Kalimat-i-firdawsiyyih (words Of Paradise)
Sources: Tablets Of Baha'u'llah Revealed After The Kitab-i-aqdasHe is the One Who speaketh through the power of Truth in the Kingdom of
Utterance
O YE the embodiments of justice and equity and the manifestations of
uprightness and of heavenly bounties! In tears and lamenting, this Wronged
One calleth aloud and saith: O God, my God! Adorn the heads of Thy loved
ones with the crown of detachment and attire their temples with the
raiment of righteousness.
It behoveth the people of Baha to render the Lord victorious through the
power of their utterance and to admonish the people by their goodly deeds
and character, inasmuch as deeds exert greater influence than words.
O Haydar-'Ali!(11) Upon thee be the praise of God and His glory. Say:
Honesty, virtue, wisdom and a saintly character redound to the exaltation
of man, while dishonesty, imposture, ignorance and hypocrisy lead to his
abasement. By My life! Man's distinction lieth not in ornaments or wealth,
but rather in virtuous behaviour and true understanding. Most of the
people in Persia are steeped in deception and idle fancy. How great the
difference between the condition of these people and the station of such
valiant souls as have passed beyond the sea of names and pitched their
tents upon the shores of the ocean of detachment. Indeed none but a few of
the existing generation hath yet earned the merit of hearkening unto the
warblings of the doves of the all-highest Paradise. 'Few of My servants
are truly thankful.'(12) People for the most part delight in
superstitions. They regard a single drop of the sea of delusion as
preferable to an ocean of certitude. By holding fast unto names they
deprive themselves of the inner reality and by clinging to vain imaginings
they are kept back from the Dayspring of heavenly signs. God grant you may
be graciously aided under all conditions to shatter the idols of
superstition and to tear away the veils of the imaginations of men.
Authority lieth in the grasp of God, the Fountainhead of revelation and
inspiration and the Lord of the Day of Resurrection.
We heard that which the person in question hath mentioned regarding
certain teachers of the Faith. Indeed he hath spoken truly. Some heedless
souls roam the lands in the name of God, actively engaged in ruining His
Cause, and call it promoting and teaching the Word of God; and this
notwithstanding that the qualifications of the teachers of the Faith, like
unto stars, shine resplendent throughout the heavens of the divine
Tablets. Every fair-minded person testifieth and every man of insight is
well aware that the One true God--exalted be His glory--hath unceasingly set
forth and expounded that which will elevate the station and will exalt the
rank of the children of men.
The people of Baha burn brightly amidst the gatherings even as a candle
and hold fast unto that which God hath purposed. This station standeth
supreme above all stations. Well is it with him who hath cast away the
things that the people of the world possess, yearning for that which
pertaineth unto God, the Sovereign Lord of eternity.
Say: O God, my God! Thou beholdest me circling round Thy Will with mine
eyes turned towards the horizon of Thy bounty, eagerly awaiting the
revelation of the effulgent splendours of the sun of Thy favours. I beg of
Thee, O Beloved of every understanding heart and the Desire of such as
have near access unto Thee, to grant that Thy loved ones may become wholly
detached from their own inclinations, holding fast unto that which
pleaseth Thee. Attire them, O Lord, with the robe of righteousness and
illumine them with the splendours of the light of detachment. Summon then
to their assistance the hosts of wisdom and utterance that they may exalt
Thy Word amongst Thy creatures and proclaim Thy Cause amidst Thy servants.
Verily, potent art Thou to do what Thou willest, and within Thy grasp lie
the reins of all affairs. No God is there but Thee, the Mighty, the
Ever-Forgiving.
O thou who hast turned thy gaze towards My face! In these days there
occurred that which hath plunged Me into dire sadness. Certain wrong-doers
who profess allegiance to the Cause of God committed such deeds as have
caused the limbs of sincerity, of honesty, of justice, of equity to quake.
One known individual to whom the utmost kindness and favour had been
extended perpetrated such acts as have brought tears to the eye of God.
Formerly We uttered words of warning and premonition, then for a number of
years We kept the matter secret that haply he might take heed and repent.
But all to no purpose. In the end he bent his energies upon vilifying the
Cause of God before the eyes of all men. He tore the veil of fairness
asunder and felt sympathy neither for himself nor for the Cause of God.
Now, however, the deeds of certain individuals have brought sorrows far
more grievous than those which the deeds of the former had caused. Beseech
thou God, the True One, that He may graciously enable the heedless to
retract and repent. Verily He is the Forgiving, the Bountiful, the Most
Generous.
In these days it is incumbent upon everyone to adhere tenaciously unto
unity and concord and to labour diligently in promoting the Cause of God,
that perchance the wayward souls may attain that which will lead unto
abiding prosperity.
In brief, dissensions among various sects have opened the way to weakness.
Each sect hath picked out a way for itself and is clinging to a certain
cord. Despite manifest blindness and ignorance they pride themselves on
their insight and knowledge. Among them are mystics who bear allegiance to
the Faith of Islam, some of whom indulge in that which leadeth to idleness
and seclusion. I swear by God! It lowereth man's station and maketh him
swell with pride. Man must bring forth fruit. One who yieldeth no fruit
is, in the words of the Spirit,(13) like unto a fruitless tree, and a
fruitless tree is fit but for the fire.
