Volume 107: Date unknown (4 of 7)
BH05318: The people of certitude imagine that worldly events are…
He is God—exalted be His glory, the Greatness and the Power!
The people of certitude imagine that worldly events are nonexistent and absent in the sight of the Divine Party. Yet it is observed that some become disturbed by certain words of others and by the rejection or acceptance of souls. Those accepted souls who today have attained to hearing the divine call and have received their portion from the ocean of knowledge should regard the entire world as nonexistent, as though it had never been mentioned.
O friends! Hear the call of the Wronged One! One must lift one’s gaze from outward causes and temporal events and fix it upon the supreme horizon, such that whatever occurs will not become a source of prevention and disturbance. Blessed is the state of one who has been and continues to be engaged in service under all conditions. The numbered days and transient manifestations have not and will not prevent the companions of the depths of the sea of oneness.
With perfect certitude, strive to reform existence, that perchance the naked ones of the world may be adorned with the ornament of awareness and illumined by the lights of the sun of knowledge. Count time as precious and make the friends happy through remembrance of God, exalted be His glory.
The Glory be upon you and upon those who have attained to the knowledge of God and acted according to what He has commanded in His perspicuous Book.
BH05286: The serpent hath opened wide its jaws and hath…
He is the Mighty, the Beauteous, and He is the Wronged One, the Stranger.
The serpent hath opened wide its jaws and hath swallowed up the sheep of God, the All-Subduing, the Self-Subsisting. The thief hath stolen from the City of the lovers a precious pearl; the oppressor hath, with the sword of vain desire, slain the best of men; and the wretched one hath committed that at which the denizens of Paradise have wailed and wherefor tears have flowed.
How many bodies have been rent asunder in the path of God, and how many hearts have poured forth their blood, in this sanctified, mighty and exalted Cause!
O Mahd! Upon thee be My glory, and the glory of all who are in My Kingdom and My realm of might. The events of the world have so grieved Me that I desire not to speak with any soul. By the life of God! There is that which I love—and yet I love not to mention it, lest it sadden thee and My loved ones. My utterance and My words declare that concealment is preferable and more beloved, for thy Lord is the Concealer, the Long-Suffering, the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful.
At this hour Badi’u’llah arrived. We said: “Hath the Mahd desired to visit the Wronged One?” He pondered for a moment and replied: “Thou art, verily, the All-Knowing.” Thus did that which did happen come to pass, and We have informed thee thereof; verily, He is the All-Informed Reporter.
Glory, shining forth from the horizon of My loving care, be upon thee, and upon those who are with thee and around thee, and upon every steadfast soul endowed with discernment.
BH05331: O Leaf! God grant that thou mayest detach thyself…
He is God, sanctified above whatsoever they have uttered.
O Leaf! God grant that thou mayest detach thyself from all else save Him, and remain occupied with the remembrance of the Beloved. The remembrance of the Friend hath ever been the cause of everlasting life and the source of eternal being. The fire of the divine remembrance increaseth the soul’s ardor, effaceth the word “self” from the heart, and causeth the tree of certitude to spring forth therein. This is that tree whose root is firmly fixed and abiding in the heart, and whose branches are seen uplifted unto heaven.
We cherish the hope that, through the grace of the All-Generous, we may ever keep this tree fresh and verdant by the waters of the ancient Lord’s loving-kindness; that, through the Name of the Beloved, it may be preserved from violent winds; and that, beneath the shelter of the mercy of the All-Merciful, it may remain guarded and enduring against the trials of time.
Should ye inquire concerning the condition of this wronged one, know that in the prison and in the land of exile We are occupied with the remembrance of the friends, and We beseech God—glorious and exalted be He—to gather His handmaidens within the court of fellowship and the seat of nearness, that together, in one accord, we may quaff from the cup of meeting the wine of reunion, and turn our gaze away from all the world of being.
In brief, the work of these prisoners hath, at all times before the throne of the All-Merciful, been and shall remain the remembrance of the friends. Convey unto all, great and small alike, from the tongue of this mortal one, a most exalted greeting.
BH05340: Know that the Lord of the world, glorified…
In the Name of God, the Most Exalted, the Most Holy
Know that the Lord of the world, glorified and exalted be He, will take the soul of the believer and cause it to ascend unto the highest heaven. In this station of spiritual glory the souls of the believers will become acquainted with each other in the path which the Lord of the world hath foreordained. They will advance together toward the loftiest stations, and shall not return to the material world until the time when the eternal Will purposeth to return the creation and make the world anew.
But in this world all those called into being are new souls. It is not that a former soul becometh incarnated in another person, or that another individual becometh the soul of a former individual. Nay, rather they correspond with each other through manifestations; that is to say, he will be in the station of his soul, but his soul is not incarnated and the state of the soul does not become embodied.
Moreover, creatures have ever been and will be in their own stations. The True One is in His station, and the souls of the believers and the deniers are in theirs. “Each swimmeth in its own sphere.”
Understanding the world of souls is impossible in this world of bodies. That world is unlike anything you can conceive in your imagination. In these perishable bodies one cannot perceive the immortal worlds, save through that which ye sometimes behold in a dream. Fear God, O possessors of insight, that haply ye may have compassion upon yourselves.
BH05426: The countenance of the Beloved is beheld…
The countenance of the Beloved is beheld, and the Presence of the Desired One is attained; yet all are, through the fire of separation, as though extinguished.
O Lord! unto whom can this subtle truth be told: that in the world He hath shown His face to none? This Beauty, though everywhere present, causeth eyes to shed their tears; and the loved ones, afflicted, abide at the threshold of hope. It is hoped that the morn of reunion may dawn, and that the gloom of expectation may be dispelled.
Verily, we are God’s, and unto our Lord do we return; for there is none other God but Him, and unto Him shall all return.
This evanescent point, in this darksome night, beareth witness unto the oneness of Him Who is the One, the Single, the Self-Subsisting, “Who hath no peer nor equal.”
Thereafter, let those who are present make mention of the absent ones: that the pilgrimage of all hath been accepted, and that the gifts and tokens from Karbila, Najaf, Kazimayn, Samarra, Baghdad, Kirmanshahan, and Hamadan are to be brought for everyone. No excuse shall henceforth be heeded—neither that one forgot to purchase aught, nor that the travel-money was exhausted, nor that the Arab guide had come upon us. None of these excuses shall be accepted.
Peace be upon you. I remember all the members of the household.
BH05474: Regarding the matter of Aqa Husayn-ʿAli, upon him be…
Regarding the matter of Aqa Husayn-ʿAli, upon him be the Glory of God, a detailed request was submitted. This is what was revealed in response from the presence of the Mighty, the All-Bestowing. He says, exalted be His glory:
“May he be patient; may he be present; may he hold fast to consultation and act according to what emerges from it. Divine relief will come. Inform the people of the regions who are forbearing and the bearers of the Divine Trust not to feel secure from traitors, thieves and liars. As previously this supreme utterance was revealed from the Most Exalted Pen: ʿDo not trust every new arrival, do not believe every speaker, and do not listen to every liar.’ All must hold fast to these points. Settlement is not favored in lands under the government of the Land of Ta. He may accept going to other lands, for verily God’s earth is vast. However, in every case the command of consultation has been revealed—one must hold fast to it and act upon it.” End.
Since that beloved one had asked for a response regarding what their duty should be, therefore an answer was bestowed. But in truth this blessed utterance is for all, meaning those souls who have become known and afflicted. And by the government of Ta is meant the localities under the administration of the Viceroy. Know this.
BH05578: O people of the religion of the Friend [Abraham]!…
O people of the religion of the Friend [Abraham]! Your Beloved, with yearning and lamentation, proclaimeth:
O nightingales of the garden of knowledge, hasten ye! O companions of the soul, turn your faces toward the spiritual Threshold. Give glad tidings unto the soul that the Beloved hath placed upon His head the crown of manifestation, and hath flung wide the portals of the everlasting rose-garden. Announce unto the eyes that the day of beholding hath come. Inform the friends of the homeland that the Friend hath appeared in the marketplace; and apprise the hoopoe of longing that the Peerless Friend is manifest without veil or covering.
O lovers of the Beloved! He hath granted leave of admittance and, with the hand of bounty, hath opened the door of meeting. O friends! The grief of separation hath been changed into the joy of reunion, and the poison of remoteness into the honey of nearness and encounter.
In this victorious Day, the cloud of divine bounty hath poured forth its gifts, and the Sign of generosity hath vouchsafed manifold bestowals, in such wise that the Beloved Himself hath purposed to meet His loved ones, and the Desired One hath sought out His lovers.
O people of London! The One true Friend hath remembered you and hath come unto you. For a time His companion was the chain, and His intimate associate was sorrow and lamentation. For four months He made His abode in the darksome prison. Certain of the brothers kept afar from Him, and friends, through fear of enemies, held themselves apart. We had a sister who turned from light unto fire, and withdrew from fidelity.
BH05586: O Shaykh Jamalu’d-Din! Upon thee be the peace…
O Shaykh Jamalu’d-Din! Upon thee be the peace of God, His glory and His light night and day. This Wronged One beseeches God to open a door of prosperity and success, that the troubles of twenty years may not be in vain. It is hoped that thou wilt, in these latter days, attain unto that which manifesteth the signs of truth in the world. Sorrows have encompassed from every direction. Say:
My God, my God! Aid Thy servants to turn unto the Dawning-Places of Thy Cause and the Daysprings of Thy glory. O Lord! Thou seest the trusted ones among the treacherous of Thy creation. I beseech Thee by Thy Most Great Signs and Thy manifestations in the kingdom of creation to protect Thy loved ones through the hosts of wisdom and utterance, and to enable them to draw nigh unto Thee at all times. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the Help in Peril.
O Faraju’llah! Upon thee be My peace and My glory. It is hoped that through thy steadfastness and attention in those regions, a door will be opened in the name of Truth. This is not difficult for God.
The honored Siyyid Mustafa and some others—upon them be the peace of God and His glory—their petitions have repeatedly arrived and were granted audience. We beseech God to aid them, to make them successful, and to make them among those who hold fast to the cord of justice and cling to the hem of fairness. Verily, He is the Powerful over whatsoever He willeth through His binding and wise command.
BH05589: O Thou True One! The gaze of the Lord…
O Thou True One! The gaze of the Lord of might, in this Most Great Revelation, summoneth the peoples of the earth unto whatsoever shall conduce to the harmonizing of hearts and the unity and concord of souls. The ordinances and laws of God are the supreme means and the mightiest instrument for the tranquillity of the nations. Yet, by reason of their deprivation from the knowledge of this most exalted station, the generality remain bereft thereof, preferring the vain imaginings of men above the law of God and His command.
He exhorteth thee and the inhabitants of the earth unto that which shall lead all men unto sanctity and purity, unto peace and nearness unto Him. Say: Cast away your idle fancies and vain surmisings, and turn your faces unto the daystar of utterance, He Who is the Desire of the world. He is the peerless Beloved and the unrivalled Friend. His remembrance is the sovereign of remembrances, and His command the king of all commandments and laws.
Say: Put away the precepts that ye yourseves have contrived, and lay hold on the precepts of God; verily, they shall guard you from that which beseemeth not His servants. He, in truth, is powerful over all things.
From God—exalted be His glory—I beseech steadfastness for all, inasmuch as His Cause is great, and this Day is great.
BH05631: This is the Day of Beauty and the hour…
He is God!
This is the Day of Beauty and the hour belongs to the King of Glory, yet I have taken up the pen of inscription to express matters of love or to soar to the utmost stations of love and affection. But this is most difficult, for the wings of this dove have been clipped by the shears of the suspicions among Thy servants. How can one whose wings are clipped have the power to soar alongside the falcon of might? This is in no wise possible. All this is by God’s command and nothing appears except by His leave.
Yea, unless the Unseen Grace stretches forth Its bounteous hand from the pocket of mercy and bestows wings of success, so that with one wing we might transcend contingent being and with the other wing pass beyond the kingdoms of existence and the universes, and cross the distant stations of days whose measure is fifty thousand years in a single step, and attain in less than the twinkling of an eye to the highest degrees of nearness and reunion. All this is from God’s grace which He bestows upon whomsoever He wishes among His creation. Verily He has power over whatsoever He wishes and He is the Protector, the Self-Subsisting.
And this is the station of the spiritual messenger who moves by the confirmation of light and circumambulates the Throne of manifestation, and afterwards remembers all the dwellers of the pavilion.
BH11641: Glorified art Thou, O Lord my God! Behold how…
Glorified art Thou, O Lord my God! Behold how one slave hath stood at the door of another, seeking from him his freedom, and this despite the fact that his owner is himself but Thy thrall and Thy servant, and is evanescent before the revelations of Thy supreme Lordship. I testify at this moment, as I stand before Thee, to that whereunto Thou didst testify to Thyself, by Thyself, that verily Thou art God and there is none other God but Thee. From everlasting Thou hast inhabited the loftiest heights of power, might, and majesty, and wilt to everlasting continue to abide in the sublimity of Thy glory, awe, and beauty.
All kings are as vassals before the gate of Thy grace, the rich are but destitute at the shore of Thy sacred dominion, and all great ones are but feeble creatures within the court of Thy glorious bounty. How, then, can this thrall claim for himself ownership of any other human being? Nay, his very existence before the court of Thy might is a sin with which no other sin in Thy kingdom can compare. Glorified, immeasurably glorified, art Thou beyond every description and praise.
O my God! Since he hath asked this servant for his freedom, I call Thee to witness at this moment that I verily have set him free in Thy path, liberated him in Thy name, and lifted from his neck the shackles of servitude, that he may serve Thee in the daytime and in the night-season, whilst I pray that Thou mayest never free mine own neck from the chain of Thy servitude. This verily is my highest hope and supreme aspiration, and to this Thou Thyself art a mighty witness.
BH11642: Know thou with clear certitude that whosoever in this…
In the name of the one true God!
Know thou with clear certitude that whosoever in this Day hath drunk from the Kawthar of divine response and hath turned toward the Most Exalted Horizon is mentioned before God and his name is inscribed in the Book. God, exalted be His glory, is present and watchful. He is the Hearer, the Answerer, the Witness, the All-Seeing. Praise be to God that thou hast attained unto that which most of the peoples of the world, despite their seeking and expectation, remain veiled from. This blessing is the greatest of divine blessings. Neither tongue nor pen can adequately render thanks for this.
Be thou patient in what thou hast received from thy father and deal with him under all conditions with patience. Verily thy Lord is the All-Forgiving, the All-Generous. In the path of divine love thou must needs bear this much hardship and hold fast to the cord of patience. We have enjoined upon all to honor their fathers and mothers. Every hardship that is borne in the path of God hath been and ever shall be sweeter than apparent blessings. Beseech thou God to adorn him with the ornament of justice and fairness. Verily thy Lord is the Almighty, the All-Powerful.
The glory be upon thee and upon him who was named Sultan-ʿAli. Give him the glad-tidings of My loving-kindness and My grace, and bid him to be steadfast in this mighty Cause. Praise be to God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
BH11643: O Ghulam-Rida! Great is the Cause and great…
He is the One Who gazeth from His most exalted horizon
O Ghulam-Rida! Great is the Cause and great is the Day! Blessed are they who, with supreme steadfastness, remain firm and immovable in the Cause of the Lord of all beings. These are the companions of the Crimson Ark. By the life of God! All divine Books and Scriptures bear witness to the greatness of this Cause and to the excellence and nobility of these companions. We beseech God to assist all to attain this station.
