Volume 096: Akka 1307 A.H. (1889–1890), Part IV (4 of 4)

BH02789: The Book of God speaks forth with truth before…

He is the Truth, the Knower of the Unseen!

The Book of God speaks forth with truth before the faces of the world and summons them to the Lord of Eternity, Who has come from the heaven of utterance with a clear proof. Neither the veils of the people nor the doubts of those who have denied this manifest grace can hinder Him. The gate of heaven has been opened, and that which was hidden in knowledge and inscribed by the Supreme Pen in the books of the Messengers has appeared. O Shihab, rejoice in that the All-Bountiful has remembered thee in this Return with verses that surpass all that the people possess. He Who speaks in every condition bears witness to this, that there is none other God but Him, the Single, the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to exalt thee through His Name and to ordain for thee what He has ordained for those among His servants who are detached. Verily, He is the Hearer, the Answerer. Hearken unto My call from the direction of My prison, and adorn thy head with the crown of piety and thy temple with the ornament of detachment. Then aid thy Lord through wisdom and utterance. He verily aids whoever speaks His praise and gives glad tidings to the people of His glorious and wondrous appearance.

Having drunk the choice wine of revelation from the cups of My utterance, say: Praise be to Thee, O my God, and thanksgiving be unto Thee, O my Desire, for having enabled me to turn towards Thee and for having sent down to me that which Thou hast made the water of life for all creation. O my Lord! Thou seest me enkindled with the fire of Thy love, drawn to Thy verses, and detached from all else but Thee. I beseech Thee by the Lamp of Thy Cause, which the winds of hatred from those who have disbelieved in Thee and Thy signs have surrounded, who have cast behind them Thy laws and Thy commandments—O my Lord, I beseech Thee by the ships of Thy power which have sailed upon the seas of Thy names by Thy command, to make me in all conditions one who speaks Thy Name, stands firm in the service of Thy Cause, and holds fast to Thy strong cord and Thy rope, O Lord of all beings! Then write down for me from Thy Supreme Pen that which will preserve me from the evil of Thine enemies and draw me nigh unto Thy threshold. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Moreover, I beseech Thee by the lights of Thy throne, by the mysteries that were hidden in Thy knowledge, and by the pearls of the sea of Thy wisdom, to open, through the key of Thy Name, the Self-Subsisting, the doors of mercy and blessing upon the faces of all, that they may draw nigh unto Thee and recognize what Thou hast ordained for them through Thy bounty and generosity. O Lord! Illumine their hearts with the light of Thy knowledge and adorn their temples with the ornament of piety. Verily, Thou art the Lord of all beings. There is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the Wise.

BH02790: In My Name whereby the horizon of proof hath…

In My Name whereby the horizon of proof hath been illumined!

This is a Book sent down by the All-Merciful unto him who hath hearkened to the Call and turned unto God, the Lord of the mighty Throne. He is among those who have attained that which most of the servants have failed to attain, as doth testify this perspicuous Book that speaketh amongst men and summoneth all unto God, the Lord of lords.

O Muhammad-Sadiq! We bear witness that thou didst seek the ultimate goal and didst traverse the path until thou didst arrive at a place wherein was raised the remembrance of God, the Lord of creation. Blessed art thou and blessed is he who hath quaffed the choice wine of utterance from the hand of the bounty of his Lord, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.

At this moment the permission to return hath dawned. Turn thy face toward thy native land. Rejoice thou in this irrevocable decree, the Mighty, the Wise. Return by God’s might and power, and glorify the Wronged One before the faces of His loved ones, and give them the glad tidings of His mercy that hath preceded all and His loving-kindness that hath encompassed all in the heavens and the earth. We bear witness that thou wast present and didst hear My most sweet call and didst drink the Kawthar of meeting from the hands of the bounty of thy Lord, the Lord of this wondrous Day.

Say: Praise be unto Thee, O my God, and thanksgiving be unto Thee, O my Beloved, for having enabled me to attain unto Thy days, to speak Thy praise, to soar in Thy atmosphere, to hold fast unto Thy cord, and to seek the Kaaba of Thy presence. I beseech Thee, O God of existence and Lord of the seen and unseen, by the Lote-Tree which hath spoken in Thy name and called out to the servants in Thy days and summoned them to the Kawthar of Thy reunion, to ordain for me that which will draw me nigh unto Thee and preserve me and make me steadfast in Thy Cause and Thy love, in such wise that neither the ascendancy of names nor the fabrications of the enemies who have violated Thy Covenant and Thy Testament and have disbelieved in Thy signs and have disputed Thy proof shall hinder me.

O my Lord! Thou seest me turning unto Thee and detached from all else but Thee. I beseech Thee to make me a servant of Thy Cause in every world of Thy worlds. Thou art He Who doeth what He pleaseth by Thy sovereignty and ordaineth what He willeth by Thy command. Thou art the Almighty, the Most Exalted, the All-Bountiful.

O my Lord! Send down Thy blessings upon the Hands of Thy Cause who have traveled throughout the lands to exalt Thy Word and guide Thy creation. They are honored servants—no fear shall be upon them, neither shall they grieve. I beseech Thee, O my Beloved, by Thy most great signs and the lights of Thy Throne, O Lord of all humanity, to ordain for me that which will make me independent through Thy riches and mighty through Thy might. Verily, Thou art the Powerful, the Commander, the All-Knowing, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.

BH02818: O Ali! Thy letter which thou didst send…

He is the Caller in the Kingdom of Utterance!

O Ali! Thy letter which thou didst send with Aqa Abdu’l-Ali hath been presented before the Wronged One and was honored with His hearing. From the earliest days thou hast been mentioned. O Ali! The friends must at all times increase in the warmth of divine love. Warmth is manifested through love, and love is achieved through turning towards Him. God willing, thou and the friends shall be enkindled by the fire of the Divine Lote-Tree, illumined by the light of recognition, and engaged in all conditions in service to the Cause. Today service to the divine Cause consists in making people aware of that which benefiteth them and deeds that cause the fire of hatred and animosity to be stilled in the hearts and minds of the various peoples.

Say: My God, my God! Praise be to Thee for having guided me, caused me to hear, given me to drink, and made me turn toward the court of Thy glory after the turning away of most of Thy creatures. I beseech Thee, O Possessor of the kingdoms of knowledge and wisdom, by Thy Name through which Thou didst subdue all possibility and by which the hearts of all religions were attracted, to assist me to make mention of Thee and to praise Thee with wisdom and utterance. O my Lord! Aid me and Thy loved ones to accomplish good deeds and righteousness. O my Lord! Thou seest me standing before the door of Thy generosity, clinging to the cord of Thy bounty. Ordain for me that which will cause me to be detached from all else but Thee and to hold fast to the ropes of Thy mercy and forgiveness. O my Lord! Ordain for me what Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen ones, then write down for me that which will draw me nigh unto Thee and strengthen me in Thy service. Verily Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. There is no God but Thee, the Forgiving, the Generous.

There hath been presented before the Wronged One that which thy son Ahmad—upon him be My glory—composed and recited before My face. We have answered him with verses that cannot be equaled by the treasures of the earth nor the wealth of all people. O Ahmad! We have heard how thou hast praised God, the Lord of the mighty throne, and We found in thy verses the fragrance of the love of God, the Goal of the mystics. We beseech Him to strengthen thee with the hosts of utterance, to aid thee in His remembrance, and to exalt thee through His name amongst His servants. Verily He is the All-Bountiful, the Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Say: Praise be to Thee, O Ocean of Bounty, and thanksgiving be unto Thee, O Sun of Grace and Glory! I beseech Thee not to disappoint me of what Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen ones. Enable me to perform such deeds as are adorned with the glory of Thy acceptance. Then write down for me, O my God, that which will preserve me from the evil of Thy creatures and the doubts of Thy servants. Verily Thou art the Powerful, the All-Bounteous, the Mighty, the Great.

BH02851: By that Name that hath been raised…

By that Name that hath been raised from the most exalted horizon.

All praise befits the Desired One Who bestowed new life upon the withered servants, nay rather the dead ones, through the breathings of verses and the Kawthar of clear proofs, and Who made all things fresh and verdant through the breezes of the morn of His Revelation. He is the Powerful One Whom neither the might of the world nor the power of nations could deter from His purpose. Glorified be His dominion and exalted be His proof!

O Siyyid, formerly Mirza, hear what is raised from this Most Exalted Station. Verily it will attract thee and draw thee nigh unto God, the Lord of the worlds. Today the breathings of revelation are diffused, the banners of verses are unfurled, and the standards of guidance are manifest, yet the people remain heedless and veiled.

His honor, my brother, that is Asad, upon him be My Glory, has for some time been dwelling near the pavilions of grandeur and has been engaged in tending the garden. This service has been for the sake of God, as it is specially designated for the recreation of the friends and the chosen ones. Although through the oppression of the oppressors they have not found opportunity for recreation in the things of this earthly realm, yet as the intention was pure, the mystery of “were it not for thee” became manifest and evident from the essence of dust. We beseech God to cause all to attain to that which is the cause of the exaltation of existence and the advancement of souls. He is the One Who has power over whatsoever He willeth through His command “Be” and it is.

In any case, his honor my brother presented thy letter and this servant, present before His face, mentioned it all, and after its reading and perusal, this most wondrous and greatest Tablet was revealed from the heaven of the will of the Ancient King. Blessed is the ear that hath heard or heareth, and the eye that hath seen, and the hand that hath taken the Book of God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting.

When thou hast drunk the choice wine of utterance from the cup of the bounty of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, say: O Lord of Religions! I beseech Thee by the Dawning-Places of Thy Revelation, the Manifestations of Thy Inspiration, and the Day-Springs of Thy verses, to aid this servant of Thine to such steadfastness as the clamor of the divines cannot prevent nor the shouting of the ignorant ones frighten. Verily Thou art powerful over what Thou willest. O my Lord! Thou seest the needy one hath made for the ocean of Thy generosity and the poor one for the sun of Thy grace. Ordain for him what beseemeth the heaven of Thy bounty and the sea of Thy munificence. Verily Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty, the Bestower. There is no God but Thee, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting.

BH02924: This day is the Day of God, and praise…

He is the One Who rules over all names.

This day is the Day of God, and praise and glorification belong to the Afnan and the loved ones, for they have girded up their loins with determination and have arisen to serve—an arising that knows no lassitude nor sitting.

O My Afnan, upon thee be My glory and loving-kindness! Thy letter reached the Most Holy Court. The sweet fragrances of love were wafted from it and diffused. Praise be to God Who confirmed thee, brought thee into His presence, caused thee to hear His sweetest call, and showed thee His Most Glorious Horizon. The days of thy presence in the court of the wronged ones are remembered. This remembrance shall never be erased from the divine Book and the ledger of the world. Blessed art thou and blessed is he who hath attained and loved thee for the sake of God, the Lord of the exalted Throne.

Convey to the loved ones of that land the greetings of the Wronged One. We beseech God to aid all to that which causeth the exaltation of the Word of God. Blessed is the soul that striveth to unite the hearts and minds of the loved ones. Verily, he is among those who are nigh unto God in His mighty and praiseworthy Book. Praise be to God that oppression and wickedness have been transformed into righteousness and piety, and weapons into reform.

Say: My God, my God! Thou seest Thy Afnan and Thy loved ones in the hands of the oppressors among Thy creatures, who were so overcome with pride that they denied the parties of the world. But when the test came, they denied Thy right, disbelieved in Thy signs, broke Thy covenant and Thy testament, and disputed Thy proof. O Lord! Make known to them Thy straight path and Thy mighty Message. Verily, Thou art the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous.

O My Afnan, O Mahmud! Upon thee be the Glory of God, the Mighty, the Loving. The abominable Shi’ih party hath committed that which no oppressor hath ever committed. They martyred the Lord of existence while occupying themselves with cursing and reviling from their pulpits. We beseech God to seize them with His might or aid them to return unto Him. Verily, He is the Mighty, the Wise.

The Glory from Us be upon thee and upon those who are with thee and who hearken to thy words concerning the Cause of God, the Self-Subsisting, the Most High. The Tablets that were requested have been sent. We hope that they may drink from the Kawthar of the merciful utterances that which leadeth to everlasting steadfastness and eternal remembrance. Blessed are they that act, and blessed are they that know.

BH02920: O Bahram! The Day of Witnessing hath arrived…

In the name of the Persian Speaker!

O Bahram! The Day of Witnessing hath arrived. The sun decareth: “The All-Bountiful hath come!” And the heavens proclaim: “The All-Merciful hath come!” Today the light of the Sun of Truth hath encompassed the whole world. For the seas there is a new voice, for the books of knowledge a new name, for the mountains a new splendor, and for those who circle the point of adoration a new vesture and appearance. Blessed are those souls who, in this Day of Victory, have heard the call of the heavenly Friend and with pure and sanctified eyes set their faces towards His horizon.

The names mentioned in thy letter have each been illumined with the light of the utterance of the Desire of the world and remembered in His most holy court. Say: O Providence! O Most Kind! O King! O Succorer! Praise and laudation, gratitude and glory beseem Thee, for Thou hast deposited the treasure of recognition within the heart of man and raised up a precious existence from water and clay. Thou art the All-Powerful, Whom the power and might of men have failed to weaken, Whom the hosts of heedlessness and the armies of pride and affluence are powerless to deter from His purpose. When the darts of hate and rancor flew from all directions, Thou didst stand with perfect steadfastness and speak that which it beseemed Thee to say. The cruelty of Pharaoh did not prevent Thee from uttering Thy words, and the wrath of tyrants impeded not the execution of Thine all-pervasive will.

