Epistle to the Son of the Wolf

Epistle to the Son of the Wolf..........................................................................................................1

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[Pages 120]
In the name of God, the One, the Incomparable, the All-Powerf l, the All-!nowing, the AllWise. Praise be to God, the Eternal that perisheth not, the E"erlasting that declineth not, the SelfS bsisting that altereth not. #e it is Who is transcendent in #is so"ereignt$, Who is manifest thro gh #is signs, and is hidden thro gh #is m$steries. #e it is at Whose bidding the standard of the %ost E&alted Word hath been lifted p in the world of creation, and the banner of '#e doeth whatsoe"er #e willeth( raised amidst all peoples. #e it is Who hath re"ealed #is )a se for the g idance of #is creat res, and sent down #is "erses to demonstrate #is Proof and #is *estimon$, and embellished the preface of the +oo, of %an with the ornament of tterance thro gh #is sa$ing- '*he God of %erc$ hath ta ght the . r/0n, hath created man, and ta ght him artic late speech.( 1o God is there b t #im, the One, the Peerless, the Powerf l, the %ight$, the +eneficent. *he light that is shed from the hea"en of bo nt$, and the benediction that shineth from the dawning-place of the will of God, the 2ord of the !ingdom of 1ames, rest pon #im Who is the S preme %ediator, the %ost E&alted Pen, #im Whom God hath made the 3awning-Place of #is most e&cellent names and the 3a$spring of #is most e&alted attrib tes. *hro gh #im the light of nit$ hath shone forth abo"e the hori4on of the world, and the law of oneness hath been re"ealed amidst the nations, who, with radiant faces, ha"e t rned towards the S preme #ori4on, and ac,nowledged that which the *ong e of 5tterance hath spo,en in the ,ingdom of #is ,nowledge- 'Earth and hea"en, glor$ and dominion, are God/s, the Omnipotent, the Almight$, the 2ord of grace abo nding6( Gi"e ear, O disting ished di"ine, nto the "oice of this Wronged One. #e "eril$, co nselleth thee for the sa,e of God, and e&horteth thee nto that which will ca se thee to draw nigh nto #im nder all conditions. #e, in tr th, is the All-Possessing, the E&alted. !now tho that the ear of man hath been created that it ma$ hear,en nto the 3i"ine 7oice on this 3a$ that hath been mentioned in all the +oo,s, Script res, and *ablets. P rif$ tho , first, th$ so l with the waters of ren nciation, and adorn thine head with the crown of the fear of God, and th$ temple with the ornament of reliance pon #im. Arise, then, and, with th$ face set towards the %ost Great #o se, the Spot ro nd which, as decreed b$ the Eternal !ing, all that dwell on earth m st circle, recite'O God, m$ God, and m$ 3esire, and m$ Adored One, and m$ %aster, and m$ %ainsta$, and m$ tmost #ope, and m$ s preme Aspiration6 *ho seest me t rning towards *hee, holding fast nto the cord of *h$ bo nt$, clinging to the hem of *h$ generosit$, ac,nowledging the sanctit$ of *h$ Self and the p rit$ of *hine Essence, and testif$ing to *h$ nit$ and *h$ oneness. I bear witness that *ho art the One, the Single, the Incomparable, the E"erAbiding. *ho didst not ta,e nto *h$self a partner in *h$ dominion, nor didst *ho choose a peer for *h$self pon earth. All created things ha"e borne witness nto that which the *ong e of *h$ grande r hath testified ere their creation. 7eril$ *ho art God8 there is none other God b t *hee6 9rom e"erlasting *ho wast sanctified from the mention of *h$ ser"ants, and e&alted abo"e the description of *h$ creat res. *ho beholdest, O 2ord, the ignorant see,ing the ocean of *h$ ,nowledge, the sore athirst the li"ing waters of *hine tterance, the abased the tabernacle of *h$ glor$, the poor the treas r$ of *h$ riches, the

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s ppliant the dawning-place of *h$ wisdom, the wea, the so rce of *h$ strength, the wretched the hea"en of *h$ bo nt$, the d mb the ,ingdom of *h$ mention. 'I testif$, O m$ God, and m$ !ing, that *ho hast created me to remember *hee, to glorif$ *hee, and to aid *h$ )a se. And $et, I ha"e aided *hine enemies, who ha"e bro,en *h$ )o"enant, who ha"e cast awa$ *h$ +oo,, disbelie"ed in *hee, and rep diated *h$ signs. Alas, alas, for m$ wa$wardness, and m$ shame, and m$ sinf lness, and m$ wrong-doing that ha"e withheld me from the depths of the ocean of *h$ nit$ and from fathoming the sea of *h$ merc$. Wherefore, alas, alas6 and again alas, alas6 for m$ wretchedness and the grie"o sness of m$ transgressions6 *ho didst call me into being, O m$ God, to e&alt *h$ Word, and to manifest *h$ )a se. %$ heedlessness, howe"er, hath deterred me and compassed me abo t, in s ch wise that I ha"e arisen to blot o t *h$ signs, and to shed the blood of *h$ lo"ed ones, and of the dawning-places of *h$ signs, and of the da$springs of *h$ re"elation, and of the repositories of *h$ m$steries. 'O 2ord, m$ 2ord6 and again, O 2ord, m$ 2ord6 and $et again, O 2ord, m$ 2ord6 I bear witness that b$ reason of mine ini; it$ the fr its of the tree of *h$ < stice ha"e fallen, and thro gh the fire of m$ rebellio sness the hearts of s ch of *h$ creat res as en<o$ near access to *hee were cons med, and the so ls of the sincere among *h$ ser"ants ha"e melted. O wretched, wretched that I am6 O the cr elties, the glaring cr elties, I inflicted6 Woe is me, woe is me, for m$ remoteness from *hee, and for m$ wa$wardness, and mine ignorance, and m$ baseness, and m$ rep diation of *hee, and m$ protests against *hee6 #ow man$ the da$s d ring which *ho didst bid *h$ ser"ants and *h$ lo"ed ones to protect me, whilst I commanded them to harm *hee and to harm them that *ho didst tr st6 And how n mero s the nights d ring which *ho didst gracio sl$ remember me, and didst show me *h$ path, whilst I t rned awa$ from *hee and from *h$ signs6 +$ *h$ glor$6 O *ho Who art the #ope of s ch as ha"e ac,nowledged *h$ nit$, and the 3esire of the hearts of them that are rid of all attachment to an$ sa"e *hee6 I find no s ccorer e&cept *hee, nor ,ing, nor ref ge, nor ha"en besides *h$self. Alas, alas6 %$ t rning awa$ from *hee hath b rnt p the "eil of mine integrit$, and m$ denial of *hee hath rent as nder the co"ering cast o"er mine honor. O wo ld that I were beneath the depths of the earth, so that m$ e"il deeds wo ld remain n,nown to *h$ ser"ants6 *ho seest the sinner, O m$ 2ord, who hath t rned towards the dawning-place of *h$ forgi"eness and *h$ bo nt$, and the mo ntain of ini; it$ that hath so ght the hea"en of *h$ merc$ and pardon. Alas, alas6 %$ might$ sins ha"e pre"ented me from approaching the co rt of *h$ merc$, and m$ monstro s deeds ha"e ca sed me to stra$ far from the sanct ar$ of *h$ presence. Indeed, I am he that hath failed in d t$ towards *hee, and hath bro,en *h$ )o"enant and *h$ *estament, and committed that which hath made the dwellers of the cities of *h$ < stice, and the dawning-places of *h$ grace in *h$ realms, to lament. I testif$, O m$ God, that I ha"e p t awa$ *h$ commandments, and cl ng to the dictates of m$ passions, and ha"e cast awa$ the stat tes of *h$ +oo,, and sei4ed the boo, of mine own desire. O miser$, miser$6 As mine ini; ities wa&ed greater and greater, *h$ forbearance towards me a gmented, and as the fire of m$ rebellio sness grew fiercer, the more did *h$ forgi"eness and *h$ grace see, to smother p its flame. +$ the power of *h$ might6 O *ho Who art the desire of the world and the +est-+elo"ed of the nations6 *h$ long-s ffering hath p ffed me p, and *h$ patience hath emboldened me. *ho beholdest, O m$ God, the tears that m$ shame hath ca sed to flow, and the sighs which m$ heedlessness hath led me to tter. I swear b$ the greatness of *h$ ma<est$6 I can find for m$self no habitation sa"e beneath the shadow of the co rt of *h$ bo nt$, nor an$ ref ge e&cept nder the canop$ of *h$ merc$. *ho seest me in the midst of a sea of despair and of hopelessness, after *ho didst ca se me to hear *h$ words '3espair not.( +$ *h$ power6 %$ sore in< stice
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hath se"ered the cord of m$ hope, and m$ rebellion hath dar,ened m$ face before the throne of *h$ < stice. *ho beholdest, O m$ God, him who is as one dead fallen at the door of *h$ fa"or, ashamed to see, from the hand of *h$ lo"ing-,indness the li"ing waters of *h$ pardon. *ho hast gi"en me a tong e wherewith to remember and praise *hee, and $et it ttereth that which hath ca sed the so ls of s ch of *h$ chosen ones as are nigh nto *hee to melt, and the hearts of the sincere amongst the dwellers of the habitations of holiness to be cons med. *ho hast gi"en me e$es to witness *h$ signs, and to behold *h$ "erses, and to contemplate the re"elations of *hine handiwor,, b t I ha"e re<ected *h$ will, and ha"e committed what hath ca sed the faithf l among *h$ creat res and the detached amidst *h$ ser"ants to groan. *ho hast gi"en me ears that I ma$ incline them nto *h$ praise and *h$ celebration, and nto that which *ho didst send down from the hea"en of *h$ bo nt$ and the firmament of *h$ will. And $et, alas, alas, I ha"e forsa,en *h$ )a se, and ha"e commanded *h$ ser"ants to blaspheme against *h$ tr sted ones and *h$ lo"ed ones, and ha"e acted, before the throne of *h$ < stice, in s ch wise that those that ha"e recogni4ed *h$ nit$ and are wholl$ de"oted to *hee among the dwellers of *h$ realm mo rned with a sore lamentation. I ,now not, O m$ God, which among m$ e"ildoings to mention before the billowing ocean of *h$ fa"or, nor which of m$ trespasses to declare when face to face with the splendors of the s ns of *h$ goodl$ gifts and bo nties. 'I beseech *hee, this "er$ moment, b$ the m$steries of *h$ +oo,, and b$ the things hid in *h$ ,nowledge, and b$ the pearls that lie concealed within the shells of the ocean of *h$ merc$, to rec,on me among s ch as *ho didst mention in *h$ +oo, and describe in *h$ *ablets. #ast *ho decreed for me, O m$ God, an$ <o$ after this trib lation, or an$ relief to s cceed this affliction, or an$ ease to follow this tro ble> Alas, alas6 *ho hast ordained that e"er$ p lpit be set apart for *h$ mention, and for the glorification of *h$ Word, and the re"elation of *h$ )a se, b t I ha"e ascended it to proclaim the "iolation of *h$ )o"enant, and ha"e spo,en nto *h$ ser"ants s ch words as ha"e ca sed the dwellers of the *abernacles of *h$ ma<est$ and the deni4ens of the )ities of *h$ wisdom to lament. #ow often hast *ho sent down the food of *hine tterance o t of the hea"en of *h$ bo nt$, and I denied it8 and how n mero s the occasions on which *ho hast s mmoned me to the soft flowing waters of *h$ merc$, and I ha"e chosen to t rn awa$ therefrom, b$ reason of m$ ha"ing followed m$ own wish and desire6 +$ *h$ glor$6 I ,now not for which sin to beg *h$ forgi"eness and implore *h$ pardon, nor from which of mine ini; ities to t rn aside nto the )o rt of *h$ bo nteo sness and the Sanct ar$ of *h$ fa"or. S ch are m$ sins and trespasses that no man can n mber them, nor pen describe them. I implore *hee, O *ho that t rnest dar,ness into light, and re"ealest *h$ m$steries on the Sinai of *h$ ?e"elation, to aid me, at all times, to p t m$ tr st in *hee, and to commit mine affairs nto *h$ care. %a,e me, then, O m$ God, content with that which the finger of *h$ decree hath traced, and the pen of *h$ ordinance hath written. Potent art *ho to do what pleaseth *hee, and in *h$ grasp are the reins of all that are in hea"en and on earth. 1o God is there b t *hee, the All-,nowing, the All-Wise.( O Sha$,h6 !now tho that neither the cal mnies which men ma$ tter, nor their denials, nor an$ ca"ils the$ ma$ raise, can harm him that hath cl ng to the cord of the grace, and sei4ed the hem of the merc$, of the 2ord of creation. +$ God6 #e, the Glor$ of God @+ah0A, hath spo,en not from mere imp lse. #e that hath gi"en #im a "oice is #e that hath gi"en a "oice nto all things, that the$ ma$ praise and glorif$ #im. *here is none other God b t #im, the One, the Incomparable, the 2ord of strength, the 5nconditioned.

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*he$ whose sight is ,een, whose ears are retenti"e, whose hearts are enlightened, and whose breasts are dilated, recogni4e both tr th and falsehood, and disting ish the one from the other. ?ecite tho this pra$er that hath flowed from the tong e of this Wronged One, and ponder thereon with a heart rid of all attachment, and with ears that are p re and sanctified, be attenti"e to its meaning, that hapl$ tho ma$est inhale the breath of detachment and ha"e pit$ pon th$self and pon others'%$ God, the Ob<ect of m$ adoration, the Goal of m$ desire, the All-+o ntif l, the %ost )ompassionate6 All life is of *hee, and all power lieth within the grasp of *hine omnipotence. Whosoe"er *ho e&altest is raised abo"e the angels, and attaineth the stationC7eril$, We plifted him to a place on high6/8 and whosoe"er *ho dost abase is made lower than d st, na$, less than nothing. O 3i"ine Pro"idence6 *ho gh wic,ed, sinf l, and intemperate, we still see, from *hee a Cseat of tr th,/ and long to behold the co ntenance of the Omnipotent !ing. It is *hine to command, and all so"ereignt$ belongeth to *hee, and the realm of might boweth before *h$ behest. E"er$thing *ho doest is p re < stice, na$, the "er$ essence of grace. One gleam from the splendors of *h$ 1ame, the All-%ercif l, s fficeth to banish and blot o t e"er$ trace of sinf lness from the world, and a single breath from the bree4es of the 3a$ of *h$ ?e"elation is eno gh to adorn all man,ind with a fresh attire. 7o chsafe *h$ strength, O Almight$ One, nto *h$ wea, creat res, and ; ic,en them who are as dead, that hapl$ the$ ma$ find *hee, and ma$ be led nto the ocean of *h$ g idance, and ma$ remain steadfast in *h$ )a se. Sho ld the fragrance of *h$ praise be shed abroad b$ an$ of the di"ers tong es of the world, o t of the East or o t of the West, it wo ld, "eril$, be pri4ed and greatl$ cherished. If s ch tong es, howe"er, be depri"ed of that fragrance, the$ ass redl$ wo ld be nworth$ of an$ mention, in word or $et in tho ght. We beg of *hee, O Pro"idence, to show *h$ wa$ nto all men, and to g ide them aright. *ho art, "eril$, the Almight$, the %ost Powerf l, the All-!nowing, the All-Seeing.( We beseech God to aid thee to be < st and fair-minded, and to ac; aint thee with the things that were hidden from the e$es of men. #e, in tr th, is the %ight$, the 5nconstrained. We as, thee to reflect pon that which hath been re"ealed, and to be fair and < st in th$ speech, that perchance the splendors of the da$star of tr thf lness and sincerit$ ma$ shine forth, and ma$ deli"er thee from the dar,ness of ignorance, and ill mine the world with the light of ,nowledge. *his Wronged One hath fre; ented no school, neither hath #e attended the contro"ersies of the learned. +$ %$ life6 1ot of %ine own "olition ha"e I re"ealed %$self, b t God, of #is own choosing, hath manifested %e. In the *ablet, addressed to #is %a<est$ the Sh0hDma$ God, blessed and glorified be #e, assist himDthese words ha"e streamed from the tong e of this Wronged One'O !ing6 I was b t a man li,e others, asleep pon %$ co ch, when lo, the bree4es of the AllGlorio s were wafted o"er %e, and ta ght %e the ,nowledge of all that hath been. *his thing is not from %e, b t from One Who is Almight$ and All-!nowing. And #e bade %e lift p %$ "oice between earth and hea"en, and for this there befell %e what hath ca sed the tears of e"er$ man of nderstanding to flow. *he learning c rrent amongst men I st died not8 their schools I entered not. As, of the cit$ wherein I dwelt, that tho ma$est be well ass red that I am not of them who spea, falsel$. *his is b t a leaf which the winds of the will of th$ 2ord, the Almight$, the All-Praised, ha"e stirred. )an it be still when the tempest o s winds are blowing> 1a$, b$ #im Who is the 2ord of all 1ames and Attrib tes6 *he$ mo"e it as the$ list. *he e"anescent is as nothing before #im Who is the E"er-Abiding. #is all-compelling s mmons hath reached %e, and ca sed %e to spea, #is praise amidst all people. I was

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indeed as one dead when #is behest was ttered. *he hand of the will of th$ 2ord, the )ompassionate, the %ercif l, transformed %e.( 1ow is the moment in which to cleanse th$self with the waters of detachment that ha"e flowed o t from the S preme Pen, and to ponder, wholl$ for the sa,e of God, those things which, time and again, ha"e been sent down or manifested, and then to stri"e, as m ch as lieth in thee, to ; ench, thro gh the power of wisdom and the force of th$ tterance, the fire of enmit$ and hatred which smo ldereth in the hearts of the peoples of the world. *he 3i"ine %essengers ha"e been sent down, and their +oo,s were re"ealed, for the p rpose of promoting the ,nowledge of God, and of f rthering nit$ and fellowship amongst men. + t now behold, how the$ ha"e made the 2aw of God a ca se and prete&t for per"ersit$ and hatred. #ow pitif l, how regrettable, that most men are clea"ing fast to, and ha"e b sied themsel"es with, the things the$ possess, and are naware of, and sh t o t as b$ a "eil from, the things God possesseth6 Sa$- 'O God, m$ God6 Attire mine head with the crown of < stice, and m$ temple with the ornament of e; it$. *ho , "eril$, art the Possessor of all gifts and bo nties.( F stice and e; it$ are twin G ardians that watch o"er men. 9rom them are re"ealed s ch blessed and perspic o s words as are the ca se of the well-being of the world and the protection of the nations. *hese words ha"e streamed from the pen of this Wronged One in one of #is *ablets- '*he p rpose of the one tr e God, e&alted be #is glor$, hath been to bring forth the %$stic Gems o t of the mine of manDthe$ Who are the 3awning-Places of #is )a se and the ?epositories of the pearls of #is ,nowledge8 for, God #imself, glorified be #e, is the 5nseen, the One concealed and hidden from the e$es of men. )onsider what the %ercif l hath re"ealed in the . r/0n- 1o "ision ta,eth in #im, b t #e ta,eth in all "ision, and #e is the S btile, the All-Informed6( *hat the di"ers comm nions of the earth, and the manifold s$stems of religio s belief, sho ld ne"er be allowed to foster the feelings of animosit$ among men, is, in this 3a$, of the essence of the 9aith of God and #is ?eligion. *hese principles and laws, these firml$-established and might$ s$stems, ha"e proceeded from one So rce, and are ra$s of one 2ight. *hat the$ differ one from another is to be attrib ted to the "ar$ing re; irements of the ages in which the$ were prom lgated. Gird p the loins of $o r endea"or, O people of +ah0, that hapl$ the t m lt of religio s dissension and strife that agitateth the peoples of the earth ma$ be stilled, that e"er$ trace of it ma$ be completel$ obliterated. 9or the lo"e of God, and them that ser"e #im, arise to aid this s blime and momento s ?e"elation. ?eligio s fanaticism and hatred are a world-de"o ring fire, whose "iolence none can ; ench. *he #and of 3i"ine power can, alone, deli"er man,ind from this desolating affliction. )onsider the war that hath in"ol"ed the two 1ations, how both sides ha"e reno nced their possessions and their li"es. #ow man$ the "illages that were completel$ wiped o t6 *he tterance of God is a lamp, whose light is these words- Ge are the fr its of one tree, and the lea"es of one branch. 3eal $e one with another with the tmost lo"e and harmon$, with friendliness and fellowship. #e Who is the 3a$star of *r th beareth %e witness6 So powerf l

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is the light of nit$ that it can ill minate the whole earth. *he One tr e God, #e Who ,noweth all things, #imself testifieth to the tr th of these words. E&ert $o rsel"es that $e ma$ attain this transcendent and most s blime station, the station that can ins re the protection and sec rit$ of all man,ind. *his goal e&celleth e"er$ other goal, and this aspiration is the monarch of all aspirations. So long, howe"er, as the thic, clo ds of oppression, which obsc re the da$star of < stice, remain ndispelled, it wo ld be diffic lt for the glor$ of this station to be n"eiled to men/s e$es. *hese thic, clo ds are the e&ponents of idle fancies and "ain imaginings, who are none other b t the di"ines of Persia. At one time We spo,e in the lang age of the lawgi"er8 at another in that of the tr th-see,er and the m$stic, and $et O r s preme p rpose and highest wish hath alwa$s been to disclose the glor$ and s blimit$ of this station. God, "eril$, is a s fficient witness6 )onsort with all men, O people of +ah0, in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship. If $e be aware of a certain tr th, if $e possess a <ewel, of which others are depri"ed, share it with them in a lang age of tmost ,indliness and goodwill. If it be accepted, if it f lfill its p rpose, $o r ob<ect is attained. If an$one sho ld ref se it, lea"e him nto himself, and beseech God to g ide him. +eware lest $e deal n,indl$ with him. A ,indl$ tong e is the lodestone of the hearts of men. It is the bread of the spirit, it clotheth the words with meaning, it is the fo ntain of the light of wisdom and nderstanding. +$ 'di"ines( in the passage cited abo"e is meant those men who o twardl$ attire themsel"es with the raiment of ,nowledge, b t who inwardl$ are depri"ed therefrom. In this connection, We ; ote from the *ablet addressed to #is %a<est$ the Sh0h, certain passages from the '#idden Words( which were re"ealed b$ the Abh0 Pen nder the name of the '+oo, of 90timih,( the blessings of God be pon her6 'O $e that are foolish, $et ha"e a name to be wise6 Wherefore do $e wear the g ise of the shepherd, when inwardl$ $e ha"e become wol"es, intent pon %$ floc,> Ge are e"en as the star, which riseth ere the dawn, and which, tho gh it seem radiant and l mino s, leadeth the wa$farers of %$ cit$ astra$ into the paths of perdition.( And li,ewise #e saith- 'O $e seeming fair $et inwardl$ fo l6 Ge are li,e clear b t bitter water, which to o tward seeming is cr$stal p re b t of which, when tested b$ the 3i"ine Assa$er, not a drop is accepted. Gea, the s nbeam falls ali,e pon the d st and the mirror, $et differ the$ in reflection e"en as doth the star from the earth- na$, immeas rable is the difference6( And also #e saith- 'O essence of desire6 At man$ a dawn ha"e I t rned from the realms of the Placeless nto thine abode, and fo nd thee on the bed of ease b sied with others than %$self. *here pon, e"en as the flash of the spirit, I ret rned to the realms of celestial glor$, and breathed it not in %$ retreats abo"e nto the hosts of holiness.( And again #e saith- 'O bond sla"e of the world6 %an$ a dawn hath the bree4e of %$ lo"ing,indness wafted o"er thee and fo nd thee pon the bed of heedlessness fast asleep. +ewailing then th$ plight it ret rned whence it came.( *hose di"ines, howe"er, who are tr l$ adorned with the ornament of ,nowledge and of a goodl$ character are, "eril$, as a head to the bod$ of the world, and as e$es to the nations. *he g idance of men hath, at all times, been, and is, dependent pon s ch blessed so ls. We
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beseech God to gracio sl$ aid them to do #is will and pleas re. #e, in tr th, is the 2ord of all men, the 2ord of this world and of the ne&t. O Sha$,h6 We ha"e learned that tho hast t rned awa$ from 5s, and protested against 5s, in s ch wise that tho hast bidden the people to c rse %e, and decreed that the blood of the ser"ants of God be shed. God re; ite him who said- 'Willingl$ will I obe$ the < dge who hath so strangel$ decreed that m$ blood be spilt at #ill and at aram6( 7eril$ I sa$- Whate"er befalleth in the path of God is the belo"ed of the so l and the desire of the heart. 3eadl$ poison in #is path is p re hone$, and e"er$ trib lation a dra ght of cr$stal water. In the *ablet to #is %a<est$ the Sh0h it is written- '+$ #im Who is the *r th6 I fear no trib lation in #is path, nor an$ affliction in %$ lo"e for #im. 7eril$ God hath made ad"ersit$ as a morning dew pon #is green past re, and a wic, for #is lamp which lighteth earth and hea"en.( Set thine heart towards #im Who is the !aaba of God, the #elp in Peril, the Self-S bsisting, and raise tho thine hands with s ch firm con"iction as shall ca se the hands of all created things to be lifted p towards the hea"en of the grace of God, the 2ord of all worlds. * rn, then, th$ face towards #im in s ch wise that the faces of all beings will t rn in the direction of #is shining and l mino s #ori4on, and sa$- '*ho seest me, O m$ 2ord, with m$ face t rned towards the hea"en of *h$ bo nt$ and the ocean of *h$ fa"or, withdrawn from all else beside *hee. I as, of *hee, b$ the splendors of the S n of *h$ re"elation on Sinai, and the eff lgences of the Orb of *h$ grace which shineth from the hori4on of *h$ 1ame, the E"er9orgi"ing, to grant me *h$ pardon and to ha"e merc$ pon me. Write down, then, for me with *h$ pen of glor$ that which will e&alt me thro gh *h$ 1ame in the world of creation. Aid me, O m$ 2ord, to set m$self towards *hee, and to hear,en nto the "oice of *h$ lo"ed ones, whom the powers of the earth ha"e failed to wea,en, and the dominion of the nations has been powerless to withhold from *hee, and who, ad"ancing towards *hee, ha"e saidCGod is o r 2ord, the 2ord of all who are in hea"en and all who are on earth6/( O Sha$,h6 7eril$ I sa$, the seal of the )hoice Wine hath, in the name of #im Who is the Self-S bsisting, been bro,en8 withhold not th$self therefrom. *his Wronged One spea,eth wholl$ for the sa,e of God8 tho too sho ldst, li,ewise, for the sa,e of God, meditate pon those things that ha"e been sent down and manifested, that hapl$ tho ma$est, on this blessed 3a$, ta,e th$ portion of the liberal eff sions of #im Who is tr l$ the All-+o ntif l, and ma$est not remain depri"ed thereof. *his indeed wo ld not be hard for God. 3 st-made Adam was raised p, thro gh the Word of God, to the hea"enl$ throne, and a mere fisherman was made the repositor$ of 3i"ine wisdom, and AbJ-3har, the shepherd, became a prince of the nations6 *his 3a$, O Sha$,h, hath ne"er been, nor is it now, the 3a$ whereon man-made arts and sciences can be regarded as a tr e standard for men, since it hath been recogni4ed that #e Who was wholl$ n"ersed in an$ of them hath ascended the throne of p rest gold, and occ pied the seat of honor in the co ncil of ,nowledge, whilst the ac,nowledged e&ponent and repositor$ of these arts and sciences remained tterl$ depri"ed. +$ 'arts and sciences( is meant those which begin with words and end with words. S ch arts and sciences, howe"er, as are prod cti"e of good res lts, and bring forth their fr it, and are cond ci"e to the well-being and tran; ilit$ of men ha"e been, and will remain, acceptable before God. Wert tho to gi"e ear to %$ "oice, tho wo ldst cast awa$ all th$ possessions, and wo ldst set th$ face towards the Spot wherein the ocean of wisdom and of tterance hath s rged, and the sweet sa"ors of the lo"ing-,indness of th$ 2ord, the )ompassionate, ha"e wafted.
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We deem it ad"isable, in this connection, to reco nt briefl$ some past e"ents, that perchance the$ ma$ be the means of "indicating the ca se of e; it$ and < stice. At the time when #is %a<est$ the Sh0h, ma$ God, his 2ord, the %ost %ercif l, aid him thro gh #is strengthening grace, was planning a <o rne$ to If0h0n, this Wronged One, ha"ing obtained his permission, "isited the hol$ and l mino s resting-places of the Im0ms, ma$ the blessings of God be pon them6 5pon O r ret rn, We proceeded to 2a"0s0n on acco nt of the e&cessi"e heat pre"ailing in the capital. 9ollowing O r depart re, there occ rred the attempt pon the life of #is %a<est$, ma$ God, e&alted and glorified be #e, assist him. *hose da$s were tro blo s da$s, and the fires of hatred b rned high. %an$ were arrested, among them this Wronged One. +$ the righteo sness of God6 We were in no wise connected with that e"il deed, and O r innocence was indisp tabl$ established b$ the trib nals. 1e"ertheless, the$ apprehended 5s, and from 1L$0"ar0n, which was then the residence of #is %a<est$, cond cted 5s, on foot and in chains, with bared head and bare feet, to the d ngeon of ihr0n. A br tal man, accompan$ing 5s on horsebac,, snatched off O r hat, whilst We were being h rried along b$ a troop of e&ec tioners and officials. We were consigned for fo r months to a place fo l be$ond comparison. As to the d ngeon in which this Wronged One and others similarl$ wronged were confined, a dar, and narrow pit were preferable. 5pon O r arri"al We were first cond cted along a pitch-blac, corridor, from whence We descended

