Additional Tablets and Extracts from Tablets Revealed by

Bahá’u’lláh

Tablet of visitation for the first to arrive and the last to attain, 1 may the souls of all on earth be
offered up for them both.

In the name of Him Who is the Compassionate, the All-Bountiful!

The peace that hath shone forth from the Dayspring of the Will of God, the Lord of all being, and
the light that hath dawned above the horizon of His supreme mercy and His resplendent signs
rest upon you, O ye who are the hands of His power in the kingdom of creation and the
manifestations of His grandeur between earth and heaven!
Ye are they who were awakened by the gentle winds of the dawn of Revelation and were
enraptured by the voice of Him Who spoke on Sinai. Ye are they who inhaled the fragrance of the
All-Merciful when it wafted from the realm of divine knowledge. By your guidance the thirsty
hastened to the onrushing waters of everlasting life and the sinner to the vivifying river of
forgiveness and mercy. Ye are the signs of God and His straight Path amongst His creation.
Through you all faces turned to the Most Exalted Horizon and every poor one sought the
Wellspring of wealth.
At your suffering all things lamented, and every atom cried out between earth and heaven,
and Adam forsook the Most Exalted Paradise and chose for Himself a place upon the dust. Ye are
the dawning-places of power amidst the people and the daysprings of might amongst the
righteous. Through you the springtime of inner meaning appeared in the world of utterance and
the All-Merciful shed His effulgent splendour upon all created things.
Ye are the hands of His Cause in His lands, and the stars of His bountiful care amidst His
servants. Through you the daystars of knowledge dawned forth, the heavens of all religions were
illumined, the lights of the sciences shone brightly amongst the nations, and the sphere of the arts
was expanded throughout the world. Ye are the dawning-places of God’s Revelation upon the
earth and the daysprings of His signs in the world of creation. By your arising did the people arise
to serve the Cause and the river of mercy flow out amidst humankind.
Ye are the pearls of the Hidden Sea and the letters of the Treasured Book. Through your
sublime word the Book of Names was expounded and the portals of blessings were opened wide
before the inhabitants of earth and heaven. Through you the injunction “Be thou” was enforced,
the Hidden Secret was divulged, and the choice Wine was unsealed.
Alas, alas! By reason of your sorrow, the inmates of the all-highest Paradise were overcome
with grief and the denizens of the kingdom of names were moved to lament. At your suffering,
trembling seized the inhabitants of the Verdant Isle on the shore of the Sea of Grandeur, causing
the sighs of such as are wholly devoted to God to ascend and the tears of them that are nigh unto
Him to rain down. Ye are the books of God and His scriptures, the epistles of God and His tablets.
By virtue of your gladness the faces of all beings were wreathed in smiles, and by reason of your
sorrow all things visible and invisible did wail aloud.
Ye are the arks of God sailing upon the ocean of His Will, and the people of God who have
arisen to champion His Cause. Through you the Most Great Announcement was proclaimed and
the limbs of all men were made to tremble. Through your call every sleeping one was awakened,
every seated one rose up, and every reclining one rushed forth. Through that call the negligent
were raised from slumber, the ignorant were enlightened, the agitated were assured, and the
tongue of every stammerer was unloosed. Through your sweet remembrance all people hastened
to the Most Exalted Horizon and the Crimson Ark sailed upon the sea of names.
Ye are the dawning-places of the Will of God and the daysprings of His Cause, the
embodiments of His command and the sources of His might. Ye are the storehouses of His
knowledge and the treasuries of His secrets, the repositories of His decree and the exponents of
His behest. Ye are the pearls of the ocean of His generosity and the gems of the mines of His
munificence, the suns of the firmament of His grace and the moons of the heaven of His bounty.
Through you the banner “He, verily, is God” was hoisted upon the earth and every stranger came
to recognize his ultimate goal and his true abode.
Through your allegiance did the pure in heart rush to the field of martyrdom and offer up that
which they possessed in the path of God, the Lord of all names. Through you did they who enjoy
near access to God attain unto the living waters of immortality, and the true believers unto that
which hath flowed forth from the Luminous Spot in the All-Highest Paradise before the Divine
Lote-Tree.
I testify that through you the breeze of the All-Merciful passed over all created things and the
sweet savour of the All-Glorious wafted over all regions. Through you the Throne was established
upon the land of Za‘farán 2 and the God of Mercy seated Himself thereupon. Through you the
heaven of certitude shone resplendent and all things were moved to proclaim, “The Kingdom is
God’s, the Almighty, the Beneficent!” Through your names the suns of inner meaning dawned
above the horizons of utterance, and the streams of divine wisdom flowed in the gardens of true
understanding. Ye are those inner meanings that can neither be apprehended through words nor
expressed through speech.
Blessed is the poor one who hath set out towards the orient of your wealth, the thirsty one
who hath hastened to the shores of the ocean of your favours, the lowly one who hath sought the
court of your glory, the ignorant one who hath looked to the dawning-place of your knowledge,
the distressed one who hath drawn nigh unto the tabernacle of your majesty and the pavilion of
your grace, the ailing one who hath longed for the heavenly river of your healing, the weak one
who hath turned to the kingdom of your might, and the friend who hath reached the soft-flowing
stream of reunion with you and been honoured with your presence, which excelleth all that hath
been fashioned in the universe or appeared in the realm of creation.
Great indeed is the blessedness of the wayward one who hath rushed to the dayspring of your
guidance, the slumbering one who hath been awakened through your remembrance, the dead one
who hath been stirred by the breezes of your utterance and adorned with the ornament of life
beneath your shadow, the seated one who hath arisen in your service, the eloquent one who hath
celebrated your praise and turned to the fountain of your generosity, and the rebellious one who
through your intercession hath reached the ocean of forgiveness.
Through the sweet call you raised did all things draw nigh unto God, the Possessor of all
names, and by your turning to the Most Exalted Horizon did all faces turn towards the dawning-
place of the bounty of your Lord, the All-Glorious. Through you the treasures of all names were
brought forth amongst the people. Through you the hearts of His ardent lovers were set ablaze in
the world of creation.
The glory that hath dawned from the horizon of Mine utterance rest upon you and upon
whomsoever hath turned towards you and fixed his gaze on the court of your glory. Through you
the Dove of Eternity chanted and the birds of the Throne of glory warbled amongst the peoples,
the seas surged and the winds blew, the lights were shed abroad and the skies were illumined.
Through you the celestial Bird sounded its call, that which had been hidden was disclosed, the
irrevocable decree was fulfilled, and the Hand of Mercy passed round the sealed wine. Through
you the morn of certitude dawned forth, the lamp of vain imaginings was extinguished, and the
gates of inspiration were flung open. Through you the secrets of the Book were divulged and the
veils were rent asunder. Through you the emerald-green Nightingale warbled upon the Crimson
Tree, testifying to that whereunto God Himself did testify ere the creation of earth and heaven.
Ye are the waves of this Sea through which every other sea hath surged and the mercy of God
hath appeared in every land. I bear witness that ye are rivers branching out from the Most Great
Ocean, luminous moons rising above the horizon of the world, and radiant lights shining upon its
peoples. God hath made each of you a bough of this Ancient Root; an exponent of this glorious,
this veiled and weighty Secret; a manifestation of His most noble Name; and a sign of His all-
embracing grace. Well is it with him that hath been blessed by your breath during your lives and
guided by your example after your deaths. Through you God’s bounty was fulfilled, His mercy
encompassed all things, His testimony was established, His heavenly sustenance was sent down,
His Word was perfected, His breeze was wafted, and His proofs shone resplendent amidst all
creation.
By your suffering, the kindreds of the cities of names were seized with agitation, the Pen of
the Most High wailed aloud, the inmates of the loftiest Paradise were sorely vexed, the leaves of
the Divine Lote-Tree withered, the Maids of heaven swooned away in their crimson chambers, the
atoms of the universe cried out between earth and heaven, and the movement of the Pen of the
Most Great Name was stilled in the realms of remembrance and praise.
Blessed is the one who hath been illumined with the light of your faces, hath drawn nigh
unto the precincts of your court and circled round you, hath visited your resting-places and taken
refuge with you, hath cleaved to the cord of your grace and held fast to the hem of your bounty,
hath striven to the utmost in your path and suffered martyrdom for the sake of your love.
Through you the Supreme Horizon was illumined and all faces turned to God, the Lord of all
Names. Through you were manifested His sovereignty and His might, His majesty and His
grandeur. Ye are the lights of the Kingdom, the secrets of the Celestial Dominion, and the
daysprings of the Cause of God in this nether world. Through you the sun of utterance shone
forth, the ocean of understanding appeared, the heaven of certitude was upraised, and the throne
of the All-Merciful was established in the realm of being.
Blessed are ye—the origin of your beings and their end, your outer temples and inner selves—
and blessed is whosoever hath drawn nigh unto you and visited your graves, held fast to the cord
of your favours, and clung firmly to the hem of the robe of your bestowals.
Lauded be Thy name, O Lord of Being and Possessor of all things visible and invisible! I
beseech Thee by the showers of Thy mercy, through which Thy bounties and favours were
manifested unto Thy servants, and by the mysteries of Thy knowledge and the pearls of the
ocean of Thy wisdom, to forgive me, and my parents, and every servant who hath clung firmly to
this exalted station and hastened to this sublime habitation.
I entreat Thee, O my Lord, by that Word wherewith Thou hast subdued the hearts of Thy
chosen ones, to satisfy my needs and make me steadfast in Thy Cause, with my eyes fixed upon
Thy horizon, wholly rid of all attachment to such as have disbelieved in Thee and in Thy signs.
O Lord! Thou seest Thy servant hastening to the ocean of Thy forgiveness, desiring only that
which Thou hast ordained for them that love Thee. Thou art, in truth, that All-Powerful One
Whom the pursuits of Thy servants can never frustrate nor the clamour of the people deter from
Thy purpose. Thou doest, through the power of Thy might, what Thou willest, and ordainest as
Thou pleasest. Thou, verily, art the All-Powerful, the All-Subduing, the Almighty.
—Bahá’u’lláh

