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CHAPTER II
THE GREAT MESSAGE
36. He is the Mighty Over That Which He Willeth!
This is the Noble Book from before the Lord of the worlds to those who
have believed in this great announcement; verily, it is an admonition to
whosoever is guided and a remembrance to the one who hath advanced towards the
Lord of the people of knowledge.
Those who are given vision by God are indeed those who know the truth and are not withheld from it by the veils of polytheists. They see the lights of
the Kingdom as they see the sun in the midst of the sky. Are they not indeed of
the people of the Presence? Blessed is he who flings the world away and mounts
the Red Ark through the Lord of the Names. Is he not of the people of
Bahá? Thus hath it been caused to descend from before the Revealer of
the Bayán, whereunto beareth witness he who judges rightly in the Cause
of God, and who has been of the witnesses.
We sent ‘Alí (the Báb), who preached to you of the Kingdom before the Face, called you in the wilderness of unity, and summoned you
to God, the Mighty, the Exalted, the Great.
Had He not come, no one would have the right to object to this
Manifestation. How would it then be after We revealed the Bayán and
adorned it with the embroidered Garment of My commemoration, the Precious, the
Wonderful?
Say: O people! Do ye call upon the Names and cast aside their
Creator? Verily, this is no other than grievous error. Arise to assist the
Cause of God; then invite the people to this Noble Outlook.
Say: Are ye affrighted by the assault of those who have exercised
oppression, after ye see the power of your Lord, the Mighty, the Extolled?
Follow the example of your Lord, the Merciful, whilst in the greatest disaster.
He calleth the people to the truth, and was impeded neither by the oppression of
the
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oppressors nor by the injury of the polytheists. Verily, your Lord,
the Merciful, protecteth whom He pleaseth, though He may be in the mouth of the
winged dragon. By My Life, not a single leaf is moved but after His permission
and He is indeed the Mighty, the Powerful. And he whose stated time hath come,
death apprehendeth him, even if he be in a stronghold.
His compassion hath preceded His wrath; thereupon We have suffered
anguish from every lowly one though in Our grasp is the Kingdom of heaven and
earth.
Beware not to commit that whereby discord may be caused. Unite in the
Cause and disagree not. By union ye break the backs of those who have denied
the Ruler of existence. This is better unto you, if ye are of those who
believe. Nothing was desired by Us for you save that which draws you nigh to
God. Hearken unto the truth and follow not the steps of the
devils.
As to thee, thou are commemorating My commemoration and looking to My
Face; deliver to the people that whereunto thou art commanded. Peradventure the
winds of Paradise may move them and turn them over to the Qiblih of the people
of the world.
Cleanse the people with the water of the inner significances which We
have deposited in the signs. By My Life, it is indeed the water of life which
the Merciful One hath sent down from the heaven of grace for the life of the
people of the world.
The night hath passed wherein God hath enjoined upon all who were
around Him: “Rally under the shadow of that which hath extended from this
Divine Sadrát.” This is that which We have commanded you on a
former occasion. Blessed are the attainers.
Beware not to disagree in the Cause of God and not to follow the
imaginations of the doubting people. Verily, He is with the one who
commemorates Him and assists this Cause, wherefrom the fragrance of the Merciful
hath spread among the people of the world.
TABLET TO THE SHÁH OF PERSIA
37. O King of earth, hear the voice of this slave! I have sacrificed
myself in His way; to this do the afflictions wherein I am (the like of which
none amongst mankind hath
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borne) testify, and my Lord the All-Knowing is the witness to what I
say. I have not summoned men unto aught save unto Thy Lord and the Lord of the
worlds. In love for Him there hath come upon me that whereof the eye of
creation hath not beheld the like; in this will these servants whom the veils of
humanity have not withheld from confronting the chiefest outlook bear me out,
and beside them He with whom is knowledge of all things in a Preserved Tablet.
Whenever the clouds of fate rain down the darts of affliction in the way of God,
the Lord of the names, I advance to meet them; to this testifieth every fair and
rightly informed person. How many are the nights wherein the wild beasts rested
in their lairs, and the birds in their nests, while this servant was in chains
and fetters and found for Himself none to succor, nor any helper! Remember the
grace of God toward thee when thou wast in prison with sundry others, and He
brought thee out thence, and succored thee with the hosts of the invisible and
the visible, until the King sent thee to ‘Iráq
(Baghdád) after we had disclosed to him that thou wast not of the
number of the seditious. Verily, such as follow their lusts and turn aside from
virtue, these are in evident error.
And as for those who work sedition in the earth, and shed blood and
falsely consume men’s wealth, we are quit of them, and we ask God not to
associate with them either in this world or in the world to come, unless they
repent unto Him; verily He is the most merciful of the merciful, verily it
behooveth him who turneth towards God to be distinguished in all actions from
what is apart from Him and to conform to that which is enjoined upon him in the
Book; thus is the matter decreed in a perspicuous Book. As for such as cast the
command of God behind their backs and follow after their lusts, they are in
grievous error.
O King, I conjure thee by thy Lord, the merciful, to regard His
servants with the gaze of pitiful eyes, and to rule with justice in their midst,
that God may award His favor unto thee; verily thy Lord judgeth as He pleaseth.
The world shall perish with whatsoever of glory and abasement is therein, while
dominion remaineth unto God, the supreme and all-knowing King. Say, verily, He
hath kindled the lamp of the Bayán, and He will continue it with the oil
of ideas and expressions; exalted is thy Lord the merciful. Verily, He will
show forth what He pleaseth by
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His authority, and will guard it with a cohort of the proximate angels.
He controlleth His handiwork and compelleth His creation; verily He is the
All-Knowing, the Wise.
O King, verily I was as any one amongst mankind, slumbering upon my
couch. The gales of the All-Glorious passed by me, and taught me the knowledge
of what hath been. This thing is not from me but from One who is mighty and
All-Knowing. And He bade me proclaim betwixt the earth and the heaven, and for
this hath there befallen me that whereat the eyes of those who know overflow
with tears. I have not studied those sciences which men possess, nor have I
entered the colleges; inquire of the city wherein I was, that thou mayest be
assured that I am not of those who speak falsely.
This is a leaf which the breezes of the will of thy Lord, the Mighty,
the Extolled, have stirred. Can it be still when the rushing winds blow? No,
by my Lord of the names and attributes! Rather do they move it as they list, for
being belongeth not to nonentity in presence of the eternal. His decisive
command did come, causing me to speak for His celebration amidst the worlds.
Verily, I was not save as one dead in presence of His command, the hand of thy
Lord the Merciful, the Clement, turning me. Can any one speak on his own part
that for which all men, whether high or low, will contradict Him? No, by Him
who taught the Pen eternal mysteries, save him who is strengthened by One mighty
and strong.
The Supreme Pen addresseth me, saying, “Fear not, but relate
unto His majesty, the king, what hath come upon thee. Verily, his heart is
between the fingers of thy Lord the Merciful; perchance He will cause the sun of
justice and kindness to dawn from the horizons of his heart.” Thus was
the command revealed from the All-Wise.
Say, King, look with the gaze of justice upon this servant; then
decide according to the right concerning what hath befallen him. Verily, God
hath appointed thee His shadow amongst His servants, and the sign of His power
to the dwellers in the land; judge between us and those who have oppressed us
without proof or clear warrant.
Verily, those who surround thee, love thee for their own sakes, while
this servant loveth thee for thine own sake, nor doth He desire aught save that
He may bring thee nigh unto the station
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of grace and turn thee unto the right hand of justice; thy Lord is
witness unto that which I say.
O King, if thou wouldst hear the cry of the Supreme Pen, and the
cooing of the dove of eternity on the branches of the Divine Lote-tree beyond
which there is no passing in praise of God, the maker of the names, the creator
of the earth and heaven, verily this would cause thee to attain unto a station
whence thou wouldst behold in existence naught save the effulgence of God, the
adored, and whence thou wouldst regard dominion as a thing of least account in
thine eyes, leaving it to who desireth it, and turning toward a horizon
illumined with the lights of God’s face; neither wouldst thou ever endure
the burden of dominion unless it were to help thy Lord, the High, the Supreme.
Then would the people of the Supreme Concourse magnify thee, saying, “How
good is this most glorious station, if thou wouldst but ascend thereunto by
authority accorded unto thee in the name of God.”
Amongst mankind are some who say this servant desireth the world for
himself notwithstanding that I have not found during the days of my life a place
of safety such that I might set my feet therein, but was ever overwhelmed in the
floods of affliction, whereof none wots save God; verily He knoweth what I say.
How many were the days wherein my friends were disquieted for my distress, and
how many the nights, wherein the sound of wailing arose from my family in fear
for my life; none will deny this save he who is devoid of truthfulness. Doth he
who regardeth not his life (as assured) for less than a moment, desire the
world? I marvel at those who speak after their lusts, and wander madly in the
desert of passion and desire. They shall be questioned as to that which they
have said; on that day they shall not find for themselves any protector nor any
helper. And amongst them who say, “Verily, he denieth God,”
notwithstanding that all my limbs testify that there is no God but Him, and that
those whom He quickeneth with the truth and sent for men’s guidance are
the manifestations of His most comely names, the day-springs of His supreme
attributes, and the recipients of His revelation in the realm of creation: by
whom the proof of God unto all beside Himself is made perfect, the standard of
faith and unity is set up, and the sign of renunciation becomes apparent; and by
whom every soul taketh a course toward the Lord of the throne. We bear witness
that there is no God but Him: everlastingly He was
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and there was nothing beside Him; everlastingly He will be even as He
hath been. Exalted is the Merciful One above this, that the hearts of the
people of wisdom should ascend unto the comprehension of His nature, or that the
understanding of such as inhabit the worlds should rise to the knowledge of His
essence. Holy is He above the knowledge of all save Himself, and exempt is He
from the comprehension of what is beside Him; verily, in eternity of eternities
was He independent of the worlds.
Remember the days wherein the Sun of Bathá (Muhammad) shone forth from the horizon of the will of thy Lord, the High, the Supreme, how the doctors turned aside from him, and the cultured found fault with him, that thou mayest understand what is now hidden within the veil of light. Matters
waxed grievous for him on all sides, until those who were gathered round him
were dispersed by his own command; thus was the matter decreed from the heaven
of glory. Then remember when one of them came in before the Nejashí
(king of Abyssinia) and recited unto him a súrah of the
Qur’án. He said to those around him: “Verily, it hath been
revealed on the part of One All-Knowing and Wise. Whosoever accepteth what is
best, and believeth in that which Jesus brought, for him it is impossible to
turn aside from what hath been read; verily we testify unto the truth of it,
even as we testify unto the truth of what is with us of the Books of God, the
Protecting, the Self-subsistent.”
By God, O king, if thou wouldst hear the strains of the dove which
cooeth on the branches with varied notes by the command of thy Lord the
Merciful, thou wouldst assuredly put away dominion behind thee and go unto the
Chiefest Outlook, the station from the horizon of which the Book of the Dawn is
seen, and wouldst spend what thou hast, seeking after that which is with God.
Then wouldst thou find thyself in the height of glory and exultation and the
zenith of greatness and independence; thus has the matter been written in the
primal revelation by the Pen of the Merciful One.
There is no good in what thou dost possess today, for another shall
possess it tomorrow in thy stead. Choose for thyself that which God hath chosen
for His elect. Verily, He will bestow upon thee a mighty dominion in His
Kingdom. We ask God that He may help thy mayest to hearken unto the Word
whereby the
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world is illuminated, and preserve thee from those who are remote from
the region of nearness.
Glory be to Thee, O God! O God, how many a head hath been set us on
spears in Thy way! How many hearts have been riddled for the exaltation of Thy
Word and the diffusion of Thy religion! How many eyes have overflowed with tears
for Thy love! I ask thee, O King of Kings, Pitier of thralls, by Thy most great
name, which Thou hast made the day-spring of Thy most comely names and the
manifestation of Thy supreme attributes, to lift up the veils which intervene
between Thee and Thy creatures, withholding them from turning toward the horizon
of Thy revelation; then drawn them, O God, by Thy Supreme Word from the left
hand of fancy and forgetfulness to the right hand of certainty and knowledge,
that they may know what Thou, in Thy bounty and grace, desireth for them, and
may turn toward the manifestation of Thy religion and the day-spring of Thy
signs. O God, Thou art the gracious, the Lord of great bounty; withhold not Thy
servants from the most mighty ocean, which Thou hast made to produce the pearls
of Thy knowledge and wisdom, neither repel them from Thy gate which Thou hast
opened unto all who are in Thy heaven and Thy earth. O Lord, leave them not to
themselves, for they know not, and flee from what is better for them than
whatsoever hath been created in Thine earth. Look upon them, O Lord, with the
glances of the eyes of Thy favors and bounties, and free them from passion and
lust, that they may draw nigh unto Thy supreme horizon, and may discover the
delight of remembering Thee, and the sweetness of the table which hath been sent
down from the heaven of Thy will and the air of Thy bounty. Everlastingly hath
Thy grace encompassed all contingent beings, and Thy mercy preceded all
creatures; there is no God but Thee, the forgiving, the merciful!
Glory be to Thee, O God! Thou knowest that my heart is melted about
Thy business, that my blood boils in my veins with the fire of Thy love, and
that every drop thereof crieth unto Thee with dumb eloquence saying, “O
Lord Most High, shed on the earth in Thy way, that there may grow from it what
Thou desirest in Thy Books, but hast concealed from the sight of Thy servants,
save such as have drunk from the Kawthar of knowledge from the hands of
Thy grace, and the Salsibíl of wisdom from the cup of Thy bounty.”
Thou knowest, O God, that in every action I
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desire nothing save Thine affair, and that in every utterance I seek
naught but Thy celebration, neither doth my pen move except I desire Thy good
pleasure and the setting forth of what Thou hast enjoined upon me by Thy
authority. Thou seest me, O God, confounded in Thine earth; if I tell what Thou
hast enjoined on me, Thy creatures turn against me; and if I forsake what Thou
hast enjoined on me on Thy part, I should be deserving of the scourges of Thy
wrath, and far removed from the gardens of nearness to Thee. No, by Thy glory,
I advance toward Thy good pleasure, turning aside from what the souls of Thy
servants desire; and accept what is with Thee, forsaking what will remove me
afar off from the retreats of nearness to Thee and the heights of Thy glory. By
Thy glory, for Thy love, I flinch not from aught, and for Thy good pleasure I
fear not all the afflictions in the world; that is but through Thy strength and
Thy might, and Thy grace and Thy favor, not because I am deserving
thereof.
O God, this is a letter which I wish to send to the king; and Thou
knowest that I have not desired aught of him save the display of his justice to
Thy people, and the showing forth of his favors to the dwellers in Thy Kingdom,
and verily, for myself, I have not desired aught save what Thou desirest.
Perish that being which desireth of Thee aught save Thyself! Help, O God, his
majesty the King, to execute Thy laws amongst Thy servants and to show forth Thy
justice amidst Thy creatures, that he may rule over this sect as he ruleth over
those who are beside them. Verily, Thou art the potent, the mighty, the
wise.
O would that thou mightest permit, O King, that we would send unto thy mayest that whereby eyes would be refreshed, souls tranquilized and every just
person assured that with him (Bahá’u’lláh) is
knowledge of the Book. Were it not for the turning aside of the ignorant and
the willful blindness of the doctors, verily I would utter a discourse whereat
hearts would be glad and would fly into the air from the murmur of whose winds
is heard, “There is no God but He.” But now, because the time
admitteth it not, the tongue is withheld from utterances, and the vessel of
declaration is sealed until God shall unclose it by His Power; verily He is the
potent, the powerful.
Glory be to Thee, O God! O my God, I ask of Thee in Thy name, whereby Thou hast subdued whosoever is in the heavens
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and the earth, that Thou wilt keep the lamp of Religion with the glass
of Thy power and Thy favors, so that the winds of denial pass not by it from the
region of those who are heedless of the mysteries of Thy sovereign name; then
increase its light by the oil of Thy wisdom; verily Thou art the potent over
whosoever is in Thy earth and Thy heaven. O Lord, I ask of Thee by Thy supreme
word, whereat whosoever is in the earth and the heaven feareth, save him who
taketh hold of the most firm handle, that Thou wilt not abandon me amongst Thy
creatures. Lift me up unto Thee, and make me to enter under the shadow of Thy
mercy, and give me to drink of the pure wine of Thy grace, and that I may dwell
under the canopy of Thy glory and the dome of Thy favors, -- verily, Thou art
powerful unto that which Thou wishest and verily, Thou art the protecting, the
self-sufficing.
