Epistle To The Son Of The Wolf

Sources: Epistle To The Son Of The Wolf

In the name of God, the One, the Incomparable, the All-Powerful,

the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.





Praise be to God, the Eternal that perisheth not, the Everlasting that

declineth not, the Self-Subsisting that altereth not. He it is Who is

transcendent in His sovereignty, Who is manifest through His signs, and is

hidden through His mysteries. He it is at Whose bidding the standard of

the Mo t Exalted Word hath been lifted up in the world of creation, and

the banner of "He doeth whatsoever He willeth" raised amidst all peoples.

He it is Who hath revealed His Cause for the guidance of His creatures,

and sent down His verses to demonstrate His Proof and His Testimony, and

embellished the preface of the Book of Man with the ornament of utterance

through His saying: "The God of Mercy hath taught the Qur'an, hath created

man, and taught him articulate speech." No God is there but Him, the One,

the Peerless, the Powerful, the Mighty, the Beneficent.



The light that is shed from the heaven of bounty, and the benediction that

shineth from the dawning-place of the will of God, the Lord of the Kingdom

of Names, rest upon Him Who is the Supreme Mediator, the Most Exalted Pen,

Him Whom God hath made the Dawning-Place of His most excellent names and

the Dayspring of His most exalted attributes. Through Him the light of

unity hath shone forth above the horizon of the world, and the law of

oneness hath been revealed amidst the nations, who, with radiant faces,

have turned towards the Supreme Horizon, and acknowledged that which the

Tongue of Utterance hath spoken in the kingdom of His knowledge: "Earth

and heaven, glory and dominion, are God's, the Omnipotent, the Almighty,

the Lord of grace abounding!"



Give ear, O distinguished divine, unto the voice of this Wronged One. He

verily, counselleth thee for the sake of God, and exhorteth thee unto that

which will cause thee to draw nigh unto Him under all conditions. He, in

truth, is the All-Possessing, the Exalted. Know thou that the ear of man

hath been created that it may hearken unto the Divine Voice on this Day

that hath been mentioned in all the Books, Scriptures, and Tablets. Purify

thou, first, thy soul with the waters of renunciation, and adorn thine

head with the crown of the fear of God, and thy temple with the ornament

of reliance upon Him. Arise, then, and, with thy face set towards the Most

Great House, the Spot round which, as decreed by the Eternal King, all

that dwell on earth must circle, recite:



"O God, my God, and my Desire, and my Adored One, and my Master, and my

Mainstay, and my utmost Hope, and my supreme Aspiration! Thou seest me

turning towards Thee, holding fast unto the cord of Thy bounty, clinging

to the hem of Thy generosity, acknowledging the sanctity of Thy Self and

the purity of Thine Essence, and testifying to Thy unity and Thy oneness.

I bear witness that Thou art the One, the Single, the Incomparable, the

Ever-Abiding. Thou didst not take unto Thyself a partner in Thy dominion,

nor didst Thou choose a peer for Thyself upon earth. All created things

have borne witness unto that which the Tongue of Thy grandeur hath

testified ere their creation. Verily Thou art God; there is none other God

but Thee! From everlasting Thou wast sanctified from the mention of Thy

servants, and exalted above the description of Thy creatures. Thou

beholdest, O Lord, the ignorant seeking the ocean of Thy knowledge, the

sore athirst the living waters of Thine utterance, the abased the

tabernacle of Thy glory, the poor the treasury of Thy riches, the

suppliant the dawning-place of Thy wisdom, the weak the source of Thy

strength, the wretched the heaven of Thy bounty, the dumb the kingdom of

Thy mention.



"I testify, O my God, and my King, that Thou hast created me to remember

Thee, to glorify Thee, and to aid Thy Cause. And yet, I have aided Thine

enemies, who have broken Thy Covenant, who have cast away Thy Book,

disbelieved in Thee, and repudiated Thy signs. Alas, alas, for my

waywardness, and my shame, and my sinfulness, and my wrong-doing that have

withheld me from the depths of the ocean of Thy unity and from fathoming

the sea of Thy mercy. Wherefore, alas, alas! and again alas, alas! for my

wretchedness and the grievousness of my transgressions! Thou didst call me

into being, O my God, to exalt Thy Word, and to manifest Thy Cause. My

heedlessness, however, hath deterred me and compassed me about, in such

wise that I have arisen to blot out Thy signs, and to shed the blood of

Thy loved ones, and of the dawning-places of Thy signs, and of the

daysprings of Thy revelation, and of the repositories of Thy mysteries.



"O Lord, my Lord! and again, O Lord, my Lord! and yet again, O Lord, my

Lord! I bear witness that by reason of mine iniquity the fruits of the

tree of Thy justice have fallen, and through the fire of my rebelliousness

the hearts of such of Thy creatures as enjoy near access to Thee were

consumed, and the souls of the sincere among Thy servants have melted. O

wretched, wretched that I am! O the cruelties, the glaring cruelties, I

inflicted! Woe is me, woe is me, for my remoteness from Thee, and for my

waywardness, and mine ignorance, and my baseness, and my repudiation of

Thee, and my protests against Thee! How many the days during which Thou

didst bid Thy servants and Thy loved ones to protect me, whilst I

commanded them to harm Thee and to harm them that Thou didst trust! And

how numerous the nights during which Thou didst graciously remember me,

and didst show me Thy path, whilst I turned away from Thee and from Thy

signs! By Thy glory! O Thou Who art the Hope of such as have acknowledged

Thy unity, and the Desire of the hearts of them that are rid of all

attachment to any save Thee! I find no succorer except Thee, nor king, nor

refuge, nor haven besides Thyself. Alas, alas! My turning away from Thee

hath burnt up the veil of mine integrity, and my denial of Thee hath rent

asunder the covering cast over mine honor. O would that I were beneath the

depths of the earth, so that my evil deeds would remain unknown to Thy

servants! Thou seest the sinner, O my Lord, who hath turned towards the

dawning-place of Thy forgiveness and Thy bounty, and the mountain of

iniquity that hath sought the heaven of Thy mercy and pardon. Alas, alas!

My mighty sins have prevented me from approaching the court of Thy mercy,

and my monstrous deeds have caused me to stray far from the sanctuary of

Thy presence. Indeed, I am he that hath failed in duty towards Thee, and

hath broken Thy Covenant and Thy Testament, and committed that which hath

made the dwellers of the cities of Thy justice, and the dawning-places of

Thy grace in Thy realms, to lament. I testify, O my God, that I have put

away Thy commandments, and clung to the dictates of my passions, and have

cast away the statutes of Thy Book, and seized the book of mine own

desire. O misery, misery! As mine iniquities waxed greater and greater,

Thy forbearance towards me augmented, and as the fire of my rebelliousness

grew fiercer, the more did Thy forgiveness and Thy grace seek to smother

up its flame. By the power of Thy might! O Thou Who art the desire of the

world and the Best-Beloved of the nations! Thy long-suffering hath puffed

me up, and Thy patience hath emboldened me. Thou beholdest, O my God, the

tears that my shame hath caused to flow, and the sighs which my

heedlessness hath led me to utter. I swear by the greatness of Thy

majesty! I can find for myself no habitation save beneath the shadow of

the court of Thy bounty, nor any refuge except under the canopy of Thy

mercy. Thou seest me in the midst of a sea of despair and of hopelessness,

after Thou didst cause me to hear Thy words "Despair not." By Thy power!