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[Pages 2140]
three steep flights of stairs to the place of confinement assigned to 5s. *he d ngeon was wrapped in thic, dar,ness, and O r fellow prisoners n mbered nearl$ a h ndred and fift$ so ls- thie"es, assassins and highwa$men. *ho gh crowded, it had no other o tlet than the passage b$ which We entered. 1o pen can depict that place, nor an$ tong e describe its loathsome smell. %ost of these men had neither clothes nor bedding to lie on. God alone ,noweth what befell 5s in that most fo l-smelling and gloom$ place6 3a$ and night, while confined in that d ngeon, We meditated pon the deeds, the condition, and the cond ct of the +0bLs, wondering what co ld ha"e led a people so high-minded, so noble, and of s ch intelligence, to perpetrate s ch an a dacio s and o trageo s act against the person of #is %a<est$. *his Wronged One, there pon, decided to arise, after #is release from prison, and nderta,e, with the tmost "igor, the tas, of regenerating this people. One night, in a dream, these e&alted words were heard on e"er$ side- '7eril$, We shall render *hee "ictorio s b$ *h$self and b$ *h$ Pen. Grie"e *ho not for that which hath befallen *hee, neither be *ho afraid, for *ho art in safet$. Erelong will God raise p the treas res of the earthDmen who will aid *hee thro gh *h$self and thro gh *h$ 1ame, wherewith God hath re"i"ed the hearts of s ch as ha"e recogni4ed #im.( And when this Wronged One went forth o t of #is prison, We <o rne$ed, in p rs ance of the order of #is %a<est$ the Sh0hDma$ God, e&alted be #e, protect himDto CIr0;, escorted b$ officers in the ser"ice of the esteemed and honored go"ernments of Persia and ? ssia. After O r arri"al, We re"ealed, as a copio s rain, b$ the aid of God and #is 3i"ine Grace and merc$, O r "erses, and sent them to "ario s parts of the world. We e&horted all men, and partic larl$ this people, thro gh O r wise co nsels and lo"ing admonitions, and forbade them to engage in sedition, ; arrels, disp tes and conflict. As a res lt of this, and b$ the grace of God, wa$wardness and foll$ were changed into piet$ and nderstanding, and weapons con"erted into instr ments of peace. 3 ring the da$s I la$ in the prison of ihr0n, tho gh the galling weight of the chains and the stench-filled air allowed %e b t little sleep, still in those infre; ent moments of sl mber I felt as if something flowed from the crown of %$ head o"er %$ breast, e"en as a might$ torrent that precipitateth itself pon the earth from the s mmit of a loft$ mo ntain. E"er$ limb of %$ bod$ wo ld, as a res lt, be set afire. At s ch moments %$ tong e recited what no man co ld bear to hear. We shall herewith cite a few passages from *ablets specificall$ re"ealed to this people, so that e"er$ one ma$ ,now of a certaint$ that this Wronged One hath acted in a manner which hath been pleasing and acceptable nto men end ed with insight, and nto s ch as are the e&ponents of < stice and e; it$'O $e friends of God in #is cities and #is lo"ed ones in #is lands6 *his Wronged One en<oineth on $o honest$ and piet$. +lessed the cit$ that shineth b$ their light. *hro gh them man is e&alted, and the door of sec rit$ is nloc,ed before the face of all creation. #app$ the
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man that clea"eth fast nto them, and recogni4eth their "irt e, and woe betide him that denieth their station.( And in another connection these words were re"ealed- 'We en<oin the ser"ants of God and #is handmaidens to be p re and to fear God, that the$ ma$ sha,e off the sl mber of their corr pt desires, and t rn toward God, the %a,er of the hea"ens and of the earth. *h s ha"e We commanded the faithf l when the 3a$star of the world shone forth from the hori4on of CIr0;. %$ imprisonment doeth %e no harm, neither the trib lations I s ffer, nor the things that ha"e befallen %e at the hands of %$ oppressors. *hat which harmeth %e is the cond ct of those who, tho gh the$ bear %$ name, $et commit that which ma,eth %$ heart and %$ pen to lament. *he$ that spread disorder in the land, and la$ hands on the propert$ of others, and enter a ho se witho t lea"e of its owner, We, "eril$, are clear of them, nless the$ repent and ret rn nto God, the E"er-9orgi"ing, the %ost %ercif l.( And in another connection- 'O peoples of the earth6 #aste $e to do the pleas re of God, and war $e "aliantl$, as it behoo"eth $o to war, for the sa,e of proclaiming #is resistless and immo"able )a se. We ha"e decreed that war shall be waged in the path of God with the armies of wisdom and tterance, and of a goodl$ character and praiseworth$ deeds. *h s hath it been decided b$ #im Who is the All-Powerf l, the Almight$. *here is no glor$ for him that committeth disorder on the earth after it hath been made so good. 9ear God, O people, and be not of them that act n< stl$.( And again in another connection- '?e"ile $e not one another. We, "eril$, ha"e come to nite and weld together all that dwell on earth. 5nto this beareth witness what the ocean of %ine tterance hath re"ealed amongst men, and $et most of the people ha"e gone astra$. If an$one re"ile $o , or tro ble to ch $o , in the path of God, be patient, and p t $o r tr st in #im Who heareth, Who seeth. #e, in tr th, witnesseth, and percei"eth, and doeth what #e pleaseth, thro gh the power of #is so"ereignt$. #e, "eril$, is the 2ord of strength, and of might. In the +oo, of God, the %ight$, the Great, $e ha"e been forbidden to engage in contention and conflict. 2a$ fast hold on whate"er will profit $o , and profit the peoples of the world. *h s commandeth $o the !ing of Eternit$, Who is manifest in #is %ost Great 1ame. #e, "eril$, is the Ordainer, the All-Wise.( And $et again in another connection- '+eware lest $e shed the blood of an$ one. 5nsheathe the sword of $o r tong e from the scabbard of tterance, for therewith $e can con; er the citadels of men/s hearts. We ha"e abolished the law to wage hol$ war against each other. God/s merc$ hath, "eril$, encompassed all created things, if $e do b t nderstand.( And $et again in another connection- 'O people6 Spread not disorder in the land, and shed not the blood of an$ one, and cons me not the s bstance of others wrongf ll$, neither follow e"er$ acc rsed prattler.( And still again in another connection- '*he S n of 3i"ine 5tterance can ne"er set, neither can its radiance be e&ting ished. *hese s blime words ha"e, in this da$, been heard from the 2ote-*ree be$ond which there is no passing- CI belong to him that lo"eth %e, that holdeth fast %$ commandments, and casteth awa$ the things forbidden him in %$ +oo,./( And still again in another connection- '*his is the da$ to ma,e mention of God, to celebrate #is praise, and to ser"e #im8 depri"e not $o rsel"es thereof. Ge are the letters of the words, and the words of the +oo,. Ge are the saplings which the hand of 2o"ing-,indness hath
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planted in the soil of merc$, and which the showers of bo nt$ ha"e made to flo rish. #e hath protected $o from the might$ winds of misbelief, and the tempest o s gales of impiet$, and n rt red $o with the hands of #is lo"ing pro"idence. 1ow is the time for $o to p t forth $o r lea"es, and $ield $o r fr it. *he fr its of the tree of man ha"e e"er been and are goodl$ deeds and a praiseworth$ character. Withhold not these fr its from the heedless. If the$ be accepted, $o r end is attained, and the p rpose of life achie"ed. If not, lea"e them in their pastime of "ain disp tes. Stri"e, O people of God, that hapl$ the hearts of the di"ers ,indreds of the earth ma$, thro gh the waters of $o r forbearance and lo"ing-,indness, be cleansed and sanctified from animosit$ and hatred, and be made worth$ and befitting recipients of the splendors of the S n of *r th.( In the fo rth Ishr0; @splendorA of the Ishr0;0t @*ablet of SplendorsA We ha"e mentioned'E"er$ ca se needeth a helper. In this ?e"elation the hosts which can render it "ictorio s are the hosts of praiseworth$ deeds and pright character. *he leader and commander of these hosts hath e"er been the fear of God, a fear that encompasseth all things, and reigneth o"er all things.( In the third *a<allL @eff lgenceA of the +oo, of *a<allL$0t @+oo, of Eff lgencesA We ha"e mentioned- 'Arts, crafts and sciences plift the world of being, and are cond ci"e to its e&altation. !nowledge is as wings to man/s life, and a ladder for his ascent. Its ac; isition is inc mbent pon e"er$one. *he ,nowledge of s ch sciences, howe"er, sho ld be ac; ired as can profit the peoples of the earth, and not those which begin with words and end with words. Great indeed is the claim of scientists and craftsmen on the peoples of the world. 5nto this beareth witness the %other +oo, in this conspic o s station.( In tr th, ,nowledge is a "eritable treas re for man, and a so rce of glor$, of bo nt$, of <o$, of e&altation, of cheer and gladness nto him. #app$ the man that clea"eth nto it, and woe betide the heedless. It is inc mbent pon thee to s mmon the people, nder all conditions, to whate"er will ca se them to show forth spirit al characteristics and goodl$ deeds, so that all ma$ become aware of that which is the ca se of h man pliftment, and ma$, with the tmost endea"or, direct themsel"es towards the most s blime Station and the Pinnacle of Glor$. *he fear of God hath e"er been the prime factor in the ed cation of #is creat res. Well is it with them that ha"e attained there nto6 *he first word which the Abh0 Pen hath re"ealed and inscribed on the first leaf of Paradise is this- '7eril$ I sa$- *he fear of God hath e"er been a s re defence and a safe stronghold for all the peoples of the world. It is the chief ca se of the protection of man,ind, and the s preme instr ment for its preser"ation. Indeed, there e&isteth in man a fac lt$ which deterreth him from, and g ardeth him against, whate"er is nworth$ and nseeml$, and which is ,nown as his sense of shame. *his, howe"er, is confined to b t a few8 all ha"e not possessed, and do not possess, it. It is inc mbent pon the ,ings and the spirit al leaders of the world to la$ fast hold on religion, inasm ch as thro gh it the fear of God is instilled in all else b t #im.( *he second word We ha"e recorded on the second leaf of Paradise is the following- '*he Pen of the 3i"ine E&po nder e&horteth, at this moment, the manifestations of a thorit$ and the so rces of power, namel$ the ,ings and r lers of the earthDma$ God assist themDand en<oineth them to phold the ca se of religion, and to clea"e nto it. ?eligion is, "eril$, the chief instr ment for the establishment of order in the world, and of tran; illit$ amongst its
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peoples. *he wea,ening of the pillars of religion hath strengthened the foolish, and emboldened them, and made them more arrogant. 7eril$ I sa$- *he greater the decline of religion, the more grie"o s the wa$wardness of the ngodl$. *his cannot b t lead in the end to chaos and conf sion. #ear %e, O men of insight, and be warned, $e who are end ed with discernment6( It is O r hope that tho wilt hear with attenti"e ears the things We ha"e mentioned nto thee, that perchance tho ma$est t rn men awa$ from the things the$ possess to the things that God possesseth. We entreat God to deli"er the light of e; it$ and the s n of < stice from the thic, clo ds of wa$wardness, and ca se them to shine forth pon men. 1o light can compare with the light of < stice. *he establishment of order in the world and the tran; illit$ of the nations depend pon it. In the +oo, of 5tterance these e&alted words ha"e been written down and recorded- 'Sa$, O friends6 Stri"e that hapl$ the trib lations s ffered b$ this Wronged One and b$ $o , in the path of God, ma$ not pro"e to ha"e been in "ain. )ling $e to the hem of "irt e, and hold fast to the cord of tr stworthiness and piet$. )oncern $o rsel"es with the things that benefit man,ind, and not with $o r corr pt and selfish desires. O $e followers of this Wronged One6 Ge are the shepherds of man,ind8 liberate $e $o r floc,s from the wol"es of e"il passions and desires, and adorn them with the ornament of the fear of God. *his is the firm commandment which hath, at this moment, flowed o t from the Pen of #im Who is the Ancient of 3a$s. +$ the righteo sness of God6 *he sword of a "irt o s character and pright cond ct is sharper than blades of steel. *he "oice of the tr e 9aith calleth alo d, at this moment, and saith- O people6 7eril$, the 3a$ is come, and %$ 2ord hath made %e to shine forth with a light whose splendor hath eclipsed the s ns of tterance. 9ear $e the %ercif l, and be not of them that ha"e gone astra$.( *he third word we ha"e recorded on the third leaf of Paradise is this- 'O son of man6 If thine e$es be t rned towards merc$, forsa,e the things that profit thee, and clea"e nto that which will profit man,ind. And if thine e$es be t rned towards < stice, choose tho for th$ neighbor that which tho choosest for th$self. # milit$ e&alteth man to the hea"en of glor$ and power, whilst pride abaseth him to the depths of wretchedness and degradation. Great is the 3a$, and might$ the )all6 In one of O r *ablets We ha"e re"ealed these e&alted words- CWere the world of the spirit to be wholl$ con"erted into the sense of hearing, it co ld then claim to be worth$ to hear,en nto the 7oice that calleth from the S preme #ori4on8 for otherwise, these ears that are defiled with l$ing tales ha"e ne"er been, nor are the$ now, fit to hear it./ Well is it with them that hear,en8 and woe betide the wa$ward.( We pra$ GodDe&alted be #is glor$Dand cherish the hope that #e ma$ gracio sl$ assist the manifestations of affl ence and power and the da$springs of so"ereignt$ and glor$, the ,ings of the earthDma$ God aid them thro gh #is strengthening graceDto establish the 2esser Peace. *his, indeed, is the greatest means for ins ring the tran; illit$ of the nations. It is inc mbent pon the So"ereigns of the worldDma$ God assist themD nitedl$ to hold fast nto this Peace, which is the chief instr ment for the protection of all man,ind. It is O r hope that the$ will arise to achie"e what will be cond ci"e to the well-being of man. It is their d t$ to con"ene an all-incl si"e assembl$, which either the$ themsel"es or their ministers will attend, and to enforce whate"er meas res are re; ired to establish nit$ and concord amongst men. *he$ m st p t awa$ the weapons of war, and t rn to the instr ments of ni"ersal reconstr ction. Sho ld one ,ing rise p against another, all the other ,ings m st arise to deter him. Arms and armaments will, then, be no more needed be$ond that which is necessar$ to
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ins re the internal sec rit$ of their respecti"e co ntries. If the$ attain nto this all-s rpassing blessing, the people of each nation will p rs e, with tran; illit$ and contentment, their own occ pations, and the groanings and lamentations of most men wo ld be silenced. We beseech God to aid them to do #is will and pleas re. #e, "eril$, is the 2ord of the throne on high and of earth below, and the 2ord of this world and of the world to come. It wo ld be preferable and more fitting that the highl$ honored ,ings themsel"es sho ld attend s ch an assembl$, and proclaim their edicts. An$ ,ing who will arise and carr$ o t this tas,, he "eril$ will, in the sight of God, become the c$nos re of all ,ings. #app$ is he, and great is his blessedness6 In this land, e"er$ time men are conscripted for the arm$, a great terror sei4eth the people. E"er$ nation a gmenteth, each $ear, its forces, for their ministers of war are insatiable in their desire to add fresh recr its to their battalions. We ha"e learned that the go"ernment of PersiaDma$ God assist themDha"e, li,ewise decided to reinforce their arm$. In the opinion of this Wronged One a force of one h ndred tho sand f ll$-e; ipped and well-disciplined men wo ld s ffice. We hope that tho wilt ca se the light of < stice to shine more brightl$. +$ the righteo sness of God6 F stice is a powerf l force. It is, abo"e all else, the con; eror of the citadels of the hearts and so ls of men, and the re"ealer of the secrets of the world of being, and the standard-bearer of lo"e and bo nt$. In the treas ries of the ,nowledge of God there lieth concealed a ,nowledge which, when applied, will largel$, tho gh not wholl$, eliminate fear. *his ,nowledge, howe"er, sho ld be ta ght from childhood, as it will greatl$ aid in its elimination. Whate"er decreaseth fear increaseth co rage. Sho ld the Will of God assist 5s, there wo ld flow o t from the Pen of the 3i"ine E&po nder a length$ e&position of that which hath been mentioned, and there wo ld be re"ealed, in the field of arts and sciences, what wo ld renew the world and the nations. A word hath, li,ewise, been written down and recorded b$ the Pen of the %ost #igh in the )rimson +oo, which is capable of f ll$ disclosing that force which is hid in men, na$ of redo bling its potenc$. We implore GodDe&alted and glorified be #eDto gracio sl$ assist #is ser"ants to do that which is pleasing and acceptable nto #im. In these da$s enemies ha"e compassed 5s abo t, and the fire of hatred is ,indled. O peoples of the earth6 +$ %$ life and b$ $o r own6 *his Wronged One hath ne"er had, nor hath #e now an$ desire for leadership. %ine aim hath e"er been, and still is, to s ppress whate"er is the ca se of contention amidst the peoples of the earth, and of separation amongst the nations, so that all men ma$ be sanctified from e"er$ earthl$ attachment, and be set free to occ p$ themsel"es with their own interests. We entreat O r lo"ed ones not to besmirch the hem of O r raiment with the d st of falsehood, neither to allow references to what the$ ha"e regarded as miracles and prodigies to debase O r ran, and station, or to mar the p rit$ and sanctit$ of O r name. Gracio s God6 *his is the da$ whereon the wise sho ld see, the ad"ice of this Wronged One, and as, #im Who is the *r th what things are cond ci"e to the glor$ and tran; illit$ of men. And $et, all are earnestl$ stri"ing to p t o t this glorio s and shining light, and are diligentl$ see,ing either to establish O r g ilt, or to "oice their protest against 5s. %atters ha"e come to s ch a pass, that the cond ct of this Wronged One hath, in e"er$ wa$, been grossl$ misrepresented, and in a manner which it wo ld be nseeml$ to mention. One of O r friends hath reported that among the residents of the Great )it$ @)onstantinopleA he had heard with the greatest regret someone state that, each $ear, a s m of fift$ tho sand t mans was being despatched from his nati"e land to A,,06 It hath not, howe"er, been made clear who had disb rsed the s m, nor thro gh whose hands it had passed6
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+riefl$, this Wronged One hath, in the face of all that hath befallen #im at their hands, and all that hath been said of #im, end red patientl$, and held #is peace, inasm ch as it is O r p rpose, thro gh the lo"ing pro"idence of GodDe&alted be #is glor$Dand #is s rpassing merc$, to abolish, thro gh the force of O r tterance, all disp tes, war, and bloodshed, from the face of the earth. 5nder all conditions We ha"e, in spite of what the$ ha"e said, end red with seeml$ patience, and ha"e left them to God. In answer to this partic lar imp tation, howe"er, We ha"e replied, that if that which he affirmeth be tr e, it behoo"eth him to be than,f l to #im Who is the 2ord of all being, and the !ing of the seen and nseen, for ha"ing raised p in Persia One Who, tho gh a prisoner and with none to help and assist #im, hath s cceeded in establishing #is ascendenc$ o"er that land, and in drawing from it a $earl$ re"en e. S ch an achie"ement sho ld be praised rather than cens red, if he be of them that < dge e; itabl$. Sho ld an$one see, to be ac; ainted with the condition of this Wronged One, let him be told that these capti"es whom the world hath persec ted and the nations wronged ha"e, for da$s and nights, been entirel$ denied the barest means of s bsistence. We are loth to mention s ch things, neither ha"e We had, nor do We ha"e now, an$ desire to complain against O r acc ser. Within the walls of this prison a highl$ esteemed man was for some time obliged to brea, stones that he might earn a li"ing, whilst others had, at times, to no rish themsel"es with that 3i"ine s stenance which is h nger6 We entreat GodDe&alted and glorified be #eDto aid all men to be < st and fair-minded, and to gracio sl$ assist them to repent and ret rn nto #im. #e, "eril$, heareth, and is read$ to answer. Glorified art *ho , O 2ord m$ God6 *ho seest what hath befallen this Wronged One at the hands of them that ha"e not associated with %e, and who ha"e arisen to harm and abase %e, in a manner which no pen can describe, nor tong e reco nt, nor can an$ *ablet s stain its weight. *ho hearest the cr$ of %ine heart, and the groaning of %ine inmost being, and the things that ha"e befallen *h$ tr sted ones in *h$ cities and *h$ chosen ones in *h$ land, at the hands of s ch as ha"e bro,en *h$ )o"enant and *h$ *estament. I beseech *hee, O m$ 2ord, b$ the sighs of *h$ lo"ers thro gho t the world, and b$ their lamentation in their remoteness from the co rt of *h$ presence, and b$ the blood that hath been shed for lo"e of *hee, and b$ the hearts that ha"e melted in *h$ path, to protect *h$ lo"ed ones from the cr elt$ of s ch as ha"e remained naware of the m$steries of *h$ 1ame, the 5nconstrained. Assist them, O m$ 2ord, b$ *h$ power that hath pre"ailed o"er all things, and aid them to be patient and long-s ffering. *ho art the All-Powerf l, the Almight$, the All-+o ntif l. 1o God is there b t *hee, the Genero s, the 2ord of grace abo nding. In these da$s there are some who, far from being < st and fair-minded, ha"e assa lted %e with the sword of hatred and the spear of enmit$, forgetting that it behoo"eth e"er$ fairminded person to s ccor #im Whom the world hath cast awa$ and the nations abandoned, and to la$ hold on piet$ and righteo sness. %ost men ha"e ntil now failed to disco"er the p rpose of this Wronged One, nor ha"e the$ ,nown the reason for which #e hath been willing to end re co ntless afflictions. %eanwhile, the "oice of %ine heart crieth o t these words- 'O that %$ people ,new6( *his Wronged One, rid of attachment nto all things, ttereth these e&alted words- 'Wa"es ha"e encompassed the Ar, of God, the #elp in Peril, the Self-S bsisting. 9ear not the tempest o s gales, O %ariner6 #e Who ca seth the dawn to appear is, "eril$, with *hee in this dar,ness that hath str c, terror into the hearts of all men, e&cept s ch as God, the Almight$, the 5nconstrained, hath been pleased to spare.( O Sha$,h6 I swear b$ the S n of *r th Which hath risen and shineth abo"e the hori4on of this Prison6 *he betterment of the world hath been the sole aim of this Wronged One. 5nto this beareth witness e"er$ man of < dgment, of discernment, of insight and nderstanding. Whilst
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afflicted with trials, #e held fast nto the cord of patience and fortit de, and was satisfied with the things which ha"e befallen #im at the hands of #is enemies, and was cr$ing o t- 'I ha"e reno nced %$ desire for *h$ desire, O m$ God, and %$ will for the re"elation of *h$ Will. +$ *h$ glor$6 I desire neither %$self nor %$ life e&cept for the p rpose of ser"ing *h$ )a se, and I lo"e not %$ being sa"e that I ma$ sacrifice it in *h$ path. *ho seest and ,nowest, O m$ 2ord, that those whom We as,ed to be fair and < st, ha"e, n< stl$ and cr ell$, risen p against 5s. Openl$ the$ were with %e, $et secretl$ the$ assisted %$ foes, who ha"e arisen to dishonor %e. O God, m$ God6 I testif$ that *ho hast created *h$ ser"ants to aid *h$ )a se and e&alt *h$ Word, and $et the$ ha"e helped *hine enemies. I beseech *hee, b$ *h$ )a se that hath encompassed the world of being, and b$ *h$ 1ame wherewith *ho hast s b<ected the seen and nseen, to adorn the peoples of the earth with the light of *h$ < stice, and to ill minate their hearts with the brightness of *h$ ,nowledge. I am, O m$ 2ord, *h$ ser"ant and the son of *h$ ser"ant. I bear witness nto *h$ nit$, and *h$ oneness, and to the sanctit$ of *h$ self and the p rit$ of *hine Essence. *ho beholdest, O m$ 2ord, *h$ tr sted ones at the merc$ of the treachero s among *h$ creat res, and the cal mniators amidst *h$ people. *ho ,nowest what hath befallen 5s at the hands of them whom *ho ,nowest better than we ,now them. *he$ ha"e committed what hath torn the "eil from s ch of *h$ creat res as are nigh nto *hee. I beseech *hee to assist them to obtain that which hath escaped them in the da$s of the 3awning-Place of *h$ ?e"elation and the 3a$spring of *hine Inspiration. Potent art *ho to do what pleaseth *hee, and in *h$ grasp are the reins of all that is in hea"en and all that is on earth.( *he "oice and the lamentation of the tr e 9aith ha"e been raised. It calleth alo d and saith- 'O people6 +$ the righteo sness of God6 I ha"e attained nto #im Who hath manifested me and sent me down. *his is the 3a$ whereon Sinai hath smiled at #im Who con"ersed pon it, and )armel at its ?e"ealer, and the Sadrah at #im Who ta ght it. 9ear $e God, and be not of them that ha"e denied #im. Withhold not $o rsel"es from that which hath been re"ealed thro gh #is grace. Sei4e $e the li"ing waters of immortalit$ in the name of $o r 2ord, the 2ord of all names, and drin, $e in the remembrance of #im, Who is the %ight$, the Peerless.( We ha"e, nder all circ mstances, en<oined on men what is right, and forbidden what is wrong. #e Who is the 2ord of +eing is witness that this Wronged One hath beso ght from God for #is creat res whate"er is cond ci"e to nit$ and harmon$, fellowship and concord. +$ the righteo sness of God6 *his Wronged One is not capable of dissim lation. #e, "eril$, hath re"ealed that which #e desired8 #e, tr l$, is the 2ord of strength, the 5nrestrained. We once again refer nto some of the s blime words re"ealed in the *ablet to #is %a<est$ the Sh0h, so that tho ma$est ,now of a certaint$ that whate"er hath been mentioned hath come from God- 'O !ing6 I was b t a man li,e others, asleep pon %$ co ch, when lo, the bree4es of the All-Glorio s were wafted o"er %e, and ta ght %e the ,nowledge of all that hath been. *his thing is not from %e, b t from One Who is Almight$ and All-!nowing. And #e bade %e lift p %$ "oice between earth and hea"en, and for this there befell %e what hath ca sed the tears of e"er$ man of nderstanding to flow. *he learning c rrent amongst men I st died not8 their schools I entered not. As, of the cit$ wherein I dwelt, that tho ma$est be well ass red that I am not of them who spea, falsel$. *his is b t a leaf which the winds of the will of th$ 2ord, the Almight$, the All-Praised, ha"e stirred. )an it be still when the tempest o s winds are blowing> 1a$, b$ #im Who is the 2ord of all 1ames and Attrib tes6 *he$ mo"e it as the$ list. *he e"anescent is as nothing before #im Who is the E"er-Abiding. #is allcompelling s mmons hath reached %e, and ca sed %e to spea, #is praise amidst all people. I was indeed as one dead when #is behest was ttered. *he hand of the will of th$ 2ord, the )ompassionate, the %ercif l, transformed %e. )an an$one spea, forth of his own accord that
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for which all men, both high and low, will protest against him> 1a$, b$ #im Who ta ght the Pen the eternal m$steries, sa"e him whom the grace of the Almight$, the All-Powerf l, hath strengthened. '2oo, pon this Wronged One, O !ing, with the e$es of < stice8 < dge tho , then, with tr th concerning what hath befallen #im. Of a "erit$, God hath made thee #is shadow amongst men, and the sign of #is power nto all that dwell on earth. F dge tho between 5s and them that ha"e wronged 5s witho t proof and witho t an enlightening +oo,. *he$ that s rro nd thee lo"e thee for their own sa,es, whereas this Go th lo"eth thee for thine own sa,e, and hath had no desire e&cept to draw thee nigh nto the seat of grace, and to t rn thee toward the right-hand of < stice. *h$ 2ord beareth witness nto that which I declare. 'O !ing6 Wert tho to incline thine ears nto the shrill "oice of the Pen of Glor$ and the cooing of the 3o"e of Eternit$, which on the branches of the 2ote-*ree be$ond which there is no passing, ttereth praises to God, the %a,er of all 1ames and the )reator of earth and hea"en, tho wo ldst attain nto a station from which tho wo ldst behold in the world of being na ght sa"e the eff lgence of the Adored One, and wo ldst regard th$ so"ereignt$ as the most contemptible of th$ possessions, abandoning it to whosoe"er might desire it, and setting th$ face toward the #ori4on aglow with the light of #is co ntenance. 1either wo ldst tho e"er be willing to bear the b rden of dominion sa"e for the p rpose

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[Pages 4160]
of helping th$ 2ord, the E&alted, the %ost #igh. *hen wo ld the )onco rse on high bless thee. O how e&cellent is this most s blime station, co ldst tho ascend there nto thro gh the power of a so"ereignt$ recogni4ed as deri"ed from the 1ame of God6( Either tho or someone else hath said- '2et the SJrih of *awhLd be translated, so that all ma$ ,now and be f ll$ pers aded that the one tr e God begetteth not, nor is #e begotten. %oreo"er, the +0bLs belie"e in his @+ah0/ /ll0h/sA 3i"init$ and Godhood.( O Sha$,h6 *his station is the station in which one dieth to himself and li"eth in God. 3i"init$, whene"er I mention it, indicateth %$ complete and absol te self-effacement. *his is the station in which I ha"e no control o"er mine own weal or woe nor o"er m$ life nor o"er m$ res rrection. O Sha$,h6 #ow do the di"ines of this age acco nt for the eff lgent glor$ which the Sadrah of 5tterance hath shed pon the Son of CImr0n @%osesA on the Sinai of 3i"ine ,nowledge> #e @%osesA hear,ened nto the Word which the + rning + sh had ttered, and accepted it8 and $et most men are bereft of the power of comprehending this, inasm ch as the$ ha"e b sied themsel"es with their own concerns, and are naware of the things which belong nto God. ?eferring to this, the Si$$id of 9indiris, hath well said- '*his theme no mortal mind can fathom8 be it e"en that of AbJ-1asr, or AbJ-CAlL SLn0 @A"icennaA.( What e&planation can the$ gi"e concerning that which the Seal of the Prophets @% ammadADma$ the so ls of all else b t #im be offered p for #is sa,eDhath said>- 'Ge, "eril$, shall behold $o r 2ord as $e behold the f ll moon on its fo rteenth night.( *he )ommander of the 9aithf l @Im0m CAlLAD peace be pon himDmoreo"er, saith in the !h tbi$-i-* tJn<L$$ih- 'Anticipate $e the ?e"elation of #im Who con"ersed with %oses from the + rning + sh on Sinai.( sa$n, the son of CAlLDpeace be pon himDli,ewise saith- 'Will there be "o chsafed nto an$one besides *hee a ?e"elation which hath not been "o chsafed nto *h$selfDA ?e"elation Whose ?e"ealer will be #e Who re"ealed *hee. +lind be the e$e that seeth *hee not6( Similar sa$ings from the Im0msDthe blessings of God be pon themDha"e been recorded and are widel$ ,nown, and are embodied in boo,s worth$ of credence. +lessed is he that percei"eth, and spea,eth the p re tr th. Well is it with him who, aided b$ the li"ing waters of the tterance of #im Who is the 3esire of all men, hath p rified himself from idle fancies and "ain imaginings, and torn awa$, in the name of the All-Possessing, the %ost #igh, the "eils of do bt, and reno nced the world and all that is therein, and directed himself towards the %ost Great Prison. O Sha$,h6 1o bree4e can compare with the bree4es of 3i"ine ?e"elation, whilst the Word which is ttered b$ God shineth and flasheth as the s n amidst the boo,s of men. #app$ the man that hath disco"ered it, and recogni4ed it, and said- 'Praised be *ho , Who art the 3esire of the world, and than,s be to *hee, O Well-+elo"ed of the hearts of s ch as are de"oted to *hee6(

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%en ha"e failed to percei"e O r p rpose in the references We ha"e made to 3i"init$ and Godhood. Were the$ to apprehend it, the$ wo ld arise from their places, and cr$ o t- 'We, "eril$, as, pardon of God6( *he Seal of the ProphetsDma$ the so ls of all else b t #im be offered p for #is sa,eDsaith- '%anifold are O r relationships with God. At one time, We are #e #imself, and #e is We O rself. At another #e is that #e is, and We are that We are.( Aside from this, wh$ is it that tho didst not mention those other stations which the Abh0 Pen hath disclosed> *he tong e of this Wronged One hath, man$ a da$ and night, gi"en tterance to these s blime words- 'O God, m$ God6 I bear witness to *h$ nit$ and *h$ oneness, and that *ho art God, and that there is none other God b t *hee. *ho hast e"erlastingl$ been sanctified abo"e the mention of an$ one b t *hee and the praise of all else e&cept *h$self, and *ho wilt e"erlastingl$ contin e to be the same as *ho wast from the beginning and hast e"er been. I beseech *hee, O !ing of Eternit$, b$ the %ost Great 1ame, and b$ the eff lgences of the 3a$star of *h$ ?e"elation pon the Sinai of 5tterance, and b$ the billows of the Ocean of *h$ ,nowledge among all created things, to gracio sl$ assist %e in that which will draw %e nigh nto *hee, and will detach %e from all e&cept *hee. +$ *h$ glor$, O 2ord of all being, and the 3esire of all creation6 I wo ld lo"e to la$ %$ face pon e"er$ single spot of *hine earth, that perchance it might be honored b$ to ching a spot ennobled b$ the footsteps of *h$ lo"ed ones6( +$ the righteo sness of God6 Idle fancies ha"e debarred men from the #ori4on of )ertit de, and "ain imaginings withheld them from the )hoice Sealed Wine. In tr th I sa$, and for the sa,e of God I declare- *his Ser"ant, this Wronged One, is abashed to claim for #imself an$ e&istence whate"er, how m ch more those e&alted grades of being6 E"er$ man of discernment, while wal,ing pon the earth, feeleth indeed abashed, inasm ch as he is f ll$ aware that the thing which is the so rce of his prosperit$, his wealth, his might, his e&altation, his ad"ancement and power is, as ordained b$ God, the "er$ earth which is trodden beneath the feet of all men. *here can be no do bt that whoe"er is cogni4ant of this tr th, is cleansed and sanctified from all pride, arrogance, and "ainglor$. Whate"er hath been said hath come from God. 5nto this, #e, "eril$, hath borne, and beareth now, witness, and #e, in tr th, is the All-!nowing, the All-Informed. +eseech God to grant nto men hearing ears, and sharp sight, and dilated breasts, and recepti"e hearts, that hapl$ #is ser"ants ma$ attain nto their hearts/ 3esire, and set their faces towards their +elo"ed. *ro bles, s ch as no e$e hath beheld, ha"e to ched this Wronged One. In proclaiming #is )a se, #e, in no wise, hesitated. Addressing #imself nto the ,ings and r lers of the earthDma$ God, e&alted be #e, assist themD#e imparted nto them that which is the ca se of the well-being, the nit$, the harmon$, and the reconstr ction of the world, and of the tran; illit$ of the nations. Among them was 1apoleon III, who is reported to ha"e made a certain statement, as a res lt of which We sent him O r *ablet while in Adrianople. *o this, howe"er, he did not repl$. After O r arri"al in the %ost Great Prison there reached 5s a letter from his %inister, the first part of which was in Persian, and the latter in his own handwriting. In it he was cordial, and wrote the following- 'I ha"e, as re; ested b$ $o , deli"ered $o r letter, and ntil now ha"e recei"ed no answer. We ha"e, howe"er, iss ed the necessar$ recommendations to o r %inister in )onstantinople and o r cons ls in those regions. If there be an$thing $o wish done, inform s, and we will carr$ it o t.( 9rom his words it became apparent that he nderstood the p rpose of this Ser"ant to ha"e been a re; est for material assistance. We, therefore, re"ealed in his @1apoleon III/sA name
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"erses in the SJrat /l-#a$,al, some of which We now ; ote, that tho ma$est ,now that the )a se of this Wronged One hath been re"ealed for the sa,e of God, and hath come from #im'O !ing of Paris6 *ell the priest to ring the bells no longer. +$ God, the *r e One6 *he %ost %ight$ +ell hath appeared in the form of #im Who is the %ost Great 1ame, and the fingers of the will of *h$ 2ord, the %ost E&alted, the %ost #igh, toll it o t in the hea"en of Immortalit$, in #is name, the All-Glorio s. *h s ha"e the might$ "erses of *h$ 2ord been again sent down nto thee, that tho ma$est arise to remember God, the )reator of earth and hea"en, in these da$s when all the tribes of the earth ha"e mo rned, and the fo ndations of the cities ha"e trembled, and the d st of irreligion hath enwrapped all men, e&cept s ch as God, the All-!nowing, the All-Wise, was pleased to spare. Sa$- #e Who is the 5nconditioned is come, in the clo ds of light, that #e ma$ ; ic,en all created things with the bree4es of #is 1ame, the %ost %ercif l, and nif$ the world, and gather all men aro nd this *able which hath been sent down from hea"en. +eware that $e den$ not the fa"or of God after it hath been sent down nto $o . +etter is this for $o than that which $e possess8 for that which is $o rs perisheth, whilst that which is with God end reth. #e, in tr th, ordaineth what #e pleaseth. 7eril$, the bree4es of forgi"eness ha"e been wafted from the direction of $o r 2ord, the God of %erc$8 whoso t rneth there nto, shall be cleansed of his sins, and of all pain and sic,ness. #app$ the man that hath t rned towards them, and woe betide him that hath t rned aside. 'Wert tho to incline thine inner ear nto all created things, tho wo ldst hear- C*he Ancient of 3a$s is come in #is great glor$6/ E"er$thing celebrateth the praise of its 2ord. Some ha"e ,nown God and remember #im8 others remember #im, $et ,now #im not. *h s ha"e We set down O r decree in a perspic o s *ablet. 'Gi"e ear, O !ing, nto the 7oice that calleth from the 9ire which b rneth in this "erdant *ree, on this Sinai which hath been raised abo"e the hallowed and snow-white Spot, be$ond the E"erlasting )it$8 C7eril$, there is none other God b t %e, the E"er-9orgi"ing, the %ost %ercif l6/ We, in tr th, ha"e sent #im Whom We aided with the #ol$ Spirit @Fes s )hristA that #e ma$ anno nce nto $o this 2ight that hath shone forth from the hori4on of the will of $o r 2ord, the %ost E&alted, the All-Glorio s, and Whose signs ha"e been re"ealed in the West. Set $o r faces towards #im @+ah0/ /ll0hA, on this 3a$ which God hath e&alted abo"e all other da$s, and whereon the All-%ercif l hath shed the splendor of #is eff lgent glor$ pon all who are in hea"en and all who are on earth. Arise tho to ser"e God and help #is )a se. #e, "eril$, will assist thee with the hosts of the seen and nseen, and will set thee ,ing o"er all that whereon the s n riseth. *h$ 2ord, in tr th, is the All-Powerf l, the Almight$. '*he bree4es of the %ost %ercif l ha"e passed o"er all created things8 happ$ the man that hath disco"ered their fragrance, and set himself towards them with a so nd heart. Attire th$ temple with the ornament of %$ 1ame, and th$ tong e with remembrance of %e, and thine heart with lo"e for %e, the Almight$, the %ost #igh. We ha"e desired for thee na ght e&cept that which is better for thee than what tho dost possess and all the treas res of the earth. *h$ 2ord, "eril$, is ,nowing, informed of all. Arise, in %$ 1ame, amongst %$ ser"ants, and sa$CO $e peoples of the earth6 * rn $o rsel"es towards #im Who hath t rned towards $o . #e, "eril$, is the 9ace of God amongst $o , and #is *estimon$ and #is G ide nto $o . #e hath come to $o with signs which none can prod ce./ *he "oice of the + rning + sh is raised in the midmost heart of the world, and the #ol$ Spirit calleth alo d among the nations- C2o, the 3esired One is come with manifest dominion6/