O King! The lamps of justice are extinguished, and the fire of
persecution is kindled on all sides, until that they have made my people
captives. This is not the first honor which hath been violated in the way of
God. It behooveth every one to regard and recall what befell the kindred of the
prophet until that the people made them captives and brought them in unto
Damascus, the spacious; and amongst them the Prince of worshippers,
(Zaynu’l-Abindín) the stay of the elect, the sanctuary of the eager
(the soul of all beside him be his sacrifice). It was said unto them,
“Are ye seceders?” He said, “No, by God, we are servants who
have believed in God and in His signs, and through us the teeth of faith are
disclosed in a smile and the sign of the Merciful one shineth forth; through our
mention spreadeth Al-Bathá (Mecca) and the darkness which
intervened between earth and heaven is dispelled.” It was asked,
“Have you forbidden what God hath sanctioned, or sanctioned what God hath
forbidden?” He answered, “We were the first who followed the
commandments of God; we are the pioneers of this religion, and the first fruits
of all good and its consummation; we are the sign of the Eternal, and His
commemoration amongst the nations.” It was asked, “Have you
abandoned the Qur’án?” He said, “Within us did the
Merciful One reveal it; we are the streams which have arisen from the most
mighty ocean whereby God revived the earth after its death and will revive it
again; from us His signs are diffused, His evidences are manifested and His
tokens appear: and with us are
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His mysteries and His secrets.” It was asked, “For what
fault then, were ye afflicted?” He said, “For the love of God and
our severance from all beside Him.”
Verily, we have not repeated his expressions (upon him be peace) but
rather we have made manifest a spray from the ocean of life, which was deposited
in his words, that by it those who advance may live and be aware of what hath
befallen the trusted ones of God on the part of the evil and most reprobate
people. And today we see the people censuring those who acted unjustly of yore,
while they oppress more vehemently than those oppressed, and know it not. By
God, I do not desire sedition, but the purification of God’s servants from
all that withholdeth them from approach to God, the King of the Day of
Judgment.
I was asleep on my couch; the breaths of my Lord, the Merciful, passed
over me and awakened me from my sleep; and commanded me to proclaim betwixt
earth and heaven. This was not on my part but on His part, and to this bear
witness the denizens of the realms of His power and His kingdom, and the
dwellers in the cities of His glory, and Himself, the truth. I am not impatient
of calamities in His way, nor of afflictions for His love and at His good
pleasure--God hath made afflictions as a morning shower to His green pasture,
and as a wick for His lamp whereby earth and heaven are illumined.
Shall that which any one hath of wealth endure unto him, or avail him
tomorrow with him who holdeth his forelock? If any should look on those who
sleep under slabs and keep company with the dust, can he distinguish the bones
of the king’s skull from the knuckles of the slave? No, by the King of
Kings? Or doth he know the governors from the herdsmen, or discern the wealthy
and the rich from him who was without shoes or carpet? By God, distinction is
removed save from him who fulfilled righteousness and judged uprightly. Where
are the doctors, the scholars, the nobles? Where is the keenness of their
glances, the sharpness of their sight, the subtlety of their thoughts, the
soundness of their understanding? Where are their hidden treasures and their
apparent gauds, their bejeweled thrones and their ample couches? Alas! All
have been laid waste, and the decree of God hath rendered them as scattered
dust! Emptied is what they treasured up, and dissipated is what they collected,
and dispersed is what they concealed. They have become such that
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thou seest naught but their empty places; their gaping roofs, their
uprooted beams, their new things waxed old. As for the discerning man, verily
wealth will not divert him from regarding the end; and for the prudent man,
riches will not withhold him from turning toward God, the Rich, the Exalted.
Where is he who held dominion over all whereon the sun arose, and who spent
lavishly and sought after curious things in the world and what is therein
created? Where is the lord of the swarthy squadron and they yellow standard?
where is he who ruled Baghdád, and where is he who wrought
injustice in Damascus, the spacious? Where are they at whose bounty treasures
were afraid, and at whose openhandedness and generosity the ocean was dismayed?
Where is he whose arm was stretched forth in rebelliousness, whose heart turned
away from the merciful One? Where is he who used to make choice of pleasures
and cull the fruits of desire? Where are the dames of the bridal-chambers, and
the possessors of beauty? Where their waving branches and their spreading
boughs, their lofty palaces and trellised gardens? Where is the smoothness of
the expanses thereof and the softness of their breezes, and the rippling of
their waters and the murmur of their winds, and the cooing of their doves and
the rustling of their trees? Where are their laughing hearts and their smiling
mouths? Woe unto them! They have descended to the abyss and become companions
to the pebbles; today no mention is heard nor any sound; nothing is known of
them or any hint. Will the people dispute it while they behold it? Will they
deny while they know it? I know not in what valley they wander erringly; do
they not see that they depart and return not? How long will they be descending
and ascending--spiritually rising and falling? Has the time not yet come to
those who believe, for their hearts to become humble for the remembrance of God?
Well is it with that one who hath said or shall say, “Yea, O Lord, the
time is right and hath come.” And who severeth himself from all that is,
unto the King of beings, and the Ruler of creation. Alas! Naught is reaped but
what is sown, and naught is taken but what is laid up, save by the grace of God
and His favor. Hath the earth conceived him whom the veils of glory prevent not
from ascending into the kingdom of his Lord, the Mighty, the Supreme? Have we
any good works whereby defects shall be removed or which shall bring us near
unto the Lord of causes? We ask God to deal with us according to His grace, not
His justice, and to make us of those who
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turn toward Him and sever themselves from all beside Him.
O King, I have seen in the way of God what no eye hath seen and no ear
hath heard. Friends have disclaimed; ways are straightened unto me; the pool of
safety is dried up; the plain of ease is scorched yellow. How many calamities
have descended, and how many will descend! I walk advancing toward the Mighty,
the Bounteous, while behind me glides the serpent. My eyes rain down tears
until my bed is drenched; yet my sorrow is not for myself. By God, my head
longeth for the spears for the love of its Lord, and I never pass by a tree but
my heart addresseth it, saying, “O would that thou wert cut down in my
name and my body were crucified upon thee in the way of my Lord.” Yea,
because I see mankind going astray in their intoxication and they know it not;
they have exalted their lusts, and put aside their God, as though they took the
command of God for a mockery, a sport, and a plaything; and they think that they
do well, and that they are harbored in the citadel of security. The matter is
not as they supposed; tomorrow they shall see what they now deny.
The rulers of authority and wealth are about to send us forth from
this land, Adrianople, unto the city of ‘Akká. And according to
what they say, it is assuredly the most desolate, the most detestable in
climate, and the foulest in water; it is as though it were the metropolis of the
owl; there is not heard from its region aught save the sound of its echo, and in
it they intend to imprison this servant, and to shut in our faces the doors of
leniency and take away from us the good things of the life of the world during
what remaineth of our days. By God, though weariness should weaken me and
hunger should destroy me, though my couch should be made of the hard rock and my
associates of the beasts of the desert, I will not blench, but will be patient,
as the resolute and determined are patient in the strength of God, the King of
pre-existence, the Creator of the nations; and under all circumstances I give
thanks unto God. And we hope of His graciousness (exalted is He) the freedom of
the necks from chains and shackles in this imprisonment; and that He will render
all men’s faces sincere toward Him, the Mighty, the Bounteous. Verily, He
answereth him who prayeth unto Him, and is near unto him who calleth on Him.
And we ask Him to make this dark calamity a buckler for the temple of His
command, and to protect it thereby from sharp swords and piercing blades.
Through affliction hath
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His light shone and His praise been bright unceasingly; this hath been
His method through past ages and bygone times.
The people shall know what today they understand not, when their
steeds shall stumble, their bed be rolled up, their swords be blunted, and their
footsteps slip. I know not how long they ride this steed of desire and wander
erringly in the desert of heedlessness and error. Of glory, shall any glory
endure, or of abasement any abasement? Or shall he endure who used to stay
himself on high cushions and who attained in splendor the utmost limit? No, by
my Lord the Merciful! All that is on the earth is transient, and there
remaineth only the face of my Lord, the Mighty, the Beneficent. What buckler
hath not the arrow of death smitten, or what pinion hath not the hand of fate
plucked? From what fortress hath the messenger of death been kept back when he
came? What throne hath not been broken, or what palace hath not been desolate?
Did the people but know what is beyond the end of this life, the pure wine of
the mercy of their Lord, the Mighty, the All-Knowing, they would certainly cast
aside reproach and seek to be satisfied by this servant. But now they have
veiled me with the veil of darkness which they have woven with the hands of
doubts and fancies. The White Hand shall cleave an opening to this somber
night, and God will open into His city a gate. On that day men shall arise from
the tombs and shall be questioned concerning their riches. Happy that one whom
burdens shall not oppress on that day whereon the mountains shall pass away and
all shall appear for questioning in the presence of God the Exalted! Verily, He
is severe in punishing.
We ask God to sanctify the hearts of certain of the theologians from
rancour and hatred that they may regard things with eyes which closure
overcometh not; and to raise them unto a station where the world and the
lordship thereof shall not turn them aside from looking toward the Supreme
Horizon, and where anxiety for gaining a livelihood and providing household
goods shall not divert them from the thought of that day whereon the mountains
shall be made like carpets. Though they rejoice at that which
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hath befallen us, of calamity there shall come a day whereon they shall
wail and weep. By my Lord, were I given the choice between the glory and
opulence, the wealth and dignity, the ease and luxury wherein they are, and the
distress and affliction wherein I am, I would certainly choose that wherein I am
today, and I would not now exchange one atom of these afflictions for all that
hath been created in the kingdom of production! Were it not for affliction in
the way of God, my continuance would have no sweetness for me, nor would my life
profit me. Let it not be hidden from the discerning and such as look toward the
Chiefest Outlook that I, during the greater part of my days, was a servant
sitting beneath a sword suspended by a single hair, who knoweth not when it
shall descend upon him, whether it shall descend instantly or after a while.
And in all this we give thanks to God, the Lord of the worlds, and we praise Him
under all circumstances, -- verily, He is a witness unto all
things.
We ask God to extend His shadow that the unitarians may hasten
thereto, and that the sinners may take shelter therein, and to bestow on these
servants flowers from the garden of His grace and stars from the horizon of His
favors; and to assist the king in that which He liketh and approveth; and to
help him unto that which shall bring him near to the day-spring of His most
comely names, that he may not shut his eyes to the wrong which he seeth, but may
regard his subjects with the eye of favor and preserve them from violence. And
we ask Him (exalted is He) to gather all together by the gulf of the most mighty
ocean whereof each drop crieth, “Verily, He is the giver of good tidings
to the worlds and the quickener of the worlds; and praise be to God, the King of
the Day of Judgment.” And we ask Him (exalted is He) to make thee a
helper unto His religion and a regarder of His justice, that thou mayest rule
over His servants as thou rulest over those of thy kindred, and mayest choose
for them what thou wouldst choose for thyself. Verily, He is the potent, the
exalted, the protecting, the self-subsistent. Thus have we built the Temple by
the hands of might and potency, were ye of those who know. This is indeed the
Temple of which ye are promised in the Book; come nigh unto it; this is better
unto you were ye to understand. O people of the earth! Be just and say whether
this is better unto you or the temple which is built of clay. Turn unto Him,
thus have ye been commanded on the part of God, the Protector, the
Self-existent.
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Follow the command, then praise God, your Lord, for that which He hath
graciously bestowed upon you. Verily, He is the truth, there is no God but Him.
He maketh to manifest what He pleaseth by saying, “Be” and it is.
TABLET TO THE SULTÁN OF TURKEY
38. The Supreme Pen proclaims:
He is the Possessor in His Might and Power!
O, thou personage, who considerest thyself the greatest of all men,
while looking upon the Divine Youth, thinking him to be the lowest of men, yet
through him the eye of the Supreme Concourse is brightened and illumined. This
Youth has never made nor will he ever make a request of thee: For from the
beginning every one of the Manifestations of mercifulness and the Dawning-places
of the glory of the Almighty, who have stepped forth from the realm of
immortality upon the arena of existence and shone forth with splendor for the
quickening of the dead, men like thee have considered those sanctified souls and
Temples of Oneness upon whom the reformation of the world depends, as the people
of strife, and wrong-doers. Verily, their names (the deniers) are forgotten and
ere long thy name will also be forgotten and thou shalt find thyself in great
loss. According to thy opinion, this quickener of the world and its peace-maker
is culpable and seditious. What crime have the women, children and suffering
babes committed, to merit thy wrath, oppression and hate? In every religion and
community, the children are considered innocent, nor does the Pen of Divine
Command hold them responsible, yet the reign of thy tyranny and despotism has
surrounded them. If thou art the follower of any religion or sect, read thou
the Heavenly Books, the inspired epistles and the divine writings, so that thou
mayest realize the irresponsibility of children. On the other hand, even those
people who do not believe in God, have never committed such
crimes.
In everything an effect is hidden, and no one has denied the effects
of things except an ignorant one who is completely denied and deprived of
intelligence. Therefore, undoubtedly the lamentation of these children and the
cries of these wronged ones will produce a great effect.
You have persecuted a number of souls who have shown no
opposition
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in your country and who have instigated no revolution against the
government; nay, rather, days and nights they have been peacefully engaged in
the mentioning of God. You have pillaged their properties and through your
tyrannical acts, all they had was taken from them. When the order was issued
for the banishment of this Youth, these souls began to lament, but the officers
who constituted my guard mentioned that these souls had committed no wrong, nor
had the government banished them, but if they desired, they might follow you,
for no one would oppose them. Consequently, they paid all their own expenses,
and, leaving their property behind, they were contented with the countenance of
this Youth, and, trusting upon God, they departed again with the True One, until
the fortress of ‘Akká became the place of the incarceration of
Bahá. The day after the arrival, the officials of the army surrounded
the men, women and children and carried them to the gloomy dungeon of the
barrack. The first night, they were given neither bread nor water, for the
sentinels were guarding the door of the prison and permitted no one to leave the
place. They did not consider the plight of these wronged ones. Water was asked
for, but it was refused. It is now some time since we are all imprisoned in
this dungeon; although we were living for five years in Adrianople and all the
people, whether ignorant or wise, rich or poor, testified to the sanctity and
holiness of these servants.
When departing from Adrianople, one of the believers of God sacrificed
himself with his own hand, for he could not see this Wronged One in the hands of
the tyrants. On our way, we were transferred three times, from one ship to
another, and it is evident that a number of the children suffered under these
severe circumstances. When we left the steamer, they separated four of the
friends from us, and prevented them from following, and upon the departure of
this Youth, one of the four, named ‘Abdu’l-Ghaffár,
threw himself into the sea and no one has ever found any trace of him. This is
a drop of the ocean of persecution which surrounded and encircled us.
Notwithstanding these things, they are not yet satisfied, and every day the
officers of the government are increasing their hard-heartedness, nor is it
ended; day and night they are forming new intrigues and adding to our
sufferings. From the government supplies, these prisoners receive three loaves
of bread to last for twenty-four hours, and no one is able to eat
it.
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From the beginning of the world, no such persecutions have been seen
or heard of! I declare by the One who has commanded Bahá to speak,
between the heavens and the earth, there is no name or mention for you equal to
those who sacrificed their spirits, bodies and property for the love of God, the
Mighty, the Powerful, the Omnipotent! Before God, a handful of dust is greater
than your kingdom, sovereignty, glory and dominion, and should He desire, He
would scatter you as the sand of the desert, and ere long, His wrath shall
overtake you, revolutions shall appear in your midst and your countries will be
divided! Then you will weep and lament and nowhere will you find help or
protection. The mentioning of these facts is not for the sake of your becoming
mindful, for already the wrath of God has surrounded you, but you have not, nor
will you become mindful; neither is it for the sake of reciting the persecutions
which have descended upon these holy souls, for they are intoxicated with the
wine of the Merciful and they are so exhilarated with the clear Salsibíl
of divine providence, that should the persecutions of the world descend upon
them in the path of God, they are satisfied, nay, rather, grateful; they never
had, nor will they ever have, any complaints to offer. At every moment, the
blood in their bodies begs and supplicates from the Lord of both worlds, that it
be shed upon the ground in His path; likewise their heads yearn to be raised
upon a spear for the sake of the Beloved of the heart and soul. For several
times the tests of God have descended upon you, and you were not mindful; one
was a conflagration which burned the city with the fire of justice, so much so
that poets have composed poems about it, declaring that such a conflagration had
never appeared before; notwithstanding this, your negligence increased. Then
the cholera came, and still you remained heedless. Be ye watchful, for the
wrath of God is prepared, and ere long ye shall behold that which is descended
from the Pen of Command. Have ye thought that your glory is everlasting, or did
ye dream that your kingdom would remain forever? No, by the life of God! Your
glory is not eternal, and our humiliation will not last. This humiliation is
the diadem of all the glories, and only man in his perfection can comprehend
it.
When this Youth was a child and had not yet reached the age of
maturity, one of my brothers intended to marry in Tihrán, and
according to the custom of that country, for seven days and nights
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they were engaged in feasting and banqueting. The program for the last
day of the entertainments for the guests was the play of “Sultán
Salím.” The ministers, the grandees and officials of the city were
there in a great throng, and this Youth was sitting in one of the galleries of
the building and was observing the scenes. Then they raised a great tent in the
middle of the court; representations of human forms only a few inches in height
would come out of the tent and cry: “The king is coming; arrange the
seats in order.” Then the other figures came out, sweeping the ground
while a number were sprinkling the streets with water; then another image was
presented, who was supposed to be the herald, acquainting the people to be ready
for review before His Majesty, the Sultán.
