,gems of ,divine ,mysteries by ,bah'u'llh ,edition #a1 7,june #bc1 #bjje7 ,,baha',i ,,terms ,,of ,,use ,you have permission to freely make and use copies of the text and any other information 7,content7 available on this ,site including printing1 emailing1 posting1 distributing1 copying1 downloading1 uploading1 transmitting1 displaying the ,content in whole or in part subject to the following3 #a4 ,our copyright notice and the source reference must be attached to the ,content2 #b4 ,the ,content may not be modified or altered in any way except to change the font or appearance2 #c4 ,the ,content must be used solely for a non-commercial purpose4 ,although this blanket permission to reproduce the ,content is given freely such that no special permission is required1 the ,bah' ,international ,community retains full copyright protection for all ,content included at this ,site under all applicable national and international laws4 ,for permission to publish1 transmit1 display or otherwise use the ,content for any commercial purpose1 please contact us 7http3_/_/reference4bahai4org_/en_/conta ct4html74 ,,contents ,baha'i ,terms of ,use ,introduction ,gems of ,divine ,mystery ,frontispiece ,the first page of the ,javhiru'l-,asrr1 with an added note in ,bah'u'llh's own hand ,javhiru'l-,asrr ,bah' ,world ,centre ,,bah' ,,world ,,centre ,,copyright #bjjb ,,all ,,rights ,,reserved ,,introduction ,the decade-long exile of ,bah'u'llh in #8,irq began under the harshest of conditions and at the lowest ebb in the fortunes of the ,bb ,faith4 ,it witnessed1 however1 the gradual crystallization of those potent spiritual forces which were to culminate in the declaration of ,his world-embracing mission in #ahfc4 ,in the course of these years1 and from the city of ,baghdd1 there radiated1 ,shoghi ,effendi writes1 8wave after wave1 a power1 a radiance and a glory which insensibly reanimated a languishing ,faith1 sorely-stricken1 sinking into obscurity1 threatened with oblivion4 ,from it were diffused1 day and night1 and with ever-increasing energy1 the first emanations of a ,revelation which1 in its scope1 its copiousness1 its driving force and the volume and variety of its literature1 was destined to excel that of the ,bb ,himself407#a7 ,among these early effusions of the ,pen of ,glory is a lengthy ,arabic epistle known as the ,javhiru'l-,asrr1 meaning literally the 8gems0 or 8essences0 of mysteries4 ,a number of themes it enunciates are also elaborated in ,persian--through different revelatory modes--in the ,seven ,valleys and the ,book of ,certitude1 those two immortal volumes which ,shoghi ,effendi has characterized1 respectively1 as ,bah'u'llh's greatest mystical composition and ,his pre-eminent doctrinal work4 ,undoubtedly the ,gems of ,divine ,mysteries figures among those 8,tablets revealed in the ,arabic tongue0 which were referred to in the latter volume47#b7 ,one of the central themes of the book1 ,bah'u'llh indicates1 is that of 8transformation01 meaning here the return of the ,promised ,one in a different human guise4 ,indeed1 in a prefatory note written above the opening lines of the original manuscript1 ,bah'u'llh states3 ,this treatise was written in reply to a seeker who had asked how the promised ,mihd could have become transformed into #8,al-,muammad 7the ,bb74 ,the opportunity provided by this question was seized to elaborate on a number of subjects1 all of which are of use and benefit both to them that seek and to those who have attained1 could ye perceive with the eye of divine virtue4 ,the seeker alluded to in the above passage was ,siyyid ,ysuf-i-,sihdih ,ifhn1 who at the time was residing in ,karbil4 ,his questions were presented to ,bah'u'llh through an intermediary1 and this ,tablet was revealed in response on the same day4 ,a number of other important themes are addressed in this work as well3 the cause of the rejection of the ,prophets of the past2 the danger of a literal reading of scripture2 the meaning of the signs and portents of the ,bible concerning the advent of the new ,manifestation2 the continuity of divine revelation2 intimations of ,bah'u'llh's own approaching declaration2 the significance of such symbolic terms as 8the ,day of ,judgement01 8the ,resurrection01 8attainment to the ,divine ,presence01 and 8life and death02 and the stages of the spiritual quest through 8the ,garden of ,search01 8the ,city of ,love and ,rapture01 8the ,city of ,divine ,unity01 8the ,garden of ,wonderment01 8the ,city of ,absolute ,nothingness01 8the ,city of ,immortality01 and 8the ,city that hath no name or description04 ,the publication of ,gems of ,divine ,mysteries is one of the projects undertaken in fulfilment of the ,five ,year ,plan goal1 announced in ,april #bjja1 of 8enriching the translations into ,english from the ,holy ,texts04 ,the volume will further deepen the ,western reader's appreciation of a period infused with potentiality and described by ,shoghi ,effendi as 8the vernal years of ,bah'u'llh's ministry01 and assist the students of ,his ,revelation in gaining a more profound insight into its gradual unfoldment4 ,,gems ,,of ,,divine ,,mystery ,the essence of the divine mysteries in the journeys of ascent set forth for those who long to draw nigh unto ,god1 the ,almighty1 the ,ever-,forgiving--blessed be the righteous that quaff from these crystal streams6 ,,he ,,is ,,the ,,exalted1 ,,the ,,most ,,high6 #a ,o thou who treadest the path of justice and beholdest the countenance of mercy6 ,thine epistle was received1 thy question was noted1 and the sweet accents of thy soul were heard from the inmost chambers of thy heart4 ,whereupon the clouds of the ,divine ,will were raised to rain upon thee the outpourings of heavenly wisdom1 to divest thee of all that thou hadst acquired aforetime1 to draw thee from the realms of contradiction unto the retreats of oneness1 and to lead thee to the sacred streams of ,his ,law4 ,perchance thou mayest quaff therefrom1 repose therein1 quench thy thirst1 refresh thy soul1 and be numbered with those whom the light of ,god hath guided aright in this day4 #b ,encompassed as ,i am at this time by the dogs of the earth and the beasts of every land1 concealed as ,i remain in the hidden habitation of ,mine inner ,being1 forbidden as ,i may be from divulging that which ,god hath bestowed upon ,me of the wonders of ,his knowledge1 the gems of ,his wisdom1 and the tokens of ,his power1 yet am ,i loath to frustrate the hopes of one who hath approached the sanctuary of grandeur1 sought to enter within the precincts of eternity1 and aspired to soar in the immensity of this creation at the dawning of the divine decree4 ,i shall therefore relate unto thee certain truths from among those which ,god hath vouchsafed unto ,me1 this only to the extent that souls can bear and minds endure1 lest the malicious raise a clamour or the dissemblers hoist their banners4 ,i implore ,god to graciously aid ,me in this1 for unto such as beseech ,him1 ,he is the ,all-,bounteous1 and of those who show mercy1 ,he is the ,most ,merciful4 #c ,know then that it behoveth thine eminence to ponder from the outset these questions in thy heart3 ,what hath prompted the divers peoples and kindreds of the earth to reject the ,apostles whom ,god hath sent unto them in ,his might and power1 whom ,he hath raised up to exalt ,his ,cause and ordained to be the ,lamps of eternity within the ,niche of ,his oneness8 ,for what reason have the people turned aside from them1 disputed about them1 risen against and contended with them8 ,on what grounds have they refused to acknowledge their apostleship and authority1 nay1 denied their truth and reviled their persons1 even slaying or banishing them8 #d ,o thou who hast set foot in the wilderness of knowledge and taken abode within the ark of wisdom6 ,not until thou hast grasped the mysteries concealed in that which ,we shall relate unto thee canst thou hope to attain to the stations of faith and certitude in the ,cause of ,god and in those who are the ,manifestations of ,his ,cause1 the ,daysprings of ,his ,command1 the ,treasuries of ,his revelation1 and the ,repositories of ,his knowledge4 ,shouldst thou fail in this1 thou wouldst be numbered with them that have not striven for the ,cause of ,god1 nor inhaled the fragrance of faith from the raiment of certitude1 nor scaled the heights of the divine unity1 nor yet recognized the stations of divine singleness within the ,embodiments of praise and the ,essences of sanctity4 #e ,strive then1 ,o ,my brother1 to apprehend this matter1 that the veils may be lifted from the face of thy heart and that thou mayest be reckoned among them whom ,god hath graced with such penetrating vision as to behold the most subtle realities of ,his dominion1 to fathom the mysteries of ,his kingdom1 to perceive the signs of ,his transcendent ,essence in this mortal world1 and to attain a station wherein one seeth no distinction amongst ,his creatures and findeth no flaw in the creation of the heavens and the earth47#c7 #f ,now that the discourse hath reached this exalted and intractable theme and touched upon this sublime and impenetrable mystery1 know that the ,christian and ,jewish peoples have not grasped the intent of the words of ,god and the promises ,he hath made to them in ,his ,book1 and have therefore denied ,his ,cause1 turned aside from ,his ,prophets1 and rejected ,his proofs4 ,had they but fixed their gaze upon the testimony of ,god itself1 had they refused to follow in the footsteps of the abject and foolish among their leaders and divines1 they would doubtless have attained to the repository of guidance and the treasury of virtue1 and quaffed from the crystal waters of life eternal in the city of the ,all-,merciful1 in the garden of the ,all-,glorious1 and within the inner reality of ,his paradise4 ,but as they have refused to see with the eyes wherewith ,god hath endowed them1 and desired things other than that which ,he in ,his mercy had desired for them1 they have strayed far from the retreats of nearness1 have been deprived of the living waters of reunion and the wellspring of ,his grace1 and have lain as dead within the shrouds of their own selves4 #g ,through the power of ,god and ,his might1 ,i shall now relate certain passages revealed in the ,books of old1 and mention some of the signs heralding the appearance of the ,manifestations of ,god in the sanctified persons of ,his chosen ,ones1 that thou mayest recognize the ,dayspring of this everlasting morn and behold this ,fire that blazeth in the ,tree which is neither of the ,east nor of the ,west47#d7 ,perchance thine eyes may be opened upon attaining the presence of thy ,lord and thy heart partake of the blessings concealed within these hidden treasuries4 ,render thanks then unto ,god1 ,who hath singled thee out for this grace and ,who hath numbered thee with them that are assured of meeting their ,lord4 #h ,this is the text of that which was revealed aforetime in the first ,gospel1 according to ,matthew1 regarding the signs that must needs herald the advent of the ,one ,who shall come after ,him4 ,he saith3 8,and woe unto them that are with child1 and to them that give suck in those days444017#e7 until the mystic ,dove1 singing in the midmost heart of eternity1 and the celestial ,bird1 warbling upon the ,divine ,lote-,tree1 saith3 8,immediately after the oppression of those days shall the sun be darkened1 and the moon shall not give her light1 and the stars shall fall from heaven1 and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken3 and then shall appear the sign of the ,son of man in heaven3 and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn1 and they shall see the ,son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory4 ,and he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet407#f7 #i ,in the second ,gospel1 according to ,mark1 the ,dove of holiness speaketh in such terms3 8,for in those days shall be affliction1 such as was not from the beginning of the creation which ,god created unto this time1 neither shall be407#g7 ,and it singeth later with the same melodies as before1 without change or alteration4 ,god1 verily1 is a witness unto the truth of ,my words4 #aj ,and