Volume 104: Akka 1868–1892 year unknown, Part II (2 of 4)

BH00810: Praise be to God, the First, without a first…

He is God, exalted be His glory, the Lord of majesty and glory.

Praise be to God, the First, without a first before Him, to Whom priority hath never been ascribed; and the Last, without a last after Him, of Whom finality can never be predicated. Exalted is His very Essence above conjunction with accidents and causes, and hallowed His primal Simplicity from the limitations imposed by the bounds of human doctrines and imaginings.

The inmost reality of Him can in no wise be known by the essences of minds and perceptions, nor can His true Being be encompassed by the bare forms of thoughts and fancies. He is He Who is seated upon the throne of absolute oneness, Who shineth resplendent with the lights of abstraction, and from Whose horizon the signs of divine unity have dawned.

Every being that can be described is subject to limitation, and every object of knowledge is within the grasp of comprehension. They that praise Him describe Him only with such words as would be praise for a created thing within its own world and station; and they that know Him apprehend Him but according to that which they discern of their own attributes, in their own rank and degree. Yet He—exalted be He—is sanctified above whatsoever the people of thought may conceive, and hallowed above all that the possessors of vision may ascribe unto Him; for they but depict what they have imagined in the realms of illusion, and argue from the attributes of the feeble creature to the Almighty, the All-Compelling, the All-Knowing.

Where is the path, once the impotence of man hath been established by clear proof? Exalted art Thou! Thou hast, of Thine infinite grace, vouchsafed to accept from Thy creatures their remembrance of Thee; otherwise, all remembrance falleth short of the ocean of Thy glory. That Thou acceptest aught from them is but a favour from Thy Presence; for Thou art the Compassionate, the All-Bountiful. There is no God but Thee, the Mighty, the Merciful.

O my God, my God! Unto Thee be praise, inasmuch as Thou hast deigned to accept from Thy servants their mention of Thee in Thy path, and their thanksgiving in the courts of Thy bounty and the scenes of Thy grace. Thou art He Whose favours none can describe, Whose bounty and generosity none can reckon, Whose tenderness no end can circumscribe, and Whose munificence and loving-kindness knoweth no limit.

Since one single attribute of Thine is exalted above beginning and ending, lifted high above all mode and measure, and forbidden to the understanding of Thy creatures—how then shall Thy very Essence be, in the Kingdom of might and the Realm of glory and authority?

Strange and passing wondrous is the case of man! With all his weakness and lowliness he desireth to know the sovereignty of Thy power; with all his poverty and abasement he seeketh to attain unto the comprehension of the King of Thy majesty; with all his shortcoming and humiliation he would ascend unto the loftiest degrees of the knowledge of Thy self-subsisting Essence; and with all his nearness to the dust and his nothingness he longeth to soar unto the heights of Thy most exalted oneness.

This, verily, is but a token of the marvels of Thy handiwork and the greatness of Thy creation; for Thou hast, by Thy consummate wisdom, deposited in the lowest of beings the highest measures of aspiration, O King of the unseen and the seen, and hast lodged, in the weakest of receptacles, the most exalted of capacities, by Thy power, O Lord of all that is. Yet no man hath been content, in knowing Thy might, with this supreme and most manifest sign—that he should be honoured with the robe of attaining unto the recognition of the wondrous workmanship of Thy hands in the realities of all things.

Glorified art Thou, glorified art Thou! How great is Thy power, how lofty Thy station and awe! By Thy all-embracing wisdom Thou hast laid, within the tiny atom, the lights of radiant suns; within the small body Thou hast folded up the mighty world; and within the blackness of ink Thou hast hidden worlds of subtle and concealed meanings.

O Lord of creation, O Sovereign of the beginning and the return! I beseech Thee, O God, by Thy Greatest Name and Thy most perfect Mystery, to strengthen Thy loved ones in Thy remembrance and Thy praise, to adorn their frames with the vesture of constancy in Thy Cause and steadfastness in the path of Thy good-pleasure. Shield them, then, O my Lord and my Hope, from such as have unfurled the standards of tyranny in Thy lands and raised the banners of aggression in the realms of Thy creation. And grant, O Desire of my soul, unto Thy servant who is called Ashraf—upon him be Thy glory—every good Thou hast ordained in Thy Book for Thy chosen ones.

O my Lord! He hath attained unto Thy knowledge, been robed in the vesture of Thy love, hastened unto the city of certitude, and consumed his days in the teaching of Thy Cause, O Lord of all mankind. Do Thou assist him with the sovereignty of Thy power, and guard him beneath the shadow of Thy protection and care. Verily, Thou art the Generous, the Lord of bounteous grace. There is no God but Thee, the Mighty, the Merciful. O thou who art enkindled with the fire of love, and turned toward the shore of the Lord of being! That which thy pen of devotion hath adorned with the trace of thine ink hath come before Us, and We have discerned therein the degrees of thy purity in the Cause of God, the Sovereign of the beginning and the end.

Blessed art thou, and again blessed art thou, in that thou hast attained these days wherein the hidden secret, the treasured unseen, and the concealed and guarded mystery have all been made manifest. Grandeur be to God, the Lord of whatsoever hath been and shall be!

When I beheld thy letter and pondered thy words, I entered the court of nearness, holiness and majesty, and I laid thy name and the names of those whom thou didst mention in thy letter before the Presence. Then was the fragrance of bounty stirred, and the ocean of generosity surged, and there was sent down for thee and for them that whereby the sweet savours of the gracious favours of thy Lord, the Lord of the unseen and the seen, are diffused. Happy the one who drinketh from this soft-flowing Salsabil, and blessed he who holdeth fast, in this path, unto the Sure Handle.

And when thou beholdest that which hath shone forth from the dawning-place of the utterance of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, and art honoured with that which hath been revealed for thee from the Realm of knowledge and exposition, then say:

Praise be unto Thee, O Lord of all heads and necks, and Sovereign of the beginning and the return, for that Thou hast sent down for me that whereby the eyes of the sincere are cheered and the hearts of the near ones made glad. I entreat Thee to aid me and Thy loved ones in whatsoever draweth us nigh unto Thee in every one of Thy worlds, and to cause us, at all times, to partake of the Salsabil of Thy good-pleasure. Verily, Thou art the All-Bountiful, the Generous; there is no God but Thee, the Tender, the Compassionate.

O beloved of the heart! Say: O people of the lands! How long will ye slumber on, and until what hour will ye speak not? The Sun hath risen at the zenith of noon, and yet the radiance of the Divine Majesty hath withheld the people—those who have clung to their sciences and veiled themselves thereby from the knowledge of the Lord of all knowledge.

Say: If knowledge consisteth in that which is with you, then hath He—may my soul be offered up for His sake—said: “Knowledge is a single point which the foolish have multiplied.” By God! Most of what is with them is but a fabric woven of idle fancies and vain imaginings.

True knowledge is that which profiteth man upon earth, which maketh him to know his Lord, the All-Merciful, and adorneth him with the vesture of praiseworthy character and pleasing deeds. Whatsoever is beside this is the greatest of veils, shutting man out from the springs of the knowledge of the Lord of destiny.

It behoveth the people to ponder this Day, and that which hath appeared therein of the signs of their Lord, the Almighty, the Self-Subsisting. Say: If ye deny these manifest signs and these radiant, resplendent traces, by what proof then do ye hold fast unto that which is in your hands? Bring forth a clear and evident token!

And know, by thy life, O thou who hast turned unto God, that they wander distracted in their error and know not what they say or do. Leave thou those who have disbelieved to sport in their idle talk; a day shall come wherein they shall awake, yet find none to succour them.

Alas, alas! that they have not recognized what would avail them, nor understood what would harm them. They have abandoned that which is best for them in the world to come and in this first life, and have wrapped themselves in the veils of self and passion, debarred from beholding the suns of knowledge, after that their loftiest signs and most excellent tokens have been made manifest amongst mankind.

Grieve thou not at that which thou beholdest of the servants, drunken with the wine of heedlessness and blindness. Rather, beseech thy Lord, the Most High, that He may deliver those who are prepared from the depths of remoteness, and cause them to attain unto the proofs of nearness—the scenes where the lights of glory and holiness shine forth. Verily, He is the Compassionate, the Generous, the Lord of bounteous grace and all-embracing mercy.

Convey, on behalf of this Servant, the cry of magnification unto those who have been adorned with the raiment of steadfastness in the Cause of their Lord, the All-Merciful; and give them glad-tidings of the loving care of their Lord, the All-Bountiful.

Glory and praise rest upon thee and upon those who are with thee among the loved ones of thy Lord.

BH00820: Praise be to God Who is unique in His…

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

Praise be to God Who is unique in His majesty, singular in His beauty, sanctified above all utterance, and Who is the Self-Subsisting, the Most High, in the beginning and the end and in all conditions. He has ever been sanctified above the mention of all created things and exalted above the loftiest descriptions of all contingent beings.

Through one of His names the ocean of knowledge surged in the world and the Most Great Name spoke amongst the nations. Through His exalted Word the Supreme Horizon appeared and the Sadratu’l-Muntaha spoke between earth and heaven. Exalted be His dominion through which the standards of guidance were raised amidst creation and the banners of power upon the lofty mountains.

By His sweetest call all things were attracted, and through His manifestation the Speaker of the Mount spoke from the highest station of Sinai. Exalted, exalted be the appearance of this Light and the revelation of His Cause in this darkness. He is the One through Whom appeared the decisive Word in the final return. There is none other God but He, the Mighty, the Bestower.

And the prayer that shines from the horizon of the heaven of His Cause and the peace that appears from the mouth of His will be upon His Prophets and His chosen ones who sacrificed themselves in His path to manifest His Cause and exalt His Word. They are the ones through whom the mysteries of the Book were revealed and that which was recorded in the scriptures and tablets.

Through them the decree of unity was set forth and the light of oneness shone forth, and the Dove of the Cause warbled upon the branches that there is none other God but He, the Mighty, the Gracious.

O Husayn, upon thee be the Glory of God! The letter which Khalil, upon him be My loving-kindness, sent to thee was presented before the face of the Wronged One time and again. Praise be to God, the sweet fragrances of the love of God waft from it.

This is from a grace to which the people of hearing, sight and heart bear witness, and beyond them whoever hath spoken and speaketh in every condition that there is none other God but He, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. We make mention of him as a favor from Us and give him the glad-tidings of the loving-kindness of his Lord, the Generous. We have heard his call and remembered him through this perspicuous Tablet. Blessed be he and those who have arisen to serve the Cause and have said:

“The Promise hath come and the Promised One calleth from the supreme horizon, saying: ʿBy God! He Who is the Lord of Names and Creator of the heavens hath come, through Whom the hidden was revealed, the treasured was manifested, and the Way hath spoken. The All-Glorious hath come and this is His straight path. Indeed, the Guide calleth out and saith:”’

O Khalil, rejoice in thy Lord’s loving-kindness. He hath remembered thee on a night wherein sorrows encompassed Him from those who denied God’s proof and His evidence, who broke His Covenant, who rejected His Cause, and who disputed His signs whereby every mouldering bone was quickened.

We make mention of those whom thou didst mention in thy letter and give them the glad-tidings of God’s grace and mercy, and We counsel them with that through which the lights of justice may appear in the world. Verily thy Lord, the All-Merciful, is the Counselor, the Compassionate, the Generous.

O My loved ones in that land! Beware lest the conditions of oppression frighten you. Hold fast unto the cord of wisdom, placing your trust in God, the Almighty, the All-Powerful, the All-Commanding. Those who desired to extinguish the light of God are among the most lost in the Book of God, the Lord of all worlds.

Say: O heedless ones! Where are your fathers and your ancestors? Where are earth’s tyrants and its pharaohs? Where are the caesars of the kingdom with their ornaments and their palaces? Take heed and be not of the heedless. Where are those who turned away from God and His signs, who denied God’s favor after its revelation, and who committed in their fleeting days that which caused the dwellers of the pavilions of the Kingdom to lament? God seized them with a mighty grip from His presence. Verily, He is the Seizer, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Rejoice, O My loved ones, in My remembrance of you! By the life of God, it cannot be equaled by all the treasures and riches of the earth—to this beareth witness He with Whom is the Clear Book. Take ye the chalice of salvation in the name of your Lord, the Subduer of the winds, then drink therefrom in defiance of those who denied Him Who came unto them with verses that cannot be equaled by the books of old—to this doth testify the Tongue of Grandeur in this exalted station.

Today the proof itself calleth aloud, and all evidence summoneth mankind to a Cause the like of which, from the beginning of creation until now, hath never appeared. Such is the heedlessness of the people that they have turned away from Him Who hath brought verses that equal all divine books past and future, and have occupied themselves with souls who are not worthy of mention.

Reflect now upon that which the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Qur’an, where He clearly saith:

“And there shall be a blast on the trumpet, and all who are in the heavens and all who are in the earth shall swoon away, save those whom God shall please to exempt. Then shall there be another blast on it, and lo! they shall rise and gaze around them. And the earth shall shine with the light of her Lord, and the Book shall be set, and the Prophets shall be brought up, and the witnesses; and judgment shall be given between them with truth, and they shall not be wronged.”

Today all are seen to have swooned away save a few letters of the countenance of God, the Most High, the Most Great. The steadfast souls who remain firm today are as pearls in the ocean of existence—their station cannot be completed by pen and ink. God shall soon make manifest that which was hidden in His assured knowledge.

Reflect upon these two verses of the Qur’an—the oceans of knowledge and recognition concealed in the first and second trumpet blasts, and likewise upon the second verse which is a mighty sign. Though today it is fully manifest and evident, the heedless people remain unaware of it.

Ask ye God to cleanse the eyes of men from the dust of desire, that they might perceive that for which they were created. The verses are manifest and the evidence clear—that which was never before seen or comprehended hath in this Most Great Revelation been witnessed and heard without veil or concealment, explicitly and without interpretation. The divine trumpet soundeth amidst humanity, yet none is aware to hear it, all being intoxicated with the wine of desire. Soon shall the world and all that is therein which they now behold return to nothingness, and they shall find themselves in manifest loss.