1 Bahá’u’lláh states in another Tablet that the Báb referred to Mullá Ḥusayn and Quddús by
these appellations. ↩
2 In a Tablet Bahá’u’lláh states, “The Holy Tree [Sadrat] is, in a sense, the Manifestation of the
one true God, exalted be He. The Blessed Tree in the land of Za‘farán referreth to the land
which is flourishing, blessed, holy, and all-perfumed, where that Tree hath been planted.” ↩

***

The purpose of that which hath been sent down from the heaven of the Will of God in this most
exalted, this most holy Revelation, is the unity of the world and love and fellowship among its
peoples.

***

A number of people in various regions are at present illumined with the light of faith, but with
the exception of a few, they have not been privileged as yet to observe the injunctions revealed
from His presence.
Previously We wrote to thee 1 that had the friends there observed the payment of
Ḥuqúqu’lláh, the people of that region would have enjoyed ease and comfort. Before this law was
revealed there was no obligation on the part of any soul. The Pen of Glory held back from
revealing laws and ordinances for a number of years, and this was a token of His heavenly grace.
Were the people of the world to recognize what inestimable benefits the ordinances of the All-
Merciful would bring forth, they would arise to fulfil His commandments and would observe His
bidding....
The Pen of the Most High hath ordained that the Ḥuqúqu’lláh is payable on nineteen
mithqáls of gold. That is, the Ḥuqúq is levied on money equalling this amount. As to other
possessions in silver or otherwise, it is payable when they equal this in value, not in number. The
Ḥuqúqu’lláh is payable only once; for example, if a person acquireth a thousand mithqáls in gold
and payeth the Ḥuqúq thereof, the Right of God ceaseth to be applicable to that amount, except in
regard to what accrueth to it through commerce and transactions; when such profits reach the
prescribed minimum, one must carry out what God hath decreed. When, however, the original sum
changeth hands, the Ḥuqúq is again payable as it was the first time; in this event the Right of God
must be given.
Beseech ye God—magnified be His glory—to grant that His loved ones may be privileged to
take a portion from the ocean of His good-pleasure, for this would serve as the means for the
salvation of mankind, and may of their own accord carry out that which would purify them and
cause them to attain everlasting life....
The Primal Point hath said that they should pay Ḥuqúqu’lláh on the value of whatsoever
they possess, but notwithstanding, We have in this greatest Dispensation exempted the residence
and household furnishings, that is, such furnishings as are needful. Thou hast asked which is to
take precedence: the Ḥuqúqu’lláh, the debts of the deceased, or the cost of burial. It is God’s
command that the cost of burial take precedence, then payment of debts, then the Right of God.
Verily He is the One Who will pay due recompense, the All-Rewarding, the All-Generous. If the
property is not equal to the debts, the estate must be distributed in direct proportion to each debt.
The settlement of debts is a most important command set forth in the Book. Well is it with him
who ascendeth unto God, without any obligations to Ḥuqúqu’lláh and to His servants. It is evident
that the Ḥuqúqu’lláh hath priority over all other liabilities; however, as a token of mercy, He Who
is the Dawning-Place of Revelation hath commanded that which hath been revealed by His life-
giving and omniscient Pen in this Tablet.

1 Zaynu’l-Muqarrabín. ↩

***

It is indeed a most excellent favour, a boundless grace vouchsafed unto whosoever is privileged in
this day to render service to the Cause of God and to offer the Right of God, for its goodly results
and the fruits thereof will last as long as the kingdom of earth and heaven will endure.

***

O ye in mortal graves! The peace of God, Him Who is the Lord of Revelation and the Speaker on
Sinai, rest upon you. Blessed are ye, for ye were endowed with faith in days when trembling
seized the limbs of all religions.
May the glory of God rest upon you, upon the origin of your beings and the end thereof, and
upon your outer temples and inner selves.

***

Teach ye your children so that they may peruse the divine verses every morn and eve. God hath
prescribed unto every father to educate his children, both boys and girls, in the sciences and in
morals, and in crafts and professions. Thus have We instructed you in Our Most Holy Book,
revealed by Us from Our all-hallowed Realm. Well is it with him who cleaveth fast to this with a
power from Our own Self; he verily is a man related to this Station.
 Make ye an effort that there may issue forth from you that which befitteth the days of your
God, the King before Whom all heads bow down.

***

We have caused thee to return to thy home as a token of Our mercy unto thy mother, inasmuch
as We have found her overwhelmed with sorrow. We have enjoined you in the Book “to worship
no one but God and to show kindness to your parents”. 1 Thus hath the one true God spoken and
the decree hath been fulfilled by the Almighty, the All-Wise. Therefore We have caused thee to
return unto her and unto thy sister, that thy mother’s eyes may thereby be cheered, and she may
be of the thankful.
Say, O My people! Show honour to your parents and pay homage to them. This will cause
blessings to descend upon you from the clouds of the bounty of your Lord, the Exalted, the Great.
When We learned of her sadness, We directed thee to return unto her, as a token of mercy
unto thee from Our presence, and as an admonishment for others.
Beware lest ye commit that which would sadden the hearts of your fathers and mothers.
Follow ye the path of Truth, which indeed is a straight path. Should anyone give you a choice
between the opportunity to render a service to Me and a service to them, choose ye to serve them,
and let such service be a path leading you to Me. This is My exhortation and command unto thee.
Observe therefore that which thy Lord, the Mighty, the Gracious, hath prescribed unto thee.

1 Cf. Qur’án 17:23. ↩

***

He is the Eternal.

Ḥusayn, son of ‘Ayn 1

Wealth and children are the adornment of this present life; but good works, which are lasting,
are better in the sight of thy Lord as to recompense, and better as to hope. 2
This son hath been an adornment of the Most Exalted Paradise and we see him now, through
God’s grace and bounty, engaged in sightseeing 3 in the heavenly realms.

1 Inscription on the tombstone of Ḥusayn, son of the beloved Master. ‘Ayn is the first letter of his
Father’s name, ‘Abbás. ↩
2 Cf. Qur’án 18:46. ↩
3 In the original Persian Bahá’u’lláh makes a fond play on the word “tamáshá” which means
“sightseeing”, a word which the little child mispronounced as “tabáshá”, which has no meaning.
Thus in the inscription: “we see Our ‘tabáshá’ now engaged in ‘tamáshá’ in the heavenly
realms”. ↩

***

O “Times”, O thou endowed with the power of utterance! O dawning-place of news! Spend an
hour with the oppressed of Iran, and witness how the exemplars of justice and equity are sorely
tried beneath the sword of tyrants. Infants have been deprived of milk, and women and children
have fallen captive to the lawless. The blood of God’s lovers hath dyed the earth red, and the sighs
of His near ones have set the universe ablaze.
O assemblage of rulers! Ye are the manifestations of power and might, and the fountainheads
of the glory, greatness, and authority of God Himself. Gaze upon the plight of the wronged ones. O
daysprings of justice! The fierce gales of rancour and hatred have extinguished the lamps of virtue
and piety. At dawn, the gentle breeze of divine compassion hath wafted over charred and cast-out
bodies, whispering these exalted words: “Woe, woe unto you, O people of Iran! Ye have spilt the
blood of your own friends and yet remain in ignorance of what ye have done. Should ye become
aware of the deeds ye have perpetrated, ye would flee to the desert and bewail your crimes and
tyranny.”
O misguided ones! What sin have the little children committed? Hath anyone, in these days,
had pity on the dependants of the oppressed? A report hath reached Us that the followers of the
Spirit 1—may the peace of God and His mercy be upon Him—secretly sent them provisions and
befriended them out of utmost sympathy. We beseech God, the Eternal Truth, to confirm all in
accomplishing that which is pleasing to Him.
O newspapers published throughout the cities and countries of the world! Have ye heard the
groan of the downtrodden, and have their cries of anguish reached your ears? Or have these
remained concealed? It is hoped that ye will investigate the truth of what hath occurred and
vindicate it.