Then the ministers came, with hat and shawl, according to the Persian
custom; others were present with clubs, while a number of others were garbed as
chamberlains, aides-de-camp, ferrashes and executioners with instruments of
punishment. All these men were lined according to their station and class. At
last the king appeared, with sovereign power and shining diadem upon his head,
and with splendor and glory walked slowly and majestically, and with perfect
calmness, tranquillity and composure, seated himself upon the throne. At that
moment the noise of the guns and the music of the national anthem was raised,
and the smoke surrounded the tent and the king. When the air was cleared, it
was seen that the king was on his throne, and the ministers, the magistrates and
secretaries had taken their places according to their rank. Immediately, a
thief, captured by the police, was brought before the king, and a royal order
was issued to behead him. The chief of the executioners took the captive and
decapitated him, and a red fluid, like blood, was seen by all the spectators.
When the Sultán was consulting with some of his ministers, the news was
brought in that a certain person had become a rebel. The Sultán issued
orders that several regiments of soldiers and artillery men be sent to the scene
and quell the disturbance. After a few minutes the thunderous noise of guns and
artillery was heard behind the tent, and we were told they were engaged in
battle. This Youth became astonished and bewildered at these affairs. Then the
review ended and the curtain descended.
After twenty minutes, a man came out from behind the tent
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with a box under his arm. I asked him, “What is this box? Where
is the king and all the men?” He answered that all these great things and
manifest objects, such as kings, princes and ministers, glory, majesty, power
and sovereignty that we beheld were enclosed in this box.
I declare by the Lord who has created all things through His Word,
that from that day, all the conditions of this world and its greatness are like
that play before the eyes of this Youth. It has not nor will ever have the
weight of a mustard seed. I was wondering greatly that the people glorify
themselves in these affairs; notwithstanding this, the people of insight will
discern with the eye of certainty the end of the glory of every great one before
beholding it. I have seen nothing except I have discerned its transiency, and
God testifies to this. It is incumbent upon every soul in these few days of
life to spend them in truthfulness and justice and if he be not confirmed with
the knowledge of the True One, he can at least walk in the path of equity and
intelligence.
Ere long all these apparent things, manifest treasures, worldly
wealth, valiant soldiers, beautiful dresses and haughty souls, will be enclosed
in the box-like tomb, similar to the box which contained all the players, and
all this quarrel, strife and so-called honors are like the play of the children
before the people of insight. Be ye admonished, and be not of those who see the
truth and yet deny. These things will not affect this Youth and the friends of
the True One, for they are all prisoners and enchained, and will not nor will
ever make any request of people like thee.
The point is this, that thou mayest raise thy head from the bed of
negligence and become mindful and not oppose the servants of God without reason.
Bear in mind that so far as power and strength remain in the body, thou shouldst
remove persecutions from the oppressed ones. Shouldst thou have a little
justice and behold with the eye of certainty in the affairs and differences of
the ephemeral world, thou shalt acknowledge that all of them are like the
above-mentioned play. Hearken unto the word of truth! Be thou not proud on
account of the world. Where are those people who were like unto thee, who
claimed divinity on this earth without the permission of God, and desired to
extinguish the light of God and to demolish the foundation of truth? Dost thou
see any of them? Be just! Then turn to God, perchance
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He may forgive the sins thou hast committed in this ephemeral life.
Yet we know that thou shalt not become assisted in this, for through thy
tyranny, the Fire of Sinai flamed forth, the Spirit wept, and the hearts of the
angels bled.
O ye people of the earth! Hearken to the voice of this Oppressed One
with the ear of the soul, and ponder ye deeply over the above-mentioned story.
Perchance ye may not be burned with the fire of passion and desire, and be not
prevented from the meeting of the True One, through the worthless things of the
faithless world. Glory and abasement, poverty and wealth, trouble and
tranquillity, all shall pass away, and ere long all the inhabitants of the earth
shall return to the tomb. Therefore, every possessor of insight must behold the
immortal Outlook, that peradventure, through the bounties of the Eternal
Sovereign, he may enter into the everlasting Kingdom and rest under the shade of
the Tree of Command. Although the world is the place of treachery and
duplicity, yet under all circumstances it reminds all the people with the idea
of change. The passing of the father is an admonition for the son, and it
reminds him that he too must pass away. It would be well if the people of the
world who are amassing great fortunes and are deprived of the True One, knew
what would become of their great wealth. By the life of Bahá, no one is
cognizant of this fact except God, glorified in His Station!
The philosopher, Avicenna -- peace be upon him -- says: “Be
admonished, O ye whose hearts are darkened, be ye admonished, O ye, whose faces
are covered with the lines of age!” However, the majority of the people
are asleep. The example of those souls is like unto a person who was so
intoxicated with wine that he was showing the signs of affection to a dog, and
showering upon him tender words of love and affection. When the morning of
intelligence dawned, and the horizons of the heaven were illumined with the
brilliant orb, he beheld that his beloved was only a dog; then ashamed,
regretful and remorseful on account of his act, he returned to his
home.
Do not think that thou hast made this Youth powerless, or that thou
hast conquered him. Thou art defeated by one of the servants, but knowest it
not. The worst and lowest of creatures rules over thee, that is, thy passion
and desire, which have been condemned forever. If it were not on account of the
consummate
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wisdom of God, thou wouldst have seen thy weakness and the weakness of
the people of the earth. This humility is the glory of My Cause, wert thou to
know! This Youth has never loved nor will ever love to utter any word which is
against courtesy. Verily, courtesy is My Garment with which we have adorned the
temples of our favorite servants. Otherwise some of thy actions that thou
thinkest are unknown, would be mentioned in this Tablet. O thou possessor of
might! These little children and these friends of God did not need the officers
and soldiers as guards. After our arrival, one of the officers presented himself
and after much conversation expressed his own innocence and thy crime. This
Youth mentioned to him that: “Primarily, it was necessary to bring about
a meeting of the ‘Ulamás of the time and Himself so that the crimes
of which these servants were accused might become evident. However, time has
passed and according to thy statement, thou art commanded to imprison us in the
‘most desolate city.’ But I have one wish to make of thee, and that
is to request of His Majesty, the Sultán, to grant me an audience of ten
minutes in order that he may ask the proofs and arguments which he thinks would
establish the validity of the Word of God. If the proofs which he desires are
made manifest on the part of God, he should then liberate these wronged ones and
leave them to their own condition.”
He promised to take this message and send an answer, but we heard
nothing more from him; although it is not the station of this True One to
present himself before any person, for all the people are created for his
worship: Yet for the sake of these little children and the number of women who
are away from their country and people, we volunteered this act, but
notwithstanding this, no result was produced. Omar is living and ready, ask of
him so that the truth may become manifest to thee. Now all these exiled ones
are sick and lying in prison. No one but God the Mighty, the Glorious, knows
what will happen to us.
During the first days, two of these servants passed into the Supreme
Concourse. One day, one of the officers commanded that they could not remove
those blessed bodies unless they were paid for the shroud and casket, although
no one ever asked anything of them. At that time we possessed no earthly means,
and when we insisted that they leave the work to us and allow the friends to
prepare the dead for burial, they refused. Finally they took a
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rug to the bazaar and sold it at auction, and delivered the money to
the officers. Later on it became evident that they only dug the ground and laid
the two blessed bodies in the one grave, although they had been doubly paid for
shrouds and caskets. The pen is unable and the tongue is powerless to describe
that which has descended upon us; however, all these poisons of tests are
sweeter to this Youth than honey. I pray that under all circumstances, the
trials of the world in the path of God and the love of the Merciful may descend
upon this Ocean of Significances. We beg of Him patience and
endurance.
Thou art weak, and knowest it not. Couldst thou realize and be
perfumed with the fragrance wafted from the direction of the Ancient Beauty,
thou wouldst leave everything that thou hast in hand and hasten to come and live
in one of the ruined rooms of this Most Great Prison. Ask thou God that thou
mayest attain to the age of maturity so that thou mayest recognize the beauty
and ugliness of deeds and actions. Peace be upon those who follow
guidance!
SÚRIY-I-RA’ÍS,
TABLET [TO THE] MINISTER TO THE
SULTÁN
39. O Ra’ís! Hear the Voice of God, the Protecting,
Self-existing King. Verily, He crieth between the earth and heaven and
summoneth all to the Most Glorious Outlook. Neither doth thy croaking prevent
Him, nor the barking of those who are around thee, nor the hosts of the
worlds.
The world hath been kindled by the Word of thy Lord, El-Abhá.
It is softer than the breath of the east wind, and hath appeared in the form of
man; and by it, God hath quickened His advancing servants. In the inner part of
this Word there is a water whereby God hath purified the hearts of those who
came unto Him, who were negligent in mentioning aught else save Him; and thus
have We brought them nigh to the Outlook of His Great Name. We have caused this
water to descend upon the dead, and they are looking toward the shining and
brilliant Beauty of God.
O Chief! Thou hast committed that by reason of which Muhammad, the
Prophet of God, lamenteth in the highest heaven. And the world hath made thee
proud in such wise that thou hast turned away from the face of Him by whose
light the people of
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the Supreme Assembly are illumined, and thou shalt find thyself in
manifest loss. And thou didst unite with the Persian Minister in opposition to
Me, after that, I came unto you from the rising-place of greatness and might,
with a matter whereby the eyes of those near to God are consoled. By God, this
is a Day wherein the fire speaketh through all things: “The Beloved of
the two worlds hath come!” And on the part of everything, an interlocutor
of the matter hath sprung up to listen to the Word of thy Lord, the Precious,
the Knowing. Verily, should We come out from the Garment which We have worn for
the sake of your weakness, all, whosoever is in the heaven and on the earth,
would not hesitate to redeem Me by their souls, and to this thy Lord beareth
witness; but no one hears Him save those who have severed themselves from the
world, through the love of God, the Mighty, the Powerful.
Dost thou imagine that thou canst quench the fire which God hath
kindled in the horizons? No, by Himself, the True One, wert thou of those who
know! Rather, by that which thou hast done, its burning is increased, and its
blaze; and it shall encompass the earth and whosoever is thereupon. Thus hath
the matter been decreed and whosoever is in the heavens or upon the earth could
not withstand His command. And the Land of the Mystery (Adrianople) and what is
beside it shall be changed, shall pass out of the hands of the Sultán of
Turkey, and commotions shall appear, lamentations shall arise and corruptions
shall become manifest on all sides, and matters shall be altered by reason of
that which hath come upon the hearts from the hosts of the oppressors. The
authority shall be changed, and to such an extent shall the matter become
grievous that the sandheaps in the desolate hills shall lament and the trees in
the mountains weep, and blood shall flow from all things, and thou shalt see the
people in great disturbance.
O Chief! We have revealed Ourselves to thee once in Mt. Tina (near
Baghdád), and once in Mt. Ranita, and also in this Blessed Spot;
but thou didst not take any notice, become of that by reason of which thou didst
follow thy lust and become one of the heedless.
Look! And then remember when Muhammad came with manifest signs on the part of One Mighty and Wise. The people would have stoned Him in the public
places and streets, and they denied
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the signs of God, thy Lord and the Lord of thy fathers who were there.
And the learned denied Him; then those factions who followed them, and after
them, the kings of the earth, as thou hast heard in the stories of those who
were aforetime. And of these was Kisra (the Sasanian king). Unto him He sent a
kind letter inviting him to God and forbidding him from polytheism; and verily,
thy Lord hath knowledge of all things. Verily, he made himself great against
God, and tore up the letter, because he followed his passion, the lust. Is he
not of the people of hell? Was Pharaoh able to hinder God by exercising his
dominion, when he relied on the earth and was of the disobedient? We have
indeed manifested the Interlocutor (Moses), from Pharaoh’s house in spite
of his will; verily, We were able to do this. And remember when Nimrod kindled
the fire of polytheism, whereby he would burn the Friend of God (Abraham).
Verily, We calmed the fire by the truth and brought upon Nimrod manifest grief.
Say: Verily, the oppressor (King of Persia) slew the Beloved of the worlds (the
Báb) that he might thereby extinguish the light of God among His
creatures and hinder mankind from the pure water of life in the days of his
Lord, the Mighty, the Kind. We have made the matter manifest in the country and
elevated His mention (the Báb’s) among the unitarians. Say: The
Servant hath assuredly come to vivify the world and bring to union whosoever is
upon the surface of the earth. That which God willeth shall overcome and thou
shalt see the earth as the garden of El-Abhá; thus hath it been written
by the Pen of Command in an irrevocable Tablet. Leave the mention of the Chief;
then mention the Friend who became accustomed to the love of God and separated
Himself from those who associated other things with God and were lost. He rent
asunder the veils in such wise that the people of paradise heard the rending
thereof. Glory be to God, the King, the Knower, the Wise.
O Dove! Hear the voice of El-Abhá in this night whereon the
military officers were assembled against Us, while We were in great joy. O that
Our blood might be shed on the surface of the earth in the way of God and that
We might be cast on the ground, for this is My desire and the desire of him who
hath Me in view and who hath ascended unto My kingdom, the marvelous, the most
wonderful. Know then, O servant, that one day, We found the friends of God
confronted by transgressors. The troops beset
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all gates and prevented the servants of God from entrance and exit, and
were of the oppressors. And the friends of God and His family were left without
food in the first night. Thus did it befall those for whose sake was created
the world and what is therein. Shame upon them, and upon those who command them
to do evil! And God shall consume their lives with fire -- and verily, He is
the fiercest of avengers. Men gathered around the house and the eyes of
Islám and the Christians wept and the sound of wailing arose betwixt
heaven and earth, because of that which the oppressors had wrought. Verily, We
found the Assembly of the Son (Christians) more bitter in their weeping than
those of other creeds, and therein are indeed signs to the thoughtful. And one
from among the friends has sacrificed himself and cut his throat by his own hand
from the love of God. This is the like of which We have not heard from former
ages. This is what God hath set apart for this Manifestation as showing forth
His Power, for, verily, He is the Mighty, the Powerful. And he whose throat was
cut in ‘Iráq (Baghdád), verily, he is the beloved of
martyrs and their sultán. And that which appeared from him was the proof
of God unto all creatures. The beloved of God are those in whom the Word of God
taketh effect and who taste the sweetness of commemoration, and upon whom the
fragrance of union hath taken hold in such wise that they separate themselves
from whosoever is upon the earth and advance to the Face with brilliant
countenances; and though they have committed that which God never permitted, yet
God pardoneth them as a favor on His part; verily, He is the pardoner, the
merciful. The attraction of the Most Powerful hath overpowered them in such
wise that it seized from their hands the reins of option, until they ascended
into the station of presence and disclosure, before God, the Precious, the Wise.
Say: the Servant hath left this world, but He put every tree and stone in charge
of the trust which God shall bring forth with the truth. Thus, the True One
hath come and the matter hath been decreed on the part of the Designer, the
Wise, whose commands the hosts of heaven and earth could not withstand, nor
could all the kings and rulers withhold Him from that which He willeth. Say:
Calamities are as oil for this lamp and through them its light increaseth, were
ye of those who know. Say: All oppositions displayed by the oppressors are
indeed as heralds to this matter and by such the appearance of God
and
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His affair have been widely spread among the people of the world.
Blessed are ye by reason of that whereby ye left your homes and traveled over
the country for the love of God, your Lord, the Mighty, the Pre-existent, until
ye came and entered into the Land of Mystery (Adrianople) on a day wherein the
fire of oppression was kindling and the raven of separation was crying out. Ye
are the participators in My calamities, because ye were with us on a night
wherein the hearts of the unitarians were disturbed. Ye entered the land in Our
love, and ye left it by Our command. By God, it beseemeth the earth, through
you, to make itself great against heaven! How precious is this great and
exalted beauty! O ye birds of Eternity, ye were withheld from your nests in the
Cause of the Lord, the Unconstrained. Verily, He will make for you lodgings
under the wings of the grace of your Lord, the Merciful. Blessed are they who
know.
O victim of Mine! The Spirit is to thee and to him who rejoiceth by
thee and from thee findeth My fragrance and heareth that by reason of which the
hearts of the seekers are purified. Thank thou God for that through which thou
hast reached the shore of the Most Great Sea and heard the cry of all particles,
saying: “This is the Beloved of the World! And the people of the world
oppress Him and do not know Him whom they call upon at all times.” Those
who are heedless and who turned away from Him (the Báb) for the sake of
whose Beloved they should sacrifice themselves, are in great loss. How much
more then for His brilliant and shining perfection? Although thine heart would
assuredly melt at separation from God, be patient, for thou hast with Him a
great station. Rather, shalt thou stand before the Face, and We will speak to
thee with the tongue of might and power, that which the ears of the sincere were
withheld from hearing. Say: Should He speak one word, verily it would be of
greater sweetness than the words of all the people of the world. This is a Day
unto which had Muhammad, the Prophet of God, attained, He would assuredly say:
“We have known Thee, O Desire of all the Apostles!” And had the
Friend of God, Abraham, attained it, He would have placed His face upon the
earth, humbling Himself, before God, saying: “My heart is at peace, O God
of whosoever is in earth and heaven. And Thou hast caused me to behold the
kingdom of Thy Command and the dominion of Thy Might; and I bear witness that at
Thy Manifestation
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the hearts of those who advance are at peace!” Had the
Interlocutor (Moses) attained it, He would surely say: “Praise be to Thee
for that Thou hast shown Me Thy Beauty and hast made Me of those who commune
with Thee.”