My sore injustice hath severed the cord of my hope, and my rebellion hath

darkened my face before the throne of Thy justice. Thou beholdest, O my

God, him who is as one dead fallen at the door of Thy favor, ashamed to

seek from the hand of Thy loving-kindness the living waters of Thy pardon.

Thou hast given me a tongue wherewith to remember and praise Thee, and yet

it uttereth that which hath caused the souls of such of Thy chosen ones as

are nigh unto Thee to melt, and the hearts of the sincere amongst the

dwellers of the habitations of holiness to be consumed. Thou hast given me

eyes to witness Thy signs, and to behold Thy verses, and to contemplate

the revelations of Thine handiwork, but I have rejected Thy will, and have

committed what hath caused the faithful among Thy creatures and the

detached amidst Thy servants to groan. Thou hast given me ears that I may

incline them unto Thy praise and Thy celebration, and unto that which Thou

didst send down from the heaven of Thy bounty and the firmament of Thy

will. And yet, alas, alas, I have forsaken Thy Cause, and have commanded

Thy servants to blaspheme against Thy trusted ones and Thy loved ones, and

have acted, before the throne of Thy justice, in such wise that those that

have recognized Thy unity and are wholly devoted to Thee among the

dwellers of Thy realm mourned with a sore lamentation. I know not, O my

God, which among my evildoings to mention before the billowing ocean of

Thy favor, nor which of my trespasses to declare when face to face with

the splendors of the suns of Thy goodly gifts and bounties.



"I beseech Thee, this very moment, by the mysteries of Thy Book, and by

the things hid in Thy knowledge, and by the pearls that lie concealed

within the shells of the ocean of Thy mercy, to reckon me among such as

Thou didst mention in Thy Book and describe in Thy Tablets. Hast Thou

decreed for me, O my God, any joy after this tribulation, or any relief to

succeed this affliction, or any ease to follow this trouble? Alas, alas!

Thou hast ordained that every pulpit be set apart for Thy mention, and for

the glorification of Thy Word, and the revelation of Thy Cause, but I have

ascended it to proclaim the violation of Thy Covenant, and have spoken

unto Thy servants such words as have caused the dwellers of the

Tabernacles of Thy majesty and the denizens of the Cities of Thy wisdom to

lament. How often hast Thou sent down the food of Thine utterance out of

the heaven of Thy bounty, and I denied it; and how numerous the occasions

on which Thou hast summoned me to the soft flowing waters of Thy mercy,

and I have chosen to turn away therefrom, by reason of my having followed

my own wish and desire! By Thy glory! I know not for which sin to beg Thy

forgiveness and implore Thy pardon, nor from which of mine iniquities to

turn aside unto the Court of Thy bounteousness and the Sanctuary of Thy

favor. Such are my sins and trespasses that no man can number them, nor

pen describe them. I implore Thee, O Thou that turnest darkness into

light, and revealest Thy mysteries on the Sinai of Thy Revelation, to aid

me, at all times, to put my trust in Thee, and to commit mine affairs unto

Thy care. Make me, then, O my God, content with that which the finger of

Thy decree hath traced, and the pen of Thy ordinance hath written. Potent

art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee, and in Thy grasp are the reins of all

that are in heaven and on earth. No God is there but Thee, the

All-knowing, the All-Wise."



O _Sh_ay_kh_! Know thou that neither the calumnies which men may utter,

nor their denials, nor any cavils they may raise, can harm him that hath

clung to the cord of the grace, and seized the hem of the mercy, of the

Lord of creation. By God! He, the Glory of God (Baha), hath spoken not

from mere impulse. He that hath given Him a voice is He that hath given a

voice unto all things, that they may praise and glorify Him. There is none

other God but Him, the One, the Incomparable, the Lord of strength, the

Unconditioned.



They whose sight is keen, whose ears are retentive, whose hearts are

enlightened, and whose breasts are dilated, recognize both truth and

falsehood, and distinguish the one from the other. Recite thou this prayer

that hath flowed from the tongue of this Wronged One, and ponder thereon

with a heart rid of all attachment, and with ears that are pure and

sanctified, be attentive to its meaning, that haply thou mayest inhale the

breath of detachment and have pity upon thyself and upon others:



"My God, the Object of my adoration, the Goal of my desire, the

All-Bountiful, the Most Compassionate! All life is of Thee, and all power

lieth within the grasp of Thine omnipotence. Whosoever Thou exaltest is

raised above the angels, and attaineth the station: 'Verily, We uplifted

him to a place on high!'; and whosoever Thou dost abase is made lower than

dust, nay, less than nothing. O Divine Providence! Though wicked, sinful,

and intemperate, we still seek from Thee a 'seat of truth,' and long to

behold the countenance of the Omnipotent King. It is Thine to command, and

all sovereignty belongeth to Thee, and the realm of might boweth before

Thy behest. Everything Thou doest is pure justice, nay, the very essence

of grace. One gleam from the splendors of Thy Name, the All-Merciful,

sufficeth to banish and blot out every trace of sinfulness from the world,

and a single breath from the breezes of the Day of Thy Revelation is

enough to adorn all mankind with a fresh attire. Vouchsafe Thy strength, O

Almighty One, unto Thy weak creatures, and quicken them who are as dead,

that haply they may find Thee, and may be led unto the ocean of Thy

guidance, and may remain steadfast in Thy Cause. Should the fragrance of

Thy praise be shed abroad by any of the divers tongues of the world, out

of the East or out of the West, it would, verily, be prized and greatly

cherished. If such tongues, however, be deprived of that fragrance, they

assuredly would be unworthy of any mention, in word or yet in thought. We

beg of Thee, O Providence, to show Thy way unto all men, and to guide them

aright. Thou art, verily, the Almighty, the Most Powerful, the

All-Knowing, the All-Seeing."



We beseech God to aid thee to be just and fair-minded, and to acquaint

thee with the things that were hidden from the eyes of men. He, in truth,

is the Mighty, the Unconstrained. We ask thee to reflect upon that which

hath been revealed, and to be fair and just in thy speech, that perchance

the splendors of the daystar of truthfulness and sincerity may shine

forth, and may deliver thee from the darkness of ignorance, and illumine

the world with the light of knowledge. This Wronged One hath frequented no

school, neither hath He attended the controversies of the learned. By My

life! Not of Mine own volition have I revealed Myself, but God, of His own

choosing, hath manifested Me. In the Tablet, addressed to His Majesty the

_Sh_ah--may God, blessed and glorified be He, assist him--these words have

streamed from the tongue of this Wronged One:



"O King! I was but a man like others, asleep upon My couch, when lo, the

breezes of the All-Glorious were wafted over Me, and taught Me the

knowledge of all that hath been. This thing is not from Me, but from One

Who is Almighty and All-Knowing. And He bade Me lift up My voice between

earth and heaven, and for this there befell Me what hath caused the tears

of every man of understanding to flow. The learning current amongst men I

studied not; their schools I entered not. Ask of the city wherein I dwelt,

that thou mayest be well assured that I am not of them who speak falsely.