in the third ,gospel1 according to ,luke1 it is recorded3 8,there shall be signs in the sun1 and in the moon1 and in the stars1 and upon the earth distress of nations1 with perplexity2 the sea and the waves roaring2 and the powers of heaven shall be shaken4 ,and then shall they see the ,son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory4 ,and when these things begin to come to pass1 know that the kingdom of ,god hath drawn nigh407#h7 #aa ,and in the fourth ,gospel1 according to ,john1 it is recorded3 8,but when the ,comforter is come1 whom ,i will send unto you from the ,father1 even the ,spirit of truth1 which proceedeth from the ,father1 he shall testify of me3 and ye also shall bear witness407#i7 ,and elsewhere ,he saith3 8,but the ,comforter1 which is the ,holy ,ghost1 whom the ,father will send in my name1 he shall teach you all things1 and bring all things to your remembrance1 whatsoever ,i have said unto you40 7#aj7 ,and3 8,but now ,i go my way to him that sent me2 and none of you asketh me1 ,whither goest thou8 ,but because ,i have said these things unto you44407#aa7 ,and yet again3 8,nevertheless ,i tell you the truth3 ,it is expedient for you that ,i go away3 for if ,i go not away1 the ,comforter will not come unto you2 but if ,i depart1 ,i will send him unto you40 7#ab7 ,and3 8,howbeit when he1 the ,spirit of truth1 is come1 he will guide you into all truth3 for he shall not speak of himself2 but whatsoever he shall hear1 that shall he speak3 and he will show you things to come40 7#ac7 #ab ,such is the text of the verses revealed in the past4 ,by ,him besides ,whom there is none other ,god1 ,i have chosen to be brief1 for were ,i to recount all the words that have been sent down unto the ,prophets of ,god from the realm of ,his supernal glory and the kingdom of ,his sovereign might1 all the pages and tablets of the world would not suffice to exhaust ,my theme4 ,references similar to those mentioned1 nay even more sublime and exalted1 have been made in all the ,books and ,scriptures of old4 ,should it be ,my wish to recount all that hath been revealed in the past1 ,i would most certainly be able to do so by virtue of that which ,god hath bestowed upon ,me of the wonders of ,his knowledge and power4 ,i have1 however1 contented ,myself with that which was mentioned1 lest thou become wearied in thy journey or feel inclined to turn back1 or lest thou be overtaken by sadness and sorrow and overcome with despondency1 trouble and fatigue4 #ac ,be fair in thy judgement and reflect upon these exalted utterances4 ,inquire1 then1 of those who lay claim to knowledge without a proof or testimony from ,god1 and who remain heedless of these days wherein the ,orb of knowledge and wisdom hath dawned above the horizon of ,divinity1 rendering unto each his due and assigning unto all their rank and measure1 as to what they can say concerning these allusions4 ,verily1 their meaning hath bewildered the minds of men1 and that which they conceal of the consummate wisdom and latent knowledge of ,god even the most sanctified souls have been powerless to uncover4 #ad ,should they say3 8,these words are indeed from ,god1 and have no interpretation other than their outward meaning01 then what objection can they raise against the unbelievers among the people of the ,book8 ,for when the latter saw the aforementioned passages in their ,scriptures and heard the literal interpretations of their divines1 they refused to recognize ,god in those who are the ,manifestations of ,his unity1 the ,exponents of ,his singleness1 and the ,embodiments of ,his sanctity1 and failed to believe in them and submit to their authority4 ,the reason was that they did not see the sun darken1 or the stars of heaven fall to the ground1 or the angels visibly descend upon the earth1 and hence they contended with the ,prophets and ,messengers of ,god4 ,nay1 inasmuch as they found them at variance with their own faith and creed1 they hurled against them such accusations of imposture1 folly1 waywardness1 and misbelief as ,i am ashamed to recount4 ,refer to the ,qur'n1 that thou mayest find mention of all this and be of them that understand its meaning4 ,even to this day do these people await the appearance of that which they have learned from their doctors and imbibed from their divines4 ,thus do they say3 8,when shall these signs be made manifest1 that we may believe80 ,but if this be the case1 how could ye refute their arguments1 invalidate their proofs1 and challenge them concerning their faith and their understanding of their ,books and the sayings of their leaders8 #ae ,and should they reply3 8,the ,books that are in the hands of this people1 which they call the ,gospel and attribute to ,jesus1 the ,son of ,mary1 have not been revealed by ,god and proceed not from the ,manifestations of ,his ,self01 then this would imply a cessation in the abounding grace of ,him ,who is the ,source of all grace4 ,if so1 ,god's testimony to ,his servants would have remained incomplete and ,his favour proven imperfect4 ,his mercy would not have shone resplendent1 nor would ,his grace have overshadowed all4 ,for if at the ascension of ,jesus ,his ,book had likewise ascended unto heaven1 then how could ,god reprove and chastise the people on the ,day of ,resurrection1 as hath been written by the ,imms of the ,faith and affirmed by its illustrious divines8 #af ,ponder then in thine heart3 ,matters being such as thou dost witness1 and as ,we also witness1 where canst thou flee1 and with whom shalt thou take refuge8 ,unto whom wilt thou turn thy gaze8 ,in what land shalt thou dwell and upon what seat shalt thou abide8 ,in what path shalt thou tread and at what hour wilt thou find repose8 ,what shall become of thee in the end8 ,where shalt thou secure the cord of thy faith and fasten the tie of thine obedience8 ,by ,him ,who revealeth ,himself in ,his oneness and ,whose own ,self beareth witness to ,his unity6 ,should there be ignited in thy heart the burning brand of the love of ,god1 thou wouldst seek neither rest nor composure1 neither laughter nor repose1 but wouldst hasten to scale the highest summits in the realms of divine nearness1 sanctity1 and beauty4 ,thou wouldst lament as a soul bereaved and weep as a heart filled with longing4 ,nor wouldst thou repair to thy home and abode unless ,god would lay bare before thee ,his ,cause4 #ag ,o thou who hast soared to the realm of guidance and ascended to the kingdom of virtue6 ,shouldst thou desire to apprehend these celestial allusions1 to witness the mysteries of divine knowledge1 and to become acquainted with ,his all-encompassing ,word1 then it behoveth thine eminence to inquire into these and other questions pertaining to thine origin and ultimate goal from those whom ,god hath made to be the ,wellspring of ,his knowledge1 the ,heaven of ,his wisdom1 and the ,ark of ,his mysteries4 ,for were it not for those effulgent ,lights that shine above the horizon of ,his ,essence1 the people would know not their left hand from their right1 how much less could they scale the heights of the inner realities or probe the depths of their subtleties6 ,we beseech ,god therefore to immerse us in these surging seas1 to grace us with the presence of these life-bearing breezes1 and to cause us to abide in these divine and lofty precincts4 ,perchance we may divest ourselves of all that we have taken from each other and strip ourselves of such borrowed garments as we have stolen from our fellow men1 that ,he may attire us instead with the robe of ,his mercy and the raiment of ,his guidance1 and admit us into the city of knowledge4 #ah ,whosoever entereth this city will comprehend every science before probing into its mysteries and will acquire from the leaves of its trees a knowledge and wisdom encompassing such mysteries of divine lordship as are enshrined within the treasuries of creation4 ,glorified be ,god1 its ,creator and ,fashioner1 above all that ,he hath brought forth and ordained therein6 ,by ,god1 the ,sovereign ,protector1 the ,self-,subsisting1 the ,almighty6 ,were ,i to unveil to thine eyes the gates of this city1 which have been fashioned by the right hand of might and power1 thou wouldst behold that which none before thee hath ever beheld1 and wouldst witness that which no other soul hath ever witnessed4 ,thou wouldst apprehend the most obscure signs and the most abstruse allusions1 and wouldst clearly behold the mysteries of the beginning in the point of the end4 ,all matters would be made easy unto thee1 fire would be turned into light1 knowledge and blessings1 and thou wouldst abide in safety within the court of holiness4 #ai ,bereft1 however1 of the essence of the mysteries of ,his wisdom1 which ,we have imparted unto thee beneath the veils of these blessed and soul-stirring words1 thou wouldst fail to attain unto even a sprinkling of the oceans of divine knowledge or the crystal streams of divine power1 and wouldst be recorded in the ,mother ,book1 through the ,pen of oneness and by the ,finger of ,god1 amongst the ignorant4 ,nor wouldst thou be able to grasp a single word of the ,book or a single utterance of the ,kindred of ,god7#ad7 concerning the mysteries of the beginning and the end4 #bj ,o thou whom ,we have outwardly never met1 yet whom ,we inwardly cherish in ,our heart6 ,be fair in thy judgement and present thyself before ,him ,who seeth and knoweth thee1 even if thou seest and knowest ,him not3 ,can any soul be found to elucidate these words with such convincing arguments1 clear testimonies1 and unmistakable allusions as to appease the heart of the seeker and relieve the soul of the listener8 ,nay1 by the ,one in ,whose hand is ,my soul6 ,unto none is given to quaff even a dewdrop thereof unless he entereth within this city1 a city whose foundations rest upon mountains of crimson-coloured ruby1 whose walls are hewn of the chrysolite of divine unity1 whose gates are made of the diamonds of immortality1 and whose earth sheddeth the fragrance of divine bounty4 #ba ,having imparted unto thee1 beneath countless veils of concealment1 certain hidden mysteries1 ,we now return to ,our elucidation of the ,books of old1 that perchance thy feet may not slip and thou mayest receive with complete certitude the portion which ,we shall bestow upon thee of the billowing oceans of life in the realm of the names and attributes of ,god4 #bb ,it is recorded in all the ,books of the ,gospel that ,he ,who is the ,spirit7#ae7 spoke in words of pure light unto ,his disciples1 saying3 8,know that heaven and earth may pass away1 but my words shall never pass away407#af7 ,as is clear and evident to thine eminence1 these words outwardly mean that the ,books of the ,gospel will remain in the hands of people till the end of the world1 that their laws shall not be abrogated1 that their testimony shall not be abolished1 and that all that hath been enjoined1 prescribed1 or ordained therein shall endure forever4 #bc ,o ,my brother6 ,sanctify thy heart1 illumine thy soul1 and sharpen thy sight1 that thou mayest perceive the sweet accents of the ,birds of ,heaven and the melodies of the ,doves of ,holiness warbling in the ,kingdom of eternity1 and perchance apprehend the inner meaning of these utterances and their hidden mysteries4 ,for otherwise1 wert thou to interpret these words according to their outward meaning1 thou couldst never prove the truth of the ,cause of ,him ,who came after ,jesus1 nor silence the opponents1 nor prevail over the contending disbelievers4 ,for the ,christian divines use this verse to prove that the ,gospel shall never be abrogated and that1 even if all the signs recorded in their ,books were fulfilled and the ,promised ,one appeared1 ,he would have no recourse but to rule the people according to the ordinances of the ,gospel4 ,they contend that if ,he were to manifest all the signs indicated in the ,books1 but decree aught besides that which ,jesus had decreed1 they would neither acknowledge nor follow ,him1 so clear and self-evident is this matter in their sight4 #bd ,thou canst indeed hear the learned and the foolish amongst the people voice the same objections in this day1 saying3 8,the sun hath not risen from the ,west1 nor