O Providence! Guide the high priests and assist them with the hosts of understanding and divine knowledge. Perchance they will guide Thy servants to the straight Path and deliver unto them the glad-tidings of the Great Announcement.

O Munificent One! Thy light is shining, Thy command compelling, and Thy wisdom pervading. Deprive not Thy loved ones of the ocean of Thy bounty, and write down and ordain for each one of them with the Pen of Thy loving-kindness that which is worthy of Thy grace in this Day. Thou art the Powerful. Thou art the Knowing, the Seeing.

O Providence! Enlighten the minds of the high priests that through their enlightenment they may awaken those who are fast asleep and guide them that have gone astray to the straight Path, until all become gathered beneath the shadow of the canopy of majesty and the tree of mercy, hearken unto that for which the faculty of hearing was called into being, and behold that for which the sense of vision was created. This Cause is Thy Cause. May all souls be offered up as a sacrifice to Thee.

BH02888: This is a Book which the All-Merciful hath sent…

He is the One Who speaks with justice in the Kingdom of utterance.

This is a Book which the All-Merciful hath sent down that it might draw the hearts of His servants to the horizon whence hath shone the Sun of divine knowledge, through a command from God, the Lord of all beings.

The Glory giveth glad-tidings unto all peoples, saying: Rejoice, O peoples of the earth, for the pavilion of glory hath been raised upon the highest ensigns and the canopies of grandeur upon a station whereof all beings are powerless to make mention.

We were walking in the house when thy praise arrived and that which proceeded from thy heart regarding this Most Great Remembrance whereby the nations were thunderstruck, save whom God, the Lord of lords, did will. We have heard what thou didst compose in praise of God and didst recite before the faces of His servants. Blessed art thou for having turned when the Call was raised and for having spoken in praise of thy Lord at eventide and at dawn. Blessed is the tongue that hath spoken in remembrance of the Truth and the hand that hath taken hold of the Book of God with power and authority.

Say: O peoples of the earth, fear ye God and follow not the daysprings of idle fancies and vain imaginings. We give you glad tidings of God’s loving-kindness and grace, and make mention unto you of verses which, when revealed, perfumed all regions. Say: O heedless ones, do ye not see what hath appeared through My will and what My tongue hath uttered, and what had been hidden throughout all eternity hath been made manifest? Hearken unto the Call and cast aside what ye possess. By God! The heaven hath been cleft asunder and the Lord of Names hath come with power and sovereignty.

Thus hath moved the Most Exalted Pen in remembrance of His chosen ones whom neither the clamor of the world nor the hosts of the nations did frighten. These are the people of Baha in the crimson scroll. Thus hath the Tongue of Grandeur spoken in the prison of ʿAkka, through a command from the One Who is the Ordainer, the All-Compelling.

O My loved ones! Hear ye My call and then act in such wise as to exalt your stations in the world amidst all peoples. Beware lest the conditions of the world and its ornaments, its favors, its bounties and its colors hold you back from turning unto the Dawning-Place of God’s revelation, the Lord of all men.

In closing, We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to give you to drink of His sealed wine through this Name through Whose manifestation the realities of all things were attracted and the Herald called out from the right side of the Most Exalted Paradise: The Kingdom belongeth unto God, the Possessor of this luminous Day. The Glory shining from the horizon of this heaven be upon you, O party of God, and upon those who have acted according to what they were commanded in the Book.

BH02856: All praise, sanctified from mention and description, beseemeth…

In His Name, Who doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth

All praise, sanctified from mention and description, beseemeth and befitteth the Desire of the worlds, Whom neither the opposition and objection of the peoples of the world could prevent, nor their acceptance and recognition could enhance in His station. He is the Almighty One Whom the might and power of princes cannot weaken, and Whom the rejection and denial of divines cannot withhold from His purpose. His is the bounty and the giving, His the remembrance and the glory. There is none other God but He, the Lord of all beings and the Lord of the throne on high and of earth below.

O Ali, upon thee be My glory and My loving-kindness! For a period beyond the reckoning of others We have outwardly made no mention of thee, and this hath been due to the requirements of divine wisdom, loving-kindness and compassion, for the heedless ones, the deniers and the opposers lie in wait to find some word and raise an uproar. I speak the truth—thou art remembered before Our presence and art the recipient of Our special favor. His power cannot be weakened by the denial of creation, nor can His sovereignty be erased by the fire of hatred. Reflect upon the penetrating influence of the Supreme Pen and the power of the Most Exalted Word. Its traces are manifest from every direction and its fruits evident from every quarter.

With one Pen We have engaged in the education of the peoples and the reformation of the world. Now matters have reached such a pass that from every region some news doth arrive and some effect is visible. Thou must needs, with wisdom and utterance, summon the servants to the Fountain of the Desire of all worlds. Hold fast unto wisdom and occupy thyself with service. Thy station with God is great—preserve it in His Name. The Cause of God is mighty—assuredly it shall encompass the world. In a Tablet to one of His loved ones these exalted words were revealed: Wherever We may be and whatever may befall Us, ye must occupy yourselves with the service of the Cause and the exaltation of His Word.

Soon shall the generality of mankind lament and bewail that which hath escaped them in this supreme Manifestation. With thy Lord is the knowledge of all things in His perspicuous Book. Make mention of the loved ones and give them the glad-tidings of the effulgences of the lights of the Day-Star of Divine Revelation. Soon shall they behold what hath been ordained for them from the presence of a Mighty, an Ancient Being.

BH02889: A Book sent down by the Wronged One…

He is God, exalted be His glory, the Wisdom and Utterance

A Book sent down by the Wronged One to His Afnan who believed in Him and His verses, who drank the choice wine of revelation from the cup of His bounty, who attained His presence and recognized His meeting, and who returned by His leave to his home as a mercy from Him and a favor from His presence. He is verily the Kind, the Generous. We beseech God to make the end of your affairs excellent and to send down upon you that which will transform sorrow into joy and grief into the Most Great Gladness. He is verily the Forgiving, the Merciful.

You have always been and continue to be remembered, and are favored with mention, attention and bounty. We must strive with complete determination to raise the blessed and goodly Word—which sometimes appears in human form, at times in the form of light, once in the image of the Tree, and another time in the likeness of the Sun—from earth to heaven, that people may be freed from the clay of idle fancies and vain imaginings and attain to what God has willed. His honor Haji Muhammad-Rida, upon him be My glory, mentioned you and sought bounty from the Wronged One for you. We beseech God to grant you every good thing He has sent down in His perspicuous Book. His honor Jalal, upon him be My glory, has been favored with the effulgences of the lights of the Daystar of permission, having repeatedly turned to Us and been illumined by Our presence and meeting. In truth he has rendered service from the earliest days until now. Should he return to you, gladden him with My mention and word of My good-pleasure.

O My Afnan! Upon you be My glory and loving-kindness. We have remembered his father and mother with a mention from which wafts the fragrance of gifts and favors. His companions were also specifically granted permission and bounty. Say: O Jalal! He does not allow to be lost the reward of the doers of good, the reward of those who act, and the reward of the reformers. God willing the world will be sanctified and purified from the darkness of rancor and hatred, that all may be illumined by the light of love and attain true tranquility.

My God, My God! Take the hands of Thy Afnan through Thy grace and bounty and Thy strength and power, and ordain for them that which will exalt them through Thy Name and make them ensigns of Thy guidance amongst Thy creation. Thou art verily the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.

The glory shining forth from the horizon of the heaven of bounty be upon you, O Afnans of the Tree, and upon those who are with you and who love you and who hear your words concerning the Cause of God, the Mighty, the Praised.

BH02853: Praise be to the Lord of Eternity, Who illumined…

Praise be to the Lord of Eternity, Who illumined hearts and minds with the lights of His Most Great Name and guided them to His straight path and His mighty announcement. Upon the near ones He placed the crown of “The Kingdom is God’s” and adorned them with the ornament of “I possess for myself neither benefit nor harm, neither life nor resurrection.” He is the Sovereign of existence and the Lord of the seen and unseen. Through His exalted Word He conquered the people of the kingdoms of righteousness and piety, and through the radiance of the Sun of Truth He made them bright and illumined.

O Muhammad-Qabil-Baqir! Praise the Goal of the world that thou hast attained the honor of His presence and drunk from the cup of meeting Him. His grace is like unto the manifest and shining sun, and His bounty encompasses all. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to assist thee to achieve the most great steadfastness. Verily, He is the Lord of creation. There is no God but Him, the Mighty, the Powerful, the Bestower.

Convey the greetings of the Wronged One to the friends in that land and gladden them with the lights of the utterance of the Goal of all worlds. O My friends and loved ones! The Most Exalted Pen counsels you to righteousness and piety, trustworthiness and religious devotion, truthfulness and sincerity. Whatsoever hath appeared from the oppressors hath been and is the cause of the exaltation of His blessed Word.

O thou who hast turned to God! Give glad tidings to the people of that land with the mention of this Wronged One. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, once again, to make His loved ones the standards of His guidance and the banners of His victory. Verily, He is powerful over all things. The purpose of victory and triumph in all Tablets is wisdom and utterance, for these two are the hosts of Truth and are ordained to open the doors of hearts and minds. Blessed is he who hath forsaken corruption and taken hold of reformation by the command of the Ancient Ordainer.

My God, my God! Strengthen the hearts of Thy loved ones in such wise that the hosts of the heedless and the denial of the opposers shall not weaken them. Verily, Thou art the Mighty, the Supreme over all who are in the heavens and the earth. The glory be upon thee and upon thy son who was named Muhammad Aqa. We testify that he hath drunk the cup of immortality from the hands of bounty and hath attained unto that which was revealed in the Books of God, the Lord of the worlds. Praise be to God, the Lord of the Day of Judgment.

BH02909: This is a Day wherein the countenance of Justice…

In the Name of the one true God!

This is a Day wherein the countenance of Justice hath smiled, inasmuch as His Majesty the Sultan—may God assist him—hath been established upon the throne of grace. We testify that in his days he desireth naught save the development of the countries and the betterment of the affairs of the servants. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to protect him from the evil of his enemies and to exalt him through His sovereignty amidst His creation. O Shams, thy mention hath been made before the Wronged One. We beseech God to aid all to be trustworthy and religious, and to perform good deeds and display praiseworthy conduct. Verily He is the Hearing, the Answering, and worthy to respond.

Thou didst make mention of Suleyman. It is quite clear and evident that this Wronged One hath loved and doth love to meet with the friends. However, the cause and reason for prevention hath been and is the fire of jealousy of the opposers and deniers. Therefore in these days We have paused in giving permission for mention. Convey My greetings unto him, and let him remember God and say:

My God, my God! Praise be to Thee for having guided me unto Thy path, illumined my heart with the light of Thy knowledge, and honored me with Thy unity. I beseech Thee by the mysteries of Thy Book and the detachment of Thy Beloved and the steadfastness of His family and companions in support of Thy Cause, to assist me in Thy remembrance and praise and to enable me to perform that which Thou hast commanded me in Thy Book. Verily Thou art the Almighty, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful, the Bestower, the Forgiving, the Generous.

O Wronged One! I love to remember Thee as we remembered Thee before. This Wronged One hath at all times sought for the friends that which changeth not and which no extinction can seize. We beseech God to protect His servants from the evil of self and passion and transgression and immorality, and to grant them success and aid in righteousness and piety. He is the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Convey My greetings to the friends. We beseech the Lord of existence to aid them to observe the fast and prayer in this blessed month. Let them not be lazy like some Babis and remain without deeds. The Son of Mary hath said that a servant without deeds is like a tree without fruit, and a tree without fruit is fit for the fire. Peace be upon thee, O Shams, and upon those with thee and upon God’s sincere servants. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH02855: In the Name of our Goal and the Goal…

In the Name of our Goal and the Goal of all who are in the heavens and on the earth

Praise, sanctified above mention by the Kingdom and description by the denizens of the Realm of Might, befitteth and beseemeth the Lord of the Divine Realm, Who through the Most Great Name raised high the Standard of “Verily I am the Lord of Ancient Days” before the faces of all peoples, and through His prevailing, conquering Will hoisted the Banner of “Verily He is God” upon the supreme horizon of hearts and minds, and from the treasuries of the Supreme Pen caused the pearls of wisdom and utterance to appear with such light and radiance that every possessor of vision and justice, beholding them, purified himself from the world and all who dwell therein and turned toward the peerless Friend. Glorified be His grandeur, exalted be His dominion, and glorious be His proof. There is no God but Him. Glory be to God! In this age the arena of the world hath become the supreme horizon through the light of the manifestation of the Lord of Destiny, and yet the worshippers of names remain debarred from beholding and deprived of witnessing it.

My God, my God! I beseech Thee by Thyself and by Thy power and sovereignty, and by the lights of the throne of Thy grandeur, and by the breezes of Thy revelation and the fragrances of Thy robe, and by the waves of the ocean of Thy grace amidst Thy servants, and by the manifestations of the sun of Thy justice for the ordering of Thy realm and the reformation of the affairs of Thy creation, to assist me and Thy servants to cling to the hem of the robe of Thy mercy and forgiveness, and to aid us to manifest weakness before the revelations of Thy power, and to return unto the gate of Thy bounty and the threshold of Thy grace. Verily Thou art the One Who hath power over whatsoever He willeth, and in Thy grasp are the reins of all who are in the heavens and earths.