This is but a leaf which the winds of the will of thy Lord, the Almighty,

the All-Praised, have stirred. Can it be still when the tempestuous winds

are blowing? Nay, by Him Who is the Lord of all Names and Attributes! They

move it as they list. The evanescent is as nothing before Him Who is the

Ever-Abiding. His all-compelling summons hath reached Me, and caused Me to

speak His praise amidst all people. I was indeed as one dead when His

behest was uttered. The hand of the will of thy Lord, the Compassionate,

the Merciful, transformed Me."



Now is the moment in which to cleanse thyself with the waters of

detachment that have flowed out from the Supreme Pen, and to ponder,

wholly for the sake of God, those things which, time and again, have been

sent down or manifested, and then to strive, as much as lieth in thee, to

quench, through the power of wisdom and the force of thy utterance, the

fire of enmity and hatred which smouldereth in the hearts of the peoples

of the world. The Divine Messengers have been sent down, and their Books

were revealed, for the purpose of promoting the knowledge of God, and of

furthering unity and fellowship amongst men. But now behold, how they have

made the Law of God a cause and pretext for perversity and hatred. How

pitiful, how regrettable, that most men are cleaving fast to, and have

busied themselves with, the things they possess, and are unaware of, and

shut out as by a veil from, the things God possesseth!



Say: "O God, my God! Attire mine head with the crown of justice, and my

temple with the ornament of equity. Thou, verily, art the Possessor of all

gifts and bounties."



Justice and equity are twin Guardians that watch over men. From them are

revealed such blessed and perspicuous words as are the cause of the

well-being of the world and the protection of the nations.



These words have streamed from the pen of this Wronged One in one of His

Tablets: "The purpose of the one true God, exalted be His glory, hath been

to bring forth the Mystic Gems out of the mine of man--they Who are the

Dawning-Places of His Cause and the Repositories of the pearls of His

knowledge; for, God Himself, glorified be He, is the Unseen, the One

concealed and hidden from the eyes of men. Consider what the Merciful hath

revealed in the Qur'an: No vision taketh in Him, but He taketh in all

vision, and He is the Subtile, the All-Informed!"



That the divers communions of the earth, and the manifold systems of

religious belief, should never be allowed to foster the feelings of

animosity among men, is, in this Day, of the essence of the Faith of God

and His Religion. These principles and laws, these firmly-established and

mighty systems, have proceeded from one Source, and are rays of one Light.

That they differ one from another is to be attributed to the varying

requirements of the ages in which they were promulgated.



Gird up the loins of your endeavor, O people of Baha, that haply the

tumult of religious dissension and strife that agitateth the peoples of

the earth may be stilled, that every trace of it may be completely

obliterated. For the love of God, and them that serve Him, arise to aid

this sublime and momentous Revelation. Religious fanaticism and hatred are

a world-devouring fire, whose violence none can quench. The Hand of Divine

power can, alone, deliver mankind from this desolating affliction.

Consider the war that hath involved the two Nations, how both sides have

renounced their possessions and their lives. How many the villages that

were completely wiped out!



The utterance of God is a lamp, whose light is these words: Ye are the

fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch. Deal ye one with another

with the utmost love and harmony, with friendliness and fellowship. He Who

is the Daystar of Truth beareth Me witness! So powerful is the light of

unity that it can illuminate the whole earth. The One true God, He Who

knoweth all things, Himself testifieth to the truth of these words.



Exert yourselves that ye may attain this transcendent and most sublime

station, the station that can insure the protection and security of all

mankind. This goal excelleth every other goal, and this aspiration is the

monarch of all aspirations. So long, however, as the thick clouds of

oppression, which obscure the daystar of justice, remain undispelled, it

would be difficult for the glory of this station to be unveiled to men's

eyes. These thick clouds are the exponents of idle fancies and vain

imaginings, who are none other but the divines of Persia. At one time We

spoke in the language of the lawgiver; at another in that of the

truth-seeker and the mystic, and yet Our supreme purpose and highest wish

hath always been to disclose the glory and sublimity of this station. God,

verily, is a sufficient witness!



Consort with all men, O people of Baha, in a spirit of friendliness and

fellowship. If ye be aware of a certain truth, if ye possess a jewel, of

which others are deprived, share it with them in a language of utmost

kindliness and goodwill. If it be accepted, if it fulfill its purpose,

your object is attained. If anyone should refuse it, leave him unto

himself, and beseech God to guide him. Beware lest ye deal unkindly with

him. A kindly tongue is the lodestone of the hearts of men. It is the

bread of the spirit, it clotheth the words with meaning, it is the

fountain of the light of wisdom and understanding.



By "divines" in the passage cited above is meant those men who outwardly

attire themselves with the raiment of knowledge, but who inwardly are

deprived therefrom. In this connection, We quote from the Tablet addressed

to His Majesty the _Sh_ah, certain passages from the "Hidden Words" which

were revealed by the Abha Pen under the name of the "Book of Fatimih," the

blessings of God be upon her!



"O ye that are foolish, yet have a name to be wise! Wherefore do ye wear

the guise of the shepherd, when inwardly ye have become wolves, intent

upon My flock? Ye are even as the star, which riseth ere the dawn, and

which, though it seem radiant and luminous, leadeth the wayfarers of My

city astray into the paths of perdition."



And likewise He saith: "O ye seeming fair yet inwardly foul! Ye are like

clear but bitter water, which to outward seeming is crystal pure but of

which, when tested by the Divine Assayer, not a drop is accepted. Yea, the

sunbeam falls alike upon the dust and the mirror, yet differ they in

reflection even as doth the star from the earth: nay, immeasurable is the

difference!"



And also He saith: "O essence of desire! At many a dawn have I turned from

the realms of the Placeless unto thine abode, and found thee on the bed of

ease busied with others than Myself. Thereupon, even as the flash of the

spirit, I returned to the realms of celest and breathed it not in My

retreats above unto the hosts of holiness."



And again He saith: "O bond slave of the world! Many a dawn hath the

breeze of My loving-kindness wafted over thee and found thee upon the bed

of heedlessness fast asleep. Bewailing then thy plight it returned whence

it came."



Those divines, however, who are truly adorned with the ornament of

knowledge and of a goodly character are, verily, as a head to the body of

the world, and as eyes to the nations. The guidance of men hath, at all

times, been, and is, dependent upon such blessed souls. We beseech God to

graciously aid them to do His will and pleasure. He, in truth, is the Lord

of all men, the Lord of this world and of the next.