Reflect upon the people and their condition and that which cometh
forth from their mouths and what their hands have wrought in this blessed, holy
and wonderful Day. Verily, they who did not obey the Command but turned to
Satan are of those who are cursed by all things and they are of the people of
fire. He who heareth My voice will not be affect whatever by the voice of the
people of the world; and he in whom the voice of aught that is beside Me taketh
effect, verily, he did not hear My voice; he is indeed deprived of My Kingdom
and the empires of My greatness and might and is of those who lose. Grieve not
because of that which hath befallen thee. Verily, thou hast forborne for the
sake of My love what the majority of the servants have never borne; and thy Lord
is the All-Knowing, the Informed. And He hath accompanied thee in the courts of
law and heard that which hath flowed from the water of thy pen in commemoration
of thy Lord, the Merciful. Verily, this is naught but a manifest grace. And God
shall raise up one among the kings who shall succor His saints, for He
compasseth all things. And He shall put into the hearts of men the love of His
saints and this is a decree on the part of the Mighty, the Beautiful. We ask
God to make, through thy cry, the breasts of all the servants dilated with joy
and to make thee the standard of guidance throughout the empire, and by thee to
render the weak victorious. Thou shalt pay no attention to the grunts of the
grunters, but leave them to thy Lord, the Pardoner, the Generous. Relate to My
beloved the stories of the Servant, of that which Thou hast learned and heard;
then deliver to them what We have delivered to thee; verily, thy God will
strengthen thee at all times, and He is thy guard. The Supreme Assembly shall
magnify thee and the family of God and His household, the leaves who go around
the Tree, shall praise thee and remember thee with a marvelous
remembrance.
O Pen of Revelation! Remind him whose letter hath come before the
Face in this somber night and who traveled over the country until he arrived and
entered the city for the purpose of seeking refuge under the protection of the
mercy of his Lord, the Mighty, the Powerful, -- in which city he spent the
night, awaiting
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the grace of his Lord; and in the morning, by the command of God, he
left the city, on which occasion the servant became sad; and God is a witness to
all that I say, saying: “Blessed thou art for that by reason of which
thou hast received the wine of revelation from the hand of the Merciful in such
wise as made thee deny thine own comfort, and because thou art of those who
hasten to the region of Paradise, the day-spring of the signs of thy Lord, the
Precious, the Peerless.” What a victory it is to him who hath drunk the
wine of knowledge from the Countenance of his Lord, and who drinketh again the
pure sweetness of this wine! By God, through this wine will the unitarians soar
to the heaven of greatness and glory, and imagination will be altered to
reality. Grieve not because of that which hath befallen thee. Rely upon God,
the Mighty, the Learned, the Wise; and let the corners of the house be founded
upon the Books of Revelation; then mention thy Lord and He will make you
dispense with all the people of the world. Verily, He chooseth whom He willeth
and He is indeed the Beloved of the devout. By God, the Supreme Assembly seeth
you and pointeth to you; thus the grace of your Lord hath encompassed you. O
would that the people knew that whereof they are neglectful in the Day of God,
the Mighty, the Extolled! Give thanks unto God, inasmuch as He hath
strengthened thee with the knowledge of Himself and caused thee to enter into
His protection on a Day whereon the unbelievers encompassed the people of God
and His saints and drove them forth from their houses with evident tyranny. And
they desired to bring about a separation between us on the shore of the sea; and
verily thy Lord is aware of that which is in the breasts of the unbelievers.
Say: Though ye cut off our limbs, the love of God will not depart from our
hearts! Verily, we were created for sacrifice; therefore we glory over the
worms.
TABLET TO THE CZAR
40. O Czar of Russia! Hear the voice of God, the Most Holy King!
Then advance unto the paradise which is in the place wherein abideth He who is
named with the most comely names
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amongst the most high Assembly and in the kingdom of creation by the
name of God, El Bahá el Abhá, the most shining Glory, Beware lest
thy desires prevent thee from turning toward the Face of thy Lord, the Merciful,
the Clement.
Verily, We heard thy voice wherewith thou hast called thy Lord in thy
secret communication, therefore the beneficence of My Providence hath stirred
and the sea of My Mercy hath moved, and We answer thee with the truth. Verily,
thy Lord is the Learned, the Wise.
One of thy ambassadors assisted Me when I was in prison, in chains and
fetters. Therefore, God hath decreed unto thee a station which the knowledge of
none comprehendeth save Him. Beware lest thou change this lofty station.
Verily, thy Lord is able to do whatsoever He willeth. He abrogateth whatsoever
He pleaseth, and confirmeth what He desireth, and with Him is the knowledge of
all things in a Preserved Tablet. Beware lest sovereignty prevent thee from the
Sovereign; verily He hath come with His Kingdom, and all the atoms cry out:
“The Lord hath come in His Most Great Glory!” The Father hath come,
and with Him the Son, who crieth in the Holy Valley: “Here am I, O my
God, I am ready!” Mt. Sinai surroundeth the House, and the trees
vociferously cry: “The Generous hath come, mounted on the clouds; blessed
is he who advanceth unto Him and woe unto those who are afar!” Arise
amongst the people with this irresistible command, then summon the nations to
God, the Exalted, the Great. Be not of those who call upon Him by a Name
amongst His Names, and when the Named One appears, they turn away from Him and
pronounce sentence against Him with evident injustice. Consider, then, and
remember the Days wherein came the Spirit (Christ), and Herod gave judgment
against Him. God helped the Spirit with the hosts of the seen and the unseen
and protected Him with the truth and sent Him to another land as a promise on
His part. Verily, He is the ruler over that which He pleaseth. Verily, thy
Lord is able to preserve whom He wisheth, even should He be in the midst of the
sea or in the mouth of the winged dragon, or under the swords of the oppressors.
Blessed is the king who doth not allow the splendors of his exaltation to
prevent him from turning to the Dawning-place of Perfection, and who casteth
away what he hath in the desire to obtain that which is possessed by God.
Verily, is he not
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the best of all the creatures before the Truth? The people of Paradise
and those who go about the Throne will bless him in the morning and the
evening.
Hear My voice another time from the region of My prison to inform you of that which hath befallen My Beauty by the manifestation of My majesty, that
thou mayest know My patience after My power, and My forbearance after My might.
By My life, shouldst thou come to know that which hath descended from My pen,
and be acquainted with the treasuries of My command, the pearls of My secrets
and the seas of My names, and the vessels of My Words, verily, thou wilt offer
thyself as a ransom in My way through the love of My name and yearning for My
kingdom, the mighty, the powerful.
Know that My body is under the swords of the enemies, and My flesh is
surrounded with innumerable calamities; but My Spirit is in a state of
exaltation, the like of which the joy of the world cannot equal. Advance to the
Manifested God of the world with all thy heart and say: “O people of the
earth, do ye deny Him in whose way the One who hath come with the truth of your
Lord, the Exalted, the Great, hath suffered martyrdom?” Say, it is a
Message whereby the hearts of the Prophets and the Messengers rejoiced. Lo,
this is the One who is mentioned in the heart of the world, and the Promised One
in the leaves of the Books of God, the Precious, the Wise. The hands of the
Messengers were raised to God, the Mighty, the Powerful. Some of the Messengers
lamented over separation from Me, others suffered hardships in My way, and
others sacrificed themselves for the sake of My Beauty, were ye of those who
know.
Say, verily, I have not intended the mention of Myself, but that of
God, were ye of the just; nothing could be seen in Me but God and His Commands,
were ye of those who reflect. Say, verily, I am He who is mentioned by the
tongue of Isaiah, and the One whose name hath adorned the Bible and the Gospel.
Thus hath the matter been decreed in the Tablets of your Lord, the Merciful.
Verily, He hath testified for Me, and I testify for Him, and God is witness to
what I say. Say, the Books were not revealed save for My celebration, wherefrom
every advancer will find the perfume of My name and praise; and he who openeth
the hearing power of his heart will hear from every word (of the
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Books): “Lo, the Truth hath come and He is indeed the Beloved of
the worlds.” My tongue implicitly admonishes thee for the sake of God,
and My Pen moveth in thy mention, after the injury of whosoever is upon the
earth, and their perverseness will not injure thee in accordance with that
whereunto We were commanded, and do not ask of thee anything whatsoever save to
come nigh to that which will profit thee in this world and the world to come.
Say, dost thou put to death He who summoneth thee unto everlasting life? Fear
God, and follow not every prompting of obstinate pride.
O people of deceit! Do ye behold yourselves in palaces, while the
King of Manifestation is in the most ruined of abodes? By My life, ye are in
the graves, were ye of those who perceive! Verily, he who doth not move by the
Breath of God, in His Day, is indeed dead before God, the King of Names and
Attributes. Arise from the graves of your lusts and advance to the Kingdom of
your Lord, the Ruler of the Throne and of earth, that ye may see that which was
promised unto you on the part of your Lord, the All-Knowing. Do ye imagine that
ye will be profited by that which ye have? It will be possessed by some one in
your stead, and ye shall return to the dust without finding any one to succor or
help you. Of what use is a life that is ruled by death, or of a duration that
vanisheth, or of a grace that changeth? Set aside that which ye have and
advance to the bounty of God which hath been revealed in this wonderful Name!
Thus hath the Supreme Pen addressed you by the permission of your Lord, El
Abhá. Should ye hear and attain, say:
“Praise be to Thee, O God, for Thou hast reminded me by the
tongue of the Manifestation of Thyself when He was in the Great Prison, in
chains and fetters, for the emancipation of the people of the
world.”
Blessed is the king whose sovereignty does not withhold him from his
King, and who advances unto God with his heart. Verily, he is of those who
attaineth to that which God, the Mighty, the Wise, willeth. He shall behold
himself amongst the kings of the Empire of the Kingdom. Verily, thy Lord is
powerful over all things. He giveth to whomsoever He wisheth that which He
willeth, and depriveth whom He pleaseth of that which He desireth. Verily, He is
the Potent, the Able.
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TABLET TO THE POPE
41. O Pope! Rend asunder the veils! The Lord of Lords hath come in
the shadow of the clouds, and the matter hath been decided on the part of God,
the Powerful, the Unconstrained. Disclose the splendors of the authority of thy
Lord; then ascend into the Kingdom of names and attributes; thus doth the
Supreme Pen command thee, on the part of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Most
Powerful.
Verily, He hath come from heaven another time, as He came from it the
first time; beware lest thou oppose Him as the Pharisees opposed (Him) without
evidence or proof. On His right side floweth the river of grace and on His left
side the sweet wine of justice; before Him go the angels of paradise with the
standards of Signs. Beware lest names withhold thee from God, the Creator of
the earth and heaven; leave the creatures behind thee, then advance to thy Lord
by whom all horizons were illuminated. We have adorned the Kingdom by our name,
El-Abhá (The Most Glorious); thus hath the matter been decided on the
part of God, the creator of all things. Beware lest conjectures withhold thee
after the True Sun hath shone from the horizon of Bayán (Revelation) of
thy Lord, the Mighty, the Benefactor. Dost thou dwell in palaces, while the
King of Manifestation is in the most ruined of abodes (‘Akká)?
Leave palaces to those who desire them, then advance to the Kingdom with
spirituality and fragrance.
Say, O people of the earth! Destroy the abodes of neglect by the
hands of power and composure and build the chambers of knowledge in the hearts,
that the Merciful will reveal Himself in them; this is better unto you than that
whereupon the sun riseth; to this will bear witness the One on whose part is the
decision of the discourse.
The breath of God is diffused throughout the world, because the
Desired One hath come in His Most Great Glory. Lo! -- Every stone and clod
crieth, “The Promised One hath appeared, and the Kingdom is to God, the
Powerful, the Mighty, the Pardoner!” Beware lest theology prevent thee
from the King of the known, or the world from Him who created and left it.
Arise in the name of thy Lord, the Merciful, amidst the assembly of beings, and
take the cup of life in the hand of assurance; drink thou therefrom first; then
give it to drink to those who advance of the people of
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(different) religions. Thus hath the Moon of the Bayán shone
forth from the horizon of wisdom and evidence. Rend asunder the veils of
theology lest they prevent thee from the region of My Name, the
Self-existent.
Remember when the Spirit (Christ) came; he who was the most learned of the doctors of His age gave a sentence against Him in the chief city of His
country, while those who caught fish believed in Him; be admonished, then, O
people of understanding! Verily, thou art one of the suns of the heaven of
names; protect thyself lest darkness spread its veils over it and conceal thee
from the light; look at that which has descended in the Book on the part of thy
Lord, the Mighty, the Generous. Say, O assembly of learned men, withhold your
pens, for the sound of the Supreme Pen hath been raised between the earth and
the heaven; set aside that which ye have and accept what We have sent unto thee
with power and dominion. That hour which was hidden in the knowledge of God
hath come -- hasten unto Him with submissiveness and penitence.
O people of the earth! Say: Lo, I made Myself your ransom for the
sake of your lives, but when I come unto you another time I see you fleeing from
Me; therefore doth the eye of My compassion weep over My people; fear God, O ye
people of observation. Look at those who objected to the Son (Christ) when He
came unto them with dominion and power; how many Pharisees were awaiting His
meeting and making humble supplications to God for His appearance; but when the
fragrance of union diffused itself and perfection was disclosed, they turned
from Him and objected to Him; thus have we expounded unto thee that which was
written in the Books and Tablets. None advanced unto the Face (Christ) save a
certain limited number who were of those who never had any power among the
people; and to-day all those who are in power and dominion glory in His Name
(Jesus). Look likewise at this time; how many monks secluded themselves in
churches in My Name; and when the appointed time was complete and We disclosed
to them perfection, they did not know Me, while they called unto Me at eventide
and at dawn. We see them veiled from Myself by My Name (Jesus Christ). Verily,
this is naught but a marvel; say, beware lest celebration preventeth you from
the Celebrated, and worship from the Worshipped.
Rend asunder the veils of imagination; verily this is your
Lord
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the Mighty, the Omniscient! He hath come for the life of the world and
for the union of whatsoever is upon the whole surface of the earth. Come ye, O
people, to the Rising-place of Revelation and tarry not even for a moment. Do
ye read the Gospel and still do not acknowledge the Glorious Lord? This
beseemeth you not, O concourse of theologians! Say, should ye deny this matter,
by what proof did ye believe in God? Produce it! Thus the matter hath been
revealed by the Supreme Pen on the part of your Lord El-Abhá, in this
Tablet from whose horizon the Light shone. How many servants are there whose
actions and deeds became veils for themselves whereby they were withheld from
coming nearer to God, the Sender of Breath.
O concourse of monks! The fragrances of the Merciful have diffused
themselves over the beins; blessed is he who rejecteth passion and receiveth
guidance; verily he is one of those who have gazed upon the inhabitants of the
earth, and whosoever is thereupon is frightened save those chosen by God, the
Ruler of persons. Do ye adorn your bodies while the garment of God is intensely
red with blood of hatred by that which came upon Him on the part of the people
of willful blindness? Come out of your abodes; then make the servants enter
into the Kingdom of God who is the King of the Day of Judgment. The Word, which
the Son (Christ) concealed hath appeared; it hath been revealed in the form of
man in this time; blessed is the Lord who is the Father, -- He hath come with
His Most Mighty Power amongst the nations, turn toward Him, O concourse of the
good.
O people of religions! We see you are wandering erringly in the
waterless desert of loss; ye are the fish of this sea, why are ye withheld from
your creator? Verily, the Sea is raging before your faces; hasten unto Him from
all regions. This is a day wherein the Rock (Peter) crieth out and praiseth in
the Name of the Lord, the Exalted, the Independent, saying, Lo, the Father hath
come and what hath been promised unto you in the Kingdom is accomplished; this
is the word which was concealed behind the veil of might, and when the promised
time came, it shone forth from the horizon of the Primal Will with manifest
signs. My body was imprisoned to set you free, and We accepted humiliation for
the sake of your glory; follow the Lord, the Lord of Glory and Kingdom and
follow not every proud infidel. My body longeth for the Cross, and My head for
the spear in the way of the Merciful
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that the world may be purified from sin; thus the Sun of Wisdom hath
shone forth from the horizon of the command of the King of names and attributes.
The people of the Qur’án have arisen against Us and tormented Us
with torments whereat the Holy Spirit lamented, and thunder roared, and the eyes
of the clouds wept. From amongst the unbelievers some imagined that affliction
withholdeth El Bahá from that which God the creator of all things,
willeth; say unto them, No, by Him who causeth the rains to descend, nothing
withholdeth Him from the mention of His Lord. By God, the Truth! Even though
they burn Him on the earth, verily He will lift up His head in the midst of the
sea, and will cry: “Verily, He is God of whatsoever is in the heaven and
the earth!” And even though they cast Him into a dark pit, they shall
find Him on the summits of the mountains crying, “The Desired One hath
come with the authority of might and sovereignty.” And though they bury
Him in the earth, He will arise from the horizons of heaven and proclaim with
the loudest voice, “El Bahá hath come to the Kingdom of God, the
Holy, the Mighty, the Unconstrained!” And though they shed His blood,
every drop thereof shall cry out and call on God by this Name, whereby the
perfumes of the garments were diffused through all regions. Verily, under the
swords of the enemies, We call the servants unto God, the Creator of the earth
and heaven, and We assist Him so greatly that We could not be hindered either by
the hosts of the oppressors or the influence of the liars. Say, O people of the
earth, crush to pieces the idols of imagination, by the name of your Lord, the
Mighty, the Benevolent, then advance unto Him in this Day, which God hath made
the King of Days.
