Volume 100: Akka 1308–1309 A.H. (1890–1892), Part II (3 of 3)

BH10814: Praise befitteth and is meet for the Lord…

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

Praise befitteth and is meet for the Lord of the Day of Judgment, Who hath illumined the contingent world with the lights of utterance and adorned it with the blessed word “The Kingdom is God’s.” Neither the might of the ungodly nor the clamor of the heedless could prevent the penetration of His perfect Word, nor could the power of the aggressors weaken the authority of His Most Exalted Pen. With but a single pen He arose against the whole world, and gave glad tidings to all of the Great Announcement which was among the irrevocable promises of God, and guided them. Yet weak eyes were prevented from beholding the horizon of manifestation, and ears that heard not were deprived of hearkening to the Most Sweet Call and the shrill voice of the Most Exalted Pen. Glorified be His dominion and magnified be His proof. There is no God but Him.

My God, my God, my Lord, my Support, my Goal, my Beloved and the Ultimate Object of my desire! Thou seest the turning of Thy loved ones to the horizon of Thy manifestation, their orientation to the lights of Thy countenance, and their arising to serve Thy Cause. I beseech Thee, O my Lord, by the Call that was raised from Thy most exalted horizon, by Thy Light wherewith the earth and heaven were illumined, and by the Fire of Thy Lote-Tree whereby Thou didst guide Moses on Mount Sinai, to ordain for whosoever hath turned unto Thee in Thy days and made mention of Thy servant, the Wondrous One, Who hath been imprisoned in the jail of Thine enemies, that which beseemeth the heaven of Thy bounty and bestowal. O my Lord! Thou knowest that he desired naught but to demonstrate his love for Thee in this Day wherein the fire of hatred hath been kindled in the breasts of the worshippers of names. O my Lord! Guard him through Thy grace, then aid him through Thy power and sovereignty that he may arise to serve Thee among Thy servants and assist Thee through wisdom and utterance. Verily Thou art the Confirmer, the Mighty, the Bountiful.

Then I beseech Thee, O God of Names and Creator of earth and heaven, to ordain for me from Thy Most Exalted Pen the recompense of those who have aimed at the Ultimate Goal and the Most Exalted Summit, and whom the attraction of Thy verses seized in such wise that they turned to the place of sacrifice and spent their wealth and souls in Thy path, O Lord of all beings and King of the kingdom of names. Verily Thou art powerful over what Thou willest and in Thy grasp are the reins of all in the earth and the heavens.

Thy letter, which was as a lucid book, set forth in the mention and praise of the Lord of the Day of Judgement, hath reached this Wronged One, and through it the portals of joy and gladness were flung open; for from its words there breathed the fragrance of the love of God, exalted be His glory. Blessed is the pen that moved upon the mention and glorification of Him, and blessed the heart which God hath made the treasury of His love and the repository of His remembrance. Verily, there is none other God but He. He doeth whatsoever He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth. He, verily, is the Almighty, the All-Lauded.

After it had been read, observed and pondered, it directed its face toward the Most Exalted Station and the Most Sublime Summit; then, after permission had been obtained, it was presented before the Face of the Lord of all being, and attained to the honour of the Blessed Glance and the bounty of being hearkened unto. This is that which God hath caused to issue from the treasuries of His Most Exalted Pen:

In My Name, the Speaker, in the Kingdom of utterance, before the faces of all religions!

Today, the Most Great Glad-Tidings, vouchsafed from the Mother Book in this blessed Manifestation unto all the dwellers of earth, is the effacement of the ordinance of holy war from the Book. Blessed the ear that hath heard the Call of God, the Lord of lords, and the tongue that hath spoken forth His remembrance before the faces of them that are in the heavens and on the earth. O thou who gazest upon the Face, and art remembered in the presence of the Wronged One! Notwithstanding all this, in the days of the Manifestation of the True One—glorified be His majesty—certain of the servants have arisen in aversion, in such wise that the Concourse on high and the denizens of the cities of the Names are occupied with lamentation and wailing.

In one of the Tablets this exalted word hath been sent down from the heaven of the Will of the Lord of the Day of Recompense: Were the entire power of the spirit to be transmuted into the power of hearing, it might then be said that it is worthy to hearken unto this Call which hath been raised from the Supreme Horizon; otherwise, these ears, befouled with lying tales, are, and have ever been, unfit and unworthy to hearken thereunto. Today the Kingdom of utterance standeth expectant, eager to hearken unto the exalted words that have shone forth from the treasury of the knowledge of God.

Glorified be God! In this Most Great Manifestation, through the attracting power of the Word of Him Who is the Desire of the world, the lovers of all regions have arisen to expend whatsoever they possessed of bodies and of souls, of honour and of wealth. How many a sincere one and one nigh unto God hath freely sacrificed life and substance at the foot of the Friend! The sun of the world hath never witnessed the like of that which hath appeared. The soul that turneth aside beholdeth, in the mirror of its own being, naught save its own likeness. Never hath the arena of the severed ones and the race-course of the near ones been the field of motion for such souls.

According to the saying of Tumanski, the Russian, he regarded the Book of God with the eye of his Muhammadan belief; today the Primal Point proclaimeth: “Verily, I am the first of the worshippers.”

In these days the Most Exalted Pen is engaged in the writing of a reply to the objections of the Shaykh of the land of Sad, and, among other matters, the mention of certain martyrs hath been sent down in that lucid Book. In this station as well their names are again commemorated, that perchance the bond-slaves of passion and desire, of rebellion and lewdness, may be awakened, and may turn from oppression unto justice, and from tyranny unto equity. In this Most Great Manifestation the world hath been set in motion. Glorified be God! In the days of the Point—may the souls of all else but Him be offered up for His sake—what came to pass did so of necessity: the adversaries rose up in cruelty and aggression, and this company likewise arose in self-defence. But in this Dispensation, how many are the souls who, with utmost eagerness and longing, have set their faces toward the seat of sacrifice and have freely offered up their lives!

Say: Hast thou not heard the mention of Husaynayn—who, in the land of Sad, despite honour, wealth, and worldly station, were not shaken by the might and tyranny of the oppressors? They expended, in the path of the one true Friend, their very souls—spirit and sweet-scented life—which are the most precious and exalted of all things in the world.

And reflect upon that noble one, Siyyid Isma’il of Zavareh, and what issued from him. So powerfully did the Word of God attract him that, turban and all, in the early dawn he swept the threshold of the House; and afterwards, on the bank of the river, with his own hand he sacrificed his life. This deed, though in outward seeming not acceptable, yet the attraction of the Divine Utterance wrested all choice from his grasp, and he performed that which filled the Concourse on high with astonishment—how much more the people of the realm of dust! Verily, the attraction of the Call laid hold upon Yathrib and Batha, in such wise that Batha cried out and exclaimed:

“Blessed art thou, O ʿAkka, in that thou hast quaffed the cup of reunion from the bounteous hand of thy Lord, the Lord of all that is!”