That which the aforesaid persons have mentioned concerning the stations of
Divine Unity will conduce in no small measure to idleness and vain
imaginings. These mortal men have evidently set aside the differences of
station and have come to regard themselves as God, while God is
immeasurably exalted above all things. Every created being however
revealeth His signs which are but emanations from Him and not His Own
Self. All these signs are reflected and can be seen in the book of
existence, and the scrolls that depict the shape and pattern of the
universe are indeed a most great book. Therein every man of insight can
perceive that which would lead to the Straight Path and would enable him
to attain the Great Announcement. Consider the rays of the sun whose light
hath encompassed the world. The rays emanate from the sun and reveal its
nature, but are not the sun itself. Whatsoever can be discerned on earth
amply demonstrateth the power of God, His knowledge and the outpourings of
His bounty, while He Himself is immeasurably exalted above all creatures.
Christ saith: 'Thou hast granted to children that whereof the learned and
the wise are deprived.' The sage of Sabzivar(14) hath said: 'Alas!
Attentive ears are lacking, otherwise the whisperings of the Sinaic Bush
could be heard from every tree.' In a Tablet to a man of wisdom who had
made enquiry as to the meaning of Elementary Reality, We addressed this
famous sage in these words: 'If this saying is truly thine, how is it that
thou hast failed to hearken unto the Call which the Tree of Man hath
raised from the loftiest heights of the world? If thou didst hear the Call
yet fear and the desire to preserve thy life prompted thee to remain
heedless to it, thou art such a person as hath never been nor is worthy of
mention; if thou hast not heard it, then thou art bereft of the sense of
hearing.' In brief, such men are they whose words are the pride of the
world, and whose deeds are the shame of the nations.
Verily We have sounded the Trumpet which is none other than My Pen of
Glory, and lo, mankind hath swooned away before it, save them whom God
pleaseth to deliver as a token of His grace. He is the Lord of bounty, the
Ancient of Days.
Say: O concourse of divines! Pronounce ye censure against this Pen unto
which, as soon as it raised its shrill voice, the kingdom of utterance
prepared itself to hearken, and before whose mighty and glorious theme
every other theme hath paled into insignificance? Fear ye God and follow
not your idle fancies and corrupt imaginings, but rather follow Him Who is
come unto you invested with undeniable knowledge and unshakeable
certitude.
Glorified be God! Man's treasure is his utterance, yet this Wronged One
hath withheld His Tongue, for the disbelievers are lying in ambush;
however, protection is afforded by God, the Lord of all worlds. Verily, in
Him have We placed Our trust and unto Him have We committed all affairs.
All-Sufficient is He for Us and for all created things. He is the One by
Whose leave, and through the potency of Whose command, the Day-Star of
sovereign might hath shone resplendent above the horizon of the world.
Well is it with him who perceiveth and recognizeth the Truth and woe
betide the froward and the faithless.
This Wronged One hath invariably treated the wise with affection. By the
wise is meant men whose knowledge is not confined to mere words and whose
lives have been fruitful and have produced enduring results. It is
incumbent upon everyone to honour these blessed souls. Happy are they that
observe God's precepts; happy are they that have recognized the Truth;
happy are they that judge with fairness in all matters and hold fast to
the Cord of My inviolable Justice.
The people of Persia have turned away from Him Who is the Protector and
the Helper. They are clinging to and have enmeshed themselves in the vain
imaginings of the foolish. So firmly do they adhere to superstitions that
naught can sever them therefrom save the potent arm of God--exalted is His
glory. Beseech thou the Almighty that He may remove with the fingers of
divine power the veils which have shut out the divers peoples and
kindreds, that they may attain the things that are conducive to security,
progress and advancement and may hasten forth towards the incomparable
Friend.
The word of God which the Abha Pen hath revealed and inscribed on the
_first leaf_
of the Most Exalted Paradise is this: Verily I say: The fear of God hath
ever been a sure defence and a safe stronghold for all the peoples of the
world. It is the chief cause of the protection of mankind, and the supreme
instrument for its preservation. Indeed, there existeth in man a faculty
which deterreth him from, and guardeth him against, whatever is unworthy
and unseemly, and which is known as his sense of shame. This, however, is
confined to but a few; all have not possessed and do not possess it.
The word of God which the Supreme Pen hath recorded on the
_second leaf_
of the Most Exalted Paradise is the following: The Pen of the Most High
exhorteth, at this moment, the manifestations of authority and the sources
of power, namely the kings, the sovereigns, the presidents, the rulers,
the divines and the wise, and enjoineth them to uphold the cause of
religion, and to cleave unto it. Religion is verily the chief instrument
for the establishment of order in the world and of tranquillity amongst
its peoples. The weakening of the pillars of religion hath strengthened
the foolish and emboldened them and made them more arrogant. Verily I say:
The greater the decline of religion, the more grievous the waywardness of
the ungodly. This cannot but lead in the end to chaos and confusion. Hear
Me, O men of insight, and be warned, ye who are endued with discernment!
The word of God which the Supreme Pen hath recorded on the
_third leaf_
of the Most Exalted Paradise is this: O son of man! If thine eyes be
turned towards mercy, forsake the things that profit thee and cleave unto
that which will profit mankind. And if thine eyes be turned towards
justice, choose thou for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for
thyself. Humility exalteth man to the heaven of glory and power, whilst
pride abaseth him to the depths of wretchedness and degradation.
O people of God! Great is the Day and mighty the Call! In one of Our
Tablets We have revealed these exalted words: 'Were the world of the
spirit to be wholly converted into the sense of hearing, it could then
claim to be worthy to hearken unto the Voice that calleth from the Supreme
Horizon; for otherwise, these ears that are defiled with lying tales have
never been, nor are they now, fit to hear it.' Well is it with them that
hearken; and woe betide the wayward.
The word of God which the Supreme Pen hath recorded on the
_fourth leaf_
of the Most Exalted Paradise is the following: O people of God! Beseech ye
the True One--glorified be His Name--that He may graciously shield the
manifestations of dominion and power from the suggestions of self and
desire and shed the radiance of justice and guidance upon them.