O _Sh_ay_kh_! We have learned that thou hast turned away from Us, and

protested against Us, in such wise that thou hast bidden the people to

curse Me, and decreed that the blood of the servants of God be shed. God

requite him who said: "Willingly will I obey the judge who hath so

strangely decreed that my blood be spilt at Hill and at Haram!" Verily I

say: Whatever befalleth in the path of God is the beloved of the soul and

the desire of the heart. Deadly poison in His path is pure honey, and

every tribulation a draught of crystal water. In the Tablet to His Majesty

the _Sh_ah it is written: "By Him Who is the Truth! I fear no tribulation

in His path, nor any affliction in My love for Him. Verily God hath made

adversity as a morning dew upon His green pasture, and a wick for His lamp

which lighteth earth and heaven."



Set thine heart towards Him Who is the Kaaba of God, the Help in Peril,

the Self-Subsisting, and raise thou thine hands with such firm conviction

as shall cause the hands of all created things to be lifted up towards the

heaven of the grace of God, the Lord of all worlds. Turn, then, thy face

towards Him in such wise that the faces of all beings will turn in the

direction of His shining and luminous Horizon, and say: "Thou seest me, O

my Lord, with my face turned towards the heaven of Thy bounty and the

ocean of Thy favor, withdrawn from all else beside Thee. I ask of Thee, by

the splendors of the Sun of Thy revelation on Sinai, and the effulgences

of the Orb of Thy grace which shineth from the horizon of Thy Name, the

Ever-Forgiving, to grant me Thy pardon and to have mercy upon me. Write

down, then, for me with Thy pen of glory that which will exalt me through

Thy Name in the world of creation. Aid me, O my Lord, to set myself

towards Thee, and to hearken unto the voice of Thy loved ones, whom the

powers of the earth have failed to weaken, and the dominion of the nations

has been powerless to withhold from Thee, and who, advancing towards Thee,

have said: 'God is our Lord, the Lord of all who are in heaven and all who

are on earth!'"



O _Sh_ay_kh_! Verily I say, the seal of the Choice Wine hath, in the name

of Him Who is the Self-Subsisting, been broken; withhold not thyself

therefrom. This Wronged One speaketh wholly for the sake of God; thou too

shouldst, likewise, for the sake of God, meditate upon those things that

have been sent down and manifested, that haply thou mayest, on this

blessed Day, take thy portion of the liberal effusions of Him Who is truly

the All-Bountiful, and mayest not remain deprived thereof. This indeed

would not be hard for God. Dust-made Adam was raised up, through the Word

of God, to the heavenly throne, and a mere fisherman was made the

repository of Divine wisdom, and Abu-_Dh_ar, the shepherd, became a prince

of the nations!



This Day, O _Sh_ay_kh_, hath never been, nor is it now, the Day whereon

man-made arts and sciences can be regarded as a true standard for men,

since it hath been recognized that He Who was wholly unversed in any of

them hath ascended the throne of purest gold, and occupied the seat of

honor in the council of knowledge, whilst the acknowledged exponent and

repository of these arts and sciences remained utterly deprived. By "arts

and sciences" is meant those which begin with words and end with words.

Such arts and sciences, however, as are productive of good results, and

bring forth their fruit, and are conducive to the well-being and

tranquility of men have been, and will remain, acceptable before God. Wert

thou to give ear to My voice, thou wouldst cast away all thy possessions,

and wouldst set thy face towards the Spot wherein the ocean of wisdom and

of utterance hath surged, and the sweet savors of the loving-kindness of

thy Lord, the Compassionate, have wafted.



We deem it advisable, in this connection, to recount briefly some past

events, that perchance they may be the means of vindicating the cause of

equity and justice. At the time when His Majesty the _Sh_ah, may God, his

Lord, the Most Merciful, aid him through His strengthening grace, was

planning a journey to Isfahan, this Wronged One, having obtained his

permission, visited the holy and luminous resting-places of the Imams, may

the blessings of God be upon them! Upon Our return, We proceeded to

Lavasan on account of the excessive heat prevailing in the capital.

Following Our departure, there occurred the attempt upon the life of His

Majesty, may God, exalted and glorified be He, assist him. Those days were

troublous days, and the fires of hatred burned high. Many were arrested,

among them this Wronged One. By the righteousness of God! We were in no

wise connected with that evil deed, and Our innocence was indisputably

established by the tribunals. Nevertheless, they apprehended Us, and from

Niyavaran, which was then the residence of His Majesty, conducted Us, on

foot and in chains, with bared head and bare feet, to the dungeon of

Tihran. A brutal man, accompanying Us on horseback, snatched off Our hat,

whilst We were being hurried along by a troop of executioners and

officials. We were consigned for four months to a place foul beyond

comparison. As to the dungeon in which this Wronged One and others

similarly wronged were confined, a dark and narrow pit were preferable.

Upon Our arrival We were first conducted along a pitch-black corridor,

from whence We descended three steep flights of stairs to the place of

confinement assigned to Us. The dungeon was wrapped in thick darkness, and

Our fellow prisoners numbered nearly a hundred and fifty souls: thieves,

assassins and highwaymen. Though crowded, it had no other outlet than the

passage by which We entered. No pen can depict that place, nor any tongue

describe its loathsome smell. Most of these men had neither clothes nor

bedding to lie on. God alone knoweth what befell Us in that most

foul-smelling and gloomy place!



Day and night, while confined in that dungeon, We meditated upon the

deeds, the condition, and the conduct of the Babis, wondering what could

have led a people so high-minded, so noble, and of such intelligence, to

perpetrate such an audacious and outrageous act against the person of His

Majesty. This Wronged One, thereupon, decided to arise, after His release

from prison, and undertake, with the utmost vigor, the task of

regenerating this people.



One night, in a dream, these exalted words were heard on every side:

"Verily, We shall render Thee victorious by Thyself and by Thy Pen. Grieve

Thou not for that which hath befallen Thee, neither be Thou afraid, for

Thou art in safety. Erelong will God raise up the treasures of the

earth--men who will aid Thee through Thyself and through Thy Name,

wherewith God hath revived the hearts of such as have recognized Him."



And when this Wronged One went forth out of His prison, We journeyed, in

pursuance of the order of His Majesty the _Sh_ah--may God, exalted be He,

protect him--to 'Iraq, escorted by officers in the service of the esteemed

and honored governments of Persia and Russia. After Our arrival, We

revealed, as a copious rain, by the aid of God and His Divine Grace and

mercy, Our verses, and sent them to various parts of the world. We

exhorted all men, and particularly this people, through Our wise counsels

and loving admonitions, and forbade them to engage in sedition, quarrels,

disputes and conflict. As a result of this, and by the grace of God,

waywardness and folly were changed into piety and understanding, and

weapons converted into instruments of peace.



During the days I lay in the prison of Tihran, though the galling weight

of the chains and the stench-filled air allowed Me but little sleep, still

in those infrequent moments of slumber I felt as if something flowed from

the crown of My head over My breast, even as a mighty torrent that

precipitateth itself upon the earth from the summit of a lofty mountain.

