy creatures. Verily Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest through Thy word ʿBe,’ and it is.”
BH06831: O Husayn, upon thee be the Glory of God…
In the name of the One God
O Husayn, upon thee be the Glory of God, the Lord of the Mighty Throne! Mention of thee hath been made in the presence of the Wronged One, and Haydar, upon him be My glory and loving-kindness, hath repeatedly expressed thy love and thy being set ablaze with the fire of affection. It is hoped that thou wilt occupy thyself with service to the Cause with utmost eagerness and yearning, attraction and rapture. This Wronged One hath from the earliest days until now been afflicted in the hands of enemies, especially in these days when the fire of malice and hatred hath been kindled in their breasts without any cause. Nevertheless, the Most Exalted Pen hath not been prevented from mention and praise, and night and day summoneth the peoples of the earth to the Most Exalted Horizon. No authority hath restrained Him and no fear hath seized Him. He hath spoken and continueth to speak before all faces:
“Verily there is none other God but Me, the Counselor, the All-Knowing.”
Convey My greetings to the loved ones. Blessed is the servant whom nothing whatsoever hath prevented from drawing nigh unto God, the Lord of all worlds. The glory from Us be upon thee and upon them that have believed in God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.
BH06863: In My Name, the Wronged One, the Stranger
In My Name, the Wronged One, the Stranger
O Muhammad, hear the call from this far-off spot. It summons thee to God, the Peerless, the All-Informed. Nothing whatever escapeth His knowledge, and He, verily, is cognizant of all things. The tyranny of the oppressors and the rejection of the deniers have not hindered Him from that which He desireth. We beseech God to assist thee to serve His Cause in such wise that the clamor of them that have disbelieved in the Day of Judgment shall not deter thee. Say: O people! Fear ye God, and follow not every sinful infidel. Judge fairly concerning that which hath appeared through the truth, and be not of them that deny. O people! The ocean of utterance surgeth before your faces, and the sun of knowledge shineth above your heads, and the rustling of the Lote-Tree of the furthermost boundary is heard in your midst.
Cast aside that which the people possess on this Day whereon the breeze of God, the Lord of the mighty throne, hath wafted. O Muhammad! We made mention of thee before, that thou mayest arise to celebrate My praise and glory amongst My servants. And I, verily, am the Ordainer, the All-Wise. The splendor from Our presence be upon thee and upon them that have quaffed the choice wine of utterance from the hand of My name, the All-Merciful. We bear witness that they are among the faithful.
BH08297: Blessed art thou, O Rida, for thou hast held…
He is the Hearer, the Answerer
Blessed art thou, O Rida, for thou hast held fast to thy craft. The craft of carpentry hath been practiced by those nigh unto God and His Messengers. Today the craftsman of a praiseworthy craft is loved in the sight of God and attaineth unto the glory of acceptance. Thy name was mentioned before the Wronged One, and there was revealed for thee that whose fragrance shall never cease to endure throughout the kingdom of God, the Lord of the worlds. Blessed is the soul that is engaged in a craft or profession. By the life of God! The practitioners of crafts have been and continue to be remembered before His countenance. Say:
My God, my God! Praise be unto Thee for having remembered me when I was among the heedless. I beseech Thee by Thy Fig which was raised up in the Most Exalted Paradise, and by the Olive Tree which stood tall before the crimson chambers, and by Thy binding command which subdued the world, to assist me to remember Thee and praise Thee and to stand firm in Thy Cause. Verily Thou art the Almighty, the Powerful, the All-Bountiful.
BH04417: This servant has ever remembered the friends and summoned…
He is the One Who has dominion over all names.
This servant has ever remembered the friends and summoned all to the supreme horizon, yet most have remained deprived of the fragrances of these days, for they have fixed their gaze upon the manifestations of fancy and idle imaginings. Glory be to God! The Sun of Revelation has dawned from the horizon of Sinai in such wise that none has any excuse to hesitate or delay. We beseech God to erase the traces of heedlessness and not to deprive His loved ones of the fruits of the Tree of Knowledge.
O Ha’ before Shin! Upon thee be My glory! Praise be to God, thou hast attained unto that which was mentioned and recorded in the divine Books. We hope that on this Day of God the loved ones will not be held back from the depths of the ocean of oneness and the effulgences of the Sun of Truth, and will remain protected from the barking ones, the doubtful, and the deniers.
The world is bewildered, for it is observed that the servants, out of love for two fleeting days, have closed and continue to close their eyes to everlasting, eternal blessings. Thus it is that the intoxication of heedlessness hath seized most of them.
Say: My God, my God! Aid me in Thy days to truly witness and hearken, lest the idle fancies and vain imaginings of the people hold me back from drawing nigh unto the gate of Thy mercy, which Thou hast opened unto all who are in the heavens and on earth. Then ordain for me, O my God, that which will make me powerful through Thy power and willing through Thy Will. Thou art, verily, the Almighty, the All-Commanding, the All-Wise.
The glory be upon thee and upon those who have held fast to this mighty cord.
9 Rabi’u’l-Avval 1307
BH11696: Praise be to the Lord of all desire, Who…
He is God, exalted be His station in grandeur and power!
Praise be to the Lord of all desire, Who hath adorned cities and lands with the lights of the Sun of Truth and the radiance of recognition, and hath confirmed pure and holy ears to hearken unto the Call. Whoso attaineth unto true hearing attaineth unto steadfastness. The purpose of hearing hath ever been true hearing, as witnessed aforetime when they heard yet turned away, and hear yet object. Blessing and peace be upon His Beloved and Chosen One, Whom He chose for the manifestation of His Cause and the promulgation of His laws and ordinances, and upon His family and companions, through whom God’s proof was perfected unto His creation and His might was made manifest among His servants.
My spirit be a sacrifice unto your remembrance and your steadfastness! The blessed letter arrived and was indeed the bearer of glad tidings, for it conveyed news of your good health and well-being, and likewise was an informed herald of the degrees and stations of detachment, severance, adherence and devotion—a knower who was knowing, and a pure one who was eloquent and able. After its perusal and review, it was taken to the Sacred Presence and presented. He said:
“We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to aid him in that which is befitting, to open before his face the gates of blessing and bounty, and to manifest through him that which will guide people to His path and adorn them with the ornament of trustworthiness and chastity. Verily, He is powerful over all things.”
We make mention of an Afnan from among the faithful who is named Siyyid Aqa, and We give glad tidings unto him who is named Muhammad-Rida. We beseech God, exalted be He, to inscribe for them from His Most Exalted Pen that which shall never be exhausted and shall endure as long as His most beautiful names and most exalted attributes endure. We make mention of Our loved ones there and beseech for them blessing and well-being from God, the Lord of all creation, and We say:
“My God, my God! Make the end of their affairs to be good.”
End quote.
This evanescent servant hath ever besought from God, exalted be His glory, for each of the Afnan that which is the cause of the greatest bounty for all peoples. Verily, He is the Lord of the world and the Guide of His servants to His Most Ancient and Most Noble Name. Likewise, he hath besought for the loved ones, upon them be God’s peace, whatsoever is worthy of His generosity. Verily, He is the Almighty, the Powerful, and worthy to answer prayers.
Mention was made of the spiritual beloved, Aqa Mirza Abu’l-Fadl, upon him be Baha’u’llah’s glory, and likewise of the spiritual beloved Aqa Mirza Abdu’l-Karim and the loved ones of that land, namely Ishqabad. After presentation, He spoke words that were as the spring rains of bounty for the saplings of existence, and as the breeze of generosity for receptive souls both seen and unseen. Previously, two pages of utterances, from each word of which wafted the fragrance of grace, mercy and bounty, were sent to that land through the honored Afnan, upon him be the Most Glorious Beauty of God. And secondly, when that eminent one intended mention, the command was given to send a telegram. The servant beseecheth his Lord to confirm all in that which He loveth and is pleased with, and to aid them in that which will elevate their stations among the parties. Verily, He is the Powerful over whatsoever He willeth, and He is the Commanding, the All-Wise.
As regards Jinab-i-Mulla Muhammad-ʿAli (Tafti), upon him be the Glory of God [Baha’u’llah], after presentation They stated that upon his arrival in prison he sent whatever he had, and permission was given to accept it, but until now We have not used it. And now, considering that he has again intended to send an amount, We will accept this sum provided that he also accepts this second amount from Us. This is a bounty from Us. Convey greetings from the Wronged One to him and give him the glad tidings of boundless favors. The Afnan know and are aware that this Wronged One’s acceptance of the previous sum was purely out of love for them. Until now We have not accepted from most, but from him it was accepted the first time that it may reach Us a second time. We beseech God to open before his face the gates of His grace, His bounty and His blessing, and to make him among those who have attained to His mention in His lands and to the assistance of His Cause among His servants through wisdom and utterance. Verily, He is the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.
Again, mentioning the loved ones of the land of ʿAyn and Shin, They said: O My loved ones in that place! You are the keys to the gates of steadfastness among creation and the banners of guidance among all beings. Through you the unity of His Being and the sanctity of His Essence are established. We counsel you, O loved ones of God, to wisdom and to that whereby your stations and conditions may be exalted. Blessed are you and blessed is he who loves you purely for the sake of God, the Lord of earth and heaven and the Lord of the mighty throne. Beware lest the clamor of the people who have cast justice behind their backs, clinging to oppression, frighten you. Verily they are in grievous torment. They have no helper nor supporter. Soon will the breezes of chastisement seize them from all directions. Verily He is the One, the Powerful, the Mighty.
What is needed is unity and harmony and wisdom and moderation in all matters. Blessed are they who have held fast to the cord of unity and acted in accordance with what they were commanded by One Who is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
As regards separation—it is in no wise permissible. Separation in that land causes the fire of hatred to be kindled. In all the lands of Iran, as that land belongs to another government, the means of freedom are obtained. However, this freedom becomes the cause of bondage for other friends in the lands of Iran. In any case, in all circumstances one must hold fast to moderation and to means that cause the attraction and drawing near of hearts, and this matter depends upon goodly deeds and praiseworthy character which are the cause of guidance and the drawing near of souls. Verily He is with you, witnessing and seeing, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.
Regarding Jinab-i-Mir Muhammad-Husayn Beg, upon him be the Glory of God, and certain petitions from those parts which you wrote about—some time ago there was specifically revealed for him that which is an enduring proof for the world and its people, and it was sent. The servant beseeches his Lord that He may cause eyes to be gladdened by beholding it and ears by hearing it. Verily He is the Helper, the All-Wise. My beloved Mir and the loved ones of those parts, both men and women, have ever been and are mentioned in the Most Holy Court. Their station is evident and clear from the divine Tablets. Blessed are they. Your honor should write replies to their letters and express the bounties from before the True One.