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'O !ing6 *he stars of the hea"en of ,nowledge ha"e fallen, the$ who see, to establish the tr th of %$ )a se thro gh the things the$ possess, and who ma,e mention of God in %$ 1ame. And $et, when I came nto them in %$ glor$, the$ t rned aside. *he$, indeed, are of the fallen. *his is, tr l$, that which the Spirit of God @Fes s )hristA hath anno nced, when #e came with tr th nto $o , #e with Whom the Fewish doctors disp ted, till at last the$ perpetrated what hath made the #ol$ Spirit to lament, and the tears of them that ha"e near access to God to flow. 'Sa$- O conco rse of mon,s6 Secl de not $o rsel"es in $o r ch rches and cloisters. )ome $e o t of them b$ %$ lea"e, and b s$, then, $o rsel"es with what will profit $o and others. *h s commandeth $o #e Who is the 2ord of the 3a$ of ?ec,oning. Secl de $o rsel"es in the stronghold of %$ lo"e. *his, tr l$, is the secl sion that befitteth $o , co ld $e b t ,now it. #e that secl deth himself in his ho se is indeed as one dead. It behoo"eth man to show forth that which will benefit man,ind. #e that bringeth forth no fr it is fit for the fire. *h s admonisheth $o $o r 2ord8 #e, "eril$, is the %ight$, the +o ntif l. Enter $e into wedloc,, that after $o another ma$ arise in $o r stead. We, "eril$, ha"e forbidden $o lecher$, and not that which is cond ci"e to fidelit$. #a"e $e cl ng nto the promptings of $o r nat re, and cast behind $o r bac,s the stat tes of God> 9ear $e God, and be not of the foolish. + t for man, who, on %$ earth, wo ld remember %e, and how co ld %$ attrib tes and %$ names be re"ealed> ?eflect, and be not of them that ha"e sh t themsel"es o t as b$ a "eil from #im, and were of those that are fast asleep. #e that married not @Fes s )hristA co ld find no place wherein to abide, nor where to la$ #is head, b$ reason of what the hands of the treachero s had wro ght. #is holiness consisted not in the things $e ha"e belie"ed and imagined, b t rather in the things which belong nto 5s. As,, that $e ma$ be made aware of #is station which hath been e&alted abo"e the "ain imaginings of all the peoples of the earth. +lessed are the$ that nderstand. 'O !ing6 We heard the words tho didst tter in answer to the )4ar of ? ssia, concerning the decision made regarding the war @)rimean WarA. *h$ 2ord, "eril$, ,noweth, is informed of all. *ho didst sa$- CI la$ asleep pon m$ co ch, when the cr$ of the oppressed, who were drowned in the +lac, Sea, wa,ened me./ *his is what We heard thee sa$, and, "eril$, th$ 2ord is witness nto what I sa$. We testif$ that that which wa,ened thee was not their cr$ b t the promptings of thine own passions, for We tested thee, and fo nd thee wanting. )omprehend the meaning of %$ words, and be tho of the discerning. It is not O r wish to address thee words of condemnation, o t of regard for the dignit$ We conferred pon thee in this mortal life. We, "eril$, ha"e chosen co rtes$, and made it the tr e mar, of s ch as are nigh nto #im. )o rtes$ is, in tr th, a raiment which fitteth all men, whether $o ng or old. Well is it with him that adorneth his temple therewith, and woe nto him who is depri"ed of this great bo nt$. #adst tho been sincere in th$ words, tho wo ldst ha"e not cast behind th$ bac, the +oo, of God, when it was sent nto thee b$ #im Who is the Almight$, the All-Wise. We ha"e pro"ed thee thro gh it, and fo nd thee other than that which tho didst profess. Arise, and ma,e amends for that which escaped thee. Erelong the world and all that tho possessest will perish, and the ,ingdom will remain nto God, th$ 2ord and the 2ord of th$ fathers of old. It behoo"eth thee not to cond ct thine affairs according to the dictates of th$ desires. 9ear the sighs of this Wronged One, and shield #im from the darts of s ch as act n< stl$. '9or what tho hast done, th$ ,ingdom shall be thrown into conf sion, and thine empire shall pass from thine hands, as a p nishment for that which tho hast wro ght. *hen wilt tho ,now how tho hast plainl$ erred. )ommotions shall sei4e all the people in that land, nless tho arisest to help this )a se, and followest #im Who is the Spirit of God @Fes s )hristA in
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this, the Straight Path. #ath th$ pomp made thee pro d> +$ %$ 2ife6 It shall not end re8 na$, it shall soon pass awa$, nless tho holdest fast b$ this firm )ord. We see abasement hastening after thee, whilst tho art of the heedless. It behoo"eth thee when tho hearest #is 7oice calling from the seat of glor$ to cast awa$ all that tho possessest, and cr$ o t- C#ere am I, O 2ord of all that is in hea"en and all that is on earth6/ 'O !ing6 We were in CIr0;, when the ho r of parting arri"ed. At the bidding of the !ing of Isl0m @S l0n of * r,e$A We set O r steps in his direction. 5pon O r arri"al, there befell 5s at the hands of the malicio s that which the boo,s of the world can ne"er ade; atel$ reco nt. *here pon the inmates of Paradise, and the$ that dwell within the retreats of holiness, lamented8 and $et the people are wrapped in a thic, "eil6( And f rther We ha"e said- '%ore grie"o s became O r plight from da$ to da$, na$, from ho r to ho r, ntil the$ too, 5s forth from O r prison and made 5s, with glaring in< stice, enter the %ost Great Prison. And if an$one as, them- C9or what crime were the$ imprisoned>/ the$ wo ld answer and sa$- C*he$, "eril$, so ght to s pplant the 9aith with a new religion6/ If that which is ancient be what $e prefer, wherefore, then, ha"e $e discarded that which hath been set down in the *orah and the E"angel> )lear it p, O men6 +$ %$ life6 *here is no place for $o to flee to in this da$. If this be %$ crime, then % ammad, the Apostle of God, committed it before %e, and before #im #e Who was the Spirit of God @Fes s )hristA, and $et earlier #e Who con"ersed with God @%osesA. And if %$ sin be this, that I ha"e e&alted the Word of God and re"ealed #is )a se, then indeed am I the greatest of sinners6 S ch a sin I will not barter for the ,ingdoms of earth and hea"en.( And f rther We ha"e said- 'As %$ trib lations m ltiplied, so did %$ lo"e for God and for #is )a se increase, in s ch wise that all that befell %e from the hosts of the wa$ward was powerless to deter %e from %$ p rpose. Sho ld the$ hide %e awa$ in the depths of the earth, $et wo ld the$ find %e riding aloft on the clo ds, and calling o t nto God, the 2ord of strength and of might. I ha"e offered %$self p in the wa$ of God, and I $earn after trib lations in %$ lo"e for #im, and for the sa,e of #is good pleas re. 5nto this bear witness the woes which now afflict %e, the li,e of which no other man hath s ffered. E"er$ single hair of %ine head calleth o t that which the + rning + sh ttered on Sinai, and each "ein of %$ bod$ in"o,eth God and saith- CO wo ld I had been se"ered in *h$ path, so that the world might be ; ic,ened, and all its peoples be nited6/ *h s hath it been decreed b$ #im Who is the All-!nowing, the All-Informed. '!now of a tr th that $o r s b<ects are God/s tr st amongst $o . Watch $e, therefore, o"er them as $e watch o"er $o r own sel"es. +eware that $e allow not wol"es to become the shepherds of the fold, or pride and conceit to deter $o from t rning nto the poor and the desolate. Arise tho , in %$ name, abo"e the hori4on of ren nciation, and set, then, th$ face towards the !ingdom, at the bidding of th$ 2ord, the 2ord of strength and of might.( And f rther We ha"e said- 'Adorn the bod$ of *h$ ,ingdom with the raiment of %$ name, and arise, then, to teach %$ )a se. +etter is this for thee than that which tho possessest. God will, thereb$, e&alt th$ name among all the ,ings. Potent is #e o"er all things. Wal, tho amongst men in the name of God, and b$ the power of #is might, that tho ma$est show forth #is signs amidst the peoples of the earth.( And f rther We ha"e said- '3oth it behoo"e $o to relate $o rsel"es to #im Who is the God of merc$, and $et commit the things which the E"il One hath committed> 1a$, b$ the +ea t$
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of #im Who is the All-Glorified6 co ld $e b t ,now it. P rge $o r hearts from lo"e of the world, and $o r tong es from cal mn$, and $o r limbs from whatsoe"er ma$ withhold $o from drawing nigh nto God, the %ight$, the All-Praised. Sa$- +$ the world is meant that which t rneth $o aside from #im Who is the 3awning-Place of ?e"elation, and inclineth $o nto that which is nprofitable nto $o . 7eril$, the thing that deterreth $o , in this da$, from God is worldliness in its essence. Eschew it, and approach the %ost S blime 7ision, this shining and resplendent Seat. Shed not the blood of an$one, O people, neither < dge $e an$one n< stl$. *h s ha"e $e been commanded b$ #im Who ,noweth, Who is informed of all. *he$ that commit disorders in the land after it hath been well ordered, these indeed ha"e o tstepped the bo nds that ha"e been set in the +oo,. Wretched shall be the abode of the transgressors6( And f rther We ha"e said- '3eal not treachero sl$ with the s bstance of $o r neighbor. +e $e tr stworth$ on earth, and withhold not from the poor the things gi"en nto $o b$ God thro gh #is grace. #e, "eril$, will bestow pon $o the do ble of what $e possess. #e, in tr th, is the All-+o nteo s, the %ost Genero s. O people of +ah06 S bd e the citadels of men/s hearts with the swords of wisdom and of tterance. *he$ that disp te, as prompted b$ their desires, are indeed wrapped in a palpable "eil. Sa$- *he sword of wisdom is hotter than s mmer heat, and sharper than blades of steel, if $e do b t nderstand. 3raw it forth in %$ name and thro gh the power of %$ might, and con; er, then, with it the cities of the hearts of them that ha"e secl ded themsel"es in the stronghold of their corr pt desires. *h s biddeth $o the Pen of the All-Glorio s, whilst seated beneath the swords of the wa$ward. If $e become aware of a sin committed b$ another, conceal it, that God ma$ conceal $o r own sin. #e, "eril$, is the )oncealer, the 2ord of grace abo nding. O $e rich ones on earth6 If $e enco nter one who is poor, treat him not disdainf ll$. ?eflect pon that whereof $e were created. E"er$ one of $o was created of a sorr$ germ.( And f rther We ha"e said- '?egard $e the world as a man/s bod$, which is afflicted with di"ers ailments, and the reco"er$ of which dependeth pon the harmoni4ing of all of its component elements. Gather $e aro nd that which We ha"e prescribed nto $o , and wal, not in the wa$s of s ch as create dissension. %editate on the world and the state of its people. #e, for Whose sa,e the world was called into being, hath been imprisoned in the most desolate of cities @A,,0A, b$ reason of that which the hands of the wa$ward ha"e wro ght. 9rom the hori4on of #is prison-cit$ #e s mmoneth man,ind nto the 3a$spring of God, the E&alted, the Great. E& ltest tho o"er the treas res tho dost possess, ,nowing the$ shall perish> ?e<oicest tho in that tho r lest a span of earth, when the whole world, in the estimation of the people of +ah0, is worth as m ch as the blac, in the e$e of a dead ant> Abandon it nto s ch as ha"e set their affections pon it, and t rn tho nto #im Who is the 3esire of the world. Whither are gone the pro d and their palaces> Ga4e tho into their tombs, that tho ma$est profit b$ this e&ample, inasm ch as We made it a lesson nto e"er$ beholder. Were the bree4es of ?e"elation to sei4e thee, tho wo ldst flee the world, and t rn nto the !ingdom, and wo ldst e&pend all tho possessest, that tho ma$est draw nigh nto this s blime 7ision.( We bade a )hristian dispatch this *ablet, and he informed 5s that he transmitted both the original and its translation. God, the Almight$, the All-!nowing, hath ,nowledge of all things. One of the sections of the SJrat /l-#a$,al is the *ablet addressed to #is %a<est$, the )4ar of ? ssiaDma$ God, e&alted and glorified be #eDassist him:=

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'O )4ar of ? ssia6 Incline thine ear nto the "oice of God, the !ing, the #ol$, and t rn tho nto Paradise, the Spot wherein abideth #e Who, among the )onco rse on high, beareth the most e&cellent titles, and Who, in the ,ingdom of creation, is called b$ the name of God, the Eff lgent, the All-Glorio s. +eware that nothing deter thee from setting th$ face towards th$ 2ord, the )ompassionate, the %ost %ercif l. We, "eril$, ha"e heard the thing for which tho didst s pplicate th$ 2ord, whilst secretl$ comm ning with #im. Wherefore, the bree4e of %$ lo"ing-,indness wafted forth, and the sea of %$ merc$ s rged, and We answered thee in tr th. *h$ 2ord, "eril$, is the All-!nowing, the All-Wise. Whilst I la$, chained and fettered, in the prison of ihr0n, one of th$ ministers e&tended %e his aid. Wherefore hath God ordained for thee a station which the ,nowledge of none can comprehend e&cept #is ,nowledge. +eware lest tho barter awa$ this s blime station.( And f rther We ha"e said- '#e Who is the 9ather is come, and the Son @Fes s )hristA, in the hol$ "ale, crieth o t- C#ere am I, here am I, O 2ord, m$ God6/, whilst Sinai circleth ro nd the #o se, and the + rning + sh calleth alo d- C*he All-+o nteo s is come mo nted pon the clo ds6 +lessed is he that draweth nigh nto #im, and woe betide them that are far awa$./ 'Arise tho amongst men in the name of this all-compelling )a se, and s mmon, then, the nations nto God, the %ight$, the Great. +e tho not of them who called pon God b$ one of #is names, b t who, when #e Who is the Ob<ect of all names appeared, denied #im and t rned aside from #im, and, in the end, prono nced sentence against #im with manifest in< stice. )onsider and call tho to mind the da$s whereon the Spirit of God @Fes s )hristA appeared, and #erod ga"e < dgment against #im. God, howe"er, aided #im with the hosts of the nseen, and protected #im with tr th, and sent #im down nto another land, according to #is promise. #e, "eril$, ordaineth what #e pleaseth. *h$ 2ord tr l$ preser"eth whom #e willeth, be he in the midst of the seas or in the maw of the serpent, or beneath the sword of the oppressor.( And f rther We ha"e said- 'Again I sa$- #ear,en nto %$ "oice that calleth from %$ prison, that it ma$ ac; aint thee with the things that ha"e befallen %$ +ea t$, at the hands of them that are the manifestations of %$ glor$, and that tho ma$est percei"e how great hath been %$ patience, notwithstanding %$ might, and how immense %$ forbearance, notwithstanding %$ power. +$ %$ life6 )o ldst tho b t ,now the things sent down b$ %$ Pen, and disco"er the treas res of %$ )a se, and the pearls of %$ m$steries which lie hid in the seas of %$ names and in the goblets of %$ words, tho wo ldst for longing after #is glorio s and s blime !ingdom, la$ down th$ life in the path of God. !now tho that tho gh %$ bod$ be beneath the swords of %$ foes, and %$ limbs be beset with incalc lable afflictions, $et %$ spirit is filled with a gladness with which all the <o$s of the earth can ne"er compare.( 2i,ewise, We mention some "erses from the *ablet of #er %a<est$, the . een @. een 7ictoriaADma$ God, e&alted and glorified be #e, assist her. O r p rpose is that hapl$ the bree4es of ?e"elation ma$ en"elop thee, and ca se thee to arise, wholl$ for the sa,e of God, and ser"e #is )a se, and that tho ma$est transmit an$ of the *ablets of the ,ings which might ha"e remained ndeli"ered. *his mission is a great mission, and this ser"ice a great ser"ice. In those regions disting ished di"ines are n mero s, among whom are those Si$$ids who are renowned for their eminence and distinction. )onfer with them, and show them what hath flowed o t of the Pen of Glor$, that hapl$ the$ ma$ be gracio sl$ aided to better the condition of the world, and impro"e the character of peoples of different nations, and ma$, thro gh the li"ing waters of God/s co nsels, ; ench the hatred and the animosit$ which lie

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hid and smolder in the hearts of men. We pra$ God that tho ma$est be assisted therein. And this, "eril$, wo ld not be hard for #im. 'O . een in 2ondon6 Incline thine ear nto the "oice of th$ 2ord, the 2ord of all man,ind, calling from the 3i"ine 2ote-*ree- 7eril$, no God is there b t %e, the Almight$, the AllWise6 )ast awa$ all that is on earth, and attire the head of th$ ,ingdom with the crown of the remembrance of *h$ 2ord, the All-Glorio s. #e, in tr th, hath come nto the world in #is most great glor$, and all that hath been mentioned in the Gospel hath been f lfilled. *he land of S$ria hath been honored b$ the footsteps of its 2ord, the 2ord of all men, and 1orth and So th are both inebriated with the wine of #is presence. +lessed is the man that hath inhaled the fragrance of the %ost %ercif l, and t rned nto the 3awning-Place of #is bea t$, in this resplendent 3awn. *he %os; e of A;s0 "ibrateth thro gh the bree4es of its 2ord, the AllGlorio s, whilst +ath0 @%eccaA trembleth at the "oice of God, the E&alted, the %ost #igh. E"er$ single stone of them celebrateth the praise of the 2ord, thro gh this Great 1ame.( And f rther We said- 'We ma,e mention of thee for the sa,e of God, and desire that th$ name ma$ be e&alted thro gh th$ remembrance of God, the )reator of earth and of hea"en. #e, "eril$, is witness nto that which I sa$. We ha"e been informed that tho hast forbidden the trading in sla"es, both men and women. *his, "eril$, is what God hath en<oined in this wondro s ?e"elation. God hath, tr l$, destined a reward for thee, beca se of this. #e, "eril$, will pa$ the doer of good, whether man or woman, his d e recompense, wert tho to follow

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[Pages 6180]
what hath been sent nto thee b$ #im Who is the All-!nowing, the All-Informed. As to him who t rneth aside, and swelleth with pride, after that the clear to,ens ha"e come nto him, from the ?e"ealer of signs, his wor, shall God bring to na ght. #e, in tr th, hath power o"er all things. %an/s actions are acceptable after his ha"ing recogni4ed @the %anifestationA. #e that t rneth aside from the *r e One is indeed the most "eiled amongst #is creat res. *h s hath it been decreed b$ #im Who is the Almight$, the %ost Powerf l. 'We ha"e also heard that tho hast entr sted the reins of co nsel into the hands of the representati"es of the people. *ho , indeed, hast done well, for thereb$ the fo ndations of the edifice of thine affairs will be strengthened, and the hearts of all that are beneath th$ shadow, whether high or low, will be tran; illi4ed. It behoo"eth them, howe"er, to be tr stworth$ among #is ser"ants, and to regard themsel"es as the representati"es of all that dwell on earth. *his is what co nselleth them, in this *ablet, #e Who is the ? ler, the All-Wise. And if an$ one of them directeth himself towards the Assembl$, let him t rn his e$es nto the S preme #ori4on, and sa$- CO m$ God6 I as, *hee, b$ *h$ most glorio s 1ame, to aid me in that which will ca se the affairs of *h$ ser"ants to prosper, and *h$ cities to flo rish. *ho , indeed, hast power o"er all things6/ +lessed is he that entereth the Assembl$ for the sa,e of God, and < dgeth between men with p re < stice. #e, indeed, is of the blissf l. 'O $e members of Assemblies in that land and in other co ntries6 *a,e $e co nsel together, and let $o r concern be onl$ for that which profiteth man,ind, and bettereth the condition thereof, if $e be of them that scan heedf ll$. ?egard the world as the h man bod$ which, tho gh at its creation whole and perfect, hath been afflicted, thro gh "ario s ca ses, with gra"e disorders and maladies. 1ot for one da$ did it gain ease, na$, its sic,ness wa&ed more se"ere, as it fell nder the treatment of ignorant ph$sicians, who ga"e f ll rein to their personal desires, and ha"e erred grie"o sl$. And if at one time, thro gh the care of an able ph$sician, a member of that bod$ was healed, the rest remained afflicted as before. *h s informeth $o the All-!nowing, the All-Wise. We behold it, in this da$, at the merc$ of r lers, so dr n, with pride that the$ cannot discern clearl$ their own best ad"antage, m ch less recogni4e a ?e"elation so bewildering and challenging as this.( And f rther We ha"e said- '*hat which God hath ordained as the so"ereign remed$ and mightiest instr ment for the healing of the world is the nion of all its peoples in one ni"ersal )a se, one common 9aith. *his can in no wise be achie"ed e&cept thro gh the power of a s,illed, an all-powerf l, and inspired Ph$sician. +$ %$ life6 *his is the tr th, and all else na ght b t error. Each time that %ost %ight$ Instr ment hath come, and that 2ight shone forth from the Ancient 3a$spring, #e was withheld b$ ignorant ph$sicians who, e"en as clo ds, interposed themsel"es between #im and the world. It failed therefore, to reco"er, and its sic,ness hath persisted ntil this da$. *he$ indeed were powerless to protect it, or to effect a c re, whilst #e Who hath been the %anifestation of Power amongst men was withheld from achie"ing #is p rpose, b$ reason of what the hands of the ignorant ph$sicians ha"e wro ght.