The letter of that soul which was addressed to this servant was presented at the Most Holy Court after being seen, perused and read, and this is what the Lord of all mankind hath revealed in reply, exalted be His glory and mighty be the waves of the ocean of His utterance amongst His servants:

In My Name, the Light Shining from the Heaven of Bounty

Praise be to God Who hath subdued all in the realm of possibility through the sword of wisdom and utterance, and hath sent down from the heaven of inner meanings that which attracted the hearts of all religions, and hath manifested the mysteries that were treasured in the shells of the ocean of His name, the All-Bountiful. Verily He was and is powerful and supreme over what shall be and what hath been. There is no God but Him, the Single, the One, the Mighty, the Powerful, the All-Judging.

BH03042: O thou who soarest in My atmosphere, who gazest…

He is the Answerer ere the call is raised

O thou who soarest in My atmosphere, who gazest upon Mine horizon, and who hast turned thy face toward the lights of My countenance! Hear thou My call again and again, for verily it draweth thee unto a horizon from which hath dawned the Sun of the bounty of thy Lord, the Lord of the Day of Reckoning. The decree of the Trumpet hath appeared, the people of the graves have arisen, and He Who was hidden hath come with the standards of His signs.

Thy letter hath come before the Wronged One. We have inhaled from it the fragrance of thy sincerity and thy turning unto Him, when the servants turned away save those whom God, the Lord of creation, did will. We have ordained for those who are nigh what will draw them near unto the Most Great Sea, whose waves have appeared before the faces of religions. We have heard thy call and have answered thee with that which shall endure as long as the Kingdom of God, the Lord of Lords, shall endure.

When thou soarest on the wings of knowledge in the atmosphere of the love of the All-Merciful and drinkest the choice wine of utterance from the cup of the bounty of the Lord of all possibilities, say:

Glory be unto Thee, O my God! Praise be unto Thee for having guided me unto the ocean of Thy grace, and caused me to hear Thy most sweet call from Thy most exalted horizon, and shown me the traces of Thy Pen, and manifested unto me what was hidden in Thy knowledge. I beseech Thee, O my God, my Lord and my Master, by the Ark that moveth upon the sea of names through Thy will, and by the Light that hath shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of Thy bounty, and by the Tree that was revealed unto the Son of Imran on the Mount of Thy knowledge, to confirm me in steadfastness in Thy Most Ancient Cause and Thy Most Great News, whereby the feet of the nations have slipped save those whom Thou hast preserved through Thy power, Thy sovereignty, Thy majesty and Thy might.

O Lord! Thou seest me turning toward Thee, seeking the gate of Thy bounty, and beseeching Thy ancient pardon and Thy all-embracing generosity. O Lord! I am he who hastened unto the sea of Thy verses and attained the light of certitude upon beholding the lights of Thy countenance, and took for myself a station near unto Thy mercy. O Lord! I beseech Thee by the Most Great Word whereby Thou hast subdued all who are in earth and heaven, that Thou disappoint not him who is in need from the revelations of the lights of the Sun of Thy riches, and ordain for me that which shall abide with me in every world of Thy worlds. Verily Thou art the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous. There is none other God but Thee, the Commander, the All-Knowing.

BH02952: This Wronged One hath from the earliest days until…

In the name of the All-Powerful Speaker!

This Wronged One hath from the earliest days until now been afflicted with tribulations and hardships at the hands of enemies, to such an extent as is beyond reckoning or limitation. Those who were shown the utmost favor—that is, those who were ignorant and were enabled to attain the ocean of knowledge, those who were poor and found their way to the horizon of wealth, those who in a few short years attained pure and holy blessings—were in the end so deceived by outward ornaments that they deviated from the straight path and engaged in unseemly deeds and actions. It was observed that the words and deeds of these souls would cause great corruption. Therefore, solely to preserve the Cause, the command to depart was issued.

Later they proceeded to the great city and committed that which caused the very essence of truth to weep and the hearts of the chaste maidens in the most exalted Paradise to burn. The divine counsels had no effect upon them. They abandoned righteousness and piety and occupied themselves with tyranny and depravity. By the life of God! There hath befallen Us that which hath caused every possessor of heart and vision and conscience to lament.

Say: My God, my God! Praise be to Thee for having guided me to the ocean of Thy bounty and for having remembered me in the prison when I was wronged at the hands of Thy servants. I beseech Thee, O Illuminator of the horizons and the One manifest on the Day of Meeting, by Thy Name through which the back of hypocrisy was broken, to assist me to be steadfast in Thy Cause and Thy love. O Lord! Deprive not Thy thirsty servant of the Kawthar of Thy grace, nor the poor one of the treasury of Thy generosity and bounty.

O Lord! Thou seest Thy servants who turned away from Thee after having turned towards Thee, and were deceived by their wealth until they denied Thy right and rejected Thy favors and cast aside Thy gifts. O Lord! I beseech Thee by Thy sovereignty which hath encompassed all things, seen and unseen, to aid them to return unto Thee and to seek forgiveness before the gate of Thy pardon and to turn in repentance before the throne of Thy bounty.

O Lord! Ordain for me all the good Thou hast sent down in Thy Book. Verily Thou art the Almighty, before Whose power the might of the world and the traces of nations were obliterated at the manifestation of Thy traces. There is no God but Thee, the All-Bountiful, the All-Generous, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

BH02996: The springtime of utterance has come, and the signs…

He is the All-Bountiful, the Possessor of Great Grace!

The springtime of utterance has come, and the signs of mercy and generosity have appeared from the April showers of God’s loving-kindness, the Lord of all worlds. This is the Day whereon the tongue of existence speaks:

“O my Lord! Deny me not the rain-showers from the heaven of Thy bounty, and deprive me not of the effulgences of the Orb of Thy bestowal. I beseech Thee, O Lord of the worlds, by Thy Most Great Name, to ordain for me every good thing Thou hast sent down in Thy Manifest Book. There is no God but Thee, the Forgiving, the All-Bountiful.”

O thou who gazest upon the Countenance! In these days all things are engaged in joy and gladness, and are holding fast to the means of delight and attraction. A great festival is established—God willing, may all attain unto it. Blessed and great is this Day. Well is it with the soul that has acquired lofty stations and attained unto eternal life.

Praise be to God, that honored one has ever been and continues to be successful in spreading the divine verses. Convey My greetings to the friends. All are mentioned in the presence of this Wronged One. We counsel everyone to observe trustworthiness and godliness, and whatsoever God hath revealed in His Manifest Book. That honored one should set souls ablaze with the warmth of divine love and strengthen them in that which is befitting. Perchance through your efforts and those of the loved ones, the hidden rancor and hatred in the breasts of the various groups may be stilled and quieted by the Kawthar of counsel and utterance, and the point of unity may shine forth from the horizon of the Mother Book and adorn all directions with the light of accord.

Thou hast ever been and continues to be mentioned before this Wronged One. Say: O friends! Know ye the value of these days. Today the world is illumined by the light of the Divine Manifestation and the Mount is gladdened by His presence. Blessed are they who have attained unto this most great favor. The saplings of existence seek sustenance—they must be nourished at all times from the Kawthar of utterance, that all may appear and become manifest with delicate, radiant leaves and pure, sweet fruits. Bounty is in His hand and generosity is in His mighty grasp. He hath ordained for you that which will bring joy to the eyes and gladden the hearts. Verily thy Lord is the All-Bounteous, the Generous.

Peace and mercy be upon thee and upon those who are with thee and love thee for the sake of God, the Lord of the Mighty Throne.

BH03041: O My Afnan! Upon thee be My grace, My…

He is the One Who is manifest through justice and Who beholds through grace

O My Afnan! Upon thee be My grace, My mercy and My loving-kindness. The absolute Will and the penetrating Purpose of God, glorified be His majesty, hath unveiled what was hidden in hearts, that all might recognize and become aware of the Dawning-Place of sanctity and the Dayspring of holiness. One whom We sheltered for forty years beneath the canopies of the Most Great Mercy hath arisen to waste the Cause of God—the waters of all the world could not quench the fire of his rancor. Praise be to God, those who claimed knowledge and truth—from them appeared that which every person of insight hath testified and doth testify to their oppression, transgression, betrayal and falsehood. The originators of these transgressions and calumnies were Shaykh Muhammad of Yazd and the resident of the island. Indeed, such wickedness hath appeared as hath no likeness or equal.

Whenever a seeker sets out for the Most Great Goal, they soil his pure hem with the dust of calumnies. For a time they spread rumors that Mirza Abu’l-Qasim the Custodian had stolen funds and gone to ʿAkka. And some time before, when his eminence Afnan H, upon him be My glory and loving-kindness, turned towards this land, after sending a telegram they reported that the aforementioned person had stolen ninety liras and some papers and departed. Furthermore, that which the Star (Akhtar) wrote before and after—his eminence is aware of it. They are entirely bereft of justice, fairness, truthfulness and trustworthiness.

In any case, the Hand of Power hath revealed that which was concealed. We beseech God to protect His loved ones from the whisperings of the heedless.

His eminence Ism-i-Jud, upon him be My glory, hath repeatedly mentioned you. His love for the Branches and Afnans of the Blessed Tree is manifest and evident like the sun. Grieve not over anything. Soon God will exalt His Cause and honor His loved ones and open before their faces the gates of His bounty and generosity. Verily He hath power over all things. The radiant, gleaming light be upon thee and upon those with thee and upon those who hearken to thy word concerning the Great News of God.

BH02960: All praise befitteth the Desired One Who…

All praise befitteth the Desired One Who, from the clouds of loving-kindness, hath showered the rain of mercy upon blessed and goodly soil….

O Husayn! O thou Preceptor! From His Most Great Prison, the countenance of the Ancient of Days is turned towards thee, and He teacheth thee that which will draw thee nigh unto God, the Lord of mankind. Blessed is that teacher who shall arise to instruct the children, and to guide the people into the pathways of God, the Bestower, the Well-Beloved…

O Mahmud! The Promised One hath come and that which was hidden in God’s knowledge, the Lord of all worlds, hath been made manifest. We raised up from the letter Kha one who gave the people the glad tidings of this Revelation through which the Herald proclaimed: “The Kingdom belongeth unto God, the Mighty, the All-Praised.” We manifested Ahmad (of Azghand) and sent forth Muhammad (Furughi) that they might give glad tidings to the peoples of earth and heaven of this resplendent and manifest Light. We had mentioned them before in verses that brought joy to the eyes of them that know….

At this moment the tongue of My loving-kindness maketh mention of him who sought My presence with My leave, entered the gate of My majesty, heard My sweet call and the scratching of My Most Exalted Pen. He was named Javan-i-Ruhani by God, the Almighty, the All-Powerful….

O Muhammad-Qabli! Today Carmel hath attained the presence of God, and every possessor of vision and hearing is blessed with beholding and hearkening. Glory be to God! The mysteries of the Resurrection and the signs of the Hour are all manifest, yet veiled from minds and understanding. Say: Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having revealed unto me that which Thou hadst veiled from most of Thy servants. I beseech Thee to make me steadfast in Thy Cause, firm, unshakeable and mighty. Verily, Thou art the Most Powerful of the powerful ones….

BH03046: O beloved! On this day the Greater Branch attained…

He is the Composer of Hearts

O beloved! On this day the Greater Branch attained the presence and presented your letter before the Face. These luminous verses were sent down from the heaven of the All-Merciful’s will that you might read and rejoice and be among the thankful ones. By the life of God! There lies concealed in the utterance of the Supreme Pen a Kawthar such that were souls to attain but a drop thereof, all would attain eternal life, and were they to behold the hidden pearls therein, verily they would with their outward and inward tongues proclaim the blessed word “The Intended One hath come with manifest sovereignty.”

O beloved! Upon thee be the glory of God, the Lord of the mighty throne. The smoke of ignorance hath deprived the servants from the shore of the divine ocean of knowledge. Beseech thou God to transform the smoke into light, that it may increase the power of vision of the servants and all may witness that for which they were created from nothingness into being. According to what was mentioned, afflictions have also befallen you from the oppressors—you have shared in the tribulations of the loved ones of the Throne. Blessed art thou for what hath befallen thee in the path of God from the transgressing among His servants.

Say: My God, my God! Thou didst say, and Thy word is the truth:

“Were it not for tribulations in My path, how would the station of My lovers and those who yearn for Me become manifest? And were it not for calamities in My love, how would the position of those who seek Me be revealed?”

Praise be to God that thou hast shared in tribulations with His loved ones. This is from God’s bounty unto thee. If sorrow hath come upon you, joy was also witnessed and was with you. And he is an Afnan, M.H., upon him be My glory and My loving-kindness. Verily His mercy hath preceded and His grace hath encompassed. He is the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.

We make mention of the Afnans of the Sacred Tree and give them glad-tidings of special favors. Jinab-i-Fadl and Abdul-Karim, upon them be My glory, My loving-kindness and My mercy, have repeatedly mentioned the tribulations that befell in the cities of ʿAyn and Shin, and answers were repeatedly sent. In truth they strove with perfect steadfastness and love to establish truth and vanquish falsehood. Their reward is with God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. Verily we are God’s and to Him we return.

BH02995: The Day is come and the people are…

He is the All-Witnessing, the All-Informed

The Day is come and the people are in manifest veils. The Truth hath appeared and creation is in great denial. The Light hath shone forth from the horizon of manifestation and mankind is in thick delusion. O concourse of men! The Lord of Destiny remembereth you from the direction of His Most Great Scene. Draw nigh and be not of them that hesitate. This is the Day of proof, were ye of them that know, and this is the Day of recognition, were ye of them that are certain. This is the Day whereon the Speaker of the Mount speaketh upon the throne of manifestation. Blessed is he who hath heard and believed, and woe unto every sinful denier.