Regarding the exalted matters you wrote about—in all conditions We beseech and implore the True One for the exaltation of His Cause in the cities and regions and for the victory of the honored Afnan. Verily He is the Answerer of prayers.
Regarding the Qur’an, it should be obtained from Aqa Husayn-Ali, or a credible document bearing the seal of several people should be prepared with all details mentioned therein, and sent to His Holiness Haji Mirza Hasan (upon him be 966 [Baha’u’llah]) in the Land of Ta. This matter is most important, for much has been said and many calumnies have been attributed. However, they should request this from Aqa Husayn-Ali in a spirit of friendship, and they should not enter into confrontation with anyone. Love and kindness for the sake of God is required towards every soul, except those who turn away—this commandment hath been sent down from the heaven of the divine decree in the Most Holy Book. Well is it with them that act accordingly. Peace, remembrance and glory be upon you and upon those who love you and hearken unto your words.
BH00953: Hallowed praise, sanctified above the vain imaginings…
He is God, exalted be His majesty in grandeur and power.
Hallowed praise, sanctified above the vain imaginings of the peoples of creation, beseemeth and befitteth that Self-Subsisting One Who was not withheld, nor turned aside from His purpose, by the aversion of the froward, the denial of the faithless, the violence of the aggressors, or the malice of the ungodly. The onrushing potency of His blessed Word was not stayed by the opposition of the mighty, nor barred by the repudiation of the Pharaohs. Glorified be His majesty, and all-embracing His bounty. Out of the dust, by pure grace and bestowal, He caused a pure gem to appear, that His counsel might take effect, His Word bear fruit, and this by reason of His wisdom: that the peoples of the earth might not be seized with fear, but might attain His presence and be privileged to hearken. In the certainty of truth, the Sun of the blessed utterance, “His mercy hath surpassed all created things,” shineth forth and dawneth from the horizons of hearts. Who is there that can praise Him for His gifts with praise worthy of Him? And who is able to thank Him as true thanksgiving demandeth? We beseech Him to aid His loved ones and His chosen ones in whatsoever He loveth and is well pleased withal.
My spirit be a sacrifice unto Your presence, unto your steadfastness be a sacrifice, and unto your utterance be a sacrifice. The letter of Your Excellency—which was indeed a sign of the glad-tidings of the Lord—even as a radiant morn illumined the darkness of the sorrows that had descended. In truth, whatsoever hath come, and cometh, from that august personage bringeth joy. This servant beseecheth his Lord to raise up Your Excellency for the promulgation of His Cause and the exaltation of His Word. Verily, He is the Almighty, the Unconstrained. And after it had been read and its contents made known, I repaired unto His presence, and after presentation He said:
He is the Help in Peril, the Almighty.
O My Afnan! Upon you be the peace of God, His grace, His bounty and His gifts! Thou art ever mentioned in the presence of the Wronged One, nay rather thou art ever in His presence and art illumined by the splendors of the Sun of loving-kindness. The sorrows that have befallen are known and evident to you, yet worldly events leave no trace upon the tablet of the heart. We are occupied with God and are engaged in His praise and utterance. These two days are not worthy of attention. Praise be to God, most of the transgressors have been and are being recognized. All who possess hearing, sight and heart bear witness to their lies and calumnies. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to make you a door for the entrance of those who enter, and a key wherewith the hearts of those who turn to Him may be unlocked, to assist you with the hosts of utterance at all times, and to exalt you through His Name amongst all religions. Verily He is the Mighty, the Bestower. Peace and glory and splendor be upon you and upon your son and upon those who love you and hearken to your words concerning the Cause of God, the One, the All-Informed.
In these days it hath become clear and evident what manner of calumnies were spread in the past. The one who reported the existence of the Qa’im was a woman. When they asked the revered Ja’far whether the honored ʿAskari had any male offspring, that wronged one refused and said that there had been a child two years before who had died. Those with ulterior motives rejected and cursed him and called him a liar, but the word of that lying woman, since it accorded with the desires and base interests of heedless souls, they accepted and proclaimed. In brief, the servant beseecheth his Lord to protect His servants from the calumnies, conjectures and imaginings of the people, and to either assist the heedless to return unto Him or to seize them with a compelling force from His presence. Verily He is the Commander, the All-Wise.
The spiritual friend His Holiness Haji Niyaz, upon him be Baha’u’llah’s glory, came and attained the presence repeatedly, and hosted feasts repeatedly, and all was accepted with honor. It is hoped that God, exalted be His glory, will through his presence make the heedless aware and guide the seekers. He was repeatedly the recipient of kindness and favor. Blessed and congratulations be unto him.
As for the matter of the honored beloved His Holiness Haji Ha Qabla S, upon him be Baha’u’llah’s glory, right was with him. Before his mention and news, emphasis was given to His Holiness Ism-i-Jud, upon him be Baha’u’llah’s glory, to write to my beloved His Holiness Nazir, upon him be Baha’u’llah’s glory, that the mention [writing] and mention of His Holiness Haji at the Threshold is in no way permissible. However, protection has been and is in the grasp of divine power. He will protect them and there has been ordained for them that which is the cause of exaltation and ascendancy. It is hoped they will, with utmost joy and expansion and steadfastness, hold fast to that which God has willed, that there may appear from him that which shall endure with the endurance of names and attributes. May his honor beseech God to enable all to achieve that which is the cause of the exaltation of His Word.
From all directions complaints have come about Muhammad-ʿAli. From every direction money has come to him and out of pure greed and avarice he has wrongfully appropriated people’s property and denied their rights. He and his companion have no equal in the world. It was not imagined such souls would appear in the world, but what was decreed was decreed. A person who considers himself a well-wisher of the world and counts himself a patriot, for a few dirhams has written that which he himself knows to be false, thinking these matters are harmful to the Cause. Nay, by the Self of God! Karim-i-Kirmani has written a book of refutation every year regarding the Primal Point, may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for Him, and likewise other divines of Iran have been and are engaged in cursing and execration from pulpits, and Mirza-yi-Sipihr has written in his history regarding His Holiness that which has caused all things to lament. In any case, I beseech God to aid His servants to truthfulness, sincerity, trustworthiness, religious devotion and faithfulness. Verily He has power over all things.
To the Star risen from the horizon of His Holiness the Afnan, His Honor Aqa Siyyid Aqa, upon him be Baha’u’llah’s Most Glorious Glory, I convey greetings and praise, and I beseech God, exalted be His glory, on his behalf for that which befits His generosity and bestowal. And likewise I send greetings to other friends in that land. All are mentioned in the presence and are recipients of favor. Peace and praise and remembrance and glory be upon your honor and upon those with you and those who love you and hear your word.
The servant 21 Rabi’u’l-Avval 1307
BH00085: One manifestation of the Name “the Most Generous” cast…
Section 1: “One manifestation of the Name “the Most Generous…”
He is the Manifest, the Resplendent, the Self-Evident, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed
One manifestation of the Name “the Most Generous” cast its radiance upon the earth—bounty became manifest, the heavenly feast descended, and the ocean of generosity surged forth. And one manifestation of the Name “the All-Knowing” shed its effulgence upon the world—all were adorned with the raiment of knowledge, and the Herald of Glory from the right hand of the Throne of Grandeur proclaimed the blessed words “We have recorded all things in a clear Book.” O peoples of the earth! Hearken unto that which hath been raised from the direction of the Most Sublime Vision of God. By God! This is the Day wherein every hidden thing hath been revealed, wherein the Hour hath come and the moon hath been cleft asunder. Beware lest the veils of them that have turned away and disbelieved prevent you, or the might of the denizens of hell-fire who have changed God’s bounty into ingratitude and turned away from the choice wine and the Kawthar.
O people! Fear God and oppose not Him through Whose light the earth and heaven were illumined and through Whom the decree of destiny was manifested. He hath come for your salvation and to draw you nigh unto God, the Lord of the mighty throne and the elevated seat. Were He to will to adorn all things with the ornament of names at this moment and take it from them at another, He verily hath power to do so. None can say “Why?” or “Wherefore?” He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth. He is the Almighty, the All-Powerful.
Say: O Hadi! Hearken unto the divine call. This Wronged One hath mentioned thee, and continueth to mention thee, for the sake of God, that thou mayest perchance find a way unto Him. Reflect upon thine acts, and likewise upon that which hath shone forth from the Dayspring of divine knowledge and power, that thou mayest haply return from the rivulet to the ocean, from tyranny to justice, and from oppression to equity. O Hadi! Forget not God’s favor unto thee. Turn thy face toward God, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious. End.
Say: My God! I have forsaken what is with the factions who believed not in Thee and in Thy signs, and I have turned toward Thee. Take my hand through Thy power and sovereignty, then deliver me through Thy favors and bounties. O my Lord! I am Thy servant and the son of Thy servant. I acknowledge my heedlessness and error before the manifestations of the lights of the Sun of Thy knowledge, and my wrongdoing before the dawning of the Luminary of Thy justice. How many a day did the light of Thy bounty turn toward me from the horizon of the heaven of Thy grace, and I turned away from it. Alas! Alas! My vain imaginings prevented me from drawing nigh unto the Luminary of certitude which shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of Thy Will, and doubts veiled me at the appearance of Thy Name, the Self-Subsisting.
O my Lord! I beseech Thee by the ocean of Thy signs, and the standards of Thy Manifestation and Thy power, and by Thy Most Exalted Word whereby the realities of all things were attracted, and by Thy most sweet call and the shrill voice of Thy Most Exalted Pen, to forgive my grievous sins. I testify that by Thy command the ocean of forgiveness surged in the contingent world and the fragrance of Thy Name, the All-Merciful, was diffused amongst all religions.
O thou who art attracted by My verses and soaring in the atmosphere of My love! We have repeatedly made mention of Hadi Dawlat-Abadi and summoned him to the most exalted horizon, yet that heedless one hath until now remained unaware and hath not attained unto the blessed word “I believe in God.” He hath cast aside acceptance and chosen denial, manifesting an oppression unmatched and unparalleled. For he hath denied a station which, from the earliest days until now, hath stood manifest before the faces of the heedless, the believers and the ungodly, calling all with the most exalted call to the straight path and heralding the advent of the Great News.
Say: O Hadi! Great is the Cause this day. The Primal Point uttereth “I am the foremost of them that worship.” Fear God. Consider that which hath been sent down from the heaven of thy Lord’s will. Beware lest thou follow the ways of the ignorant. If thou seekest verses, they have indeed filled the horizons, and if thou seekest proofs, turn to the sacred writings. O thou who art devoid of justice! He declareth that if anyone should utter but a single verse, ye should not oppose him, and yet now there existeth and is manifest the equivalent of all the books of the first and the last. Come and behold! Train not the people of the Bayan as the Shi’ih sect was trained, and bar them not by their names from the Lord of all creation.