Every limb of My body would, as a result, be set afire. At such moments My

tongue recited what no man could bear to hear.



We shall herewith cite a few passages from Tablets specifically revealed

to this people, so that every one may know of a certainty that this

Wronged One hath acted in a manner which hath been pleasing and acceptable

unto men endued with insight, and unto such as are the exponents of

justice and equity:



"O ye friends of God in His cities and His loved ones in His lands! This

Wronged One enjoineth on you honesty and piety. Blessed the city that

shineth by their light. Through them man is exalted, and the door of

security is unlocked before the face of all creation. Happy the man that

cleaveth fast unto them, and recognizeth their virtue, and woe betide him

that denieth their station."



And in another connection these words were revealed: "We enjoin the

servants of God and His handmaidens to be pure and to fear God, that they

may shake off the slumber of their corrupt desires, and turn toward God,

the Maker of the heavens and of the earth. Thus have We commanded the

faithful when the Daystar of the world shone forth from the horizon of

'Iraq. My imprisonment doeth Me no harm, neither the tribulations I

suffer, nor the things that have befallen Me at the hands of My

oppressors. That which harmeth Me is the conduct of those who, though they

bear My name, yet commit that which maketh My heart and My pen to lament.

They that spread disorder in the land, and lay hands on the property of

others, and enter a house without leave of its owner, We, verily, are

clear of them, unless they repent and return unto God, the Ever-Forgiving,

the Most Merciful."



And in another connection: "O peoples of the earth! Haste ye to do the

pleasure of God, and war ye valiantly, as it behooveth you to war, for the

sake of proclaiming His resistless and immovable Cause. We have decreed

that war shall be waged in the path of God with the armies of wisdom and

utterance, and of a goodly character and praiseworthy deeds. Thus hath it

been decided by Him Who is the All-Powerful, the Almighty. There is no

glory for him that committeth disorder on the earth after it hath been

made so good. Fear God, O people, and be not of them that act unjustly."



And again in another connection: "Revile ye not one another. We, verily,

have come to unite and weld together all that dwell on earth. Unto this

beareth witness what the ocean of Mine utterance hath revealed amongst

men, and yet most of the people have gone astray. If anyone revile you, or

trouble touch you, in the path of God, be patient, and put your trust in

Him Who heareth, Who seeth. He, in truth, witnesseth, and perceiveth, and

doeth what He pleaseth, through the power of His sovereignty. He, verily,

is the Lord of strength, and of might. In the Book of God, the Mighty, the

Great, ye have been forbidden to engage in contention and conflict. Lay

fast hold on whatever will profit you, and profit the peoples of the

world. Thus commandeth you the King of Eternity, Who is manifest in His

Most Great Name. He, verily, is the Ordainer, the All-Wise."



And yet again in another connection: "Beware lest ye shed the blood of any

one. Unsheathe the sword of your tongue from the scabbard of utterance,

for therewith ye can conquer the citadels of men's hearts. We have

abolished the law to wage holy war against each other. God's mercy hath,

verily, encompassed all created things, if ye do but understand."



And yet again in another connection: "O people! Spread not disorder in the

land, and shed not the blood of any one, and consume not the substance of

others wrongfully, neither follow every accursed prattler."



And still again in another connection: "The Sun of Divine Utterance can

never set, neither can its radiance be extinguished. These sublime words

have, in this day, been heard from the Lote-Tree beyond which there is no

passing: 'I belong to him that loveth Me, that holdeth fast My

commandments, and casteth away the things forbidden him in My Book.'"



And still again in another connection: "This is the day to make mention of

God, to celebrate His praise, and to serve Him; deprive not yourselves

thereof. Ye are the letters of the words, and the words of the Book. Ye

are the saplings which the hand of Loving-kindness hath planted in the

soil of mercy, and which the showers of bounty have made to flourish. He

hath protected you from the mighty winds of misbelief, and the tempestuous

gales of impiety, and nurtured you with the hands of His loving

providence. Now is the time for you to put forth your leaves, and yield

your fruit. The fruits of the tree of man have ever been and are goodly

deeds and a praiseworthy character. Withhold not these fruits from the

heedless. If they be accepted, your end is attained, and the purpose of

life achieved. If not, leave them in their pastime of vain disputes.

Strive, O people of God, that haply the hearts of the divers kindreds of

the earth may, through the waters of your forbearance and loving-kindness,

be cleansed and sanctified from animosity and hatred, and be made worthy

and befitting recipients of the splendors of the Sun of Truth."



In the fourth I_sh_raq (splendor) of the I_sh_raqat (Tablet of Splendors)

We have mentioned: "Every cause needeth a helper. In this Revelation the

hosts which can render it victorious are the hosts of praiseworthy deeds

and upright character. The leader and commander of these hosts hath ever

been the fear of God, a fear that encompasseth all things, and reigneth

over all things."



In the third Tajalli (effulgence) of the Book of Tajalliyat (Book of

Effulgences) We have mentioned: "Arts, crafts and sciences uplift the

world of being, and are conducive to its exaltation. Knowledge is as wings

to man's life, and a ladder for his ascent. Its acquisition is incumbent

upon everyone. The knowledge of such sciences, however, should be acquired

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. Unto this beareth witness the

Mother Book in this conspicuous station."



In truth, knowledge is a veritable treasure for man, and a source of

glory, of bounty, of joy, of exaltation, of cheer and gladness unto him.

Happy the man that cleaveth unto it, and woe betide the heedless.



It is incumbent upon thee to summon the people, under all conditions, to

whatever will cause them to show forth spiritual characteristics and

goodly deeds, so that all may become aware of that which is the cause of

human upliftment, and may, with the utmost endeavor, direct themselves

towards the most sublime Station and the Pinnacle of Glory. The fear of

God hath ever been the prime factor in the education of His creatures.

Well is it with them that have attained thereunto!



The first word which the Abha Pen hath revealed and inscribed on the first

leaf of 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. It

is incumbent upon the kings and the spiritual leaders of the world to lay

fast hold on religion, inasmuch as through it the fear of God is instilled

in all else but Him."



The second word We have recorded on the second leaf of Paradise is the

following: "The Pen of the Divine Expounder exhorteth, at this moment, the

manifestations of authority and the sources of power, namely the kings and

rulers of the earth--may God assist them--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!"



It is Our hope that thou wilt hear with attentive ears the things We have

mentioned unto thee, that perchance thou mayest turn men away from the

things they possess to the things that God possesseth. We entreat God to

deliver the light of equity and the sun of justice from the thick clouds

of waywardness, and cause them to shine forth upon men. No light can

compare with the light of justice. The establishment of order in the world

and the tranquillity of the nations depend upon it.