The understanding and perception of most people is such that should one of the evil ones arise to lead them astray, wavering and instability would be observed in their steadfastness, firmness and constancy. Glory be to God above what hath been said and uttered! Today, those who gaze toward the most exalted horizon and have quaffed from the waters of reunion must manifest such steadfastness that none upon earth can prevent them. This is God’s decree, both in the past and in the future, and this is God’s command, both in the past and in the future.
Blessed art thou, and blessed is thy son, and blessed are they who have attained unto supreme steadfastness in this mighty Cause. Praise be to God, the Mighty, the Bountiful! That which hath befallen you is witnessed in the presence of God. He is in exile, affliction and imprisonment, and His loved ones are afflicted with banishment. However, exile in the path of the Friend is accounted as the most exalted homeland in the presence of God. Blessed are they who have attained, and woe betide the heedless!
BH11644: O Muhammad! Upon thee be My glory and My…
He is the Compassionate, the All-Knowing, the Wise!
O Muhammad! Upon thee be My glory and My loving-kindness! The servant who is present hath brought before Us a leaf whereon was inscribed thy name and the names of those who have believed in God, the Lord of the worlds. We have sent down for thee and for them that whereby the cities of wisdom and utterance have been illumined. Verily thy Lord is the Mighty, the Powerful.
O Muhammad! Remind My loved ones of My verses and illumine their hearts with the lights of My wondrous and glorious utterance. We bear witness that thou hast attained unto My verses through diverse leaves and various tablets. Verily thy Lord is the Mighty, the All-Knowing.
Say: O concourse of men! By God, this is the Day of victory and triumph. Aid ye your Lord through that which We have revealed in the Holy Books and Scriptures, and in this glorious and wondrous Tablet. All must hold fast to the teaching of the Cause and present proofs and evidences from the verses and clear tokens of this Most Great Revelation and from Him Who sacrificed His life for My sake. The divine verses are effectual: in one station they are the Water of Life for the servants, and in another they are the Teacher of all created things. Were their attributes and effects to be mentioned, a mighty book would appear.
We have made mention of thee from My Most Exalted Pen in the Crimson Book as among those who have remained faithful to My Covenant and My Testament, and who throughout their lives have spoken My beauteous praise. The Glory shining from the horizon of the heaven of My greatest mercy be upon thee and upon those who hearken unto the proofs of the teachers and follow the Command of God, the Ordainer, the Wise.
BH11922: O thou who art present before the Face…
He is the One Who has dominion over what was and what will be.
O thou who art present before the Face and who gazest toward My Most Exalted Horizon! Upon thee be My glory and My loving-kindness. Mention hath been made of thee and of that which thy tongue hath uttered in praise of God. All this is from God’s bounty unto thee. We beseech the True One to aid thee, that thou mayest, through His Name, conquer the world of hearts and be free in the path of His love from the world and all who dwell therein. The love of the world hath prevented and deprived the peoples from turning to the Ancient Beauty, exalted be His glory. We beseech Him to bestow upon thee a strength which no weakness can affect, that perchance the light of certitude may triumph over the darkness of vain imaginings. Verily, He is powerful over all things.
Convey My greetings to the loved ones of that land and remind them that the loved ones arrived and were blessed to circumambulate the point round which circle the Concourse on High. His honor Ali-Akbar was blessed to circumambulate during the Feast of Sacrifice and the pilgrimage of God. We beseech God to ordain for His loved ones what He hath ordained for thee and him. Verily, He is powerful over all things. His honor Abdu’llah, upon him be My glory, hath ever been and still is remembered, and likewise all the friends of that land, upon them all be My glory and My mercy and My loving-kindness.
BH05913: This is a Book from Us to Aziz…
He is the Mighty, the Great!
This is a Book from Us to Aziz that he may rejoice and be of the thankful ones. O Aziz! We testify that thou hast turned unto God, the Lord of the worlds, and attained unto His presence, and heard the Call, and drunk the choice wine of reunion, and entered through a door that was opened before the face of all who are in earth and heaven, and beheld what none before thee had ever desired to behold. Verily thy Lord is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. We beseech Him to inscribe for thee from His Most Exalted Pen that which shall preserve thee and profit thee in every world of the worlds of thy Lord, the Almighty, the All-Powerful.
We make mention of thy brother who was named Hashim with a mention that shall never fade away, from God, the Sovereign of creation. We beseech God to forgive thee and forgive those for whom thou hast sought forgiveness from the ocean of the bounty of His Name, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. Blessed art thou for having held fast unto the cord of His ordinances and acted according to that which God hath revealed in the Book. Say:
O my God! Thou seest me having left my home and migrated in Thy path until I attained unto Thy presence. I beseech Thee by the light of Thy countenance and the fire of the Tree of Thy Command to ordain for me that which shall profit me in every world of Thy worlds. Verily Thou knowest what profiteth me and what I have, and I know not what Thou hast. Thou art the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.
BH05946: In My Name that prevaileth over all names!
In My Name that prevaileth over all names!
O My handmaiden! Upon thee be My glory and My loving-kindness. One of My Afnans who circled round Me and soared in the atmosphere of My love and chose for himself a station beneath the canopies of My grandeur hath made mention of thee. We make mention of thee in this luminous and resplendent Tablet. Blessed is the handmaiden who hath attained unto My days and hath drunk the choice wine of love from the cup of My bounty, and blessed is the leaf who hath held fast to the Lote-Tree of My Cause and clung to the hem of God, the Luminous.
When thou hearest My call and attainest unto My Tablet, say:
“My God, my God! Praise be to Thee for having caused me to hear Thy most sweet call and shown me the traces of Thy Most Exalted Pen. I beseech Thee by the waves of the ocean of Thy bounty amidst all created things to assist this handmaiden of Thine to stand firm in Thy Cause and to hold fast unto that which will exalt her among Thy handmaidens. O Lord! I am Thy handmaiden and the daughter of Thy handmaiden. I have turned to Thee, hoping for the wonders of Thy favor. O Lord! Deny not Thy handmaiden from turning unto the lights of Thy countenance and standing before the gate of Thy grandeur. Thou art He Who hath opened the door of hope unto all who are in earth and heaven and ordained for Thy servants and Thy handmaidens that which draweth them nigh unto Thee. Verily Thou art the All-Bountiful, Whose bounty all created things and all contingent beings have testified to. There is none other God but Thee, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.”
BH05959: O thou who drinkest the choice wine of My…
He is the Qa’im, the Speaker, the All-Knowing!
O thou who drinkest the choice wine of My love, who standest firm in service to My Cause, and who uttereth My beautiful praise! These exalted words were revealed before—in these days their mention is beloved:
To those enshrouded, death; to frozen souls, a grief severe.
The King of Days hath come at last; that perfect Treasure now is here.
That Hidden One, with Name adorned, hath dawned–to foil the proud and mere.
Ever hath thy mention been and continues to be in the Most Holy Court. Blessed art thou and joy be unto thee! Thou art he who hath spoken in praise of God, the Lord of the worlds, and whom neither the hosts of the heedless nor the ranks of the oppressors did frighten. Counsel the servants to patience and steadfastness. O thou who gazest toward My horizon! Forbearance hath reached such a degree that even the lions of the jungle of power and might arose not in defense, for they were bound by the chain of restraint of the Lord of Command. Happy are they and joy be unto them! Yet the heedless ones of the world understand not the reality of patience and stillness. By the life of God! Had We loosened what was bound, they would have swept away all the foxes of deceit and ignorance, and cast them to the lowest depths. We beseech God to assist thee and to exalt thee through His Name amongst His servants. Verily He is the Hearer, the Answerer.
BH05955: O Amin! Your letters have repeatedly arrived and been…
He is God, exalted be His glory, Wisdom and Utterance
O Amin! Your letters have repeatedly arrived and been heard. Responses to most have been and continue to be sent. Today the letter from … which you forwarded to Jinab-i-Asad attained the presence, and therein was mentioned a word that truly caused the lights of the sun of acceptance to shine forth. Your petition and request regarding his desire was mentioned in every letter. In any case, after the arrival of the aforementioned one’s letter and the petition and request of you and Jinab-i-Asad, this word was once again revealed from the heaven of will:
“We have accepted what he desired in the path of God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting. Give him the glad tidings of this most exalted word and the acceptance of what he desired on this blessed and praiseworthy Day. Thus has the sun of grace shone forth as a mercy from Us upon him and upon those who act according to His command.”
BH05981: O servant! Your letter arrived and was seen. This…
He is the Hearer and the Answerer.
O servant! Your letter arrived and was seen. This Wronged One seeks forgiveness on your behalf for what you mentioned, for you have asked for that which An-Nadr ibn al-Harith and a group of unbelievers asked of the Messenger of God—may the spirit of all else but Him be sacrificed for Him. One asked for a house of gold, another for a garden of fruits in an arid land, and yet another requested flowing canals. And God, exalted be His glory, rejected them all. Now you have asked for that which the heedless ones of the world asked for in those days. Hearken unto the call of the Wronged One. Pass beyond vain imaginings and set your face toward the Dayspring of certitude. Today the proof encompasses the world and the evidence, assuming physical form between heaven and earth, speaks forth “The Truth has come!” Listen to the call of this Wronged One: Turn away from what you possess and what the people possess, then turn with your face and heart to the Most Exalted Horizon and say: “O my God! I testify that I denied You when You called me to faith, and rejected Your proof when You commanded me to acknowledge it. I beseech You by Your mercy to forgive me and join me with Your near servants.”
BH05825: Your letter has come and been presented…
He is God, exalted be His station in wisdom and utterance!
Your letter has come and been presented by the servant who stands before the Throne. We have answered you with that which cannot be equaled by the treasures of the world nor the wealth of nations. Blessed is he who has found the fragrance of the utterance of the All-Merciful and was among the thankful ones.
We found from your letter the fragrance of My love and have ordained for you that which brings joy to the eyes of those near unto God. When My Most Exalted Pen moved to make mention of you, the fragrance of immortality was diffused between earth and heaven. Blessed are they who know My remembrance. Through My remembrance all things have spoken, and by My command every great matter has appeared.
Say: This is the news wherewith God’s books have given glad tidings aforetime. Read what the All-Merciful has sent down in the Qur’an:
“The Day when mankind shall stand before the Lord of the worlds.”
The Day has come, yet the people are heedless and in manifest loss.
Blessed art thou for having attained unto My Tablet through which the sun of justice has shone upon all who are in the heavens and on earth. Ask thou God to grant thee success and to assist thee in preserving this bounty, and to draw thee nigh unto Him. Verily He is the Mighty, the Powerful.
We send from this spot Our glorification upon thee and upon those who have cast away idle fancies, clinging fast to My straight Path. The glory be upon thee and upon them from God, the Forgiving, the Merciful.
BH05916: This is a Book from the Wronged One…
In His Name, the All-Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise
This is a Book from the Wronged One to him who hath turned towards the Crimson Tree that he might hearken unto its most sweet call in remembrance of God, the Lord of the worlds. We have witnessed thy turning unto the Countenance and heard thy call, and We answered thee before this and in this perspicuous Tablet. We beseech God to assist thee under all conditions and to make thee steadfast in this Cause whereby the feet of the learned and the mystics have slipped save whom God, thy Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed, hath willed. Give thanks unto God for this bounty and for having made thee to be of them who have sought the Ultimate Goal when the people turned away from it—they who followed every heedless and remote one. Say:
Glory be to Thee, O my God! I beseech Thee by Thy light whereby the world was illumined to assist me in recognizing the Manifestation of Thy Cause and the Dawning-Place of Thy signs. Then ordain for me that which shall endure through the endurance of Thy dominion and Thy kingdom, for I know, O my God, that all else besides Thee shall perish and that whatsoever is attributed unto Thee shall endure through the endurance of Thy most excellent names and most exalted attributes. Thou art the Ruler over whatsoever Thou willest. Deprive me not of the outpourings of Thy days. Verily Thou art the All-Powerful, the Most Exalted, the All-Giving, the Most Generous, the All-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful.
BH05637: Although letters have been sent in Arabic, Persian…
He is the Almighty.
Although letters have been sent in Arabic, Persian and all kinds of ways, nevertheless love is expressed anew that you should, God willing, follow that departed one in all matters pertaining to the material world. This will surely be the nearest means of drawing nigh unto God. That is, you should conduct yourself with people in the same way as he conducted himself with them.
The believer lives with eternal, everlasting life in the most exalted horizon of detachment and the most holy Lote-Tree of sanctity, and death does not overtake him. He watches over his own affairs and is aware of his people. If he observes no goodness in those associated with him, he will surely raise his voice in complaint in the Supreme Concourse, and that complaint will surely have its effect and return upon his people.
In any case, you must, God willing, act in such a way that all the inhabitants of the Supreme Concourse and the angels brought nigh will rejoice. For example, as Aqa Mirza Muhammad was engaged in service during his time, if he continues now as before, it will surely be acceptable. In short, if all affairs occur in a way that does not contradict the deeds of that departed one during his life, it will surely be beloved before God.
BH11647: Praise be to the Sovereign of existence…
Praise be to the Sovereign of existence and the Educator of the seen and unseen, Who is worthy and deserving that the chalice of tribulation in His love should be the water of eternal life, and afflictions and hardships in His path should be heavenly sustenance….
As for the events that occurred in ʿAyn and Shin, they are known and clear. Praise be to God, no wrong, corruption or harm hath appeared from the friends. The aforementioned departed one was martyred through tyranny and oppression. Blessed is he! He attained to that which hath no likeness or equal. The joy of the Wronged One is that they held fast to the counsels and exhortations which flowed from the Pen of Love in the nights and days, and acted upon the word which they were commanded in previous years:
“If ye be slain, it is better for you than to slay.”
Most are unaware of the intention of this Wronged One and His loved ones, for were they to become cognizant they would testify that there hath been no purpose save the betterment, elevation and advancement of the servants.
We beseech God to aid all to love, fellowship, affection and unity. The suspicions and imaginings of the servants have deprived them, and the abandonment of divine laws hath caused weakness and perturbation….
BH11784: I make mention of thee through such effusions…
I make mention of thee through such effusions of light as shall draw thee unto the court of the Sovereign of joy, and shall waft thee unto such a station that in all the realm thou shalt behold naught save the countenance of the all-powerful, the victorious King. Then wilt thou hear no voice save the warbling of the Dove of Bahá upon the boughs of the camphor-tree, and the chanting of the most wondrous Cock upon the leaves of the Tree of Sinai in the land of Revelation. All bear witness that My remembrance is, in very truth, from God and unto God, yet the people perceive it not.
O handmaid of God! I testify within thy heart that thou art a woman who hath believed in God and in His signs, and hast been numbered among the devout. Know thou, moreover, that thy Lord hath borne witness concerning thee in this mighty sea that thou art of the faithful. This shall suffice thee above whatsoever is on earth, whatsoever is in the heavens, and whatsoever is in the unseen and the seen, wert thou of them that soar on high.