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')onsider these da$s in which #e Who is the Ancient +ea t$ hath come in the %ost Great 1ame, that #e ma$ ; ic,en the world and nite its peoples. *he$, howe"er, rose p against #im with sharpened swords, and committed that which ca sed the 9aithf l Spirit to lament, ntil in the end the$ imprisoned #im in the most desolate of cities, and bro,e the grasp of the faithf l pon the hem of #is robe. Were an$one to tell them- C*he World ?eformer is come,/ the$ wo ld answer and sa$- CIndeed it is pro"en that #e is a fomenter of discord6/, and this notwithstanding that the$ ha"e ne"er associated with #im, and ha"e percei"ed that #e did not see,, for one moment, to protect #imself. At all times #e was at the merc$ of the wic,ed doers. At one time the$ cast #im into prison, at another the$ banished #im, and at $et another h rried #im from land to land. *h s ha"e the$ prono nced < dgment against 5s, and God, tr l$, is aware of what I sa$.( *his charge of fomenting discord is the same as that imp ted aforetime b$ the Pharaohs of Eg$pt to #im Who con"ersed with God @%osesA. ?ead tho what the All-%ercif l hath re"ealed in the . r/0n. #eDma$ #e be blessed and glorifiedDsaith- '%oreo"er We had sent %oses of old with O r signs and with clear a thorit$ to Pharaoh, and #am0n, and .arJn- and the$ said- CSorcerer, impostor6/ And when #e came to them from O r presence with the tr th, the$ said- CSla$ the sons of those who belie"e as #e doth, and sa"e their females ali"e,/ b t the stratagem of the nbelie"ers iss ed onl$ in fail re. And Pharaoh said- C2et me alone, that I ma$ ,ill %oses8 and let him call pon his 2ord- I fear lest he change $o r religion, or ca se disorder to show itself in the land./ And %oses said- CI ta,e ref ge with m$ 2ord, and $o r 2ord from e"er$ pro d one who belie"eth not in the 3a$ of ?ec,oning./( %en ha"e, at all times, considered e"er$ World ?eformer a fomenter of discord, and ha"e referred nto #im in terms with which all are familiar. Each time the 3a$star of 3i"ine ?e"elation shed its radiance from the hori4on of God/s Will a great n mber of men denied #im, others t rned aside from #im, and still others cal mniated #im, and thereb$ withheld the ser"ants of God from the ri"er of lo"ing pro"idence of #im Who is the !ing of creation. In li,e manner, the$ who, in this da$, ha"e neither met this Wronged One nor associated with #im ha"e said, and e"en now contin e to sa$, the things tho hast heard and hearest still. Sa$- 'O people6 *he S n of 5tterance beameth forth in this da$, abo"e the hori4on of bo nt$, and the radiance of the ?e"elation of #im Who spo,e on Sinai flasheth and glisteneth before all religions. P rge and sanctif$ $o r breasts, and $o r hearts, and $o r ears, and $o r e$es with the li"ing waters of the tterance of the All-%ercif l, and set, then, $o r faces towards #im. +$ the righteo sness of God6 Ge shall hear all things proclaim- C7eril$, #e the *r e One is come. +lessed are the$ that < dge with fairness, and blessed the$ that t rn towards #im6/( Among the things the$ ha"e imp ted to the 3i"ine 2ote-*ree @%osesA are charges to the falsit$ of which e"er$ discerning man of ,nowledge, and e"er$ wise and nderstanding heart, will witness. *ho m st, no do bt, ha"e read and considered the "erses which ha"e been sent down concerning #im Who con"ersed with God. #eDma$ #e be blessed and glorifiedD saith- '#e said- C3id We not rear thee among s when a child> And hast tho not passed $ears of th$ life among s> And $et what a deed is that which tho hast done6 *ho art one of the ngratef l./ #e said- CI did it indeed, and I was one of those who erred. And I fled from $o beca se I feared $o 8 b t %$ 2ord hath gi"en %e wisdom and hath made %e one of #is Apostles./( And elsewhere #eDma$ #e be blessed and e&altedDsaith- 'And #e entered a cit$ at the time when its inhabitants wo ld not obser"e #im, and fo nd therein two men fighting, the one, of #is own people8 the other, of #is enemies. And he who was of #is own people as,ed #is help against him who was of #is enemies. And %oses smote him with #is fist and slew him. Said #e- C*his is a wor, of Satan8 for he is an enem$, a manifest
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misleader./ #e said- CO m$ 2ord6 I ha"e sinned to mine own h rt, forgi"e me./ So God forga"e #im8 for #e is the 9orgi"ing, the %ercif l. #e said- C2ord6 beca se *ho hast showed me this grace, I will ne"er again be the helper of the wic,ed./ And in the cit$ at noon #e was f ll of fear, casting f rti"e glances ro nd #im, and lo, the man whom #e had helped the da$ before, cried o t to #im again for help. Said %oses to him- C*ho art plainl$ a most depra"ed person./ And when #e wo ld ha"e laid "iolent hands on him who was their common foe, he said to #im- CO %oses6 3ost *ho desire to sla$ me, as tho slewest a man $esterda$> *ho desirest onl$ to become a t$rant in this land, and desirest not to become a peacema,er./( *hine ears and thine e$es m st needs now be cleansed and sanctified, that tho ma$est be able to < dge with fairness and < stice. %oses #imself, moreo"er, ac,nowledged #is in< stice and wa$wardness, and testified that fear had sei4ed #im, and that #e had transgressed, and fled awa$. #e as,ed GodDe&alted be #is glor$Dto forgi"e #im, and #e was forgi"en. O Sha$,h6 E"er$ time God the *r e OneDe&alted be #is glor$Dre"ealed #imself in the person of #is %anifestation, #e came nto men with the standard of '#e doeth what #e willeth, and ordaineth what #e pleaseth.( 1one hath the right to as, wh$ or wherefore, and he that doth so, hath indeed t rned aside from God, the 2ord of 2ords. In the da$s of e"er$ %anifestation these things appear and are e"ident. 2i,ewise, the$ ha"e said that abo t this Wronged One, to the falsit$ of which the$ who are nigh nto God and are de"oted to #im ha"e borne, and still bear, witness. +$ the righteo sness of God6 *his #em of #is ?obe hath e"er been and remaineth ns llied, tho gh man$ ha"e, at the present time, p rposed to besmirch it with their l$ing and nseeml$ cal mnies. God, howe"er, ,noweth and the$ ,now not. #e Who, thro gh the might and power of God, hath arisen before the face of all the ,indreds of the earth, and s mmoned the m ltit des to the S preme #ori4on, hath been rep diated b$ them and the$ ha"e cl ng instead nto s ch men as ha"e in"ariabl$ withdrawn themsel"es behind "eils and c rtains, and b sied themsel"es abo t their own protection. %oreo"er, man$ are now engaged in spreading lies and cal mnies, and ha"e no other intention than to instill distr st into the hearts and so ls of men. As soon as someone lea"eth the Great )it$ @)onstantinopleA to "isit this land, the$ at once telegraph and proclaim that he hath stolen mone$ and fled to A,,0. A highl$ accomplished, learned and disting ished man "isited, in his declining $ears, the #ol$ 2and, see,ing peace and retirement, and abo t him the$ ha"e written s ch things as ha"e ca sed them who are de"oted to God and are nigh nto #im to sigh. #is E&cellenc$, the late %Lr40 sa$n !h0n, % shLr /d-3awlih,Dma$ God forgi"e himD hath ,nown this Wronged One, and he, no do bt, m st ha"e gi"en to the A thorities a circ mstantial acco nt of the arri"al of this Wronged One at the S blime Porte, and of the things which #e said and did. On the da$ of O r arri"al the Go"ernment Official, whose d t$ it was to recei"e and entertain official "isitors, met 5s and escorted 5s to the place he had been bidden to ta,e 5s. In tr th, the Go"ernment showed these wronged ones the tmost ,indness and consideration. *he following da$ Prince Sh <a/ /d-3awlih, accompanied b$ %Lr40 Saf0, acting as the representati"es of the late % shLr /d-3awlih, the %inister @accredited to the Imperial )o rtA came to "isit 5s. Others, among whom were se"eral %inisters of the Imperial Go"ernment, and incl ding the late !am0l P0sh0, li,ewise called on 5s. Wholl$ reliant on God, and witho t an$ reference to an$ need #e might ha"e had, or to an$ other matter, this Wronged One so<o rned for a period of fo r months in that cit$. #is actions were ,nown and e"ident nto all, and none can den$ them e&cept s ch as hate #im, and spea, not the tr th. #e that hath recogni4ed God, recogni4eth none other b t #im. We ha"e ne"er li,ed, nor li,e We, to ma,e mention of s ch things.
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Whene"er high dignitaries of Persia came to that cit$ @)onstantinopleA the$ wo ld e&ert themsel"es to the tmost soliciting at e"er$ door s ch allowances and gifts as the$ might obtain. *his Wronged One, howe"er, if #e hath done nothing that wo ld redo nd to the glor$ of Persia, hath at least acted in a manner that co ld in no wise disgrace it. *hat which was done b$ his late E&cellenc$ @% shLr /d-3awlihADma$ God e&alt his stationDwas not act ated b$ his friendship towards this Wronged One, b t rather was prompted b$ his own sagacio s < dgment, and b$ his desire to accomplish the ser"ice he secretl$ contemplated rendering his Go"ernment. I testif$ that he was so faithf l in his ser"ice to his Go"ernment that dishonest$ pla$ed no part, and was held in contempt, in the domain of his acti"ities. It was he who was responsible for the arri"al of these wronged ones in the %ost Great Prison @A,,0A. As he was faithf l, howe"er, in the discharge of his d t$, he deser"eth O r commendation. *his Wronged One hath, at all times, aimed and stri"en to e&alt and ad"ance the interests of both the go"ernment and the people, not to ele"ate #is own station. A n mber of men ha"e, now, gathered others abo t them, and ha"e arisen to dishonor this Wronged One. #e, ne"ertheless, beseecheth GodDhallowed and glorified be #eDto aid them to ret rn nto #im, and assist them to compensate for that which escaped them, and repent before the door of #is bo nt$. #e, "eril$, is the 9orgi"ing, the %ercif l. O Sha$,h6 %$ Pen, "eril$, lamenteth o"er %ine own Self, and %$ *ablet weepeth sore o"er what hath befallen %e at the hands of one @%Lr40 Ga$0A o"er whom We watched for s ccessi"e $ears, and who, da$ and night, ser"ed in %$ presence, ntil he was made to err b$ one of %$ ser"ants, named Si$$id % ammad. 5nto this bear witness %$ belie"ing ser"ants who accompanied %e in %$ e&ile from +aghd0d to this, the %ost Great Prison. And there befell %e at the hands of both of them that which made e"er$ man of nderstanding to cr$ o t, and he who is end ed with insight to groan alo d, and the tears of the fair-minded to flow. We pra$ to God to gracio sl$ assist them that ha"e been led astra$ to be < st and fair-minded, and to ma,e them aware of that whereof the$ ha"e been heedless. #e, in tr th, is the All+o nteo s, the %ost Genero s. 3ebar not *h$ ser"ants, O m$ 2ord, from the door of *h$ grace, and dri"e them not awa$ from the co rt of *h$ presence. Assist them to dispel the mists of idle fanc$, and to tear awa$ the "eils of "ain imaginings and hopes. *ho art, "eril$, the All-Possessing, the %ost #igh. 1o God is there b t *hee, the Almight$, the Gracio s. I swear b$ the 3a$star of God/s *estimon$ that hath shone from the hori4on of certit de6 *his Wronged One, in the da$time and in the night-season, occ pied #imself with that which wo ld edif$ the so ls of men, ntil the light of ,nowledge pre"ailed o"er the dar,ness of ignorance. O Sha$,h6 *ime and again ha"e I declared, and now $et again I affirm, that for two score $ears We ha"e, thro gh the grace of God and b$ #is irresistible and potent will, e&tended s ch aid to #is %a<est$ the Sh0hDma$ God assist himDas the e&ponents of < stice and of e; it$ wo ld regard as incontestable and absol te. 1one can den$ it, nless he be a transgressor and sinner, or one who wo ld hate 5s or do bt O r tr th. #ow "er$ strange that ntil now the %inisters of State and the representati"es of the people ha"e ali,e remained naware of s ch conspic o s and ndeniable ser"ice, and, if appri4ed of it, ha"e, for reasons of their own, chosen to ignore it6 Pre"io s to these fort$ $ears contro"ersies and conflicts contin all$ pre"ailed and agitated the ser"ants of God. + t since then, aided b$ the hosts of wisdom, of tterance, of e&hortations and nderstanding, the$ ha"e all sei4ed and ta,en fast hold of the firm cord of patience and of the shining hem of fortit de, in s ch wise that this
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wronged people end red steadfastl$ whate"er befell them, and committed e"er$thing nto God, and this notwithstanding that in %04indar0n and at ?asht a great man$ ha"e been most hideo sl$ tormented. Among them was his honor, 0<L 10ir, who, n; estionabl$, was a brilliant light that shone forth abo"e the hori4on of resignation. After he had s ffered mart$rdom, the$ pl c,ed o t his e$es and c t off his nose, and inflicted on him s ch indignities that strangers wept and lamented, and secretl$ raised f nds to s pport his wife and children. O Sha$,h6 %$ Pen is abashed to reco nt what act all$ too, place. In the land of S0d @If0h0nA the fire of t$rann$ b rned with s ch a hot flame that e"er$ fair-minded person groaned alo d. +$ th$ life6 *he cities of ,nowledge and of nderstanding wept with s ch a weeping that the so ls of the pio s and of the God-fearing were melted. *he twin shining lights, asan and sa$n @*he !ing of %art$rs and the +elo"ed of %art$rsA offered p spontaneo sl$ their li"es in that cit$. 1either fort ne, nor wealth, nor glor$, co ld deter them6 God ,noweth the things which befell them and $et the people are, for the most part, naware6 +efore them one named !04im and the$ who were with him, and after them, his honor Ashraf, all ; affed the dra ght of mart$rdom with the tmost fer"or and longing, and hastened nto the S preme )ompanion. In li,e manner, at the time of Sard0r A4L4 !h0n, that godl$ man, %Lr40 % af0, and his fellow mart$rs, were arrested, and despatched nto the S preme 9riend in the All-Glorio s #ori4on. +riefl$, in e"er$ cit$ the e"idences of a t$rann$, be$ond li,e or e; al, were nmista,abl$ clear and manifest, and $et none arose in selfdefence6 )all tho to mind his honor +adL, who was the bearer of the *ablet to #is %a<est$ the Sh0h, and reflect how he laid down his life. *hat ,night, who sp rred on his charger in the arena of ren nciation, threw down the precio s crown of life for the sa,e of #im Who is the Incomparable 9riend. O Sha$,h6 If things s ch as these are to be denied, what shall, then, be deemed worth$ of credence> Set forth the tr th, for the sa,e of God, and be not of them that hold their peace. *he$ arrested his honor 1a<af-CAlL, who hastened, with rapt re and great longing, nto the field of mart$rdom, ttering these words- 'We ha"e ,ept both +ah0 and the ,hJn-bah0 @bloodmone$A6( With these words he $ielded p his spirit. %editate on the splendor and glor$ which the light of ren nciation, shining from the pper chamber of the heart of % ll0 CAlLF0n, hath shed. #e was so carried awa$ b$ the bree4es of the %ost S blime Word and b$ the power of the Pen of Glor$ that to him the field of mart$rdom e; alled, na$ o tri"alled, the ha nts of earthl$ delights. Ponder pon the cond ct of CAb0-+0sir and Si$$id Ashraf-iOan<0nL. *he$ sent for the mother of Ashraf to diss ade her son from his p rpose. + t she sp rred him on ntil he s ffered a most glorio s mart$rdom. O Sha$,h6 *his people ha"e passed be$ond the narrow straits of names, and pitched their tents pon the shores of the sea of ren nciation. *he$ wo ld willingl$ la$ down a m$riad li"es, rather than breathe the word desired b$ their enemies. *he$ ha"e cl ng to that which pleaseth God, and are wholl$ detached and freed from the things which pertain nto men. *he$ ha"e preferred to ha"e their heads c t off rather than tter one nseeml$ word. Ponder this in thine heart. %ethin,s the$ ha"e ; affed their fill of the ocean of ren nciation. *he life of the present world hath failed to withhold them from s ffering mart$rdom in the path of God. In %04indar0n a "ast n mber of the ser"ants of God were e&terminated. *he Go"ernor, nder the infl ence of cal mniators, robbed a great man$ of all that the$ possessed. Among the
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charges he laid against them was that the$ had been la$ing p arms, whereas pon in"estigation it was fo nd o t that the$ had nothing b t an nloaded rifle6 Gracio s God6 *his people need no weapons of destr ction, inasm ch as the$ ha"e girded themsel"es to reconstr ct the world. *heir hosts are the hosts of goodl$ deeds, and their arms the arms of pright cond ct, and their commander the fear of God. +lessed that one that < dgeth with fairness. +$ the righteo sness of God6 S ch hath been the patience, the calm, the resignation and contentment of this people that the$ ha"e become the e&ponents of < stice, and so great hath been their forbearance, that the$ ha"e s ffered themsel"es to be ,illed rather than ,ill, and this notwithstanding that these whom the world hath wronged ha"e end red trib lations the li,e of which the histor$ of the world hath ne"er recorded, nor the e$es of an$ nation witnessed. What is it that co ld ha"e ind ced them to reconcile themsel"es to these grie"o s trials, and to ref se to p t forth a hand to repel them> What co ld ha"e ca sed s ch resignation and serenit$> *he tr e ca se is to be fo nd in the ban which the Pen of Glor$ hath, da$ and night, chosen to impose, and in O r ass mption of the reins of a thorit$, thro gh the power and might of #im Who is the 2ord of all man,ind. ?emember the father of +adL. *he$ arrested that wronged one, and ordered him to c rse and re"ile his 9aith. #e, howe"er, thro gh the grace of God and the merc$ of his 2ord, chose mart$rdom, and attained there nto. If $e wo ld rec,on p the mart$rs in the path of God, $e co ld not co nt them. )onsider his honor Si$$id Ism0/LlD pon him be the peace of God, and #is lo"ing-,indnessDhow, before da$brea, he was wont to d st, with his own t rban, the doorstep of %$ ho se, and in the end, whilst standing on the ban,s of the ri"er, with his e$es fi&ed on that same ho se, offered p, b$ his own hand, his life. 3o tho ponder on the penetrati"e infl ence of the Word of God. E"er$ single one of these so ls was first ordered to blaspheme and c rse his faith, $et none was fo nd to prefer his own will to the Will of God. O Sha$,h6 In former times he that was chosen to be slain was b t one person, whereas now this Wronged One hath prod ced for thee that which ca seth e"er$ fair-minded man to mar"el. F dge fairl$, I ad< re thee, and arise to ser"e th$ 2ord. #e, "eril$, shall reward thee with a reward which neither the treas res of the earth nor all the possessions of ,ings and r lers can e; al. In all thine affairs p t th$ reliance in God, and commit them nto #im. #e will render thee a reward which the +oo, hath ordained as great. Occ p$ th$self, d ring these fleeting da$s of th$ life, with s ch deeds as will diff se the fragrance of 3i"ine good pleas re, and will be adorned with the ornament of #is acceptance. *he acts of his honor, +al0l, the Ethiopian, were so acceptable in the sight of God that the 'sLn( of his st ttering tong e e&celled the 'shLn( prono nced b$ all the world. *his is the da$ whereon all peoples sho ld shed the light of nit$ and concord. In brief, the pride and "anit$ of certain of the peoples of the world ha"e made ha"oc of tr e nderstanding, and laid waste the home of < stice and of e; it$. O Sha$,h6 *hat which hath to ched this Wronged One is be$ond compare or e; al. We ha"e borne it all with the tmost willingness and resignation, so that the so ls of men ma$ be edified, and the Word of God be e&alted. While confined in the prison of the 2and of %Lm @%04indar0nA We were one da$ deli"ered into the hands of the di"ines. *ho canst well imagine what befell 5s. Sho ldst tho at some time happen to "isit the d ngeon of #is %a<est$ the Sh0h, as, the director and chief <ailer to show thee those two chains, one of which is ,nown as .ar0-G har, and the other as Sal0sil. I swear b$ the 3a$star of F stice that for fo r months this Wronged One was tormented and chained b$ one or the other of them.
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'%$ grief e&ceedeth all the woes to which Facob ga"e "ent, and all the afflictions of Fob are b t a part of %$ sorrows6( 2i,ewise, ponder tho pon the mart$rdom of 0<L % ammad-?i0 in the )it$ of 2o"e @Ish;0b0dA. *he t$rants of the earth ha"e s b<ected that wronged one to s ch trials as ha"e ca sed man$ foreigners to weep and lament for, as reported and ascertained, no less than thirt$-two wo nds were inflicted pon his blessed bod$. Get none of the faithf l transgressed %$ commandment, nor raised his hand in resistance. )ome what might, the$ ref sed to allow their own inclinations to s persede that which the +oo, hath decreed, tho gh a considerable n mber of this people ha"e resided, and still reside, in that cit$. We entreat #is %a<est$ the Sh0h,Dma$ God, hallowed and glorified be #e, assist himD himself to ponder pon these things, and to < dge with e; it$ and < stice. Altho gh in recent $ears a n mber of the faithf l ha"e, in most of the cities of Persia, s ffered themsel"es to be ,illed rather than ,ill, $et the hatred smo ldering in certain hearts hath bla4ed more fiercel$ than before. 9or the "ictims of oppression to intercede in fa"or of their enemies is, in the estimation of r lers, a princel$ deed. Some m st ha"e certainl$ heard that this oppressed people ha"e, in that cit$ @Ish;0b0dA, pleaded with the Go"ernor on behalf of their m rderers, and as,ed for the mitigation of their sentence. *a,e, then, good heed, $e who are men of insight6 O Sha$,h6 *hese perspic o s "erses ha"e been sent down in one of the *ablets b$ the Abh0 Pen- '#ear,en, O ser"ant, nto the "oice of this Wronged One, Who hath end red grie"o s "e&ations and trials in the path of God, the 2ord of all 1ames, ntil s ch time as #e was cast into prison, in the 2and of *0 @ihr0nA. #e s mmoned men nto the most s blime Paradise, and $et the$ sei4ed #im and paraded #im thro gh cities and co ntries. #ow man$ the nights d ring which sl mber fled from the e$es of %$ lo"ed ones, beca se of their lo"e for %e8 and how n mero s the da$s whereon I had to face the assa lts of the peoples against %e6 At one time I fo nd %$self on the heights of mo ntains8 at another in the depths of the prison of *0 @ihr0nA, in chains and fetters. +$ the righteo sness of God6 I was at all times than,f l nto #im, ttering #is praise, engaged in remembering #im, directed towards #im, satisfied with #is pleas re, and lowl$ and s bmissi"e before #im. So passed %$ da$s, ntil the$ ended in this Prison @A,,0A which hath made the earth to tremble and the hea"ens to sigh. #app$ that one who hath cast awa$ his "ain imaginings, when #e Who was hid came with the standards of #is signs. We, "eril$, ha"e anno nced nto men this %ost Great ?e"elation, and $et the people are in a state of strange st por.( *here pon, a 7oice was raised from the direction of i<04, calling alo d and sa$ing- 'Great is th$ blessedness, O A,,0, in that God hath made thee the da$spring of #is %ost Sweet 7oice, and the dawn of #is most might$ signs. #app$ art tho in that the *hrone of F stice hath been established pon thee, and the 3a$star of God/s lo"ing-,indness and bo nt$ hath shone forth abo"e th$ hori4on. Well is it with e"er$ fair-minded person that hath < dged fairl$ #im Who is the %ost Great ?emembrance, and woe betide him that hath erred and do bted.( 9ollowing pon the death of some of the mart$rs, the 2aw-i-+ rh0n @*ablet of the ProofA was sent down from the hea"en of the ?e"elation of #im Who is the 2ord of ?eligions'#e is the Almight$, the All-!nowing, the All-Wise6 *he winds of hatred ha"e encompassed the Ar, of +ath0 @%eccaA, b$ reason of that which the hands of the oppressors ha"e wro ght. O tho who art rep ted for th$ learning6 *ho hast prono nced sentence against them for
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whom the boo,s of the world ha"e wept, and in whose fa"or the script res of all religions ha"e testified. *ho , who art gone far astra$, art indeed wrapt in a thic, "eil. +$ God #imself6 *ho hast prono nced < dgment against them thro gh whom the hori4on of faith hath been ill mined. 5nto this bear witness *he$ Who are the 3awning-Places of ?e"elation and the %anifestations of the )a se of th$ 2ord, the %ost %ercif l, Who ha"e sacrificed *heir so ls and all that *he$ possessed in #is straight Path. *he 9aith of God hath cried e"er$where, b$ reason of th$ t$rann$, and $et tho disportest th$self and art of them that e& lt. *here is no hatred in %ine heart for thee nor for an$one. E"er$ man of discernment beholdeth thee, and s ch as are li,e thee, eng lfed in e"ident foll$. #adst tho reali4ed that which tho hast done, tho wo ldst ha"e cast th$self into the fire, or abandoned thine home and fled nto the mo ntains, or wo ldst ha"e groaned ntil tho hadst ret rned nto the place destined for thee b$ #im Who is the 2ord of strength and of might. O tho who art e"en as nothing6 ?end tho as nder the "eils of idle fancies and "ain imaginings, that tho ma$est behold the 3a$star of ,nowledge shining from this resplendent #ori4on. *ho hast torn in pieces a remnant of the Prophet #imself, and imagined that tho hadst

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helped the 9aith of God. *h s hath th$ so l prompted thee, and tho art tr l$ one of the heedless. *hine act hath cons med the hearts of the )onco rse on high, and those of s ch as ha"e circled ro nd the )a se of God, the 2ord of the worlds. *he so l of the )haste One @90timihA melted, b$ reason of th$ cr elt$, and the inmates of Paradise wept sore in that blessed Spot. 'F dge tho fairl$, I ad< re thee b$ God. What proof did the Fewish doctors add ce wherewith to condemn #im Who was the Spirit of God @Fes s )hristA, when #e came nto them with tr th> What co ld ha"e been the e"idence prod ced b$ the Pharisees and the idolatro s priests to < stif$ their denial of % ammad, the Apostle of God when #e came nto them with a +oo, that < dged between tr th and falsehood with a < stice which t rned into light the dar,ness of the earth, and enrapt red the hearts of s ch as had ,nown #im> Indeed tho hast prod ced, in this da$, the same proofs which the foolish di"ines ad"anced in that age. 5nto this testifieth #e Who is the !ing of the realm of grace in this great Prison. *ho hast, tr l$, wal,ed in their wa$s, na$, hast s rpassed them in their cr elt$, and hast deemed th$self to be helping the 9aith and defending the 2aw of God, the All-!nowing, the All-Wise. +$ #im Who is the *r th6 *hine ini; it$ hath made Gabriel to groan, and hath drawn tears from the 2aw of God, thro gh which the bree4es of < stice ha"e been wafted o"er all who are in hea"en and on earth. #ast tho fondl$ imagined that the < dgment tho didst prono nce hath profited thee> 1a$, b$ #im Who is the !ing of all 1ames6 5nto th$ loss testifieth #e with Whom is the ,nowledge of all things as recorded in the preser"ed *ablet. 'O tho who hast gone astra$6 *ho hast neither seen %e, nor associated with %e, nor been %$ companion for the fraction of a moment. #ow is it, then, that tho hast bidden men to c rse %e> 3idst tho , in this, follow the promptings of thine own desires, or didst tho obe$ th$ 2ord> Prod ce tho a sign, if tho art one of the tr thf l. We testif$ that tho hast cast behind th$ bac, the 2aw of God, and laid hold on the dictates of th$ passions. 1othing, in tr th, escapeth #is ,nowledge8 #e, "eril$, is the Incomparable, the All-Informed. O heedless one6 #ear,en nto that which the %ercif l hath re"ealed in the . r/0n- CSa$ not to e"er$ one who meeteth $o with a greeting, '*ho art not a belie"er.(/ *h s hath #e decreed in Whose grasp are the ,ingdoms of ?e"elation and of creation, if tho be of them that hear,en. *ho hast set aside the commandment of God, and cl ng nto the promptings of thine own desire. Woe, then, nto thee, O careless one that do btest6 If tho deniest %e, b$ what proof canst tho "indicate the tr th of that which tho dost possess> Prod ce it, then, O tho who hast <oined partners with God, and t rned aside from #is so"ereignt$ that hath encompassed the worlds6 '!now tho that he is tr l$ learned who hath ac,nowledged %$ ?e"elation, and dr n, from the Ocean of %$ ,nowledge, and soared in the atmosphere of %$ lo"e, and cast awa$ all else besides %e, and ta,en firm hold on that which hath been sent down from the !ingdom of %$ wondro s tterance. #e, "eril$, is e"en as an e$e nto man,ind, and as the spirit of life nto the bod$ of all creation. Glorified be the All-%ercif l Who hath enlightened him, and ca sed him to arise and ser"e #is great and might$ )a se. 7eril$, s ch a man is blessed b$ the
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)onco rse on high, and b$ them who dwell within the *abernacle of Grande r, who ha"e ; affed %$ sealed Wine in %$ 1ame, the Omnipotent, the All-Powerf l. If tho be of them that occ p$ s ch a s blime station, prod ce then a sign from God, the )reator of the hea"ens. And sho ldst tho recogni4e th$ powerlessness, do tho rein in th$ passions, and ret rn nto th$ 2ord, that perchance #e ma$ forgi"e thee th$ sins which ha"e ca sed the lea"es of the 3i"ine 2ote-*ree to be b rnt p, and the ?oc, to cr$ o t, and the e$es of men of nderstanding to weep. +eca se of thee the 7eil of 3i"init$ was rent as nder, and the Ar, has fo ndered, and the She-)amel was hamstr ng, and the Spirit @Fes sA groaned in #is s blime retreat. 3isp test tho with #im Who hath come nto thee with the testimonies of God and #is signs which tho possessest and which are in the possession of them that dwell on earth> Open thine e$es that tho ma$est behold this Wronged One shining forth abo"e the hori4on of the will of God, the So"ereign, the *r th, the ?esplendent. 5nstop, then, the ear of thine heart that tho ma$est hear,en nto the speech of the 3i"ine 2ote-*ree that hath been raised p in tr th b$ God, the Almight$, the +eneficent. 7eril$, this *ree, notwithstanding the things that befell it b$ reason of th$ cr elt$ and of the transgressions of s ch as are li,e thee, calleth alo d and s mmoneth all men nto the Sadrat /l-% ntah0 and the S preme #ori4on. +lessed is the so l that hath ga4ed on the %ost %ight$ Sign, and the ear that hath heard #is most sweet 7oice, and woe to whosoe"er hath t rned aside and done wic,edl$. 'O tho who hast t rned awa$ from God6 Wert tho to loo, with the e$e of fairness pon the 3i"ine 2ote-*ree, tho wo ldst percei"e the mar,s of th$ sword on its bo ghs, and its branches, and its lea"es, notwithstanding that God created thee for the p rpose of recogni4ing and of ser"ing it. ?eflect, that hapl$ tho ma$est recogni4e thine ini; it$ and be n mbered with s ch as ha"e repented. *hin,est tho that We fear th$ cr elt$> !now tho and be well ass red that from the first da$ whereon the "oice of the %ost S blime Pen was raised betwi&t earth and hea"en We offered p O r so ls, and O r bodies, and O r sons, and O r possessions in the path of God, the E&alted, the Great, and We glor$ therein amongst all created things and the )onco rse on high. 5nto this testif$ the things which ha"e befallen 5s in this straight Path. +$ God6 O r hearts were cons med, and O r bodies were cr cified, and O r blood was spilt, while O r e$es were fi&ed on the hori4on of the lo"ing-,indness of their 2ord, the Witness, the All-Seeing. *he more grie"o s their woes, the greater wa&ed the lo"e of the people of +ah0. 5nto their sincerit$ hath borne witness what the All-%ercif l hath sent down in the . r/0n. #e saith- CWish $e, then, for death, if $e are sincere./ Who is to be preferred, he that hath sheltered himself behind c rtains, or he that hath offered himself in the path of God> F dge tho fairl$, and be not of them that ro"e distra ght in the wilderness of falsehood. So carried awa$ ha"e the$ been b$ the li"ing waters of the lo"e of the %ost %ercif l, that neither the arms of the world nor the swords of the nations ha"e deterred them from setting their faces towards the ocean of the bo nt$ of their 2ord, the Gi"er, the Genero s. '+$ God6 *ro bles ha"e failed to nner"e %e, and the rep diation of the di"ines hath been powerless to wea,en %e. I ha"e spo,en, and still spea, forth before the face of men- C*he door of grace hath been nloc,ed and #e Who is the 3a$spring of F stice is come with perspic o s signs and e"ident testimonies, from God, the 2ord of strength and of might6/ Present th$self before %e that tho ma$est hear the m$steries which were heard b$ the Son of CImr0n @%osesA pon the Sinai of Wisdom. *h s commandeth thee #e Who is the 3awning-Place of the ?e"elation of th$ 2ord, the God of %erc$, from #is great Prison.( *here pon hath the cr$ and the lamentation of the tr e 9aith been raised once again, sa$ing'7eril$, Sinai calleth alo d and saith- CO people of the +a$0n6 9ear $e the %ercif l. Indeed
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ha"e I attained nto #im Who con"ersed pon me, and the ecstasies of m$ <o$ ha"e sei4ed the pebbles of the earth and the d st thereof./ And the + sh e&claimeth- CO people of the +a$0n6 F dge $e fairl$ that which hath in tr th been manifested. 7eril$ the 9ire which God re"ealed nto the One Who con"ersed with #im is now manifested. 5nto this beareth witness e"er$ man of insight and nderstanding./( We ha"e made mention of certain mart$rs of this ?e"elation, and ha"e li,ewise cited some of the "erses which were sent down concerning them from the ,ingdom of O r tterance. We fain wo ld hope that, rid of all attachment to the world, tho wilt ponder the things which We ha"e mentioned. It behoo"eth thee now to reflect pon the state of %Lr40 #0dL 3awlat-Pb0dL and of S0d-iIf0h0nL @Sadr /l-C5lam0A, who reside in the 2and of *0 @ihr0nA. 1o sooner had the former heard that he had been called a +0bL than he became so pert rbed that his poise and dignit$ forsoo, him. #e ascended the p lpits and spo,e words which ill befitted him. 9rom time immemorial the cla$ clods of the world ha"e, wholl$ b$ reason of their lo"e of leadership, perpetrated s ch acts as ha"e ca sed men to err. *ho m st not, howe"er, imagine that all the faithf l are s ch as these two. We ha"e described nto thee the constanc$, the firmness, the steadfastness, the certit de, the impert rbabilit$ and the dignit$ of the mart$rs of this ?e"elation, that tho ma$est be well-informed. %$ p rpose in citing the passages from the *ablets to the ,ings and others hath been that tho ma$est ,now of a certaint$ that this Wronged One hath not concealed the )a se of God, b t hath proclaimed and deli"ered, in the most elo; ent lang age, before the face of the world, the things #e had been commissioned to set forth. )ertain faint-hearted ones, howe"er, s ch as #0dL and others, ha"e tampered with the )a se of God and ha"e, in their concern for this fleeting life, said and done that which ca sed the e$e of < stice to weep and the Pen of Glor$ to groan, notwithstanding their ignorance of the essentials of this )a se8 whereas this Wronged One hath re"ealed it for the sa,e of God. O #0dL6 *ho hast gone nto %$ brother and hast seen him. Set now th$ face towards the co rt of this Wronged One, that hapl$ the bree4es of ?e"elation and the breaths of inspiration ma$ assist thee and enable thee to attain th$ goal. Whoe"er ga4eth this da$ on %$ signs will disting ish tr th from falsehood as the s n from shadow, and will be made cogni4ant of the goal. God is aware and beareth %e witness that whate"er hath been mentioned was for the sa,e of God, that hapl$ tho ma$est be the ca se of the g idance of men, and ma$est deli"er the peoples of the world from idle fancies and "ain imaginings. Gracio s God6 5ntil now the$ that ha"e t rned aside and denied %e ha"e failed to recogni4e Who despatched that which was deli"ered nto the #eraldDthe Primal Point6 *he ,nowledge of it is with God, the 2ord of the worlds. E&ert th$self, O Sha$,h, and arise to ser"e this )a se. *he Sealed Wine is disclosed in this da$ before the faces of men. Sei4e it in the name of th$ 2ord, and ; aff th$ fill in remembrance of #im Who is the %ight$, the Incomparable. 1ight and da$ hath this Wronged One been occ pied in that which wo ld nite the hearts, and edif$ the so ls of men. *he e"ents that ha"e happened in Persia d ring the earl$ $ears ha"e tr l$ saddened the wellfa"ored and sincere ones. Each $ear witnessed a fresh massacre, pillage, pl nder, and shedding of blood. At one time there appeared in Oan<0n that which ca sed the greatest consternation8 at another in 1a$rL4, and at $et another in *abarsL, and finall$ there occ rred the episode of the 2and of *0 @ihr0nA. 9rom that time onwards this Wronged One, assisted b$ the One *r e GodDe&alted be #is glor$Dac; ainted this oppressed people with the
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things which beseemed them. All ha"e sanctified themsel"es from the things which the$ and others possess, and ha"e cl ng nto, and fi&ed their e$es pon that which pertaineth nto God. It is now inc mbent pon #is %a<est$ the Sh0hDma$ God, e&alted be #e, protect himDto deal with this people with lo"ing-,indness and merc$. *his Wronged One pledgeth #imself, before the 3i"ine !aaba, that, apart from tr thf lness and tr stworthiness, this people will show forth nothing that can in an$ wa$ conflict with the world-adorning "iews of #is %a<est$. E"er$ nation m st ha"e a high regard for the position of its so"ereign, m st be s bmissi"e nto him, m st carr$ o t his behests, and hold fast his a thorit$. *he so"ereigns of the earth ha"e been and are the manifestations of the power, the grande r and the ma<est$ of God. *his Wronged One hath at no time dealt deceitf ll$ with an$one. E"er$ one is well aware of this, and beareth witness nto it. ?egard for the ran, of so"ereigns is di"inel$ ordained, as is clearl$ attested b$ the words of the Prophets of God and #is chosen ones. #e Who is the Spirit @Fes sADma$ peace be pon #imDwas as,ed- 'O Spirit of God6 Is it lawf l to gi"e trib te to )aesar or not>( And #e made repl$- 'Gea, render to )aesar the things that are )aesar/s and to God the things that are God/s.( #e forbade it not. *hese two sa$ings are, in the estimation of men of insight, one and the same, for if that which belonged to )aesar had not come from God, #e wo ld ha"e forbidden it. And li,ewise in the sacred "erse- 'Obe$ God and obe$ the Apostle, and those among $o in"ested with a thorit$.( +$ 'those in"ested with a thorit$( is meant primaril$ and more especiall$ the Im0msDthe blessings of God rest pon them6 *he$, "eril$, are the manifestations of the power of God, and the so rces of #is a thorit$, and the repositories of #is ,nowledge, and the da$springs of #is commandments. Secondaril$ these words refer nto the ,ings and r lersDthose thro gh the brightness of whose < stice the hori4ons of the world are resplendent and l mino s. We fain wo ld hope that #is %a<est$ the Sh0h will shine forth with a light of < stice whose radiance will en"elop all the ,indreds of the earth. It is inc mbent pon e"er$ one to beseech the one tr e God on his behalf for that which is meet and seeml$ in this da$. O God, m$ God, and m$ %aster, and m$ %ainsta$, and m$ 3esire, and m$ +elo"ed6 I as, *hee b$ the m$steries which were hid in *h$ ,nowledge, and b$ the signs which ha"e diff sed the fragrance of *h$ lo"ing-,indness, and b$ the billows of the ocean of *h$ bo nt$, and b$ the hea"en of *h$ grace and generosit$, and b$ the blood spilt in *h$ path, and b$ the hearts cons med in their lo"e for *hee, to assist #is %a<est$ the Sh0h with *h$ power and *h$ so"ereignt$, that from him ma$ be manifested that which will e"erlastingl$ end re in *h$ +oo,s, and *h$ Script res, and *h$ *ablets. #old *ho his hand, O m$ 2ord, with the hand of *hine omnipotence, and ill minate him with the light of *h$ ,nowledge, and adorn him with the adornment of *h$ "irt es. Potent art *ho to do what pleaseth *hee, and in *h$ grasp are the reins of all created things. 1o God is there b t *hee, the E"er-9orgi"ing, the All-+o nteo s. In the Epistle to the ?omans Saint Pa l hath written- '2et e"er$ so l be s b<ect nto the higher powers. 9or there is no power b t of God8 the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoe"er therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God.( And f rther- '9or he is the minister of God, a re"enger to e&ec te wrath pon him that doeth e"il.( #e saith that the appearance of the ,ings, and their ma<est$ and power are of God. %oreo"er, in the traditions of old, references ha"e been made which the di"ines ha"e seen and heard. We beseech GodDblessed and glorified be #eDto aid thee, O Sha$,h, to la$ fast hold on that which hath been sent down from the hea"en of the bo nt$ of God, the 2ord of
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the worlds. *he di"ines m st needs nite with #is %a<est$, the Sh0h, and clea"e nto that which will ins re the protection, the sec rit$, the welfare and prosperit$ of men. A < st ,ing en<o$eth nearer access nto God than an$one. 5nto this testifieth #e Who spea,eth in #is %ost Great Prison. God6 *here is none other God b t #im, the One, the Incomparable, the Almight$, the All-!nowing, the All-Wise. Wert tho , for the sa,e of God, to ponder, tho gh it be b t for an ho r, pon the things which ha"e occ rred in former times and more recentl$, tho wo ldst t rn awa$ from the things tho dost possess nto the things which belong nto God, and wo ldst become a means for the e&altation of #is Word. #ath, from the fo ndation of the world ntil the present da$, an$ 2ight or ?e"elation shone forth from the da$spring of the will of God which the ,indreds of the earth ha"e accepted, and Whose )a se the$ ha"e ac,nowledged> Where is it to be fo nd, and what is its name> Since the Seal of the Prophets @% ammadADma$ all else b t #im be #is sacrificeDand before #im the Spirit of God @Fes sA, as far bac, as the 9irst %anifestation, all ha"e at the time of *heir appearance s ffered grie"o sl$. Some were held to be possessed, others were called impostors, and were treated in a manner that the pen is ashamed to describe. +$ God6 *here befell *hem what hath made all created things to sigh, and $et the people are, for the most part, s n, in manifest ignorance6 We pra$ God to assist them to ret rn nto #im, and to repent before the door of #is merc$. Potent is #e o"er all things. At this moment the shrill "oice of the %ost S blime Pen hath been raised, and hath addressed %e sa$ing- 'Admonish the Sha$,h e"en as *ho hast admonished one of *h$ +ranches @sonsA, that hapl$ the bree4es of *hine tterance ma$ attract and draw him nigh nto God, the 2ord of the worlds.( '+e genero s in prosperit$, and than,f l in ad"ersit$. +e worth$ of the tr st of th$ neighbor, and loo, pon him with a bright and friendl$ face. +e a treas re to the poor, an admonisher to the rich, an answerer to the cr$ of the need$, a preser"er of the sanctit$ of th$ pledge. +e fair in th$ < dgment, and g arded in th$ speech. +e n< st to no man, and show all mee,ness to all men. +e as a lamp nto them that wal, in dar,ness, a <o$ to the sorrowf l, a sea for the thirst$, a ha"en for the distressed, an pholder and defender of the "ictim of oppression. 2et integrit$ and prightness disting ish all thine acts. +e a home for the stranger, a balm to the s ffering, a tower of strength for the f giti"e. +e e$es to the blind, and a g iding light nto the feet of the erring. +e an ornament to the co ntenance of tr th, a crown to the brow of fidelit$, a pillar of the temple of righteo sness, a breath of life to the bod$ of man,ind, an ensign of the hosts of < stice, a l minar$ abo"e the hori4on of "irt e, a dew to the soil of the h man heart, an ar, on the ocean of ,nowledge, a s n in the hea"en of bo nt$, a gem on the diadem of wisdom, a shining light in the firmament of th$ generation, a fr it pon the tree of h milit$. We pra$ God to protect thee from the heat of <ealo s$ and the cold of hatred. #e "eril$ is nigh, read$ to answer.( *h s hath %$ tong e spo,en nto one of %$ +ranches @sonsA, and We ha"e mentioned it nto s ch of O r lo"ed ones as ha"e cast awa$ their idle fancies, and cl ng nto that which hath been prescribed nto them in the da$ whereon the 3a$star of )ertit de hath shone forth abo"e the hori4on of the will of God, the 2ord of the worlds. *his is the da$ on which the +ird of 5tterance hath warbled its melod$ pon the branches, in the name of its 2ord, the God of %erc$. +lessed is the man that hath, on the wings of longing, soared towards God, the 2ord of the F dgment 3a$. *he one tr e God well ,noweth, and all the compan$ of #is tr sted ones testif$, that this Wronged One hath, at all times, been faced with dire peril. + t for the trib lations that ha"e
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to ched %e in the path of God, life wo ld ha"e held no sweetness for %e, and %$ e&istence wo ld ha"e profited %e nothing. 9or them who are end ed with discernment, and whose e$es are fi&ed pon the S blime 7ision, it is no secret that I ha"e been, most of the da$s of %$ life, e"en as a sla"e, sitting nder a sword hanging on a thread, ,nowing not whether it wo ld fall soon or late pon him. And $et, notwithstanding all this We render than,s nto God, the 2ord of the worlds. %ine inner tong e reciteth, in the da$time and in the night-season, this pra$er- 'Glor$ to *hee, O m$ God6 + t for the trib lations which are s stained in *h$ path, how co ld *h$ tr e lo"ers be recogni4ed8 and were it not for the trials which are borne for lo"e of *hee, how co ld the station of s ch as $earn for *hee be re"ealed> *h$ might beareth %e witness6 *he companions of all who adore *hee are the tears the$ shed, and the comforters of s ch as see, *hee are the groans the$ tter, and the food of them who haste to meet *hee is the fragments of their bro,en hearts. #ow sweet to m$ taste is the bitterness of death s ffered in *h$ path, and how precio s in m$ estimation are the shafts of *hine enemies when enco ntered for the sa,e of the e&altation of *h$ Word6 2et me ; aff in *h$ )a se, O m$ God and m$ %aster, whatsoe"er *ho didst desire, and send down pon me in *h$ lo"e all *ho didst ordain. +$ *h$ glor$6 I wish onl$ what *ho wishest, and cherish what *ho cherishest. In *hee ha"e I, at all times, placed %$ whole tr st and confidence. *ho art "eril$ the All-Possessing, the %ost #igh. ?aise p, I implore *hee, O m$ God, as helpers to this ?e"elation s ch as shall be co nted worth$ of *h$ 1ame and of *h$ so"ereignt$, that the$ ma$ remember *hee among *h$ creat res, and hoist the ensigns of *h$ "ictor$ in *h$ land, and adorn them with *h$ "irt es and *h$ commandments. 1o God is there b t *hee, the #elp in Peril, the Self-S bsisting.( *here pon the "oice of the tr e 9aith was lifted p, calling alo d again and again and sa$ing'O conco rse of the earth6 +$ God6 I am the tr e 9aith of God amongst $o . +eware that $e den$ %e not. God hath manifested %e with a light that hath encompassed all that are in the hea"ens and all that are on earth. F dge $e e; itabl$, O people, %$ manifestation, and the re"elation of %$ glor$, and the radiance of %$ light, and be not of them that act n< stl$.( O Sha$,h6 *his Wronged One beseecheth GodDblessed and glorified be #eDto ma,e thee the one who will open the door of < stice, and re"eal thro gh thee #is )a se among #is ser"ants. #e, "eril$, is the All-Powerf l, the Almight$, the All-+o nteo s. O Sha$,h6 Entreat tho the one tr e God to sanctif$ the ears, and the e$es, and the hearts of man,ind, and to protect them from the desires of a corr pt inclination. 9or malice is a grie"o s malad$ which depri"eth man from recogni4ing the Great +eing, and debarreth him from the splendors of the s n of certit de. We pra$ and hope that thro gh the grace and merc$ of God #e ma$ remo"e this might$ obstacle. #e, "eril$, is the Potent, the AllS bd ing, the Almight$. At this moment a 7oice was raised from the right-hand of the 2 mino s Spot- 'God6 *here is none other God b t #im, the Ordainer, the All-Wise6 ?ecite *ho nto the Sha$,h the remaining passages of the 2aw-i-+ rh0n @*ablet of the ProofA that the$ ma$ draw him nto the hori4on of the ?e"elation of his 2ord, the God of %erc$, that hapl$ he ma$ arise to aid %$ )a se with perspic o s signs and e&alted testimonies, and ma$ spea, forth amongst men that which the *ong e of *estimon$ hath spo,en- C*he !ingdom is God/s, the 2ord of the worlds6/( 'Per se tho the !it0b-i-Q;0n @+oo, of )ertit deA and that which the All-%ercif l hath sent down nto the !ing of Paris @1apoleon IIIA and to s ch as are li,e him, that tho ma$est be
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made aware of the things that ha"e happened in the past, and be pers aded that We ha"e not so ght to spread disorder in the land after it had been well-ordered. We e&hort, wholl$ for the sa,e of God, #is ser"ants. 2et him who wisheth t rn nto #im, and him who wisheth t rn aside. O r 2ord, the %ercif l, is "eril$ the All-S fficing, the All-Praised. O conco rse of the ,indreds of the earth6 *his is the da$ whereon nothing amongst all things, nor an$ name amongst all names, can profit $o sa"e thro gh this 1ame which God hath made the %anifestation of #is )a se and the 3a$spring of #is %ost E&cellent *itles nto all who are in the ,ingdom of creation. +lessed is that man that hath recogni4ed the fragrance of the All%ercif l and been n mbered with the steadfast. Go r sciences shall not profit $o in this da$, nor $o r arts, nor $o r treas res, nor $o r glor$. )ast them all behind $o r bac,s, and set $o r faces towards the %ost S blime Word thro gh which the Script res and the +oo,s and this l cid *ablet ha"e been distinctl$ set forth. )ast awa$, O people, the things $e ha"e composed with the pen of $o r idle fancies and "ain imaginings. +$ God6 *he 3a$star of !nowledge hath shone forth abo"e the hori4on of certit de. 'O tho who art gone astra$6 If tho hast an$ do bt concerning O r cond ct, ,now tho that We bear witness nto that where nto God hath #imself borne witness ere the creation of the hea"ens and of the earth, that there is none other God b t #im, the Almight$, the All+o nteo s. We testif$ that #e is One in #is Essence, One in #is Attrib tes. #e hath none to e; al #im in the whole ni"erse, nor an$ partner in all creation. #e hath sent forth #is %essengers, and sent down #is +oo,s, that the$ ma$ anno nce nto #is creat res the Straight Path. '#ath the Sh0h been informed, and chosen to close his e$es to thine acts> Or hath he been sei4ed with fear at the howling of a pac, of wol"es who ha"e cast the path of God behind their bac,s and followed in th$ wa$ witho t an$ clear proof or +oo,> We ha"e heard that the pro"inces of Persia ha"e been adorned with the adornment of < stice. When We obser"ed closel$, howe"er, We fo nd them to be the dawning-places of t$rann$ and the da$springs of in< stice. We behold < stice in the cl tches of t$rann$. We beseech God to set it free thro gh the power of #is might and #is so"ereignt$. #e, "eril$, o"ershadoweth all that is in the hea"ens and on earth. *o none is gi"en the right to protest against an$ one concerning that which hath befallen the )a se of God. It behoo"eth whosoe"er hath set his face towards the %ost S blime #ori4on to clea"e tenacio sl$ nto the cord of patience, and to p t his reliance in God, the #elp in Peril, the 5nconstrained. O $e lo"ed ones of God6 3rin, $o r fill from the wellspring of wisdom, and soar $e in the atmosphere of wisdom, and spea, forth with wisdom and elo; ence. *h s biddeth $o $o r 2ord, the Almight$, the All-!nowing. 'O heedless one6 ?el$ not on th$ glor$, and th$ power. *ho art e"en as the last trace of s nlight pon the mo ntain-top. Soon will it fade awa$ as decreed b$ God, the AllPossessing, the %ost #igh. *h$ glor$ and the glor$ of s ch as are li,e thee ha"e been ta,en awa$, and this "eril$ is what hath been ordained b$ the One with Whom is the %other *ablet. Where is he to be fo nd who contended with God, and whither is gone he that gainsaid #is signs, and t rned aside from #is so"ereignt$> Where are the$ who ha"e slain #is chosen ones and spilt the blood of #is hol$ ones> ?eflect, that hapl$ tho ma$est percei"e the breaths of thine acts, O foolish do bter6 +eca se of $o the Apostle @% ammadA lamented, and the )haste One @90timihA cried o t, and the co ntries were laid waste, and dar,ness fell pon all regions. O conco rse of di"ines6 +eca se of $o the people were abased, and the banner of Isl0m was ha led down, and its might$ throne s b"erted. E"er$ time a man of discernment hath so ght to hold fast nto that which wo ld e&alt Isl0m, $e raised a clamor,