1 Jesus. ↩

***

All should know, and in this regard attain the splendours of the sun of certitude, and be illumined
thereby: Women and men have been and will always be equal in the sight of God. The Dawning-
Place of the Light of God sheddeth its radiance upon all with the same effulgence. Verily God
created women for men, and men for women. The most beloved of people before God are the most
steadfast and those who have surpassed others in their love for God, exalted be His glory....
The friends of God must be adorned with the ornament of justice, equity, kindness, and love.
As they do not allow themselves to be the object of cruelty and transgression, in like manner they
should not allow such tyranny to visit the handmaidens of God. He, verily, speaketh the truth and
commandeth that which benefiteth His servants and handmaidens. He is the Protector of all in
this world and the next.

***

This Ḥuqúq which hath been mentioned, and the command of which hath issued forth from the
horizon of God’s Holy Tablet, hath benefits which are the prescribed lot of the individuals
themselves. By God! Were the people to know what hath been concealed from their eyes and
become fully aware of the ocean of grace which lieth hid within this divine command, all the
people of the world would offer everything they possess in order to be mentioned by Him. Blessed
is the man who hath been privileged to observe that which he hath been commanded by God, the
All-Knowing, the All-Wise....
As bidden by Him, no one is allowed to solicit payment of the Ḥuqúq. In the Book of God
everyone is enjoined to offer the Ḥuqúq spontaneously and in a spirit of joy and fellowship. I
beseech Him, the Most Exalted, to graciously enable everyone to do that which is pleasing and
acceptable unto Him.
And now concerning the poor, thou hast written to ask whether it is permissible to pay them
out of the Right of God. This is conditional upon permission having been granted. In each locality
where the Right of God is being received, details of it must be submitted to His exalted presence
together with a statement describing the position of the needy ones. Verily He doeth what He
willeth and ordaineth what He pleaseth. If permission were to be given universally it would lead
to strife and give rise to trouble.

***

If the learned ones of the earth were all present at the time of the revealing of Our verses, know
ye of a certainty that they would all acknowledge the truth of this Revelation.

***
In this Day the Bayán is conditioned and dependent upon the acceptance of this Most Great
Revelation. We, verily, did send down unto My Herald that which caused the Books of God, the
Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting, to rejoice. We sent it unto Him and, when it reached Him and
He perused it, He was so transported by the breaths of Revelation that with His whole being He
soared into Mine atmosphere, and purposed to attain My presence and to stand before My face.
Such was the vibrant influence of Our words upon Him as no tongue can ever tell, nor any pen
recount. To this testifieth the Mother Book in this, the Day of Return. We, verily, concealed the
root of the Cause in order to ensure its preservation—this in token of Our wisdom, and I, truly, am
the All-Glorious, the Unconstrained. He doeth what He willeth and shall not be asked of what He
pleaseth to ordain. He is the God of strength, of glory and of wisdom.

***

This, truly, is a Revelation which revealeth itself only once every five hundred thousand years.
Thus have We removed the barrier and lifted the veils.

***

All the days have been honoured, O my God, by the arrival of the days upon which Thou hast
conferred the name of Há, each of which Thou hast made a herald and a messenger announcing
unto the people the advent of the days on which Thou didst enjoin Thy creation and Thy people
to observe the Fast. Thus may every soul prepare himself to behold these days and appoint a
place for them in his heart and purify it by Thy Name, the Lord, for their appearance.

***

He is God, exalted be He: Wisdom and utterance are His wont.

O people of the Caucasus! Baṭḥá (Mecca) hath flowed with water, and the Supreme Horizon hath
been suffused with light! By My life! The countenance of Ḥijáz hath been wreathed in smiles,
inasmuch as the Tabernacle of Majesty hath been pitched upon the slopes of Carmel, and the
Day-Star of Revelation hath shone forth from the horizon of the Will of God, after the veils of
glory had been rent asunder by the finger of Divine omnipotence.…
O people of the Caucasus! He that was named ‘Abdu’l-Karím 1 came unto you and announced
unto you this Mystery, in remembrance of which men’s hearts have been enkindled, and in
separation from which their souls have been consumed. He, verily, held fast the cord of Mine
allegiance and clung to the hem of the mercy of His Lord, the Lord of all men.…
O people of the Caucasus! Give ear unto the call of this Wronged One! This is that call for the
purpose of hearing which the peoples of the world have, from a state of utter nothingness, been
brought into existence.…
O people of the world! The fruits of the tree of man are justice and fair-mindedness. Should
he not be possessed of these fruits, he is fit but for the fire. Pride hath blinded both their outer and
their inner vision. The world is in need of two things: order and justice.…
‘Abdu’l-Karím was an exemplar of this Most Great Revelation. Like unto the breeze of dawn,
He blew from the quarter of Divine bounty. He himself was aflame with the fire of love for this
Revelation, while a portion of the ocean of understanding had been bestowed upon him. This was
a token of God’s favour unto him.…
O people of the Caucasus! In conclusion of this utterance, We admonish you to observe
trustworthiness, piety, chastity, honesty, and fidelity. In this day, and from this time forth, the
hosts of God are none other but goodly deeds and a praiseworthy character. Aid ye the True One
with these hosts.…

1 Siyyid ‘Abdu’l-Karím-i-Urdúbádí. ↩
 ***

O My Leaf ! 1 ...Thou art with the Supreme Companion, and this Wronged One is making mention
of thee in the Prison of ‘Akká. Thou art she who, before the creation of the world of being, found
the fragrance of the garment of the Merciful.

1 Khadíjih Bagum. ↩

***

Thou hast mentioned the station of parents in the next world. One of the special bounties of this
Dispensation is that the sun of divine favour will shine upon the parents of any soul who hath
recognized the Dayspring of the Cause of God, even though they themselves may not have
attained to His recognition. This is one of His bounties bestowed upon His loved ones. Render
thanks, then, and be of those who are grateful.

***

The Divine Lote-Tree speaketh forth; hearken unto Him with your hearts. The Tongue of the
Merciful One crieth out; incline your ears unto His Words. Thus exhorteth you your Lord, the
Speaker, the All-Knowing.

***

During these days the laws of God have shone forth from the Dayspring of Divine utterance. God
willing, they will be sent on later. The following two blessed verses have been revealed in that
most exalted, most holy Tablet: “Amongst the people is he who seateth himself amid the sandals
by the door whilst coveting in his heart the seat of honour. Say: What manner of man art thou, O
vain and heedless one, who wouldst appear as other than thou art? And among the people is he
who layeth claim to inner knowledge, and still deeper knowledge concealed within this
knowledge. Say: Thou speakest false! By God! What thou dost possess is naught but husks which
We have left to thee as bones are left to dogs.” Observe how every vain and worthless soul hath
caused a narrow gulf to branch out from the most great Ocean and, prompted by idle imaginings
and corrupt desires, hath provoked divisions amongst the people of Islam through evil scheming
and deceptions.

***

The truth is manifest, the kingdom of utterance is resplendent, and the Day of God is clearly
revealed! And yet souls who would, wholly for the sake of God, awaken the people and guide
them to the True One are as scarce as the philosopher’s stone!
How many the lands that remained untilled and uncultivated; and how many the lands that
were tilled and cultivated, and yet remained without water; and how many the lands which, when
the harvest time arrived, no harvester came forth to reap! However, through the wonders of God’s
favour and the revelations of His loving-kindness, We cherish the hope that souls may appear
who are the embodiments of heavenly virtue and who will occupy themselves with teaching the
Cause of God and training all that dwell on earth.

***

His first enquiry concerneth the fact that, in the Scriptures of the past, Isaac is said to have been
sacrificed unto God, whereas in the Qur’án this station—that is, the sacrifice unto God—hath been
revealed and recorded for Ishmael. What he hath mentioned is undoubtedly the truth. All people
must, however, fix their gaze upon the Word that hath dawned from the horizon of Divine
Utterance. It is incumbent upon every soul to ponder its sovereignty and pervading influence, its
might and all-encompassing power. There can be no doubt that these matters are confirmed and
proven only through the Word of God. It is the Word of God that standeth supreme over all things.
It is the begetter of the world and the educator of its people. It summoneth them that wander
athirst in the vale of separation to direct their steps towards the ocean of reunion. It illuminateth
the darkness of ignorance with the morning light of knowledge.
Consider how in this day all those who believe in the Scriptures of the past accept that Isaac
was a sacrifice unto God; likewise, the people of the Qur’án affirm the same station for Ishmael.
This, despite the fact that it is clear and evident to every possessor of insight and understanding
that, to outward seeming, no such sacrifice took place, and all agree that an animal was sacrificed.
Meditate, therefore, on the reason why a person that hath gone to the altar of sacrifice for the
Beloved and yet hath come back alive was clothed with the robe of divine sacrifice and was
invested with the ornament of His acceptance. There is no doubt that he attained this station and
was adorned with this mantle through the agency of the Word of God. Thus, the appearance, the
realization, and the fulfilment of every name, station, and created thing are all dependent upon
the Word of God.