Prize, then, the worth of that Day wherein God hath accepted from thee thy deeds, and render thanks unto Him, if thou art of the thankful. Say at all times: Praise be to God, Who hath guided us unto this light amidst these pitch-dark and gloomy shadows. Verily, He is the sovereign, the all-powerful, the ever-forgiving. He, in His own Self, is the Truth and is powerful over all things. And praise be to God, the Beloved of them that know Him.
BH05652: O God! O Master of Kings and Merciful One…
He is God, exalted be His station!
O God! O Master of Kings and Merciful One to the servants! I beseech Thee by Thy Most Great Name and Thy sovereignty which prevaileth over the nations to ordain for those who have laid fast hold on the Sure Handle and clung to the Snow-White Path and the Resplendent Law, and believed in that which hath been sent down from the heaven of Thy Will, that which is best for them in the hereafter and in this world. Nourish them with the fruits of the Tree of Thy knowledge and assist them to remain steadfast in their faith in the appearance of the Manifestations of Thy Cause and to stand firm on Thy Straight Path and Thy True Religion. There is no God but Thee, the Mighty, the Generous.
Upon thee be the care and mercy of God. The pieces sent some time ago arrived by post. Thy reward is with God, thy Lord. I beseech Him to grant thee that which is best for thee and to preserve thee beneath the shadow of His care.
At this time his honor T.B. (upon him be 9 66 [Baha’u’llah]) hath attained, and is illumined by the effulgences of the Sun of Truth, and since he intended to journey to the appointed place, mention was made of you and these few words were written and sent so that you might be assured that the favors of the Beloved toward His friends are beyond reckoning and they have ever been and shall ever remain remembered and the recipients of His favors. The rest and al-9 [Baha] be upon thee.
BH05892: Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having…
He is the All-Powerful, the Most Exalted, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise!
Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having guided me to the ocean of Thy oneness and caused me to know the Dayspring of Thy signs and the Dawning-Place of Thy horizon. I beseech Thee, O Cleaver of the daybreak and Subduer of the winds, by the tears of Thy lovers in their separation and remoteness from Thee, and by the yearning of those who long for Thee in their distance from Thy presence, to make me in all conditions one who uttereth Thy praise, who standeth firm in Thy service, who holdeth fast to the cord of Thy grace and cleaveth to the hem of Thy bounty. O Lord! Eyes have wept at what hath befallen Thy chosen ones. I beseech Thee, O Lord of the world and Sovereign of the nations, by the Most Great Name, to transform the throne of tyranny into the seat of Thy justice, and the chair of heedlessness and oppression into the throne of humility and fairness. Verily, Thou doest what Thou willest, and Thou art indeed the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.
O Lord! Illumine the eyes of hearts with the lights of the sun of Thy justice, that all things may be enlightened by its light and radiance, and that in every place the banners of Thy names and attributes may be raised. Verily, Thou art He Whom no power can frustrate and no might can weaken. Thou doest as Thou pleasest and ordainest what Thou willest. There is no God but Thee, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. O my God and my Lord! Thy religion hath been weakened by the assault of those who have disbelieved in Thee and in Thy signs. O Lord! Adorn it with the ornament of Thy power. Verily, Thou art the All-Powerful, the Almighty.
BH05899: The letter of Jinab-i-Nazir has been received and perused…
He is God, exalted be His glory, the Most Great, the Most Powerful
The letter of Jinab-i-Nazir has been received and perused. In this case, your stay in that land is not permitted. There is no harm in departing from that territory. Whenever the hands of the claimants are shortened and the chief seeks return, it will be easy and simple. If the matter is as mentioned, then considering wisdom, a brief stay in the Land of Ta is preferable and more appropriate. However, in all conditions be mindful of wisdom and be confident in God’s grace. Whatever is beneficial for you will emerge from the unseen into the visible realm. Verily your Lord is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.
And once again We counsel you to wisdom and non-acknowledgment. Verily He doeth whatsoever He willeth and ordaineth whatsoever He pleaseth. He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. And whenever required, God willing, by God’s will news will arrive and you will attain. Verily He is the Commander, the All-Wise.
The glory shining from the horizon of the heaven of My loving-kindness be upon you and upon those with you and upon those who love you and upon every firm, steadfast, upright one. The servant conveys greetings and salutations. In these days he is sending replies to the letters of his honor Varqa, upon him be the Most Glorious Beauty of God, and likewise to other friends.
BH05938: To be typed
To be typed.
BH05939: To be typed
To be typed.
BH11646: Today it behoveth each one of the people…
He is the Dawning One from the horizon of the Kingdom!
Today it behoveth each one of the people of God to pass beyond the gulf of names, through divine strength and power, that they may find their way to the Most Great Ocean. Consider ye the peoples of former ages and centuries: certain souls who clung to names and who, night and day, occupied themselves with disputation and opposition, accounting themselves the most learned of all peoples and the most excellent of all nations. Yet when the dawn of the Day of His Manifestation broke forth and the Intended One appeared, all arose to shed His pure blood, save a few among the Shaykhis who attained.
We beseech God to aid thee in all that befitteth His Day. The Supreme Pen beareth witness that today the veiled ones of the Bayan are many times more heedless than that party. Guard thyself from the whisperings of these souls through the name of thy Lord, the Almighty, the All-Powerful. Blessed is he who hath turned unto Him and acted according to that which was enjoined in the Book of God, the Lord of the worlds.
The glory shining forth from the horizon of the heaven of My mercy be upon thee and upon them that have clung fast unto God, detached from the world and all that is therein. Verily, such a one is of the people of the highest Paradise and of the Crimson Ark.
He Who speaketh in every condition testifieth unto this, that there is none other God but Me, the Single, the All-Informed.
BH06185: Glorified be He Who hath appeared and hath revealed…
He is the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.
Glorified be He Who hath appeared and hath revealed that which He willed. Verily, He is the Mighty, the Most Bountiful. Nothing whatsoever among created things, nor any matter of affairs, is hidden from His knowledge. He is the Truth, the Knower of things unseen.
This is a Book from Our presence unto him whom We have named the Most Noble Nabil in Our sealed Tablet, and whom We have adorned with the ornament of My love, the Mighty, the Well-Beloved. We have caused him to speak with My remembrance and My praise, have taught him My path, made known unto him My horizon, and guided him unto My praiseworthy station, that in all conditions and in every neighbourhood he may abide in nearness.
We bear witness that he hath taken for himself no helper save God, no Lord but Him, and no aim save the One Who, in every matter, hath proclaimed: There is none other God but I, the Truth, the Knower of things unseen. In his days he was occupied with praise and thanksgiving, and with recounting the events of My days—the manifestation of the Most Great Announcement.
God willing, in the remaining days, he will be engaged with My assistance, with My remembrance, and with that which befitteth his days—whereby the renown of faithfulness may be exalted in the world among the nations, and all things may testify to his loyalty, his turning unto God, his remembrance and praise, and his service to the Cause of God, the Mighty, the Well-Beloved.
BH06300: The letter of his honor Attar ibn Attar, upon…
The letter of his honor Attar ibn Attar, upon them both be God’s peace and care and grace, reached Our presence and We beheld it, for although this servant was present, he was absent. Convey greetings on behalf of the Wronged One. Praise be to God, they were and are in the aforementioned prison, and through His grace the letter of his honor Haji Muhammad ʿAli was also observed. Verily he was mentioned before and is mentioned at this time. We beseech God, exalted be He, to ordain for him that which will draw him near in all conditions—verily He is the Self-Sufficient, the Most High—and to write down for him the best of what He hath revealed in His perspicuous Book.
And at the end of the utterance We make mention of Muhammad-Quli-Ali who attained the presence and won the meeting, and drank the choice wine of certitude from the hands of the bounty of his Lord, the Generous. O Muhammad Ali! We have heard thy call and seen thy letter. We mentioned thee before and at this time. The glory be upon thee and upon thy mother, thine aunt and her daughter Khadijih and the other one, and upon thy brothers, from God, the Lord of the worlds.
BH06058: O Faraj! Hearken unto that which the Spirit casteth…
He is the Ever-Abiding upon the Throne of eternity.
O Faraj! Hearken unto that which the Spirit casteth upon thee from this sanctified, inaccessible, and impregnable quarter: verily, there is none other God but He—the Mighty, the All-Powerful, the Exalted.
Know moreover that We have appointed thee among the envoys of the Cause, that thou mayest journey from Our presence unto Our near ones among the servants. Go thou forth, therefore, with My Book, and then with My garment; pass through the habitations by My sovereignty, the Mighty, the Beauteous; and whatsoever thou desirest, lay it upon the face of the contingent world, that their sight may be restored and they may return with vision.
Thus do We enjoin thee to justice, that thou mayest be of them that know. By God! Shouldst thou go forth in the will of thy Lord, wholly detached from all who are in the heavens and on the earth, there shall appear within thee that wherewith the hearts of all mankind shall be overturned.
Arise, then, with an uprising wherewith all things arise, and turn thy face toward that Countenance whereat all creation findeth rest. Be thou assured through the grace of thy Lord, then speak in the accents of the dove between earth and heaven, that the sun of utterance may shine forth from thy tongue, and thou mayest be of the mindful.
Marvel not at this, for in His grasp lieth the dominion of the heavens and the earth: He ordaineth whatsoever He willeth by His command, and doeth whatsoever He desireth.
BH06075: God grant that ye may ever and always abide…
He is the All-Knowing, the All-Mindful.
God grant that ye may ever and always abide, with utmost joy and fragrance of spirit, beneath the sheltering grace of the All-Merciful, content with whatsoever the Beloved hath ordained, and thankful therefor. Your letter, which betokened sorrow and heaviness of heart, was received and perused. Grieve not, neither despair of the mercy of God. Ye have ever been the recipients of His utmost loving-kindness, and, God willing, so shall ye continue to be. Ye men and ye women alike are under the gaze of your Lord, the Forgiving, the Most Generous.
Verily, joy is with you—why then do ye grieve? The very source of gladness is in your midst—wherefore are ye troubled? In truth, He hath removed elsewhere, and the evidences of the Ancient Beauty have there become manifest. Turn ye, therefore, unto the former Seat. The House calleth you unto itself, and the Lord of the House remembereth you at every morn and eventide.
O Ziya’u’llah, and O Badi’u’r-Rahman, return ye, together with your family, unto the quarter of the Lord of all nations. Your place, in the dwelling of the Friend and in the gathering of fellowship, is most evident and assured. Set your faces towards it. Upon you be Baha.
Convey our loving greetings unto the Leaf of the Tree of Eternity. Thus likewise gladden Sahib and those with you. And make Ustad and Rida joyful through the remembrance of the Friend.
BH06088: O Habíb, in the Persian tongue it is set…
O Habíb, in the Persian tongue it is set forth in truth: If mankind were to reflect on this one theme, they would bear witness that this constancy and steadfastness, this forbearance and patience during times of calamities and afflictions, whether in open or in secret, is possible only through a divine power. No former age or century hath beheld such a degree of self-sacrifice in the path of the Beloved.
Individuals who prior to the time of death consider their lives extremely precious and with the utmost power strive to protect themselves and secure their outward ease and comfort, suddenly are seen with a steadfastness whereat the bodies of the heedless are made to quiver, the limbs of the wayward to tremble, and the foundations of the nations to shake.
Praise be to God, were they not to behold in that station abundant good, copious bounties, eternal blessings, and everlasting sovereignty with their own eyes, this kind of contentment and resignation, acquiescence and reverence in such terrible situations would not become manifest through them.
Say: All majesty and might, all sovereignty and power belong to God, Who createth whatsoever He desireth as He pleaseth. No God is there but Him, the Omnipotent, the All-Compelling, the Exalted, the Most Great.
BH06115: By God! The Day hath come, yet the people…
In the Name of God, the Protector, the Self-Subsisting!
By God! The Day hath come, yet the people perceive it not. We have sent down the verses and made manifest the clear proofs, yet most of the people recognize them not. They have cast the path of God behind their backs, clinging to the ropes of the manifestations of idle fancies and vain imaginings. Thy letter hath come before the Wronged One, and from it We perceived the fragrance of love and affection. We beseech God, the Lord of creation, to aid thee and assist thee to attain such steadfastness that its fragrance may spread throughout all lands. Verily thy Lord is the All-Merciful, the Mighty, the Loving.
O Abbas! Rejoice in this Tablet from which the fragrance of the utterance of God, the Lord of existence, hath been wafted. We have recognized what thou didst intend and heard what thou didst cry out in the days of thy Lord, the Possessor of the seen and the unseen. We granted permission regarding what the hands of those who denied the Witness and the Witnessed had earned. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to ordain for thee the reward of attaining His presence and to write down for thee what beseemeth His generosity, which hath encompassed the kingdom of earth and heaven. Thus have We sent down the verses and expounded them in truth, as a favor from Us, for I am, verily, powerful over whatsoever I will through My word “Be,” and it is.
BH06184: In My Name Which hath dawned from the horizon…
In My Name Which hath dawned from the horizon of Manifestation
Glory be to God! He sent forth Adam and bestowed upon him a Book, and likewise unto Seth and Enoch and Abraham—upon them be the blessings and mercy of God—and unto all the other Prophets He granted whatsoever He willed. And unto the Messengers of firm resolve He sent down Books—the Torah, the Psalms, the Gospel and the Qur’an.
And this Most Great Revelation, which is mentioned and promised in all the divine Books, hath brought forth that which equalleth all previous Books. Its verses have encompassed the world and its evidences have left no room for denial.
Nevertheless, some among the people of the Bayan who are builders of the houses of vain imaginings and idle fancies have turned away. By God’s life! They are the most abject of all the world’s peoples. They cling to vain imaginings and hold fast to idle fancies. God protect us and you from the evil of such as these.
Take hold of the Book of God with the hand of might and arise to serve His Cause. This is the counsel of the Wronged One. We beseech God that He may confirm you and grant you success, that you may turn away your eyes from the world and fix them solely upon the Most Exalted Horizon.
BH06190: Glorified art Thou, O my God! I testify…
In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate
Glorified art Thou, O my God! I testify to Thy oneness and Thy singleness, and that Thou art the First and the Last, the Manifest and the Hidden. Nothing escapes Thy knowledge. Thou doest what Thou willest and ordainest what Thou desirest. Verily, Thou art the All-Powerful, the Almighty.
O Lord! I beseech Thee by the waves of the ocean of Thy bounty and the revelations of the luminary of Thy generosity upon existence, and by Him through Whom the valley flowed and the gate of heaven was opened, and by His family and companions through whom Thy signs were spread throughout Thy lands and Thy sovereignty encompassed Thy servants, to assist me in Thy remembrance and praise and in that which Thou hast commanded me in Thy Book.
O Lord! Thou seest the poor one knocking at the door of Thy generosity, and the destitute one seeking the ocean of Thy grace and mercy. I beseech Thee not to disappoint him from that which Thou hast ordained for the sincere among Thy servants and the near ones among Thy creatures. Verily, Thou art the Single, the One, the Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.
O my God! Send down Thy blessings upon the Hands of Thy Cause, whom the oppression of the oppressors hath not deterred from turning toward the heaven of Thy providence. O Lord! Send down upon my face, from the clouds of Thy generosity, the rains of Thy mercy and Thy riches. Verily, Thou art the Most Generous, the Ever-Flowing, the Mighty, the All-Forgiving.
