Volume 099: Akka 1308–1309 A.H. (1890–1892), Part I (3 of 3)
BH00056: God, there is no God but Him, Who speaks…
Section 1: “In the name of our Lord, the Most…”
In the name of our Lord, the Most Holy, the Most Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious
God, there is no God but Him, Who speaks in all things that there is no God but Him. His is the glory and the majesty, the power and the beauty, and He is the One Who distinguishes through His Word between truth and falsehood, darkness and light, ignorance and knowledge, acceptance and rejection. He is the One with power, Whose might all things acknowledge and Whose praise is celebrated by all in the kingdom of command and creation. He is the Mighty, the Unconstrained. Glory and praise, grandeur and splendor, exaltation and eminence be upon the Hands of His Cause, who did not break His covenant and testament, and who traveled through cities and villages to exalt His Word, guide His creation, manifest His Cause, and spread His signs. The servant beseeches his Lord to strengthen them, prosper them, protect them, guard them, aid them, support them, and inspire them with that which will draw the servants near to the horizon of care and favors.
O beloved of my heart! The traces of the pen which were cast upon the page from a tender and gentle heart did truly open the gate of reunion and brought to remembrance the days of that beloved one’s presence, and in one respect were a harbinger. God knoweth that from each of its words wafted such a fragrance of the love of the Beloved of the worlds that none had any choice or pause save to exclaim “Blessed be God Who inspires His loved ones with that which attracts the hearts of those who have turned towards Him.” Exalted be our Creator, our Protector, and our Helper! After perusal and reading, it was taken to the Most Exalted Station and the Most Holy, Luminous, and Resplendent Spot, and was presented before the countenance of the Lord of Names, attaining the honor of His attention. This is what the Lord of the Beginning and the End spoke, exalted be His glory:
In My Name, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious
Thy name was presented and We heard thy call and found the fragrance of thy love, thy sincerity, and thy turning to God, the Mighty, the Great. The servant who was present offered up that which thou didst commune with God, Who hath taken for Himself a station in the prison, and therein raised His call and manifested His Cause and His sovereignty, and spoke before the faces of His servants, and opened the gate of His grace, and raised the heaven of His utterance, and adorned it with the lights of His verses. He, verily, hath power over whatsoever He willeth, and in His grasp is the rein of utterance, and He is the Single One, the Mighty, the Bestower.
O Son of My Name! Upon thee be My glory and loving-kindness. The sinners shall be known by their marks. This is the Day wherein the secrets of hearts and the betrayal of eyes shall be revealed. Today in the Great City there hath appeared that which was hidden. They have clung to calumnies that have no likeness, neither now nor ever. Yahya and Shaykh Muhammad have sought after their own kind and are engaged in corruption. No sooner doth anyone turn towards this land than instantly telegraph messages arrive claiming that such-and-such person hath committed theft and gone to ʿAkka. Among these was the honored Afnan, Aqa Siyyid Ahmad, upon him be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious.
Shortly after he set out for the Most Holy Court, before his arrival in Beirut, telegraph messages arrived claiming that Siyyid Ahmad and his companions had stolen money and were traveling thither for this reason. Thus have their souls seduced them. The station whose sanctity and detachment all fair-minded ones testify unto, the sources of oppression have sought to besmirch with the dust of calumnies. Mushiru’d-Dawlih Mirza Husayn Khan—may God forgive him—witnessed the arrival of the Wronged One and His conduct, speech and deeds in the Great City, and understood, and made mention of it in the assemblage of the companions of the government and nation.
Praise be to God Who hath revealed what was hidden in the hearts of the heedless and the idolators. We beseech Him to cause His loved ones to circle round His will with such steadfastness as shall cause the hearts of the oppressors and transgressors to tremble.
Today the Cause of God is as manifest as the sun and hath appeared with such power as hath neither been seen nor heard. Nevertheless, the oppressor of Dawlat-Abad, as soon as he heareth that a soul hath turned towards the Faith, either he himself or some other calumniator like him hasteneth with all manner of schemes to lead astray. Say: My God, my God! Illumine the hearts of Thy servants with the light of Thy knowledge, then cast upon them that which shall preserve them from the evil of Thine enemies. Unfairness hath reached such a pass that they have denied the bounty of this Revelation. While Yahya is occupied in flight and he remaineth concealed in his house, the Wronged One standeth before the faces of all. At times in prison, at times beneath chains. When the effulgences of the light of the divine Sun of utterance did somewhat shine forth, they emerged from behind the veil and committed that which causeth the realities of all things to weep and lament, and the Spirit of the Cause to be seen crying out.
Among other things, he met with Khalil in Sabzivar and spoke words whereof God Himself is aware. Yet wondrous indeed is it that Khalil should have granted such a heedless one admittance. Say: O Khalil! Know thou that the deeds of Hadi, from the first, are but guile and deception, whereby he entered into this Cause. Cleanse thou thy skirt from his whisperings and from the whisperings of his like. In the earliest days of Islam souls such as these heedless ones committed deeds whose fruit, on the Day of Reckoning, was this: that the Lord of existence was hanged and martyred.
O Khalil! In truth I declare that such souls were not with us, nor were they from the beginning cognizant of the nature of this Cause. Turn thou unto the Writings, that the truth may be made manifest unto thee. Today the fragrances of the divine verses have encompassed the world; the seal of the choice Wine hath been broken in the Name of the Self-Subsisting. Deprive not thyself thereof. Arise, through the power and might of God, to serve the Cause. The world passeth away, but that which is with God endureth. From the beginning of Islam until this hour, not one among the divines hath been truly aware of the manner of His Revelation, and among the party of the Shi’ah there hath been naught but cursing and abuse.
O Khalil! Look from the horizon of the House in thy Lord’s name. Say: O people! Hear! Hear! By God, the shrill voice of the Most Exalted Pen hath been raised from the prison of Akka. Behold! Behold! The Light hath shone forth and radiated from the heaven of God’s will, the Lord of the worlds. O Khalil! Ask none, for We sent thee aforetime verses that all the treasuries of kings and what the servants possess cannot equal. To this doth the Lord of creation bear witness in this glorious and wondrous station.
O Khalil! God willing, through the grace of the All-Glorious Lord thou shalt not again fall into the well of vain imaginings. Consider the learned and ignorant among the Shi’ih faction. They counted themselves the greatest, most exalted, most learned and most God-fearing on earth, and the cause was one like Hadi. O Khalil! Reflect on the edifices they built and repaired with hands of fancy and idle imagination. Consent no more that such vain imaginings should arise. Alas! Alas! Those imaginings were transformed into tyranny and the great terror appeared, and thou hast heard what they brought to pass. Even now the divines are engaged in cursing and reviling from their pulpits. Consider the reason for this, that perchance thou mayest drink the wine of certitude from the hand of the bounty of the Goal of the world’s desire, and mayest not consent that another faction like the former should appear in the land. Preserve the servants by a command from the Ordainer, the Ancient of Days.