***

These, in brief, are the prerequisites pertaining to those who obtain leave to undertake pilgrimage.
First is physical health and a sound constitution. Second is possession of the means of travel,
whether financial or otherwise. Most important, however, is obtaining permission prior to
departure. Should all these conditions be fulfilled and yet wisdom dictate otherwise, it is not
permissible to undertake the journey. The one true God hath revealed that “pilgrimage to the
temple is a service due to God”, and to this verse He hath added the qualification “from those who
are able to journey thither”. 1 We beseech Him to graciously assist all to observe that whereunto
they have been commanded. From the Dayspring of the Cause there appeareth naught save that
which is conducive to the loftiness, exaltation, love, harmony, and unity of His servants. He, verily,
is the Ordainer, the All-Wise.

1 Qur’án 3:97 ↩

***

As to the children: We have directed that in the beginning they should be trained in the
observances and laws of religion and, thereafter, in such branches of knowledge as are of benefit,
and in commercial pursuits that are distinguished for integrity, and in deeds that will further the
victory of God’s Cause or will attract some outcome which will draw the believer closer to his
Lord.
We beg of God to assist the children of His loved ones and adorn them with wisdom, good
conduct, integrity, and righteousness. He, verily, is the Forgiving, the Clement.

***

O friends! You must all be so ablaze in this day with the fire of the love of God that the heat
thereof may be manifest in all your veins, your limbs and members of your body, and the peoples
of the world may be ignited by this heat and turn to the horizon of the Beloved.

***

Thou hast asked about affection and reconciliation in the case of Mírzá.... This matter was
mentioned in the Holy Presence. This is what the tongue of our All-Merciful Lord uttered in
response: “This is regarded with favour and is well pleasing. After man’s recognition of God, and
becoming steadfast in His Cause, the station of affection, of harmony, of concord, and of unity is
superior to that of most other goodly deeds. This is what He Who is the Desire of the world hath
testified at every morn and eve. God grant that ye may follow that which hath been revealed in
the Kitáb-i-Aqdas.”

***

The state of affairs hath changed, the countries are agitated, and Islam hath thereby been
weakened and is beset by enemies. It is incumbent upon this people to supplicate God, at morn
and at eventide, and beseech Him to confirm the entire community of the followers of Islam to
attain that which is beloved and pleasing unto Him, to raise them up through the power of His
might and sovereignty, and to make known unto them that which will exalt their stations and will
transmute their abasement into glory, their poverty into wealth, their ruin into prosperity, their
agitation into quiet calm, and their fear into peace and security. He is, verily, the All-Merciful.
There is no God but Him, the All-Bounteous, the All-Glorious.

***

We testify that thou didst enter the prison, that thou didst present thyself and didst stand at the
door, and thou didst hear the words of this Wronged One, by Whom all lamps are ignited.

***

What thou hadst written regarding martyrdom in the Path of God was presented, and He spoke
thus, supreme is His Power: “We, verily, have ordained for him this exalted station, this high
designation. Well it is with him that he attained this station prior to its appearance, and We
accepted from him that which he intended in the path of God, the One, the Single, the All-
Knowing, the All-Informed.”

***

O Zayn! It behoveth thee to entreat God to graciously enable His faithful servants to meet the
obligation of Ḥuqúq. The world is evanescent, and one’s life fleeting. Therefore if one is privileged
to offer that which is binding upon him, such an act hath ever been and will be nearer to piety and
righteousness.... It is incumbent upon everyone to fulfil that which hath been set forth in the Book
of God, exalted be His glory.

***

O Samandar! How many are the souls who, with the utmost endeavour and effort, collect a
handful of worldly goods and greatly rejoice in this act, and yet in reality the Pen of the Most
High hath decreed this wealth for others; that is, it is not meant to be their lot or it may even fall
into the hands of their enemies! We seek shelter in God from such an evident loss. One’s life is
wasted; by day and by night, troubles are endured, and wealth becometh a source of affliction.
Most of the wealth of men is not pure. Should they follow what is revealed by God, they would
assuredly not be deprived of His grace and they would, in all circumstances, be protected under
His bounty and blessed by His mercy.

***

He it is Who shineth forth in splendour from the supreme horizon.

O My handmaiden! How many the men who, throughout the centuries and ages, expectantly
awaited the promised Manifestation, yet when His radiance dawned above the horizon of the
world all turned away from Him but for a few. Every handmaiden who attaineth unto the
recognition of the King of Names is accounted in the Book of God a true man, and so recorded by
the Pen of the Most High. Yield thou thanks unto the Best-Beloved of the world, for having
graciously assisted thee to recognize the Dayspring of His perspicuous signs and the Dawning-
Place of His undoubted proofs. Great is this bounty, and mighty this bestowal. Do thou preserve it
in the name of the one true God.

***

Glory be to the Lord of the world, and thanks be to the Hands of His Cause, and praise be to the
Trustees of His House of Justice, who, in their endeavours to raise aloft His Word and exalt His
utterance, have renounced themselves and all created things, and are regardful of and tenaciously
adhering to whatsoever will promote the Cause of God. We fain would hope that there may
appear from these chosen ones of God, who are related to the Most Great Name, that which in the
realm of action shall be the king of deeds, and in the realm of speech the prince of utterances.
Through the benevolent exertions of these souls, the world is radiant and luminous with the light
of justice and equity. Glorified be the majesty of God, our Lord and the Lord of the Mighty Throne.

***

The maidservant of God Khurshíd in the Land of Alif

He is the Most Glorious.

O Khurshíd! Thy letter hath come into the presence of God, and attained unto the court wherein
His mercy-seat hath been established. Thanks and praise be unto Him. O Khurshíd! Strive that
thou mayest become in reality like unto thy name—a heavenly luminary shining brilliantly above
the horizon of the firmament of love; 1 for a name alone is not sufficient in this day: rather what is
requisite and fitting is a matching character, a reality that correspondeth to the name. How many
are the souls who, though in name “Beloved”, 2 are in reality detested of the Lord! Please God, thou
wilt, both inwardly and outwardly, exemplify thy name.
I swear by the Day-Star of the heaven of Divine Unity! Were the sun of this physical heaven
to be acquainted with the sorrows that have afflicted the Beauty of the All-Merciful, it would rise
no more above its dawning-place, and would divest itself of the robe of its refulgency and light.
Howbeit, We have concealed Our woes from all created things, lest they that are the embodiments
of names in the kingdom of creation should be consumed away.
Be not then afflicted, and occupy thyself at all times with the remembrance of the Well-
Beloved. Be not saddened by the sorrows of the world, nor gladdened by its joys, for with the
swiftness of lightning both shall pass away and come to naught. Detach thy heart from all that
perisheth, and enter thou the imperishable dominion. Render thanks unto the Well-Beloved that
thou hast attained unto His love, a love that purifieth the soul of sickness and transgression, and
answereth one’s wants and needs. Please God thou wilt remain constant in His love, and wilt not
deviate from the straight path of His Cause. The sign of those that love Him, however, is that they
should walk in the ways of His good-pleasure, and not in the pathway of their evil passions and
desires. Abide thou ever neath the shadow of His mercy, and detach thyself from all save Him. Do
thou convey Our salutation and blessing to all those handmaidens who are devoted unto Him. The
Glory of God rest upon you.

1 A punning reference to the fact that the addressee’s name, “Khurshíd”, is also the Persian word
for “sun”. ↩
2 i.e, who bear the name “Maḥbúb” or “Maḥbúbih” (“Beloved”). ↩

***

As for thy mention of the Obligatory Prayer: In truth, anyone who readeth this with absolute
sincerity will attract all created things, and confer new life upon the world of being. This servant
beseecheth his Lord to assist His loved ones in that which will deliver them from this world’s
vicissitudes, its preoccupations, its frustrations, and its darkness, and will adorn them with that
which shall under all conditions draw them nigh unto Him. 1 He, verily, is the All-Possessing, the
Most High.
This Obligatory Prayer is different from that revealed in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. That prayer,
together with the writings of the Primal Point—may the souls of all else but Him be offered up for
His sake!—was for reasons of prudence sent to another place. Then, a few years later, another
prayer was revealed, which is also not in hand. Finally, the three present prayers were revealed
from the heaven of Him Who is the Desire of the world.
The intention is the use of one of these three prayers: In other words, if one is used, the other
two are not obligatory. Likewise, with regard to communal and individual prayer, the rule
regarding this will be despatched hereafter. In accordance with instructions, whatsoever hath been
revealed with regard to the laws will be forwarded on the next occasion. These same particulars
were communicated by Him to Jináb-i-‘Alí-Akbar—upon him be the Glory of God, the Most
Glorious!