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and thereb$ was he deterred from achie"ing his p rpose, while the land remained fallen in clear r in. 'O %$ S preme Pen6 )all *ho to remembrance the She-Serpent @Im0m-F m/ih of If0h0nA whose cr elt$ hath ca sed all created things to groan, and the limbs of the hol$ ones to ; a,e. *h s biddeth *hee the 2ord of all names, in this glorio s station. *he )haste One @90timihA hath cried o t b$ reason of thine ini; it$, and $et tho dost imagine th$self to be of the famil$ of the Apostle of God6 *h s hath th$ so l prompted thee, O tho who hast withdrawn th$self from God, the 2ord of all that hath been and shall be. F dge tho e; itabl$, O She-Serpent6 9or what crime didst tho sting the children of the Apostle of God @!ing of %art$rs and +elo"ed of %art$rsA, and pillage their possessions> #ast tho denied #im Who created thee b$ #is command Cbe, and it was/> *ho hast dealt with the children of the Apostle of God as neither CPd hath dealt with #Jd, nor *h0mJd with 0li, nor the Fews with the Spirit of God @Fes sA, the 2ord of all being. Gainsa$est tho the signs of th$ 2ord which had no sooner

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been sent down from the hea"en of #is )a se than all the boo,s of the world bowed down before them> %editate, that tho ma$est be made aware of thine act, O heedless o tcast6 Erelong will the breaths of chastisement sei4e thee, as the$ sei4ed others before thee. Wait, O tho who hast <oined partners with God, the 2ord of the "isible and the in"isible. *his is the da$ which God hath anno nced thro gh the tong e of #is Apostle. ?eflect, that tho ma$est apprehend what the All-%ercif l hath sent down in the . r/0n and in this inscribed *ablet. *his is the da$ whereon #e Who is the 3a$spring of ?e"elation hath come with clear to,ens which none can n mber. *his is the da$ whereon e"er$ man end ed with perception hath disco"ered the fragrance of the bree4e of the All-%ercif l in the world of creation, and e"er$ man of insight hath hastened nto the li"ing waters of the merc$ of his 2ord, the !ing of !ings. O heedless one6 *he tale of the Sacrifice @IshmaelA hath been retold, and he who was to be offered p hath directed his steps towards the place of sacrifice, and ret rned not, b$ reason of that which th$ hand hath wro ght, O per"erse hater6 3idst tho imagine that mart$rdom co ld abase this )a se> 1a$, b$ #im Whom God hath made to be the ?epositor$ of #is ?e"elation, if tho be of them that comprehend. Woe betide thee, O tho who hast <oined partners with God, and woe betide them that ha"e ta,en thee as their leader, witho t a clear to,en or a perspic o s +oo,. #ow n mero s the oppressors before thee who ha"e arisen to ; ench the light of God, and how man$ the impio s who m rdered and pillaged ntil the hearts and so ls of men groaned b$ reason of their cr elt$6 *he s n of < stice hath been obsc red, inasm ch as the embodiment of t$rann$ hath been stablished pon the throne of hatred, and $et the people nderstand not. O foolish one6 *ho hast slain the children of the Apostle and pillaged their possessions. Sa$- Was it, in thine estimation, their possessions or themsel"es that denied God> F dge fairl$, O ignorant one that hath been sh t o t as b$ a "eil from God. *ho hast cl ng to t$rann$, and cast awa$ < stice8 where pon all created things ha"e lamented, and still tho art among the wa$ward. *ho hast p t to death the aged, and pl ndered the $o ng. *hin,est tho that tho wilt cons me that which thine ini; it$ hath amassed> 1a$, b$ %$self6 *h s informeth thee #e Who is cogni4ant of all. +$ God6 *he things tho possessest shall profit thee not, nor what tho hast laid p thro gh th$ cr elt$. 5nto this beareth witness th$ 2ord, the All-!nowing. *ho hast arisen to p t o t the light of this )a se8 erelong will thine own fire be ; enched, at #is behest. #e, "eril$, is the 2ord of strength and of might. *he changes and chances of the world, and the powers of the nations, cannot fr strate #im. #e doeth what #e pleaseth, and ordaineth what #e willeth thro gh the power of #is so"ereignt$. )onsider the she-camel. *ho gh b t a beast, $et hath the All%ercif l e&alted her to so high a station that the tong es of the earth made mention of her and celebrated her praise. #e, "eril$, o"ershadoweth all that is in the hea"ens and on earth. 1o God is there b t #im, the Almight$, the Great. *h s ha"e We adorned the hea"en of O r *ablet with the s ns of O r words. +lessed the man that hath attained there nto, and been ill mined with their light, and woe betide s ch as ha"e t rned aside, and denied #im, and stra$ed far from #im. Praised be God, the 2ord of the worlds6( O Sha$,h6 We ha"e enabled thee to hear the melodies of the 1ightingale of Paradise, and n"eiled to thine e$es the signs which God, b$ #is all-compelling behest, hath sent down in the %ost Great Prison, that thine e$e might be cheered, and th$ so l be well-ass red. #e, "eril$, is the All-+o nteo s, the Genero s. Arise tho thro gh the power of #is testimon$ to
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ser"e the )a se of God, th$ 2ord, the God of %erc$. If th$ faith be fearf l, sei4e tho %$ *ablet, and preser"e it in the bosom of tr st. And when tho enterest into the place of res rrection, and God as,eth thee b$ what proof tho hast belie"ed in this ?e"elation, draw forth the *ablet and sa$- '+$ this +oo,, the hol$, the might$, the incomparable.( *here pon all will lift p their hands towards thee, and will sei4e the *ablet, and will press it to their e$es, and will inhale therefrom the fragrance of the tterance of God, the 2ord of the worlds. Were God to torment thee for ha"ing belie"ed in #is signs in this ?e"elation, for what reason co ld #e then torment s ch as ha"e disbelie"ed in % ammad, the Apostle of God, and before #im in Fes s, the Son of %ar$, and before #im in the One Who con"ersed with God @%osesA, and before #im in the One Who is the 9riend of God @AbrahamA, and as far bac, as the One Who was the 9irst %anifestation, Who was created b$ the will of th$ 2ord, the Potent, the All-Encompassing. *h s ha"e We sent down O r "erses nto one before thee, and recalled them nto thee, in this da$, that tho ma$est nderstand, and be of them who are well ass red. O tho who ass mest the "oice of ,nowledge6 *his )a se is too e"ident to be obsc red, and too conspic o s to be concealed. It shineth as the s n in its meridian glor$. 1one can den$ it nless he be a hater and a do bter. At this moment it behoo"eth s to t rn nto the 3esired One, and clea"e nto these most s blime words- 'O God, m$ God6 *ho hast lighted the lamp of *h$ )a se with the oil of wisdom8 protect it from contrar$ winds. *he lamp is *hine, and the glass is *hine, and all things in the hea"ens and on earth are in the grasp of *h$ power. +estow < stice pon the r lers, and fairness pon the di"ines. *ho art the All-Powerf l, Who, thro gh the motion of *h$ Pen, hast aided *hine irresistible )a se, and g ided aright *h$ lo"ed ones. *ho art the Possessor of power, and the !ing of might. 1o God is there b t *hee, the Strong, the 5nconstrained.( Sa$ tho also- 'O God, m$ God6 I $ield *hee than,s inasm ch as *ho hast made me to drin, of *h$ Sealed Wine from the hand of the bo nt$ of *h$ 1ame, the SelfS bsisting. I entreat *hee b$ the splendors of the 3a$spring of *h$ ?e"elation, and b$ the potenc$ of *h$ %ost S blime Word, and b$ the might of *h$ %ost E&alted Pen, thro gh Whose mo"ement the realities of all created things ha"e been enrapt red, to aid #is %a<est$ the Sh0h to render *h$ )a se "ictorio s, and to t rn towards the hori4on of *h$ ?e"elation, and to set his face in the direction of the lights of *h$ co ntenance. Assist him, O m$ 2ord, to draw nigh nto *hee. #elp him, then, with the hosts of the hea"ens and of earth. I implore *hee, O *ho Who art the 2ord of all 1ames and the %a,er of the hea"ens, b$ the light of *h$ )a se, and b$ the fire of the 2ote-*ree of *h$ lo"ing-,indness, to help #is %a<est$ to re"eal *h$ )a se amidst *h$ creat res. Open, then, before his face the doors of *h$ grace, and *h$ merc$, and *h$ bo nt$. Potent art *ho to do what pleaseth *hee b$ *h$ word- C+e, and it is./( O Sha$,h6 We had sei4ed the reins of a thorit$ b$ the power of God and #is 3i"ine might, as #e alone can sei4e, Who is the %ight$, the Strong. 1one had the power to stir p mischief or sedition. 1ow, howe"er, as the$ ha"e failed to appreciate this lo"ing-,indness and these bo nties, the$ ha"e been, and will be, afflicted with the retrib tion which their acts m st entail. *he State officials, considering the secret progress of the E&tended )ord ha"e, from e"er$ direction, incited and aided %ine ad"ersaries. In the Great )it$ @)onstantinopleA the$ ha"e ro sed a considerable n mber of people to oppose this Wronged One. *hings ha"e come to s ch a pass that the officials in that cit$ ha"e acted in a manner which hath bro ght shame to both the go"ernment and the people. A disting ished si$$id, whose well-,nown integrit$, acceptable cond ct, and commercial rep tation, were recogni4ed b$ the ma<orit$ of fairminded men, and who was regarded b$ all as a highl$ honored merchant, once "isited +eir t. In "iew of his friendship for this Wronged One the$ telegraphed the Persian 3ragoman
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informing him that this si$$id, assisted b$ his ser"ant, had stolen a s m of mone$ and other things and gone to A,,0. *heir design in this matter was to dishonor this Wronged One. And $et, far be it from the people of this co ntr$ to allow themsel"es to be deflected, b$ these nseeml$ tales, from the straight path of prightness and tr th. +riefl$, the$ ha"e assa lted %e from e"er$ side, and are reinforcing %ine ad"ersaries. *his Wronged One, howe"er, beseecheth the one tr e God to gracio sl$ assist e"er$ one in that which beseemeth these da$s. 3a$ and night I fi& %$ ga4e on these perspic o s words, and recite- 'O God, m$ God6 I beseech *hee b$ the s n of *h$ grace, and the sea of *h$ ,nowledge, and the hea"en of *h$ < stice, to aid them that ha"e denied *hee to confess, and s ch as ha"e t rned aside from *hee to ret rn, and those who ha"e cal mniated *hee to be < st and fair-minded. Assist them, O m$ 2ord, to ret rn nto *hee, and to repent before the door of *h$ grace. Powerf l art *ho to do what *ho willest, and in *h$ grasp are the reins of all that is in the hea"ens and all that is on earth. Praise be nto God, the 2ord of the worlds.( *he time is at hand when whatsoe"er lieth hid in the so ls and hearts of men will be disclosed. *his 3a$ is the 3a$ whereof 2 ;m0n spo,e nto his son, the 3a$ which the 2ord of Glor$ anno nced and with which #e ac; ainted #im Who was #is 9riend @% ammadA thro gh these, #is wordsDe&alted be #e-D'O m$ son6 7eril$, God will bring e"er$thing to light, tho gh it were b t the weight of a grain of m stard-seed, and hidden in a roc, or in the hea"ens or in the earth8 for God is S btile, informed of all.( *his 3a$ the deceitf l of e$e, and all that men/s breasts conceal, are made ,nown and laid bare before the throne of #is ?e"elation. 1othing whatsoe"er can escape #is ,nowledge. #e heareth and seeth, and #e, in tr th, is the All-#earing, the All-Seeing. #ow "er$ strange that the$ discern not between the tr stworth$ and the treachero s6 Wo ld that #is %a<est$ the Sh0h of PersiaDma$ God perpet ate his so"ereignt$Dwo ld in; ire from the )ons ls of the honored Persian Go"ernment who ha"e been in this co ntr$, that he might become ac; ainted with the acti"ities and beha"ior of this Wronged One. +riefl$, the$ ha"e incited a great man$ s ch as A,htar and others, and are b s$ing themsel"es in spreading cal mnies. It is clear and e"ident that the$ will s rro nd with their swords of hatred and their shafts of enmit$ the one whom the$ ,now to be an o tcast among men and to ha"e been banished from one co ntr$ to another. *his is not the first time that s ch ini; it$ hath been perpetrated, nor the first goblet that hath been dashed to the gro nd, nor the first "eil that hath been rent in twain in the path of God, the 2ord of the worlds. *his Wronged One, howe"er, remained calm and silent in the %ost Great Prison, b s$ing #imself with #is own affairs, and completel$ detached from all else b t God. Ini; it$ wa&ed so grie"o s that the pens of the world are powerless to record it. In this connection it is necessar$ to mention the following occ rrence, that hapl$ men ma$ ta,e fast hold of the cord of < stice and tr thf lness. 0<L Sha$,h % ammad CAlLD pon him be the glor$ of God, the E"er-AbidingDwas a merchant of high rep te, well-,nown nto most of the inhabitants of the Great )it$ @)onstantinopleA. 1ot long ago, when the Persian Embass$ in )onstantinople was secretl$ engaged in stirring p mischief, it was noticed that this belie"ing and sincere so l was greatl$ distressed. 9inall$, one night he threw himself into the sea, b t was resc ed b$ some passers-b$ who chanced to come pon him at that moment. #is act was widel$ commented pon and gi"en "aried interpretations b$ different people. 9ollowing this, one night he repaired to a mos; e, and, as reported b$ the g ardian of that place, ,ept "igil the whole night, and was occ pied ntil the morning in offering, ardentl$ and with tearf l e$es, his pra$ers and s pplications. 5pon hearing him s ddenl$ cease his de"otions, the g ardian went to him, and fo nd that he had alread$ s rrendered his so l. An
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empt$ bottle was fo nd b$ his side, indicating that he had poisoned himself. +riefl$, the g ardian, while greatl$ astonished, bro,e the news to the people. It was fo nd o t that he had left two testaments. In the first he recogni4ed and confessed the nit$ of God, that #is E&alted +eing had neither peer nor e; al, and that #is Essence was e&alted abo"e all praise, all glorification and description. #e also testified to the ?e"elation of the Prophets and the hol$ ones, and recogni4ed what had been written down in the +oo,s of God, the 2ord of all men. On another page, in which he had set down a pra$er, he wrote these words in concl sion- '*his ser"ant and the lo"ed ones of God are perple&ed. On the one hand the Pen of the %ost #igh hath forbidden all men to engage in sedition, contention or conflict, and on the other that same Pen hath sent down these most s blime words- CSho ld an$one, in the presence of the %anifestation, disco"er an e"il intention on the part of an$ so l, he m st not oppose him, b t m st lea"e him to God./ )onsidering that on the one hand this binding command is clear and firml$ established, and that on the other cal mnies, be$ond h man strength to bear or end re, ha"e been ttered, this ser"ant hath chosen to commit this most grie"o s sin. I t rn s ppliantl$ nto the ocean of God/s bo nt$ and the hea"en of 3i"ine merc$, and hope that #e will blot o t with the pen of #is grace and bo nteo sness the misdeeds of this ser"ant. *ho gh m$ transgressions be manifold, and nn mbered m$ e"ildoings, $et do I clea"e tenacio sl$ to the cord of #is bo nt$, and cling nto the hem of #is generosit$. God is witness, and the$ that are nigh nto #is *hreshold ,now f ll well, that this ser"ant co ld not bear to hear the tales related b$ the perfidio s. I, therefore, ha"e committed this act. If #e chastise me, #e "eril$ is to be praised for what #e doeth8 and if #e forgi"e me, #is behest shall be obe$ed.( Ponder, now, O Sha$,h, the infl ence of the word of God, that hapl$ tho ma$est t rn from the left hand of idle fanc$ nto the right hand of certit de. *his Wronged One hath ne"er acted h$pocriticall$ towards an$ one, in the )a se of God, and hath lo dl$ proclaimed the Word of God before the face of #is creat res. 2et him who wisheth t rn there nto, and let him who wisheth t rn aside. If these things, howe"er, that are so clear, so manifest and ind bitable, be denied, what else can be deemed acceptable and worth$ of credence in the estimation of men of insight> We beseech GodDblessed and glorified be #eDto forgi"e the aforementioned person @0<L Sha$,h % ammad-CAlLA, and change his e"il deeds into good ones. #e, "eril$, is the All-Powerf l, the Almight$, the All-+o nteo s. S ch things ha"e appeared in this ?e"elation that there is no reco rse for either the e&ponents of science and ,nowledge or the manifestations of < stice and e; it$ other than to recogni4e them. It is inc mbent pon thee, in this da$, to arise with celestial power and dissipate, with the aid of ,nowledge, the do bts of the peoples of the world, so that all men ma$ be sanctified, and direct their steps towards the %ost Great Ocean and clea"e fast nto that which God hath p rposed. E"er$ one who hath t rned aside from %e hath cl ng to his own idle words, and therewith "oiced his ob<ections to #im Who is the *r th. Gracio s God6 S ch references as ha"e been made to 3i"init$ and Godhead b$ the hol$ ones and chosen ones of God ha"e been made a ca se for denial and rep diation. *he Im0m 0di; hath said- 'Ser"it de is a s bstance, the essence of which is 3i"init$.( *he )ommander of the 9aithf l @Im0m CAlLA answered an Arab, who had ; estioned him concerning the so l, as follows- '*he third is the so l which is di"ine and celestial. It is a di"ine energ$, a s bstance, simple, and self-s bsistent.( And f rther heDpeace be pon himDsaid- '*herefore it is the %ost S blime Essence of God, the *ree of +lessedness, the 2ote-*ree be$ond which there is no passing, the Garden of ?epose.( *he Im0m 0di; hath said- 'When o r .0/im will arise, the earth will shine with the light of
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her 2ord.( 2i,ewise, a length$ tradition is attrib ted to PbL-CAbdi/ll0hDpeace be pon him Din which these s blime words are fo nd- '*here pon will #e Who is the All-)ompellingD e&alted and glorified be #eDdescend from the clo ds with the angels.( And in the might$ . r/0n- 'What can s ch e&pect b t that God sho ld come down to them o"ershadowed with clo ds>( And in the tradition of % fadd0l it is said- '*he .0/im will lean #is bac, against the Sanct ar$, and will stretch forth #is hand, and lo, it shall be snow-white b t nh rt. And #e shall sa$- C*his is the hand of God, the right hand of God, that cometh from God, at the command of God6/( In whiche"er manner these traditions are interpreted, in that same manner let them also interpret that which the %ost S blime Pen hath set down. *he )ommander of the 9aithf l @Im0m CAlLA hath said- 'I am #e Who can neither be named, nor described.( And li,ewise #e hath said- 'O twardl$ I am an Im0m8 inwardl$ I am the 5nseen, the 5n,nowable.( AbJ-Fa/far-i-*JsL hath said- 'I said to PbL CAbdi/ll0h- CGo are the Wa$ mentioned in the +oo, of God, and $o are the Impost, and $o are the Pilgrimage./ #e replied- CO man6 We are the Wa$ mentioned in the +oo, of God,De&alted and glorified be #eDand We are the Impost, and We are the 9ast, and We are the Pilgrimage, and We are the Sacred %onth, and We are the Sacred )it$, and We are the !aaba of God, and We are the .iblih of God, and We are the 9ace of God./( FabLr hath said that AbJ-Fa/farDpeace be pon himDspo,e to him as follows- 'O FabLr6 Gi"e heed nto the +a$0n @E&positionA and the %0/0nL @SignificancesA.( #eDpeace be pon himDadded- 'As to the +a$0n, it consisteth in th$ recognition of GodDglorified be #eDas the One Who hath no e; al, and in th$ adoration of #im, and in th$ ref sal to <oin partners with #im. As to the %0/0nL, We are its meaning, and its side, and its hand, and its tong e, and its ca se, and its command, and its ,nowledge, and its right. If We wish for something, it is God Who wisheth it, and #e desireth that which We desire.( %oreo"er, the )ommander of the 9aithf l @Im0m CAlLADpeace be pon himDhath said- '#ow can I worship a 2ord Whom I ha"e not seen>( And, in another connection, he saith- '1othing ha"e I percei"ed e&cept that I percei"ed God before it, God after it, or God with it.( O Sha$,h6 Ponder pon the things which ha"e been mentioned, perchance tho ma$est ; aff the Sealed Wine thro gh the power of the name of #im Who is the Self-S bsisting, and obtain that which no one is capable of comprehending. Gird p the loins of endea"or, and direct th$self towards the %ost S blime !ingdom, that hapl$ tho ma$est percei"e, as the$ descend pon %e, the breaths of ?e"elation and inspiration, and attain there nto. 7eril$, I sa$- *he )a se of God hath ne"er had, nor hath it now, an$ peer or e; al. ?end as nder the "eils of idle fancies. #e, in tr th, will reinforce thee, and assist thee, as a to,en of #is grace. #e, "eril$, is the Strong, the All-S bd ing, the Almight$. While there is $et time, and the blessed 2ote-*ree is still calling alo d amongst men, s ffer not th$self to be depri"ed. Place th$ tr st in God, and commit thine affairs nto #im, and enter then the %ost Great Prison, that tho ma$est hear what no ear hath e"er heard, and ga4e on that which no e$e hath e"er seen. After s ch an e&position, can there remain an$ room for do bt> 1a$, b$ God, Who standeth o"er #is )a se6 In tr th I sa$- On this da$ the blessed words '+ t #e is the Apostle of God, and the Seal of the Prophets( ha"e fo nd their cons mmation in the "erse '*he da$ when man,ind shall stand before the 2ord of the worlds.( ?ender tho than,sgi"ing nto God, for so great a bo nt$. O Sha$,h6 *he bree4es of ?e"elation can ne"er be confo nded with other bree4es. 1ow the 2ote-*ree be$ond which there is no passing standeth laden with co ntless fr its before th$ face8 besmirch not th$self with idle fancies, as ha"e done the people aforetime. *hese tterances themsel"es proclaim the tr e nat re of the 9aith of God. #e it is Who witnesseth nto all things. *o demonstrate the tr th of #is ?e"elation #e hath not been, nor is #e,
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dependent pon an$ one. Well nigh a h ndred "ol mes of l mino s "erses and perspic o s words ha"e alread$ been sent down from the hea"en of the will of #im Who is the ?e"ealer of signs, and are a"ailable nto all. It is for thee to direct th$self towards the 5ltimate Goal, and the S preme End, and the %ost S blime Pinnacle, that tho ma$est hear and behold what hath been re"ealed b$ God, the 2ord of the worlds. Ponder a while pon the "erses concerning the 3i"ine Presence, which ha"e been sent down in the . r/0n b$ #im Who is the 2ord of the ,ingdom of names, perchance tho ma$est disco"er the Straight Path, and be made an instr ment for the g idance of #is creat res. S ch a one as tho m st needs in this da$ arise to ser"e this )a se. *he abasement of this Wronged One as well as th$ glor$ shall both pass awa$. Stri"e tho , that hapl$ tho ma$est achie"e a deed the fragrance of which shall ne"er fade from the earth. )oncerning the 3i"ine Presence there hath been sent down what no denier hath been or is now able to ref te or rep diate. #e Dblessed and e&alted be #eDsaith- 'It is God Who hath reared the hea"ens witho t pillars tho canst behold8 then mo nted #is throne, and imposed laws on the s n and moon- each tra"eleth to its appointed goal. #e ordereth all things. #e ma,eth #is signs clear, that $e ma$ ha"e firm faith in the Presence of $o r 2ord.( #e also saith- '*o him who hopeth to attain the Presence of God, the set time of God will s rel$ come. And #e is the #earer, the !nower.( And f rther #eDe&alted be #eDsaith- 'As for those who belie"e not in the signs of God, or that the$ shall e"er attain #is Presence, these of %$ merc$ shall despair, and these doth a grie"o s chastisement await.( And li,ewise #e saith- 'And the$ sa$, CWhat6 when we shall ha"e lain hidden in the earth, shall we become a new creation>/ Gea, the$ den$ that the$ shall attain the Presence of their 2ord.( And li,ewise #e saith- '*he$ tr l$ do bt the Presence of their 2ord. #e, "eril$, o"ershadoweth all things.( And li,ewise #e saith- '7eril$, the$ who hope not to attain O r Presence, and find their satisfaction in this world/s life, and rest on it, and who of O r signs are heedlessDthese6 their abode the fire, in recompense of their deeds6( And li,ewise #e saith- '+ t when O r clear signs are recited to them, the$ who loo, not forward to attain O r Presence, sa$, C+ring a different . r/0n from this, or ma,e some change in it./ Sa$- It is not for %e to change it as %ine own so l prompteth. I follow onl$ what is re"ealed to %e- "eril$, I fear, if I rebel against %$ 2ord, the p nishment of a great da$.( And li,ewise #e saith- '*hen ga"e We the +oo, to %osesDcomplete for #im who sho ld do right, and a decision for all matters, and a g idance, and a merc$, that the$ might belie"e in the Presence of their 2ord.( And li,ewise he saith- '*he$ are those who belie"e not in the signs of the 2ord, or that the$ shall e"er attain #is Presence. 7ain, therefore, are their wor,s8 and no weight will We allow them on the 3a$ of ?es rrection. *his shall be their rewardD#ell. +eca se the$ were nbelie"ers, and treated %$ signs and %$ Apostles with scorn.( And li,ewise #e saith- '#ath the histor$ of %oses reached thee> When #e saw a fire, and said to #is famil$, C*arr$ $e here, for I percei"e a fire8 hapl$ I ma$ bring $o a brand from it, or find at the fire a g ide./ And when #e came to it, #e was called to, CO %oses6 7eril$, I am *h$ 2ord8 therefore p ll off *h$ shoes, for *ho art in the hol$ "ale of *owa. And I ha"e chosen *hee8 hear,en then to what shall be re"ealed. 7eril$, I am God, there is no God b t %e. *herefore, worship %e./( And li,ewise #e saith- '#a"e the$ not considered within themsel"es that God hath not created the hea"ens and the earth and all that is between them b t for a serio s end, and for a fi&ed term> + t tr l$ most men belie"e not that the$ shall attain the Presence of their 2ord.( And li,ewise #e saith- 'What6 #a"e the$ no tho ght that the$ shall be raised again for the Great 3a$, the 3a$ when man,ind shall stand before the 2ord of the worlds>( And li,ewise #e saith- 'We heretofore ga"e the +oo, to %oses. #a"e tho no do bt as to #is attaining O r Presence.( And #e saith- 'A$e6 + t when the earth shall be cr shed with cr shing, cr shing, and th$ 2ord shall come and the angels ran, on ran,.( And li,ewise #e saith- '9ain wo ld the$ p t o t the light of God with their mo ths6
