Volume 094: Akka 1307 A.H. (1889–1890), Part II (2 of 4)
BH00236: Verily doth praise praise its Lord and say: O…
Section 1: “In the Name of our Lord, the Most…”
In the Name of our Lord, the Most Holy, the Most Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious!
Verily doth praise praise its Lord and say: O concourse of the righteous! O assembly of the chosen ones! This Day is My Day, for He hath appeared Who was promised, He for Whose sake the essence of praise and thanksgiving and glorification was created and brought forth from nothingness into being. Glory be to God! Spiritual contentions have arisen—from one direction praise and thanksgiving are heard, from another sight and hearing. Yet this servant hath confirmed and doth confirm them all, for in the first rank and primal station, this Day is indeed the Day of the aforementioned four. That which stands as a barrier and veil is naught but the vain imaginings of the former people and their suppositions. This veil hath been rent asunder by the blessed word “I have turned my face toward Him Who hath created the heavens and the earth”—but this is evident only to those possessed of true power and divine might, not to the foolish rabble.
Glory be to Thee, O Helper of the chosen ones and Revealer of mysteries! I beseech Thee by the fire of the Tree beyond which there is no passing, whereby Thou didst cause Thy sweetest call to be heard and didst cast Thy most exalted Word upon those who have witnessed and seen. I testify, O my God, that that which was hidden in Thy knowledge and treasured within the stronghold of Thy protection and infallibility hath been revealed. O God of existence and Lord of the seen and unseen! I beseech Thee by Thy greatest bounty and by the mysteries hidden and treasured with Thee, O Lord of all beings, to open the doors of ease and hope to the faces of the people of Baha. O Lord! This is Thy Day which Thou hast exalted through Thy grace above the heavens of Thy power, wherein Thou hast caused to flow from Thy Most Exalted Pen the Kawthar of immortality, making each drop thereof the water of life for all contingent beings, reviving thereby worlds which none but Thyself hath discovered and which none but Thy knowledge hath encompassed.
O Lord! After my confession of that which Thou hast revealed in Thy Books, manifested through Thy Pen, and uttered by the tongue of Thy grandeur, I beseech Thee by the Lord of all names, Who hath chosen for Himself a prison in ʿAkka, that Thou mayest raise up, through Thy Will which Thou hast placed above the knowledge of Thy servants, souls possessed of great might and powerful sovereignty to exalt Thy Cause amidst all religions through wisdom and utterance—souls who have cast away the world and all that is therein and have taken hold of that which Thou hast commanded them through Thy bounty and generosity, that the signs of Thy sovereignty may be manifested in Thy lands and the evidences of Thy Will may encompass Thy servants.
O Lord! These are they who have cast aside what they possessed in hope of what lieth with Thee, and who desire naught on earth save to establish Thy Cause, to exalt Thy Word, and to manifest Thy power and might. Strengthen them, O my God, at every moment with the hosts of Thy majesty and power, that there may appear that which they have purposed in Thy days. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, unto Whose power all the atoms of creation have testified, and before Whose wrathful glance the mountains have melted away.
I beseech Thee at the end of my remembrance, O my Lord and my Support, to assist Thy loved ones and then enable those who have violated Thy Covenant and Thy Testament to seek forgiveness in the court of Thy holiness and to return to the horizon of Thy mercy and might. O Thou Who art the Beloved of the Messengers and the Desire of the hearts of them that are nigh unto Thee! The servant desireth naught in all creation save what Thou hast desired for him through Thy bounty and ordained for him through Thy grace. Yet he beseecheth Thee and imploreth from the heaven of Thy generosity the deliverance of Thy servants and their purification from all that beseemeth them not in the presence of the revelations of the lights of the Orb of Thy manifestation. O Lord! Aid them through Thy bestowal, strengthen them through Thy sovereignty, and inspire in them, through Thy grace which hath encompassed all existence both seen and unseen, that which hath escaped them. There is none other God but Thee, the Almighty, the Glorious, the All-Loving.
May my spirit be a sacrifice for your service, your steadfastness, and your devotedness. Your letter was like the morning rain, watering the soil of the heart. Immediately the saplings of joy and delight sprouted and grew tall. I beseech the Most High to raise them ever higher, for verily He is the Powerful, the Mighty, the Bestower.
After being enkindled by the fire ignited in your words and learning their contents, I approached the Most High Kingdom and, after gaining full permission, presented your letter. These firm verses were revealed from the Kingdom of Utterance. His mighty word and exalted proof states:
In My Name, the Manifest, the Speaker, the All-Knowing
O My Afnan! Upon thee be My glory and loving-kindness. The servant in attendance came before Us and read thy letter, and We hearkened unto it with the ear of grace. Thereupon the ocean of thy Lord’s utterance surged, revealing unto thee the pearls of wisdom and utterance as a token of His grace, for He is the Mighty, the All-Bountiful. This is a Day wherein every one who hath turned unto Him hath prospered, and every deceitful opposer hath lost. Say: O people! By the life of God, ye were created for this Day. The Most Great Book, its letters and words, and its Mother Book bear witness to this, as ordained by God, the Lord of all men. We testify that thou hast spoken the truth in what thou hast mentioned regarding these matters. We beseech God to assist His Afnan in pure justice and to adorn them with the raiment of the Most Great Trustworthiness. Verily, He is the Powerful, the Chosen One.
O thou who soarest in the atmosphere of My love! We have revealed in the Tablets that which will elevate the stations of those who have turned to the Countenance and witnessed what the Tongue of Grandeur hath spoken in the final abode. By the life of God! Should anyone hold fast to what hath been ordained, he would find himself in the highest station. No thing would harm him, nor the objections of any treacherous denier. Say: He hath come for the salvation of the world and the elevation of your stations. Fear God and follow not every heedless doubter.
In Persian We say: That which that Afnan hath mentioned is the truth, without doubt. Ask from the Truth that He may assist all to attain unto that which leadeth to the glory of the Cause and its acceptance. Whoso is for God, God is for him. Today all must gaze toward the horizon and be engaged in service. This is the station of the Afnan of the Blessed Tree. In previous years bounty and blessings were sent down from the heaven of generosity, but due to certain deeds they were suspended. Say: Aforetime all proclaimed:
“My God, my God! Thou seest and knowest what hath appeared from Thy loved ones in Thy days. I beseech Thee to assist them to arise to compensate for what hath passed them by in exalting Thy Word. Then inspire them with that which will draw them nigh unto Thee and elevate them through Thy name among Thy servants. Verily, Thou art the Powerful, the Guardian, the Mighty, the Self-Subsisting.”
The Glory from Us be upon thee and upon those who are with thee, who love thee and hearken to thy word concerning the Cause of God, the Lord of what was and what shall be.
O honored Afnan Muhsin, upon thee be My glory and loving-kindness! Whatsoever he hath heard from the tongue of the Wronged One he will surely mention, for he hath attained unto Our presence and meeting for extended periods and hath heard that which hath been and is the cause of the descent of heavenly sustenance and eternal blessing. We send from this spot Our glorification unto him and give him the glad-tidings of God’s mercy and bounty. We beseech God to grant him success and assist him in that which He loveth and is pleased with, and to ordain for him what He hath ordained for His trusted ones. Verily, He is the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Bestowing.
We convey Our greetings to the loved ones in that land. We beseech God to protect them from the evil of His enemies and to send down upon them from the heaven of bounty that which shall endure as long as His most beautiful names endure. Verily, He is the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful. End.
The blessed, exalted and decisive words each testify to the mercy, grace and favor of the Truth, exalted be His glory, in relation to the Afnan, upon them be the glory of the All-Merciful. From the earliest days until now, His Holiness has been gazing toward the horizon of God’s Cause and has arisen to serve to the extent possible. This word has repeatedly been heard from the Divine tongue: no deed among deeds can equal this testimony. The grace of the Divine Tree has encompassed all, appearing at every moment with manifest splendor and evident radiance. Blessed are ye and those with you.
The details of matters that must be presented by command are as follows: After the arrival of the honored Afnan, Mr. A and H, and the esteemed Amin, upon them be the Most Glorious Glory of God, some days passed. One day Amin was present before Him and He said: “O Amin, praise be to God, the Afnan has arrived and attained the presence. Now they should occupy themselves with their commercial affairs.” In response he submitted: “According to what is known, the honored Aqa Siyyid Mirza has deemed it advisable that they proceed to Bombay, however they have had and have no inclination whatsoever toward that direction.”
He said:
“If this is so, let them proceed to the Great City, that perchance the calumnies of the objectors and slanderers may be dispelled and the people of that city may become aware of the truth of the Cause, for the honored Afnan—the honored Aqa Siyyid Ahmad and the honored Aqa Siyyid Muhsin and the honored Amin and the honored Nazir and other companions—all suddenly departed from the Great City toward the Prison. The deniers and objectors found occasion and wrote to various places that ʿthese people have taken large sums of our money and fled.’ And Abbas-Ali Kazerouni sent letters to Egypt; those very letters were forwarded to the Most Holy Court. We seek refuge in God from the calumnies contained in those inflammatory papers. In any case, that heedless liar united with two others and spread that which became the cause and reason for preventing the servants from turning to and drawing near.”
Therefore, by command the honored Afnan and the honored Amin proceeded to the Great City, and some time after their departure, a letter arrived either from the Holy Land or from the honored Afnan Haji Siyyid Mirza, upon him be the Most Glorious Glory of God, stating that the honored Afnan Aqa Siyyid Ahmad, upon him be the Glory of God and His favor, should proceed to the land of Ha.
Section 2: “After this matter was presented in the Most…”
After this matter was presented in the Most Holy, Most Exalted Court, He said:
“Write to Ahmad, upon him be My Glory and favor, that since Mirza has so intended, thou must proceed with utmost speed.”
However, this servant knew and knows with absolute certainty that if any benefit would have appeared from his presence in the land of Ha, surely the command to proceed to the Sublime Gate would not have been issued, although it was necessary, in view of the honor of the Cause and the exaltation of the Word and the manifestation of trustworthiness and religiosity and truthfulness and sincerity in that city. The honored Afnan Aqa Siyyid Muhsin, upon him be the Glory of God and His favor, is aware of the details and will mention them before His Holiness.
At one time this supreme blessed word emerged from the Dayspring of Will, exalted be His glory: The honored Afnan, that is Mirza, upon him be My Glory, must consider the outcome of every matter and then execute it. However, due to the multiplicity of occupation, most of which neither nourishes nor satisfies, they have been heedless, having failed to observe the affairs from all sides and to reflect upon their outcome. Now we beseech God, exalted be His glory, to open a door of bounty and to set all matters aright. We informed Our servant who was present, the Afnan, that is, Aqa Siyyid Ahmad, to proceed to that direction, but it was and is without fruit. Now hope of fruit lies in the return of the Afnan himself, Aqa Siyyid Mirza, to that land.
After news arrived of the summons of the honored Afnan of the Land, or the esteemed Afnan, that is His Honor A. and H., upon them both be the Most Glorious Beauty of God, no further command or prohibition issued forth from the Source of the Cause. The initial intention was altered. In any case, this evanescent servant now beseeches God, exalted be His glory, to assist the honored Afnans in that which befits them and is worthy of these days. All that His Honor wrote has been confirmed by the Desired One. Now, trusting in God, His Honor and those with him must occupy themselves with setting matters aright. We beseech the Most High to open before your faces the gates of grace, blessing and bounty. Verily He is the Generous, the Bestower, and He is the Merciful, the All-Bountiful.
At this moment this blessed word, from which in truth flows an ocean of joy, was revealed from the Tongue of Grandeur. His word, exalted, mighty and great be His utterance: “O My Afnan! Upon thee be My glory and My loving-kindness. Your supplications and your mentions, in your stations of humility and submissiveness, of powerlessness and entreaty, of trust and attachment and detachment, have been heard and adorned with acceptance. Blessed art thou for having spoken that which was honored by being heard and for having uttered that which attained the right of acceptance and good-pleasure. Thou hast grasped the truth of the matter. Most are heedless of this point. In numerous Tablets, in accordance with your request, it was previously revealed from the Supreme Pen that it behooveth the Afnan to turn to the service of the Cause. This is for them true commerce and spiritual profit. By the life of God! This profit can never be seized by loss nor altered. Blessed be thy pen in having moved in accordance with that which hath appeared from the Pen of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.