This Prisoner also maketh mention of certain other martyrs. Among them is that martyr, Mulla Kazim—upon him be the glory of God, the All-Glorious, the All-Praised—who, together with a number of souls, before Husaynayn, attained unto the supreme martyrdom in the land of Sad. By the command of the tyrant of that land they hewed that most holy body limb from limb and then consigned it to the flames.

And as to Hadrat Badi’, who was the bearer of the Tablet addressed to His Majesty the Shah, in whose honour this blessed verse hath been sent down from the Most Exalted Pen: “Exalted and blessed be He: When his creation was perfected and his form made good, We despatched him as a ball of firea€¦” to the end of His exalted words—surely ye have heard in full the story of that spiritual lover. The majesty of kingship and its pomp did not withhold him. With power and might he arose, directed his steps, and proclaimed the Cause of God, in such wise that from the Supreme Paradise and the All-Glorious Garden the cry “Grandeur belongeth unto God!” was raised on high.

Likewise that knower of the Kingdom, Najaf-ʿAli, who turned his face toward Mashhad and uttered these words:

“We have found Baha, and that for which our blood is the price.”

Then, with perfect joy and longing, he offered up his life.

And likewise that true attracted one and heavenly divine, Mulla ʿAli-Jan—upon him be the glory of God, His light and His mercy—who with such ardour set out for the field of sacrifice that the people of insight and they that behold with the Most Great Vision are busied with his mention and praise. In very truth, tongue and pen alike are powerless and fail to depict that Light of Divine Oneness.

Glorified be God! The martyrs of this Most Great Manifestation are beyond all reckoning; if ye should attempt to number the martyrs of God, ye would never be able to compute them. The noble Ashraf and Aba Basir, in the land of Za’, freely offered up their lives. There is no land but hath been crimsoned with the blood of the lovers; the Lord of the Day of the Covenant Himself beareth witness unto this truth. In the land of Ta, in the land of Sad, and in other lands besides, there hath repeatedly come to pass that before which the Pen hath wept and the Tablet hath raised the cry of lamentation.

This servant, for the sake of brevity, hath been content with that which hath already been mentioned. Assuredly that honoured one hath heard thereof, and the soul that turneth aside hath likewise heard and knoweth it full well—if so be he be among the fair-minded. Today the Kingdom of the Bayan is speaking forth, and the Cause hath been manifested in such wise that the very Essence of Invention hath beheld no likeness unto it.

Should he turn unto the Writings, the Kawthar of the Bayan would lay hold upon him in such a manner that, barefoot and bareheaded, he would arise and set his face toward the seat of martyrdom. Now, well-nigh a hundred volumes of resplendent verses and weighty treatises have been revealed and are manifest. Divers souls, by night and by day, are engaged in their transcription; the emigrants and travellers are all well aware of that which hath been recorded. Blessed are they that attain, and every truthful, discerning soul!

Objections resembling those already mentioned were formerly raised by one of the servants of Shiraz. The honoured ʿAndalib sent the full account into Our presence, and from the heaven of grace an answer was sent down and despatched. According to command, I forwarded that reply, that it may be perused.

Convey My greetings and glorifications unto the loved ones, especially unto him whom God hath exalted through His Name and His sovereignty, and whom He guardeth by the hosts of the unseen and the seen. Verily, He is the All-Powerful, the All-Able.

4th of Rajab, 1309 A.H.

BH11416: The grace of God knows no bounds, and His…

…The grace of God knows no bounds, and His favors no end. For His loved ones, after the severance of the means of nearness and union, He ordained other means and named them pen and ink. His is the praise in all conditions…

BH02221: Tablet to the Israelites

In the Name of God, the Lord of Hosts!

He hath come through Whom all things were revolutionized, and the Call hath been raised from the horizon of the Prison of Akka. O son of Khalil, O Abdu’llah, hear this call with the ear of thy soul.

A new day hath appeared and a fresh morn hath come. Today from the wilderness the voice of the Burning Bush is raised, proclaiming “He Who is the Lord of the Kingdom of Names hath come!” The Mount of Sinai is witnessed in supreme joy, for it converseth with its Beloved and drinketh from one cup and partaketh of one food with the Lord of its desire. The Promised City hath descended from the heaven of divine will, and the Ancient Beauty is seen in the desert, crying “Here am I! Here am I!”

Today the Covenant of Israel is renewed, and We have made firm covenants with your fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It had drawn so near unto extinction that weakness and decline were nigh to seize it, but through one exalted word it was strengthened again and made firm. When His holiness Abraham was suspended in the air, the great angel came to him and asked “Hast thou any need?” He replied “Not from thee!” This word set all ablaze—weakness was transformed to strength, silence to speech, and muteness to utterance.

O Children of Israel and heirs of Abraham and Moses! Today Jerusalem crieth out with most eloquent speech “The All-Merciful hath come!” and in the wilderness declareth “Here am I! Here am I!” Deprive not yourselves.

O ʿAbdu’llah, thy letter hath attained Our presence and been adorned with the light of appearance. We beseech God to assist thee in that which causeth the fire to appear in the Tree of thy Being. Hearken to the cry of Zion which with loudest voice giveth glad tidings to all, yet the servants are deprived of the ocean of knowledge, being occupied with self and heedless of the Worshipped One. The sighs of Palestine have moved the world of being, yet its children are seen to be bewildered and perplexed.

Moses with but one staff struck the kingdom of creation—weakness took no hold of him and laxity found no way, for the very soul of his soul was gladdened and rejoiced by the light of the divine presence. Arise through divine power and heavenly wisdom, that perchance from the trees of existence the fruit of the Tree of Sinai may appear and become manifest.

We beseech God to assist thee in that which is the cause of fellowship and truth. He is the Mighty One Who hath ever caused, and will forever cause, the rain of His special mercy to shower from the clouds of grace upon the children of Abraham and the heirs of Moses. Arise in the name of God, the Lord of Hosts, and strive for the betterment and elevation of the world, that they may attain to that which is the cause of abiding immortality and everlasting life. We beseech God for that which is the cause of guidance for the Israelites. He is the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Seeing.

Glory and peace be upon those who have turned to Him and have said “Praise be to Thee, O God of all who are in the heavens and earths!”

BH02044: In My Name, which speaketh before the faces…

In My Name, which speaketh before the faces of all people!