hath the ,crier cried out betwixt earth and heaven4 ,water hath not inundated certain lands2 the ,dajjl7#ag7 hath not appeared2 ,sfyn7#ah7 hath not arisen2 nor hath the ,temple been witnessed in the sun40 ,i heard1 with ,mine own ears1 one of their divines proclaim3 8,should all these signs come to pass and the long-awaited ,q'im appear1 and should ,he ordain1 with respect to even our secondary laws1 aught beyond that which hath been revealed in the ,qur'n1 we would assuredly charge ,him with imposture1 put ,him to death1 and refuse forever to acknowledge ,him01 and other statements such as these deniers make4 ,and all this1 when the ,day of ,resurrection hath been ushered in1 and the ,trumpet hath been sounded1 and all the denizens of earth and heaven have been gathered together1 and the ,balance hath been appointed1 and the ,bridge hath been laid1 and the ,verses have been sent down1 and the ,sun hath shone forth1 and the stars have been blotted out1 and the souls have been raised to life1 and the breath of the ,spirit hath blown1 and the angels have been arrayed in ranks1 and ,paradise hath been brought nigh1 and ,hell made to blaze6 ,these things have all come to pass1 and yet to this day not a single one of these people hath recognized them6 ,they all lie as dead within their own shrouds1 save those who have believed and repaired unto ,god1 who rejoice in this day in ,his celestial paradise1 and who tread the path of ,his good-pleasure4 #be ,veiled as they remain within their own selves1 the generality of the people have failed to perceive the sweet accents of holiness1 inhale the fragrance of mercy1 or seek guidance1 as bidden by ,god1 from those who are the custodians of the ,scriptures4 ,he proclaimeth1 and ,his word1 verily1 is the truth3 8,ask ye1 therefore1 of them that have the custody of the ,scriptures1 if ye know it not407#ai7 ,nay rather1 they have turned aside from them and followed instead the ,smir7#bj7 of their own idle fancies4 ,thus have they strayed far from the mercy of their ,lord and failed to attain unto ,his ,beauty in the day of ,his presence4 ,for no sooner had ,he come unto them with a sign and a testimony from ,god than the same people who had eagerly awaited the day of ,his ,revelation1 who had called upon ,him in the daytime and in the night season1 who had implored ,him to gather them together in ,his presence and to grant that they may lay down their lives in ,his path1 be led aright by ,his guidance and illumined by ,his light--this very people condemned and reviled ,him1 and inflicted upon ,him such cruelties as transcend both ,my capacity to tell and thine ability to hear them4 ,my very pen crieth out at this moment and the ink weepeth sore and groaneth4 ,by ,god6 ,wert thou to hearken with thine inner ear1 thou wouldst in truth hear the lamentations of the denizens of heaven2 and wert thou to remove the veil from before thine eyes1 thou wouldst behold the ,maids of ,heaven overcome and the holy souls overwhelmed1 beating upon their faces and fallen upon the dust4 #bf ,alas1 alas1 for that which befell ,him ,who was the ,manifestation of the ,self of ,god1 and for that which ,he and ,his loved ones were made to suffer6 ,the people inflicted upon them what no soul hath ever inflicted upon another1 and what no infidel hath wrought against a believer or suffered at his hand4 ,alas1 alas6 ,that immortal ,being sat upon the darksome dust1 the ,holy ,spirit lamented in the retreats of glory1 the pillars of the ,throne crumbled in the exalted dominion1 the joy of the world was changed into sorrow in the crimson land1 and the voice of the ,nightingale was silenced in the golden realm4 ,woe betide them for what their hands have wrought and for what they have committed6 #bg ,hearken then unto that which the ,bird of ,heaven uttered1 in the sweetest and most wondrous accents1 and in the most perfect and exalted melodies1 concerning them--an utterance that shall fill them with remorse from now unto 8the day when mankind shall stand before the ,lord of the worlds03 8,although they had before prayed for victory over those who believed not1 yet when there came unto them ,he of ,whom they had knowledge1 they disbelieved in ,him4 ,the curse of ,god on the infidels607#ba7 ,such indeed are their condition and attainments in their vain and empty life4 ,erelong shall they be cast into the fire of affliction and find none to help or succour them4 #bh ,be not veiled by aught that hath been revealed in the ,qur'n1 or by what thou hast learned from the works of those ,suns of immaculacy and ,moons of majesty17#bb7 regarding the perversion of the ,texts by the fanatical or their alteration by their corruptors4 ,by these statements only certain specific and clearly indicated passages are intended4 ,in spite of ,my weakness and poverty1 ,i would assuredly be able1 should ,i so desire1 to expound these passages unto thine eminence4 ,but this would divert us from our purpose and lead us astray from the outstretched path4 ,it would immerse us in limited allusions and distract us from that which is beloved in the court of the ,all-,praised4 #bi ,o thou who art mentioned in this outspread roll and who1 amidst the gloomy darkness that now prevaileth1 hast been illumined by the splendours of the sacred ,mount in the ,sinai of divine ,revelation6 ,cleanse thy heart from every blasphemous whispering and evil allusion thou hast heard in the past1 that thou mayest inhale the sweet savours of eternity from the ,joseph of faithfulness1 gain admittance into the celestial ,egypt1 and perceive the fragrances of enlightenment from this resplendent and luminous ,tablet1 a ,tablet wherein the ,pen hath inscribed the ancient mysteries of the names of ,his ,lord1 the ,exalted1 the ,most ,high4 ,perchance thou mayest be recorded in the holy ,tablets among them that are well assured4 #cj ,o thou who art standing before ,my ,throne and yet remain unaware thereof6 ,know thou that whoso seeketh to scale the summits of the divine mysteries must needs strive to the utmost of his power and capacity for his ,faith1 that the pathway of guidance may be made clear unto him4 ,and should he encounter ,one ,who layeth claim to a ,cause from ,god1 and ,who holdeth from ,his ,lord a testimony beyond the power of men to produce1 he must needs follow ,him in all that ,he pleaseth to proclaim1 command and ordain1 even were ,he to decree the sea to be land1 or to pronounce earth to be heaven1 or that the former lieth above the latter or below it1 or to ordain any change or transformation1 for ,he1 verily1 is aware of the celestial mysteries1 the unseen subtleties1 and the ordinances of ,god4 #ca ,were the peoples of every nation to observe that which hath been mentioned1 the matter would be made simple unto them1 and such words and allusions would not withhold them from the ,ocean of the names and attributes of ,god4 ,and had the people known this truth1 they would not have denied ,god's favours1 nor would they have risen against1 contended with1 and rejected ,his ,prophets4 ,similar passages are also to be found in the ,qur'n1 should the matter be carefully examined4 #cb ,know1 moreover1 that it is through such words that ,god proveth ,his servants and sifteth them1 separating the believer from the infidel1 the detached from the worldly1 the pious from the profligate1 the doer of good from the worker of iniquity1 and so forth4 ,thus hath the ,dove of holiness proclaimed3 8,do men think when they say #8,we believe' they shall be let alone and not be put to proof807#bc7 #cc ,it behoveth him who is a wayfarer in the path of ,god and a wanderer in ,his way to detach himself from all who are in the heavens and on the earth4 ,he must renounce all save ,god1 that perchance the portals of mercy may be unlocked before his face and the breezes of providence may waft over him4 ,and when he hath inscribed upon his soul that which ,we have vouchsafed unto him of the quintessence of inner meaning and explanation1 he will fathom all the secrets of these allusions1 and ,god shall bestow upon his heart a divine tranquillity and cause him to be of them that are at peace with themselves4 ,in like manner wilt thou comprehend the meaning of all the ambiguous verses that have been sent down concerning the question thou didst ask of this ,servant ,who abideth upon the seat of abasement1 ,who walketh upon the earth as an exile with none to befriend1 comfort1 aid1 or assist ,him1 ,who hath placed ,his whole trust in ,god1 and ,who proclaimeth at all times3 8,verily we are ,god's1 and to ,him shall we return40 7#bd7 #cd ,know thou that the passages that ,we have called 8ambiguous0 appear as such only in the eyes of them that have failed to soar above the horizon of guidance and to reach the heights of knowledge in the retreats of grace4 ,for otherwise1 unto them that have recognized the ,repositories of divine ,revelation and beheld through ,his inspiration the mysteries of divine authority1 all the verses of ,god are perspicuous and all ,his allusions are clear4 ,such men discern the inner mysteries that have been clothed in the garment of words as clearly as ye perceive the heat of the sun or the wetness of water1 nay even more distinctly4 ,immeasurably exalted is ,god above our praise of ,his loved ones1 and beyond their praise of ,him6 #ce ,now that ,we have reached this most excellent theme and attained such lofty heights by virtue of that which hath flowed from this ,pen through the incomparable favours of ,god1 the ,exalted1 the ,most ,high1 it is ,our wish to disclose unto thee certain stations in the wayfarer's journey towards his ,creator4 ,perchance all that thine eminence hath desired may be revealed unto thee1 that the proof may be made complete and the blessing abundant4 #cf ,know thou of a truth that the seeker must1 at the beginning of his quest for ,god1 enter the ,garden of ,search4 ,in this journey it behoveth the wayfarer to detach himself from all save ,god and to close his eyes to all that is in the heavens and on the earth4 ,there must not linger in his heart either the hate or the love of any soul1 to the extent that they would hinder him from attaining the habitation of the celestial ,beauty4 ,he must sanctify his soul from the veils of glory and refrain from boasting of such worldly vanities1 outward knowledge1 or other gifts as ,god may have bestowed upon him4 ,he must search after the truth to the utmost of his ability and exertion1 that ,god may guide him in the paths of ,his favour and the ways of ,his mercy4 ,for ,he1 verily1 is the best of helpers unto ,his servants4 ,he saith1 and ,he verily speaketh the truth3 8,whoso maketh efforts for ,us1 in ,our ways shall ,we assuredly guide him40 7#be7 ,and furthermore3 8,fear ,god and ,god will give you knowledge40 7#bf7 #cg ,in this journey the seeker becometh witness to a myriad changes and transformations1 confluences and divergences4 ,he beholdeth the wonders of ,divinity in the mysteries of creation and discovereth the paths of guidance and the ways of ,his ,lord4 ,such is the station reached by them that search after ,god1 and such are the heights attained by those who hasten unto ,him4 #ch ,when once the seeker hath ascended unto this station1 he will enter the ,city of ,love and ,rapture1 whereupon the winds of love will blow and the breezes of the spirit will waft4 ,in this station the seeker is so overcome by the ecstasies of yearning and the fragrances of longing that he discerneth not his left from his right1 nor doth he distinguish land from sea or desert from mountain4 ,at every moment he burneth with the fire of longing and is consumed by the onslaught of separation in this world4 ,he speedeth through the ,prn of love and traverseth the ,horeb of rapture4 ,now he laugheth1 now he weepeth sore2 now he reposeth in peace1 now he trembleth in fear4 ,nothing can alarm him1 naught can thwart his purpose1 and no law can restrain him4 ,he standeth ready to obey whatsoever ,his ,lord should please to decree as to his beginning and his end4 ,with every breath he layeth down his life and offereth up his soul4 ,he bareth his breast to meet the darts of the enemy and raiseth his head to greet the sword of