O Khalil! In the days when the darkness of might had seized the world, none appeared save this Wronged One, yet when the light of the Cause partly dawned they attacked this Wronged One with swords of hatred. What behooveth thee today is to arise with the utmost humility and submission, and turning toward God’s Kaaba, to utter these exalted words:
My God, my God, my Lord and my Support! I beseech Thee by the waves of the ocean of Thy utterance, by the mysteries hidden in Thy Book, and by the verses sent down from the clouds of Thy bounty, to aid me to detach myself from all else but Thee and to hold fast to the cord of Thy loving providence. O Lord! Assist me to remain steadfast in the Greater Steadfastness and to turn to Thy gate which Thou hast opened to all in earth and heaven. Thou art the Omnipotent over what Thou willest. There is no God but Thee, the Commander, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. O Lord! Protect Thy servants from the whisperings of the calumniators and the cawing of those who caw, who have broken Thy Covenant and Testament, denied Thy verses, and disputed Thy proofs and evidence. Verily Thou art the All-Bountiful, the Omnipotent, the Almighty. There is no God but Thee, the All-Giving, the Compassionate, the Generous.
O Khalil! Upon thee be the Glory of God! In past years, verses were repeatedly revealed from the heaven of bounty especially for thee and sent through Ibn-i-Asdaq, upon him be My glory. Read them, detached from the world; verily they will draw thee to God, the Lord of the Mighty Throne. Reflect well upon the former party, what was their recompense on the Day of Resurrection and what befell them, that perchance ye may not again fall into the snare. The Sunnis and the community who were detested by all the people of Iran, without any teaching, through mere association, a group accepted the Faith, and a person in Sudan claimed to be the Mihdi and a hundred thousand gathered around him, while the oppressive and unjust Shi’ih committed that which no tongue hath power to describe.
This is the day of the verse which saith: “The Day when mankind shall stand before the Lord of the worlds,” and likewise He saith: “We verily sent Moses with Our signs, saying: ʿBring forth thy people from darkness into light and remind them of the days of God.’ In this surely are signs for every patient, grateful one.” Although the days of the Manifestation are also counted among the days of God, these days are specifically the days of God mentioned in the divine Books.
O Khalil! Those souls like Hadi and others are considered by the believer as the first to believe, and by the disbeliever as the first to deny. By the life of God! He is not among the horsemen of the arena of knowledge and wisdom. I say in truth: Take hold of the Book with such might that neither armies nor ranks shall deter thee, and with such power that the oppression of tyrants and the clamor of aggressors shall not weaken it.
His is the grace, bounty and bestowals, in that He hath revealed to His servants the pearls of the treasures of His knowledge and the jewels of the repositories of His utterance. Verily, He is the One with power over whatsoever He willeth, and He is the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous. In truth every fair-minded one is bewildered and every possessor of justice is astonished, for the party that considered itself the most excellent and exalted of all the peoples of the world—on the Day of Reckoning there appeared from them that which had never occurred from the beginning of the world until now. At one time He said: O servant present! The lamentations and wailing of the pulpits of Iran are raised high, and with most eloquent tongue they cry out saying:
“O God! O Lord! O Support! O Goal! O Beloved! Thou didst create us for Thy mention and praise and graciously ordained us thus. Now we have become the abode of the enemies of Thy Self. Thou art the All-Hearing and the All-Seeing. Thou hearest what they say and hast witnessed what they have done and what they do.”
And now again some are engaged in organizing such a party.
This servant, in view of the love and sincerity that has existed for his honor, deemed it necessary to mention certain matters that have transpired, for the ungodly have resorted to trickery and deception, turning their attention to anyone with whom they have heard a conversation. All are aware that these souls had been hidden for years from the sovereign power of the days, and when through the might of the King of Kings the Cause was raised up and the call was heard from every quarter and the luminary of utterance shone forth from every direction, they emerged with swords of hatred and animosity. Surely they are aware how many souls, attracted by the utterance of the Desired One of the worlds, set out for the place of sacrifice and freely offered up their lives at the feet of the Lord of all beings.
However, as soon as Mirza Hadi heard that he was called a Babi, his very foundations were seized with trepidation, and for the sake of two days of earthly life, he forsook eternal life and everlasting existence, and spoke from the pulpit that which befitted none but himself. By the life of our Purpose, he uttered that which caused the Holy Spirit to lament. In every place he mounted a pulpit and spoke, and from one pulpit he disavowed the Faith and thus saved himself from death.
O beloved of my heart! His very existence bears witness to his hypocrisy, while the Twin Luminous Lights, his honor Ashraf, and before them his honor Kazim—upon them all be the Most Glorious Glory—the martyrdom of each stands as a clear testimony to their faith, recognition, steadfastness and certitude. Those possessed of insight and hearing, were they to contemplate and observe with the eye of fairness and the ear of justice all that hath been manifested from the beginning of this Most Great Revelation until now, would all proclaim: “We turn toward Thee, O God of the worlds!” Glory be to God! Despite the sacrifice of holy souls, their spirits and possessions, as well as their arising to serve the Cause before the faces of mankind, the deluded ones continue to wander in the wilderness of heedlessness and the desert of vain imaginings.
Although all know that he and his like had no knowledge of the essence of this Cause, for they were not with the Truth. This servant has been present in service for nearly forty years, and all are aware of this fact; yet none have inquired of this servant that they might be illumined by the light of truth, and that there might not appear again that which would become the cause of countless afflictions and endless tribulations.
In any case, this ephemeral one has spoken and continues to speak for the sake of God, that his honor might be aware and arise to serve the Cause with manifest certitude—an arising that will find no sitting and will not be altered. The Desired One, Who through divine power and the might of the Lord arose before the faces of princes and divines, did not seek concealment nor resort to veiling, but proclaimed the divine laws and ordinances. They have avoided Him because they are worshippers of vain imaginings, and his honor is aware of the Tablet to the Sultan which was sent from the Most Holy Court, and likewise the letters to the kings. O beloved of my heart! The opposers have manifested an oppression that has had and has no equal, and in previous years, Tablets were repeatedly revealed and sent specifically for his honor, and his honor Ibn-i-Ismu’llah al-Asdaq—upon him be the Most Glorious Glory of God—was charged with conveying them.
Take hold of the reins of the Cause with the power from God, our Lord and your Lord and the Lord of the Mighty Throne, then guide the people to His straight path and His mighty Message.
Now close to one hundred volumes of verses and evidences have been sent down from the heaven of divine will. The calumnies have reached such a state that every possessor of truthfulness, justice and fairness bears witness to the oppression of those heedless souls. For the sake of God I shall relate one account, that the station of the slanderers and liars might become somewhat known.
Section 2: “One day the honored Haji Siyyid Javad, known…”
One day the honored Haji Siyyid Javad, known as Karbila’i, upon him be the Most Glorious Glory of God, attained the presence and submitted that His Holiness’s uncle Haji Mirza Siyyid Muhammad and the other uncle, upon them both be the Glory of God, had attained the pilgrimage of Najaf and Karbila and were now returning with the intention of going back to their homeland. The Ancient Beauty asked, “Have you said anything to them?” He submitted “No.” He commanded, “Why not? You should be engaged in teaching the Cause of God. Now go, convey Our greetings and bring them into Our presence.” He guided them to the court of glory and majesty.