O Husayn Baba, his honor Siyyid Taqi forwarded thy letter to the Most Holy Court where it attained the hearing of the Wronged One. Say: My God, my God! How can I remember Thee, after knowing that my remembrance befitteth not the court of Thy might nor ascendeth to the atmosphere of Thy holiness? I beseech Thee, O Thou the Purpose of the world and Beloved of the nations, by Thy Name through which Thou didst subdue the land and sea and illumined the hearts of creation, and by the power of Thy Pen and the influence of Thy Will, to assist Thy servants in Manshad to turn unto the path of guidance. Verily Thou art the Lord of the servants and Master of creation.

O my Lord! Enable its learned ones to turn unto Thee and to turn away from all else besides Thee. Then send down upon them that which will draw them to the court of Thy might and the carpet of Thy nearness. O my Lord! They are Thy servants and Thy creation. Vain imaginings and idle fancies have prevented them from drawing nigh unto Thy Self-Subsisting Name. I beseech Thee by Thy Key wherewith Thou hast opened the doors of hearts, to transform their remoteness into nearness, their sorrow into joy, their ignorance into knowledge, and their darkness into light. Verily Thou art the Lord of the Manifestation and the Sovereign of the seen and unseen. I testify, O my God, to Thy power and might, and I acknowledge that which Thou hast sent down from Thy Most Exalted Pen in Thy Books.

Ordain for me and for them that which will illumine us with the lights of the Daystar of Thy utterance, then preserve us from the promptings of self and passion, and adorn us with justice and the fear of God. Verily Thou art the Lord of all mankind and the Lord of the last and the first. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Merciful, the All-Bountiful.

BH03012: This is a Book that speaketh the truth…

In the Name of Him Who spoke upon Sinai from the Throne of Revelation!

This is a Book that speaketh the truth and bringeth glad tidings to the world through the Most Great Name, Who hath come from the horizon of power with the banners of verses and with manifest sovereignty. When the appointed time was come, He appeared with the truth and revealed that which was treasured in the knowledge of God and concealed from the eyes of them that are nigh. The affairs of men hindered Him not, nor did the oppression of such as denied the Day of Judgment frighten Him. Nothing escapeth His knowledge. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth. He is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

O thou who gazeth upon the Countenance and standeth before the Throne! Hear thou the call of Him Who hath been wronged. He turneth toward thee from the precincts of the Prison and maketh mention of thee with verses that equal not the ornaments and treasures of the earth. The Tongue of Grandeur beareth witness to this from His exalted station. Thy letter was presented and one of My Branches read it. We answer thee as a token of grace from God, the Almighty, the All-Powerful.

We have heard thy call and that wherewith thou didst commune with God, the Lord of the Glorious Throne. Blessed art thou for having turned toward the horizon of Revelation, and for not having been hindered by the events of the world nor by the clamor of the nations who have violated God’s Covenant and Testament, and have committed that which hath caused the Daysprings of Revelation to lament and the Spirit to wail in His glorious station.

We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to aid thee and to assist thee with the hosts of utterance, and to protect thee from the oppression of such as have cast the Command of God behind their backs, following the ways of the ignorant ones. When thou art blessed to hear My call and read My Tablet, say:

“My God, my God! Praise be to Thee for having guided me unto Thy path, illumined my heart with the light of Thy knowledge, and caused me to hear Thy sweet call as it was raised betwixt earth and heaven, and shown me the traces of Thy Pen in the world of creation. O my Lord! Thou seest me turning toward Thee and holding fast to the cord of Thy grace. I beseech Thee not to deprive me of that which Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen ones and Thy loved ones. Then write down, O my God, that which will aid me in all the worlds of Thy worlds and will profit me through Thy bounty and generosity. Verily, Thou art the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous. There is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.”

We counsel thee to observe wisdom in all circumstances, lest the clamor of such as observe and deny be raised. Verily, we are God’s, and to Him shall we return.

BH03062: Lawh-i-Amvaj (Tablet of the Waves)

He is the Bearer of Glad-Tidings, the Compassionate, the All-Bountiful.

Today the Mother Book proclaims before the faces of all parties the remembrance of the beginning and the end. In truth, these are days the like of which have never been seen before nor shall be seen again. Blessed are those souls whom the chains of the people did not prevent from the Truth—they stand firm upon the path and are adorned with trustworthiness and righteousness, which are among the requirements of the fear of God.

His honor [Abdallah], upon him be My glory and loving-kindness, has turned towards the regions of the friends and, with perfect seeking and excellent entreaty, has beseeched from the heaven of grace and bounty for each one that which is the cause and reason for eternal mention and everlasting praise. Therefore the ocean of utterance with the waves of proof and grace of the Desired One of all worlds has appeared—each wave speaking a remembrance.

The first wave proclaims: O concourse of friends! You are present in days whose mention adorns most of the books of the world. Today you must appear with the light of unity in such wise that all the world, from East to West, may be illumined by that light.

And the second wave proclaims: O people! The goodliest vesture in the sight of God in this day is trustworthiness. All bounty and honor shall be the portion of the soul that arrayeth itself with this greatest of adornments.

And the third wave proclaims: Blessed are ye, O people of Baha! It behooveth you to manifest that whereby His Essence will be sanctified from similitudes and likenesses, and His Reality purified from what hath been said and related.

And the fourth wave proclaims: O concourse of the loved ones! Set aside that which degradeth you and take up that which exalteth you through this Name whereby the fragrance of God, the Mighty, the Supreme, the Self-Subsisting, hath wafted.

Glory be unto Thee, O my God, my Lord and my Support! Protect Thy friends from the evil of Thine enemies, then assist them with the hosts of Thy power and Thy sovereignty, then make their every deed a lamp amidst the deeds of those on earth, that darkness may be changed to light. Verily Thou art the Master of Revelation and the Ruler on the Day of Resurrection. There is none other God but Thee, the Truth, the Knower of the unseen.

BH03059: Praise be to God, Who, through the sovereignty…

He is the Expounder, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Praise be to God, Who, through the sovereignty of His Will, created the Israfa­l of utterance and bade him sound the trumpet–and he is none other than My Most Exalted Pen. Thereupon were the heavens and the earth transformed, and men and women were struck with dread, save such as God, the Lord of all lords, hath willed. Then, when the pearls of knowledge and wisdom shone forth from the treasuries of the Pen of God, the Lord of creation, the seas were stirred, the fragrance of power was wafted abroad, the mountains passed away, the mysteries were revealed, and they that were in their graves arose. Thus hath the decree and the judgment gone forth from God, the Ordainer, the Chooser.

And blessings and peace rest upon the Hands of His Cause and the Words of His Book. We bear witness that they are of the people of Baha and the companions of the Crimson Ark which My Herald foretold by a command from God, the Lord of the Day of Return.

O Muhammad, upon thee be My Glory [Baha] and My loving-kindness! He who appeared before My face and soared in My atmosphere and drank the choice wine of reunion from the hand of My bounty hath made mention of thee. We make mention of thee through this mention at whose appearance all mentions and mysteries and lights did bow down in submission, and the Tongue of Grandeur did speak forth in the Most Great Prison:

“Expression belongeth unto God, the Lord of the Sacred Place and Station!”

Blessed art thou in that thou didst follow guidance from God and didst turn unto Him when most of the servants turned away. We praise God, exalted be He, in that He aided thee to acknowledge that which He hath sent down in the Sacred Scrolls and Books and Tablets.

Take hold of the Book of God with a strength from Him, then make mention to the servants at all times. Say: O people! Fear ye God and deny not the Truth and His sovereignty. Turn with radiant faces unto God, the Revealer of verses. Blessed is the servant who did glorify on My behalf the remnant of the family of the martyrs in the Land of Ya and who performed that which is befitting in this blessed, mighty, and luminous Day.

Say: My God, my God! Praise be unto Thee for having remembered me in the prison of ʿAkka and for having sent down unto me that which did solace the eyes of Thy chosen servants. I beseech Thee to assist me in the service of Thy Cause and to enable me to do that which befitteth these days. Verily Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest and within Thy grasp are the reins of all who are in the heavens and on earth.

BH03155: O My handmaiden! O companion! Today the world…

He is the All-Bountiful, the All-Generous

O My handmaiden! O companion! Today the world of existence is perfumed with the fragrant breezes of divine revelation, and the realm of the seen and unseen is illumined by the light of the Day-Star of manifestation. Blessed are the leaves of the Divine Lote-Tree who have attained to the lights of this Day and acted according to what is befitting. Happy are they!

O Fatimah! This Wronged One hath turned toward thee from the precincts of the prison. Give thanks unto thy Lord for this great bounty and this wise remembrance. We beseech God to make the leaves steadfast in His Cause in such wise that the winds of discord from the people of dissension may not tear them away or sever them from the Tree.

O Jewel! At this moment, from the Treasury of divine favor, this goodly word hath appeared—take hold of it with the power and sovereignty that is from Him, and be thou among the thankful in the days of thy Lord, the Forgiving, the Generous.

O Zahra! The expanse of the world is illumined by the light of godliness. The hosts of God this day are goodly deeds and praiseworthy character traits, and the commander of these hosts is the fear of God. Blessed is the handmaiden who hath held fast to the cord of godliness and acted according to what she was bidden in the Book of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

O Rabab! Today the true rebab is warbling through the movement of the divine finger—its melody giveth life and reneweth the soul. However, an ear worthy of hearkening to this melody is as rare as red sulfur. We beseech God to cause His handmaidens to attain unto the hearing of this call. Verily, He hath power over all things.

O Khadijah! Reflect upon Khadijah of a former time. Neither wealth nor property, neither blame nor persecution prevented her from God. She sacrificed her life and gave freely of her wealth. This is the station of that blessed leaf in the divine paradise.

O Kawkab, My handmaiden! Praise be to God that thou hast attained unto the mention of the Lord of all mention. We counsel thee and all handmaidens to observe supreme chastity and the most great purity, and to that which will exalt your mention and your names amongst the servants and the loved ones. The glory from Us be upon My servants and My loved ones, and upon the Hands of My Cause whom God hath made the guides of His creation in His realm and the lamps of His Cause in His lands. Verily, He is the All-Bountiful, the Compassionate, the Mighty, the Great.

BH03093: Praise sanctified from mention and utterance befitteth the Goal…

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

Praise sanctified from mention and utterance befitteth the Goal of all contingent beings, Who through a single drop from the ocean of His bounty brought the world of existence into being, and adorned absolute nothingness with the ornament of being. He is the One with power before Whose might the tongues of all created things bear witness, and in the presence of Whose revelations of grandeur all are found submissive. Glorified be His might, glorified be His majesty, and glorified be His dominion. There is no God but Him. Blessings and peace be upon His Beloved, through Whom the celestial spheres were created and through Whom appeared the hidden and treasured mysteries concealed within the ocean of His knowledge, exalted be He, and upon His family and companions, whom He made lamps of guidance among the servants and standards of His signs throughout all lands—blessings whose fragrance shall never cease and whose light shall never set.

And now, thy letter was received. Praise be to God, the fragrance of love was wafted from it. Thou hast ever been remembered before the Wronged One and still art. We beseech God, the Lord of the throne and earth, and the Sovereign of the hereafter and this world, to assist you in His remembrance and praise and to open before your faces the doors of goodly deeds. Verily He is the Sender down of verses and the Revealer of clear proofs.

Jamal Effendi hath been adorned with praiseworthy and pleasing characteristics. We met with him several times. Praise be to God, he hath arisen to make good what was lost. Convey greetings to him from this Wronged One. We have counseled him with that which God hath counseled His servants in His perspicuous Book. God willing, from this good earth will spring forth good flowers. We beseech God to make him successful in all conditions in that which He loveth and is pleased with.

Convey greetings from the Wronged One to Kamal, and likewise to the mother and sister, upon whom be God’s peace and loving-kindness. We beseech God to bring about circumstances that will be the cause of joy and gladness for all. The sister of Mirza is remembered before the Wronged One. We beseech for her divine confirmation and assistance. Bounty is in God’s hand, and loving-kindness is in His grasp and power. We beseech Him to ordain for His loved ones that which will bring joy to their eyes and gladness to their hearts. Verily He hath power over all things and is worthy to answer prayer.

The perfume did not arrive. God willing, another will be sent.

BH03172: O Maryam, upon thee be the Glory of God…

He is the Hearing, the Answering One!

O Maryam, upon thee be the Glory of God, the Lord of Eternity! Thou didst seek forgiveness from the heaven of divine will. Verily He hath forgiven thee, and at thy mention the ocean of forgiveness did surge. Blessed art thou for having turned unto God, hearkened unto His call, and attained unto His verses. Thy Lord is verily the Mighty, the Helper, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

We have desired to make mention of thy daughter who was named Khadijih, upon the pathway of thy Lord, the Forgiving, the Generous. O Khadijah! Remember thy Lord and say:

“Praise be unto Thee, O Lord of Eternity, for having turned unto Thy handmaiden and remembered her with a remembrance whereby the hearts of them that are nigh unto Thee were attracted.”

O My handmaiden! Take My Book with a strength from Me and place thy trust in Him, then remember Him throughout the nights and days. Thus have We taught thee and commanded thee with that which shall be with thee in every world of the worlds of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Powerful.

O My handmaiden, O Fatimih! Thou hast been mentioned before the Wronged One, and there hath been sent down for thee from the heaven of the generosity of the Lord of Eternity that whose fragrance shall not be cut off and whose traces the passage of centuries and ages shall not efface. It behooveth thee to say:

“Praise be unto Thee, O God of existence and Lord of the seen and unseen, for having remembered me in Thy prison. I testify that Thou art the All-Bountiful, the Forgiving, the Generous.”