O friends! Know ye the value of these days. In all ages and centuries the pharaohs of the earth and tyrants of every land have objected to the truth and have striven with utmost effort and endeavor to extinguish the fire of the divine Tree and to quench the light of divine oneness. But God drove them away through His power and manifested what He desired through His all-compelling sovereignty over His servants.

The foremost tyrants are the ignorant ones of the earth who are known for their learning. These are the ones who cut off the ways of God and His path. The guilt of all the people of the world can be traced to these souls, for they are the cause of prevention and the reason for denial. May God protect us and you from the evil of these people.

We counsel all to fear God and to be righteous, to be patient and steadfast, and to preserve the verses and words of God lest they be touched by the idolaters. Praise be to God, the Lord of what was and what shall be.

The glory shining from the horizon of eternity be upon thee and upon My loved ones there who have attained unto the verses of the Lord of the Kingdom and the Realm, the Possessor of Glory and Might.

O Muhammad-Qabli-Husayn! Send thou this Most Great, Most Holy, Most Mighty, Most Exalted Tablet to His Honor Khalil, that his eyes might be solaced thereby, and the eyes of those who have not differed regarding this momentous Announcement. Praise be to God, the Forgiving, the Generous.

BH00832: The Tablet of God, the Help-in-Peril, the Self-Subsisting

He is God, exalted be His station, the Benevolent, the Bestower

Praise be to God Who hath opened the gates of knowledge and learning to the faces of His servants and revealed that which was hidden in the treasuries of His knowledge. He is verily the All-Bountiful, Whose bounty hath encompassed all created things, and the Munificent, Whose generosity hath encompassed all contingent beings. Exalted be His dominion and exalted be His grace. There is none other God but Him.

O Muhammad-Qabli-Taqi! Hearken unto the call of thy Lord, the Most Glorious, from the prison of ʿAkka. He verily adorneth thee with the ornament of utterance and guideth thee to the path of God, the Lord of all lords. Thy letter hath attained unto My presence. We have answered thee with this Tablet through which that which was hidden from all eyes hath been revealed. This is a day wherein the gate of munificence hath been opened unto all who are in the world, and the gate of bounty unto all who are in existence. Blessed is he who hath found the fragrance of this Day which God hath made the lord of days. Rejoice in that the Lord of the worlds hath remembered thee in His Most Great Prison and hath revealed for thee that which caused the Trumpet to be sounded and the mountains to pass away.

O Muhammad-Qabli-Hadi! My Most Exalted Pen hath desired to mention thee and to reveal for thee that whereby the atoms cried out:

“The Kingdom belongeth unto God, the Lord of the Day of Return!”

Say: O people! The Day hath come and the Call hath been raised from the Most Exalted Horizon. Fear ye the Lord of all beings, Who hath come from the horizon of might with power and sovereignty. Blessed is the soul that hath attained unto My call and the servant that hath turned unto the Dayspring of lights. O concourse of loved ones! There hath been ordained for you from the Pen of Destiny that which hath attracted the hearts of the righteous. Beware lest the happenings of the world and the clamor of nations sadden you. Cast away what the people possess and take what ye have been given by God, the Lord of all beings. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to protect you and aid you in that which will draw you nigh unto Him. He is verily the Almighty, the Glorious, the All-Bountiful. Your mention hath attained Our presence and We have revealed for you again and again that whereby the trees have called out and uttered what the Tree of Sinai uttered unto the son of ʿImran. The Glory of God be upon you from God, the Goal of all who are in earth and heaven.

O Mihdi! Hearken unto My everlasting remembrance. It verily draweth thee nigh unto God and guideth thee unto the right path. Say: Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having remembered me in Thy Most Great Prison and for having revealed unto me that which will not change with the passing of centuries and ages.

O Asadu’llah! The Lord of Names hath mentioned thee with verses which, when revealed, caused the earth to be cleft asunder and the heavens to be rent. Rejoice that the Lord of the world hath turned toward thee from the direction of His Most Great Prison and hath revealed for thee that whereby the Call hath been raised from every direction.

O Mirza Ghafur! Give thanks unto thy Lord for having turned unto thee and mentioned thee with verses whereby the lands have been illumined. Say: O people! Fear ye God and follow not those who have denied His proof and His testimony, and pursue not every heedless doubter.

O Mirza-Qabli-Nazir! The Glorious One hath turned unto thee and given thee to drink, from the hand of His bounty, the Kawthar of His utterance. Take thou in His Name, then drink at His command, the Protector of all regions. Say: Praise be unto Thee, O Lord of the world, for having mentioned me with verses which, when revealed, caused all things to proclaim:

“By God! The gate of heaven hath been opened and the Lord of Names hath come in the shadows of the clouds.”

O My Most Exalted Pen! Make mention of him who hath been named Mihdi, who hath turned towards the horizon of Revelation and believed in God, the Mighty, the All-Forgiving. We beseech for thee steadfastness, and for those who have believed in God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. How many a servant hath believed and claimed for himself the most great steadfastness, then his foot hath slipped because of the doubts of those who have denied the Witness and the Witnessed. Take hold of the Book with a power that the ranks and hosts cannot prevent.

O Muhammad-Qabli-Ja’far! Hearken unto My call from the precincts of My prison. Verily it guideth thee unto God, the Lord of existence. Blessed is the servant whom vain desires have not kept back from the Lord of all men, and whom the intimations of every heedless one that is veiled have not caused to slip. Take what thou art bidden and set aside what the people possess, as a command from God, the Mighty, the Loving. O people! Observe God’s ordinances amongst you and that which ye have been counselled in His praiseworthy station.

O Mirza-Qabli-Ghulamali! The Wronged One hath turned toward thee from the prison precincts and hath made mention of thee in such wise as to cause thy name to endure throughout the kingdom of earth and heaven. Beware, beware lest the doubts of the people of the Bayan prevent thee from drawing nigh unto God, the Lord of existence. Beware, beware lest that which hath been revealed in the Bayan veil thee. Thus hath the matter been decreed from the presence of the Truth, the Knower of things unseen. Take hold of the hem of thy Lord’s loving-kindness, the Lord of destiny, and say: I beseech Thee, O Lord of mankind, to ordain for me that which shall make me steadfast in Thy Cause and vocal in Thy praise amongst Thy servants. Verily, Thou art the Commander, the Mighty, the Beloved.

O Haji Majid! Thy name was presented before Us. We have made mention of thee and have sent down for thee that which draweth hearts unto themselves. Beware lest anything prevent thee, or any power weaken thee, or any might frighten thee. Set aside what the people possess and take what thou art bidden by God, the Lord of what was and what shall be. Verily, We have manifested that which was hidden and have sent down that which was treasured in God’s knowledge at this flourishing station.

O Mihdi! The Commander hath come, yet the people know not, and the Bestower hath come riding upon the clouds, yet most men perceive not. Arise with utmost steadfastness in this Cause, at whose appearance the herald proclaimed: “By God, the Preserved Tablet hath appeared!” Give thanks unto God for this most great favor and say: “Praise be unto Thee, O Thou Who hast guided me unto Thy extended path.”

O Muhammad-Qabli-Taqi! The Promise hath come to pass, and He Who was promised maketh mention of thee in such wise as hath caused the fragrance of God’s utterance to be diffused throughout all possibilities. Blessed is he who hath found and recognized, and woe unto every heedless one that is veiled. When thou hast quaffed the choice wine of revelation from the cup of bounty, say:

“Praise be unto Thee, O Lord of all men, for having sent down unto me Thy verses and manifested unto me Thy clear tokens. I beseech Thee by Thy binding command and Thy sealed secret to aid me to be steadfast in Thy Cause. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the Protector of the seen and the unseen.”

O Muhammad-Qabli-Hadi! How many a servant hath turned unto God and then turned away because he heard the utterances of every rejected enemy. We have desired naught and have called the servants purely for the sake of God, the Lord of the hosts. Say:

“My God, my God! I beseech Thee by the light of Thy Cause and the fire of Thy Tree, and by the mysteries hidden in Thy knowledge, to ordain for me that which shall profit me through Thy name amongst Thy servants. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, Whom neither the clamor of Thy servants nor the veils of those who have disbelieved in God, the Lord of the mighty throne and the elevated seat, can prevent.”

O Muhammad-Qabli-Karim! He Who was promised in the Books of God, the Lord of all worlds, hath turned towards thee and hath sent down that whereby the eyes of them that are nigh unto God have been solaced. The Day of God is come, yet most of the people are sunk in heedlessness. Say: O people! Fear ye God, and follow not them who have denied the Day of Judgment. Have mercy upon yourselves and upon the souls of men. Thus hath the Tongue of Revelation spoken forth from this luminous horizon. Take thou the chalice of utterance in the name of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, then drink therefrom through this wondrous and glorious remembrance.

The glory shining from the horizon of the heaven of My Kingdom be upon My loved ones and My chosen ones who have not broken My Covenant and My Testament, and who have acted in accordance with that which was enjoined upon them in My perspicuous Book.

BH00839: A Book We have sent down in truth, wherein…

He is the All-Hearing, the All-Witnessing from the Most Exalted Horizon

A Book We have sent down in truth, wherein We make mention of the party of God who have held fast to My firm cord.

O Muhammad-Qabli-Hasan! We have seen thy name, made mention of thee, and heard thy call and answered thee. We counsel thee with that whereby the Cause of God, the Cleaver of Dawn, may be exalted. The glory be upon thee, upon thy wife, and upon those who have believed in God, the Lord of Lords.

O Muhammad-Qabli-ʿAli! The Lord of all beings makes mention of thee from the prison precinct, even as He mentioned thee before with clear verses. Give thanks unto thy Lord Who created thee and aided thee to recognize the Dawning-Place of His Revelation and the Source of His inspiration, Who speaks before the faces of all nations in the world:

“Verily, there is none other God but I, the Truth, the Knower of things unseen.”

O Muhammad-Qabli-Isma’il! The All-Glorious makes mention of thee when the heedless had imprisoned Him in the prison of ʿAkka, inasmuch as He summoned all to the Most Exalted Horizon. Blessed is he who hath cast away vain desire and arisen to serve God, the Lord of all worlds.

O Muhammad-Qabli-Ibrahim! Upon thee be the glory of God and His mercy. Take hold of the Book of God with the power that is from Him, then recite it unto those on whose faces thou seest the radiance of the All-Merciful and on whose foreheads is the seal “we are all God’s, the Mighty, the Loving.” Be thou steadfast in such wise that the cawing of the ungodly who have disbelieved in God, the Lord of the unseen and the seen, will not cause thee to slip. The glory be upon thee, upon thy wife and thy daughter, and upon those who have arisen and said: “God is our Lord and the Lord of all that was and shall be.”

O Hasan! The Lord of the hidden and the manifest makes mention of thee and informs thee of a cawer who shall appear there through the promptings of those who have violated God’s Covenant and His Testament and have disbelieved in this clear proof. We have recognized what thou didst desire in My path and have accepted thy deed, that thou mayest give thanks unto God, thy Lord and the Lord of all that is seen and unseen, and the Lord of the mighty throne. We have lifted the decree of holy war and forbidden the people of God from fighting and from that which might grieve the hearts of those who have believed in God, the One, the Chosen.

We make mention of Muhammad-Qabli-Baqir and counsel him to manifest great steadfastness, for the enemies have arisen with a new scheme. Hold thou fast unto the sure handle and cling to My luminous robe.

O Most Exalted Pen! Make mention of him who was named Aqajan and remind him of the days of thy Lord, His verses, His clear proofs, and that which hath appeared from Him. Verily, He is the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous. Blessed is he who hath been set ablaze today with the fire of My love and hath arisen to serve My wondrous Cause.

O Muhammad-Qabli-Sadiq! Hearken unto the call which hath been raised beyond the crimson sea at the Lote-Tree of the Utmost Boundary on the right side of the luminous spot: “Verily, there is none other God but I, the Speaker, the All-Knowing.” The people have acknowledged His sovereignty and power through His word “He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth, and shall not be asked of His doings, and He is the Almighty, the Powerful.”

They acknowledge what hath been sent down in truth, yet in every matter they say “why” and “wherefore.” They are indeed among the perishing ones. Be thou steadfast in the Cause in such wise that the hearts of the deniers may be made to tremble.

O My loved one! Soon shalt thou hear the utterances of the idolaters who have violated My Covenant and Testament, denied My days, and disputed My signs. Cast them behind thee, turning unto God, the All-Possessing, the Self-Subsisting. Thus doth My Most Exalted Pen counsel thee as it moveth in the arena of wisdom and utterance from the presence of the All-Merciful. Blessed are they who understand.

O Pen! Make mention of him who was named Muhammad-Qablih-Karim, and remind him of that which hath befallen thee at the hands of the oppressors. They have denied Him Who hath come unto them with that which equaleth all that was revealed aforetime and thereafter. Verily, they are in manifest doubt. Beware lest the doubts of the world hold thee back from the Most Great Name. Leave behind what is with the peoples, hoping for that which is with God, the Mighty, the Great.

O Muhammad-Qablih-Baqir! The All-Bountiful remembereth thee from the quarter of His Most Great Name, and counseleth thee with that which will draw thee nigh unto God, the Lord of creation. Blessed is the servant whom the veils of glory have not withheld from God, the Lord of all beings. Woe unto them who have turned away from the Countenance, fixing their gaze upon idle fancies and vain imaginings. The glory of God rest upon thee and upon thy son who hath been named Hasan in this Spot which God hath made the Dawning-place of His signs.

O Abu’l-Qasim! There hath come unto thee the Most Great Book which hath been detailed from the Mother Book by God, the Lord of Lords. Take it in My Name and remind the servants of My days through My utterance, that the people may emerge from darkness into light and give them the glad-tidings of the days of God.

Say: O concourse of the earth! By God, the Day hath come which was mentioned in the Books of God and inscribed by the Most Exalted Pen. Blessed is the servant who hath turned unto Him and recognized his final abode and destination. Be thou steadfast in such wise that neither the tempests of the divines nor the hurricanes of princes shall move thee. Thus doth My Pen counsel thee at its beginning and its end.