His Majesty Muhammad Shah, despite the excellence of his rank, committed
two heinous deeds. One was the order to banish the Lord of the Realms of
Grace and Bounty, the Primal Point; and the other, the murder of the
Prince of the City of Statesmanship and Literary Accomplishment.(15)
The faults of kings, like their favours, can be great. A king who is not
deterred by the vainglory of power and authority from observing justice,
nor is deprived of the splendours of the day-star of equity by luxury,
riches, glory or the marshalling of hosts and legions shall occupy a high
rank and a sublime station amongst the Concourse on high. It is incumbent
upon everyone to extend aid and to manifest kindness to so noble a soul.
Well is it with the king who keepeth a tight hold on the reins of his
passion, restraineth his anger and preferreth justice and fairness to
injustice and tyranny.
The word of God which the Supreme Pen hath recorded on the
_fifth leaf_
of the Most Exalted Paradise is this: Above all else, the greatest gift
and the most wondrous blessing hath ever been and will continue to be
Wisdom. It is man's unfailing Protector. It aideth him and strengtheneth
him. Wisdom is God's Emissary and the Revealer of His Name the Omniscient.
Through it the loftiness of man's station is made manifest and evident. It
is all-knowing and the foremost Teacher in the school of existence. It is
the Guide and is invested with high distinction. Thanks to its educating
influence earthly beings have become imbued with a gem-like spirit which
outshineth the heavens. In the city of justice it is the unrivalled
Speaker Who, in the year nine, illumined the world with the joyful tidings
of this Revelation. And it was this peerless Source of wisdom that at the
beginning of the foundation of the world ascended the stair of inner
meaning and when enthroned upon the pulpit of utterance, through the
operation of the divine Will, proclaimed two words. The first heralded the
promise of reward, while the second voiced the ominous warning of
punishment. The promise gave rise to hope and the warning begat fear. Thus
the basis of world order hath been firmly established upon these twin
principles. Exalted is the Lord of Wisdom, the Possessor of Great Bounty.
The word of God which the Supreme Pen hath recorded on the
_sixth leaf_
of the Most Exalted Paradise is the following: The light of men is
Justice. Quench it not with the contrary winds of oppression and tyranny.
The purpose of justice is the appearance of unity among men. The ocean of
divine wisdom surgeth within this exalted word, while the books of the
world cannot contain its inner significance. Were mankind to be adorned
with this raiment, they would behold the day-star of the utterance, 'On
that day God will satisfy everyone out of His abundance,'(16) shining
resplendent above the horizon of the world. Appreciate ye the value of
this utterance; it is a noble fruit that the Tree of the Pen of Glory hath
yielded. Happy is the man that giveth ear unto it and observeth its
precepts. Verily I say, whatever is sent down from the heaven of the Will
of God is the means for the establishment of order in the world and the
instrument for promoting unity and fellowship among its peoples. Thus hath
the Tongue of this Wronged One spoken from His Most Great Prison.
The word of God which the Supreme Pen hath recorded on the
_seventh leaf_
of the Most Exalted Paradise is this: O ye men of wisdom among nations!
Shut your eyes to estrangement, then fix your gaze upon unity. Cleave
tenaciously unto that which will lead to the well-being and tranquillity
of all mankind. This span of earth is but one homeland and one habitation.
It behoveth you to abandon vainglory which causeth alienation and to set
your hearts on whatever will ensure harmony. In the estimation of the
people of Baha man's glory lieth in his knowledge, his upright conduct,
his praiseworthy character, his wisdom, and not in his nationality or
rank. O people of the earth! Appreciate the value of this heavenly word.
Indeed it may be likened unto a ship for the ocean of knowledge and a
shining luminary for the realm of perception.
The word of God which the Supreme Pen hath recorded on the
_eighth leaf_
of the Most Exalted Paradise is the following: Schools must first train
the children in the principles of religion, so that the Promise and the
Threat recorded in the Books of God may prevent them from the things
forbidden and adorn them with the mantle of the commandments; but this in
such a measure that it may not injure the children by resulting in
ignorant fanaticism and bigotry.
It is incumbent upon the Trustees of the House of Justice to take counsel
together regarding those things which have not outwardly been revealed in
the Book, and to enforce that which is agreeable to them. God will verily
inspire them with whatsoever He willeth, and He, verily, is the Provider,
the Omniscient.
We have formerly ordained that people should converse in two languages,
yet efforts must be made to reduce them to one, likewise the scripts of
the world, that men's lives may not be dissipated and wasted in learning
divers languages. Thus the whole earth would come to be regarded as one
city and one land.
The word of God which the Supreme Pen hath recorded on the
_ninth leaf_
of the Most Exalted Paradise is this: In all matters moderation is
desirable. If a thing is carried to excess, it will prove a source of
evil. Consider the civilization of the West, how it hath agitated and
alarmed the peoples of the world. An infernal engine hath been devised,
and hath proved so cruel a weapon of destruction that its like none hath
ever witnessed or heard. The purging of such deeply-rooted and
overwhelming corruptions cannot be effected unless the peoples of the
world unite in pursuit of one common aim and embrace one universal faith.
Incline your ears unto the Call of this Wronged One and adhere firmly to
the Lesser Peace.
Strange and astonishing things exist in the earth but they are hidden from
the minds and the understanding of men. These things are capable of
changing the whole atmosphere of the earth and their contamination would
prove lethal. Great God! We have observed an amazing thing. Lightning or a
force similar to it is controlled by an operator and moveth at his
command. Immeasurably exalted is the Lord of Power Who hath laid bare that
which He purposed through the potency of His weighty and invincible
command.