O Sahib! Thou hast been mentioned in the Most Holy Court and hast attained unto that for the recognition of which all have been brought from nothingness into being. Blessed is the handmaiden who hath attained and believed in God, the Lord of all worlds. And woe unto the handmaiden who hath turned away and been transformed into the likeness of her kind. Verily she is of the deniers in My perspicuous Book.

O Sultan! The All-Merciful maketh mention of thee with that which attracteth the hearts of the sincere ones. We have remembered thee and those who have believed in God, the One, the All-Informed. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to draw you nigh unto Him in every world of His worlds and to ordain for you that whereby your names shall endure on a Tablet that hath shone forth from the horizon of the luminary of God’s loving-kindness—the One, the Single, the Mighty, the Great.

And We make mention of My handmaidens there and give them the glad-tidings of this bounty that hath encompassed all created things and this remembrance that hath preceded all existing things. Verily He is the Mighty, the All-Compelling over all who are in earth and heaven.

BH03118: In My Name, the Wronged One, the Stranger

In My Name, the Wronged One, the Stranger

Amidst the midst of tribulations We call upon the Lord of all beings and say: The wolves of abasement have surrounded Us from all directions—where is the light of Thy glory, O Thou Goal of them that know? And sorrows have encompassed Us—where is the lamp of Thy resplendent Name, O Thou Beloved of those in the heavens and on earth? Thou seest, O Goal of the world, what hath befallen Thy loved ones through the tyranny of Thine enemies—where is the sun of Thy justice, O Thou in Whose grasp is the dominion of the world and in Whose right hand is the reins of every wise command? O Lord! Thou hearest the howling of the enemies and what they say in Thy days—where are the manifestations of Thy sovereignty, O Thou in Whose hands are the reins of all in the kingdom of command and creation and the affairs of the first and the last?

O thou who gazest upon the Countenance! We have heard thy cry and have answered thee with this wondrous Tablet. If thou wouldst turn to Me with the ear of thine inmost nature, thou wouldst hear the lamentation of My heart and the crying of My soul at what hath befallen them that are nigh unto God.

I beseech Thee, O Lord of the Kingdom of Names, by Thy Most Great and Most Glorious Name, to aid Thy loved ones to such steadfastness as no intimations of the ungodly who have cast behind them Thy proof and Thy testimony, clinging to the idle fancies of the heedless, shall prevent them. O Lord! Thou seest how the Light hath been prevented from its radiance, and the Sun from its brightness, and the Ocean from its waves, through what the hands of the oppressors have wrought. I beseech Thee, O Cleaver of the Dawn, by the Lamp which the tempestuous winds have surrounded, to send down upon Thy chosen ones and Thy trusted ones, from the heaven of Thy bounty and the clouds of Thy generosity, the rain of Thy mercy. Thou art, verily, the One Who hath power over whatsoever He willeth through Thy mighty and exalted Word. O Lord! Guide all the people of Thy earth to turn to the door of Thy pardon and the ocean of Thy forgiveness, then preserve them from their desires. Thou art, verily, the Mighty, the Dominant, the Powerful, the All-Compelling.

When thou hearest the call from the horizon of tribulation, say: My God, my God! Praise be to Thee for having guided me unto Thy straight path and illumined my heart with the light of Thy merciful Name. I beseech Thee, O Bestower of bounties and the One manifest through the Most Great Name, not to disappoint me of that which Thou hast ordained for Thy steadfast servants. Thou art, verily, the All-Compelling, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful. There is none other God but Thee, the Ruler in the beginning and in the return.

BH03090: In My Name, the Manifest, the Luminous, the Holy…

In My Name, the Manifest, the Luminous, the Holy, the Mighty, the All-Wise!

Praise be to the Desired One, whose verses have encompassed all things and whose evidences have adorned the ancient world with a new attire. In the midst of tribulation, the banner of “He doeth whatsoever He willeth” hath been raised aloft. Who hath the power to prevent Him from His purpose?

O Haydar-ʿAli! There can be no doubt that thy grief hath been for the sake of God and that thou hast expressed sorrow in view of the sorrows of the Wronged One. In this station, blessed art thou! For today neither the grief nor the joy of the world is acceptable, save grief in His grief and joy in His joy.

O thou who hast turned unto Me! We have named this prison the Most Great Prison, and assuredly this name was not given without cause. However, We have, as a token of Our grace—and verily, I am the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous—concealed its mysteries and future manifestations from the eyes of Our loved ones.

Outwardly, no cause for imprisonment is evident, for the power of God, exalted be His glory, hath transformed it into the Most Exalted Paradise, despite the nose of the mighty one. In every corner He hath spread a carpet and raised a call. At first, the governor’s palace was consumed by fire; the decree which that heedless ruler had sent concerning these wronged ones to this place perished along with the palace. The subsequent rulers, being unaware of the circumstances, knew not how to proceed, for neither the decree nor the previous ruler remained. The Cause of God, day by day, grew in elevation, and its power became manifest from every direction. In none of the prisons was such ascendancy witnessed, for this manifest injustice was visited upon those who circle round the Throne without any cause. Were the doubters to reflect on what hath come to pass, all would cling to the hem of the robe of certitude and turn unto the Supreme Horizon. Verily, the Cause is in His hands—He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth. And He is the Mighty, the All-Praised.

The light shining from the heaven of My mercy and the fragrances of My utterance be upon thee and upon those whom nothing whatsoever, no affair of any kind, hath prevented from God, the Lord of all worlds.

BH03131: In My Name, Who standeth before all!

In My Name, Who standeth before all!

This is a Book which the Wronged One hath sent down unto him who hath believed in God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. This is a Day wherein the treasures of the earth and its secrets have been revealed, and its tidings have been recounted before the Face. Thus hath the Tongue of Grandeur spoken as He walked in the most exalted station.

O thou who gazest upon the Face! Sorrows have encompassed Us by reason of that which hath befallen the Daysprings of submission and contentment in the land of Ya. We beseech God to aid the oppressors to turn unto Him and to repair to the gate of His pardon and bounty. Verily, He is the Almighty, the Exalted, the Unconstrained.

Say: O people of the Bayan! Fear ye the All-Merciful, then judge with fairness concerning that which hath appeared at this Station which God hath made the point round which circle them who are nigh unto Him from all eternity. Say: O people! That which was hidden in knowledge hath appeared, and He Who was promised in the Scriptures and Tablets hath come. Fear ye the All-Merciful, O people of creation, then approach with radiant faces and take hold of the Book of God with such strength that the might of them who have disbelieved in the Return shall not deter you. Thus have We sent down the verses and expounded them in truth and dispatched them unto thee that thou mayest rejoice and be of them who are thankful in the Mother Book.

When thou hearest My call and drinkest the choice wine of My utterance, turn thy face toward the Kaaba of My Revelation and say: My God, my God! Praise be to Thee for having guided me and given me to drink and caused me to know Thee. I beseech Thee by Thy most great signs and by the lights of Thy countenance from the most sublime horizon, and by Thy Name through which Thou didst subdue the kingdom of names, to open before my face the doors of Thy grace and bounty, then send down upon me from the clouds of Thy generosity the rain of Thy munificence. Verily, Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest, and in Thy grasp are the reins of the affairs of the first and the last.

Thou art He Who, O my God, hath called Thyself the All-Bountiful; therefore Thou beholdest the poor one standing before the gate of Thy riches, and Thou hast called Thyself the All-Merciful; therefore Thou seest the sinner before Thy face. I beseech Thee to deal with me as befitteth Thy most excellent names and supreme attributes. Verily, Thou art the Bestower of gifts and the Omnipotent over what Thou willest. There is no God but Thee, the Almighty, the Exalted. Command and judgment are in the grasp of Thy power, O Thou Who art the Possessor of all being and the Ruler of all existence.

BH03064: Today the key to the treasures of earth…

In the name of the faithful Friend!

Today the key to the treasures of earth and heaven and the gates of guidance has been and is the Supreme Pen. Blessed is the eye that attains to the vision of its traces and the ear that is adorned with hearing its call.

O my handmaiden and my leaf! Your call has repeatedly been heard and the answer has likewise descended repeatedly from the heaven of loving-kindness. Give thanks to the Goal of the worlds that He has confirmed you and bestowed upon you that which the divines, men and women of the earth have been deprived and forbidden from, except whom God wills.

Say: O handmaidens, know ye the value of the days of God and His station. All divine Books have given and give glad tidings of it, and likewise the Prophets and Messengers. This Day has no likeness or parallel. The ocean of utterance is at all times surging in the realm of possibility, and sanctified pure ears hear from its waves “The Truth has come.” The attraction of the revelation of the Mount has encompassed all, and the rustling of the Divine Lote Tree has set ablaze the tree of Sinai.

Rejoice, O My handmaiden, in that the countenance of the Ancient One hath turned toward thee from His Most Great Prison, and mentioned thee in such wise that all things have been moved and drawn in their inmost reality.

Say: My God, my God! Praise be to Thee for having guided me, caused me to hear, shown me, and made me know Thy Call, Thy verses, Thy laws and Thy commandments. I beseech Thee, O my Lord, by the choice wine of Thy Most Glorious Name whereby all on earth and in heaven were intoxicated, and by the pearls hidden in the shells of the ocean of Thy bounty, and by the lights shining and blazing from the horizon of the heaven of Thy utterance, to make this handmaiden of Thine in all conditions attracted to Thy verses, speaking Thy praise and arising to serve Thee. Verily Thou art the Powerful One to Whom all created things have testified and all contingent beings have confessed. There is no God but Thee, the Mighty, the Dominant, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

His honor Salman attained to presence and meeting, and carried out on thy behalf what thou desired, and We testify that he attained to acceptance. Verily thy Lord is the Compassionate, the Mighty, the All-Loving.

The splendor from Us be upon thee and upon the handmaidens who have believed in God, the Lord of the ranks and hosts.

BH03091: Praise be to God that His verses have encompassed…

He is God, exalted be His station in bounties and favors

Praise be to God that His verses have encompassed the world and the manifestations of His grandeur have testified to His oneness. From the ocean of generosity He brought the world of existence into being and made manifest the path of guidance and error. Exalted be His dominion and His proof and His utterance! And prayers and peace be upon Him through whom the fragrance of divine unity was diffused among the servants and the breezes of revelation were cut off from the lands, and upon His family and companions through whom the banner of divine knowledge was raised among the religions—prayers whose fragrance never ceases and whose end cannot be reckoned.

Your letter arrived and praise be to God it was adorned with the light of devotion, steadfastness and detachment. In truth, this is the station of the friends today, as you mentioned. We beseech God to assist all to that which befits His loved ones. Great joy was obtained from reading the letter. Previously it was intended to send to His Majesty the King of Iran, may God assist him, that which would testify to the trust and sincerity of this oppressed community. Glory be to God! Despite all having testified to the sanctity and purity of the intentions of this oppressed community, yet there occurred that which caused the Pen to lament and the ink to weep. Therefore the intention was changed and suspended, as despair resulted from the deeds that appeared.

We beseech God to bestow the reward of the righteous deed which you intended and to record it from the Supreme Pen in the Book of Deeds. It appears the traveler was also arrested. From this incident it becomes clear that there has appeared from its instigator that which is contrary to the world-adorning view of the government. However, this Oppressed One beseeches God for that which is the cause of the exaltation of the government and the advancement of the nation. Verily He is the Hearer, the Answerer. Convey greetings to the friends. All have been and are remembered. Peace and remembrance and glory be upon you and upon every steadfast and firm one.

BH11622: O thou who hast turned unto My horizon…

He is the Dawning-Place from the heaven of grace!

O thou who hast turned unto My horizon and who hast held fast unto the cord of My loving-kindness! We beseech God to assist all His loved ones in that which hath dawned forth and shone resplendent from the horizons of the heavens of divine Tablets regarding the conditions of teachers. Praise be to God that in these days two deeds have become manifest from the loved ones of the lands of ʿAyn and Shin, and both have been crowned with acceptance and illumined with the light of His good-pleasure. The first was the manifestation of supreme oppression in such wise that […] and they did not protest. Whatsoever they witnessed and heard they left to God, clinging in all conditions to gracious patience and sublime tranquillity. The second was their intercession on behalf of enemies before the princes. In truth, that which was manifested is accounted before God as the most excellent of deeds.

Now beseech ye God and supplicate Him that He may illumine them with the light of unity and concord, lest there appear from them that which would grieve the hearts of them that aid the Cause.

O Zaynu’l-Muqarrabin! This Wronged One beseecheth God to adorn the sovereign of Iran with the light of justice and fairness. In recent years his majesty’s heart hath turned toward the oppressed ones. It is hoped that gradually the fruits thereof may emerge from the unseen into the visible realm, and from concealment into the arena of manifestation, inasmuch as this Wronged One hath loved and still loveth faithfulness, and hath desired to behold the realm of Iran as it behooveth. We beseech God to assist his majesty in that which He loveth and is pleased with.

As to what thou didst mention regarding the laws, God willing, they shall be sent hereafter. And concerning Ibn-i-Abhar and the means of his comfort, this matter is acceptable before God. The sun of permission hath dawned from the heaven of divine laws and ordinances. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to make all his deeds as one remembrance, a pure deed, and a resplendent light, that the Lord may assist him with the hosts of wisdom and utterance throughout all possibility. Verily He is the Helper, the Strong, the Mighty, the Powerful.

Glory and remembrance and praise be upon you both and upon My loved ones in that land and upon those who are with you and who have hearkened unto your words concerning this Most Great Announcement and this Straight Path.