O Fadlu’llah! Be thou firm as the mountain, steadfast as a stake, and independent in thy Lord’s Cause, the Lord of the Final End. Beware lest human affairs hold thee back from the Lord of Destiny. Hold fast unto His cord.

Say: Praise be unto Thee, O Thou Who hast made me to know Thee, taught me, and guided me unto Thy manifest and evident path.

O Qasim-ʿAli! The Dayspring of inner meanings remembereth thee from the horizon of utterance and counseleth thee with that whereby the face of the Cause will be illumined amongst the servants. Be firm and be thou of them that are steadfast. Blessed is he who hath arisen to serve the Cause, and blessed is the speaker who hath spoken in praise of God, the Mighty, the Beautiful.

I close the Book with the mention of him who was named Muhammad-before-Baqir, that he may thank his Lord, the Forgiving, the Generous. Hear the call in the Return from the Mother Book. He mentions thee with that which will draw thee nigh unto the One, the All-Informed.

Say: This is the Day wherein the call hath been raised from every direction, and the Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing hath spoken forth on the Mount of Knowledge:

“Verily, there is none other God besides Me, the Mighty, the All-Praised.”

I have manifested My Self as a bounty from Me, and fulfilled what I promised in My perspicuous Book.

We make mention of those whose names were not mentioned before the Face, and We give them glad tidings of God’s loving kindness and mercy, and of that which hath been ordained for them by My Most Exalted Pen in the Crimson Book, which none hath discovered save God, the Lord of this luminous Day.

O My loved ones! Be ye of such constancy that the clamoring of the croakers shall not keep you back from God, the Lord of the Day of Judgment. The croaking hath been raised from every quarter, and this is what We foretold unto you in Zawra and in the Land of Mystery and in this mighty Prison.

Ibn-i-Abhar hath appeared before the Greatest Scene and made mention of those who have believed in the presence of the Countenance, and We have revealed unto them the verses of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. We have aided him through Our command that he may draw men nigh unto God, the Mighty, the Beautiful. Blessed is he who heareth from him that which he uttereth concerning this momentous Announcement and this noble Edifice.

O Ibn-i-Abhar! Remind My loved ones on My behalf and adorn them with the ornament of steadfastness, lest their feet slip and their hearts be troubled by the intimations of the ignorant ones of the Bayan, even as the doubts of the divines of the Qur’an held back those servants who turned unto God, the True King, the Manifest.

Say: Take ye the chalice of eternity in My Most Great Name, then drink therefrom, detached from the kingdom of names and whatsoever hath been created in the realm of creation. Thus doth command you He with Whom is the Mother Book and that which was hidden from the eyes of those who are in the heavens and on earth.

The glory shining from the horizon of the heaven of My mercy be upon you, O people of God, and upon those whom the scourge of the oppressors, the rifles of the deniers, and the cannons of the idolaters did not frighten. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH00852: All praise be to God, the rightful Sovereign Who…

He is the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting, exalted be His glory

All praise be to God, the rightful Sovereign Who encompasses all souls and horizons. He hath revealed the lights of His countenance on the Day of the Covenant and hath shone forth upon the daysprings of hearts, whereupon existence was thunderstruck, then recovered consciousness. He it is Who hath caused the rains of grace to descend from the clouds of His flowing Command, whereby He hath caused the roses of divine knowledge to grow from the gardens of the hearts of the people of unity.

The Sun of eternity hath dawned from the horizon of might – blessed is he who hath attained unto this dawning. The lamp of reunion hath been lit – blessed is he who hath been saved by its light from the darkness of separation.

O people of creation! Ponder ye the Cause of the Lord of Names. Have ye seen a day mightier than this Day wherein the dawn of Revelation hath shone forth, the Speaker of Sinai hath spoken, and the darkness hath been illumined by the gleaming of the Light from this conspicuous Station? The cups of joy have been passed round by the hands of grace and bounty, and the people of Baha, who are embarked upon the Crimson Ark that saileth upon the sea of grandeur by the command of God, the Creator of all things and the Lord of creation, have drunk therefrom.

Beware lest the doubts of the people of error withhold you from turning towards the Self-Sufficient, the Most High, or lest that which hath been said before or will be said deprive you of recognizing your Lord on the Day of Return. The Promise hath come, and the Promised One hath appeared on this witnessed Day, and all who dwell in the realms of the seen and unseen have called to His glorious station.

Blessed is he who hath recognized his Lord, the All-Loving, who hath detached himself from all that exists within the realm of being, who hath remained steadfast upon His straight path, opposing the desires of every rejected misbeliever. He hath attained unto that which his Lord, the Worshipped One, ordained for him, and hath entered the gardens of Paradise by the command of his Lord, the All-Merciful, and hath grasped the handle of divine knowledge, and hath been saved from the imaginings of the people of possibility, uttering the praise of his Lord, the All-Bountiful.

This is the Day whereon God hath manifested Himself unto all things through all names, and hath called the peoples of the world to the direction of His Most Great Name, and hath guided them to His Most Straight Path, and hath summoned them unto Him through His most perfect and complete utterance.

Blessed is he who hath rent asunder the greatest veil and hath attained unto that which was ordained for him by the Lord of Destiny, and hath turned towards His most luminous direction, detached from all that pertaineth to the world of man, seeking to recognize the hidden Mystery, hoping for the shade of his established Lord, and content with that which hath been ordained and commanded for him. He, verily, hath been saved from the depths of idle fancies, hath recognized the Hidden Name, hath attained unto the Treasured Secret, and hath entered the Protected Station beneath the shade of the Lord of all that was and shall be.

This is the Day wherein the Sun of Guidance hath dawned and the mystery of the Beginning hath been revealed at the End, and the hearts of the people of understanding have been illumined by the light of Revelation. Blessed is he whom the veils of glory have not prevented from turning unto and drawing nigh unto the Self-Sufficient, the Most High, on the Day of Return.

Glorified art Thou, O Thou Who cannot be described through human utterance, nor mentioned by the tongues of all who dwell within the realm of creation! How can I describe Thee when I behold that the most precious gems of praise are unworthy to approach the court of Thy glorified majesty? How can I make mention of Thee when I witness that the most wondrous expressions of remembrance cannot ascend to the kingdom of Thy eternity?

Were the discerning and clear-sighted one to contemplate what Thou hast deposited within existence from the traces of Thy power, this would suffice as proof of Thee and as testimony to Thy greatness. Verily, he who is experienced needeth not descriptions and remembrances to know Thee, O Thou Who art the Possessor of the Kingdom of Glory and Power! Should he reflect upon himself and witness the greatness of his Lord’s handiwork, he would be guided by these signs to the knowledge of mysteries; the veils would be lifted and he would behold Thee seated upon the throne of power and authority.

O my Lord! I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which Thou didst rend asunder the veils on the Day of Return and didst guide Thy near servants to the direction of Thy Name, the All-Bestowing, to assist those who have entered beneath the shadow of Thy grace and have entered the gardens of Thy love in such wise that their names may be exalted in Thy dominions, their mention become renowned throughout Thy lands, and their station be made manifest among Thy servants – namely, to arise to serve Thy Most Great Cause amidst humanity and to guide Thy servants through the subtleties of wisdom to Thy most holy and most generous direction.

This is a bounty that cannot be equalled by aught in the kingdom of earth and heaven, and a matter beside which nothing can stand in the world of creation. Thou hast said – and Thy Word is the truth – “Whoso quickeneth a soul is as though he had quickened all mankind.” How much more so for one who quickeneth prepared souls and guideth pure hearts to the direction of Thy knowledge, O Lord of all created things! Neither pen nor ink can reckon what Thou hast ordained as the reward for this exalted matter and wondrous station.

I beseech Thee to protect Thy loved ones beneath the shadow of Thy protection and care from the evil of the wicked among Thy creatures, and to strengthen them always through Thy confirmations to stand firm in Thy Cause in such wise that neither the happenings of the world nor the oppression of nations may prevent them from turning unto Thee, O Possessor of the Most Great Name! Verily, Thou art the Powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. Thou givest to whomsoever Thou pleasest that which Thou desirest. There is no God but Thee, the Single, the One, the Powerful, the Mighty, the Praiseworthy.

O beloved of the heart! That which was adorned with the traces of ink hath been received, making clear what was in thy heart of the subtleties of love and affection. Days had passed without the presence of thy letter and thy gracious address. I take God, my Lord, as witness that at all times I was awaiting the arrival of news and inquiring about thy circumstances from all who came from various directions. I praise God for having assisted thee in His days and enabled thee to make mention of His loved ones. I beseech Him, exalted be He, to protect thee in His shadow and to ordain for thee every good that He hath promised in His Book. Verily, He is the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous. There is no God but Him, the Most High, the Most Great.

When I read thy sweet letter, I attended the court of the Lord of Lords and presented it before His Face. Thereupon, the fragrance of grace was stirred and the ocean of bounty surged, and there was revealed for thee that which shall endure throughout the duration of attributes and names, and shall be with thee in the hereafter and in this world. Thou shalt be honored with its visitation on another leaf. Blessed art thou for having been mentioned and for being remembered most often by the tongue of grace and favor. This is a bounty that cannot be equalled by aught that hath been created in the contingent world. To this beareth witness whatsoever hath been created by the command of thy Lord, the All-Merciful.

It behoveth thee to arise with joy and gladness to guide the servants to the lamp of thy Lord’s resplendent Cause. I beseech God, the Lord of the worlds, to protect thee beneath the shadow of His grace, by His Most Great Name, from the evil of the wicked among the nations, and to strengthen thee at all times to propagate His Cause with wisdom and utterance. Verily, He is the Mighty, the Bestower.

O my God, my Lord and my Hope! I beseech Thee by the cry of them that are nigh unto Thee, by the lamentation of the sincere ones, by the yearning of the lovers, and by the exultation of them that know Thee in Thy love, to preserve him whom Thou hast aided to turn towards Thee and whom Thou hast caused to enter the pavilion of majesty and given to drink from the fountain of bounty and grace. Protect him beneath Thy sheltering care from the oppression of Thy creatures, and grant him always the blessing of Thy tender mercies and the pure waters of Thy loving-kindness. Verily, Thou art the All-Bountiful, possessed of great favor.

Ordain for him that which is best in the hereafter and in this world, and shelter him beneath Thy shade in all Thy worlds. Exalt his station in service to Thy Cause and aid him to teach Thy Faith throughout Thy lands in such wise that through his utterance the ready ones may be guided, the seated ones may arise, and the slumbering ones may be awakened. Verily, Thou art the One, the Single, the Mighty, the Supreme, the Self-Subsisting.

O thou beloved! Convey on behalf of this servant the greetings of God unto His steadfast loved ones and give them the glad-tidings of God’s favor, the Lord of all worlds. The Spirit and Glory rest upon thee and upon those with thee, and upon all of them.

BH11663: I have been blessed with receiving thy noble letter…

In the Name of God, the Most Unapproachable, the Most Holy, the Most Glorious

I have been blessed with receiving thy noble letter. I kissed it and presented it before His Countenance. When I read what thou hadst praised thy Lord with, through that which flowed from the Most Exalted Pen, the Mouth of the Divine Will opened, addressing thee:

“Upon thee be My praise, My remembrance, My glory, My fragrances, My loving-kindness, and My bounty, which hath ever been sanctified above mention of time, seasons and moments. This is from the grace of thy Lord, the Most Merciful, and verily He is the All-Bountiful, the Ancient of Days.”

Thus did it end.

My spirit and my heart be a sacrifice for thee! This blessed letter brought the greatest joy and bestowed boundless happiness. Through beholding it, I attained complete union and was sustained. And praise be to the Beloved of the mystics.

Concerning the mention of the supplication revealed from the Horizon of the Will—God willing, it shall be sent down.

And concerning Ismu’llah al-Amin—upon him rest the glory of God, the True King, the Manifest in Himself—we beseech God to grant him success, and to make him of those servants through whom the earth hath been filled with the traces of God, the All-Sovereign, the Self-Subsisting. Convey unto him, from this evanescent servant, innumerable glorifications. And the remainder of the blessed Suriy-i-Haykal which he hath requested shall, God willing, be dispatched hereafter.

Regarding his honor Aqa Siyyid Baqir, upon him be the glory of God, convey most elevated greetings, and what they have intended is most praiseworthy, however they have said that its time has not yet come. If in these days they would proceed to those regions with Tablets and engage in teaching, it would be closer to piety, and afterwards, God willing, numerous books will be sent from the Seat of Revelation. Convey greetings to them from God.

Regarding his honor Karbala’i Karim, it was mentioned in the presence of His Countenance, and a mighty Tablet was revealed for him from the direction of the Throne which, God willing, will be sent. Convey infinite greetings to all from this servant.

And regarding what you had written and inquired about certain phrases—whatever is revealed of divine verses, this servant mostly writes them in His presence, and often they are revealed in such a manner that no one is capable of writing them, for when once measured, one thousand two hundred verses were revealed in an hour. In such case, all are powerless to write, and this servant might possibly write eight hundred in an hour. For half an hour the hand cooperates, and in the other half it moves involuntarily. Therefore, sometimes they are revealed at a pace that allows this servant to manage the writing, and whatever is revealed is not reviewed by the Most Holy Gaze, though sometimes they are recited again in His presence. Hence, in some instances there may be errors in spelling and letters.

Moreover, the scribes make many mistakes, for error and mistake have been and will be in human nature. Just as in these days four copies of the Kitab-i-Badi’ have been written, and although they were compared and checked, nevertheless one day by chance one of those copies was present before His Countenance. He looked at some of it and found several instances where letters were mistaken, and likewise several places where the spelling was wrong. Afterwards He commanded that it be carefully examined and compared. It became apparent that in most pages there were mistakes and omissions. Therefore it is very necessary that they be attentive with care so that it becomes correct.