O thou, Chief of the People! Hearken unto that whereby the Shaper of
decayed bones adviseth thee from the Religion of His Greatest Name, sell that
which thou hast of decked ornaments and expend it in a sovereignty to the King
and come out from the horizon of the house (Vatican), advancing to the Kingdom
and severing thyself from the world. Then speak of the celebration of thy Lord
betwixt the earth and heaven. Thus, also, the King of Names hath commanded
thee, on the part of thy Lord, the Mighty, the Omniscient, to admonish the
Kings, saying, “Be just amongst the people and beware not to aberrate from
the ordinances of the Book.” This behooveth thee; beware not to dispose
of the world and its gold, leave them to him who desireth them and adopt
what
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was commanded unto thee on the part of the King of Creation. Should any
one come unto thee with the whole treasures of the earth, turn not thy sight
toward them, but be as thy Lord hath been; thus also the tongue of Revelation
hath uttered that which God hath made the decoration of the Book of Renovation.
Look at the pearl! Verily, its luster is in itself, but if thou coverest it
with silk it assuredly veileth the beauty and qualities thereof. Such is man,
his nobility is in his virtues, not in that which covereth him, and not in that
wherewith the children delight. Know, then, that thy ornament is the love of
God and thy devotion to naught else save Him, and not to the allurements of the
world which thou hast in thy possession: leave them to those who desire them and
come to God, who causeth the rivers to flow. All that was said in the proverbs
was said by the tongue of the Son (Christ) and He who speaketh today doth not
utter them; beware not to take hold of the ropes of imagination and withhold
thyself from what was ordained in the Kingdom of God, the Mighty, the Bounteous.
Shouldst thou be taken by the intoxication of the wine of the signs, and
shouldst thou be desirous to come before the Throne of thy Lord, the Creator of
the earth and heaven, let thy garment be My Love, and thy shield My Celebration,
and thy providence reliance upon God, the Manifestation of the
Powers.
O people of the Son! We have sent unto you John the Baptist (The
Báb who was the precursor of Bahá) another time. Verily, He
crieth in the wilderness of the Bayán, -- “O Creation of beings,
make clear your eyes, the day of vision and meeting hath come nigh; and O people
of the Gospel, prepare the way, for the Day whereon the Lord of Glory shall
come, hath drawn nigh, prepare yourselves to enter the Kingdom.” Thus was
the matter decreed on the part of God, the Cleaver of the Dawn. Hearken unto
the strains which the Dove of Eternity hath sung upon the Branches of the Divine
Lote Tree and which is vocal with the melody of “O people of the earth, We
have sent unto you Him who was named John to baptize you with water that you
bodies might be purified for the Appearance of Christ, and that He (Christ) hath
purified you with the Fire of Love and with the Water of the Spirit, as a
preparation for these days whereon the Merciful hath willed to cleanse your
bodies with the Water of Life, by the hands of grace and bounty. This is indeed
the Father, whereof Isaiah
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gave you tidings, and the Comforter from whom the Spirit (Christ) hath
received His Covenant.”
O concourse of learned people! Open your eyes that you may see your
Lord sitting on the Throne of glory and might. Say, O people of Religions! Be
not of those who followed the Pharisees and thus they were veiled from the
Spirit. Verily, they are not but in forgetfulness and lusts. The perfection of
the Ancient hath come by His Most Mighty Name and hath desired to make the
people enter into the Most Holy Kingdom, and that the sincere may see the
Kingdom of God before His Face. Hasten unto Him and follow not every denying
infidel. And if the eye of any one oppose him in this, it behooveth him to
pluck it out. Thus was it written by the Pen of Eternity on the part of the
King of the contingent beings; verily He hath come another time for your
deliverance. O people of creation, will ye kill Him after that He desireth for
you eternal Life? Fear God, O people of discernment. O people, hearken unto
that which is revealed to you on the part of the region of thy Lord,
El-Abhá, turn unto God, the Lord of this life, and the life to come; thus
commandeth you the Rising-place of the Sun of Inspiration on the part of the
Creator of all human beings. We have created you for the light, and We do not
like to leave you for the fire, O people. Come out from darkness through this
Sun which has shone forth from the horizon of the grace of God; then advance
unto Him with purified hearts and assured souls, seeing eyes and bright faces.
This is that whereby the King of Fate admonisheth you, from the region of the
Most Great Outlook, that ye may be attracted by the Voice to the Kingdom of
Names. Blessed is he who fulfilleth the Covenant, and woe unto him who breaketh
the promise and denieth God, the Knower of secrets. Say, Lo! This is the Day
of Grace! Come ye that I may make you kings of the realm of My Kingdom. If ye
obey Me, you will see that which We have promised you, and I will make you the
friends of My Soul in the realm of My Greatness and the Companions of My
Perfection in the heaven of My Might forever. And if ye disobey Me, I will be
patient through My Mercy, perchance that ye will awake and arise from the bed of
negligence, thus hath My forbearance preceded you. Fear God and follow not
those who have turned away from the Face while they call upon Him at eventide
and dawn. Verily, the Harvest Day hath
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come and things are separated, that which was chosen is stored in the
vessels of justice, and into the fire was cast what was fitted for it. Thus
hath decided thy Lord, the Mighty, the Beloved, in this Promised Day, verily He
is the Ruler over that which He willeth, and there is no God but He, the Mighty,
the Subduer! The Gleaner did not wish but to store every good thing for Myself
and did not speak but to inform you of My Command and guide you into the Path of
Him by whose mention the Tablets were adorned. Say, O people of the Gospel
(Christians), We have revealed Ourselves unto you on a previous occasion and ye
did not know Me. This is another time, this is the Day of God, come unto Him,
verily He hath come from heaven as He came from it the first time and desired to
shelter you under the shadow of His Mercy. Verily, He is the Exalted, the
Mighty, the Defender. Verily, the Beloved doth not like you to be burned in the
fire of passion, and even were ye veiled, it will not be but from your
neglectfulness and lack of knowledge. You mention Me and do not know Me: ye
call upon Me and overlook My Appearance after I have come unto you from the
heaven of eternity with My Glory, the Most Great. Burn the veils in My name and
dominion that ye may find a way to the Lord. The Glorious One crieth
continually from the horizon of the Pavilion of Might and Greatness saying,
“O people of the Gospel! He hath come into the Kingdom who was out of it
and today We see you tarrying at the Gate; rend the veils by the Power of your
Lord, the Mighty, the Munificent, and then enter My Kingdom in My Name; thus
doth He who desireth for you everlasting life, command you. Verily, He is the
powerful over all things.” Blessed are they who have known the light and
hastened toward it. Behold! They are in the Kingdom, they eat and drink with
the elect. -- And We see you, O children of the Kingdom, in darkness, -- this is
not meet for you. Do ye fear to confront the light because of your deeds?
Advance thereunto; verily, thy Glorious Lord hath honored His country by His
coming, thus We teach you the path whereof the Spirit (Christ) hath declared; --
verily, I bear witness for Him as He was indeed a witness for Me. Verily, He
said, “Come, that I may make you fishers of men,” and today We say,
“Come, that We may make you vivifiers of the world.” Thus was the
decree ordained in a Tablet written by the Pen of Command.
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TABLET TO NAPOLEON THE THIRD
42. O Supreme Pen! Move in commemoration of other kings upon this
brilliant and blessed page, that they may arise from the sleep of passion, hear
that which is being sung by the Dove upon the branches of the divine Lote Tree,
and hasten to God in this wonderful and impregnable Manifestation.
O King of Paris! Tell the priests not to ring the bells. By God, the
True One, the most glorious Bell hath appeared in the Temple of the most
glorious Name, and the fingers of the Will of thy Lord, the High, the Supreme,
ring it in the world of eternal power, through His most splendid Name
(‘Ismul ‘Abhá). Thus have the mighty signs of thy Lord
been revealed once more, that thou mayest arise to commemorate God, the Creator
of the earth and heaven, in these days wherein the nations of the whole earth
lament, the corners of the countries quake, and the dust of heterodoxy envelops
the servants, except those whom thy Lord, the Mighty, the Wise, hath willed. The
Unconstrained hath come in the shadow of lights to vivify the beings by the
fragrance of His merciful Name, to unite the people and bring them together at
this Table which hath descended from heaven.
Beware not to deny the grace of God after its descent. This is better
for you than that which ye have, because what ye have will vanish and that on
the part of God will endure. Verily, He is the Ruler over that which He
pleaseth. The breaths of forgiveness are being wafted from the region of your
Lord, the Merciful; he who advanceth unto them will necessarily be purified from
disobedience and from every disease and infirmity. Blessed is he who cometh
unto them, and woe unto him who turneth away. Shouldst thou turn thy face
towards all the things of this world and listen with a spiritual ear, thou
wouldst hear them exclaim: “The Ancient hath come, the Lord of the Most
Great Glory hath appeared.” Everything glorifieth God and praiseth Him;
for among them, some know God and mention Him, and some mention Him and do not
know Him.
Thus we have expounded the command in an evident Tablet. O King! Hear the voice of this enkindled Fire, from this verdant Tree of El Tor (Mount Sinai)
which is elevated at this white and blessed Spot (‘Akká) behind the
Everlasting City, and is vocal with
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the melody of “There is no God but Me, the Pardoner, the
Merciful.” We have sent One whom We have strengthened with the Holy
Spirit, that He may give thee tidings of this Light which hath shone forth from
the horizon of the will of Thy Lord, the Exalted, the Most Splendid, and whose
effects have appeared in the West, that ye may turn unto Him in this Day which
God hath made the choicest of the days; whereon the Merciful hath revealed
Himself to whosoever is in the heaven and the earth. Arise to serve God and
assist His Cause -- verily, He will strengthen thee with the hosts of the seen
and the unseen, and make thee ruler over that whereon the sun riseth: verily,
thy Lord is the Mighty, the Potent.
The fragrances of the Merciful have diffused their sweet odors over
the beings; blessed is he who findeth their beneficences and advanceth unto them
with a firm heart. Adorn thy temple with the embroidered garment of My name,
thy tongue with My celebration, and thy heart with My Love, the precious, the
powerful. We have not desired for thee aught save that which is better for thee
than anything thou hast in thy possession and in the whole treasury of the
earth. Verily, thy Lord is the Omniscient, the All-knowing. Arise among the
servants of God in My name and say: “O people of the earth, advance
toward Him who hath advanced toward you, for verily He is the Face of God among
you, and His evidence in your midst, likewise His proof unto you; and He hath
come to you with signs, the like of which the most learned have failed to
produce.” The Tree of El Tor speaketh in the bosom of the world, and the
Holy Spirit crieth among the nations: “Lo! The Desired One hath come with
evident Dominion.”
O King! The stars of the heaven of theology have fallen. They are
those who take as an evidence of the certitude of My Cause that which they have,
and who mention God in My Name; but when I come with My Glory they turn away
from Me. Verily, are they not of those who are worthless and fallen? This is
that whereof the Spirit (Christ) gave you tidings when He brought the Truth, and
the Jewish doctors opposed Him, until they committed that whereat the Holy
Spirit lamented and those who are near to God wept. Look at the Pharisees; some
of them had worshipped God for seventy years, and when His Son came they denied
Him; but others who had even committed turpitude entered the Kingdom. Thus the
Pen remindeth thee on the part
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of the King of the Ancient, for thine information regarding that which
hath been ordained aforetime, that today thou mayest be of those who
advance.
Say: O concourse of monks! Do not seclude yourselves in churches and
sanctuaries. Come forth by My permission; then occupy yourselves with that
whereby your souls will be profited, and the souls of mankind. Thus commandeth
you the King of the Day of Judgment. Be secluded in the fort of My love!
Verily, this is the true seclusion, were ye to know. He who cleaveth to the
house is indeed as one dead! It is meet for man that he produce that whereby
other men shall profit; and he who hath no fruit is fit for the fire. Thus, as
your Lord likewise admonisheth you (verily He is the Precious, the Generous) go
forth and marry, that some one after you may arise to take your place. We have
commanded you to abstain from committing adultery -- not from that which proveth
faithfulness. Ye have taken the principles of yourselves and thrown those of
God behind your backs. Fear God, and be not of those who are ignorant. Apart
from man, who will mention Me on My earth, and how will My names and attributes
be manifested? Think of this, and be not of those who are veiled and asleep.
The One who did not marry (Christ), verily He could not find an abode wherein to
stay, nor could He find a place whereon to lay His head, on account of that
which the treacherous had wrought. His sanctity was not dependent upon that
which ye know or what ye imagine, but upon that which We possess. Ask, that ye
may know His station, which hath been sanctified above the conjectures of
whosoever is upon the surface of the whole earth. Blessed are those who
know!
O King! The world shall perish, and what thou hast, but the Kingdom
remains to God, thy Lord, and the Lord of thy fathers who were of yore. It
behooveth thee not to condone all those matters thy lust desireth. Fear the
means of the Oppressed, and protect Him from the arrows of the oppressors.
Because of what thou hast done* affairs shall be changed in thy kingdom, and the
empire shall depart from thy hands, as a punishment for thy action;
then shalt thou find thyself in manifest loss, and commotion shall seize the
people there unless thou arisest to assist in this matter and followest the
Spirit in this straight path! Thy glory hath made thee proud. Be My Life, it
shall not endure, but shall
F1 Refers to Napoleon’s rejection of a previous Tablet.
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pass away, unless thou takest hold of this firm Rope. We have seen
humiliation hastening after thee, while thou art of those who sleep. It
behooveth thee when thou hearest the Voice from the region of Glory to set aside
that which thou hast, and say: “Labiek (I am ready), O God of whosoever
is in heaven and on earth.”
O King! We have been in the “Mother of
‘Iráq” (Baghdád) until separation drew nigh;
then We departed toward the “King of Islám” (Constantinople)
by order of the Sultán. When We came to him We encountered, through the
people of deceit, that which could not be explained through utterance nor
contained in volumes, and which made the inhabitants of Paradise lament, and the
people within the fold of holiness. But verily, the world is in dense
ignorance! ... Matters waxed more grievous for Us daily -- nay, hourly -- until
they brought Us forth from the prison and caused Us to enter into the Most Great
Prison (‘Akká) with manifest apprehension. It was asked “for
what offense were they imprisoned.” “They say, because these people
desire to renovate religion” was the reply. Had the old religion really
been your choice, then why did ye set aside that which was prescribed in the
Bible and Gospels? Render Us your explanation, O people! By My Life, there is
no escape whatever unto you today, if it is this. I have been preceded in this
very matter by Muhammad, the Messenger of God, and before Him by the Spirit
(Christ), and before Him by the Interlocutor (Moses). But if My offense is
caused by the exaltation of the Word of God and the manifestation of His
command, verily shall I be willing to be the first of culprits, and would never
consent to exchange such guilt even for the possession of the kingdoms of heaven
and earth. When We reached this prison, We designed to convey to the kings the
letters of their Lord, the Mighty, the Laudable. ... Perchance they will come to
the Lord, who hath bounty from God. Perchance they will turn to the Lord who
hath come upon the clouds with evident dominion. Verily, the greater the
calamity, the greater the love of God and His command increaseth in El
Bahá. ... Should they cover Me with the earth’s layers, they will
find Me mounting upon the clouds and praying to God, the Mighty, the Powerful.
I have sacrificed Myself for the Cause of God, and I long for calamities for the
sake of His love and approval; and to this will bear witness all the calamities
with which I am surrounded, which no one in the world hath
forborne.
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Let the palaces be for the people of the graves, and empire be to
those who desire it; then advance to the Kingdom, for this is what God hath
chosen for thee, wert thou of those who draw nigh. And those who do not come to
the Face in this Manifestation, verily, they are not alive; they are moved by
passion as it pleaseth them. Verily, are they not of those who are
dead?
Let thyself be kindled by this fire which the Merciful hath ignited in
the midst of creation, that the warmth of His love be manifested by you to the
hearts of those who advance. Follow My path, then attract the hearts by My
mention, the Mighty, the Powerful. Verily, the one from whom the fragrance is
the garment of the celebration of his Lord, the Merciful, is not diffused -- he
is not worthy to bear the name man in this age.
Every soul is commanded by God to deliver the truth and work for His
Cause, and those who comply with His exalted command should first characterize
themselves with the best characteristics and attributes; and then try to deliver
the truth to the people, who if they be truthseekers will undoubtedly be
attracted by the words of such teachers. If not so characterized, his mere
words will not have the least effect in the hearts of the worshippers of God.
Thus doth God teach you; verily, He is the Pardoner, the Merciful; that those
who do wrong, and oppress others, and at the same time command the people to be
just, will by words coming from their own mouths be accused of lying and
declared to be liars by the people of the Kingdom and those who move about the
Throne of God.