destiny2 nay rather1 he kisseth the hand of his would-be murderer and surrendereth his all4 ,he yieldeth up spirit1 soul1 and body in the path of his ,lord1 and yet he doeth so by the leave of his ,beloved and not of his own whim and desire4 ,thou findest him chill in the fire and dry in the sea1 abiding in every land and treading every path4 ,whosoever toucheth him in this state will perceive the heat of his love4 ,he walketh the heights of detachment and traverseth the vale of renunciation4 ,his eyes are ever expectant to witness the wonders of ,god's mercy and eager to behold the splendours of ,his beauty4 ,blessed indeed are they that have attained unto such a station1 for this is the station of the ardent lovers and the enraptured souls4 #ci ,and when this stage of the journey is completed and the wayfarer hath soared beyond this lofty station1 he entereth the ,city of ,divine ,unity1 and the garden of oneness1 and the court of detachment4 ,in this plane the seeker casteth away all signs1 allusions1 veils1 and words1 and beholdeth all things with an eye illumined by the effulgent lights which ,god ,himself hath shed upon him4 ,in his journey he seeth all differences return to a single word and all allusions culminate in a single point4 ,unto this beareth witness he who sailed upon the ark of fire and followed the inmost path to the pinnacle of glory in the realm of immortality3 8,knowledge is one point1 which the foolish have multiplied407#bg7 ,this is the station that hath been alluded to in the tradition3 8,i am ,he1 ,himself1 and ,he is ,i1 ,myself1 except that ,i am that ,i am1 and ,he is that ,he is407#bh7 #dj ,in this station1 were ,he ,who is the ,embodiment of the ,end to say3 8,verily1 ,i am the ,point of the ,beginning01 ,he would indeed be speaking the truth4 ,and were ,he to say3 8,i am other than ,him01 this would be equally true4 ,likewise1 were ,he to proclaim3 8,verily1 ,i am the ,lord of heaven and earth01 or 8the ,king of kings01 or 8the ,lord of the realm above01 or ,muhammad1 or #8,al1 or their descendants1 or aught else1 ,he would indeed be proclaiming the truth of ,god4 ,he1 verily1 ruleth over all created things and standeth supreme above all besides ,him4 ,hast thou not heard what hath been said aforetime3 8,muhammad is our first1 ,muhammad our last1 ,muhammad our all08 ,and elsewhere3 8,they all proceed from the same ,light08 #da ,in this station the truth of the unity of ,god and of the signs of ,his sanctity is established4 ,thou shalt indeed see them all rising above the bosom of ,god's might and embraced in the arms of ,his mercy2 nor can any distinction be made between ,his bosom and ,his arms4 ,to speak of change or transformation in this plane would be sheer blasphemy and utter impiety1 for this is the station wherein the light of divine unity shineth forth1 and the truth of ,his oneness is expressed1 and the splendours of the everlasting ,morn are reflected in lofty and faithful mirrors4 ,by ,god6 ,were ,i to reveal the full measure of that which ,he hath ordained for this station1 the souls of men would depart from their bodies1 the inner realities of all things would be shaken in their foundations1 they that dwell within the realms of creation would be dumbfounded1 and those who move in the lands of allusion would fade into utter nothingness4 #db ,hast thou not heard3 8,no change is there in ,god's creation087#bi7 ,hast thou not read3 8,no change canst thou find in ,god's mode of dealing087#cj7 ,hast thou not borne witness to the truth3 8,no difference wilt thou see in the creation of the ,god of ,mercy08 7#ca7 ,yea1 by ,my ,lord6 ,they that dwell within this ,ocean1 they that ride upon this ,ark1 witness no change in the creation of ,god and behold no differences upon ,his earth4 ,and if ,god's creation be not prone to change and alteration1 how then could they who are the ,manifestations of ,his own ,being be subject to it8 ,immeasurably exalted is ,god above all that we may conceive of the ,revealers of ,his ,cause1 and immensely glorified is ,he beyond all that they may mention in ,his regard6 #dc ,great ,god6 ,this sea had laid up lustrous pearls in store2 ,the wind hath raised a wave that casteth them ashore4 ,so put away thy robe and drown thyself therein1 ,and cease to boast of skill3 it serveth thee no more6 #dd ,if thou be of the inmates of this city within the ocean of divine unity1 thou wilt view all the ,prophets and ,messengers of ,god as one soul and one body1 as one light and one spirit1 in such wise that the first among them would be last and the last would be first4 ,for they have all arisen to proclaim ,his ,cause and have established the laws of divine wisdom4 ,they are1 one and all1 the ,manifestations of ,his ,self1 the ,repositories of ,his might1 the ,treasuries of ,his ,revelation1 the ,dawning-,places of ,his splendour1 and the ,daysprings of ,his light4 ,through them are manifested the signs of sanctity in the realities of all things and the tokens of oneness in the essences of all beings4 ,through them are revealed the elements of glorification in the heavenly realities and the exponents of praise in the eternal essences4 ,from them hath all creation proceeded and unto them shall return all that hath been mentioned4 ,and since in their inmost ,beings they are the same ,luminaries and the self-same ,mysteries1 thou shouldst view their outward conditions in the same light1 that thou mayest recognize them all as one ,being1 nay1 find them united in their words1 speech1 and utterance4 #de ,wert thou to consider in this station the last of them to be the first1 or conversely1 thou wouldst indeed be speaking the truth1 as hath been ordained by ,him ,who is the ,wellspring of ,divinity and the ,source of ,lordship3 8,say3 ,call upon ,god or call upon the ,all-,merciful3 by whichsoever name ye will1 invoke him1 for ,he hath most excellent names407#cb7 ,for they are all the ,manifestations of the name of ,god1 the ,dawning-,places of ,his attributes1 the ,repositories of ,his might1 and the ,focal ,points of ,his sovereignty1 whilst ,god--magnified be ,his might and glory--is in ,his ,essence sanctified above all names and exalted beyond even the loftiest attributes4 ,consider likewise the evidences of divine omnipotence both in their ,souls and in their human ,temples1 that thine heart may be assured and that thou mayest be of them that speed through the realms of ,his nearness4 #df ,i shall restate here ,my theme1 that perchance this may assist thee in recognizing thy ,creator4 ,know thou that ,god--exalted and glorified be ,he--doth in no wise manifest ,his inmost ,essence and ,reality4 ,from time immemorial ,he hath been veiled in the eternity of ,his ,essence and concealed in the infinitude of ,his own ,being4 ,and when ,he purposed to manifest ,his beauty in the kingdom of names and to reveal ,his glory in the realm of attributes1 ,he brought forth ,his ,prophets from the invisible plane to the visible1 that ,his name 8the ,manifest0 might be distinguished from 8the ,hidden0 and ,his name 8the ,last0 might be discerned from 8the ,first01 and that there may be fulfilled the words3 8,he is the ,first and the ,last2 the ,seen and the ,hidden2 and ,he knoweth all things607#cc7 ,thus hath ,he revealed these most excellent names and most exalted words in the ,manifestations of ,his ,self and the ,mirrors of ,his ,being4 #dg ,it is therefore established that all names and attributes return unto these sublime and sanctified ,luminaries4 ,indeed1 all names are to be found in their names1 and all attributes can be seen in their attributes4 ,viewed in this light1 if thou wert to call them by all the names of ,god1 this would be true1 as all these names are one and the same as their own ,being4 ,comprehend then the intent of these words1 and guard it within the tabernacle of thy heart1 that thou mayest recognize the implications of thine inquiry1 fulfil them according to that which ,god hath ordained for thee1 and thus be numbered with those who have attained unto ,his purpose4 #dh ,all that thou hast heard regarding ,muhammad the son of ,hasan7#cd7--may the souls of all that are immersed in the oceans of the spirit be offered up for ,his sake--is true beyond the shadow of a doubt1 and we all verily bear allegiance unto ,him4 ,but the ,imms of the ,faith have fixed ,his abode in the city of ,jbulq17#ce7 which they have depicted in strange and marvellous signs4 ,to interpret this city according to the literal meaning of the tradition would indeed prove impossible1 nor can such a city ever be found4 ,wert thou to search the uttermost corners of the earth1 nay probe its length and breadth for as long as ,god's eternity hath lasted and ,his sovereignty will endure1 thou wouldst never find a city such as they have described1 for the entirety of the earth could neither contain nor encompass it4 ,if thou wouldst lead ,me unto this city1 ,i could assuredly lead thee unto this holy ,being1 ,whom the people have conceived according to what they possess and not to that which pertaineth unto ,him6 ,since this is not in thy power1 thou hast no recourse but to interpret symbolically the accounts and traditions that have been reported from these luminous souls4 ,and1 as such an interpretation is needed for the traditions pertaining to the aforementioned city1 so too is it required for this holy ,being4 ,when thou hast understood this interpretation1 thou shalt no longer stand in need of 8transformation0 or aught else4 #di ,know then that1 inasmuch as all the ,prophets are but one and the same soul1 spirit1 name1 and attribute1 thou must likewise see them all as bearing the name ,muhammad and as being the son of ,hasan1 as having appeared from the ,jbulq of ,god's power and from the ,jbuls of ,his mercy4 ,for by ,jbulq is meant none other than the treasure-houses of eternity in the all-highest heaven and the cities of the unseen in the supernal realm4 ,we bear witness that ,muhammad1 the son of ,hasan1 was indeed in ,jbulq and appeared therefrom4 ,likewise1 ,he ,whom ,god shall make manifest abideth in that city until such time as ,god will have established ,him upon the seat of ,his sovereignty4 ,we1 verily1 acknowledge this truth and bear allegiance unto each and every one of them4 ,we have chosen here to be brief in our elucidation of the meanings of ,jbulq1 but if thou be of them that truly believe1 thou shalt indeed comprehend all the true meanings of the mysteries enshrined within these ,tablets4 #ej ,but as to ,him ,who appeared in the year sixty1 ,he standeth in need of neither transformation nor interpretation1 for ,his name was ,muhammad1 and ,he was a descendent of the ,imms of the ,faith4 ,thus it can be truly said of ,him that ,he was the son of ,hasan1 as is undoubtedly clear and evident unto thine eminence4 ,nay1 ,he it is ,who fashioned that name and created it for ,himself1 were ye to observe with the eye of ,god4 #ea ,it is ,our wish at this juncture to digress from ,our theme to recount that which befell the ,point of the ,qur'n17#cf7 and to extol ,his remembrance1 that perchance thou mayest gain into all things an insight born of ,him ,who is the ,almighty1 the ,incomparable4 #eb ,consider and reflect upon ,his days1 when ,god raised ,him up to promote ,his ,cause and to stand as the representative of ,his own ,self4 ,witness how ,he was assailed1 denied1 and denounced by all2 how1 when ,he set foot in the streets and marketplaces1 the people derided ,him1 wagged their heads at ,him1 and laughed ,him to scorn2 how at every moment they sought to slay ,him4 ,such were their doings that the earth in all its vastness was straitened for ,him1 the ,concourse on ,high bewailed ,his plight1 the foundations of existence were reduced to nothingness1 and the eyes of the well-favoured denizens of ,his ,kingdom wept sore over ,him4 ,indeed1 so grievous were the afflictions which the infidels and the wicked showered upon ,him that no faithful soul can bear to hear them4 #ec ,if these wayward souls had indeed paused to reflect upon their conduct1 recognized the sweet melodies of that ,mystic ,dove singing upon the twigs of this snow-white ,tree1 embraced that which ,god had revealed unto