In the Book of Utterance these exalted words have been written down and

recorded: "Say, O friends! Strive that haply the tribulations suffered by

this Wronged One and by you, in the path of God, may not prove to have

been in vain. Cling ye to the hem of virtue, and hold fast to the cord of

trustworthiness and piety. Concern yourselves with the things that benefit

mankind, and not with your corrupt and selfish desires. O ye followers of

this Wronged One! Ye are the shepherds of mankind; liberate ye your flocks

from the wolves of evil passions and desires, and adorn them with the

ornament of the fear of God. This is the firm commandment which hath, at

this moment, flowed out from the Pen of Him Who is the Ancient of Days. By

the righteousness of God! The sword of a virtuous character and upright

conduct is sharper than blades of steel. The voice of the true Faith

calleth aloud, at this moment, and saith: O people! Verily, the Day is

come, and My Lord hath made Me to shine forth with a light whose splendor

hath eclipsed the suns of utterance. Fear ye the Merciful, and be not of

them that have gone astray."



The third word we have recorded on the third leaf of 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 neighbor 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. 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."



We pray God--exalted be His glory--and cherish the hope that He may

graciously assist the manifestations of affluence and power and the

daysprings of sovereignty and glory, the kings of the earth--may God aid

them through His strengthening grace--to establish the Lesser Peace. This,

indeed, is the greatest means for insuring the tranquillity of the

nations. It is incumbent upon the Sovereigns of the world--may God assist

them--unitedly to hold fast unto this Peace, which is the chief instrument

for the protection of all mankind. It is Our hope that they will arise to

achieve what will be conducive to the well-being of man. It is their duty

to convene an all-inclusive assembly, which either they themselves or

their ministers will attend, and to enforce whatever measures are required

to establish unity and concord amongst men. They must put away the weapons

of war, and turn to the instruments of universal reconstruction. Should

one king rise up against another, all the other kings must arise to deter

him. Arms and armaments will, then, be no more needed beyond that which is

necessary to insure the internal security of their respective countries.

If they attain unto this all-surpassing blessing, the people of each

nation will pursue, with tranquillity and contentment, their own

occupations, and the groanings and lamentations of most men would be

silenced. We beseech God to aid them to do His will and pleasure. He,

verily, is the Lord of the throne on high and of earth below, and the Lord

of this world and of the world to come. It would be preferable and more

fitting that the highly honored kings themselves should attend such an

assembly, and proclaim their edicts. Any king who will arise and carry out

this task, he verily will, in the sight of God, become the cynosure of all

kings. Happy is he, and great is his blessedness!



In this land, every time men are conscripted for the army, a great terror

seizeth the people. Every nation augmenteth, each year, its forces, for

their ministers of war are insatiable in their desire to add fresh

recruits to their battalions. We have learned that the government of

Persia--may God assist them--have, likewise decided to reinforce their army.

In the opinion of this Wronged One a force of one hundred thousand

fully-equipped and well-disciplined men would suffice. We hope that thou

wilt cause the light of justice to shine more brightly. By the

righteousness of God! Justice is a powerful force. It is, above all else,

the conqueror of the citadels of the hearts and souls of men, and the

revealer of the secrets of the world of being, and the standard-bearer of

love and bounty.



In the treasuries of the knowledge of God there lieth concealed a

knowledge which, when applied, will largely, though not wholly, eliminate

fear. This knowledge, however, should be taught from childhood, as it will

greatly aid in its elimination. Whatever decreaseth fear increaseth

courage. Should the Will of God assist Us, there would flow out from the

Pen of the Divine Expounder a lengthy exposition of that which hath been

mentioned, and there would be revealed, in the field of arts and sciences,

what would renew the world and the nations. A word hath, likewise, been

written down and recorded by the Pen of the Most High in the Crimson Book

which is capable of fully disclosing that force which is hid in men, nay

of redoubling its potency. We implore God--exalted and glorified be He--to

graciously assist His servants to do that which is pleasing and acceptable

unto Him.



In these days enemies have compassed Us about, and the fire of hatred is

kindled. O peoples of the earth! By My life and by your own! This Wronged

One hath never had, nor hath He now any desire for leadership. Mine aim

hath ever been, and still is, to suppress whatever is the cause of

contention amidst the peoples of the earth, and of separation amongst the

nations, so that all men may be sanctified from every earthly attachment,

and be set free to occupy themselves with their own interests. We entreat

Our loved ones not to besmirch the hem of Our raiment with the dust of

falsehood, neither to allow references to what they have regarded as

miracles and prodigies to debase Our rank and station, or to mar the

purity and sanctity of Our name.



Gracious God! This is the day whereon the wise should seek the advice of

this Wronged One, and ask Him Who is the Truth what things are conducive

to the glory and tranquillity of men. And yet, all are earnestly striving

to put out this glorious and shining light, and are diligently seeking

either to establish Our guilt, or to voice their protest against Us.

Matters have come to such a pass, that the conduct of this Wronged One

hath, in every way, been grossly misrepresented, and in a manner which it

would be unseemly to mention. One of Our friends hath reported that among

the residents of the Great City (Constantinople) he had heard with the

greatest regret someone state that, each year, a sum of fifty thousand

tumans was being despatched from his native land to Akka! It hath not,

however, been made clear who had disbursed the sum, nor through whose

hands it had passed!



Briefly, this Wronged One hath, in the face of all that hath befallen Him

at their hands, and all that hath been said of Him, endured patiently, and

held His peace, inasmuch as it is Our purpose, through the loving

providence of God--exalted be His glory--and His surpassing mercy, to

abolish, through the force of Our utterance, all disputes, war, and

bloodshed, from the face of the earth. Under all conditions We have, in

spite of what they have said, endured with seemly patience, and have left

them to God. In answer to this particular imputation, however, We have

replied, that if that which he affirmeth be true, it behooveth him to be

thankful to Him Who is the Lord of all being, and the King of the seen and

unseen, for having raised up in Persia One Who, though a prisoner and with

none to help and assist Him, hath succeeded in establishing His ascendency

over that land, and in drawing from it a yearly revenue. Such an

achievement should be praised rather than censured, if he be of them that

judge equitably. Should anyone seek to be acquainted with the condition of

this Wronged One, let him be told that these captives whom the world hath

persecuted and the nations wronged have, for days and nights, been

entirely denied the barest means of subsistence. We are loth to mention

such things, neither have We had, nor do We have now, any desire to

complain against Our accuser. Within the walls of this prison a highly

esteemed man was for some time obliged to break stones that he might earn

a living, whilst others had, at times, to nourish themselves with that

Divine sustenance which is hunger! We entreat God--exalted and glorified be

He--to aid all men to be just and fair-minded, and to graciously assist

them to repent and return unto Him. He, verily, heareth, and is ready to

answer.