Reflect upon the deeds and words of that sect; perchance thou mayest turn from doubt to certitude and from the left hand to the right. For the sake of God it is said, for the sake of God hear it: how many souls in that land, despite their glory, exaltation, wealth and power, have forsaken all before thy face and freely sacrificed their lives at the feet of the Best-Beloved of the worlds.
“Take heed, O ye whose darkness hath taken the place of admonition! Take heed, O ye whose whiteness hath appeared upon your cheeks!”
The black spot of the heart’s fancy hath prevailed over its radiance and obliterated its traces. At the mere mention of the Bab, fear seized thy limbs, to such extent that thou didst mount the pulpit and utter that which caused the people of the cities of justice and fairness to weep. Reflect upon thine own deeds and the deeds of the detached souls, that thou mayest not remain deprived of the ocean of grace, bounty and bestowal. Ponder upon that which thou didst utter from the pulpit. The martyrdom of His Holiness Ashraf, upon him be the glory of God and His mercy, had newly come to pass. Some reflection was needed concerning his protection and his sacrifice, that perchance thou mightest succeed and attain to confession after denial. His sacrifice testifieth to his truthfulness and steadfastness, while thy life beareth witness to thy falsehood, repudiation and calumny. Glory be to God! Love for the fleeting life of two days hath deprived thee of eternal grace and divine mercy. Thou didst satisfy Ibn-i-Dhi’b. I was present in the gathering of the divines when Ibn-i-Dhi’b spoke, saying:
“O people! The renunciation, repudiation and denial of Hadi, who was among the leaders of the Babi party, and his cursing and execration, sufficeth us. He hath left no further proof for us to require. Therefore we consider him a believer in the Divine Book, namely the Qur’an, and according to the outward law we cannot associate him with any but the party of salvation.”
In brief, he did that which caused the liver of them that are nigh unto God to melt. I know not by what proof he believed in God, and by what evidence he turned away from Him. We beseech God to aid him to return and repent. Verily He is the Oft-Returning, the Forgiving, the Merciful. We desire to behold him ascending to the heaven of knowledge and mysteries, and rising to the summit of truth, while he desired for himself the lusts of passion, turning away from what the Lord of all beings, the Possessor of the Hereafter and the First, desired for him.
One of the friends has been seen saying: “What has happened that Azal has become rejected?” Say: O thou who art devoid of justice, fear God! One through whose Word a thousand Azals have been and are being created—from Him thou hast turned away and hast uttered calumnies such that all things have cried out. Apart from this, thou knowest not from what source names have appeared. Ye have committed that which no oppressor hath ever committed.
Ye have called the Dayyan Father of Evil’ and the Friend of the All-Merciful Father of Calamities’, and ye have passed judgment on and martyred many of the oppressed ones of the world, and like unto the Shi’ih sect ye have done that which causeth loss in this world and the next. This name which thou hast mentioned—from whom is it and who hath bestowed it? If thou sayest it is from the Source of the Bayan, the Bayan itself with loudest voice rejecteth thee and saith: “Silence thy tongue, O heedless one!” For it declareth: “Through the Bayan and its letters be not deprived of its Source and Manifestation.” And if that name hath appeared from the Most Exalted Station, which is the station of the manifestation of the Most Great News, verily He doeth what He willeth. He giveth and He taketh away. He is praiseworthy in His acts and obeyed in His command.
O heedless one! The banner “He doeth what He willeth” is unfurled before His face, despite thee and those who cast behind them God’s Covenant and His Testament and disputed His verses. Hearken unto the call of the Wronged One: Leave the gulf of names, then make for the ocean of meanings and utterance. This is what thou art commanded by the Truth, the Knower of the unseen. By God’s life! Neither a name from among names, nor anything from among things shall profit thee except through this manifest Cause and this mighty News. Leave names and turn to the evidences that there may become clear and known to thee that which today is hidden from most. If thou possessest sight and hearing, ponder this word of the Primal Point—exalted be His glory: “I have written a gem concerning His remembrance, which is that He shall not be known through any reference nor through what hath been revealed in the Bayan.” After such a perfect and decisive word, is it possible to cling to the Bayan and be deprived of its Source? Nay, by His true Self! From this blessed word, argument through the Bayan is forbidden, and in the Most Great Manifestation mention of aught else was not and is not acceptable.
Today the Point of the Bayan uttereth “Verily, I am the first of them that worship,” while ye are occupied with that which is unworthy of mention, although that same Point sacrificed His life in the path of this Most Great News and at all times spoke in remembrance of Him and was mindful and grieved for what would befall Him. The lamentation of the Bayan is raised on account of the oppressors’ tyranny, but hearing ears are lacking and penetrating vision is not to be found. Where were ye in the days when this Wronged One was beneath chains and fetters—at times in stocks and under judgment, and at times in the hands of the heedless? In the land of Mim there befell this Wronged One that which hath befallen no one before or since.
Were it not for the Glory, who would have spoken before all faces? And were it not for Him, who would have manifested the Cause of God, the Lord of existence? Say: Be fair, by God! He it is through Whom was hoisted the banner of ʿHe is God’ upon the highest standards, and before the faces of all peoples surged the ocean of divine knowledge. In times of hardship they are the first to deny God, and in times of ease they are the first to claim belief in Him. The Pen is bewildered and the Tablet is bewildered as to what to recount. Although this Most Great Revelation hath never needed mention of aught else to establish its Cause, yet in consideration of the people’s weakness, that which was recorded may guide the fair-minded to the horizon of the Cause and direct the seekers to the true Ka’bah. For four months in the presence of the Sultan, We endured such torments that pen and ink are powerless to describe, and the tongue is unable to recount.
Say: O company of the heedless! Today proofs and evidences circle round, yet veils of fancy and idle imagination have prevented eyes from beholding. Throughout all those grievous days, Mirza Yahya remained secure and protected beneath pavilions of grandeur, along with his wives and children, in utmost comfort. Every fair-minded and informed person beareth witness to this. On the day of separation, We left him with his wives and children in perfect health and well-being, and departed. The reason for this is clear and evident to the fair-minded. Not a single blow befell him or those with him. The truthful witnesses are those souls who are now present and visible in Cyprus. Say: O concourse of the heedless! Hearken unto the call of the Wronged One, and deprive not yourselves of the effulgent rays of the Orb of justice, equity, truthfulness and sincerity.
If the fault of this Wronged One be the verses of God and the manifestation of His clear tokens, this matter hath ever been within the grasp of His might. Verily, He raised Me up when I was seated, the hand of His loving-kindness stirred Me when I was asleep, and He caused Me to speak forth amongst His servants when I was silent. He, verily, is the Ordainer, the All-Wise. He commanded Me to raise a call betwixt earth and heaven. My proof is that which hath appeared and shall appear through Me, and My evidence is My rising up to proclaim this Cause and to reveal that which I have been bidden by Him, in such wise that neither the might of the world nor the clamor of the nations hath deterred Me.
Have mercy upon yourselves and upon the Wronged One, through Whom God’s sovereignty, power, grandeur and might have been made manifest. He hath revealed the Cause before the faces of the princes and kings, and hath delivered unto them the messages of God, His laws, His commandments; and in this He desired naught save the reformation of the world and the extinguishing of the fire of hatred and animosity in the hearts of the peoples. If the heedless ones would observe with justice, they would comprehend from Whose presence came the Tablets that were sent to the Primal Point. Verily, today this Wronged One declareth the Cause through that which hath been sent down from Him and revealed from His presence, and calleth all unto the Truth. Blessed are the just, blessed are the discerning, and joy be to them that have attained.
Section 2: “By the life of God! The deniers…”
By the life of God! The deniers of the Bayan, be they Hadi or others, are not aware of the root of the Cause, for they were not with Us. Would that they had been vouchsafed but one drop from the ocean of knowledge! They cling to names while remaining deprived of Him Who raised them up and gave them life. Say: The names shall profit you not, nor that which ye possess of idle fancies and vain imaginings. By the Truth of God! The Possessor hath come with manifest sovereignty. Take ye what hath appeared from the Truth, and leave what the people possess. This is what ye have been commanded by God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. Say: Cast away what ye possess of idle fancies. By God! The Sun of Certitude hath dawned from the horizon of your Lord’s Will, He Who hath power over all that was and shall be.
Behold the Tree and its fruits with your own eyes, and the Light and its radiance, and the Sun and its rays. Beware lest ye cast behind your backs the counsel of God. Take hold of it with the power granted by Him and the sovereignty conferred by Him. Verily, He aideth whom He willeth through His command “Be, and it is!” We have sent down from the heaven of grace that which hath illumined the kingdom of wisdom and utterance, and whereby eyes have been solaced. Blessed is he who hath clung to the verses of God, which have filled all regions. Say: Read ye what hath been sent down from the heaven of your Lord’s Will to the princes and divines. Should anyone desire to witness with his own eyes the sovereignty and power of God, let him purify himself from the mention of all else and present himself before the Divine Countenance, that he might hear and see that for which the Manifestations of Justice and Daysprings of Knowledge died in their yearning.
I know not by what path he who hath turned away hath directed himself, by what proof he hath established his claims, or by what evidence he denieth Him Who from the earliest days hath been calling out in the name of God, the Lord of the Promised Day. Say: Fear God, and follow not the ways of those who have denied the Witness and the Witnessed. By the life of God! When the verses were sent down from the heaven of Will, the Primal Point prostrated himself and said: “I believe in Thee, O Sovereign of existence!” Say: This is a Revelation to which none before or after can comprehend except to a prescribed measure. Say: Hear what the tongue of the All-Merciful hath spoken in the Bayan: “He Whom God shall make manifest hath the right to reject him who is not above anyone on earth.” Beware lest thou deny Him through Whose mention the Books of God, the Lord of the unseen and the seen, have been adorned.
Although it beseemeth not one like Me to adduce proof of His Cause through mention of aught else, yet when We perceived the weakness and frailty of the servants, We mentioned that which was revealed aforetime as a mercy from Us unto them. Verily thy Lord is the All-Bountiful, the Mighty, the All-Loving. Say: Fear God, O opposer, and be not of those who violated God’s Covenant and His Testament by following every veiled barking one. Hearken unto the Call which hath been raised from the Most Sublime Horizon in this Prison which hath been named the Most Great Prison by the Lord of eternity. He calleth thee for the sake of God and counseleth thee since He seeth thee wandering in the wilderness of passion. Verily thy Lord is the Truth, the Knower of the unseen. We make mention of thee and guide thee for the sake of God and desire from thee no recompense. We have opened before thy face the door of grace that thou mayest enter and behold with thine own eyes the Sun of knowledge and justice from God, the Lord of the Kingdom and the Realm.