O people of Bahá, subdue the cities of the hearts by the sword
of wisdom and demonstration; and those who argue in accord with their own desire
and lust, they are in obvious wrong. The sword of wisdom is sharper than the
sword of steel -- if ye are of those who know. Draw forth that sword in My name
and power, then invade with it the cities of the hearts of those who are
fortifying themselves in the fortification of desire. Thus were ye commanded by
your God, El Abhá, whilst He was sitting under the swords of the
disbelievers, that if ye knew of any sin or wrong committed by others, do not
make it public nor reveal it to others, that He may not reveal yours; for He is
the One who often veileth, the possessor of great bounty.
Look on the world as the temple (body) of a man attacked by disease,
whose recovery depends upon the union of all its elements.
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Therefore agree upon that which We have established for you, and follow
not the ways of diversity. Verily, your Lord the Merciful loveth to see
whosoever is in the world as one soul and one temple (body); therefore avail
yourselves of the bounty of God and His mercy in these days the like of which
the eye of creation never saw.
Where are the people of vanity and their palaces? Look at their
graves and consider! We have made them as a warning to those who see. ... We
behold the majority of the people as worshippers of names ... although it is
testified to be every intelligent one that the name doth not profit any being
after his death, unless it is attributed to God, the Powerful, the Praiseworthy.
Thus have imaginations prevailed over them as a punishment for their actions.
Look at their belittled minds! Through their utmost exertion and industry, they
strive for that which doth not profit them; and should you ask “Is that
which ye desire of any profit to you hereafter?” you will find them
confounded for a reply, but if among them any one is just he will say “No,
by the Lord of the worlds!” ...
TABLET TO THE EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA
43. O thou Emperor of Austria! The Day-spring of the light of Primal
Unity was in the Prison of ‘Akká at the time when thou didst visit
the Masjíd al-‘Aqsá [the Further Mosque in Jerusalem] but
thou hast passed by without even inquiries about Him by whom every house is
honored and exalted and every high door is opened.
We destined it (the Temple) the Miqbál of the world for My
commemoration, but thou hast rejected the commemoration when He appeared in the
Kingdom of God, the Lord and the Lord of the worlds.
We have been with thee under all aspects and found thee clinging to
the branch and heedless of the Root. Verily, thy Lord is a witness to what I
say -- We were overtaken by sorrows at seeing thee journeying for the sake of
Our Name (Christ) and knowing Us not while We were before thy face. Open thine
eye that thou mayest see this most noble Outlook; know Him upon whom thou
callest day and night and witness the Light which is springing from this
magnificent Horizon.
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TABLET TO THE KING OF BERLIN
44. O thou King of Berlin! Hear the call from this manifest Temple,
“There is no God but Me, the Everlasting, the Peerless, the
Pre-existent.” Beware lest delusion withhold thee from the Day-spring of
Manifestation; or lust veil thee from the King of the Throne and
earth.
Thus doth the Supreme Pen admonish thee. Verily, He is the Bounteous, the Generous.
Remember! Where is he who was greater than thou and of more honor and
dignity, and where are his possessions (Napoleon the Third)? Awake and be not
of those who sleep! Verily, he (Napoleon) hath put behind him the Tablet of God
when We informed him of what had befallen Us on the part of the soldiers of
oppression. -- Therefore, humiliation has surrounded him from all sides until he
fell to dust with great loss.
Awake! Consider his condition (Napoleon’s) and remember your equals who have subdued the countries and governed the people.
Verily, God the Merciful hath made them descend from palaces to graves -- consider and be of the mindful! Verily, We desire naught of you, but We
advise you for God’s sake, and We will be patient as We have been through
that which has befallen Us on your part, O ye assemblies of rulers!
TABLET TO QUEEN VICTORIA
45. O Queen in London! Hear the voice of thy Lord, the king of
creatures, from the Divine Lote Tree that “There is no God but Me, the
precious, the wise.” Lay aside what is on earth; then adorn the head of
dominion with the diadem of the celebration of thy glorious Lord. Verily, He
hath come into the world with His most great glory, and that which was mentioned
in the gospel hath been fulfilled. The land of Syria hath been honored by the
advance of its Lord, the king of men, and the exhilaration of the wine of union
hath seized upon the regions of south and north, -- blessed is he who
discovereth the scent of the Merciful, and advanceth to the dawning-place of
Beauty in this clear morning. By the breaths of their Lord, El-Abhá, and
the voice of God, the exalted,
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The Masjíd al-‘Aqsá [the Further Mosque in
Jerusalem] and the baths (probably Mecca) have shaken with joy, and every pebble
of the earth praiseth the Lord by this most great name. Lay aside thy desire --
then advance with thy heart to thy Lord, the ancient; Verily, we remind thee for
the sake of God, and we wish that thy name be exalted in the mention of thy
Lord, the creator of the earth and heaven; and He is indeed the witness of all I
say. It hath reached us that thou hast forbidden the selling of slaves and
hand-maidens; this is what God hath commanded in this marvelous Manifestation.
God hath recorded unto thee the reward of this; verily He is the discharger of
the reward of the well-doers. Follow that which hath been sent unto thee on the
part of one learned and wise; and the one who turneth away and maketh himself
great after the proofs have come unto him on the part of the revealer of the
signs, verily God will frustrate all his plans; and He is the powerful over all
things. The actions and deeds will be accepted after coming (to the truth), and
the one who turneth away from it, is indeed of those who are the most ignorant;
thus hath it been decreed on the part of the powerful, the able. And We have
heard that thou hast entrusted the reins of deliberation into the hands of the
commonwealth. Thou hast done well, for thereby the bases of the edifices of all
affairs are made firm, and the hearts of those who are under thy shadow
(protection), both of the high and low, become tranquil. But it behooves them
to be as trustees amongst the servants of God, and to regard themselves as
guardians over whosoever is in all the earth. This is that whereby they are
admonished in this Tablet on the part of one who is the overseer and the wise.
When any one turns toward the assembly, let him turn his glance to the Supreme
Horizon, and say, “O God, I ask Thee by Thy most splendid name, to assist
me unto that whereby the affairs of Thy servants may prosper, and Thy countries
may flourish; verily Thou art powerful over all things.” Blessed is he who
entereth the assembly in the regard of God, and judgeth betwixt man with pure
justice; is he not of those who prosper? O ye leaders of assemblies, whether
there or in some other country, think of results and speak of that whereby the
world and its conditions may be reformed; were ye of those who deliberate. Look
upon the world as the body of a man which was created sound and whole, but
diseases have attacked him from various and divers causes and his soul is not at
ease for a day, but
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rather his sickness increaseth, in that he hath fallen under the
control of unskillful physicians who are hurried away by vain desires and are of
those who stray madly. And if one limb of his limbs becomes sound in one age of
the ages, through a skillful physician, the other limbs remain as they were;
thus doth the wise and knowing One inform you. And today we see him under the
hands of those who are taken by the intoxification of the wine of deceits in
such manner that they do not know what is best for themselves, how much more,
then, for this arduous and grave matter! And if one of them endeavor to better
his health, his intention will not be but to profit himself thereof whether by
name or effect, therefore he will not be able to heal him save to a certain
extent. And that which God hath made the most mighty remedy and the most
complete means for its health is the union of whosoever is upon the earth in a
single matter, and a single law. This can never be possible except through a
skillful physician, perfect and strengthened by God. By My life, this is the
truth, and aught else is nothing but evident error.
And whenever this most great Physician hath come and the light hath
shone forth from the ancient Dawning-place, these false physicians strive to
hinder and prevent Him, and become as clouds between Him and the world;
therefore he will not recover from his sickness, but will continue in his
infirmity until death. Verily, they were not able to protect him and preserve
his health, and He who was the manifestation of might among the creatures was
prevented of what He desired by that which the hands of the false physicians had
wrought. Look on these days wherein the Beauty of the Ancient hath come with
the Most Great Name for the life of the people of the world and their unison,
how they rose against Him with sharpened sword and committed that which was
dreaded by the faithful spirit, until they confined Him to the most desolate of
lands and thus the hands of the truthseekers were prevented from grasping His
robe. It was said unto them, “The Reformer of the world hath come.”
They replied: “It hath been ascertained that He is one of those who work
sedition.” Nevertheless, they never had any friendly intercourse with Him
and they saw that He did not preserve Himself, but in all times He was amongst
the hands of the people of tyranny; once they imprisoned Him and another time
brought Him out, and another time traversed the country over with Him, thus also
they pronounced sentence upon us
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and God is the witness of what I say; -- that they are the most
ignorant people: before the truth, they cut off their arms but do not feel,
deprive themselves of the good, but do not know it, and they are likened unto
the small boys who cannot distinguish between the corrupter and the reformer,
the good and the evil; verily We see them behind the thick veil of ignorance. O
assembly of princes, chiefs, and lords! Why did ye become as clouds in the face
of the sun and prevent Him from giving forth His effulgence? Lend your ears
unto that whereof the Supreme admonisheth you, that your souls may be at rest,
then those of the poor and humble. We ask God that He will keep the kings at
peace, verily He is able to do what He willeth. O assembly of kings! Verily,
We see you increasing your expenditure every year and placing the burden thereof
on your subjects; this is naught but manifest injustice. Fear the sight of the
oppressed and his tears, and do not burden your subjects above that which they
can bear, neither ruin them to build up your palaces. Choose for them that
which ye choose for yourselves; thus do We expound unto you that which will
profit you if ye are of those who inquire. They are your treasuries and beware
lest ye exercise over them that which God hath never exercised, and entrust such
treasuries into the hands of thieves; by them ye eat, rule and conquer, and
still you make yourselves great against them. Verily, this is naught but an
astonishment.
Having rejected this Most Great Peace, it behooveth you to be at peace
among yourselves, perchance your affairs may be improved thereby, and also the
affairs of those who are under your shadow, to a certain extent. O assembly of
rulers, improve the accordance among you, then you will not be in need of many
soldiers and their accoutrements, save to a certain degree whereof ye will
protect your empire and countries; and beware lest ye lay aside that of which ye
were admonished on the part of the Learned, the Faithful. Be united, O assembly
of kings, for by this, the winds of disagreement existing among you will
subside, and your subjects and those who are around you will be at rest, were ye
of those who know! If a certain one amongst you should rise against the other,
arise all of you and oppose him, for this is nought but manifest justice. Thus
We have admonished you in the Tablet which We sent to you, on another occasion;
therefore follow that which hath been revealed on the part of the Precious, the
Wise. Should any
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one seek refuge in your shadow, have him protected and betray him not;
thus admonisheth you the Supreme Pen, on the part of one Learned and Wise.
Beware, lest ye commit what was committed by the King of Islám when We
came unto him by his command, and on that event, his representatives pronounced
sentence against Us with such injustice that all things lamented and the hearts
of those who are near to God were burned; and the winds of lust moved as they
listed, and We did not find on their part any stability or steadiness, -- are
they not of those who stray madly?
O thou ancient pen! Withhold the pen and let them wander in the dust
of their imaginations; then remember the Queen, perhaps she will turn with the
purest heart to the most great Outlook. Prevent her eyes from looking but to
the region of her Lord, the king of fate, and peruse all that which hath been
revealed in the Tablets and Books on the part of the creator of human beings by
whom the sun hath been darkened and the moon eclipsed, and whose voice hath been
raised between the earth and heavens. O Queen, advance to God and say, “O
my king! I am the servant and Thou art the King of Kings; I have lifted up the
hands of hope to the heaven of Thy bounty and gifts, therefore send down upon me
from the clouds of Thy generosity, that which will cut me from all else but Thee
and bring me nearer unto Thee. O my God! I ask thee by Thy name, which Thou
hast made the sultán of names and the manifestation of Thyself to
whosoever is in earth and heaven, to rend asunder the veils which intervene
between me and the knowledge of the dawning-place of Thy signs and the
rising-place of Thy revelation. Thou art the powerful, the precious, the
generous. O my God! Deprive me not of the fragrances of the garment of Thy
mercy in Thy days, and record unto me that which Thou hast recorded unto thy
servants who have believed in Thee and Thy signs, and attained to the knowledge
of Thyself, and advanced with their hearts to the horizon of Thy command; Thou
art the Lord of the worlds, and the most merciful of the merciful, and
strengthen me, O my God, to mention Thee amongst Thy servants, and to assist Thy
matter in Thy region, then accept from me that which has passed me on the
occasion of the shining of the light of Thy face. Thou art powerful over all
things, and to Thee is El-Bahá, O Thou in whose hand is the kingdom of
the possessions of the earth and heaven.”
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A TABLET TO AMERICA
(Translated from the Kitáb-i-Aqdas)
46. O Rulers of America, and Presidents of the Republic therein!
Hearken to the strains of the Dove, on the branch of eternity, which are vocal
with the melody of “There is no God but Me, the Everlasting, the Forgiver,
the Generous.” Adorn the temple of dominion with the embroidered garment
of justice and virtue, and its head with the diadem of the celebration of your
Lord, the creator of the heaven and earth, -- thus doth the Day-spring of the
names command you on the part of the One-All-knowing and Wise. The Promised One
hath appeared in this exalted station, whereat smiled the mouths of existence of
both the seen and the unseen. O people, avail yourselves of the Day of God; --
verily to meet Him is indeed better unto you than that upon which the sun
riseth, were ye of those who know!
O concourse of statesmen! Hearken unto that which is raised from the
Day-spring of Greatness: “That there is no God but Me, the Speaker, the
All-knowing.” Assist with the hands of justice the broken-hearted, and
crush the great oppressors with the scourges of the Commands of your Lord, the
Powerful, the Wise!
TABLET TO THE JEWS
47. In the Name of God, the Knower, the Powerful!
Today is the Day wherein the Throne of the Lord calleth among the
people unto all the denizens of the earth and commandeth them to glorify and
sanctify God.
Today is the Day wherein the angels of heaven continually descend with
the chalices of utterance and pitchers of knowledge and, becoming perfumed with
the pure and holy fragrances, ascend.
Say: The promised God says: O Concourse of Jews! Ye were of Me,
appeared from Me and returned to Me. How is it that ye do not recognize Me now
when I have appeared with all the signs? Ye have taken foes for friends and
abandoned the real Friend!
In this Day, the New Heaven hath appeared and the earth is renewed.
Were ye to gaze with pure eyes, ye would behold the New
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Jerusalem; and were ye to turn with attentive ears, ye would hear the
voice of God.
In this Day, all things call unto you and invite you unto the Lord,
while ye are so intoxicated with the wine of haughtiness that ye have not become
conscious even for a moment. The ear is to hearken unto My voice, and the eye
is to behold My beauty. Hearken unto it and be ye thereby warned!
The pillar of God is being erected and hath become manifest by His
providence and command. The time of former things is past and a new time has
become manifest, and all things are made new by the desire of God. But only a
new eye can perceive and a new mind can comprehend this station. The Beginning
and the End bore allusion to one blessed Word and that hath come and it become
manifest. That Word is the soul of the Divine Books and Epistles, which hath
forever been and will be forevermore. That Word is the key to the most great
divine Treasury and the supreme hidden Mystery, which hath ever been concealed
behind the veil of preservation. That Word is the same Alpha and Omega
prophesied of by John. Verily, He is the First and the Last, the Manifest and
the Hidden!
O ‘Abdu’l-Husayn! God willing, thou wilt be confirmed and
bear unto the people (the Jews) the glad tidings of what was formerly revealed
in the Divine Books. For this glad tidings is similar to the water of life for
the dead of the world. Blessed are they who drink thereof and woe unto those
who are deprived!
Say: In this Day, the City of God hath appeared and is seen in full
adornment. This is the City wherein the God of All is become manifest. Reflect
upon the words of John, wherein he hath prophesied of the Holy City: “And
I saw no temple therein, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple
of it. And the City hath no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in
it, for the Glory of God (Bahá’u’lláh) did lighten
it” and so on.
Take the rod of resignation in the name of God and guide the erring
people, with entire severance, to the great City of God, that peradventure the
wanderers may attain to the real native land and the blind ones may receive
discerning sight. Verily, He is the Powerful to do that which He willeth. All
things are in the grasp of His Power. Verily, He is the Mighty!
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TABLET TO AN ORIENTAL JEW
48. O Shaykh! Be directed to the shore of the Greatest
Ocean, and enter the Red Ark, which God hath prepared for the people of
Bahá in the omnipotence of the names.
Verily, It (the Red Ark) passeth over land and sea, and he who
entereth it is saved, but he who entereth it not is lost.
If thou shouldst succeed and enter, direct thy face toward the Holy of
Holies of God, the Omnipotent, the Omnipresent, and say:
“Verily, I beg of Thee, O God, by the greatest splendor of Thy
most glorious Bahá, and, verily, all Thy Bahá contains the
greatest Glory!”
Then the doors of the Kingdom shall be opened before thy face, and
thou shalt see that which the eyes did not see, and hear that which the ears did
not hear. Verily, the Wronged One admonisheth thee as He did before. He
desireth for thee to enter the ocean of the Oneness of God, the Lord of the
creatures.
This is a Day wherein all things declare and announce to the people
this Manifestation, through Whom all that was hidden and stored in the knowledge
of God, the Dear, the Glorious, was manifested.