Praise be unto the Lord of all creation, sanctified from all mention and description, Who, through His complete power and conquering might, hath transformed the prison of ʿAkka into the Most Exalted Paradise. Blessed is he who hath beheld, and blessed is he who hath attained to hear the warbling of the birds of wisdom and utterance in the garden of true knowledge. Say: O people of God! Know ye the worth of this Day. Today the Lord of Destiny, from the Most Great Scene, calleth unto all and inviteth them to the highest horizon. Blessed is the soul that hath not been deprived of the outpourings of the All-Bountiful in these days.

O thou who gazeth toward My horizon! Some time ago a glorious Tablet was revealed in thy mention, wherein was recorded in detail thine encounter with the Dayspring of the ignorance of the world. Blessed art thou and joy be unto thee! We testify that thou didst seek out the Kaaba of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting, and didst traverse land and sea until thou didst attain the spot which God hath made the circling-place of the Concourse on High, the Most Glorious Paradise, and the Most Exalted Garden, and didst hear the call of God, the Lord of existence and the Educator of the seen and unseen.

We beseech God to illumine the friends of those regions with the lights of the Sun of true unity. Until now the former people have been numbered among the ungodly in the arena of the people of unity. And in this Most Great Revelation, despite the signs that have encompassed the world and a power and might the like of which hath never been witnessed, we observe that some who count themselves among the learned and insightful, and whose mention hath even flowed from the Most Exalted Pen, are still somewhat afflicted with vain imaginings. Say: My God, my God! Sanctify Thy loved ones from idle fancies and vain imaginings, and illumine them with the lights of the Day-Star of Thy Revelation. Then send down upon them from the clouds of Thy grace that which will draw them nigh unto Thee, and assist them to stand firm in the Greater Steadfastness, that the doubts of the people and the idle fancies of the nations and the vain imaginings of those who have denied Thy proof and Thy testimony and have rejected Thy bounty may not cause them to slip. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

While We were walking in the house and speaking of the mysteries of the Revelation, the Greater Branch entered with what thou hadst sent to him and to Ism-i-Jud, and read them before Our face. We have answered thee with this clear Tablet. Convey My greetings to all the loved ones. Say: Today it behooveth all to protect the servants, according to their capacity, from former superstitions. Today the ocean of grace is surging and the sun of justice is shining and manifest. Blessed is the soul that hath preserved itself through the Name of Truth and hath arisen to aid the Cause. Such a one is of the people of Baha and the companions of the Crimson Ark. Say: O people of God! This is the Day of assistance, and assistance hath been and shall be through utterance. We beseech God to aid all and illumine them with the lights of the Day-Star of Revelation. He is the Powerful, the Mighty. There is no God but Him, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious. The glory shining from the horizon of the heaven of My kingdom be upon thee and upon those who are with thee and who love thee and hearken to thy word in this irrevocable and mighty Cause.

BH09604: In the name of Him Whom God hath made…

In the name of Him Whom God hath made a proof unto all who are in the heavens and on earth!

O son of My Afnan who soared in My atmosphere and attained My presence and drank the choice wine of My utterance and established for himself a station beneath My shadow! We bear witness that he is among those who have attained in My perspicuous Book, and We have ordained for him that which the treasuries of the world and all that the kings and rulers possess cannot equal. Say: Glory be to Thee, O my God! I beseech Thee by Thy Most Glorious Name, whereby the limbs of the idolaters were made to quake, to ordain for me through Thy Most Exalted Pen that which will profit me in all the worlds of Thy worlds and preserve me from the evil of Thine enemies. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the All-Glorious, the All-Bountiful.

BH04472: He speaks, and His word is the truth: Blessed…

He speaks, and His word is the truth: Blessed is he and joy be unto him, for he has attained unto My service throughout all his days. Verily We make mention of him and My handmaiden and My leaf who has attained unto her relationship to My Cause, the Mighty, the Wondrous. And We make mention of the beloved upon him be My glory and those with him…

BH10542: To be typed

To be typed.

BH02460: Glorified be God! From one perspective, all things are…

He is God, exalted be His glory, the All-Wise, the All-Eloquent

Glorified be God! From one perspective, all things are seen to be in motion, assisting and guiding; while from another view, the greatest genus and highest species remain heedless and veiled. A tree stands manifest and evident before the mansion—by the life of our Purpose and your Purpose—its leaves moving in such a way as to captivate the heart of every seeing one and awaken every heedless one. A few years ago, two movements appeared from it which were truly the cause of wonderment to people of understanding. In one instant, it fell to the ground from the force of violent winds, and in another instant, through the confirmation of other winds, it rose up and leaned against another tree. Glory be to God, again glory be to God! The movements of things increase the blindness of those without vision, while bestowing a new adornment upon the awakened ones.

The cause and reason for this mention was the letter of that spiritual beloved, for after its presence, perusal and reading, I became aware of that beloved’s remembrance and my own heedlessness, and I lamented. With lamentation and yearning it was presented before the Face and He said—may our spirits be sacrificed for Him:

“O Rida, upon thee be the peace of God, the Lord of Names and Creator of Heaven. Thy letter arrived and thy call was heard. Blessed art thou, and blessed be thy cry and thy yearning in the love of God, thy Lord and the Lord of thy forebears. We beseech God to protect thee and to aid thee with the hosts of the seen and the unseen, and to send down upon thee from the clouds of mercy the rains of blessing and grace, and to ordain for thee the good of the hereafter and this world, and to provide thee with what He hath written for His chosen ones and His trusted ones. Verily He is the All-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful, and the Most Merciful of the merciful. And We beseech Him to preserve the beloved and those who love thee, and to exalt him through His Name for His service. Verily He is powerful over all things.”

O beloved of my heart! The letter arrived and was presented. Perfect kindness was manifest. In truth it brought this evanescent one to the world of remembrance. Furthermore, God is witness and aware of what the hosts of love accomplished and how the banners of remembrance held sway. The servant beseeches his Lord to grant him your meeting and presence, and to confirm him and you in what He loves and is pleased with. He is the Purpose in the hereafter and this world. Glory and praise be upon you and upon those with you and those who love you for the sake of God, the Lord of the worlds. And praise be to God, the Purpose of the mystics.

They said that if Mirza Mahmud and Rida would come one day with their father, it would be beloved. This is glad tidings from the servant to you.

BH02602: Praise be to the Lord of all mention…

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

Praise be to the Lord of all mention and the Manifestor of mysteries, sanctified above all remembrance and thought, Who hath sent down the verse and made manifest the bounty. The purpose of this bounty hath been the appearance of mercy, and from mercy the gathering of the community, and from gathering and assembly the unity of hearts and oneness of souls, and from this unity and oneness mutual assistance, that all servants might become as one soul and all lands as one region. May all spirits be sacrificed for His will, for there hath been and is no purpose save unity, fellowship, accord and love. We hope that all may attain to that which He loveth and pleaseth.