The next day they returned with His Holiness’s uncle and attained the presence, but only the elder uncle came, without his other brother. After attaining the presence, the waves of the ocean of utterance of the Goal of all the worlds appeared in such wise that none could enumerate them. Finally He said,
“We do not wish for you to remain deprived of the blessed Tree that has grown up in your midst and is adorned with the fruits of wisdom and utterance.”
He submitted,
“My Master, for one thousand two hundred years we have heard that the Qa’im dwells in well-known, famous cities, and that His children each exist in those cities in perfect glory and grandeur, and that if anyone mentioned a word about His birth, they would immediately seize him and shed his blood. Moreover, what became of the account of the sacred precinct? Where did the mention of the sea and the carpet go? And likewise we have heard from all the divines of the Shi’ih party that His Holiness will come and appear and will pay the debts of the Shi’ihs and will conquer the whole earth, and likewise mentions that this servant is unable to relate, as it would prolong the discourse. Finally they say that He is your sister’s son—how can this servant accept this? What was said before is now contrary to what is manifest as the sun. I know not what is my duty.”
Then the Tongue of Grandeur spoke this most exalted word:
“O uncle! Now return to your dwelling and properly consider the traditions and aforementioned doubts and whatever causes your hesitation, and come back with your brother. If God wishes, He will transform doubts into decisive verses. Verily He has power over all things.”
The next day he came without his brother and mentioned the doubts one by one, and the answer was revealed. And what was revealed became known among the servants as the Epistle to the Uncle, and later due to consummate wisdom the name “Uncle” was removed and it became known as the Book of Certitude. Now this same Mirza Hadi has claimed to his followers that the Book of Certitude is from Mirza Yahya. All the Afnan are present—you may investigate so that the falsehood of these slanderers may become clear and evident. It is hoped that you will overlook the unseemly statements of those people and turn to the sacred texts. The Cause will become as clear as the sun to you.
O my God, my God! This is Thy servant and Thy devotee. Thou knowest and seest that he speaketh not of his own accord, but rather by what Thou hast caused him to know through Thy grace and taught him through Thy sovereignty. I beseech Thee, O Thou the Desire of the world and the One manifest through the Most Great Name, to assist Thy servants to turn unto Thee and to repent at the door of Thy grace. Then enable them to make amends for that which hath escaped them in Thy days. Verily Thou art the Almighty, the Mighty, the Unconstrained. There is none other God but Thee, the Lord of the beginning and the end.
According to His command, whatever hath been revealed in the name of Mirza Hadi Dawlat-Abadi and is in the possession of the friends should be gathered and written down and delivered by trustworthy hands to Jinab-i-Khalil, upon him be the glory of God, that he may examine them, and likewise the Books of Verses. Then let them be taken back. It has been some years since a Tablet was specifically revealed in his name, although previously verses were repeatedly revealed and sent in his name, each one a manifest proof and a shining evidence for the establishment of the Cause. Ere long from all corners of the world the cry of “Yea, yea!” and “Here am I, here am I!” shall be raised, for there hath been and is no escape for anyone. We beseech God, our Lord and the Lord of the Throne on high and of earth below, to assist all to do that which He loveth and desireth.
Mention was made of His Holiness, the departed and forgiven, the late Jinab-i-Fa’iz, upon him be the glory of God, the Most Glorious. After it was submitted to the Most Holy, Most Exalted Presence, these sublime and decisive words were revealed specifically for him. The Lord, exalted and sanctified be He, speaketh thus:
He is the Expositor, the Compassionate, the Generous
God testifieth that there is none other God but Him, and he who hath attained in His days is indeed the attainer, and was thus named by His holy, mighty and wondrous tongue. We testify that he attained unto faith in the early days and drank the choice wine of knowledge from the hands of the bounty of his Lord, the All-Merciful. He it is whom God adorned with the ornament of supreme steadfastness, such that neither the clamor of the people nor the roaring of those who denied the final judgment could deter him.
O Fa’iz! Upon thee be My glory, My loving-kindness and My mercy. Rejoice thou in the Most Exalted Paradise, inasmuch as the Lord of all beings hath made mention of thee in the prison of Akka. Blessed be thy tongue for having acknowledged the unity of God, the Lord of the Throne on high and of earth below, and for having confessed that which the Supreme Pen hath revealed from the Most Glorious Horizon.
Blessed be thy heart for having turned to the horizon of Revelation and thine ear for having heard the call of Him Who conversed upon Sinai when it was raised in truth—the call whereby the Trump was sounded, the inhabitants of the graves arose, and the Day of Resurrection appeared. Blessed be thine eyes—We testify that they attained unto the signs of God and unto the vision of those who cast the world behind their backs, turning unto the Dayspring of His verses, the Dawning-Place of His evidences, and the Source of His laws. Blessed be thy face for having turned toward His direction, and thine ear for having heard His sweetest call when it was raised betwixt earth and heaven. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to send down upon thee from the heaven of His generosity the rains of His mercy, to grant thee of the fruits of the Tree beyond which there is no passing, both morn and eve, and to open before thee at all times the gates of loving providence, grace and beneficence. Verily He is the Compassionate, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.
Glorified art Thou, O my God, my Lord, my Support, my Goal and my Beloved! I testify to the oneness of Thy Being and to the sanctity of Thy Self above all likeness and comparison. I acknowledge Thy power, Thy sovereignty, Thy majesty and Thy might. I beseech Thee, O God of all beings and Goal of all creation, by the standards of Thy signs and the banners of Thy guidance, by the resplendent, shining Light that hath dawned from the horizon of Thy Will through Thy command and might, by the rustling of the Sadratu’l-Muntaha and the flowing of the Kawthar of life in the Most Exalted Paradise, and by this most pure dust and this sanctified tomb, to fulfill my needs and forgive me, my father and mother, and those who have believed in Thee and Thy signs. O Lord! Ordain for me the good of the hereafter and this world, and that which Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen servants who were not hindered by the doubts of the world nor the intimations of the nations from turning toward the court of Thy glory and drawing nigh unto the precincts of Thy majesty. Verily, Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Forgiving, the Merciful.
Praise be to God! After mention was made of the ascension of his honor the departed one, upon him be the Most Glorious Glory of God, this servant beheld before him the waves of the ocean of grace and forgiveness. From all directions, great mercy and supreme bounties were directed towards the departed one. It is hoped that his sons will take his station and hold fast to that which befitteth these days. Mention of them was also made in the Most Holy Court. Thanks be to God, and glory be unto Him, and bounty be His, for there appeared from the Tongue of Grandeur that which made up for what was lost. This servant beseecheth from God, exalted be His glory, whatsoever is the cause of success and confirmation. Exalted is the grace of these days, and His bounty, and His mercy, and His favor. Specifically regarding the deceased one, there appeared from the Tongue of Grandeur that which hath caused him to attain unto eternal life and everlasting bounty. Well is it with him and pleasant it is unto him. According to the Command, mention ye his sons and relatives, upon them be the Glory of God, and counsel them to patience and resignation. Verily, He is the Compassionate, the Forgiving, the Merciful.