BH06215: The fragrance of love, wafting from the rose-garden…
He is God, exalted be His glory.
The fragrance of love, wafting from the rose-garden of divine knowledge, did, in less than the twinkling of an eye, attain unto the Most Great Vision and transmute the gloom of separation into the joy of nearness and reunion. Glorified be God! How wondrous is the potency of the perfume of love, especially when it is shed abroad from a radiant and stainless heart: it dispelleth the companions of sorrow and grief. Such hath ever been, and shall continue to be, the remembrance of the true friends.
In truth, from the letter of the loved one and the script of that spiritual beloved there was vouchsafed a boundless gladness, so great that in every limb and member its effect became manifest. It is our hope that God, exalted be His glory, may never in any wise deprive His Afnan of the lights of nearness and reunion.
This moth had imagined that, together with those other moths, it would, for a time, or for years and months, circle round the lamp of the Will of God. Yet the hand of consummate wisdom wrought separation. This was naught but the outcome of the sins of the people of transgression and infamy, who have intervened between the Desired One and them that seek Him. We beseech God to draw us nigh unto Him, and by His sovereignty to lift the veil that hindereth, for He, verily, is the Powerful, the Subduer, the Almighty.
BH06302: The holy breeze of mercy and loving-kindness which wafted…
He is the Bestower.
The holy breeze of mercy and loving-kindness which wafted upon this servant from the right hand of bounty and grace imparted, even as the breath of the Holy Spirit, a new life unto the dead land of separation, and bestowed everlasting being. Such mercy did it lavish forth that it seemed as though the evening of estrangement had been changed into the morn of reunion, the clouds of sorrow and grief had been lifted from the sky of the hearts of the sincere, and the sun of joy, delight, and gladness had risen from the horizon of the soul.
God grant that the bearers of the power of the All-Glorious may preserve this Sun from the eclipse of darkness, and guard this spiritual rejoicing from the dust of earthly sorrow; that the showers of bounty and grace may ever descend from the clouds of compassion, and the winds of loving-kindness continue to blow. For the life of these deprived ones dependeth upon the flowing stream of mercy, and death lieth in its cessation. As water is the cause of life unto the fish, and dust the occasion of its destruction, so likewise this fish of the sea of separation neither seeketh nor findeth life save in the water of Thy mercy.
BH06343: O My handmaid, and thou who hast attained unto…
He is the All-Knowing.
O My handmaid, and thou who hast attained unto My service! Rejoice thou in My bounty, My mercy, and My loving care, which have preceded all who are in the heavens and on the earth. Thy service hath been accepted, and the Pen of God, the All-Subduing, the Self-Subsisting, hath been moved to make mention of thee. Blessed art thou, and blessed is every handmaid who hath held fast unto the Most Firm Handle of My Cause and clung to the hem of My radiant robe.
Glory be upon thee, and upon those women who have turned unto God, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.
Glorified art Thou, O my God! I beseech Thee by Thy power and Thy strength, by Thy greatness and Thy sovereignty; by Thy Cause wherewith nothing can contend; by the bounties of Thy grace; by the pearls of Thy knowledge and the sun of Thy generosity; and by the Name whereby the luminary of joy hath shone forth and the world hath been adorned with the ornament of Naw-Ruz, to adorn the forms of Thy loved ones with the vesture of honour and exaltation.
O Lord! Deliver Thine elect from their enemies; then make them the dawning-places of Thy glory among Thy creatures and the daysprings of Thy loftiness amidst Thy servants. Then forgive, O my God, all—women and men—who have served Thee and sought Thy good-pleasure.
Verily, Thou art the All-Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Forgiving.
BH06349: O My loved ones in Ali Riza Abad!…
He is the All-Witnessing, the All-Informed
O My loved ones in Ali Riza Abad! The Most Great Sea hath turned toward you, desiring to adorn the heart of your heart and the sight of your sight with My wisdom and utterance which lay hidden within its shells. Verily your Lord, the All-Merciful, is the Generous, the All-Bountiful. When ye have attained and witnessed with a single eye Thy reunion and Thy presence, which was the portion of the sincere among Thy servants and those near unto Thy protection, and through the waves of the sea of Thy bounty, that My remembrance and My turning and My attention might be adorned with the ornament of Thy acceptance—I testify, O God of Names and Creator of heaven, that the loftiest praise of Thy creation and the remembrances of Thy servants befitteth not Thy grandeur, nor the essence of the court of Thy glory and the threshold of Thy nearness.
Say: Look upon the heaven of Thy generosity and the sun of Thy bounty. My wounds and sighs, both outward and inward, and all my limbs seize me. And whenever I reflect upon my transgressions, despair encompasseth me from all directions. Alas! Alas! My sins prevent me from drawing nigh unto Thee, and my transgressions from standing before the gate of Thy majesty. I beseech Thee, O Cleaver of the dawn and Subduer of the winds, to forgive me through Thy generosity and bounty, to illumine my heart with the light of Thy knowledge, and to strengthen all to remain steadfast in Thy love in Thy Cause. Verily Thou art the One Who hath power over whatsoever He willeth. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting.
BH06386: O Mahd-i-ʿUlya! Upon thee be the peace of God…
He is the Ancient Ordainer.
O Mahd-i-ʿUlya! Upon thee be the peace of God, His glory, His loving care, and His bounty.
Know thou that the wrongdoer hath hamstrung My she-camel, and the wolf hath devoured My speckled sheep; he that loved Me hath been stung. I complain not of what hath befallen Me at the hands of Mine enemies; rather do the Manifestations of My Cause, the Dawning-places of My wisdom, lament these things.
Say: O my God, my God! Transmute the sorrow of Thine loved ones into joy, their anguish into gladness, their turmoil into tranquillity, their abasement into honour, their weakness into strength, and their powerlessness into might.
O Lord! I beseech Thee by the sovereignty of Thy will, by the encompassing power of Thy might, and by the ocean of Thine omnipotence, to make Thy loved ones the dawning-places of Thy name the Long-Suffering, and the daysprings of Thy name the All-Forgiving. Then make known unto those who, in Thy days, were heedless of the mystery of Thy Most Great Name and of Thine All-Glorious Announcement, that which hath escaped them at the rising of the luminary of Thy Manifestation; and strengthen them unto equity. Verily, Thou art the All-Powerful, the Mighty, the All-Bountiful.
As for the matters thou hast mentioned: We have entrusted them unto God and committed all affairs unto Him. Verily, He is the All-Bounteous, the Most Generous, and He is the Avenger, the Strong, the Omnipotent.
Glory from Our presence be upon thee and upon those who are with thee.
BH11649: Today must the loved ones of God appear…
In the Name of the Peerless Lord!
Today must the loved ones of God appear with such radiance as to illumine the world, and with such a fire as to set ablaze the hearts of the peoples. Thy mention hath been before the Wronged One, both past and present. This is a Day wherein man is empowered to gain everlasting stations, eternal bounties, and perpetual remembrance. Blessed is the soul whom the affairs of men have not debarred from the ocean of grace nor held back from the Sun of Truth.
The loved ones must gather together in wisdom and take counsel regarding the exaltation of the Most Great Word. Whoso ariseth for God’s sake shall assuredly be assisted by the invisible hosts. The purpose is that those souls who have quaffed from the sealed wine and have been honored with the remembrance of God, exalted be His glory, should recognize their station and preserve this most exalted rank in the name of the Lord of all beings.
Convey My greetings to the friends in that land. Say: Your land is designated as Paran in the presence of the All-Merciful. God willing, may ye attain to that which befitteth this blessed name. Glory be upon thee and upon those who are with thee and upon all who are steadfast and firm.
BH11650: Glorified art Thou, O Thou at Whose separation…
In the Name of our Most Holy, Most Great, Most Exalted, Most High Lord!
Glorified art Thou, O Thou at Whose separation the near ones have lamented and in their longing for Whose presence the hearts of the sincere ones have been set ablaze. I beseech Thee by the Name through Whose manifestation both the kingdom of earth and heaven were attracted, livers and hearts were melted, the ocean of utterance surged in the realm of possibility, and the nightingale sang upon the branches, to assist Thy servants and loved ones to remember Thee and praise Thee and to teach Thy Cause. Then acquaint them, O my God, with what Thou hast desired for them from the wonders of Thy bounty and Thy favors, that they may cast behind them all else but Thee, turning towards the horizon of Thy grace, the Dayspring of Thy utterance, and the Rising-place of Thy names and attributes.
O Lord! Teach them through Thy bounty and favor that which beseemeth them in Thy days. Verily, Thou art the Sovereign before Whose sovereignty the necks of princes and the mighty have bowed down. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Sufficing, the Everlasting, the Eternal, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
The funds which Jinab-i-Haji Mirza Abu’l-Hasan, upon him be the Glory of God, remitted from cash and the value of silk through Jinab-i-Samiyy-i-Hadrat-i-Maqsud (Ha before Sin and Lam after ʿAyn) and Jinab-i-Aqa Muhammad Sadiq, upon them both be the Glory of God, reached this evanescent servant in the month of Dhi’l-Hijjih al-Haram in the year 1298.
The servant
BH11787: Your letter was received, and that which was intended…
He is the Most Exalted, the Most Ancient.
Your letter was received, and that which was intended therein became evident. In all conditions one must fix his gaze upon the Truth and upon His loved ones, and keep the dwelling-place of the heart illumined and inhabited by the lamp of God. And should one be touched by the afflictions of this world, let him not grieve, for the aim is mighty indeed. If ye advance but a little upon this path, ye will behold poison as sugar, the sting as sweet draught, and torment in its very bitterness as repose and delight.
And if from this station ye take yet another step, ye will strive that perchance ye may be granted, in some corner of the land, a portion in the path of the Beloved. Nay rather, ye will yield up your very life and seek after this station.
Something was written to Jinab-i-‘Aba, and he conveyed it unto the companions in the prison, and the glad-tidings of God entered upon them in paradise and deliverance was vouchsafed unto them. This was a great bounty. God willing, they have not forgotten, and perfect love toward them hath been and shall continue.
Clothe the temple of the soul of Shaykh Mahmud with the robe of glorification and the spirit of praise.
BH06822: O Ba’i! Upon thee be My glory. The deeds…
He is God, exalted be His glory, the Lord of loving-kindness and bounty.
O Ba’i! Upon thee be My glory. The deeds of the Afnan were observed, and upon him rest My glory, My loving-kindness, and My mercy. He was blessed through the effulgent rays of the luminous Orb of acceptance. Blessed is he, then blessed is he, for he saved others. He is the sign of divine assistance, having aided one of the friends of God. We beseech God to send down upon the helper a blessing from His presence, a bounty from His own Self, and a favor from His direction, and to make his deed God’s treasure in every world of His worlds.
The friends of God must render assistance and serve to the extent possible, for this service is accepted and returns unto God. The kinsmen and other loved ones must strive. The recompense of those souls who act is never lost with God, and never shall be, and this Wronged One is the guarantor of this. We beseech God to assist His loved ones in that which He loveth and is pleased with. The Glory be from Us upon those whom love of the world hath not prevented from acting in His path, exalted be He.
BH06859: O Faraj, the veils of self and desire have…
O Faraj, the veils of self and desire have prevented the world from turning to the Ancient Lord…
The Supreme Pen, through the power of the finger of the Lord of Names, has rent asunder and torn away some of these veils, yet the sources of hatred are, with the utmost diligence and effort, busily weaving new veils.
O Faraj, God willing, may you remain firm in the Cause of God and steadfast in exalting His Word, to such a degree that none may be able to speak. You shall see all else but God as non-existent, and His enemies as nothing. Old arguments have been renewed—they say the Bayan has been altered. Say: By God’s life! None has been, nor ever shall be, able to alter the Bayan. The purpose of the idolaters is to prevent people from beholding the divine books and thereby to carry out their own designs.
Speak forth in thy Lord’s name and arise to serve Him. Unceasingly has thy mention flowed from the Tongue of Grandeur and from the Supreme Pen. Be thankful and say: Praise be to Thee, O God of the worlds, and glory be to Thee, O Desire of them that have recognized Thee. With white and green turbans they rush through cities and regions, never failing to lead people astray. They are occupied with building false cities and regions, and they intend to construct a district as well. Convey My greetings to the friends and say: Today is the day of steadfastness. Beware lest, like the Shi’ih sect, you be deprived of the ocean of bounty and the river of mercy through the deception of the turban-wearers. Diligence is needed to protect the servants. Glory be to God! The cause and reason for preventing the servants from the supreme horizon were the divines of the age. This matter is clear to all. At first they engaged in cursing and execration, and finally they all issued the decree for His death. Behold, the curse of God be upon the wrongdoing people….
BH06457: God willing, through the grace of the Lord…
In the name of the one true God!
God willing, through the grace of the Lord of Names, mayest thou drink of the spiritual wine prepared by the divine Hand of Bounty and, intoxicated thereby, occupy thyself in the assemblage of the world with the praise of the Lord of nations. Abu’l-Hasan hath appeared before the Divine Throne and presented that which concerneth thy love for God. For this reason have We made mention of thee and revealed unto thee this Manifest Book. Blessed art thou, and blessed is thy father, and blessed are the Afnans who have turned toward the Dawning-Place of Revelation and responded when they heard the Call of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. My Most Exalted Pen beareth witness that they turned toward God when most of the servants turned away from Him, and behind it the Tongue of Truth in this Forbidden Spot doth likewise bear witness. Praise be to God that in the prime of youth thou didst attain unto faith and turn toward the Most Exalted Horizon. Say:
O my God! I beseech Thee by Thy Name, the Speaking, the Manifest, which none hath known save Thee, to protect me from the evil of Thine enemies and to ordain for me that which will assist me to serve Thy Cause. Verily, Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Most High, the Mighty, the All-Loving.
BH06872: He overshadoweth the heavens and the earth
He overshadoweth the heavens and the earth
O Mustafa! Upon thee be My glory and My loving-kindness. Say: O my God, my God! The fragrance of Thy utterance hath led me unto Thee, and Thy bounty hath guided me to the door of Thy grace. Thy generosity hath made clear to me Thy path, and Thy mercy hath brought me before Thy presence. Thy power hath preserved me from all else but Thee. I am he, O my God, who in the earliest days turned towards Thy horizon when most of mankind turned away therefrom. Thou art He Who, O my God, gave me to drink of the choice wine of Thy love, and caused me to arise to celebrate Thy praise and glorification and to serve Thy Cause, and made known unto me that which was hidden from Thy servants and Thy creation.
With what tongue, O my God, can I make mention of the wondrous tokens of Thy bounty and the effulgent lights of the Sun of Thy generosity, inasmuch as Thou hast shown me that which was withheld from the world, and caused me to hear that which was heard by the Lord of all peoples? I beseech Thee by the Sun of Thy Will and the Moon of Thy Purpose, and by Thy Cord through whose movement all created things were set in motion and all beings hastened unto the court of Thy holiness, to make me in all conditions a helper of Thy Cause, one gazing toward Thy direction, speaking forth Thy praise, and standing firm in Thy service. Thou art, verily, the Mighty, the Powerful.