Hear once again in the Persian tongue the call of the Blessed Tree, perchance thou mayest turn towards the House of God and sanctify thyself from idle fancies, vain imaginings and ancient tales. Throughout the ages, the Shi’ih sect engaged in disputation amongst themselves until finally they pronounced each other infidels. Now consider: what was the glory of that sect, and what became their recompense on the Day of God? Reflect with fairness: By My life! Until this time the true meaning of divine unity hath not been understood, nor hath anyone previously attained unto it. If thou desirest to understand, sanctify thyself from all thou hast heard, then ask God, thy Lord, the Lord of the Throne and of the earth, and the Lord of the last and the first, that He may cast upon thee that which shall deliver thee from the chains of self and passion, and guide thee to His straight path.
O people of the Bayan! Cleave ye unto the Book of the Temples which the All-Merciful hath sent down unto His Name, the Judge. Verily, it is the hidden knowledge, the treasured secret, and the preserved symbol which God hath deposited in the heart of him whom He named the Judge in the kingdom of the Bayan. Every soul must look into that Book, for He hath named it the hidden and treasured knowledge. One must ponder upon the cause of its revelation and the reason for its appearance, that haply they may attain unto that which God intended for His servants.
Glory be to God! Despite the entreaty of the Primal Point—may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for His sake—and His testament enjoining all to oppose not the Most Great Revelation, yet some, styling themselves mirrors, others claiming to be successors, and yet others calling themselves guardians, remain deprived of the Truth. Soon, like the sect before them, titles such as Chief and Noble will emerge, and perchance even a fourth pillar will be found.
Say: O ye who turn aside! Hearken unto the Wronged One. Let not the Bayan keep you from the Purpose of all worlds. Say: By the life of God! Neither the Bayan nor what the people possess will profit you except through the Mother Book which speaketh at the final return. The Owner hath come, and sovereignty belongeth unto God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting.
If any soul fail to comprehend the purpose of the Book of the Temples, he should present himself before Us and become acquainted with its meaning, that he may enlighten the people of the Bayan, perchance they might find a way unto the Truth. In this Day, the Bayan and all else are contingent upon acceptance. Some, through the word Mustaghath, remain deprived of the river of divine mercy and the ocean of heavenly wisdom. Say: O heedless ones of the world! This word too was from the Bayan; by the words of the Point it is not permissible to cite it as proof. His exalted Word declares: Beware, beware lest thou be veiled by what was revealed in the Bayan. Repeatedly hath He said: Let not the Bayan and what is therein deprive you from the Sovereign of existence and the Lord of the seen and unseen.
After the mention of Mustaghath He declareth: Should He appear at this very moment, I would be the first to worship Him. And in another place He saith: None knoweth the time of the Revelation save God. Whenever it cometh to pass, all must acknowledge the Point of Truth and render thanks unto God. Some were and are unaware. Say: O servants! While time remaineth, strive that ye may attain unto that for which ye were created from nothingness.
Reflect upon the ignorance of the Guide at a time when the Ocean of divine utterance is manifest and visible, and the Sun of evidence is dawning from the horizon of the heaven of Will, manifest and apparent. Yet His followers have been commanded to reject Him, and now they are consumed by the fire of hatred and rancor, and perceive it not. Say: O heedless one! Again and again have We proclaimed that the Divine Lote-Tree hath appeared with innumerable fruits, and the Sun of Truth hath dawned from the horizon of the heaven of bounty. Behold with thine own eyes and hearken with thine own ears. If this Cause be denied, then by My life, no cause would be worthy of acceptance.
To this testifieth every seeing one and every just and knowing soul. Were the Point of the Bayan (may the life of all else be sacrificed for His sake) present in these days, He would be engaged in writing before His face. Say: Cast away idle fancies and vain imaginings, and take what hath come to you from God, the Self-Subsisting, the All-Compelling. For the sake of God, let the possessors of justice and fairness—namely those souls who possess hearing and sight and are endowed with heart and mind—journey to the island and then to this land, that perchance they may be adorned with the ornament of justice and fairness and may speak the truth.
The deniers are deprived of the eyes of sincerity, purity, justice and fairness, and are occupied with former lies and calumnies. The Book of Certitude was specifically revealed in the presence of the Uncle (upon him be the Most Glorious Beauty of God), and therein is mentioned the circumstances of this Wronged One’s imprisonment and journey. Yet they have attributed it to another. Say: O heedless one! Ask of the Afnan, that it may become clear and evident unto thee.
One of the kinsmen who was named Muhammad-Hasan came to this land and upon his return was bearing seventy Tablets for the servants of God. After arriving in the land of Ta, they imprisoned him and then sent him to a known village where he ascended. Those Tablets were stolen by one of the women of that land and sent to her sister who resided in the land of Ta. God alone knoweth what she did with them—whether she gave them out in her own name or in the name of Mirza Yahya.
By God’s life! He was not with Us and was unaware of this matter. A grave error appeared from him in that he sent a leaf that was from the Friend and attributed to Him to the house of the enemy for the sake of worldly glory, and then he turned away and clung to another. His actions are known and evident to most. He is unable to read a single Tablet, yet he hath so added to the imaginings of the deluded ones that none but God is aware of it. Verily He heareth and seeth, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. He was not with Us and was unaware; they were elsewhere. In any case, he became disappointed in his deed and turned to another.
Glory be to God! Sixty years of his life have passed, and until now he hath not attained to what is befitting. Love of the world and station induced him to commit that which caused the sighs of those near unto God to rise and the tears of the sincere ones to flow. It is reported that he was also in search of the Book of Certitude to obtain it. It is not known what scheme he had devised for it and what he intended. We beseech God to assist him to return, to repent, and to submit. Verily He is the Ever-Forgiving, the Merciful, the Most Generous. And He is the All-Bountiful, the Munificent, the Mighty, the Kind.
Say: O concourse of the heedless! The Point crieth out at this moment and saith: Have mercy, O people of the Bayan! By God! He hath appeared for Whose sake I sacrificed My life. I exhort you, counsel you, and enjoin upon you to behold His signs with your own eyes and to hearken with your own ears unto that which hath been sent down from the heaven of His will. Fear God, and reject not the truth by virtue of what ye possess. Reflect by what proof ye believed and by what evidence ye turned unto My countenance and took hold of My Book. By My life! The pavilion of glory hath been raised, and the tabernacle of grandeur pitched. Ye have attained unto a Day the like of which the eye of creation hath never beheld. Know ye His station. Do ye not see the Banner of the Bayan exalted upon the most sublime horizon? Do ye not behold the Standard of “There is no God but Him” amidst all religions?
Cast aside what ye possess. By the life of God! A single word of that which hath been sent down in truth from the heaven of His grace cannot be equaled. Ascend ye the steps of names that ye may perchance attain unto the heaven of inner meanings.
This is not the day of names. O people of Baha! The Wronged One hath become a victim of injustice, for the unjust ones of the world have transgressed beyond all bounds and have clung to iniquity. Today all must aid the Cause of God through purity and detachment. The penetration and influence of the Word dependeth upon the piety and detachment of its speaker. Some souls content themselves with words alone, yet the truthfulness of words is conditional upon deeds. Through deeds is one’s station and rank made manifest. Words too must accord with that which hath proceeded from the mouth of God’s Will in His Tablets. Were some souls to ponder upon what hath outwardly transpired, they would not have deprived the essence of their hearing from what behooveth them by heeding the words of certain liars and calumniators.
Section 3: “This Wronged One, by order of His Majesty…”
This Wronged One, by order of His Majesty the Sultan, journeyed from the Land of Ta to Iraq, accompanied by representatives from both the Persian and Russian embassies. Some time after Our arrival, Mirza Yahya appeared. Consider: had there been any place of safety other than the shadow of God, he would surely have turned to it. Furthermore, when We migrated from Zawra to the Great City, after informing the Vali, We proceeded in accordance with the ordinances of the Sublime State. At the time of departure, We summoned Yahya and bade him proceed to Persia, that he might safeguard the Writings of the Point which had been collected with great difficulty from various quarters. After Our departure, he abandoned the Writings and proceeded to Mosul with an Arab, where he awaited the arrival of the exiles from the Land. When We arrived, he joined Us.
Judge ye fairly by God! Had he observed a place of greater security and comfort than the shade of the Divine Lote-Tree, he would surely have turned thereunto. Say: O people of the Bayan! Reflect upon that which hath appeared in truth, then judge with fairness concerning that which hath befallen this Wronged One in the path of God, the Lord of all worlds. Despite these clear indications and manifest signs, they have said what the oppressors never said and done what the idolaters never did. During that migration seventy souls were present, and he was with that company day and night. Nevertheless, he wrote to some that he had not been with the group, and those embodiments of vain imaginings accepted this. In brief, whithersoever We turned, he came and joined Us. Were they to ponder upon that which hath streamed forth from the Most Exalted Pen and that which hath outwardly come to pass, all would turn from oppression and tyranny unto justice and fairness. Say:
O Hadi! Fear God, fear God, and follow not thy desires, nor the calumnies of those who have broken God’s covenant and testament. Observe, observe: the ocean is before thy face. Hearken, hearken: the call hath been raised between earth and heaven. Return unto the signs of God and His mercy, that perchance they may draw thee to the horizon of glory and thou mayest find thyself seated upon the throne of justice from God, the Lord of bounty and grace.
Some time ago We revealed a prayer from the Supreme Pen and sent it to the Land of Sad, that Hadi might recite it, detached from all save God, that he might attain unto return. However, the deaf rock was not moved by the breezes of the utterance of the Lord of Names, and received no portion from the waves of the ocean of bounty. We have commanded that prayer to be written in this Tablet and sent forth, for its recitation is most efficacious. We beseech God to aid all to do what He loveth and approveth.
O thou who soarest in My atmosphere, who turnest toward the lights of My countenance, and drinkest the choice wine of My utterance! Hear My call: verily there is no God but He, the Mighty, the Commander, the All-Wise. Some time ago thy letter arrived, and an answer was revealed and sent forth from the divine Kingdom of utterance. The friends in the cities and regions were each illumined by the splendors of the Sun of Providence. By the life of God, they attained unto that which hath no like nor equal. We beseech Him to grant all the most great steadfastness.
O Nabil, O Nabil! Upon thee be My glory and My loving-kindness. Through divine power and celestial sovereignty We have arisen before the faces of all. Chains did not prevent Us, imprisonment did not hinder Us, events did not cause Us fear, might and clamor and ranks and hosts did not impede Us, until the Sun of the Cause shone forth from the horizon of every city, and through the power of the Supreme Pen and the influence of the Most Exalted Word, in every land the signs became manifest and the fragrances of utterance were diffused. Now from behind the veil a band hath emerged and committed that which made the very essence of truth to weep. O thou who clingest to the cord of My bounty! Despite the waves of the ocean of utterance and the effulgences of the Sun of Truth, the deniers did not turn, nor did they attain unto what was befitting.