The names mentioned in the letter of that beloved of hearts were presented before the Throne of God, exalted be His glory, and each attained unto that which hath no likeness or equal. This is what was revealed for his honor Rafi’—upon him be the Glory of God—His blessed and exalted Word:
He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise
This is a day wherein the trees of the Most Exalted Paradise have yielded the fruits of wisdom and utterance, wherein the stream of the water of life hath flowed forth in the name of God, the Lord of all possibilities, and the light hath shone forth from the horizon of manifestation, inasmuch as He Who conversed with God hath been established upon the throne of utterance. Exalted is the All-Merciful Who hath come with power and sovereignty. O Rafi’! Upon thee be My wondrous Glory. Rejoice in that We have turned toward thee from this Scene whereby the horizons have been illumined, and We have mentioned thee with a mention before which all mention boweth down when it appeareth from the Tongue.
Hold thou fast unto the cord of bounty and cling to the hem of the mercy of thy Lord, the Possessor of the Kingdom of Names. Beware lest the sayings of the heedless sadden thee or the doubts of those who have denied God, the Lord of all men, veil thee. Take thou the Book with a strength from Us. Verily, it will draw thee nigh unto the supreme horizon, the station wherein the Caller hath cried out: “The Kingdom belongeth unto God, the Lord of all men.” Say: Praise be unto Thee, O Lord of all beings, and thanksgiving be unto Thee, O Possessor of this world and the next, and glory be unto Thee, O Lord of the throne and the dust, for having guided me and drawn me nigh and revealed unto me that which shall endure through the eternity of Thy names and attributes. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the Powerful, the All-Bountiful.
And this is what was revealed for Jinab-i-Yusuf Khan, upon him be the Glory of God:
He is the Trustworthy Speaker
This is a Book that walks and proclaims: “The Promise has come to pass and this is the Promised One at Whose appearance all things spoke forth: ʿBy God, the Beloved of all who are in the heavens and earth has appeared!”’ This is the Day wherein that which was hidden throughout all eternity has been made manifest. To this testifies He Who spoke before all faces: “The Kingdom is God’s, the Lord of all worlds!” O Yusuf Khan! He Who loved Me and drank the choice wine of utterance from the cup of My bounty hath made mention of thee. We have made mention of thee through verses that surpass all that hath been witnessed upon the earth or hidden in its strata. Thus hath the Tongue of Grandeur spoken as a token of His grace, for He is the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous. Take thou the chalice of utterance in the name of the Beloved of all creation, then drink therefrom. Verily it will draw thee to a station wherein all atoms proclaim: “The Kingdom, the Dominion, the Grandeur and the Might belong to God, the Almighty, the Most Glorious, the All-Praised!”
And this is what was revealed for Jinab-i-Mirza Hidayat, upon him be the Glory of God:
In My Name, the All-Powerful, the Supreme Ruler over all names
Blessed art thou, O Hidayat, for God hath guided thee to His Most Great Announcement and His Straight Path. The joy of the Revelation hath taken possession of the realms of the unseen and the seen, yet most people remain heedless. They have cast behind their backs what they were commanded in the Book and have taken up that which was forbidden them, having followed every suspicious deceiver. Purify thy heart with the water of detachment and thy tongue with the Kawthar of utterance, and say:
“My God, my God! Thine is the bounty, for Thou hast given me to drink of the Kawthar of immortality, and Thine is the glory, for Thou hast guided me to Thy most exalted horizon. I testify that Thy grace hath encompassed earth and heaven. I beseech Thee by the lights of Thy throne and the mysteries of Thy Book and by Him through Whom the limbs of Thy servants have trembled, to make me so steadfast in Thy love that neither names shall prevent me from drawing nigh unto Thy court, nor things from turning to the lights of Thy countenance. O my Lord! Thou seest this servant of Thine clinging to the cord of Thy bounty and awaiting the manifestations of Thy pardon and generosity. I beseech Thee not to disappoint him of that which lieth with Thee. Verily Thou art the Almighty, the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.”
This is what was revealed for His Honor Mirza Muhammad-Husayn, upon him be the glory of God
In the Name of Him Who is the Bounteous, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise
O thou who gazest upon the Countenance! We have purposed to make mention of thee in this hour, in this Most Great Prison, that the attraction of thy Lord’s Call might seize thee and draw thee nigh unto Him. He, verily, is the Almighty over whatsoever He willeth, and He is the All-Bountiful, the Ever-Forgiving, the All-Generous. When the Light dawned forth and the Speaker of Sinai gave voice, the servants turned away therefrom—some were prevented by Names from recognizing their Creator, others were beguiled by the world and its embellishments, whilst yet others seized the Book with such strength as the hosts of earth and all therein could not weaken. Blessed is God, the Lord of the worlds, Who hath appeared through the Most Great Name, by which the trees have spoken forth: “The sovereignty is God’s, the Possessor of this glorious Station!”
O Muhammad-Husayn! hearken unto the Call of God, the Lord of all the worlds. He, verily, maketh mention of thee with that which shall draw thee nigh unto Him, for He is the Most Merciful of the merciful. Place thy trust in all matters upon God, the Almighty, the All-Powerful. Deliver the people through wisdom and eloquent utterance, and acquaint them with God’s straight Path. Beware lest that which the people possess deter thee from My Name, the Self-Subsisting, and beware lest the might of every oppressor far removed weaken thee. Set aside the world and all that is therein, and take hold of that which hath been revealed in My luminous Book. Thus hath the Dove of Divine utterance warbled upon the branches, by command of Him Who is the Ordainer, the All-Wise.
This is what was revealed for His Honor Shaykh Isma’il—upon him be the glory of God
Section 3: “The Straight Path hath appeared and the Balance…”
In the Name of Him Who is the Forgiver, the Compassionate
The Straight Path hath appeared and the Balance hath been set. Command belongeth unto God, the Powerful, the Mighty, the Bountiful. The trembling of the Revelation hath seized them that lie in the graves, and every hidden thing hath been made manifest, through the grace of God, the Lord of lords. We have heard thy call and have summoned thee from the right side of the luminous Vale, from the verdant Tree. God, there is none other God but Him, the Single, the One, the Powerful, the All-Forgiving.
O Shaykh, O Isma’il! Know thou that the two most luminous Lights, Hasan and Husayn, hastened to the place of sacrifice in their longing to attain My presence. They came and were present and achieved what was ordained for them by God, the Lord of creation. Neither the world and its colors, nor the trees and their fruits held them back. They came forward and gave up their lives in the path of God, the Lord of the Day of Judgment. How many a servant hath advanced to the place of sacrifice and returned not, having sacrificed his soul in the love of God, the Dawning-Place of lights. When thou art blessed with My call and drinkest the choice wine of My utterance, say:
“My God, my God! Praise be unto Thee for having illumined my heart with the light of Thy knowledge and guided me to the Dawning-Place of Thy Revelation and the Source of Thy inspiration. I beseech Thee by it and by its sovereignty and by its might and its glory to make me a helper of Thy Cause and one who standeth in service to it, in such wise that the doubts of the world and the opposition of the nations shall not cause me to slip. Verily, Thou art the Powerful, the Supreme, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.”