“O My Afnan! The Divine Cause has been and is in exaltation. In no century or age has any cause spread with such rapidity. Now all things are engaged in supporting this Cause. Soon will the deniers behold that from which they were heedless. In no wise is hesitation in any matter permissible. That which is necessary today, and which the Tongue of God pronounceth, is this which He speaks before the faces of the world: O My Afnan! Thou hast spoken the truth. We bear witness that ye were created for the triumph of God’s Cause, the exaltation of His Word, and the spreading of His signs, in such wise that nothing whatsoever shall frighten you, nor shall the veils of the peoples and the manifestations of idle fancies in the world cause you grief. By My life! The fire hath been kindled in the Blessed Tree, and it speaketh at this moment, saying: ʿO My Afnan! Forsake the world and what the peoples possess. Arise for the triumph of the Cause. And the triumph that hath no equal is your detachment from all that ye possess, that the atoms may bear witness to your elevation, your exaltation, your advancement and your ascent.’ Penetrating eyes from the Supreme Concourse are fixed upon you and your deeds.”
O Afnan, O Mirza, upon thee rest the Glory of God, the Lord of all names. Hear thou the Voice of this Wronged One and cleave thou, as befitteth thy kinship to the Sacred Tree, unto that which is meet and seemly. Thou art foremost in rank and station to serve the Cause. With utmost endeavor thou must prevent the dark and defiling winds and dust of this world from sullying the most holy and sacred Hem. That which will today elevate your stations and exalt the Cause is this: that ye should enter, detached from the world, into the realm of detachment, and assign to its rightful owners whatsoever ye possess for the exaltation of God’s Word. That is, whatever ye possess, whether little or much, place it at the disposal of trade and commerce, and with the utmost joy and fragrance discharge the debts ye owe to others. This is your station and that which hath been ordained for you by the Pen of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.
O Mirza, upon thee be My Glory! Should you act upon what hath been mentioned, it will serve as the supreme means for the manifestation of detachment and of the fear of God, the Mighty, the Praised. Take what thou hast been commanded by the Truth and cast aside all that the people possess of idle fancies and vain imaginings. We have revealed unto thee that which will draw thee nigh unto God and make thee powerful through His might. Verily thy Lord is the All-Bountiful, the Generous.
O Afnan! I desire not for you that which I desire not for Myself. Hear thou the call of this Wronged One and arise with complete resolve to discharge the debts owed to others. This is commanded by God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. This deed is the master of deeds and the lord thereof in the sight of the Self-Sufficient, the Most High. Your dominion lies in the divine Kingdom, not in the clay of earth. Hear My call and be of the thankful ones. Do what thou hast been commanded and be of the contented ones. Hold fast unto what the Lord of the worlds hath desired for thee and be of the detached ones. Grasp the hem of thy Lord’s bounty and say: O my God, my Lord, and my Support!
Thou seest me clinging to the hem of Thy bounty and holding fast to the cord of Thy grace. I desire to discharge what is incumbent upon me through that which Thou hast bestowed upon me through Thy generosity and bounty, that it may be proven to all that Thy Being is sanctified, Thy Essence holy, and that Thy loved ones are detached from the dust and ornaments of the world, that there might shine forth from the horizon of my deeds the light of trustworthiness and religiosity, through Thy grace and bounty, O Thou Who art the Lord of the Kingdom of Names and the Ruler over all who dwell in the realm of creation. O Lord! I beseech Thee by the fire of Thy Sacred Tree and the light of Thy countenance to aid Thy Afnan in accomplishing what they desire in Thy days, that all may witness that the ornaments of earthly dominion hold no station with Thy loved ones and chosen ones. Thereupon the words of God were concluded with this most exalted Word: The Kingdom belongeth unto God, the Omnipotent, the Single, the Mighty, the Bestower.
The outward and inward well-being of the Afnan lies in ceasing their scattered and diverse trading ventures and being content with one or two enterprises. Verily blessing lieth in His grasp and the kingdom of bounty in His right hand. He enricheth whomsoever He willeth, as bidden by Him. Verily the All-Sufficient hath acknowledged the poverty of His servants in His saying:
“O ye people! Ye are but paupers in need of God, and God is the Self-Sufficient, the Praised.”
If thou shouldst attain unto that which hath flowed from the Most Exalted Pen, assuredly the doors of blessing, bounty, generosity and grace of the Lord of ancient days shall be opened before your faces in such wise as to astonish all. Do what thou hast been commanded and be of the assured ones.
In the earliest days of arrival in the prison, that which would enlighten those possessed of insight became manifest, namely that the manufacture of opium is not acceptable in the sight of God. Nevertheless, your honor engaged in that which was not permissible. Now must ye cleave unto that which is worthy of acceptance. Verily God commandeth you to justice and kindness and to that which will exalt you in every world of His worlds. He is, in truth, the Almighty, the Mighty, the Most Generous.
O my God! Grant confirmation. O my God! Bestow success. The servants are weak, even though they may be Afnan. I beseech from Thee Thy ancient and fresh favors, that Thou mayest confirm Thy Afnan in that which is befitting, and ordain for them that which is conducive to their progress, ascendancy, exaltation and elevation. Thou art the Bestower, the Kind. There is no God but Thee, the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.
His Holiness the Afnan, the Most Luminous Star, upon him be the Most Effulgent Glory of God, has arrived and will undoubtedly relate that which he has heard from the precincts of the Throne. It has been repeatedly conveyed that whatsoever his honor has written is in accordance with the Will. One must hold fast and cling to it, that there may descend from the heaven of grace and bounty what We desire of the wonders of His generosity and munificence. Night and day, mention of them and their presence has been and is, both outwardly and inwardly. The servant beseeches his Lord to confirm his honor and grant him success in that which will set affairs aright. Verily, He is the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Forgiving.
To the other Afnan and the loved ones of that land, upon them be the Glory of God, His mercy and His favor, I convey greetings and salutations. I beseech the True One, exalted be His glory and abundant be His favors, to send down uninterruptedly from the heaven of grace and bounty for each one that which will rectify affairs and be the cause of joy and gladness. Verily, He is powerful over whatsoever He willeth through His word “Be” and it is. The Command is in His grasp, and He is the Powerful, the Supreme, the Self-Subsisting.
Glory and remembrance and praise be upon your honor and upon those who are with you and who love you and who hearken to your words and your mention and your call in the Cause of God, the Lord of the Mighty Throne and the Exalted Seat.
The servant 15 Rajab 1307
BH00735: Praise be unto Him Who is worthy of all…
In the name of our Lord, the Most Holy, the Most Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious
Praise be unto Him Who is worthy of all glorification—He Who, through the Most Exalted Pen, hath raised up hosts and through them hath conquered the cities of men’s hearts. Were the heedless world and ignorant people possessed of insight, they would have observed the penetrating power of the Word and the might of God’s Will, would have conducted themselves with due measure, and would have cast aside the veils of idle fancies and vain imaginings which have held back most of humanity from the Lord of the Day of Resurrection. Then would the Herald of Glory proclaim the words “Blessed are the ears and eyes!” Exalted be the majesty of our Lord, universal His grandeur, supreme His sovereignty, and widespread His fragrances! Glory, radiance, light and praise be upon the Branches of the Divine Lote-Tree and its Afnan, through whom His verses were spread abroad, His signs were made manifest, His mysteries were brought forth, His proof encompassed all things, and His testimony was established; and upon those who have believed in God and His signs, acknowledged His sovereignty, quaffed the choice wine of revelation from the cup of His bounty, and spent what they possessed with such steadfastness as amazed the Concourse on High—these are honored servants who act according to His command.
May my spirit be a sacrifice for your love and steadfastness! The ultimate hope was dispatched in the form of a letter and arrived—a herald that filled all limbs, members, and every atom of being with boundless joy. What hope could be greater than the well-being of your honor, or more exalted than the safety of the Afnan of the Divine Lote-Tree? Nay, by God! This station is the ultimate aspiration of those who are detached, sincere, and loving, and remains so. After its reading, intent was made toward the ultimate goal. After entry into the Kingdom and permission, the entire letter was presented and was blessed to attain the audience of Him Who is the Intended One. This is what was revealed in response from God, the Lord of all men. Glorious is His utterance and mighty His sovereignty:
In My Name, the Supporter, the Helper
A mention from Us to one of the Afnans who was stirred by the fragrances of My revelation, drawn to the paradise of My presence, admitted into the pavilion of My grace, and made to hear that which ears were prevented from hearing, save whom God, the Lord of all worlds, willed. O Afnan! Upon thee be My glory and My mercy. That which thou didst hear in the Most Holy Court from the Tongue of Grandeur concerning the elevation of the stations of the honored Afnans and the deeds that befit their station—mention it in such wise that may acquaint the honored Afnan, Siyyid Mirza, upon him be My glory and My loving-kindness, with the Will of God and that which befitteth His Day. Delay and neglect in matters is not permissible. They must raise high their resolve and manifest before the faces of the servants the essence of trustworthiness and detachment, and whatever is in the first instance most beloved and desired by them, they must bring to the notice of the evaluators for sale and give to the followers of the Faith.
O Mirza! These are the days for such action and the expression of such words. Not every day hath this excellence. Rise not merely upon hearing the Word of God—if thou art in bed, come forth; if seated, stand up; if standing, hasten with utmost speed to complete that which thou art commanded. This is the firm decree that hath appeared from the court of the Most Great Name. Take it with hands of submission and acceptance, and be of them that act.
O Mirza! If thine eye should oppose thee in what God hath commanded, pluck it out; if thy rib should oppose thee, divorce it; if thy brother, abandon him, holding fast to the cord of God’s commandments, the Lord of the mighty throne. By My life! None shall profit thee save Him, and none shall deliver thee save Him. Take God’s decree with strength from Him and power from His presence, and be not of the patient ones. By My life! My commandments and My laws are manifestations of My loving-kindness to My creation and dawning-places of My mercy to My servants. Verily thy Lord is the Most Merciful of the merciful ones and the Most Generous of the generous ones. Glorify on My behalf the faces of My loved ones there, remind them of My verses, and illumine them with the lights of My wondrous utterance. The glory shining from the horizon of the heaven of My grace be upon thee and upon them that love thee and hear thy word concerning God’s mighty announcement. The end.
From the very divine verses and the fragrances of commands and laws that have been revealed, the station of the doers has become distinguished from the neglectful ones as light from darkness. It is hoped that the honored master, His Holiness the Afnan, the honorable Aqa Siyyid Mirza, upon him be the Most Glorious Glory of God, will taste the sweetness of God’s command and decree, especially in this deed with which he is charged, through the execution of which the rivers of trustworthiness, religiosity and truthfulness will flow and spread throughout the world. Verily our Lord is the Compassionate, the Generous. He commandeth not His servants save that which benefiteth them and preserveth them. To this testifieth every insightful believer.
Mention of the ascension of His Holiness the Afnan, the honorable Aqa Mirza Mahmud, and the child, and the leaf who was the sister of the wife of the late honored one, upon them be the Glory of God and His mercy, has repeatedly been made in the Most Holy Court, and at every moment a mention from the heaven of the Most Great Mercy specifically for them hath been revealed that their names and remembrances may endure forever. And at this time these manifest verses have been revealed—His mighty utterance and mighty mention:
In My Name through which the ocean of forgiveness surged in contingent existence
O My Most Exalted Pen! Make mention of him who hath ascended unto God, the Lord of lords, he who was named Mahmud in the heaven of names. He is among those who attained the love of God and His remembrance, as the Most Great Book beareth witness to this in its most exalted station. Blessed art thou, O Mahmud, in that thou hast been mentioned at this hour by the Tongue of Grandeur, which when It speaketh, all things speak: “The Kingdom belongeth unto God, the Almighty, the All-Bountiful.” Through My remembrance the ocean of forgiveness surgeth, and the fragrance of God’s mercy, the Lord of all religions, is wafted abroad. We beseech God to forgive thee, to pass over thy transgressions, and to ordain for thee the reward of what escaped thee in His days. He, verily, is the Almighty, the All-Knowing.
I desire at this hour to make mention of My leaf who took the cup of My love from the hand of My bounty and drank it in My Name, the Mighty, the Wondrous. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to cause her to enter the Most Exalted Paradise and to associate her with the leaves who circle round the Throne at eventide and at dawn, and to ordain for her in the highest chambers a noble station and an exalted dwelling place. We have, verily, purified her at the time of her ascension, adorned her with the ornament of My favor, and sent down upon her from the heaven of My bounty a mercy from My presence. I am, verily, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.