Say: My God, my God! Praise be to Thee for having sent down Thy verses and manifested Thy clear tokens, and for having illumined the hearts of them that are nigh unto Thee with the light of Thy knowledge, and of the sincere ones with the radiance of Thy utterance. I beseech Thee by the ocean of Thy grace and the heaven of Thy generosity, and by that which was treasured in Thy knowledge and hidden in the stronghold of Thy protection, and by the pearls concealed in the treasuries of Thy Most Exalted Pen, and by the lights of Thy countenance, O Lord of all beings and Sovereign of the throne on high and of the dust beneath, to aid the deniers to turn, and the rejecters to acknowledge, and the heedless to return unto the court of Thy mercy and to repent before the gate of Thy pardon and forgiveness. Verily Thou art the Ever-Forgiving, the Pardoner, the All-Bountiful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
He is the Hearing, the Answering
Say: Glory be to Thee, O my God! I turn to Thee in repentance, for verily Thou art the Forgiving, the Bountiful. Glory be to Thee, O my God! I testify that I have committed that which hath rent asunder the heavens of justice and split the earth of equity. Have mercy upon me through Thy bounty, for Thou art the Most Merciful of the merciful.
I am he through whose tyranny the sighs of Thy sincere ones have ascended, and the tears of Thy trusted ones have fallen. I am he whose disobedience hath torn the veil of Thy sanctity and caused the people of the cities of Thy knowledge and grace to lament. I testify that in transgression I have surpassed the wicked among Thy creatures and have wrought that which hath caused the hearts of Thy chosen ones to melt. Have mercy upon me, O my Lord and my King, then forgive me through Thy grace, for Thou art the Forgiving, the Bountiful.
I testify that I have committed that which hath caused the radiant faces in the highest Paradise to pale, and the leaves of the loftiest Garden to fall. I beseech Thee, O Shelter of the fearful, Refuge of the distressed, and Ultimate Hope of the mystics, to blot out my misdeeds which have prevented me from entering the depths of the ocean of Thy bounty and favor, and from stepping upon the carpet of Thy glory and bestowals.
Alas! Alas! With the sword of my faithlessness I have cut down the tree of my hope, and with the fire of my rebellion I have burned the veil of my chastity and station. Where is the face, O my God, wherewith I may turn toward the lights of Thy countenance, and where is the worthiness whereby I may draw nigh unto the ocean of Thy pardon and mercy? Thou didst create me to exalt and elevate Thy Word, yet I have abased and brought it low. I am he who, O my God, hath denied Thy favor, disputed Thy signs, and rejected Thy proof and Thy testimony.
Thou seest, O my God, how my tears prevent me from the wonders of Thy remembrance and praise, and my sighs bear witness to my heedlessness and error before Thy knowledge. I am he who hath not been ashamed before the Dayspring of Thy verses, the Dawning-Place of Thy clear tokens, the Repository of Thy knowledge, and the Source of Thy commandments and ordinances. Alas! Alas! for my transgressions which have kept me far from the shore of the ocean of Thy nearness, and my sins which have prevented me from standing before the door of Thy grace.
Wilt Thou, O my God, deprive one who hath confessed his tyranny and acknowledged his sins, and hath testified to Thy abundant generosity and great bounty? Alas! Alas! The ocean of error turneth toward the ocean of Thy bestowal, and the sea of heedlessness and waywardness seeketh the ocean of Thy pardon and mercy.
By Thy might, O Desired One of the world and Beloved of the nations, I wish to weep and lament over myself throughout the duration of Thy dominion and kingdom. How can I not weep? I weep for my tyranny in days wherein the Sun of Thy justice hath shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of Thy will. How can I not weep? I weep for my remoteness from the court of Thy nearness, my error at the descent of Thy bestowal, and my denial at the manifestations of Thy favor and blessings.
I am he who, O my God, hath fled from the shadow of Thy mercy and taken for himself a station among Thy enemies. Would that I had been content with that! But I uttered that which caused the hearts of the people of the pavilion of Thy glory and majesty to tremble, and blood to flow from the eyes of the people of the cities of Thy knowledge and wisdom.
Glory be to Thee, O my God and my Lord! How many a day didst Thou turn toward this servant and mention him through Thy bounty and call him to the ocean of Thy mercy and the horizon of Thy grace, while he turned away from Thee and Thy will and denied the wonders of Thy favors and gifts. O Lord! Have mercy upon him who hath no one to show him mercy except Thee, no refuge save Thee, no deliverance except through Thy bounty, and no escape save through Thy power.
I testify, O my God, that through my tyranny the fruits of the Lote-Tree of the utmost boundary have changed, and the leaves of the highest Paradise have yellowed. Thou seest me, O my God, turning unto Thee, remorseful for that which my hands, my tongue, my heart, my pen have wrought. I beseech bounty, O Lord of existence, and generosity, O Bestower of blessings. I testify, O my God, to Thy grace and favor, and to my wrongdoing and misbelief among Thy chosen ones and trustees.
Alas, alas! Through my wrongdoing, earthquakes have seized the tribes of the cities of justice and equity, and then those who circled round Thy throne, O Lord of all beings and Master of the throne and dust. I beseech Thee by Thy sovereignty, Thy majesty and Thy power which have encompassed Thy earth and Thy heaven, and by Thy ancient pardon and Thy all-pervading grace, to ordain for me that which will purify me from the defilement of my deeds which have prevented me from drawing nigh unto Thy most holy court and Thy sacred station.
I testify that I was among the worshippers of vain imaginings while supposing myself to be of the assured ones, and was an idolater while deeming myself among the believers. Alas, alas! My deeds have blackened my face in Thy presence, and my transgressions have barred me from the door of Thy bounty which was opened to all in Thy earth and Thy heaven. Alas, alas! The arrows of my idle fancies have pierced the body of Thy Cause, and the swords of my disobedience have fallen upon the temple of Thy Will. Alas, alas! Through the fire of my heedlessness the hearts of the near ones have been consumed, and through my wrongdoing all things have lamented.
Will returning unto Thee bring me nigh unto the court of Thy glory, and will turning toward Thy gate deliver me from my self and its rebellion, and free me from the evil of its deeds, its wrongdoing and its heedlessness? Nay, by Thy might and Thy glory! The things created in the kingdom of creation profit me not except through Thy command and judgment. O Lord! I testify at this moment to the sanctification of Thy Being from all similitudes and the exaltation of Thy Essence above mention and utterance. Thou art the All-Glorious, the Most High, in the beginning and in the end.
My God, my God! Save me by the arm of Thy power from the pit of self and passion, and deliver me from the fire of tyranny and transgression. I know not, O my God, with what countenance to turn to Thee, after knowing that my trespasses and errors have come between me and Thy good-pleasure and nearness, and have prevented me from appearing before the throne of Thy justice.
I remember Thee, O my God, in the evening, and I call upon Thee, O my Beloved, at daybreak, and I supplicate Thee, O my Master, at dawn, by Thy name the All-Bountiful, by Thy name the Ever-Flowing, and by Thy name the All-Giving. By Thy might and the penetrating influence of the breaths of Thy revelation and the power of Thy Will, my hope hath well-nigh been cut off because of my evil deeds and actions.
O Lord! I am Thy servant and the son of Thy servant and the son of Thy handmaiden. I have hastened to the ocean of forgiveness with a sin greater than the mountains and vaster than the field of imagination. I beseech Thee, O Most High and Self-Sufficing, by the wonders of Thy bounty and grace and mercy which have preceded the earth and the heavens, and by Thy pardon which hath encompassed all contingent beings. There is none other God but Thee, the Lord of names and attributes.
BH00362: Praise be to God Who hath perfumed the world…
Section 1: “Praise be to God Who hath perfumed…”
In the Name of our Most Holy, Most Great, Most Exalted and Most Glorious Lord!
Praise be to God Who hath perfumed the world with the fragrances of His revelation and illumined the hearts of the sincere with the light of His knowledge. Blessings, peace, glory and splendor be upon His loved ones and chosen ones who have arisen to serve His Cause, whom neither the swords of His enemies nor the power of the wayward among His servants could deter. They have arisen with the power of detachment and aided God, the Lord of creation. No might or power could weaken them. These are servants through whom the decree of unity was established, the banners of detachment were raised, and the light of proof shone forth through the manifestation of His glorious and wondrous Name.
Glorified art Thou, O my God, my Lord, and my Support! Purify the ears of Thy servants with the waters of Thy bounty that they may hearken unto Thy call, and illumine their eyes to behold the horizon of Thy Revelation. O Lord! Thou seest how the Shi’ih party boasted of their knowledge and learning, yet when the promise was fulfilled and the light of the Cause shone forth, they denied Thy truth and disputed Thy signs, until they pronounced death upon the Dayspring of Thy grace, the Source of Thy clear tokens, and the Fountainhead of Thy commandments and ordinances. O Lord! Sanctify the hearts of Thy sincere ones from their tales and remembrances, then adorn them with the ornament of that which hath flowed from the Pen of Thy justice and the Reed of Thy utterance. O Lord! Thy favor hath encompassed and preceded all, and Thy mercy hath encompassed and preceded all. Ordain for those who seek Thee among Thy loved ones and those who are nigh unto Thee among Thy creation that which will cause them to be detached from all else save Thee and to hold fast unto that which Thou hast commanded them in Thy Book. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the Powerful, and worthy of answering prayer.
And further: the letters of that honored brother arrived, each one a clear testament and faithful witness to his orientation, adherence and devotion to God, our Lord, the Self-Subsisting. After their reading, they were taken to His presence and presented before the countenance of the Lord of all beings, attaining the honor of His attention. This is what the Tongue of Utterance spoke forth in the Kingdom of knowledge. These are His mighty words and His glorious proof:
In the Name of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise!
O Mustafa! Upon thee be the peace of God, the Lord of earth and Creator of heaven. The servant in attendance before the Wronged One hath presented thy letter before His face. We have heard it and answer thee with clear verses that will draw thee near unto God, the Lord of all worlds. This is a Day wherein the Herald calleth out at every moment:
“The Kingdom belongeth to God, the Lord of the Day of Judgment!”