BH06586: Glory be to Thee, O Lord of the Kingdom…
…Glory be to Thee, O Lord of the Kingdom and Sovereign of the realms of might! I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which the mountain would take flight were it to be cast upon it, through which the heavens would be cleft asunder, and through which the earth would be rent asunder, to protect us from the arrows of the insinuations of them that mislead and from the swords of the doubts of the idolaters. Verily, Thou art He Whom the affairs of earth cannot frustrate, nor can the clamor of them that have disbelieved in the Day of Judgment hinder.
O Lord! We are Thy servants who have heard Thy most sweet call and have answered Thee through Thy grace, O Lord of all names and Creator of heaven. We have hastened, through Thy power and Thy Most Great Name, toward Thy most exalted horizon on a Day whereon the tribes of the earth have lamented and the hearts of the servants have cried out. I beseech Thee, O King of Kings, by the lights of Thy Most Great Throne and the revelations of Thy Name amongst the nations, to assist us in remembering and praising Thee, and to ordain for us through the Pen of Grace that which beseemeth Thy generosity and Thy favors. Verily, Thou art the Omnipotent over whatsoever Thou willest. Within Thy grasp are the reins of all things, and in Thy right hand are the reins of all names. There is no God but Thee, the Omnipotent, the All-Powerful. Praise be to Thee, O our Lord, the Mighty, the Great!…
BH06483: The days of the Divine Manifestations are in one…
…The days of the Divine Manifestations are in one sense referred to as the Day of God, but these days are specially distinguished in all the Books as the appearance of the Hidden Mystery and the Treasured Secret, Who calleth out with the most exalted voice before the faces of all the world. The greatness of these days hath been recorded and inscribed in the previous Books and in the mighty Qur’an.
The Herald, that is, the Primal Point—may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for His sake—in the days of His journey to Maku, while outwardly veiled from all, attained the honor of His presence, [cf. AB11477] and His Holiness Quddus—upon him be the Most Glorious of all Glory—attained it repeatedly. During the journey to the Land of Kha He specifically summoned him, and for several months he was blessed with attaining His presence. The Primal Point—may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for His sake—referred to both him and His Holiness the Most Great Bab [Mulla Husayn]—upon him be the Most Glorious of all Glory—as the First and the Last, and likewise interpreted them as the First to arrive and the Last to descend. He gave each the glad tidings of this Manifestation, and specifically told the honored Sayyah—upon him be the glory and favor of God—“Go forth, that thou mayest find.” The universal Manifestations were aware before the Revelation—they are the Dawning-places of divine knowledge….
BH06799: O Asad, upon thee be My glory! The letter…
In the Name of the One God
O Asad, upon thee be My glory! The letter of his honor A.L., upon him be the Glory of God, was presented before Our face. We have heard his call and recognized what was in his letter. We have answered him with that whereby his remembrance shall endure in the Book of God, the Lord of the worlds. Say: Be not grieved at what hath befallen thee. There hath befallen Us at the hands of the idolaters that which hath caused those nigh unto God to weep. Praise be to God, there hath befallen thee what befell the dwellers of the pavilions of grandeur. This is of God’s bounty unto thee. Be thankful and say:
Praise be unto Thee, O Thou Who hast mentioned me from the height of Thy utterance and hast sent down for me that which shall not perish so long as Thy names and attributes endure. I beseech Thee to make me one of those who have aided Thy Cause and arisen to serve Thee. Then write down for me, by Thy Most Exalted Pen, the good of this world and the next. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. He must hold fast unto wisdom, for this firm decree hath been sent down in the Tablets, and afterward shall be revealed unto him what hath been ordained for him by the Mighty, the Ancient. Divine deliverance shall come. Verily, He is the All-Bountiful, the Generous One.
BH06513: Praise be unto the Lord of existence…
Praise be unto the Lord of existence and the Sovereign of the seen and unseen, Who is worthy and deserving, for He hath opened the doors of hearts and minds of His loved ones with the keys of His most beautiful Names…
The petition of Sina, upon whom be the glory of God, attained unto the presence and was adorned with mention of the Afnan. We beseech God, blessed and exalted be He, to confirm him and him who was named Nayyir in teaching His Cause and spreading His signs. In truth, they are arising to serve and are speaking in praise and thanksgiving. From all directions, the loved ones of God have testified to their detachment, their godliness, their humility, and their teaching of the Cause of God, the Lord of what was and what shall be.
At this moment We have taken a cup from the Kawthar of utterance and have drunk in their names. Give them the glad-tidings of this great bounty and this supreme gift.
Jinab-i-Andalib, who hath arisen to serve Me and who circleth around My Cause, upon him be My glory and My mercy, hath made mention of them. Blessed are they both and blessed is he who mentioneth them. Verily, he is among those who are near unto God in My perspicuous Book. The glory shining forth from the horizon of the heaven of My grace be upon thee and upon those who are with thee and who love thee for the sake of God, the Lord of the mighty throne. Praise be to God, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
BH06882: O Na’im! Upon thee be the Glory of God…
He is the Compassionate, the All-Bountiful
O Na’im! Upon thee be the Glory of God, the Lord of all worlds. We have mentioned thee before and do so at this time, and We beseech God, exalted be He, to preserve thee and to exalt thee among His servants through His Name, the Protector of all names. He, verily, is the Mighty, the Self-Subsisting.
Say: Glory be unto Thee, O my God! I am Thy servant and the son of Thy servant. I have recognized Thy oneness and Thy singleness. I beseech Thee by the pearls of Thy knowledge and the mysteries of Thy Book to make me among those whom nothing whatsoever hath deterred from turning toward Thy most exalted horizon. O Lord! Thou seest the poor one hath sought the ocean of Thy riches, and the oppressed one the horizon of Thy justice. I beseech Thee by the light of Thy Cause whereby earth and heaven were illumined to ordain for me the good of this world and the world to come. O Lord! Unto Thee be praise for having illumined my heart with the light of Thy knowledge and adorned my temple with the ornament of Thy love. I beseech Thee not to disappoint me of what lieth with Thee, and to ordain for me and for my son and for those with me that which befitteth the ocean of Thy bounty and the sun of Thy generosity. Thou art, verily, the One Who hath power over whatsoever He willeth through Thy word “Be” and it is.
BH06504: Jinab-i-Mirza Muhammad arrived and mentioned the ascension…
He is the Beloved!
Jinab-i-Mirza Muhammad arrived and mentioned the ascension of the spiritual dove from the earthly ash-heap to the divine Ridvan. The utmost grief, sorrow and anguish appeared. However, since she hastened from the mortal furnace to the life-giving expanse of the immortal rose garden, and ascended from the dark hiding place to the shelter of divine favor, and flew from the earthly ash-heap to the original divine homeland, and reached from the place of limitation to the placeless realm of oneness, therefore you must cleanse and purify the tablet of your heart from grief and sorrow, and hold fast to the firm handle of the hidden divine favors. God willing, you will be nurtured under the shadow of divine generosity and drink from the cup of the hidden mercy of the Infinite Lord. And peace be upon you.
And after Jinab-i-Mirza Muhammad gave a detailed account, whatever they had arranged during their lifetime to send in this direction, send it, and carry out their affairs according to the will they made. Details will be sent upon Mirza Muhammad’s return.
BH06842: O Shaykh! Set aside the cup and take hold…
He is the All-Knowing Speaker.
O Shaykh! Set aside the cup and take hold of the ocean in His name, the Mighty, the Ever-Flowing. Then drink therefrom, despite every denier who hath denied the Revelation of God and His sovereignty, and every oppressor who hath disbelieved in God, the Lord of all mankind. We have come to educate the servants and improve the lands. To this beareth witness He with Whom is the Mother of Tablets. Not an atom escapeth His knowledge. He doeth what He willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth. He is the Almighty, the Mighty, the Ever-Forgiving. Blessed art thou for having attained unto My days and drunk the choice wine of My love from the hand of My bounty, and believed in Me on a day when every heedless doubter disbelieved.
Say: O people! Behold the Tree and its fruits. They are before your faces. Fear God, O followers of error! Say: Cast aside your idle fancies. By God! The Sun of Certitude hath shone forth from the horizon of God’s Will, the Dawning-Place of Lights. Thus hath the Most Great Announcement revealed His verses as a grace from His presence, and He is the Mighty, the All-Forgiving. The light and its radiance, and the sun and its effulgence be upon thee and upon those who have arisen and said: “The Kingdom is God’s, the Lord of Lords!”
BH06763: The breeze of supreme mercy has risen…
The breeze of supreme mercy has risen from the holy Paradise of eternity, and the northern wind of highest favor has been stirred from the eternal Ridvan of the spirit….
O spirit! O spirit! May this morning be the true dawn, and may this herald be calling from the Joseph of divine beauty! Although there exists no heart like Jacob’s—pure, spotless and holy, free from all faults and defects—that might catch the fragrances of the merciful spirit from the holy divine breaths, and rend asunder the garments of body and soul, of possibility and creation, and turn its gaze away from both the realm of limitations and beyond, to become worthy and deserving of the subtleties and delicacies of this wondrous Cause, this exalted Mystery, this glorious Remembrance….
BH06574: Glory be unto Thee! Glory be unto Thee! O…
In the Name of our Most Holy, Most Great, Most Exalted, Most Glorious Lord!
Glory be unto Thee! Glory be unto Thee! O Helper of Thy servants, Master of right guidance, and Guide to the straight path! I beseech Thee by the melodies of the birds of Thy most exalted Paradise, whereby the realities of all things and the hearts of humanity were attracted, and by Thy sovereignty which hath encompassed the kingdom of earth and heaven, and by Thy signs whereby Thou didst subdue the cities of earth and the realm of power, and by Thy Most Great Name through which Thou didst separate between the nations and didst manifest the stations of existence, O Thou Who holdest the reins of bounty, to assist Thy Afnan and Thy chosen ones and Thy loved ones and Thy trusted ones to arise to serve Thee and to act according to that which Thou hast commanded them in Thy Book.
O Lord! Thou seest one of Thy Afnan clinging to the cord of Thy commandments and the handle of Thy bounty. Ordain for him that which Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen ones who have turned only to the lights of Thy countenance and who have desired to act according to that which Thou hast commanded them in Thy Book and Thy Tablets. O Lord! Open before his face the door of Thy bounty, then raise him up through Thy Name in Thy lands amongst Thy servants. Verily Thou art the All-Powerful, the All-Bountiful, the Forgiver, the Generous. There is no God but Thee, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.
BH06590: Glorified art Thou, O Thou through Whose Name…
Glorified art Thou, O Thou through Whose Name the Tree hath spoken forth on the Mount of Recognition and the lights of the Sun of Thy countenance have shone from the horizon of creation! I beseech Thee by the Dawning-Places of Thy Most Beautiful Names and the Daysprings of Thy Most Exalted Attributes and by Thy Greatest Signs, to send down upon Thy servants that which will draw them to the Most Exalted Horizon and bring them nigh unto Thee, O Lord of all beings and King of the throne on high and of the dust below. O my Lord! The souls have been encompassed by the veils of idle fancies and these have prevented them from turning toward the horizon of certitude.
I beseech Thee, O God of Names and Creator of heaven, by Thy Name the Self-Subsisting, to aid Thy loved ones to stand firm in Thy Cause and to write down for them from Thy Most Exalted Pen that which shall profit them in every world of Thy worlds.
O my Lord! Disappoint them not of what lieth with Thee, and withhold not from them that which Thou hast ordained for such of Thy servants as are nigh unto Thee and such of Thy creatures as are sincere before Thee. O my Lord! Thou seest them turning toward Thee, and facing the lights of Thy countenance, and hastening toward the ocean of Thy bounty. Do Thou provide them, O my God, with the heavenly table Thou hast sent down from the heaven of Thy grace, and with the blessing Thou hast ordained in Thy Scrolls and Books and Tablets. There is no God but Thee, the Mighty, the Ever-Forgiving, the Merciful.
BH06680: Say: I bear witness, O my God…
He is the Hearer, the Answerer!
Say: I bear witness, O my God, to that which Thy Prophets and Thy Chosen Ones have witnessed, and to that which Thou hast revealed in Thy Books and Thy Scriptures. I beseech Thee by the mysteries of Thy Book and by Him through Whom Thou didst unlock the gates of knowledge to Thy creation and didst raise the banner of unity among Thy servants, that Thou grant me the intercession of the Lord of the Messengers and Guide of the Ways, and enable me to do that which Thou lovest and approvest.
O Lord! I am Thy servant and the son of Thy servant. I am assured of Thy oneness and singleness, and hold fast to the cord of Thy loving-kindness and bounty. I beseech Thee, O Possessor of the Kingdom and Ruler over the Realm of Might, by Thy Name through which Thou didst subdue both kings and subjects, to ordain for me that which shall profit me. Verily, Thou knowest what is with me and I know not what is with Thee. Thou art indeed the Ever-Forgiving, the All-Merciful.
O Lord! Praise be to Thee for having shown me the ocean of Thy utterance and the heaven of Thy bounty. I call upon Thee, O Thou in Whose grasp are the reins of all religions, to assist me to remember Thee and praise Thee and to act in accordance with that which Thou hast revealed in Thy Book. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the Exalted, the Mighty, the Loving.
BH06690: Say: Glory be to Thee, O Thou through Whose…
He is the All-Seeing, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise
Say: Glory be to Thee, O Thou through Whose Name the gate of divine knowledge hath been opened before all who are in heaven and on earth, and through Whose Will the verses of wisdom and utterance have been sent down. I beseech Thee by the ocean of Thy knowledge and the heaven of Thy bounty and the sun of Thy grace to ordain for me through Thy Most Exalted Pen the good of this world and of the world to come. Cause me, then, O my God, to be attracted by Thy verses, to be turned toward the lights of Thy countenance, to speak forth Thy praise, to act according to what Thou hast revealed in Thy Book, and to remain steadfast in the Cause at whose appearance all who are in the heavens and on earth were thunderstruck, save those whom the hand of Thy power and Thy will did rescue.
O Lord! Thou seest me turning toward Thee, hoping for the wondrous gifts of Thy grace which Thou hast ordained for Thy chosen ones. Thou art He Whom the affairs of the world cannot frustrate, nor can the veils of the nations prevent Thee. Through Thy sovereignty Thou doest what Thou willest and ordainest what Thou pleasest. Praise be to Thee, O my God, for having caused me to hear Thy call and revealed through Thy bounty that of which I was heedless, and made me turn toward the horizon from which Thy servants and creatures have turned away. I beseech Thee to assist me in serving Thee. Verily Thou art the Almighty, the Munificent, the Forgiving, the Gracious.
BH06694: Say: O concourse of princes and divines! Know…
He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise
Say: O concourse of princes and divines! Know of a certainty that ye cannot frustrate God. He, in truth, doth now announce unto you a manifest chastisement. My Pen of Command hath lamented, My heart hath groaned, Mine eyes have wept tears, and My liver hath melted by reason of what hath befallen Me at the hands of the rebellious among My servants, after I came unto them from the dawning-place of destiny with a light that illumined the horizons. He who hath transgressed and rebelled against Me shall not endure upon the face of the earth. Nay, by the Lord of all beings! He shall soon find himself in manifest loss.