O My leaf! Behold, then remember the grace of thy Lord. Thou art in the Most Exalted Paradise while thy Lord mentioneth thee in the prison of ʿAkka. Through the breezes of His remembrance at this hour, the fragrances of loving-kindness and favor are diffused in all regions. The radiant light shining from the horizon of the heaven of bounty be upon thee, O My handmaiden and My leaf, and upon the handmaidens who have turned unto God, hearkened, and believed in God, the Single, the One, the Mighty, the Chosen. We have made mention of the child in his station with a remembrance whereby the hearts of the righteous are attracted. Here endeth the utterance.
Unto Him be praise, glory, thanksgiving and bounty. His favors have at all times been and continue to be directed towards the Afnan, in such wise that none can deny it. This lowly one beseecheth the True One to aid all to act in accordance with that which they have been commanded, for that is the supreme remedy for every illness and malady. Verily, He is the Helper of those who act and the Educator of all who are in the heavens and on earth. The greetings and praise of that honored one were conveyed to the Branches of the Blessed Tree—may my spirit be a sacrifice for the dust of their footsteps—and to the people of the pavilion [of greatness]. Each one expressed their consideration, and they beseech and hope from the Exalted True One that He will cause that honored one to return soon to the divine homeland. They say that there hath not been and is not any prayer better, more beloved and more desired than this. Glory and remembrance and praise be upon you and upon those who are with you and who love you and hearken to your words concerning the Cause of God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.
BH00877: Praise and glory befit the Lord of Creation…
In the Name of our Most Holy, Most Great, Most Exalted and Most Glorious Lord!
Praise and glory befit the Lord of Creation and Sovereign of the seen and unseen, Who hath adorned the world of existence with the ornament of names and through the blessed word “there is naught but doth glorify His praise” hath made manifest the purpose of creation. His is the creation and the command, His the bounty and the bestowal. There is none other God but He, the Almighty, the Glorious, the Most Luminous.
Thy noble letter, like a spiritual messenger from the city of Divine love, arrived bearing glad tidings of health and well-being and of the unity and harmony of God’s loved ones. After perusal it was presented before the Presence of the Lord of creation and attained the honor of His attention. His word, exalted be His glory and mighty His utterance, and there is none other God but Him:
In My Name, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise!
O thou who gazeth upon My horizon, who cleaveth fast to the cord of My loving-kindness, and drinketh the choice wine of mystical knowledge from the hand of My bounty! Hear My call from the direction of My prison. Verily, there is none other God but He, the Mighty, the Glorious, the All-Bountiful. Say: O concourse of creation! By your Lord, the All-Merciful! The ocean of bounty hath revealed its pearls, the Most Great Treasury its jewels of mysteries, the ocean of generosity its waves and sovereignty, and the Sun of Truth its lights and effulgence. Beware lest anything among all things, or any name among all names, or any cause among all causes prevent you from turning unto God, the Lord of the Final End.
Glory be to God! All have heard and seen mention of the Day of God in the holy books, tablets and sacred scriptures. Nevertheless they remain occupied with names and are heedless and veiled from Him Who giveth life and death. Most have been and are worshippers of names—some of the name of successor, some of guardian, some of mirror, some of chief and deputy and the like—veiled from the Sovereign of existence by Whose will all have been created. Praise be to God that thou hast attained unto a Cause that hath no equal or likeness. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to assist thee and enable thee to conquer the citadels of hearts through His Name, the Mighty, the Beloved, and to ordain for thee in every world of His worlds that which shall gladden all beings and console all eyes.
Convey My greetings to the loved ones in that land. By My life! Through unity the horizons shall become illumined and radiant. We beseech God to aid them with hosts of angels and with the forces of wisdom and utterance. Verily He is the One Who hath power to do as He willeth through His word “Be” and it is. Make mention of those who are related to thee and give them the glad tidings of God’s loving-kindness. Verily He is with those who love Him and whom He loveth. He is the All-Bountiful, the Forgiving, the Generous. The glory from Us be upon thee and upon those with thee, and may He assist thee in thy endeavors and love thee for the sake of God, the Lord of the mighty throne.
Praise be to the Goal of the world, that in every moment the ocean of His bounty surgeth with a wave and the heaven of His grace shineth with a light. His mercy hath no bound and His grace hath no end. All things today rejoice in the manifestation of Him Who conversed on Sinai—a joy the like of which the eye of the world hath never beheld. Blessed are they that are fair-minded and that have attained.
You have made mention of the deceased and elevated Jinab-i-Bayk, upon him be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious, and likewise mentioned his box which was illumined with divine verses and heavenly tablets. Now let that beloved one consider how many tablets were revealed specifically for one soul, yet they have turned away from this station whose verses and evidences have encompassed the world, and have clung to what their own selves and desires have commanded them. The servant beseeches his Lord to aid them to return unto Him, verily He is the Forgiver, the Generous. The expenses for transport, burial and other necessary arrangements were bestowed, specifically intending that whatever was spent would be from funds dedicated to God, exalted be His glory. According to His command, the box and its contents shall remain with that beloved one until God brings about His decree. Repeatedly has this exalted word flowed from the tongue of the Lord of all beings:
“O servant in attendance! We counsel the friends to show kindness and forbearance, and should you observe anyone heedless, you must remind them through loving counsels and wise exhortations, that perchance they may become mindful or fear God and hold fast in the Day of God to that which befitteth them. Verily our Lord is the Counselor, the Wise.”
The letter received this time was in the handwriting of the beloved of the heart, at whose name’s mention the fragrance of love wafts among the servants—Jinab-i-Haydar-ʿAli, upon him be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious. After it was presented at the Most Holy Court, the seas of favors and kindness surged. Indeed, from the beginning of the Cause until now he has been occupied in service and blessed with special bounties. We beseech God—our Lord and the Lord of our fathers—to protect him and His loved ones in all regions and to adorn them with the ornament of detachment and righteousness. Verily our Lord is the Hearer, the Answerer.
In the letter of the beloved of the heart, mention was made of the gathering of the Hands of the Cause, upon them be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious, in that land, and great joy and delight were expressed at this matter. By His command, those words must be written, and they are these:
“Jinab-i-Haji Mirza Haydar-ʿAli and other special souls who are teachers—may God increase their like and multiply their peers and aid them in service and triumph and enable them to exalt the Word—all are gathered in this land. Their blessed presence has made this land a rose garden. Though the hand of God’s power has banished this exile from His presence, yet through His grace He has blessed me with meeting His near loved ones. Praise be to God, again praise be to God.”
And after this passage was presented in the Most Holy Court, the Ancient Beauty’s face showed joy and smile, and likewise He uttered verses beyond this servant’s ability to count. The servant beseeches his Lord to aid them in all conditions to that which He loves and is pleased with, that through them the means of unity and accord may spread throughout the lands.
Another submission is that the beloved of the heart, Jinab-i-Amin, upon him be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious, has had his letter reach the Most Holy Court every month, and in each letter that beloved one and the Hands of the Cause are mentioned by name. Indeed their love and affection for the friends is great. I beseech God, exalted be His glory, to increase their success, verily He is the Merciful, the Generous. Glory and praise and laudation be upon you and upon God’s loved ones and friends there, and upon every accepting, assured, firm and steadfast soul.
BH04714: In My Name that holdeth sovereignty over all names
In My Name that holdeth sovereignty over all names.
Call thou to remembrance, on Our behalf, My servants who have cast away that which the people possess, and have clung fast unto that which is with God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. Say: This is the Day whereon the earth hath brought forth its treasures and revealed that which had lain hidden within it, as a bounty from God, the Lord of being. Blessed is the strong one who turned unto the Most Exalted Horizon in such wise that neither the ظلم of every oppressor nor the aversion of every denier withheld him. He turned, with a shining countenance, unto God, the Lord of all that hath been and all that is to be.
O Muhammad-Hasan! Upon thee be the Glory of God, the Lord of the seen and unseen. We have remembered thee in this Most Great Prison with that which causeth those near unto God to perceive the fragrance of God, the Mighty, the Loving. Cast aside what the people possess and take what thou hast been given by God, the Lord of the Promised Day. Say: My God, my God! Praise be to Thee for having guided me to Thy straight path and made known to me Thy mighty announcement. I beseech Thee by the lights of Thy throne and by Thy Name through which Thou didst raise the standard of Thy justice in Thy kingdom and the banner of Thy oneness in Thy lands, to ordain for me that which shall profit me in all the worlds of Thy worlds.
O Lord! I am Thy servant and the son of Thy servant, acknowledging Thy singleness and Thy oneness and that which Thou hast sent down in Thy Books and inspired Thy Messengers with. I beseech Thee by the ocean of Thy bounty and the banners of Thy signs to ordain for me the good of the hereafter and of the first life. Verily Thou art the Protector of all beings. There is none other God but Thee, the Compassionate, the Generous.
BH05476: The Book of God speaks with truth and commands…
He is the One Who speaks in the Kingdom of Utterance
The Book of God speaks with truth and commands the people to that which draws them nigh unto Him. Verily He is the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous. That which was hidden from all eyes hath been revealed and the All-Giving hath come, riding upon the clouds at His return. Blessed is he who hath witnessed and seen. Woe unto the heedless ones!
O ʿAbdu’l-Husayn! Hearken unto the call of God, the King, the All-Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Verily He hath made mention of thee and thy father, and this is yet another token of His grace. Be grateful and say: “Praise be unto Thee, O Thou the Goal of them that know!” Beware lest the affairs of the world hold thee back from the Lord of all mankind, or the claws of the ungodly frighten thee—they who have torn apart the sheep and hamstrung the she-camel of God, the Lord of the worlds. Soon will God exalt His Cause through a sovereignty from His presence, for He is the Almighty, the Powerful. We made mention of thy father aforetime in verses that all the treasures of the world cannot equal.
Every discerning scholar beareth witness to this. Convey My greetings to the faces of My loved ones there and give them glad tidings of that which hath been ordained for them from the presence of a Mighty, Generous Lord. The glory that shineth forth from the horizon of the heaven of My loving-kindness be upon thee and upon My chosen ones who have not broken My Covenant and My Testament, who have not denied My bounty, who have turned towards Me and have said: “Praise be unto Thee, O Lord of the world, and glory be unto Thee, O Beloved of the hearts of them that are nigh!”
BH06172: The choice wine of the utterance of the Goal…
He is the One Who speaks with grace!
The choice wine of the utterance of the Goal of all the worlds hath seized pure and holy souls and illumined and sanctified hearts, to such extent that all have aimed for the Most Exalted Station and the Most Glorious Horizon, that they might attain to that for which they were brought from nothingness into being. O people of God! The glance of the favors of God, exalted be His glory, hath been and is directed towards you. None of those who have turned to Him and are assured have been deprived. Today the lights of the Most Great Luminary have encompassed the world. Blessed are those whom neither the opposition of the opposers nor the cawing of the ravens have prevented from the Light that shineth from the manifest Horizon.
O ʿAli! Thou didst intend to circumambulate the Most Exalted Paradise and the Supreme Heaven. In these days the deniers and oppressors lie in wait at the outposts and are aflame with the fire of tyranny and hatred. Therefore the requirements of divine wisdom decree a delay. However, the ocean of generosity is surging and the sun of bounty is shining and manifest. We beseech from the heaven of grace and giving that He inscribe for thee, from His Most Exalted Pen, the reward of attaining His presence. Verily He is the One with power over whatsoever He willeth. There is no God but Him, the Most High, the Most Exalted.
BH09047: We testify that thou hast aimed for the ultimate…
He is the Light that shineth resplendent from the horizon of the heaven of proof.
We testify that thou hast aimed for the ultimate goal, the loftiest summit, and the highest horizon, and hast heard the rustling of the Divine Lote-Tree, and achieved that which was inscribed by the Pen of God, the Mighty, the Loving. Thou hast established for thyself a station beneath the canopies of grandeur, as attested by the Book of God, Lord of the Throne and of the dust, and the One Who ruleth this praiseworthy station. Thou didst speak the truth when thou didst appear before the face of him who disbelieved in God and believed in the Evil One. We beseech God to record for thee the reward of thy utterance and thy steadfastness in this mighty and beloved Cause. Blessed be thy tongue and thy heart, and woe unto him who hath denied the proof of God, the Lord of existence.
BH09539: This is a noble Book from God, the Lord…
He is seated upon the throne of “He doeth whatsoever He willeth”
This is a noble Book from God, the Lord of the worlds, and a perspicuous Tablet from One Who is All-Knowing, All-Wise. Blessed is the ear that hath heard the Call when it was raised between earth and heaven, and blessed is the eye that hath beheld the horizon of God, the Lord of the mighty Throne. This is a Tablet wherein the atoms cry out through this Name, by which the hearts of the deniers were disturbed. When thou hast drunk the choice wine of utterance, say:
Praise be unto Thee, O my Lord, the Most Merciful, for having guided me and honored me and mentioned me while I was in Thy Most Great Prison amidst Thy heedless servants. Thus have We sent down unto thee that which cannot be equaled by the treasures of the earth nor by that which the kings and rulers possess.