This is a Day in which every steadfast one hath attained, every ear hath heard, and every seeing one hath witnessed that which hath appeared, shone forth, become manifest and radiant from the horizon of God’s will, the Lord of the mighty throne. He desireth naught save the sanctification of His servants and their purification from tyranny, indecency, wickedness and transgression. He, verily, is the Most Merciful of the merciful. When thou hearest the call from the Most Exalted Horizon and drinkest the choice wine of utterance from the cup of the bounty of the Lord of the Kingdom of Names, say:
My God, my God! I testify that Thou didst create Thy servants for none other than the recognition of the Dayspring of Thy signs and the Dawning-Place of Thy clear tokens, and didst fashion ears but to hearken to the shrill voice of Thy Pen, and eyes but to behold the lights of the horizon of Thy Revelation, and hands but to grasp Thy Book through Thy power and sovereignty, and hearts but to turn toward the Kaaba of Thy knowledge, might and command, and feet but to tread Thy path. I beseech Thee by the faces that were reddened with blood in Thy path, and by the breasts that were pierced by the arrows of the enemy in exaltation of Thy Word, and by the hearts that were not deterred by the oppressors’ might nor frightened by the cannons of the idolaters, who turned to the Manifestation of Thy Self in Thy Name and circled round His will in their longing to attain Thy presence, to aid me in all conditions to hold fast to the cord of Thy Cause and to arise to serve Thee and make mention of Thee among Thy servants.
O Lord! I am Thy servant and the son of Thy servant and the son of Thy handmaiden. I find myself bewildered by Thy Revelation, Thy dawning, and Thy signs that have encompassed Thy earth and heaven. I beseech Thee to adorn my head with the crown of detachment and my temple with the robe of humility and submissiveness before the appearance of Thy commandments and ordinances. O Lord! Assist me through Thy bounty and generosity to attain the wisdom wherewith Thou hast bidden me in Thy Tablets and Scriptures, then enable me to achieve such steadfastness as Thou hast sent down its decree from the heaven of Thy knowledge and wisdom. O Lord! Strengthen this servant to arise to serve Thee with wisdom and utterance, then aid him with the power that encompasseth all things and the might that subdueth all existence.
By Thy glory, O God of the world and desire of the nations! My soul findeth no tranquility save through Thy favors and loving-kindness, nor doth mine eye find solace except by witnessing Thy signs. I beseech Thee by Thy Most Great Name to inscribe me among the companions of the Crimson Ark, which the Herald of Thy Cause announced unto all creation and which Thou hast made specially for the people of Baha. I testify that Thou hast never disappointed those who have sought Thee, nor dost Thou disappoint those who have placed their hopes in Thee. There is none other God but Thee, the Forgiving, the Merciful.
O Mustafa! With a wondrous voice, hearken unto the call of the Wronged One. Today the call is raised high, the light is radiant, the fragrance of utterance is diffused, the Kaaba of God is manifest, and the gate of bounty is flung open. Blessed are they who have sanctified themselves from the delusions of the former people and whatsoever tales and idols they possess, and who have, with pure hearing and hallowed sight, turned their attention and gazed upon that which hath appeared. Though in these days receptive ears and penetrating eyes, like justice and fairness, are rare—nay, non-existent.
The first thing that is incumbent upon the sincere seeker is sanctification and detachment from the tales, proofs and arguments to which the Shi’ih party hath clung. By God! They are in manifest error. Their remembrances are but calumnies. Heedlessness hath reached such a point that they curse from their pulpits the Manifestations of God’s attributes and names, and they perceive it not. They do that from which the oppressors of the earth have sought and seek refuge with God. We beseech God to make thee aware and to aid thee in the promotion of His Cause. The promotion of that which hath been sent down in the Book of Baha from the Most Exalted Pen hath been and is through deeds and character. These hosts are observed to be mightier and more valiant than the armies of the world.
Convey My greetings to the friends and say: The hosts of God today are goodly deeds and praiseworthy character. Hold ye fast unto them. By My life! Through these hosts the cities of hearts and minds have been and will be conquered. In this Most Great Revelation, the most great bounty is manifest and the supreme favor is evident. We have forbidden all to engage in cursing and execration, and likewise from deeds that cause grief and are the cause of anxiety and sorrow. O Mustafa! We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to aid thee in that which will cause thy remembrance to endure among all remembrances and thy name among all names, and to adorn thee with the word of His good-pleasure. Verily, He is the Mighty, the All-Bountiful. There is no God but Him, the Single, the One, the Powerful, the Most Generous.
Praise be to God that on this night, which is the fifteenth night of the month of Sha’ban the Glorified, they have attained unto the traces of the Most Exalted Pen and likewise unto the waves of the ocean of utterance of our Lord, the Most Merciful. Would that the people of the world might attain unto a drop from the ocean of divine justice and be illumined by the splendors of the Day-Star of fairness. Glory be to God! The essence of justice is manifest and the reality of grace is evident before all faces, and yet the unfair ones of the world, namely the people of Iran, are turning to vain imaginings and are turned away from the Lord of all beings.
Through error they have passed by the eternal gift and through tyranny they are deprived of divine forgiveness and justice. They reckoned and knew themselves to be the best of mankind and the most excellent among nations, yet when the Finger of Power drew aside the veil, the opposite became manifest and apparent. They are bereft of human attributes and are recorded as companions of the Fire in the Most Great Scene. God is witness and aware that whenever this evanescent servant contemplates the divine favors, grief seizes him to such a degree that he nearly perisheth, inasmuch as every soul hath been and is a seeker of good and hopeful of grace; nevertheless they are observed to be deprived and forbidden.
Section 2: “My God, my God! Aid Thy servants…”
My God, my God! Aid Thy servants to recognize what Thou hast intended for them through Thy bounty and generosity, and inspire them with what Thou hast purposed for them through Thy grace and bestowal. I beseech Thee by the lights of Thy countenance and the mysteries of Thy knowledge that Thou disappoint them not of the wonders of Thy grace and bounty. Thou art, verily, the Omnipotent over what Thou willest, and within Thy grasp are the reins of all who are in the heavens and on earth.
And whereas mention was made of the souls aforesaid—upon them be the Baha of God—after their names had been presented in the most holy and inviolable Presence, these exalted words shone forth and were revealed from the Dayspring of the Will of the Lord of names and attributes. This is that which the Tongue of the Desired One hath uttered in remembrance of Jinab-i-Abu’l-Zafar Sahib—upon him be the Baha of God. Exalted be His utterance and glorified His proof.
In the Name of God, the One, the Single, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise
O Abu’l-Zafar! The Wronged One makes mention of thee from the prison with that which will draw thee to God, the Lord of all worlds. He hath verily revealed in the Book that which guideth all parties unto His path and teacheth them what will draw them nigh unto Him. He is the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous. Victory, in the first instance, is belief in God and recognition of the Dawning-Place of His verses, the Dayspring of His Revelation and the Repository of His all-encompassing knowledge. The servant who is present hath brought a letter from him who is named Mustafa, upon him be the glory of God and His mercy, wherein mention was made of thee. We have made mention of thee with a mention that attracteth the hearts of them that have turned towards God. The Wronged One counseleth His loved ones with that which will exalt their stations among His servants. Blessed is he who hath hearkened unto the call and acted in accordance with that which hath been commanded by the Ordainer, the All-Wise. We have made mention of those who turned towards the Countenance both before and after they turned, as every just and perceiving one doth testify.
And this is what the Tongue of the Beloved hath spoken unto him who is named Khayru’d-Din:
He is the One Who gazeth from His most exalted station
O thou who hast turned towards God! Thy name was present in the prison. We have made mention of thee with that which causeth thee to find the sweet-scented breezes of thy Lord’s loving-kindness, the All-Informed. Say: My God, my God! Praise be unto Thee for having given me to drink from the Kawthar of knowledge through the hands of Thy bounty and for having made mention of me through Thy Most Exalted Pen in such wise as nothing created on earth can equal, through Thy name, the All-Powerful. I beseech Thee, O Thou through Whose Most Exalted Word the names were attracted and through Whose Most Glorious Name all who are in earth and heaven were subdued, to make me one who speaketh Thy praise amongst Thy creation and uttereth Thy glorification amidst Thy servants.
Then cause me to be steadfast in Thy love in such wise that neither the veils of the oppressors nor the might of the pharaohs shall hinder me. O my Lord! Thou seest the weak one clinging to Thy Name, the Mighty, the distant one to Thy Name, the Near One, and the poor one to Thy Name, the Strong, the Dominant, the Powerful. O my Lord! I am he who hath cast aside all else but Thee, holding fast unto Thee and unto what Thou hast revealed in Thy Book. I beseech Thee not to deprive me of what lieth with Thee. Thou art, verily, the Omnipotent over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the Great.
And this is what hath been revealed for Muhammad Isma’il:
He is the One Who speaketh before all faces
O Isma’il! Reflect upon the diverse parties of the world, what they believe in and what proofs and evidences they cling to. The Shi’ih party rejected the divine counsels, occupied themselves with their desires and were debarred from the Lord of all beings. When He Who was their heart’s Desire, for Whom they had waited throughout centuries and ages, appeared, they pronounced Him an infidel and martyred Him through their tyranny. And now once again the deniers of the Bayan cling to the same vain imaginings and hold fast to the same suppositions. Say: My God, my God! I beseech Thee by the power through whose manifestation the power of the world was obliterated, and by the light of Thy countenance whereby the nations were illumined, to aid Thy servants to draw nigh unto the ocean of Thy knowledge and to turn unto the Dayspring of Thy bounty and the Treasury of Thy wisdom. Verily, Thou art the Ever-Flowing, the Omnipotent, the Forgiving, the Merciful.
O Siyyid Mustafa! Each of the mentioned souls has attained that which hath no peer or likeness. Convey greetings to the other friends on behalf of the Wronged One, and give them the glad-tidings of the effulgences of the Luminary of God’s grace, exalted be His glory, that they may rejoice and be numbered among the thankful ones. We counsel all to observe trustworthiness, righteousness, purity and faithfulness—hosts that are the helpers of the Truth and the cause of the exaltation of the Word of God. Praiseworthy character and goodly deeds have repeatedly flowed from the Pen of the Wronged One. Blessed are they whose paramount concern is the betterment of the world and the education of its peoples. He, verily, is the All-Knowing Expositor. There is none other God but He, the Single, the One, the Sovereign over all who are in the heavens and on earth.
O beloved of My heart! Under all conditions that honored one must observe wisdom, lest that which would disturb souls should appear. Wisdom is the cause of the salvation of the servants and likewise the means of their protection and preservation. I beseech God to illumine His loved ones with its lights and to adorn them with its traces. Our Lord is, verily, the Faithful Speaker and the Manifest Counsellor. I make mention of the friends of that land with spiritual and gracious remembrances, convey greetings to them, and beseech for them that which is the cause of elevation and the source of exaltation. Verily God, our Lord, is the Almighty, the Powerful, and worthy to answer prayers.
In response to the petition of the honored beloved, Haji Siyyid Mihdi, upon him be the eternal glory of God, and his wife, upon her be the glory of God, two Most Holy, Most Exalted Tablets were revealed and sent. God willing, may they drink and give others to drink from the Kawthar of utterance. The Branches of the Blessed Tree, may my spirit be a sacrifice unto the dust of their footsteps, send special greetings and express their favors. Glory, remembrance and praise be upon you and upon those with you who have drunk the wine of recognition from the hands of the bounty of their Lord, the Giving, the Generous.