Say: The Wronged One calleth you unto that which profiteth you, and seeketh no recompense from you. Fear ye God, O people, then judge fairly in a Cause at whose appearance the verses bowed down in submission. Thus hath the ocean of utterance surged when the Pen of the All-Merciful was set in motion in this exalted station. When thine eyes are gladdened by witnessing that which hath shone forth from the horizon of the Tablet, render thanks unto thy Lord, the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous. The splendor shining from the horizon of the heaven of My grace be upon thee and upon whomsoever hath loved thee for the sake of God, the Most High, the Most Great. Praise be unto Him Who is the Goal of all that are in the heavens and on earth.
BH06897: To be typed
To be typed.
BH11652: O my God, my Adored One, my Beloved, my…
In the Name of God, the Luminous, the All-Glorious, the Most Glorious!
O my God, my Adored One, my Beloved, my Heart’s Desire! With what countenance shall I turn to Thy most glorious Kingdom, and with what tongue shall I implore Thy forgiveness and pardon? Not once did I draw a breath purely for Thy sake, freed from this cage of self, nor did I take a single step save in pursuit of my own desires. O my God, so immersed am I in transgression that I am ashamed of the very act of transgression itself, let alone standing before Thy most holy presence. How can I render thanks for Thy perpetual and abundant blessings and favors? Thou didst bring me forth from utter and absolute nothingness into the realm of being and existence, and honored me with the glory of beholding Thy presence—the highest aspiration of all Thy Prophets and chosen ones. I grew heedless of Thy remembrance, yet Thou didst not forget me; I disobeyed Thee, yet Thou didst not withhold from me Thy all-encompassing mercy.
O my God, in this moment and at this hour, my hand is cut short of all recourse. I beseech and implore Thy forgiveness. I ask Thee, by the sanctity of Thy verses and Thy signs, to forgive me and my father and my mother. Verily, Thou art the Most Merciful of those who show mercy. There is no God but Thee, the Compassionate, the Bountiful.
BH11654: O Hasan! These days are the days…
He is the Most Exalted, Most Beauteous, Most Holy, Most High!
O Hasan! These days are the days of the greatest tests and mightiest trials. Hold fast to the cord of divine favour and cling to the hem of mercy. Purify and sanctify thy heart from the dark and shadowy forms of this world and enter into the sanctified realm of Divine Unity. Know all save Him to be non-existent and count all else as void. With pure vision gaze upon the Most Great Horizon. Today all eyes are veiled and all vision is barred, save those souls who, through divine favour and the wondrous tokens of heavenly grace, have rent asunder the veils and entered the pavilion of the King of Names and Attributes.
Say: O servants of God! Without Him, none hath been or shall ever be known. Rather, all else is known through Him. Whosoever turneth away from His Cause is accounted before God as one of the people of fire and of the lowest depths, though he be among the most eminent of his time. And whosoever attaineth unto His recognition is reckoned among the denizens of the most exalted Paradise and the most glorious Ridvan, though he be among the lowliest of creation. Such is God’s bounty and His mercy unto His loved ones. And the glory be upon thee!
BH11655: The Most Holy, the Most Great
The Most Holy, the Most Great.
A mention from Us to him who hath been mentioned before the Throne and hath attained unto the lights of this Dayspring which hath appeared in human form. Exalted is the Self-Subsisting One through Whose Name the idols of idle fancy have been shattered and the Tongue of Grandeur hath spoken: The Kingdom belongeth unto God, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
Verily, We make mention of him who hath turned unto God that the warmth of His love may be kindled in his heart in such wise that the opposition of the opposers shall not quench it, and that he may aid his Lord through the swords of wisdom and utterance. He, verily, is the Forgiving, the Merciful.
The servants have been forbidden to engage in conflict and contention, and have been commanded to show forth kindliness in this Most Wondrous, Most Holy, Most Mighty, Most Praiseworthy Revelation. He who hath attained unto that which hath been commanded, verily, is of the people of My Kingdom. He Who summoneth all unto God, the Single One, the All-Informed, beareth witness unto this.
When thou art stirred by the breezes of thy Lord’s love through this Tablet, arise to mention Him with gracious remembrance amongst the servants. This, verily, is the most excellent of deeds and the essence thereof. Well is it with them that comprehend.
May the glory rest upon thee and upon him who hath turned unto God whilst every denier, remote from Him, hath turned away.
BH07361: O Ba’i, upon thee be My glory! Last night…
He is God, exalted be His glory—Wisdom and Utterance
O Ba’i, upon thee be My glory! Last night Jinab-i-Asad, upon him be My glory, acting as thy representative, was engaged in offering hospitality. A number of the friends—travelers, emigrants and pilgrims—were present. Praise be to God, after attaining His presence and hearkening to His call, they were blessed with divine bounty and rendered thanks to God, exalted be His glory. Blessed are they who in these days are occupied in service. One deed performed in God’s path during these days is dearer and more excellent than the deeds of centuries and ages past. We testify that thou hast succeeded in serving the Wronged One and hast quaffed the choice wine of utterance from the cup of thy Lord’s bestowal, the All-Merciful.
In brief, at the feast gathering, various bounties and blessings including sweets and other things were present and visible, and Jinab-i-Asad carried out his representation with the utmost joy and fragrance. Blessed art thou, and blessed is he, and blessed are they who have attained to the bounty of God, the Lord of all worlds. The Glory be upon thee and upon God’s sincere servants.
BH06951: O Most Exalted Pen! Make mention of him who…
He is the All-Seeing, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.
O Most Exalted Pen! Make mention of him who hath turned unto thee, and hath voiced thy praise, and hath arisen to serve thee amongst thy servants, that he may rejoice and be of them that are thankful. We have sent unto thee aforetime that which no mention in the world can equal, as beareth witness He Who speaketh that there is no God but Him, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. The clamor of the ungodly hath been raised, and their uproar, and they desire to spread corruption in the land after it hath been set in order. Thus doth inform thee He with Whom is the perspicuous Book. We beseech God to assist thee and aid thee to serve His Cause in such wise that the hosts of the world and the clamor of them that cry out shall not deter thee.
We have made mention of thee in numerous Tablets. Thy Lord is verily the Compassionate, the Bountiful. Preserve this most exalted station through the Name of thy Lord, the Lord of all beings, and be thou of them that are steadfast. The splendor that hath shone forth from the heaven of the mercy of thy Lord be upon thee and upon them that have quaffed the choice wine of revelation from the hand of the bounty of their Lord, the Gracious.
BH07028: We have made mention of his honor Mahmud, upon…
We have made mention of his honor Mahmud, upon him be the glory of God, from the people of Nun and Ra. We beseech God to protect him and to ordain for him whatsoever he desires from the bounty of his Lord, the All-Bountiful, the Most Generous.
O Mahmud! We have heard thy communion with God and have answered thee through this clear utterance. And We make mention of ʿAta’u’llah and give him the glad-tidings of My loving-kindness and mercy, and remind him of My verses, for I am the All-Knowing Remembrancer. And We make mention of Ibn-i-Kamal who attained My presence and circled round Me and held fast to the cord of My loving-kindness and clung to My robe. We beseech God to send down upon him from the heaven of His bounty that which befitteth His grace and generosity, for verily He is the Munificent, the Most Generous.
O Mahmud! Upon thee be My glory! We have mentioned thee before and at this hour—give thanks unto thy Lord, the All-Forgiving, the Most Generous. Glory be upon thee and upon thy wife who turned towards God on a day wherein every perfidious wretch and every dubious learned one turned away.
BH07340: O my handmaiden! Your letter was received and attained…
He is the Hearing and the Answering
O my handmaiden! Your letter was received and attained the honor of being heard by the Wronged One. Today all are beheld on one plane. Whosoever has turned and faced [Him] with radiant countenance, pure heart and sanctified breast—such a one is recorded among the people of Baha and inscribed by the Supreme Pen in the Crimson Book. The deeds of centuries and ages do not equal this act in this Day. How excellent is the state of one who has aided God, exalted be His glory, through goodly deeds and praiseworthy conduct. How many men are seen deprived today, and how many handmaidens have raised their tents on the shores of the ocean of recognition. Convey My greetings to thy daughters and remind them of My remembrance and loving-kindness and verses. We beseech God, exalted be He, to forgive thee and them. Verily He is the All-Bountiful, the Generous. And He is the Compassionate, the All-Forgiving, the Merciful.
BH06907: Praise be to God that through the wondrous favors…
In the name of the One True God!
Praise be to God that through the wondrous favors of God thou hast arrived at the shore of the Most Great Ocean and been sustained by the holy heavenly food which is the utterance of Truth. Although this station is veiled due to the lack of capacity in this time, yet this veil shall be lifted and will become manifest in the assemblage of the world.
Blessed art thou for having attained the presence of the Beloved and for having turned to Him by His leave and heard His mighty and wondrous call. What hath been recorded in this Tablet sufficeth thee and nothing that can be comprehended equalleth it.
Be thankful and say: Praise be unto Thee, O Lord of Lords and Merciful One to the servants, for having strengthened me and enabled me and honored me with Thy presence. I beseech Thee not to leave me to myself, then make me among those who soar in the atmosphere of Thy love with the wings of certitude. Verily Thou art powerful over whatsoever Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the Exalted, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed.
BH07012: After your book was presented in the Most Holy…
After your book was presented in the Most Holy Court—that is, that very letter in its entirety was presented before His Countenance—the utmost favor shone forth and dawned from the horizon of the bounties of the Desired One. This servant must praise and thank God, exalted be His glory, a hundred thousand times that you have drunk from the wine of divine knowledge, from which most people today are deprived, and have turned toward the horizon of the Manifestation. Praise be to God that you are among the people of light and have attained to its horizon, dawning-place and source. We hope that at all times you will drink and cause others to drink from the pure water of the Kawthar of the love of the All-Merciful. According to His command that you not be saddened by separation: What is necessary today is to teach the Cause with the wisdom with which all are commanded. God willing, may you attain to this most great bounty and become the cup-bearer of the most pure wine. Verily, He writes for whomsoever He wishes the reward of attainment unto His presence. Verily, He is the Powerful, the Supreme, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
BH07284: To be typed
To be typed.
BH07429: O Nasru’llah! Thou hast attained unto the Word…
In the Name of the One True God!
O Nasru’llah! Thou hast attained unto the Word of God, with which nothing in all creation can compare. Know this and be thou of the thankful ones. The Most Exalted Pen enjoineth steadfastness upon the people of God, inasmuch as clamors have been raised from every quarter. Those who in the days of hardship remained hidden behind veils like unto women have now, like unto serpents, risen up against the Lord of Names. They have turned away from that Station which hath been sent down from the heaven of His Will—a Station that equalleth all the books of the past and the future—and are striving with their vain imaginings to lead the servants astray. Fie upon them and upon that which their hands have wrought in their rebellion against God, their opposition to Him, their turning away from Him, and their rejection of that which hath been sent down from the kingdom of His wondrous utterance.
Convey My greetings to the friends and gladden them with the bounties of their Lord, exalted be His glory. The glory shining from the horizon of the heaven of My favor be upon thee and upon all who are steadfast and firm.
BH07127: Glorified art Thou, O Lord of humanity and Master…
He is God, blessed and exalted be His station!
Glorified art Thou, O Lord of humanity and Master of the mysteries of destiny! All atoms testify to Thy grace and loving-kindness, and all created things acknowledge Thy gifts and tender mercy. I beseech Thee, by that wherewith Thou hast described Thyself through Thy most excellent names and most exalted attributes, to grant unto him whom Thou hast related to the branches of the Tree of Thy Cause, and brought forth from the loins of one whom Thou didst single out for Thy service, Thy love, Thy grace and Thy tender mercy, every good thing which Thou hast ordained in Thy Book.
O my Lord! Enable him to ascend unto the heights of knowledge at all times and to attain unto that which Thou hast promised unto Thy sincere ones, O my Lord, the Most Merciful. Aid him to serve his father in such wise as not to depart from his good-pleasure, and preserve him, O my Creator, beneath the shade of the Tree of Thy protection and shelter. Honor him with the robes of Thy bounty and loving-kindness, for Thou art He Who hath been called by Thy name, the All-Bountiful, by the tongues of all peoples. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Generous, the All-Giving, the Almighty, the All-Powerful.
BH07044: At all times must man pass beyond all created…
He is God!
At all times must man pass beyond all created things and, turning his gaze toward God, his gracious Lord, hasten to the dwelling-place of the Beloved. O ʿAli! If thou askest of Our condition: having not yet been delivered from the prison of Our enemies, We have entered into the prison of Our friends, and having not yet escaped from the bonds of Our foes, We have become caught in the bonds of Our loved ones. Such is Our condition.
O ʿAli! The world hath no permanence, but religion hath no end. Therefore, thou must never sell religion for the world, that thou mayest soar on the wings of might and power toward the heaven of the All-Merciful at the time when it was raised up and spread forth in truth.
O ʿAli! Until the heart is sanctified from vain imaginings, it will not journey toward the beauty of the All-Knowing Lord, and until the soul passeth beyond all contingent things, it will not hasten to the dwelling-place of the Beloved. Be thou among those who act accordingly.
And the Spirit be upon those who follow guidance in these pure and luminous days. The household members, both the mother and others, convey their most exalted and wondrous greetings.
BH07267: By My life! Such wrongs have been inflicted upon…
By My life! Such wrongs have been inflicted upon this Revelation as have no parallel or likeness in the past or present. Convey My greetings to the loved ones of that land on behalf of this Wronged One and say: The thieves and deceivers lie in ambush, and from Kaf and Ra arise howlings as they busy themselves with godlessness. They have collected many sublime and glorious verses…
Indeed they have manifested such deceit as hath never been heard of before. Now with the utmost craftiness and guile they profess love to each of the friends of God while subtly mentioning certain matters that perchance may hold back the people of God from the Most Exalted Horizon. Their honey concealeth poison, and their protestations of love mask hidden hatred…
In brief, they send forth strange and wondrous writings, publishing certain wondrous verses either in their own name or in the name of the Point of the Bayan—may the souls of all else be sacrificed for His sake—or in other names.
BH07092: Sin, Mim: We have sent down the Book unto…
He is the Sovereign Protector over all that is on earth and in heaven.
Sin, Mim: We have sent down the Book unto thee and dispatched it to thee as a bounty from God, the Lord of the worlds. That which thou didst send hath been mentioned before the Wronged One, and We have answered thee with this wondrous Tablet.
What Ibn-i-Abhar (upon him be My glory and loving-kindness) sent was read, and We have mentioned those whom he named in his letter—Sad, Kaf, Qaf, Mim, Qaf and Ta—as he was traveling through the lands with a remembrance that no other remembrance can equal, as attesteth He Who possesseth a preserved Book. We mentioned him before; give him the glad-tidings of thy Lord’s loving-kindness that he may rejoice and be among the thankful ones. Some time ago We graciously answered his petitions in the letter of the servant who was present, but there was a delay in sending it. God willing, both the first and second will be sent according to the requirements of the time. Verily thy Lord is the Gladdener, the All-Knowing.
The glory shining forth from the horizon of the heaven of My loving-kindness be upon thee and upon those with thee.