O thou who walkest with the Wronged One! The letter which thou didst send to this servant was heard and attained the honor of acceptance, and the promise of the Beloved’s bounty. The matter of the garden of Na’mayn and the appointed day depends upon that honored one. Convey on behalf of the Wronged One greetings to the handmaiden of God, the Leaf, his wife, upon her be the Glory of God. Say: Blessed art thou and joy be unto thee. We beseech God to adorn thee with that which will cause the devoted women in the most exalted chambers to remember thee, and to exalt thee through His Name amongst His handmaidens and leaves. Verily He is the Almighty, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.

The letter of the beloved, upon him be My Glory and loving-kindness, was seen. From every word thereof wafted the fragrance of sincerity and devotion. What he mentioned somewhat lightened the sorrows that have befallen Us. None knoweth what hath befallen the Wronged One save God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. That honored one is aware what was the bounty from the Wronged One’s part and what was the enmity from those people. In any case, the letter of the beloved, upon him be My Glory, was read by all, and it contained the glad tidings of the well-being of the emigrants and of thy visitation which thou didst perform by proxy the day before—this was accepted. Give him the glad tidings of My remembrance of him and My turning toward him from this distant shore.

God willing, may he hold fast to the counsels of the Wronged One and strive diligently in the acquisition of sciences and arts, for knowledge and wisdom are two shining ornaments for the head and brow. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to adorn him with that which will make him honored among His servants. We make mention of all the leaves and children of the household, and We beseech from God bounty for each one. Taraz Effendi, upon him be My Glory, hath been and is remembered. The Glory be upon you, and the mercy of God, and His blessings.

BH09738: My Lord, my Lord! Thou seest Thy servant Rida…

My Lord, my Lord! Thou seest Thy servant Rida standing firm in Thy service and speaking forth Thy praise, and Thou knowest that in the early days he was with the Wronged One and emigrated with Him until he arrived in the prison. He hath reached maturity beneath Thy shadow and in Thy service. I beseech Thee to send down upon him from the heaven of Thy bounty the grace of Thy generosity and the table of Thy munificence. Then send down healing from Thy presence upon my leaf and his daughter, and purify her from every disease and illness. We testify that healing is by Thy command and in Thy grasp. There is no God but Thee, the Forgiving, the Generous, and Thou art the Kind, the Merciful.

BH09821: Regarding the stone—verily it is necessary…

He is God!

Regarding the stone—verily it is necessary that it be fashioned. The Branch wrote “Glory be upon those who act and upon those who have acted in the path of the Lord of the worlds.”

As for thy desire to attain the presence—thou art welcome, the door is open and He Who is beseeched responds.

And concerning what thou mentioned about divine confirmation, assistance and compensation for what hath passed—verily He is the Protector of every beneficent one and every sincere and trustworthy one. He will compensate for what hath passed, for He is the Kind, the Generous.

As for the almonds—their time hath not yet come; let them remain with thee.

And as for the gaz—We have sent it to thee; use it as thou pleasest, though the Wronged One preferreth it pure, without almonds.

BH10435: O thou who hast dawned from the horizon…

O thou who hast dawned from the horizon of faithfulness! My Branch hath appeared before Me and read what thou didst send. We perceived from him the fragrance of devotion and the most great steadfastness. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, that there may be manifested from thee and from those who are with thee that which will guide the people to the path of righteousness. They have sought permission to attain Our presence. We beseech God to grant thee what thou hast desired from the heaven of His bounty and the ocean of His bestowals. He is the Mighty. Peace and remembrance and glory be upon thee and upon those in thy household, from God, the Lord of all men.

BH10990: Praise be to God Who has aided His servant…

He is God, exalted be He!

Praise be to God Who has aided His servant to be content with His good-pleasure in service to His Cause, and enabled him to circle round His precincts and dwell in His presence. We beseech Him to open before his face and that of his son the gates of grace, bounty and bestowal. Verily, He is the Lord of all beings, the Lord of the throne on high and of the earth below.

BH10462: O Siyyid Asadu’llah! We beseech God that He may…

He is the One Who speaks before the faces of all men

O Siyyid Asadu’llah! We beseech God that He may aid thee to be steadfast in this Most Great Announcement and enable thee to achieve that which befits His days. Say: Praise be unto Thee for having sent down to me from the heaven of Thy utterance the signs of Thy generosity and grace. I beseech Thee by the Light that shone forth from the horizon of Sinai and by the Fire which Thou didst manifest from the Tree of Revelation, to make me firm in Thy love, steadfast in Thy Cause, and speaking in Thy praise. Verily Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty, the Unconstrained.

BH11837: All praise be to the one true God Who…

All praise be to the one true God Who hath assisted His loved ones to observe the Fast and hath aided them to fulfill that which hath been decreed in the Book. In truth, ceaseless praise and gratitude are due unto Him for having graciously confirmed His loved ones to perform that which is the cause of the exaltation of His Word. If a man possessed ten thousand lives and offered them all to establish the truth of God’s laws and commandments, he would still be beholden unto Him, since whatsoever proceedeth from His irresistible decree serveth solely to benefit His friends and loved ones….

BH00603: Praise be to God, that the bounty of verses…

In the Name of our Lord, the Most Holy, the Most Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious

Praise be to God, that the bounty of verses hath been made manifest and the feast of clear proofs hath been sent down. Pure hearts and souls have been adorned with the wondrous ornament of fellowship. Praise befitteth the Lord of existence and the Educator of the seen and unseen, Whose remembrance knoweth no pause and Whose utterance no barrier can restrain. His Will is triumphant and His Purpose all-encompassing. Exalted be His might, sublime be His majesty, glorified be His sovereignty. There is no God but Him.

In these days, although news of the health and well-being of your honor and the honored Afnans—upon them be the glory of God and His favors—is manifest and evident in the realm of the Lord of religions, yet fresh mention hath another sweetness and delight. Some time ago your esteemed letter arrived like a spiritual messenger. Indeed, both joy and sorrow were evident from it. Its joy dispelled the melancholy of the realms of grief and weariness, while its sorrow added to the sadness of these days. However, since these tribulations, afflictions, losses and upheavals have occurred in the days of the Peerless Beloved and in His most exalted path, they are in truth the dawning-place of the world’s joy and the dayspring of the nations’ delight—if the world and its peoples should attain, or if we should attain, to the recognition of this station. The Command is in God’s hand—He doeth whatsoever He willeth and ordaineth whatsoever He desireth.

After reading and reviewing, we proceeded to the presence of the Lord of creation. After permission was granted, it was presented and achieved the honor of being heard by the Lord of all being. This is what was revealed in reply from God, the Lord of the beginning and the end. Exalted be His utterance and sublime be His proof:

In His Name, the One Who prevaileth over all names

O thou who art mentioned before the Wronged One and who standeth before the Gate! Hearken unto that which the Lord of Lords uttereth from His abode. Verily He attracteth thee, draweth thee nigh, delivereth thee from the sorrows and vicissitudes of the world, and maketh thee one who speaketh His praise, who turneth toward the lights of His countenance, and who standeth firm in the service of His Cause both at eventide and at dawn.