And your honor’s explanation regarding the mentioned words was presented before His presence. From the mouth of the Divine Will these luminous words shone forth:

“Excellent is what thou hast asked. Verily, He is with His benevolent servants and answers the prayers of the supplicants. And regarding what thou didst ask, hearken unto what hath been revealed in truth from One mighty and all-knowing. The word shahidh’ with an unclean nature is permissible, and as for sadhij’ with dhal’, it is known among the people, but the Primal Point—may my soul be a sacrifice for all else besides Him—wrote sazij’, therefore I do not wish to change whatsoever hath appeared from my Beloved. Thus we referred it to the pen of the scribes—whatever flows is correct, even if different versions have flowed from their pens. Verily He is the Establisher of orthography and words, He ordaineth as He pleaseth. However, this station hath been and shall ever be exclusively reserved for the True One, exalted be His mention, not as observed from certain ignorant ones who have not been vouchsafed a single letter of knowledge, yet write fabricated words and attribute them to the True One, as the chief of prevaricators wrote a letter to someone and sent it before His presence—most expressions therein were erroneous both in meaning and word, including writing ʿUmar and Zayd with hamza. Would that people would ponder the words of that misbeliever—most are nonsensical and meaningless. A fire for those who have taken him as lord besides God.”

In these days, Tablets have been revealed from the Source of the Cause in response to one of the opposers who had objected to the letter of Aqa Mirza Jamalu’d-Din, upon him be the glory of God. A copy thereof was sent from the Most Holy Court as a favor to His servant. Specifically, Jinab-i-Aqai Aqa Siyyid Mihdi, upon him be the Most Glorious Glory of God, was commanded to write and send it to that person. And from the Source of the Cause it was commanded that a copy of that Tablet be sent specifically to the land of Kha to Jinab-i-Asdaq, upon him be the glory of God. Since the original objection was made by Haji Muhammad Karim Khan, it is therefore very beneficial for the Shaykhis who have somewhat turned towards the Truth. God willing, He may bring about through this a matter.

Furthermore, in some Tablets it was observed that “qiba” was written as “biqa”. Surely in the Kitab-i-Badi’ too, which they brought to that direction, it is ʿbiqa”—He changed it. Similarly “hashim muhtazir” which should be written with “za”. In any case, there are many differences in the writings of scribes. They must observe with utmost care that it be written correctly.

And when previously the Blessed Book arrived, the names of the people of Ya were mentioned therein, specifically all exalted Tablets were revealed. It remains to be seen when it is destined to be sent.

And another Most Holy command is that the Kitab-i-Badi’ should be sent to Jinab-i-Aqa Siyyid Mirza who is present in the land of Ya. Send the books bound, for unbound is not beloved. Jinab-i-Aqa Mirza Ja’far, upon him be the glory of God, hath submitted to your presence that Jinab-i-Ismu’llah al-Munir, upon him be the Most Glorious Glory of God, [has written] a copy of the Kitab-i-Badi’ [for this servant]. If completed, it should be sent specifically to Jinab-i-Qasim Khan.

And the remembrance and the glory and the might and the grandeur be upon thee and upon those who are with thee among God’s sincere servants. Convey endless greetings from the servant to all the loved ones of God, and greetings be upon thee and upon them.

BH00905: Praise be to God, Who hath set in motion…

He is God, exalted be His glory, the Lord of power and choice.

Praise be to God, Who hath set in motion the orbits of inner meanings through the power of His Most Exalted Word, Who hath brought forth the sun of wisdom and utterance upon him who conformeth to His supreme utterance, and hath made known unto us, through the essences of knowledge and gnosis, His most beautiful Names and those attributes of His that are exalted above the comprehension of the dwellers in the realm of dust. Exalted is His rank above that He should be apprehended by thoughts and minds; hallowed is the court of His knowledge above that hope should be conceived of attaining unto it; and glorified is the orb of His mighty Cause above the possibility of setting or eclipse.

From age to age the sun of His Word hath ever been rising, the lights of His wisdom shining, the moons of His knowledge ascending. He hath deposited within existence that which guideth the people of reflection to the meadows of inner vision, and created, within the realm of possibility, that by which He leadeth His creatures into the Paradise of knowledge. He hath veiled His own Self by the lights of seeing and beholding, and shrouded His Cause in the plenitude of its clearness and exposition.

Just as the people cannot gaze upon the sun save by means that shield the eye, and behold naught but its rays and effulgences that have dawned and encompassed the two horizons, can man deny the existence of the sun because his gaze cannot bear to look upon it? Nay, by Him Who hath caused it to rise from its dawning-place and illumined the world with its splendors!

Since this hath been established, it becometh evident that the veil of the Sun of Reality is light itself, and that His only covering is manifestation. Otherwise, He hath neither concealment nor veil, neither going nor coming. He is manifest through the lights of glory, and shining from the horizon of might and majesty, yet hidden from the eyes by reason of the very intensity of His appearance and radiance.

Glorified art Thou, O my God, my Lord, my Hope! Exalted art Thou above being compassed by the thoughts of men, or known through the fancies of Thy creatures as Thy “Most Great Outlook” [manzar-i-akbar]. Whatsoever the praisers have described, and whatsoever the knowers have attained, can never escape the limit of their own bounded station in the world of being.

How can the weak, perishing, lowly creature attain unto the knowledge of Thy power, O Thou the Eternal, the All-Powerful, the Almighty? I beseech Thee, by the lights of the Sun of Thy Unity and the radiances of the Luminary of Thy Detachment, to aid those whom Thou hast guided to Thy straight Path and made to recognize Thy Great Announcement, to remain steadfast in Thy Cause and firm in the ways of Thy love. Ordain for them, O my God, every good Thou hast sent down in Thy Book, and all Thou hast promised Thy chosen ones in Thy Scriptures and Tablets. Verily, Thou art the Tender, the All-Bountiful. There is no God but Thee, the Bestower, the All-Munificent, the Giver, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

Thy noble, spiritual letter hath come, and through the perusal thereof delight beyond count was attained; for it bespoke the subtleties of affection and the degrees of love that lay hidden and treasured in the inmost heart. We hope that thou wilt ever abide under the shade of the divine bounty, at rest and in tranquillity, and be made to attain and be sustained by the blessing of nearness and reunion.

Though the writing of the reply was, in outward appearance, delayed for a few days, yet God is aware, and the whole world beareth witness, that the measure of longing and love in the heart of this Servant lieth beyond the reach of word and number. Only the succession of occupations is, at times, the cause of postponement and delay; otherwise the heart findeth no sweetness save in the remembrance of the people of love. Day by day we beseech the Lord that the hidden subtleties of heartfelt affection may increase, and that the dust-world may be illumined with the lights of concord and unity among the friends of God.

The book of the person already known to thee, which thou didst send, hath been received, and the topics mentioned therein were clearly understood. Such persons, in all ages, have arisen to write and compile such meaningless words, and will continue to do so. In truth, in the eyes of them that see, and of those who look toward the Supreme Horizon, they are not worthy of mention or consideration; for the falsity of their utterance is proved by their very words.

How could a Cause whose fame hath encompassed the horizons of the world, and the lights of whose Manifestation have shone upon all peoples, be obscured by such phrases, or remain doubtful to the people of insight? Had this man been just and spoken from clear vision, he would never have been content to utter such sayings; for he hath not yet investigated, nor become aware of the root of the matter, and to speak in a Cause before attaining unto knowledge thereof is, and ever hath been, contrary to reason.

We beseech God to protect His loved ones from the whisperings of deniers and the heedlessness of the heedless. Verily, He is powerful over all things, and He is the Subtle, the All-Informed.

As to thy suggestion that a detailed answer be printed in reply to the passages of that book: under no circumstances is it worthy of any engagement or mention. “Forget it, leave it to itself, and put thy trust in God, thy Lord, the Most High, the Most Great.” In gatherings where mention of that book ariseth, let it suffice that, according to the receptivity and capacity of the hearers, a few words be spoken verbally to refute its idle fictions.

It beseemeth not the friends of God to pay heed to such as know not what they say. “Leave them to plunge in their vain discourse and to play;” by thy life, “they wander distracted in their drunkenness.”

Thy name, O beloved one, hath been presented in the Most Holy Court; and this is what hath shone forth from the Source of bounty and grace—may my soul be offered up for His tenderness:

O Ha’, hearken unto the cry of the Wronged One! Praise be to God, that whatsoever hath appeared in this Day hath made truth distinct from falsehood, and right severed from wrong. We hope that thou mayest be made a banner of the Sun of His Name, and a standard of His remembrance; that, wholly severed from all besides Him, thou mayest arise to serve His Cause as is meet. The lying soul—his deeds are now laid bare, his words made manifest.

We beseech God, exalted and glorified be He, to assist the heedless to return, the slanderers to be truthful, the treacherous to be faithful, and the deniers to turn in acceptance. Verily, He is the All-Sufficient, the Most Exalted, the Oft-Returning, the All-Bountiful.

Unceasingly hath thy remembrance been in the presence of the Wronged One. Give thanks unto thy Lord for this manifest grace. All that thou beholdest to-day shall pass away; but that which hath flowed from the Most Exalted Pen, in the Scriptures and the Tablets, shall remain ever thine. The glory be upon thee, upon those who are with thee and thine household, and upon every steadfast, upright soul, and every firm and loyal one.

And finally: praise be to God! In all conditions thou art commemorated upon the tongue of grace and beheld with the eye of loving favour. It behoveth thee, therefore, to thank Him at all times, and to be filled with manifest joy and gladness.

Convey, on behalf of this Servant, wondrous praises and mighty cries of glorification to each one of the friends who are adorned with the vesture of steadfastness; and make mention of them. The people of the household—thy household—do likewise remember and magnify them with gracious praises.

The spirit and the glory rest upon thee and upon thy family.

Convey, moreover, delicate praises and exalted glorification to Jinab-i-Mirza ʿAli-Muhammad—upon him be His glory—and peace be upon the sincere servants of God.

Praise be to God, the Lord of all the worlds.

BH00907: Praise be to God Who hath lit the lamp…

He is God, exalted be His glory and universal His bounty!

Praise be to God Who hath lit the lamp of knowledge in the contingent world, illumined the horizon of the universe with the lights of wisdom and utterance, and caused the streams of science and certitude to flow from the depths of hearts. He it is before Whose Name’s majesty all existence hath prostrated itself, before Whose command’s source all necks have bowed. Blessed is he who hath sought the precincts of His mercy and dwelt beneath the shade of the Tree of His loving-kindness. Glorified and exalted be His dominion, and mighty His proof! He is unique in His command and will, and singular in His unity and worship. He loved to be known, so He created; they needed God, so He provided. He inspired man and taught him utterance, and caused the jewels of wisdom to appear from the tongue. From Him is the beginning and unto Him the return, and He is the Judge at the beginning and the end. There is no God but He, the Mighty, the Bestower.

O thou who circlest round the Tree of Knowledge, who comest unto the carpet of certitude and arrivest at the stream of faith! I have heard the melodies of the nightingale of thy utterance upon the branches of the paradise of fidelity and the cooings of the dove of thy exposition upon the twigs of the gardens of praise. May God reward thee with the best of both worlds and the eternal life of all the worlds, for thou hast remembered those who were banished through the lands, whom the servants denied, and whom the people of tyranny and enmity persecuted. Grieve not at the delay in sending the reply. By thy life, O beloved! The heart delighteth in naught save the remembrance of the loved ones, and the thirst of love is quenched only through correspondence with those possessed of love and unity.

However, the press of occupations preventeth me some days from mentioning the friends of my Lord, the Mighty, the All-Knowing. I beseech God, the King of Eternity and the Ruler by the Greatest Name, to protect thee and His loved ones beneath the shadow of His protection and shelter, to give you to drink continually from the Kawthar of His grace and favor, and to aid you in that whereby your mention shall endure in existence and your names be exalted in the worlds of the unseen and the seen. Verily, He is the Single, the One, the Mighty, the All-Loving.

As for what thou hast mentioned in thy letter concerning arrival in the Land of Ta and the gathering of thy Lord’s loved ones, the Lord of Names, it hath been proven with evidence that God’s Cause shall triumph over all possibility, and soon shall the lights of the Sun of Knowledge encompass the whole world and the radiance of the Orb of Unity prevail over all nations. He hath said—and His word is most exalted—“Thou shalt see the earth as the Most Glorious Paradise; on that day shall those possessed of knowledge rejoice and the heedless shall lament.” Whosoever perceiveth this manifest Cause with the eye of certitude and beholdeth its firm and steadfast foundation shall be assured that creation is beneath its shadow and that there is no escape for anyone nor refuge for any soul—all shall return unto Him and arrive at the path of love. It hath been said aforetime that affairs are bound to their appointed times. Soon shall they behold the sun of knowledge and its lights, and shall comprehend its signs.

And as to what thou hast mentioned concerning the land of Ha and Mim, and thy praise of the loved ones of thy Lord, the All-Bountiful, from among the people of the Bayan and the inheritors of Him Who conversed with God—blessed are they for having cast away vain imaginings, shattered the idols, and attained the recognition of their Lord, the Mighty, the All-Knowing. Wonder not at what thou seest of traces in the righteous ones. Ponder upon the appearance of the Sun of Truth, its effulgences, the spreading of its lights, and the manifestation of its signs. It behooveth the peoples of the world to immerse themselves in the seas of civilization and prosperity, and to adorn themselves with the ornament of knowledge and success.

Hath there appeared in existence that which hath shone forth in this manifest Day? Say: Glorified be He in Whose hand is the dominion of all things and in Whose grasp is the kingdom of names. We beseech God to manifest from all that which indicateth His favors and to adorn His loved ones with the ornament of His character and attributes, that the mirrors of their hearts may reflect naught except the radiance of the lights of the Sun of eternity, that their faces may show forth naught but the freshness of fellowship and purity, and that from their companionship naught may be witnessed save the signs of love and fidelity. O thou beloved of the heart! Convey wondrous remembrance and glorification from this servant to the loved ones of thy Lord in Ta and those who dwell in Mim after Ha. Glory and praise be upon them and upon every steadfast soul who hath turned towards Him.