and bestowed upon them1 and discovered the fruits of the ,tree of ,god upon its branches1 wherefore then did they reject and denounce ,him8 ,had they not lifted their heads to the heavens to implore ,his appearance8 ,had they not besought ,god at every moment to honour them with ,his ,beauty and sustain them through ,his presence8 #ed ,but as they failed to recognize the accents of ,god and the divine mysteries and holy allusions enshrined in that which flowed from the tongue of ,muhammad1 and as they neglected to examine the matter in their own hearts1 and followed instead those priests of error who have hindered the progress of the people in past dispensations and who will continue to do so in future cycles1 they were thus veiled from the divine purpose1 failed to quaff from the celestial streams1 and deprived themselves of the presence of ,god1 the ,manifestation of ,his ,essence1 and the ,dayspring of ,his eternity4 ,thus did they wander in the paths of delusion and the ways of heedlessness1 and return to their abode in that fire which feedeth on their own souls4 ,these1 verily1 are numbered with the infidels whose names have been inscribed by the ,pen of ,god in ,his holy ,book4 ,nor have they ever found1 or will ever find1 a friend or helper4 #ee ,had these souls but clung steadfastly to the ,handle of ,god manifested in the ,person of ,muhammad1 had they turned wholly unto ,god and cast aside all that they had learned from their divines1 ,he would assuredly have guided them through ,his grace and acquainted them with the sacred truths that are enshrined within ,his imperishable utterances4 ,for far be it from ,his greatness and ,his glory that ,he should turn away a seeker at ,his door1 cast aside from ,his ,threshold one who hath set his hopes on ,him1 reject one who hath sought the shelter of ,his shade1 deprive one who hath held fast to the hem of ,his mercy1 or condemn to remoteness the poor one who hath found the river of ,his riches4 ,but as these people failed to turn wholly unto ,god1 and to hold fast to the hem of ,his all-pervading mercy at the appearance of the ,daystar of ,truth1 they passed out from under the shadow of guidance and entered the city of error4 ,thus did they become corrupt and corrupt the people4 ,thus did they err and lead the people into error4 ,and thus were they recorded among the oppressors in the books of heaven4 #ef ,now that this evanescent ,one hath reached this exalted point in the exposition of the inner mysteries1 the reason for the denial of these uncouth souls will be described briefly1 that it may serve as a testimony unto them that are endued with understanding and insight1 and be a token of ,my favour unto the concourse of the faithful4 #eg ,know then that when ,muhammad1 the ,point of the ,qur'n and the ,light of the ,all-,glorious1 came with perspicuous verses and luminous proofs manifested in such signs as are beyond the power of all existence to produce1 ,he bade all men follow this lofty and outstretched ,path in accordance with the precepts that ,he had brought from ,god4 ,whoso acknowledged ,him1 recognized the signs of ,god in ,his inmost ,being1 and saw in ,his beauty the changeless beauty of ,god1 the decree of 8resurrection01 8ingathering01 8life01 and 8paradise0 was passed upon him4 ,for he who had believed in ,god and in the ,manifestation of ,his beauty was raised from the grave of heedlessness1 gathered together in the sacred ground of the heart1 quickened to the life of faith and certitude1 and admitted into the paradise of the divine presence4 ,what paradise can be loftier than this1 what ingathering mightier1 and what resurrection greater8 ,indeed1 should a soul be acquainted with these mysteries1 he would grasp that which none other hath fathomed4 #eh ,know then that the paradise that appeareth in the day of ,god surpasseth every other paradise and excelleth the realities of ,heaven4 ,for when ,god--blessed and glorified is ,he--sealed the station of prophethood in the person of ,him ,who was ,his ,friend1 ,his ,chosen ,one1 and ,his ,treasure amongst ,his creatures1 as hath been revealed from the ,kingdom of glory3 8but ,he is the ,apostle of ,god and the ,seal of the ,prophets017#cg7 ,he promised all men that they shall attain unto ,his own presence in the ,day of ,resurrection4 ,in this ,he meant to emphasize the greatness of the ,revelation to come1 as it hath indeed been manifested through the power of truth4 ,and there is of a certainty no paradise greater than this1 nor station higher1 should ye reflect upon the verses of the ,qur'n4 ,blessed be he who knoweth of a certainty that he shall attain unto the presence of ,god on that day when ,his ,beauty shall be made manifest4 #ei ,were ,i to recount all the verses that have been revealed in connection with this exalted theme1 it would weary the reader and divert ,us from ,our purpose4 ,the following verse shall therefore suffice ,us2 may thine eyes be solaced therewith1 and mayest thou attain unto that which hath been treasured and concealed therein3 8,it is ,god who hath reared the heavens without pillars thou canst behold2 then mounted ,his throne1 and imposed laws on the sun and moon3 each travelleth to its appointed goal4 ,he ordereth all things4 ,he maketh ,his signs clear1 that ye may have firm faith in the presence of your ,lord407#ch7 #fj ,ponder then1 ,o ,my friend1 the words 8firm faith0 that have been mentioned in this verse4 ,it saith that the heavens and the earth1 the throne1 the sun and the moon1 all have been created to the end that ,his servants may have unswerving faith in ,his presence in ,his days4 ,by the righteousness of ,god6 ,contemplate1 ,o ,my brother1 the greatness of this station1 and behold the condition of the people in these days1 fleeing from the ,countenance of ,god and ,his ,beauty 8as though they were affrighted asses047#ci7 ,wert thou to reflect upon that which ,we have revealed unto thee1 thou wouldst undoubtedly grasp ,our purpose in this utterance and discover that which ,we have desired to impart unto thee within this paradise4 ,perchance thine eyes may rejoice in beholding it1 thine ears take delight in hearing that which is recited therein1 thy soul be enthralled by recognizing it1 thy heart illumined by comprehending it1 and thy spirit gladdened by the fragrant breezes that waft therefrom4 ,haply thou mayest attain unto the pinnacle of divine grace and abide within the ,ridvn of transcendent holiness4 #fa ,he1 however1 who denied ,god in ,his ,truth1 who turned his back upon ,him and rebelled1 who disbelieved and made mischief1 the verdict of 8impiety01 8blasphemy01 8death01 and 8fire0 was passed upon him4 ,for1 what blasphemy is greater than to turn unto the manifestations of ,satan1 to follow the doctors of oblivion and the people of rebellion8 ,what impiety is more grievous than to deny the ,lord on the day when faith itself is renewed and regenerated by ,god1 the ,almighty1 the ,beneficent8 ,what death is more wretched than to flee from the ,source of everlasting life8 ,what fire is fiercer on the ,day of ,reckoning than that of remoteness from the divine ,beauty and the celestial ,glory8 #fb ,these were the very words and utterances used by the pagan ,arabs living in the days of ,muhammad to dispute with and pronounce judgement against ,him4 ,they said3 8,those who believed in ,muhammad dwelt in our midst and associated with us day and night4 ,when did they die and when were they raised again to life80 ,hearken unto that which was revealed in reply3 8,if ever thou dost marvel1 marvellous surely is their saying1 #8,what6 ,when we have become dust and mouldering bones1 shall we be restored in a new creation8'07#dj7 ,and in another passage3 8,and if thou shouldst say1 #8,after death ye shall surely be raised again'1 the infidels will certainly exclaim1 #8,this is naught but palpable sorcery4'07#da7 ,thus did they mock and deride ,him1 for they had read in their ,books and heard from their divines the terms 8life0 and 8death01 and understood them as this elemental life and physical death1 and hence when they found not that which their vain imaginings and their false and wicked minds had conceived1 they hoisted the banners of discord and the standards of sedition and kindled the flame of war4 ,god1 however1 quenched it through the power of ,his might1 as thou seest again in this day with these infidels and evil-doers4 #fc ,at this hour1 when the sweet savours of attraction have wafted over ,me from the everlasting city1 when transports of yearning have seized ,me from the land of splendours at the dawning of the ,daystar of the worlds above the horizon of #8,irq1 and the sweet melodies of ijz have brought to ,mine ears the mysteries of separation1 ,i have purposed to relate unto thine eminence a portion of that which the ,mystic ,dove hath warbled in the midmost heart of ,paradise as to the true meaning of life and death1 though the task be impossible4 ,for were ,i to interpret these words for thee as it hath been inscribed in the ,guarded ,tablets1 all the books and pages of the world could not contain it1 nor could the souls of men bear its weight4 ,i shall nonetheless mention that which beseemeth this day and age1 that it might serve as a guidance unto whosoever desireth to gain admittance into the retreats of glory in the realms above1 to hearken unto the melodies of the spirit intoned by this divine and mystic bird1 and to be numbered with those who have severed themselves from all save ,god and who in this day rejoice in the presence of their ,lord4 #fd ,know then that 8life0 hath a twofold meaning4 ,the first pertaineth to the appearance of man in an elemental body1 and is as manifest to thine eminence and to others as the midday sun4 ,this life cometh to an end with physical death1 which is a ,god-ordained and inescapable reality4 ,that life1 however1 which is mentioned in the ,books of the ,prophets and the ,chosen ,ones of ,god is the life of knowledge2 that is to say1 the servant's recognition of the sign of the splendours wherewith ,he ,who is the ,source of all splendour hath ,himself invested him1 and his certitude of attaining unto the presence of ,god through the ,manifestations of ,his ,cause4 ,this is that blessed and everlasting life that perisheth not3 whosoever is quickened thereby shall never die1 but will endure as long as ,his ,lord and ,creator will endure4 #fe ,the first life1 which pertaineth to the elemental body1 will come to an end1 as hath been revealed by ,god3 8,every soul shall taste of death407#db7 ,but the second life1 which ariseth from the knowledge of ,god1 knoweth no death1 as hath been revealed aforetime3 8,him will ,we surely quicken to a blessed life407#dc7 ,and in another passage concerning the martyrs3 8,nay1 they are alive and sustained by their ,lord407#dd7 ,and from the ,traditions3 8,he who is a true believer liveth both in this world and in the world to come407#de7 ,numerous examples of similar words are to be found in the ,books of ,god and of the ,embodiments of ,his justice4 ,for the sake of brevity1 however1 ,we have contented ,ourself with the above passages4 #ff ,o ,my brother6 ,forsake thine own desires1 turn thy face unto thy ,lord1 and walk not in the footsteps of those who have taken their corrupt inclinations for their god1 that perchance thou mayest find shelter in the heart of existence1 beneath the redeeming shadow of ,him ,who traineth all names and attributes4 ,for they who turn away from their ,lord in this day are in truth accounted amongst the dead1 though to outward seeming they may walk upon the earth1 amongst the deaf1 though they may hear1 and amongst the blind1 though they may see1 as hath been clearly stated by ,him ,who is the ,lord of the ,day of ,reckoning3 8,hearts have they with which they understand not1 and eyes have they with which they see not444407#df7 ,they walk the edge of a treacherous bank and tread the brink of a fiery abyss47#dg7 ,they partake not of the billows of this surging and treasure-laden ,ocean1 but disport themselves with their own idle words4 #fg ,in this connection ,we will relate unto thee that which was revealed of old concerning 8life01 that perchance it