BH09887: God beareth witness that there is none other God…
He is manifest before the followers of all tribes without veil or covering.
God beareth witness that there is none other God but Him, and He Who hath come from the heaven of Command with the Kingdom of verses—He is the Hidden Secret and the Treasured Symbol, and by Him was the trumpet blown, whereupon all who are in the heavens and on earth were struck down, save whom God willed, the All-Possessing, the Self-Subsisting. We bear witness that thou hast attained unto the days of thy Lord, the All-Bountiful, and hast heard the Call and drunk the choice wine of utterance from the cup of the favor of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, and hast acknowledged that which the Tongue of Grandeur hath spoken—the Kingdom and Dominion, then the Might and Power belong unto God, the Lord of what was and what shall be.
BH09924: The call of the Divine Lote-Tree hath been raised…
In His Name through Whom the horizons have been illumined!
The call of the Divine Lote-Tree hath been raised from the Most Exalted Paradise. Blessed is the servant who hath heard and responded, and woe unto every heedless doubter. We bear witness that thou hast turned unto the Countenance and drunk the choice wine of immortality from the hand of bounty. We beseech God, exalted be He, to aid thee to remain steadfast with supreme steadfastness, that neither the doubts of the clamorous ones nor the hints of any froward deceiver may hold thee back. Verily, We have sent down the verses and manifested the clear proofs, yet the people remain in heedlessness and error. The glory that proceedeth from Us rest upon thee and upon those whom nothing whatsoever hath deterred from drawing nigh unto God, the Lord of all men.
BH10367: Say: O people of the Bayan! The All-Merciful hath…
He is the One Who standeth through His Name, the Self-Subsisting.
Say: O people of the Bayan! The All-Merciful hath come with manifest sovereignty. This is the Day whereon all things proclaim: The Kingdom belongeth unto God, the Almighty, the All-Praised. Thou hast heard the Call and drunk the wine of everlasting life from the hand of bounty, a grace from the presence of One tender and generous. Give thanks unto God, thy Lord, for this most great favor, which all the treasuries of the world cannot equal. To this beareth witness the Mother Book in this exalted and glorious station. The glory from Our presence be upon thee and upon all who are steadfast, firm and upright.
BH11054: In the Tablet of Wisdom this blessed verse hath…
He is the Answerer!
In the Tablet of Wisdom this blessed verse hath been sent down: Look not upon creatures and their works, but rather upon the Truth and His sovereignty. Thus hath the matter been decreed from before God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. The choice wine existeth, the Cause is manifest, and the bounty is evident, yet the people are deprived save whom God willeth, the Mighty, the Beloved.
BH11268: God beareth witness that He is the Intended One…
He is the Almighty
God beareth witness that He is the Intended One and He Who hath come is indeed the Hidden Mystery that was concealed in the eternity of eternities. Through Him the ocean surgeth and the fragrance of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting, is diffused.
BH11266: God beareth witness that the ocean surgeth…
He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing
God beareth witness that the ocean surgeth, and the breeze bloweth, and the Light shineth forth, and the Fire calleth aloud, and the Sun speaketh, and the Moon uttereth. By God! The station hath been honored by the appearance of God, the Lord of all worlds. Blessed are they that know.
BH01555: We have transformed the fire into ink and through…
He is the Answerer in the Kingdom of Hearing!
We have transformed the fire into ink and through it made manifest that which was hidden in knowledge and inscribed by the Supreme Pen in the Books and Tablets. Blessed is the servant by whose name My Pen and My Tongue have moved, and blessed is the soul that hath attained unto My days and heard My most sweet call from the most exalted station.
O Shafi’! Verily, sorrows have prevented Me from remembrances, as testified by Him Who possesseth the Mother Book. Those souls who were present before the Face and attained unto hearing were so seized by the fragrances of revelation that the reins of choice were taken from their hands, and they testified with their outward and inward tongues that there is none other God but Him. Thereafter, one of My names strayed from the straight path of God. For one thousand two hundred years they were occupied with names of successor, guardian, chief, noble one and fourth pillar, and the fruit thereof was witnessed on the Day of Recompense. Nevertheless, Dawlat-Abadi is now busy forming a new party like unto the Shi’ih party.
O Shafi’! The station by whose word the sincere ones, the near ones, the chosen ones and the friends have been and are being created—they have passed beyond it in the name of “mirror.” They have lost indeed who turned away from the Truth and followed every heedless doubter. The people of Baha are souls who in their first step have passed beyond the heaven of names and intended the kingdom of certitude. The entire world hath not been and is not able to change these assured souls. He saith: If thou recite one verse of His verses it would be more glorious in the sight of God than if thou should record all the Bayan, for on that day that one verse will save thee while all the Bayan will not.
O Shafi’! I swear by the Sun of Truth which now shineth from the horizon of the heaven of the Kingdom that one who hath been seized by other than the Truth is incapable of comprehending a single verse. We created him for the service of My friends, but Satan led him astray until he turned away from the Truth and committed that which caused the near ones to lament. The people of Baha must be educated until they attain unto the Most Great Steadfastness, lest the tempests of doubts and the storms of allusions move them. Verily thy Lord is the All-Knowing, the Wise Expositor.
O Shafi’! Convey greetings from the Wronged One to all, that perchance through the fragrances of the utterance of the Goal of all worlds they may attain to such a station that the hand of doubt and uncertainty will fall short thereof and be cut off.
O Ahmad-i-ʿAli! Upon thee be the eternal Glory of God! Repeatedly hast thou drunk from the cup of bounty and attained unto the hearing of the call. Well is it with thee! Thy letter was sent to the Most Holy Court by My name Mihdi, upon him be My Glory, and these manifest, decisive verses were revealed from the heaven of Will and sent forth, that thou mayest find from them the fragrance of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. My name Mihdi sends his letters to the Most Holy Court. If an answer is revealed he gives the glad-tidings and informs the friends, otherwise he waiteth until God cometh with His clear and decisive utterance. Thou hast ever been and art remembered in the Most Holy Court. Make mention of the people of that land on behalf of the Wronged One and remind them of the revealed verses, lest the names prevent them from their Owner and Creator. We make mention at this time of thy father who attained unto the days of God, the Lord of the worlds.
O Fadlu’llah! Upon thee be the Glory of God, His bounty and His mercy which hath preceded all who are in the heavens and the earth. Rejoice thou in My mention of thee. By My life! The treasures of the earth, its bounties and its fruits cannot equal it, as testified by Him Who hath spoken and speaketh in every condition that verily I am God, the Single, the All-Informed.
We have mentioned and do mention at this time the handmaidens of God, and give them the glad-tidings of the favors of God, exalted be His glory. We beseech God to assist them and grant them the meeting with His Tablet, the Mighty, the Wondrous.
The Glory be upon you from Us, O friends of God, His chosen ones, His servants and His handmaidens, and upon those whom doubts have not prevented from His Great Announcement and His Straight Path.
BH04378: Today the effulgences of the Sun of Truth are…
In the name of the Peerless Friend!
Today the effulgences of the Sun of Truth are manifest and radiant from the horizon of the heaven of Revelation, and the Luminary of utterance is speaking without veil or covering. Blessed are they who have attained and were not deprived.
O my handmaid and my leaf! We have heard thy call and have made mention of thee from the Most Great Prison. We beseech God to confirm thee in steadfastness and to aid thee in that which befitteth His Day. Take hold of the Sure Handle with thy right hand and with thy left the Crimson Cup, then drink thereof in the name of thy Lord, the Most Glorious, at Whose advent the limbs of every name did tremble, and every idolater was far astray. Today the true Kawthar and the spiritual wine have been and are the knowledge of God. Whosoever hath attained thereunto hath attained unto all good.
Say: O my God, my Worshipped One, my Desired One! A poor one hath turned toward the ocean of Thy bounty, and an ignorant one hath faced the dawning-places of the Sun of Thy knowledge. I beseech Thee by the blood that was shed in Thy path in Iran, and by those souls whom neither the onslaught of the oppressors nor the tyranny of the ungodly could deter from turning unto Thee or prevent from drawing nigh unto Thee, that Thou wilt protect Thy handmaiden from the croaking of the croakers and the doubts of the suspicious ones, and cause her to dwell beneath the canopies of Thy gracious Name. Thou art, verily, powerful over all things and the Protector of all things. I testify, and all things testify, that Thou art indeed the Almighty, the All-Powerful.
BH07338: O my handmaid, upon thee be My glory! Today…
He is God, exalted be His glory in wisdom and utterance!
O my handmaid, upon thee be My glory! Today the Sun of Truth has risen from the horizon of the heaven of grandeur, and the Lord of mankind has departed for another land. And when the pavilion of glory was raised up and the flowers of the garden bloomed, He remembered His servants and handmaidens in that spiritual abode and station of eternal might.
The means of the world did not prevent His mercy, and clouds and mists did not veil His Sun of bounty. He appeared and manifested whatsoever He willed. The power of the world is as nothing before His power, and the desires of the nations are as naught before His will. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth.
Blessed is the soul that was not deprived of the ocean of recognition and was not prevented from the Sun of bounty. The glory from Us be upon My handmaidens who heard the call and turned to the Supreme Horizon, and woe to the heedless ones who turned away from God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.
BH01643: In these days the outpourings of divine grace…
He is God, exalted be His majesty, grandeur and power!
In these days the outpourings of divine grace and the effulgences of the light of the Luminary of the All-Merciful are manifest and evident from every direction. Every blind one bears witness to His favor and every weak one acknowledges His power. Yet some servants have taken the crooked path and proceed thereon, while others follow the straight way. All things shall perish save those rescued by the hand of God’s will. Our purpose and the purpose of all who are in the heavens and earth is that which befits this Day: truthfulness, sincerity, justice and faithfulness. Blessed are they who have attained to these holy attributes and goodly deeds. They are detached from the world and all that is therein.
Their words are for God and their deeds for His Cause and His love. The ornaments of the world and the colors of nations have not deprived them of the recognition of the Lord of ancient days. They hold fast to the firm cord and cling to the luminous hem. And prayers and peace be upon the Hands of His giving, the Dawning-places of His grace and the Rising-points of His mercy—they who acknowledged and confessed the oneness of God and the Seal of His Prophets, through whom appeared the path of justice and rained the clouds of bounty—and upon his family and companions whom neither commerce nor trade nor any matter prevented from drawing nigh unto God, the Lord of might and bounty, the Possessor of the Standard and the Banner.
The letter of that honored friend arrived and as the fragrance of love wafted from it, joy was attained and gladness reached us. After its reading it was taken to the Most Exalted Station and presented before the countenance of the Lord. He said:
“O ʿAli-Qabli-Muhammad, let not the counsels of the Wronged One which thou didst hear in His presence escape thy notice. Adorn thy temple with the ornament of detachment and thy head with the crown of the fear of God. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to assist thee and enable thee to perform deeds whereby thy station may be exalted among His servants. He desireth for His creation naught save drawing nigh unto Him and holding fast to that which will establish His traces in His kingdom.”
We hope that the friends of God will be distinguished among the people and be adorned and illumined with His attributes. Should all attain to what hath been mentioned, each one would find himself seated upon the throne of glory and established upon the seat of detachment. This is the station of attachment to God and severance from all else beside Him. In all matters consult with His Holiness Afnan, upon him be My glory and loving-kindness, and act according to what appeareth. This is Our counsel to thee. Say:
“My God, my God! I beseech Thee by Thy Name, the Dominant over all names, and by Thy sovereignty which hath encompassed all things, to open before my face the door of Thy bounties, favors and gifts. Verily Thou art the Compassionate, the All-Bountiful, the Forgiving, the Generous.”
This servant beseecheth and imploreth God, exalted be His glory, that after hardship He may grant ease, and after difficulty, relief. Verily He is the One who hath power over whatsoever He willeth through His word “Be” and it is. I convey greetings to the friends in that land. Their mention hath ever been and still is made in the presence of the Prison. We beseech God to enable them to do what He loveth and approveth. The work and matter with which thou art charged by the Lord—may our spirits be sacrificed for Him—is this: that in all conditions thou shouldst have thine eye upon reform, and likewise that thou shouldst strive to win the good-pleasure of that honored gentleman, His Holiness Afnan—upon him be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious. This matter is in truth like powerful wings for soaring in the atmosphere of love. Well is it with them that understand. According to instructions, regarding thy request several words were written to the honored friend Aqa Nuru’llah—upon him be [Baha’u’llah]—and sent. We hope that they will consider whatever is in the best interest of thy work. Verily God doth not suffer to be lost the reward of the doers of good. Peace be upon you and upon God’s righteous servants.