BH03092: Praise be unto the one true God Who, through…

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

Praise be unto the one true God Who, through His Most Great Word, hath instilled love and affection between the hearts of His chosen ones, and illumined them with the light of unity and concord. This blessed Word hath in every age and Dispensation been mentioned by a name and manifested with fruit and effect. In one station it is the luminous, resplendent, adorned and speaking Tree whose roots are in the earth while its branches reach above the heavens. Blessed be the Lord Who hath desired naught from the dawning of the Sun of Manifestation save the unity of the hearts of humanity. Exalted be His will, established His sovereignty, perfected His proof, and completed His testimony. There is no God but Him. Blessings, praise, peace and glory be upon those who have arisen to serve His Cause and who have spoken His remembrance and praise amongst His servants. These are servants through whom the banner of divine unity was raised to the highest station and the standard of detachment was hoisted upon the loftiest heights.

O My Afnan! Upon thee be My glory and loving-kindness. Thy letter hath come before Our face and attained the honor of being seen and heard. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to open before thy face the doors of grace and bounty, to protect thee from every oppressive ignorant one and from every illness and ailment, and to give thee to drink, from the hands of His Most Glorious Name, the Kawthar of healing. Verily He doeth as He willeth and in His grasp are the reins of all things. There is no God but Him, the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous.

When thou hast attained unto the Tablet of God and its effect, and drunk the choice wine of mystic knowledge from the cup of His utterance, say: My God, my God! Thou seest me standing before the door of Thy grace, clinging to the hem of Thy bounty and generosity. I beseech Thee by the mysteries of Thy Cause which none knoweth save Thyself, to ordain for me from Thy Most Exalted Pen that which will profit me in all the worlds of Thy worlds and will exalt me through Thy Name. Verily Thou art the Self-Subsisting through Thy Command, the One Who standeth over all things through Thy sovereignty, the Manifest through Thy signs and the Hidden through Thy mysteries. There is no God but Thee, the Mighty, the All-Bestowing. The glory from Us be upon thee and upon My leaves and handmaidens and upon those who hearken unto thy word concerning the Cause of God, thy Lord, the Lord of the Day of Mutual Calling.

BH03258: This is a Book which the Wronged One hath…

He is seated upon the throne of divine knowledge in the kingdom of utterance.

This is a Book which the Wronged One hath sent down unto him who hath turned unto God and attained His presence—the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting—and who hath faced the Dayspring of Revelation and responded when the Call was raised from the direction of God, the Lord of what was and what shall be.

O Ahmad-i-Mirza, hearken unto the Call from the direction of ʿAkka: Verily, there is none other God but Me, the Single, the One, the Powerful, the Mighty, the Loving. We have remembered those who turned toward Us when the people turned away, and We have sent down unto them from the heaven of justice that which consoleth the eyes.

Say: O people, be fair in what hath appeared in truth and follow not the sources of fancy and idle imaginings. Say: The proof hath been sent down and the fountain hath gushed forth and that which was hidden in God’s knowledge, the Lord of existence, hath appeared. We have sent down the verses and manifested the clear proofs, as witnessed by honored servants who have attained the choice wine of steadfastness from God, the Lord of the seen and unseen.

Beware lest the affairs of the world sadden thee or the clamor of every heedless and veiled one frighten thee. Soar, O Ahmad, on the wings of detachment in the atmosphere of thy Lord’s love, the Lord of creation. Verily thy Lord assisteth whom He willeth through His word “Be” and it is.

When thou hast drunk the choice wine of everlasting life from the hands of the bounty of the Lord of Names, say: O Creator of the heavens! I beseech Thee by Thy most great signs, and the manifestations of Thy sovereignty among all beings, and by Thy radiant and manifest light, and Thy firm and unshakeable Cause, to aid me to be steadfast in Thy Cause and to arise in Thy service. O my Lord! Thou knowest and seest that I have taken no helper for myself other than Thee, nor any supporter besides Thee. I beseech Thee, O Light of the world, by Thy Most Great Name through which the limbs of the nations trembled, to ordain for me from Thy Most Exalted Pen that which will draw me nigh unto Thee and cause me to enter the precincts of Thy glory. O my Lord! Thou seest the weak one clinging to the cord of Thy strength. I beseech Thee not to deprive him of what is with Thee. Verily Thou art the All-Forgiving, the Bountiful, and in Thy grasp are the reins of all who are in the heavens and on earth.

O Shafi’, the sections were sent. We beseech God that He may deliver them. He is the Powerful, the Mighty.

BH03279: This is a day wherein the Tree of Utterance…

He is the Comforter, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise!

This is a day wherein the Tree of Utterance hath spoken at the heart of creation concerning that which hath appeared in the realm of origination and that which hath befallen its branches. Sorrows have encompassed Me by reason of your grief, as witnessed by the Divine Lote-Tree and its branches. Oceans of inner meanings have flowed from the Pen of Utterance, and the verses are their waves. The Maid of Heaven hath wailed in the most exalted Paradise, and the tears of dawn are her weeping. The heaven of existence hath changed by reason of what hath befallen it, and the redness visible on the horizon is its sighing.

He is the Consoler, and He is the Comforter.

O My Afnan! Upon thee be the glory of God, His loving-kindness, His peace, His grace and His bounty. That honored and ascended handmaiden did, throughout the nights and days, cherish the desire to attain the presence and meet the Afnan. Her heart was yearning, her tongue speaking, her eyes watching, and her being waiting. However, God’s irrevocable decree intervened and that which was inscribed in the Tablet was made manifest.

O My Afnan! This clay-coated world was not and is not worthy of pure, tender hearts and holy, gentle temples. Therefore, movement is more beloved than stillness, and ascension more excellent than remaining. Were God, exalted be His glory, to unveil the hidden mysteries even to the extent of a needle’s eye, all would turn to Him and seek ascension. However, in accordance with the requirements of wisdom, they remain concealed. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth. He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

We have revealed for her that which the riches of the world and the mention of all nations cannot equal. That which will bring solace to the eyes of her people and the handmaidens of the earth hath been ordained for her. We beseech God to send down upon her at all times a blessing from His presence and a mercy from His side. Verily, He is the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.

We make mention of the son and console him with that which hath been sent down in the Tablet from God, the Almighty, the Powerful. Peace and glory be upon thee and upon him and upon those who are there, and upon all who are steadfast and firm.

BH03238: In My Name, through Whom the ocean of bounty…

In My Name, through Whom the ocean of bounty surgeth before the faces of all peoples

God beareth witness that there is none other God but He, and that He Who hath come from the horizon of power with the banners of signs is verily the Dawning-Place of God’s loving-kindness, the Lord of all worlds. Through the light of His utterance have earth and heaven been illumined, and the Speaker on Sinai hath been established upon the throne of Revelation. Thereupon did all things proclaim:

“He Who was hidden in knowledge and inscribed by the Most Exalted Pen in the Books of God, the Mighty, the All-Praised, hath appeared.”

Beware lest ye prevent yourselves from drawing nigh unto Him, and beware lest the oppressors’ might cause you to fear. Cast away today what the people possess and take what ye have been commanded by One All-Knowing, All-Wise.

Thy letter hath come before the Wronged One and achieved the honor of being heard, as a grace from God, the Lord of the Day of Judgment. We have heard thy call and have answered thee with that whose fragrance shall never cease to endure throughout the kingdom of earth and heaven. To this the Mother Book beareth witness on this wondrous Day. We love for Our loved ones to attain Our presence before the Throne and to stand before the Gate, but the oppressors have come between Us and them. To this every discerning soul beareth witness.

Say: My God, my God! Praise be unto Thee for having given me to drink the Kawthar of Thy utterance from the hand of Thy bounty, and for having made known to me Thy path and guided me to Thy gate which Thou hast opened to all in Thy earth and Thy heaven. I beseech Thee, O Thou in Whose grasp are the reins of all beings and in Whose right hand are the reins of all creation, by the penetrating power of Thy Word throughout all possibility, and by the authority of Thy most exalted Word in the kingdom of creation, and by Thy Most Great Name which hath caused the limbs of the nations to quake, to ordain for me the reward of one who hastened unto Thee until he arrived in the court of Thy might and heard the shrill voice of Thy Most Exalted Pen and Thy most sweet call.

O Lord! Make me not deprived of what Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen ones and pure ones, through Thy bounty and generosity. I am Thy servant and the son of Thy servant, holding fast to the cord of Thy grace and acknowledging what Thou hast revealed in Thy Book. Thou art verily the One with power over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Bountiful, the Generous. There is none other God but Thee, the Almighty, the Ever-Forgiving, the All-Merciful.

BH03183: In the name of the Peerless Friend! Today…

In the name of the Peerless Friend! Today is a victorious day, for the fragrance of the One Who conversed on Sinai is diffused therein. Blessed is the soul that hath attained unto His fragrance and been illumined by His light.

O leaves and handmaidens! Hold fast unto the Sacred Tree with such power and might that neither the oppression of the oppressors nor the turning away of the deniers shall be able to separate you therefrom. This blessed Day hath been mentioned in the presence of God and designated as the Day of God. Strive that ye may attain unto its fruits. Whoso attaineth thereunto hath attained unto everlasting life and eternal blessing.

O My handmaidens and leaves! It is hoped that ye will be moved by the breezes of the will of God, exalted be His glory, and become detached and free from all else but Him. The days of the first and the last cannot compare with this Day, for the King of Manifestation is seated upon the throne of bounty before all faces. Blessed are the men and women who circle round it, who have taken their portion from this most great favor and received their share from the ocean of knowledge.

O my handmaiden! My Name, upon him be My glory, sent thy letter to the Most Holy Court, and it attained unto the hearing of the Lord of Names. Blessed art thou for having attained unto that which most of the servants and handmaidens have not attained. Blessed be Tuba who hath attained unto My remembrance in My Most Great Prison and drunk the choice wine of utterance from the hand of the bounty of the Lord of eternity. We give her the glad-tidings of My loving-kindness and My mercy, which have preceded all who are in the heavens and on earth.

Convey My greetings to the handmaidens who have turned towards Me. By the life of God! There hath been sent down from My Most Exalted Pen for them that which shall never cease to be mentioned as long as the kingdom and the realm endure. This everlasting bounty is the cause and means of eternal life, and bounty in the first rank and station is that remembrance which is sent down from the Most Exalted Pen specifically for the servants and handmaidens. Happy are they that attain!

The glory from Us be upon thee, O My handmaiden, and upon those with thee, and upon every handmaiden who hath attained unto this glorious and wondrous Day.

BH03212: Praise befitteth and is meet for the Lord…

He is the Manifest, and He is the Speaker.

Praise befitteth and is meet for the Lord of all desires Who, on the Day of Rising, through His most exalted Word, made manifest that which was hidden in breasts, the betrayal of eyes, and all concealed conditions. Through the power of the Most Exalted Pen He subdued all things, and through the potency of utterance He gave glad-tidings of the appearance of the Interlocutor of the Mount to all who dwell in the realm of possibility. He is the Speaker, He is the Pen, and He is the Tablet, despite every remote denier and every sinful opposer.

O Varqa! Upon thee be the loving-kindness of God, the Lord of all beings. Three petitions from thee were received, and for each a specific answer was sent down from the Most Exalted Horizon of grace. Say: Praise be unto Thee, O Lord of existence, and glory be unto Thee, O Sovereign of the seen and unseen, and bounty be unto Thee, O Thou in Whose grasp are the reins of all names, and unto Thee be grace and glory, O Lord of Varqa, his Helper and his Sustainer. We beseech God, exalted be He, to assist thee in that which We commanded thee during thy presence. Verily, He is the Compassionate, the Kind, the Forgiving.

ʿAziz and Ruh are remembered through divine grace and are recipients of favor. In all conditions We have commanded and continue to command the friends to wisdom and utterance, and We beseech God to enable them to do that which He loveth and approveth. The Glory shining from the horizon of the heaven of My utterance be upon thee and upon those who are with thee and who love thee for the sake of God, the Lord of the mighty Throne and the exalted Seat.

O ʿAziz! God’s might turned unto thee, and this is a word that hath appeared and continueth to appear from the mouth of Truth, exalted be His glory. Say: I testify that every mighty one prideth himself in standing before Thy gate and Thy mighty Message. O Spirit! The Spirit calleth out saying:

“Here am I, O Lord of the world! I testify that Thou hast established Thyself upon the throne of manifestation and hast spoken that which the Mount spoke. I testify that Thou hast revealed Thyself and hast shone with Thy brilliant, resplendent light upon all in the world. I beseech Thee to make me known through Thy name and steadfast in Thy service. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the Powerful.”

BH03282: O Ibrahim! Upon thee be the glory of this…

He is the All-Seeing, the All-Perceiving, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise

O Ibrahim! Upon thee be the glory of this Most Great Announcement, whereby God hath fulfilled His promise and manifested His sovereignty, whereby He hath broken the seal of His choice sealed wine and revealed the mysteries of His hidden Name. Blessed is he who hath turned unto it, taken it, and drunk thereof in His Name, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting.

O Ibrahim! Verily the Friend remembereth thee from this station, when He was set ablaze with the fire of the love of God which was revealed by a spark thereof unto Moses, son of Imran, on the Mount of utterance. Thereby were hearts and souls drawn unto Him.

Say: O people of the earth! Fear ye the All-Merciful, and oppose not Him through Whom the sincere ones have soared unto the Kingdom of Meeting, and the pure in heart unto the heaven of nearness and reunion. Exalted is this bounty which hath encompassed all existence, both seen and unseen.

Say: Turn ye, O people, unto the horizon wherefrom hath shone forth the Sun of proof from God, the Almighty, the Glorious, the Best-Beloved. This is a Day wherein the veils have been rent asunder, the mysteries revealed, and that which was hidden in knowledge and concealed from eyes and sight hath been made manifest.