Glorified art Thou, O Lord my God! Thou seest what hath befallen this

Wronged One at the hands of them that have not associated with Me, and who

have arisen to harm and abase Me, in a manner which no pen can describe,

nor tongue recount, nor can any Tablet sustain its weight. Thou hearest

the cry of Mine heart, and the groaning of Mine inmost being, and the

things that have befallen Thy trusted ones in Thy cities and Thy chosen

ones in Thy land, at the hands of such as have broken Thy Covenant and Thy

Testament. I beseech Thee, O my Lord, by the sighs of Thy lovers

throughout the world, and by their lamentation in their remoteness from

the court of Thy presence, and by the blood that hath been shed for love

of Thee, and by the hearts that have melted in Thy path, to protect Thy

loved ones from the cruelty of such as have remained unaware of the

mysteries of Thy Name, the Unconstrained. Assist them, O my Lord, by Thy

power that hath prevailed over all things, and aid them to be patient and

long-suffering. Thou art the All-Powerful, the Almighty, the

All-Bountiful. No God is there but Thee, the Generous, the Lord of grace

abounding.



In these days there are some who, far from being just and fair-minded,

have assaulted Me with the sword of hatred and the spear of enmity,

forgetting that it behooveth every fair-minded person to succor Him Whom

the world hath cast away and the nations abandoned, and to lay hold on

piety and righteousness. Most men have until now failed to discover the

purpose of this Wronged One, nor have they known the reason for which He

hath been willing to endure countless afflictions. Meanwhile, the voice of

Mine heart crieth out these words: "O that My people knew!" This Wronged

One, rid of attachment unto all things, uttereth these exalted words:

"Waves have encompassed the Ark of God, the Help in Peril, the

Self-Subsisting. Fear not the tempestuous gales, O Mariner! He Who causeth

the dawn to appear is, verily, with Thee in this darkness that hath struck

terror into the hearts of all men, except such as God, the Almighty, the

Unconstrained, hath been pleased to spare."



O _Sh_ay_kh_! I swear by the Sun of Truth Which hath risen and shineth

above the horizon of this Prison! The betterment of the world hath been

the sole aim of this Wronged One. Unto this beareth witness every man of

judgment, of discernment, of insight and understanding. Whilst afflicted

with trials, He held fast unto the cord of patience and fortitude, and was

satisfied with the things which have befallen Him at the hands of His

enemies, and was crying out: "I have renounced My desire for Thy desire, O

my God, and My will for the revelation of Thy Will. By Thy glory! I desire

neither Myself nor My life except for the purpose of serving Thy Cause,

and I love not My being save that I may sacrifice it in Thy path. Thou

seest and knowest, O my Lord, that those whom We asked to be fair and

just, have, unjustly and cruelly, risen up against Us. Openly they were

with Me, yet secretly they assisted My foes, who have arisen to dishonor

Me. O God, my God! I testify that Thou hast created Thy servants to aid

Thy Cause and exalt Thy Word, and yet they have helped Thine enemies. I

beseech Thee, by Thy Cause that hath encompassed the world of being, and

by Thy Name wherewith Thou hast subjected the seen and unseen, to adorn

the peoples of the earth with the light of Thy justice, and to illuminate

their hearts with the brightness of Thy knowledge. I am, O my Lord, Thy

servant and the son of Thy servant. I bear witness unto Thy unity, and Thy

oneness, and to the sanctity of Thy self and the purity of Thine Essence.

Thou beholdest, O my Lord, Thy trusted ones at the mercy of the

treacherous among Thy creatures, and the calumniators amidst Thy people.

Thou knowest what hath befallen Us at the hands of them whom Thou knowest

better than we know them. They have committed what hath torn the veil from

such of Thy creatures as are nigh unto Thee. I beseech Thee to assist them

to obtain that which hath escaped them in the days of the Dawning-Place of

Thy Revelation and the Dayspring of Thine Inspiration. Potent art Thou to

do what pleaseth Thee, and in Thy grasp are the reins of all that is in

heaven and all that is on earth." The voice and the lamentation of the

true Faith have been raised. It calleth aloud and saith: "O people! By the

righteousness of God! I have attained unto Him Who hath manifested me and

sent me down. This is the Day whereon Sinai hath smiled at Him Who

conversed upon it, and Carmel at its Revealer, and the Sadrah at Him Who

taught it. Fear ye God, and be not of them that have denied Him. Withhold

not yourselves from that which hath been revealed through His grace. Seize

ye the living waters of immortality in the name of your Lord, the Lord of

all names, and drink ye in the remembrance of Him, Who is the Mighty, the

Peerless."



We have, under all circumstances, enjoined on men what is right, and

forbidden what is wrong. He Who is the Lord of Being is witness that this

Wronged One hath besought from God for His creatures whatever is conducive

to unity and harmony, fellowship and concord. By the righteousness of God!

This Wronged One is not capable of dissimulation. He, verily, hath

revealed that which He desired; He, truly, is the Lord of strength, the

Unrestrained.



We once again refer unto some of the sublime words revealed in the Tablet

to His Majesty the _Sh_ah, so that thou mayest know of a certainty that

whatever hath been mentioned hath come from God: "O King! I was but a man

like others, asleep upon My couch, when lo, the breezes of the

All-Glorious were wafted over Me, and taught Me the knowledge of all that

hath been. This thing is not from Me, but from One Who is Almighty and

All-Knowing. And He bade Me lift up My voice between earth and heaven, and

for this there befell Me what hath caused the tears of every man of

understanding to flow. The learning current amongst men I studied not;

their schools I entered not. Ask of the city wherein I dwelt, that thou

mayest be well assured that I am not of them who speak falsely. This is

but a leaf which the winds of the will of thy Lord, the Almighty, the

All-Praised, have stirred. Can it be still when the tempestuous winds are

blowing? Nay, by Him Who is the Lord of all Names and Attributes! They

move it as they list. The evanescent is as nothing before Him Who is the

Ever-Abiding. His all-compelling summons hath reached Me, and caused Me to

speak His praise amidst all people. I was indeed as one dead when His

behest was uttered. The hand of the will of thy Lord, the Compassionate,

the Merciful, transformed Me. Can anyone speak forth of his own accord

that for which all men, both high and low, will protest against him? Nay,

by Him Who taught the Pen the eternal mysteries, save him whom the grace

of the Almighty, the All-Powerful, hath strengthened.



"Look upon this Wronged One, O King, with the eyes of justice; judge thou,

then, with truth concerning what hath befallen Him. Of a verity, God hath

made thee His shadow amongst men, and the sign of His power unto all that

dwell on earth. Judge thou between Us and them that have wronged Us

without proof and without an enlightening Book. They that surround thee

love thee for their own sakes, whereas this Youth loveth thee for thine

own sake, and hath had no desire except to draw thee nigh unto the seat of

grace, and to turn thee toward the right-hand of justice. Thy Lord beareth

witness unto that which I declare.