BH03477: How excellent is he who arises to reform…
He is God, exalted be His station of grandeur and power!
How excellent is he who arises to reform the world, holding fast to the lamp by which earth and heaven were illumined. And peace and blessings be upon the Seal of the Prophets and upon the Hands of the Cause and Dawning-places of wisdom who took no protector or helper for themselves besides Him.
On this night, which is the night of the revered month of Sha’ban, the letter of the spiritual friend Jinab-i-Aqa ʿAli-Muhammad, upon him be God’s peace, was presented before the face of the Master and achieved the honor of being heard. And afterwards this utterance emerged from the Dayspring of knowledge:
“O Nuru’llah! Upon you be His peace and grace. Jinab-i-ʿAli-Muhammad has sent a letter to this servant and desired that you give attention to his matter, that perhaps through these means he may find rest. Therefore you should not neglect whatever lies within your power regarding him and should carry it out. We counsel him and his father to preserve the station of the Afnan there. From this deed, the door of blessing shall be opened before his face. Verily He is the One with power over whatsoever He willeth through His firm and inevitable command. We send greetings to the friends of that land and counsel them with that which will raise their stations. Peace be upon you and the mercy of God and His blessings.” End.
It is most clear and evident that whatever lies within the power of that kind friend, he will not withhold from the friends and will carry out with the utmost joy and fragrance whatsoever is the cause of blessing and bounty and ease. I send greetings to Jinab-i-Aqa ʿAli-Akbar and Jinab-i-Aqa Muhammad and to their family members, upon them be God’s care and mercy, and I beseech from the Kingdom of divine favor an everlasting bounty for each one. Verily He is the Hearer, the Answerer. Peace be upon you and upon God’s righteous servants.
BH02074: Praise be to God Who fulfilled His promise…
He is God, exalted be His station, the Greatness and the Power!
Praise be to God Who fulfilled His promise and sent to His servant Javad what He had promised him, and sent down from the heaven of meanings to him who was named Muhammad-ʿAli that which caused all things to soar and the hearts of the enemies to quake. O beloved of my heart! A most mighty and holy Tablet has been revealed from the holy heaven of Him Who is the Desired One and the Desire of the world, mentioning him who ascended unto God. In truth, one breath from the fragrances of each of its utterances has perfumed the world of knowledge and wisdom. Glorified be our Lord Who has made bounty His emblem and faithfulness His garment, and Who remembers His servants at all times with that which draws them near to the horizon of His Name, the All-Merciful. That which was revealed diffuses a wondrous fragrance and spreads the sweet-scented breeze of grace. Would that you had been present at the time of its revelation!
And further: the ascension of the brother of His honor ʿAli-Qabli-Haydar, upon them both be the glory and favor of God, was mentioned in the Most Holy Court. It is hoped that there will be revealed especially for them that which the differences of the world and its peoples cannot efface. The answers to other requests and petitions will also, God willing, be granted. The promise of a response has dawned and shone forth from the Dayspring of Will. Verily, He does not fail in His promise, though He has power over whatsoever He willeth and desireth. Glory, remembrance and praise be upon your honor and those with you, and upon the friends of God in that other land to which you intended to journey. We beseech God to protect you and grant you the good of this world and the next. There is no God but Him, the Lord of all creation.
O beloved of my heart! Among the special bounties that were revealed concerning the ascension of the destined sign was that on the day when, outwardly, news of the ascension was presented, at that very moment He commanded that the Branches of the Blessed Tree—may my spirit be a sacrifice for the dust of their footsteps—and all those around Him should hold a gathering and occupy themselves with mention of this new and blessed event. For two days, during which your honor was also present, by command of the Lord of the visible realm, this great and orderly gathering was manifested from the unseen into the visible world, and exalted words together with certain verses were read and recited before the faces of the loved ones.
And in the afternoon of this day also, the Branches of the Blessed Tree and the people of the pavilion of grandeur and infallibility, together with the Afnan, have been and are being summoned to the Most Holy Court for the reading of the blessed pages which were revealed from the heaven of the Mother Book at dawn this day. It is hoped that the effects of the utterance of the Desired One of all worlds and the hidden mysteries therein will cause all to attain the Most Great Bounty and the Greatest Favor. Verily our Lord is the Hearer, the Answerer, and He is the Witness, the All-Seeing, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Thus has God strengthened His favor with a third from His presence.
Verily He is the Compassionate, the Mighty, the All-Bestowing. It would be beloved if a copy be sent with this letter to his honor Samandar, the fire of divine love, upon him be the Most Glorious Glory.
BH00156: Praise be to the Goal of all contingent beings…
Section 1: “Praise be to the Goal of all contingent…”
In the Name of our Most Holy, Most Great, Most Exalted, Most Glorious Lord
Praise be to the Goal of all contingent beings, Who in the midst of sorrows raised high the banner of utterance. The pack of wolves could not prevent His loved ones from drawing nigh, nor hold them back from remembrance and praise. The denial of the people of tyranny and rebellion did not deter Him from manifesting what is right, and the calumnies of the falsifiers and the treachery of the treacherous did not become a barrier between truth. Exalted be the majesty of our Lord, and magnificent the sovereignty of our Master and our Goal! Glory and radiance be upon the Hands of His Cause and the emblems of His guidance, and upon those who aid Him through wisdom and utterance and through that which He hath sent down in the Scriptures and Tablets.
O beloved of my heart and he who is remembered in my soul! At this moment, in response to your letter which was sent to Hadrat-i-Ism-i-Jud, upon him be the Glory of God and His favors, these manifest verses have been revealed from the King of the Kingdom of names and attributes. His blessed and exalted Word:
He is the One Who speaks in the midst of tribulations
O Haydar-ʿAli! Upon thee be My Glory and My Loving-kindness. Justice and truthfulness have become so absent and concealed that no trace thereof can be found amongst the people. The horizons of the heaven of truth have been darkened by the gloom of the people of hypocrisy. Most of the decrees of the administrative circles of Iran have been and continue to be contrary to that which justice and fairness command. They have no purpose save vain ornaments. Day and night they are occupied with plunder and pillage. The affairs of the Threshold are entirely conducted through consultation with the pretenders. What they have taken, they have not returned to its owner. Outwardly they appeared in agreement, but inwardly they were discovered to be hypocrites.
They had and have no desire save the seizing of wealth. Glory be to God! How can they be content that in what they claim to be a court of justice, not a word of truth and justice is heard? In any case, they have made the Isfahani a pretext and are busy plundering the Shirazi. In one’s presence they show the utmost respect, but in one’s absence they engage in schemes and accusations. Yet the Wronged One was standing, speaking, and hearing. He heareth and knoweth and is patient until God shall come with His firm and mighty command.
These mentioned matters have had and have no significance. However, news of the ascension of some of the loved ones has outwardly become a cause of grief. One day, news of the ascension of the Essence of Being was mentioned in the Holy Presence, and the next day came news of the ascension of the Bird of Divine Knowledge to the heaven of his Lord’s loving-kindness. As for the first, he is Nabil, son of Nabil—upon him be the Glory of God, the Mighty, the Beautiful. And the second is Ahad—upon him be the Glory of God, the Single, the Self-Subsisting. At this moment, especially for the second one, that which illumined the world of inner meanings and adorned the Kingdom of utterance with a new ornament was revealed, as a grace from God, the Lord of all worlds, and as a loving-kindness from God, the Master of the Day of Judgment, and as a mercy from the All-Bountiful in this radiant moment.
O Haydar-Ali! Upon thee be My everlasting Glory. Glorify on My behalf him who soared in the atmosphere of My love and drank the choice wine of mystical knowledge from the cup of My bounty and arose with supreme steadfastness to serve Me. Then recite unto him what hath been sent down from the heaven of My Will concerning his brother who was named Ahad in the Book of Names and Abdu’l-Baha in the Crimson Scroll.
From the Most Exalted Pen: Divine loving-kindness and heavenly grace concerning ʿAli-Haydar shine forth and are evident like the sun. Blessed is he and joy be unto him. He must give thanks to God for this manifest grace. He arose to serve, and his service was adorned with the ornament of divine good-pleasure and the glory of acceptance. This word is the King of words and the Sovereign of utterance that was mentioned: Give him glad tidings of what hath been revealed for him from the Wronged One, through Whom all things have spoken:
“The Possessor of sovereignty, dominion, might, and power hath come, and His is the Kingdom and His is the Glory, and happy is he who hath held fast to His strong cord and clung to His luminous hem.”
Praise and thanksgiving be unto God, and unto Him be bounty and bestowal, and unto Him be grace and glory. He is the Most Generous One Who hath transformed the realms of sorrow into joy through the light of utterance, and hath bestowed assurance upon hearts and tranquility upon souls. May the spirit of the world be a sacrifice unto His utterance and unto His grace. In no state or condition hath He ever deprived His loved ones. His favors have exceeded cup and chalice, being revealed and manifest as ocean upon ocean. We beseech God, glorified be His majesty, to grant the people of the earth a sincere seeking, that all may not be deprived nor forbidden from the gifts of the Lord of Bounty. Forever have the glances of His grace been directed toward His loved ones, His mercy hath preceded all, and His bounties have encompassed all. Glorified be His grace and mighty be His outpouring, and there is no God but Him.
Yesterday the Lord of humanity proceeded from Akka to Haifa, arriving at night, and on the morning of that day summoned this servant and revealed a most mighty, most holy, most exalted Tablet concerning the ascension of the most honored and glorified, the late and elevated Aqa Asad, upon him be the glory of God and His mercy. How excellent were its fragrances and its perfumes, and that which was manifest in its outward form and treasured in its inner meaning. The Blessed Tablet was revealed in such wise as to attract those present, nay rather the hearts of those absent. Blessed is he in whose name was revealed that which was revealed, and happy is he. In truth this is the day of bounty, for divine mercy hath encompassed from every direction, and the assured and sincere ones have attained and continue to attain that which hath no likeness or equal. Every letter of the revealed letters is the cause of eternal life and everlasting existence. His Holiness himself knoweth this station and is cognizant thereof.
With infinite longing and boundless regret, this servant conveyeth mention, praise, glorification and glory unto the spiritual friend, Aqa ʿAli-Haydar, upon him be the glory of God and His favors. His Holiness must, on behalf of this servant, make mention of whatsoever is befitting. Indeed, in this station one cannot make mention of condolence, for that which hath been revealed from the Pen of God concerning the elevated one, upon him be God’s mercy and forgiveness, is bounty above bounty, mercy above mercy, and favor above favor. Would that I had been with him and had attained unto that which he hath attained from God, our Lord and the Lord of the mighty throne and the exalted seat.
From among the letters that were sent from His Holiness was a missive in the hand of the son of His Holiness the Martyr, upon him be the Glory of God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. After it was presented before the Most Holy and Most Exalted Presence, these words were revealed from the horizon of the Divine Will—exalted be His utterance and glorious His proof:
O Haydar-Ali! The mention of the Wronged One has been raised—he who was named Ashraf. From the beginning, such bounties were revealed and made manifest from the heaven of the Lord of all beings that every person of insight desired martyrdom, and every hearing ear exclaimed “Would that I were with him!” Regarding his son, a missive was revealed and sent. We beseech God to strengthen him, protect him, and draw him near unto Him in all conditions. Verily He is the Self-Sufficient, the Most High. Blessed are they who mentioned him, extended the hand of generosity toward him, and to the extent of their ability showed him consideration. The mention of each one has flowed from the tongue of the Lord of Eternity, and an unending reward has been ordained for each. Blessed are they! On behalf of the Wronged One, you must mention him and those related to Ali-Haydar—upon him be My Glory and My favor—and give them to drink of the choice wine of the intended Lord’s bounty. All are mentioned before the Divine Presence and have attained His special favors. We beseech God to send down for them at all times that which befits the heaven of His grace and generosity. Verily He is the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.
