Kitab-i-'ahd (book Of The Covenant)

Sources: Tablets Of Baha'u'llah Revealed After The Kitab-i-aqdas

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 such cares as they entail. By God! In

earthly riches fear is hidden and peril is concealed. Consider ye and call

to mind that which the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Qur'a : 'Woe

betide every slanderer and defamer, him that layeth up riches and counteth

them.'(85) Fleeting are the riches of the world; all that perisheth and

changeth is not, and hath never been, worthy of attention, except to a

recognized measure.



The aim of this Wronged One in sustaining woes and tribulations, in

revealing the Holy Verses and in demonstrating proofs hath been naught but

to quench the flame of hate and enmity, that the horizon of the hearts of

men may be illumined with the light of concord and attain real peace and

tranquillity. From the dawning-place of the divine Tablet the day-star of

this utterance shineth resplendent, and it behoveth everyone to fix his

gaze upon it: We exhort you, O peoples of the world, to observe that which

will elevate your station. Hold fast to the fear of God and firmly adhere

to what is right. Verily I say, the tongue is for mentioning what is good,

defile it not with unseemly talk. God hath forgiven what is past.

Henceforward everyone should utter that which is meet and seemly, and

should refrain from slander, abuse and whatever causeth sadness in men.

Lofty is the station of man! Not long ago this exalted Word streamed forth

from the treasury of Our Pen of Glory: Great and blessed is this Day--the

Day in which all that lay latent in man hath been and will be made

manifest. Lofty is the station of man, were he to hold fast to

righteousness and truth and to remain firm and steadfast in the Cause. In

the eyes of the All-Merciful a true man appeareth even as a firmament; its

sun and moon are his sight and hearing, and his shining and resplendent

character its stars. His is the loftiest station, and his influence

educateth the world of being.



Every receptive soul who hath in this Day inhaled the fragrance of His

garment and hath, with a pure heart, set his face towards the all-glorious

Horizon is reckoned among the people of Baha in the Crimson Book. Grasp

ye, in My Name, the chalice of My loving-kindness, drink then your fill in

My glorious and wondrous remembrance.



O ye that dwell on earth! The religion of God is for love and unity; make

it not the cause of enmity or dissension. In the eyes of men of insight

and the beholders of the Most Sublime Vision, whatsoever are the effective

means for safeguarding and promoting the happiness and welfare of the

children of men have already been revealed by the Pen of Glory. But the

foolish ones of the earth, being nurtured in evil passions and desires,

have remained heedless of the consummate wisdom of Him Who is, in truth,

the All-Wise, while their words and deeds are prompted by idle fancies and

vain imaginings.



O ye the loved ones and the trustees of God! Kings are the manifestations

of the power, and the daysprings of the might and riches, of God. Pray ye

on their behalf. He hath invested them with the rulership of the earth and

hath singled out the hearts of men as His Own domain.



Conflict and contention are categorically forbidden in His Book. This is a

decree of God in this Most Great Revelation. It is divinely preserved from

annulment and is invested by Him with the splendour of His confirmation.

Verily He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.



It is incumbent upon everyone to aid those daysprings of authority and

sources of command who are adorned with the ornament of equity and

justice. Blessed are the rulers and the learned among the people of Baha.

They are My trustees among My servants and the manifestations of My

commandments amidst My people. Upon them rest My glory, My blessings and

My grace which have pervaded the world of being. In this connection the

utterances revealed in the Kitab-i-Aqdas are such that from the horizon of

their words the light of divine grace shineth luminous and resplendent.



O ye My Branches! A mighty force, a consummate power lieth concealed in

the world of being. Fix your gaze upon it and upon its unifying influence,

and not upon the differences which appear from it.



The Will of the divine Testator is this: It is incumbent upon the Aghsan,

the Afnan and My Kindred to turn, one and all, their faces towards the

Most Mighty Branch. Consider that which We have revealed in Our Most Holy

Book: 'When the ocean of My presence hath ebbed and the Book of My

Revelation is ended, turn your faces toward Him Whom God hath purposed,

Who hath branched from this Ancient Root.' The object of this sacred verse

is none other except the Most Mighty Branch ['Abdu'l-Baha]. Thus have We

graciously revealed unto you Our potent Will, and I am verily the

Gracious, the All-Powerful. Verily God hath ordained the station of the

Greater Branch [Muhammad 'Ali] to be beneath that of the Most Great Branch



['Abdu'l-Baha]. He is in truth the Ordainer, the All-Wise. We have chosen

'the Greater' after 'the Most Great', as decreed by Him Who is the

All-Knowing, the All-Informed.



It is enjoined upon everyone to manifest love towards the Aghsan, but God

hath not granted them any right to the property of others.



O ye My Aghsan, My Afnan and My Kindred! We exhort you to fear God, to

perform praiseworthy deeds and to do that which is meet and seemly and

serveth to exalt your station. Verily I say, fear of God is the greatest

commander that can render the Cause of God victorious, and the hosts which

best befit this commander have ever been and are an upright character and

pure and goodly deeds.



Say: O servants! Let not the means of order be made the cause of confusion

and the instrument of union an occasion for discord. We fain would hope

that the people of Baha may be guided by the blessed words: 'Say: all

things are of God.' This exalted utterance is like unto water for

quenching the fire of hate and enmity which smouldereth within the hearts

and breasts of men. By this single utterance contending peoples and

kindreds will attain the light of true unity. Verily He speaketh the truth

and leadeth the way. He is the All-Powerful, the Exalted, the Gracious.



It is incumbent upon everyone to show courtesy to, and have regard for the

Aghsan, that thereby the Cause of God may be glorified and His Word

exalted. This injunction hath time and again been mentioned and recorded

in the Holy Writ. Well is it with him who is enabled to achieve that which

the Ordainer, the Ancient of Days hath prescribed for him. Ye are bidden

moreover to respect the members of the Holy Household, the Afnan and the

kindred. We further admonish you to serve all nations and to strive for

the betterment of the world.



That which is conducive to the regeneration of the world and the salvation

of the peoples and kindreds of the earth hath been sent down from the

heaven of the utterance of Him Who is the Desire of the world. Give ye a

hearing ear to the counsels of the Pen of Glory. Better is this for you

than all that is on the earth. Unto this beareth witness My glorious and

wondrous Book.