"O King! Wert thou to incline thine ears unto the shrill voice of the Pen

of Glory and the cooing of the Dove of Eternity, which on the branches of

the Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing, uttereth praises to God,

the Maker of all Names and the Creator of earth and heaven, thou wouldst

attain unto a station from which thou wouldst behold in the world of being

naught save the effulgence of the Adored One, and wouldst regard thy

sovereignty as the most contemptible of thy possessions, abandoning it to

whosoever might desire it, and setting thy face toward the Horizon aglow

with the light of His countenance. Neither wouldst thou ever be willing to

bear the burden of dominion save for the purpose of helping thy Lord, the

Exalted, the Most High. Then would the Concourse on high bless thee. O how

excellent is this most sublime station, couldst thou ascend thereunto

through the power of a sovereignty recognized as derived from the Name of

God!"



Either thou or someone else hath said: "Let the Surih of Tawhid be

translated, so that all may know and be fully persuaded that the one true

God begetteth not, nor is He begotten. Moreover, the Babis believe in his

(Baha'u'llah's) Divinity and Godhood."



O _Sh_ay_kh_! This station is the station in which one dieth to himself

and liveth in God. Divinity, whenever I mention it, indicateth My complete

and absolute self-effacement. This is the station in which I have no

control over mine own weal or woe nor over my life nor over my

resurrection.



O _Sh_ay_kh_! How do the divines of this age account for the effulgent

glory which the Sadrah of Utterance hath shed upon the Son of 'Imran

(Moses) on the Sinai of Divine knowledge? He (Moses) hearkened unto the

Word which the Burning Bush had uttered, and accepted it; and yet most men

are bereft of the power of comprehending this, inasmuch as they have

busied themselves with their own concerns, and are unaware of the things

which belong unto God. Referring to this, the Siyyid of Findirisk hath

well said: "This theme no mortal mind can fathom; be it even that of

Abu-Nasr, or Abu-'Ali Sina (Avicenna)." What explanation can they give

concerning that which the Seal of the Prophets (Muhammad)--may the souls of

all else but Him be offered up for His sake--hath said?: "Ye, verily, shall

behold your Lord as ye behold the full moon on its fourteenth night." The

Commander of the Faithful (Imam 'Ali)--peace be upon him--moreover, saith in

the _Kh_utbiy-i-Tutunjiyyih: "Anticipate ye the Revelation of Him Who

conversed with Moses from the Burning Bush on Sinai." Husayn, the son of

'Ali--peace be upon him--likewise saith: "Will there be vouchsafed unto

anyone besides Thee a Revelation which hath not been vouchsafed unto

Thyself--A Revelation Whose Revealer will be He Who revealed Thee. Blind be

the eye that seeth Thee not!"



Similar sayings from the Imams--the blessings of God be upon them--have been

recorded and are widely known, and are embodied in books worthy of

credence. Blessed is he that perceiveth, and speaketh the pure truth. Well

is it with him who, aided by the living waters of the utterance of Him Who

is the Desire of all men, hath purified himself from idle fancies and vain

imaginings, and torn away, in the name of the All-Possessing, the Most

High, the veils of doubt, and renounced the world and all that is therein,

and directed himself towards the Most Great Prison.



O _Sh_ay_kh_! No breeze can compare with the breezes of Divine Revelation,

whilst the Word which is uttered by God shineth and flasheth as the sun

amidst the books of men. Happy the man that hath discovered it, and

recognized it, and said: "Praised be Thou, Who art the Desire of the

world, and thanks be to Thee, O Well-Beloved of the hearts of such as are

devoted to Thee!"



Men have failed to perceive Our purpose in the references We have made to

Divinity and Godhood. Were they to apprehend it, they would arise from

their places, and cry out: "We, verily, ask pardon of God!" The Seal of

the Prophets--may the souls of all else but Him be offered up for His

sake--saith: "Manifold are Our relationships with God. At one time, We are

He Himself, and He is We Ourself. At another He is that He is, and We are

that We are."



Aside from this, why is it that thou didst not mention those other

stations which the Abha Pen hath disclosed? The tongue of this Wronged One

hath, many a day and night, given utterance to these sublime words: "O

God, my God! I bear witness to Thy unity and Thy oneness, and that Thou

art God, and that there is none other God but Thee. Thou hast

everlastingly been sanctified above the mention of any one but Thee and

the praise of all else except Thyself, and Thou wilt everlastingly

continue to be the same as Thou wast from the beginning and hast ever

been. I beseech Thee, O King of Eternity, by the Most Great Name, and by

the effulgences of the Daystar of Thy Revelation upon the Sinai of

Utterance, and by the billows of the Ocean of Thy knowledge among all

created things, to graciously assist Me in that which will draw Me nigh

unto Thee, and will detach Me from all except Thee. By Thy glory, O Lord

of all being, and the Desire of all creation! I would love to lay My face

upon every single spot of Thine earth, that perchance it might be honored

by touching a spot ennobled by the footsteps of Thy loved ones!"



By the righteousness of God! Idle fancies have debarred men from the

Horizon of Certitude, and vain imaginings withheld them from the Choice

Sealed Wine. In truth I say, and for the sake of God I declare: This

Servant, this Wronged One, is abashed to claim for Himself any existence

whatever, how much more those exalted grades of being! Every man of

discernment, while walking upon the earth, feeleth indeed abashed,

inasmuch as he is fully aware that the thing which is the source of his

prosperity, his wealth, his might, his exaltation, his advancement and

power is, as ordained by God, the very earth which is trodden beneath the

feet of all men. There can be no doubt that whoever is cognizant of this

truth, is cleansed and sanctified from all pride, arrogance, and

vainglory. Whatever hath been said hath come from God. Unto this, He,

verily, hath borne, and beareth now, witness, and He, in truth, is the

All-Knowing, the All-Informed.



Beseech God to grant unto men hearing ears, and sharp sight, and dilated

breasts, and receptive hearts, that haply His servants may attain unto

their hearts' Desire, and set their faces towards their Beloved. Troubles,

such as no eye hath beheld, have touched this Wronged One. In proclaiming

His Cause, He, in no wise, hesitated. Addressing Himself unto the kings

and rulers of the earth--may God, exalted be He, assist them--He imparted

unto them that which is the cause of the well-being, the unity, the

harmony, and the reconstruction of the world, and of the tranquillity of

the nations. Among them was Napoleon III, who is reported to have made a

certain statement, as a result of which We sent him Our Tablet while in

Adrianople. To this, however, he did not reply. After Our arrival in the

Most Great Prison there reached Us a letter from his Minister, 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 have, as requested by you,

delivered your letter, and until now have received no answer. We have,

however, issued the necessary recommendations to our Minister in

Constantinople and our consuls in those regions. If there be anything you

wish done, inform us, and we will carry it out."



From his words it became apparent that he understood the purpose of this

Servant to have been a request for material assistance. We, therefore,

revealed in his (Napoleon III's) name verses in the Suratu'l-Haykal, some

of which We now quote, that thou mayest know that the Cause of this

Wronged One hath been revealed for the sake of God, and hath come from

Him:



"O King of Paris! Tell the priest to ring the bells no longer. By God, the

True One! The Most Mighty Bell hath appeared in the form of Him Who is the

Most Great Name, and the fingers of the will of Thy Lord, the Most

Exalted, the Most High, toll it out in the heaven of Immort