O people of Baha! Each one of the ordinances We have revealed is a mighty
stronghold for the preservation of the world of being. Verily, this
Wronged One desireth naught but your security and elevation.
We exhort the men of the House of Justice and command them to ensure the
protection and safeguarding of men, women and children. It is incumbent
upon them to have the utmost regard for the interests of the people at all
times and under all conditions. Blessed is the ruler who succoureth the
captive, and the rich one who careth for the poor, and the just one who
secureth from the wrong doer the rights of the downtrodden, and happy the
trustee who observeth that which the Ordainer, the Ancient of Days hath
prescribed unto him.
O Haydar-'Ali! Upon thee be My glory and My praise. My counsels and
admonitions have compassed the world. Yet, instead of imparting joy and
gladness they have caused grief, because some of those who claim to love
Me have waxed haughty and have inflicted upon Me such tribulations as
neither the followers of former religions nor the divines of Persia did
ever inflict.
We have said: 'My imprisonment doeth Me no harm, nor do the things that
have befallen Me at the hands of My enemies. That which harmeth Me is the
conduct of my loved ones who, though they bear My name, yet commit that
which maketh My heart and My pen to lament.' Such utterances as these have
again and again been revealed, yet the heedless have failed to profit
thereby, since they are captive to their own evil passions and corrupt
desires. Beseech thou the One true God that He may enable everyone to
repent and return unto Him. So long as one's nature yieldeth unto evil
passions, crime and transgression will prevail. We cherish the hope that
the hand of divine power and the outpouring of heavenly blessings may
sustain all men, may attire them with the vesture of forgiveness and
bounty and guard them against that which would harm His Cause among His
servants. He is, in truth, the Potent, the All-Powerful, and He is the
Ever-Forgiving, the Merciful.
The word of God which the Supreme Pen hath recorded on the
_tenth leaf_
of the Most Exalted Paradise is the following: O people of the earth!
Living in seclusion or practising asceticism is not acceptable in the
presence of God. It behoveth them that are endued with insight and
understanding to observe that which will cause joy and radiance. Such
practices as are sprung from the loins of idle fancy or are begotten of
the womb of superstition ill beseem men of knowledge. In former times and
more recently some people have been taking up their abodes in the caves of
the mountains while others have repaired to graveyards at night. Say, give
ear unto the counsels of this Wronged One. Abandon the things current
amongst you and adopt that which the faithful Counsellor biddeth you.
Deprive not yourselves of the bounties which have been created for your
sake.
Charity is pleasing and praiseworthy in the sight of God and is regarded
as a prince among goodly deeds. Consider ye and call to mind that which
the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Qur'an: 'They prefer them before
themselves, though poverty be their own lot. And with such as are
preserved from their own covetousness shall it be well.'(17) Viewed in
this light, the blessed utterance above is, in truth, the day-star of
utterances. Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself.
Verily, such a man is reckoned, by virtue of the Will of God, the
All-Knowing, the All-Wise, with the people of Baha who dwell in the
Crimson Ark.
The word of God which the Supreme Pen hath recorded on the
_eleventh leaf_
of the Most Exalted Paradise is this: We enjoin upon them that are the
emblems of His names and attributes to firmly adhere henceforth unto that
which hath been set forth in this Most Great Revelation, not to allow
themselves to become the cause of strife, and, until the end that knoweth
no end, to keep their eyes directed towards the dayspring of these
resplendent words which have been recorded in this Tablet. Strife leads to
bloodshed and provokes commotion amongst people. Hearken ye unto the Voice
of this Wronged One and deviate not therefrom.
Were anyone to ponder in his heart that which hath, in this Revelation,
streamed forth from the Pen of Glory, he would be assured that whatever
this Wronged One hath affirmed He hath had no intention of establishing
any position or distinction for Himself. The purpose hath rather been to
attract the souls, through the sublimity of His words, unto the summit of
transcendent glory and to endow them with the capacity of perceiving that
which will purge and purify the peoples of the world from the strife and
dissension which religious differences provoke. Unto this bear witness My
heart, My Pen, My inner and My outer Being. God grant that all men may
turn unto the treasuries latent within their own beings.
O people of Baha! The source of crafts, sciences and arts is the power of
reflection. Make ye every effort that out of this ideal mine there may
gleam forth such pearls of wisdom and utterance as will promote the
well-being and harmony of all the kindreds of the earth.
Under all conditions, whether in adversity or at ease, whether honoured or
afflicted, this Wronged One hath directed all men to show forth love,
affection, compassion and harmony. And yet whenever there was any slight
evidence of progress and advancement, those concealed behind the veils
would sally forth and utter calumnies more wounding than the sword. They
cling unto misleading and reprehensible words and suffer themselves to be
deprived of the ocean of verses revealed by God.
If these obstructing veils had not intervened Persia would, in some two
years, have been subdued through the power of utterance, the position of
both the government and the people would have been raised and the Supreme
Goal, unveiled and unconcealed, would have appeared in the plenitude of
glory. In short, sometimes in explicit language, at other times by
allusion, We said whatever had to be said. Thus, once Persia had been
rehabilitated, the sweet savours of the Word of God would have wafted over
all countries, inasmuch as that which hath streamed forth from the Most
Exalted Pen is conducive to the glory, the advancement and education of
all the peoples and kindreds of the earth. Indeed it is the sovereign
remedy for every disease, could they but comprehend and perceive it.
Recently the Afnans and Amin--upon them be My glory and
loving-kindness--attained Our presence and beheld Our countenance; likewise
Nabil, the son of Nabil and the son of Samandar--upon them rest the glory
of God and His loving-kindness--are present and have drunk the cup of
reunion. We entreat God that He may graciously ordain for them the good of
this world and of the next and that the outpouring of His blessings and
grace may descend upon them from the heaven of His generosity and the
clouds of His tender compassion. Verily of those who show mercy He is the
Most Merciful, and He is the Gracious, the Beneficent.