O Shaykh! Thou didst listen to the delightful cooing of
the Dove of the Bayán, while on the branches of the Lotus Tree of
knowledge; and now hear the delightful chanting of the birds of wisdom that are
raised and lifted up into the Supreme Paradise. Verily, He maketh thee
understand that of which thou wert heedless.
Listen to that which the Tongue of Power and Might hath announced in
the Books of God, the Desired One of all, the Wise. In this time, the voice was
assuredly exalted from the Lotus Tree in the supreme paradise and commanded Me
to mention unto thee that which My Forerunner, who redeemeth Himself for this
greatest Message and this right path, hath declared.
He (the Báb) said, that that which He said is the truth,
“I have already written a gem concerning Him (the Manifestation); but
verily, He is beyond My power of expression; and He cannot be reached, even by
that which was mentioned in the Bayán. And until He (exalted and
magnified is His Name!) spake concerning this greatest Manifestation and this
greatest Gospel, verily, He,
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the Manifestation, was magnified and exalted. (So that it is
impossible) that He should be known by that which is beside Him, and become
identified by the expression of His creatures. And, verily, I am the first
servant who believed in Him and in His texts (revelations) and who partook of
the first fruits of the gardens of the paradise of His knowledge, -- the gardens
of His utterances. Yes, by His Majesty, He is the truth and there is no God but
He! And all are made steadfast by His command.”
So chirped the real Dove on the branches of the Godly Lotus Tree.
Blessed is the soul who succeedeth by listening to it, and who partaketh and
drinketh from the ocean of Godly revelations hidden in Its Word.
And He (blessed and exalted is He!) said also in the Bayán,
whose declaration is uplifted: “In the ninth year ye shall attain unto
all the good.” And in another place He announced: “And in the ninth
year ye shall surely meet God.” All these chantings that were manifested
through the birds of the cities of knowledge coincide with that which was.
Verily, I am God! And thus until the end of what He hath expressed (in that
passage), magnified and exalted is He!
The explanation of Lordliness and Godliness hath been mentioned
before. We have already torn the veils asunder and disclosed that which
bringeth the people nigh unto God, the possessor of the lives.
Blessed is the one who succeedeth in attaining justice and equity in
this bounty which envelopeth those in the heavens and earth, as a command on the
part of God, the Lord of the creatures.
O Shaykh! Listen with the ear of equity to the chanting
of the Gospel. Christ said: (Exalted is His Revelation) after stating the
references concerning His return: “But of that Day and Hour no man
knoweth; no, not the angels of Heaven, not even the Son of Man Himself, but the
Father only.” (Matthew xxiv, 36)
The meaning of Father in this passage is God (Glory be to His
Majesty!) and He is the true trainer and the real teacher.
Joel said: “For verily the Day of the Lord is great and very
terrible and who can abide it?” (Joel ii, 11)
The first verse mentioned of the references given (Matthew xxiv, 36)
means that no one knoweth the time of the Manifestation save God, the
All-knowing, the Informed. And the second quotation (Joel) expresseth the
greatness of the Manifestation. In the same
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way it is stated in the Qur’án: “They questioned
Thee (Muhammad) concerning the great News.” Verily, this is the News
whose greatness is mentioned in most of the Books (of different Dispensations).
This is the News whereby all the limbs of the people were shaken, save Him whom
God, the Protector, the Victor, the Assister, wisheth. As (this News) was
looked upon by the physical eye, all the people and inhabitants of different
countries became upset and bewildered, save him whom God desireth.
O Shaykh! The Cause is so great and also the News!
Meditate with clear insight and keenness upon the clear texts, the supreme
Words, and that which hath been manifested in these days, that thou mayest
discover the hidden mysteries in the Books, and to the uttermost exert thine
energy in guiding the people.
Hear with thy real hearing the declaration of Jeremiah: “Alas,
for verily that Day is great, so that none is like it!”
If thou shouldst look and reflect with the sight of equity thou wilt
immediately recognize the greatness of this Day. Hear the voice of this
Advisor, the All-knowing, and let not thy souls be excluded from the Mercy of
God, which anticipated all existence -- of the unseen and the
seen.
Hear what David chanted: “Who will bring me unto the fortified
City?” (Psalms cviii, 10)
O Shaykh! Read what Isaiah hath announced in his Book:
“O thou that bringest good tidings to Zion, get thee up into the high
mountain! O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem! Lift up thy voice
with strength; be not afraid. Say unto the cities of Judah: Behold your God!
Behold, the Lord God will come with power and His Arm shall rule for Him!”
(Isaiah xl, 9-10) In this Day, all the signs (references) are disclosed and
fulfilled. The Great City hath descended from heaven and Zion is re-vivified and
rejoiced, by the appearance of the Manifestation of God; and it hath heard the
voice of God from all directions and places.
In this Day, Jerusalem hath gained the new glad tidings, while the
sycamore (wild, natural condition) becomes the cypress (nobility).
Amos said: “Verily, the Lord will rear from Zion and utter His
voice from Jerusalem; and the habitation of the shepherds shall mourn and the
top of Carmel shall withdraw.” (Amos i,2)
Carmel in the Books of God is termed “The Heap of God,”
“The Vine of God” and sometimes the Heap of Wilderness
(bewilderment);
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and this is the station for the bounty of the Manifestation. The Tent
of Glory was raised upon it (Carmel) in these days. Blessed are those who
advance! Also it was recorded: “Our Lord shall come, and shall not keep
silence.” (Psalms 1, 53)
O Shaykh! Meditate on the expression which was revealed unto Amos, because it is the desired of all people: “Prepare to meet thy
God, O Israel; for lo! he that formeth the mountains. ...” Revealed by the
Merciful in the Qur’án: “Blessed are those who look
carefully with clear insight, and blessed are the winners!”
O Shaykh! By the Self (Life) of God! The river of
Mercy is flowing, the ocean of Revelation is rolling and the Sun is shining and
illuminating.
Now, with an emptied heart, dilated breast and a tongue of
righteousness, read these supreme words that were manifested through the
Forerunner; (that is to say, the First Point or the Báb).
This is what He said when He was addressing
Hadratu’l-Azím:
“This is what He promised thee before answering thee: Wait
until nine years have elapsed from the time of the Bayán; then say:
‘Blessed is God, the best of all Creators!’ And also say, ‘It
is a Revelation of which no one could have the full knowledge save God, -- not
ye people who are heedless.’“
In the ninth year this greatest Manifestation shone forth (in His full
Glory) from the Dayspring of God’s Will (in such a station) that no one
could deny Him save those who are neglectful and doubtful.
We ask God to strengthen His creatures to be directed to Him and to
forgive the deeds they have committed in this impermanent life. Verily, He is
the Pardoner, the Forgiver, the Merciful.
In another place the Báb declared: “Verily, I am the
first servant who believed in Him (Bahá’u’lláh) and
His texts.” And he (the Báb) also said in the Persian Bayán:
“Verily, He (Bahá’u’lláh) is the one who
pronounceth in all conditions and createth the winds and treadeth upon the high
places of the earth. The Lord, the God of Hosts, is His Name.” (See Amos
iv, 12-13) He said: “The dawn shall be darkened”; that is to say,
if any one in the time of the Manifestation of the speaker of Torus consider
himself the true morning, he will be darkened by the power
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and might of God. He is a false morning; but considereth himself the
true one. Woe unto him and woe unto those who follow him without proof from
God, the Lord of the creatures.
Isaiah said: “And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that
Day.” (Isaiah ii, 11) And concerning the greatness of the Manifestation,
he (Isaiah) said: “Enter into the rock and hide thee in the dust for the
fear of the Lord and the Bahá of His Majesty.” (Isaiah ii, 19)
“The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the
desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly and
rejoice even with joy and singing; the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it;
the Bahá of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the excellency of the Lord
and the Bahá of our God.” (Isaiah xxxv, 1-2)
These expressions need no interpretation. They are clear like the
sunshine, and like the light gleaming and radiating.
Every just and equitable one can attain the Paradise of knowledge
through inhaling the perfume of these meanings; and he will succeed in gaining
that wherefrom most people are excluded and veiled.
Say: Be pious toward God, O people, and follow not the false
statement of the croakers (Nakazeen) who violated the Testament of God and His
Covenant and denied His Mercy which anticipated all in earth and
heaven.
Also he (Isaiah) said: “Say to them that are of a fearful
heart: Be strong, fear not; behold your Lord!” (Isaiah xxv, 4) This
blessed verse demonstrateth the greatness of the Cause, because the sound of the
Trumpet will agitate the people, while trembling and fear will possess
them.
Blessed is the soul who is illumined by the light of reliance (upon
God) and enlightened by the light of self-dedication and withdrawal from all
else save God. Verily, such an one will never be prevented by the hardships and
calamities of that Day; neither will he be frightened.
Thus the tongue of Revelation hath declared as a command on the part
of the Merciful. Verily, He is the Almighty, the Powerful, the Conqueror, the
Omnipotent!
It is incumbent on all who have ears and clear insight to meditate and
ponder carefully upon these supreme words, in each of which oceans of meanings
and distinct explanations are hidden, that the revelation of the Possessor of
all religions may cause all
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His creatures to attain the desire and that supreme station which is
the dawning of the horizon of this Declaration.
O Shaykh! If thou inhalest from the fragrance of the
Revelation even less than the amount contained by the eye of a needle, thou wilt
leave the whole universe and advance toward the light of the Face of His
Presence, the Desired One.
Indeed there are many hidden meanings in the utterances of His
Presence the Spirit (Christ). He mentioned many things, but lack of prepared
listeners and of people of insight, caused Him to withhold or seclude them; as
He said: “But ye cannot bear them now.” (St. John xvi, 12) That
dawning of the Revelation (Christ) meant that “His Presence, the Promised
One, would mention them” (the many things).
As it was revealed by the Supreme Pen in Kitáb-i-Aqdas:
“The many things which occurred on the earth after revealing the
texts.” In Kitáb-i-Aqdas it was revealed as follows: “O
land of Tá (Tihrán)! Thou shouldst not grieve on account of
anything, because God hath already made thee the dawning-place of rejoicing for
the creatures. If He wisheth, He may bless Thy throne by one who judgeth with
justice and gathereth the sheep of God who are scattered by the wolves. Verily,
he meeteth the people of Bahá with joy and gladness, and verily, he is
the best of creatures in the presence of God. El-Bahá of God and the
splendor of those who are in the Kingdom of the Cause be upon him in every
time.”
Now, the foregoing texts were revealed before, but in this moment the
following verse is revealed:
“My God, my God! El-Bahá prayeth Thee and asketh Thee, by the illumination of Thy Face, by the waves of the ocean of Thy Cause, and the
shining of the sun of Thy Revelation, to strengthen the royal justice and
equity, and, if Thou desirest, bless the throne and the judgment by him.
Verily, Thou art the Powerful above what Thou wishest, and there is no God but
Thee, the Hearer and the Answerer!
“Be rejoiced, O Land of Tihrán! As God hath made thee
the horizon of the Illumination, because the dawn of the Manifestation was born
in thee and thou hast been named by that name, whereby the Orb of Bounty hath
shone and the heaven and earth were illumined, afterward thy circumstances will
be changed and the people of the Republic shall govern thee. Verily, thy Lord
is the
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All-Knowing, the Pacific. Be tranquil through the bounty of thy Lord.
Verily, thou wilt be engulfed by tranquillity after agitation. Thus it was
preordained in a wonderful new Book.”
TABLET TO THE CHRISTIANS
49. In the Name of the Lord, the Lord of Great
Glory!
This is a Book from before Us to the one whom the covering of the
Names hath not kept from God, the Creator of the earth and heaven, whereby his
eyes may be enlightened in the Days of his Lord, the Protector, the
Self-subsistent!
Say: O Concourse of the Son (Christians)! Are ye hidden from Myself
because of My Name? What maketh ye to doubt? Ye have called for your Lord the
Self-dependent, night and day, and when He hath come from the Heaven of
Pre-existence, in His Greatest Glory, ye have not approached Him, and were of
the heedless. Then consider those who turned away from the Spirit (Christ) when
He came to them with manifest power. How many of the Pharisees were abiding in
the Temples in His Name, and were entreating because of His separation! But
when the gate of union was opened and the light shone forth from the Day-spring
of Beauty, they disbelieved in God, the Exalted, the Great, and did not attain
to His visitation, after having been promised thereunto in the Book of Isaiah,
as well as in the Books of the Prophets and the Apostles. Not one of them
approached the Day-spring of Favor except those who were of no account among the
people, but in whose names all the lords of evident honor boast at the present
day. Remember, the most learned doctors of His country in His age condemned Him
to be killed, whilst one who was a catcher of fishes believed in Him. Be
astonished thereat and be of those who remember!
Likewise look at this time. How many monks were abiding in churches
and were calling for the Spirit, and when He came in truth, they approached Him
not and were of those who are afar! Blessed is whosoever abandoned them and
approached the Aim of all that is in the heavens and earth. They read the
Gospel and confess not in the Glorious Lord, after coming in His holy mighty and
beautiful Kingdom.
Say: Verily, We have come unto you and have endured the abominations of the world because of your salvation. Do ye flee
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from Him who hath redeemed His soul for your lives? Fear God, O
concourse of the Spirit, and follow not all learned men who are
afar.
Do ye suppose that He hath desired His soul after being at every
instant under the swords of the enemy? Or that He desired the world after being
imprisoned in the most ruined of cities? Then judge thereupon and follow not
the oppressors. Open the doors of your minds; verily, the Spirit standeth behind
them.
What maketh ye to keep afar from Him who hath desired to bring ye nigh to the shining abode? Say: Verily, We have opened unto you the gates of the
Kingdom; are ye closing the door of your houses before My Face? Verily, this is
naught but a great error.
Say: Verily, He hath come from Heaven as He came from it the first
time; beware lest ye contradict that which He saith, as the nations before you
contradicted that which He said. Thus do I make known to you the truth, if you
are of those who know.
Surely, the River Jordan hath joined with the Great Sea; the Son in
the holy valley calleth “Labieck!” (“I am ready, O my God, I
am ready!”); and the Mount circles around the House, and the Tree calleth,
“Surely the Desired One hath come in His exalted glory!” Say:
Surely the Father hath come and hath fulfilled that whereunto you were promised
in the Kingdom of God. This is the Word the Son veiled when He said to those
around Him that at that time they could not bear it; but when the stated time
was ended and the hour arrived, the Word shone forth from the horizon of the
Will. Beware, O concourse of the Son, cast it not behind you, but hold
thereunto! It is better for you than all that which is before you. Verily, He
is near to the charitable.
Surely the hour hath passed, the knowledge of which We had veiled from all that is in the earth, and from the Angels of the Presence. Say: Verily, He
beareth witness to Me and I bear witness to Him; verily, He desired naught but
My Person, whereunto bear witness alt hose just ones who know. Verily, We are
inviting to God the Lord of the Names, in the midst of afflictions. Say:
Continue in that which is promised unto you in the Books of God, and walk not in
the path of the ignorant.
Surely My body is imprisoned for the salvation of your souls; then
draw nigh to the Face, and follow not all the obstinate proud
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ones. Verily, He hath accepted the greatest abasement for your honor,
and ye are diverting yourselves in the valley of heedlessness. Verily, He is in
the most ruined of houses for your sakes, and ye are sitting in
palaces.
Say: Have ye not heard the sound of the voice of the Crier (the
Báb) who is crying in the wilderness of The Bayán, proclaiming to
your Merciful Lord? Know that surely He hath come in the truth, in the shadow
of demonstration, with proof and argument, and the people of unity are beholding
the Kingdom before their faces. Blessed is he who approacheth Him, and woe to
all deniers and doubters!
Say unto the priest that the Chief hath surely come. Then emerge from
behind the veil, in the name of thy Lord, the Lord of the necks, and proclaim to
the people this greatest and exalted Manifestation. Verily, the Spirit of Truth
hath come to guide you unto all truth. Verily, He speaketh not unto you from
Himself, nay rather from before the All-knowing and Wise. Say: He is the One
whom the Son hath glorified and hath upraised His command. Abandon that which is
before you, O people of the earth, and take that which is commanded you from
before the Powerful, the Faithful. Purify your ears and turn your minds to hear
the sweet call which hath arisen from the direction of Sinai, the abode of your
most glorious (‘Abhá) Lord. Verily, He attracts you unto a station
wherein you will behold the Lights of the Face, which hath shone forth from this
brilliant Horizon.
Say: O concourse of priests, leave the bells, then come out from the
churches. In this Day, it behooveth you to proclaim in this Greatest Name among
the nations. Do you choose to be silent whilst all trees and stones are calling
out with the loudest voice, “Surely the Lord hath come, the possessor of
great glory!” Blessed is he who hasteneth unto Him. Verily, he is of
those whose names will be established forever, and whom the Supreme Concourse
will remember. The command is appointed from before the Spirit in this
wonderful Tablet.
He who inviteth the people in My Name, he is of Me, and from him will
appear that which will be beyond the power of all that is in the earth. Then
follow the path of the Lord, and follow not the heedless. Blessed is the
sleeper who will awaken by these powers and will stand up among the dead,
directing himself in the
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path of the Lord; verily, he is of the essence of the creatures before
the True One, and verily, he is of those who have attained.