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+ t tho gh the infidels hate it, God will perfect #is light.( And li,ewise #e saith- 'And when %oses had f lfilled the term, and was <o rne$ing with #is famil$, #e percei"ed a fire on the mo ntain side. #e said to #is famil$- CWait $e, for I percei"e a fire, hapl$ I ma$ bring $o tidings from it, or a brand from the fire to warm $o ./ And when #e came p to it, a 7oice cried to #im o t of the + sh from the right side of the 7ale in the sacred Spot- CO %oses, I tr l$ am God, the 2ord of the worlds6/( In all the 3i"ine +oo,s the promise of the 3i"ine Presence hath been e&plicitl$ recorded. +$ this Presence is meant the Presence of #im Who is the 3a$spring of the signs, and the 3awning-Place of the clear to,ens, and the %anifestation of the E&cellent 1ames, and the So rce of the attrib tes, of the tr e God, e&alted be #is glor$. God in #is Essence and in #is own Self hath e"er been nseen, inaccessible, and n,nowable. +$ Presence, therefore, is meant the Presence of the One Who is #is 7icegerent amongst men. #e, moreo"er, hath ne"er had, nor hath #e, an$ peer or li,eness. 9or were #e to ha"e an$ peer or li,eness, how co ld it then be demonstrated that #is being is e&alted abo"e, and #is essence sanctified from, all comparison and li,eness> +riefl$, there hath been re"ealed in the !it0b-i-Q;0n @+oo, of )ertit deA concerning the Presence and ?e"elation of God that which will s ffice the fair-minded. We beseech #imDe&alted be #eDto aid e"er$ one to become the essence of tr thf lness, and to draw nigh nto #im. #e, "eril$, is the 2ord of strength and power. 1o God is there b t #im, the All-#earing, the 2ord of 5tterance, the Almight$, the All-Praised. O tho who art rep ted for th$ learning6 +id men to do that which is praiseworth$, and be not of s ch as tarr$. Obser"e tho with a ,een e$e. *he S n of *r th shineth resplendentl$, at the bidding of the 2ord of the ,ingdom of tterance, and the !ing of the hea"en of ,nowledge, abo"e the hori4on of the prison-cit$ of A,,0. ?ep diation hath not "eiled it, and ten tho sand hosts arra$ed against it were powerless to withhold it from shining. *ho canst e&c se th$self no longer. Either tho m st recogni4e it, orDGod forbidDarise and den$ all the Prophets6 ?eflect, O Sha$,h, pon the ShL/ih sect. #ow man$ the edifices which the$ reared with the hands of idle fancies and "ain imaginings, and how n mero s the cities which the$ b ilt6 At length those "ain imaginings were con"erted into b llets and aimed at #im Who is the Prince of the world. 1ot one single so l among the leaders of that sect ac,nowledged #im in the 3a$ of #is ?e"elation6 Whene"er #is blessed name was mentioned, all wo ld sa$- '%a$ God hasten the <o$ #is coming will bring6( On the da$ of the ?e"elation of that S n of *r th, howe"er, all, as hath been obser"ed, ha"e e&claimed, sa$ing- '%a$ God hasten #is chastisement6( #e Who was the Essence of being and 2ord of the seen and nseen the$ s spended, and committed what made the *ablet to weep, and the Pen to groan, and the cries of the sincere to brea, forth, and the tears of the fa"ored ones to flow. %editate, O Sha$,h, and be fair in what tho sa$est. *he followers of Sha$,h-i-Ahs0/L @Sha$,h AmadA ha"e, b$ the aid of God, apprehended that which was "eiled from the comprehension of others, and of which the$ remained depri"ed. +riefl$, in e"er$ age and cent r$ differences ha"e arisen in the da$s of the manifestation of the 3a$springs of ?e"elation, and the 3awning-Places of inspiration, and the ?epositories of 3i"ine ,nowledge, differences which ha"e been ca sed and pro"o,ed b$ l$ing and impio s so ls. *o e&patiate on this is not permissible. *ho art th$self better ac; ainted and more familiar with the idle fancies of the s perstitio s and the "ain imaginings of the do bters. In this da$, this Wronged One re; esteth thee and the other di"ines who ha"e dr n, of the c p of the
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[Pages 121140]
,nowledge of God, and are ill mined b$ the shining words of the 3a$star of F stice, to appoint some person, witho t informing an$ one, and despatch him to these regions, and enable him to remain a while in the island of )$pr s, and associate with %Lr40 Ga$0, perchance he ma$ become aware of the f ndamentals of this 9aith and of the so rce of the 3i"ine laws and commandments. Wert tho to ponder a while, tho wo ldst bear witness nto the wisdom, and the power, and the so"ereignt$ of God, e&alted be #is glor$. *he few who were naware of this )a se, and had not met 5s, ha"e spo,en in s ch a manner that all things, and those so ls who are well ass red, pleased, and pleasing nto God, ha"e testified nto the impost re of these heedless ones. Wert tho now to e&ert th$self, the tr th of this )a se wo ld be made apparent nto man,ind, and the people wo ld be deli"ered from this grie"o s and oppressi"e dar,ness. Who else b t +ah0 can spea, forth before the face of men, and who else b t #e can ha"e the power to prono nce that which #e was bidden b$ God, the 2ord of #osts> *his heedless one hath now cl ng to the practice of ?awdih-,h0nL @traditional lamentation for the Im0m sa$nA. #eDI swear b$ GodDis in e"ident error. 9or it is the belief of this people that d ring the ?e"elation of the .0/im, the Im0msDma$ the peace of God be pon themD ha"e arisen from their sep lchres. *his "eril$ is the tr th, and no do bt is there abo t it. We beseech God to bestow pon the s perstitio s a portion of the li"ing waters of certit de which are streaming from the wellspring of the %ost S blime Pen, that all ma$ attain nto that which becometh these da$s. O Sha$,h6 While hemmed in b$ trib lations this Wronged One is occ pied in setting down these words. On e"er$ side the flame of oppression and t$rann$ can be discerned. On the one hand, tidings ha"e reached 5s that O r lo"ed ones ha"e been arrested in the land of *0 @ihr0nA and this notwithstanding that the s n, and the moon, and the land, and the sea all testif$ that this people are adorned with the adornment of fidelit$, and ha"e cl ng and will cling to na ght e&cept that which can ens re the e&altation of the go"ernment, and the maintenance of order within the nation, and the tran; illit$ of the people. O Sha$,h6 We ha"e time and again stated that for a n mber of $ears We ha"e e&tended O r aid nto #is %a<est$ the Sh0h. 9or $ears no ntoward incident hath occ rred in Persia. *he reins of the stirrers of sedition among "ario s sects were held firml$ in the grasp of power. 1one hath transgressed his limits. +$ God6 *his people ha"e ne"er been, nor are the$ now, inclined to mischief. *heir hearts are ill mined with the light of the fear of God, and adorned with the adornment of #is lo"e. *heir concern hath e"er been and now is for the betterment of the world. *heir p rpose is to obliterate differences, and ; ench the flame of hatred and enmit$, so that the whole earth ma$ come to be "iewed as one co ntr$. On the other hand, the officials of the Persian Embass$ in the Great )it$ @)onstantinopleA are energeticall$ and assid o sl$ see,ing to e&terminate these wronged ones. *he$ desire one thing, and God desireth another. )onsider now what hath befallen the tr sted ones of God in e"er$ land. At one time the$ ha"e been acc sed of theft and larcen$8 at another the$ ha"e
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been cal mniated in a manner witho t parallel in this world. Answer tho fairl$. What co ld be the res lts and conse; ences, in foreign co ntries, of the acc sation of theft bro ght b$ the Persian Embass$ against its own s b<ects> If this Wronged One was ashamed, it was not beca se of the h miliation it bro ght this ser"ant, b t rather beca se of the shame of its becoming ,nown to the Ambassadors of foreign co ntries how incompetent and lac,ing in nderstanding are se"eral eminent officials of the Persian Embass$. '9lingest tho th$ cal mnies into the face of *hem Whom the one tr e God hath made the *r stees of the treas res of #is se"enth sphere>( +riefl$, instead of see,ing, as the$ sho ld, thro gh #im Who occ pieth this s blime station, to attain nto the most e&alted ran,s, and to obtain #is ad"ice, the$ ha"e e&erted themsel"es and are stri"ing their tmost to p t o t #is light. #owe"er, according to what hath been reported, #is E&cellenc$ the Ambassador % /Ln /l% l,, %Lr40 % sin !h0nDma$ God assist himDwas, at that time, absent from )onstantinople. S ch things ha"e happened beca se it was belie"ed that #is %a<est$ the Sh0h of PersiaDma$ the All-%ercif l assist himDwas angr$ with them that ha"e attained and re"ol"e ro nd the Sanct ar$ of Wisdom. God well ,noweth and testifieth that this Wronged One hath, at all times, been clea"ing fast nto whate"er wo ld be cond ci"e to the glor$ of both the go"ernment and the people. God, "eril$, is s fficient Witness. 3escribing the people of +ah0, the %ost S blime Pen hath sent down these words- '*hese, "eril$, are men who if the$ come to cities of p re gold will consider them not8 and if the$ meet the fairest and most comel$ of women will t rn aside.( *h s hath it been sent down b$ the %ost S blime Pen for the people of +ah0, on the part of #im Who is the )o nsellor, the Omniscient. In the concl ding passages of the *ablet to #is %a<est$ the Emperor of Paris @1apoleon IIIA these e&alted words ha"e been re"ealed- 'E& ltest tho o"er the treas res tho dost possess, ,nowing the$ shall perish> ?e<oicest tho in that tho r lest a span of earth, when the whole world, in the estimation of the people of +ah0, is worth as m ch as the blac, in the e$e of a dead ant> Abandon it nto s ch as ha"e set their affections pon it, and t rn tho nto #im Who is the 3esire of the world.( God aloneDe&alted be #is glor$Dis cogni4ant of the things which befell this Wronged One. E"er$ da$ bringeth a fresh report of stories c rrent against 5s at the Embass$ in )onstantinople. Gracio s God6 *he sole aim of their machinations is to bring abo t the e&termination of this ser"ant. *he$ are, howe"er, obli"io s of the fact that abasement in the path of God is %$ tr e glor$. In the newspapers the following hath been recorded- '*o ching the fra d lent dealings of some of the e&iles of A,,0, and the e&cesses committed b$ them against se"eral people, etc....( 5nto them who are the e&ponents of < stice and the da$springs of e; it$ the intention of the writer is e"ident and his p rpose clear. +riefl$, he arose and inflicted pon %e di"ers trib lations, and treated %e with in< stice and cr elt$. +$ God6 *his Wronged One wo ld not barter this place of e&ile for the %ost S blime #abitation. In the estimation of men of insight whatsoe"er befalleth in the path of God is manifest glor$ and a s preme attainment. Alread$ We ha"e said- 'Glor$ to *hee, O m$ God6 + t for the trib lations which are s stained in *h$ path, how co ld *h$ tr e lo"ers be recogni4ed8 and were it not for the trials which are borne for lo"e of *hee, how co ld the station of s ch as $earn for *hee be re"ealed>( S ch abasement hath been inflicted that each da$ the$ spread fresh cal mnies. *his Wronged One, howe"er, clea"eth to seeml$ patience. Wo ld that #is %a<est$ the Sh0h of Persia wo ld as, for a report of the things which befell 5s in )onstantinople, that he might become f ll$ ac; ainted with the tr e facts. O Sh0h6 I ad< re thee b$ th$ 2ord, the God of %erc$, to loo, into this matter with the e$e of fairness. Is there to be fo nd a < st man who will < dge in this
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da$ according to that which God hath sent down in #is +oo,> Where is the fair-minded person who will e; itabl$ consider what hath been perpetrated against 5s witho t an$ clear to,en or proof> O Sha$,h6 Ponder the beha"ior of men. *he inmates of the cities of ,nowledge and wisdom are sore perple&ed as,ing themsel"es wh$ it is that the ShL/ih sect, which regarded itself as the most learned, the most righteo s, and the most pio s of all the peoples of the world, hath t rned aside in the 3a$ of #is ?e"elation, and hath shown a cr elt$ s ch as hath ne"er been e&perienced. It is inc mbent pon thee to reflect a while. 9rom the inception of this sect ntil the present da$ how great hath been the n mber of the di"ines that ha"e appeared, none of whom became cogni4ant of the nat re of this ?e"elation. What co ld ha"e been the ca se of this wa$wardness> Were We to mention it, their limbs wo ld clea"e as nder. It is necessar$ for them to meditate, to meditate for a tho sand tho sand $ears, that hapl$ the$ ma$ attain nto a sprin,ling from the ocean of ,nowledge, and disco"er the things whereof the$ are obli"io s in this da$. I was wal,ing in the 2and of *0 @ihr0nADthe da$spring of the signs of th$ 2ordDwhen lo, I heard the lamentation of the p lpits and the "oice of their s pplication nto God, blessed and glorified be #e. *he$ cried o t and said- 'O God of the world and 2ord of the nations6 *ho beholdest o r state and the things which ha"e befallen s b$ reason of the cr elt$ of *h$ ser"ants. *ho hast created s and re"ealed s for *h$ glorification and praise. *ho dost now hear what the wa$ward proclaim pon s in *h$ da$s. +$ *h$ might6 O r so ls are melted and o r limbs are trembling. Alas, alas6 Wo ld that we had ne"er been created and re"ealed b$ *hee6( *he hearts of them that en<o$ near access to God are cons med b$ these words, and from them the cries of s ch as are de"oted to #im are raised. *ime and again ha"e We, for the sa,e of God, admonished the disting ished di"ines, and s mmoned them nto the %ost S blime #ori4on, that perchance the$ might, in the da$s of #is ?e"elation, obtain their portion of the ocean of the tterance of #im Who is the 3esire of the world, and remain not tterl$ depri"ed thereof. In most of O r *ablets this most weight$ e&hortation hath been sent down from the hea"en of #is all-encompassing merc$. We said- 'O conco rse of r lers and di"ines6 Incline $o r ears nto the 7oice calling from the hori4on of A,,0. 7eril$, it aideth $o to proceed aright, and draweth $o nigh nto #im, and directeth $o r steps towards the station which God hath made the 3a$spring of #is ?e"elation and the 3awning-Place of #is splendors. O peoples of the world6 #e Who is the %ost Great 1ame is come, on the part of the Ancient !ing, and hath anno nced nto men this ?e"elation which la$ hid in #is ,nowledge, and was preser"ed in the treas r$ of #is protection, and was written down b$ the %ost S blime Pen in the +oo,s of God, the 2ord of 2ords. O people of ShLn @ShLr04A6 #a"e $e forgotten %$ lo"ing,indness and %$ merc$ that ha"e s rpassed all created things, and which proceeded from God Who la$eth low the nec,s of men>( In the !it0b-i-A;das @%ost #ol$ +oo,A the following hath been re"ealed- 'Sa$- O leaders of religion6 Weigh not the +oo, of God with s ch standards and sciences as are c rrent amongst $o , for the +oo, itself is the nerring +alance established amongst men. In this most perfect +alance whatsoe"er the peoples and ,indreds possess m st be weighed, while the meas re of its weight sho ld be tested according to its own standard, did $e b t ,now it. *he e$e of %$ lo"ing-,indness weepeth sore o"er $o , inasm ch as $e ha"e failed to recogni4e the One
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pon Whom $e ha"e been calling in the da$time and in the night season, at e"en and at morn. Ad"ance, O people, with snow-white faces and radiant hearts, nto the blest and crimson Spot, wherein the *ree be$ond which there is no passing is calling- C7eril$, there is none other God beside %e, the Omnipotent Protector, the Self-S bsisting6/ O $e leaders of religion in Persia6 Who is the man amongst $o that can ri"al %e in "ision or insight> Where is he to be fo nd that dareth to claim to be %$ e; al in tterance or wisdom> 1o, b$ %$ 2ord, the All-%ercif l6 All on the earth shall pass awa$8 and this is the face of $o r 2ord, the Almight$, the Well-+elo"ed. We ha"e decreed, O people, that the highest and last end of all learning be the recognition of #im Who is the Ob<ect of all ,nowledge8 and $et behold how $e ha"e allowed $o r learning to sh t $o o t, as b$ a "eil, from #im Who is the 3a$spring of this 2ight, thro gh Whom e"er$ hidden thing hath been re"ealed. Sa$- *his, "eril$, is the hea"en in which the %other +oo, is treas red, co ld $e b t comprehend it. #e it is Who hath ca sed the ?oc, to sho t, and the + rning + sh to lift p its "oice pon the %o nt rising abo"e the #ol$ 2and, and proclaim- C*he !ingdom is God/s, the so"ereign 2ord of all, the All-Powerf l, the 2o"ing6/ We ha"e not entered an$ school, nor read an$ of $o r dissertations. Incline $o r ears to the words of this nlettered One, wherewith #e s mmoneth $o nto God, the E"er-Abiding. +etter is this for $o than all the treas res of the earth, co ld $e b t comprehend it. Whoso interpreteth what hath been sent down from the hea"en of ?e"elation, and altereth its e"ident meaning, he, "eril$, is of them that ha"e per"erted the S blime Word of God, and is of the lost ones in the 2 cid +oo,.( *here pon We heard the groaning of the tr e 9aith, and said nto it- 'Wherefore, O tr e 9aith, do I hear *hee cr$ o t in the night season, and groan in the da$time, and tter *h$ lamentations at da$brea,>( She made repl$- 'O Prince of the world that standest re"ealed in the %ost Great 1ame6 *he heedless ones ha"e hamstr ng *h$ white She-)amel, and ca sed *h$ )rimson Ar, to fo nder, and wished to p t o t *h$ 2ight, and to "eil the face of *h$ )a se. Wherefore hath the "oice of %$ lamentation been lifted p, as well as the "oice of the lamentation of all created things, and $et the people are for the most part naware.( *he tr e 9aith hath laid fast hold, in this da$, on the hem of O r bo nt$, and circleth abo t O r Person. O Sha$,h6 Enter tho %$ presence, that tho ma$est behold what the e$e of the ni"erse hath ne"er beheld, and hear that which the ear of the whole creation hath ne"er heard, that hapl$ tho ma$est free th$self from the mire of "ag e fancies, and set th$ face towards the %ost S blime Station, wherein this Wronged One calleth alo d- '*he !ingdom is God/s, the Almight$, the All-Praised6( We fain wo ld hope that thro gh thine e&ertions the wings of men ma$ be sanctified from the mire of self and desire, and be made worth$ to soar in the atmosphere of God/s lo"e. Wings that are besmirched with mire can ne"er soar. 5nto this testif$ the$ who are the e&ponents of < stice and e; it$, and $et the people are in e"ident do bt. O Sha$,h6 Protests ha"e been "oiced against 5s from e"er$ sideDprotests s ch as O r pen cra"eth pardon for setting down. 1e"ertheless, b$ reason of O r great merc$, We ha"e replied nto them, in accordance with the nderstanding of men, that hapl$ the$ ma$ be deli"ered from the fire of negation and denial, and become ill mined with the light of affirmation and acceptance. E; it$ is rarel$ to be fo nd, and < stice hath ceased to e&ist. Among others, these perspic o s "erses ha"e, in answer to certain indi"id als, been sent down from the !ingdom of 3i"ine ,nowledge- 'O tho who hast set th$ face towards the splendors of %$ )o ntenance6 7ag e fancies ha"e encompassed the dwellers of the earth and debarred them from t rning towards the #ori4on of )ertit de, and its brightness, and its
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manifestations and its lights. 7ain imaginings ha"e withheld them from #im Who is the SelfS bsisting. *he$ spea, as prompted b$ their own caprices, and nderstand not. Among them are those who ha"e said- C#a"e the "erses been sent down>/ Sa$- CGea, b$ #im Who is the 2ord of the hea"ens6/ C#ath the #o r come>/ C1a$, more8 it hath passed, b$ #im Who is the ?e"ealer of clear to,ens6 7eril$, the Ine"itable is come, and #e, the *r e One, hath appeared with proof and testimon$. *he Plain is disclosed, and man,ind is sore "e&ed and fearf l. Earth; a,es ha"e bro,en loose, and the tribes ha"e lamented, for fear of God, the 2ord of Strength, the All-)ompelling./ Sa$- C*he st nning tr mpet blast hath been lo dl$ raised, and the 3a$ is God/s, the One, the 5nconstrained./ C#ath the )atastrophe come to pass>/ Sa$CGea, b$ the 2ord of 2ords6/ CIs the ?es rrection come>/ C1a$, more8 #e Who is the SelfS bsisting hath appeared with the !ingdom of #is signs./ CSeest tho men laid low>/ CGea, b$ m$ 2ord, the E&alted, the %ost #igh6/ C#a"e the tree-st mps been prooted>/ CGea, more8 the mo ntains ha"e been scattered in d st8 b$ #im the 2ord of attrib tes6/ *he$ sa$- CWhere is Paradise, and where is #ell>/ Sa$- C*he one is re nion with %e8 the other thine own self, O tho who dost associate a partner with God and do btest./ *he$ sa$- CWe see not the +alance./ Sa$- CS rel$, b$ m$ 2ord, the God of %erc$6 1one can see it e&cept s ch as are end ed with insight./ C#a"e the stars fallen>/ Sa$- CGea, when #e Who is the Self-S bsisting dwelt in the 2and of %$ster$ @AdrianopleA. *a,e heed, $e who are end ed with discernment6/ All the signs appeared when We drew forth the #and of Power from the bosom of ma<est$ and might. 7eril$, the )rier hath cried o t, when the promised time came, and the$ that ha"e recogni4ed the splendors of Sinai ha"e swooned awa$ in the wilderness of hesitation, before the awf l ma<est$ of th$ 2ord, the 2ord of creation. *he tr mpet as,eth- C#ath the + gle been so nded>/ Sa$- CGea, b$ the !ing of ?e"elation6, when #e mo nted the throne of #is 1ame, the All-%ercif l./ 3ar,ness hath been chased awa$ b$ the dawning-light of the merc$ of th$ 2ord, the So rce of all light. *he bree4e of the All-%ercif l hath wafted, and the so ls ha"e been ; ic,ened in the tombs of their bodies. *h s hath the decree been f lfilled b$ God, the %ight$, the +eneficent. *he$ that ha"e gone astra$ ha"e said- CWhen were the hea"ens cleft as nder>/ Sa$- CWhile $e la$ in the gra"es of wa$wardness and error./ Among the heedless is he who r bbeth his e$es, and loo,eth to the right and to the left. Sa$- C+linded art tho . 1o ref ge hast tho to flee to./ And among them is he who saith- C#a"e men been gathered together>/ Sa$- CGea, b$ m$ 2ord6, whilst tho didst lie in the cradle of idle fancies./ And among them is he who saith- C#ath the +oo, been sent down thro gh the power of the tr e 9aith>/ Sa$- C*he tr e 9aith itself is asto nded. 9ear $e, O $e men of nderstanding heart6/ And among them is he who saith- C#a"e I been assembled with others, blind>/ Sa$CGea, b$ #im that rideth pon the clo ds6/ Paradise is dec,ed with m$stic roses, and hell hath been made to bla4e with the fire of the impio s. Sa$- C*he light hath shone forth from the hori4on of ?e"elation, and the whole earth hath been ill mined at the coming of #im Who is the 2ord of the 3a$ of the )o"enant6/ *he do bters ha"e perished, whilst he that t rned, g ided b$ the light of ass rance, nto the 3a$spring of )ertit de hath prospered. +lessed art tho , who hast fi&ed th$ ga4e pon %e, for this *ablet which hath been sent down for theeDa *ablet which ca seth the so ls of men to soar. )ommit it to memor$, and recite it. +$ %$ life6 It is a door to the merc$ of th$ 2ord. Well is it with him that reciteth it at e"entide and at dawn. We, "eril$, hear th$ praise of this )a se, thro gh which the mo ntain of ,nowledge was cr shed, and men/s feet ha"e slipped. %$ glor$ be pon thee and pon whomsoe"er hath t rned nto the Almight$, the All-+o nteo s. *he *ablet is ended, b t the theme is ne&ha sted. +e patient, for th$ 2ord is patient.( *hese are "erses We sent down pre"io sl$, soon after O r arri"al in the prison-cit$ of A,,0, and We ha"e sent them nto thee, that tho ma$est be ac; ainted with what their l$ing tong es ha"e spo,en, when O r )a se came nto them with might and so"ereignt$. *he
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fo ndations of idle fancies ha"e trembled, and the hea"en of "ain imaginings hath been cleft as nder, and $et the people are in do bt and in contention with #im. *he$ ha"e denied the testimon$ of God and #is proof, after #e came from the hea"en of power with the ,ingdom of #is signs. *he$ ha"e cast awa$ what had been prescribed, and perpetrated what had been forbidden them in the +oo,. *he$ ha"e abandoned their God, and cl ng nto their desires. *he$ tr l$ ha"e stra$ed and are in error. *he$ read the "erses and den$ them. *he$ behold the clear to,ens and t rn aside. *he$ tr l$ are lost in strange do bt. We ha"e admonished O r lo"ed ones to fear God, a fear which is the fo ntain-head of all goodl$ deeds and "irt es. It is the commander of the hosts of < stice in the cit$ of +ah0. #app$ the man that hath entered the shadow of its l mino s standard, and laid fast hold thereon. #e, "eril$, is of the )ompanions of the )rimson Ar,, which hath been mentioned in the .a$$Jm-i-Asm0. Sa$- O people of God6 Adorn $o r temples with the adornment of tr stworthiness and piet$. #elp, then, $o r 2ord with the hosts of goodl$ deeds and a praiseworth$ character. We ha"e forbidden $o dissension and conflict in %$ +oo,s, and %$ Script res, and %$ Scrolls, and %$ *ablets, and ha"e wished thereb$ na ght else sa"e $o r e&altation and ad"ancement. 5nto this testif$ the hea"ens and the stars thereof, and the s n and the radiance thereof, and the trees and the lea"es thereof, and the seas and the wa"es thereof, and the earth and the treas res thereof. We pra$ God to assist #is lo"ed ones, and aid them in that which beseemeth them in this blest, this might$, and wondro s station. 9 rther, in another *ablet, We ha"e said- 'O tho who hast fi&ed th$ ga4e pon %$ co ntenance6 Admonish men to fear God. +$ God6 *his fear is the chief commander of the arm$ of th$ 2ord. Its hosts are a praiseworth$ character and goodl$ deeds. *hro gh it ha"e the cities of men/s hearts been opened thro gho t the ages and cent ries, and the standards of ascendanc$ and tri mph raised abo"e all other standards.( 'We will now mention nto thee *r stworthiness and the station thereof in the estimation of God, th$ 2ord, the 2ord of the %ight$ *hrone. One da$ of da$s We repaired nto O r Green Island. 5pon O r arri"al, We beheld its streams flowing, and its trees l & riant, and the s nlight pla$ing in their midst. * rning O r face to the right, We beheld what the pen is powerless to describe8 nor can it set forth that which the e$e of the 2ord of %an,ind witnessed in that most sanctified, that most s blime, that blest, and most e&alted Spot. * rning, then, to the left We ga4ed on one of the +ea ties of the %ost S blime Paradise, standing on a pillar of light, and calling alo d sa$ing- CO inmates of earth and hea"en6 +ehold $e %$ bea t$, and %$ radiance, and %$ re"elation, and %$ eff lgence. +$ God, the *r e One6 I am *r stworthiness and the re"elation thereof, and the bea t$ thereof. I will recompense whosoe"er will clea"e nto %e, and recogni4e %$ ran, and station, and hold fast nto %$ hem. I am the most great ornament of the people of +ah0, and the "est re of glor$ nto all who are in the ,ingdom of creation. I am the s preme instr ment for the prosperit$ of the world, and the hori4on of ass rance nto all beings./ *h s ha"e We sent down for thee that which will draw men nigh nto the 2ord of creation.( *his Wronged One hath, at all times, s mmoned the peoples of the world nto that which will e&alt them, and draw them nigh nto God. 9rom the %ost S blime #ori4on there hath shone forth that which lea"eth no room nto an$ one for "acillation, rep diation or denial. *he wa$ward, howe"er, ha"e failed to profit therefrom8 na$, it shall onl$ increase their loss.