O Haydar-'Ali! Thine other letter which thou hadst forwarded through him
who beareth the title of Jud(18) (Bounty) hath reached Our holy court.
Praised be God! It was adorned with the light of divine unity and of
detachment and was ablaze with the fire of love and affection. Pray thou
unto God that He may grant keenness to the eyes and illumine them with a
new light, perchance they may perceive that which hath no parallel nor
peer.
In this day the verses of the Mother Book are resplendent and unmistakable
even as the sun. They can in no wise be mistaken for any of the past or
more recent utterances. Truly this Wronged One desireth not to demonstrate
His Own Cause with proofs produced by others. He is the One Who embraceth
all things, while all else besides Him is circumscribed. Say, O people,
peruse that which is current amongst you and We will peruse what
pertaineth unto Us. I swear by God! Neither the praise of the peoples of
the world, nor the things that the kindreds of the earth possess are
worthy of mention before the remembrance of His Name. Unto this beareth
witness He Who under all conditions proclaimeth, 'Verily He is God, the
sovereign Ruler of the Day of Reckoning and the Lord of the mighty
Throne.'
Glorified be God! One wondereth by what proof or reason the disbelievers
among the people of the Bayan have turned away from the Lord of being. In
truth the station of this Revelation transcendeth the station of whatever
hath been manifested in the past or will be made manifest in the future.
Were the Point of the Bayan present in this day and should He, God forbid,
hesitate to acknowledge this Cause, then the very blessed words which have
streamed forth from the wellspring of His Own Bayan would apply to Him. He
saith, and His word is the truth, 'Lawful is it for Him Whom God will make
manifest to reject him who is the greatest on earth.' Say, O ye that are
bereft of understanding! Today that Most Exalted Being is proclaiming:
'Verily, verily, I am the first to adore Him.' How shallow is the fund of
men's knowledge and how feeble their power of perception. Our Pen of Glory
beareth witness to their abject poverty and to the wealth of God, the Lord
of all worlds.
Lauded and glorified is He Who hath called the creation into being. He is
the sovereign Truth, the Knower of things unseen. The Mother Book is
revealed and the Lord of Bounty is established upon the most blessed seat
of glory. The Dawn hath broken, yet the people understand not. The signs
have been ushered in, while He Who hath revealed them is overwhelmed with
manifest sorrow. Indeed I have endured that which hath caused the world of
existence to lament.
Say: O Yahya (Azal), produce a single verse, if thou dost possess
divinely-inspired knowledge. These words were formerly spoken by My Herald
Who at this hour proclaimeth: 'Verily, verily, I am the first to adore
Him.' Be fair, O My brother. Art thou able to express thyself when brought
face to face with the billowing ocean of Mine utterance? Canst thou
unloose thy tongue when confronted with the shrill voice of My Pen? Hast
thou any power before the revelations of Mine omnipotence? Judge thou
fairly, I adjure thee by God, and call to mind when thou didst stand in
the presence of this Wronged One and We dictated to thee the verses of
God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. Beware lest the source of
falsehood withhold thee from the manifest Truth.
O thou who hast fixed thy gaze upon My countenance! Say: O ye heedless
ones! By reason of a droplet ye have deprived yourselves of the ocean of
heavenly verses and for the sake of an insignificant atom ye have shut
yourselves out from the splendours of the Day-Star of Truth. Who else but
Baha hath the power to speak forth before the face of mankind? Judge ye
fairly and be not of the unjust. Through Him the oceans have surged, the
mysteries have been divulged and the trees have lifted up their voices
exclaiming: The kingdoms of earth and heaven are God's, the Revealer of
signs, the Fountainhead of clear tokens. Peruse ye the Persian Bayan
revealed by Him Who heralded this Revelation and look at it with the eye
of fairness. Verily He will guide you aright to His Path. At this moment
He proclaimeth that which His tongue had formerly uttered when He was
seated upon the throne of His most exalted Name.
Thou hast made mention of the loved ones in those regions. Praised be God,
each one of them attained the honour of being remembered by the True
One--exalted is His glory--and the names of them, one and all, flowed from
the Tongue of Grandeur in the kingdom of utterance. Great indeed is their
blessedness and happiness, inasmuch as they have drunk the choice wine of
revelation and inspiration from the hand of their Lord, the Compassionate,
the Merciful. We beseech God to strengthen them to manifest inflexible
constancy and to summon to their aid the hosts of wisdom and utterance. He
is in truth the Mighty, the Omnipotent. Convey my greetings to them and
give them the joyful tidings that the Day-Star of remembrance hath dawned
and shed its radiance from above the horizon of the bountiful favours of
their Lord, the Ever-Forgiving, the All-Merciful.
Thou hast mentioned Husayn. We have attired his temple with the robe of
forgiveness and adorned his head with the crown of pardon. It beseemeth
him to pride himself among all men upon this resplendent, this radiant and
manifest bounty. Say: Be not despondent. After the revelation of this
blessed verse it is as though thou hast been born anew from thy mother's
womb. Say: Thou art free from sin and error. Truly God hath purged thee
with the living waters of His utterance in His Most Great Prison. We
entreat Him--blessed and exalted is He--to graciously confirm thee in
extolling Him and in magnifying His glory and to strengthen thee through
the power of His invisible hosts. Verily, He is the Almighty, the
Omnipotent.