And regarding what thou hast mentioned about presenting thy remembrance and the names of those thou hast mentioned before the face of thy Ancient Lord, and thy request for the outpouring of the favors of His Most Bountiful Name through His abundant grace—when I saw thy letter and understood thy message, I attained the presence of His court and presented [what thou hadst requested] before the face of the Lord of the Day of Resurrection. There hath been sent down for thee and for them from the heaven of grace and bounty that which will move creation and which thou shalt receive in another leaf. Blessed art thou and they through this most great favor and supreme gift.

And concerning what thou hast mentioned about reflection upon the world and the prevalence of doubts and intimations among all peoples and their failure to turn to God, the Lord of eternity—grieve not at what thou seest of the veiled ones and the wanderers, but rejoice in the power of thy Lord, the Master of the Day of Judgment. It behooveth the people of Baha to exert their utmost in spreading the commandments of the Lord of Names and not to look upon the deprivation of those who are remote, but rather to the Source of their Lord’s command, Who prevaileth over all things. Verily, the example of one who desireth to teach in these days is like unto him who planteth trees and looketh not to the length of time for gathering the fruits, but is rather eager to plant that others may benefit therefrom, even as he hath benefited from those who preceded him. Doth anyone doubt the fruits of this mighty tree? Nay, by our Lord, the Mighty, the All-Knowing! Should nations and governments arise to extinguish this Light that shineth from the horizon of Sinai, they shall never be able, nor shall they have the power, even should they aid one another.

As to what thou hast mentioned regarding the verses of thy Lord, and thy desire for that which hath been sent down from the Source of Command concerning healing exhortations and sufficient, complete counsels—I beseech God for confirmation and success that thou mayest gather what hath been revealed in this connection, and We shall send it to thee through the grace of our Lord, the All-Bestowing. And I beseech God to make thee a standard of guidance and a sign of steadfastness, and to guide through thee those who are ready, and that thy teaching may direct the seekers. Verily, He is powerful over what He willeth, and He is the All-Subtle, the All-Informed.

Glorified art Thou, O my God, my Lord and my Hope! I beseech Thee by Thy Most Great Name and Thy most perfect Mystery to send down upon Thy loved ones that which will strengthen their hearts, dilate their breasts, illumine their eyes, and enable them to guide Thy servants to the meadows of righteousness and lead humanity to the gardens of knowledge. Thou art He Whose grace hath encompassed all existence and Whose mercy hath pervaded both the seen and the unseen. I beseech Thee to protect Thy loved ones beneath the shadow of Thy safekeeping, to ward off from them the evil of the wicked among Thy creatures, and to ordain for them the good of both this world and the next beneath the shadow of Thy Most Great Name, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious. May the glory rest upon them through the permanence of Thy most excellent names and Thy most exalted attributes.

BH00927: O My loved ones! In the Tablet…

He is the Speaker before the faces of all parties

O My loved ones! In the Tablet of the World, these exalted words have been sent down from the Dawning-Place of utterance, the Lord of Names and Attributes. Praise and glory befit the manifest Sovereign Who adorned the mighty prison through the presence of His Holiness ʿAli-Qabli-Akbar and His Holiness the Trustworthy One, and illumined it with the lights of certitude, steadfastness and tranquility. Upon them be the glory of God and the glory of all who are in the heavens and the earth.

Light and glory, magnification and praise be upon the Hands of His Cause, through whom the light of patience hath shone forth and the ordinance of choice been established—God, the Powerful, the Mighty, the Choosing. Through them the ocean of bounty hath surged and the fragrance of God’s tender mercy, the Lord of all beings, hath been wafted. We beseech Him, exalted be He, to protect them with His hosts, to guard them by His dominion, and to assist them with His power that hath encompassed all created things. Sovereignty belongeth unto God, the Creator of the heavens and the Lord of the Kingdom of Names.

The Great Announcement proclaimeth: O people of Iran! Ye have been the dawning-places of mercy and the daysprings of compassion and love. The regions of the world were illumined and adorned with the light of your knowledge. How is it that ye have arisen to destroy yourselves and your friends? O Afnan and O My loved ones! Know with absolute certainty that the pavilion of God’s Cause is mighty vast, having taken in and will continue to take in all the peoples of the world. The day is your day. The Tablet is your witness. Arise to aid the Cause, and with the hosts of utterance conquer the hearts and souls of the people of the world. From you must appear that which shall bring comfort and ease to the downtrodden. Strengthen your resolve that perchance the captives may be freed and attain unto true liberty.

Today the cry of justice is raised high and the lamentation of equity is uplifted. The darkness of oppression hath enveloped the world and its peoples. I speak truly when I say that He, exalted be His glory, hath appeared with the banner of He doeth what He willeth’ and hath come with the standard of He ordaineth what He pleaseth.’ Let steadfast and content souls be attentive. O My loved ones! Whatsoever proceedeth from the Most Holy, Most Exalted Threshold is the truth about which there is no doubt. The Primal Point hath said that should He pronounce the earth to be heaven or heaven to be earth, none hath the right to question wherefore or why. We have heard the words of men. The atoms testify that He is the Truth, He heareth and seeth, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. Nothing whatsoever escapeth His knowledge, to which the Tongue of God, the True, the Just, the Manifest King, doth testify.

Say: O people! This is the Day of God, did ye but know it. He Who conversed with God hath seated Himself upon the throne of Revelation, despite those who have disbelieved in God on the Day of Resurrection. By God’s life! The Hour crieth out and the Resurrection proclaimeth: O concourse of humanity! By God, the Lord of Power hath come, and through His appearance the Supreme Horizon hath been adorned. Fear God and be not of the heedless ones. O My loved ones! We desired to bestow upon you mention of that which We have concealed, that every soul may be convinced that with Him is the knowledge of all things in a perspicuous Book.

This is a day wherein God eraseth what He willeth and confirmeth what He pleaseth, and with Him is the Mother Book, yet most of the people are turning away. We make mention of Our loved ones there and give them the glad-tidings of My acceptance of them and of what hath been sent down for them from the heaven of the Will of God, the Lord of the worlds. Beware lest ye deprive yourselves of the rivers which have flowed from My Most Exalted Pen, as a command from the presence of One mighty and powerful.

We have turned from the most eloquent tongue to the luminous tongue. The loved ones must be steadfast in the Cause with such steadfastness that neither the doubts of the suspicious ones, nor the intimations of the croakers, nor the onslaught of the oppressors shall move them. Blessed is he who holdeth fast unto it and taketh the chalice of steadfastness from the hand of the bounty of his Lord and drinketh in His Name, the Mighty, the Wondrous.

The word of a certain soldier previously reached Our hearing, wherefore the Temple of My loving-kindness lamented and the Word of God, the Purpose of all who are in the heavens and on earth, cried aloud. Their deeds have prevented My servants from turning to the right hand of God’s justice, the Mighty, the Great. We beseech Him, blessed and exalted be He, to aid with victory that which He loveth and is pleased with, and to sanctify it from all that is unseemly for the Day of God, the Lord of the exalted Throne. We beseech God to preserve him through His bounty and to protect him with His hosts and to make him among those who have aided His Cause amongst His servants, and We beseech Him to open unto him, through the key of His name, the Most Merciful, the gates of wisdom and utterance. Verily, He is the Powerful over whatsoever He willeth through His binding and mighty command.

His Honour Muzaffar was in manifest doubt. With your Lord is the knowledge of all things, were ye of those who know. His deeds prevented him from the bounty of the Day of Reckoning, to this his Lord, the Self-Sufficient, the Most High, doth testify from this exalted station. Say: We desired naught for thee save mercy from Our presence and bounty from Our side. To this thy heart beareth witness, as doth every just and perceiving one. We beseech God to aid thee to detachment from all else save Him and to hold fast unto that which He hath revealed in His Mighty Book, and to enable thee to turn unto Him and to repent before His gate. Verily, He is the All-Bountiful, the Oft-Returning, the True, the Faithful.

Beware lest the doubts of the world and the clamor of the nations prevent you. Take hold of the hem of the robe of your Lord’s mercy, which hath preceded all who are in the heavens and on earth. The splendor shining from the horizon of the heaven of My utterance be upon My loved ones and upon those who have heard My call and said: “Here am I, here am I, O Lord of Names!” and “Here am I, here am I, O Beloved of those who are brought near!”

Previously from the Most Exalted Pen flowed this most exalted word: “Believe not every speaker, nor trust ye in every newcomer.” Divine bounty and mercy transcend the reckoning of people. Verily We have purified him who ascended unto Us aforetime with the Kawthar of My utterance and forgave him as a bounty from My presence, and I am the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous.

O My loved ones! Let not My mercy slip from your grasp. Soon ye shall behold what hath been ordained from the Most Exalted Pen in the Crimson Tablet, which none hath comprehended save God, the Mighty, the All-Knowing. Set aside what is with the people, turning unto what is with God, your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers of old.

I swear by the Sun of Truth which shineth resplendent from the horizon of the prison of Akka that if this Cause were to be spread in foreign cities, assuredly most of the inhabitants of those regions would be seen turning towards it. In these days news hath arrived from those parts that the light which the people of Iran strive to extinguish, diverse parties are engaged in causing to shine forth and radiate. Soon shall appear that which is now hidden from the eyes of the world.

Thus hath the Tongue of Grandeur spoken as a bounty from His presence, and He is the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous.

BH00937: Know ye that during Our sojourn in the Land…

…Know ye that during Our sojourn in the Land of Mystery, sublime Tablets were sent down and dispatched to certain monarchs in order to complete God’s testimony. Among these was a Tablet revealed to the King of Paris who at that time was foremost among sovereigns. The cause of this was that one day in the presence of the Divine Throne, He stated that after the Russo-Ottoman dispute, the King of Paris arose to aid the Ottoman Empire, and following strife, conflict, bloodshed and pillage, several monarchs intervened and a peace treaty was concluded. Thereafter, the Russian Monarch inquired of the King of Paris:

“We both belonged to the same nation—what caused you to dishonor those of your own faith and aid those of another?”

In reply he wrote that there was no reason save that when some Ottoman subjects were suddenly attacked by you in the Black Sea and many were drowned, the cry of those oppressed ones awakened me from slumber and I arose to assist them.

After relating this incident, He declared:

“Now We shall send him a Tablet and test him. If he arises to aid the oppressed ones among the people of the Bayan, We shall confirm his words; otherwise his falsehood in what he claimed and stated shall become evident.”

Thus a Tablet was revealed and sent to him, but no response was ever received, although one of his ministers who secretly professed love for the Cause informed the Most Holy Court that he had personally delivered the Tablet to the king and verbally conveyed all details. Nevertheless, no reply came. This is why, after receiving no response to that Tablet, this second Tablet was revealed and sent, having been written in French.

Now consider this Tablet—all that befell him was explicitly foretold therein without any ambiguity. Blessed are they who read! Blessed are they who ponder! Blessed are they who are sincere! Likewise, reflect upon its wondrous creation and dispatch with power and majesty. Observe how, after the completion of God’s testimony and the manifestation of His might, afflictions of famine, scarcity and fear encompassed Persia. News of these matters was revealed in numerous Tablets.

By God, besides Whom there is none other God! If souls were to reflect upon its wondrous creation, its dispatch, its contents, and all that subsequently transpired, it would suffice them all, and God’s proof, more manifest than the sun, would become evident and clear to all. But artificial entities remain occupied with their own realm, having neither gained nor will they gain any portion of the divine breaths and the fragrance of the verses of the All-Merciful, save whom God willeth. As is observed, despite this most great proclamation, this supreme manifestation, and these evident signs, certain servants have chosen to follow souls who have always been and will remain behind veils, and from whom no matter has ever become manifest. What benefit is there when this servant lacks time, else he would have presented all that has appeared and continues to appear from God’s verses which have been revealed explicitly without interpretation. We beseech God to aid the servants to be fair.

Every one may be apprised of the verses of God which have been revealed explicitly, without interpretation. We beseech God to assist His servants to be fair and to dispel their vain imaginings and what has been mentioned by those who came before. How strange are those who followed the stinking ones after the fragrance of the Beloved had been diffused throughout the worlds! For instance, they remain veiled from the Most Holy, Most Exalted Truth by following Siyyid Muhammad Isfahani and his utterances, though he was never aware of the fundamental nature of the Cause and was perpetually engaged in mischief.

Though it is a common saying, yet it befits this station: “Behold the blind leading the blind!”

By God! By God! Any person possessed of sight and smell who beheld him but once perceived from his countenance the effects of hell-fire and from his breath the stench of the people of the deepest abyss. Each day he was occupied with some new deception. When we arrived at the Most Great Prison, he styled himself “Quddus Effendi,” imagining that a meaningless name would exalt its bearer. Woe unto him and unto those who followed him!

Similarly, he named Aqa Jan “The Chief of the ungodly, the Sword of Truth” and promised him Iraq, as evidenced by Aqa Jan’s own letter which still exists, written to the Chief of the ungodly, pleading: “When will that promise you made be fulfilled?” In short, in this land he declared to everyone: “I am the Sword of Truth and shall soon conquer most lands.” Nay! The curse of God be upon the liars!

At this point, verses were revealed from the heaven of divine Will. His glory be exalted! He says:

He is the Most Holy, Most Great, Most Glorious! Verily, in the tribulations of the Lord of all being, at every moment, there are signs for them that dwell in all the worlds. He hath accepted hardship for the ease of creation, and suffering for the repose of all who inhabit the realm of existence. My soul be a sacrifice to His bounty, my being to His mercy, and my spirit to that loving-kindness which hath encompassed the horizons.

No morn dawned but that He was compassed about by the darksome veils of insinuation cast by those who disbelieved in God, the Revealer of verses. Yet naught can hinder Him from whatsoever He hath purposed in the Cause of God, the Lord of the Day of Calling. At one time He crieth aloud with His lucid tongue; at another He pointeth with the finger of certitude, and summoneth all unto God, the Lord of mankind.