Arise to serve the Cause of thy Lord, then speak amongst the servants with the signs of God, the Lord of what was and what shall be. We made mention of thee before with decisive verses, and We have now sent down unto thee that whereby the realities of all things are drawn and breasts are dilated.

Say: None hath any protection today save through this Cause, at whose appearance the books of the peoples bowed down in submission. Blessed are they who know. Blessed is he who hath heard and witnessed what God hath witnessed. And woe unto every perfidious denier who rejected God’s proof and evidence, and committed that which caused the near ones to lament.

Take hold of the Book with strength and say: Praise be unto Thee, O Lord of the worlds, and glory be unto Thee, O Possessor of existence. Thus have We sent down the verses unto thee once again, that thou mayest rejoice and arise to aid the Cause with wisdom and utterance. Verily thy Lord is the Helper, the Almighty, the Glorious, the Best-Beloved.

The glory shining from the horizon of the heaven of My loving-kindness be upon thee and upon those who have acted according to that which they were bidden by God, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting.

BH03302: O Muhammad! Upon thee be My peace and My…

He is the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting

O Muhammad! Upon thee be My peace and My glory and My mercy and My loving-kindness! When thou desirest to visit the land of Ya and beholdest the darkness and light of that city, pause, facing towards it, and say: The resplendent Light shining from the horizon of God’s mercy, and the perfumed Spirit made manifest by the command of God, Lord of all beings, be upon you, O company of martyrs and dawning-places of submission in the realm of creation and sources of resignation before the faces of the enemies. Blessed are ye and joy be unto you! I testify that ye have attained unto that which most of the servants have failed to attain, and have spent whatsoever ye possessed of wealth and souls and bodies and beings.

I testify that through your detachment the sun of detachment hath shone forth from the horizon of creation, and through your God-fearingness the light of piety hath beamed forth amidst all beings. Ye are they through whose submissiveness necks have bowed down, and through the lights of whose countenances the horizons have been illumined, and through whose steadfastness its decree hath appeared throughout the land among the servants. Blessed are ye and joy be unto you, unto your first and your last, your outward and your inward, and the mercy of God and His grace and the loving-kindness of God and His glory. Through you the lights of unity have appeared and the mysteries of detachment have emerged and all things have proclaimed: By God, the Day hath come and that which was treasured in knowledge and concealed within the pavilion of God’s protection, Lord of the mighty throne, hath appeared.

And I testify that ye answered your Lord when His call was raised, and turned towards Him when He appeared with His sovereignty prevailing over all who are in the heavens and earths. He, verily, is the Single, the One, the Powerful, the Mighty, the Great.

O Muhammad! Upon thee be the glory of God, the Single, the One. We have sent down for those who were martyred in the path of God that whereby the tears of those near unto God have fallen and the sighs of the sincere ones have ascended—they whom the doubts of the world deterred not, neither did the clamor of the nations who denied God’s proof and His evidence and disbelieved in the Day of Judgment frighten them. The kingdom and the dominion belong unto God, the Lord of this noble station. The glory shining forth from the horizon of the heaven of My bounty be upon thee and upon thy wife. Give her the glad-tidings of My loving-kindness and My mercy and that which hath been sent down for her from the heaven of My grace, which hath encompassed existence both seen and unseen.

BH03203: O Ali Asghar who hath attained the presence…

O Ali Asghar who hath attained the presence and gained the bounty, of Milan, He is the Mighty, the Chosen One

Great is the grace of God, exalted be His glory, and all-encompassing is His bounty. Today thou art mentioned before the Lord of mankind on this most excellent of days, and art recorded and inscribed by the Most Exalted Pen. Today the eye proclaims with the most exalted call: “I swear by the Sun of Truth, I have never seen the like of this Day!” Likewise the ear proclaims with the most exalted call: “None hath ever heard the like of this Call which is raised morn and eve from the most exalted horizon!” The loved ones of God—they who have transcended earth and heaven—must arise with perfect steadfastness to promote the Cause and hold fast to that which will ensure the preservation of the Word and the exaltation of being. O Ali-Qabli-Asghar! Praise be to the Goal of the world and the Sovereign of nations Who hath enabled thee to attain that whereof the peoples of the world are deprived, save whom God willeth. At this moment thy portrait was presented before the Face of the Wronged One and attained that which surpasseth all reckoning. Say:

Praise be to Thee, O Spirit of the world and Light resplendent and shining amidst the nations! I beseech Thee by Thy Most Great Name through which the cities of Thy knowledge and wisdom were illumined, to number me among those whom Thou hast mentioned in Thy mighty Book—of whom Thou didst say, and Thy word is the truth: “On them shall be no fear, neither shall they grieve.” O my Lord! Aid me to shatter the idols of vain imaginings and to rend asunder the veils of such as have turned away from the Sacred Spot and the Station. Then I beseech Thee, O God of Names, by Thy Command which hath encompassed earth and heaven, to grant me success in all conditions.

I testify, O my God, to Thy grace and bounty and generosity and favors, that Thou hast called me to the horizon of Thy Revelation and the ocean of Thy verses and the Dayspring of Thy inspiration and the Source of Thy laws, and hast enabled me to arise before the gate of Thy grandeur and to hearken unto Thy call and to behold Thy signs. O Lord! Illumine me with the lights of Thy knowledge, then cause me in all conditions to turn toward Thee and to hold fast to Thy cord. Verily Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Forgiving, the Generous.

BH03410: In My Name, the Speaker among all peoples!

In My Name, the Speaker among all peoples!

O chosen ones of God and His loved ones! Know ye with clear certitude that whatsoever befalleth you of adversity and tribulation, or aught else, hath been and remains the cause of the exaltation of the Word of God, despite every aggressive transgressor and every heedless doubter. None hath been or is capable of extinguishing the light of God’s Word. Abasement in His path is manifest glory, and poverty in His love is evident wealth. Reflect upon the most mighty brother—the Word of God so seized him that from his movements and stillness fruits and effects became manifest. He was a tree bearing fruits, and a Lote-Tree bearing praise and remembrance.

O My loved ones in Taft! Recognize the exalted station and make mention of it through that which hath been sent down from My Most Exalted Pen. Blessed is he who loved him and made mention of him before and after his ascension. When he attained unto the Divine Scroll, the gate of knowledge was opened and the light of steadfastness encompassed him, such that in his every word influence was manifest. By the life of God! The wine of My utterance so seized him that neither the veils of the wicked nor the coverings of the evil ones prevented him, nor did the armies and hosts of the earth frighten him. He spoke that which he was commanded before all faces. Glorified be He Who caused him to speak, made him to know, and drew him nigh unto Him. He is the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous.

All the kindred in the Most Great Prison are mentioned before the face of the Wronged One. The sincere ones shall soon behold outwardly that which hath been ordained for him by God’s will, the Mighty, the Great.

O Muhammad-Husayn! We beseech God that He may aid thee to illumine and adorn the people of the world through wisdom and utterance with the light of true oneness and the effulgences of the Luminary of inner meaning. Verily, He giveth to whomsoever He willeth whatsoever He pleaseth and withholdeth. He is the Single, the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. The glory from Us be upon thee and upon those who heard the Call and said: “Yea, yea, O Lord of all beings!” and “Here am I, here am I, O Beloved of the hearts of the knowers and Goal of them that are nigh!”

BH03437: In My Name, through which the Resurrection hath appeared…

In My Name, through which the Resurrection hath appeared amongst mankind.

O Mihdi! Dost thou find within thyself the strength to arise for this Cause, whereby feet have slipped? And dost thou perceive in thine inmost being that which would draw thee nigh unto this station, before which necks have bowed in submission? Say: Nay, by Thy glory, except through Thy power and Thy grace which have encompassed all regions.

There hath appeared before the Wronged One he who loved Me and made mention of thee. We have sent down upon thee from the heaven of bounty that which cooleth the eyes and minds. O Mihdi! Hearken unto the call of the Lord of Names from the direction of Akka. Verily, He maketh mention of thee and commandeth thee to that which will draw thee nigh unto God, the Lord of lords.

We have manifested that which was hidden in knowledge and treasured with God, the Lord of the Day of Return. Among the people are those who have acknowledged and confessed, and those who have denied and disbelieved in the proof and evidence. Thus have We recounted unto thee what hath befallen Us from those who have cast the Command of God behind their backs and have chosen for themselves that which leadeth them astray from the straight path.

When thou attainest unto My Tablet and drinkest the choice wine of utterance from the cup of My bounty, say: Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having sent down unto me that whereby my name shall endure in the kingdom of names and my remembrance in the Book of Remembrance. I beseech Thee, O Sovereign of the world, Lord of eternity and Beloved of the nations, by the Most Great Name, through Whose appearance names were altered and pillars did quake, to make me steadfast in Thy love, firm in Thy Cause, and vocal in Thy praise with wisdom and utterance. O my Lord! I am he who hath acknowledged what Thou hast revealed in Thy Book and manifested through the tongue of Thy will. I confess to Thy greatness, Thy sovereignty, Thy power and Thy might. Ordain for me through Thy Pen that which shall make me mindful of Thy name and a herald of Thy Cause amongst Thy servants. Thou art He Whom nothing can weaken, no power can prevent, and the clamor of those who are heedless of the mysteries of Thy chosen Name cannot frighten. There is none other God but Thee, the Almighty, the Glorious, the All-Bountiful.

BH03309: In My Name, the One dawning from the horizon…

In My Name, the One dawning from the horizon of the heaven of knowledge

Praise be to God Who hath caused the pearls of wisdom and exposition to appear from the ocean of utterance. He is the King at Whose right hand was raised the banner “The Kingdom is God’s” and at Whose left the standard “He doeth whatsoever He willeth.” The power of princes and divines weakeneth Him not, nor doth the might of the powerful and learned prevent Him. There is no God but Him, the Creator of the heavens and the Lord of the Kingdom of Names, the Lord of this world and the next.

O Baqir, O Bassar! Upon thee be the Glory of God, the All-Powerful, the All-Forgiving. My Name Ali-Akbar hath mentioned thee. We make mention of thee in this perspicuous Tablet that thou mayest thank thy Lord, the Forgiving, the Merciful.

Be not grieved at the calamity that hath befallen thee. Read what the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Qur’an:

“Wealth and children are an adornment of the life of this world: But the good deeds which endure are better in thy Lord’s sight for reward, and better in respect of hope.”

Know thou with certain knowledge that this blessed verse was revealed after the ascension of the sons of the Apostle to the Supreme Horizon. That child is and hath been preserved with the true Trustee. God hath made him a treasure for thee, a store for thee, and an honor for thee. He is verily the Most Merciful of the merciful ones and the Most Generous of the generous ones.

Grieve not over anything. Place thy trust in all matters in God, the Lord of the worlds. He is with thee and hath heard thy call, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. Convey My greetings to the kindred and give them glad tidings of God’s grace, exalted be His glory. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to assist you in that which He loveth and approveth, and to unite hearts. He is verily the Almighty, the Mighty, the Beloved.

The mention of the loved ones hath been and is before the Wronged One. In these days a letter arrived from one of the Afnan of the Blessed Tree, upon him be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious, wherein mention was made of all the loved ones, and each one was remembered with the divine mention. We beseech God to grant them success in unity and harmony and draw them nigh unto Him. Glory be upon thee and upon My loved ones and My handmaidens who have believed in the One, the All-Informed.

BH03366: Blessed art thou, O Andalib, in that the Most…

He is the One Who speaks at the axis of contingent existence.

Blessed art thou, O Andalib, in that the Most Great Ocean hath turned toward thee from this Spot with waves of wisdom and utterance, that thou mayest rejoice and proclaim: “All existence is a sacrifice unto Thy grace!” Thou dost speak and say: “My spirit is a sacrifice unto Thy bounty!” and cry out with the most exalted call: “O Lord of all beings and Sovereign of the throne on high and of the dust below! I beseech Thee by the heaven of Thy grace and the ocean of Thy generosity and the stars of Thy gifts to assist Thy loved ones to serve Thy Cause and to aid Thy servants. Verily Thou art the Omnipotent over whatsoever Thou willest, and within Thy grasp are the reins of all who are in the heavens and on earth.”

Blessed be thy tongue, O Andalib, in that it hath spoken in praise of God, the Lord of the worlds. God hath made thy heart a repository of His remembrance, that there might appear from it the pearls of remembrance and praise in this Cause which, when it dawned from the horizon of Will, caused all existence to swoon away save those rescued by the hand of Will. Verily thy Lord is the All-Merciful, the Bountiful.

Thy letter was present before the Wronged One, and one of My Branches presented it before My face. We have remembered thee in this perspicuous Tablet.

O Andalib! In the great city a group have gathered and resorted to calumnies, that perchance they might bring God’s Cause to naught. However, all their deeds through the instigation of the instigators are manifest and evident. We beseech God to guide them to return and assist them to make good what they have lost.

Make the loved ones intoxicated with the chalice of utterance of the Lord of Religions and the Kawthar of divine knowledge, that they may arise to aid the Cause with utmost joy and detachment and righteousness and fear of God. Say: Beware lest ye be frightened by the authority of any oppressor or the cawing of any crow or the clamor of those who have cast behind them the God of Names, clinging to what they possess of idle fancies and vain imaginings.