This was revealed for his honor Haji Muhammad upon him be the Glory of God.
In My Name, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful
The Cause hath come, and that which was hidden from sight hath been made manifest. The verses have been sent down and the evidences have appeared, while the people remain in heedlessness and error, save those who have cast behind their backs all vain imaginings, turning unto God, the Lord of religions. The Dawning-Place of God’s Revelation hath come, through which the tribes have lamented and earthquakes have appeared. Thus hath the matter been decreed from before God, the Lord of the Beginning and the End. O Muhammad! Be thankful that the One, the Single, hath made mention of thee from the precincts of the Prison, whereby the hearts of the servants have been attracted. Say: O peoples of the earth!
Hearken unto the Call that hath been raised from the Most Exalted Horizon. Beware lest the vain imaginings of those who have denied God’s Cause when it came with clear proof and evidence withhold you. O people! This is the Day of God, and this is the Day that was mentioned in the Books, the Psalms and the Tablets. Beware lest ye deprive yourselves of this Cause through which the fragrance of utterance hath been wafted throughout all possibility. Thus hath the Book spoken as it walketh in the most exalted station. Among the people is he who hath said: “Doth the Book walk?” Say: Yea, by the Lord of lords, it walketh and speaketh, nay it eateth, in spite of every doubting denier.
We beseech God to aid thee to attain such steadfastness whereby the feet of all mankind shall stand firm, and to assist thee in His remembrance and praise, and to cause thee to speak that which shall attract the hearts of people of understanding.
This was revealed for his honor Aqa Mirza Ahmad upon him be the Glory of God.
He is the Answerer through Wisdom and Utterance.
Glory be to God! The light of the revelation of Him Who conversed with God on Sinai hath illumined the world, and the divine verses and proofs have encompassed all things to such a degree that no possibility of denial or rejection remaineth for the fair-minded. Blessed is he who hath attained to hear and see with his own ears and eyes. Glory be to God! Heedlessness hath reached such a state that they have given precedence to the Letters over the Mother Book. Say: O people of the Bayan, cast away your vain imaginings! By God, the Truth, the Sun of Certitude hath dawned from the horizon of God’s Will, the Lord of the worlds. Free yourselves from the chains of names and proceed with freedom toward the Most Exalted Station and the Supreme Summit.
Today the fragrances of divine verses are diffused and hidden mysteries are manifest and visible. Deprive not yourselves and turn from what ye possess to what God possesseth. Today the ocean of bounty is surging and the heaven of grace is uplifted. Blessed is the soul whom the opposition of the turban-wearers hath not prevented from drawing nigh, nor held back from turning toward God. Thus doth the Wronged One make mention of thee on this darksome night that thou mayest give thanks and say:
“Praise be unto Thee, O Thou Who art the Goal of all in the heavens and the earth.”
Thanks be to God that each of the mentioned names hath attained unto the choice wine of the utterance of the Goal of all the worlds. We hope they will drink thereof and make it incumbent upon themselves to protect, according to their ability, the servants from the vain imaginings of the heedless Shi’ih party. Let them not be deprived of the Names and their Possessor. For twelve hundred years they said “O Successor” and remained deprived and forbidden from the Truth, exalted be His glory. At last their deeds, actions and words bore the fruit of shedding the Most Pure Blood. They said “O Ali” yet martyred the Lord of existence by Whose word a thousand Alis are created. In brief, this Day is the Day of God. Blessed is the soul that drinketh from this cup, detached from all else. Divine confirmation cometh from God, the Lord of Names and Attributes.
Mention was made of the beloved of the heart, His Holiness Haydar-Ali, upon him be the everlasting glory of God. According to the command, he was bidden to visit the friends and return. That beloved of the heart must be engaged in service night and day, and be vocal in the mention and praise of God. The companions of this Most Great Revelation must be so steadfast that neither the world nor whatsoever is therein of servants, things, colors, ornaments and books shall hold them back from the Supreme Horizon. Perchance the true treasures may be revealed—those men who consider all save God as utter nothingness. The barkers are many, appearing in every city and land. This is among the tidings that flowed from the Supreme Pen in Iraq, the Land of Mystery, and the first Most Great Prison.
This land too hath not been and is not free of barkers. I convey greetings to the beloved of the soul, Haydar-Ali, upon him be the glory and favor of the All-Merciful, and I beseech God, exalted be His glory, for his assistance. Praise be to God, he is mentioned in His presence and hath attained His favor. I convey greetings, mention and praise to the friends of that land, and I beseech for them that which will cause the exaltation of the Word of God and the elevation of their station.
Mention was made of the spiritual friend Aqa Ahmad, upon him be the glory and favor of God. After it was presented before the Most Holy and Exalted Presence, these sublime, decisive and blessed verses were revealed especially for him from the heaven of the Will of the Lord of Names and Attributes. His words, exalted be His utterance and mighty His proof:
He is the Compassionate, the All-Bountiful
Praise, in its essence, and thanksgiving, in its reality, beseech the holy threshold of nearness to the Desired One, Who, through His pervading, attractive, and absolute Will, brought forth the wondrous creation from sheer nothingness and adorned it with the ornament of being. This creation is sanctified and purified from that which is possessed by the people—that is, the former party and the Bayan and what they possess—for without this wondrous decree, in the first station and primary rank, none other would be true. Blessed is the breast that is sanctified from the world’s impressions through the Name “O Pure One,” and blessed is the ear that is purified from the false tales of the nations. These are the people of Baha and the companions of the Crimson Ark, whose mention was revealed, established, fixed and inscribed by the Supreme Pen in the Qayyumu’l-Asma’.
O Ahmad! Upon thee be My glory and My loving-kindness. Thou hast ever been and art still remembered. The letters thou didst send to this servant who is present have each been honored to be heard and distinguished by a special glance of favor. Blessed art thou and blessed is thy father, through whose presence God hath adorned the surface of the earth, and through whose body He hath adorned its depths. By My life! We have revealed for him that which cannot be equaled by all the treasures of the world, nor by the utterances of the learned, nor by the sighs of the mystics, nor by the lamentations of the philosophers. The intention of the learned, mystics and philosophers in these stations are those souls who adorn themselves with outward means while inwardly they are barriers preventing the peoples of the world; otherwise the true mystic, the spiritual scholar, and the divine philosopher are, in the arena of the manifestation of the Lord of religions, seated upon the throne of certitude.