Were We to recount that which befell Us, the heavens would be rent asunder and the mountains fall down in ruin. They who disbelieved waxed proud in the titles they had assumed. One of the base among them named himself “the Most Holy” and laid claim within himself to that which the whispering deceiver had claimed; another called himself “the Sword of Truth” and declared, “Verily, I am the conqueror of lands.” But God sent forth one who smote him upon his mouth, that all might be assured he was but the tail of Satan, severed by the sword of the All-Merciful.

He had awaited the days of his glory and appearance, in accordance with that whereunto he had been promised by one who denied God, the Cleaver of the dawn. Thus doth God seize him who turneth away from Him and ariseth to squander His Cause amongst His servants. They have perished. The breezes of spring have been commanded to blow, the gates of heaven have been opened, and the clouds have rained down. Blessed is he who hath attained unto the knowledge of God in His days and severed himself wholly from all directions and attachments.

Say: Is your Lord, the Lord of the heavens and of the earth, not sufficient for you? Verily, He hath come with the truth in His Name that holdeth dominion over all creation. Do thou illumine thy heart with the Most Great Lamp which the Ancient of Days hath kindled; then stand fast in the Cause through the sovereignty of thy Lord, the Almighty, the Well-Beloved, the Chosen.

BH00938: O beloved of my heart! For some time this…

O beloved of my heart! For some time this has flowed from the Pen of Divine Decree, yet its dispatch was delayed—this too was ordained by another decree, for the servant is as one dead between the hands of God’s power, glory be to His majesty. He turneth him as He willeth, for He is the Omnipotent over whatsoever He desireth, the Single, the One, the Commander, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. By virtue of God’s all-encompassing wisdom, this letter was not sent.

Your other letter, O beloved of my heart, which you dispatched from Nablus, arrived. The arrival of this spiritual messenger bearing tidings of your health and well-being, O spiritual beloved, praise be to God, manifested both outwardly and inwardly signs of love, affection, submission and contentment. After its reading and review, it was presented before the countenance of our Lord and was honored to be heard. He said:

“His honor Muhammad-Qabli-Rida, upon him be the peace of God, the Lord of all beings, is confirmed and assisted in performing good deeds and in the mention and praise of God, glory be to His majesty. We beseech Him, blessed and exalted is He, to give him to drink at all times from the Kawthar of His knowledge from the hand of His bounty, and to confirm him in that which He loveth and is pleased with, and that which manifests the stations of man among the peoples. Verily, He is the Ruler in the beginning and in the end. We beseech Him to send down upon him from the heaven of His generosity blessing and care and mercy from His presence. Verily He is the All-Bountiful, there is no God but He, the Self-Sufficient, the Most High.”

Indeed, your mentions are joy-giving, for the fragrance of sincerity and trust emanates therefrom. A guest like yourself and a host like His Eminence Effendi, may God, blessed and exalted is He, preserve him, who are in truth illumined and adorned with the light of faith, assurance and knowledge—blessed be his presence. Indeed, he is worthy of these stations, for he is of the family of the Ansar and is himself counted among the Ansar, having been and continuing to be a helper of the oppressed and the distressed. We beseech God, glory be to His majesty, to keep him adorned with this ornament in all conditions. Verily He is the Omnipotent over what He willeth through His word “Be” and it is.

Regarding your request, O beloved of my heart, to be confirmed in sending that which yields fruit for the seekers of the paradise of knowledge and manifests a resplendent bounty—indeed this matter is confirmed and established by your intention. “The intention of the believer is better than his deed,” it hath been said. Regret over the loss of what is befitting of good and charitable deeds—such regret in one station taketh precedence over the deed itself. We beseech God, the Source of all causes, to make our deeds and intentions adorned with the ornament of His acceptance. Verily He is the Generous, possessed of great bounty, and He is the Single, the Giver, the Powerful, the Mighty, the Beautiful.

Again mention is made that the apple of our eyes, Aqa Inayatu’llah, together with the honored mother and sister, upon them be 9 66 [Baha’u’llah], are all well and are gladdened by your mention. 152

Praise be to the Goal of all the worlds that the glad tidings of the well-being of that beloved of spirit and heart arrive and adorn the mind with the radiance of joy and delight. In truth, the mention of the chosen ones and the loved ones is among the great bounties of God, exalted be His glory. In any case, through the successive bestowals of the one God, the reply to the first letter was written, and before its dispatch another letter arrived, after which attention was turned to its reply, and before the dispatch of the second, the light of the third appeared. His is the praise and the glory, and His is the grace and the bounty, for He illumines the hearts and minds of His chosen ones with the effulgent rays from the heaven of love. Although outwardly pen and paper and leaf are the means of connection and expression of love and aspiration, yet in the eyes of those endowed with insight, this is that universal connection which has moved and continues to move the world. Exalted be His grace and magnificent His favors.

As to the weakness and change of constitution that you mentioned, praise be to God that its mention and your health and well-being arrived simultaneously. The light of health dispelled the dust of mention of infirmity, giving no chance for anything of it to manifest. This too is among the signs of the Lord of all worlds’ grace and favor. At this moment mention of you was made in His presence. The luminary of grace shone forth from the horizon of will, mentioning that which is the cause of the diffusion of the fragrances of boundless gifts. In all conditions, I beseech God, exalted be His glory, to assist you in that whose traces remain eternal and enduring in the world.

The apple of the eye, Inayatu’llah, and the honored mother are, praise be to God, well and healthy. Inayatu’llah’s letter arrived the day before. The servant beseeches his Lord to grant him success and assist him and make him honored among His servants. Verily, He is the Hearer, the Answerer. Praise be to God, your determination is evidence of the hidden intention in your heart. Therefore, though your intentions from before, after, and now may not be visible in the outer world, there is no doubt that inwardly those saplings and trees have been planted, have sprouted, have achieved complete growth, and have been adorned with fruits and leaves. This is why He says: “Good things are for the good ones.” In truth, good emerges from good. Pure intentions have different influence and effects in the world. Blessed is the soul between whose intention and deed no difference is seen—whose intention is the very deed and whose deed is the very intention. And this is the station of the depths of the sea of oneness that was mentioned before.

Thus it was proven that your intentions regarding the grape vine or the citron or other trees are as though they are seen now. In any case, in all conditions, grace is from God, generosity is from Him, and bounty is from His presence. A hundred thousand souls be sacrificed for this exalted word revealed in the Qur’an:

“O people! Ye are the poor in your relation to God, and God is the Self-Sufficient, the Praised One.”

The honored apple of the eye, the servant of the chosen ones, his honor Aqa Mirza Mustafa, upon him be the peace of God, the Lord of all beings, sends greetings. He was greatly pleased by your mention and says: Would that eternal life were destined so that I might arise to everlasting service and always move according to the will of the chosen ones and attain to that which is befitting. Verily, God is the Powerful, the Giver, the Forgiving, the Generous. Peace and remembrance and glory be upon you and upon God’s assured and sincere servants.

BH00930: A praise whereby the hearts of the knowers are…

He is God, exalted be His glory, the Lord of majesty and dominion.

A praise whereby the hearts of the knowers are illumined, and a thanksgiving whereby the breasts of the lovers are lit aglow, for a Sun whose rays have shone upon the creation of existence, and a Luminary whose traces have been diffused through the cities of mystery and of vision; He, at Whose Word, proceeding from the mouth of His Will, the orbits of meanings have been set in motion within the firmament of utterance, and at a single wave of the ocean of Whose Purpose the pearls of knowledge and gnosis have been scattered throughout the realm of being. Exalted is His lofty power, exalted His subduing Will! By His all-embracing wisdom He hath planted, in the gardens of pure hearts, the trees of knowledge and wisdom, and hath bestowed their ripe fruits upon such among humankind as are prepared therefor. Thereby hath He expanded their breasts, illumined their hearts, adorned their frames with the vesture of true understanding and their brows with the diadems of wisdom and utterance. He, verily, is the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.

O my God, my Lord, my Stay and my Reliance! How shall I make mention of Thee, when I behold the very essences of praise powerless to wing their flight into the atmosphere of the heaven of Thy hallowed glory? How shall I describe Thee, when I clearly perceive the mere shells of description incapable of attaining even to the court of the gate of Thy sanctified transcendence? None can celebrate Thy holiness save with that wherewith Thou hast celebrated Thyself in Thy Books, and made Thy loved ones to recognize in Thy Scriptures. Verily, Thou art God; there is no God but Thee. From all eternity Thou hast dwelt in the heights of glory and unapproachability, and unto all eternity wilt Thou abide upon the summit of power and exaltation. No partner hast Thou in Thy dominion, no vizier in Thy decree. Thou doest what Thou willest, and ordainest what Thou pleasest; Thou art the All-Sufficient, the All-Praised.

Thou art He Who exerciseth judgement in the realm of existence, whilst whatsoever is other than Thee is, in the presence of the manifestations of Thy power, as non-existence, and in face of the tokens of Thy majesty, as utter nothingness. What hath the weak and worthless thrall to do with the knowledge of Thine immensity, O my Lord, the Almighty, the All-Glorious? Whatsoever we ascribe unto Thee, in the tongue of limitation, is itself limited as are we, and returneth therefore unto us; whereas Thou art exalted above human limitations and accidental attributes. Glory be to Thee that the tongues of the feeble should hymn Thy praise, or the descriptions of those who describe should compass Thy qualities, or the mention of them that extol Thee should encompass Thy might!

No hand can repel Thy command, no barrier withstand Thy will. Thou didst create man, Thou didst guide him unto the path of salvation, Thou didst direct him unto the meads of life and abiding being. Blessed is he who hath recognized Thy utterance, and tasted the sweetness of the banquet of Thy knowledge, and stood in awe before Thy majesty and sovereignty, and acknowledged the clear evidence of Thy proof, and entered the garden of certitude, and clung to Thy firm and mighty cord. Verily, such a one is numbered among Thy sincere servants.

O my Lord! I beseech Thee by a Light that hath shone forth from the horizon of Thy power, and by a Fire that hath blazed in the Lote-Tree of Thy knowledge and wisdom—that Tree which Thou didst plant with the hands of Thy might upon the Sinai of Thy grandeur—that Thou mayest illumine the horizons with the lights of amity and unity, and lead the people of the Covenant into the Paradise of concord and fellowship. Do Thou, O my Hope, remove from the eyes of Thy creatures the veils that debar them, that they may behold the radiance of the Sun of Thy knowledge which hath risen, and may kindle their lamps from its dawning splendors. Verily, Thou art He Who is powerful to do what He willeth; Thou dost ordain for whomsoever Thou desirest whatsoever Thou desirest. There is no God but Thee, the One, the Self-Sufficient, the All-Praised.

O thou who walkest the highway of love and dost tread the path of friendship! That which had been embroidered with the trace of ink hath reached Us, and it hath voiced love and constancy. Now in the tongue of the House of Sasan, now in the language of the son of Qahtan, it flowed forth; and since from both there breathed the fragrance of affection, the breasts of the people of intimacy and harmony were cheered thereby.

I beseech God, the Lord of creation, to give thee to drink of the well-spring of knowledge and wisdom, to protect thee beneath the shade of His loving care, to vouchsafe unto thee the tokens of His tenderness, to raise thee, through His grace, unto the heights of knowledge and gnosis, and to admit thee to the gardens of wisdom and utterance.

Whenever thou beholdest the world and all that is therein, see it as naught in face of the effulgent revelations of thy Lord’s glory, and as lost in the radiance of the lights of the power of thy Master. Glorified be He Who created existence, and in Whom the hidden mysteries and concealed symbols have, through His consummate wisdom, been treasured up within the world.

If the man of insight would but ponder the power of his Lord, the All-Informed, behold the signs of His might that are deposited in creation, and meditate upon the subtleties of workmanship and wisdom, he would be seized with wonder and cry out: “Glorified be He Who dieth not!” By God, O beloved! Man standeth amazed at those who have wandered in the deserts of privation, and have remained heedless of the knowledge of their Lord, the All-Merciful.

Do they, for themselves, behold aught save weakness and deficiency? Doth not their incapacity testify to the power of their Lord, the All-Forgiving? Were they fair in judgement, they would surely bear witness and confess. But today they know not. Blessed is the man of vision whom naught debarreth from the knowledge of his Lord, the All-Informed—though the knowledge of Him, as He is in Himself, lieth not within the bounds of possibility. Yet doth man infer from the signs the All-Compassing Author thereof, that One Whose tokens of power have encompassed the horizons, and Whose evidences of greatness have overshadowed all regions.

O thou dearly-loved one of Paradise! Though, for a while, the fingers refrained from taking up the reins of utterance and the tongue was long withheld from voicing a reply, yet hath thy remembrance been the intimate companion of the people of love, and the adornment of the gatherings of the true-hearted. I entreat my bountiful Lord to keep thee safe beneath the shadow of His Most Exalted Name, and to ordain for thee that which is best in the life to come and in this first life. Verily, He is powerful to do what He willeth.

It behoveth thee, and all who have hearkened to the Call from the Most Exalted Horizon, to turn to naught of all that is; to see the world and all that is therein as mere dust, to leave it behind you, and to turn wholly unto your Lord, the Lord of creation. Shall the man of insight put his trust in that which he seeth, in every moment and in all conditions, to be passing away? Nay, by my Lord, the Most High!

Blessed is he whom neither riches withhold nor vain hopes debar from turning unto the Lord of the beginning and the end. Reflect, O people of understanding, upon the perishableness of this world. Where now are the ranks of the Kisras and the hosts of the Caesars? Where is the might of the Pharaohs, the tyranny of the Nimrods, the ascendancy of the ʿAmaliq, the power of the Maraziba? They have abandoned all that they amassed, and parted from all that they treasured. Their houses stand empty, their lofty roofs are fallen, whilst our Lord, the Most Exalted, hath made all that appeareth in the kingdom a reminder unto the men of insight and a lesson unto the people of discernment.

Blessed is he who pondereth the tokens, graspeth the mysteries, and is not debarred from that which his Lord, the Almighty, the Unconstrained, hath willed for him.

O thou beloved one! Convey, on the faces of the friends, the wondrous praises and exalted thanksgivings, and make mention of them in a manner befitting their rank and their turning unto the Lord of Names. Peace be upon thee and upon them at all times.