may turn thee away from the promptings of self1 deliver thee from the narrow confines of thy prison in this gloomy plane1 and aid thee to become of them that are guided aright in the darkness of this world4 #fh ,he saith1 and ,he1 verily1 speaketh the truth3 8,shall the dead whom ,we have quickened1 and for whom ,we have ordained a light whereby he may walk amongst men1 be like him whose likeness is in the darkness1 whence he will not come forth807#dh7 ,this verse was revealed with respect to amzih and ,ab-,jahl1 the former of whom was a believer whilst the latter disbelieved4 ,most of the pagan leaders mocked and derided it1 were agitated1 and clamoured3 8,how did amzih die8 ,and how was he restored to his former life80 ,were ye to examine carefully the verses of ,god1 ye would find many such statements recorded in the ,book4 #fi ,would that pure and stainless hearts could be found1 that ,i might impart unto them a sprinkling from the oceans of knowledge which ,my ,lord hath bestowed upon ,me1 so that they may soar in the heavens even as they walk upon the earth and speed over the waters even as they course the land1 and that they may take up their souls in their hands and lay them down in the path of their ,creator4 ,howbeit1 leave hath not been granted to divulge this mighty secret4 ,indeed1 it hath been from everlasting a mystery enshrined within the treasuries of ,his power and a secret concealed within the repositories of ,his might1 lest ,his faithful servants forsake their own lives in the hope of attaining this most great station in the realms of eternity4 ,nor shall they who wander in this oppressive darkness ever attain unto it4 #gj ,o ,my brother6 ,at every juncture ,we have restated ,our theme1 that all that hath been recorded in these verses may1 by the leave of ,god1 be made clear unto thee1 and that thou mayest become independent of those who are plunged in the darkness of self and who tread the valley of arrogance and pride1 and be of them that move within the paradise of everlasting life4 #ga ,say3 ,o people6 ,the ,tree of ,life hath verily been planted in the heart of the heavenly paradise and bestoweth life in every direction4 ,how can ye fail to perceive and recognize it8 ,it will in truth aid thee to grasp all that this well-assured ,soul hath disclosed unto thee of the essence of the divine mysteries4 ,the ,dove of holiness warbleth in the heaven of immortality and admonisheth thee to array thyself with a new vesture1 wrought of steel to shield thee from the shafts of doubt concealed in the allusions of men1 saying3 8,except a man be born of water and of the ,spirit1 he cannot enter into the kingdom of ,god4 ,that which is born of the flesh is flesh2 and that which is born of the ,spirit is spirit4 ,marvel not that ,i said unto thee1 ye must be born again407#di7 #gb ,wing then thy flight unto this divine ,tree and partake of its fruits4 ,gather up that which hath fallen therefrom and guard it faithfully4 ,meditate then upon the utterance of one of the ,prophets as ,he intimated to the souls of men1 through veiled allusions and hidden symbols1 the glad-tidings of the ,one ,who was to come after ,him1 that thou mayest know of a certainty that their words are inscrutable to all save those who are endued with an understanding heart4 ,he saith3 8,his eyes were as a flame of fire01 and 8brass-like were ,his feet01 and 8out of ,his mouth goeth a two-edged sword047#ej7 ,how could these words be literally interpreted8 ,were anyone to appear with all these signs1 he would assuredly not be human4 ,and how could any soul seek his company8 ,nay1 should he appear in one city1 even the inhabitants of the next would flee from him1 nor would any soul dare approach him6 ,yet1 shouldst thou reflect upon these statements1 thou wouldst find them to be of such surpassing eloquence and clarity as to mark the loftiest heights of utterance and the epitome of wisdom4 ,methinks it is from them that the suns of eloquence have appeared and the stars of clarity have dawned forth and shone resplendent4 #gc ,behold1 then1 the foolish ones of bygone times and those who1 in this day1 await the advent of such a being6 ,nor would they ever bear allegiance unto him except that he appear in the aforementioned form4 ,and as such a being will never appear1 so too will they never believe4 ,such indeed is the measure of the understanding of these perverse and ungodly souls6 ,how could those who fail to understand the most evident of the evident and the most manifest of the manifest ever apprehend the abstruse realities of the divine precepts and the essence of the mysteries of ,his everlasting wisdom8 #gd ,i shall now briefly explain the true meaning of this utterance1 that thou mayest discover its hidden mysteries and be of them that perceive4 ,examine then and judge aright that which ,we shall reveal unto thee1 that haply thou mayest be accounted in the sight of ,god amongst those who are fair-minded in these matters4 #ge ,know then that ,he who uttered these words in the realms of glory meant to describe the attributes of the ,one ,who is to come in such veiled and enigmatic terms as to elude the understanding of the people of error4 ,now1 when ,he saith3 8,his eyes were as a flame of fire01 ,he alludeth but to the keenness of sight and acuteness of vision of the ,promised ,one1 ,who with ,his eyes burneth away every veil and covering1 maketh known the eternal mysteries in the contingent world1 and distinguisheth the faces that are obscured with the dust of hell from those that shine with the light of paradise47#ea7 ,were ,his eyes not made of the blazing fire of ,god1 how could ,he consume every veil and burn away all that the people possess8 ,how could ,he behold the signs of ,god in the ,kingdom of ,his names and in the world of creation8 ,how could ,he see all things with the all-perceiving eye of ,god8 ,thus have we conferred upon ,him a penetrating vision in this day4 ,would that ye believe in the verses of ,god6 ,for1 indeed1 what fire is fiercer than this flame that shineth in the ,sinai of ,his eyes1 whereby ,he consumeth all that hath veiled the peoples of the world8 ,immeasurably exalted shall ,god remain above all that hath been revealed in ,his unerring ,tablets concerning the mysteries of the beginning and the end until that day when the ,crier will cry out1 the day whereon we shall all return unto ,him4 #gf ,as to the words 8brass-like were ,his feet01 by this is meant ,his constancy upon hearing the call of ,god that commandeth ,him3 8,be thou steadfast as thou hast been bidden407#eb7 ,he shall so persevere in the ,cause of ,god1 and evince such firmness in the path of ,his might1 that even if all the powers of earth and heaven were to deny ,him1 ,he would not waver in the proclamation of ,his ,cause1 nor flee from ,his command in the promulgation of ,his ,laws4 ,nay rather1 ,he will stand as firm as the highest mountains and the loftiest peaks4 ,he will remain immovable in ,his obedience to ,god and steadfast in revealing ,his ,cause and proclaiming ,his ,word4 ,no obstacle will hinder ,him1 nor will the censure of the froward deter ,him or the repudiation of the infidels cause ,him to waver4 ,all the hatred1 the rejection1 the iniquity1 and the unbelief that ,he witnesseth serve but to strengthen ,his love for ,god1 to augment the yearning of ,his heart1 to heighten the exultation of ,his soul1 and to fill ,his breast with passionate devotion4 ,hast thou ever seen in this world brass stronger1 or blade sharper1 or mountain more unyielding than this8 ,he shall verily stand upon ,his feet to confront all the inhabitants of the earth1 and will fear no one1 notwithstanding that which1 as thou well knowest1 the people are wont to commit4 ,glory be to ,god1 ,who hath established ,him and called ,him forth6 ,potent is ,god to do what ,he pleaseth4 ,he1 in truth1 is the ,help in ,peril1 the ,self-,subsisting4 #gg ,and further ,he saith3 8,out of his mouth goeth a two-edged sword40 ,know thou that since the sword is an instrument that divideth and cleaveth asunder1 and since there proceedeth from the mouth of the ,prophets and the ,chosen ,ones of ,god that which separateth the believer from the infidel and the lover from the beloved1 this term hath been so employed1 and apart from this dividing and separating no other meaning is intended4 ,thus1 when ,he ,who is the ,primal ,point and the eternal ,sun desireth1 by the leave of ,god1 to gather together all creation1 to raise them up from the graves of their own selves1 and to divide them one from another1 ,he shall pronounce but one verse from ,him1 and this verse will distinguish truth from error from this day unto the ,day of ,resurrection4 ,what sword is sharper than this heavenly sword1 what blade more trenchant than this incorruptible steel that severeth every tie and separateth thereby the believer from the infidel1 father from son1 brother from sister1 and lover from beloved87#ec7 ,for whoso believeth in that which hath been revealed unto him is a true believer and whoso turneth away is an infidel1 and such an irrevocable separation occurreth between them that they will cease to consort and associate with each other in this world4 ,and so it is between father and son1 for should the son believe and the father deny1 they will be severed and forever dissociated from each other4 ,nay rather1 thou witnesseth how the son slayeth the father and the father the son4 ,consider in the same light all that ,we have explained and related unto thee4 #gh ,wert thou to behold all things with the eye of discernment1 thou wouldst indeed see that this divine sword doth cleave asunder generations4 ,would that ye could understand it6 ,all this is by virtue of the word of separation that is manifested on the ,day of ,judgement and ,separation1 were the people to take heed in the days of their ,lord4 ,nay1 couldst thou but sharpen thy sight and refine thy heart1 thou wouldst witness that all the material swords which in every day and age have slain the infidels and waged war against the impious proceed from this divine and invisible sword4 ,open then thine eyes1 that thou mayest behold all that ,we have revealed to thee and attain unto that which none other hath attained4 ,we verily exclaim3 8,praise be to ,god1 ,he ,who is the ,lord of the ,day of ,reckoning607#ed7 #gi ,yea1 inasmuch as these people have failed to acquire true knowledge from its source and wellspring1 and from the ocean of fresh and soft-flowing waters that stream1 by the leave of ,god1 through hearts that are pure and stainless1 they have been veiled from that which ,god hath intended by those words and allusions and have remained confined within the prison of their own selves4 #hj ,we render thanks unto ,god for that which ,he hath bestowed upon us of ,his grace4 ,he it is ,who hath caused us to be assured of the truth of ,his ,faith--a ,faith which the combined forces of earth and heaven are powerless to resist4 ,he it is ,who hath enabled us to acknowledge ,him in the day of ,his presence1 to testify unto ,him ,whom ,god shall make manifest in the latter ,resurrection1 and to be among them that have believed in ,him ere ,his appearance1 that ,his favour may be made complete unto us and unto all mankind4 #ha ,but hear1 ,o ,my brother1 ,my plaint against them that claim to be associated with ,god and with the ,manifestations of ,his knowledge1 and yet follow their corrupt inclinations1 consume the substance of their neighbour1 are given to wine1 commit murder1 defraud and slander each other1 hurl calumnies against ,god1 and are wont to speak falsely4 ,the people attribute all these deeds unto ,us1 whilst their perpetrators remain shameless before ,god4 ,they cast aside that which ,he hath enjoined upon them and commit that which ,he hath forbidden4 ,yet it behoveth the people of truth that the signs of humility should shine upon their faces1 that the light of sanctity should radiate from their countenances1 that they should walk upon the earth as though they were in the presence of ,god and distinguish themselves in their deeds from all the dwellers of the earth4 ,such must be their state that their eyes should behold the evidences