Today from the Dawning-Place of the Supreme Pen, the Sun of steadfastness hath risen and shone forth, and from the Source of utterance the river of divine knowledge floweth. Blessed is he who hath found and partaken thereof, and woe unto the heedless.

The True One, exalted be His glory, hath in this Most Holy, Most Exalted Day manifested Himself through all names. Blessed is the servant who hath inhaled the fragrance of His utterance and attained unto that which was recorded by the Pen of Revelation in the Scriptures and Tablets.

O My Afnan! Upon thee be My glory and My loving-kindness. This exalted Word was previously revealed from the tongue of the Lord of the Kingdom of Names, and again at this manifest hour it hath appeared. The Afnans of the Divine Lote-Tree were created for the service of the Cause. In all conditions and circumstances they must hold fast unto that which will cause its exaltation and elevation, and the manifestation of that which is now hidden from minds and eyes.

O My Afnan! By the life of God! Soon shall be revealed that which hath been inscribed by the Pen of the Ancient of Days. The Mother Book beareth witness unto this. Today thou must hold fast unto those means which cause the upliftment of the Word and the advancement of existence, and which become the cause of attraction and enkindlement and the eagerness of those who have turned to God and are filled with longing.

In the Tablet of the World this exalted Word was revealed: “O My Afnan! Upon thee be My glory and My loving-kindness.” The pavilion of God’s Cause is mighty. It hath encompassed and will continue to encompass all the peoples of the world. The day is your day, and a thousand tablets bear witness. Arise to assist the Cause, and with the hosts of utterance occupy yourselves with the conquest of the hearts and souls of the people of the world.

That Afnan must, in these days, hold fast unto that which is the cause of joy and gladness to the peoples of the world. Be not grieved by loss and the like, for the cause and occasion thereof hath been failure to turn unto the command of the Commander; and the cause of such failure to turn hath been the pardon and bounty of the Desire of all the worlds. Thereunto bear witness My books, My scrolls, My Tablets, and whatsoever We have sent down in this Prison which God hath made the loftiest of stations.

And this loss likewise, since its source and causes have been of this world, hath not been, nor is it, worthy of sorrow; for perchance this very loss may prove the means of blessing and the occasion of ease for the peoples of the world. Even as, toward the close of the reign of the late king, Fath-‘Ali Shah—may God have mercy upon him—some hurt and injury befell My father each day, and none was aware of the wisdom and mystery thereof, until at length the divine Purpose and the lordly Will did, in some measure, rend the veil, and the reason and cause thereof became manifest and clear as the light of the sun; for had those conditions remained, the manifestation of this Cause from the Dayspring of Proof would have been difficult.

In brief, with thy Lord are the treasures of knowledge. Grieve not, neither fear. Rejoice with My Most Great Gladness, and be made glad through the joy of thy Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. That which is needful today are such means as have been and are the cause of the drawing nigh of men. Had the servants of God in other lands acted according to that whereunto the people of Baha in the Most Great Prison have acted, by now the greater part of mankind would have turned unto God and attained unto that which is the cause of everlasting life in the Paradise of utterance.

In Muharram and in the blessed month of Ramadan, the True One hath acted, and still acteth, in such wise as is meet and seemly. Say: O people of Baha! Take hold of the Book of God with strength derived from Him, and then act according thereto. Verily, He shall protect you and guard you through His sovereignty, and shall exalt you by His Name among His servants. He, in truth, is the Mighty, the All-Bounteous.

Say: My God, my God! I beseech Thee by the blood that hath been shed in Thy path, and by that which hath befallen the Manifestation of Thyself in the Land of Ta through the tyranny of Thine enemies and the injury inflicted by the wicked ones among Thy creatures, to aid Thy servants to turn unto Thee and to arise to serve Thy Cause. Verily Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the All-Munificent.

The Glory shining and gleaming from the horizon of the heaven of My bounty be upon you, O My Afnans, and upon those who have quaffed the wine of divine knowledge from the chalice of My utterance and who hearken unto your words concerning this manifest Cause and this mighty Announcement.

Praise, glory, remembrance and thanksgiving be unto God, for in these days when the fire of sorrows was kindled from all directions and the light of the Cause was concealed, the Lord of all beings was occupied with the mention of His loved ones. Such bounty hath appeared in the world as hath no peer or likeness. In these blessed days, at all times, the tongue of Grandeur speaketh and maketh mention of His pre-existing mercy and all-encompassing favor, and He hath ordained for His loved ones that which no tongue or pen can describe. The servant beseecheth Him to protect His loved ones from the oppression of the oppressors, the malice of the ungodly, and the wrath of the transgressors. Verily, He hath power over all things.

They had expressed anxiety over the vicissitudes of the times and the straitening of circumstances. After these were presented, these exalted words were revealed from the Kingdom of Utterance—exalted be His utterance and magnificent His proof: O My Afnan! Upon thee be My glory and My loving-kindness. Such matters are among the conditions of the days of Revelation. A Cause of which all people were heedless in its early days must needs give rise to clamor, discord and upheaval. However, afterwards all shall be transformed by the command of the True Ordainer: tyranny into justice, agitation into tranquility, remoteness into nearness, denial into acceptance, aversion into attraction, poverty into wealth, and want into abundance. All this was decreed by thy Lord as an irrevocable fate. Didst thou but know what hath been ordained for thee and for those with thee, thou wouldst soar on the wings of longing and find thyself firmly established, steadfast, well-anchored and joyous in this firm, mighty and wise Cause.

Ye should conduct yourself in such wise as to cause the hearts and souls to be attracted and enkindled. Hearken unto the counsel of the Wronged One: verily it will protect thee, deliver thee, and exalt thy station both outwardly and inwardly. Thy Lord is, in truth, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

At all times should ye rejoice in the special favors of God, exalted be His glory. In every word of the Divine utterances is concealed the water of life. They have ever drunk and continue to drink therefrom. Henceforth, however, they must fix their gaze upon His commandments and ordinances, and cleave instantly to whatsoever is enjoined. God willing, may that assembly ever be warmed and enkindled through your presence. This servant hath repeatedly besought this from God, exalted be His glory, and continueth to do so. Verily He is the Hearer, the Answerer.