Thou hast made mention of the people of Tar.(19) We have set Our face
toward the servants of God therein and advise them first to consider that
which the Point of the Bayan hath revealed concerning this Revelation
whereby all names and titles have been shaken, the idols of vain
imaginings have crumbled and the Tongue of Grandeur hath, from the realm
of glory, proclaimed: By the righteousness of God! The Hidden Treasure,
the Impenetrable Mystery, hath been uncovered to men's eyes, causing all
things, whether of the past or of the future, to rejoice. He hath said,
and His word is the truth: 'Of all the tributes I have paid to Him Who is
to come after Me, the greatest is this, My written confession, that no
words of Mine can adequately describe Him, nor can any reference to Him in
My Book, the Bayan, do justice to His Cause.'
Moreover We counsel them to observe justice, equity, honesty, piety and
that whereby both the Word of God and their own station will be exalted
amongst men. Verily I am the One Who exhorteth with justice. Unto this
beareth witness He from Whose Pen rivers of mercy have flowed and from
Whose utterance fountains of living waters have streamed forth unto all
created things. Immeasurably exalted is this boundless grace; immensely
blessed is this resplendent favour.
O people of Tar! Give ear unto the Call of Him Who doeth whatsoever He
willeth. In truth He remindeth you of that which will draw you nigh unto
God, the Lord of the worlds. He hath turned His face towards you from the
Prison of Akka and hath revealed for your sakes what will immortalize your
memory and your names in the Book which cannot be effaced and remaineth
unaffected by the doubts of the froward. Cast away the things current
amongst men and take fast hold on that whereunto ye are bidden by virtue
of the Will of the Ordainer, the Ancient of Days. This is the Day wherein
the divine Lote-Tree calleth aloud, saying: O people! Behold ye My fruits
and My leaves, incline then your ears unto My rustling. Beware lest the
doubts of men debar you from the light of certitude. The Ocean of
utterance exclaimeth and saith: 'O ye dwellers on the earth! Behold My
billowing waters and the pearls of wisdom and utterance which I have
poured forth. Fear ye God and be not of the heedless.'
In this Day a great festival is taking place in the Realm above; for
whatsoever was promised in the sacred Scriptures hath been fulfilled. This
is the Day of great rejoicing. It behoveth everyone to hasten towards the
court of His nearness with exceeding joy, gladness, exultation and delight
and to deliver himself from the fire of remoteness.
O people of Tar! Through the strengthening power of My Name seize ye the
chalice of knowledge, drink then your fill in defiance of the people of
the world who have broken the Covenant of God and His Testament, rejected
His proofs and clear tokens, and cavilled at His signs which have pervaded
all that are in heaven and on earth.
The disbelievers among the people of the Bayan are like the followers of
the Shi'ih sect and walk in their footsteps. Leave them to their idle
fancies and vain imaginings. They are in truth accounted with the lost in
the Book of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. The Shi'ih divines, one
and all, are now engaged in reviling and denouncing the True One from
their pulpits. Gracious God! Dawlat-Abadi(20) too hath followed suit. He
ascended the pulpit and gave voice to that which hath caused the Tablet to
cry out in anguish and the Pen to wail. Meditate upon his conduct and the
conduct of Ashraf(21)--upon him be My glory and My tender mercy--and
likewise consider those loved ones who hastened to the place of martyrdom
in My Name, and offered up their lives in the path of Him Who is the
Desire of the world.
The Cause is manifest, it shineth resplendent as the sun, but the people
have become veils unto themselves. We entreat God that He may graciously
assist them to return unto Him. He is, in truth, the Forgiving, the
Merciful.
O people of Tar! We send you greetings from this Spot and beseech
God--blessed and exalted is He--to give you to drink the choice wine of
constancy from the hand of His favour. Verily, He is the Lord of Bounty,
the Gracious, the All-Praised. Leave ye unto themselves the immature ones
of the world--they that are moved by selfish desire and cling to the
exponents of idle fancy. Verily He is your Helper and Succourer. He is, in
truth, potent to do whatsoever He willeth. No God is there but Him, the
One, the Peerless, the Mighty, the Most Great.
May glory from Our presence rest upon those who have set their faces
toward the Dayspring of His Revelation and have acknowledged and
recognized that which the Tongue of utterance hath spoken in the kingdom
of knowledge in this blessed, this glorious and incomparable Day.