BH11657: Praise be to God Who has shattered the idols…
Praise be to God Who has shattered the idols of vain imaginings through His Self-Subsisting Name…
Haji Muhammad Karim Khan Kirmani wrote a book every year refuting the Primal Point—may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for Him—and likewise Sipihr in his history attributed things to His Holiness that caused every person of insight to weep blood and every informed one to lament. We complain of our grief and sorrow to God. In any case, they burned with the fire of greed and passion and are not aware, and the flame of covetousness has seized them to such a degree that pen and ink are powerless and fall short of describing it.
My God, my God! Thou hearest their calumnies and seest what hath befallen Thy loved ones at the hands of the oppressors among Thy creation and the transgressors among Thy servants. I beseech Thee by the waves of the ocean of Thy power to aid those who have kindled the fire of injustice in Thy lands and domains and spread their own calumnies to undermine Thy Cause, that they may return unto Thee and confess what they have wrought in Thy days. Verily Thou art the Ever-Forgiving, the All-Merciful….
BH07000: Concerning the matters you mentioned—we beseech God…
He is God, exalted is He!
Concerning the matters you mentioned—we beseech God to open before your face the gates of blessing and bounty, verily He is powerful over all things. His hidden grace has been with you and outwardly too it will encompass you. Say: Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having made me to know Thee and taught me and guided me to Thy straight path and Thy News at which the hearts of the ungodly and transgressors were troubled. I beseech Thee, O Cleaver of the Dawn, by the pearls of the ocean of Thy knowledge and by the mysteries hidden in Thy knowledge and the penetration of Thy Command and the power of Thy Pen, to ordain for me what is best in this world and the next.
By Thy might, O God of the world and Goal of the nations, I have desired naught but the exaltation of Thy Word and the manifestation of Thy Cause. I beseech Thee by Thy greatness and sovereignty to assist me through the means of the heavens and earth that I may be occupied at all times in Thy service and speaking in Thy remembrance. Then protect me, O my God, by the hosts of Thy power. Verily Thou art powerful over what Thou willest and verily Thou art the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
BH07027: Unto Jinab-i-Badi’u’llah—upon him be the glory of God—we convey…
He is the Ever-Abiding.
Unto Jinab-i-Badi’u’llah—upon him be the glory of God—we convey greetings and offer our salutations. Thy list, in very truth, was a white and radiant scroll, for naught proceedeth from good save that which is good. God willing, may the portals of beneficence be opened unto thy face from every direction by the command of the Lord of Names and Attributes.
We make mention of Varaqih-i-Furughiyyih—upon her be most glorious glory. The desire of the Exalted Leaf, Mahd-i-ʿUlya, hath attained acceptance. We beseech God that, through His bounty, He may gather us all together. Verily, He is the Generous, the Bountiful.
To all the members of the household I convey greetings. I remember Hayatiyyih and Lami’ih, and those with them, in a noble remembrance. Unto the Leaf—that is, the Afnan—we send our salutations, and from the True One We ask for her that which shall be the cause of everlasting renown.
We make mention in abiding remembrances of Maryam Khanum, and of Mirza Musa—upon him be the glory of God—and upon her be the loving-kindness of God. The sister had set out for the Presence; God willing, she hath attained. We also made mention of Varaqih-i-Liqa; likewise of ʿAta’iyyih and the maidservants who are there.
BH07110: Glory be unto Thee, O my God! I beseech…
He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise!
Glory be unto Thee, O my God! I beseech Thee by Thy Name through which the lamp of Thy utterance hath been lit within the niche of Thy knowledge, and the breezes of Thy favors have wafted over the people of Thy dominion, to make me in all conditions steadfast in Thy service and illumined by the lights of Thy knowledge and Thy love in such wise that the doubts of the world shall not withhold me nor the imaginings of the nations prevent me. Then cause me, O my God, to be content with whatsoever Thou hast ordained for me through Thy grace and bounty and generosity and favors. O Lord! Leave me not to myself. Gladden me in all times and circumstances with the glad-tidings that were specially reserved for Thy days. Verily, Thou art the Almighty over what Thou willest. There is none other God but Thee, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting.
Thy letter hath come and We have read it and answered thee with that wherewith God, the Lord of the worlds, is called upon and invoked in Thy days. He, verily, is the Commander, the All-Informed. Glory be unto those who have cast away all else, turning toward God, the Fashioner of the heavens. They are indeed among the well-doers. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.
BH07169: In My Name, the Wronged One
In My Name, the Wronged One.
The Day of Return hath come, the Book hath been sent down, and the Throne hath been adorned with the Lord of all mankind; yet the doubter stirreth in the hearts, saying: “This is naught but a wondrous thing!”
O people! The Day hath come, and the Qayyum calleth aloud: “The Kingdom is God’s, the Lord of lords!”
O thou who gazest upon the Countenance! Should anyone ask thee of the Ark of God, say: “Verily, it is amidst the waves”—through that which it hath wrought, and by the mystery We raised above the clouds.
The tongue of the mute hath arisen before the Kingdom of utterance and hath spoken that whereat the near ones and the sincere have wailed at eventide and at dawn.
Thus hath there come unto Us from him whom We reared and raised unto the most exalted station. Will any deny that which hath flowed from the Pen? Nay, by My life—save him who casteth justice behind his back, clinging to the oppression and tyranny he possesseth.
I beseech Thee, O Joy of the world, to transmute the sorrows of Thy servants into gladness. Verily, Thou art the All-Forgiving, the Most Compassionate.
BH07171: Prayer for Mirza Yahya
We took a handful of dust, breathed into it a spirit from Our presence, and raised it above the heavens. Yet when it beheld itself in the loftiest station, it denied the favour of its Lord, the Mighty, the All-Knowing; disbelieved in His bounty; disputed His verses; rejected His proof; and committed that whereat the sincere have lamented. Verily we are God’s, and unto Him shall we return.
O my God, my God! Thou knowest and Thou seest what hath befallen Me at the hands of one whom We nurtured through many years, and sheltered beneath the pavilion of My loving care and mercy which hath preceded all created things. When he beheld the people turning toward him and humbling themselves before him, he turned away from his Lord and wrought that whereat the dwellers within the pavilion of My love and the tent of My glory have wailed.
O Lord! Transform his turning away, and make him aware of his station and of Thy praise, lest he transgress his bounds. Verily, Thou art the All-Forgiving, the Most Generous.
O Yahya! Fear God, and be not of the wrongdoers. Slay not him who reared thee with the swords of falsehood and slander. Fear God, and be not of the lost.
BH07192: My Most Exalted Pen hath testified…
He is the All-Seeing, the All-Witnessing, the All-Knowing
My Most Exalted Pen hath testified to that which the tongue of My grandeur testified before the creation of My heaven and My earth—that there is none other God but Me, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. Blessed is he who hath recognized Him Who is known and acted according to that which was commanded by God, the Lord of existence. The time for words hath passed and the day for deeds hath come, would that ye knew it. Gone are the days of fancy and vain imaginings, and come is the day of certitude, would that ye understood.
O My loved ones in My lands! Hold ye fast unto the cord of My loving-kindness and cling to the hem of My luminous and blessed robe.
O thou who hast turned toward the Most Exalted Summit! Hearken unto the call of the Wronged One. He remembereth thee purely for the sake of God and biddeth thee to be steadfast in this noble and exalted Cause. Beware lest human conditions prevent thee from Him Who is the Lord of destiny. Leave what the people possess, taking hold of that which hath been sent down from the Kingdom of My grace, which hath encompassed both the unseen and the visible. Thus hath spoken the tongue of the Wronged One in this praiseworthy station. When thou hearest and recognizeth, render thanks unto thy Lord, the Mighty, the Beloved.
BH07213: Say: O God, Lord of Names and Creator…
He is the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting
Say: O God, Lord of Names and Creator of all things! I beseech Thee by Thy all-encompassing mercy and Thy all-pervading favor to assist Thy loved ones to make mention of Thee and to sing Thy praise. Guide through them all servants unto the city of Thy love, and nourish them with the fruits of the Tree of Unity and from the springs of the rivers of detachment, that they may warble upon the branches of the Tree of Certitude with wondrous melodies of divine unity, and sanctify Thee in the realm of similitudes from all comparison and likeness, and exalt Thee in the world of causes above all casual intimations, and call upon Thee with attributes of ancientness and eternity, extolling the essence of Thy Being as sanctified from all accidents, Thy eternity as elevated above all temporal events, and Thy existence as transcending all firstness and lastness, all outwardness and inwardness.
O Lord! Having called them unto Thee, drive them not from Thy door, and having guided them unto the city of Thy Cause, deprive them not of the outpourings of Thy grace and favor. And having admitted them into the pavilion of Thy knowledge, preserve the essence of their love from the promptings of the souls that command to aught else save Thy good-pleasure. Regard not, O my Lord, their powerlessness, but rather look upon the kingdom of Thy power and the dominion of Thy grandeur, for in Thy hands lie the kingdom of grace and bounty. Through Thy loving-kindness, ordain for them that which shall profit them in every world of Thy worlds.
There is none other God but Thee, the Gracious, the Bountiful, the Mighty, the Generous.
BH07328: To be typed
To be typed.
BH07414: O Muhammad son of Taqi! This is the Day…
O Muhammad son of Taqi! This is the Day whereon the full moon of divine knowledge hath emerged from the veils of utterance, a glad-tiding from the presence of the All-Merciful, that thou mayest give thanks unto thy Lord, the All-Bountiful.
O thou who gazest upon the Countenance! We have adorned thy head with the diadem of loving care and thy frame with the ornament of bounty, that thou mayest hold fast unto the Most Exalted Word “He doeth whatsoever He willeth and ordaineth whatsoever He pleaseth”. This Word preserveth thee from the fire of idolatry and giveth thee to drink of the Kawthar of oneness from the hand of the grace of thy Lord, the All-Praised.
This day it behoveth all to look toward the horizon of the Manifestation of unity, and to believe with assurance that the True One doeth whatsoever He willeth. Whoso layeth fast hold upon this blessed Word is preserved from misbelief and from the doubts of the suspicious.
With might supreme hath there been sent down, from the Pen of the Lord of eternity, for the people of the world, a particular and weighty utterance: the blessed verse “Muhammad is the Messenger of God and the Seal of the Prophets,” together with the blessed verse “The Day when mankind shall stand before the Lord of the worlds.” Therefore hath He Who conversed with Moses upon Sinai been established upon the throne of Revelation, and hath spoken that which He was commanded from the presence of God, the Lord of the mighty Throne.
BH11658: In My Name which shineth forth from the horizon…
In My Name which shineth forth from the horizon of the heaven of utterance!
This is a Book sent down by the Wronged One unto him who hath believed in God, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting, and who hath turned his face unto the Countenance after the passing away of all things. Verily, he is among those who have broken the chains of idle fancies, turning unto God, the Lord of what was and what shall be.
O Mas’ud! God hath made thee happy through His bounty, and hath aided thee to turn unto the horizon wherefrom the servants have turned aside, save those whom God, the Lord of the seen and the unseen, hath willed. Thy mention was made before the Throne aforetime, and We make mention of thee as a token of Our grace. Verily thy Lord is the All-Forgiving, the All-Kind. And this is time and again. Be thou thankful unto God, thy Lord, for this manifest bounty. Stand firm in the service of thy Lord, be vocal in His praise, and place thy trust in Him in all matters. Verily, He heareth thy call and seeth thee. He is, in truth, the Mighty, the All-Loving.
The splendor that hath shone forth from the horizon of the heaven of My loving-kindness be upon thee and upon those who have held fast unto the cord of God, the Lord of what was and what shall be.
BH07983: O Mihdi! Upon thee be the peace and mercy…
He is God—exalted be His glory, the Most Great, the All-Powerful
O Mihdi! Upon thee be the peace and mercy of God. These are the days of Ramadan—we fast and remain silent during the day, and arise and speak during the night. Some who claim to love God in various regions are deprived of both deeds and wisdom, but God is the Concealer, the All-Knowing. Many times has this exalted Word been mentioned: “Believe not every speaker, and trust not every newcomer.” This Wronged One beseeches God to aid all to act according to His commandments. Verily, He is the Helper, the Mighty, the Powerful….
The matter depends upon the consent of both parties and their parents. In the absence of parents, it depends on the consent of the guardians of both parties. And whatever both parties have covenanted, they must fulfill….
BH07776: Say: My God, my God! Thou seest me turning…
…Say: My God, my God! Thou seest me turning toward the heaven of Thy bounty and the sun of Thy grace, detached from Thy servants and Thy creation. I am he who, O my God, hath acknowledged that which Thou hast revealed in Thy Books. I testify that Thou art God, there is no God but Thee. Thou hast ever delivered Thy servants through the arm of Thy power from the pit of idle fancies and vain imaginings, and Thou wilt ever save them through Thy sovereignty and protect them from the oppression of men through Thy might and power. I beseech Thee, O Lord of the worlds and Deliverer of the nations, by Thy Name through which was manifested that which was hidden in the eternity of eternities and concealed from the eyes of men, to assist me in all my deeds. By Thy glory! I desire no helper other than Thee, and love no champion save Thee. I beseech Thee by the wonders of Thy grace and the revelations of the Sun of Thy bounty to aid me in that which will elevate my station, my remembrance, and my name. Verily, Thou art the Answerer, and verily, Thou art the All-Knowing. There is no God but Thee, the Mighty, the Great….
BH07892: O Ism-i-Jud! Upon thee be My glory and My…
He is God, exalted be His glory, the Greatness and Power
O Ism-i-Jud! Upon thee be My glory and My peace. The letter of Nabil, son of Nabil, was read before the Wronged One. Praise be to God, it was adorned with steadfastness, attachment, recognition and certitude. We give thanks to God for this and beseech Him to assist him with that which will profit him in this world and the next. Verily, He is the Strong, the Mighty, the Powerful.
Convey greetings from the Wronged One to Abdul-Husayn, upon him be My glory. His letter was noted and attained unto Our hearing. Verily We heard his call from My tongue. We beseech the True One to grant success that he may at all times do that which is the cause of exaltation and elevation. And We remember Ahmad, upon him be My peace, who was with Us. We have remembered him and do remember him, and We beseech God, exalted be He, to protect him with the hosts of the seen and the unseen. Verily He is the Compassionate, the Generous. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.
BH07891: O Ism-i-Jud! Thou didst make mention of him who…
He is God, exalted is He, the Manifestation of Commands and Laws
O Ism-i-Jud! Thou didst make mention of him who was named Ghulam-Husayn, upon him be My glory. Although the condition of this land is not known, yet permission hath been granted. Give thou the glad-tidings unto Samandar, upon him be My glory, that he may rejoice in this bounty from Our presence. In all circumstances they must observe wisdom. Thus hath God ordained, both before and after, in the Scriptures and Tablets. If wisdom requireth it, let them turn with spirit and fragrance. We beseech God, exalted be He, to assist him in that which beseemeth His days and to aid him in that which He desireth, adorned with that which hath been sent down in the Book. O Samandar! Give thou the glad-tidings that We have mentioned him whom thou didst mention before and after, and We give him the glad-tidings of that which hath shone forth from the Daystar of permission from the horizon of his Lord’s will, the Mighty, the Powerful. But in all circumstances they must observe wisdom. Verily, He is the Ordainer, the All-Wise.