Say: Verily, He hath surely shone forth from the direction of the
Orient, and His Signs have appeared in the Occident. Think thereupon, O people,
and be not like unto those who neglected the Remembrancer when He came unto them
from the Mighty, the Laudable. Awake by the breezes of God! Verily, they have
blown in the world. Blessing to whosoever hath found their fragrance and is of
the assured.
Say: O concourse of bishops! Ye are the stars of the heaven of My
knowledge. My favor liketh it not that ye fall down upon the face of the earth,
but My equity saith, this is that which is appointed by the Son, and whatsoever
hath issued from His pure, faithful and true mouth shall not change. Verily,
the bell is ringing in My name and is mourning for My soul, but the Spirit is
manifest gladness.
Say: The body of the Beloved is yearning after the Cross, and His
head desireth the spear in the path of the Merciful. Verily, the assault of the
oppressors keepeth Him not from that which He desireth. Surely, We have
abandoned all things to the meeting of thy Lord the Possessor of Names. Blessed
are those who draw nigh to God, the Lord of the Day of Judgment.
O concourse of monks! If ye follow Me, I will appoint you heirs of My
Kingdom, and if ye disobey Me -- in My forbearance, I will endure it patiently:
verily, I am the forgiver and the merciful.
O land of Syria! Where is thy righteousness? Surely, thou hast
attained the honor of the feet of thy Lord. Have ye discovered the fragrance of
Union, or are ye of the heedless? Bethlehem is even now stirred by the breeze
of God. I hear its call, saying, “O generous Lord, where is Thy great
glory established? The breaths of Thy union have already quickened me after
being melted because of my separation. Praise be unto Thee, for Thou hast
uncovered the veilings and hast come with power in manifest glory!” We
called unto it from behind the canopy of majesty and greatness: “O
Bethlehem! This Light hath already appeared from the Orient and hath journeyed
toward the Occident until it came unto thee in Its latter days. Then tell Me:
Do the children know the Father and confess Him or do they
contradict
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Him as the people contradicted Him before?” Thereupon its cry
arose and said, “Thou art the Knowing, the
All-informed!”
Verily, We testify that all things bear witness to Us, whereof some
know and bear witness, but the majority bear witness and do not know. Mount
Sinai already shakes with the shock of meeting, and hath raised its sweet call
to the remembrance of its Lord, the ‘Abhá (the Most Glorious) and saith:
“O my Lord, I perceive the fragrance of Thy garment as Thou hast
approached with signs and hast honored these countries by Thy feet. Blessing be
unto Thy people if they know Thee and discover Thy fragrance, and woe unto those
who sleep!”
Blessing be unto thee, O thou who hast approached the Face, for thou
hast torn off the coverings, broken the idols and known thy Pre-existent Lord.
Surely the people of the Qur’án have stood against without any
proof or argument, and have tortured Us at every instant with a new torment,
supposing, verily, that calamities will prevent Us from that which We have
desired; but what they suppose is false. Verily, thy Lord is powerful in that
which He desireth.
I passed not by any tree, except My mind addressed it: “Would
that thou wert cut down in My name and that My body were crucified upon
thee!” This is that which We have revealed in the Book of the King
(Sháh of Persia), that it may be a remembrance of Me to the people
of religions. Verily, thy Lord is the Knowing, the Wise.
Verily, grieve thou not for all they have committed. Verily, they are
dead and not living; leave them to the dead and turn thy face to the Reviver of
all creatures. Beware lest thou art grieved by the saying of those who have
been negligent. Be steadfast in the Cause and teach the people with great
wisdom. In such wise commandeth thee the Lord of the earth and heaven. Verily,
He is the mighty, and the generous!
God shall soon exalt thy remembrance and will establish whatsoever
thou hast spoken in His love with the Supreme Pen. Verily, He is an assister to
the charitable.
Remember from My part he who is named Murád, and say:
“Blessing be unto thee, O Murád, who hath cast away thy desire and
seized the desire of all the creatures.”
Say: Blessed is the sleeper who is awakened by My
breezes!
Blessed is the dead who is quickened by My breaths!
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Blessed is the eye that is enlightened by My beauty!
Blessed is the seeker who sought the tent of My majesty and My
greatness!
Blessed is the affrighted one who took refuge under the shadow of My
domes!
Blessed is the thirsty one who hastened to the Salsabíl of My
favor!
Blessed is the hungry one who hastened away from desire because of My
passion, and was present at the Table that descended from the Heaven of My grace
for My elect!
Blessed is the lowly one who held to the rope of My might, and the
poor who took shelter under the shade of the canopy of My wealth!
Blessed is the ignorant one who desired the Kawthar of My
knowledge, and the heedless one who held the rope of my
remembrance!
Blessed is the spirit who was stirred by My breath and entered My
Kingdom!
Blessed is the soul whom the fragrance of My union shook and attracted
to the Day-spring of My command!
Blessed is the ear which heard, the tongue which witnessed, and the
eye which beheld and knew the soul of the Lord, the possessor of Glory and
Dominion, and the Lord of Majesty and Might!
Blessed are those who have attained!
Blessed is whosoever is illumined by the Sun of My Word!
Blessed is whosoever adorned his head with the Wreath of My
love!
Blessed is he who heard My grief and rose up for My assistance among
My people!
Blessed is he who redeemed himself in My path and suffered
tribulations for My name!
Blessed is he who was assured in My Word and stood up among the dead
for My remembrance!
Blessed is he who was attracted by My melodies and rent the coverings
by My power!
Blessed is he who performed My Covenant and was not prevented by the
world from entering the court of My holiness!
Blessed is he who cut himself off from all other than Me, soared in
the ether of My love, entered My Kingdom, perceived the dominion
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of My might, drank the Kawthar of My favor and the
Salsabíl of My grace, and was informed of My command and of whatsoever
was hidden in the treasuries of My Words, and shone forth from the horizon of
inner significances in My commemoration and My praise! Verily, he is of Mine.
May My mercy, grace, favor and glory be unto him!
TABLET TO THE PERSIAN ZOROASTRIAN
BAHÁ’ÍS
50. In the Name of God, the Peerless.
Glory befits that discerner who, through one shower of the ocean of
His generosity, expanded the firmament of existence, begemmed it with the stars
of knowledge, and summoned the people to the most high court of perception and
understanding.
This shower, which is the first Word of the Almighty, is sometimes
called the water of life, for it quickens the dead souls in the desert of
ignorance with the spring of intelligence. Sometimes it is called the First
Emanation which appears from the Sun of Wisdom, and when it began to shine, the
first movement became manifest and known, then phenomena stepped into the arena
of existence; and these appearances were through the generosity of the
Incomparable, the Wise One. He is the knower, the giver! The seen and the
unseen fail to attain the measure of His understanding. The world of being and
whatever has issued from it bears witness to this utterance.
Therefore, it has become known that the first bestowal of the Almighty
is the Word. The receiver and acceptor of It is the understanding. It is the
first instructor in the University of existence, and is the Primal Emanation of
God. Whatever is manifested is the appearance of Its wisdom. All the names
originate in His name and the beginnings and endings of all affairs are in His
hand.
Your letter came to this captive of the world in this prison. It
brought happiness and increased friendship; it renewed the remembrance of the
former times. Thanks belong to the Possessor of the universe, who permitted us
to meet in the land of Persia. We met, we conversed, and we listened. It is
hoped that no forgetfulness shall follow that meeting, that the revolving of the
wheel of time shall not take away the remembrance from the
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heart, and that the plants of love shall grow out of that which is
sown, and become green, verdant and imperishable.
You have asked regarding the heavenly books. The pulse of the world
is in the hand of the skillful physician. He diagnoses the illness and wisely
prescribes the remedy. Every day has its own secret, and every tongue a melody.
The illness of today has one cure and that of tomorrow another. Look ye upon
this day, and consider, and discuss its needs. One sees that existence is
afflicted with innumerable ailments, compelling it to lie upon the bed of
suffering. Men who are intoxicated with the wine of self-contemplation prevent
the wise physician from reaching the patient. Thus they cause themselves and the
world to suffer. They know not the ailment nor recognize the remedy. They take
the wrong for the right, the crooked for the straight, the enemy for the
friend.
Hearken ye to the melody of this Prisoner! Stand up and proclaim;
perchance those who are asleep may awaken. Say, O ye dead ones, the generous
hand of the Almighty is passing around the water of eternal life. Hasten ye and
drink. Whosoever becomes alive in this Day shall never die, and whosoever dies
in this Day can never find life.
You have written regarding the language. Both Persian and Arabic are
good, for that which one desires to gain from language is attainment to the
meanings of the speaker, and this can be accomplished with both. As in this day
the Sun of Wisdom has appeared and shone forth from the horizon of Persia, the
more you respect this language the better it is.
O friend; when the Primal Word appeared in these latter days, a number
of the heavenly souls heard the melody of the Beloved and hastened toward it;
while others, finding that the deeds of some did not correspond with their words
were prevented from the splendors of the Sun of Knowledge.
Say! O ye sons of earth! The pure God proclaims, that which in this
glorious day shall purify you from the stains of desire and enable you to attain
to tranquillity in My straight path and My manifest road. To be severed from
attachment means to be separated from those things which occasion loss and
lessen the grandeur of man. If the people of the world should attain to the
heavenly utterances, they would never be prevented from the ocean of divine
generosity. The heaven of righteousness has no
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star and never shall have one brighter than this. The first utterance
of the Wise One is: O ye sons of earth! Turn from the darkness of foreignness
to the shining of the sun of unity. This is that which shall benefit the people
of the world more than aught else. O friend! The tree of the Word has no
better blossom, and the ocean of wisdom never shall have a brighter pearl than
this.
O ye sons of intelligence! The thin eyelid prevents the eye from
seeing the world and what is contained therein. Then think of the result when
the curtain of greed covers the sight of the heart. Say, O people, the darkness
of greed and envy obscures the light of the soul, as the cloud prevents the
penetration of the sun’s rays. Should one listen with the ear of
intelligence to this utterance, he shall spread the wings of freedom and soar
with great joy toward the heaven of understanding.
When the world was environed with darkness, the sea of generosity was set in motion and divine illumination appeared so that the deeds were disclosed.
This is the same illumination which is promised in the heavenly books. Should
the Almighty desire the hearts of the people of the world, He will purify and
sanctify them through the power of the Lord, and will pour forth the light of
the Sun of Unity upon the souls to regenerate the world.
O people! The word must be demonstrated by the deed, for the
righteous witness of the word is action. The former without the latter shall
not allay the thirst of the needy nor open the doors of sight to the
blind.
The Heavenly Wise One proclaimeth! A harsh word is like unto a sword, but gentle speech is like unto milk. The children of the world attain to
knowledge and better themselves through this. The Tongue of Wisdom says:
Whosoever possesses Me not, has nothing. Pass by whatever exists in this world,
and find Me. I am the sun of perception and the ocean of science, I revive the
withered ones and quicken the dead. I am that light which illumines the path of
insight. I am the falcon on the hand of the Almighty. I bear healing in My
wings, and teach the knowledge of soaring to the heaven of truth.
The Peerless Beloved says! The way of freedom is opened. Hasten ye.
The fountain of knowledge is gushing, drink ye. Say: O friend! The tabernacle
of oneness is raised, look not upon each other with the eye of strangeness. Ye
are all the fruits
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of one tree and the leaves of one branch. Truly, I say, whatever
lessens ignorance and increases knowledge, that has been, is and shall be
accepted by the Creator.
Say! O people, walk ye under the shade of the tree of righteousness,
enter ye under the protection of the tent of unity. Say! O thou possessor of
sight: The past is the mirror of the future, look and perceive. Perchance,
after the acquirement of knowledge, ye may know the Friend and attain to His
good pleasure. Today, the best fruit of the tree of science and knowledge is
that which benefits mankind and improves his condition.
Say! The tongue is the witness of My truth, do not pollute it with
untruthfulness. The spirit is the treasury of My mystery, do not deliver it
into the hand of greed. It is hoped that in this dawn the world shall become
illumined with the rays of the sun of understanding and knowledge, so that we
may attain to the good pleasure of the Beloved and drink from the ocean of
divine recognition.
O friend! As there were few ears to hear, for some time the Pen has
been silent in its own chamber, and to such a degree that silence has had
precedence over utterance. Say! O people, words are revealed according to the
capacity of the people, so that the beginners may make progress. The milk must
be given according to a measure, in order that the babe of the world may enter
into the realm of grandeur and be established in the court of
unity.
O friend! We have seen the pure ground and cast the seed of
knowledge. Now it depends upon the rays of the sun whether it burns up or is
caused to grow. Say, today, through the greatness of the Peerless Wise One, the
sun of knowledge has appeared from behind the covering of the spirit and all the
birds of the meadow of Oneness are intoxicated with the wine of understanding
and are commemorating the name of the Beloved. Happy is the one who finds this
and become immortal.
EXTRACT FROM THE TABLET REVEALED BY
BAHA’U’LLÁH
TO HIS HONOR, M. ‘ALÍ,
Upon him be Bahá’u’lláh. The Supreme Pen
commands:
51. O ye friends of the True One, the purpose of enduring these
consecutive afflictions and successive sufferings is this: That
those
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assured in God should deal with one another with the utmost union, in
such wise that there may be effaced from among them every difference, duality
and strangeness, except in the special ordinance revealed in the Divine
Book.
A discerning man will suffer no defect in any matter; all that may
happen will indicate his greatness of station and purity of character. For
instance, if a person humbles himself for the sake of God before the friends of
God, this is humbleness shown to the True One Himself; for this is done by the
one as consideration of the other’s faith in God. Hence to be humble for
the sake of God before another means to be humble before God Himself. In this
case, if the other does not behave in like manner, or if he shows forth
haughtiness, the discerning man will attain to the loftiness of his own action
and to the reward thereof; while the detriment in the action of the other one
will return to the latter himself. Likewise, if any one acts with haughtiness,
that haughtiness will be directed to the True One. We seek refuge in God from
such, O ye possessors of intelligence!
I swear by the Greatest Name, it is a pity that in these days anyone
should gaze at transient concerns!
Arise ye in the Cause of God and deal with one another in the utmost
love. Consume the egotistical veils with the fire of oneness, sincerely for the
sake of God, and consort with one another with cheerful and rejoicing faces. Ye
have all seen the characteristics of the True One with your own eyes and that it
has be no means been beloved to pass any evening during which any one of the
beloved of God shall be annoyed with this Youth.
The heart of the world is enkindled with the divine world. It is a
pity for you not to be ignited with this fire. God willing, We hope you will
designate this blessed even to be the even of union: All of you must become
united together and adorned with the embroidery of excellent and praiseworthy
morals.
Let your endeavor be in guiding some soul out of the whirlpool of
mortality to the river of immortality, and to behave in such a manner among the
servants that the traces of the True One may become manifest in you. For you
are the first of the existence, the first who worship, the first of those who
revolve around the True One. By the One who caused Me to give utterance to that
which He desireth, your names are more famous in the Supreme Kingdom than they
are well-known to your own selves. You
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should not fancy that this statement is mere imagination. O, that ye
could see what your merciful Lord sees concerning the loftiness of your degree,
the greatness of your worth, and the exaltation of your position! We beg of God
that your desires may not prevent you from that which He hath ordained for
you.
We hope that you will deal with one another with the utmost harmony,
love and affection, in such wise that the standard of unity will be hoisted
through your union and the banner of infidelity reversed, and that ye may
precede one another in good deeds and in showing forth the good pleasure of God.
His is the command and creation. He doeth whatsoever He willeth and ordereth
that which He desireth. Verily, He is the Powerful, the Mighty, the Potent!
TO A BELIEVER
52. He is the Powerful over what was and is!
The signs have appeared, the evidences become manifest and the
Promised One hath come in His Name, the Protector, the Self-existent. Verily, He
is the stored treasure, the hidden mystery, who hath appeared from the horizon
of the world and is calling all nations unto God, the King of Pre-existence, but
the people are those who do not hear. They were deceived by their desires in
such wise as to make them not hear the voice of God, nor see His extolled
station.
Blessed are ye, O people of Bahá, for that by reason of which
ye have rent asunder the veils, in spite of the people of creation who have
denied the grace of God after it hath been caused to descend, and adopted that
which they have of imaginations and suspicions. We show unto them the horizon of
assurance, but from it they turn away. We let them hear the cooing of the Dove
but they do not listen. At all times they are admonished by the Pen of
Inspiration but they remember not. They follow the simple, whom they call
savants. Are they not indeed of those who understand not? Verily, those who
cannot distinguish between the right and the left pretend to a knowledge of
science, and thus they feel themselves great against the Truth, the Knower of
the unseen. Say: by the King of creation, ye are of the vile and foolish people
and your limbs and substances are quit of you, but ye perceive
not.
But as to thee, be tranquil and confident through the
bounty
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of God. Verily, He is with those who have turned unto Him and who have
succeeded in attaining the pure sealed wine.
Those who have associated others with God shall see their lodging in
the fire, while those who believed in His Oneness are in the Kingdom of God, the
Lord of what was and is.
Thus hath the Tongue of Pre-existence spoken in the Most Great Prison
as a favor on His part to thee and to those who fly away in the atmosphere of
love.
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