You mentioned the Book of Certitude. Some from various regions, including the spiritual friend His Honor Anis—upon him be the Glory and Favor of God—wrote from the lands that the Isma’ili scholars have stated that some of the revealed verses do not conform to the rules of that people. After this matter was presented in the Most Holy Presence, some books were again presented before Him and were adorned according to what God willed. However, repeatedly this supreme word was heard from the tongue of the Lord of all beings: whatsoever has been revealed and made manifest from the heaven of Divine Will, both before and after, all is correct and has attained the ornament of acceptance. Blessed are they who read! Glory be to God! The various sects each try to prove their truth through a book or treatise or page, while in this Most Great Manifestation that has been revealed which the possessors of perfect understanding are unable to gather and enumerate. Multiple books have been revealed concerning every aspect, yet all remain deprived save whom God wills. Soon shall they lament over what they wrought in their vain lives.
At this hour, which is three and a half hours into Tuesday, the eleventh of the revered month of Sha’ban, in the presence of the Countenance, mention was made of the departed parents of the spiritual beloved, His Honor Aqa ʿAli-Haydar, upon him be the Glory of God. These are His blessed and exalted words:
“Verily We have desired at this hour to make mention of a father who arose to serve My Cause, and his mother. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to cause them to enter, at this very moment, into a station wherein naught is beheld save the effulgences of the Luminary of the Manifestation of His Most Bountiful Name, and to send down upon them, at eventide and at dawn, His enduring grace and His everlasting sustenance, and that which will gladden their hearts. He is, verily, the Mighty, the All-Forgiving. The breezes of God’s loving-kindness, the Mighty, the All-Bounteous, have wafted over them from all directions. The light shining forth from the horizon of the heaven of My Pen and the fragrance emanating from the breezes of My utterance be upon them, upon their beginning and their end, their outward and their inward aspects. He is, verily, the Mighty, the All-Bestowing.”
All bounty belongs to God, our Lord and your Lord and the Lord of all who are in the heavens and the earth. All favor belongs to God, our Object and your Object and the Object of all created things. The verses themselves bear witness to His bestowals, and the essence of utterance testifies to that which hath appeared from His presence, and ever shall. Praise be to God! The departed ones have attained unto that whose fragrance endureth forever. We beseech God to send down upon them at all times that which befitteth His name, the Most Merciful. He, verily, hath power over all things.
As to what you wrote regarding the beloved of hearts, His Honor Nabil-i-Akbar, upon him be the Most Glorious Glory of God: after it was presented before the Most Holy, Most Exalted Presence, He stated that his letter would have absolutely no effect upon Hadi, for the Word of God had no effect on him, and it is not permissible to give him the Book, for according to reports, whatever falls into his hands he attributes to others. He hath manifested such falsehood as hath never been heard before. We revealed a prayer and commanded him to recite it, but he was not successful. That suffices. An articulate teacher must say to him: O heedless one! Thou hast mentioned to the friends that thou hast fifty volumes from such and such a person.
Well hast thou laid the snares of falsehood for the servants. Say: The Author of the Bayan declareth that the entire Bayan is but a leaf from among the leaves of His Paradise of Utterance and a ring upon His finger. O Haydar-i-Qabli-ʿAli! Repeatedly did We summon him that he might be present, perchance he would become aware at the time of the revelation of verses and witness twice that which was manifested by the Point. No trace appeared from that hard rock. Say: O heedless one! Read what thou hast in thy possession, and one Tablet will be read against it, and We shall leave its judgment to the fair-minded and the discerning. His rejection and hypocrisy have deprived him and continue to deprive him, except he repent and return unto God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting.
Thou didst mention the Land of Sad. Should your honour enter that land for a few days with utmost wisdom and without the knowledge of the people, this would be most praiseworthy. However, no writings should be carried, and likewise wherever thou dost reside, acknowledgment before strangers is not permitted. For some time this decree hath flowed from the Most Exalted Pen, for many have attained martyrdom, all sacrificing life and property before the faces of men, yet none have become aware. Their desires move them, while they perceive not. Well-spoken indeed was the Nightingale—upon Him be the glory of God, the Lord of all beings, His supreme benevolence, and His mercy which hath preceded earth and heaven.
Section 2: “Regarding the mention of Ibn-i-Dakhil, upon him be…”
Regarding the mention of Ibn-i-Dakhil, upon him be the glory of God, for each region a teacher must be appointed who shall turn thither. And since Ibn-i-Dakhil is well-versed in language, his turning to the regions of Qaf and Fa and their like is permissible and acceptable, yet he must with complete determination hold fast to wisdom, for if clamour be raised, great harm shall result.
O Haydar-i-Ali, upon thee be My glory and loving-kindness! Thou didst mention the steadfastness, orientation, and services of Ali-i-Haydar, upon him be God’s loving-kindness and mercy. All is true. The Tongue of Grandeur beareth witness to his service, orientation, generosity, acceptance, and uprising. Verily God is with him, hearing and seeing, and He is the Mighty, the All-Seeing.
And specifically for the friends in the Land of Shin is sent that which is the cause of life’s preservation. Verily thy Lord is the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous. In these days their mention was made in the Most Holy Court, and the letter of Ghulam-i-Ha, upon him be My glory, reached the servant. We beseech God to preserve them, draw them nigh, and ordain for them the reward of attaining His presence, standing before His throne, and arising to serve His mighty and exalted Cause.
Thou didst mention the sum that should reach Aqa Siyyid M., upon him be the glory of God. According to the command, that sum should reach the Siyyid in full. This evanescent servant beseecheth the eternal Truth to confirm all the friends in service to the Cause. Once these exalted words were heard from the Lord of all beings, Who said that Siyyid Mustafa, upon him be My glory, hath served according to his capacity. We beseech God to open before his face the gates of His grace and bounty. Verily He is the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.
And the son of the martyred one, Ashraf, upon him be the Most Glorious Glory of God, should engage in that which befitteth him, and each month two tumans from the Huququ’llah, exalted be His glory, should [be given] to him. Blessed are they who have arisen to perform good deeds. Verily He openeth before the faces of His loved ones the gates of His riches. He is the Mighty, the Generous.
Three Most Holy, Most Exalted Tablets were sent specifically for three friends, upon them be the glory of God. Let them be delivered that their eyes may be solaced by the signs of God, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting. Likewise, a Most Exalted, Most Wondrous Tablet was revealed and sent specifically for Ghulam-ʿAli-i-Kh, upon him be the glory of God, and those with him. Blessed are they, for they have attained that which none among the servants have attained, save whom God willeth, our Lord, the Lord of the Mighty Throne.
The mention hath been made of his honor Aqa Mirza Muhammad-ʿAli, upon him be the Glory of God, from the Land of Sad. Praise be to God, he hath attained unto the grace and favors of God, exalted be His glory. A blessed epistle hath been sent down from the heaven of bounty in answer to him. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to grant him the meeting with His traces and that which was revealed in His perspicuous Tablet.
In truth, steadfastness must be sought for the friends. This imperative divine Cause is, from one perspective, seen to be most easy, inasmuch as from the beginning that hath no beginning unto the end that hath no end, there hath not appeared, nor will there appear, treasures of utterance and knowledge like unto those that have been manifested in this Most Great Revelation. Should a person possess but an atom of insight or a grain of fairness, he would take hold of the Book of God with the utmost submission, contentment, harmony and yearning, and would continually utter “Thine is the praise, O Bestower of the Book!” Yet until now the opposing souls have not comprehended the Purpose, for were they to recognize and become aware of that which hath been revealed in the Scriptures and Tablets from the Supreme Pen, all would cleave unto the path of God and would cling unto the momentous News.
From another perspective, this Cause is most mighty, for that which hath been revealed is such as the ears of the world have never heard the like thereof, and that which hath appeared is such as the eyes of the nations have never witnessed anything similar thereunto. Thus in describing the loftiness of station, the exaltation of rank, mention of Divinity and Lordship, hidden mysteries and treasured verses, there hath appeared that which transcendeth the comprehension of the servants, such that from all directions the cry of “we knew not” hath been raised. Indeed, were justice to prevail, all would instantly attain unto acceptance and certitude. However, so long as the throne of justice remaineth concealed and the seat of tyranny strong and manifest, the station of this Most Great Revelation shall remain hidden from all. The servant beseecheth his Lord to deliver the luminary of justice from the clouds of idle fancies and vain imaginings, and to illumine His servants with the lights of fairness. Verily, He is the One Who is manifest with gifts and favors.
Mention hath been made of the Leaf Susan, upon her be the Glory of God, and likewise of her intention to turn towards the Most Holy Court. Blessed is she and delightful is her state, for her mention hath repeatedly been made in the Most Holy and Most Exalted Court. However, her journey, in view of the events in the Threshold, would be unwise. O beloved of my heart! After the rightness of their honors was manifest and proven in the assembly, and the treacherous treasury was seized, and by their own admission justice was served, after seizing the properties they placed them in the consulate and did not return them to their owner. Then they incited the Isfahani to make another claim.
Glory be to God! Although the rightness of the Afnan in that land was manifest and evident as the sun, they concealed it and intended to take possession of all the property. A door of oppression hath been opened for the helpless people, that is, the people of Iran in that land, the like of which hath never been seen. Some of the unjust ones of the world say the Isfahani is a new Muslim and must be helped. From the investigations of that unjust one devoid of fairness, namely Akhtar, it becometh clear to that honor what stage the matter hath reached and what rank the judgment holdeth. It is clear to all who is the treacherous one and who is trustworthy.
We beseech God to assist all to trustworthiness, religiosity, truthfulness and faithfulness. Verily, He is the Possessor of all names and the Omnipotent over whatsoever He willeth. There is none other God but He, the Commander, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
The beloved letter of His Holiness Ibn-i-Ism’ullah’ul-Asdaq the Most Holy, upon him be the Most Glorious Glory of God, which he had written to this servant arrived, and a brief tablet adorned with the firm divine command was sent some time ago. God willing, they will attain unto it, and this servant too, if God so wills, will send a reply to their letter. You had also mentioned the blessed supreme word which had flowed from the Supreme Pen, blessed and exalted be His utterance: “Strange and wondrous means exist in the earth.” After this matter was submitted in the Most Holy and Most Exalted Presence, He said: “O thou who art mentioned in My presence and who soarest in the atmosphere of My love! That which hath been revealed is being fulfilled letter by letter. We beseech God to make it a mercy unto His loved ones and a retribution unto His enemies. And in another instance We beseech Him to make tribulations the cause of the awakening of His creation and the means of the attraction of His servants. Verily He is the All-Bountiful, the Generous, and He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.”
Another glad tiding is that two Most Holy and Most Exalted Tablets were revealed and sent specifically for the beloved ones Jinab-i-Mashhadi Abdullah and Aqa Zaynu’l-Abidin, upon them be the Glory of God. God willing, they will drink from the cup of divine utterance that which is the cause of eternal life. Verily He is the Guardian of those who are assured and the Lord of the sincere ones. There is no God but He, the Mighty, the All-Knowing, the Wise.
O beloved of my heart! Most of the names mentioned in your letters were submitted one after another, and for each was revealed that which diffuseth the fragrance of the bounty of God, exalted be His glory. And for some others, as time was scarce, after submission in the Most Holy Presence, there was revealed for all that which in truth in the first instance diffuseth the fragrance of distinction. Exalted be His utterance and mighty His words:
“O Haydar-ʿAli! The gaze of favor is directed towards thee. Convey to all the loved ones of that land the greetings from the Wronged One—greetings that attract hearts and solace the eyes of the people of understanding. We beseech God to assist all to achieve that which they have intended in His path and for the exaltation of His Word.
The means of the world have been held back due to lack of worthiness. For years Jinab-i-Varqa, upon him be the Most Glorious Glory of God and His supreme favors, was occupied in that land with the reformation of the world and the refinement of the souls of nations. In truth he was a sign among the divine signs and a standard among the standards raised between the peoples. Night and day, mention of the Goal of the worlds flowed from his pen and tongue. However, due to the occurrence of certain unseemly matters that arose from spite, the people of that land were deprived. We beseech God that through it He may guide His servants to His straight path.
No news hath been mentioned of Jinab-i-ʿAbdullah, upon him be My light and My glory. Say: Be not grieved by the events of the world. Be enkindled with the fire of His love and illumined with the light of His knowledge and detached from all else and hold fast unto the service of His Cause and the exaltation of His blessed Word which hath shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of utterance with clear proof and evidence. We beseech God to ignite him with the fire kindled in His blessed, lofty and towering Tree, that the servants may be enkindled thereby. Verily He is the Mighty, the Unconstrained. Verily, in the midst of tribulations We remember Our loved ones, despite every proud and tyrannical one who hath been prevented by pride from the One Who conversed on Sinai and from hearkening to that which hath been raised from God, the Lord of Lords. Glory be upon My loved ones, and light be upon them, and the spirit be upon them. We beseech God to assist them to that which beseemeth these days.”