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O Sha$,h6 It is inc mbent pon the di"ines to nite with #is %a<est$, the Sh0hDma$ God assist himDand to clea"e da$ and night nto that which will e&alt the station of both the go"ernment and the nation. *his people are assid o sl$ occ pied in enlightening the so ls of men and in rehabilitating their condition. 5nto this testifieth that which hath been sent down b$ the %ost S blime Pen in this l cid *ablet. #ow often ha"e things been simple and eas$ of accomplishment, and $et most men ha"e been heedless, and b sied themsel"es with that which wasteth their time6 One da$, while in )onstantinople, !am0l P0sh0 "isited this Wronged One. O r con"ersation t rned pon topics profitable nto man. #e said that he had learned se"eral lang ages. In repl$ We obser"ed- 'Go ha"e wasted $o r life. It beseemeth $o and the other officials of the Go"ernment to con"ene a gathering and choose one of the di"ers lang ages, and li,ewise one of the e&isting scripts, or else to create a new lang age and a new script to be ta ght children in schools thro gho t the world. *he$ wo ld, in this wa$, be ac; iring onl$ two lang ages, one their own nati"e tong e, the other the lang age in which all the peoples of the world wo ld con"erse. Were men to ta,e fast hold on that which hath been mentioned, the whole earth wo ld come to be regarded as one co ntr$, and the people wo ld be relie"ed and freed from the necessit$ of ac; iring and teaching different lang ages.( When in O r presence, he ac; iesced, and e"en e"inced great <o$ and complete satisfaction. We then told him to la$ this matter before the officials and ministers of the Go"ernment, in order that it might be p t into effect thro gho t the different co ntries. #owe"er, altho gh he often ret rned to see 5s after this, he ne"er again referred to this s b<ect, altho gh that which had been s ggested is cond ci"e to the concord and the nit$ of the peoples of the world. We fain wo ld hope that the Persian Go"ernment will adopt it and carr$ it o t. At present, a new lang age and a new script ha"e been de"ised. If tho desirest, We will comm nicate them to thee. O r p rpose is that all men ma$ clea"e nto that which will red ce nnecessar$ labor and e&ertion, so that their da$s ma$ be befittingl$ spent and ended. God, "eril$, is the #elper, the !nower, the Ordainer, the Omniscient. God willing, Persia ma$ be adorned with, and attain nto, that whereof she hath th s far been depri"ed. Sa$- 'O Sh0h6 E&ert th$self so that all the peoples of the world ma$ be ill mined with the eff lgent splendors of the s n of th$ < stice. *he e$es of this Wronged One are t rned towards na ght sa"e tr stworthiness, tr thf lness, p rit$, and all that profiteth men.( ?egard #im not as a traitor. Glorified art *ho , O m$ God, and m$ %aster, and m$ %ainsta$6 Aid *ho #is %a<est$ the Sh0h to e&ec te *h$ laws and *h$ commandments, and show forth *h$ < stice among *h$ ser"ants. *ho art, "eril$, the All-+o nteo s, the 2ord of grace abo nding, the Almight$, the All-Powerf l. *he )a se of God hath come as a to,en of #is grace. #app$ are the$ who act8 happ$ are the$ who nderstand8 happ$ the man that hath cl ng nto the tr th, detached from all that is in the hea"ens and all that is on earth. O Sha$,h6 See, tho the shore of the %ost Great Ocean, and enter, then, the )rimson Ar, which God hath ordained in the .a$$Jm-i-Asm0 for the people of +ah0. 7eril$, it passeth o"er land and sea. #e that entereth therein is sa"ed, and he that t rneth aside perisheth. Sho ldst tho enter therein and attain nto it, set th$ face towards the !aaba of God, the #elp in Peril, the Self-S bsisting, and sa$- 'O m$ God6 I beseech *hee b$ *h$ most glorio s light, and all *h$ lights are "eril$ glorio s.( *here pon, will the doors of the !ingdom be fl ng wide before th$ face, and tho wilt behold what e$es ha"e ne"er beheld, and hear what ears ha"e ne"er heard. *his Wronged One e&horteth thee as #e hath e&horted thee before, and hath ne"er had an$ wish for thee sa"e that tho sho ldst enter the ocean of the nit$ of God,
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the 2ord of the worlds. *his is the da$ whereon all created things cr$ o t, and anno nce nto men this ?e"elation, thro gh which hath appeared what was concealed and preser"ed in the ,nowledge of God, the %ight$, the All-Praised. O Sha$,h6 *ho hast heard the sweet melodies of the 3o"es of 5tterance cooing on the bo ghs of the 2ote-*ree of ,nowledge. #ear,en, now, nto the notes of the +irds of Wisdom praised in the %ost S blime Paradise. *he$ "eril$ will ac; aint thee with things of which tho wert wholl$ naware. Gi"e ear nto that which the *ong e of %ight and Power hath spo,en in the +oo,s of God, the 3esire of e"er$ nderstanding heart. At this moment a 7oice was raised from the 2ote-*ree be$ond which there is no passing, in the heart of the %ost S blime Paradise, bidding %e relate nto thee that which hath been sent down in the +oo,s and *ablets, and

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[Pages 141160]
the things spo,en b$ %$ 9orer nner, Who laid down #is life for this Great Anno ncement, this Straight Path. #e hath saidDand #e, "eril$, spea,eth the tr th- 'I ha"e written down in %$ mention of #im these gem-li,e words- C1o all sion of %ine can all de nto #im, neither an$thing mentioned in the +a$0n./( And f rther, #eDe&alted and glorified be #eDsaith, concerning this most might$ ?e"elation, this Great Anno ncement- 'E&alted and glorified is #e abo"e the power of an$ one to re"eal #im e&cept #imself, or the description of an$ of #is creat res. I %$self am b t the first ser"ant to belie"e in #im and in #is signs, and to parta,e of the sweet sa"ors of #is words from the first-fr its of the Paradise of #is ,nowledge. Gea, b$ #is glor$6 #e is the *r th. *here is none other God b t #im. All ha"e arisen at #is bidding.( S ch are the words s ng b$ the 3o"e of *r th on the bo ghs of the 3i"ine 2ote*ree. Well is it with him that hath gi"en ear nto its 7oice, and ; affed from the oceans of 3i"ine tterance that lie concealed in each of these words. In another connection hath the 7oice of the +a$0n called alo d from the loftiest branches. #e saithDblessed and glorified be #e- 'In the $ear nine $e will attain nto all good.( On another occasion #e saith- 'In the $ear nine $e will attain nto the Presence of God.( *hese melodies, ttered b$ the +irds of the cities of !nowledge, conform with that which hath been sent down b$ the All-%ercif l in the . r/0n. +lessed are the men of insight8 blessed the$ that attain there nto. O Sha$,h6 I swear b$ God6 *he ?i"er of %erc$ floweth, and the Ocean of 5tterance s rgeth, and the S n of ?e"elation shineth forth resplendent. With a detached heart, and a dilated breast, and an tterl$ tr thf l tong e, recite tho these s blime words that ha"e been re"ealed b$ %$ 9orer nnerDthe Primal Point. #e saithDglorified be #is tteranceDaddressing his honor, ALm- '*his, "eril$, is the thing We promised thee, ere the moment We answered th$ call. Wait tho ntil nine will ha"e elapsed from the time of the +a$0n. *hen e&claimC+lessed, therefore, be God, the most e&cellent of %a,ers6/ Sa$- *his, "eril$, is an Anno ncement which none e&cept God hath comprehended. Ge, howe"er, will be naware on that da$.( In the $ear nine this %ost Great ?e"elation arose and shone forth brightl$ abo"e the hori4on of the Will of God. 1one can den$ it sa"e he who is heedless and do bteth. We pra$ God to aid #is ser"ants to ret rn nto #im, and beg forgi"eness for the things the$ committed in this "ain life. #e, "eril$, is the 9orgi"ing, the Pardoner, the All-%ercif l. In another connection #e saith- 'I am the first ser"ant to belie"e in #im, and in #is signs.( In li,e manner, in the Persian +a$0n, #e saith- '#e, "eril$, is the One Who, nder all conditions, proclaimeth- CI, in "er$ tr th, am God6/( and so onDblessed and glorified be #e. *hat which is meant b$ 3i"init$ and Godhead hath pre"io sl$ been stated. We ha"e in tr th rent the "eils as nder and disclosed that which will draw men nigh nto God, Who la$eth low the nec,s of men. #app$ the man that hath attained nto < stice and e; it$ in this Grace that hath encompassed all that is in the hea"ens and all that is on earth, as bidden b$ God, the 2ord of the worlds. O Sha$,h6 #ear,en nto the melodies of the Gospel with the ear of fairness. #e saithD glorified be #is tteranceDprophes$ing the things that are to come- '+ t of that 3a$ and #o r ,noweth no man, no, not the angels of hea"en, nor the Son, b t the 9ather.( +$ 9ather in this connection is meant GodDe&alted be #is glor$. #e, "eril$, is the *r e Ed cator, and the Spirit al *eacher.
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Foel saith- '9or the 3a$ of the 2ord is great and "er$ terrible8 and who can abide it>( 9irstl$, in the s blime tterance set forth in the Gospel #e saith that none is aware of the time of the ?e"elation, that none ,noweth it e&cept God, the All-!nowing, Who is cogni4ant of all. Secondl$, #e setteth forth the greatness of the ?e"elation. 2i,ewise, in the . r/0n #e saith'Of what as, the$ of one another> Of the Great Anno ncement.( *his is the Anno ncement, the greatness of which hath been mentioned in most of the +oo,s of old and of more recent times. *his is the Anno ncement that hath ca sed the limbs of man,ind to ; a,e, e&cept s ch as God, the Protector, the #elper, the S ccorer, hath willed to e&empt. %en ha"e indeed with their own e$es witnessed how all men and all things ha"e been thrown into conf sion and been sore perple&ed, sa"e those whom God hath chosen to e&empt. O Sha$,h6 Great is the )a se, and great the Anno ncement6 Patientl$ and calml$ ponder tho pon the resplendent signs and the s blime words, and all that hath been re"ealed in these da$s, that hapl$ tho ma$est fathom the m$steries that are hid in the +oo,s, and ma$est stri"e to g ide #is ser"ants. #ear,en with thine inner ear nto the 7oice of Feremiah, Who saith- 'Oh, for great is that 3a$, and it hath no e; al.( Wert tho to obser"e with the e$e of fairness, tho wo ldst percei"e the greatness of the 3a$. Incline thine ear nto the 7oice of this All-!nowing )o nsellor, and s ffer not th$self to be depri"ed of the merc$ that hath s rpassed all created things, "isible and in"isible. 2end an ear nto the song of 3a"id. #e saith- 'Who will bring me into the Strong )it$>( *he Strong )it$ is A,,0, which hath been named the %ost Great Prison, and which possesseth a fortress and might$ ramparts. O Sha$,h6 Per se that which Isaiah hath spo,en in #is +oo,. #e saith- 'Get thee p into the high mo ntain, O Oion, that bringest good tidings8 lift p *h$ 7oice with strength, O Fer salem, that bringest good tidings. 2ift it p, be not afraid8 sa$ nto the cities of F dahC+ehold $o r God6 +ehold the 2ord God will come with strong hand, and #is arm shall r le for #im./( *his 3a$ all the signs ha"e appeared. A Great )it$ hath descended from hea"en, and Oion trembleth and e& lteth with <o$ at the ?e"elation of God, for it hath heard the 7oice of God on e"er$ side. *his 3a$ Fer salem hath attained nto a new E"angel, for in the stead of the s$camore standeth the cedar. Fer salem is the place of pilgrimage for all the peoples of the world, and hath been named the #ol$ )it$. *ogether with Oion and Palestine, the$ are all incl ded within these regions. Wherefore, hath it been said- '+lessed is the man that hath migrated to A,,0.( Amos saith- '*he 2ord will roar from Oion, and tter #is 7oice from Fer salem8 and the habitations of the shepherds shall mo rn, and the top of )armel shall wither.( )armel, in the +oo, of God, hath been designated as the #ill of God, and #is 7ine$ard. It is here that, b$ the grace of the 2ord of ?e"elation, the *abernacle of Glor$ hath been raised. #app$ are the$ that attain there nto8 happ$ the$ that set their faces towards it. And li,ewise #e saith- 'O r God will come, and #e will not be silent.( O Sha$,h6 ?eflect pon these words addressed b$ #im Who is the 3esire of the world to Amos. #e saith- 'Prepare to meet th$ God, O Israel, for, lo, #e that formeth the mo ntains and createth the wind, and declareth nto man what is his tho ght, that ma,eth the morning dar,ness, and treadeth pon the high places of the earth, the 2ord, the God of #osts, is #is name.( #e saith that #e ma,eth the morning dar,ness. +$ this is meant that if, at the time of the %anifestation of #im Who con"ersed on Sinai an$one were to regard himself as the tr e morn, he will, thro gh the might and power of God, be t rned into dar,ness. #e tr l$ is the false dawn, tho gh belie"ing himself to be the tr e one. Woe nto him, and woe nto s ch as follow him witho t a clear to,en from God, the 2ord of the worlds.
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Isaiah saith- '*he 2ord alone shall be e&alted in that 3a$.( )oncerning the greatness of the ?e"elation #e saith- 'Enter into the roc,, and hide thee in the d st, for fear of the 2ord, and for the glor$ of #is ma<est$.( And in another connection #e saith- '*he wilderness and the solitar$ place shall be glad for them8 and the desert shall re<oice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom ab ndantl$, and re<oice e"en with <o$ and singing- the glor$ of 2ebanon shall be gi"en nto it, the splendor of )armel and Sharon, the$ shall see the glor$ of the 2ord, and the splendor of o r God.( *hese passages stand in need of no commentar$. *he$ are shining and manifest as the s n, and glowing and l mino s as light itself. E"er$ fair-minded person is led, b$ the fragrance of these words, nto the garden of nderstanding, and attaineth nto that from which most men are "eiled and debarred. Sa$- 9ear God, O people, and follow not the do bts of s ch as sho t alo d, who ha"e bro,en the )o"enant of God and #is *estament, and denied #is merc$ that hath preceded all that are in the hea"ens and all that are on earth. And li,ewise, #e saith- 'Sa$ to them that are of a fearf l heart- be strong, fear not, behold $o r God.( *his blessed "erse is a proof of the greatness of the ?e"elation, and of the greatness of the )a se, inasm ch as the blast of the tr mpet m st needs spread conf sion thro gho t the world, and fear and trembling amongst all men. Well is it with him who hath been ill mined with the light of tr st and detachment. *he trib lations of that 3a$ will not hinder or alarm him. *h s hath the *ong e of 5tterance spo,en, as bidden b$ #im Who is the All-%ercif l. #e, "eril$, is the Strong, the All-Powerf l, the All-S bd ing, the Almight$. It is now inc mbent pon them who are endowed with a hearing ear and a seeing e$e to ponder these s blime words, in each of which the oceans of inner meaning and e&planation are hidden, that hapl$ the words ttered b$ #im Who is the 2ord of ?e"elation ma$ enable #is ser"ants to attain, with the tmost <o$ and radiance, nto the S preme Goal and %ost S blime S mmitDthe dawning-place of this 7oice. O Sha$,h6 Wert tho to percei"e, be it less than a needle/s e$e, the breaths of %ine tterance, tho wo ldst abandon the world and all that is therein, and wo ldst set th$ face towards the lights of the co ntenance of the 3esired One. +riefl$, in the sa$ings of #im Who is the Spirit @Fes sA nn mbered significances lie concealed. 5nto man$ things did #e refer, b t as #e fo nd none possessed of a hearing ear or a seeing e$e #e chose to conceal most of these things. E"en as #e saith- '+ t $e cannot bear them now.( *hat 3awning-Place of ?e"elation saith that on that 3a$ #e Who is the Promised One will re"eal the things which are to come. Accordingl$ in the !it0b-i-A;das, and in the *ablets to the !ings, and in the 2aw-i-?a/Ls, and in the 2aw-i-9 /0d, most of the things which ha"e come to pass on this earth ha"e been anno nced and prophesied b$ the %ost S blime Pen. In the !it0b-i-A;das the following hath been re"ealed- 'O 2and of *0 @ihr0nA6 2et nothing grie"e thee, for God hath chosen thee to be the so rce of the <o$ of all man,ind. #e shall, if it be #is Will, bless th$ throne with one who will r le with < stice, who will gather together the floc, of God which the wol"es ha"e scattered. S ch a r ler will, with <o$ and gladness, t rn his face towards, and e&tend his fa"ors nto, the people of +ah0. #e indeed is acco nted in the sight of God, as a <ewel among men. 5pon him rest fore"er the glor$ of God, and the glor$ of all that dwell in the ,ingdom of #is re"elation.( *hese "erses were re"ealed pre"io sl$. 1ow, howe"er, the following "erse hath been sent down- 'O God, m$ God6 +ah0 beseecheth *hee and imploreth *hee, b$ the lights of *h$ co ntenance and the billows of the ocean of *h$ ?e"elation, and the eff lgent splendors of the S n of *hine tterance, to aid the Sh0h to be fair and e; itable. If it be *h$ wish, bless *ho , thro gh him, the throne of
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a thorit$ and so"ereignt$. Potent art *ho to do what pleaseth *hee. *here is none other God b t *hee, Who hearest, Who art read$ to answer.( '?e<oice with great <o$, O 2and of *0 @ihr0nA, for God hath made thee the da$spring of #is light, inasm ch as within thee was born the %anifestation of #is glor$. +e tho glad for this name that hath been conferred pon theeDa name thro gh which the 3a$star of grace hath shed its splendor, thro gh which both earth and hea"en ha"e been ill mined. Erelong will the state of affairs within thee be changed, and the reins of power fall into the hands of the people. 7eril$, th$ 2ord is the All!nowing. #is a thorit$ embraceth all things. ?est tho ass red in the gracio s fa"or of th$ 2ord. *he e$e of #is lo"ing-,indness shall e"erlastingl$ be directed towards thee. *he da$ is approaching when th$ agitation will ha"e been transm ted into peace and ; iet calm. *h s hath it been decreed in the Wondro s +oo,.( And li,ewise, in the 2aw-i-9 /0d, and in the *ablet of the !ing of Paris @1apoleon IIIA, and in other *ablets, there hath been re"ealed that which will lead e"er$ fair-minded person to testif$ nto the power, and the ma<est$, and the wisdom of GodDe&alted be #is glor$. Were men to obser"e with the e$e of < stice, the$ wo ld be made aware of the secret of this blessed "erse- '1either is there a thing green or sere, b t it is noted in a distinct writing,( and wo ld comprehend it. On this da$, howe"er, men/s rep diation of the tr th hath pre"ented them from nderstanding what hath been sent down in tr th b$ #im Who is the ?e"ealer, the Ancient of 3a$s. Gracio s God6 Perspic o s signs ha"e appeared on e"er$ side, and $et men are, for the most part, depri"ed of the pri"ilege of beholding and of comprehending them. We beseech God to bestow #is aid, that all men ma$ recogni4e the pearls that lie hid within the shells of the %ost Great Ocean, and e&claim- 'Praised be *ho , O God of the world6( O conco rse of the fair-minded6 Obser"e and reflect pon the billows of the ocean of the tterance and ,nowledge of God, so that $e ma$ testif$ with $o r inner and o ter tong es that with #im is the ,nowledge of all that is in the +oo,. 1othing escapeth #is ,nowledge. #e, "eril$, hath manifested that which was hidden, when #e, pon #is ret rn, mo nted the throne of the +a$0n. All that hath been sent down hath and will come to pass, word for word, pon earth. 1o possibilit$ is left for an$one either to t rn aside or protest. As fairness, howe"er, is disgraced and concealed, most men spea, as prompted b$ their own idle fancies. O God, m$ God6 3ebar not *h$ ser"ants from t rning their faces towards the light of certit de, that hath dawned abo"e the hori4on of *h$ will, and s ffer them not to be depri"ed, O m$ God, of the oceans of *h$ signs. *he$, O m$ 2ord, are *h$ ser"ants in *h$ cities, and *h$ sla"es in *h$ lands. If *ho hast not merc$ pon them, who, then, will show them merc$> *a,e *ho , O m$ God, the hands of s ch as ha"e been drowned in the sea of idle fancies, and deli"er them b$ *h$ power and *h$ so"ereignt$. Sa"e them, then, with the arms of *h$ might. Powerf l art *ho to do what *ho willest, and in *h$ right hand are the reins of all that is in the hea"ens and all that is on earth. In li,e manner, the Primal Point saith- '+ehold $e #im with #is own e$es. Were $e to behold #im with the e$es of another, $e wo ld ne"er recogni4e and ,now #im.( *his referreth to na ght else e&cept this %ost Great ?e"elation. Well is it with them that < dge fairl$. And li,ewise, #e saith- '*he $ear-old germ that holdeth within itself the potentialities of the ?e"elation that is to come is endowed with a potenc$ s perior to the combined forces of the whole of the +a$0n.( *hese glad-tidings of the +a$0n and of the +oo,s of former times ha"e been repeatedl$ mentioned nder di"ers names in n mero s boo,s, that perchance men might < dge e; itabl$ that which hath arisen and shone forth abo"e the hori4on of the will of God, the 2ord of the %ight$ *hrone.
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O Sha$,h6 *ell the people of the +a$0n- 'Ponder $e these blessed words. #e saith- C*he whole of the +a$0n is onl$ a leaf amongst the lea"es of #is Paradise./ +e fair, O people, and be not of s ch as are acco nted as lost in the +oo, of God, the 2ord of the worlds.( *he blessed 2ote-*ree standeth, in this da$, before th$ face, laden with hea"enl$, with new and wondro s fr its. Ga4e on it, detached from all else sa"e it. *h s hath the *ong e of might and power spo,en at this Spot which God hath adorned with the footsteps of #is %ost Great 1ame and %ight$ Anno ncement. And li,ewise, #e saith- 'Ere nine will ha"e elapsed from the inception of this )a se, the realities of the created things will not be made manifest. All that tho hast as $et seen is b t the stage from the moist germ ntil We clothed it with flesh. +e patient, ntil tho beholdest a new creation. Sa$- C+lessed, therefore, be God, the most e&cellent of %a,ers6/( And li,ewise, #e hath said regarding the power of this ?e"elation- '2awf l is it for #im Whom God will ma,e manifest to re<ect him who is greatest on earth, inasm ch as s ch a one is b t a creat re in #is grasp, and all things adore #im. After in @HKA a )a se shall be gi"en nto $o which $e shall come to ,now.( And also #e saith- '!now tho with absol te certaint$, and thro gh the firml$ established and most irre"ocable decree, that #eDe&alted be #is glor$, and magnified be #is might, and sanctified be #is holiness, and glorified be #is grande r, and la ded be #is wa$s, ma,eth each thing to be ,nown thro gh its own self8 who then can ,now #im thro gh an$ one e&cept #imself>( And f rther, #e saithDe&alted and glorified be #e'+eware, beware lest, in the da$s of #is ?e"elation, the 7ahLd of the +a$0n @eighteen 2etters of the 2i"ingA sh t thee not o t as b$ a "eil from #im, inasm ch as this 7ahLd is b t a creat re in #is sight. And beware, beware that the words sent down in the +a$0n sh t thee not o t as b$ a "eil from #im.( And again, #eDe&alted be #eDsaith- '2oo, not pon #im with an$ e$e e&cept #is own. 9or whosoe"er loo,eth pon #im with #is e$e, will recogni4e #im8 otherwise he will be "eiled from #im. Sho ldst tho see, God and #is Presence, see, tho #im and ga4e pon #im.( And li,ewise, #e saith- '+etter is it for thee to recite b t one of the "erses of #im Whom God shall ma,e manifest than to set down the whole of the +a$0n, for on that 3a$ that one "erse can sa"e thee, whereas the entire +a$0n cannot sa"e thee.( Sa$- O people of the +a$0n6 +e fair, be fair8 and again, be fair, be fair. +e $e not of them who ha"e made mention of the %anifestation of the )a se of God in the da$time and in the night season, and who, when #e, thro gh #is grace, appeared, and when the #ori4on of ?e"elation was ill mined, prono nced against #im s ch a < dgment as hath pro"o,ed the lamentations of the inmates of the !ingdom and of the ?ealm of Glor$, and of s ch as ha"e circled abo t the will of God, the All-!nowing, the All-Wise. %editate pon these s blime words. #e saith- 'I, "eril$, am a belie"er in #im, and in #is 9aith, and in #is +oo,, and in #is *estimonies, and in #is Wa$s, and in all that proceedeth from #im concerning them. I glor$ in %$ ,inship with #im, and pride %$self on %$ belief in #im.( And li,ewise, #e saith- 'O congregation of the +a$0n and all who are therein6 ?ecogni4e $e the limits imposed pon $o , for s ch a One as the Point of the +a$0n #imself hath belie"ed in #im Whom God shall ma,e manifest, before all things were created. *herein, "eril$, do I glor$ before all who are in the ,ingdom of hea"en and earth.( +$ God6 All the atoms of the ni"erse groan and lament at the cr elt$ perpetrated b$ the froward among the people of the +a$0n. Whither are gone the$ who are end ed with insight and hearing> We beseech GodDblessed and glorified be #eDto s mmon them and e&hort them nto that which will profit them, and withhold them from that which will harm them. #e, in tr th, is the Strong, the All-S bd ing, the Almight$.
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And li,ewise, #e saith- 'S ffer not $o rsel"es to be sh t o t as b$ a "eil from God after #e hath re"ealed #imself. 9or all that hath been e&alted in the +a$0n is b t as a ring pon %$ hand, and I %$self am, "eril$, b t a ring pon the hand of #im Whom God shall ma,e manifestDglorified be #is mention6 #e t rneth it as #e pleaseth, for whatsoe"er #e pleaseth, and thro gh whatsoe"er #e pleaseth. #e, "eril$, is the #elp in Peril, the %ost #igh.( And li,ewise, #e saith- 'Were #e to ma,e of e"er$ one on earth a Prophet, all wo ld, in "er$ tr th, be acco nted as Prophets in the sight of God.( And li,ewise, #e saith- 'In the da$ of the re"elation of #im Whom God shall ma,e manifest all that dwell on earth will be e; al in #is estimation. Whomsoe"er #e ordaineth as a Prophet, he, "eril$, hath been a Prophet from the beginning that hath no beginning, and will th s remain ntil the end that hath no end, inasm ch as this is an act of God. And whosoe"er is made a 7icegerent b$ #im, shall be a 7icegerent in all the worlds, for this is an act of God. 9or the will of God can in no wise be re"ealed e&cept thro gh #is will, nor #is wish be manifested sa"e thro gh #is wish. #e, "eril$, is the All-)on; ering, the All-Powerf l, the All-#ighest.( +riefl$, in e"er$ instance #e hath stated that which is cond ci"e to the con"ersion, the ad"ancement, the e&altation, and the g idance of men. A few nfair ones, howe"er, ha"e become a "eil, and an ins rmo ntable barrier, and debarred the people from t rning towards the lights of #is )o ntenance. We pra$ God to cast them o t b$ #is so"ereignt$, and sei4e on them with #is sei4ing power. #e, "eril$, is the 2ord of Strength, the %ight$, the All-Wise. And li,ewise, #e saith- '#eDglorified be #is mentionDresembleth the s n. Were nn mbered mirrors to be placed before it, each wo ld, according to its capacit$, reflect the splendor of that s n, and were none to be placed before it, it wo ld still contin e to rise and set, and the mirrors alone wo ld be "eiled from its light. I, "eril$, ha"e not fallen short of %$ d t$ to admonish that people, and to de"ise means whereb$ the$ ma$ t rn towards God, their 2ord, and belie"e in God, their )reator. If, on the da$ of #is ?e"elation, all that are on earth bear #im allegiance, %ine inmost being will re<oice, inasm ch as all will ha"e attained the s mmit of their e&istence, and will ha"e been bro ght face to face with their +elo"ed, and will ha"e recogni4ed, to the f llest e&tent attainable in the world of being, the splendor of #im Who is the 3esire of their hearts. If not, %$ so l will indeed be saddened. I tr l$ ha"e n rt red all things for this p rpose. #ow, then, can an$one be "eiled from #im> 9or this ha"e I called pon God, and will contin e to call pon #im. #e, "eril$, is nigh, read$ to answer.( And li,ewise, #e saith- '*he$ will e"en ref se nto that *ree, which is neither of the East nor of the West, the name belie"er, for were the$ so to name #im, the$ wo ld fail to sadden #im.( #ath thine ear, O world, heard with what helplessness these words were re"ealed from the da$spring of the will of #im Who is the 3awning-Place of all names> #e saith- 'I ha"e ed cated all men, that the$ ma$ recogni4e this ?e"elation, and $et the people of the +a$0n ref se to concede e"en the name belie"er to that blessed *ree that belongeth neither to the East nor to the West.( Alas, alas, for the things which ha"e befallen %e6 +$ God6 *here befell %e at the hands of him whom I ha"e n rt red @%Lr40 Ga$0A, b$ da$ and b$ night, what hath ca sed the #ol$ Spirit, and the dwellers of the *abernacle of the Grande r of God, the 2ord of this wondro s 3a$, to lament. 2i,ewise, ref ting certain disbelie"ers, #e saith- '9or none ,noweth the time of the ?e"elation e&cept God. Whene"er it appeareth, all m st ac,nowledge the Point of *r th, and render than,s nto God.( *he$ that ha"e t rned aside from %e ha"e spo,en e"en as the followers of Fohn @the +aptistA spo,e. 9or the$, too, protested against #im Who was the Spirit @Fes sA sa$ing- '*he dispensation of Fohn hath not $et ended8 wherefore hast tho come>(
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1ow, too, the$ that ha"e rep diated 5s, tho gh the$ ha"e ne"er ,nown 5s and ha"e been at all times ignorant of the f ndamentals of this )a se, ,nowing not from Whom it proceeded or what it signifieth, ha"e spo,en that which hath made all created things to sigh and lament. +$ %$ life6 *he m te can ne"er confront the One Who incarnateth in #imself the ,ingdom of tterance. 9ear God, O people, and per se, then, that which hath been sent down with tr th in the eighth )hapter of the si&th 7ahLd of the +a$0n, and be not of s ch as ha"e t rned aside. #e, li,ewise, hath commanded- 'Once e"er$ nineteen da$s this )hapter sho ld be read, that hapl$ the$ ma$ not be "eiled, in the time of the re"elation of #im Whom God shall ma,e manifest, b$ considerations foreign to the "erses, which ha"e been, and are still, the weightiest of all proofs and testimonies.( Fohn, son of Oacharias, said what %$ 9orer nner hath said- 'Sa$ing, repent $e, for the !ingdom of hea"en is at hand. I indeed bapti4e $o with water nto repentance, b t #e that cometh after %e is mightier than I, Whose shoes I am not worth$ to bear.( Wherefore, hath %$ 9orer nner, as a sign of s bmissi"eness and h milit$, said- '*he whole of the +a$0n is onl$ a leaf amongst the lea"es of #is Paradise.( And li,ewise, #e saith- 'I am the first to adore #im, and pride %$self on %$ ,inship with #im.( And $et, O men, the people of the +a$0n ha"e acted in s ch a manner that 3hi/l-Fawshan, and Ibn-i-Anas, and Asb0hL ha"e so ght and still see, ref ge with God against s ch deeds. *his Wronged One hath, in the face of all religions, b sied #imself da$ and night with the things that are cond ci"e nto the e&altation of the )a se of God, whereas those men ha"e cl ng nto that which is the ca se of h miliation and in< r$. And li,ewise, #e saith- '?ecogni4e #im b$ #is "erses. *he greater $o r neglect in see,ing to ,now #im, the more grie"o sl$ will $e be "eiled in fire.( O $e among the people of the +a$0n that ha"e t rned aside from %e6 Ponder pon these most s blime words, that ha"e proceeded from the wellspring of the tterance of #im Who is the Point of !nowledge. #ear,en $e, at this moment, nto these words. #e saith- 'On that 3a$, the 3a$star of *r th will address the people of the +a$0n and will recite this SJrih of the . r/0n- CSa$- O $e nbelie"ers6 I worship not that which $e worship, and $e do not worship that which I worship. I shall ne"er worship that which $e worship, neither will $e worship that which I worship. *o $o be $o r religion, to %e %$ religion./( Gracio s God6 1otwithstanding these l cid statements, and these shining and l mino s to,ens all are occ pied with their "ain imaginings, and are naware of, and "eiled from, the 3esired One. O $e that ha"e gone astra$6 Awa,e from the sleep of heedlessness, and gi"e ear nto these words of %$ 9orer nner. #e saith- '*he tree of affirmation, b$ t rning aside from #im, is acco nted as the tree of denial, and the tree of denial, b$ t rning towards #im, is acco nted as the tree of affirmation.( And li,ewise, #e saith- 'Sho ld an$one la$ claim nto a ?e"elation, and fail to prod ce an$ proof, do not protest, and sadden #im not.( +riefl$, this Wronged One hath, night and da$, been ttering the words- 'Sa$- O $e nbelie"ers6(, that hapl$ this ma$ be the means of awa,ening the people, and ma$ adorn them with the adornment of fairness. And now, meditate pon these words, which diff se the breath of despair, in #is sorrowf l in"ocation nto God, the 2ord of the worlds. #e saith- 'Glorified art *ho , O %$ God6 +ear *ho witness that, thro gh this +oo,, I ha"e co"enanted with all created things concerning the %ission of #im Whom *ho shalt ma,e manifest, ere the co"enant concerning %ine own %ission had been established. S fficient witness art *ho and the$ that ha"e belie"ed in *h$ signs. *ho , "eril$, s fficest %e. In *hee ha"e I placed %$ tr st, and *ho , "eril$, ta,est co nt of all things.(

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In another connection #e saith- 'O S n-li,e %irrors6 2oo, $e pon the S n of *r th. Ge, "eril$, depend pon it, were $e to percei"e it. Ge are all as fishes, mo"ing in the waters of the sea, "eiling $o rsel"es therefrom, and $et as,ing what it is on which $e depend.( And li,ewise, #e saith- 'I complain nto thee, O %irror of %$ generosit$, against all the other %irrors. All loo, pon %e thro gh their own colors.( *hese words were sent down from the So rce of the ?e"elation of the All-+o nteo s, and were addressed to Si$$id Fa"0d, ,nown as !arbil0/L.