O Ahmad! God willing, thou shalt be even as an enkindled fire and as a light shining and radiant, in such wise that all may find the divine path through the warmth of thy love, distinguish truth from falsehood, and attain to such steadfastness that the movement of the world will not move them and the clamor of the nations will not cause them to slip. Convey to the loved ones of that land and its surrounding regions greetings and peace from the Wronged One. Say: Rejoice in that the Lord of existence and the Sovereign of the seen and the unseen hath turned towards you and hath mentioned you with a mention He hath made the sovereign of mentions and their source. It behooveth them to say:
“Praise be to Thee, O Beloved of earth and heaven! Glory be to Thee, O Sovereign of the most exalted Paradise! Thanks be to Thee, O Thou through Whose Name the supreme Paradise hath bowed down in submission! We beseech Thee, O Beloved of the world and Desire of the nations, to aid us to arise to serve Thy Cause in such wise that the hosts and ranks shall not prevent us. O Lord! Thou seest us detached from all save Thee and holding fast to the cord of Thy power. Ordain for us that which beseemeth Thy bounty, Thy giving, Thy mercy and Thy favors. Verily, Thou art the Almighty over what Thou willest, and in Thy right hand are the reins of all who are in the heavens and on earth.”
The glory shining from the horizon of the heaven of My mercy be upon thee and upon those whom God hath related to thee and upon those who love you for the sake of God, the Lord of this mighty and exalted station.
This lowly one also conveyeth unto them greetings, praise, glory and light. God is witness and testifier that they have not been forgotten and will ever occupy a station in the court of the utterance of the Desired One of the worlds. It is hoped that from the trees of being there shall appear pure and goodly fruits that will cause the exaltation of the Word of God and the world will become blessed with the bounty of nearness. Verily our Lord is the Almighty, the Powerful, and worthy to answer.
Concerning what was written about the esteemed son of the late, exalted Mulla Ghulam-Rida, upon him be the Glory of God, the Most Glorious: Some time ago, a Most Holy, Most Exalted Tablet was specifically revealed for him, as well as a prayer of visitation from the Tongue of Grandeur, and these were sent forth. In truth, the effulgences of the light of God’s grace—exalted be His glory—in relation to him and his esteemed son are even as a brilliant, resplendent light. His is the praise, His the thanks, His the glory, and His the splendor. I beseech God to grant them assistance and confirmation. After mention was made of his name before the Seat of the Purpose of all worlds, these decisive verses were revealed. He says, blessed and exalted be He:
“O Mihdi! Upon thee be My glory and My loving-kindness. Some time ago verses were sent down from the direction of the Most Great Throne, through which the ocean of forgiveness surged and the fragrance of thy Lord’s loving-kindness, the All-Merciful, was diffused, and through which the Sun of grace shone forth and that which shall endure throughout the kingdom of My dominion and My realm became manifest. Verily, thy Lord is the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful. That which hath no end hath appeared, that thou mayest give thanks unto thy Lord, the All-Knowing Expositor.” Time and again hath mention been made from the Most Exalted Pen of him who ascended to the Supreme Horizon. Give thanks and say: “Praise be unto Thee, O Ocean of bounty, and thanks be unto Thee, O Lord of eternity! I beseech Thee to assist me to serve Thy Cause in such wise that the hindrance of them that hinder, the harm of the oppressors, the fire of the aggressors, and the opposition of the opposers shall not hold me back.”
As to what thou didst ask concerning the house, thou mayest use it to pay the debts of him who hath ascended unto Us. This behooveth thee and those who have laid hold on this firm cord. Say: Praise be unto Thee, O God of all who are in the heavens and on earth!
O son of My Name, the Most Truthful, the Most Holy! He who hath ascended to the Most Glorious Horizon hath attained unto that which most of mankind hath failed to attain. Give glad-tidings to Mihdi—upon him be My glory—and to those who are with him, of God’s loving-kindness, the Lord of all worlds. Praise be to God! The gaze of My loving-kindness is fixed upon thee. Give thou glad-tidings, one by one, to all who are related, of God’s grace and bounty. All are mentioned in the Most Holy Court and have been adorned with His special favors and have attained thereunto. That which hath been ordained for them is such that were less than a needle’s eye thereof to be revealed, all would be thunderstruck, save whom God willeth, the Lord of the Mighty Throne.
Thou shouldst manifest such justice that its fame may encompass those regions. This beseemeth thee and thy kinship to this Most Holy, Most Great, Most Mighty, Most Luminous Cause. Be thou as a fire amongst the righteous ones, that all may find from thee the warmth of the love of God, the Lord of the exalted Throne and Seat. Time after time hast thou been blessed, and again and again hast thou heard that which, were it to be cast upon the mountains, would cause them to soar with longing for the mention of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Thus hath the tongue of My loving-kindness spoken, as a grace from My presence, that the rapture of utterance might seize thee and render thee moved and attracted, soaring in the atmosphere of thy Lord’s love, the All-Merciful, the Most Compassionate.
This servant also conveys greetings, glorification and Baha to each of the kinfolk, and beseeches for them from the wondrous and infinite grace and mercy of God that which will cause the fruits of existence to appear. It is hoped that this supplication may be honored with acceptance and the world may benefit from these fruits, for these are the days of revelation and bounty and favor and sustenance encompass all. Verily our Lord is the Generous Giver, and He is the Hearer, the Answerer. The spirit and praise and remembrance and glory and exaltation and grandeur be upon you and upon those related to you and upon those who love you and upon the companions of the Crimson Ark who make no mention of names and their kingdoms, nor of mirrors and their suns. These are in truth, in very truth, the people of Baha in the Book of God, the Lord of all worlds.
The servant 19 Rajab 1308
BH09331: Praise be unto the King of the realm…
Section 1: “In the Name of our Lord, the Most…”
In the Name of our Lord, the Most Holy, the Most Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious!
Praise be unto the King of the realm of earth and heaven, Who hath, through His Most Exalted Word, adorned the realities of existence with the ornament of recognition and illumined all hearts with the light of true knowledge. Today, praise be to God, the Sun of true unity hath dawned from the horizon of divine Will, yet the deluded ones shall not attain unto this station nor achieve success therein. Beseech ye God that He may, purely for His sake, strengthen all faces and hearts in such wise that the affairs of this world and its ornaments and colors may not prevent them from the Most Exalted Horizon, and may establish them firmly in His manifest Faith. Verily, He is the Omnipotent over whatsoever He willeth. There is none other God but Him, the Single, the One, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
Thy noble letter, which was as a vessel bearing the fragrance of love, when its seal was broken, diffused its sweet perfume throughout all existence. Praise be to God Who granted confirmation and, through countless means, bestowed the grace of recognition, acceptance and attention. His bounty brought existence into being and guided it to the path of His justice. After perusing and reading it with joy and delight, it was taken to the Most Exalted Court and Supreme Height, and presented before the countenance of the Lord of Names, after which permission was granted. This is what the Tongue of Grandeur spoke after hearing it. His word, exalted be His utterance and mighty His proof, and there is no God but Him:
In My Name, through which the ocean of God’s knowledge, the Self-Subsisting, the All-Compelling, hath surged!