The Glory shining from the horizon of the heaven of My Kingdom and the Light radiating from My Supreme Dominion be upon thee and upon those who have heard thy call and acknowledged what hath been sent down from God, the Ordainer, the All-Wise. And praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH03382: This is a Book which God hath sent down…

He is the All-Seeing, the All-Informed

This is a Book which God hath sent down from the heaven of His Will as a favor unto all created things. Blessed is the soul that hath laid hold on it, despite those who cast it behind their backs and denied the Proof of God, the Revealed, the Bidding, the Ancient. O My loved ones in Ishq! Hear ye My call, for verily it hath been raised in truth and by it have been attracted the hearts of them that are brought nigh. We have sent down unto each one of you clear verses which, when revealed, caused all things to proclaim: “The Evidence hath come from the presence of the All-Merciful!” Blessed is he who hath recognized, and woe unto the heedless. O Muhammad-Rida! He Who hath been wronged remembereth thee from the shores of Akka and counseleth thee to manifest the Most Great Steadfastness in this Cause whereby the feet of the mystics have slipped save whom God hath willed—thy Lord, the Lord of the mighty Throne. He who circled round Me, who was named Muhammad-ʿAli, hath mentioned thee time and again. We have sent down that which shall cause the eyes of the sincere ones to rejoice.

We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to aid thee and His loved ones and preserve you from the evil of His enemies who have broken His covenant and His testament, and who have disbelieved in His proof which hath encompassed all who are in the heavens and on earth.

And We make mention of My handmaiden who was named Zahra and give her the glad-tidings of God’s loving-kindness, the Lord of all the worlds. And My other handmaiden who was named Ma’sumih—verily My grace hath encompassed both male and female who have turned with steadfastness toward My horizon—a steadfastness which the doubts of the suspicious have failed to prevent. O My loved ones and My leaves! Remember your Lord at all times, then thank Him for having aided you to recognize Him Whom the East and the West have denied, save those who came unto God with illumined hearts.

O Muhammad-Qabli-Rida! Say: My God, my God! Praise be unto Thee for having guided me and caused me to hear and for having sent down unto me that which hath diffused the fragrance of Thy loving-kindness. I beseech Thee, O Thou Who rulest the Kingdom, by Thy most excellent names and Thy most exalted attributes, and by Thy Most Great Name through which the limbs of the nations have quaked, to assist me to serve Thy Cause and to act according to that which Thou hast commanded me in Thy perspicuous Book. Verily Thou art the Almighty, the Most Exalted, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

BH03419: O thou who gazest upon the Face and art…

He is the Consoler, the Comforter, the Compassionate, the All-Bountiful!

O thou who gazest upon the Face and art present before the Gate! Although this new affliction hath outwardly caused grief, yet since she hath ascended in these days and her mention floweth from pen and tongue, these two bounties shall cause the grief to vanish and shall guide thee to patience and tranquility, which are the characteristics of the loved ones of God. Death and life are two gates for the manifestation of divine grace, bounty and mercy. Today is the day of bounty, mercy and generosity. Assuredly the sprinklings of the ocean of mercy shall embrace her, and in this moment He maketh mention of her with these wondrous and sublime remembrances. He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.

We have desired to make mention of My handmaiden and My leaf with a remembrance whose fragrance shall never be cut off nor shall it be effaced, through the eternity of God’s kingdom, the Lord of all worlds. The first light that shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of God’s bounty and the first splendor that dawned and gleamed upon thee, O My handmaiden and My leaf! I testify that thou didst attain unto that which was inscribed in the Tablet, and didst hear the Call, and didst drink the choice wine of understanding from the hand of the bounty of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, and didst turn toward the prison after the turning away of all who are on earth save those whom God did desire, the Lord of the mighty throne.

And We bear witness that thou wast present and didst hear the Call from the supreme horizon. Verily thy Lord is the Helper, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to send down upon thee at all times mercy from His presence and light from His own Self and bounty from His side. Verily He is the Bestower, the All-Bountiful. Glory and remembrance and praise be upon thee, O handmaiden of God, and upon those women who have believed in the One, the All-Informed. And We beseech God to adorn the temples of His loved ones in this affliction with the ornament of patience and fortitude. Verily He is the Most Patient and hath commanded all to beautiful patience. We beseech God to assist all to read what hath been revealed for thee on this glorious and wondrous day.

BH03414: In My Name, the Summoner between earth and heaven!

In My Name, the Summoner between earth and heaven!

O My trustees in the lands and My chosen ones among the servants! Upon you be My glory and My loving-kindness.

In the days when the darkness of fear had seized all, this Wronged One stood forth and spoke before the faces of the princes and divines of Iran. The friends and loved ones would lament day and night for this Wronged One, for the enemies were beyond counting and their chief was an oppressive and proud man. The heedlessness of pride had so seized him that he saw none but himself, and through various plots and schemes he lay in wait for a time when he could snatch the Ancient Beauty from the earth. But God, through His sovereignty, prevented him and, through His power, banished him, and through His will manifested what He wished and desired. He is the One around Whom circle power and might and grandeur and authority.

And when the light of the Word shone forth, the essence of tyranny emerged from behind the veil with the swords of idle fancies and vain imaginings, and wrought that which caused the Tablet and the Pen to weep, and tears to flow from the Divine Eye.

From the earliest days We have been under the rule of the oppressors, but in the Most Great Prison His Majesty the King, Sultan Abdul-Hamid Khan—may God strengthen him—has acted with kindness and compassion toward this Wronged One. In truth, in his days justice was gladdened and tyranny was concealed. Glory be unto Him Who strengthened him and seated him upon the throne of justice and fairness. He is, verily, the Lord of bounties and favors.

O Muhammad-Qabli-Hasan! Praise the Goal of the world Who remembers thee in the Most Great Prison. Say: Praise be unto Thee, O my God, and thanksgiving be unto Thee, O my Glory! I beseech Thee by the lights of Thy Kingdom and the mysteries of Thy Dominion to ordain for me that which will make me a banner of Thy Name amongst Thy servants. Then open before my face the door of Thy grace. Verily, Thou art the Powerful over what Thou willest, and in Thy grasp are the reins of all who are in the heavens and on earth.

BH03434: O Muhammad-ʿAli! Your petition reached the Most Holy Court…

He is the One dawning from the horizon of the Kingdom of Utterance.

O Muhammad-ʿAli! Your petition reached the Most Holy Court. Praise be to God, you have drunk from the choice wine of the utterance of the Goal of all worlds and attained unto the knowledge of God, which is the first cause and greatest reason for the appearance of contingent beings and the manifestation of created things. Your prose and verse were present before Us and the glance of favor was directed toward them.

O thou who art mentioned before the Wronged One! The Cause is mighty. In the first step, each of the loved ones who intends the supreme horizon must act according to what the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Furqan and hold fast to it—His exalted Word: “Say: God; then leave them to their vain discourses.” And in the second step, with the tongue of nature, turning toward the Kaaba of God, the Guardian, the Self-Subsisting, they must utter this blessed word: “I have abandoned the religion of a people who believe not in God and who deny the Hereafter.” We hope that those who seek the ultimate goal and supreme summit will ascend from the realm of names by the ladder of detachment and attain to the heaven of inner meanings.

When the attraction of the Call from the Supreme Horizon takes hold of thee, say:

“O Creator of heaven and God of the Kingdom of Names! I beseech Thee by the Word through which Thou didst revive all who are in earth and heaven, and by Thy Command through which Thou didst unite all peoples, to make me detached from all else save Thee and steadfast in Thy love, in such wise that names may not prevent me from turning to the court of Thy holiness and entering the depths of the ocean of Thy oneness. O my Lord! Thou seest me turning toward Thee and holding fast to the cord of Thy bounty. Ordain for me in all conditions that which will draw me nearer unto Thee. Verily Thou art the Self-Sufficient, the Most Exalted.”

We convey greetings to the loved ones and command them to the supreme steadfastness. We beseech God to assist them in what He loveth and pleaseth and to make them among those whom neither the might of the servants nor their strength and power hath prevented from turning toward God, the Single, the One, the Powerful, the Mighty.

BH03311: Praise be to God Who hath sent down His…

In the Name of Him by Whom the ocean of utterance surged in the contingent world!

Praise be to God Who hath sent down His verses and manifested His clear tokens and caused all things to speak forth that there is none other God but Him, the Single, the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. And blessing and praise and glory and splendor be upon them whom God hath made the guides of His creation and the manifestations of His Cause and the dawning-places of His revelation and the treasury of the pearls of His utterance and the repository of the mysteries of His days—they whom neither the veils of the peoples nor the might of the world prevented from hearing the call and turning unto Him, saying:

“Yea, yea, O Lord of the Kingdom of Names! Yea, yea, O Master of humanity and Lord of the Throne on high and of the dust below!”

Thus did the Tongue of Grandeur speak forth when seated upon the throne of utterance, to the shame of every ignorant one who denied what was sent down from God, the Self-Subsisting, the All-Compelling.

O Tongue of Grandeur! Make mention of one of thy leaves and a handmaiden from among thy handmaidens who believed in God and His verses and acknowledged what was revealed in His Book and confessed what appeared in His days, that the fragrance of forgiveness may waft over her from all directions and the hands of the All-Merciful may cause her to enter the highest paradise. Thus did the ocean of bounty surge and the fragrances of care and favor wafted from God, the Lord of all things and the Sovereign over all who are in earth and heaven.

O Pen! Say: The first light that shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of utterance before the faces of religions—Upon thee, O leaf of the Tree of Faithfulness and speaker in praise of the Lord of humanity! I testify that thou didst turn to the Supreme Horizon when most handmaidens turned away from it, and didst take the choice sealed wine and drink thereof in My Name, the Self-Subsisting, and didst attain unto that which was inscribed in the Books of God, the Lord of the worlds. The glory shining from the horizon of the heaven of My mercy be upon thee and upon every servant who turned and every handmaiden who turned and remembered thy days and visited thy resting place and read what hath been sent down in this time from the heaven of the utterance of God, the Lord of all who are in the heavens and earths.

BH03575: In My Name which is sanctified above all names!

In My Name which is sanctified above all names!

O ʿAbdu’l-Baha! We have named thee with this name at this time that thou mayest glory in that which hath moved the Tongue of Grandeur in His mighty prison. Be thou vocal in My praise, hold fast unto My cord, cling to the hem of My mercy, be detached from all else save Me, and be adorned with the fear of God, the Lord of all worlds. We have mentioned thee before in numerous Tablets and with such praise that before it the mention of the world and the descriptions of servants fade into nothingness. Thy Lord is, verily, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Say: Praise be unto Thee, O my Best-Beloved, my Desired One, my God, for having named me ʿAbdu’l-Baha on this night wherein the tongue of Thy grace hath spoken. I beseech Thee by the oceans of Thy knowledge, the heavens of Thy wisdom, the power of Thy will, and the penetrating influence of Thy purpose, to assist me to serve Thy Cause and guide Thy creatures. Thou art, verily, the Almighty, the Powerful, the Omnipotent.

Repeatedly have thy letters arrived and been heard by Us. We beseech God to open before thy face the door of His bounty. He is, verily, the Compassionate, the Bountiful. Concerning what thou didst mention regarding the affairs of the handmaiden of Baha and the Leaf of Paradise—although We have commanded the loved ones concerning her in that which is the cause of great reward and recompense, We again make mention of it. Blessed is the servant who acteth according to that which he hath been commanded, and blessed is the handmaiden who hath attained unto that which hath been inscribed in My Books, My Scriptures and My Tablets. Thy Lord is, verily, the Commander, the Almighty, the All-Wise.

Convey My greetings to the loved ones, and likewise to those related. Verily, We have mentioned all with My loving-kindness and My mercy, and We have counseled them to remain firm to such a degree that the people of the Bayan who follow their idle fancies and are heedless of My manifest Command and My mighty Message shall not prevent them. The Glory shining forth from this luminous horizon be upon thee and upon My righteous servants and My handmaidens who have hearkened and have said:

“Praise be to Thee, O Lord of the mighty Throne and Possessor of the exalted Seat!”

BH03502: Glory be to God! Oppression and hatred have reached…

He is manifest before the faces of the world.

Glory be to God! Oppression and hatred have reached such a state that description and interpretation fall short of mentioning it. Forbearance hath become the cause of severity, and kindness hath led to wrath. They deny every righteous deed and make every easy thing difficult. How long, O my God, wilt Thou leave Thy wronged servants in the hands of the oppressors among Thy servants and the transgressors among Thy creatures? I beseech Thee, O Ocean of Generosity, by Thy Most Great Name, to make known to those who hate the fruits of their deeds and actions. Then enable them to turn back unto Thee. Verily Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.

O Jalal! Upon thee be the Glory of God, the Lord of the Day of Reckoning. On this day, which is the first day of the blessed Ramadan, the Wronged One is fasting. The petition of Ism-i-Jud hath attained the Most Holy Court, and thy mention was recorded therein. Therefore have We sent down for thee that whereby all things have soared unto God, the Lord of all beings.

Say: My God, my God! Praise be to Thee for having made known to me the Dawning-Place of Thy verses and inspired me with the wonders of Thy remembrance. I beseech Thee by the lights of Thy Most Great Name and the mysteries hidden in Thy knowledge, O Lord of eternity, to deliver Thy loved ones from the evil of every oppressor. Then preserve them, O my God, through Thy grace and Thy hosts and Thy sovereignty, and ordain for them that which will draw them nigh unto Thee. Verily Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.

Convey the greetings of the Wronged One to the loved ones in that land and give them the glad-tidings of the special favors of God, exalted be His glory. His honor Mulla Ahmad-ʿAli, upon him be My glory, was present and besought for each one that which hath been and ever shall be sanctified from peer and likeness. Be thankful and say: Praise be unto Thee, O God of all who are in the heavens and the earth. That which was sent through Ism-i-Jud hath arrived and been accepted. The Glory be upon thee and upon those who have turned to and believed in God, the Single, the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.