of ,his might1 their tongues and hearts make mention of ,his name1 their feet be set towards the lands of ,his nearness1 and their hands take fast hold upon ,his precepts4 ,and were they to pass through a valley of pure gold and mines of precious silver1 they should regard them as wholly unworthy of their attention4 #hb ,these people1 however1 have turned aside from all this and placed instead their affections upon that which accordeth with their own corrupt inclinations4 ,thus do they roam in the wilderness of arrogance and pride4 ,i bear witness at this moment that ,god is wholly quit of them1 and likewise are ,we4 ,we beseech ,god to suffer ,us not to associate with them either in this life or in the life to come4 ,he1 verily1 is the ,eternal ,truth4 ,no ,god is there but ,him1 and ,his might is equal to all things4 #hc ,quaff then1 ,o ,my brother1 from the living waters that ,we have caused to flow in the oceans of these words4 ,methinks the seas of grandeur are surging within them1 and the gems of divine virtue are shining within and upon them4 ,divest then thyself of that which debarreth thee from this fathomless crimson sea1 and to the cry of 8,in the name of ,god and by ,his grace60 immerse thyself therein4 ,let the fear of no one dismay thee4 ,trust in the ,lord1 thy ,god1 for ,he is sufficient unto whosoever trusteth in ,him4 ,he1 verily1 shall protect thee1 and in ,him shalt thou abide in safety4 #hd ,know thou1 moreover1 that in this most hallowed and resplendent city thou shalt find the wayfarer to be lowly before all men and humble before all things4 ,for naught doth he behold save that he perceiveth ,god therein4 ,he beholdeth the effulgent glories of ,god in the lights of ,his ,revelation that have encompassed the ,sinai of creation4 ,in this station the wayfarer must not claim the seat of honour in any gathering or walk before others in the desire to vaunt and exalt himself4 ,rather must he regard himself as standing at all times in the presence of his ,lord4 ,he must not wish for anyone that which he doth not wish for himself1 nor speak that which he would not bear to hear spoken by another1 nor yet desire for any soul that which he would not have desired for himself4 ,it befitteth him1 rather1 to walk upon the earth with undeviating steps in the kingdom of ,his new creation4 #he ,know1 however1 that the seeker1 at the outset of his journey1 witnesseth change and transformation1 as hath already been mentioned4 ,this is undoubtedly the truth1 as hath been revealed concerning those days3 8,on the day when the earth shall be changed into another earth407#ee7 ,these are indeed days the like of which no mortal eye hath ever seen4 ,blessed is he that attaineth thereunto and realizeth their full worth4 8,we had sent ,moses with ,our signs1 saying unto him3 #8,bring forth thy people from darkness into light and remind them of the days of ,god4'07#ef7 ,and these are in truth the days of ,god1 could ye but know it4 #hf ,in this station1 all changing and varying realities are manifest before thee4 ,whosoever denieth this truth hath verily turned aside from the ,cause of ,god1 rebelled against ,his rule1 and gainsaid ,his sovereignty4 ,for it is indeed within the power of ,him ,who changeth the earth into another earth to transform all that dwell and move thereon4 ,wherefore marvel not at how ,he turneth darkness into light1 light into darkness1 ignorance into knowledge1 error into guidance1 death into life1 and life into death4 ,it is in this station that the law of transformation taketh effect4 ,ponder thereon1 if thou be of them that tread this path1 that all thou didst ask of this owly ,one may be made plain unto thee and that thou mayest abide within the tabernacle of this guidance4 ,for ,he doeth whatsoever ,he willeth and ordaineth whatsoever ,he pleaseth4 ,nor shall ,he be asked of ,his doings1 whilst all men will be asked of their every deed47#eg7 #hg ,o ,my brother6 ,in this stage1 which marketh the beginning of the journey1 thou shalt behold divers stations and differing signs1 even as was mentioned in connection with the ,city of ,search4 ,all these hold true in their respective planes4 ,it behoveth thine eminence in this station to consider each created thing in its own place1 neither abasing nor exalting its true rank4 ,for instance1 if thou wert to reduce the unseen world to the realm of creation1 this would be an act of sheer blasphemy1 and the converse would likewise be the essence of impiety4 ,wert thou1 however1 to describe the unseen world and the realm of creation within their own stations1 this would be the undoubted truth4 ,in other words1 wert thou to witness any transformation in the realm of the divine unity1 no greater sin could be conceived in all creation1 but wert thou to consider transformation in its own place and understand it accordingly1 no harm could befall thee4 #hh ,by ,my ,lord6 ,notwithstanding all that ,we have revealed unto thee of the mysteries of utterance and the degrees of exposition1 methinks ,i have spoken not a single letter of the ocean of ,god's hidden knowledge and the essence of ,his inscrutable wisdom4 ,god willing1 this ,we shall erelong accomplish in its appointed time4 ,he verily1 remembereth all things in their own place1 and we1 in truth1 all yield praise unto ,him4 #hi ,know thou1 moreover1 that the bird that taketh flight in the atmosphere of the realm on high will never be able to soar unto the heaven of transcendent holiness1 nor taste of the fruits which ,god hath brought forth therein1 nor quaff from the streams which ,he hath caused to flow in its midst4 ,and were it to partake but a drop thereof1 it would perish forthwith4 ,even as thou dost witness in these days with regard to those who profess allegiance unto ,us1 and yet perform such deeds1 utter such words1 and advance such claims as they have4 ,methinks they lie as dead within their own veils4 #ij ,comprehend1 in like manner1 every station1 sign1 and allusion1 that thou mayest perceive all things in their own place and consider all matters in their proper light4 ,for in this station1 the ,city of ,divine ,unity1 are to be found those who have entered within the ark of divine guidance and journeyed through the heights of divine unity4 ,thou shalt behold the lights of beauty upon their faces and the mysteries of glory in their human temples4 ,thou shalt perceive the musk-laden fragrance of their words and behold the signs of ,his sovereignty in all their ways and doings4 ,nor wilt thou be veiled by the deeds of them that have failed to quaff from the crystal springs or to attain unto the cities of holiness1 and who follow their selfish desires and spread disorder in the land1 all the while believing themselves to be guided aright4 ,it is indeed of them that it hath been said3 8,these are the abject and foolish1 who follow every clamorous impostor and who bend with every changing wind407#eh7 ,the stages of this journey1 station1 and abode are clear and manifest to thee and require no further explanation4 #ia ,know then that all thou hast heard and witnessed that ,daystar of ,truth1 the ,primal ,point1 ascribe to ,himself from the designations of former times is only on account of the weakness of men and the scheme of the world of creation4 ,otherwise1 all names and attributes revolve round ,his ,essence and circle about the threshold of ,his sanctuary4 ,for ,he it is ,who traineth all names1 revealeth all attributes1 conferreth life upon all beings1 proclaimeth the divine verses1 and arrayeth the heavenly signs4 ,nay1 shouldst thou gaze with thine inner eye1 thou wouldst find that all save ,him fade into utter nothingness and are as a thing forgotten in ,his holy presence4 8,god was alone2 there was none else besides ,him4 ,he remaineth now what ,he hath ever been40 ,since it hath been established that ,god--hallowed and glorified be ,he6--was alone and there was none besides ,him1 how can the law of change and transformation apply here8 ,shouldst thou reflect upon that which ,we have disclosed unto thee1 the daystar of guidance would shine resplendent before thee in this everlasting morn1 and thou wouldst be numbered therein with the pious4 #ib ,know1 moreover1 that all that ,we have mentioned concerning these journeys is intended for none but the elect amongst the righteous4 ,and shouldst thou spur on the charger of the spirit and traverse the meads of heaven1 thou wouldst complete all these journeys and discover every mystery in less than the twinkling of an eye4 #ic ,o ,my brother6 ,if thou be a champion of this arena1 speed within the lands of certitude1 that thy soul may be delivered in this day from the bondage of misbelief1 and that thou mayest perceive the sweet savours that waft from this garden4 ,verily1 the perfume-laden breezes that carry the fragrance of this city blow over all regions4 ,forfeit not thy portion thereof and be not of the heedless4 ,how well hath it been said3 #id ,his fragrant breaths diffused in ,eastern lands could well ,to sick ones in the ,west restore their sense of smell67#ei7 #ie ,after this heavenly journey and mystical ascent the wayfarer will enter within the ,garden of ,wonderment4 ,were ,i to disclose unto thee the reality of this station1 thou wouldst lament and bewail the plight of this ,servant ,who remaineth in the hands of these infidels1 ,who hath grown perplexed at his plight1 and is lost in bewilderment in this fathomless ocean4 ,they conspire each day to put ,me to death1 and seek at every hour to banish ,me from this land1 even as they banished ,me from another land4 ,yet this ,servant standeth ready before them1 awaiting whatsoever the ,almighty hath ordained and decreed for ,us4 ,nor do ,i fear any soul1 encompassed as ,we may be by such trials and tribulations as are inflicted by the wicked and the malicious and surrounded at this hour by a myriad woes and sorrows4 8,noah's flood is but the measure of the tears ,i have shed1 and ,abraham's fire an ebullition of ,my soul4 ,jacob's grief is but a reflection of ,my sorrows1 and ,job's afflictions a fraction of ,my calamity407#fj7 #if ,were ,i to recount unto thine eminence the dire adversities that have befallen ,me1 thou wouldst be so grieved as to forsake the mention of all things and to forget thyself and all that the ,lord hath created on earth4 ,but as this is not ,our wish1 ,i have concealed the revelation of the divine decree in the heart of ,bah and veiled it from the eyes of all that move in the realm of creation1 that it may lay hid within the tabernacle of the ,unseen until such time as ,god will have revealed its secret4 8,naught in the heavens or on the earth can escape ,his knowledge1 and ,he1 verily1 perceiveth all things407#fa7 #ig ,as ,we have digressed from ,our theme1 let ,us leave aside these allusions and return to ,our discussion of this city4 ,verily1 whoso entereth therein shall be saved1 and whoso turneth aside therefrom will assuredly perish4 #ih ,o thou who art mentioned in these ,tablets6 ,know thou that he who embarketh upon this journey will marvel at the signs of the power of ,god and the wondrous evidences of ,his handiwork4 ,bewilderment will seize him from every side1 even as hath been attested by that ,essence of immortality from the ,concourse on high3 8,increase ,my wonder and amazement at ,thee1 ,o ,god607#fb7 ,well hath it been said3 #ii ,i knew not what amazement was ,until ,i made ,thy love my cause4 ,o how amazing would it be ,if ,i were not amazed by ,thee67#fc7 #ajj ,in this valley the wayfarers stray and perish ere they attain their final abode4 ,gracious ,god6 ,so immense is this valley1 so vast this city in the kingdom of creation1 that it seemeth to have neither beginning nor end4 ,how great the blessedness of him who completeth his journey therein and who traverseth1 through the assistance of ,god1 the hallowed soil of this heavenly city1 a city in which the favoured ones of ,god and the pure in heart are overcome with wonder and awe4 ,and ,we say3 8,praise be to ,god1 the ,lord of the worlds40 #aja ,and should the servant ascend to even loftier heights1 quit this mortal world of dust1 and seek to ascend unto the celestial abode1 he will then pass from