O thou who gazeth upon the Face and speaketh among the servants! Say: O peoples of the earth! By the True God, the Call hath been raised from the prison of Akka—a Call in whose yearning to hear it countless souls have perished. My Tongue in this glorious and wondrous station beareth witness to this. This is the Day wherein the ocean of God’s utterance, the Lord of all worlds, hath surged. Blessed is he who hath turned towards it and been moved by His Most Great, His Most Bountiful Name. Say: O people! Deprive not yourselves of this bounty wherewith God hath adorned the preamble of His Books, His Scrolls, and His holy and luminous Tablet. Cast away what ye possess, turning unto the Most Exalted Horizon, and shatter the idols of vain imaginings with the hosts of wisdom and utterance. This is better for you than all ye possess. Thus hath the Tongue spoken in the kingdom of utterance. Blessed are they that hear!
O thou who soarest in My atmosphere! With complete determination, guide the heedless ones to the horizon of divine knowledge. Blessed is the breast that, having been sanctified from the tales and traces of the past, hath turned unto the Mother Book. Today the Euphrates of wisdom and utterance floweth from the right hand of the throne of the All-Merciful, and from the treasury of the Most Exalted Pen appear and shine forth the pearls of knowledge and the gems of understanding.
Say: O people! Be fair! Defile not existence with unseemly false statements and fabricated stories. By the Sun of knowledge that shineth resplendent from the most exalted horizon of utterance, from the beginning of the world until now no Revelation like unto this hath appeared. He is the Interlocutor of Sinai Who sitteth upon the throne of Revelation. He is the Great News mentioned in the former Books, Whose advent the Prophets and Messengers foretold unto all peoples. Take ye, O people, the Book of God with the power that proceedeth from Him, and be not of the heedless ones. God hath ordained for them that turn unto Him, the Lord of all worlds, that which no tongue or pen can recount or enumerate. Fear ye God, then turn with radiant faces unto this Cause by the command of this Wise Ordainer.
O Mim! Upon thee be My glory and My loving-kindness! Aid thou the Cause of God through the hosts of wisdom and utterance, and through that which draweth the people nigh unto His glorious and wondrous horizon. He, verily, will be with thee and will strengthen thee through His sovereignty and will reinforce thee through His hosts. He, verily, is potent over all things. Blessed is thy pen for having caused to flow from it that which hath been adorned with the ornament of acceptance, a mercy from God, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.
The affairs of the Shi’ih sect are well known to thee. In truth, that which thou hast mentioned is the cause of the people’s acceptance and guidance, were ye to be fair-minded. This Wronged One hath, through divine power and might, openly proclaimed before the faces of both high and low, without any veil or concealment, whatsoever would lead to the guidance, salvation and tranquility of mankind. The hindrance of the hinderers and the tyranny of the oppressors did not prevent Him from revealing mysteries. In all conditions We have spoken forth counsels and admonitions, and when the light of the Sun of Proof shed its radiance from the horizons of hearts, all arose to extinguish that manifest and gleaming Light, save whom God wished.
Although We have, in the Books, Tablets, Scriptures and Epistles, forbidden conflict, corruption and strife, and have commanded that which leadeth to salvation, nearness unto God, goodly deeds and praiseworthy character, yet glory be to God! Though the Sun of Truth is shining, the ocean of knowledge and wisdom is surging, the rivers of bounty are flowing, and the Sacred and Blessed Tree is speaking, all are found to be veiled save a few, and few of My servants are truly thankful.
Say: O people! Fear ye God and follow not your desires. Follow Him Who hath come unto you with a clear authority. In the great city, a few have arisen in opposition and are occupied in destroying the Most Exalted Word. One who hath dwelt for more than forty years beneath the pavilions of grandeur, in comfort and at rest, hath today united with a few others and is manifesting boundless oppression. Each day they have committed that which hath caused grief to those who are nigh unto God and are sanctified. They have seized upon the calumnies of armies and the lies of multitudes, and are engaged in warfare. Thus hath God revealed what was hidden in their breasts and the treachery of their eyes.
His Honour Afnan, A. and H., upon whom rest My glory and loving-kindness, turned towards this direction. Subsequently, through telegraph they informed that Siyyid Ahmad and his companions had stolen a sum of cash as well as paper currency and had gone to Akka. And regarding His Honour the Great Afnan, upon whom be the Most Glorious Baha of God, who in this land had and hath no thought save seclusion, they have written that which they themselves testify is false. These matters have come to light so that all might recognize Yahya and become aware of what this Wronged One hath endured. The mysteries of the Surih of Luqman have in these days become manifest and visible. However, these matters and their like are absolute nothingness. Their mention is due to consummate wisdom, that the loved ones might discover and recognize.
Say: O people! By God, the Tree speaketh, the Fire uttereth, and the Light mentioneth and calleth out: “The Beloved of all in the heavens and earth hath come!” Thereupon the call was raised from every direction: “Blessed art thou, O Akka, in that God hath made thee the dawning-place of His revelation and the dayspring of His inspiration, and hath honored thee with His presence. Happy art thou, O Akka, in that the Call hath been raised within thee and there hath appeared that which was hidden and treasured in knowledge and concealed from eyes of those who are related.”
Convey My greetings to each one from this Wronged One and give them glad tidings of the verses revealed from the heaven of oneness, that all may behold themselves freed and detached from that which the people possess and turn unto that which is with God. The splendor shining from the horizon of the heaven of bounty be upon thee and upon them that are with thee and love thee and hearken to thy words concerning this Cause which God hath made sanctified from all likeness and similitude, and hath caused it to dawn and shine forth from the horizon of grace unto all who are in the heavens and on earth.
A hundred thousand thanks unto the Purpose of all the worlds Who, through the breezes of His verses, hath made hearts and minds receptive and bestowed fellowship. Glory be unto Him, glory be unto Him! His is the greatness and the power, the might and the choice. He is the Potent One Who illumined the breasts of the sincere ones with the light of His favor and set hearts ablaze with the fire of His love. This fire hath diverse effects—it sendeth some to the field of sacrifice and establisheth others upon the throne of detachment. Night and day the Tongue of Grandeur uttereth that which uniteth hearts. How many nights did the Eye of Grandeur, out of love for His loved ones, remain sleepless and slumberless. Verses are sent down like copious rain. Glory be to God! The unfair ones in the world remain heedless and veiled unto this day. They distinguish not between the fire of the Divine Lote-Tree and the fire of self and passion. Their nature is to turn away and their practice is to close their eyes. In truth, perplexity upon perplexity!
The people of the Furqan cling to the Book of God—all have seen and read it. The companions of the Spirit—peace and glory be upon Him—cling to the Gospel, and all have seen that the entire utterance of that All-Knowing Expounder doth not exceed a portion. And now, at every moment, there is being revealed that which all the pens of the world are powerless to record and all the tongues of the nations are unable to recount.