More
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Tarazat (ornaments)
In My Name, which standeth supreme above all names PRAISE and glory beseem the Lord of Names and the Creator of the heavens, He, the waves of Whose ocean of Revelation surge before the eyes of the peoples of the world. The Day-Star of His Cause ... Ishraqat (splendours)
This is the Epistle of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting He is God, exalted is He, the Lord of wisdom and utterance. PRAISE be unto God, incomparable in majesty, power and beauty, peerless in glory, might and grandeur; too high is He... Bisharat (glad-tidings)
This is the Call of the All-Glorious which is proclaimed from the Supreme Horizon in the Prison of Akka He is the Expounder, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. GOD, the True One, testifieth and the Revealers of His names and attributes bear w... Tajalliyat (effulgences)
This is the Epistle of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting He is the One Who heareth from His Realm of Glory. GOD testifieth that there is none other God but Him and that He Who hath appeared is the Hidden Mystery, the Treasured Symbol... Excerpts From Other Tablets
GOD testifieth that there is none other God but... GOD testifieth that there is none other God but Him and that He Who hath come from the heaven of divine revelation is the Hidden Secret, the Impenetrable Mystery, Whose advent h... Lawh-i-hikmat (tablet Of Wisdom)
_This Tablet was addressed to Aqa Muhammad, a distinguished believer from the town of Qa'in, who was surnamed Nabil-i-Akbar (see Memorials of the Faithful pages 1-5). Another distinguished believer of Qa'in, Mulla Muhammad-'Ali, wa... Lawh-i-karmil (tablet Of Carmel)
ALL glory be to this Day, the Day in which the fragrances of mercy have been wafted over all created things, a Day so blest that past ages and centuries can never hope to rival it, a Day in which the countenance of the Ancient of Days hath turned ... Lawh-i-maqsud (tablet Of Maqsud)
_Out of respect, the Baha'is, rather than addressing Baha'u'llah directly, would write to His amanuensis, Mirza Aqa Jan, surnamed 'Servant of God' and 'Servant-in-Attendance'. The reply would be in the form of a letter from Mirza A... Lawh-i-dunya (tablet Of The World)
In My Name, calling aloud in the Kingdom of Utterance PRAISE and thanksgiving beseem the Lord of manifest dominion Who hath adorned the mighty prison with the presence of their honours 'Ali-Akbar and Amin, and hath illumined it with the light of... Suriy-i-vafa(60) (tablet To Vafa)
He is the All-Knowing O VAFA! Render thanks unto thy Lord for having aided thee to embrace His Cause, enabled thee to recognize the Manifestation of His Own Self and raised thee up to magnify Him Who is the Most Great Remembrance in this glorio... Kitab-i-'ahd (book Of The Covenant)
ALTHOUGH the Realm of Glory hath none of the vanities of the world, yet within the treasury of trust and resignation We have bequeathed to Our heirs an excellent and priceless heritage. Earthly treasures We have not bequeathed, nor have We added... Lawh-i-burhan (tablet Of The Proof)
_This Tablet was revealed after the martyrdom of the King of Martyrs and the Beloved of Martyrs (see God Passes By pages 200-201) and was addressed to Shaykh Muhammad Baqir, denounced by Baha'u'llah as the 'Wolf'. In this Tablet Ba... Asl-i-kullu'l-khayr (words Of Wisdom)
In the Name of God, the Exalted, the Most High THE source of all good is trust in God, submission unto His command, and contentment with His holy will and pleasure. The essence of wisdom is the fear of God, the dread of His scourge and punish... Lawh-i-aqdas (the Most Holy Tablet)(1)
This is the Most Holy Tablet sent down from the holy kingdom unto the one who hath set his face towards the Object of the adoration of the world, He Who hath come from the heaven of eternity, invested with transcendent glory In the name of the ... Kalimat-i-firdawsiyyih (words Of Paradise)
He is the One Who speaketh through the power of Truth in the Kingdom of Utterance O YE the embodiments of justice and equity and the manifestations of uprightness and of heavenly bounties! In tears and lamenting, this Wronged One calleth aloud ... Lawh-i-ard-i-ba (tablet Of The Land Of Ba)
PRAISE be to Him Who hath honoured the Land of Ba(86) through the presence of Him round Whom all names revolve. All the atoms of the earth have announced unto all created things that from behind the gate of the Prison-city there hath appeared and ... Lawh-i-siyyid-i-mihdiy-i-dahaji (tablet To Siyyid Mihdiy-i-dahaji)
He is the Most Holy, the Most Great, the Most Exalted, the Most High O MY Name!(64) Yield thou praise unto God for having graciously chosen thee to be a shower of bounty for that which We have sown in the pure and blessed soil and enabled thee t... 2: O Son Of Spirit! The Best Beloved Of All Things In My Sight Is Justice;
O SON OF SPIRIT! The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice; turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, a... A Book Sent Down In Truth Unto Men Of
A Book sent down in truth unto men of insight! It biddeth the people to observe justice and to work righteousness, and forbiddeth them to follow their corrupt inclinations and carnal desires, if perchance the children of men might be roused from t... By The Righteousness Of God My Well-beloved!
By the righteousness of God, my Well-Beloved! I have never aspired after worldly leadership. My sole purpose hath been to hand down unto men that which I was bidden to deliver by God, the Gracious, the Incomparable, that it may detach them from al... Glorified Art Thou, O Lord My God! I Give Thee
Glorified art Thou, O Lord my God! I give Thee thanks inasmuch as Thou hast called me into being in Thy days, and infused into me Thy love and Thy knowledge. I beseech Thee, by Thy name whereby the goodly pearls of Thy wisdom and Thine utterance w... Glory To Thee, O My God! One Of Thy Handmaidens,
Glory to Thee, O my God! One of Thy handmaidens, who hath believed in Thee and in Thy signs, hath entered beneath the shadow of the tree of Thy oneness. Give her to quaff, O my God, by Thy Name, the Manifest and the Hidden, of Thy choice sealed Wi... Magnified Be Thy Name, O Lord My God! Behold
Magnified be Thy name, O Lord my God! Behold Thou mine eye expectant to gaze on the wonders of Thy mercy, and mine ear longing to hearken unto Thy sweet melodies, and my heart yearning for the living waters of Thy knowledge. Thou seest Thy handmai... O Letter Of The Living! The Ear Of God
O Letter of the Living! The ear of God hath heard thy cry, and His eyes have beheld thy written supplication. He is calling thee from His seat of glory, and is revealing unto thee the verses that have been sent down by Him Who is the Help in Peril... O Muhammad-'ali! Great Is The Blessedness
O Muhammad-'Ali! Great is the blessedness awaiting thee, inasmuch as thou hast adorned thine heart with the ornament of the love of thy Lord, the All-Glorious, the All-Praised. He that hath attained this station in this day, all good shall be his.... O My Lord! Make Thy Beauty To Be My Food, And