Praise be to God, the Lord of all the worlds.

BH00816: Praise be to God, Who hath made plain…

He is the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting, exalted be His glory.

Praise be to God, Who hath made plain the pathways of guidance, delivered His loved ones from the darkness of heedlessness and error, and, through His power and sovereignty, in this latter day, hath fulfilled that which He promised unto His servants, through the intermediaries of His Revelation, in the beginning. He hath sent down in His Tablets that wherein lie sufficiency and fullness for such as seek; through them have men of sound mind and insight been guided unto the desired goal.

He is the Ruler, without beginning or end. We hallow and glorify Him with His praise, and entreat Him for grace and protection.

O thou who hast won the light of inner vision, and art illumined by the lamp of the knowledge of the Lord of all being in this day, which is the Day of God!

Thy letter, adorned with the pen of loyalty and breathing the subtleties of intimacy and purity, hath reached Us; and therein We recognized the degrees of thy love for thy Lord, and the ranks of thy humility before Him unto Whom thou shalt return and in Whose presence thou shalt abide.

I beseech God, the Lord of Names and the King of creation, to confirm thee in those deeds whereby thy station in His Kingdom may be exalted, and thy name may remain remembered in His Realm of might. I entreat Him further to keep thee under the shade of His protection, and to give thee, at every moment, to drink of the Kawthar of His bounty and grace. Verily, He is the Gentle, the Gracious. There is no God but He, the Most High, the Most Great.

When I had read thy letter, I attained the court of presence, and laid thy name in the august presence of the Lord of the Day of Resurrection. Then was the fragrance of grace stirred, and there descended, from the Kingdom of the loving care of the Lord of Names, a remembrance on thy behalf. Exalted be His sovereignty, exalted His proof! He saith:

O Ha before S,

The Greater Branch hath been present and hath made mention of thee. We beseech God that He may assist thee to achieve that which is the very cause and reason of the continuance of existence.

Praise be to God that thou hast quaffed from the Kawthar of Life which floweth from the direction of the All-Merciful, and hast inclined thine ear to the rustling of the Divine Lote-Tree. This remembrance and this favour shall remain, in the Kingdom of God, abiding and enduring. Ere long shall that which hath flowed from the Pen of the Most High become outwardly manifest.

We entreat God to strengthen thee in the safeguarding of this most exalted station. Verily, He is the All-Powerful, the All-Determining. At all times thy remembrance hath been, and still is, present before Us. This is a bounty from thy Lord bestowed upon thee.

Convey, on Our behalf, the cry of Allah-u-Akbar unto the friends of God—that is, unto those souls who are illumined by the effulgent rays of the True Dawn; and for each one of them We supplicate that which hath had, and ever shall have, no peer or likeness.

The glory from Our presence rest upon thee, and upon such as are with thee and give ear unto thy words in this Most Great Cause and this Great Announcement.

Praise be to God, the Mighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise!

Yea, praise be to God! In all circumstances the heavenly favours have encompassed you, and on most days your name hath been mentioned upon the tongue of grace, and ye have been sustained by the bounty of remembrance. Blessed art thou, and blessed are they that have attained!

As to what thou didst write regarding the letters: until this day, whatsoever epistle hath been received from thee, an answer hath been revealed and despatched, and, assuredly, they have all been attained and received.

And concerning what thou didst set down about the sending of letters: thou hast written that through Alexandria and ʿAliyyih (the post) matters are in order and no delay hath been observed. Henceforth, however, if possible, despatch them directly to Alexandria to the friends there; from this side also a written recommendation will be sent on their behalf. At the close of each letter do thou note its number, that, should any delay occur on the way, it may become evident which missive hath been held back.

As to the items formerly sent—namely, paper, ink and book-binding—they have all safely reached their destination. We entreat God to ordain for thee the choicest recompense in this world and the world to come, to make thee a standard of guidance amidst His creatures, and a sign of steadfastness among His servants. Verily, He is nigh and ready to answer.

Glorified art Thou, O my God, my Lord, my Master and my Hope! Thou beholdest the eye of him who seeketh Thee turned toward the shore of Thy bounty and Thy grace, and his heart expectant of the appearance of Thy tenderness and Thy loving-kindness.

I beseech Thee by Thy Greatest, Thine All-Glorious Name, and by Thy loftiest, Thine all-exalted Remembrance, to ordain for him the good of the next world and of this, and to adorn him, amidst the realm of creation, with the robe of Thy favour.

O my Lord! Even as Thou didst confirm him in the knowledge of Thy Self in the Day of Return, do Thou now guard him, beneath the shadow of Thy Name, the Almighty, the All-Bountiful; and vouchsafe unto him that which Thou hast decreed, in Thy Book, for the sincere.

Strengthen, O God, Thy loved ones in Thy remembrance and praise amidst Thy servants; enable them to stand firm in Thy Cause; make them arise in Thy service; and guide, through them, Thy heedless creatures unto the shore of Thy knowledge.

O my Lord, deprive not Thy servants of beholding the lights of the Sun of Thy knowledge; for Thou hast created them for guidance, not for abandonment in the wilderness of heedlessness and error.

Thou art He Who hast described Thy very Self as the All-Bountiful, and Thy mercy hath encompassed the world. I entreat Thee to ordain for all that which beseemeth Thy generosity and is worthy of Thy munificence. Verily, Thou art powerful to do what Thou willest. There is no God but Thee, the Bestower, the Giver, the All-Generous.

Make mention, on behalf of this Servant, with wondrous praises and exalted cries of Allah-u-Akbar of those friends of God who are adorned with the robe of steadfastness; and magnify them.

The spirit and the glory rest upon thee and upon thy household.

BH00969: My spirit be a sacrifice for You! Some time…

He is God, exalted is His station in majesty and power!

My spirit be a sacrifice for You! Some time ago, a petition was submitted in the company of Nabil-i-Qabli-ʿAli, upon him be the glory of God. This servant has again desired to cause trouble and occupy Your presence with these words which in truth express the limitations of this servant. Whenever one of the friends sets out for the abode of that Beloved One, this servant involuntarily clings to writing and composition, that perchance through this means he may be mentioned in Your exalted service. Although it has been long since the fragrant breezes of Your pen have passed by, nevertheless this servant has not paused for a moment, continuously and successively sending petitions and correspondence from various directions.

Again in these days when his honor Amin, upon him be the glory of God, was setting out for Your presence, this petition was submitted. As commanded, it was decided that the aforementioned should remain in this land and his journey was excused. However, afterward he himself requested to make one journey to return and arrange his affairs in that direction and come back quickly. Since he departed suddenly, therefore several Tablets were sent specifically for Your presence and for those related to You and for a few of the loved ones of God. God willing, more will be sent hereafter.

If you ask about the conditions of the prison, sufficient is what hath been revealed concerning it. In any case, this servant is bewildered day and night that while the ocean of bounties is manifest, the sun of favor is shining, the horizon of generosity is luminous, and verses are being revealed like torrential rain, how is it that people remain heedless and veiled, and have not been moved by the breezes of the days of God which are in truth the essence of life for all worlds and the cause of the quaking of all that is in the heavens and earth. We bear witness as God hath witnessed concerning them that they are dead, not living. Although in one sense this servant observes that just as it is, is beloved, as was said before: “Nothing in creation is more perfect than what is.”

Blessed are the sincere ones. Today is the day of the sincere ones. Today is the day of those drawn nigh. They drink from the cups of recognition despite the people of creation, and they partake of the Kawthar of life, hidden from those who have denied the All-Merciful. Surely those souls are content with these conditions, for they stand at the highest station of jealousy and certainly do not accept unworthy rivals. Well is it with them and pleasant it is for them. My spirit and my being be a sacrifice for them.

By the life of God, were my Lord and Master to permit me, I would manifest in the world through His name that which would cause every atom to dance, every created thing to be attracted, and every weighty thing to hasten. All these veils are caused by numerous souls, and they are the ignorant divines who are known among the people by the name of learning. Neither do they themselves attain, nor are they content with the attainment of others. May God protect us and the company of the believers from these satans. But they have conceived vain imaginings. In their fancy, each day they cling to something that might be the cause of their glory among people, heedless that the Supreme Pen has struck out the word of glory that was associated with them. Never will they find glory nor will they see it. Like Qarun (Korah), they sink into the earth at every moment.

Those who are not detached and are not spiritual will never attain loftiness, even if they should cling to every means. The difference is that Qarun sank into the physical earth, while such souls sink into the earth of self and desire. We beseech God to protect His loved ones from their evil, their schemes, their deceit, their guile, their pride and their vanity. Consider that from the day the divines in Iraq rose up in opposition, most were seen to be abased and cast down, and some returned to their abode in hellfire. What more can this evanescent servant say? In truth it is a pity—nay a hundred pities—that mention of such souls should flow from the pen in such days as these. Shame upon them and their loyalty! Sufficient unto them is what hath been revealed concerning them. Verily our Lord, the All-Merciful, is the Revealer, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

Convey greetings on behalf of this evanescent servant to all the friends, and say to them on behalf of this servant: O friends! Such days as these have never been seen nor shall be seen again. Know ye their worth and, with perfect fellowship and unity, occupy yourselves with the remembrance of the Lord of the Day of Judgment, that perchance ailing souls may drink from the sea of healing and distant servants attain to the Kawthar of nearness. For whatsoever is manifested from any soul today shall endure as long as the kingdom of earth and heaven endure. God willing, may all be refreshed and gladdened by the vernal breezes of the All-Merciful. These breezes are not like the known breezes that pass in an instant and cease. Rather these are breezes that shall never be cut off from pure and holy hearts, for they waft from the direction of the garment of the Beloved and pass from the Most Great Prison which is the seat of the throne of the All-Merciful. Blessed is he who hath found and known! Blessed is he who hath inhaled and breathed in! Blessed is he who hath turned toward Him with his breast stripped bare of coverings! And blessed is he who hath turned wholly unto Him, sanctified from all directions!

Whatever I might say is in truth little, even though it be much. Therefore brevity is best. Verily our All-Knowing Lord is the Interpreter, the All-Informed. In any case, in these days the honored Amin beareth witness that this servant hath not had and hath not the opportunity to speak, for matters have reached such a pass that I am continuously present and occupied with the revelation of verses, as petitions have arrived and continue to arrive from all directions. We beseech Him, exalted be He, to assist me in that which I have been commanded. Today, although there remain many writings that must be completed today, nevertheless permission was obtained from the Source of Grandeur and I became occupied with writing this letter, out of my love for your honor, O thou who hast aided the Cause of our Lord, the All-Bestowing.

BH00995: Observe what the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Qur’an…

He is God, exalted be He in wisdom and utterance

Observe what the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Qur’an: “No Messenger cometh unto them but they did mock Him.” Likewise He saith: “When Our clear signs came to them, they said: ʿThis is plain sorcery.”’ Adam came, and they denied Him. When it came to Moses’ turn, the Pharaohs rejected Him. The Son of Mary appeared, and the learned among the idol-worshippers and the Jews objected and denied that Supreme Grace in such wise that were it to be mentioned, the lamentations of the world would be raised. And when the sweet savors of the All-Merciful wafted from the direction of Hijaz and the Day Star of Manifestation—the Seal of the Prophets—dawned from the horizon of Batha, the Jewish, Christian and idolatrous divines rose up in opposition and issued the verdict for the shedding of His most pure blood.

In every age and cycle when the Sun of Truth hath shone forth from the horizon of the Divine Will, all have striven to extinguish its light, save whom God wished. And afterwards came the Herald, Who gave the glad tidings of the Kingdom of God to all. And when the appointed time arrived and the hidden, treasured Secret, which had been recorded by the Supreme Pen in all the divine Books, descended from the heaven of the Command with the banners of verses and standards of clear proofs, all denied Him.

And the divines of Persia—the Shi’ih sect—perpetrated that which no other sect had ever done, and committed that which caused the clouds to cry out and the heavens to wail. From the beginning until now, He hath been in the hands of His enemies—at times imprisoned in the land of Ta under chains and fetters, at times in other lands under the claws of the wicked. Finally, they carried Him as a captive from land to land until they assigned Him to this Most Great Prison and Most Mighty Stronghold.

I swear by the ocean of the All-Merciful’s utterance that in all conditions We have been and are thankful. Divine love transformeth hardship into ease and severity into relief. Tribulation in His path is acceptable and beloved by the lovers and the eager ones. The sincere and near ones have freely sacrificed and continue to sacrifice their lives in the path of the Beloved of the worlds.

Reflect upon his honor the martyr who was named Ali in the Kingdom of Names. By the life of God, he proceeded to the place of sacrifice with such joy and eagerness that the denizens of the Supreme Paradise and the Highest Garden all proclaimed “Well done, O Ali!” The holy ones of Paradise came forth to welcome him, and all remembered him, saying “Enter, enter, O ʿAli!” Were this station to be revealed, all would abandon the world and whatsoever is therein, and would turn unto that which is with God.

O Siyyid ʿAli, upon thee be My glory! Thy name hath been mentioned in the presence of the Wronged One, and this perspicuous Tablet hath dawned for thee specifically from the horizon of the grace of the Lord of the worlds. Give thanks to the Desired One of the world for this great bounty.

Convey My greetings and praise to the loved ones of God and say: O people of God! Today the call of the Divine Lote Tree and the trilling of the Supreme Pen are raised. The ocean of utterance surgeth before the faces of all peoples, and the sun of knowledge shineth from the horizon of will. Hold fast unto truth and be free from all else. The opposers and barking ones have intended to lead the servants astray. Protect yourselves through the name of Truth. It may well be that from this land too there will arise one who barketh. We beseech God to set ablaze the friends of that land with the fire of the divine Lote Tree and illumine them with the light of His Cause, that all may attain unto supreme steadfastness and pass by all else save God like unto lightning.

O people of God! The Shi’ih sect counted themselves as the most learned, the most enlightened and the most excellent among all the peoples of the world, yet on the Day of Judgment they were seen to be the most lost among the nations. This loss proceeded from the divines, for in ages past they educated the people in vain imaginings, and even now they await the emergence of an imaginary one from an imaginary city. Such is the state of the divines of the past.