The servant 15th of the month of Sha’ban the Great, 1306
BH01084: Praise and glory beseem the Almighty Lord Who…
He is the One Who speaketh in Justice!
Praise and glory beseem the Almighty Lord Who, in the midst of tribulations and while in the hands of enemies, proclaimed “Verily, I am the Lord of all beings.” The might of Pharaohs deterred Him not, nor did the power of tyrants hold Him back from His purpose. With the knowledge that He doeth whatsoever He willeth, He departed from the Realm of Eternity to the kingdom of creation, that He might quicken the dead through the divine breathings of revelation and heavenly inspirations, and lead them to the horizon of glory. The purpose of bearing countless afflictions and trials was that the world might be purified from the smoke of hatred and rancor, and that every soul might find itself in the seat of truth and the gathering-place of security.
O thou who soarest in the atmosphere of My knowledge! The religion of God and His prescribed Law have ever been the cause of love and unity, yet through misunderstanding they have become the source of enmity and discord. Strive that perchance this span-long world might be illumined with the light of harmony. From that which hath been sent down from the heaven of divine knowledge, it is clear and evident what the purpose and intention hath been—that the servants of the world might turn from bestial characteristics toward spiritual and luminous qualities, and become purified from unseemly deeds and actions.
Beseech thou God that no party like unto the Shi’ih sect might again appear in the world. O thou who gazest upon My countenance! I swear by the Sun of Truth that until now this Wronged One hath not revealed the hidden mysteries. All the claims of those people have been and are like unto Jabulqa and Jabulsa. They have failed to distinguish between God and His creation. They have not even perceived the fragrance of true unity, and yet they count themselves among the most exalted of all people. No deed is witnessed from them save corruption, rejection and malediction.
Beseech thou God to illumine the world with the light of justice and to assist and confirm His Majesty the Shah. Despite the impertinence of some in the early days, He hath repeatedly in recent years protected the oppressed from the tyranny of the ignorant—once in Ha and Mim, again in Qaf and Mim, and in other places, as when He graciously granted freedom to the prisoners in the Land of Ta.
My God, My God! Thou seest my state, my tribulation, my trials, my imprisonment and my sorrow. I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which Thou didst open the doors of hearts, and by the waves of the ocean of Thy utterance before all faces, to assist His Majesty the Shah in that which Thou lovest and art pleased with. Verily, Thou art the Lord of all beings and the Lord of the throne on high and of the dust below.
O My Nabil! Upon thee be My glory and loving-kindness! Thou art well aware of how this Wronged One hath, from the inception of this Cause until now, arisen before the faces of all with manifest power and might, without any veil or covering. Whensoever the Cause of God was exalted and the Day-Star of His Revelation shone forth, some heedless one would emerge from behind the veil and act in such wise as would cause the servants to hesitate. In the Land of Mystery, despite the manifestation of the mubahalih [spiritual contest], and the exaltation of the Word, Siyyid Muhammad-i-Isfahani rushed to Mushiru’d-Dawlih—upon him be the Glory of God—seeking refuge and requesting a daily stipend. By God! At this My heart, My Pen, and My very being lamented.
And now Isfahani, together with his companion, is present at the Threshold, engaged in plundering wealth, consumed by such flames of greed and passion that the Pen is powerless to describe. Poor trustworthiness writhes beneath the talons of his treachery, while piety, like the phoenix, remains hidden and unseen. Yet despite all the afflictions that have befallen Us and these endless tribulations, neither tongue nor pen is restrained. The oppression of the oppressors and the might of the aggressors have not prevented Us. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to aid those who have turned away to turn toward Him, and those who have denied to acknowledge Him. Verily, He is the Almighty, the Unconstrained.
Thy letter that thou didst send to this servant hath arrived. At that very moment, the Most Holy, Most Exalted Tablet was revealed from the heaven of the Divine Will, specifically for the aforementioned one—upon him be My glory. We beseech God to aid him to grasp it through His strength and His power. A blessed scroll was sent; peruse it and send copies thereof to the lands of Khah, Shahrud, and Mashhad, as well as to other cities. A volume of the Divine Book is being sent today from Ha [Haifa] that it may reach thee, and specifically for the names mentioned, wondrous, sublime and mighty verses have been revealed and dispatched. Would that they might understand from whence these verses are revealed and in what state they are revealed! By God! Were the people of the world to look with fairness, all would turn to the most exalted Summit. It is not known by what excuse the hesitant justify themselves.
By My life! Were the Primal Point [the Bab] present, He would surely arise before all faces and record that which descendeth from the Kingdom of grace and bounty. Say: O people! Look ye at My signs and that which hath proceeded from the ocean of My utterance. Verily, it will acquaint you with that which hath been hidden from you through His wisdom. He is verily the All-Patient, the Concealer, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. The signs of thy grief have saddened this Wronged One. The glances of My loving-kindness have ever been directed towards thee. To this all things bear witness. Hold fast unto that which We have revealed for thee aforetime. Look not to the people and their ways, but unto the Truth and His sovereignty. Thou hast ever been and continue to be remembered, to this the Mother Book beareth witness at this moment. Say: Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds!
As to what thou didst mention regarding thy nephew Muhammad-ʿAli—upon him be My glory—this dependeth upon thine own judgment and is acceptable in the sight of God. The glory that shineth from the horizon of this heaven be upon thee and upon those who are with thee, who love thee and hearken to thy words concerning the Cause of God, the Lord of the Mighty Throne and the Lord of this firm and impregnable Cause.
BH01333: Praise and glory befit those immersed in the ocean…
In the Name of the One Peerless God!
Praise and glory befit those immersed in the ocean of detachment who, in the darkness of these days, the oppression of the people, and amidst sorrows descending and griefs and troubles overwhelming, remained not deprived of turning towards the Ocean of Oneness and the Eternal Sun. The veils of names withheld them not from the Lord of all things. They left behind all names and turned to the ocean of inner meanings. These are servants who have drunk, in My Name the Self-Subsisting, of My choice-sealed wine. All else besides God hath ever been and remaineth in their sight as a handful of dust and ashes. Through His Name they were not debarred from its Possessor. They have arisen to champion His Cause with such steadfastness as hath caused the limbs of the opposers of the Bayan to quake. Glorified be His power, exalted be His majesty, and there is none other God but Him.
O thou who gazeth toward My horizon and unfurleth the banner of My victory through wisdom and utterance! I testify that thou hast sought to promote righteousness in all circumstances and hast counseled the servants unto piety and salvation. Blessed art thou and blessed is he who hath loved thee for My sake and hearkened unto thy word concerning My Cause. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to aid thee with the hosts of the seen and the unseen. Verily, He is the Protector of those who do good. His mercy hath preceded and His loving-kindness hath encompassed all. Blessed is he who hath been just in His Cause, and blessed is he who hath spoken with equity concerning that which hath been manifested from His presence.
O Abu’l-Fadl! Upon thee be My glory, My loving-kindness and My mercy. That which hath come to pass in that land is known and evident. Blessed is He Who hath prevented His chosen ones from corruption, tyranny and unseemly deeds, and hath commanded them to righteousness, uprightness and the fear of God. Praise be to God that ye were slain in His path but slew not. Counsel the loved ones in all circumstances to remain serene and tranquil, to improve the affairs of men, to refine souls, and to be characterized by trustworthiness, faith, chastity and virtue. Verily, We were with thee in Ha and Mim, and thy deeds therein gained the glory of My acceptance and the honor of My good-pleasure, and in the land of Ya in accordance with that which befitteth thee in the Cause of thy Lord, the Inspirer, the Compassionate, the Trustworthy.
Say: O servants! In truth it is spoken and in truth hear ye! God, exalted be His glory, hath ever gazed and continueth to gaze upon the hearts of His servants. All else—whether of land or sea, ornaments or colors—He hath relinquished to kings, sovereigns and rulers, for the banner of “He doeth what He willeth” hath ever shone resplendent before His Manifestation. That which is necessary today is obedience to government and adherence to wisdom. In truth, the reins of preservation, tranquility and assurance outwardly lie within the grasp of governmental authority. Thus hath God willed it and thus hath He ordained it. I swear by the Sun of Truth which shineth from the horizon of the Most Great Prison: One government official is, in the sight of God, more distinguished, more excellent and more merciful than a host of divines.
For that soul is occupied day and night in a service conducive to the peace and comfort of the people, while that host is engaged night and day in corruption, rejection, vilification, murder and pillage. For some time now in Iran, His Majesty the Shah—may God, the Blessed, the Most High, assist him—hath protected and continueth to protect these oppressed ones of the world from the evil of such souls. Nevertheless, they have not rested; each day they stir up some sedition and each day some tumult appeareth. It is hoped that one of the kings will, for the sake of God, arise to aid this oppressed community and thereby attain unto everlasting remembrance and eternal praise. God hath prescribed for this community the aid of those who help them, service to them, and faithfulness to their covenant. This community must arise under all conditions to serve their helper and ever hold fast to the cord of fidelity. Blessed is he who heareth and acteth, and woe unto those who forsake.
O Pen! Leave off all mention, trusting in God, the Self-Subsisting, the Eternal. Then make mention of him who ascended to the Supreme Companion with a crimson visage and was consumed by the fire of love in the City of Love, and say:
The first fragrance wafting from the musk of inner meanings and utterance be upon thee, O thou who didst sacrifice thy soul in the path of the All-Merciful! I testify that thou didst cast away idle fancies and didst turn with the light of certitude to the Dawning-Place of inspiration, and the attraction of the Call drew thee to the supreme horizon in days wherein the fire of hatred blazed in the breasts of those who cast away godliness and denied God’s proof, the Lord of all beings and the Lord of the Throne on high and of earth below. I beseech Thee, O Thou the Desire of the world, by this blood which was shed in Thy love, to forgive Thy servants who have been faithful to Thy Covenant and Testament and have acknowledged that which Thou didst reveal in Thy perspicuous Book. Praise be unto Thee, O God of the worlds!
BH01366: O thou who art present before the Wronged One!…
In the Name of the Lord of existence, from the Unseen and the Seen!
O thou who art present before the Wronged One! Hear once again His call. I swear by the Sun of utterance which hath shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of the Supreme Pen, were all who dwell on earth to attain unto the divine call in this spiritual springtime, all would turn from what they possess to what He possesseth, and would, with utmost joy and radiance, sacrifice their spirits in His path. Today the Sinai circleth round the throne of His Revelation, and the Herald of Grandeur calleth out from the horizon of the heaven of might, “Blessed art thou, O Earth,” for thou hast been honored by the footsteps of the Lord, the Self-Subsisting, and hast been illumined by the lights of the Sun of Truth.