O honored one, his eminence the Afnan, the esteemed Haji Siyyid Muhammad, upon him be the Most Glorious Beauty of God! You have ever been and continue to be remembered. This servant conveys greetings, glorification and radiance to you and to all the other honored Afnans of the Sacred Tree—upon them be all His most glorious splendor—and to the friends of God and the friends of the friends of God. I submit my petition and beseech from the Mine of Generosity, for each one, that which is everlasting and eternal. Verily our Lord is the Answerer and the Fulfiller of the needs of those who are near and those who are sincere. Glory and remembrance and praise be upon your honor and upon those who love you and who hearken to your words concerning the Cause of our Lord and your Lord and the Lord of all who are in the heavens and the earth.

BH01873: Praise, sanctified above mention and utterance, befitteth the Purpose…

In the name of the one true God!

Praise, sanctified above mention and utterance, befitteth the Purpose of all creation, Who with one blessed and most exalted Word weighed and judged the world by the balance of justice. From this Word at times floweth the Kawthar of eternity, and at times the breathings of the Holy Spirit are diffused therefrom. It is the River of Life unto all who dwell in the realm of possibility, and it is the Sign of the Ancient of Days amidst the peoples and the Dawning-Place of inspiration for the attraction of all beings. Exalted be its power, exalted be its sovereignty, and all-encompassing be its light through its manifestation! The trumpet was sounded and they that lay in their graves arose, and through its orientation all created things turned to the lights of the Countenance, and through its movement all contingent beings were moved in the precincts of the Throne.

O Fadl! Upon thee be the Glory of God, the Lord of Justice. At all times in the Most Great Prison thou hast been and art remembered by the Pen and Tongue of the Ancient Lord. Praise be to God that thou hast drunk the choice wine of utterance from the hand of bounty in the name of the Lord of Religions. This is the day of assistance. Blessed is he whom neither the pharaohs of the people nor the tyrants of the age have prevented from rendering assistance. Thou art he whom neither the clamor of the barking ones nor the might of the oppressors deterred. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to make thee an assistant to His Faith, a guardian of His remembrance, and one who standeth firm in service to His mighty Cause. Thus hath the Tongue of Certitude spoken in the Kingdom of Utterance, as a grace from God, the Lord of this wondrous Day.

When thou receivest My Tablet and findest from it the fragrance of My utterance, say: My God, my God! Unto Thee be glory, for having guided me unto the horizon of Thy manifestation, illumined me with the lights of Thy grace and mercy, caused me to speak forth Thy praise, and shown me the signs of Thy Pen. I beseech Thee, O Lord of the Kingdom of Names and Creator of earth and heaven, by the rustling of the Divine Lote-Tree and by Thy most sweet utterance whereby the realities of all things were attracted, to elevate me through Thy Name amongst Thy servants. I am he who hath sought at all times to stand before the gate of Thy bounty and to attain the presence before the throne of Thy justice. O Lord! Cast not away him who hath clung to the cord of Thy nearness, and withhold not him who hath sought Thy most exalted station, the supreme summit, and the ultimate end—the station wherein the atoms cry out with most eloquent utterance:

“The dominion, the kingdom, the grandeur and the might belong to God, the Powerful, the Mighty, the Bestower!”

O Fadl! Upon thee be My glory and My loving-kindness. Inform the friends that this is the Day of Utterance. The people of the world must be guided by the hosts of wisdom and proof, and be led to the shore of the ocean of recognition. The Cause of God is greater than every great thing. In the Tablet of the World this most exalted Word hath been revealed from the Most Exalted Pen:

“Through the movement of the Most Exalted Pen a new spirit of inner meanings was breathed by the command of the True Commander into the bodies of words, and its effects are visible and manifest in all things of the world. This is the Most Great Glad-Tidings that hath flowed from the Pen of the Most Great Name. Blessed are they that are endued with true understanding.”

When thou perceivest the breathings of revelation and art seized by the lights of the Countenance, say: Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having guided me unto the horizon of Thy manifestation and made me to be mentioned by Thy Name. I beseech Thee by the dawning of the lights of the Sun of Thy bounty and the waves of the ocean of Thy generosity to ordain in my utterance a trace of Thy most exalted Word, whereby the realities of all things may be attracted. Verily, Thou art the Powerful over what Thou willest through Thy mighty and wondrous Word.

BH00902: This is a Book from God, the Lord…

In the Name of Him Who is seated upon the Throne of “He doeth as He willeth!”

This is a Book from God, the Lord of Names, to the people of Baha who speak not except that which the Tongue of Grandeur and Glory hath spoken, and who follow not every lying pretender. These are they who have quaffed the wine of steadfastness through the bounty of their Lord, the Chosen One.

Soon shall ye hear the call of a cawing crow; pay no heed to him but rather leave him to himself, turning unto the Qiblih of all horizons.

The proof hath been perfected through this proof which hath appeared in truth, and the lights have culminated in this horizon wherefrom hath dawned the Sun of grandeur and power. Blessed is the soul that educateth the servants through the ordinances of God which have been sent down in the Scriptures and Tablets.

Say: Were someone to appear every day, the Cause of God would not be established in the cities and lands.

This, truly, is a Revelation which revealeth itself only once every five hundred thousand years. Thus have We removed the barrier and lifted the veils.

Blessed is he who hath recognized the purpose of God—whoso knoweth it, his heart rejoiceth and he remaineth steadfast in the Cause in such wise that all creation cannot deflect him therefrom. We have disclosed in this Tablet one of the mysteries of this Revelation, and have concealed that which is hidden lest the clamor of the ungodly be raised. By God! None hath comprehended it save according to his capacity. Should a soul discover the fragrance of this Raiment, he would be so attracted as to soar beyond contingent existence. Were We to expound what We have revealed in this Tablet, all the pens would not suffice, nor would oceans of ink be adequate. Despite this condition which transcendeth thought, thou hearest what the people of error speak concerning Me. We have unveiled unto thee a mystery from the mysteries as a grace from Us upon thee, that thou mayest thank thy Lord, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

O My Name! We have revealed in most of the Tablets that the Cause is mighty, mighty indeed. Yet none hath reflected upon its greatness save whom thy Lord, the Mighty, the Bestower, hath willed. We have left the people of idle fancies to wander in the wilderness of self and passion, that they might occupy themselves with the vain imaginings they possess. Verily thy Lord is the Self-Sufficient, the Most Exalted. The banner of “There is none other God but Him” hath been raised, yet they speak that which they have heard from every ignorant multitude. Thus have We given thee glad-tidings through the Word which hath appeared in the raiment of innovation between earth and heaven. Say: Praise be unto Thee, O Thou Who hast encompassed me with Thy grace and reminded me of that wherewith Thou hast not reminded the chosen ones.

Know thou that the Tablet of Laws hath been sent down from the Dayspring of the revelation of thy Lord. We shall soon send it in truth as a command from Us. Verily thy Lord is the Protector, the Chosen One. We have also revealed unto thee a Tablet before this and sent it through another channel, that thou mayest be assured that His mention hath preceded all mention. We beseech God to assist thee in promoting His Cause and to enable thee to do that which He loveth and which pleaseth Him at all times. The glory be upon thee and upon those who speak that which the Tongue of the Bayan hath spoken at the midmost heart of creation. There is none other God but Him, the Mighty, the Protector, the One, the Single, the Powerful, the All-Compelling.