BH07568: In reply to Abdul-Husayn’s letter, write: Regarding what was…
In reply to Abdul-Husayn’s letter, write: Regarding what was mentioned about differences between the friends—all are obligated by the Divine Tablets to demonstrate love, unity, affection and fellowship, which are the cause of exalting the Word of God, and they must act accordingly. We beseech and implore God, exalted be His glory, to enable all the friends to attain to this most exalted station, so that all may arise in unity to serve the Cause.
Mention of you was made in the Most Holy Presence, and you have attained to God’s favors. According to His command: those souls who are today associated with the Truth and adorned with the lights of recognition must strive to remove differences, for no harm has been or will be greater than discord between the friends. God willing, you will strive to the extent possible in this matter. God speaks the truth and verily guides to the straight path.
BH07555: O spiritual bird, praise God that at all times…
He is the All-Glorious
O spiritual bird, praise God that at all times thou art mentioned before the All-Merciful and art present and appreciated in the hearts of the friends of God. Though outwardly thou art separated, in truth thou art circumambulating the Ka’bih of presence. The eye of God’s loving-kindness hath ever been and is open toward that one who hath turned to God, and thou hast been and art observed through His infinite favors. Thou hast not been forgotten for a moment and never shalt be. Be assured of this by day and by night. His honor Aqa Muhammad-ʿAli is occupied with thy mention and all are beseeching and hoping from God that He may bestow such success that thou mayest attain to that which hath been the ultimate desire of thyself and all the friends of God. Convey to all the friends of God, both young and old, the Most Wondrous, Most Glorious greetings. And the spirit and glory be upon you.
BH07950: O Siyyid-i-Baqir! Such afflictions have befallen the Wronged One…
He is the All-Commanding, the All-Wise!
O Siyyid-i-Baqir! Such afflictions have befallen the Wronged One as have caused the lamentations of the lovers to ascend. We have been patient and concealed them. Verily thy Lord is the All-Patient. I do not complain of My grief and sorrow. I say what the ancients said when tribulation and adversity appeared. By God! The Glory dwelleth beneath affliction in the path of God, the Lord of the Sacred Monument and Station. When thou attainest unto My verses, say:
“Glory be unto Thee, O my God! I beseech Thee by the light of Thy Cause, and the radiance of Thy Word, and the attraction of Thy verses, to make me steadfast and firm in Thy Cause and in Thy love. O my Lord! Thou seest the supplicant turning toward Thy Most Great Gate, and the seeker facing the direction of Thy bounty, O Lord of eternity! Ordain for him what befitteth Thy generosity, O Thou in Whose grasp is the reins of bounty! O my Lord! Deprive me not of the wonders of Thy grace. Ordain for me all the good Thou hast ordained in Thy Book. Verily Thou art the Compassionate, the Giving, the Forgiving, the Merciful.”
BH07856: He speaketh in the Kingdom of Utterance
He speaketh in the Kingdom of Utterance.
We bear witness that there is none other God but Him. His are the greatness and the majesty and the loftiness and the power and the bounty. He giveth whom He willeth what He willeth, and He is the Single One, the One, the All-Compelling, the Self-Subsisting. Praise be unto Thee, O my God, for having guided Thy servant unto Thy straight path and ordained for him that which drew him nigh unto Thee in days wherein the limbs of the idolaters trembled. Thou didst open unto him the gate of attainment to Thy presence and honored him with that which was recorded in Thy Books and Thy Scriptures and Thy Tablets. Thou art, verily, the One Who hath power over whatsoever He pleaseth, and within Thy grasp are the reins of all that are in the heavens and on earth. I beseech Thee, O Lord of eternity and Creator of nations, by Thy Most Great Name, to make me successful in remembering Thee and praising Thee and serving Thy Cause. Then ordain for me the good of the world to come and of the first. Verily, Thou art the Lord of the Throne on high and of the dust below. There is none other God but Thee, the Mighty, the Powerful.
BH07895: O My Afnan, upon thee be My Glory! Thou…
He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing!
O My Afnan, upon thee be My Glory! Thou didst make mention without a tongue. Now doth the tongue of the All-Merciful make mention of thee on thy behalf—a mention that shall bestow upon all things a new tongue. Verily thy Lord, the All-Merciful, is the Forgiving, the Compassionate.
Although divine decree is irrevocable and outwardly may not accord with the desire of God’s servants, in truth it is, to those possessed of insight, dearer than life itself. God’s purpose in creation hath been bounty and grace. Assuredly He hath willed the good of all. Whatsoever may come to pass, be it tribulation or hardship, or ease and comfort, all transpireth according to the requirements of His consummate wisdom.
Such is His grace that, as thou seest, He speaketh in place of him who hath no tongue, and maketh mention of him—a mention that shall cause souls to be mindful throughout ages and centuries. Glory be upon thee, and upon him, and upon those who have cast away idle fancies, clinging fast to the cord of the commandments of their Lord, the Ordainer, the All-Wise.
BH07503: O Rahim! Hearken unto what the Nightingale of Holiness…
He is the Mighty.
O Rahim! Hearken unto what the Nightingale of Holiness teacheth thee. Know thou that whatsoever We have desired or do desire for you is for your benefit. Cast therefore upon thyself the love of God, then remember that which He loveth and with which He is well-pleased. Keep thyself from self and be not neglectful in the Cause of God. Be in the utmost state of submission and contentment, and follow not thy desires but rather follow what this needy servant conveyeth unto thee, for he desireth for thee naught save what he desireth for himself, and teacheth thee not a letter except by that which he hath taught himself, and remembereth thee not save by that which he remembereth his own soul, and loveth thee now as he loved thee before. Beware lest thou grieve over anything or doubt in the Cause of God. Live in the world with joy and delight, then build thy affairs upon trust in God and contentment. And peace be upon thee and upon whomsoever followeth guidance.
BH07912: O my handmaiden and leaf! Upon thee be My…
In the name of Him Who liveth and endureth forever.
O my handmaiden and leaf! Upon thee be My Glory and loving-kindness. Praise be to God that through divine favor and merciful grace thou hast entered the pavilion of heavenly knowledge and gained intimacy with one near to the threshold of the Lord of Oneness. Preserve this most great bounty and most glorious station in the name of the One Beloved. The whole world hath been created for the recognition of this wondrous Day, yet how many queens of the world are today deprived of the sealed wine of the Self-Subsisting Lord, while thou art among those who have attained unto it. Say:
Praise be unto Thee, O God of the worlds, for having illumined my heart with the light of Thy knowledge and guided me to the horizon of Thy Revelation. I beseech Thee to ordain for me that which Thou hast ordained for Thy handmaidens who circle round Thy throne and hold fast to the Tree of Thy bounty. Verily Thou art the Almighty, the Powerful, the All-Bountiful. The splendor shining from the heaven of My loving-kindness be upon thee and upon those who have turned unto God and believed in God, the One, the All-Knowing.
BH07798: Say: O my God, my God! I am Thy…
In the Name of God, the Most Inaccessible, the Most Holy, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious
Say: O my God, my God! I am Thy handmaid and the daughter of Thy handmaid. I bear witness to Thy greatness and Thy sovereignty, to Thy might and Thy power, to Thy majesty and Thy glory. Verily, Thou art God; there is none other God but Thee. From everlasting Thou hast been supreme over Thy servants and Thy handmaids, and potent over all who are in Thy earth and in Thy heaven.
I beseech Thee by Thy mercy which hath preceded all created things, by Thy grace which hath encompassed all contingent beings, by the pearls of the ocean of Thy knowledge, and by the splendours of Thy countenance, to make me, under all conditions, to turn wholly unto Thy most exalted Horizon, and to hold fast to the cord of Thy loving-kindness, O Thou Who art the Lord of names and the Creator of the heavens.
I implore Thee, moreover, to ordain for me the good of this world and of the world to come, and whatsoever befitteth the ocean of Thy bounty and the heaven of Thy generosity, O Thou in Whose grasp are held the reins of gifts and bestowals. There is none other God but Thee, the Ever-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful. Praise be to Thee, inasmuch as Thou art the Desire of them that have attained unto true knowledge.
BH07456: The splendor shining forth from the heaven of My…
The splendor shining forth from the heaven of My loving-kindness be upon you and upon your son who was named Aqa Buzurg and your other son who was named Aqa Kuchik—upon those who have cast away their idle fancies and taken hold of that which they were commanded by God, the Lord of all beings and the Possessor of bounties and favors.
O thou who gazest upon the Countenance that hath turned toward the lights of the Throne, and who art engaged in remembrance and praise during the days of God, the Lord of all beings! Thy letter hath attained unto Our presence, and We have mentioned repeatedly those servants who heard and responded to their Lord, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Convey My greetings to each one on behalf of this Wronged One and illumine them with the splendorous lights of the Sun of divine utterance. His honor Salman, upon him be My glory, arrived and dwelt for some time beneath the shade, and when the appointed time of his sojourn came to an end, the command to return shone forth from the Dayspring of the Divine Will, and We sent with him that which would strengthen My loved ones, My trusted ones and My chosen ones who have remained firm in the Covenant and Testament.
The friends must not act except with wisdom. Wisdom is that through which the servants draw nigh, not that which causeth remoteness and flight. Verily thy Lord is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. The glory be upon thee and upon those with thee, and We hear thy words concerning this Most Great Announcement.
BH07539: Ancient lights course through the mighty Throne, and profound…
He is God!
Ancient lights course through the mighty Throne, and profound mysteries are inscribed upon fragrant tablets, and the Dove of Power soars in the holy atmosphere of might on wings of strength, and the Bird of Grandeur warbles new and wondrous melodies of exaltation, and the Peacock of the Paradise of Oneness utters its cry with holy eternality’s might, and the birds of the sanctuary of glory circle in flight, and the maidens of beauty from the realm of eternity wave their hands, and the nightingale of the splendor of the mystery of faithfulness arranges itself in ranks.
Praise be to God that the King of power and might is seated upon the throne of glory, and the Sovereign of eternity is established in the realm of meeting, and the sweet-scented breezes of eternity are stirred from the left side of the Beloved’s locks, and the fragrant musk of faithfulness wafts from the right side of the Intended One’s hair, and the Bird of Light warbles upon the branches of the Tree of Sinai, and the Cock of Glorification sings in the gardens of Divine Unity.
Therefore praise be to God, the Beloved of the first and the last, the manifest and the hidden.
BH07572: The verses have been revealed, the Book hath spoken…
He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
The verses have been revealed, the Book hath spoken, and the Promised One hath appeared; yet the peoples of the earth were withheld from the Most Exalted Horizon by the veils and doubts cast up by ignorant divines. The falsehood of their spoken words became a flame that kindled corruption among all men, and turned them all toward the infernal fire. They cried, “May God hasten His advent!”—and thereby hastened only their own descent into hell. Glorified be God! How pure deeds make manifest their effects—thus hath it been.
I beseech the True One to throw open before the faces of all the portal of His grace, and not to deprive His loved ones of the soft murmur of the Divine Lote-Tree, nor of the sealed wine, nor of the lights of the Presence of the Self-Subsisting. May they drink, and hear, and behold.
O Yusuf! Upon thee be the glory of God. We remembered thee before, and remember thee at this hour as well, and We exhort thee unto that whereby the Cause of God shall be exalted. Be eloquent in His praise, aflame with the fire of His love, and steadfast through His power. Verily, He is with thee. Give thanks unto thy Lord, the Mighty, the Subduing, the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.
BH07587: Jinab-i-ʿAli Haydar—upon him be Baha’i glory and loving-kindness—is…
He is the Truth, the Knower of the unseen.
Jinab-i-ʿAli Haydar—upon him be Baha’i glory and loving-kindness—is, in truth, afflicted with great and manifold burdens, for the ordering and arrangement of the affairs of the flowers resteth with him. Great, indeed, is his recompense with God. The friends of God must beseech of the True One, glorified be His majesty, that He may preserve and protect him. Verily, He is the Hearer, the Answerer. They should moreover supplicate for him blessings, wealth, and power.
That which hath been mentioned concerning the claim of Aqa Muhammad-Baqir of Ardikan is in accordance with what is right. It should be paid with all promptness in the presence of Hadrat-i-ʿIlm, and, agreeably to what hath been set forth, a receipt should be sent.
O my God and the God of all the worlds! I beseech Thee by Thy Most Great Name to open before the face of him who hath arisen to serve Thy Cause the door of Thy bounty and Thy grace; then guard him from Thine enemies. O Lord! Thou knowest that Baha desireth that Thy Name be exalted throughout the East and the West of the earth, through Thy Name and Thy sovereignty. Thou, verily, art the All-Powerful, the Almighty.
BH07610: He abideth forever in the Kingdom
He abideth forever in the Kingdom.
Mention in the Book the Spirit [Jesus] whose name was exalted. He was born of His mother, then lived in the realm but a few days, and was taken up unto God in His younger years—a matter decreed in the Tablet. He left the earth when he caught the fragrance of mortality therefrom, and turned toward the heaven of holy immortality. Peace be upon Him the day He was born, and the day He was raised up, and the day He ascended to the sublime pavilion of glory. He remained in the world only so long as roses remain in springtime—when summer’s heat came, His beauty was veiled behind an impalpable veil. His days were but as the days of roses—thus was it ordained by the hidden Pen of might. For this did every seeing eye weep in secret. God shall manifest Him beneath crimson canopies, in a station resplendent with truth. And the Spirit be upon Him and upon those who followed Him to the pure crimson land. 152
BH07651: Glorified art Thou, O my God! I beseech Thee…
He is the Preserver!
Glorified art Thou, O my God! I beseech Thee by Thy Most Beautiful Names, and Thy Most Perfect and Exalted Words, and by the lights of Thy Countenance in the heaven of eternity, and by Thy Most Great, Most Perfect, Most Generous Name, through which all faces have turned toward the face of Thy Self-Sufficiency, and all hearts have been made to drink the holy waters of Thy Oneness, and through which every poor one hath been enriched, and every abased one hath been exalted, and every sick one hath been healed—to preserve the bearer of this Tablet from every affliction and illness, and from every disease and malady, and from whatsoever may occur through Thy decree in Thy kingdom of plague and pestilence and less than these, from all that causeth souls to tremble and bodies and hearts to be disturbed. Verily, Thou art He Who doeth what He pleaseth through Thy power and ordaineth what He willeth through the sovereignty of Thy command. None can resist Thy decree in the kingdom of Thy might, and none can prevent the execution of Thy judgment in the heaven of Thy creation. Verily, Thou art the Almighty, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious, the Most Generous, the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
BH07662: 4484137 He is the Comforter 137444
4484137 He is the Comforter 137444
Glory be unto Thee, O my God! I testify unto Thee in all things that Thou art God, there is no God but Thee. Thou hast ever been sanctified above the mention of all things and wilt ever continue to be as Thou hast been from before. There is no God but Thee, and unto Thee is the final return. I beseech Thee, O my God, by Thy Most Great Name, the All-Glorious, the Most Glorious, and by the Ultimate Tree, the Most Exalted, the All-Exalted, that Thou protect the bearer of this white leaf from all evil, calamity, plague and pestilence. Verily, Thou dost protect whom Thou willest, for Thou hast knowledge of all things.