O Muhammad-Baqir! Ismi Zayn, upon him be My glory and My loving-kindness, sent a letter to the Most Holy Court wherein mention was made of thee and the friends. Thus have ye been favored with the waves of the divine ocean of utterance. Blessed are ye and joy be unto you! Take ye the chalice of recognition from the hand of the bounty of your Lord, the All-Merciful, then drink therefrom despite every ignorant remote one and every doubting scholar.
Muhammad-Taqi, upon him be My glory, who hath taken his abode beneath My shadow, hath made and continueth to make mention of thee. We beseech God to ordain for each one that which is the cause of eternal life.
O Muhammad-Ibrahim, upon thee be My glory! In these days of sorrow, grief hath encompassed the Goal of all existence from every direction, for the claimants of love have manifested such tyranny as hath had and hath no parallel. They have shackled trustworthiness, truthfulness and sincerity. By the life of God! They have wrought that which hath caused the very essence of truth to weep.
O Ibrahim! The horizons are afflicted in the fire of discord. Today pure deeds are the helpers of His Cause, and true fear of God is its defender and aid. Convey My greetings to the friends in that land and counsel them to fear God and to detachment, that they may attain unto that which shall endure forever in the Book of God. Blessed art thou and blessed is he who hath attained unto My Day and hath drunk the choice wine of My utterance from the hand of My bounty.
O Muhammad-Mihdi! He who loveth Me hath mentioned thee, and We make mention of thee. Verily thy Lord is the All-Knowing Remembrancer. The deeds of the peoples have darkened the world. God, exalted be His glory, hath created mankind for the betterment of the world and the elevation of their stations, that all might become ready to hearken unto a Word at the mention of which both pen and ink stand powerless. However, a few have manifested such wickedness as hath had and hath no equal. Like unto wolves they have rent asunder His loved ones, hamstrung His she-camel, and caused His ark to sink. Fie upon them and their faithlessness! O friends! Hold fast unto wisdom and unto that which God hath chosen. Act in accordance with that which draweth nigh the servants and causeth the dwellers of all lands to be attracted. This is the divine counsel whose light hath shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of grace. Blessed is he who hath witnessed and seen, and woe unto the heedless!
O Muhammad-Taqi! Have not the deeds and traces of Truth been distinguished from those of others? Hath there been any doubt concerning the effulgences of the light of His Manifestation? Nay, by His own Self, the True One! Selfish desires have held men back from the most exalted horizon. Say: Have mercy upon yourselves and turn with penetrating vision and attentive ears that ye may not be deprived of witnessing and hearkening. This is the greatest counsel which the Most Great Announcement hath commanded. Blessed are they that act! O Muhammad-Qabl-Baqir! Praise be to God that thou hast attained unto the bounty of utterance and the table of divine knowledge—the goal of all the peoples of the world. Divine forgiveness and mercy have at this hour encompassed thee and thy parents, as a grace from God, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Merciful, and as a bounty from the Kind, the Generous One.
We make mention of thy wife who hath believed and responded when she heard the call of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. O My handmaiden! Praise thou the Desired One, that thou hast been granted permission to attain unto this most exalted Word. Say: Thine is the praise, O Lord of the world, and Thine is the glory, O Desire of the nations, and Thine is the splendor, O Beloved of those who dwell in the heavens and on earth. We make mention of those whom God hath related unto thee, both female and male, and We give them the glad-tidings of My remembrance through which the fragrance of the garment hath been wafted abroad and the Temple of Sanctity hath spoken forth from the most exalted Paradise:
“The Kingdom and the Dominion belong unto God, the Lord of creation, the Lord of the Throne on high and of the dust below.”
The glory from Us be upon you, O people of Baha, and upon those who love you for the sake of God, the Lord of the Day of Judgment.
BH01666: O thou who art mentioned before the Wronged One!…
He is the One Who standeth manifest, speaking before all faces.
O thou who art mentioned before the Wronged One! My Most Exalted Pen desireth to reveal unto thee the pearls of wisdom that lay hidden in its treasuries, to cause thee to hear the call of God, and to show thee the waves of the ocean of utterance in these days wherein He Who was hidden hath appeared with His Name, the Self-Subsisting, and hath, with the hands of grace and bounty, proffered His sealed wine. Blessed is he who hath cast behind him all else, who hath advanced and hastened until he partook and drank thereof, and said:
“Praise be unto Thee, O Thou Who art the Goal of all who are in the heavens and on earth!”
This is the Day whereon the breezes of the All-Merciful have wafted over all creation, wherein the Dove of proof hath warbled upon the loftiest branches, and given glad-tidings unto all on earth of that which was promised in the Books of God, the Lord of all worlds. Blessed art thou, inasmuch as thou hast heard the Call and turned unto it, and wert not hindered by the veils of the world, nor frightened by the might of the nations who broke God’s Covenant and His Testament, and perpetrated that which caused the Faithful Spirit to lament.
We took a handful of dust and breathed into it less than the eye of a needle of spirit from Our presence. When it stirred, it arose in sedition, having been beguiled by one who had no station with God, the Lord of the Mighty Throne. Arise to serve the Cause with a power from Us and a strength from Our presence, and say:
“O concourse of the heedless! Be fair in your judgment, by God, then look into the traces of His Pen, and that which hath appeared from Him, and that whereof He hath informed in His Books, His Scrolls, and His Tablets, and be not of them who denied God’s signs, His proof, His testimony, and His traces, and pronounced judgment against their Lord without clear evidence from God, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.”
He who loved Me and soared in Mine atmosphere and attained My presence and drank the choice wine of utterance from the cup of My bounty hath mentioned thee. We have remembered thee in this clear Book which calleth out with the most exalted call, saying:
“By God, the Truth! The veil hath been rent asunder and the All-Bountiful hath come, riding upon the clouds, desiring naught save the reformation of the world and the refinement of your souls, if ye be of them who know, and He hath forbidden all from corruption and commanded them to fear God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.”
Say: Aid your Lord through such conduct and deeds as will exalt the station of the blessed Word and your stations among the parties. He, verily, is the Counselor, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. We counsel thee with wisdom in all circumstances, and with that which beseemeth man. Blessed is the All-Merciful Who hath commanded all with that which attracteth the hearts of them that have turned unto Him.
Know thou that the wolf hath devoured My sheep, the oppressor hath slain the She-Camel of God, the Lord of the exalted Throne, and the serpent hath opened its mouth and bitten him whom God made a light unto all who are in the heavens and on earth. Blessed art thou, inasmuch as there hath been sent down unto thee that which shall endure as long as God’s names and attributes and His mighty and impregnable kingdom shall endure.
Preserve this most exalted station in the name of thy Lord, the Lord of all mankind, and say: “Glory be unto Thee, O God, O Thou Who art the Creator of the heavens and the Possessor of the Kingdom of Names! I beseech Thee by the blood that hath been shed in Thy path, and by Thy loved ones whom nothing whatsoever, nor the oppression of the enemies, could deter from drawing nigh unto Thee and attaining Thy presence, to aid me in that which shall make me detached from all else save Thee and holding fast to the cord of Thy loving providence. O my Lord! I have forsaken the community of a people who denied Thy bounty and the waves of the ocean of Thy utterance and the manifestations of the Sun of Thy Revelation. I beseech Thee, O Lord of eternity, by Thy Most Great Name, to make me steadfast in mentioning that which Thou didst reveal in the Qur’an unto the Dawning-Place of Thy Revelation and the Dayspring of Thy signs. Thou didst say, and Thy word is the truth: Say: God; then leave them to their vain disputes.’ Verily, we are God’s, and to Him shall we return.”’
The glory from Us be upon thee and upon him who hath heard the rustling of the Lote-Tree of the Ultimate Boundary in the Most Exalted Paradise and hath said:
“Praise be unto Thee, O Thou in Whose grasp is the dominion of names and in Whose right hand are the reins of all that was and shall be!”
BH02182: Hear the call from the Crimson Tree at…
He is the One speaking with truth!
Hear the call from the Crimson Tree at the hub of the most exalted Paradise—“God, there is no God but Him, the rightful Sovereign. He it is Who has manifested His Cause and fulfilled His promise and called all to unity and accord. Blessed is he who has heard and responded to his Lord and acted according to what he was commanded on the Day of Meeting. And woe to him who has turned away from the truth and followed the desires of those who have broken the Covenant.”
Say: O heedless ones! Do you not see what has shone forth and appeared from the horizon of Manifestation by which the horizons have been illumined? Say: Put aside what the people possess. The Self-Subsisting has come with that which will guide you to God, the Revealer of verses.
The Most Exalted Pen of God has moved to mention those through whom the back of hypocrisy was broken. O thou who hast dawned from the horizon of the heaven of My love! Hear the divine call in the Persian tongue. The letters which thou didst send in the name of Jud, upon him be My glory, the servant presented before the Face. Blessed art thou, and blessed is thy steadfastness and those who love thee and make mention of thee according to what was revealed for thee from the Most Exalted Station.
Thou didst mention the friends of the land of Ha and Mim. Praise be to God, each one is illumined with the light of recognition and has attained to goodly remembrance. We have mentioned each one of them with that which brings solace to the eyes. Some days ago a special Tablet was revealed from the heaven of favor and sent to Muhammad-i-Qabl-i-Baqir, upon him be My glory, that he might drink therefrom the Euphrates of God’s mercy and bounty which has encompassed all who are in the earth and heaven.
Say: O people of God! It is hoped that ye will walk among the servants with the utmost wisdom. In this land the Law of God, that is, the Law of the Furqan (Qur’an) is in force. Praise be to God, some indolent ones have clung to deeds. In truth, a person without deeds has been and is fruitless. Especially for the sons of Khalil in that land several Most Holy, Most Exalted Tablets were sent. The Trustee has also made much mention and praise of the friends. In any case, each of the souls mentioned in thy letter has been honored with a Tablet. What was not sent this time will, God willing, be sent later, that they may drink therefrom the Kawthar of steadfastness and bounty from God, the Lord of all beings.
Thou didst mention [Bahr] and two souls of that land. Two blessed Supreme Tablets in the Most Exalted handwriting and adorned with the seal of the Beloved were sent. By My life! Nothing among all things equals these two, nor what the people possess. Give them the glad tidings of My mention and illumine them with the lights of thy Lord’s utterance, the Mighty, the Bestower.
Special Tablets have been repeatedly revealed and sent to Siyyid Muhammad. This time too a special Tablet was sent to him. Likewise, a special Tablet was sent for one of the sons of Khalil who has turned towards the land of Kaf and Ra. Beseech God not to deprive those on earth from the ocean of bounty. Verily He is the Mighty, the All-Bountiful, and the Powerful, the All-Forgiving.