This servant offers greetings and praise to all the loved ones, and beseeches the True One, exalted be His glory, to aid all in that which will cause the exaltation of His Word, the elevation of the station of His loved ones, and the raising of the rank of His chosen ones. This evanescent servant addresses the loved ones of God—those souls who have attained to the blessed word of distinction and are numbered among the Hands of the Cause mentioned in the Book—and entreats them to seize these days, for no century has had the light of this century, and no age the light of this age. Today that which was hidden from time immemorial has been made manifest. O distinguished ones! The Desired One is established upon the throne of manifestation. This is the day of lovers and the time for the kindling of the fire of unity and concord. From the unity of hearts a subtle fire is ignited. By the life of my Desire and your Desire, that fire pervades and penetrates all things. Soon shall be revealed that which was treasured therein. This is what our Lord has promised us; verily He does not fail in His promise, and He is the True One, the Mighty, the Bestower.
The signs of victory are apparent from all directions. Now must the chosen ones arise and, with wisdom and utterance, rend asunder the veils of the people, that all may witness, without concealment or hindrance, the signs of power, might and utterance from the Hands of the Cause, and may speak in gatherings as befits them, becoming the cause of sanctification, detachment and the manifestation of the fear of God. The beloved of hearts, his honor Nabil-i-Akbar, upon him be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious, has for some time journeyed from the land of Qaf to the land of Ta. Today they must arise to serve and, in the name of the True One, emerge from the garment of silence and muteness, and occupy themselves with wisdom and utterance in that which will cause the spread of the Cause and the exaltation of the Word. I send special greetings to him and seek that which befits the days of the True One, exalted be His glory.
Some time ago, the beloved of hearts, Jinab-i-Amin, upon him be the Glory of God and His favors, forwarded to the Most Holy Court their letter which had been written to him, wherein mention was made of grief. It is hoped that in these days an answer will be sent to them. However, now they must appear with supreme joy and greatest gladness and arise to serve. Whatever this evanescent servant presents, his purpose has been to serve the chosen ones, and God suffices as witness. Glory and remembrance and praise be upon you and upon the Hands of His Cause, the firm, the impregnable, the mighty. And praise be to God, the Desire of the worlds.
The servant 11th of the month of Sha’ban the Great, 1307
According to the command, if that beloved of hearts proceeds to the land of Sad, they must, after some days, return again to the land of Ta. In these days the presence of some in the land of Ta is necessary. This is what the Commander, the Ruler, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed, has decreed.
BH00856: In the Name of Him Who is the Most…
In the Name of Him Who is the Most Holy, the Most Exalted, the Most Inaccessible, the Most Sacred, the Most Great, the Most Glorious!
The heart and eye have been gladdened by the perusal of thy letter, which was adorned with the ornament of remembrance and praise, and embellished with the mention of God, the Lord of all names. Each of the hearing, the sight, and the heart hath received its share therefrom. By thy life! The eye hath been illumined by beholding it, the heart hath been gladdened by reading it, and the ear hath been delighted by hearing what it contained of the mention of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. We beseech God to favor us with meeting thee once again and to grant us the fountain of thy reunion. He, verily, is the Almighty, the All-Powerful.
Furthermore, when thy most luminous letter, O thou who art beloved, arrived through the grace of the All-Merciful at the most auspicious time, namely the days of Ridvan, it brought boundless joy, gladness, and delight. We praise Him for His wondrous favors. What blessing is greater than for the loved one to be honored by the mention of his Beloved? As the honored Ismu’llah-i-Javad (may the glory of the Lord of creation rest upon him) hath said, may this blessed custom ever endure.
All that thou hadst written was presented before the Throne, and unique and exalted Tablets were revealed from the heaven of the Divine Will for all the souls mentioned in thy letter, and were dispatched. Praise be to God that they have become the cause of this greatest bounty and the means of this supreme gift. The merciful outpourings have ever been and will ever continue to stream down from the heaven of divine favors. God willing, may all attain unto them and receive their portion in the days of God.
For every soul who departed from these parts bound for those regions, a wondrous and exalted Tablet was revealed from the heaven of the Divine Will and sent, and was presented to thy honor. Similarly from the direction of the Land of Ha, but since affairs in that region were delayed due to the absence of the friends in the Land of Ha, they have not reached thee. Previously, when the way was open, a Tablet containing one of the mysteries of the Cause was sent sealed, but as was mentioned, it was delayed in the Land of Alif and Sin. Therefore the original revelation is being sent sealed at this time, and that too will arrive, God willing, from the direction of the Land of Ha.
According to His command, thy honor must make every effort that souls who are among the people of God, enkindled with the fire of divine love and adorned with wisdom and proper conduct, should proceed to certain cities and villages for the purpose of teaching, as remembrance is necessary in all conditions. He hath said that this has been and will be among the most important matters. Should one of the assured and articulate souls proceed to the land of Kaf and Ra, which is near Ya, for the purpose of teaching with wisdom and utterance, it would be most pleasing.
His exalted Word states:
O Mihdi! As We were walking in the Most Great Prison and turning toward the nations and cities of God, thy Lord and the Lord of the worlds, We detected from the land of Kaf and Ra a foul odor. May God quiet it and transform it through His authority. Verily, He is the One Who hath power over whatsoever He willeth. He, verily, is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. This indicates that someone hath concealed within himself that which We do not wish to mention. Verily thy Lord is the Concealer, the Forgiving, the Bountiful. Although We gave glad tidings to the servants in Our Most Holy Book, which was sent down wondrously from the heaven of God, thy Lord and the Lord of the worlds—We said, and Our word is the truth: O Land of Kaf and Ra!
We, verily, behold thee in a state which God doth not approve, and witness from thee that which no one save God, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed, perceiveth, and discover that which passeth in the most secret of secrets. With Us is the knowledge of all things, inscribed in a perspicuous Tablet. Grieve thou not because of this. God shall raise up within thee such as will make mention of Him with steadfastness, whom neither the censure of the divines nor the doubts of the perverse can deter. These shall behold God with their own eyes and will aid His Cause through their own selves. These, verily, are of those who are firm in faith.
It was stated that there are susceptible souls in those parts. Blessed is the soul that hath turned unto it and is among those who remember.
Concerning what was written about printing, when presented before the Most Holy Court, it was stated that although We have commanded that the divine books be written in the finest script and most exquisite adornment, yet now it is necessary that they be printed, for without this the spread of the verses of God would be delayed. His honor hath indeed expressed proper thoughts, and what he hath written accordeth with wisdom and prudence. However, the means for this are presently delayed. First, souls must be found who are highly skilled in printing. Secondly, the means should be employed according to whatever his honor deemeth advisable in this matter. If the aforementioned souls are truly proficient in printing to the utmost degree, let them proceed; perchance God will gather His means.
Furthermore, an exalted Tablet hath been revealed from the heaven of divine bounty, designated as the Most Holy Book. A copy thereof hath been sent to his honor. What more can this evanescent servant say about the tone, majesty and power with which it hath been revealed? God willing, they will become familiar with it and attain unto its hidden and scattered pearls. By the truth of His own Self, the worlds cannot equal it. Following the revelation of several verses concerning ordinances, which at this time it was not expedient to circulate, these were, by command, removed, and markers were placed at each location until such time as it may be fitting to restore them.
His honor Aqa Jamalu’d-Din, upon him be the Glory of God, hath for some time attained the Most Holy Court, and a copy of that Tablet was given to him. It is commanded that if qualified, prepared, and detached souls are found, it is permissible to show them the Tablet, otherwise not, for prior to the exaltation of the Cause, the circulation of certain matters is not permitted. God guideth whom He willeth unto the straight path.
The bearer of the Kitab-i-Aqdas and of the Tablets was Jinab-i-Amin—upon him be Baha’u’llah, the King, the True, the Manifest. In truth, he and Jinab-i-Mulla Abu’l-Hasan—upon him be Baha’u’llah—have endured the utmost hardship in the path of God. Profitable indeed hath their traffic been, both outwardly and inwardly.
Some time ago this evanescent servant submitted a petition to the presence of Aqay-i-Jinab-i-Ismu’llah Ha—upon him from every Baha His most glorious Baha—concerning a letter which they had addressed unto that holy soul in reply. Likewise, for the information of that beloved one, a representation was laid before Aqay-i-Hadrat-i-Afnan Mim—upon him be Baha’u’llah, the Most Glorious, the Most Glorious. Moreover, concerning the entrusted parcel which had been addressed in the name of the Bird of the divine air, instructions have again been given that whatsoever belongeth unto others should be delivered unto the aforesaid Shaykh. In the book of that revered personage, and unto his sons and kinsmen, manifold and detailed tokens of loving-kindness have been shown forth and sent. We beseech God to enable them to remain steadfast in His Cause, and to assist them in whatsoever He loveth and is well pleased with. No God is there but Him, the Mighty, the Powerful.
BH09362: May my spirit be a sacrifice for your honor!…
He is God, exalted be His glory, the Most Great, the All-Powerful
May my spirit be a sacrifice for your honor! Your esteemed letter kindled the fire of love, bringing to memory the times of meeting and presence. I hope that this bounty from the True Bestower of Bounties will be repeatedly manifested. In separation, proper remembrance of the days of reunion is not possible. I beseech God, glorified be His majesty, to grant the blessing of presence soon. Verily He has power over all things.
Furthermore, your letter was honored to be presented and heard. God willing, his honor the Name [of God], upon him be His glory, may ever be blessed with the favors of the Goal of the worlds, and remain steadfast in service, remembrance and praise. He has always been and continues to be mentioned. We beseech God to assist him and preserve him and those with him through His grace and generosity. Verily He is the Mighty, the Bestower.
Regarding the box of gaz sweets for my Master, the Most Mighty Branch (may my spirit and being be sacrificed for the dust of His footsteps), let half of it be distributed and the other half sent to His presence. And God is the Best of providers.
Peace, remembrance and glory be upon your honor and upon those with you and those who love you and upon God’s righteous servants.
The servant, 20 Sha’ban 1307
BH01486: Praise be to the Desired One, Who deserveth all…
He is God, exalted be His glory, the Most Great, the All-Powerful
Praise be to the Desired One, Who deserveth all praise, for every day, nay every moment, He hath increased and continueth to increase the unity of His loved ones. They remained ever-speaking words of praise and thanksgiving, even as they witnessed tribulations and calamities. Such hath ever been the way of the righteous throughout all ages and centuries. Blessed is the soul that is at peace, content and well-pleasing, that hath not been held back by veils and doubts from turning unto Him, nor been prevented from drawing nigh unto Him. Glorified be His majesty, our Lord and the Lord of all who are in earth and heaven. And blessings and peace be upon the Primal Light through Whom the First Ornament was made manifest, through Whom every tongue spoke forth and every prostrate one arose, and every blind one saw, and through Whom the Sun of Knowledge dawned from the horizon of possibility, revealing what lay hidden in the treasury of the Furqan, through Whom His proof was perfected and His favor completed and His grace encompassed all, and upon His family and companions who were the dawning-places of God’s attributes and characteristics and might and glory and power.
O beloved of my heart! Thy letter was received and became the cause of joy and gladness, adorning the realm of the heart with the ornament of joy and love. Praise be to God Who assisted thee and confirmed thee. He, verily, is the Illuminator, the Near One, the Holy, the Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
After reading it, I proceeded to the Most Exalted Station and presented it before His countenance. He said:
“O Ali-before-Akbar! Upon thee be the peace of God, the Lord of Power. Thy letter which thou didst send to this servant attained to Our presence and hearing. Praise be to Him Who assisted thee and confirmed thee and guided thee to His straight path. Thou hast ever been and continueth to be remembered. In these days the two Branches have turned towards that region at the invitation of the Shaykh, may God assist him. Special instruction was given to send Abu-Inayat. From the beginning his affairs, both commercial and otherwise, have been entrusted to thee. Due to lack of time to attend to the requirements of the patient regarding physician, medicine and nourishment, We have decided that he should return to ʿAkka and rest there. We beseech God to adorn it with the ornament of healing and to change his illness into health. Verily, He hath power over whatsoever He willeth, and He is the Single, the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Peace and glory be upon thee and upon those with thee and upon the emigrants and neighbors.”
Thus endeth His words.