O Siyyid ʿAli! When thou hast received My Tablet and inhaled the fragrance of My utterance, say: My God, my God, my Goal, my Beloved, my Worshipped One, my Hope, my Desire and my Refuge! I beseech Thee by Thy Cause through which the ocean of knowledge surged in the contingent world and the horizon of utterance was illumined by the sun of proof, to aid me in Thy remembrance, Thy praise and the service of Thy loved ones.

O my Lord! Thou seest me turning toward Thy most exalted horizon, acknowledging Thy oneness and Thy singleness, O Lord of all names and Creator of the heavens! I testify that through Thy manifestation the decree of resurrection was revealed, the Hour came to pass, the mountains were moved, the Trumpet was blown, and all who are in the heavens and on earth were thunderstruck, save those whom Thou didst deliver through Thy bounty and shelter beneath the pavilions of Thy grace.

O Lord! Separation from Thee hath caused my death, and my liver hath melted from remoteness from the court of Thy nearness. I beseech Thee by the power through which Thou didst transform remoteness into nearness and darkness into light, to ordain for me by Thy Most Exalted Pen that which Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen ones and trusted ones. Then cause me, O my God, to be so set ablaze with the fire of Thy love that Thy servants may be enkindled thereby.

O Lord! Thou seest mine eyes fixed upon the horizon of Thy bounty, my outer and inner hands raised toward the heaven of Thy mercy, and my heart turned toward Thy direction. I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which Abraham prevailed over Nimrod, Moses over Pharaoh, and Muhammad over Abu-Jahl, to enable me to do that which befitteth Thy days and beseemeth Thy Cause.

Then forgive, O my God, Thy loved ones whose hearts were troubled in adversity and who were seized with fear in times of trials. Then adorn them with the ornament of Thy pardon and bounty, and ordain for them the reward of what they have wrought in Thy path and that which beseemeth the heavens of Thy favors and the suns of Thy gifts. Thou art, verily, the One Who hath power over whatsoever He willeth. There is none other God but Thee, the Almighty, the All-Compelling, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

At the end of the Book, We counsel the friends of that land to love the kindred of the Martyr, upon him and upon them be the glory of God, His light, and the glory of all who are in the heavens and the earth. Blessed is he who acteth in accordance with what hath been commanded in the Book of God, the Lord of the worlds.

BH00992: My spirit, my very being, and all that my…

He is the Most Wondrous, the All-Glorious

My spirit, my very being, and all that my Beloved hath bestowed upon me be a sacrifice unto Thee! Praise be to God Who hath illumined our hearts with the light of Thy Holy Book and our breasts with the radiance of Thy gracious utterance. It is as though I have gathered choice and goodly fruits from the Divine Lote-Tree at this moment, which have been presented before Thy face. From the Source of Command was revealed:

O thou who bearest the name of Mihdi! May you ever be occupied with the remembrance of God and His service. I ask of Him and beseech Him to answer, by virtue of His sovereign might, as one of His servants who was related to the Son had beseeched Him, that He may strengthen us in the face of oppressive onslaughts, for verily He is the Powerful, the Mighty, and that He may shelter us in the fortress of His favors, bounties and grace, and so forth.

Thy Lord hath answered all of this even before thy supplication, inasmuch as He hath aided thee to serve Him, to promulgate His Cause, and to mention His Name amongst His servants, and hath protected thee from the insinuations of the sinful and the doubts of the deniers, and hath made thee steadfast in times of trial and test. For such a Lord befitteth glorification, magnification and praise. He is, verily, the Mighty, the Peerless.

That which you had written concerning the circulation of copies of the Tablets was most pleasing. In truth, the divine Word is like the vernal breezes of God’s tender mercy for all creation—the more it bloweth and passeth by, the sweeter and more excellent it becometh. This is of God’s grace unto them. Previously certain Tablets were revealed to you wherein were recorded from the Pen of the Most High explanations regarding the revelation of certain verses of the Qur’an and some of the stories of the first believers. Those Tablets, nay rather all that hath been sent to you, should be dispatched to all lands, for they will prove most beneficial. Some of the servants are aware of what hath come to pass but know not what shall come to pass, therefore such Tablets will prove beneficial. Those to whom copies are sent should make copies thereof and send them to other regions. Although this wondrous Cause is one that hath no likeness in all that hath gone before or shall come after, blessed is he who beholdeth it with his own eyes, detached from all that he hath heard aforetime. In any case, befitting service to the Cause is expected of you; whatsoever you have done hath been and is acceptable.

Concerning what you wrote about sending to the land of KH-R-T, by My life, We love to hear their call at all times. We have not forgotten them, but rather remember them as befitting and proper. Verily your Lord is the Forgiving, the Merciful. God willing, after the way is truly opened, We shall send to them that which will cause their spirits to soar and their eyes to be consoled.

And regarding what you wrote about F-A-R-S, his book was presented at the Most Great Scene and an answer was revealed and sent. However, they must act with perfect wisdom. They must never explicitly speak of the Revealer and Sender. Most people are immature and as infants. When a child is born from its mother, it must be given milk, not meat and heavy foods, so that step by step it may be nurtured and reach a stage where it can partake of various fruits and manifold bounties.

You must greatly emphasize concealment of the Cause, wisdom, and tolerance with people. Although teaching was commanded in the Tablet, this is not intended or desired in these days. They must act according to people’s capacity. The more matters remain concealed in these days, the better. Previously a Tablet was specifically revealed for them but was not sent. We beseech God that he remain firm and steadfast. The ultimate bounty regarding him is that his mention was recorded by the Eternal Pen in the Divine Tablet. Blessed is he, again blessed is he. If at any time he intends to turn towards this land, you must surely prevent him. The explicit command is that no one should turn towards this direction except with his Lord’s permission.

Convey greetings from the True One to N-S. Say: God has seized him who cast you into the well. Verily He is the Deliverer of the lovers and the Destroyer of the idolaters. Likewise convey sublime greetings to Khalil of the land of S and Darvish and other loved ones of God, and especially to Aqa Muhammad-Rida who burns in the fire of separation, and convey countless greetings to his family. The Glory be upon you and upon those with you and your family.

My very being and essence be a sacrifice unto Thee. Thou hadst expressed Thy deprivation from the Most Great Festivals. This year, in this land as well, matters were not conducted in accordance with the customary practice; the details thereof were set forth in the former petition and shall attain the blessed sight. Yet that blessed Person hath in no wise been, nor is, deprived; for I bear witness that Thy remembrance hath ever been present. God willing, we cherish the hope that hereafter they may act in conformity with Thy longing and desire—that is, that Thou mayest, at all times and in every festival, quaff the limpid waters of nearness, meeting, presence, and reunion. With mine eyes fixed upon the all-embracing favours of that Beloved One, I supplicate that the mention of the sincerity of this evanescent one, together with his respectful salutations, may be conveyed to each of the loved ones of that land who are present in the holy Presence.

All the loved ones, one by one, offer before that blessed Person their boundless expressions of devotion and fidelity; and likewise they send unto those friends their earnest salutations. The Branches, the Leaves, and the Offshoots of the Divine Lote-Tree convey wondrous remembrance from God and lofty Baha’i greetings. The dwellers within the pavilion of the sacred household utter and convey unto that blessed Person and unto the holy household the most exquisite and exalted salutations.

My soul be a sacrifice unto Thee. A petition was laid before Him on Friday, the tenth of this month, together with a copy of Thy Tablet which had previously been sent, and likewise the weighty Tablet which had been revealed on the preceding night and presented, the copy whereof Jinab-i-Jud—upon him be the Glory of God—wrote and sendeth. The original of that Tablet was dispatched, and the details were set forth. God willing, it shall attain the most holy and most luminous presence.

The servant of God, dated Thursday 16 Safar, Ha ʿAyn A’zam

BH01014: Praise befitteth and is meet for the Desired One…

He is the All-Knowing Expositor, He is the Hearing, the Answering

Praise befitteth and is meet for the Desired One of the world Who, through the grace of the Most Great Name, hath bestowed upon all peoples the Kawthar of knowledge and understanding, and through the Most Exalted Word hath raised aloft before all faces the standard “The Kingdom is God’s.” The might of the oppressors, the prohibition of the deniers, and the clamor of the ignorant did not withhold Him. The ocean of generosity is surging in such wise as to encompass the realm of being and the kingdom of heaven, and the sun of grace is shining in such wise as to illumine all the worlds of sciences and arts. Glorious is His favor, exalted His dominion, and mighty His proof!

The light shining from the horizon of the heaven of bounty and bestowal be upon the hands of His Cause, who have taken hold of His Book with a power that the hosts of rejection and the manifestations of denial could not withstand. These are they whom God hath described in His mighty Book, both aforetime and in these days: “Men whom neither merchandise nor traffic beguile from the remembrance of God,” and in another passage: “They speak not until He hath spoken, and they do as they are bidden.” Through them hath God revealed His Cause and His sovereignty, through them hath He guided mankind unto His straight Path and His mighty Announcement, and through them have His traces been spread abroad, His signs been exalted, and His lights been manifested. Verily our Lord is the One Who hath power over whatsoever He willeth, and in His grasp are the reins of all things, of the former and latter generations.

Thereafter, on this blessed day, when four hours of the day had passed, this servant proceeded to the Most Exalted Paradise and the Supreme Garden, and after attaining the presence before His face, the tongue of grandeur spoke these decisive words and manifest verses, He spoke and His word is the truth: “O Majd, His honor Khalil, upon him be the glory of his Lord, the Glorious, hath sent a letter. Praise be to God, through His special favors the friends of those regions have been blessed and the fire of love hath been kindled in hearts and souls. We beseech God to aid them to remember and praise Him and to serve His Cause, to rain down upon them from the clouds of His mercy the showers of His bounty, and to give them to drink, from the hand of His bestowal, the Kawthar of His utterance. He is verily the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.

“O Khalil! At this moment the letter hath attained Our presence and this Wronged One hath personally read it. Blessed art thou, inasmuch as We have inhaled from thee the fragrance of steadfastness in this Announcement whereby the pillars of them that have denied the Day of Judgment have been shaken. Say: O people, fear the All-Merciful and be not of the wrongdoers. The proof hath come, and the Day-Star of certitude hath shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of utterance of God, the Lord of the worlds. Beware lest the conditions of the wicked and the deeds of the immoral grieve you. Leave them to themselves, turning unto God, the Single One, the All-Informed. They have violated God’s Covenant and His Testament, and have committed that which hath caused the Faithful Spirit to lament. The oppressor in the land of Ya hath perpetrated that which hath caused the hearts of the chosen ones to burn and the livers of the sincere ones to melt, and there hath appeared in the land of Ta that whereof We had forewarned you in Our Most Holy Book. With Him is the knowledge of all things in a clear Record. The wrongdoers shall soon find the recompense of their deeds. Thy Lord, verily, is the Avenger, the Almighty, the Powerful.

“Say: O people of God! Let not the manifestations of idle fancies frighten you, nor the dawning-places of vain imaginings sadden you—they who have denied God’s signs and His testimony and have rejected this straight Path. We have announced to them Him Who conversed on Sinai, this Revelation Who hath seated Himself upon the throne of utterance at the heart of contingent being, despite every ignorant remote one and every heedless doubter. When thou hast attained unto the Euphrates of thy Lord’s mercy which hath flowed from His Most Exalted Pen, and hast heard His most sweet call, say:

Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having guided me to the horizon of Thy manifestation, given me to drink of the Kawthar of Thy knowledge, and made me to know the Dayspring of Thy verses and the Dawning-place of Thy clear tokens. I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which Thou hast subdued all that was and all that shall be, to protect me from the evil of Thine enemies and to strengthen me to stand firm in Thy love. Then I beseech Thee, O Lord of the worlds, by Thy Most Excellent and Most Ancient Name, to assist His Majesty the Sultan and his loved ones to turn towards Thee and to face the lights of Thy countenance.

O Lord! Aid him to protect Thy sheep from the wolves of Thy earth. Then write for him that which will draw him nigh unto Thee and give him to drink of the Kawthar of Thy knowledge. Then make known to him, O my God, the nature of Thy loved ones whose hearts Thou hast purified from rancor and hatred, from corruption and contention. Verily, Thou art the Omnipotent, the Self-Sufficient, the Most Exalted. There is no God but Thee, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful. O Lord! Adorn Thy loved ones with beauteous patience and noble steadfastness, illumine them with the light of Thy knowledge, and assist them to turn towards Thy servants and guide them in Thy days. Verily, Thou art the Compassionate, the Forgiving, the Generous.

Praise be to God! The Sun of proof hath shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of utterance with such brilliance that those who would describe, remember, or speak of it all find themselves powerless and wanting. Who can count the waves of the ocean of His utterance, and who can encompass the effulgences of the light of His bounty? Each day a new scroll is revealed and each night a book appeareth. Glory be to God! Despite this supreme grace which hath encompassed both the seen and unseen worlds, the people remain heedless and veiled. What intoxication hath seized the world of knowledge? Despite the raising of the call and the appearance of the banners of the Lord of all beings, all remain asleep in the slumber of heedlessness. The cry hath not awakened them and the trumpet hath had no effect. In all conditions one must hold fast to the cord of grace and cling to the hem of bounty, that perchance the servants may not remain deprived in this blessed Day.

This servant submitteth and saith: O my God, my Lord, and my Support! Thou seest those who are near and those who have turned towards Thee in the hands of such of Thy servants as have turned away from Thee, and there hath befallen them in their love for Thee that which hath caused the dwellers of Thy Kingdom and Thy Realm to lament. O Lord! Assist them to turn in repentance to Thy gate and to return to the court of Thy holiness. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the Mighty, the All-Bestowing.

As for the mention made of Aqa Khan and other loved ones, upon them be the Glory of God, after their names were submitted before the Most Holy Court, there was revealed for each one that which the world and all that is therein cannot equal. This is what was revealed for Aqa Khan, upon him be the Glory of the All-Merciful.