In the Name of our Lord, the Most Holy, the Most Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious

I bear witness that He hath testified for His Own Self that He cannot be known through aught else but Him, nor can He be comprehended save through Himself. O God! With what face shall I turn to Thy Kingdom of Abha, and with what tongue shall I supplicate and implore Thee? O my God! This sinful servant hath borne every transgression, sin and iniquity that falleth within the compass and reckoning of Thy knowledge. Yet with utmost boldness and assurance he standeth at the door of Thy hope, seeking Thy pardon and forgiveness, and beseeching Thy ancient and wondrous grace and bounty. Verily Thou art the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful, and verily Thou art the All-Bountiful, the Lord of surpassing grace.

O my God! In this state, having closed mine eyes to myself—for verily I possess neither profit nor harm, neither life nor resurrection for my own self—I make representation to Thy chosen ones, Thy pure ones and Thy loved ones. Since in God’s Most Holy Book, the Most Holy, and in the Tablets revealed in Iraq, and in the wondrous and sublime Scriptures and Tablets of this land, mention hath been made of the rising of the croaking in the cities and regions, therefore that hidden and treasured Tablet which some years ago was revealed from the heaven of the Most Glorious Will—exalted be His glory—in the name of His Holiness the Name of God, Mihdi, upon him be all the most glorious glory of Abha, hath been written and sent at the beginning of this letter, that the friends of the All-Merciful may exert their utmost effort in preserving and protecting the House of God’s Manifest Cause, the Lord of all worlds, and may safeguard the weak ones. Verily our Lord is the Helper, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Furthermore, a matter whose clarification is among the most momentous and important of affairs is that this servant heard a rumor that some of the friends in outlying regions have imagined that the letters sent in the name of this servant to them and other friends were—God forbid—jointly authored, meaning that what was written expressly from the tongue of the True One, exalted be His glory, was from the True One, while the letter’s beginning, from the point of “In the Name of our Lord”, and the opening exordium and prayers, up to the point of [words such as] “what you had sent was presented to the Supreme Horizon and Most Exalted Summit, and attained the honor of being heard before the countenance of the Lord of Names, and in response these exalted words were revealed from the Source of verses, exalted be His glory and universal be His favors”—that such passages were authored by this servant.

I seek God’s forgiveness from this great idolatry! How could one who is mute speak before the Kingdom of Utterance? Glory be to my Lord that I should be among the idolaters! Likewise, after the word “end”, the passages that were recorded subsequently were all from the True One, exalted be His glory. I briefly submit that not a single word was from this servant—all were revealed from the Kingdom of God, my Lord and your Lord and the Lord of all who are in heaven and on earth. At all times, letters that were in this servant’s name were, after permission, read in the Most Holy and Most Exalted Presence, and He would command “Take up the pen,” and all responses from beginning to end would be revealed from the blessed mouth and recorded. And this was not specific to this servant; rather, repeatedly there was revealed from the Tongue of Grandeur, in the voice of those circling round and about Him, that which was a clear book for all the worlds.

Now we must all have mercy upon ourselves and the Cause of God, lest any word be uttered that might again lay the foundation of a new idolatry upon the earth. May God protect us and you, O community of believers, from such thoughts and imaginings. I am naught but a recording servant in His presence, and the Speaker is God, my Lord, the Utterer, the Revealer, the All-Knowing, the Ancient of Days.

The Glory and the Remembrance and the Praise be upon you, O people of Baha and companions of the Crimson Ark, and praise be to God, the Lord of the Throne and earth, and the Master of the hereafter and the former times.

The servant On the 4th of Dhi’l-Hajjih al-Haram, in the year 1309.

BH00003: Kitab-i-’Ahd (Book of the Covenant)

Although the Realm of Glory hath none of the vanities of the world, yet within the treasury of trust and resignation We have bequeathed to Our heirs an excellent and priceless heritage. Earthly treasures We have not bequeathed, nor have We added such cares as they entail. By God! In earthly riches fear is hidden and peril is concealed. Consider ye and call to mind that which the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Qur’an: ʿWoe betide every slanderer and defamer, him that layeth up riches and counteth them.’ Fleeting are the riches of the world; all that perisheth and changeth is not, and hath never been, worthy of attention, except to a recognized measure.

The aim of this Wronged One in sustaining woes and tribulations, in revealing the Holy Verses and in demonstrating proofs hath been naught but to quench the flame of hate and enmity, that the horizon of the hearts of men may be illumined with the light of concord and attain real peace and tranquillity. From the dawning-place of the divine Tablet the day-star of this utterance shineth resplendent, and it behoveth everyone to fix his gaze upon it: We exhort you, O peoples of the world, to observe that which will elevate your station. Hold fast to the fear of God and firmly adhere to what is right. Verily I say, the tongue is for mentioning what is good, defile it not with unseemly talk.

God hath forgiven what is past. Henceforward everyone should utter that which is meet and seemly, and should refrain from slander, abuse and whatever causeth sadness in men. Lofty is the station of man! Not long ago this exalted Word streamed forth from the treasury of Our Pen of Glory: Great and blessed is this Day—the Day in which all that lay latent in man hath been and will be made manifest. Lofty is the station of man, were he to hold fast to righteousness and truth and to remain firm and steadfast in the Cause. In the eyes of the All-Merciful a true man appeareth even as a firmament; its sun and moon are his sight and hearing, and his shining and resplendent character its stars. His is the loftiest station, and his influence educateth the world of being.

Every receptive soul who hath in this Day inhaled the fragrance of His garment and hath, with a pure heart, set his face towards the all-glorious Horizon is reckoned among the people of Baha in the Crimson Book. Grasp ye, in My Name, the chalice of My loving-kindness, drink then your fill in My glorious and wondrous remembrance.

O ye that dwell on earth! The religion of God is for love and unity; make it not the cause of enmity or dissension. In the eyes of men of insight and the beholders of the Most Sublime Vision, whatsoever are the effective means for safeguarding and promoting the happiness and welfare of the children of men have already been revealed by the Pen of Glory. But the foolish ones of the earth, being nurtured in evil passions and desires, have remained heedless of the consummate wisdom of Him Who is, in truth, the All-Wise, while their words and deeds are prompted by idle fancies and vain imaginings.

O ye the loved ones and the trustees of God! Kings are the manifestations of the power, and the daysprings of the might and riches, of God. Pray ye on their behalf. He hath invested them with the rulership of the earth and hath singled out the hearts of men as His Own domain.