1 This Tablet was revealed in the voice of Bahá’u’lláh’s amanuensis, Mírzá Áqá Ján, surnamed
Khádimu’lláh (Servant of God). Out of respect, the Bahá’ís, rather than addressing Bahá’u’lláh
directly, would write to Mírzá Áqá Ján. The reply would be in the form of a letter from Mírzá
Áqá Ján quoting words of Bahá’u’lláh, but would, in fact, be dictated in its entirety by
Bahá’u’lláh. All parts of such Tablets, even those which ostensibly are the words of Mírzá Áqá
Ján himself, are Sacred Scripture revealed by Bahá’u’lláh. ↩

***

In the early days, when the Divine verses were revealed, absolutely no regard was given to the
grammatical conventions of the people, whereas in these days, out of considerations of wisdom,
regard is being paid to them. If, therefore, a previously revealed Tablet is read out before Our
countenance, new wording is, in certain places, revealed to take the place of the old. Such
modifications, however, concern only the outward aspects of the wording, for in reality it is correct
in the form in which it was originally revealed.

***

By God! The Preserved Tablet hath appeared; it walketh amongst His servants and calleth out:
“This is the Day promised unto you in the Holy Books of old.”

***

Concerning the question of language: In the Kitáb-i-Aqdas hath been revealed that which is
sufficient unto all.... “O members of parliaments throughout the world! Select ye a single language
for the use of all on earth....” And this categorical ordinance is revealed from the Ancient Realm of
Glory for the people of the world in general and the members of parliaments in particular,
inasmuch as the application of the laws and ordinances revealed in the Book hath been left to the
men of divine Houses of Justice. This command is the greatest means of unity and the most
powerful cause of fellowship and solidarity among the people of the world.

***

You asked about My sons.... And one of them will be manifested through the power of the true
Faith, and God will cause signs of His might to flow from his tongue. He is among those that God
hath singled out for His Cause. There is no God but Him.

***

He is the True, the Faithful.

O Abu’l-Ḥasan! 1 God willing thou art sustained by His lordly favours and art occupied with such
deeds as befit His Day. Regard faith as a tree: its fruits and leaves, its branches and boughs are,
and ever have been, truthfulness, trustworthiness, rectitude of conduct, and forbearance. Be
assured of God’s sustaining grace, and engage thyself with service to His Faith. We have
designated thee a trustee of God, have bidden thee to observe that which shall exalt the Cause of
Him Who is the Lord of the worlds, and have bestowed upon thee the right to receive
Ḥuqúqu’lláh. Consort with the people in a spirit of amity and concord, and be unto them a loyal
counsellor and a loving companion. Content thyself then with that which We have ordained for
thee.
In this Day it is incumbent upon all to evince true resignation. The Primal Point Himself hath
informed every soul and summoned them to this lofty and sublime station, that all may attain
unto the good-pleasure of God, may forsake their own desires, of whose ultimate consequence
they remain ignorant, and may fix their gaze upon the will of God. Nor is this fleeting life of such
worth that it should distract any soul from the True One or deflect him from that which is
pleasing unto Him.
Convey Our greetings to all Our loved ones and remind them of this station, which in truth is
the loftiest of stations. Thus hath this Wronged One bidden thee, that thou mayest yield thanks to
thy God, the Lord of utterance and bounty. My glory be upon thee and upon them that have acted
as bidden by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

1 Known as Jináb-i-Amín, Trustee of the Ḥuqúq in the days of Bahá’u’lláh. ↩

***

Jináb-i-Áqá Muḥammad Ṣádiq

He is resplendent above His most exalted Horizon.

Give ear, O people of Bahá, to the counsel of the Most Exalted Pen: Renounce the promptings of
your own will and fix your gaze upon the will of God, inasmuch as none is aware of that which
can harm or profit him; whereas the one true God, magnified be His glory, knoweth and embraceth
all things, and will of a certainty ordain that which is best. Occupy not the days of your lives with
the betterment of your own affairs; arise, rather, for the betterment of the world. Such indeed is
the station of the people of Bahá as recorded in the Crimson Book by the Pen of the Most High.
Show forth the utmost love to all the peoples of the world and the diverse kindreds of the earth.
The one true God, exalted be His glory, beareth Me witness! Whoso observeth this commandment
is accounted among those who tread the path of Truth: In God doth he dwell and to God doth he
turn.

***

Remember us to all those in thy land who have believed in God and in His signs, as well as those
who journeyed towards God and gained admission into the precincts of the court of Him Who is
the Almighty, the All-Bountiful. Among them is the letter Káf, who is the recipient of His
unsurpassed mercy. Thus do We make mention of him in this Tablet with the sweet melodies of
the pure in heart. Another is the letter Qáf, who journeyed unto the court of God in His days and
is reckoned among the righteous. Likewise the letter Há’, who embarked on this journey, hath
returned home by Our leave, and is now immersed in the ocean of divine love. The letter Rá’ is yet
another one who hearkened to the wondrous melodies of the Nightingale and entered beneath the
sheltering shadow of God, the Gracious, the All Knowing. And among them are such as have left
their homes and since returned. We have not mentioned their names, but all have attained a
station of grace that is beyond the comprehension of all created things. Erelong will God reveal
unto them the fruits of their noble deeds, as they soar into the blessed heaven of holiness on
wings of ruby. There are still others who have made this journey in their hearts and whose names
were inscribed with the Pen of power upon the spirits of transcendent glory. Soon will God open
before their faces the portals of Paradise and they will enter therein in a state of peace and mercy
from Our presence and abide there forever in bliss.

***

He is the Healer, the Almighty, the All-Wise.

O Most Great Branch! By God! Thine illness 1 hath saddened Me, but God will heal Thee and
protect Thee. He is the Most Generous, the Best of Helpers.
The glory of God rest upon Thee and upon whosoever serveth Thee and circleth around Thee.
Woe, great woe, betide him that opposeth and injureth Thee. Well is it with him that sweareth
fealty to Thee; the fire of hell torment him who is Thine enemy.

1 Literally “cold”. ↩

***

In recent days the Kitáb-i-Aqdas hath been revealed from the heaven of holiness. Blessed is the
man who will read it and ponder the verses sent down in it by the omnipotent, self-subsisting
Lord. The reason was this: Over the course of some years, questions concerning the laws of God
were received from divers lands, but the Supreme Pen did not respond to them; then, in the Land
of Mystery, 1 a brief tablet was revealed in the Persian language but was not sent out, and, as
directed, it was kept in a safe place. Recently, once again petitions containing questions have
reached the Most Holy Threshold. Thereupon this wondrous and sublime Book hath been sent
down in the form of Divine verses. As Áqá J. M., upon him rest the glory of God, was on a visit
here, that which was suitable for release at present was shared with him; namely, he was
permitted to take a copy. God willing, you will receive the Text and act in accordance with
wisdom.

1 Adrianople. ↩

***

Thou didst beg the Supreme Lord ... to bestow upon thee a station whereat in the path of His love
thou wouldst give up everything: thy life, thy spirit, thy reputation, thine existence, all in all. All
of these behests were submitted in the most sanctified, most exalted Presence of the Abhá Beauty.
Thus did the Tongue of the Merciful speak in the Kingdom of Utterance: “God willing, he shall be
seen in utmost purity and saintliness, as befitteth the Day of God, and attain the station of the
most great martyrdom. Today, the greatest of all deeds is service to the Cause. Souls that are well
assured should, with utmost discretion, teach the Faith, so that the sweet fragrances of the Divine
Garment will waft from all directions. This martyrdom is not confined to the destruction of life
and the shedding of blood. A person enjoying the bounty of life may yet be recorded a martyr in
the Book of the Sovereign Lord. Well is it with thee that thou hast wished to offer whatsoever is
thine, and all that is of thee and with thee in My path.”

***

The one true God, exalted be He, loveth to witness handiworks of high craftsmanship produced by
His loved ones. Blessed art thou, for what thy skill hath produced hath reached the presence of
thy Lord, the Exiled, the Wronged. Please God every one of His friends may be enabled to acquire
one of the crafts, and be confirmed in adhering to what hath been ordained in the Book of God, the
All-Glorious, the All-Wise.
 ***

One of the names of God is the Fashioner. He loveth craftsmanship. Therefore any of His servants
who manifesteth this attribute is acceptable in the sight of this Wronged One. Craftsmanship is a
book among the books of divine sciences, and a treasure among the treasures of His heavenly
wisdom. This is a knowledge with meaning, for some of the sciences are brought forth by words
and come to an end with words.