Immediately upon receipt of thy spiritual letter and learning of the difficulties, He commanded that the aforementioned one be sent to Akka. We beseech the Healer to deliver him from every ailment, sickness and disease. Verily, God is the Healer, the Sufficient, the All-Bountiful. The beloved of the heart, his eminence the Most Great Name, upon him be the glory and bounty of God, must, according to the command, attend to the affairs of the aforementioned one. All must strive to convey him to Akka. We beseech God to assist every doer of good and helper of all who show mercy, compassion and kindness. Verily, He is the All-Bountiful, to Whose grace and generosity, mercy and loving-kindness, which have encompassed all existence both seen and unseen, all created things bear witness.
Mention that causeth joy and gladness hath ever been and shall ever be beloved before God—firstly, mention of the Sovereign of Eternity, and secondly, mention of the Hands of the Cause and His loved ones. Praise be to God that His loved ones are sustained thereby and have attained unto it. At this moment, while engaged in penning this leaf, I remembered his eminence the beloved of the heart, the Most Great Name, before the Beloved One, and rising in his stead and behalf, accomplished what was intended, attaining unto the honor of acceptance. In brief, mention of the loved ones causeth the heart to rejoice and existence to be gladdened. Happy is he who hath attained thereunto, and woe unto the heedless. The leaf and her mother and what was sent from your direction—all are remembered and adorned with the ornament of acceptance and good-pleasure. Praise be to God Who hath assisted us all and granted us victory through the hosts of His wondrous utterance.
BH01274: Praise be to God, the Eternal, the One…
In the name of God, transcendent is His glory, His greatness and His power!
Praise be to God, the Eternal, the One, the Enduring, the Everlasting, the Ancient, the Timeless, Who findeth no helper, no companion, no minister, no supporter, and no offspring. All created things have testified to His sanctity and all contingent beings have witnessed to His detachment. He is indeed sanctified above all that hath been and all that shall be. He cannot be described by any description save His own, nor can He be praised by any attribute save His own. His tongue hath testified of His own Self that verily He is God, there is none other God but Him, the Single, the One, the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Bestowing. And peace and blessings be upon Him Whom God hath made the Dawning-Place of His Cause and the Source of His wisdom, and established Him in His own stead in all things that pertain unto Him. He is indeed the Manifestation of His most beautiful names and His most exalted attributes. And upon His family and His companions through whom the mysteries were revealed, the signs became manifest, and the trees gave utterance. Dominion belongeth unto God, the Powerful, the Mighty, the Unconstrained.
My spirit be a sacrifice for your steadfastness and your uprightness! The most exalted letter, like unto a brilliant light, illumined the horizon of the heart and perfumed the court of existence. This servant perceived therefrom the fragrance of your humility, your submissiveness, and your steadfastness in the Cause of God and His service. After its reading and contemplation, and after being overcome with longing and yearning, he proceeded to the Most Great Presence. After presenting it, He said:
“O Ali, O Afnan! Upon thee be My peace and My loving-kindness. Thy letter which thou didst send to this servant was read before the face of the Wronged One and was honored to be heard. We beseech the All-Merciful to protect the Afnan and to open before their faces the gates of grace and bounty. Verily, He is the Mighty, the All-Bountiful. Praise be to God that in all matters they place their trust in the Truth. In such case, sorrow and the like are not permitted. When the heart findeth its way to the Most Great Ocean, grief and distress have no recourse but to flee. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to exalt thee through His Name, to give thee to drink of the Kawthar of His bounty, and to bestow upon thee that which beseemeth the ocean of His generosity and the heaven of His grace. Verily, He is the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous. Peace be upon thee from Us and upon My loved ones there who have not been deterred by the censure of the people, nor by their turning away, nor by their blindness, nor by their objections, nor by their might and power, from drawing nigh unto God, the Lord of Lords.”
This servant also conveyeth greetings to each of the loved ones and beseecheth from the Intended One, on their behalf, whatsoever leadeth to the elevation of their station and the perpetuation of their remembrance. Verily our Lord is the Answerer of prayers and the Lord of all created things.
And regarding the storehouse in Beirut, after presentation He said:
“O Ali, upon thee be My peace. These matters have been made contingent upon consultation. In truth I say that this decree hath ever been beloved in the sight of God, and its command hath been revealed in the divine Books from the Most Exalted Pen. Hold fast unto consultation, for verily it shall profit thee and His loved ones. To this testifieth every knowing and informed one.”
That which they wrote concerning the letter of Jinab-i-Aqa Mirza, upon him be Baha’u’llah, was presented and accepted, and one blessed Tablet was bestowed. Likewise the Tablet of the Afnan, Jinab-i-Haji Mirza Mahmud, upon him be the Most Glorious Baha’u’llah, and the reply to the letter of Jinab-i-Aqa Mirza Abu’l-Hasan, upon him be Baha’u’llah, was bestowed and sent. I beseech God, exalted be His glory, to enable all to attain unto that which conduceth to nearness, detachment and piety. They have also stated regarding the Huquq that whatever they can send should be sent, as these days some hardship hath appeared, but God will change it to ease, verily He is the All-Powerful, the Almighty.
The receipt requested by the Afnan, Jinab-i-Aqa Siyyid Ahmad, upon him be the Most Glorious Baha’u’llah, was sent; please deliver it. The matter of the Afnan requireth attention. His own view is not known. They are aware of the available persons; whomsoever they request will be sent. Jinab-i-Amin, upon him be Baha’u’llah, was dispatched according to instructions solely so that the Afnan would not be alone; there was no other intention whatsoever. In any case, there are many rabble and ruffians in that city. They must conduct themselves in such a manner as to ensure the confidence of the merchants from all regions, and they must spend within measure. The means have not been and will not be withheld; they must hold fast to this and act accordingly. We beseech God to protect him from the evil of his enemies. Verily He is the All-Powerful, the Almighty.
This servant in all conditions holdeth fast to the cord of divine favor, that He may assist that honored one and manifest that which causeth nearness and is conducive to tranquility and rest. He is the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Glory, remembrance and praise be upon you and upon those who are with you.
BH01376: Praise be to God Who hath opened the doors…
He is God, exalted is He in greatness and power!
Praise be to God Who hath opened the doors of His knowledge before His servants through the key of utterance, and hath sent down unto them that which draweth them nigh unto Him and preserveth them from the evil of satans. Verily, He is the One Who, through His mighty and wise command, hath power over whatsoever He willeth. And peace and blessings be upon the Sovereign of the kingdoms of wisdom and utterance, through Whom were revealed the mysteries of what hath been and what shall be, by the command of God, the Supreme, the Self-Subsisting, and upon His family and companions who aided the Cause of God with their wealth and their souls, and strove in His path with their might and their strength, until the light of the Cause shone forth throughout all lands. There is no God but Him, the Lord of creation. My spirit be a sacrifice for your remembrance, your praise, and your steadfastness.
The blessed and exalted letter arrived. Praise be to God, it was adorned with the mention of the Truth and trust in Him, and from each of its letters wafted the fragrance of love. The servant beseecheth God, his Lord, to exalt your honor through His Name and to render you mighty through His might. After its reading and perusal, it was brought to the presence of the Master, Who said:
“O Afnan, O ʿAli, upon thee be the peace of God, His mercy and His grace.”
Your letter was mentioned by this servant before His countenance. Praise be to God, they are illumined by the light of love and enkindled with the fire of affection. We beseech God to spread His signs through thee and to open before thy face the door of grace and bounty. Verily, He hath power over whatsoever He willeth, and He is the Single, the One, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.
We implore the Truth to assist your honor in all conditions and to grant success in that which causeth the elevation and advancement of existence. O my God, O my God! Aid Thy Afnan in that which Thou lovest and approvest, and ordain for them that which shall protect them from Thine enemies, and assist them in their commerce through Thy generosity and bounty. Verily, Thou art the Mighty, the Powerful.
Praise be to God, the glad-tidings of well-being arrive like heavenly light. By God’s grace, all are well there, and here too they are blessed by His favors. The letter from Jinab-i-Amin, upon him be God’s peace, arrived and was the cause of joy and gladness. However, regarding their movement, entry into the great city is not permitted. There is no objection to the journey of his honor the Afnan and Aqa Nasru’llah. They said, God willing, may they arrive safely and attain the divine blessings ordained for them. And they said to convey greetings to Mirza ʿAbdu’l-Husayn. Praise be to God, he has been and continues to be mentioned and is blessed with favors. We beseech God to manifest through him in His path that which shall endure as long as His names endure. Verily, He hath power over all things.
Likewise, we mention the loved ones of that land and send them greetings, and we seek for each one that which is the cause and means of the perpetuation of name and remembrance. This lowly one also conveys greetings to the beloved of the heart and solace of loving eyes, his honor the Afnan, and I beseech God, exalted be His glory, to ordain for them that which brings joy to the friends. Verily, He hath power over all things. Similarly, I convey greetings to Jinab-i-Amin and other travelers, each one, and I seek for them enduring blessing from the heaven of divine generosity. He is the Giver, He is the All-Bountiful.
The loved ones of that land, praise be to God, are ever before our sight and are mentioned in the presence of the Master. Blessed are they. Today, in truth, the souls that are assured, steadfast, content and pleasing are sanctified beyond description and praise. In view of outward means and their continuance among the people, these remembrances flow from tongue and pen. For the rest, the matter is in the hand of the Mighty, the Powerful, and the Lord of grace and bounty. He doeth and judgeth as He pleaseth, and He is the Commander, the All-Informed.
Regarding the salary of the late Hakim Musa, upon him be God’s mercy and forgiveness, assuredly what his honor the Afnan hath written is correct. God willing, their reply will also be sent from this quarter, as well as the reply to Haji Husayn and the Persian gentlemen, which will be sent to your honor for collection upon arrival. The receipts will also be sent. May light, mercy, glory and splendor be upon your honor and upon those with you, and those who love you and hear your word in this manifest Cause, and glory be upon you. There is no God but Him, the Most High, the Most Great.
BH01953: Praise be to the Most Glorious Goal of all…
He is God, blessed and exalted!
Praise be to the Most Glorious Goal of all the worlds, sanctified above mention and utterance and exalted beyond the comprehension of all beings, Who with a single drop from the Kawthar of His presence made the world intoxicated, that they might attain to the hearing of the Word “Am I not?” and be enabled to make reply. This drop increaseth wisdom rather than drunkenness. Light shineth forth from it, and joy and gladness and delight and exultation are made manifest thereby. In truth, that drop bestoweth eternal joy and everlasting delight. Well is it with you, O people of faithfulness!
And now, the letter of that honored friend was in truth a messenger bearing the pearls of love and affection. It brought joy and dispelled sorrow and grief. Exalted is God, the Lord of eternity and the Goal of all nations, Who hath deposited within the words of His loved ones that which is the source of joy and the dawning-place of gladness.
After its reading and perusal it was presented before the Face. He saith, and His word is the truth:
“O beloved! Upon thee be My peace and My glory! We have heard thy call and have answered thee with that whose fragrance shall never cease to endure throughout the eternity of My most excellent names and supreme attributes. We beseech God, exalted be He, to make thee a key to hearts and minds, that through thee their doors may be opened, and to ordain for thee the good of the hereafter and of this world, and to send down upon thee from the heaven of His will a blessing from Him and a bounty from His presence and a wealth from His side. He, verily, is the Powerful, the Generous, and the Possessor of great bounty. There is none other God but Him, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.”
Convey My greetings to all the kindred, both male and female, young and old. They have been and are remembered in the presence of this Wronged One. The non-mention of names hath been due to the requirements of consummate wisdom.
Praise be to God that thou hast attained to the mention of the Goal and art adorned with His favors. Thy letter, as well as the letter thou didst send to thy honored and respected father, were all read and, praise be to God, were the cause of joy and gladness. In these days the Leaf, that is, thy mother, hath received a promise that, God willing, we shall go and partake of food in remembrance of thee. We beseech Him, exalted be He, to gather us upon one carpet and in one place where we may hear and speak.
His Holiness the Master and His Holiness Aqa Mirza Muhammad-ʿAli—may my spirit be a sacrifice for them both—have expressed their love and kindness. Praise be to God, all are remembered and are recipients of favor. The circling ones, both men and women, have mentioned and continue to mention you, and they beseech from God that which hath had and hath no likeness or equal. He, verily, is the All-Bountiful, the Generous.
His Holiness Badi’u’llah hath repeatedly mentioned thee and continues to do so, and hath repeatedly read thy letter and beseecheth God to change remoteness into nearness. O honored friend, mention this Prisoner to the honored Aqa Rida and convey greetings to him. We beseech God to honor the Leaf, thy mother, and thy sister—upon them both be the glory of God—and to sustain them with His manifest and hidden bounties.
Glory and mention and praise be upon you and upon all who are in the house, from God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
Diya, dated 21 Rabi’ I 1307