Conflict and contention are categorically forbidden in His Book. This is a decree of God in this Most Great Revelation. It is divinely preserved from annulment and is invested by Him with the splendour of His confirmation. Verily He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

It is incumbent upon everyone to aid those daysprings of authority and sources of command who are adorned with the ornament of equity and justice. Blessed are the rulers and the learned among the people of Baha. They are My trustees among My servants and the manifestations of My commandments amidst My people. Upon them rest My glory, My blessings and My grace which have pervaded the world of being. In this connection the utterances revealed in the Kitab-i-Aqdas are such that from the horizon of their words the light of divine grace shineth luminous and resplendent.

O ye My Branches! A mighty force, a consummate power lieth concealed in the world of being. Fix your gaze upon it and upon its unifying influence, and not upon the differences which appear from it.

The Will of the divine Testator is this: It is incumbent upon the Aghsan, the Afnan and My Kindred to turn, one and all, their faces towards the Most Mighty Branch. Consider that which We have revealed in Our Most Holy Book: When the ocean of My presence hath ebbed and the Book of My Revelation is ended, turn your faces toward Him Whom God hath purposed, Who hath branched from this Ancient Root.’ The object of this sacred verse is none other except the Most Mighty Branch [Abdu’l-Baha]. Thus have We graciously revealed unto you Our potent Will, and I am verily the Gracious, the All-Powerful. Verily God hath ordained the station of the Greater Branch [Muhammad Ali] to be beneath that of the Most Great Branch [Abdu’l-Baha]. He is in truth the Ordainer, the All-Wise. We have chosen the Greater’ after ʿthe Most Great’, as decreed by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

It is enjoined upon everyone to manifest love towards the Aghsan, but God hath not granted them any right to the property of others.

O ye My Aghsan, My Afnan and My Kindred! We exhort you to fear God, to perform praiseworthy deeds and to do that which is meet and seemly and serveth to exalt your station. Verily I say, fear of God is the greatest commander that can render the Cause of God victorious, and the hosts which best befit this commander have ever been and are an upright character and pure and goodly deeds.

Say: O servants! Let not the means of order be made the cause of confusion and the instrument of union an occasion for discord. We fain would hope that the people of Baha may be guided by the blessed words: ʿSay: all things are of God.’ This exalted utterance is like unto water for quenching the fire of hate and enmity which smouldereth within the hearts and breasts of men. By this single utterance contending peoples and kindreds will attain the light of true unity. Verily He speaketh the truth and leadeth the way. He is the All-Powerful, the Exalted, the Gracious.

It is incumbent upon everyone to show courtesy to, and have regard for the Aghsan, that thereby the Cause of God may be glorified and His Word exalted. This injunction hath time and again been mentioned and recorded in the Holy Writ. Well is it with him who is enabled to achieve that which the Ordainer, the Ancient of Days hath prescribed for him. Ye are bidden moreover to respect the members of the Holy Household, the Afnan and the kindred. We further admonish you to serve all nations and to strive for the betterment of the world.

That which is conducive to the regeneration of the world and the salvation of the peoples and kindreds of the earth hath been sent down from the heaven of the utterance of Him Who is the Desire of the world. Give ye a hearing ear to the counsels of the Pen of Glory. Better is this for you than all that is on the earth. Unto this beareth witness My glorious and wondrous Book.

BH02307: Ziyarat-Namih (Tablet of Visitation)

The praise which hath dawned from Thy most august Self, and the glory which hath shone forth from Thy most effulgent Beauty, rest upon Thee, O Thou Who art the Manifestation of Grandeur, and the King of Eternity, and the Lord of all who are in heaven and on earth! I testify that through Thee the sovereignty of God and His dominion, and the majesty of God and His grandeur, were revealed, and the Day-Stars of ancient splendor have shed their radiance in the heaven of Thine irrevocable decree, and the Beauty of the Unseen hath shone forth above the horizon of creation. I testify, moreover, that with but a movement of Thy Pen Thine injunction “Be Thou” hath been enforced, and God’s hidden Secret hath been divulged, and all created things have been called into being, and all the Revelations have been sent down.

I bear witness, moreover, that through Thy beauty the beauty of the Adored One hath been unveiled, and through Thy face the face of the Desired One hath shone forth, and that through a word from Thee Thou hast decided between all created things, causing them who are devoted to Thee to ascend unto the summit of glory, and the infidels to fall into the lowest abyss.

I bear witness that he who hath known Thee hath known God, and he who hath attained unto Thy presence hath attained unto the presence of God. Great, therefore, is the blessedness of him who hath believed in Thee, and in Thy signs, and hath humbled himself before Thy sovereignty, and hath been honored with meeting Thee, and hath attained the good pleasure of Thy will, and circled around Thee, and stood before Thy throne. Woe betide him that hath transgressed against Thee, and hath denied Thee, and repudiated Thy signs, and gainsaid Thy sovereignty, and risen up against Thee, and waxed proud before Thy face, and hath disputed Thy testimonies, and fled from Thy rule and Thy dominion, and been numbered with the infidels whose names have been inscribed by the fingers of Thy behest upon Thy holy Tablets.

Waft, then, unto me, O my God and my Beloved, from the right hand of Thy mercy and Thy loving-kindness, the holy breaths of Thy favors, that they may draw me away from myself and from the world unto the courts of Thy nearness and Thy presence. Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. Thou, truly, hast been supreme over all things.

The remembrance of God and His praise, and the glory of God and His splendor, rest upon Thee, O Thou who art His Beauty! I bear witness that the eye of creation hath never gazed upon one wronged like Thee. Thou wast immersed all the days of Thy life beneath an ocean of tribulations. At one time Thou wast in chains and fetters; at another Thou wast threatened by the sword of Thine enemies. Yet, despite all this, Thou didst enjoin upon all men to observe what had been prescribed unto Thee by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

May my spirit be a sacrifice to the wrongs Thou didst suffer, and my soul be a ransom for the adversities Thou didst sustain. I beseech God, by Thee and by them whose faces have been illumined with the splendors of the light of Thy countenance, and who, for love of Thee, have observed all whereunto they were bidden, to remove the veils that have come in between Thee and Thy creatures, and to supply me with the good of this world and the world to come. Thou art, in truth, the Almighty, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Compassionate.

Bless Thou, O Lord my God, the Divine Lote-Tree and its leaves, and its boughs, and its branches, and its stems, and its offshoots, as long as Thy most excellent titles will endure and Thy most august attributes will last. Protect it, then, from the mischief of the aggressor and the hosts of tyranny. Thou art, in truth, the Almighty, the Most Powerful. Bless Thou, also, O Lord my God, Thy servants and Thy handmaidens who have attained unto Thee. Thou, truly, art the All-Bountiful, Whose grace is infinite. No God is there save Thee, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Generous.