O my Lord! Make Thy beauty to be my food, and Thy presence my drink, and Thy pleasure my hope, and praise of Thee my action, and remembrance of Thee my companion, and the power of Thy sovereignty my succorer, and Thy habitation my home, and my dwe... Praise Be To Thee, O Lord My God! Thou Beholdest
Praise be to Thee, O Lord my God! Thou beholdest what the tongue of no one except Thee can utter, and bearest witness unto things which no mouth can recount. The floods of afflictions are let loose, and the winds of Thy judgment have blown, and fr... Praise Be Unto Thee, O My God! I Am One Of Thy
Praise be unto Thee, O my God! I am one of Thy servants, who hath believed on Thee and on Thy signs. Thou seest how I have set myself towards the door of Thy mercy, and turned my face in the direction of Thy loving-kindness. I beseech Thee, by Thy... Whoso Wisheth To Pray, Let Him Wash
_Whoso wisheth to pray, let him wash his hands, and while he washeth, let him say:_ Strengthen my hand, O my God, that it may take hold of Thy Book with such steadfastness that the hosts of the world shall have no... 'abdu'l-hamid's Committee
One year before 'Abdu'l-Hamid was dethroned, he sent an extremely overbearing, treacherous and insulting committee of investigation. The chairman was one of the governor's staff, Arif Bey, and with him were three army commanders varying in rank. ... 1
O thou who treadest the path of justice and beholdest the countenance of mercy! Thine epistle was received, thy question was noted, and the sweet accents of thy soul were heard from the inmost chambers of thy heart. Whereupon the clouds of the Divine... 1 The Sweet-smelling Savour Of My Garment #4
This is an allusion to the story of Joseph in the Qur'an and the Old Testament, in which Joseph's garment, brought by his brothers to Jacob, their father, enabled Jacob to identify his beloved long-lost son. The metaphor of the fragrant garment is... 10
And in the third Gospel, according to Luke, it is recorded: "There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars, and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; and the powers of heaven shall be... 10 Cheniston Gardens London W
The subjoined notes are taken from The Quarterly Record of 'Higher Thought' Work, November 1911. One of the most interesting and significant events which have taken place, has been the visit of 'Abdu'l-Baha to London. The Persian Mage ... 10 The Prayer For The Dead #8
The Prayer for the Dead (see Some Texts Supplementary to the Kitab-i-Aqdas) is the only Baha'i obligatory prayer which is to be recited in congregation; it is to be recited by one believer while all present stand in silence (see note 19).... 100
In this valley the wayfarers stray and perish ere they attain their final abode. Gracious God! So immense is this valley, so vast this city in the kingdom of creation, that it seemeth to have neither beginning nor end. How great the blessedness of hi... 100 Should Resentment Or Antipathy Arise Between Husband And Wife
he is not to divorce her but to bide in patience throughout the course of one whole year 68 Divorce is strongly condemned in the Baha'i Teachings. If, however, antipathy or resentment develop between the marriage partners, divorce is permissib... 101
And should the servant ascend to even loftier heights, quit this mortal world of dust, and seek to ascend unto the celestial abode, he will then pass from this city into the City of Absolute Nothingness, that is, of dying to self and living in God. I... 101 The Lord Hath Prohibited
the practice to which ye formerly had recourse when thrice ye had divorced a woman. 68 This relates to a law of Islam set out in the Qur'an which decreed that under certain conditions a man could not remarry his divorced wife unless she had mar... 102
Were We to recount the mysteries of this city, the dominions of the hearts of men would be laid to waste in the intensity of their longing for this mighty station. For this is the station wherein the effulgent glories of the Beloved are revealed to t... 102 He Who Hath Divorced His Wife May Choose Upon The Passing Of Each Month
to remarry her when there is mutual affection and consent, so long as she hath not taken another husband ... unless, clearly, her circumstances change. 68 Shoghi Effendi states, in a letter written on his behalf, that the intention of the passi... 103
How can a true lover continue to exist when once the effulgent glories of the Beloved are revealed? How can the shadow endure when once the sun hath shone forth? How can a devoted heart have any being before the existence of the Object of its devotio... 103 Semen Is Not Unclean # 74
In a number of religious traditions and in Shi'ih Muslim practice semen has been declared ritually unclean. Baha'u'llah has here dispelled this concept. See also note 106 below. ... 104
Gracious God! But for fear of the Nimrod of tyranny and for the protection of the Abraham of justice, I would reveal unto thee that which, wert thou to abandon self and desire, would enable thee to dispense with aught else and to draw nigh unto this ... 104 Cleave Ye Unto The Cord Of Refinement #74
'Abdu'l-Baha refers to the effect of purity and holiness, cleanliness and refinement on the exaltation of the human condition and the development of man's inner reality. He states: The fact of having a pure and spotless body exercises an influence... 105
From this most august and exalted station, and from this most sublime and glorious plane, the seeker entereth the City of Immortality, therein to abide forever. In this station he beholdeth himself established upon the throne of independence and the ... 105 Wash Ye Every Soiled Thing With Water That Hath Undergone No Alteration In Any One Of The Three Respects #74
The three respects referred to in this verse are changes in the colour, taste or smell of the water. Baha'u'llah provides additional guidance concerning pure water and the point at which it is considered unsuitable for use (Q and A 91). ... 106
Having, in this journey, immersed himself in the ocean of immortality, rid his heart from attachment to aught save Him, and attained unto the loftiest heights of everlasting life, the seeker will see no annihilation either for himself or for any othe... 106 God Hath Abolished The Concept Of Uncleanness Whereby Divers Things And Peoples Have Been Held To Be Impure #75
The concept of ritual uncleanness, as understood and practised in some tribal societies and in the religious communities of certain earlier Dispensations, has been abolished by Baha'u'llah. He states that through His Revelation all created things ... 107
All that existeth in this city shall indeed endure and will never perish. Shouldst thou, by the leave of God, enter this sublime and exalted garden, thou wouldst find its sun in its noontide glory, never to set, never to be eclipsed. The same holdeth...