Section 2: “Now, with utmost humility, I submit: O my…”
Now, with utmost humility, I submit: O my God, my Beloved, my Generous One, my Merciful One! Thou didst create Thy servants and bring them from nothingness into being for Thy recognition. Deprive them not now. Thou art that Maker Whose craftsmanship throughout the world and Whose evident means among the nations all testify to Thy power and acknowledge Thy grace and bounty. Were Thou to withhold these from them, who would acknowledge Thy power and confess Thy sovereignty? O my Lord! Every person void of understanding beareth witness to Thy power, sovereignty and greatness. Deliver Thy loved ones, by Thy generous hands, from the clay of idle fancies and preserve them through the hosts of Thy revelation and inspiration. Thou art the Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
The expressions of gratitude, sincerity, evanescence and nothingness which thou didst manifest before the appearance of Him Who conversed upon Sinai—may the spirit of all who are in the kingdom of command and creation be a sacrifice unto His remembrance—verily from these the fragrance of detachment, purity, submissiveness, humility and faithfulness wafteth. And after the presentation of this matter in the Most Holy and Most Exalted Court, these words shone forth from the tongue of the Beloved of the worlds—exalted be His utterance and His proof:
In My Name, the One Who appeareth before all faces
O thou who soarest in My atmosphere, who gazest toward My horizon, who turneth unto the lights of My countenance, who speaketh in My praise, and who holdeth fast unto the cord of My bounty! Hear thou My call on this Day which hath been named the Day of God in the Books and Tablets. Say: O people! Hear ye, hear ye! The call hath been raised from the direction of Akka, and the ocean of utterance hath surged before the faces of all religions, and the Sun of proof hath shone forth with a light at whose appearance all other lights have bowed down. O people! Fear ye God, then judge with fairness concerning that which hath appeared in truth. Verily it draweth you to the most exalted station. O people! Deny not the proof of God and His evidence. Turn with your hearts unto God, the Lord of Lords.
We have heard that wherewith thou hast called upon God, and We found from it the fragrance of thy love, thy turning and thy devotion to the Mighty, the Bestower. Glory be to God! The people of the Furqan, despite what hath appeared from the Tongue of Grandeur—that He is verily the Messenger of God and the Seal of the Prophets—assert that the breezes of revelation and the fragrances of inspiration have been cut off after His Holiness, and this blessed word concludeth with His exalted saying:
“The Day when mankind shall stand before the Lord of the worlds.”
By the testimony of the Furqan, the Day is the Day of God and the Manifestation is the Manifestation of God. Nevertheless, none hath understood. The source of ignorance, falsehood, conflict and corruption hath said that the Surih of Unity must be translated, for the Babis believe in Lordship and Divinity. Say: O people! Be fair! If the breezes of revelation are cut off, who shall guide the servants and who shall be? If ye hearken to the words of the Truthful Informer, after the Seal cometh the Manifestation of God, and all books bear witness to this.
They have likewise said that the prayer recited at dawn during the blessed month of Ramadan, which is adorned with this Name, must be abandoned—despite their having given glad tidings that the Most Great Name is present and mentioned in this prayer. The signs, manifestations and allusions of this Most Great Revelation have encompassed the whole world, yet the people remain veiled from that which is with God by that which is with them. In brief, they have denied the virtue of this prayer and forbidden its recitation. Such is the condition of the divines, let alone the condition of the ignorant. We testify that they are the ignorant ones, and those beneath them are superior to them.
The Primal Point—may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for Him—hath said: “Verily He speaketh in every condition, ʿI, verily, am God. There is none other God but Me, the Lord of all things. All besides Me are My creation. O My creation! Worship ye Me.”’ In the beginning of the Bayan He hath described the One Who shall be made manifest with that which hath been mentioned. Blessed are they who behold and they who attain!
O thou who gazeth upon the Countenance! It is incumbent upon you and upon all to take hold of the reins of the Cause by God’s leave, that perchance this people may not be afflicted with the vain imaginings of the previous people. This is accounted among the most excellent of deeds before the Self-Sufficient, the Most Exalted.
O Ahmad! The ears of the world were created to hear this Call. This Call is a radiant light that awakens the friends and shows the way, and is a blazing fire. One manifestation of it struck the Tree of Sinai, raising the cry “Verily, I am God,” and struck the Spirit, whereupon it departed from the realm of body and flesh, seeking the eternal station, and the fourth heaven became the seat of ascendancy. O Ahmad! They knew not the Day of God and are deprived of the Sun of Truth. But what says the Shi’ih party? If their deeds matched their words, where is the fruit thereof? And if the Tree of Branches was planted, where are its leaves and boughs?
They recite “the Day when mankind shall stand before the Lord” yet are deprived of it. Read what the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Qur’an: “Though it be of the weight of a grain of mustard seed and though it be in a rock, or in the heavens, or in the earth, God will bring it forth. Verily, God is subtle and informed.” O Ahmad! The Pharaoh of the age hath emerged from behind the clouds with the sword of hatred. Surely thou hast heard the details. The Wronged One of the horizons counseleth all to protect the servants, that perchance the veils of idle fancies may not again intervene and prevent the people from the manifestations of the Luminary of the Revelation. Verily, He is powerful over all things.
Say: O people, fear God! That which was never manifest in creation hath appeared, and that which was inscribed by the Supreme Pen hath come. Cast aside what the people possess, turning unto God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. We beseech God to assist thee and enable thee to do what He loveth and pleaseth. Verily, He is the Protector of the doers of good. Say: Praise be to Thee, O my God, for having caused my name to flow from Thy Pen. I testify that Thou hast appeared and manifested what was hidden in knowledge and concealed in the treasury of Thy protection. Thou art, verily, the Almighty, the Powerful. I beseech Thee, O Desire of the world and Quickener of nations, by the Light which the veils of the peoples could not withhold, to assist me to arise to serve Thee and to aid Thy Cause with wisdom and utterance. Thou art, verily, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
This servant also conveyeth to them greetings, praise, remembrance and glory, hoping that they may rend asunder the veils of the people with the finger of steadfastness, that they might attain to that for which they were adorned with the ornament of existence. The Command is in God’s hands, our Lord and your Lord and the Lord of the mighty throne.
As to the matter of printing, praise be to God, it hath been accepted. The Most Great Branch of God—may my spirit and being be offered up for the dust of His footsteps—hath, according to the command, considered it. In truth, the ignorance and waywardness of the former people is evident from what hath been mentioned. Blessed is he who hath been just in what hath appeared, and blessed are they who have attained. Glory and praise and remembrance be upon you and upon those who are with you and who love you and hear your words concerning the proof of God’s Manifestation, the Lord of all worlds.
In this hour the servant attained the presence. The Ancient Beauty turned to him and said: We wish to make mention of the son of him who loved Us, who turned to God, attained, arrived, received and drank the Kawthar of utterance from the hand of the bounty of his Lord, the Lord of all beings. We have made mention of him before and at this moment, and We testify that he is among those who have attained. O Muhammad, upon thee be the glory of God! Convey My greetings to him and give him the glad-tidings of My loving-kindness. He hath attained to the standing which was foretold in the Qur’an:
“The Day when mankind shall stand before the Lord of the Worlds.”
This servant also conveyeth greetings and glory unto him, and beseecheth from the Dawning-Place of the Most Great Bounty His favors for him. Verily our Lord is the Hearer, the Answerer, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy. That which he sent hath been adorned with the ornament of acceptance, as a grace from our Lord and your Lord and the Lord of this flourishing Prison. The glory and the remembrance and the praise be upon thee once again, and upon him, and upon every patient and grateful one.