***

The Sun of Truth is the Word of God, upon which dependeth the education of those who are
endowed with the power of understanding and of utterance. It is the true spirit and the heavenly
water, through whose aid and gracious providence all things have been and will be quickened. Its
appearance in every mirror is conditioned by the colour of that mirror. For instance, when its light
is cast upon the mirrors of the hearts of the wise, it bringeth forth wisdom. In like manner, when
it manifesteth itself in the mirrors of the hearts of craftsmen, it unfoldeth new and unique arts,
and when reflected in the hearts of those that apprehend the truth, it revealeth wondrous tokens
of true knowledge and discloseth the verities of God’s utterance.

***

Moderation is indeed highly desirable. Every person who in some degree turneth towards the truth
can himself later comprehend most of what he seeketh. However, if at the outset a word is uttered
beyond his capacity, he will refuse to hear it and will arise in opposition.

***

He is the Glory of Glories.

Hearken thou unto My call from the horizon of My prison in the midst of Mine adversaries:
“Verily, there is none other God but Him, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Bountiful.” He hath truly
hearkened unto the divine verses who ariseth to perform that which befitteth him. Many are the
souls who have listened but are not accounted by the Almighty as having heard. True listening
consisteth in man’s first perceiving with the ear of his spirit the call of the All-Merciful, and then
remaining so steadfast in observing the divine precept and command that were he to witness from
the peoples of the world naught save denial, enmity, and rejection he would in no wise be
deflected from walking in the Straight Path of God. Well is it with them that attain!
O maidservant of God! Render thanks unto the One Beloved for having adorned thee with the
wondrous ornament of His remembrance, and for having assisted thee to recognize the Supernal
Beauty. Please God thou wilt, through His bestowal, be illumined in these days of the All-Glorious
by the effulgence of His countenance, and rejoice at that to which thou hast attained. The Glory
of God rest upon you, O ye My maidservants.

***

The mother-in-law of Salmán

He is the Peerless.

O maidservant of God! Occupy thyself with God’s remembrance, and detach thy heart from all but
Him. For His remembrance is the heart’s consoler, the very life of all that long for Him. Be not
saddened by the world, for in truth it is a lethal poison and a deadly bane. Its good and evil are as
changeful and inconstant as the winds of heaven, or as the covenant of the people of the Bayán.
Beware that thou exult not in its joys, nor grieve at its afflictions. The heart is the seat of the
revelation of the All-Merciful; defile it not with the dross of this world! Bind thy heart to the Well-
Beloved, and be thou as steadfast as the mountain in His love. Such is the counsel of this Youth
unto all the maidservants of God. Occupy yourselves at dawn in praise of your Beloved, and raise
your heads each morning from your couch in His remembrance. The Spirit of God and His Glory
rest upon thee, and upon all His maidservants.

***

The sister of Jináb-i-Ḥaydar-‘Alí

He is the Peerless, the Sanctified, the Most Glorious.

Praise be unto the Best-Beloved, the cloud of whose mercy hath ever rained upon all beings, and
the sun of whose bounty hath ever shed its radiance upon all created things. Truly destitute is he
who hath deprived himself of the showers of God’s grace!
O maidservant of God! Strive that thou mayest not be deprived of the effulgent splendours of
His lights, nor far removed from the shadow of His mercy. Take thou refuge in His shelter, and
abide thou beneath the shadow of His gracious favour; for all that cometh not beneath His shadow
hath ever been, and shall remain, within the realm of disbelief. In these days, the operation of two
divine names may be witnessed with the utmost clarity, to wit, the names of “Quickener” and
“Destroyer”. These cause on the one hand death, and on the other, life. The one taketh life away
from those that turn away from God; the other conferreth everlasting life upon those that turn
towards Him. How great the power of Him Who at a single time hath made two seasons to
appear: spring and autumn! How numerous the trees of human souls that have become fresh and
verdant in this mystic, holy springtide, and richly laden with the fruits of divine knowledge! And
how numerous the trees of human souls that have become parched and withered in this same
season, deprived of all God’s manifold bestowals! A single breeze blew forth from out His peerless
Paradise: To the believers in the unity of God it was a balm of peace and mercy; to the infidels, a
blast of wrath and chastisement. Such is the power of Him Who is the sovereign Lord of all!
O maidservant of God! Please God thou wilt not be deprived of the gently stirring breezes of
this springtide of supernal holiness, nor remain without a portion of the overflowing bounties of
these days of the divine spirit. Pass thou beyond the world and all its peoples, and set thy face
towards the one true God. For all else but Him is in its essence poor and needy and, being so, is
powerless to satisfy even its own needs, how much less the needs of others!
O maidservant of God! Whenever thou art seated in comfort and tranquillity, do thou call to
mind this Captive and occupy thyself with His remembrance; and if thou beholdest an exile from
his native land, do thou recount the banishment and anguish of this spiritual Youth. I swear by
Him Who is the Mover of all beings! Heaven, earth, and mountains would be incapable of bearing
a single atom of the tribulations that have come to pass. Nay, better were it that the afflictions of
this Youth remain concealed. He, verily, hath knowledge of all things. Do thou convey the
salutation of Him Who is the Tongue of God unto all His devoted handmaidens.

***

He is the Peerless!

O maidservant of God! Render thanks unto the one true Beloved for having guided thee to
recognize His own Self. Many are the daughters of kings and other notables who, through having
been veiled from recognizing the beauty of the All-Merciful, are not remembered by the Lord.
Thou, however, hast been remembered by Him, and thy name set down by the Pen of His
Command. Regard not this, that in these days, to outward seeming, they live in luxury and honour.
For I swear by Him Who hath made true honour the exclusive portion of His loved ones, that
though they repose on jewelled couches, in the eyes of God they dwell upon the dust, and soon
shall they all return, in the utmost poverty and abasement, to that place wherein is neither lamp
nor couch, neither friend nor comforter.
Thou, however, and other maidservants of God like unto thee, though ye be seated on the
dust, are, in the eyes of God, established upon the seats of honour; and when finally ye return
unto your Lord, ye shall ascend with matchless glory unto the realms above. Then shall the whole
sublime and holy company of the Maids of Heaven come forth to greet you and inhale from you
the sweet savours of the love of God. Ever hast thou had both wealth and honour, for the love of
God hath been with thee, and—God willing—shall remain with thee for evermore; and naught that
hath been created in the heaven or the earth is equal to a single atom of this love. Dirhams and
dínárs are not the measure of true wealth; its measure, rather, is the love of Him Who is the
Beauteous, the Unconstrained.
How many are they who, though rich in dínárs, are yet the poorest of God’s creatures; for,
even as is witnessed, each day their greed for gain increaseth and their avarice waxeth more
intense.
O maidservant of God! Hold not cheap the precious gem of love, and remain thou steadfast in
His love. Such is Our perspicuous and mighty counsel unto thee. The Glory of God rest upon thee
and upon all His devoted maidservants.

***

Forsake wickedness and rebellion and hold fast unto the fear of God. Sanctify yourselves from
satanic deeds and adorn your souls with the ornament of God. Strife and dissension have ever
been, and shall ever remain, unworthy of the station of the exponents of truth.

***

Divest not yourselves of the robe of courtesy and fairmindedness, and speak not that which hath
been forbidden you in the Tablets of your Lord, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting. Whoso is
deprived of courtesy walketh naked among men, though he be clothed in all the world’s silk. This
is that which hath been revealed through the power of truth in His mighty and guarded Tablets.
He who is devoid of courtesy is indeed bereft of faith.

***

Say: That justice which causeth the pillars of tyranny to quake and the foundations of misbelief to
crumble is the recognition of this Revelation.... And whoso believeth not therein hath abandoned
the stronghold of justice and his name is recorded among the oppressors in God’s mighty and
guarded Tablets.

***

It ill beseemeth the people of God to transgress the bounds of courtesy.

***

Courtesy is among the hallmarks of the human reality, an attribute whereby man is distinguished
above all else. Whoso hath not attained thereunto, his non-existence is assuredly preferable to his
existence.

***

Detachment is even as a sun, which, dawning above the horizon of the soul, overcometh the flame
of wayward and covetous desires.