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[Pages 161181]
God testifieth, and the world beareth %e witness that this Si$$id stood b$ this Wronged One, and e"en wrote a detailed ref tation against them that t rned aside from %e. *wo comm nications, moreo"er, in which he hath borne witness nto the ?e"elation of the *r e One, and in which the e"idences of his t rning awa$ from all else b t #im, are clear and manifest, ha"e been sent b$ 5s to a$dar-CAlL. *he handwriting of the Si$$id is nmista,able, and is ,nown nto e"er$one. O r p rpose in doing this was that perchance the$ that ha"e denied 5s might attain nto the li"ing waters of ac,nowledgment, and s ch as ha"e t rned aside be ill mined with the light of con"ersion. God is %$ witness that this Wronged One hath had no p rpose e&cept to con"e$ the Word of God. +lessed are the fairminded, and woe betide them that ha"e t rned aside. *he$ that ha"e t rned awa$ from %e ha"e schemed man$ a time, and acted deceitf ll$ in di"ers wa$s. *he$ ha"e, on one occasion, sec red a pict re of this Si$$id, and pasted it on a sheet with that of others, s rmo nted b$ the portrait of %Lr40 Ga$0. +riefl$, the$ ha"e sei4ed pon e"er$ means in order to rep diate the *r e One. Sa$- '*he *r e One is come e"ident as the shining s n8 O pit$ that #e sho ld ha"e come into the cit$ of the blind6( *he afore-mentioned Si$$id admonished the deniers, and s mmoned them nto the %ost S blime #ori4on, b t failed to impress these stones that can ta,e no imprint. )oncerning him the$ ha"e said things against which he so ght ref ge with GodDe&alted be #is glor$. *he s pplications which he hath sent to this #ol$ )o rt are now in O r possession. #app$ are the fair-minded. Ponder now pon the complaint of the Primal Point against the %irrors, that hapl$ men ma$ be awa,ened, and ma$ t rn from the left hand of idle fancies and imaginings nto the right hand of faith and certit de, and ma$ be made cogni4ant of that wherefrom the$ are "eiled. It is indeed for the p rpose of recogni4ing this %ost Great )a se that the$ ha"e come o t of the world of non-e&istence into the world of being. And li,ewise #e saith- ')onsecrate *ho , O m$ God, the whole of this *ree nto #im, that from it ma$ be re"ealed all the fr its created b$ God within it for #im thro gh Whom God hath willed to re"eal all that #e pleaseth. +$ *h$ glor$6 I ha"e not wished that this *ree sho ld e"er bear an$ branch, leaf, or fr it that wo ld fail to bow down before #im, on the da$ of #is ?e"elation, or ref se to la d *hee thro gh #im, as beseemeth the glor$ of #is all-glorio s ?e"elation, and the s blimit$ of #is most s blime )oncealment. And sho ldst *ho behold, O m$ God, an$ branch, leaf, or fr it pon %e that hath failed to bow down before #im, on the da$ of #is ?e"elation, c t it off, O %$ God, from that *ree, for it is not of %e, nor shall it ret rn nto %e.( O people of the +a$0n6 I swear b$ God6 *his Wronged One hath had no other intention e&cept to manifest the )a se #e was commissioned to re"eal. Were $e to incline $o r inner ears nto #im, $e wo ld hear from e"er$ limb and member and "ein and e"en from e"er$ single hair of this Wronged One that which wo ld stir and enrapt re the )onco rse on high and the world of creation. O #0dL6 *he blind fanaticism of former times hath withheld the hapless creat res from the Straight Path. %editate on the ShL/ih sect. 9or twel"e h ndred $ears the$ ha"e cried 'O .0/im6(, ntil in the end all prono nced the sentence of #is death, and ca sed #im to s ffer mart$rdom, notwithstanding their belief in, and their acceptance and ac,nowledgment of, the
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*r e OneDe&alted be #is glor$Dand of the Seal of the Prophets, and of the )hosen Ones. It is now necessar$ to reflect a while, that hapl$ that which hath come between the *r e One and #is creat res ma$ be disco"ered, and the deeds which ha"e been the ca se of protest and denial be made ,nown. O #0dL6 We ha"e heard the moaning of the p lpits which, as attested b$ all, the di"ines of the age of this ?e"elation ha"e ascended, and from which the$ ha"e c rsed the *r e One, and ca sed s ch things to befall #im Who is the Essence of +eing and #is companions as neither the e$e nor the ear of the world hath seen or heard. *ho hast now s mmoned, and art still s mmoning the people, claiming to be #is "icegerent and mirror, despite thine ignorance of this )a se as a res lt of th$ not ha"ing been in O r compan$. E"er$ one of this people well ,noweth that Si$$id % ammad was b t one of O r ser"ants. In the da$s when, as re; ested b$ the Imperial Ottoman Go"ernment, We proceeded to their )apital, he accompanied 5s. S bse; entl$, he committed that whichDI swear b$ GodDhath ca sed the Pen of the %ost #igh to weep and #is *ablet to groan. We, therefore, cast him o t8 where pon, he <oined %Lr40 Ga$0, and did what no t$rant hath e"er done. We abandoned him, and said nto him- '+egone, O heedless one6( After these words had been ttered, he <oined the order of the %awla"is, and remained in their compan$ ntil the time when We were s mmoned to depart. O #0dL6 S ffer not th$self to become the instr ment for the dissemination of new s perstitions, and ref se to set p once again a sect similar to that of the ShL/ihs. ?eflect how great the amo nt of blood which hath been spilt. *ho amongst others, who hast laid claim to ,nowledge, and li,ewise the ShL/ih di"ines, ha"e, one and all, in the first and ens ing $ears, c rsed the *r e One, and decreed that #is most hol$ blood be shed. 9ear God, O #0dL6 +e not willing that men be again afflicted with the "ain imaginings of former times. 9ear God, and be not of them that act n< stl$. In these da$s We ha"e heard that tho hast stri"en to la$ hands on and destro$ e"er$ cop$ of the +a$0n. *his Wronged One re; esteth thee to reno nce, for the sa,e of God, this intention. *hine intelligence and < dgment ha"e ne"er e&celled, nor do the$ now e&cel, the intelligence and < dgment of #im Who is the Prince of the World. God testifieth and beareth %e witness that this Wronged One hath not per sed the +a$0n, nor been ac; ainted with its contents. *his m ch, howe"er, is ,nown and is clear and ind bitable that #e hath ordained the +oo, of the +a$0n to be the fo ndation of #is wor,s. 9ear God, and meddle not in matters which far transcend thee. 9or twel"e h ndred $ears the$ that resemble thee ha"e afflicted the hapless ShL/ihs in the pit of "ain fancies and idle imaginings. 9inall$, there appeared, on the 3a$ of F dgment things against which the oppressors of old ha"e so ght ref ge with the *r e One. Apprehend now the cr$ of #im Who is the Point as raised b$ #is tterance. #e s pplicateth God that if there sho ld appear from this *reeDwhich is #is blessed SelfDan$ fr it, or leaf, or branch that wo ld fail to belie"e in #im, God sho ld c t it off forthwith. And li,ewise, #e saith- 'Sho ld an$ one ma,e a statement, and fail to s pport it b$ an$ proof, re<ect him not.( And $et, now, tho gh s pported b$ a h ndred boo,s, tho hast re<ected #im and re<oicest therein6 Again I repeat, and plead with thee to caref ll$ scr tini4e that which hath been re"ealed. *he bree4es of tterance in this ?e"elation are not to be compared with those of former ages. *his Wronged One hath been perpet all$ afflicted, and fo nd no place of safet$ in which #e co ld per se either the writings of the %ost E&alted One @the +0bA or those of an$ one else. Abo t
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two months after O r arri"al in CIr0;, following the command of #is %a<est$ the Sh0h of PersiaDma$ God assist himD%Lr40 Ga$0 <oined 5s. We said nto him- 'In accordance with the ?o$al command We ha"e been sent nto this place. It is ad"isable for thee to remain in Persia. We will send O r brother, %Lr40 %Js0, to some other place. As $o r names ha"e not been mentioned in the ?o$al decree, $o can arise and render some ser"ice.( S bse; entl$, this Wronged One departed from +aghd0d, and for two $ears withdrew from the world. 5pon O r ret rn, We fo nd that he had not left, and had postponed his depart re. *his Wronged One was greatl$ saddened. God testifieth and beareth 5s witness that We ha"e, at all times, been b sied with the propagation of this )a se. 1either chains nor bonds, stoc,s nor imprisonment, ha"e s cceeded in withholding 5s from re"ealing O r Self. In that land We forbad all mischief, and all nseeml$ and nhol$ deeds. 3a$ and night We sent forth O r *ablets in e"er$ direction. We had no other p rpose e&cept to edif$ the so ls of men, and to e&alt the blessed Word. We especiall$ appointed certain ones to collect the writings of the Primal Point. When this was accomplished, We s mmoned %Lr40 Ga$0 and %Lr40 7ahh0b-i-!h r0s0nL, ,nown as %Lr40 Fa"0d, to meet in a certain place. )onforming with O r instr ctions, the$ completed the tas, of transcribing two copies of the wor,s of the Primal Point. I swear b$ God6 *his Wronged One, b$ reason of #is constant association with men, hath not loo,ed at these boo,s, nor ga4ed with o tward e$es on these writings. When We departed, these writings were in the possession of these two persons. It was agreed that %Lr40 Ga$0 sho ld be entr sted with them, and proceed to Persia, and disseminate them thro gho t that land. *his Wronged One proceeded, at the re; est of the %inisters of the Ottoman Go"ernment to their capital. When We arri"ed in %os l, We fo nd that %Lr40 Ga$0 had left before 5s for that cit$, and was awaiting 5s there. +riefl$, the boo,s and writings were left in +aghd0d, while he himself proceeded to )onstantinople and <oined these ser"ants. God beareth now witness nto the things which ha"e to ched this Wronged One, for after We had so ard o sl$ stri"en, he @%Lr40 Ga$0A abandoned the writings and <oined the e&iles. *his Wronged One was, for a long period, o"erwhelmed b$ infinite sorrows ntil s ch time when, in p rs ance of meas res of which none b t the one tr e God is aware, We despatched the writings nto another place and another co ntr$, owing to the fact that in CIr0; all doc ments m st e"er$ month be caref ll$ e&amined, lest the$ rot and perish. God, howe"er, preser"ed them and sent them nto a place which #e had pre"io sl$ ordained. #e, "eril$, is the Protector, the S ccorer. Where"er this Wronged One went %Lr40 Ga$0 followed #im. *ho art th$self a witness and well ,nowest that whate"er hath been said is the tr th. *he Si$$id of If0h0n, howe"er, s rreptitio sl$ d ped him. *he$ committed that which ca sed the greatest consternation. Wo ld that tho wo ldst in; ire from the officials of the go"ernment concerning the cond ct of %Lr40 Ga$0 in that land. Aside from all this, I ad< re thee b$ God, the One, the Incomparable, the 2ord of Strength, the %ost Powerf l, to caref ll$ loo, into the comm nications addressed in his name to the Primal Point, that tho ma$est behold the e"idences of #im Who is the *r th as clear as the s n. 2i,ewise, there proceeded from the words of the Point of the +a$0nDma$ the so ls of all else b t #im be sacrificed for #is sa,e Dthat which no "eil can obsc re, and which neither the "eils of glor$ nor the "eils interposed b$ s ch as ha"e gone astra$ can hide. *he "eils ha"e, "eril$, been rent as nder b$ the finger of the will of th$ 2ord, the Strong, the All-S bd ing, the All-Powerf l. Gea, desperate is the state of s ch as ha"e cal mniated %e and en"ied %e. 1ot long ago it was stated that tho hadst ascribed the a thorship of the !it0b-i-Q;0n and of other *ablets nto others. I swear b$ God6 *his is a grie"o s in< stice. Others are incapable of apprehending their meaning, how m ch more of re"ealing them6
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asan-i-%04indar0nL was the bearer of se"ent$ *ablets. 5pon his death, these were not deli"ered nto those for whom the$ were intended, b t were entr sted to one of the sisters of this Wronged One, who, for no reason whate"er, had t rned aside from %e. God ,noweth what befell #is *ablets. *his sister had ne"er li"ed with 5s. I swear b$ the S n of *r th that after these things had happened she ne"er saw %Lr40 Ga$0, and remained naware of O r )a se, for in those da$s she had been estranged from 5s. She li"ed in one ; arter, and this Wronged One in another. As a to,en, howe"er, of O r lo"ing-,indness, o r affection and merc$, We, a few da$s prior to O r depart re, "isited her and her mother, that hapl$ she might ; aff from the li"ing waters of faith, and attain nto that which wo ld draw her nigh nto God, in this da$. God well ,noweth and beareth %e witness, and she herself testifieth, that I had no tho ght whatsoe"er e&cept this. 9inall$, sheDGod be praisedDattained nto this thro gh #is grace, and was adorned with the adornment of lo"e. After We were e&iled and had departed from CIr0; to )onstantinople, howe"er, news of her ceased to reach 5s. S bse; ent to O r separation in the 2and of *0 @ihr0nA, We ceased to meet %Lr40 ?i0. lL, O r brother, and no special news reached 5s concerning her. In the earl$ da$s we all li"ed in one ho se, which later on was sold at a ction, for a negligible s m, and the two brothers, 9arm0n-9arm0 and #is0m /s-Saltanih, p rchased it and di"ided it between themsel"es. After this occ rred, We separated from O r brother. #e established his residence close to the entrance of %as<id-i-Sh0h, whilst We li"ed near the Gate of ShimLr0n. *hereafter, howe"er, that sister displa$ed toward 5s, for no reason whate"er, a hostile attit de. *his Wronged One held #is peace nder all conditions. #owe"er, O r late brother %Lr40 % ammad-asan/s da ghterD pon him be the glor$ of God and #is peace and #is merc$ Dwho had been betrothed to the %ost Great +ranch @CAbd /l-+ah0A was ta,en b$ the sister of this Wronged One from 1Jr to her own ho se, and from there sent nto another place. Some of O r companions and friends in "ario s places complained against this, as it was a "er$ grie"o s act, and was disappro"ed b$ all the lo"ed ones of God. #ow strange that O r sister sho ld ha"e ta,en her to her own ho se, and then arranged for her to be sent elsewhere6 In spite of this, this Wronged One remained, and still remaineth, calm and silent. A word, howe"er, was said in order to tran; ili4e O r lo"ed ones. God testifieth and beareth %e witness that whate"er hath been said was the tr th, and was spo,en with sincerit$. 1one of O r lo"ed ones, whether in these regions or in that co ntr$, co ld belie"e O r sister capable of an act so contrar$ to decenc$, affection and friendship. After s ch a thing had occ rred, the$, recogni4ing that the wa$ had been barred, cond cted themsel"es in a manner well,nown nto th$self and others. It m st be e"ident, therefore, how intense was the grief which this act inflicted pon this Wronged One. 2ater on, she threw in her lot with %Lr40 Ga$0. )onflicting reports concerning her are now reaching 5s, nor is it clear what she is sa$ing or doing. We beseech GodDblessed and glorified be #eDto ca se her to t rn nto #im, and aid her to repent before the door of #is grace. #e, "eril$, is the %ight$, the 9orgi"ing8 and #e is, in tr th, the All-Powerf l, the Pardoner. In another connection #e, li,ewise, saith- 'Were #e to appear this "er$ moment, I wo ld be the first to adore #im, and the first to bow down before #im.( +e fair, O people6 *he p rpose of the %ost E&alted One @the +0bA was to ins re that the pro&imit$ of the ?e"elation sho ld not withhold men from the 3i"ine and e"erlasting 2aw, e"en as the companions of Fohn @the +aptistA were pre"ented from ac,nowledging #im Who is the Spirit @Fes sA. *ime and again #e hath said- 'S ffer not the +a$0n and all that hath been re"ealed therein to withhold $o from that Essence of +eing and 2ord of the "isible and in"isible.( Sho ld an$ one, considering this binding in< nction, cling nto the +a$0n, s ch a one hath, "eril$, passed o t of the shadow of the blessed and e&alted *ree. +e fair, O people, and be not of the heedless.

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And li,ewise, #e saith- '2et not names sh t $o o t as b$ a "eil from #im Who is their 2ord, e"en the name of Prophet, for s ch a name is b t a creation of #is tterance.( And li,ewise, #e, in the se"enth chapter of the second 7ahLd, saith- 'O people of the +a$0n6 Act not as the people of the . r/0n ha"e acted, for if $e do so, the fr its of $o r night will come to na ght.( And f rther, #e saithDglorified be #is mention- 'If tho attainest nto #is ?e"elation, and obe$est #im, tho wilt ha"e re"ealed the fr it of the +a$0n8 if not, tho art nworth$ of mention before God. *a,e pit$ pon th$self. If tho aidest not #im Who is the %anifestation of the 2ordship of God, be not, then, a ca se of sadness nto #im.( And f rther #e saithD magnified be #is station- 'If tho attainest not nto the Presence of God, grie"e not, then, the Sign of God. Ge will reno nce that which can profit them that ac,nowledge the +a$0n, if $e reno nce that which can harm #im. I ,now, howe"er, that $e will ref se to do so.( O #0dL6 %ethin,s it is b$ reason of these ind bitable tterances that tho hast determined to blot o t the +a$0n. Gi"e ear nto the "oice of this Wronged One, and reno nce this oppression that hath made the pillars of the +a$0n to tremble. I ha"e been neither in )hihrL; nor in %0h-!J. At the present time statements ha"e been circ lated among th$ disciples identical with those made b$ the ShL/ihs who ha"e said that the . r/0n is nfinished. *hese people also contend that this +a$0n is not the original one. *he cop$ in the handwriting of Si$$id sa$n is e&tant, as is also the cop$ in the handwriting of %Lr40 Amad. ?egardest tho as one wronged he who in this world was ne"er dealt a single blow, and who was contin all$ s rro nded b$ fi"e of the handmaidens of God> And imp test tho nto the *r e One, Who, from #is earliest $ears ntil the present da$, hath been in the hands of #is enemies, and been tormented with the worst afflictions in the world, s ch charges as the Fews did not ascribe nto )hrist> #ear,en nto the "oice of this Wronged One, and be not of them that are in tter loss. And, li,ewise, #e saith- '#ow man$ the fires which God con"erteth into light thro gh #im Whom God shall ma,e manifest8 and how n mero s the lights which are t rned into fire thro gh #im6 I behold #is appearance e"en as the s n in the midmost hea"en, and the disappearance of all e"en as that of the stars of the night b$ da$.( #ast tho ears, O world, wherewith to hear the "oice of the *r e One, and to < dge e; itabl$ this ?e"elation Which, as soon as it appeared, Sinai e&claimed- '#e that disco rsed pon %e is come with e"ident signs and resplendent to,ens, in spite of e"er$ heedless one that hath gone far astra$, and of e"er$ l$ing cal mniator, who hath wished to ; ench the light of God with his cal mnies, and blot o t the signs of God thro gh his malice. *he$, "eril$, are of s ch as ha"e acted n< stl$ in the +oo, of God, the 2ord of the worlds.( And li,ewise, #e saith- '*he +a$0n is from beginning to end the repositor$ of all of #is attrib tes, and the treas r$ of both #is fire and #is light.( Great God6 *he so l is carried awa$ b$ the fragrance of this tterance, inasm ch as #e declareth, with infinite sadness, that which #e percei"eth. 2i,ewise, #e saith to the 2etter of the 2i"ing, % ll0 +0;irD pon him be the glor$ of God and #is lo"ing-,indness- '#apl$ tho ma$est in eight $ears, in the da$ of #is ?e"elation, attain nto #is Presence.( !now tho , O #0dL, and be of them that hear,en. F dge tho e; itabl$. *he companions of God and the *estimonies of #im Who is the *r th ha"e, for the most part, s ffered mart$rdom. *ho , howe"er, art still ali"e. #ow is it that tho hast been spared> I swear b$ God6 It is beca se of th$ denial, whereas the mart$rdom of the blessed so ls was d e to their

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confession. E"er$ < st and fair-minded person will bear witness nto this, inasm ch as the ca se and moti"e of both are clear and e"ident as the s n. And li,ewise #e addresseth 3a$$0n, who was wronged and s ffered mart$rdom, sa$ing'*ho shalt recogni4e th$ worth thro gh the words of #im Whom God shall ma,e manifest.( #e, li,ewise, hath prono nced him to be the third 2etter to belie"e in #im Whom God shall ma,e manifest, thro gh these words- 'O tho who art the third 2etter to belie"e in #im Whom God shall ma,e manifest6( And li,ewise #e saith- 'Sho ld God, howe"er, be willing, #e will ma,e thee ,nown thro gh the words of #im Whom God shall ma,e manifest.( 3a$$0n, who, according to the words of #im Who is the PointDma$ the so ls of all else b t #im be sacrificed for #is sa,eDis the repositor$ of the tr st of the one tr e GodDe&alted be #is glor$Dand the treas r$ of the pearls of #is ,nowledge, was made b$ them to s ffer so cr el a mart$rdom that the )onco rse on high wept and lamented. #e it is whom #e @the +0bA had ta ght the hidden and preser"ed ,nowledge and entr sted him therewith, thro gh #is words- 'O tho who art named 3a$$0n6 *his is a hidden and preser"ed !nowledge. We ha"e entr sted it nto thee, and bro ght it to thee, as a mar, of honor from God, inasm ch as the e$e of thine heart is p re. *ho wilt appreciate its "al e, and wilt cherish its e&cellence. God, "eril$, hath deigned to bestow pon the Point of the +a$0n a hidden and preser"ed !nowledge, the li,e of which God hath not sent down prior to this ?e"elation. %ore precio s is it than an$ other ,nowledge in the estimation of GodDglorified be #e6 #e, "eril$, hath made it #is testimon$, e"en as #e hath made the "erses to be #is testimon$.( *his oppressed one, who was the repositor$ of the ,nowledge of God, together with %Lr40 CAlL-A,bar, one of the relati"es of the Primal PointD pon him be the glor$ of God and #is merc$Dand Ab /l-.0sim-i-!0shL and se"eral others s ffered mart$rdom thro gh the decree prono nced b$ %Lr40 Ga$0. O #0dL6 #is boo, which he hath entitled '% sta$;i4( is in th$ possession. ?ead it. Altho gh tho hast seen the boo,, per se it again, that hapl$ tho ma$est obtain for th$self a loft$ seat beneath the canop$ of tr th. In li,e manner, Si$$id Ibr0hLm, concerning whom these words ha"e flowed from the Pen of the Primal PointDmagnified be #is tterance- 'O tho who art mentioned as %$ friend in %$ script res, and as %$ remembrance in %$ boo,s, ne&t to %$ script res, and as %$ name in the +a$0n(Ds ch a one, together with 3a$$0n, hath been s rnamed b$ him @%Lr40 Ga$0A 9ather of Ini; ities and 9ather of )alamities. F dge tho fairl$, how grie"o s hath been the plight of these oppressed ones, and this notwithstanding that one of them was occ pied in ser"ing him, whilst the other was his g est. +riefl$, I swear b$ God, the deeds he committed were s ch that O r Pen is ashamed to reco nt. ?eflect a while pon the dishonor inflicted pon the Primal Point. )onsider what hath happened. When this Wronged One, after a retirement of two $ears d ring which #e wandered thro gh the deserts and mo ntains, ret rned to +aghd0d, as a res lt of the inter"ention of a few, who for a long time had so ght #im in the wilderness, a certain %Lr40 % ammad-CAlL of ?asht came to see #im, and related, before a large gathering of people, that which had been done, affecting the honor of the +0b, which hath tr l$ o"erwhelmed all lands with sorrow. Great God6 #ow co ld the$ ha"e co ntenanced this most grie"o s betra$al> +riefl$, We beseech God to aid the perpetrator of this deed to repent, and ret rn nto #im. #e, "eril$, is the #elper, the All-Wise.

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As to 3a$$0nD pon him be the glor$ of God and #is merc$Dhe attained O r presence in accordance with that which had been re"ealed b$ the pen of the Primal Point. We pra$ God to aid the heedless to t rn nto #im, and s ch as ha"e t rned aside to direct themsel"es towards #im, and them that ha"e denied #im to ac,nowledge this )a se, which, no sooner did it appear than all created things proclaimed- '#e that was hidden in the *reas r$ of !nowledge, and inscribed b$ the Pen of the %ost #igh in #is +oo,s, and #is Script res, and #is Scrolls, and #is *ablets, is come6( In this connection it hath been deemed necessar$ to mention s ch traditions as ha"e been recorded regarding the blessed and honored cit$ of A,,0, that hapl$ tho ma$est, O #0dL, see, a path nto the *r th, and a road leading nto God. In the name of God, the )ompassionate, the %ercif l. *he following hath been recorded concerning the merits of A,,0, and of the sea, and of A$n /l-+a;0r @*he Spring of the )owA which is in A,,0CAbd /l-CA4L4, son of CAbd /-Sal0m, hath related nto s that the ProphetDma$ the blessings of God and #is sal tations be pon himDhath said- 'A,,0 is a cit$ in S$ria to which God hath shown #is special merc$.( Ibn-i-%as/JdDma$ God be pleased with himDhath stated- '*he ProphetDma$ the blessings of God and #is sal tations be pon #imDhath said- COf all shores the best is the shore of As,elon, and A,,0 is, "eril$, better than As,elon, and the merit of A,,0 abo"e that of As,elon and all other shores is as the merit of % ammad abo"e that of all other Prophets. I bring $o tidings of a cit$ betwi&t two mo ntains in S$ria, in the middle of a meadow, which is called A,,0. 7eril$, he that entereth therein, longing for it and eager to "isit it, God will forgi"e his sins, both of the past and of the f t re. And he that departeth from it, other than as a pilgrim, God will not bless his depart re. In it is a spring called the Spring of the )ow. Whoso drin,eth a dra ght therefrom, God will fill his heart with light, and will protect him from the most great terror on the 3a$ of ?es rrection./( Anas, son of %alL,Dma$ God be pleased with himDhath said- '*he Apostle of GodDma$ the blessings of God and #is sal tations be pon #imDhath said- C+$ the shore of the sea is a cit$, s spended beneath the *hrone, and named A,,0. #e that dwelleth therein, firm and e&pecting a reward from GodDe&alted be #eDGod will write down for him, ntil the 3a$ of ?es rrection, the recompense of s ch as ha"e been patient, and ha"e stood p, and ,nelt down, and prostrated themsel"es, before #im./( And #eDma$ the blessings of God and #is sal tations be pon #imDhath said- 'I anno nce nto $o a cit$, on the shores of the sea, white, whose whiteness is pleasing nto GodD e&alted be #e6 It is called A,,0. #e that hath been bitten b$ one of its fleas is better, in the estimation of God, than he who hath recei"ed a grie"o s blow in the path of God. And he that raiseth therein the call to pra$er, his "oice will be lifted p nto Paradise. And he that remaineth therein for se"en da$s in the face of the enem$, God will gather him with !hidrD peace be pon #imDand God will protect him from the most great terror on the 3a$ of ?es rrection.( And #eDma$ the blessings of God,De&alted be #eDand #is sal tations be pon #imDhath said- '*here are ,ings and princes in Paradise. *he poor of A,,0 are the ,ings of Paradise and the princes thereof. A month in A,,0 is better than a tho sand $ears elsewhere.(
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*he Apostle of GodDma$ the blessings of God and #is sal tations be pon #imDis reported to ha"e said- '+lessed the man that hath "isited A,,0, and blessed he that hath "isited the "isitor of A,,0. +lessed the one that hath dr n, from the Spring of the )ow and washed in its waters, for the blac,-e$ed damsels ; aff the camphor in Paradise, which hath come from the Spring of the )ow, and from the Spring of Sal"0n @SiloamA, and the Well of Oam4am. Well is it with him that hath dr n, from these springs, and washed in their waters, for God hath forbidden the fire of hell to to ch him and his bod$ on the 3a$ of ?es rrection.( *he ProphetDma$ the blessings of God and #is sal tations be pon #imDis stated to ha"e said- 'In A,,0 are wor,s of s pererogation and acts which are beneficial, which God "o chsafed speciall$ nto whomsoe"er #e pleaseth. And he that saith in A,,0- CGlorified be God, and praise be nto God, and there is none other God b t God, and most great is God, and there is no power nor strength e&cept in God, the E&alted, the %ight$,/ God will write down for him a tho sand good deeds, and blot o t from him a tho sand e"il deeds, and will plift him a tho sand grades in Paradise, and will forgi"e him his transgressions. And whoso saith in A,,0- CI beg forgi"eness of God,/ God will forgi"e all his trespasses. And he that remembereth God in A,,0 at morn and at e"entide, in the night-season and at dawn, is better in the sight of God than he who beareth swords, spears and arms in the path of GodDe&alted be #e6( *he Apostle of GodDma$ the blessings of God and #is sal tations be pon #imDhath also said- '#e that loo,eth pon the sea at e"entide, and saith- CGod is %ost Great6/ at s nset, God will forgi"e his sins, tho gh the$ be heaped as piles of sand. And he that co nteth fort$ wa"es, while repeating- CGod is %ost Great6/De&alted be #eDGod will forgi"e his sins, both past and f t re.( *he Apostle of GodDma$ the blessings of God and #is sal tations be pon #imDhath said'#e that loo,eth pon the sea a f ll night is better than he who passeth two whole months betwi&t the ? ,n and the %a;0m. And he that hath been bro ght p on the shores of the sea is better than he that hath been bro ght p elsewhere. And he that lieth on the shore is as he that standeth elsewhere.( 7eril$, the Apostle of GodDma$ the blessings of God, e&alted be #e, and #is sal tations be pon #imDhath spo,en the tr th.

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