this city into the ,city of ,absolute ,nothingness1 that is1 of dying to self and living in ,god4 ,in this station1 this most exalted habitation1 this journey of utter self-effacement1 the wayfarer forgetteth his soul1 spirit1 body1 and very being1 immerseth himself in the sea of nothingness1 and liveth on earth as one unworthy of mention4 ,nor will one find any sign of his existence1 for he hath vanished from the realm of the visible and attained unto the heights of self-abnegation4 #ajb ,were ,we to recount the mysteries of this city1 the dominions of the hearts of men would be laid to waste in the intensity of their longing for this mighty station4 ,for this is the station wherein the effulgent glories of the ,beloved are revealed to the sincere lover and the resplendent lights of the ,friend are cast upon the severed heart that is devoted to ,him4 #ajc ,how can a true lover continue to exist when once the effulgent glories of the ,beloved are revealed8 ,how can the shadow endure when once the sun hath shone forth8 ,how can a devoted heart have any being before the existence of the ,object of its devotion8 ,nay1 by the ,one in ,whose hand is my soul6 ,in this station1 the seeker's complete surrender and utter effacement before his ,creator will be such that1 were he to search the ,east and the ,west1 and traverse land1 sea1 mountain and plain1 he would find no trace of his own self or of any other soul4 #ajd ,gracious ,god6 ,but for fear of the ,nimrod of tyranny and for the protection of the ,abraham of justice1 ,i would reveal unto thee that which1 wert thou to abandon self and desire1 would enable thee to dispense with aught else and to draw nigh unto this city4 ,be patient1 however1 until such time as ,god will have proclaimed ,his ,cause4 ,he1 verily1 rewardeth beyond measure them that endure with patience47#fd7 ,inhale then the sweet savours of the spirit from the garment of hidden meanings1 and say3 8,o ye that are immersed in the ocean of selflessness6 ,hasten to enter the ,city of ,immortality1 if ye seek to ascend its heights40 ,and ,we exclaim3 8,verily we are ,god's1 and to ,him shall we return407#fe7 #aje ,from this most august and exalted station1 and from this most sublime and glorious plane1 the seeker entereth the ,city of ,immortality1 therein to abide forever4 ,in this station he beholdeth himself established upon the throne of independence and the seat of exaltation4 ,then will he comprehend the meaning of that which hath been revealed of old concerning the day 8whereon ,god shall enrich all through ,his abundance047#ff7 ,well is it with them that have attained unto this station and drunk their fill from this snow-white chalice before this ,crimson ,pillar4 #ajf ,having1 in this journey1 immersed himself in the ocean of immortality1 rid his heart from attachment to aught save ,him1 and attained unto the loftiest heights of everlasting life1 the seeker will see no annihilation either for himself or for any other soul4 ,he will quaff from the cup of immortality1 tread in its land1 soar in its atmosphere1 consort with them that are its embodiments1 partake of the imperishable and incorruptible fruits of the tree of eternity1 and be forever accounted1 in the lofty heights of immortality1 amongst the denizens of the everlasting realm4 #ajg ,all that existeth in this city shall indeed endure and will never perish4 ,shouldst thou1 by the leave of ,god1 enter this sublime and exalted garden1 thou wouldst find its sun in its noontide glory1 never to set1 never to be eclipsed4 ,the same holdeth true of its moon1 its firmament1 its stars1 trees1 and oceans1 and of all that pertaineth thereunto or existeth therein4 ,by ,him besides ,whom there is none other ,god6 ,were ,i to recount1 from this day unto the end that hath no end1 its wondrous attributes1 the love that ,my heart cherisheth for this hallowed and everlasting city would never be exhausted4 ,i shall1 however1 bring ,my theme to a close1 since time is short and the inquirer impatient1 and since these secrets are not to be openly divulged save by the leave of ,god1 the ,almighty1 the ,all-,compelling4 #ajh ,erelong shall the faithful behold1 in the day of the latter ,resurrection1 ,him ,whom ,god shall make manifest descending with this city from the heaven of the ,unseen1 together with a company of ,his exalted and favoured angels4 ,great1 therefore1 is the blessedness of him that attaineth unto ,his presence and beholdeth ,his countenance4 ,we all1 verily1 cherish this hope1 and exclaim3 8,praise be unto ,him1 for verily ,he is the ,eternal ,truth1 and unto ,him do we return60 #aji ,know1 moreover1 that should one who hath attained unto these stations and embarked upon these journeys fall prey to pride and vainglory1 he would at that very moment come to naught and return to the first step without realizing it4 ,indeed1 they that seek and yearn after ,him in these journeys are known by this sign1 that they humbly defer to those who have believed in ,god and in ,his verses1 that they are lowly before those who have drawn nigh unto ,him and unto the ,manifestations of ,his ,beauty1 and that they bow in submission to them that are firmly established upon the lofty heights of the ,cause of ,god and before its majesty4 #aaj ,for were they to reach the ultimate object of their quest for ,god and their attainment unto ,him1 they would have but reached that abode which hath been raised up within their own hearts4 ,how then could they ever hope to ascend unto such realms as have not been ordained for them or created for their station8 ,nay1 though they journey from everlasting to everlasting1 they will never attain unto ,him ,who is the midmost ,heart of existence and the ,axis of the entire creation1 ,he on ,whose right hand flow the seas of grandeur1 on ,whose left stream the rivers of might1 and ,whose court none can ever hope to reach1 how much less ,his very abode6 ,for ,he dwelleth in the ark of fire1 speedeth1 in the sphere of fire1 through the ocean of fire1 and moveth within the atmosphere of fire4 ,how can he who hath been fashioned of contrary elements ever enter or even approach this fire8 ,were he to do so1 he would be instantly consumed4 #aaa ,know1 moreover1 that should the cord of assistance binding this mighty ,pivot to the dwellers of earth and heaven be severed1 they would all assuredly perish4 ,great ,god6 ,how can the lowly dust ever reach unto ,him ,who is the ,lord of lords8 ,immeasurably exalted is ,god above that which they conceive in their hearts1 and immensely glorified is ,he beyond that which they attribute to ,him4 #aab ,yea1 the seeker reacheth a station wherein that which hath been ordained for him knoweth no bounds4 ,the fire of love so blazeth in his heart that it seizeth the reins of constraint from his grasp4 ,at every moment his love for his ,lord increaseth and draweth him nearer unto his ,creator1 in such wise that if his ,lord be in the east of nearness1 and he dwell in the west of remoteness and possess all that earth and heaven contain of rubies and gold1 he would forsake it all and rush forth to the land of the ,desired ,one4 ,and shouldst thou find him to be otherwise1 know assuredly that such a man is a lying impostor4 ,we1 verily1 all belong unto ,him ,whom ,god shall make manifest in the latter ,resurrection1 and through ,him shall we be raised again to life4 #aac ,in these days1 inasmuch as ,we have lifted not the veils that conceal the countenance of the ,cause of ,god1 nor disclosed unto men the fruits of these stations which ,we have been forbidden to describe1 thou beholdest them drunk with heedlessness4 ,otherwise1 were the glory of this station to be revealed unto men to an extent smaller than a needle's eye1 thou wouldst witness them gathering before the threshold of divine mercy and hastening from all sides to the court of nearness in the realms of divine glory4 ,we have concealed it1 however1 as mentioned before1 that those who believe may be distinguished from them that deny1 and that those who turn unto ,god may be discerned from them that turn aside4 ,i verily proclaim3 8,there is no power nor strength except in ,god1 the ,help in ,peril1 the ,self-,subsisting40 #aad ,from this station the wayfarer ascendeth unto a ,city that hath no name or description1 and whereof one heareth neither sound nor mention4 ,therein flow the oceans of eternity1 whilst this city itself revolveth round the seat of eternity4 ,therein the sun of the ,unseen shineth resplendent above the horizon of the ,unseen1 a sun that hath its own heavens and its own moons1 which partake of its light and which rise from and set upon the ocean of the ,unseen4 ,nor can ,i ever hope to impart even a dewdrop of that which hath been decreed therein1 as none is acquainted with its mysteries save ,god1 its ,creator and ,fashioner1 and ,his ,manifestations4 #aae ,know1 moreover1 that when ,we undertook to reveal these words and committed some of them to writing1 it was ,our intention to elucidate for thine eminence1 in the sweet accents of the blessed and the well-favoured of ,god1 all that ,we had previously mentioned of the words of the ,prophets and the sayings of the ,messengers4 ,time1 however1 was lacking1 and the traveller who came from thy presence was in great haste and eager to return4 ,thus have ,we cut short ,our discourse and contented ,ourself with this much1 without completing the description of these stages in a seemly and befitting manner4 ,indeed1 ,we have omitted the description of major cities and mighty journeys4 ,such was the haste of the courier that ,we even forsook the mention of the two exalted journeys of ,resignation and ,contentment4 #aaf ,yet1 should thine eminence reflect upon these brief statements1 thou wouldst assuredly acquire every knowledge1 attain unto the ,object of all learning1 and exclaim3 8,sufficient are these words unto all creation both visible and invisible60 #aag ,even so1 should the fire of love burn within thy soul1 thou wouldst ask3 8,is there yet any more80 7#fg7 ,and ,we say3 8,praise be to ,god1 the ,lord of the worlds60 ,,footnotes #a ,shoghi ,effendi1 ,god ,passes ,by 7,wilmette3 ,bah' ,publishing ,trust1 #aigd71 p4 #aaj4 #b ,bah'u'llh1 ,the ,kitb-i-qn 7,wilmette3 ,bah' ,publishing ,trust1 #aiid71 p4 #bf4 #c cf4 ,qur'n #fg3c4 #d cf4 ,qur'n #bd3ce4 #e ,matt4 #bd3ai4 #f cf4 ,matt4 #bd3bi-ca4 #g ,mark #ac3ai4 #h cf4 ,luke #ba3be-bh4 #i ,john #ae3bf-bg4 #aj ,john #ad3bf4 #aa ,john #af3e-f4 #ab ,john #af3g4 #ac ,john #af3ac4 #ad ,the ,imms of ,sh'ih ,islm4 #ae ,jesus4 #af cf4 ,matt4 #bd3ce2 ,mark #ac3ca2 ,luke #ba3cc4 #ag ,the ,antichrist1 who it was believed would appear at the advent of the ,promised ,one1 to contend with and be ultimately defeated by ,him4 #ah ,another figure who it was believed would raise the banner of rebellion between ,mecca and ,damascus at the appearance of the ,promised ,one4 #ai ,qur'n #af3dc4 #bj ,a magician in the court of ,pharaoh during the time of ,moses4 #ba ,qur'n #hc3f2 #b3hi4 #bb ,the ,imms of ,sh'ih ,islm4 #bc ,qur'n #bi3b4 #bd ,qur'n #b3aef4 #be ,qur'n #bi3fi4 #bf ,qur'n #b3bhb4 #bg ,from a ,hadth4 #bh ibid4 #bi ,qur'n #cj3cj4 #cj ,qur'n #dh3bc4 #ca ,qur'n #fg3c4 #cb ,qur'n #ag3aaj4 #cc ,qur'n #eg3c4 #cd ,the twelfth ,imm1 ,muhammad al-,mahd1 the son of ,hasan al-#8,askar4 #ce ,according to ,sh'ih traditions1 the twin cities of ,jbulq and ,jbuls are the dwelling place of the ,hidden ,imm 7the ,promised ,one71 whence ,he will appear on the ,day of ,resurrection4 #cf ,muhammad4 #cg ,qur'n #cc3dj4 #ch ,qur'n #ac3b4 #ci ,qur'n #gd3ej4 #dj cf4 ,qur'n #ac3e4 #da ,qur'n #aa3g4 #db ,qur'n #c3ahe4 #dc ,qur'n #af3ig4 #dd ,qur'n #c3afi4 #de ,from a ,hadth4 #df ,qur'n #g3agi4 #dg cf4 ,qur'n #i3aji2 #c3ajc4 #dh ,qur'n #f3abb4 #di ,john #c3e-g4 #ej cf4 ,rev4 #a3ad-af2 #b3ah2 #ai3ae4 #ea cf4 ,qur'n #hj3da2 #hc3bd4 #eb ,qur'n #aa3aab4 #ec cf4 ,luke #ab3ec4 #ed cf4 ,qur'n #a3d4 #ee ,qur'n #ad3dh4 #ef ,qur'n #ad3e4 #eg cf4 ,qur'n #ba3bc4 #eh ,from a saying of ,imm #8,al4 #ei ,from the ,dvn of ,ibn-i-,frid4 #fj ibid4 #fa cf4 ,qur'n #aj3fa2 #cd3c4 #fb ,from a ,hadth4 #fc ,from the ,dvn of ,ibn-i-,frid4 #fd cf4 ,qur'n #ci3aj4 #fe ,qur'n #b3aef4 #ff ,qur'n #d3acj4 #fg cf4 ,qur'n #ej3cj4