***

Alas, alas! May the souls of the Concourse on high be a ransom for the calamities thou didst
sustain, O scion of the divine Lote Tree and the Mystery enshrined in the most exalted Word!
Would that the decree of the Lord of the beginning and the end had remained unfulfilled! Would
that mortal eyes had never beheld thy body fallen upon the dust! The calamities thou didst endure
have withheld the billows of wisdom and knowledge from surging upon the ocean of divine
utterance and stilled the breezes of the All-Glorious. Because of the sorrows thou didst suffer, the
signs have been blotted out, and the fruits have fallen, and the cries of the righteous have been
lifted up, and the tears of the pious have flowed down. Alas, alas! O thou Prince of Martyrs and
their sovereign King! Alas, alas! O thou Pride of Martyrs and their Best-Beloved!

***

It ill beseemeth men to centre all their efforts on their own selves; rather must they ceaselessly
strive for the betterment of the lives of one another.

***

Adorn thyself with My virtues, in such wise that should anyone stretch forth the hand of
oppression against thee, thou wouldst neither take notice nor contend with him. Leave him to the
judgement of thy Lord, the All-Powerful, the Almighty, the Self-Subsisting, and be thou long-
suffering under all conditions. By God! This is one of Mine attributes, though none but the sincere
are apprised of it. Know thou then that the patient sighs of the oppressed are dearer to God than
all deeds, could ye but comprehend it. Be patient in whatsoever may befall thee, and put thy trust
in God, thy Lord, in all thine affairs. He, verily, doth suffice thee against the harm inflicted by all
that have been and shall be, and doth protect thee within the shelter of His Cause and the
stronghold of His custody.

***

The son of Naṣr Jím

In the name of God, the Most Mighty, the Most Powerful!

This is a Tablet from God unto him who hath been guided through the splendours of the Spirit and
is of them that have believed and been led aright.
O servant! Say: “In the name of God, by God and in the name of our Lord, the Most Exalted,
the Most Glorious!” Soar then upon the wings of true knowledge to the supreme Habitation, that
thou mayest hear the melodies of God from the Divine Lote-Tree. Shouldst thou soar once more,
thou wilt again hear that which the people of understanding have not heard. And shouldst thou
find within thyself the power and the capacity, soar thou yet again, that thou mayest behold the
revelations of thy Lord, and witness, shining upon thee, the splendours of the Countenance of
God, the Most Mighty, the Most Exalted.
Say, verily He is at this moment calling aloud from His seat of effulgent glory to all creation
through His sweet and wondrous melodies; beware lest ye tarry in these days. Tread ye the
Straight Path by the leave of your Lord, the Merciful, and be not of them that have erred and
strayed. Say, verily He hath been sent down once again from the heaven of Divine Decree and
reciteth unto you His mighty verses. This is indeed better for you than the dominion of this world
and of the next.
Say, O people! Will ye dispute with the Spirit concerning what He hath seen and witnessed, 1
after He hath proclaimed the truth in the heart of ‘Alí, 2 and before Him in the heart of
Muḥammad and in the hearts of all Who have related the verses revealed unto Them by God, the
Exalted, the Most High? Say, O people of the Bayán! Should ye arise together with all the
inhabitants of the earth to lead astray but one of the loved ones of God, ye would fail to do so. Die,
therefore, in your wrath, O people of oppression and ignorance!
As for thee, do thou sanctify thy soul from corrupt desires; enter, then, the realms on high and
follow not them that fly upon the wings of evil passions. Be firm in the Cause of God and His
religion, remember that which He hath endured at the hands of His enemies, and be not of the
heedless and forgetful. Spirit and glory rest upon thee and upon them that have held fast to the
Handle of God and have been guided by the light of sanctity.

1 Cf. Qur’án 53:12. ↩

2 The Báb. ↩

***

Gracious God! The people of God suffered themselves to be killed rather than kill. During the
events that came to pass, they were the embodiments of utter meekness and even interceded on
behalf of the murderers before the governor. 1 Yet the envy and hatred of the heedless only
increased; this bountiful grace held no value in their eyes and brought forth no fruit or result. But
on account of the meekness of the people of God and their lack of any aid or helper, he who is the
possessor of armaments arose to redress the wrongs. 2 Absolute meekness yieldeth many a result
and beareth many a fruit.

1 Reference to the events surrounding the martyrdom of Ḥájí Muḥammad-Riḍáy-i-Iṣfahání in

‘Ishqábád in 1889. The Bahá’í community interceded with the government on behalf of the
murderers, and the Czar agreed to clemency for them. See The Epistle to the Son of the Wolf
(www.bahai.org/r/684455299). ↩
2 Reference to Czar Alexander III. The original contains a play on the words siláḥ (armaments)
and iṣláḥ (redress the wrongs). ↩

***

In the name of God, the All-Loving!

O Mihrábán! One of the friends hath evoked thy remembrance; thus have We remembered thee.
In this glorious Day, everything that can be seen is a witness and calleth all men unto the one
true God. Say! This is the Day in which the sun of spiritual discernment is shining forth in the
heaven of true understanding. Blessed is he that hath perceived and recognized it. Whatsoever was
foretold in former times hath now been fulfilled.
Say, O friends! Suffer not yourselves to be far removed from the ocean of heavenly grace. He
is come astonishingly near unto you. He Who had been concealed from men’s eyes is now come.
How good is His coming! In one hand He is carrying the water of life, and in the other the charter
of true liberty. Cast ye away one thing and take hold of another. Cast away whatsoever pertaineth
to the world, and take firm hold of that which the hand of divine providence imparteth unto you.
Lo, that which no eye hath ever beheld is now revealed. O friends! Hasten ye, hasten ye; hearken
ye, hearken ye!
The deeds of the high priests have caused the people to be estranged from Almighty God.
Instead of evincing self-denial, they have given themselves up to inordinate desires and strayed
far from the path of the Lord God. They have grievously erred, yet fondly imagine themselves to
be treading the right Path. We have, however, warned the leaders of religion and taken them to
witness, that they might in this day solemnly affirm His truth and guide His creatures unto the
Spirit of Purity.
Say, O high priests! Shake off your slumber, rouse yourselves from unconsciousness, incline
your inner ears to the melody of the All-Sufficing, and conduct yourselves in a manner that
beseemeth the Day of God Himself.
Great is the station of him who hath in this Day perceived and become aware of the truth,
and wretched is he who hath failed to comprehend the utterances of the Lord of wisdom and to
recognize the newly arrived Friend in His new attire.
Behold, the Ocean of true knowledge hath appeared, and the Day-Star of wisdom shineth
resplendent. Incline your ears to the Voice of the Eternal Lord of Utterance and purge yourselves
from whatsoever is deemed unseemly, that ye may become worthy to gain admittance into the
court of your Creator. Say, in this Day the Almighty hath unloosed His tongue before the
assemblage of men. It behoveth you to draw nigh unto Him and to grasp the truth of His weighty
utterance. Indeed His utterance is a messenger that beareth the token of His presence. It
delivereth you from darkness and guideth your steps unto the effulgent light of His glory.
Thy name was mentioned before Us, and We have remembered thee in Our Tablet. This
remembrance is like unto a sapling that We have planted with the hand of loving-kindness.
Erelong will it grow verdant and flourishing, laden with abundant fruits. Thus hath the Lord God
ordained, and thus hath He shown the way. He is the Mighty, the Seeing, the Lord of Utterance
and Wisdom.
—Bahá’u’lláh

***

They that have been faithful unto the Covenant of God are accounted among the most exalted of
all creatures before Him Who is the Eternal Truth, the Most High. They that have turned away
therefrom are reckoned among the inmates of the nethermost fire in the sight of thy Lord, the
Almighty, the Unconstrained.

***

He is God. Glorified be He; Grandeur and Might are His.

On the morning of the blessed Friday, We proceeded from the Mansion and entered the Garden.
Every tree uttered a word, and every leaf sang a melody. The trees proclaimed: “Behold the
evidences of God’s Mercy”, 1 and the twin streams recited in the eloquent tongue the sacred verse
“From us all things were made alive.” Glorified be God! Mysteries were voiced by them, which
provoked wonderment: in which school were they educated, and from whose presence had they
acquired their learning? Yea! This Wronged One knoweth and He saith: “From God, the All-
Encompassing, the Self-Subsistent”.
Upon Our being seated, Ráḍíyih—upon her be My glory—attained Our presence on thy behalf,
laid the table of God’s bounty, and in thy name extended hospitality to all present. In truth, all
that which stimulateth the appetite and pleaseth the eye was offered, 2 and indeed that which
delighteth the ear could also be heard as the leaves were stirred by the Will of God, and from this
movement a refreshing voice was raised, as if uttering a blissful call inviting the absent to this
Feast. God’s power and the perfection of His handiwork could enjoyably be seen in the blossoms,
the fruits, the trees, the leaves, and the streams. Praised be God, Who hath thus confirmed thee
and her.
In brief, all in the Garden were recipients of the choicest bounties and in the end expressed
their thanksgiving unto their Lord. O that all God’s beloved had been present on this day!
We beseech God, exalted be He, to cause to descend upon thee, at every moment, a blessing
and a mercy and a measure of divine grace from His presence. He is the Forgiving, the All-
Glorious.
We send greetings to His loved ones, and supplicate for each one of them that which is
worthy of mention and is acceptable in His presence. Peace be upon thee, and upon God’s sincere
servants. Praise be to Him, the Lord of all mankind. 3

1 Qur’án 30:50. ↩
2 Cf. Qur’án 43:51. ↩
3 Translation of the Tablet of Bahá’u’lláh which is framed and hanging in His room at the Riḍván
Garden. ↩

***

They tread the perilous paths of imitation and deprive themselves of the ways of true
independence.
—Bahá’u’lláh
 ***

For if God, glorified be His Name, should today speak a word that all people have spoken
heretofore and shall speak hereafter, that word would still be new, were ye to reflect upon it.
Consider the term “Divine Unity”, which the Manifestations of God have uttered in every
Dispensation, a goodly term which all the divers peoples and kindreds of the world have spoken.
Nevertheless, in each Dispensation, it hath been made new and hath in no wise been divested of
its novel character. Into every word that God doth speak a new spirit is breathed, and the breezes
of life are wafted therefrom upon all things both outwardly and inwardly.
—Bahá’u’lláh

***

He is the All-Knowing, the All-Seeing.

Some of the peoples of the world have exerted the utmost effort to converse in their native
tongues alone, considering this to be conducive to their exaltation and advancement, even as the
people of Persia, who are adorned with the ornaments of talent and capacity, have sought to speak
their ancient language and to purge it of all that is foreign. However, that which is pleasing in the
sight of this Wronged One is that they should regard the whole earth as one country and strive, as
hath been previously stated, to promote a single language or two so that the light of unity may
envelop the whole earth and its inhabitants may receive their portion from the Sun of Knowledge
and the Ocean of Wisdom.
That which is the cause of the unity of the world and its peoples hath flowed forth from the
Pen of the Most High in divers Tablets. God grant that all men may be adorned with the ornament
of fairness and enabled to observe justice that they may partake of the fruits of what hath been
mentioned and bear witness unto that which hath been ordained by the one true God, exalted be
His Glory. He is the One Who guideth, the All-Knowing, the All-Seeing.
Render thanks unto the Beloved of the world for having graciously aided thee and guided thee
to that which lieth concealed from the eyes of most of the people. He, verily, is the Truth, the
Knower of things unseen. There is no God but Him, the Mighty, the Best-Beloved.
—Bahá’u’lláh

***

Praise be to God, Who hath enabled us to recognize His own Self, bestowed upon us the
knowledge of His Cause, set forth before us the path of truth and certitude, and revealed unto all
created things that which beseemeth His unfailing grace. We render thanks unto Him under all
conditions—such thanks as He Himself hath uttered in His Book and hath taught us as a token of
His bountiful favour and sovereign might. Salutation and glory rest upon them that have stood
fast in His Cause, spoken forth His praise, been privileged to hearken to His Call, set their faces
towards the horizon of His grace, and drawn nigh unto the ocean of His mighty Name.
—Bahá’u’lláh

***

Blessed is he who in the prime of his youth and the heyday of his life will arise to serve the
Cause of the Lord of the beginning and of the end, and adorn his heart with His love. The
manifestation of such a grace is greater than the creation of the heavens and of the earth. Blessed
are the steadfast and well is it with those who are firm.
—Bahá’u’lláh

***

She was with this Servant for a time. 1 She would not barter one moment’s meeting with this
Youth for the sovereignty of this world and the next, nor for less than an instant did she wish for
separation. However, that which hath been pre-ordained came to pass.
—Bahá’u’lláh

1 Ṭáhirih ↩

***

As to the question thou hast asked concerning the minimum amount of property on which Ḥuqúq
is payable, this was mentioned in His exalted and glorious presence and the following is what the
Tongue of Grandeur uttered in reply: This matter was revealed in the Most Holy Book in
conformity with the pronouncement in the Bayán. Later, however, as a token of wisdom on Our
part, We laid down the ruling whereby the minimum amount of property liable to the payment of
Ḥuqúq is fixed at Nineteen. The purpose underlying this law is to ensure that the General
Treasury is strengthened in the future. Further details may be furnished later.
—Bahá’u’lláh

***

By God! This is He Who hath at one time appeared in the name of the Spirit, 1 thereafter in the
name of the Friend, 2 then in the name of ‘Alí, 3 and afterwards in this blessed, lofty, self-subsisting,
exalted, and beloved Name. In truth, this is Ḥusayn, Who hath appeared through divine grace in
the dominion of justice, against Whom have arisen the infidels, with what they possess of
wickedness and iniquity. Thereupon they severed His head with the sword of malice, and lifted it
upon a spear in the midst of earth and heaven. Verily, that head is speaking from atop that spear,
saying: “O assemblage of shadows! Stand ashamed before My beauty, My might, My sovereignty,
and My grandeur. Turn your gaze to the countenance of your Lord, the Unconstrained, so that ye
may find Me crying out among you with holy and cherished melodies.”
—Bahá’u’lláh

1 Jesus Christ ↩
2 Muhammad ↩
3 the Báb ↩

***

Let someone say to Hádí: 1 “If thou hadst been possessed of but a jot of understanding, thou
wouldst testify that the references to that deceptive soul 2 were but a token of wisdom and in the
interests of the Faith. Consider thou for a moment the beginning of these events, that haply thou
mayest become aware of things veiled from the eyes of men, and be certain that, from the
beginning, that soul had been as naught. It was with due regard for the good of the Cause and
because of divine wisdom that there occurred what did transpire and was noised abroad.”
—Bahá’u’lláh

1 Mírzá Hádí Dawlat-Ábádí ↩

2 Mírzá Yaḥyá ↩

***

In My previous Dispensation, the matter of successorship was totally obliterated from the Book of
God. As all are aware, all that was revealed from the Pen of the All-Merciful was confined to the
Letters and the Mirrors of the Bayán. Also, the number of Mirrors was not fixed.
—Bahá’u’lláh
 ***

It is the concern of the True One to reveal, and the concern of men to spread what hath been
revealed. He will, verily, promulgate His Cause by the hands of His scattering and well-favoured
angels. Spiritual souls will assuredly emerge from behind the veil of divine protection who will
gather together the tokens and verses of God and put them into the most excellent order. This is
His sure and irrevocable decree.
—Bahá’u’lláh

***

O thou who art the manifestation of My truth!

If thou art slumbering upon thy couch, lift up thy head; and if thou art seated, by the power
of My name, arise; and if thou art standing, in thy yearning for My beauty, take flight; and if thou
art in flight, through My sovereign might, ascend; and if thou art in ascent, by the majesty of My
Cause, halt in the firmament of the Spirit. Open then thy lips in My name, the Opener. Move then
thy tongue in My name, the Mover. Intone then My melodies and proclaim: O denizens of earth
and heaven! By the one true God, verily, He Who is the Lord of Eternity hath appeared and shone
forth above the horizon of creation through the power of His most lofty, His most exalted
sovereignty.
—Bahá’u’lláh

***

He is.

O thou who wert struck by the pain of separation after having attained thy goal! I am He Who
doth not hesitate to create parting. I am He Who doth not fear to cause separation.
If thou wishest to know Me, know thou that I am He Who preventeth those who yearn after
Me from attaining My holy presence and debarreth them from access to the seat of My throne. I
am He Who consumeth the hearts of ardent lovers in the fire of separation and abandoneth them
in the wilderness of the world. I am He Who answereth not when He is invoked and heedeth not
when He is called to remembrance. I am He Who in His wealth heareth not the lamentations of
the poor and in His glory regardeth not the weak and the wretched. Thus it is when I am seated
on the throne of My name the All-Subduing.
But when I am established on the throne of My name the All-Merciful, I guide the wayward
to the living waters of My presence and cause them to enter the paradise of reunion with Me,
whence I shall never banish them. I am He Who admitteth the poor to the paradise of My wealth,
and the weak beneath the tabernacle of My might, and the wretched to the city of Mine ancient
glory. I am He Who answereth when He is invoked and remembereth when He is called to
remembrance. From all eternity I have been the answerer of the prayers of the needy. I am He
Who replieth ere He is petitioned and bestoweth gifts regardless of merit.
Such is My nature. I am He Who weepeth by reason of the tears of those who love Him, and
Who draweth near unto those who approach Him. I have opened the portals of My grace unto all
who are in heaven and on earth. Blessed are they that enter therein!

He is.

O thou who art present before My throne! I have heard thy cry and thy lamentation in thy
separation from Me, and have grieved over what hath befallen thee in accordance with God’s
inscrutable decree. We beseech God to enable thee to reach thy home. Verily, more merciful is He
than all who show mercy.

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